This 96% Crime Comedy Just Landed on Netflix—and It's From an Oscar Winner

That film? Tangerine. And now it's finally streaming on Netflix.

What's interesting isn't just the acclaim — it's how Tangerine got there. Released in 2015 and shot entirely on three iPhone 5S cameras (yes, really), the film was once considered a novelty. Now it looks more like a preview of Baker's whole career: raw, sharp, and totally uninterested in Hollywood polish.

But don't let the handheld production fool you — this movie landed harder with critics than most big-budget Oscar bait.

Here's what to know:

Quick facts:

• Title: Tangerine (2015)
• Director: Sean Baker
• Runtime: 88 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% (based on 169 reviews)
• Shot entirely on: iPhone 5S
• Now streaming on: Netflix (as of July 2025)

Notable quotes from critics:

• "Fired by zesty performances that crackle and burn with energy... bittersweet... underpinned by a winning sense of empathy and affection." – Mark Kermode, The Observer
• "Raucously entertaining." – Jake Wilson, Sydney Morning Herald
• "The chemistry of the leads and their authentic, crackling dialogue make it a pleasure to tag along for the day." – Rebecca Keegan, LA Times
• "Assured and immensely likable." – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
• "Sublime filmmaking... a textbook example of how indies can tell groundbreaking stories in a way that Hollywood simply can't match." – David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle

Why it's still relevant:
Tangerine was ahead of its time — a street-level, high-energy comedy about two trans sex workers navigating a chaotic Christmas Eve in Hollywood. Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor lead the film with unfiltered, lived-in performances that critics say give it both heart and edge.

It's also one of the rare Sundance breakouts that didn't get swallowed by the system or diluted for mass appeal. Instead, it helped launch a director who would eventually sweep the Oscars.

And unlike most feel-good award winners, Tangerine actually has bite.

Is it worth watching now?
If you liked Anora but thought it was a little too clean, Tangerine is its grimier, snappier older cousin. Same brain behind the camera, fewer resources, more personality. It's 88 minutes of kinetic chaos, and now you don't need to hunt it down — just open Netflix.

Watch Tangerine on Netflix while everyone else is still arguing about which July release actually deserves your attention. This one already earned it ten years ago.