Hidden Gems on Streaming This June: I Am Frankelda, Andre Is an Idiot, Mexico 86, and In the Hand of Dante

Hidden Gems on Streaming This June: I Am Frankelda, Andre Is an Idiot, Mexico 86, and In the Hand of Dante

Everyone's talking about the big-ticket Netflix releases this June — the Michael Jackson docuseries, Jennifer Lopez's rom-com, the new Avatar: The Last Airbender season. But buried in Netflix's June 2026 lineup are some genuinely intriguing titles that could surprise you. If you're looking for something off the beaten path, here are four hidden gems you should not skip.

I Am Frankelda — Guillermo del Toro's Animated Nightmare

Drop date: June 12 on Netflix

This is Mexico's first fully stop-motion animated feature film, and Guillermo del Toro served as an advisor on the project. That alone should tell you everything you need to know about the vibe. I Am Frankelda is a prequel to the Frankelda's Book of Spooks animated series, set in the 19th century. It follows a young horror writer named Francisca who gets captured by the rulers of a nightmare world that depends on her to invent fresh frights for the collective human subconscious.

If you loved Pan's Labyrinth or Pinocchio, this one's a must-watch. Del Toro's touch is everywhere in the film's aesthetic, and the stop-motion animation is reportedly breathtaking. It's the kind of animated film that works for both adults and kids — which is exactly del Toro's sweet spot.

Andre Is an Idiot — The Documentary That Makes You Laugh at Cancer

Drop date: June 17 on Netflix

Yes, that title is real. And yes, it's about cancer. Andre Is an Idiot follows Andre Ricciardi, an eccentric San Francisco ad executive who skipped his colonoscopy at age 50 and was later diagnosed with colon cancer. Whoops. But instead of being a depressing illness documentary, this is a film about a guy who confronts death with gleeful gallows humor while mourning the family and friends he'll leave behind.

It's described as "affecting" and "heartening" — not words you typically associate with cancer docs. If you're in the mood for something that'll make you laugh, cry, and call your doctor to schedule that screening you've been putting off, this is your movie.

Mexico 86 and In the Hand of Dante — Two More Worth Your Time

Mexico 86 (June 5) stars Diego Luna as Martin de la Torre, the bureaucrat who brought the World Cup to Mexico in 1986. Think Marty Supreme meets Air, but with soccer and Latin American politics. It's part of Netflix's wave of World Cup content ahead of the 2026 Men's World Cup, and Luna's charisma carries the whole thing.

Then there's In the Hand of Dante (June 24), starring Oscar Isaac in what sounds like a literary thriller. Based on Nick Tosches' novel about a stolen manuscript of Dante's Inferno, this one brings together crime fiction, Renaissance literature, and Isaac's undeniable screen presence. It's the kind of project that sounds weird on paper but could be absolutely brilliant on screen.

Why You Should Look Beyond the Algorithm

Streaming platforms want you to watch the most popular stuff — it's better for their metrics, their investors, and their bragging rights. But some of the best viewing experiences come from the titles that don't get the marketing push. This June, Netflix's lineup is stacked with these overlooked gems. Give them a chance before you queue up the same show for the fifth time.

Have you watched any of these hidden gems yet? What'd you think?