Don’t have time to squeeze in a full-length film into your busy schedule? There’s an easy solution to fix that entertainment itch: try out some of Netflix’s short films when you’re short on time.

You can finish watching these short films within 30-40 minutes, with some films being as short as 6-7 minutes. Here are some animated and live-action short films on Netflix you can try for your next short weekend watch.

Released as part of a four-part short anthology series, all based on Roald Dahl’s short stories, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a colorful and distinctive short film that tells one of Dahl’s best short stories.

Directed by Wes Anderson and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, this short film depicts the story of Henry Sugar, a wealthy man who sets out to learn the secret behind a man who can see with his eyes closed (through yoga), so that he can use the power to gamble better. The eccentric story behind the man’s ability and how he acquired it, as well as Henry’s experience in this journey, make up the plot.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

Two Distant Strangers

Two Distant Strangers is a short film with heavy themes of police brutality and racism. It has a unique story: a graphic designer is stuck in a time loop where he is a victim of police brutality by an NYPD officer, and at the end of every loop, he is killed and wakes up in his date’s bed, only to relive the same sequence again. This happens 99 times until a shocking revelation is made.

Two Distant Strangers has been highly praised for dealing with discrimination faced by Black Americans at the hands of the police. It won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, which was Netflix’s first win in this particular category.

Poison

Another installment of the Roald Dahl-Wes Anderson collection of short films, Poison is an amusing short story featuring Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role. Set in India during the British Raj period, it tells the story of a Britishman named Harry Pope. A venomous snake crawls atop his stomach, which leaves him unable to move on his bed as his friend Timber (also the narrator) deals with the situation by calling a doctor. The doctor and Timber try to get the snake away from Harry. However, Harry’s true character comes to light, and the solution to the problem is revealed at the end of this comedic short film.

Canvas

Canvas, an animated short film, is a heartbreaking yet sweet story about an old man coping with loss. His granddaughter, who visits him during the daytime along with her mother, draws all day, while trying to get him to draw as well. However, being grief-stricken, the man is frustrated about picking up a paintbrush again, and hides away his paintings. His granddaughter’s efforts to make him draw again, and how he gets over his hesitation, make up the rest of this short film.

Despite having no dialogue, Canvas tells a story focusing on grief and closure effectively, and is a must-watch if you enjoy animated films.

Anima

Anima is a musical short film starring Thom Yorke (Radiohead), named after his third studio album. This film is an audiovisual feast, and plays out as an abstract musical story with performance art at its core. Starting on a subway train, the film takes us through Thom’s love story with his wife.

Anima is a commentary on Carl Jung’s theory of the unconscious, with gripping visuals and electronic music that keeps you hooked despite the lack of any dialogue between characters.

If Anything Happens I Love You

If you enjoy 2D animation and bite-sized short films, this film will be your cup of tea. If Anything Happens I Love You is a heartbreaking story of grief written and directed by Will McCormack and Michael Govier. It depicts the story of grieving parents who are coping with the loss of their daughter, who was killed in an unfortunate tragedy. Using shadows as a metaphor for their sadness and regrets, this tragic short film is a lesson in animation and storytelling.

If Anything Happens I Love You won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It is inspired by another short film, Father and Daughter.

What Did Jack Do?

Written and directed by David Lynch, What Did Jack Do is an eccentric black-and-white short film with an interesting premise. Set in a locked train station, a detective (Lynch) has to investigate a talking monkey who is suspected of having committed a murder.

What Did Jack Do is as absurd as it is amusing, with its strange nature leaving audiences split on whether it is a visual masterpiece or a ridiculous trip. Critics have praised the short film for its odd yet funny nature.

Queenie (Closing Dynasty)

Queenie (Closing Dynasty) is a dramedy short film about a seven-year-old girl named Queenie who is trying her best to hustle on the streets of New York. From claiming to raise money for her school’s basketball team to trying to pawn a fake diamond, the young girl spends her time trying to charm strangers with her innocent nature into giving her money.

Queenie is an amusing and gripping yet bittersweet watch, commenting on class differences and cultural themes in an urban center. The short film has been praised for its impressive visuals, storytelling, and acting from the lead child actress. This film is a perfect mix of curiosity, sadness, and amusement, and can be a quick watch if you’re short on time yet are craving a strong story.

Anuja

Anuja is an American Hindi short film telling the heart-wrenching story of orphaned sisters, Anuja and Palak. The two work at a garment factory to make ends meet, when Anuja’s mathematical genius is noticed by a local school teacher. He asks her to write an entrance exam that will help her earn a full-ride scholarship to a boarding school, but their boss, Mr. Verma, is against the idea, as he does not want to let Anuja go from work.

Anuja is then faced with a difficult decision: will she take the entrance exam and go to boarding school, separating her from Palak, or stay and work at the factory, but be close to her sister?

Anuja was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards. It has been highly praised for its portrayal of the struggles faced by young girls trapped in exploitative sweatshops.

Ostinato

Ostinato is another animated short film that will not eat up too much of your spare time. Named after the musical composition Canto Ostinato by the Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt, this musical story is about a young composer named Nuha, who perceives the world around her in a vibrant musical soundscape. She navigates how to incorporate a discordant tone into her composition so she can perfect a new harmony. The animation style, accompanied by Nuha’s perception of musical notes in the outside world and her struggle to incorporate them into her composition, makes this film an interesting watch.

Ostinato is based on the writer Sunita Balsara’s personal experience with tinnitus, which causes people to perceive sound that cannot be heard by others.

Netflix has a decent collection of short films beyond the ten titles on this list. You can use the Netflix secret code 81466194 in your search bar to filter out 90-minute movies and short films to add to your watch list.