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100 Best Movies on Netflix Ranked by Tomatometer (May 2024)

In our world of massive entertainment options, who’s got time to waste on the below-average? You’ve got a subscription, you’re ready for a marathon, and you want only the best movies no Netflix to watch. With thousands of choices on the platform, both original and acquired, we’ve found the 100 top Netflix movies with the highest Tomatometer scores! Time to get comfy on the couch!

New top movies this month: The Edge of Seventeen, Liar Liar, Shrek, Traffic.  Notably, L.A. Confidential is currently streaming, which recently topped our list of the 300 best movies of all time .

His House (2020) 100%

L.A. Confidential (1997) 99%

Miss Juneteenth (2020) 99%

The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020) 99%

Under the Shadow (2016) 99%

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) 97%

Dolemite Is My Name (2019) 97%

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) 97%

Mudbound (2017) 97%

Paddington (2014) 97%

I Lost My Body (2019) 97%

Roma (2018) 96%

Atlantics (2019) 96%

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) 96%

Life of Brian (1979) 96%

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018) 96%

Outside In (2017) 96%

The Irishman (2019) 95%

Marriage Story (2019) 95%

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) 95%

It Follows (2014) 95%

They Cloned Tyrone (2023) 95%

The Sea Beast (2022) 95%

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023) 95%

Klaus (2019) 95%

The Power of the Dog (2021) 94%

Moneyball (2011) 94%

The Lost Daughter (2021) 94%

X (2022) 94%

The Edge of Seventeen (2016) 94%

Emily the Criminal (2022) 94%

Private Life (2018) 94%

Traffic (2000) 93%

Hustle (2022) 93%

Enola Holmes 2 (2022) 93%

Cam (2018) 93%

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022) 93%

Baby Driver (2017) 92%

Da 5 Bloods (2020) 92%

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017) 92%

The White Tiger (2021) 92%

The Squid and the Whale (2005) 92%

Jurassic Park (1993) 92%

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) 91%

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) 92%

Nimona (2023) 92%

The Little Prince (2015) 92%

Set It Up (2018) 92%

1922 (2017) 92%

Uncorked (2020) 92%

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) 91%

Phantom Thread (2017) 91%

May December (2023) 91%

The Gift (2015) 91%

Beasts of No Nation (2015) 91%

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood (2022) 91%

High Flying Bird (2019) 91%

Happy as Lazzaro (2018) 91%

Gerald's Game (2017) 91%

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) 91%

Orion and the Dark (2024) 91%

The Willoughbys (2020) 91%

National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) 91%

The Imitation Game (2014) 90%

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) 90%

Society of the Snow (2023) 90%

The Kindergarten Teacher (2018) 90%

On Body and Soul (2017) 90%

Bonnie and Clyde (1967) 90%

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) 89%

The Big Short (2015) 89%

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) 89%

The Two Popes (2019) 89%

Amadeus (1984) 89%

Oxygen (2021) 89%

Always Be My Maybe (2019) 89%

Mary and The Witch's Flower (2017) 89%

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017) 89%

Paddleton (2019) 89%

Shrek (2001) 88%

Fear Street Part Three: 1666 (2021) 88%

I Am Mother (2019) 89%

Donnie Brasco (1997) 88%

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) 87%

Fear Street Part Two: 1978 (2021) 87%

My Father's Dragon (2022) 87%

The Breaker Upperers (2018) 87%

Vivo (2021) 86%

Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022) 86%

Munich: The Edge of War (2021) 86%

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) 85%

Fair Play (2023) 85%

The Wonder (2022) 85%

Shortcomings (2023) 85%

The Deepest Breath (2023) 85%

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) 84%

Waves (2019) 84%

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) 84%

The Matrix (1999) 83%

Liar Liar (1997) 83%

Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021) 84%

Dumb Money (2023) 84%

The Swimmers (2022) 83%

Wendell & Wild (2022) 80%

Role Models (2008) 77%

Godzilla (2014) 76%

Dawn of the Dead (2004) 76%

Despicable Me 2 (2013) 75%

The Professional (1994) 74%

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The 30 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now

Netflix Movies by Category

This post is updated regularly as movies leave and enter Netflix. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.

With hundreds of films from around the world on the streaming giant that changed the game, how does one even know what to watch when they fire up their Netflix? Start here! We’ve gone through the many films available on the platform and pared down the selection to 30 must-see titles, including acclaimed dramas , action films , comedies , horror flicks , and even stuff for the whole family , with Netflix Originals peppered in throughout, alongside its licensed films. No algorithm nonsense here: Our picks represent the personal favorites of seasoned movie critics, and they’re updated every week and month to include or remove films that join or depart from the streaming service. This list represents the best of Netflix’s movie offerings, and it starts with a new rotating critic’s pick of the week.

This Week’s Critic’s Pick

Public enemies.

Year: 2009 Runtime: 2h 19m Director: Michael Mann

The great director turned his eye to the history of the American mob with the story of John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and the FBI Agent (Christian Bale) who hunted him across the Midwest. Shot on digital, the look of the film threw a lot of people off, allowing this big-budget epic to be underrated in the film history books. Give it another look. There’s a lot to admire here.

How We Pick Our Films

Critic Brian Tallerico watches and writes about movies and TV every day. To curate this list, he dives into Netflix’s catalogue to surface acclaimed, surprising, or otherwise noteworthy titles — using his taste and a lifetime of cinema study as his guide, instead of whatever the algorithm happens to be pushing. After triple-checking to make sure they’re still available, he watches each, organizes them by category, then writes his recommendation. We highlight more than just Oscar winners or popcorn flicks: These films present interesting ideas, made an impact on cinema, and changed our culture. Read on to find something to watch.

Born on the Fourth of July

Year: 1989 Runtime: 2h 24m Director: Oliver Stone

In 1986, Oliver Stone tackled what it was like to be in country in his personal Platoon , and only three years later he followed up with a story about what it was like to come home from Vietnam in the story of Ron Kovacs. Tom Cruise does arguably the best work of his career in this powerful deconstruction of patriotism and examination of the human cost of war. It’s even better than you remember.

Dark Waters

Year: 2019 Runtime: 2h 7m Director: Todd Haynes

Dark Waters will make you angry. Mark Ruffalo stars in this true story from director Todd Haynes, known for more formally ambitious stuff but able to nail the old-fashioned outrage needed for this one. Based on a New York Times article, the movie details an investigation into the DuPont corporation’s poisoning of a small town with chemicals in the drinking water. Ruffalo is great, and so are Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, and especially the great Bill Camp.

Devil in a Blue Dress

Year: 1995 Runtime: 1h 41m Director: Carl Franklin

Carl Franklin wrote and directed one of the most underrated Denzel Washington performances of all time in this 1995 adaptation of the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley. Washington plays Easy Rawlins, a World War II vet in 1948 who gets drawn into a mystery that classic noir filmmakers would have adored. Charming and riveting, the only crime here is that there wasn’t a whole franchise of films with Washington playing Easy.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Year: 1992 Runtime: 1h 40m Director: James Foley

For a long time, it felt like David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1984 masterpiece was unfilmable, but Foley, working with the playwright as screenwriter, figured it out, assembling one of the best ensembles of the ‘90s to do so. Alec Baldwin notoriously steals his one scene, but the entire cast here is a stunner, especially Al Pacino (who was Oscar-nominated), Alan Arkin, and Jack Lemmon.

Year: 2006 Runtime: 2h 8m Director: Spike Lee

Yes, Spike Lee once made a great action movie. The director of Do the Right Thing and Da 5 Bloods put his spin on the heist film with this great 2006 Denzel Washington vehicle. The regular collaborator plays an NYPD hostage negotiator, called in when a bank heist goes down on Wall Street. Tight and effective, this is just further evidence that Spike Lee can nail any kind of movie he chooses to make. This might be Lee’s most underrated movie. It hums.

Year:  2023 Runtime:  1h 59m Director:  David Fincher

Michael Fassbender gives his best performance in years as an icy hired assassin who struggles to hold things together when a job goes horribly wrong. It’s a movie about a self-proclaimed perfectionist who is constantly defying his own voiceover, a great film that’s alternately hysterical and thrilling. One of the best of 2023.

* The Killing Fields

Year: 1984 Runtime: 2h 21m Director: Roland Joffé

The story of the Khmer Rouge and the genocidal atrocities in Cambodia in the ‘70s is detailed in the Oscar-winning The Killing Fields , a movie that’s sometimes hard to watch but worth the effort, especially as violence around the world has become such a vital talking point in 2024. Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor (who won an Oscar) star as journalists investigating the war crimes of the Khmer Rouge in this bleak but important film.

L.A. Confidential

Year: 1997 Runtime: 2h 17m Director: Curtis Hanson

Curtis Hanson directed this adaptation of James Ellroy’s epic crime novel of 1950s Los Angeles. Starring Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, and Kim Basinger, it’s a perfect thriller and one of the best movies of the ‘90s. So many films since this one have tried to mimic the tough-talking thrills of it and fallen completely flat. It’s harder than it looks to be this cool.

May December

Year: 2023 Runtime: 1h 57m Director: Todd Haynes

Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman star in the latest from Carol and Far from Heaven director Todd Haynes, a stunning character study of an actress who discovers that some people are impossible to figure out. Portman plays a star who tries to get under the skin of Moore’s character, a woman who raped a child when she was a teacher, and later married that young man. Charles Melton is phenomenal as the now-grown victim, stuck in perpetual adolescence.

Year:  2011 Runtime:  2h 13m Director:  Bennett Miller

One of the best baseball movies ever made was adapted from the 2003 book by Michael Lewis, which recounts the management of the 2002 season of the Oakland Athletics, and how they changed the way the game is run by bringing analytics into the mix. Brad Pitt gives one of his best performances as general manager Billy Beane, a man who knew he would have to find a new way to evaluate talent if the A’s were going to compete. This is a rich, smart, riveting movie that’s extra-interesting given what the Oakland franchise is going through in 2024.

Year: 2020 Runtime: 1h 47m Director: Sean Durkin

A victim of the pandemic, this was one of the best films of 2020. Carrie Coon and Jude Law star as a married couple with two kids who move from New York City to London in the 1980s and watch as the divides in their union start to widen. A great character study amplified by Durkin’s sharp visual language, this is a fantastic domestic drama, and the best movie on this list that you probably haven’t seen.

The Power of the Dog

Year: 2021 Runtime: 2h 6m Director: Jane Campion

The film that finally won an Oscar for Jane Campion for directing is one of the most acclaimed in the history of the streaming giant. Campion helmed this adaptation of the novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, the story of a vicious landowner (Benedict Cumberbatch) who torments the new wife (Kirsten Dunst) of his brother (Jesse Plemons). A drama that plays like a thriller, this gorgeously rendered period piece unpacks themes of toxic masculinity and manipulation in a way that makes it impossible to turn away. It’s not just one of the best Netflix Original films, it’s one of the best, period, of the 2020s so far.

Year: 2000 Runtime: 2h 27m Director: Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh and Benicio del Toro won Oscars for an epic examination of the illegal drug trade at the turn of the century. One of the incredible craftsman’s best films, Traffic tackles no less than the entire structure of drugs in North America, intertwining stories of users, politicians, traffickers, and lawmen. Some of the movie feels a little dated, but the sheer force of the filmmaking will always be timeless.

Wild Things

Year: 1998 Runtime: 1h 48m Director: John McNaughton

A classic of the B-movie sleazy thriller era, this is actually a deeply underrated movie, a flick that works from old-fashioned noir and even Greek tragedy to tell the tale of two teenagers (Neve Campbell, Denise Richard) who get caught up in a scheme with a slimy teacher played perfectly by Matt Dillon. It’s remembered most for its sex factor, but this is a clever flick, a movie that plays with class and privilege in fascinating ways.

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Year: 2022 Runtime: 2h 19m Directors: The Daniels

After a brief stint on Amazon Prime, this is the first Netflix drop for the 2023 Best Picture winner, a movie that defies categorization as it tells a story of alternate realities and butt plugs. A film that debuted at SXSW, this daring piece of work built an audience through 2022 until it won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Director. It’s like nothing else. Anywhere.

Baby Driver

Year: 2017 Runtime: 1h 53m Director: Edgar Wright

It’s a little harder to watch this movie now given the allegations against some of its cast members , but it’s still a remarkably well-made piece of action filmmaking, the kinetically unforgettable story of a getaway driver who knows all the best tunes. Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, and Lily James may be the stars of this movie, but it’s Wright’s showmanship that really steals the spotlight.

Year: 2003 Runtime: 1h 50m Director: Quentin Tarantino

We will still have to wait for the long-promised full cut of the two Kill Bill films into one epic movie (and the long-rumored third volume of this tale), but that shouldn’t stop you from revisiting two of Quentin Tarantino’s best films — both volumes are on Netflix now. In a catalog that includes a lot of great performances (and a few Oscar winners), one of QT’s best is Uma Thurman as The Bride, a legendary action character seeking vengeance on the man who betrayed her.

Year: 1999 Runtime: 2h 16m Director: The Wachowskis

Neo and the gang returned to HBO Max in late 2021 with The Matrix Resurrections , and the response was predictably divisive. You know what’s not divisive? The fact that the first movie still absolutely rules. The story of an average guy who learns that nothing is what it seems has influenced so much pop culture in the over-two decades since this movie was released. You can see Neo everywhere. (And you can watch the entire original trilogy on Netflix now.)

Year: 2003 Runtime: 2h Director: Park Chan-wook

It’s hard to explain to people how this movie moved through the film-loving world before Film Twitter was a thing. Recently restored for its 20th anniversary, Oldboy has now been dropped on Netflix again, and it’s lost none of its searing power. It’s the tale of a man who is kidnapped, and its genius is that it’s not a whodunit as much as a whydunit, forcing viewers and protagonists to wonder about a truly grisly motive until the final unforgettable act.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Year:  2023 Runtime:  2h 20m Director:  Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

What a gift to Netflix subscribers for this to already be on the service, mere weeks after playing in theaters and landing on Blu-ray. This is how you do a big-budget blockbuster sequel, developing the themes of the first movie and setting up the stake for what now appears will be one of the best trilogies in superhero history. Packed with so much detail and creativity, it’s a film Netflix subscribers will want to watch over and over again. Do so while you still can.

* Knocked Up

Year: 2007 Runtime: 2h 9m Director: Judd Apatow

The movie’s gender politics seem shakier than when it came out, but Judd Apatow’s biggest hit still works because of the intelligence of its screenplay and commitment of its cast, especially Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl. The story of a man forced to grow up when his one-night stand gets pregnant errs a bit too much on the side of the male view, but one can’t deny the pure laughs-per-minute ratio. It’s fun to contrast this with the more recent Long Shot to see how much Rogen has changed (and how much he really hasn’t).

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Year: 1975 Runtime: 1h 29m Director: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones

During a hiatus between the third and fourth seasons of Monty Python’s Family Circus , the gang of mega-talented comedians decided to make movie history. Inspired by the King Arthur legend, Holy Grail is a timeless comedy, the rare kind of film that will still be making people laugh hundreds of years from now. And while the Monty Python boys were already famous, this film took them to another level, cementing their place in movie history.

Pineapple Express

Year: 2008 Runtime: 1h 52m Director: David Gordon Green

Seth Rogen gives one of his best performances as Dale Denton, an average guy who just wants to get high. He visits his dealer (played perfectly by James Franco) on the wrong night as the pair cross paths with hitmen and a police officer on the wrong side of the law. This is an incredibly funny movie, and you don’t need to be high to love it.

The Babadook

Year:  2014 Runtime:  1h 33m Director:  Jennifer Kent

One of the best horror films of the 2010s has not been widely available for streaming subscribers so take the chance to watch it again while it’s on Netflix. Jennifer Kent’s directorial debut centers on a mother (Essie Davis) who struggles to raise her problem child alone after the death of her husband. Oh, and there’s also a real monster in the boy’s room.

Gerald’s Game

Year: 2017 Runtime: 1h 43m Director: Mike Flanagan

Before he helmed The Haunting of Hill House , Mike Flanagan co-wrote and directed one of the best Netflix Original horror films in this adaptation of Stephen King’s 1992 novel of the same name. Carla Gugino is phenomenal as a woman who gets handcuffed to her bed by her toxic husband…and then he has a heart attack. As she tries to figure out how she will survive, she accesses the trauma of her past.

Year: 2016 Runtime: 1h 57m Director: M. Night Shyamalan

James McAvoy gives the best performance of his career in what’s widely considered M. Night Shyamalan’s comeback film. He plays a kidnapper who happens to have many personalities, and the most dangerous one of all is on its way. The script kind of falls apart, but this is an impressive performance platform for McAvoy, who gives it his all, and then some.

For Kids & Family

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Year: 2022 Runtime: 1h 56m Director: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson

The Oscar-winning director took his visionary skills to stop-motion animation with this instant classic, a retelling of the beloved fairy tale about the wooden boy who longed to be real. With spectacular voice work, this version reimagines Pinocchio during the period before World War II, allowing del Toro to explore his themes of innocence and violence again. It’s a deeply personal, beautiful film.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Year: 2023 Runtime: 1h 42m Director: Joel Crawford

No one would have predicted that the presumed-dead Shrek franchise had another spin-off sequel of this caliber yet to be released, but December 2022 saw the critical and commercial success of arguably the best film in the entire series. Using a style more reminiscent of Into the Spider-verse than typical DreamWorks, The Last Wish is a gorgeous and surprisingly moving story of the title character dealing with something he never expected to face: mortality. It’s funny, clever, and memorable.

Wendell & Wild

Year: 2022 Runtime: 1h 46m Director: Henry Selick

The director of A Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline finally returned this year with this clever and twisted tale co-written by Oscar winner Jordan Peele. The comedian also co-stars as one of the title characters, the literal demons for a girl who blames herself for the death of her parents. Selick is a master of stop-motion animation and this project allows him to stretch his visual prowess in new, gross ways. It’s a new Halloween classic (that can be watched any time, of course!)

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The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now

There are so many film experiences to choose from on Netflix, let us help you narrow down your choices.

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By Jason Bailey

Sign up for our Watching newsletter to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.

The sheer volume of films on Netflix — and the site’s less than ideal interface — can make finding a genuinely great movie there a difficult task. To help, we’ve plucked out the 50 best films currently streaming on the service in the United States, updated regularly as titles come and go. And as a bonus, we link to more great movies on Netflix within many of our write-ups below. (Note: Streaming services sometimes remove titles or change starting dates without giving notice.)

Here are our lists of the best TV shows on Netflix , the best movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best of everything on Hulu and Disney Plus .

‘Four Daughters’ (2023)

In 2015, two of Olfa Hamrouni’s four daughters disappeared into the world of Islamic extremism. The director Kaouther Ben Hania could have told their story as a standard documentary, intermingling talking heads with archival footage and the like. Instead, she stages re-creations and dramatizations of central moments in these splintering relationships, casting actors as the departed daughters to act alongside the two daughters who remain, and with Hamrouni involved in some scenes and directing an actor playing her in others. It sounds gimmicky, but Ben Hania’s approach becomes a powerful method of grappling with the mistakes of the past. (“ Procession ” is a similarly powerful example of filmmaking as therapy.) Watch on Netflix

‘Starship Troopers’ (1997)

The director Paul Verhoeven pulled one of the great bait-and-switches of the modern blockbuster era with this sci-fi and action hybrid, which lured in viewers with the promise of laser-toting heroes vaporizing giant bug creatures. It delivered that action, but then surrounded it with a merciless satire, in which a futuristic authoritarian government uses propaganda and jingoism to convince its youth to die cheerfully for the flag. His young, pretty cast — including Denise Richards, Casper Van Dien, Neil Patrick Harris and Dina Meyer — plays the material absolutely straight, which somehow renders it especially disturbing.

Watch on Netflix

‘Mister Organ’ (2023)

The New Zealand journalist David Farrier has carved out an unusual niche for himself, making documentaries about fringe figures who at first seem to be jokey oddities but later reveal disturbing dimensions and shadowy back stories. His previous feature, “Tickled,” took him into the bizarre world of Competitive Endurance Tickling, and the mysterious figure bankrolling it; this time, an investigation into predatory parking practices puts him in the sights of a con artist named Michael Organ. And that’s when things really get strange. As with “Tickled,” Farrier’s latest begins like a human interest story and turns into something closer to a thriller, as the peculiarities of this unstable personality reveal themselves, often unnervingly. Farrier is a solid anchor for this strange journey, proving unflappable (and capable of finding the gallows humor) in even the most extreme of circumstances. Watch on Netflix

‘Frances Ha’ (2013)

Greta Gerwig writes ( with the director Noah Baumbach ) and stars in this charming chronicle of the struggles of a young woman who is trying to make her way in the big city. It’s a tale as old as time, but Gerwig’s off-center charm juices it with new life while Baumbach’s “Manhattan”-style, black-and-white photography gives the picture a lushness uncharacteristic of New York indies. It’s an approach that mirrors the film itself, which seems lightweight and offhanded but holds unexpected truths about friendship, maturity and finding a true version of oneself. Our critic praised its “ swift, jaunty rhythms and sharp, off-kilter jokes .” (Baumbach’s “ Marriage Story ” is also on Netflix.) Watch on Netflix

‘El Conde’ (2023)

Pablo Larraín, who directed “Jackie” and “Spencer,” delivers his most unconventional riff on the biopic yet with this stylized hybrid of dark comedy, social commentary and gore-heavy horror. The premise is delicious, positing that the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet (Jaime Vadell) was, in fact, a vampire who faked his own death and went into hiding in the country. The razor-sharp script, by Larraín and the Chilean playwright Guillermo Calderón, ruminates on the parasitic nature of capitalism with wit and intelligence. The cleverness of the narration (which not only tells the story but wryly comments on it) is topped only by the reveal of who is voicing it. Ed Lachman’s black-and-white cinematography stuns, and Larraín injects the proceedings with genre thrills and bleak laughs. Watch on Netflix

‘The Edge of Seventeen’ (2016)

Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld) is a fairly typical teen — cynical, bitter, intelligent and mouthy, yet plagued by , awkwardness, a lack of confidence and self-destructiveness. In this “ smart, achingly bittersweet comedy ,” the first-time director Kelly Fremon Craig tells the story of how Nadine hits bottom (the high school version of it, anyway) and struggles mightily to bounce back with the help of a teacher with the patience of a saint (Woody Harrelson), and a best friend who has made things … complicated (Haley Lu Richardson). Steinfeld plays Nadine to the hilt, crafting a portrait of teenage ennui and social anxiety that’s as recognizable as it is uproarious. Watch on Netflix

‘Roma’ (2018)

This vivid, evocative memory play from Alfonso Cuarón is a story of two Mexican women in the early 1970s: Sofía (Marina de Tavira), a mother of four whose husband (and provider) is on his way out the door, and Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), the family’s nanny, maid and support system. The scenes are occasionally stressful, often heart-wrenching, and they unfailingly burst with life and emotion. Our critic called it “ an expansive, emotional portrait of life buffeted by violent forces, and a masterpiece .” Watch on Netflix

‘Jumanji’ (1995)

The first film adaptation of the beloved 1981 children’s book, this breathlessly energetic family adventure stars Robin Williams as a child trapped for decades in a board game, Bonnie Hunt as a friend who barely made it out and Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce as the contemporary children who help him escape — and must then finish the game. Joe Johnston (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) directs with the proper mixture of childlike enthusiasm and wide-eyed terror, and the special effects (of wild animals and swarms of insects descending on suburban enclaves) remain startlingly convincing. (For more family-friendly fun, try “ Paddington ” and “ Storks .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Traffic’ (2000)

This tough, wise and somewhat cynical take on the war on drugs is told from the separate perspectives of a street-smart Mexican cop, a newly-appointed American drug czar and a pair of D.E.A. agents. The director and cinematographer Steven Soderbergh gives each section its own look, tempo and attitude, all captured with the energy of a ground-level documentary. The result is a panorama of a film, its variety of styles and aesthetics a masterly match for the geopolitical complexity of its subject. The performances are stunning, with standout turns by Benicio Del Toro (who won an Oscar for the role) as a good cop trying to play both sides of the fence, Catherine Zeta-Jones as a California housewife whose husband’s arrest brings out her inner kingpin, and Michael Douglas as the political expert who discovers exactly how much he doesn’t know. (For more Oscar-winning acting, stream “ Minari ,” “ Places in the Heart ” and “ Darkest Hour .”) Watch on Netflix

‘The Thin Blue Line’ (1988)

The director Errol Morris had one of the most commercially successful documentaries of his era with this searing profile of Randall Dale Adams, wrongly convicted in 1976 for the murder of a Dallas policeman. The film was made and marketed less as a documentary than as “nonfiction noir,” using stylized re-enactments, haunting music, colorful characters and striking visuals to create a real-life thriller with the tension and tautness of a Hitchcock picture. Our critic called it a “ brilliant work of pulp fiction .” (For more fascinating nonfiction, try “ The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson .”) Watch on Netflix

‘The Act of Killing’ (2013)

In profiling leaders of the Indonesian death squads of the mid-1960s, the documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer invites them to stage elaborate and surreal recreations of their crimes in the cinematic style of their choosing (musical, gangster, western, etc.). In doing so, Oppenheimer directs his subjects to make an upsetting but telling statement on self-deception and the toxicity of power, and on the lies we tell ourselves in order to sleep at night. Our critic deemed it “ dogged, inventive, profoundly upsetting and dismayingly funny .” (Oppenheimer’s follow-up, “ The Look of Silence ,” is also on Netflix.) Watch on Netflix

‘Amadeus’ (1984)

Milos Forman’s adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s stage hit was the big winner of the 57th annual Academy Awards, taking home eight trophies, including best picture, best director and best actor (F. Murray Abraham). The combination of its hardware and logline — a period biography of the classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — makes it sound much more like homework than it is. But “Amadeus” is an all-out entertainment, an “ exhilarating ” and funny two-hander that approaches Mozart less as a serious musical genius than a punk-rock provocateur, a giggling vulgarian whose bad manners render his unmistakable genius all the more heartbreaking to his jealous contemporary Antonio Salieri (Abraham). (Other Oscar winners on Netflix include “ The Killing Fields ,” “ Born on the Fourth of July ” and “ Out of Africa .”) Watch on Netflix

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984)

Wes Craven went from a genre journeyman to a horror icon — and launched one of the most venerable slasher franchises ever — with this 1984 creeper. Craven wrote and directed this story of suburban teens that find their dreams haunted — often with deadly, real-life results — by the neighborhood boogeyman, Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). Heather Langenkamp is the resourceful protagonist, while Johnny Depp, in his film debut, is one of the more memorable victims. Subsequent sequels would highlight Krueger with greater prominence but diminishing returns, effectively turning the films into horror-comedies. But this inaugural entry is a lean, mean, scare machine, filled with terrifying images and well-crafted suspense. (For more Craven and Freddy, stream “ Wes Craven’s New Nightmare ”; for more horror, try “ The Babadook .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003) / ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’ (2004)

Quentin Tarantino spent six years making his follow-up to “Jackie Brown,” and he ended up shooting enough material for not one, but two movies. They’re best seen together, in old-school, grindhouse double-feature form, allowing Tarantino to spin this globe-trotting yarn about a retired assassin (a fierce and furious Uma Thurman) who hunts down the former colleagues who left her for dead on her wedding day. Paying loving tribute to the exploitation movies of multiple eras and cultures, Tarantino dabbles in kung fu, anime, spaghetti western and blaxploitation, deliriously hopping styles like a movie-crazy kid swapping out VHS tapes. But in all the pyrotechnics, he maintains his gift for quotable dialogue and charismatic characters, ending his blood-soaked saga on a surprisingly warm and human note. Watch ‘Vol. 1’ here and ‘Vol. 2’ here on Netflix

‘Melancholia’ (2011)

The first half of this “ excursion from the sad to the sublime by way of the preposterous” is a virtuoso portrait of social awkwardness and inappropriateness, as a bride (a stunning Kirsten Dunst) struggles and fails to overcome her crippling depression at her wedding reception. Her family and friends are an assemblage of human triggers far more distressing to her than the crisis of the second half, in which it’s learned that a rogue planet is on a collision course with Earth, and our protagonist discovers that when you’ve spent your life feeling like the world is ending, the event itself can produce a strange calm. The writer and director Lars von Trier (“Breaking the Waves”) tells this dark story with bleak humor and operatic flourishes, as well as a deep empathy for the women at its center. (For more of Dunst, stream “ The Beguiled ” and “ All Good Things .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Starman’ (1984)

John Carpenter’s “The Thing” is now acknowledged as one of the great science fiction and horror mash-ups of all time, but it didn’t connect with audiences or critics upon its 1982 release, forcing Carpenter to try something new for his follow-up. This earnest romantic drama was initially compared to “E.T.” for its story of an alien visitor and the human life he changes. But the stakes are quite different; Jeff Bridges stars as the alien, who lands near a remote cabin and takes on the human form of the dead ex-husband of its inhabitant (Karen Allen). Bridges is terrific as the being not at home in its temporary body — the role is “ a fine showcase for the actor’s blend of grace, precision and seemingly offhanded charm ,” our critic wrote — and he and Allen generate genuine if unexpected chemistry. (Fans of this genre mash-up may also enjoy “ Repo Man .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Moscow on the Hudson’ (1984)

Robin Williams turns in an “ extraordinarily complex performance ” as a Russian circus saxophonist who defects to the United States — during a trip to Bloomingdale’s, no less — in this delightful fish-out-of-water story from the co-writer and director Paul Mazursky (“Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice”). It’s a gentle tale of a good man making his way in the Big Apple, which Mazursky pitches with both Capra-esque innocence and a pointed perspective; everyone our hero encounters is, in their own way, also not from here , making this warm comedy-drama a tender Valentine to found families and new beginnings. (For more ’80s comedy-drama, try “ Birdy .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Role Models’ (2008)

The raw edge yet soft heart of this wildly funny bad-boy comedy, and the presence of the frequent leading man Paul Rudd, might lead you to assume it’s the work of Judd Apatow. But the roots of “Role Models” go back farther than that — the director is David Wain, one of the minds behind the comedy troupe the State — and several of its members (including Kerri Kenney-Silver, Joe Lo Truglio and Ken Marino) turn up in supporting roles. Rudd and Seann William Scott star as a pair of irresponsible energy drink salesmen who are ordered to perform community service, and wind up in a Big Brother-type program, mentoring a foul-mouthed kid and a cosplaying nerd.

‘The Hunger Games’ (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, a resourceful teenager who volunteers to compete in the decadent, dangerous televised title event, in which teens engage in blood sport to entertain the rich. The film series hadn’t quite found its footing in this initial outing, but it contains much of what makes the movies memorable — the tense action sequences, the striking costume and production design and especially Lawrence’s tough, muscular work in the leading role. (Netflix is also streaming the sequels “ The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ,” “ The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 ” and “ The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Wild Things’ (1998)

The impressive 1990s run of erotic thrillers was nearly at its end when the director John McNaughton (“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”) directed his entry into the subgenre, which gleefully revels in the sordidness of its story while also slyly winking at its conventions — he has his sleazy cake and eats it too. Denise Richards became a star via her hubba-hubba turn as a rich bad girl who accuses a teacher (Matt Dillon) of assault, a charge echoed by a tough young woman from the wrong side of the tracks (Neve Campbell, turning her “Scream” image inside out). But that’s just the setup; the clever script is filled with reverses, reveals and double-crosses, resulting in a trashy delight that is equal parts Hitchcock and Cinemax After Dark. (If you love lurid erotic thrillers, try Brian DePalma’s “ Body Double .”)

‘A Single Man’ (2009)

The fashion designer turned filmmaker Tom Ford made his feature directorial debut with this moving, melancholy (and, unsurprisingly, aesthetically stunning) adaptation of the novel by Christopher Isherwood. An Oscar-nominated Colin Firth stars as George, a college professor and “bachelor,” as gay men in his era were so often euphemistically known. Accompanying George through one long, difficult day — the anniversary of the death of his boyfriend — Ford burrows deep into the tortured psyche of his protagonist, and Firth is up to the challenge, playing the role with what Manohla Dargis called “ a magnificent depth of feeling .” Watch on Netflix

‘Inside Man’ (2006)

Spike Lee is the heir apparent to Sidney Lumet as New York’s most reliable hometown filmmaker, so it only makes sense that he would eventually work his way around to a homage to Lumet’s sweaty-city classic, “Dog Day Afternoon.” In Lee’s variation, Clive Owen is a cool and confident bank robber who’s interested in something much more valuable than money; Denzel Washington is at his smooth-talking movie-star best as the brilliant police hostage negotiator who’s trying to beat the criminal and the clock. (Lee’s “ Da 5 Bloods ” is also streaming on Netflix.) Watch on Netflix

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

When this mind-melting hit from the Wachowskis landed in theaters in the spring of 1999, its shock waves reverberated throughout the filmmaking of the new millennium. Adroitly combining elements of dystopian science fiction, Asian action cinema, anime and cyberpunk, it concerns a dissatisfied hacker (Keanu Reeves) who learns that reality is an illusion and the mentors (Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss) who lead him on that journey. It is among the most imitated of blockbusters of the past quarter-century, but none have matched its relentless energy and narrative dexterity. (For more stylish ’90s action, watch “ Mr. & Mrs. Smith ” or “ Léon: The Professional .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Molly’s Game’ (2017)

The Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin made his feature directorial debut with this brisk and intelligent adaptation of the memoir by Molly Bloom, who ran secret poker games for the obscenely wealthy until she got in too deep with the Russian mob. Jessica Chastain stars as Bloom, and her icy cool demeanor and rapid-fire delivery make her an ideal Sorkin heroine. Idris Elba stars as her lawyer, and the two of them perfect a rat-tat-tat back-and-forth that, at its best, recalls Hepburn and Tracy. It’s an engaging picture, filled with solid performers and smart dialogue.

‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’ (2006)

Will Ferrell re-teamed with his “Anchorman” co-writer and director, Adam McKay, for this goofy sports comedy, which features Ferrell playing another self-assured blowhard surrounded by sycophants. This time, that character is Ricky Bobby, a NASCAR superstar whose life of high speeds and lucrative endorsements comes to a crashing halt. It’s as broad and silly as his and McKay’s previous collaboration, but it also hints at McKay’s later pivot to social commentary (he was a multiple Oscar nominee for “The Big Short”). McKay sets this story in the so-called Red States, and subtly subverts both the conventional wisdom about that world and about those it sees as outsiders. To do all of that, while landing so many solid laughs, is no small accomplishment. (For more wild comedy, stream “ No Hard Feelings ” or “ The Nutty Professor .”) Watch on Netflix

‘American Graffiti’ (1973)

Between his debut feature “THX 1138” and the seismic sensation of “Star Wars,” George Lucas made a pit stop in the genre of coming-of-age comedy-drama with this teen-centered smash, which he co-wrote and directed. Set entirely on the last night of high school, circa 1962, “Graffiti” tells several stories of seniors standing on the precipice of “real life,” and not sure where to go next. The prescience of the casting is stunning — it’s filled with soon-to-be-stars, including Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, Suzanne Somers and Cindy Williams — the period music is delightful and the one-crazy-night vibes are immaculate. (If you like comedy and cars, check out “ Smokey and the Bandit ” and “ Baby Driver .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ (2022)

The set-up is a familiar one: a group of highly attractive and wildly irresponsible young people are isolated in a remote location, where they begin turning up dead, one by one. But the director, Halina Reijn, isn’t just cranking out another “Friday the 13th” ripoff; this contemporary thriller-comedy is less interested in a high body count than a biting satire of contemporary narcissism. Sarah DeLappe and Kristen Roupenian’s savvy screenplay has a keen ear for the therapy-speak and personal branding of today’s 20-somethings, while the first-rate ensemble uses its considerable charisma to make their characters fascinatingly repellent; the “Shiva Baby” and “Bottoms” star Rachel Sennott and the “S.N.L.” fave Pete Davidson are the standouts. Watch on Netflix

‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’ (1978)

This wild blockbuster launched the film career of John Belushi, the “slobs vs. snobs” comedy subgenre and the mainstream aspirations of the subversive humor magazine National Lampoon. Following a pair of misfit fraternity pledges (Tom Hulce and Stephen Furst) through their first semester at Faber College in 1962, the randy screenplay by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller wonders if perhaps that last year of American innocence wasn’t so innocent after all. A deliriously funny rampage of food fights, toga parties, horse abductions and wrecked parades ensues, with the director John Landis engagingly orchestrating the chaos and Belushi stealing every possible scene as the frat’s resident party animal. (For more classic comedy, try “ Richard Pryor: Live in Concert ,” “ Top Secret! ” and “ Micki & Maude .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)

The impressive haul of Academy Awards accumulated by this indie smash — best picture, best actress Michelle Yeoh, best supporting actor Ke Huy Quan, best supporting actress Jamie Lee Curtis and best directors and original screenplay to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known collectively as the Daniels — make it sounds like some kind of awards-bait prestige picture. It’s anything but; this is a madcap mixture of every genre under the sun, in which a harried laundromat owner (Yeoh) unlocks the “multiverse,” and the various lives she is living simultaneously within it. It’s an “ exuberant swirl of genre anarchy ,” A.O. Scott wrote, in which the multiverse conceit allows the Daniels to make several movies (madcap comedy, martial-arts extravaganza, tender relationship drama, science fiction dreamscape), well, all at once. Watch on Netflix

‘She’s Gotta Have It’ (1986)

Spike Lee helped launch the ’90s indie movement and a renewed interest in Black cinema, to say nothing of his own durable career, with this, his feature debut. Lee writes, directs, edits and memorably co-stars as Mars Blackmon, one of the three men vying for the physical and emotional attention of Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a Brooklyn graphic artist who has decided not to settle for any one suitor. The picture’s low-budget seams occasionally show, and its sexual politics are occasionally out of date (particularly in the third act). But the cinematic energy, fierce comic spirit and unflinching realism of Lee’s best work is already on display in this formative effort, which also inspired a Netflix series adaptation . Watch on Netflix

‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ (1992)

David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, about real estate salesmen and the desperate measures they’ll take to keep their lousy jobs, was adapted into one of the most potent pictures of the ’90s, thanks to the brute force of Mamet’s dialogue and one of the most remarkable ensemble casts of the era: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce and Alan Arkin . It’s something of a profanity-laden counterpart to “Death of a Salesman,” its scorched-earth monologues and inventive insults providing the flashy surface to a melancholy indictment of empty capitalism and toxic masculinity . Our critic called it “a movie for which everybody deserves awards .” (Pacino is also excellent in “ The Irishman .” ) Watch on Netflix

‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ (1995)

Denzel Washington is terrific — smolderingly sexy, offhandedly funny, endlessly engaging — as Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, a ’40s-era private detective, in this beautifully crafted adaptation of Walter Mosley’s novel, from the director Carl Franklin (“One False Move”). Yet even with that great performance at its center, Don Cheadle steals the show as “Mouse,” Rawlins’s troublemaking best friend; this was Cheadle’s breakthrough role, and he makes every scene crackle with energy and unpredictability. “Devil” was based on the first of Mosley’s series of 16 Rawlins novels (to date), and in a just world, we’d have seen Washington play him 15 more times. But at least we got this one. Watch on Netflix

‘Train to Busan’ (2016)

This white-knuckle zombie-apocalypse thriller from the South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, set onboard a train hurtling toward possible safety, is a fantastic entry into the “relentless action in a confined space” subgenre (recalling “Snowpiercer,” “The Raid,” “Dredd” and the granddaddy of them all, “Die Hard”). The set pieces are energetic, the makeup effects are convincing, and the storytelling is ruthless. (Don’t get too attached to anyone.) But it’s not all blood and bluster; there’s a patient, deliberate setup before the orgy of gore and mayhem, leading to a surprising outpouring of emotion at the story’s conclusion. Our critic deemed it “ often chaotic but never disorienting ” and praised its “spirited set pieces.” (For more South Korean cinema, try “ Okja ” or “ Oldboy .”)

‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’ (2023)

Aardman Animations’s high-spirited and rambunctious sequel to “Chicken Run” (2000) pulls off the tricky sequel balancing act of recapturing the magic of the original without resorting to outright, beat-by-beat imitation. Here, the lives of the chief chickens in the story are disrupted when Molly, the daughter of Ginger and Rocky, slips away from their idyllic island paradise and ends up trapped in the impenetrable fortress of a food factory. “Last time, we broke out of a chicken farm,” says Ginger. “Well, this time, we’re breaking in. ” So instead of the escape adventures that inspired the original film, “Dawn of the Nugget ” is riffing on heist movies, and cleverly; it’s impeccably designed and detailed, the laughs are plentiful and the voice performers are clearly having a ball.

‘ May December’ (2023)

As with so much of his best work, this “sly, unnerving” latest from the director Todd Haynes positions itself precariously in that hair’s breadth between drama and melodrama, between naturalism and camp. Natalie Portman, gamely satirizing actorly pretension, stars as a TV actress cast in an indie film dramatizing the scandalous relationship between a 36-year-old wife and mother and a seventh grade boy. Decades have passed, and the couple is still together, so the actress embeds in their hometown to observe them up close. Haynes winks at the “ripped-from-a-true-story” aesthetics of TV movies and indies, but he takes these people and their rampant narcissism seriously; between the broad comic beats, he finds moments of stealth, emotional brutality and piercing insight. It’s a sharp, funny, merciless movie. (Haynes’s “ Dark Waters ” is also on Netflix.) Watch on Netflix

‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)

Josh and Benny Safdie have all but singlehandedly kept the tradition of the grimy New York street movie alive in the 21st century , with films like “Heaven Knows What” and “Good Time” explicitly recalling the sweaty desperation of ’70s Gotham cinema. Their latest is also their best, featuring a career-high performance from Adam Sandler as a diamond dealer and inveterate gambler whose eternal quest for one big score puts his livelihood — and his very life — on the line. Manohla Dargis called it a “rough and glittering thing of beauty .” (The much earlier, much sillier Sandler vehicle “ Happy Gilmore ” is also on Netflix). Watch on Netflix

‘Stamped From the Beginning’ (2023)

The Oscar-winning documentarian Roger Ross Williams adapts the National Book Award-winner by Ibram X. Kendi into a thought-provoking rumination on the myths and realities of American history. Diving into the knotty legacies of Blackness, whiteness, and white supremacy, Williams brilliantly and incisively juxtaposes archival materials with contemporary insights from an array of scholars, authors and activists. The brisk, 91-minute running time leaves little room for throat-clearing; the results are blunt, provocative and pointed. (Ava DuVernay’s “ 13TH ” is a similarly stimulating exploration of these themes.)

‘Rustin’ (2023)

Bayard Rustin was not the most famous figure of the 1963 March on Washington — that was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered one of the most quoted pieces of modern oratory at its climax — but Rustin dreamed it up and made it happen. He was a fascinating figure, a driven civil rights organizer who was also openly gay (at a time when that was, to put it mildly, frowned upon) former Communist (ditto). “Rustin” wisely takes its cues from Selma , centering on a single, earth-shattering event, rather than attempting to summarize an entire life from cradle to grave. The director, George C. Wolfe, bracingly gets into the weeds, compellingly dramatizing the logistics of organizing, recruiting and raising both money and awareness for an event of this magnitude. And Colman Domingo, a valuable utility player for years now, shines big and bright in the “ galvanic title performance .” (Wolfe’s adaptation of “ Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom ” is also on Netflix.)

‘Boyz N the Hood’ (1991)

John Singleton’s debut film burned with the kind of energy and intensity that only a first-timer can produce — the feeling that they may not get another shot, so they’re making this one count. Singleton’s heartfelt story of growing up in the Crenshaw section of Los Angeles netted him Academy Award nominations for best original screenplay and best director (he was both the youngest-ever nominee in the latter category, and its first African American), and launched not only his career, but those of several cast members, including Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long and Regina King. Our critic praised Singleton for “ saying something familiar with new dramatic force , and in ways that a wide and varied audience will understand.”

‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ (2017)

This wildly out-of-the-box dark comedy plays, at first, like the sly story of an amateur sleuth: Our heroine (Melanie Lynskey), frustrated with the indifference of the police to the crime against her, hits pawn shops and confronts criminals to recover her laptop and her grandmother’s silver. But as she gets in over her head, the film’s tone subtly shifts into a key closer to that of a thriller, particularly when we meet the perpetrators, who are scarily small time (and thus have nothing to lose). Such stark tonal contrasts could sink a lesser movie, but the actor-turned-director Macon Blair never loses control, and the increasingly panicked reactions of the marvelous Ms. Lynskey to her escalating situation keep the story grounded in something resembling the real world. It’s a strange little movie, but an oddly satisfying one.

‘The Wailing’ (2016)

What begins as a “Memories of Murder”-style police procedural veers into darker, wilder territory in this unnerving and occasionally stomach-churning horror thriller from the writer and director Na Hong-jin. Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) is a policeman whose investigation of a string of grisly killings is influenced by the gossip around him: “All this happened,” he is told, “after that Japanese man arrived.” When his family is drawn into the investigation, Jong-goo discovers exactly what he’s capable of — and then things get really horrifying. The expansive 156-minute running time allows leisurely detours into character drama and bleak humor, but the picture never goes slack; there is something sinister in the air of this village, and Na builds that sense of inescapable dread with patience and power. (For more South Korean drama, stream “ Burning .”) Watch on Netflix

‘A Walk Among the Tombstones’ (2014)

It’s a real shame that Liam Neeson had already burned off the good will of his third-act man-of-action career resurgence with too many “Taken” sequels and retreads by the time this taut thriller hit theaters — because it’s far superior to any of his other pictures of the time. That’s partly thanks to the personnel; it’s based on one of a series of crackerjack novels by Lawrence Block, and adapted and directed by Scott Frank (who would later perform the same duties on “The Queen’s Gambit”). But Neeson is also at his best, imbuing cop-turned-private-eye Matthew Scudder with a mixture of soulful regret, unwavering faith and righteous indignation. (For more character-driven action-drama, try Clint Eastwood in “ The Mule .”)

‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ (2022)

This new twist on the classic tale from the Oscar-winning del Toro (who co-directed with Mark Gustafson) is, to be clear, not for the tiny ones — it’s set in Fascist-era Italy and takes several period-appropriate dark turns, while exploring the running theme of the inevitability of death. But older kids, not to mention imaginative adults, will find much to embrace here. The voice performances are terrific (with Ewan McGregor, Christoph Waltz and Tilda Swinton the standouts), the set pieces are jaw-dropping (particularly the staggering whale sequence) and the stop-motion animation is gorgeously detailed, an appropriate match of subject and form — the film itself looks as lovingly handcrafted as Geppetto’s woodwork.

‘High Flying Bird’ (2019)

The director Steven Soderbergh reunites with Andre Holland, his co-star from “ The Knick ,” for this rarest of beasts: a sports movie without any sports. The screenplay by Tarell Alvin McCraney is instead about the business of professional athletics, set during an N.B.A. lockout in which a high-powered agent (Holland) attempts to use the shutdown to turn the entire league — and all of the presumptions and hierarchies of organized sports — upside down. McCraney’s script is rich with historical references and inside-basketball shout-outs; Soderbergh’s direction is reflexively nimble, using on-the-fly photography and interviews with real N.B.A. players to give the film a sense of documentary immediacy. A.O. Scott called it “ an exhilarating and argumentative caper .”

‘Descendant’ (2022)

When the remains of the Clotilda, the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States, were discovered off the shore of Mobile, Ala., in 2019, it was physical evidence of a long-told piece of local lore — an illegal operation, long after such ships were outlawed, five years before emancipation. So this amounted to the excavation of a crime scene, prompting a giant question for the descendants of those victims: What does justice look like? Margaret Brown’s spellbinding documentary asks that question, which opens up many more thornier conversations about history, complicity and legacy. Our critic called it “ deeply attentive ” and “moving.” (Documentary lovers will also enjoy “ What Happened, Miss Simone? ” and “ Sr. ”) Watch on Netflix

‘The Imitation Game’ (2014)

Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley star in this Oscar-nominated biopic about the British mathematician Alan Turing, who went to work as a German code-cracker in World War II and, in the process, created a machine that many consider the first incarnation of the modern computer. Cumberbatch adroitly conveys the tortured brilliance of Turing, who helped save his country, and was later prosecuted by it for his homosexuality. The efficient direction by Morten Tyldum captures the immediacy and intensity of its subject’s work, yet cleverly folds in his later mistreatment as tragic counterpoint. “The Imitation Game” never quite explodes the conventions of the big-screen biopic, but it’s a sleek, well-made example of the form. (For more Oscar-nominated drama, try “ Living .”)

‘Glass Onion’ (2022)

The writer and director Rian Johnson follows up his Agatha Christie-style whodunit hit “Knives Out” with this delightfully clever comedy-mystery, featuring the further adventures of the world’s greatest detective, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, still outfitted with neckerchiefs and a deliciously Southern-fried accent). Johnson constructs a “classic detective story with equal measures of breeziness and rigor ,” again focusing on the haves and have-nots, as a gang of rich pals (including Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Dave Bautista and Kathryn Hahn) meet up on the isolated island of a Silicon Valley millionaire (Edward Norton). Janelle Monáe, not unlike Ana de Armas in the original, steals the show as the interloper who’s not what she seems. (Johnson’s “ Looper ” is also on Netflix.) Watch on Netflix

‘Emily the Criminal’ (2022)

The thumbnail summary — “Aubrey Plaza becomes a thief” — conjures up a bone-dry comedy in which her deadpan persona creates ironic friction with the criminal underworld. But “Emily the Criminal” isn’t that movie at all; it’s a “ chilly, assured thriller ,” a Michael Mann-ish procedural with nary a wink in sight, and it absolutely (albeit surprisingly) works. The writer and director John Patton Ford creates moments of real tension while also giving what feels like an insider’s view of this world of thieves and hustlers. And if Plaza’s turn as a deep-in-debt temp worker trying her hand at life on the margins sounds like novelty casting, think again — she’s spectacular. (For more indie drama, try “ To Leslie .”) Watch on Netflix

‘Miss Juneteenth’ (2020)

Of all the films that would have been sleeper hits, had they not been released in 2020 when a theatrical push was off the table, it’s hard to top this, the debut feature from the writer and director Channing Godfrey Peoples. Nicole Beharie stars as Turquoise Jones, a Texas single mother whose 15-year-old daughter (Alexis Chikaeze) is about to compete in the local Miss Juneteenth pageant that Turquoise won, once upon a time. Peoples’s screenplay sensitively explores poignant questions of opportunities lost and gained, and the mother/daughter dynamics are convincing and compelling. But the real takeaway here is Beharie, whose marvelous, lived-in performance is both inspiring and shattering.

‘Phantom Thread’ (2017)

The writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson reunited with his “There Will Be Blood” star Daniel Day-Lewis for this strange, beautiful, darkly comic romantic fable. Day-Lewis stars as Reynolds Woodcock, a fictional fashion designer in 1950s-era London; Vicky Krieps is Alma, his latest mistress and muse. He meets her as a waitress and believes her to be yet another disposable lover — only to find that he has, at long last, met his match. Gorgeously rendered and thrillingly acted, “Phantom Thread” initially seems like another portrait of a great and tortured artist, only to curdle into something more insightful (and peculiar). A.O. Scott deemed it “ funny, wrenching, full of large and small surprises .” (For more period drama, queue up “ A Passage to India ” and “ Mudbound .”)

‘American Factory’ (2019)

Documentary filmmakers have long been fascinated by the logistics and complexities of manual labor, but Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert’s recent Oscar winner for best documentary feature views these issues through a decidedly 21st-century lens. Focusing on a closed GM plant in Dayton, Ohio, that’s taken over by a Chinese auto glass company, Bognar and Reichert thoughtfully, sensitively (and often humorously) explore how cultures — both corporate and general — clash. Manohla Dargis calls it “ complex, stirring, timely and beautifully shaped, spanning continents as it surveys the past, present and possible future of American labor.” (Documentary fans should also seek out “ Dick Johnson Is Dead .”) Watch on Netflix

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The 25 best movies on Netflix

Netflix has many quality offerings, including beloved classics and compelling originals.

Well Go USA/Courtesy Everett Collection; Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; 20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

It's hard to believe that Netflix only launched in 2007, but apparently, that’s all the time it takes to change the face of movie/TV consumption. When it introduced its revolutionary mail-in rental service, Netflix was competing with businesses like movie theaters, Blockbuster, and even Tower Video. Some of those stalwarts have faltered, but Netflix has only continued to expand its library and influence.

Beyond a treasure trove of original series and features, the service has curated a laundry list of excellent films both new and old. Here are the 25 best movies on Netflix right now.

Bullet Train (2022)

David Leitch 's action comedy stars Brad Pitt as a pseudonymous assassin aboard a train filled with other quick-witted killers (among them Brian Tyree Henry , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , and Zazie Beetz ). It's violent, flashy, and inconsequential in the best way possible, making for prime escapist entertainment. " Bullet Train  doesn't have a destination, really, or a moral imperative other than mayhem," EW's critic notes . "But it's got a ticket to ride." —Declan Gallagher

Where to watch Bullet Train : Netflix

EW grade: B+ ( read the review )

Director: David Leitch

Cast: Brad Pitt, Bryan Tyree Henry, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Joey King , Zazie Beetz

Related content: How the Bullet Train team made 'action inside a tube' exciting for 2 hours

The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

Murray Close/STX Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Edge of Seventeen embraces the wonderfully awkward growing pains of being a teenage girl. Hailee Steinfeld stars as Nadine, a disaffected 17-year-old who is left mortified upon learning her older brother Darian ( Blake Jenner ) is now dating her best friend Krista ( Haley Lu Richardson ). Nadine soon offers an ultimatum to Krista: her or Darian. After Krista fails to make this binary choice, Nadine coldly ends their friendship, which sends herself down a darker path than before. " Seventeen  gets that being young can feel like  The Hunger Games  without the prizes," EW's critic writes , "at least there’s always hope — and graduation — on the other side." — Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch The Edge of Seventeen : Netflix

Director: Kelly Fremon Craig

Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson , Kyra Sedgwick , Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner

Related content: Edge of Seventeen : Hailee Steinfeld likens film to John Hughes teen comedies

Emily the Criminal (2022)

Aubrey Plaza gives one of her finest turns to date in this grounded thriller. She plays the titular down-on-her-luck felon who resorts to theft to make her way out from under a mountain of debt. "She may be a wanton criminal, but she's also a woman very much for these times," EW's critic writes . "Not the anti-heroine we knew we needed, maybe, but one that we deserve." It's a visceral, often unbearably anxious film that showcases Plaza's steeliest, most nuanced performance in a career full of them. —D.G.

Where to watch Emily the Criminal : Netflix

Director: John Patton Ford

Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Gina Gershon, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Theo Rossi, Bernardo Badillo

Related content: Aubrey Plaza on why her thriller Emily the Criminal felt like pulling off a scam

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Few films in recent memory have lived up to their title as well as Everything Everywhere All at Once . Combining science fiction, action, broad comedy, and heart-tugging drama, the film manages to cohere into an absurdist masterpiece about finding value in the life you have, without giving in to regret. Action superstar Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant living in America with her loving husband Waymond ( Ke Huy Quan ) and daughter Joy ( Stephanie Hsu ), with whom she has a strained relationship. One day, while being audited by the IRS, she accepts an offer to escape her life to help prevent a powerful force from destroying the multiverse, setting in motion a dangerous — yet deeply personal — journey. Everything Everywhere All at Once resonated with both critics and audiences, winning seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actress for Yeoh. — K.J.

Where to watch  Everything Everywhere All at Once : Netflix

EW grade:  B– ( read the review )

Directors:  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Cast:  Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan,  Jamie Lee Curtis , James Hong

Related content:   Back to the beginning:  Everything Everywhere All at Once 's journey to the Oscars

The Hunger Games film series (2012–2015)

Suzanne Collins ' best-selling Hunger Games trilogy was a natural fit for movie adaptation, resulting in a massively successful series of four films. Jennifer Lawrence reached superstardom with her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen, a brave teenager living in dystopian Panem, who volunteers to participate in the titular Hunger Games in place of her younger sister. This deadly competition finds tributes from the various districts squaring off in an arena with the goal of killing each other until only one remains. Over time, Katniss becomes a symbol of the rebellion against the corrupt Capitol. The second film, Catching Fire , is the best in the series, but we recommend a full binge of all four, especially with the late-2023 release of the prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes . —K.J. Where to watch The Hunger Games film series: Netflix EW grade (for the 2012 original): A ( read the review ) Directors: Gary Ross ( The Hunger Games ); Francis Lawrence ( Catching Fire , Mockingjay — Part 1 , Mockingjay — Part 2 ) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson , Liam Hemsworth , Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks , Stanley Tucci , Donald Sutherland Related content: Jennifer Lawrence says she'd 'drink whiskey and get stoned' with Hunger Games costars after events

It Follows (2014)

RADiUS-TWC/Everett 

David Robert Mitchell's chilling, low-fi horror opus has inspired a variety of successors, including 2022's Smile and 2023's exceptional Talk to Me . None of those films have replicated dread and unease in quite the same way as Mitchell's original, though. Maika Monroe stars as Jay, a teen who, after engaging in a one-night stand, is given an STD ("sexually transmitted demon") that she can only pass on by sleeping with someone else. If that's not bad enough, the curse also takes the form of shuffling, stalking entities that may or may not be real. —D.G.

Where to watch It Follows : Netflix

EW grade: A– ( read the review )

Director: David Robert Mitchell

Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Jake Weary, Lili Sepe, Olivia Luccardi

Related reading: It Follows is getting a sequel titled They Follow , with director and star returning

The Killer (2023)

David Fincher 's latest thriller is a white-knuckle, pared-down genre exercise that calls back to '70s exploitation films but also owes quite a bit to Anton Corbijn's The American (2010). Michael Fassbender stars as the nameless assassin who, after a hit goes wrong and his family is targeted, chases after a shadow enforcer ( Tilda Swinton ) for revenge. EW's critic observes , "With a reptilian coldness, Fassbender infuses the 'Killer' with an eerie stillness that underscores the character's lack of empathy and warmth." —D.G.

Where to watch The Killer : Netflix

EW grade: C+ ( read the review )

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Sala Baker

Related reading: The Killer and Seven director David Fincher and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker dissect their lethal partnership

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Like the best crime novels, L.A. Confidential unfurls like a yarn as it depicts a crime-riddled Los Angeles in the 1950s. This neo-noir favorite tells the intricate story of detectives whose investigation into a robbery and homicide at a coffee shop leads to revelation after revelation of the corruption that interconnects the self-proclaimed City of Angels. Featuring an all-star cast including Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe in breakout roles and Kim Basinger , who won an Oscar for her performance as a sex worker/Veronica Lake lookalike, L.A. Confidential crackles with style and well-earned plot twists. "Like Chinatown , the 1974 classic of Los Angeles depravity," writes EW's critic , "this is the rare night-world thriller that understands what bad impulses can do to good men. Even the heroes have to get down in the muck to take on the devil." — K.J. Where to watch L.A. Confidential : Netflix EW grade: A ( read the review ) Director: Curtis Hanson Cast: Kevin Spacey , Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn , Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito Related content: L.A. Confidential : Inside its iconic noir style

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (2022)

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On adapts the beloved video series of the same name from the early-2010s. The live-action/stop-motion animated hybrid film centers on the titular Marcel ( Jenny Slate ), a talking seashell who cares for his nana, Connie ( Isabella Rossellini ). A documentary filmmaker follows Marcel's activities and posts them online, making him a viral sensation and prompting him to make efforts to reunite with the rest of his family. The tender-hearted film blends humor with genuine pathos as it explores themes of family ties and the value of simple kindness. — K.J.

Where to watch Marcel the Shell With Shoes On : Netflix

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Cast: Jenny Slate, Isabella Rossellini, Rosa Salazar , Thomas Mann , Dean Fleischer Camp, Lesley Stahl, Jesse Cilio

Related reading: How Lesley Stahl wound up interviewing her tiniest subject in  Marcel the Shell With Shoes On

The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix is one of the defining movies released at the turn of the century, tapping into existential crises and technological anxieties of the time. Computer programmer Thomas Anderson ( Keanu Reeves ), a.k.a. Neo, sees his entire perspective shaken upon learning that the world in which he lives is a simulated reality called the Matrix, designed by hyper-intelligent machines who secretly use human bodies as an energy source. Neo joins a team of rebels fighting back against the machines to free humanity. Wildly ambitious and endlessly thought-provoking, The Matrix is a one-of-a-kind sci-fi masterpiece, still resonant decades later. — K.J.

Where to watch  The Matrix : Netflix

Directors:   The Wachowskis

Cast:  Keanu Reeves,  Laurence Fishburne ,  Carrie-Anne Moss , Hugo Weaving,  Joe Pantoliano

Related content:   Hugo Weaving blasts alt-right for exploiting  The Matrix : 'I am befuddled by it'

Molly's Game (2017)

Courtesy of STXfilms

Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin made his directorial debut with this engrossing biographical drama about entrepreneur Molly Bloom and her tumultuous experience in the world of high-stakes poker. Jessica Chastain plays the title role, following her journey from aspiring Olympian to bottle service waitress to running an underground poker empire. Her success is soon threatened when multiple mafias get involved in her games leading to an FBI investigation and her indictment. The film soars on the strength of Chastain's charismatic performance, a perfect match for Sorkin's signature clever dialogue. As EW's critic writes , Molly's Game is "a cool, crackling, confident film that appeals to your intelligence instead of insulting it." — K.J.

Where to watch Molly's Game : Netflix

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba , Kevin Costner , Michael Cera , Jeremy Strong , Chris O'Dowd , Bill Camp

Related content: Jessica Chastain shows her cards on  Molly's Game , poker, and Idris Elba

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

With the new TV remake with  Donald Glover  and  Maya Erskine  now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, there's no better time to revisit the 2005 film of the same name.  Brad Pitt  and  Angelina Jolie  star as John and Jane Smith, a couple whose marriage is on shaky ground. They also happen to both be skilled assassins, though neither is aware of each other's occupation. This all changes when they're both assigned to kill the same target, which complicates everything to the point that they're soon tasked with killing each other. Hijinks ensue, and the film is propelled by the undeniable chemistry between Pitt and Jolie, who  EW's critic writes  have a "chemical zing." Thus, Brangelina was born.  —K.J.

Where to watch  Mr. & Mrs. Smith : Netflix

EW grade:  N/A ( read the review )

Director:   Doug Liman

Cast:  Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie,  Adam Brody ,  Kerry Washington

Related content:   The new  Mr. & Mrs. Smith  cast: See the actors from the series vs. the movie

No Hard Feelings (2023)

This raunchy comedy represented both a strong comeback for Jennifer Lawrence after a few low-key years and a return to form for the genre, which has seen lean times as of late. It stars Lawrence as a down-on-her-luck thirtysomething who, in order to repair her car, must deflower a nerdy young man (Andrew Barth Feldman) before he goes off to college. No Hard Feelings isn't a perfect movie, but it is often laugh-out-loud funny and subversive in all the right ways without ever insisting upon itself. EW's critic calls the film "a welcome addition to a dwindling genre — and a reminder that Lawrence is one [of] Hollywood's best (and funniest) leads." —D.G.

Where to watch No Hard Feelings : Netflix

EW grade: B ( read the review )

Director: Gene Stupnitsky

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick , Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales

Related reading: How a Craigslist ad inspired Jennifer Lawrence's No Hard Feelings : 'I died laughing'

Nyad (2023)

Annette Bening gives an astonishing, Oscar-nominated performance as real-life marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who at 64 trained to become the first person to swim to Cuba. Equally riveting as Nyad's trainer is Jodie Foster (also Oscar-nominated), reminding viewers that in terms of steely confidence, someone rarely does it better than her. "The two women also share an effortless chemistry that breathes vitality into their onscreen bond and wholeheartedly sells their decades-long connection," EW's critic writes . —D.G.

Where to watch Nyad : Netflix

EW grade: B– ( read the review )

Directors: Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

Cast: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans, Luke Cosgrove, Karly Rothenberg

Related reading: How Nyad star Annette Bening and the filmmakers weathered a storm for inspiring long-distance swim

Phantom Thread (2017)

Laurie Sparham/Focus Features/Courtesy Everett

Paul Thomas Anderson 's 1950s-set costume drama is a transfixing exploration of power dynamics within a relationship, and how love can be sickening — literally. Daniel Day-Lewis , in his self-proclaimed final film role, stars as Reynolds Woodcock, a renowned fashion designer who enters a tumultuous romance with Alma ( Vicky Krieps ), a waitress whom he soon makes his muse. But Alma is much cleverer than she appears, while Reynolds is more difficult to live with than she had hoped, leading to dysfunction. Adorned with dry humor and sumptuous visuals, Phantom Thread is a masterwork from one of modern cinema's best craftsmen. — K.J.

Where to watch  Phantom Thread : Netflix

EW grade:  B ( read the review )

Director:  Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast:  Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville

Related content:   Phantom Thread  star Vicky Krieps talks holding her own with Daniel Day-Lewis

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Jane Campion 's adaptation of the Thomas Savage novel is a spellbinding Western drama about power and control. Set in 1920s Montana, the film centers on Phil Burbank ( Benedict Cumberbatch ) a cruel rancher who psychologically torments his brother ( Jesse Plemons ), sister-in-law ( Kirsten Dunst ), and her soft-spoken son Peter ( Kodi Smit-McPhee ) on the ranch they share. After Peter discovers a buried secret about Phil, he methodically plots his revenge on his uncle. Campion deservedly won an Oscar for Best Director for the film; as EW's critic praises , "being submerged in her ineffable world feels not just like two hours in the dark, but high art." — K.J.

Where to watch  The Power of the Dog : Netflix

EW grade:  A– ( read the review )

Director:  Jane Campion

Cast:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Genevieve Lemon,  Keith Carradine ,  Frances Conroy

Related content:   The Power of the Dog  director Jane Campion on her personal journey into the year's most Oscar-nominated movie

Raftar Creations/Courtesy Everett Collection

This Indian action epic rightfully broke out as an international success in 2022. Set during the British Raj in the 1920s, the film centers on Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and his plan to reunite a kidnapped girl with her mother; meanwhile, a determined officer, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan), is hot on his trail. Their lives intersect when they rescue a boy in a train accident and they form a bond, ironically unaware of each other's identities. Packed with rousing sequences (particularly the performance of the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu"), RRR is an entertaining thrill ride that puts Hollywood blockbusters to shame. —K.J.

Where to watch RRR : Netflix

Director: S.S. Rajamouli

Cast: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson , Alison Doody, Olivia Morris

Related content: Russo brothers and RRR director S.S. Rajamouli on the 'universal language' of blowing stuff up

Shrek (2001)

DreamWorks/courtesy Everett

The world of animation was fundamentally shaken by the arrival of a swamp-dweller named Shrek ( Mike Myers ). Offering a more sarcastic, ironic spin than the earnest Disney fare that dominated culture in the previous decade, DreamWorks' Shrek follows the titular ogre as his comfortable routine is disrupted when exiled fairy tale characters invade his swamp. He goes on a quest with a wise-cracked donkey ( Eddie Murphy ) to demand that the evil Lord Farquaad ( John Lithgow ) move the meddlesome creatures somewhere else — and unexpectedly finds love along the way. Sarcastic yet sweet, Shrek is all about not judging a book by its cover, or, as EW's critic writes , "a good-natured embrace of the inner ogre in everyone." — K.J.

Where to watch Shrek : Netflix

EW grade: A ( read the review )

Directors: Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson

Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz , John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel , Conrad Vernon

Related content: Eddie Murphy would bring back Donkey for potential Shrek 5 : 'I'd do it in 2 seconds'

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

This sugar-rush sequel took all of the best things about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and magnified them. It continues the tale of Miles Morales as he struggles with his newfound powers to find his place in a multi-verse of Spider-Men. If only all family-oriented animated films were this invigorating, or indeed, risk-taking. As EW's critic writes , " Across the Spider-Verse  mines greater emotional depth by exploring the familial relationships of Gwen and Miles from the perspectives of both parents and children."  —D.G.

Where to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse : Netflix

Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld , Jake Johnson , Oscar Isaac

Related reading: How Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk became the coolest character in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Tick, Tick...Boom! (2021)

Jonathan Larson was a celebrated composer and playwright most famous for penning the Broadway musical Rent . He also wrote a semi-autobiographical musical based on his life called Tick, Tick...Boom! , which Lin-Manuel Miranda adapted to this well-received musical drama. Andrew Garfield , in an Oscar-nominated turn, stars as Larson, following his struggle to mount a musical while dealing with a tumultuous personal life. " Tick, Tick… Boom!  is a totem for the thrills and trials of making art, with all the sacrifices and empathy it requires," EW's critic writes. — K.J.

Where to watch tick, tick...BOOM! : Netflix

Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús , Joshua Henry, Judith Light , Vanessa Hudgens

Related content: How  Tick, Tick... Boom!  pulled off that Broadway star-studded diner scene

Triple Frontier (2019)

J.C. Chandor 's masculine action riff, about a group of special ops planning a heist in South America, is a stark contrast to his earlier, more patient efforts in 2011's Margin Call , 2013's All Is Lost , or 2014's A Most Violent Year (his masterpiece). While not as thematically strong as those films, Triple Frontier offers a dose of adrenaline that, much like The Strangers , harkens back to a forgotten era of mid-'70s B pictures. "There may be no honor among thieves," EW's critic writes , "but  Triple Frontier certainly makes watching them pretty entertaining."  —D.G.

Where to watch Triple Frontier : Netflix

Director: J.C. Chandor

Cast: Ben Affleck , Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam , Pedro Pascal , Garrett Hedlund

Related reading: The 15 best Pedro Pascal movies and TV shows, ranked

The Wailing (2016)

This brilliant South Korean thriller from director Na Hong-jin turns frenzied after a new villager arrives in a tight-knit community, bringing a wave of serial murders along with him. To elaborate any further would give away some of the film's best-kept twists, of which there are many. Suffice it to say, The Wailing is one of the most over-the-top, gratuitous, and devilishly fun horror pictures of the last decade. As EW's critic praised, " The Wailing  never bores as Na slathers his tale with generous supplies of atmosphere and awfulness."  —D.G.

Where to watch The Wailing : Netflix

Director: Na Hong-jin

Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, Kwak Do-won, Kim Hwan-hee, Kim Do-yoon

Related reading: The 20 best exorcism-themed movies

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More (2024)

This whimsical anthology film finds auteur director Wes Anderson bringing the stories of Roald Dahl to life. Originally released as four short films in 2023, Netflix has now assembled them all into one collection. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar , which won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short , centers on the titular character's years-long training process to be able to see without his eyes — all so he can cheat at gambling. Other shorts are The Swan (about the struggles of a bullied boy), The Rat Catcher (about, well, an exterminator of rats), and Poison (about a man who finds a snake in his bed). Anderson's flair for carefully crafted aesthetics is a throughline, as is his love of the art of storytelling. — K.J.

Where to watch The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More : Netflix

Director: Wes Anderson

Cast: Ralph Fiennes , Benedict Cumberbatch , Dev Patel , Ben Kingsley , Richard Ayoade , Rupert Friend

Related content: Wes Anderson criticizes editing of Roald Dahl books to remove 'offensive' language: 'What's done is done'

The Woman King (2022)

This entertaining action drama tells the story of the Agojie, a powerful real-life regiment of women who protected their African kingdom in the 1820s. Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca, the group's leader who mentors a spirited new arrival, Nawi (Thuso Mbedu). With their kingdom threatened by a rival tribe, General Nanisca and her crew use their well-trained skills to protect their home. Featuring a physically impressive turn from Davis as you've never seen her before, The Woman King is a rousing testament to women as warriors, with EW's critic calling it a "spirited and often thrilling action epic." — K.J.

Where to watch  The Woman King : Netflix

Director:   Gina Prince-Bythewood

Cast:  Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch , Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, John Boyega

Related content:   The woman who would be king: Viola Davis on embracing her warrior spirit for The Woman King

The Wrong Missy (2020)

Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix/Everett

On paper, The Wrong Missy is nothing new: David Spade goes on a bad date with Lauren Lapkus, whose name is Missy, and then means to invite a cute girl (Molly Sims), hilariously also named Missy, with him on a company retreat to Hawaii. (No points for guessing which Missy ends up on the trip.) The film coasts by on a general likability, but if not for Lapkus' performance, the story would be lost at sea. She glues the entire enterprise together with a mixture of well-played raunch and genuine pathos, selling the moment and keeping the plot bouncing along to the next joke. —D.G.

Where to watch The Wrong Missy : Netflix

Director: Tyler Spindel

Cast: Lauren Lapkus, David Spade, Molly Sims, Jackie Sandler, Rob Schneider

Related content: The best Saturday Night Live cast members, ranked

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The 80 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (May 2024)

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney heat up Anyone But You

PSA: Anyone But You , the romantic comedy movie that made all the romantic comedy movie fans say, "See? Hollywood should start making big studio romantic comedy movies again," is now on Netflix. It joins our list of the best movies to watch on Netflix right now, alongside the British journalism drama Scoop , the horror comedy  Bodies Bodies Bodies , and the Adam Sandler sci-fi film Spaceman . 

This is a list of the best movies to watch on Netflix right now . To keep things relevant, we're specifically highlighting the best recent releases, Netflix originals, and some of our own personal favorites.

Last updated May 2; newer additions are at the top.

Anyone But You

For fans of : When people who look like dolls kiss each other

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, Anyone but You

Director:  Will Gluck Stars:  Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, Dermott Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths Genre:  Romantic Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   52

A romantic comedy movie starring two blonde leads harkens back to the days of yore, which is probably at least some of the reason why Anyone But You was such a big hit. The film follows Bea ( Sydney Sweeney ) and Ben ( Glen Powell ), who, after their fairy tale first date turns to mutual hate, reunite at a destination wedding. And then, get this, a series of events forces them to pretend to be a couple in order to keep up appearances. Classic! Actually, it literally is classic: Anyone But You  is loosely based on the Shakespeare comedy  Much Ado About Nothing.  - Allison Picurro [ Trailer ]

For fans of : True stories, political intrigue, journalism

Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell, Scoop

Director:  Philip Martin Stars:  Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Billie Piper, Keeley Hawes Genre:  Drama Rating:  TV-14 Metacritic score:   63

In 2019, BBC Newsnight managed to land an interview with British Royal Prince Andrew to discuss his relationship with billionaire convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — that interview had major negative consequences for the prince, and would lead to his ostracism from the royal family over the next few years. This docudrama tells the story of how that incredibly unlikely interview came to be, both from the perspectives of the media and the royal family's PR liaison who was responsible for making it happen. Scoop condenses the details of this story a bit more than it needs to, but it makes up for it with riveting performances by Anderson, Piper, and Hawes and a kinetic pace that never lets you look away. - Phil Owen [ Trailer ]

Bodies Bodies Bodies

For fans of:  Gen Z horror, movies with perfect endings

Rachel Sennott, Bodies, Bodies, Bodies

Director:  Halina Reijn Stars:  Rachel Sennott, Amandla Stenberg, Pete Davidson, Lee Pace, Maria Bakalova, and Chase Sui Wonders Genre:  Horror Rating:  R Metacritic score:   69

A24 is putting some of its fine movies on Netflix, but the big deal it has with Warner Bros. Discovery (and therefore Max) means that the movies Netflix does get won't be there for long. So watch this horror flick about a group of friends who play some deadly games at a secluded mansion before it leaves the service. With a distinct Gen Z flavor, an escalating sense of paranoia, and an ending that just tickled me, it's the perfect "I don't know what to watch tonight" watch. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

More recommendations:

• The best TV shows on Netflix right now
• Everything coming to and leaving on Netflix
• What to watch on Amazon, Hulu, HBO Max, and more in May

For fans of:  Adam Sandler being more serious, space movies

Adam Sandler, Spaceman

Director:  Johan Renck Stars:  Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano, Isabella Rosselini, Lena lin Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   55

The Sandman has become the Spaceman.  Adam Sandler 's latest foray into dramatic acting sees him playing an astronaut who may be losing his damned mind. Six months into a lone mission in space and on the brink of insanity, he gets the psychological and emotional support he needs from a giant talking space spider (voiced by  Paul Dano ). So yeah, things are going just fine for him.  Spaceman  is based on the 2017 novel  Spaceman of Bohemia  by Czech author Jaroslav Kalfař. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Greatest Night in Pop

For fans of:  Star power, the process of collaboration, crazy Michael Jackson stories

Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie, The Greatest Night in Pop

Director:  Bao Nguyen Stars:  Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Dionne Warwick, Huey Lewis, and a whole lot of others Genre:  Documentary Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:   69

'80s kids remember the charity anthem "We Are the World," a massive collaboration put together between Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Bob Geldof, Harry Belafonte, and Quincy Jones to bring awareness to famine in Africa that brought together dozens of pop music's biggest stars. This documentary with tons of behind-the-scenes footage charts its creation, from Jackson's humming of a melody to the ultra-secretive recording session to its impact (it's still the ninth-best selling physical single of all-time), and it's all guided by the charismatic Richie, whose recounting of meeting with Jackson in his animal-filled house kicks off this unbelievable story. It's worth watching just to see Bob Dylan look very uncomfortable the entire time. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Society of the Snow

For fans of:  Survival stories, cannibalism

Enzo Vogrincic, Society of the Snow

Director:  J.A. Bayona Stars:  Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Paradella, Matías Recalt, and Esteban Bigliardi Genre:  Drama, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   72

The disaster of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in 1972 has been covered in many books and movies, but J.A. Bayona's take stands on its own thanks to some heart-pounding action sequences. The film covers the survivors of a plane crash in the Andes, and the lengths — including cannibalism — to which they had to go to see the next day. Society of the Snow is one of Netflix's 2024 Oscar nominees, most notably for its nomination for Best International Feature. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Fighting The Man, stacked casts, diamond hands

Paul Dano, Dumb Money

Director:  Craig Gillespie Stars:  Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Pete Davidson, America Ferrera, Shailene Woodley, Nick Offerman, Sebastian Stan, Vincent D'Onofrio Genre:  Comedy, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   66

**This is not financial advice** The GameStop stock saga of 2021 was one of the wildest things to happen during a time when wild things were happening all the time. In this comedic look at the financial battle between retail traders and the monolithic power of Wall Street, Paul Dano plays Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty, aka DeepF---ingValue, who used Reddit and YouTube to rally retail investors toward short squeezing hedge funds out of billions by investing in GameStop. It's a story that will give you hope and make you mad at the same time. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Biopics, romance, musical icons

Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan,  Maestro

Director:  Bradley Cooper Stars:  Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke Genre:   Rating:  R Metacritic score:   77

The expertly composed Maestro  raked in Oscar nominations this season. In addition to directing and writing this biopic about composer Leonard Bernstein,  Bradley Cooper  stars in the leading role, opposite  Carey Mulligan  as Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre. It's hardly surprising that critics are  heaping praise on  both lead performances. - Kat Moon   [ Trailer ]

May December

For fans of:  Dark slow-burns, melodrama

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore,  May December

Director:  Todd Haynes Stars:  Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charles Melton Genre:  Drama, romance Rating:  R Metacritic score:   85

One of this winter's buzziest films — and an Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay — has landed on Netflix. In  May December , Gracie  (Julianne Moore ) and Joe's ( Charles Melton ) marriage threatens to crumble when an actor shows up on their porch one day. To prepare for a film, Elizabeth ( Natalie Portman ) has made it her goal to learn about their controversial relationship beyond the tabloid headlines from two decades ago. But what happens when the actor takes her research a little too far? - Kat Moon   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: David Fincher, relatable psychopaths

Michael Fassbender, The Killer

Director:  David Fincher Stars:  Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton Genre:  Action, Thriller, Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   73

David Fincher 's newest project,  The Killer , is based on the French graphic novel series of the same name that was first published in 1998. The film stars  Michael Fassbender  as an assassin bent on fulfilling his mission without letting emotions cloud his judgment.  Charles Parnell ,  Kerry O'Malley ,  Sala Baker , Sophie Charlotte, and  Tilda Swinton  round out the cast.  The Killer 's trailer promises a chilling energy signature to Fincher's films, as well as high-octane, smoothly choreographed action scenes. - Kat Moon   [ Trailer ]

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

For fans of: Spider-versity and Spider-people, sequels that are as good as the original

Director:  Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Stars:  Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson Genre:  Animation, Action, Fantasy Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   86

Rarely do sequels match the energy of the original, but in this case, Across the Spider-Verse , the sequel to 2018's Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , should clear some space for more trophies. Miles Morales ( Shameik Moore ) returns as a more established hero and travels the Spider-Verse with Gwen ( Hailee Steinfeld ), where they, along with a group of various Spider-People from different universes, must stop a new evil. The animation is incredible, the beats are delicious, and the emotional story hits hard. This is as close to a must-watch as there is. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

The Saint of Second Chances

For fans of: Going to baseball games but not to watch baseball, fathers and sons and daughters

Rebecca and Mike Veeck, The Saint of Second Chances

Director:  Jeff Malmberg and Morgan Neville Stars:  Charlie Day, Jeff Daniels (narrator) Genre:  Documentary, Sports, Comedy Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   71

This documentary is less a historical document and more of a series of true tall tales passed down from generation to generation about the Veeck family, notably Bill Veeck, the beloved and fun-loving owner of the Chicago White Sox in the 1970s, and his son Mike, whose up-and-down relationship with his dad — which hit a low after Mike's brainchild, the infamous "Disco Sucks" night, tarnished Bill's reputation — eventually left him clawing his way back up in the world of baseball and reflecting on his relationship with his own family. Mike is charismatic as he talks about his dad and his life, and Malmberg and Neville have fun with the direction, bringing in Charlie Day to play a young Mike Veeck in reenactments. It's a heartwarming story that transcends the world of baseball. - Tim Surette  [ Trailer ]

They Cloned Tyrone

For fans of: Blaxploitation films, sci-fi/comedy

Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, and John Boyega,  They Cloned Tyrone

Director:  Juel Taylor Stars:  Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, John Boyega, David Alan Grier, Kiefer Sutherland Genre:  Comedy, Sci-Fi, Mystery Rating:  R Metacritic score:   76

It would be a shame if  They Cloned Tyrone  got lost in the Netflix shuffle. The sci-fi mystery is director  Juel Taylor 's feature film debut, and boasts a trio of standout lead performances from  John Boyega ,  Teyonah Parris , and  Jamie Foxx , playing three people thrown together by circumstance who, after a shooting in their neighborhood, find themselves wrapped up in an increasingly bizarre government conspiracy. Their search for answers leads them down an eerie path, and to say more would be a disservice to this funny, inventive film. - Allison Picurro  [ Trailer ]

The Deepest Breath

For fans of: Sacrifice, stunning underwater shots,  Fire of Love

Alessia Zecchini, The Deepest Breath

Director:  Laura McGann Stars:  Alessia Zecchini, Stephen Keenan Genre:  Documentary Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   70

The A24-produced documentary about a couple at the top of the freediving world really delves into what drives people to risk everything to be the best. World champion freediver Alessia Zecchini and Irish safety diving instructor Stephen Keenan seemed destined to meet, but their passion for exploring beneath the surface and risk-taking meant danger would always be near what they loved to do. There are some interesting storytelling choices made by director Laura McGann that some say border on manipulation, but the end result is worth it, and no one can deny that the stunning and treacherous underwater footage of the dives will make your heart pound.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ] 

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

For fans of: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , cats, cool as heck villains

Antonio Banderas,  Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Director:  Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford Stars:  Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Florence Pugh, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura Genre:  Animation Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   73

A member of the excellent class of 2023 Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a dazzling sequel to the 2011 Puss in Boots film, though it exceeds it in every way. Slightly darker than its predecessor, as its main focus is on death — Puss comes dangerously close to expiring his nine lives — The Last Wish still manages to be very family-friendly with its colorful characters and comedy, thanks to an excellent voice cast that includes new franchise members John Mulaney, Florence Pugh, and Wagner Moura. It was also clearly influenced by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , which you'll notice in its animation style. I love this movie.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ] 

For fans of: Queer-friendly messages, dazzling animation

Director:  Nick Bruno, Troy Quane Stars:  Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Beck Bennett, RuPaul, Lorraine Toussaint Genre:  Animation, Action, Sci-fi Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   75

This charming animated movie about not putting labels on people may seem pretty typical, but it relays that message well and is the rare family-friendly film with LGBTQ+ themes. (The film was reportedly delayed multiple times and eventually canceled in 2021 by boneheaded Disney leadership because of its LGBTQ+ storyline , before being revived by Annapurna and Netflix.) Based on the award-winning graphic novel by ND Stevenson, Nimona features  Riz Ahmed as the voice of a disgraced knight whose only chance at redemption is a rambunctious, shapeshifting teenager ( Chloë Grace Moretz ). Set in a world that evokes science-fiction and D&D fantasy, it's a feast for the eyes, but it's your heart that will feel the fullest by the end.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ] 

King of Clones

For fans of: Ethics, science, cloning, dogs that look alike

Director:  Aditya Thayi Stars:  Woo-suk Hwang Genre:  Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   n/a

Scientific breakthroughs aren't without their moral dilemmas — sure we COULD have jetpack backpacks, but how do you keep grandma from rocketing into a wall? — and this Netflix film focuses on the moral and ethical questions of cloning. The idea is framed around the story of South Korean scientist Woo-suk Hwang, who rose to fame as a pioneer of xeroxing living things but then became vilified for breaking the rules.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ] 

Extraction 2

For fans of: Chris Hemsworth, brutal action

Chris Hemsworth, Extraction 2

Director:  Sam Hargrave Stars:  Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Olga Kurylenko Genre:  Action, Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   57

The sequel to one of Netflix's biggest movies ever continues the "story" of a mercenary (Hemsworth) whose skillset includes... extraction. I say "story" because the real reason to watch this (and its prequel) is for the mindless action and violence, which flows so copiously  that you can smell the shrapnel.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ] 

Longest Third Date

For fans of:  Watching YOLOers make mistakes, COVID flashbacks, dating horror stories, man buns

Matt Robertson and Khani Le,  Longest Third Date

Director:  Brent Hodge Stars:  Khani Le, Matt Robertson Genre:  Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   n/a

You know those annoying people who film every second of their lives? Matt Robertson is one of those guys, but in a rare case of "I'll allow it," I'll allow it. Matt suggested to an online match that they spend their third date on an adventure and — as young people are wont to do — make the shortsighted decision to fly to Costa Rica together. Even when they were just getting to know each other. The problem? They left in March 2020. After they landed, the world went into lockdown, stranding them together on an island paradise that became an island prison. This is their story.  -Tim Surette [ Trailer ] 

Kill Boksoon

For fans of:  Female assassins, overworked moms

Lee Yeon and Jeon Do-Yeon, Kill Boksoon

Director:  Sung-hyun Byun Stars:  Do-yeon Jeon, Esom, Fahim Fazli, Gyo-hwan Koo, Jeong-min Hwang, Kyung-gu Sol Genre:  Action, Thriller Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   67

This Korean action film features plenty of clichés — a seasoned assassin whose personal life gets in the way of work agrees to one last mission before retirement and decides she can't go through with the killing for moral reasons — but that's OK, since it executes them all pretty well and features a great performance from Do-yeon Jeon as a woman who flips back and forth between heartless killer and doting mother to her teenage daughter. Violent, stylish, and tense, it's worth a watch for fans of Korean dramas and action flicks. -Tim Surette [ Trailer ] 

All Quiet on the Western Front

For fans of:  Classic literature, anti-war war movies

Director:  Edward Berger Stars:  Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl, Sebastian Hülk Genre:  Drama, War Rating:  R Metacritic score:   75

This epic adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's classic and ever-timely 1929 anti-war novel is one of the best Netflix Original movies of 2022, and the winner of the Best International Film award at the 2023 Academy Awards as well as a nominee for Best Picture. It tells the story of Paul Bäumer (Felix Bammerer), a 17-year-old who enlists in the Germany army and gets a firsthand look at the pointless, dehumanizing slaughter of World War I. It's a devastating film that's especially notable for composer Volker Bertelmann's modern, powerful score. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ] 

Justin Salinger, Samuel Paul Small, Tom Andrews, Lucy Liemann, Ashley Madekwe, and Bukky Bakray, The Strays

Year:  2023 Director:  Nathaniel Martello-White Stars:  Ashley Madekwe, Jordan Myrie, Bukky Bakray Genre:  Drama, Thriller, Horror Rating:  NR Metacritic score:  n/a

This British horror film gets a lot of comparisons to Get Out , and rightfully so, as it not only has a similar sensory aesthetic to Jordan Peele's beloved film, but it's also steeped in race relations. Ashley Madewe stars as a light-skinned black woman living in an upper-crust predominantly white community, when she begins to have visions that others can't see. Fans and critics have been divided on most of the film, but all agree that the ending is a delightful whopper. -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

Pamela, a love story

Pamela Anderson, Pamela: A Love Story

Year:  2023 Director:  Ryan White Genre:  Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   66

Pamela Anderson shares her side of the story in this revealing documentary about her life, in which she discusses the fame, movies, shows, sex tape scandals, and men that have come to define her with the public. It's the perfect chaser to Hulu's raucous  Pam & Tommy , which Anderson wasn't part of and didn't really portray her fairly. -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker

Year:  2023 Director:  Colette Camden Genre:  Documentary, True Crime Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:  n/a

This documentary uses the tried-and-true Netflix true crime formula of an irresistibly lurid title that you can't help but click play on. Sometimes you get shameless trash, and sometimes you get surprisingly thoughtful examinations of viral fame, mental illness, and small-scale human tragedy. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker tells the story of Kai Lawrence, a young homeless man who became an internet sensation in 2013 when a news report of his spirited account of using his hatchet to save a woman from an attacker went viral. Not long after, he was convicted of murdering a different man. It's a sad tale that will make you feel for everyone involved. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

The Pale Blue Eye

Christian Bale, The Pale Blue Eye

Year:  2022 Director:  Scott Cooper Stars:  Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Robert Duvall Genre:  Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Drama, Historical Rating:  R Metacritic score:   55

Scott Cooper  writes and directs this mystery film based on Louis Bayard's 2003 novel of the same name.  Christian Bale  stars as Det. Augustus Landor, who's investigating a grisly murder at West Point in 1830 with the help of a curious cadet played by  Harry Melling . That cadet's name? Edgar Allan Poe. The extremely stacked cast also includes  Gillian Anderson ,  Charlotte Gainsbourg , and  Robert Duvall . -Liam Mathews   [ Trailer ]

White Noise

For fans of:  Postmodern literature, '80s imagery

Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, White Noise

Year:  2022 Director:  Noah Baumbach Stars:  Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy, Lars Eidinger, Jodie Turner-Smith Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   66

Adam Driver  and  Greta Gerwig  star in director  Noah Baumbach 's adaptation of Don DeLillo's classic postmodern satirical novel. I don't usually do this, but I'm going to defer to Netflix's description for this one, because it's really good: " White Noise  dramatizes a contemporary American family's attempts to deal with the mundane conflicts of everyday life while grappling with the universal mysteries of love, death, and the possibility of happiness in an uncertain world." That's exactly what it's about!  Reviews  have been more mixed than you might expect for a film with this pedigree, perhaps because DeLillo's stylized dialogue is meant to be read, not spoken aloud, so it sounds really weird, not at all like how people actually speak. But once you get on its unique wavelength, you might find White Noise to be a thought-provoking and darkly funny film. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery   

For fans of: Good old-fashioned murder mysteries, actors having fun with their personas

Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, Daniel Craig, and Leslie Odom Jr., Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Year:  2022 Director:  Rian Johnson Stars:  Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista Genre:  Mystery, Drama, Thriller, Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   81

The first  Knives Out  was a box office smash, and the sequel got the widest (though still very brief) theatrical release for a Netflix movie ever, but make no mistake, this stylish sequel is a Netflix film.  Daniel Craig  returns as master detective Benoit Blanc, who's tasked with solving a murder mystery at a Greek villa that starts out as a game and turns real. The cast includes  Edward Norton ,  Kate Hudson , and  Dave Bautista . The plotting is brilliant, the performances are delightful, and the social commentary is astute. In his  review  for TV Guide, Jordan Hoffman gave it a 9 out of 10, an exceptionally high score for any movie, let alone a Netflix Original in 2022. -Liam Mathews  [ Trailer ]

Emily the Criminal

For fans of:  Crushing student loan debt, smart indies

Aubrey Plaza, Emily The Criminal

Year:  2022 Director:  John Patton Ford Stars:  Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Gina Gershon Genre:  Drama, Crime, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   75

Aubrey Plaza stars in this crime drama that isn't technically a Netflix original but had such a small indie release that it may as well be. The White Lotus star plays the titular aspiring artist, who has a crushing amount of student debt and a past felony conviction that prevents her from getting a job that makes enough money to pay down what she owes. But then she meets a guy named Youcef ( Theo Rossi ), who runs a credit card fraud ring. It's a tight little thriller with astute social commentary. -Liam Mathews   [ Trailer ]

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

For fans of:  New takes on classic stories, that signature del Toro touch

Year:  2022 Director:  Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson Stars:  Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton Genre:  Drama, Fantasy, Animation, Family, Musical Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   80

It took  Guillermo del Toro  a decade to bring this passion project, a stop-motion adaptation of the timeless tale of the puppet who wants to be a real boy, to life. GDT's take is steeped in his signature allegorical style of dark fantasy, setting the story in Fascist 1930s Italy and making Pinocchio much less cute than the Disney version of popular imagination. In his review for TV Guide, Jordan Hoffman had particular praise for Pinocchio's character design. "He's lively and charming and lovable, but still looks like real wood," he wrote. "It truly is a work of minor magic." -Liam Mathews  [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Overgrown garden gnomes, blockbuster tropes, Norwegian troll movies

Year: 2022 Director: Roar Uthrag Stars: Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim Falck, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Rating: N/R Metacritic score: n/a

Trolls come in all shapes and sizes, from hair-raised freaky-looking dolls to leprechaun-sized B-movie stars to the mammoth monster of this Norwegian sci-fi action flick. Part Godzilla-esque kaiju movie, part Roland Emmerich disaster film, Troll executes its pea-brained premise — a skyscraper-sized creature made of mountain wreaks havoc on Norway — wonderfully, incorporating American blockbuster tropes gleefully and winking at the audience as it does so. The effects are great and the action is plentiful, and a government aide constantly talking about the movie script he's writing about a monk who can throw his head and hands as weapons is a running joke that keeps things from being too serious. You'll start the movie laughing at it; you'll end it cheering it on. -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Flo,  The Banshees of Inisherin

Florence Pugh, The Wonder

Year:  2022 Director:  Sebastian Lelio Stars:  Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Kila Lord Cassidy, Niamh Algar, Ciaran Hinds Genre:  Drama, Mystery, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   72

The Wonder is an eerie period drama film starring woman-of-the-moment Florence Pugh . She plays a nurse sent to an isolated Irish village to investigate a local girl who hasn't eaten in months. It's got those European folk horror vibes that Pugh's familiar with from  Midsommar  (minus the bear suits), plus a unique eye behind the camera by director Sebastian Lelio (just watch the opening scene to see it in action). -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Is That Black Enough for You?!?

For fans of:  Movies, culture, a smart man saying smart things

Laurence Fishburne, Is That Black Enough for You?

Year: 2022 Director: Elvis Mitchell Genre: Documentary Rating: R Metacritic score: 82

Film critic and academic Elvis Mitchell explores Black cinema in this insightful and incredibly researched documentary that features interviews with Samuel Jackson, Harry Belafonte, Whoopi Goldberg, and other legends. Starting with the early representations of Black people in movies and paying close attention to the blaxploitation era of the 1970s, Is That Black Enough for You?!? is a fascinating and illuminating cultural essay that looks at Black cinema from all angles. The always great Mitchell outdoes himself here in what should be required watching for all cinephiles. - Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

My Father's Dragon

For fans of:  When animated movies are great

Director:  Nora Twomey Stars:  Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Whoopi Goldberg, Ian McShane, Chris O'Dowd Genre:  Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Animation, Family Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   72

If you don't have a kid, you might consider picking one up to watch  My Father's Dragon , the latest animated film from Irish studio Cartoon Saloon. Cartoon Saloon gave us the outstanding  Wolfwalkers , as well as  Song of the Sea  and  The Secret of Kells , all of which were nominated for Oscars and all of which are fantastic. My Father's Dragon is an adaptation of the classic children's novel of the same name, and features the voices of Jacob Tremblay , Gaten Matarazzo , and Whoopi Goldberg . We miss the Irish accents Cartoon Saloon movies usually have, but it's still really good. -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

Enola Holmes 2

For fans of:  Millie, Bobby, Brown

Henry Cavill, Millie Bobby Brown, Louis Partridge, Enola Holmes 2

Director:  Harry Bradbeer  Stars:  Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge, David Thewlis Genre:  Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mystery Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   62

Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown 's other franchise is this energetic mystery movie series in which she plays Sherlock Holmes' little sister (Sherlock is played by Henry Cavill , himself no stranger to franchises, both on Netflix and off). The sequel is a ton of fun as Brown, "a natural born comic with a hydrogen bomb's worth of screen charisma, turns what could be just another disposable tween-and-teens romp into a genuine delight," Jordan Hoffman wrote in his review for TV Guide. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

The Good Nurse

For fans of:  Great casts, tense medical dramas, true crime

Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain, The Good Nurse

Director:  Tobias Lindholm Stars:  Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Nnamdi Asomugha, Noah Emmerich, Kim Dickens Genre:  Drama, Thriller, Crime Rating:  R Metacritic score:   64

Oscar-winners  Jessica Chastain  and  Eddie Redmayne  star in this drama about the chilling case of Charles Cullen, a nurse who is confirmed to have killed 29 people and is suspected to have possibly killed hundreds more during a period of time in which he kept getting jobs at hospitals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Redmayne plays Cullen, while Chastain plays Amy Loughren, a nurse who played a pivotal role in catching Cullen. In his review for TV Guide, Jordan Hoffman called it "tense" and "engrossing," with a better performance from Redmayne than the one that won him an Oscar. -Liam Mathews   [ Trailer ]

The Stranger

For fans of:  Good Netflix thrillers, saying "Joel Edgerton is so underrated"

Joel Edgerton, The Stranger

Director:  Thomas M. Wright Stars:  Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris Genre:  Drama, Thriller Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:   74

Joel Edgerton stars in this tense Australian crime drama as an undercover cop who befriends a murder suspect (the Mission: Impossible movies' Sean Harris ) in order to get close enough to get information, but he gets in really, really deep, and if he gets any deeper, he'll lose himself entirely. It doesn't break any new ground, but the performances are great. Not to be confused with the Harlan Coben limited series The Stranger , which is also on Netflix. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

The Munsters

For fans of: When extreme horror directors make family movies

Daniel Roebuck, Jeff Daniel Phillips, and Sheri Moon Zombie, The Munsters

Director:  Rob Zombie Stars:  Jeff Daniel Phillips, Sheri Moon Zombie, Daniel Roebuck, Sylvester McCoy, Richard Brake Genre:  Comedy, Family Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   57

Writer-director Rob Zombie ( House of 1000 Corpses , Halloween 2007) goes gentle with this earnest, PG-rated remake of The Munsters , the '60s sitcom about a family of monsters living an affectionately satirical Leave It to Beaver -style suburban life. The movie is an origin story for how Herman ( Jeff Daniel Phillips ) and Lily Munster ( Sheri Moon Zombie ) met and fell in love. The series clearly had a big influence on Zombie, who has spent his musical and theatrical career doing slightly ironic riffs on classic horror images and intellectual property. It's the first thing he's ever made that's safe for the whole family, unless you take your family with you when you dig through the ditches and burn though the witches and slam in the back of your Dragula . -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Strangers on a Train , Gen Z icons Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes, Do Revenge

Director:  Jennifer Kaytin Robinson Stars:  Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Rish Shah, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sophie Turner Genre:  Comedy, Drama Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:   66

This stylish teen revenge comedy is inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's classic Strangers on a Train , where two strangers swap targets in order to eliminate the motive and avoid being caught. In this version, high school seniors Drea ( Riverdale 's Camila Mendes ) and Eleanor ( Stranger Things '  Maya Hawke ) team up to punish each other's bullies. "What it has going for it most is Maya Hawke, a very gifted performer who carries herself through the comedy quite well," Jordan Hoffman writes in his review of the film. "Hawke makes funny faces when you least expect them, and it's fun to watch." -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

Sheng Wang: Sweet & Juicy

For fans of:  Laughing a lot

Sheng Wang, Sheng Wang: Sweet & Juicy

Director:  Ali Wong Stars:  Sheng Wang Genre:  Stand-up Special Rating:  n/a Metacritic score:  n/a

Comedian Sheng Wang has delivered one of Netflix's all-time great comedy specials, dissecting office printers, Costco pants, and snoring in his unique Texas drawl. Wang, based out of the Bay Area, keeps things irreverent but relatable with observational comedy about getting older and not giving a crap about it. It's funny from the moment he steps on stage until the second he leaves it.  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Inside the Mind of a Cat

For fans of: Saying "my cat is very empathetic"

Year: 2022 Director: Andy Mitchell Genre: Documentary, Family Rating: TV-PG Metacritic score: n/a

People like to say that cats are a mystery, but the truth is there just hasn't been a lot of research into why our feline friends are the way they are. That's starting to change. This family-friendly documentary explains the science of cats in a cute and fun way. For example, it's scientifically proven that cats know their own names, but don't always choose to respond. If you love cats, this film will help you understand them better, and if you love a cat-lover, it will help you understand them better. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

The Sea Beast

For fans of: Moana , nautical adventures arrr matey

Year:  2022 Director:  Chris Williams Stars:  Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste Genre:  Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   74

Most Netflix original kids movies are just re-dubs of second-tier CGI films from foreign studios, but  The Sea Beast , from Moana and Big Hero 6 director Chris Williams, looks like a legitimate contender for best family film of the year. A young girl stows away on her idol's ship to help him hunt gigantic sea creatures, leading to seafaring adventure and action. It's getting  great reviews , and features three TV Guide favorites as voice actors:  The Boys '  Karl Urban ,  Legion 's  Dan Stevens , and  Chernobyl 's  Jared Harris . - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Girl in the Picture

For fans of: The most messed up true crime you've ever seen in your life

The Girl in the Picture

Year:  2022 Director:  Skye Borgman Genre:  True Crime, Documentary Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:   n/a

This haunting true crime documentary tells the story of a young woman named Sharon Marshall, who was abused by her stepfather Franklin Floyd in unspeakable ways. Marshall was found dying by the side of a road in 1990, which led to an investigation that uncovered Floyd's crimes. The documentary is structured around the unbelievable twists in the things Floyd did, but unlike most true crime documentaries like this, it always cares more about the victims than the perpetrator, which keeps it from getting too lurid. -Liam Mathews [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Dystopian thrillers, when Chris Hemsworth plays himbos

Chris Hemsworth, Spiderhead

Year:  2022 Director:  Joseph Kosinski Stars:  Miles Teller, Jurnee Smollett, Chris Hemsworth Genre:  Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   55

This expensive movie has unusually literary background for a Netflix dystopian sci-fi thriller. It's based on a short story by MacArthur Fellowship recipient George Saunders originally published in  The New Yorker . While that seems like source material that would have to be dumbed down a lot to get made into a Netflix movie — and some of the despairing story's darkness has definitely been filtered out —  Deadpool  screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick and  Top Gun: Maverick  director Joseph Kosinski actually kept it pretty smart. It's unusually thoughtful for a Netflix blockbuster. It stars  Chris Hemsworth  as the warden of an experimental prison where mysterious pharmaceuticals are tested out on the prisoners, who include Jeff ( Miles Teller ) and Rachel ( Jurnee Smollett ). Jeff and Rachel form a special bond, which leads to them getting subjected to some mind-bending, darkly funny psychological thrills.  -Liam Mathews   [ Trailer   |   Review ]

For fans of:  Adam Sandler: Serious Actor 

Adam Sandler, Hustle

Year:  2022 Director: Jeremiah Zagar Stars:  Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, Robert Duvall Genre:  Drama, Comedy, Sports Rating:  R Metacritic score:   67

In  Uncut Gems , which sadly expired from Netflix in May, the game of basketball is essentially second billed, right behind  Adam Sandler  himself. Sandler is famously a  huge basketball fan in general , so it was only a matter of time before he made a movie about it. Another reminder to the world that Sandler is a solid dramatic actor,  Hustle  is a sports drama that stars Sandler as a washed-up scout who makes it his mission to recruit a talented street ball player from Spain (Utah Jazz forward Juancho Hernangomez) into the NBA. -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Bromance, epics, insane action

Year:  2022 Director:  S.S. Rajamouli Stars:  N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan Genre:  Action, Epic Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   87

As Americans, we're pretty much just "Marvel movie, drrr drrr, Star Wars, drrr drrr," but now's your chance to expand your range to some quality action from international cinema. S.S. Rajamouli's insane epic RRR is a global phenomenon, a dazzling period adventure about two real figures from India's history who meet, form a friendship, and fight the British Raj together, and find a missing girl. With over-the-top, physics-defying action sequences, you won't care that it runs over three hours long. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood  

For fans of: The good old days, childhood memories, Waking Life

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood

Year:  2022 Director:  Richard Linklater Stars:  Jack Black, Zachary Levi, Glen Powell Genre:  Animation, Drama, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   81

Richard Linklater returns to his animation style of choice — rotoscoping, in which film is drawn over frame-by-frame for realistic movement with a dream-like feel — that he used in Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly . This time, it's used to tell a story about his very real childhood growing up in Houston in the late 1960s and a very unreal story about a 10-year-old boy who goes to the moon in a secret NASA program. It's a wistful, energetic tale of childhood innocence during a period of immense change, and Linklater nails the vibe of youthful exuberance and coming-of-age. Plus, it has a fantastic soundtrack. Watch this with your parents, they'll love it. (You will, too.)  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Tinder Swindler

For fans of:  Dating app nightmares, con jobs

Year: 2022 Director:  Felicity Morris Genre: Documentary Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:   n/a

This frightening documentary about a con man who used Tinder to — you guessed it — swindle unsuspecting ladies into handing over their credit cards and taking out loans to funnel him cash will make you want to hunt down this scumbag yourself. By putting up a front of extravagance, paid for by his current mark, this man would woo women he met on the dating app and set them up to be his next source of cash before disappearing into the internet and tropical locales where he partied his ass off on their dime. It's not a particularly well-made documentary, but the story is riveting and the victims are rightfully treated with compassion. - Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

The Lost Daughter

For fans of:  Olivia Colman, bad vacations, "Livin' on a Prayer"

Dakota Johnson and Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter

Year:  2021 Director:  Maggie Gyllenhaal Stars:  Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   86

Maggie Gyllenhaal 's directorial debut is dark, psychological goodness. In this adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel, Olivia Colman stars as Leda, a college professor on a solo trip to Greece, where she meets and becomes obsessed with Nina ( Dakota Johnson ), a young, overwhelmed mother. It all quickly turns into the vacation from hell as Nina forces Leda to confront memories of her own experience as a young mother. Jessie Buckley plays the younger version of Leda in flashbacks, while Peter Sarsgaard , Ed Harris , Dagmara Dominczyk , and Paul Mescal fill out the rest of the cast.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Hand of God

For fans of: Coming-of-age dramas, world-class directors in their prime

Filippo Scotti and Marlon Joubert, The Hand of God

Year:  2021 Director:  Paolo Sorrentino Stars:  Betty Pedrazzi, Biagio Manna, Ciro Capano Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   76

Italian movie magician Paolo Sorrentino ( The Young Pope ) is in peak form with his highly personal coming-of-age drama The Hand of God , which will almost certainly be nominated in the International Feature Film category at next year's Oscars. Set in the 1980s in Naples, Italy, The Hand of God follows a teen through the ups and downs of life, and ties it together with soccer star Diego Maradona's infamous "hand of god" play. Though some critics note its messiness, no one can deny that it's absolutely gorgeous. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Power of the Dog

For fans of: Tension, Benedict Cumberbatch being a big ol' meanie

Kodi Smit-McPhee and Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog

Year:  2021 Director:  Jane Campion Stars:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   89

Jane Campion's first film since 2009 heads out on the range with one mean cowboy in Benedict Cumberbatch . The 1925-set Western quickly reaches a boil and holds it as a rancher ( Jesse Plemons ) gets a new wife ( Kirsten Dunst ) whom his brother (Cumberbatch) takes a strong disliking to. It's a masterclass of simmering tension and spellbinding acting, but if you're here for shoot 'em ups, this Western ain't it. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Healing, the power of art

Year:  2021 Director:  Robert Greene Stars:  Dan Laurine, Ed Gavagan, Joe Eldred, Michael Sandridge, Mike Foreman, Tom Viviano Genre:  Documentary Rating:  R Metacritic score:   90

Robert Greene's gutting documentary comes to Netflix just two months after making its debut at Telluride, a quick turnaround that belies how much time went into this movie. Shot over three years, Procession  focuses on six men who each suffered abuse by Catholic priests in the diocese of Kansas City, Missouri, when they were boys. Greene's project is unique: The men, working with both Greene and a therapist who uses theater in her work, create short films about their trauma. It's an unmissable story of how to reckon with evil. - Kelly Connolly   [ Trailer ]

tick, tick... BOOM!

For fans of: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Broadway

Andrew Garfield, tick tick...Boom!

Year:  2021 Director:  Lin-Manuel Miranda Stars:  Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, Bradley Whitford Genre:  Drama, Musical Rating:  R Metacritic score:   74

Lin-Manuel Miranda has a type: musicals about guys who are worried their time is running out. And why mess with success? Miranda makes his directorial debut with this film adaptation, already racking up good reviews, of Rent creator Jonathan Larson's semi-autobiographical musical. Andrew Garfield stars as the struggling playwright, who's anxious that he hasn't accomplished enough by his upcoming 30th birthday. (The story is made more poignant by Larson's real-life early death at the age of 35, the night before Rent 's off-Broadway premiere.) Garfield is a hit in this, Vanessa Hudgens is in her element, and Bradley Whitford does a rock-solid Sondheim impersonation. - Kelly Connolly   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Stars wisecrackin', dumb action, dumber twists

Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Red Notice

Year:  2021 Director:  Lin-Manuel Miranda Stars:  Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds Genre:  Adventure, Action, Comedy Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   37

I watched this entire movie in one sitting and I had a great time, but in no reality would I say this is a good movie. It's one of those, y'know? It's a film in which the stars are secured and then you write the script. Those stars happen to be Dwayne Johnson , Gal Gadot , and Ryan Reynolds , some of the biggest celebrities on the planet, and the script sees them playing various combinations of FBI agents and art thieves, sometimes both! Add in a budget of about $200 million, and you've got yourself one of Netflix's most popular original movies ever. This is streaming candy; they can't all be Roma .  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Where the line of racial equality blurs, gorgeous black and white photos come to life

Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson, Passing

Year:  2021 Director:  Rebecca Hall Stars:  Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, Andre Holland Genre:  Drama Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   85

Would you give up your culture if it meant you could have an easier life? That's the question posed in this stirring film set in 1920s New York City that stars Tessa Thompson as a Black woman who runs into a childhood friend (Ruth Negga) who has been passing for a white woman, bringing up questions of racial identity and whitewashing. Shot entirely in black and white, the film features wonderful performances from Thompson, Negga, and André Holland.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Heartfelt stories, discovering your roots and culture

Lily, Chloe, and Sadie, Found

Year:  2021 Director:  Amanda Lipitz Genre:  Documentary Rating:  PG Metacritic score:   82

This documentary about three adopted Chinese high schoolers looking into their roots could also pass as a robot test, because if you aren't moved to tears at some point, then you're made out of tin. What makes it so effective is that it looks at adoption from every angle: the girls looking for answers and discovering their culture, their adoptive families looking to help them find their roots, the Chinese families who were forced to give up their babies under China's one child policy, and the intrepid investigator who helps adopted children find their birth parents in China. It's an emotional wallop. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Harder They Fall

For fans of: Quentin Tarantino films, Red Dead Redemption , lots of shootin'

Regina King, Idris Elba, and LaKeith Stanfield, The Harder They Fall

Year:  2021 Director:  Jeymes Samuel Stars:  Idris Elba, LaKeith Stanfield, Regina King, Jonathan Majors Genre:  Drama, Western Rating:  R Metacritic score:   68

This Netflix blockbuster is an action Western with a lot more style than you're used to. Director Jeymes Samuel takes a tried-and-true cowboy premise — a gang gets together to exact revenge on the persons responsible for the deaths of loved ones — and infuses it with gorgeous violence, snappy dialogue, and a predominantly Black cast that includes  Regina King ,  Idris Elba ,  LaKeith Stanfield ,  Jonathan Majors ,  Delroy Lindo , and  Zazie Beetz . The result is a rollicking good time and one of the gosh dang coolest films you'll see.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Couples therapy, violence, Noomi Rapace 

Aksel Hennie and Noomi Rapace, The Trip

Year:  2021 Director:  Tommy Wirkola Stars:  Aksel Hennie, Noomi Rapace Genre:  Thriller, Comedy Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   n/a

This Norwegian dark comedy follows a couple (Aksel Hennie and Noomi Rapace ) who go to a remote cabin in an attempt to repair their dissolving relationship. Little do they know that they each plan to murder each other as their solution to their problems. Even littler do they know that others are out there in the wilderness to give them even more troubles. Spectacularly violent with humor as black as the night, The Trip is a trip. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: One-man plays, Jake Gyllenhaal, thrilling phone conversations

Jake Gyllenhaal, The Guilty

Year:  2021 Director:  Antoine Fuqua Stars:  Jake Gyllenhaal Genre:  Drama, Thriller Rating:  R Metacritic score:   63

Jake Gyllenhaal plays a cop sent to desk duty at a 9-1-1 call center and becomes embroiled in a case when a woman being held against her will calls to ask for help. An adaptation of a 2018 Danish film, The Guilty is the rare intense thriller without any action as it's mostly set in the call center with Jake on the phone and only voices coming from the other end. But director Antoine Fuqua and Gyllenhaal keep things mesmerizing. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer  | Review ]

The Father Who Moves Mountains

For fans of: Cinematography, the battle between sanity and madness, fast snow & slow burns

Year:  2021 Director:  Daniel Sandu Stars:  Adrian Titieni, Bogdan Nechifor Genre:  Drama, Thriller Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:   n/a

This Romanian film follows a powerful man of means desperate to find his son after he goes missing on a mountain trek. It's not an action film, but rather a contemplative exploration of how far a man will go to save his son and at what cost to others. You'll understand why he does what he does, but you might not like him for it.  -Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Old Ways

For fans of: Witchcraft, Latin American demonology, creepy crawlies

Year:  2020 Director:  Christopher Alender Stars:  Brigitte Kali, Andrea Cortés Genre:  Horror Rating:  R Metacritic score:   67

A young journalist goes deep into the jungles of Veracruz, Mexico, for a story on indigenous people who practice ancient witchcraft, only to be kidnapped by them when they believe she is possessed by a demon. It's full of terrifying imagery, as is expected, but it's the claustrophobia of being imprisoned that really drives the horror. On top of that, there are themes of cultural identity that take it to a smarter level than your typical horror film, and visually, it's aces. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Blood Red Sky

For fans of:  Monstrous surprises, small-space horror

Peri Baumeister and Carl Koch, Blood Red Sky

Year:  2021 Director:  Peter Thorwarth Stars:  Carl Anton Koch, Peri Baumeister Genre:  Horror Rating:  R Metacritic score:   43

This German-English language action-forward horror film is set on a Transatlantic flight between Berlin and New York City that is besieged by hijackers. But they don't know that one of the passengers on board possesses supernatural powers, and will do anything to protect her young son, which sometimes means eating the bad guys. It's a taut thriller with a paranormal twist that's one of Netflix's better original horror films. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Bo Burnham: Inside

For fans of:  Existentialism, music

Year:  2021 Director:  Bo Burnham Stars:  Bo Burnham Genre:  Comedy, Musical Rating:  TV-MA Metacritic score:   98

Indie auteur  and  certified bad movie boyfriend   Bo Burnham  surprised his fans when he announced he had orchestrated a return to his comedic roots during the pandemic. With  Inside , which Burnham wrote, directed, and edited without a crew or an audience while stuck at home, he lets out his feelings through music, delivering a setlist of very catchy, very meme-worthy songs that have titles like "White Woman's Instagram" and "FaceTime with My Mom (Tonight)." The special gets in touch with the collective mood 2020 inspired in all of us -- the anguish, the despair, the horniness. Burnham's comedy has always touched on the existential, but he goes deeper than ever here. -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Realizing that the horrors of the past are still effecting the present

Year:  2021 Director:  Kristine Solakis Genre:  Documentary Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   76

Ryan Murphy and Jason Blum executive produce this documentary about Exodus International, an Evangelical group formed in the '70s that claims it could turn gay people straight through prayer and conversion therapy. What's most interesting about this film is that it features interviews with ex-leaders who are now speaking out against the movement they were part of for so many years.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of: Eric Andre, the Sacha Baron Cohen effect

Eric Andre and Lil Rey Howery, Bad Trip

Year:  2021 Director:  Kitao Sakurai Stars:  Eric André, Lil Rel Howery Genre:  Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   61

How in the world is  Bad Trip  as great as it is? There is no plausible reason why a prank movie was able to feel so fresh and hilarious in the year 2021, and yet here I am, writing about the greatness of  Bad Trip . It has a pretty loose plot (two listless best friends take a road trip so one can reunite with his high school crush), which is sort of unnecessary to the film's broad comedy, but does help with providing structure and emotional beats when needed. Anyway, that's not really why it's on this list.  Bad Trip  shines thanks to its many interactions with the unsuspecting public, who have no idea they're being filmed or that they're part of a movie. The way the film's stars, Eric Andre , Lil Rel Howery , and Tiffany Haddish , drag poor strangers into the bizarre world they've created and get them invested in their characters' fictional problems (a particularly memorable scene in which Haddish recruits the patrons of a restaurant into helping her track down Andre and Howery becomes an instant classic thanks to the passionate reaction from one woman), ends up producing the best comedic moments. Clocking in under 90 minutes,  Bad Trip  is a quick, wholeheartedly joyful watch.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Forty-Year-Old Version

For fans of:  The struggles of hitting the big 4-0, the artist's life

Year:  2020 Director:  Kitao Sakurai Stars:  Radha Blank Genre:  Comedy Rating:  R Metacritic score:   80

Soon-to-be household name Radha Blank writes, directs, and stars in this poignant comedy about a playwright who is approaching her 40th birthday but still has nothing to show for it, even after winning a coveted "30 under 30" award nearly a decade before. To reinvent her life, she breaks into rapping, spitting rhymes from her unique viewpoint and fighting to stay true to her own artistic vision. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

For fans of:  The Coen brothers, dark comedy

Tim Blake Nelson, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Year:  2018 Director:  Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Stars:  Tim Blake Nelson, Tom Waits, James Franco Genre:  Drama, Comedy Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   79

The Coen brothers strap on their spurs for this collection of short stories from the Wild West, all peppered with that trademark Coen absurdism made famous in their films Fargo and Raising Arizona . The stories range from a singing cowboy ( Tim Blake Nelson ) who's quick on the draw to a mumbling prospector ( Tom Waits ) tracked down by an opportunist to an outlaw ( James Franco ) who's no stranger to the gallows. It's a gorgeous film about opportunity in a land where there's nothing but opportunity.  -Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Da 5 Bloods

For fans of:  Spike Lee, being reminded that war is bad

Year:  2020 Director:  Spike Lee Stars:  Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Chadwick Boseman, Norm Lewis Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   82

Spike Lee 's latest is a sprawling drama split between two timelines: the first during the Vietnam War, where a group of Black soldiers band together, and the second during the present, where the surviving members, now aging veterans, return to the country in the hopes of recovering the remains of their fallen squad leader ( Chadwick Boseman , in one of his last performances) and locating the gold they buried years ago. It's a dazzling, stylized adventure, and the kind of movie that will make you walk away feeling like you learned something without skimping on character development.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

My Octopus Teacher

For fans of:  Unlikely friendships, cephalopods

Year:  2020 Director:  James Reed and Pippa Ehrlich Stars:  Craig Foster, Tom Foster Genre:  Documentary Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   82

This film about the intimate relationship between a man and his octopus won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2021. Craig Foster, a diver, buddies up with an octopus in South Africa for a year, documenting her life as she sleeps, eats, and battles sharks. The whole experience teaches Foster about life and moves him to gain appreciation for humanity's relationship with nature, as well as form a closer bond with his son. The whole thing feels a little like a more wholesome version of Guillermo del Toro's  The   Shape of Water , but I'm not here to knock anyone who dares to explore interspecies friendships.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Trial of the Chicago 7

For fans of:  Aaron Sorkin's whole thing, watered down history

Year:  2020 Director:  Aaron Sorkin Stars:  Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   76

In 1969, a group of anti-war activists were charged with conspiring to start a riot at the Democratic National Convention, and in 2019,  Aaron Sorkin  told an extremely Hollywood version of their story. Although Sorkin really simplifies a lot of the more radical politics people like Abbie Hoffman ( Sacha Baron Cohen ) and Jerry Rubin ( Jeremy Strong ) actually had, a big, showy courtroom drama -- full of grandstanding and dramatic speeches and quippy dialogue -- is a perfect vehicle for his style. It's grounded by the performances of its sprawling, star-studded cast (which also includes  Mark Rylance ,  Frank Langella , and  Michael Keaton ) and the writing, which earned Sorkin a Best Original Screenplay nod at the Oscars, and it'll teach you something about the injustices of the American justice system, which, spoiler, has always been pretty bad!  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Haunted houses, immigrant horror stories

Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dìrísù, His House

Year:  2020 Director:  Remi Weekes Stars:  Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu Genre:  Horror Rating:  TV-14 Metacritic score:   72

A refugee couple from South Sudan find their new housing in England is not what it seems in this chilling and stylish horror movie from writer-director  Remi Weekes . If you love ghosts and grief but are ready for a little more intensity,  His House  is a must-watch; it's a haunted house story that blends serious scares with thoughtful commentary on immigration and trauma. Plus, it's anchored by unmissable performances from stars  Wunmi Mosaku  and  Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù . - Kelly Connolly   [ Trailer ]

I Am Not Your Negro

For fans of:  Social justice, visual poetry, hard truths

Year:  2016 Director:  Raoul Peck Genre:  Documentary Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   95

Raoul Peck's 2016 documentary that's an adaptation of James Baldwin's manuscript about racism in America through the eyes of Black people -- specifically civil rights activists Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X, and Medgar Evans -- is a visual masterpiece with a clear message: America has failed the Black community. The powerful 2016 film brims with energy through old footage of segregation and current shots of protests in the streets in the wake of police violence against minorities. It's an essential watch to better understand America's shameful past and present. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

For fans of:  Oscar winners, art films

Year:  2018 Director:  Alfonso Cuarón Stars:  Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Fernando Grediaga Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   96

Sorry Mank , you aren't the best black-and-white film on Netflix. Not even close. Alfonso Cuaron 's 2018 personal tale of a housekeeper in Mexico to a wealthy Mexican family won Best Foreign Film, Best Director (Cuaron), and Best Cinematography (Cuaron) at the 91st Academy Awards, but could have won tons more. It's both quiet and epic in scope, balancing a fascinating relationship between a hard-working woman named Cleo and the family that relies on her, unforgettable shots involving hundreds of extras, and a sensitive story on life bubbling under the surface. – Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé

For fans of: Beyoncé, of course… and who isn't?

Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé

Year:  2019 Director:  Beyoncé, Ed Burke Stars:  Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kelly Rowland Genre:  Documentary, Music Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   93

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Homecoming is perhaps the best, most impactful concert film of at least the past few years. This is Beyoncé at the absolute top of her game, showing not only her historic performance at Coachella 2018, but the emotionally and physically taxing preparation that led up to it. It's just a pleasure to watch, not only because Beyoncé's unparalleled work ethic and commitment to precision, but because of how dedicated she and her team of artists, dancers, and musicians were to making sure the performance was a celebration of Black culture. It's called Homecoming because of the way it evokes traditions made popular by homecoming concerts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and it's maybe the most entertaining history lesson you'll ever get. Also, there's a pitch-perfect Destiny's Child reunion. We love to see it.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The  To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy

For fans of: Teen rom-coms, John Hughes references

Noah Centineo and Lana Condor, To All the Boys: Always and Forever

Year:  2018-2021 Director:  Susan Johnson Stars:  Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart Genre:  Comedy, Drama, Romance Rating:  TV-14 Metacritic score:   64

Based on Jenny Han's young adult trilogy,  To All the Boys I've Loved Before took the Netflix world by storm when it debuted in 2018. The teen rom-com stars Asian American actress  Lana Condor  as Lara Jean Covey, a hopelessly romantic high schooler who pens letters to all her crushes in order to get her abundance of emotions out. But when those love letters are mailed out to the crushes by her younger sister, she's mortified -- especially because one is delivered to her older sister's boyfriend, Josh ( Israel Broussard ). To cover up her feelings for Josh, Lara Jean begins fake dating the popular and charming Peter ( Noah Centineo ) -- another love letter recipient who wants to make his ex jealous -- but old feelings die hard.  To All the Boys I've Loved Before  has an inherent sweetness to it that calls back to classic '80s films like  Say Anything...  or  Sixteen Candles . Once you've finished it, check out its sequels,  P.S. I Still Love You , which introduces yet another recipient of Lara Jean's letters, and Always and Forever , the third and final film in the saga. - Kaitlin Thomas [ Trailer ]

Always Be My Maybe

For fans of: Keanu Reeves doing the most

Randall Park and Ali Wong, Always Be My Maybe

Year:  2019 Director:  Nahnatchka Khan Stars:  Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves Genre:  Comedy, Romance Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   64

Ali Wong  co-wrote this 2019 romantic comedy in which she stars as Sasha, a celebrity chef who returns home to San Francisco to open a new restaurant and runs into her former childhood friend, Marcus (co-writer  Randall Park ). The romantic chemistry from their teenage years still remains, and after she breaks off her engagement to her fiancé after he delays their wedding yet again, Sasha attempts to embark on a new relationship with Marcus. However, his fears and her fame -- and a great guest spot from  Keanu Reeves  -- create obstacles that first have to be overcome before true happiness can be found. - Kaitlin Thomas   [ Trailer ]

Before he got recruited by the Marvel machine, Taika Waititi made Hunt for the Wilderpeople , an adventure dramedy about a young delinquent ( Julian Dennison ) and his reluctant foster dad ( Sam Neill ) who, after a series of mishaps and misunderstandings, become the targets of a manhunt. They go into survival mode as they hide out in the New Zealand wilderness, running into a cast of oddball characters as they evade the police. As is the case with these things, the longer they stay out on their own, the closer they get. Waititi's signature comedic style is what makes the whole thing really shine.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

The Irishman

For fans of: Impressive de-aging CGI, looooong movies

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Ray Romano, The Irishman

Year:  2019 Director:  Martin Scorsese Stars:  Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci Genre:  Drama Rating:  R Metacritic score:   94

Martin Scorsese loves telling stories about almost-great men undone by their own hubris, and The Irishman is the latest example of that. A lot was made of its three-hour runtime, and its use of CGI to de-age its stars, Robert De Niro , Joe Pesci , and Al Pacino , but those aren't the only things this film has to offer. De Niro plays Frank Sheeran, the titular Irishman, who works as a hitman alongside Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and famous Teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino), both of whom are tied to organized crime. It's an epic about power and betrayal, and contains easily the best performance De Niro's given in years.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Marriage Story

For fans of: Laura Dern memes, Adam Driver memes, being sad

Laura Dern and Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story

Year:  2019 Director:  Noah Baumbach Stars:  Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Ray Liotta Genre:  Drama Rating:  NR Metacritic score:   94

A marriage unravels in Noah Baumbach's latest, as Charlie ( Adam Driver ) and Nicole ( Scarlett Johansson ) try to keep themselves afloat during their divorce. Yes, there's definitely a lot movie going on in this movie emotionally, but isn't the most important takeaway that we got two great memes out of it? I think so.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Dolemite Is My Name

For fans of: Underdog stories, Eddie Murphy doing something different

Eddie Murphy, Dolemite Is My Name

Year:  2019 Director:  Craig Brewer Stars:  Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Keegan-Michael Key Genre:  Drama, Comedy, Biography Rating:  R Metacritic score:   76

In 1970s Los Angeles, struggling musician-comedian Rudy Ray Moore ( Eddie Murphy ) decides to create a raunchy alter ego named Dolemite in effort to get noticed. The movie highlights the way, through his work, Moore was able to help pioneer rap as a musical genre, provides wider commentary on the blaxploitation phenomenon, and touches on some of Murphy's own feelings about the critics who have commented on his films. Spoiler: He doesn't care!  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Dick Johnson Is Dead

For fans of: Crying!

Year:  2020 Director:  Kirsten Johnson Stars:  Dick Johnson, Kirsten Johnson Genre:  Documentary Rating:  PG-13 Metacritic score:   89

You should break out a box of tissues before checking out Kristen Johnson 's tender documentary about her father. When we're introduced to the 86-year-old Dick, the frightening, heartbreaking effects of his dementia are starting to show, marking what both Dick and Kristen accept to be the beginning of the end of his life. What makes this film unique is the way it blends fiction and reality: Kristen imagines ways for her dad to die that he gamely acts out, from falling down a flight of stairs to bleeding out from a head wound. The two have such an easy rapport that it's easy to laugh at their antics one minute and be horribly upset the next when Dick describes the pain of feeling his memory slip away from him in real time. It's a beautiful film quite unlike anything else.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

It should be said straight up that I'm Thinking of Ending Things ,  Charlie Kaufman 's haunting adaptation of Iain Reid's novel, is probably not for everyone. It's also not the kind of movie that will tell you exactly what it's about; it doesn't really follows a linear, cause-and-effect plot, and the story unfolds according to dream logic. I'll describe it in the best way I can, though: A woman ( Jessie Buckley ) goes on a trip with her boyfriend ( Jesse Plemons ) to visit his parents, all while she's considering breaking up with him. It only gets trippier from there! The only things that are really made clear to the audience is that the woman is a wholly unreliable narrator and nothing is as it seems. If you like your movies a little out there, this one's totally worth checking out.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

For fans of: Great performances from great actors, monologues

Chadwick Boseman,  Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Year:  2020 Director:  George C. Wolfe Stars:  Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Colman Domingo Genre:  Drama, Music Rating:  R Metacritic score:   87

Chadwick Boseman 's final film role was in this Netflix original, which is based on the Tony-nominated August Wilson play. Viola Davis stars as Ma Rainey, a powerhouse blues singer in 1927 Chicago who holds up a recording session to butt heads with her white manager, and Boseman plays a trumpeter in the recording session angling to get a foothold in the music business. On its own, it's a good film that has a lot to say about race and music ownership, but the performances from Davis and Boseman elevate it.  -Aliison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Best Netflix movies: 43 amazing films to stream in May 2024

TechRadar's best Netflix movies hub is packed with instant classics and newer streaming fare

• Kids (live-action)

Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Our March '24 update sees the departure of Blonde , Godzilla vs Kong , Drive , and The Gentlemen – the last of those, perhaps weirdly, leaving the service despite its TV spin-off of the same name arriving in early March. In their place, we've added Parasite , Baby Driver , and Fight Club . Lastly, we've added in important information for each film entry, such as their runtimes, main cast, directors, age rating, and Rotten Tomatoes critics scores.

Searching for the best Netflix movies around? You've come to the right place. In this guide, you'll find a list of the 43 greatest films to watch on the world's most popular streaming platform, all of whom have been handily categorized by their primary genre to make it easier for you to find the kind of movie you enjoy the most.

Netflix 's film library is absolutely packed with great and not-so-great offerings, so how do we determine what makes it onto this list? There are three things we look for when deciding whether to add something to our best movies on Netflix guide: their popularity among users, their Rotten Tomatoes (RT) critics score, and a combination of the two. So, if a film only has a 70% RT critics rating, but is one of the most-watched movies of all-time on the world's best streaming service , it has enough to be included, according to our entertainment experts.

Want more Netflix recommendations? Read our new Netflix movies guide, which contains a small list of the latest new movies to join the service. We suggest bookmarking that article for later, though, and scouring this one first for your next favourite Netflix movie. Happy reading!

Best action movies on Netflix

Baby driver.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 113 minutes Main cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, and Kevin Spacey Director: Edgar Wright RT score: 92%

Famed British filmmaker Edgar Wright ( Scott Pilgrim vs the World , Shaun of the Dead ) put pedal to the metal with this barnstorming high-octane action-thriller in 2015.

Elgort plays 'Baby', a getaway driver who relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to get hired goons out of a jam whenever he's needed. However, when he falls for Debora (James), the woman of his dreams, 'Baby' sees a way out of his crime-based life for good – well, until he's coerced into working one final job by Doc (Spacey), which threatens the freedom and clean slate he desperately craves.

A slick and stylish flick that comes packaged with Wright's signature moviemaking style, Baby Driver is a pulsating, thrills-a-minute ride that deserves more recognition.

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Extraction 1 and 2

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 118 minutes ( Extraction 1 ); 123 minutes ( Extraction 2 ) Main cast: Chris Hemsworth and Golshifteh Farahani Director: Sam Hargrave RT score: 67% ( Extraction 1 ); 79% ( Extraction 2 )

For anyone looking for a non-stop thrill ride with some of the best action sequences in a Netflix Original movie, the Extraction franchise is worth revisiting time and again.

Marvel star Chris Hemsworth plays Tyler Rake, a black ops mercenary with a tragic past. Each film sees Rake embark on a mission to rescue someone (or numerous individuals) from a seemingly impossible situation, all the while trying to evade thugs, gang members, and other characters looking to kill Rake and those he's liberated.

Extraction 1 was a pretty good watch – and its sequel is even better thanks to its 21-minute-long, heart-pounding, intricately assembled, and dangerous one-shot sequence . Check out our review of Extraction 2 to see what we thought, and then read our exclusive chats with Hargrave to learn why the film's one shot sequence took four grueling months to shoot and what role Marvel played in Extraction 2 's surprise cameo .

Best animated movies on Netflix

Apollo 10 1/2: a space age childhood.

Age rating: 12 Runtime: 98 minutes Main cast: Jack Black, Bill Wise, Lee Eddy, Milo Coy, Zachary Levi, and Glen Powell Director: Richard Linklater RT score : 91%

If you’re keen to mix up your movie-watching diet, films don't come more unconventional than Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood . Linklater's ( Boyhood ) 2022 animated feature, which tells the story of the 1969 moon landing from multiple perspectives, is a sweet and nostalgic visual feast for the eyes that'll hug at the heartstrings of anyone who's dreamed of heading to space.

Apollo 10 1/2 shares the visual style of Linklater’s previous animation – 2006's A Scanner Darkly – and features The Super Mario Bros. Movie 's Jack Black, Shazam! Fury of the Gods ' Zachary Levi, and Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell in various voice acting roles. Long title notwithstanding, it's a fascinating and visually bold take on one of history’s most iconic moments. More of this kind of films, please, Netflix.

Chicken Run

Age rating: U Runtime: 81 minutes Main cast: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks, and Imelda Stanton Directors: Peter Lord and Nick Park RT score: 97%

Few UK studios are quintessentially British than Aardman Productions – and not many animated movies are as entrenched in our fantastic sense of humour or penchant for stop-motion features than Chicken Run , one of best Netflix movies (licensed ones, anyway) of the early 2000s.

A parodical on legendary World War II movie The Great Escape , Chicken Run is a crowd-pleasing family-friendly flick that everyone will enjoy. There’s daft slapstick for the kids, sneaky adult jokes for the grown-ups, wonderfully creative set-pieces, and a thrilling story that – while pretty stock on occasion – delivers fun and emotional moments aplenty.

A Netflix exclusive sequel – Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget – is also available to stream. It's not as good as the original, but its has enough about it to keep the family entertained.

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Age rating: PG Runtime: 121 minutes Main cast: Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, and Finn Holfhard Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson RT score: 96%

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio breathed new life into Carlo Collodi's beloved 1883 fairytale – about a wooden puppet who longs to become a real boy – when it debuted on the platform in late 2022.

Shot entirely using stop-motion (in a manner akin to Netflix series  The House ), del Toro’s darker adaptation is set in 1930s Italy during Mussolini’s fascist regime and features a star-studded voice cast who bring vivacity, levity, menace, and more to each of the films' distinct characters. Easily one of the best Netflix movies of recent times, animated or otherwise – and its multiple trophy wins on the 2023 awards circuit proved it.

The Mitchells vs the Machines

Age rating: U Runtime: 114 minutes Main cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Michael Rianda, and Olivia Colman Director: Michael Rianda RT score: 97%

Netflix bought this film from Sony and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller – whose numerous acclaimed credits include The Lego Movie , 21 Jump Stree t, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – before it could be released in theaters. It's a good job it did, too, as The Mitchells vs The Machines is as charming, amusing, and incredibly heartfelt as the aforementioned flicks.

Jacobson voices Katie Mitchell, an aspiring director who's set to leave home for college – until her dad, conscious that they're not as close as they used to be, cancels her plane ticket and decides to travel across the country with Abbi for one final family road-trip. Midway through said journey, an AI seeks retribution on its billionaire creator and the world is suddenly thrown into disarray by a robot uprising.

Plenty of Spider-Verse 's visual touches are evident in this one, with 2D annotations and drawings on the already-pretty 3D visuals. A beautiful film in more ways than one and fully deserving of its spot on our best Netflix movies list.

Age rating: PG Runtime: 102 minutes Main cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, and Frances Conroy Directors: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane RT score: 92%

Based on ND Stevenson's 2015 graphic novel of the same name, Nimona is a delightfully fun, action-packed, funny, and heartwarming flick that's also unapologetically queer.

Ahmed ( Star Wars: Rogue One ) stars as Ballister Blackheart, a knight of a futurism-inspired realm who's framed for the murder of his kingdom's queen. The only individual who can get him out of a tight spot is Nimona ( The Peipheral 's Chloe Grace Moretz), a shapeshifter who the realm's knights are sworn to keep their citizens safe from. Cue an extraordinarily fun buddy cop-style tale that teaches kids to accept people for who they are.

With its authentic LGBTQ+ representation, subversive storytelling, and creative animation style, among many other positives, Nimona is a worthy inclusion in our best Netflix movies guide.

The Sea Beast

Age rating: PG Runtime: 119 minutes Main cast: Karl Urban, Zaris Angel-Hator, Jared Harris, and Dan Stevens Director: Chris Williams RT score: 94%

2022's The Sea Beast is further proof that family-friendly titan Disney doesn’t have a monopoly on layered, child-centric stories.

Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chris Williams ( Moana , Big Hero Six ), it tells the tale of famous sea monster hunter Jacob Holland (voiced by  The Boys ’ Karl Urban), who unexpectedly finds a young stowaway – Maisie Brumble (Angel Hator) – on board his seafaring vessel.

Charming, action-packed, and beautifully-rendered, The Sea Beast has been a mainstay of this guide for a long time. Not only that, but it also showed that Netflix needed to think twice about scaling back its animation department upon the film's arrival. Judging by the great animated movies we've received since, it's done just that, too.

Spirited Away

Age rating: PG Runtime: 125 minutes Main cast: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, and Susan Egan Director: Hayao Miyazaki RT score: 96%

Legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and his award-winning animation company Studio Ghibli are pretty much unmatched when it comes to gorgeous, 2D-style kid-friendly flicks. They're all beautifully animated and most are deeply moving, with plenty of rich, deep themes and subject matter than you'd expect from movies aimed squarely at your children.

Nearly all of Ghibli's films are available on Netflix, but it's Spirited Away that's arguably the studio's most famous and popular work of art (sorry, My Neighbor Totoro fans). Without giving too much away: it's about a girl named Chihiro whose parents are turned into pigs (yes, really) who then goes to work in a mystical bathhouse.

For those interested, here's a full list of Ghibli films you can watch on Netflix right now: Howl's Moving Castle , My Neighbor Totoro , Princess Mononoke , Ponyo , Pom Poko , The Wind Rises , When Marnie Was There , From Up on Poppy Hill , Whisper of the Heart , Arriety , Spirited Away , Kiki's Delivery Service , Porco Rosso , Only Yesterday , The Cat Returns , Castle in the Sky , Nausicaä , My Neighbors the Yamadas . 

Best kids movies on Netflix

Matilda: the musical.

Age rating: PG Runtime: 122 minutes Main cast: Emma Thompson, Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, and Stephen Graham Director: Matthew Warchus RT score: 93%

Heavily inspired by the successful stage musical of the same name – which itself is influenced by Roald Dahl's classic novel – Matilda the Musical is a delightful sing-a-long comedy-drama that's fun for the whole family.

Weir portrays the titular character who, as a response to her horrendous upbringing, develops telekinetic abilities. Armed with powers that can help people (and michieviously get back at those who have wronged her), Matilda puts her abilities to good and humorous use, such as taking on the wicked Crunchem Hall School headmaster Miss Trunchbull (Thompson). A superb reimagining of a beloved story whose soundtrack will live in your head for days.

Paddington 1 and 2

Age rating: PG Runtime: 95 minutes ( Paddington 1 ); 103 minutes ( Paddington 2 ) Main cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, and Samuel Joslin Director: Paul King RT score: 97% ( Paddington 1 ); 99% ( Paddington 2 )

Not that it needed saying, but Paddington and its sequel – Paddington 2 – are some of the best family movies ever made. And no, we won't be explaining why, because it's pretty much self-explanatory.

On the surface, the world-renowned marmalade sandwich-eating Peruvian bear didn't seem like the kind of character to lead a universally adored duology. As it happens, however, Paddington (voiced with a deftness, warmth, and stacks of humor by Whishaw) is an unassuming but fantastic movie star, with his two big-screen adventures proving as much.

You'll cry laughing at their slapstick moments, cry some more at its heart-wrenching (and heart-warming!) scenes, and do your best Leonardo Di Caprio pointing meme impersonation whenever a big-name star shows up. Stream two of the best Netflix movies immediately.

Best comedy movies on Netflix

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 118 minutes Main cast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, and Robert Duvall Director: Jeremiah Zagar RT score: 93%

If you were a fan of 2019's Uncut Gems (also on this list), then listen up: Hustle , a surprisingly entertaining basketball drama, aims to deliver more Adam Sandler-sized surprises. 

After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad, Stanley Sugerman (Sandler), a down-on-his-luck Philadelphia 76ers scout, takes it upon himself to bring the young phenom to the States without his team's approval. Against the odds, the pair must work to prove that they both deserve to make it big in the NBA. 

That synopsis might sound like standard sports drama fare, but Hustle earned unexpectedly glowing reviews ahead of its muted release. Trust us: this is no Jack and Jill .

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 106 minutes Main cast: Nic Cage, Pedro Pascal, and Tiffany Haddish Director: Tom Gormican RT score: 87%

As meta comedies go, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is up there with the best.

Beloved and eccentric actor Nic Cage stars as, well, Nic Cage, a fictionalized version of himself and a struggling actor who has been passed over for numerous movies. When Cage is offered $1 million to appear to be the guest of honor at a mysterious billionaire playboy's ( The Last of Us ' Pedro Pascal) birthday party, he reluctantly accepts. Little does Cage know, though, he's about to embark on a dangerous adventure that wouldn't look out of place in one of his own action movies.

With fantastic performances from Pascal and Cage – we never knew we wanted a buddy cop film starring the pair until now – as well as  a barnstorming plot that makes other action genre flicks look weak in comparison and dollops of humor, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is not to be missed. If nothing else, it'll turn you into a Cage super fan and make you want to watch all his other movies .

Best crime movies on Netflix

The irishman.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 209 minutes Main cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, and Anna Paquin Director: Martin Scorsese RT score: 95%

This threateningly long Scorsese pic attracted attention for the extensive effects work used to de-age its old stars, and it's a creative decision that's sometimes distracting. But there's no denying the appeal of seeing Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino in the same movie together for likely the last time, and this life-spanning, mostly rewarding crime epic is a suitable tribute to their collective talents. 

The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran (De Niro) as he recounts his long association with the Bufalino crime family and infamous union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). It's a languid film – and not a patch on Goodfellas – but absolutely among the best Netflix movies the streaming service has financed to date. 

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 135 minutes Main cast: Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, and Kevin Garnett Directors: Benny and Josh Safdie RT score: 91%

This sweaty-palmed thriller tells the frenetic tale of Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a jeweller and gambler who plans a gem sale that'll solve all his problems. Instead, Howard makes more and more ill-advised bets, and the walls begin to close in. 

Uncut Gems is a stressful but enthralling film with a really impressive performance from Sandler, not to mention a fantastic ensemble cast. It's a fascinating character study, as you watch Ratner begin to suffocate under the weight of his terrible decisions and inability to put anyone but himself first. A seriously underrated film.

Best drama movies on Netflix

The hand of god.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 130 minutes Main cast: Filippo Scotti, Tony Servillo, Teresa Sapoangelo, and Marlon Joubert Director: Paolo Sorrentino RT score: 83%

The Hand of God marks the movie-making return of beloved Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, and tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a young man (Filippo Scotti, standing in for a teenage Sorrentino) grappling with the pressures of growing up in 1980s Naples. 

As well as referring to the infamous goal scored by Argentine footballer (and Napoli legend) Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup, the film's title alludes to a tragic and life-affirming event that forces its protagonist to grow up quicker than he'd otherwise like. To say more risks spoiling The Hand of God 's most tender moments, though the movie's beautiful locations, hypnotic camerawork, and larger-than-life characters ensure it ranks among Sorrentino's best work. If you're a fan of Luca Guadagnino's Call Me by Your Name , add this one to your watchlist. 

Little Women

Age rating: U Runtime: 135 minutes Main cast: Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, and Eliza Scanlen Director: Greta Gerwig RT score: 95%

Little Women chronicles the domestic lives of the March sisters – Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Pugh), and Beth (Eliza Scanlan) – as they navigate romance, family tragedy, and the pressures of adulthood in 19th century Massachusetts. 

Greta Gerwig directs this (seventh) film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's revered coming-of-age novel, which manages to stand out from its lesser-celebrated siblings thanks to a star-studded cast (Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, and Meryl Streep all feature), some poignant storytelling, and an exceptional score from Alexandre Desplat. You'll laugh, cry, and maybe even pick up reading again. 

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 134 minutes Main cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Fernando Grediaga, and Daniela Demesa Director: Alfonso Cuaron RT score: 96%

An astonishing ode to motherhood in all forms, Roma is the most personal film to date from visionary director Alfonso Cuarón ( Children of Men , Gravity ). 

On paper, it's is not the easiest sell – a subtitled black and white film about a live-in housekeeper spoken almost entirely in Spanish and the indigenous Mixtec language. But Cuarón's 2018 critical hit is nonetheless riveting from a cinematic standpoint. More a series of vignettes than a traditional three-act story, it examines the life of a Mexico City family in the early 1970s during a time of great social upheaval.

Society of the Snow

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 145 minutes Main cast: Enzo Vogrincic, Augustin Padella, Esteban Bigliardi, and Simon Hempe Director: J.A. Bayona RT score: 90%

J.A. Bayona’s latest flick – based on real-life events – is a harrowing portrayal of human endurance and how our primal survival instincts assume dominance over our humanity.

Society of the Snow tells the tragic story of the 1972 Andes Air Disaster, which saw a Uruguayan rugby team crash-land in the freezing South American mountain range en route to a Chile-based tournament. Trapped in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, the 16 survivors are forced to take extreme measures in order to stay alive.

Netflix’s first movie hit of 2024 is a heart-breaking and grim tale of human morality, but one that equally shines an earnest, powerful light on surviving against all odds. One of the best Netflix movies, from a foreign language perspective, you’ll see. 

The Two Popes

Age rating: 12 Runtime: 125 minutes Main cast: Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, and Sidney Cole Director: Fernando Meirelles RT score: 89%

As soon as Pope Francis was elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013, people started asking when Jonathan Pryce – who shares a remarkable likeness with the Pontiff – might play him on screen. Netflix eventually made it come to pass, as City of God and The Constant Gardener director Fernando Meirelles took a peek through the keyholes of the Vatican. 

We’ll never know how accurate the portrayal of Francis's meetings with Benedict XVI – his more conservative predecessor (played by Anthony Hopkins) – really are, but The Two Popes is a brilliant odd couple drama, especially when the duo let their hair down to watch their teams face off in the 2014 World Cup final. 

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 109 minutes Main cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, and Elaine Cassidy Director: Sebastien Lelio RT score: 89%

Pugh ( Black Widow , Dune Part 2 ) proved her generational talent yet again in Netflix's unsettling drama-cum-horror The Wonder .  

Set in the Irish Midlands in 1862, the movie stars Pugh as an English nurse called to observe a young girl (Kíla Lord Cassidy) who remains miraculously alive and well despite not having eaten for four months. Ciarán Hinds, Niamh Algar, and Toby Jones also star in Sebastián Lelio’s period mystery.

As period dramas go, The Wonder is an absorbing and fantastic flick that confirms Pugh's ability to embody every role she plays.

Best fantasy movies on Netflix

The harry potter collection.

Age ratings: PG and 12 Runtimes: Between 138 minutes and 160 minutes Main cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, and Richard Harris Directors: Chris Columbus, Mike Newell, Alfonso Cuaron, and David Yates RT scores: Between 77% and 96%

The incredibly popular Harry Potter films don't really need a formal introduction. For anyone who's been living in a cave for the last 15 years, though: they're based on J.K. Rowling's hugely successful fantasy book series, and tell the magical story of Harry Potter, a young wizard who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Oh, and his increasingly dramatic and perilous conflict with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who wants to subjugate wizards and muggles (that's non-magic wielders) alike.

Given the franchise's worldwide fanbase, the Harry Potter films were extraordinarily successful during their theatrical run between 2001 and 2011. Cumulatively, the octet raked in $7.7 billion globally, made overnight stars of its young cast, and cemented Harry Potter as the cultural phenomenon of our times.

A TV series remake is currently in the works for Max , but we're unconvinced it'll capture the imagination, allure, and majesty of the films . Find out how to watch the Harry Potter movies in order or read our Harry Potter movies ranked piece while you're here.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 121 minutes Main cast: Ahn Seo -hyun, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Giancarlo Espostio Director: Bong Joon-ho RT score: 86%

If you've enjoyed Bong Joon-ho's Oscar Best Picture winner Parasite , you might want to check out his previous movie, Okja , which is still one of the best Netflix movies on the platform. 

It tells the bizarre tale of a young girl Mija and her best pal, an enormous creature called Okja, whose friendship comes under threat when a nasty CEO (Tilda Swinton) has evil plans for the titular animal. It's a refreshing movie with a nice angle of animal activism – a very different proposition to Parasite , for sure, but one that also demonstrates the director's ability to blend genres. 

Best history movies on Netflix

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 155 minutes Main cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, and Oliver Reed Director: Ridley Scott RT score: 79%

Epics don't come much more epic than Gladiator . Ridley Scott's brutal tale of a Roman general-turned-gladiator scooped five Oscars at the 2001 Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Actor for its star Russell Crowe) and, once you've sat through the journey that is its 155-minute runtime, it's easy to see why.

We placed Gladiator at a towering number four in our ranking of Ridley Scott movies (that's fourth out of a possible 27, by the way), and quite frankly, it's necessary viewing for any serious cinema lover and easily one of the best Netflix movies (albeit a licensed one). Altogether now: are you not entertained?!

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 140 minutes Main cast: Timothee Chalamet, Robert Pattinson, Joel Edgerton, and Sean Harris Director: David Michod RT score: 71%

Another Netflix Original, The King stars Timothée Chalamet as Henry V, a young man forced to navigate politics, war, and treachery after unexpectedly becoming king of England in the 15th century. 

This one contains all the fanfare you'd expect from a modern medieval movie, and boasts an excellent cast including Robert Pattinson, Joel Edgerton, and Sean Harris. For a reported budget of just $20 million (although you wouldn't know it), director David Michôd managed to produce one of the most engaging and visually stunning historical dramas around. Stick it on your watch list.

Best horror movies on Netflix

Army of the dead.

Age rating: 18 Runtime: 148 minutes Main cast: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, and Matthias Schweighofer Director: Zack Snyder RT score: 67%

Army of the Dead was Zack Snyder’s first feature film after his acrimonious split with Warner Bros, and it’s everything that his DC Extended Universe ( DCEU ) superhero movies weren’t: bright, colorful, action-packed, funny, and topical, even if its 45-minute introduction is a little self-indulgent.

Dave Bautista leads a strong cast as Scott Ward, a former zombie-stomping war hero who’s approached with an intriguing proposal by casino owner Bly Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada). The assignment? Enter a zombie infested Las Vegas, break into Tanaka’s casino vault, escape with his $200 million assets, and Ward and his group will receive $50 million to split between them as a reward.

Yes, the movie is as chaotic as that plot makes it sound. And, with a sequel film and TV spin-off on the way, Army of the Dead is a must-watch for fans of gratuitous blood and gore.

Halloween (1978)

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 91 minutes Main cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes, Donald Pleasance, and P.J. Soles Director: John Carpenter RT score: 96%

Few horror movies have stood the test of time better than 1978's Halloween . 

The John Carpenter-directed slasher film, which introduced us to the frighteningly iconic villain called Michael Myers, has become a staple of many people's spooky season binge watches – and with good reason. It's suspense-filled, viscerally thrilling, pretty restrained as far as on-screen violence goes (the squeamish among you will be pleased to hear that), and laid the foundations for numerous brilliant slashers that have followed since. 

A highly influential horror movie series – some sequels are much better than others – that deserves its spot on the US National Film Registry for its cultural and historical impact on the film industry, as well as a place on our best horror movies list.

Age rating: 12 Runtime: 123 minutes Main cast: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, and Murray Hamitlon Director: Steven Spielberg RT score: 97%

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 50 years since Jaws horrified audiences worldwide.

Steven Spielberg's classic horror thriller, which sees a giant great white shark terrorize a summer resort town, may be a tad on the outdated side these days (well, from an animatronic perspective, anyway). But there's no denying that one of the multi award-winning director's seminal films has inspired countless horror films since, not least those set in the unsettling depths of the world's oceans.

From its tension-riddled plot, relatable characters, extraordinary technical achievement (again, for its time), masterful cinematography, and that iconic theme tune – all of which helped it to land numerous awards – Jaws is a must-see movie. Find out where it ranks on our best Steven Spielberg movies list.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 94 minutes Main cast: Sophia Wilde, Miranda Otto, Otis Dhanji, Alexandra Jensen, and Joe Bird Directors: Danny and Michael Philippou RT score: 95%

One of 2023's best horror movies, Talk to Me follows a group of teenagers who discover they can talk to spirits using a mysterious severed and embalmed hand. Unsurprisingly, things go very, very wrong as they group mess with forces they can't control.

Talk to Me is a terrifically devised, creepy, and gripping flick that *ahem* doesn't hold your hand throughout. Its cast is fantastic, its twists and turns horrifying, and its occasional jump scares are actually that – scary. Imbued with a violent energy that never crosses the line into cruelness or gratuitousness for the sake of it, this is a frighteningly good movie you'll want to watch more than once. A worthy inclusion in our best Netflix movies article.

Best mystery movies on Netflix

Glass onion: a knives out mystery.

Age rating: 12 Runtime: 141 minutes Main cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and Leslie Odom Jr Director: Rian Johnson RT score: 92%

Knives Out wowed fans and critics alike in 2019, so sequels were understandably inevitable.

The first of those – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – is another elaborate and highly entertaining whodunnit from director Rian Johnson. Buoyed by its excellent ensemble cast and a confidence carried over from its predecessor’s success, Glass Onion is even showier and bolder than Knives Out – though the film proved exceptionally divisive among fans of Benoit Blanc's debut outing upon release. Still, fans of the murder mystery genre, Daniel Craig, and Johnson will be silly to miss out watching one of the best Netflix movies.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 113 minutes Main cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano Director: Christopher Nolan RT score: 94%

Nolan's second-ever feature film was a neo-noir brainteaser that left many film fans captivated by its mysterious story and brilliantly assembled non-linear narrative.

Memento stars Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a former insurance investigator who suffers from anterograde amnesia, which results in short-term memory loss and the inability to build new memories.

Saying anything else would spoil Memento 's thrillingly complex but highly satisfying plot. Trust us, go into this one blind (if you haven't had it spoiled for you in the 22 years since its release) and enjoy the ride. When you're done, see where it sits in our Christopher Nolan movies ranked article.

Best sci-fi movies on Netflix

Annihilation.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 115 minutes Main cast: Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac Director: Alex Garland RT score: 88%

Ex Machina director Alex Garland helms this hypnotic adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer's novel of the same name, which follows a group of explorers – led by Natalie Portman's Lena – who enter 'The Shimmer', a mysterious, quarantined zone of mutating plants and animals. 

Sci-fi fans will find plenty of aliens to enjoy here, but Annihilation is also an ambitious psychological thriller that will leave you questioning the events of its final moments. Oscar Isaac also stars alongside Portman, which should be reason enough to give this one a go (that being said, the squeamish should look elsewhere). Stick this on your best Netflix movies watchlist ASAP.

Age rating: 12 Runtime: 155 minutes Main cast: Timothee Chalamen, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Zendaya, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin Director: Denis Villeneuve RT score: 83%

2021’s Dune , a sci-fi epic directed by Denis Villeneuve that focuses on the first half of Frank Herbert's seminal novel of the same name, has arrived on Netflix UK. And, but for one issue, Dune 's Netflix debut is oh-so-nearly perfect.

It's tough to distil Dune 's expansive story down into a few lines, so you should read our Dune review to find out more about its plot. It has one of the best ensemble casts we've seen in a long time, too, as well as some absolutely stunning visuals and cinematography, a pulsating, thrills-a-minute melodrama and expansive set-pieces, and a story that's as prescient today as it was when Herbert first penned it.

They Cloned Tyrone

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 119 minutes Main cast: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris Director: Juel Taylor RT score: 95%

This genre-bending sci-fi flick launched on the same day as the cultural phenomenon known as Barbenheimer, so its viewing figures weren't all that impressive in the first couple of weeks post-release.

However, given time, people have realized They Cloned Tyrone is an absolutely brilliant movie. To discuss its plot at length is to spoil its biggest surprises, but here's a brief synopsis to give you a flavor of what to expect: "A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper." 

We thoroughly enjoyed what it has to offer on multiple levels and our  exclusive chat with John Boyega is well worth reading  for a peak behind the curtain on its production. Once you're watched it, be sure to read our  ending explainer on  They Cloned Tyrone  for Boyega's thoughts on its surprising ending .

Best superhero movies on Netflix

Spider-man: into the spider-verse.

Age rating: PG Runtime: 116 minutes Main cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Nic Cage, Mahershala Ali, Bryan Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, John Mulaney, and Kimiko Glenn Directors: Bob Perischetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman RT score: 97%

Spider-Man has had a number of great (and not so great) movie adaptations since 2002's Spider-Man . Few, though, can hold a candle to this 2019 film offering that changed the superhero and animation genres forever.

Into the Spider-Verse sees beloved superhero Miles Morales take a turn in the theatrical spotlight. In it, Miles is – yep, you guessed it – bitten by a radioactive spider, acquiring superhuman abilities in the process. Those will come in handy, too, as he looks to stop Kingpin from turning on his super collider machine and potentially destroying the multiverse as we know it. Oh, and they'll come in double-handy when Miles has to help a number of other Spider-People, including Peter B Parker and Spider-Gwen, return to their own realities when Kingpin's initial experiment goes awry.

It was a huge hit in late 2018, and its Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sequel drew even greater praise when it arrived in mid-2023. Both movies are funny, incredibly moving, gorgeous to look at, and tell a fascinating, original tale about the power of responsibility. Find out where they rank in our best Spider-Man movies list before reading up on how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order .

The Tom Holland Spider-Man trilogy

Age rating: 12 Runtimes: Between 129 and 148 minutes Main cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, and Jon Favreau Director: Jon Watts RT score: Between 91% and 93^

Not content with bringing one Spidey-centric flick (the aforementioned Into the Spider-Verse ) to UK viewers, Netflix is now home to the MCU 's Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man trilogy, too.

The Sony Pictures-developed Marvel films have been on and off the streaming titan in recent years, so it'll please fans of the wallcrawler that they're back on the platform on British shores. Led by the charismatic Holland, and with a stellar supporting cast including Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, and Jacob Batalon, these three MCU-set flicks are as enjoyable and entertaining as they are dramatic and at-times tonally dark. Our pick of the bunch? Spider-Man: No Way Home , the third and currently latest entry in the character's MCU film library that'll have you laughing, crying, and cheering in equal measure.

The Suicide Squad

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 132 minutes Main cast: Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, John Cena, Peter Capaldi, Daniela Melchior, and David Dastmalchian Director: James Gunn RT score: 90%

Former Marvel director James Gunn gave us a glimpse of what his forthcoming reboot of the DCEU – excitingly titled the DCU , of which DCU Chapter One is its first phase – might look like with this ultraviolent, funny, and emotionally engaging film that walks a fine line between bizarre and realistic.

Not to be confused with David Ayer's 2016 film of a similar name, 2021's The Suicide Squad saw iconic villains including Harley Quinn and Deadshot team up with lesser known DC antagonists, such as Ratcatcher and Polka Dot Man, to form Task Force X, a group of superpowered miscreants sent on a suicide mission to uncover some mysterious goings-on in fictional South American country Corto Maltese.

With deaths aplenty, Gunn's signature humor, dramatic and shocking moments, and wonderfully realized set-pieces, The Suicide Squad is easily one of the better DCEU movies. Find out how to watch the DC movies in order while you're here.

Best thriller movies on Netflix

Age rating: 18 Runtime: 138 minutes Main cast: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helen Bonham Carter Director: David Fincher RT score: 79%

David Fincher's seminal movie, which is based on Chuck Palahniuk's 1996 novel of the same name, is a feature that deserves a much higher RT rating than it has.

Norton plays the film's unnamed protagonist, who is fed up with his white-collar job (and who narrates the movie for us). Disenchanted with life and suffering from insomnia, he founds the titular fight club alongside Pitt's Tyler Durden and soon finds himself falling head over heels for a beguiling woman named Marla (Bonham Carter).

To say anything else about Fight Club would spoil its biggest plot twists and difficult to watch moments. Suffice it to say, there's a reason why it's one of the best David Fincher movies in the auteur's back catalogue and has certainly earned its spot on our best Netflix movies list.

The Good Nurse

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 123 minutes Main cast: Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne Director: Tobias Lindholm RT score: 74%

Netflix put its penchant for true-crime storytelling to good use with The Good Nurse , which follows the murderous exploits of real-life serial killer Charlie Cullen (Eddie Redmayne). Jessica Chastain plays Cullen's co-worker, Amy Loughren, who would ultimately go on to expose the sadistic behaviour that led to the deaths of dozens of patients over a period of sixteen years. 

On the broad spectrum of Netflix movies, The Good Nurse is a lower-key affair than, say, Don't Look Up . However, its shocking story of gross criminal negligence is far more impactful than the big-budget drama of the streamer's recent blockbusters. Sure, it's far from an easy watch – but it'll stay with you long after its credits roll.

Nightcrawler

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 117 minutes Main cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed Director: Dan Gilroy RT score: 95%

Who doesn't love Jake Gyllenhaal? The Donnie Darko alumnus is a terrific actor who deserves more respect than he gets, and movies like Nightcrawler are proof of that.

Gyllenhaal plays Louis Bloom, a petty thief who begins masquerading as a freelance photojournalist to make some quick (and big) bucks selling graphic images to a local news station.

It might not sound appealing at first glance, but Nightcrawler is an unsettling, at-times creepy exploration of unethical journalism and consumer demand for grotesque material, especially where the biggest press outlets are concerned. Gyllenhaal is mesmerically dark as the film's lead character; a charming sociopathic tour-de-force who you'll love to hate throughout the movie's near two-hour runtime.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 131 minutes Main cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Jo Yeo-jeong, and Choi Woo-sik Director: Bong Joon-ho RT score: 99%

Joon-ho's 2020 Best Picture Oscar winner is finally available to watch on Netflix – and, given it's one of the best films ever made (based on Rotten Tomatoes, anyway), it needs to be seen ASAP if you missed it during its original theatrical run.

A black comedy-thriller, Parasite tells the story of an impoverished South Korean family who infiltrate a wealthy family's home and start living the life of luxury. Okay, that story synopsis doesn't sound all that appealing, but it belies Parasite 's stunning exploration of socioeconomic hardship, class divide, wealth disparity, and late stage captialism. A monumental filmmaking achievement that'll be a mainstay of this best Netflix movies guide for a long time.

Best war movies on Netflix

All quiet on the western front.

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 148 minutes Main cast: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, and Moritz Klaus Director: Edward Berger RT score: 90%

It’s been a good few years since Dunkirk and 1917 reminded audiences of the horrors of war, but Netflix assumed that responsibility with shocking but beautifully-made WWI epic All Quiet on the Western Front .

Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s landmark novel of the same name (which was first adapted into a feature film in 1930), this German-language movie tells the story of a young German soldier (Felix Kammerer) whose naive expectations of fighting for his country are shattered by war’s harrowing reality. As you'd expect, All Quiet on the Western Front is brutal, vivid, and poignant – just don’t expect to reach its credits feeling particularly joyous.

Beasts of No Nation

Age rating: 15 Runtime: 137 minutes Main cast: Idris Elba, Abraham Atta, and Kurt Egyiawan Director: Cary Fukunaga RT score: 91%

We won't beat about the bush – Beasts of No Nation is a tough watch. No Time to Die 's Cary Fukunaga directs this harrowing feature, which follows the journey of a young orphan (Abraham Attah) forced into becoming a child soldier by a fierce warlord (Idris Elba) during an unnamed African civil war. 

An adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala's novel of the same name, Beasts of No Nation is a masterfully-shot story documenting the human cost of conflict, and places the uncomfortable realities of war front and centre. This isn't one to watch with the kids, but sitting through its two-hour narrative is an enlightening, dare-we-say necessary movie experience.

For more Netflix coverage, read our best Netflix documentaries and best Netflix shows guides. Yet to subscribe to the streaming giant? Read our guide on how to sign up to Netflix , too, or whether you should cancel Netflix .

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot .

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, the best netflix original movies and mini-series.

All of the Netflix Original movies and mini-series that our critics have given 3.5-4 stars. These are the best Netflix originals. 

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7 best new Netflix movies that are 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

Netflix Originals sit pretty with high marks from critics

You can't rely on the Netflix movies Top 10 list for quality films. In fact, it often seems like the inverse is more likely. This is why we curate a list of the best movies on Netflix . 

But that's a list of movies that's curated by our in-house experts, and we know there's a whole world of critics out there, whose opinions also matter. That's why we often look to Rotten Tomatoes , the review-aggregator. 

And it's also why we keep tabs on what's new on Netflix . In recent months, we've tracked the best Netflix movies with high Rotten Tomatoes scores (back in August), and another set of Netflix movies with high RT scores (in October). 

Yes, while Netflix is doing its best to keep its rep as one of the best streaming services , it competes with the likes of HBO Max and Hulu by making sure it always adds great new movies.  So, here we are, back again to give Netflix its flowers for bringing in more well-reviewed movies that have been added since the last edition of this column. Even better, though, the majority are Netflix Originals.

So, let's dive into what we love about seven of the best recently added movies on Netflix — but note that ratings are admittedly subject to change. Netflix's Lady Chatterley's Lover was originally going to be on this list, but it fell from 91% to 86%. If you want even fresher recommendations, check out the 7 best new movies to watch this week , which finds George Clooney and Julia Roberts reunited. Also, we'll admit that Rotten Tomatoes isn't the end all be all — we loved Bullet Train and recommend it, but it only scored a 53%. Want a wider range of movies? Check out our list of the best movies of 2022 that you can stream online.

"Sr." (2022)

This time of the year is perfect for content about families, and "Sr." one-ups that by focusing on a super-famous son (Robert Downey Jr.) and his iconic father (Robert Downey). Yes, if you weren't aware: the man who plays Tony Stark had some lived experience as the son of an iconic success story. And this movie, a passion project of his, is all about making sure everyone (including members of his own family) know about the legacy and history of Robert Downey Sr., a filmmaker and actor of high prestige.

Lauded as being enjoyable for the interactions between father and son, and offering good lessons about life in the Hollywood machine. "Sr." is the kind of critical success that should happen more on Netflix: an original project that isn't bombastic or sensational — sure it's built around a beloved celebrity — but it's also heartfelt. 

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Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% Stream it on Netflix

Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

You've probably seen advertising for Netflix's second Enola Holmes movie. Its existence is nothing close to a secret. What you might not know is that it's been a hit with reviewers. Millie Bobby Brown is given a lot of credit for making this sequel work, though others say it benefits from increased time from Henry Cavill as the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes.

Yes, if you've yet to crack the concept behind the title of the Netflix Enola Holmes films, these movies are about Sherlock Holmes' sister Enola (MBB) — and were based on the The Enola Holmes Mysteries books from Nancy Springer. Now out on her own — starting her own detective agency — in this sequel, the younger Holmes is having trouble getting taken seriously. Potential customers say she's too inexperienced, but she finds a client — an even younger girl, whose sister is a missing factory worker. This is how Enola Holmes 2 works in actual history, as the Matchgirls Strike of 1888 is a part of its story.

Genre: Mystery Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% Watch it on Netflix

Is that Black Enough for You?!? (2022)

One of the three films on this list with 100% ratings, Is that Black Enough for You?!? proves that Netflix's documentaries are resonating with critics. A must-see for anyone who doesn't have a firm grasp on the history of Black cinema, this film shines its spotlight on the period of cinema between 1968 and 1978. Film critic Elvis Mitchell narrates, and he got credit from his fellow reviewers for the moments wherein his critical voice merges with his personal memories.

And if you're not a fan of Mr. Mitchell, a truly great voice in film criticism, Is That Black Enough for You?!? brought in a ton of famous Black actors and directors — Samuel L. Jackson, Charles Burnett, Whoopi Goldberg, Laurence Fishburne and even Zendaya for the young ones — to share their memories and stories.

Genre: Documentary Rotten Tomatoes score: 100% Watch it on Netflix

Moneyball (2011)

Fortunately, some of the beloved additions to Netflix come from outside its walls. Moneyball, which arrived during the interim window since I last wrote this column, is a fantastic 2011 movie about underdogs in sports. And unlike most movies that have that description, it's about the people who aren't running the bases. That may sound drab to some, but follow me: Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill star as folks inside the Oakland Athletics' who have to find a way to compete with the well-funded New York Yankees.

And — thanks to the combined charisma of Pitt and Hill, plus an all-star lineup featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt and Robin Wright — it all somehow works.

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 % Stream it on Netflix

Stutz (2022)

Want more Jonah Hill? We've got you covered with a movie he directed and stars in. In Stutz, which has one of the other 100% RT scores on this list, the actor talks with his therapist, Phil Stutz. No, this isn't just recorded therapy sessions: Stutz gives audiences insight about the titular therapist's work.

Hill tells us his life got "immeasurably better" after working with Mr. Stutz, and thinks that sharing his ideas with the world could help people. Critics praised Stutz for being more than just a TED talk or promotion about one man's way of doing things. Instead, you get a conversation between two emotionally invested individuals about a topic we should all prioritize.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100% Genre: Documentary Stream it on Netflix

Up in the Air (2009)

Possibly too-on-the-nose as we see an increasing number of headlines about layoffs, Up in the Air is still a solid pick because it gives audiences something we seemingly will never tire of: George Clooney being charismatic. And he's showing how he can make the same kind of character (an expert who needs to learn a lesson) fresh every time. 

In Up in the Air, Ryan Bingham (Clooney) travels around the country laying people off for a living. But Ryan starts to rethink his life choices when he meets Alex (Vera Farmiga), as the two develop a romance. Co-writer and director Jason Reitman won points for Up in the Air's plot twists and dialogue.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% Genre: Romantic comedy Stream it on Netflix

Descendant (2022)

The community of Africatown — which is near Mobile, Alabama — is made up of the descendants of last known ship to smuggle stolen Africans to America. Netflix's Descendant, which also has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, tells the story of the generations that lived here through their descendants.

The ship's existence was covered up, as the vessel was burned down in an attempt to erase it from history. This film, looks to fix that gap in history, and explain the relevance of Africatown, which is is surrounded by industrial factories and towns.

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Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

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• rstar13 Thank you for the good review of Stutz. I really enjoyed it and will tell others about it. I am lucky to have found such a good source for streaming tv recommendations. Reply
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Best Movies on Netflix (2024)

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The 25 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now

‘Bridesmaids’ is a comedy classic that everyone needs to watch.

Although the days of Netflix having just about every movie title under the sun are gone with the rise of proprietary streaming services, that doesn’t mean it isn’t still one of the best stops to get your film fix. Netflix excels at consistently putting out new quality content, making it the streamer for you if you prefer fresh new movies to older films. It’s also great at providing content the whole family can enjoy together, making it a favorite of cord-cutters with kids.

We’ve chosen this list from critically acclaimed and popular films as well as our personal favorites. You’ll see plenty of Netflix’s best films of the past few years, as well as a good mix of beloved classics. Netflix puts out new original films every month, so we’ll be updating this list regularly to include the best new releases.

‘Maestro’ (2023) — Editor’s Top Pick

Rated: R | Genre: Romantic Biography | Run Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes | Director: Bradley Cooper

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10 | Metacritic Rating: 77

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer

Watch the trailer for “Maestro”

Bradley Cooper’s passion project, “Maestro,” starring himself as legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, has already garnered him several Best Director nods this year. The film focuses on Bernstein's rise to fame, his significant impact on the world of classical music, and his tumultuous personal life, especially his complicated marriage to Costa Rican-American actress, Felicia Montealegre ( Carey Mulligan ). As a major fan of Mulligan’s work in “An Education” and Cooper’s in “Silver Lining’s Playbook,” I knew this was a film not to miss, tremendously showcasing the two actors' powerful and nuanced work. Cooper intricately captures Bernstein's charisma, musical genius, struggles with his family life and sexuality, and his relentless pursuit of artistic perfection, while Mulligan brings a relatable emotional lens to the pain and excitement of loving a genius.

The satisfyingly authentic mid-20th century period detail, as well as the film’s naturally brilliant score including Bernstein's most famous compositions, are also highlights. Beautiful cinematography, direction, performances, music, and detail have earned this emotional and thought-provoking biopic a slew of nominations in this year’s awards season.

Watch “Maestro” on Netflix

'Orion and The Dark’ (2024)

Rated: PG | Genre: Animated Adventure | Run Time: 1 hour and 33 minutes | Director: Sean Charmatz

IMDb Rating: 6.4/10 | Metacritic Rating: 72

Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Colin Hanks

Watch the trailer for “Orion and The Dark”

Netflix has released fantastic animated films in recent years. Their best animated work of 2024 (so far) is “Orion and the Dark.” Orion ( Jacob Tremblay ) is a boy with an imagination so vivid that it often conjures up anxieties, especially about the dark. Every night in Orion’s mind, shadows morph into monsters. Creaks become ghosts. One evening, everything changes and the darkness becomes something else. Dark ( Paul Walter Hauser ), a tall, shadowy creature, with a surprisingly friendly smile, is the personification of darkness. Despite Orion’s initial fear, Dark sets out to teach him about the beauty and wonder hidden in darkness. Soaring over the town through the night sky, twinkling stars and friendly owls quell Orion’s fears about the dark and he begins to enjoy the night. 

This simple story about the power of imagination and perspective may be for kids, but adults may like it too. “Orion and The Dark” will also resonate with adult’s who fear the unknown. The film holds a welcome discovery that what scares us may not be as bad as we make it out to be.

Watch “Orion and The Dark” on Netflix

'Damsel’ (2024)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Fantasy Adventure | Run Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes | Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

IMDb Rating: 6.1/10 | Metacritic Rating: 46

Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett

Watch the trailer for “Damsel”

Damsel-in-distress stories don’t stand a chance in the face of this spunky inverted fairytale. Elodie ( Millie Bobby Brown ) lives a sheltered life with her future all laid out for her. She always believed she’d marry a handsome prince, and it seems her day has finally come. But her happily ever after is flipped upside down. Upon saying “I do,” she realizes the royal family hasn’t chosen her for love but as a sacrifice to a dragon in appeasement for an ancient debt. Following a twisted wedding ceremony, Elodie is thrown into a fiery chasm. Now relying on only her own wits and determination, Elodie must scavenge for resources, avoid the dragon's attacks, and plan her escape. 

In this story, the princess becomes her own knight in shining armor. Millie Bobby Brown’s impressive performance highlights women’s strength and resourcefulness as she matures into more adult roles.

Watch “Damsel” on Netflix

‘The Killer’ (2023)

Rated: R | Genre: Crime Thriller | Run Time: 1 hour and 58 minutes | Director: David Fincher

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10 | Metacritic Rating: 73

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell

Watch the trailer for “The Killer”

The iconic director of “The Social Network” and “Fight Club,” David Fincher , lends his signature cinematography and choreography style to the story of an unnamed Killer ( Michael Fassbender ). Solitary and cold, methodical and unencumbered by scruples or regrets, the Killer dedicates himself to building the skills and meditative calm needed to make him succeed at his craft. While away on a job, his girlfriend Magdala ( Sophie Charlotte ) is targeted by thugs of a powerful employer. With the careful lines he’s drawn between his dangerous work and his personal life beginning to crumble, the Killer finds it harder than ever to keep his cool as he hunts down Magdala’s attackers.

This brutal and stylish noir exploring detached professionalism in a world without a moral compass is guaranteed to be a hit with fans of Fincher’s previous work.

Watch “The Killer” on Netflix

‘May December’ (2023)

Rated: R | Genre: Drama | Run Time: 1 hours and 57 minutes | Director: Todd Haynes

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10 | Metacritic Rating: 83

Cast: Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charles Melton

Watch the trailer for “May December”

“May December” unites Academy Award winners Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman in a dark, uncomfortable, and provocative story that gets at the heart of our moral ambiguities. Portman portrays an actress who, while studying for a role, lives with a married couple whose notoriously inappropriate age-gap romance gripped tabloids across the nation. The enigmatic Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Moore), who began her relationship with her younger husband when he was in seventh grade, is tested by the actress’ constant questioning of her choices. As old wounds are dragged to the surface, Joe Yoo ( Charles Melton ) is made to reexamine his relationship, taking a hard look at what love is. A seductively disquieting thought experiment, “May December” is one of the most critically acclaimed Netflix films of 2023.

Watch “May December” on Netflix

‘They Cloned Tyrone’ (2023)

Rated: R | Genre: Sci-Fi Comedy Mystery | Run Time: 2 hours and 2 minutes | Director: Juel Taylor

IMDb Rating: 6.6/10 | Metacritic Rating: 74

Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx

Watch the trailer for “They Cloned Tyrone” 

If you love films like “Pulp Fiction,” you’ll love this wickedly cool tribute to Blaxploitation crime films of the ’70s. Join an unlikely trio as they’re thrown together to save their neighborhood from a conspiracy. When local drug dealer Fontaine ( John Boyega ) wakes up unharmed after being shot and killed, it tips him off that something strange is going on in his neighborhood. With the help of a pimp named Slick Charles ( Jamie Foxx ) and a streetwalker called Yo-Yo ( Teyonah Parris ), he sets out to investigate the strange occurrences and ends up discovering a conspiracy deeper and darker than he could have imagined.

With the U.S. government running experiments on the local Black population, Fontaine decides he can’t stand back and watch. Things get even more complicated, however, when he realizes he’s not the real Fontaine but a government-controlled clone. “They Cloned Tyrone” is a witty, clever, and stylish social satire that’s one of the best woke films you will ever see.

Watch “They Cloned Tyrone” on Netflix

‘Nimona’ (2023)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Animated Sci-Fi Fantasy Comedy | Run Time: 1 hour and 39 minutes | Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 | Metacritic Rating: 75

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy

Watch the trailer for “Nimona”

“Nimona” is a spunky and unconventional 2D animated anti-hero story that masterfully subverts and pokes fun at traditional fairy tale tropes. Nimona ( Chloë Grace Moretz ), a teen shape-shifter with a nefarious streak, wreaks havoc across her medieval futuristic kingdom. During a ceremony where a commoner is about to be knighted, the queen is murdered under suspicious circumstances. This leaves new knight Ballister Boldheart ( Riz Ahmed ) on the run from the authorities. Nimona, who agrees to partner up with him, is the only person who can prove his innocence. Unfortunately, she’s the monster he has sworn to destroy.

Between its lively action scenes and quirky style, “Nimona” is an instant family classic that speaks to universal themes of individuality, identity, and acceptance.

Watch “Nimona” on Netflix

‘Living’ (2022)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Drama | Run Time: 1 hour and 42 minutes | Director: Oliver Hermanus

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10 | Metacritic Rating: 81

Cast: Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp, Adrian Rawlins

Watch the trailer for “Living”

Mr. Williams ( Bill Nighy ) is a senior bureaucrat whose dedication to the daily grind has sucked all the joy out of his life and drained his empathy for the citizens he serves. Lonely and purposeless, Williams receives a medical diagnosis that guarantees his time is short. Unable to end his own life, he decides to start living it while he still can. With the help of a deviant writer and a vibrant young woman, he lets his hair down and even learns to do some good for others.

“Living” is Nighy’s magnum opus, earning him a Best Actor nomination. It’s a beautiful exploration of mortality, legacy, empathy, and purpose.

Watch “Living” on Netflix

‘The Power of the Dog’ (2021)

Rated: R | Genre: Western  | Run Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes  | Director: Jane Campion

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10 | Metacritic Rating: 89

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons

Watch the trailer for “The Power of the Dog”

Western psychological drama, “The Power of the Dog,” made a splash in 2021 when it earned 12 Oscar nominations and brought home a Best Director trophy for Jane Campion . In 1920s Montana, Phil Burbank ( Benedict Cumberbatch ), a brutal, charismatic, and influential rancher, exerts his power over everyone around him. When his sensitive brother George ( Jesse Plemons ) brings his new wife Rose ( Kirsten Dunst ) and her teenage son Peter ( Kodi Smit-McPhee ) to live on the ranch, the family becomes the target of Phil's cruel machinations. The heightened emotional situation grows even more tense when Peter forms an unlikely bond with Phil, learning ranching from him while also discovering some of the intimidating man’s dark secrets.

“The Power of the Dog” is a captivating slow burn, building tension and psychological complexity in its characters to a powerful and thought-provoking climax. The brooding American West provides a rich setting to explore identity, loneliness, and the destructive nature of unrealized masculinity, creating a pensive and haunting character study that will leave you pondering days later.

Watch “The Power of the Dog” on Netflix

‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’ (2020)

Rated: R | Genre: Music Drama | Run Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes | Director: George C. Wolfe

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10 | Metacritic Rating: 87

Cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman

Watch the trailer for “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom”

Producer Denzel Washington brings us a vivid film adaptation of August Wilson's renowned play, “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,” part of a 10-film deal to adapt the playwright’s works. In 1920s Chicago, a jazz band arrives at a recording studio, anxiously awaiting the arrival of “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey ( Viola Davis ), who arrives late making unreasonable demands. Ma Rainey's force-of-nature presence elevates tensions during the recording session, especially irking Levee ( Chadwick Boseman ), whose experiences with racial prejudice have long hindered his ambitions as a trumpeter and composer. Despite shared experiences of race, art, and exploitation, the musicians’ wildly different perspectives prevent them from being able to see eye-to-eye, with the session becoming ever more emotionally tense.

The film is true to Wilson's play, with evocative cinematography, Oscar-winning costumes and makeup, a killer soundtrack, and a powerhouse performance from Davis as the unapologetically brash Rainey. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” gets to the heart of differing Black experiences, exploring ambition and the system of exploitation that long plagued the roots of American music.

Watch “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” on Netflix

‘Enola Holmes’ (2020)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Mystery Adventure | Run Time: 2 hours and 3 minutes | Director: Harry Bradbeer

IMDb Rating: 6.6/10 | Metacritic Rating: 68

Cast: Henry Cavill, Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter

Watch the trailer for “Enola Holmes”

This spirited and adventurous modern overhaul of the iconic tales of Sherlock Holmes focuses on Sherlock’s curious and rebellious teenage sister, Enola ( Millie Bobby Brown ). Clever, tough, and independent, Enola sets out to unravel the mystery behind her mother's disappearance. Along the way, she becomes embroiled in a larger conspiracy that challenges her own detective skills while forcing her to face the frustrating societal norms for women in Victorian England.

The ensemble cast includes Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as their unconventional mother. “Enola Holmes” is a family-friendly adventure that offers a charming and delightful mix of mystery, humor, and female empowerment.

Watch “Enola Holmes” on Netflix

‘The Social Dilemma’ (2020)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Docudrama | Run Time: 1 hour and 34 minutes | Director: Jeff Orlowski

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 | Metacritic Rating: 78

Cast: Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson, Joe Toscano

Watch the trailer for “The Social Dilemma”

For viewers who aren’t even big fans of documentaries, the docudrama, “The Social Dilemma,” is one of the most powerful pieces of work you can watch on Netflix. Through dramatic reenactments and discussions with tech industry insiders, the film looks at the hidden consequences of social media and the tech industry's influence on our lives. It explores how social media platforms are designed to capture our attention and manipulate our behavior for profit and raises important questions about the impact of technology on mental health, democracy, and the fabric of society.

“The Social Dilemma” serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the urgent need for ethical tech practices and the importance of being aware of the digital forces that shape our daily lives, making it a compelling and relevant documentary for anyone living in the digital age.

Watch “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix

‘Knives Out’ (2019)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Mystery | Run Time: 2 hours 10 minutes | Director: Rian Johnson

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10 | Metacritic Rating: 82

Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas

Watch the trailer for “Knives Out”

Rian Johnson , now known as the visionary director behind “Poker Face,” had his major breakthrough in 2019 with “Knives Out,” an inventively modern twist on the classic whodunnit . Wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey ( Christopher Plummer ) has long supported his freeloading family, providing a beautiful home for them at his eccentric Victorian estate. When Harlan dies on the night of his 85th birthday, it is ruled a suicide, but Detective Blanc ( Daniel Craig ) isn’t convinced. His interviews with the residents reveal the web of secrets and lies spun by the dysfunctional family, portrayed by a brilliant ensemble cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collete, Chris Evans , and Ana de Armas in her breakout Hollywood role.

Layers of anti-elitist satire add depth to the clever mystery full of unexpected twists, witty dialogue, dark comedy, and a thoughtful study of family dynamics. Johnson's direction is a reinvention of the murder mystery that became an instant staple of the genre, taking audiences by storm and inviting multiple sequels including “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and another entry currently in development.

Watch “Knives Out” on Netflix

‘The Florida Project’ (2017)

Rated: R | Genre: Drama | Run Time: 1 hour and 51 minutes | Director: Sean Baker

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 | Metacritic Rating: 92

Cast: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe

Watch the trailer for “The Florida Project”

A few miles down the road from the pastel facade of Orlando's Disney World is a run-down motel called “The Magic Kingdom” that’s plenty of adventure for 6-year-old Moonee ( Brooklynn Prince ) who lives there. With her motel friends and troubled young mother, Halley ( Bria Vinaite ), she explores abandoned buildings, annoys the staff, and learns to take what she needs. The world through her innocent eyes is far removed from her mother’s drug habit, violent crowd, and the tricks she turns from out of their motel-room home.

A raw portrait of poverty and inequality amidst neon-lit tourist-trap glamor, “The Florida Project” features phenomenal performances, including a heart-wrenching one from child actress Prince. The performances drive home the uncomfortable truths about social inequality masked by sunshine and empty promises.

Watch “The Florida Project” on Netflix

‘Call Me By Your Name’ (2017)

Rated: R | Genre: Coming-of-Age Romantic Drama | Run Time: 2 hours and 12 minutes | Director: Luca Guadagnino

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 | Metacritic Rating: 94

Cast: Michael Stuhlbarg, Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Amira Casar

Watch the trailer for “Call Me by Your Name”

Nestled within the sun-drenched embrace of 1983's Northern Italy, the intoxicating coming-of-age romance “Call Me by Your Name” unfolds as a symphony of sensuality and deep emotion. With an idyllic backdrop, a fiery connection ignites between Elio Perlman ( Timothée Chalamet ), a precocious 17-year-old, and the magnetic Oliver ( Armie Hammer ), a graduate student collaborating with Elio's archaeologist father. As their entwined hearts journey ever deeper, they traverse the terrain of desire, embarking on profound voyages of self-discovery and surrendering to the intricate melodies of first love.

Lush cinematography paints the canvas, evocative storytelling weaves the tapestry, potent performances breathe life into the characters, and profound wisdom whispers between every frame. “Call Me by Your Name” stands as a poignant testament to a summer romance that captures the hearts of both its protagonists and its enraptured audience.

Watch “Call Me by Your Name” on Netflix

‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ (2016)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Adventure Comedy-Drama | Run Time: 1 hour and 41 minutes | Director: Taika Waititi

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 | Metacritic Rating: 81

Cast: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata

Watch the trailer for “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”

“Hunt for the Wilderpeople” is a rollicking roller coaster of laughs and adventure as we follow Ricky Baker ( Julian Dennison ), a foster child with more quirks than you can shake a stick at, and his stern foster guardian, Hec ( Sam Neill ). When Ricky decides to pull the ultimate disappearing act after his foster mom's passing and stages his own death, the last person you'd expect, Hec, embarks on a wild goose chase through the wilderness. Little did they know, they'd soon become the hottest items on New Zealand’s national wanted list.

A madcap dash through the bush, this oddball duo finds themselves dodging the long arm of the law, traversing treacherous terrain, meeting a motley crew of characters, and pulling off some wild stunts to stay incognito. With offbeat humor, heartfelt storytelling, and charming performances from Dennison and Neill, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” guarantees a wild, wacky, and unforgettable escapade that celebrates the chaos of makeshift families and New Zealand's untouched, untamed wonders.

Watch “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” on Netflix

‘Carol’ (2015)

Rated: R | Genre: Romantic Drama  | Run Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes | Director: Todd Haynes

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10 | Metacritic Rating: 94

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson

Watch the trailer for “Carol”

A perfect choice for a stylish and serious watch this holiday season, “Carol” is a masterful film by director Todd Haynes and based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 romance novel, “The Price of Salt.” Set in New York in the ‘50s, the film follows the forbidden love story between two women from starkly different backgrounds. Therese Belivet ( Rooney Mara ) is a young department store clerk who dreams of a more fulfilling life as a photographer. While working, she meets the elegant and sophisticated Carol Aird ( Cate Blanchett ), who’s trapped in a loveless marriage. The tender but forbidden romance that grows between them defies the conservative norms of the time and puts both women at risk, testing their love for each other. “Carol” has exquisite cinematography, compelling performances, and emotional sensitivity that make it one of the most critically acclaimed films on Netflix.

Watch “Carol” on Netflix

‘The Imitation Game’ (2014)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Biographical Thriller | Run Time: 1 hour and 54 minutes | Director: Morten Tyldum

IMDb Rating: 8/10 | Metacritic Rating: 71

Cast: Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance

Watch the trailer for “The Imitation Game”

The life of brilliant and historically under-recognized British mathematician Alan Turing ( Benedict Cumberbatch ), the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, is beautifully portrayed in “The Imitation Game.” The film looks at Turing's pivotal role during World War II in breaking the German Enigma code, a feat that greatly contributed to the Allied victory. It also follows Turing's personal struggles as a gay man in the 1950s, an offense for which he was arrested and chemically castrated, leading to his eventual suicide.

Combining historical drama, espionage, and Turing's tragic personal journey, the film highlights the under-recognized legacy of a genius taken too soon and what it can teach us about the devastating losses wrought by intolerance. The film is elevated by Cumberbatch's exceptional performance, a thought-provoking and emotional exploration of identity, power, love, prejudice, and the greater good.

Watch “The Imitation Game” on Netflix

‘Bridesmaids’ (2011)

Rated: R | Genre: Comedy | Run Time: 2 hours and 5 minutes | Director: Paul Feig

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10 | Metacritic Rating: 75

Cast: Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Ellie Kemper

Watch the trailer for “Bridesmaids”

Annie Walker ( Kristen Wiig ) isn’t exactly racking up gold stars in the life department — her bakery's a flop, her boyfriend's bailed, and her self-confidence has taken a nosedive. Just when you think things couldn't get messier, her bestie, Lillian ( Maya Rudolph ), ropes her into the ultimate role of maid of honor at her wedding. With her life in shambles, Annie isn’t feeling very confident among Lillian’s competitive group of bridesmaids, especially the gorgeous, snobby, and perfectly coiffed trophy wife, Helen (Rose Byrne). As Annie attempts to outshine Helen's seemingly flawless existence, let's just say it's a recipe for hilarious disaster, involving some epic fails and cringeworthy moments that'd make anyone break into a sweat.

“Bridesmaids” is a roller coaster of friendship, rivalry, privilege, and the quest for self-acceptance — all served up with a side of uproarious female camaraderie.

Watch “Bridesmaids” on Netflix

‘Spider-Man’ (2002)

Rated: PG-13 | Genre: Superhero | Run Time: 2 hours and 1 minute | Director: Sam Raimi

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10 | Metacritic Rating: 73

Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco

Watch the trailer for “Spider-Man”

“Spider-Man,” a trailblazing blockbuster that influenced the fevered resurgence of the superhero genre, is an adrenaline-charged classic that set hearts racing and ignited the imaginations of a whole generation of superhero aficionados. Meet Peter Parker ( Tobey Maguire ), your average high schooler, until a bite from a genetically altered spider propels him into an extraordinary world of superhuman abilities. From that moment on, Peter transforms into the iconic, wall-crawling vigilante Spider-Man, determined to harness his newfound strength, agility, and gravity-defying arachnid powers to safeguard the bustling streets of New York City. Lurking in the shadows is the menacing Green Goblin ( Willem Dafoe ), and Peter's best friend, Harry Osborn ( James Franco ), becomes an unexpected adversary.

Juggling the high-flying feats of a superhero with the everyday challenges of his personal life, not to mention his blossoming love for Mary Jane Watson ( Kirsten Dunst ), “Spider-Man” hurtles headlong into a whirlwind of action, humor, and heartwarming storytelling. This web-slinging adventure looks at duty, the quest for paternal guidance, self-discovery, and the eternal battle between the forces of right and wrong.

Watch “Spider-Man” on Netflix

‘The Big Lebowski’ (1998)

Rated: R | Genre: Crime Comedy | Run Time: 1 hour and 57 minutes | Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 | Metacritic Rating: 71

Cast: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi

Watch the trailer for “The Big Lebowski”

Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski ( Jeff Bridges ) is a lovable Los Angeles slacker who’s got a busy schedule of bowling, smoking reefer, and drinking white Russians in his bathrobe. When sharing the same name with a millionaire leads to thugs peeing on his favorite rug, he asks the other Jeffrey Lebowski for some compensation, man . But, when the millionaire Lebowski’s trophy wife is kidnapped, The Dude and his comically unhinged bowling buddies, Walter ( John Goodman ) and Donny ( Steve Buscemi ), are pulled into a criminal plot they never asked for. With his unwavering nonchalant attitude, The Dude offers a valuable lesson in how to deal with life’s curveballs. “The Dude abides” is his mantra and has become a pop culture legend, reminding us to stay true to who we are regardless of how ridiculous of a situation we may find ourselves in. Multilayered, clever, memorable, and one of the funniest movies ever made, “The Big Lebowski” is a must-watch for movie buffs.

Watch “The Big Lebowski” on Netflix

‘Groundhog Day’ (1993)

Rated: PG | Genre: Fantasy Comedy | Run Time: 1 hour and 41 minutes | Director: Harold Ramis

IMDb Rating: 8/10 | Metacritic Rating: 72

Cast: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott

Watch the trailer for “Groundhog Day”

In the charming town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil Connors ( Bill Murray ), a cynical and self-absorbed weatherman, embarks on an assignment that will forever alter the course of his life. Tasked with covering the annual Groundhog Day event, he finds himself inexplicably ensnared in a relentless time loop, the hands of the clock forever frozen on a single day. As the cycle endlessly repeats, Phil's journey unfolds in a kaleidoscope of self-discovery and redemption, each repeated sunrise a canvas for his personal evolution and his impact on those who cross his path.

Seamlessly blending humor with a profound exploration of human growth and connection, “Groundhog Day” unearths the inexhaustible value of embracing each day to its fullest potential. Bill Murray anchors the film's clever premise in a symphony of laughter and poignant revelations that have solidified its status as an enduring classic.

Watch “Groundhog Day” on Netflix

‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985)

Rated: R | Genre: Coming-of-Age Comedy-Drama | Run Time: 1 hour and 37 minutes | Director: John Hughes

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 | Metacritic Rating: 66

Cast: Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy

Watch the trailer for “The Breakfast Club”

“The Breakfast Club,” an emblem of the ’80s, etched the names of director John Hughes and the Brat Pack into cinematic history. This iconic coming-of-age masterpiece sees an unlikely alliance form among five high school students. Hailing from disparate social spheres, the brainy nerd ( Anthony Michael Hall ), the rebellious delinquent ( Judd Nelson ), the popular princess ( Molly Ringwald ), the jock ( Emilio Estevez ), and the enigmatic outcast ( Ally Sheedy ) are brought together by the shared burden of a Saturday spent locked in the library for detention. Despite their initial disdain, their facade of stereotypes shatters, and teenage tumult gives way to the raw intricacies of adolescence.

The film evokes the quintessence of ’80s teenage life while bridging the generational gap to offer lessons in friendship, open-mindedness, and the impact of genuine connection.

Watch “The Breakfast Club” on Netflix

‘Rocky’ (1976)

Rated: PG | Genre: Sports Drama | Run Time: 2 hours | Director: John G. Avildsen

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 | Metacritic Rating: 70

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Talia Shire, Burt Young

Watch the trailer for “Rocky”

One of film history’s most iconic sports dramas, “Rocky” tells the story of Rocky Balboa ( Sylvester Stallone ), a small-time fighter from the gritty streets of Philadelphia clawing his way out of the shadows of obscurity. When destiny offers him a single, electrifying chance to square off against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed ( Carl Weathers ), a fire kindles deep within him. He transforms from an underestimated underdog to a relentless force, pushing himself to the limit in an exhilarating crescendo of physical and emotional growth.

With a training montage that has become the stuff of legend, a soundtrack that reverberates in your bones, and Stallone's Oscar-nominated performance, “Rocky” is an unforgettable ode to the indomitable spirit of the underdog. Since the first film’s release and through its many sequels, the character of Rocky Balboa has been beloved as a symbol of hope in the face of adversity, the antithesis of arrogant pride, and a reminder of the fruits of hard work and perseverance.

Watch “Rocky” on Netflix

‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ (1975)

Rated: PG | Genre: Comedy | Run Time: 1 hour and 31 minutes | Director: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10 | Metacritic Rating: 91

Cast: Michael Palin, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle

Watch the trailer for “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”

“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” is a zany romp that's not just funny — it's a contender for the funniest flick ever to grace the screen. This wild farce has the Monty Python crew, including the likes of Terry Gilliam , John Cleese , Micheal Palin , and Terry Jones , donning the regal robes of King Arthur's court. In this madcap masterpiece, they've taken the Arthurian legend and cranked the absurdity up to 11. King Arthur and his hilariously inept knights embark on a quest for the Holy Grail, stumbling upon a parade of bizarre challenges and surreal hurdles that'll have you in stitches.

Expect slapstick antics, whip-smart wordplay, iconic one-liners, and surreal sight gags that showcase the team's signature comedic genius.

Watch “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” on Netflix

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The 10 best new movies on netflix in may 2024 (updated).

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LaKeith Stanfield stars as the titular character in 'The Book of Clarence.' The film makes its ... [+] Netflix debut on May 11, 2024.

Every single week, Netflix Netflix continues to astound with awesome new movie additions. Sometimes it’s a brand new satire of religious hypocrisy featuring one of Hollywood’s best actors (this time it’s LaKeith Stanfield). Or it’s a refreshing twist on the rom-com formula that’s just in time for Mother’s Day. Or it’s an under-appreciated indie gem that features incredible performances that deserve much more praise and attention than they originally got. All of this and more is part of Netflix’s cinematic lineup this week. So, as a subscriber, where should you start?

I’m here to help. Below, I’ve highlighted the best new movie options available so far this month (going up to Sunday, May 12) on the streaming platform. Then at the bottom of the article, you can find a full list of every single new film that’s been added to Netflix over the course of May 2024. Somewhere in this article, I’m sure you find your next movie night event—and perhaps a new favorite that you’ll continue to revisit for years to come.

The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In May 2024

The book of clarence (2024).

The Book of Clarence is set in Jerusalem during the year 33 A.D., where Clarence (played by LaKeith Stanfield) struggles under the weight of his debts. Directed by Jeymes Samuel (aka the singer-songwriter The Bullitts), who previously directed the Netflix western The Harder They Fall , this latest film follows Clarence as he concocts a plan to pose as a messiah—inspired by the real rise of Jesus Christ. His journey is marked by troubles with Roman soldiers, disputes with his cynical twin brother and a complicated love affair with Varinia (portrayed by Anna Diop). Clarence's story intertwines personal redemption with a critique of religious hypocrisy, blending historical drama with elements of personal transformation that ring true to this very day.

Japanese Fans Are Puzzled That Yasuke Is In ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’

Forbes releases 2024 30 under 30 asia list, kamala harris raked in interest income in 2023 new filing shows, the peanut butter falcon (2019).

Set against the windswept dunes of the Outer Banks, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a thoughtful, heartwarming odyssey of hope and friendship. This charming adventure, directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, features Zack Gottsagen as Zak, a young man with Down syndrome who escapes from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Along his journey, he forms an unlikely friendship with a wayward fisherman named Tyler (played by Shia LaBeouf). Together, they discover more both about themselves and about the world, providing us with a tale of resilience amidst the search for belonging.

Mother of the Bride (2024)

Mother of the Bride , a romantic comedy directed by Mark Waters and written by Robin Bernheim, features Brooke Shields as Lana, whose daughter Emma, played by Miranda Cosgrove, announces her sudden wedding in Thailand to a man whose father once broke Lana's heart. The film comes from an expert in romances, Mark Waters, who directed movies like Just Like Heaven, Mean Girls and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past . This time around, Mother of the Bride explores the challenges and chaos of arranging a wedding under such complex family connections, highlighting both the humor and tenderness of mother-daughter relationships—just in time for Mother’s Day. As Lana and Emma navigate their past selves and now where they’re heading, they find that love and understanding can triumph over old wounds and new challenges.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

In a battle for the universe, Mortal Kombat plunges audiences into an ancient tournament where Earthrealm’s mightiest warriors fight against the enemies of Outworld in a high-stakes duel that could alter the fate of the worlds. Directed by Simon McQuoid in his feature directorial debut, this reboot resurrects the beloved franchise with a fresh cast and visceral, modernized fight scenes. Lewis Tan stars as Cole Young, a washed-up mixed martial arts fighter who finds himself as Earth's unlikely champion. Alongside him, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson and Joe Taslim embody iconic characters such as Sonya Blade, Kano and Sub-Zero, bringing to life the epic video game saga with awesome action and a rich backstory.

War Dogs (2016)

War Dogs spins the unbelievable yet true story of two young Americans who become international arms dealers. Directed by Todd Phillips, who brought us darkly comedic classics like The Hangover , Road Trip and Joker , the film stars Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as Efraim and David, childhood friends who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Set against the backdrop of the Iraq War, this ridiculous and wilding entertaining story fit for a feature film weaves a gripping tale of greed, friendship and the corrupting power of money, offering a darkly comedic glimpse into the absurdities of war and capitalism.

The Matrix: Resurrections (2021)

In a world where reality and simulation blur, The Matrix: Resurrections thrusts audiences back into the enigmatic universe first explored over two decades ago. Directed by Lana Wachowski, who also brought us flicks like Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending and Speed Racer , this sci-fi sequel sees Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their iconic roles as Neo and Trinity, navigating a visually stunning landscape fraught with familiar and novel challenges. Wachowski crafts a narrative that delves into themes of rebirth and transformation, while incorporating modern technological anxieties, making this installment a profound commentary on the evolving human condition.

Dark Waters (2019)

In a chilling exploration of corporate greed and environmental disregard, Dark Waters tells the true story of a tenacious attorney who uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths to one of the world's largest corporations. Directed by Todd Haynes, who also gave us award-winning films like May December , Carol , and Far from Heaven , this compelling legal drama features Mark Ruffalo as Robert Bilott, the real-life lawyer who dared to challenge the powerful DuPont corporation over their contamination of a small town's water supply. As Bilott delves deeper, the stakes rise, pitting his own health and family's safety against the ruthless might of an industry giant. Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins also deliver powerful performances, contributing to a tense, slow-burning narrative that highlights the often-dire consequences of environmental destruction.

White House Down (2013)

There are some traditions that never die in my household, and one of them is watching White House Down on the 4th of July every year. From blockbuster guru Roland Emmerich, who gave us entertaining gems like Independence Day , The Day After Tomorrow and Godzilla , this wildly entertaining escapade catapults us into the heart of an adrenaline-pumping action thriller where the stakes couldn’t be higher: the White House is under attack. Channing Tatum stars as John Cale, a Capitol Police officer who finds himself in the unlikely role of national hero when a paramilitary group seizes the White House. Tasked with saving the President, played by Jamie Foxx, Cale’s journey is fraught with explosive set-pieces and heart-stopping suspense, making this film a riveting exploration of valor and duty under fire.

Unfrosted (2024)

Unfrosted is Jerry Seinfeld’s first film as a director, taking a comedic look at the invention of the Pop-Tart. Set in the 1960s, the movie portrays the intense competition between Kellogg’s Kellogg and Post to create a new breakfast treat. Seinfeld stars as a fictional character involved in this quirky, high-stakes race against time and corporate rivals. . Featuring Seinfeld himself as Bob Cabana and a humorously stern Jim Gaffigan, the film is a satirical nod to a bygone era of both earnest ambitions and absurd undertakings. Unfrosted offers a nostalgic glimpse into a time when the future of breakfast was sprinkled with both competition and creativity. It’s a lighthearted portrayal of the absurdity of corporate America.

30 for 30: The Two Escobars (2010)

30 for 30: The Two Escobars intertwines the lives of Andrés Escobar, a beloved Colombian soccer player, and Pablo Escobar, the infamous drug lord, exploring their profound impact on Colombia's national psyche. Directed by Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist, this documentary is part of ESPN's acclaimed 30 for 30 series. It delves deep into the intersection of sports and crime, illustrating how the fates of these two men symbolized the high stakes of glory and despair in a nation rife with political turmoil. Through a meticulous compilation of footage and interviews, the film paints a stark portrait of rampant ambition, of uncontrollable pride, of the profound ways in which tragedy can strike.

Every New Movie on Netflix in May 2024

• May 1 : Airport (1970); Airport 1975 (1974); Airport ’77 (1977); Blended (2014); Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland (2016); Dark Waters (2019); Deaw Special: Super Soft Power (2024); Down the Rabbit Hole (2024); Eat Pray Love (2010); Girls Trip (2017); Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024); Hellboy (2019); Hulk (2003); Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind (2022); Jumanji (1995); Liar Liar (1997); Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008); Mortal Kombat (2021); Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005); My Mercury (2024); One More Shot (2024); Patriots Day (2016); Public Enemies (2009); Rather (2023); Ride Along (2014); Shrek (2001); Shrek Forever After (2010); Starship Troopers (1997); The Best Man Holiday (2013); The Edge of Seventeen (2016); The Equalizer (2014); The Gentlemen (2019); The Great Wall (2019); The Matrix: Resurrections (2021); The Nutty Professor (1996); The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000); The Wedding Planner (2001); The Young Victoria (2009); Traffic (2000); White House Down (2013); Woody Woodpecker (2018)
• May 2 : Beautiful Rebel (2024); Lola (2024); Secrets of the Neanderthals (2024); Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
• May 3 : 2 Hearts (2020); Unfrosted (2024)
• May 5 : Larva in Mars (2024); The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
• May 6 : 30 for 30: Broke (2012); 30 for 30: Deion’s Double Play (2012); 30 for 30: The Two Escobars (2010)
• May 8 : The Final: Attack on Wembley (2024); War Dogs (2016)
• May 9 : Hamka & Siti Raham Volume 2 (2023); Mother of the Bride (2024); Sing Street (2016); The Guardian of the Monarchs (2024)
• May 10 : Living with Leopards (2024); The Courier (2024)
• May 11 : The Book of Clarence (2024)

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5 best Netflix movies of 2024 so far, ranked

We’re at the point of the year when enough movies have been released for us to wonder which are the best of them all? Netflix in particular has been very productive in the first half of 2024, releasing a wide variety of movies that have ranged from surprisingly decent ( Damsel ) to downright awful ( Lift ).

5. The Greatest Night in Pop

4. society of the snow, 3. city hunter, 2. orion and the dark.

From a documentary chronicling one of the most well-known songs of all time to a thriller about an ill-fated interview with a member of the British Royal Family, the best Netflix movies of 2024 encompass almost every genre and feature a galaxy of talented stars. You may disagree with the selections on this list, but you can’t deny the sheer creativity and entertainment value that each of these movies possesses.

Interested in more best of 2024 articles? Then check out the 10 best movies of 2024 so far, ranked and the 10 best TV shows so far, ranked .

• The best comedies on Netflix right now
• The 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now
• 5 Netflix shows we can’t wait to see this summer, ranked

A lot of people are fascinated with how major works of art are created. Hell, there’s even an entire Stephen Sondheim musical, Sunday in the Park with George , about that curiosity. Documentaries are the ideal movie genre to showcase this kind of behind-the-scenes action, and there’s no doc more compelling this year than The Greatest Night in Pop , which chronicles the making of one of pop music’s biggest songs ever, We Are the World .

Full confession: I don’t much care for the song, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the documentary. In telling how producers Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian gathered music’s biggest stars to sing on a charity single aimed at fighting world hunger, The Greatest Night in Pop spins a consistently fascinating tale that involves big talent and even bigger egos. One anecdote I particular liked was how Omartian determined the lineup of vocalists involved with the production. Just how do you put Bob Dylan, Huey Lewis, and Cyndi Lauper on the same song, and make it sound good ? That question, and so much more, are asked and answered, and by the end, you’ll have a better appreciation for how one of the most popular songs of all time came together.

On October 13, 1972, a plane carrying 45 passengers crashed in the Andes mountains. Twenty-nine people survived the initial crash. When they were discovered two months later, only 14 people were left alive. This simple, devastating story is told in graphic detail by director J.A. Bayona in Society of the Snow , which debuted in limited release in December 2023 before making its Netflix streaming debut on January 4, 2024. It was nominated for two Oscars, including for Best International Feature and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and appeared on several “Best of” lists.

Society of the Snow could be accurately described as punishing since it faithfully depicts not only the horrific crash, but the period afterwards when the survivors endured harsh weather conditions and depleting resources that led some of them to resort to cannibalism. Society of the Snow is the kind of movie you watch in a daze and only afterwards feel like you’ve just gone through the tragic event yourself. It’s that good, and that visceral.

Sometimes, you just need a silly action comedy to brighten your mood. And while Hollywood continues to churn out action movies of varying quality like Monkey Man  and Boy Kills World , they don’t hold a candle to the Japanese import City Hunter , which features crazy stunts  and a silly sense of humor that is both wondrous and juvenile at the same time.

Based on a popular 1980s manga and anime series, City Hunter is the name of the detective agency run by Ryo Saeba, a brash, turtleneck-wearing P.I. who likes to bust heads and charm the ladies. When his partner dies, he teams up with his partner’s sister to stop a drug cartel from taking over Tokyo. The narrative is your basic action movie plot, but what makes City Hunter so fun to watch is the sheer energy it exudes through its kinetic filmmaking. It constantly surprises you, and keeps you guessing as to what will happen next.

When you think of Charlie Kaufman, you don’t usually think of kids animated movies. The director/screenwriter, who is best known for his dark comedies like Being John Malkovich and I’m Thinking of Ending Things , may seem like a strange choice to adapt Emma Yarlett’s beloved children’s book Orion and the Dark , but after you’ve watched it, it makes sense. Who better to understand the darkness that lurks within a child’s mind, and the imagination that helps him navigate through it?

Eleven-year-old Orion is afraid of the dark, but his constant complaints about it cause Dark, the embodiment of Orion’s worst fear, to confront him one night and take the child on a journey to nighttime to meet other entities like Sleep, Insomnia, and Sweet Dreams. Things only get more fantastical from there, but one of the great elements about Orion and the Dark is discovering all of its wonderful twists and turns. Like many classic children’s stories, the movie can be dark and serious when it needs to be, but it displays such imaginative visuals and unforgettable characters that you wish Netflix would make more animated movies like this instead of Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp .

It’s hard to make a thrilling movie when the climax involves two people sitting across from each other talking, but that’s why Scoop works so damn well. In recounting the disastrous 2019 interview Prince Andrew gave to BBC reporter Emily Maitlis about his relationship to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Scoop provides a broader context that allows it to comment not only on a society that allows young women to be preyed upon by the rich and powerful, but also on how a changing media industry needs to chase after scoops that will engage an increasingly hungry social media audience.

Directed by Philip Martin, Scoop has a relentless, nervous energy that is aided by a wonderful techno-infused score by Anne Nikitin and Hannah Peel and glossy cinematography by Nanu Segal. This is a slick-looking movie, one that pops out from the rest of  Netflix’s library of original movies , which can often look flat.

But it’s the performances, particularly from Billie Piper as tough-talking talent booker Sam McAlister, The X-Files star Gillian Anderson as Maitlis, and Keeley Hawes as Prince Andrew’s too-trusting private secretary Amanda Thirsk, that makes Scoop the best Netflix movie of 2024 so far. There hasn’t been a movie yet this year that’s provided a wealth of roles and characters like the ones Scoop gives its talented cast of actresses, and it’s a ball to watch Piper, Anderson, and Hawes sink their teeth into the material.

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May marks the start of the summer blockbuster season. While the theatrical slate includes The Fall Guy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Netflix will release its own action blockbuster, Atlas, on May 24. Similar blockbusters currently available for streaming include The Matrix, The Hunger Games, and Extraction.

These films are just the tip of the iceberg for the streamer's action genre. Netflix boasts an impressive library of action and adventure films ready for consumption. Stream these three action movies in May, including a fantasy saga from Gina Prince-Bythewood, a slick Western, and a stoner comedy. The Old Guard (2020)

What's David Cronenberg been up to? The famous filmmaker has been quiet as of late, but today, everyone got a detailed first look at his next project, The Shrouds, which will have its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

In a clip shared with Variety, the teaser introduces Vincent Cassel's Karsh, a prominent businessman struggling to cope with the loss of his wife. Karsh invented GraveTech, a revolutionary and controversial technology that enables the living to monitor their dear departed in their shrouds. "One night, multiple graves, including that of Karsh’s wife, are desecrated," the official synopsis reads. "Karsh sets out to track down the perpetrators."

There's a mystery that Netflix has never solved: Why isn't there a mystery tab under the movies section? Almost every other genre has one, but Netflix seems content to hide its mysteries among its thrillers. Perhaps the reason why is that there simply aren't many mysteries on Netflix. This month's selections, Body Double and The Little Things, are the only two recent additions that actually fall into the mystery genre.

Regardless, our roundup of the best mysteries on Netflix does have enough titles to keep your inner sleuth guessing. Older films like Devil in a Blue Dress and All Good Things are just a few of the titles that you can find below. Can you solve the mysteries before the on-screen detectives? There's only one way to find out.

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The best comedy movies of 2024 so far

From undead boyfriends to a lot of beavers

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It’s been a bit of a slow time of year for comedy movies, but 2024 has enough laugh-out loud gems to round out a list. And there’s a wide variety of sub-genres to pick from: musical reboots, existential animated kids’ movies, campy horror flicks, and even a DC parody.

So behold: the best comedy movies of 2024 so far. This list will continue to be updated throughout the year, and will be sorted in reverse chronological order, so the newest movies always show up first.

Where to watch: In theaters May 17

Director Pamela Adlon ( Better Things ) gets nitty and gritty about the epic highs and lows of pregnancy in Babes , but the best part is the central relationship between two best friends. Eden (Ilana Glazer), a single yoga teacher, and Dawn (Michelle Buteau), a married dentist with two kids, have been besties for decades — and even though their life priorities are a bit different now, they make time for each other.

Eden finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand, and decides to go through with having the baby. It’s a new stage of their relationship, especially as Dawn struggles with balancing her job, her family, and her friendship with Eden, all while Eden embarks on this scary journey of single motherhood. It’s wickedly funny, but also says a lot about the strain adulthood puts on friendships. — Petrana Radulovic

The People’s Joker

Where to watch: Limited theaters

Director-star Vera Drew initially planned The People’s Joker as a found footage movie , pulling together clips from Joker’s past, present, and future to create a new Jokerfied experience. While the found footage element didn’t happen, the end result ( after a brief delay over rights issues ) is a breath of fresh, satirical air in our IP-saturated landscape, part of a new wave of trans-authored cinema that is shaking up what mainstream audiences can experience in trans film.

The People’s Joker cleverly uses the DC canon as grounding for the setting, an avenue to explore gender expression, and for comedy, subverting expectations of these well-known characters. But my favorite part of the movie is how Vera utilizes many different styles of animation from many different creators to create a mixed media effect. It’s unlike anything else you’ll see this year. — Pete Volk

Wicked Little Letters

Where to watch: In theaters, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon , Apple TV

The true story of the Littlehampton poison pen letter scandal of 1923 is a fairly depressing one, another in a long line of reminders that justice systems depend on people’s judgment, and people are notoriously prone to prejudice, stereotypes, and other forms of confirmation bias that get in the way of the truth. But Thea Sharrock’s lively (and heavily fictionalized) British comedy about the scandal addresses those points with a light perspective that offers a little uplift and a lot of good humor. International treasure Olivia Colman ( The Favourite ) stars as Edith Swan, a pious working-class spinster who starts getting obscene anonymous letters; Jessie Buckley is her neighbor, Rose Gooding, a foul-mouthed libertine accused of writing them, in an era where calling someone a “foxy ass whore” in print was enough to warrant a prison sentence at hard labor.

The absolute shock and disbelief Edith and Rose’s entire community feels over seeing words like “asshole” in print is part of the humor here, but a lot more of it comes from Jonny Sweet’s bouncy, winking script, which keeps the action zippy and highlights the ironies of an entire community full of hypocrites delighting in their self-righteous offense at the letters. (Any metaphor for today’s online communications is strictly intended.) Colman and Buckley’s performances add a terrific edge to it all, but this is an ensemble piece at heart, and Anjana Vasan as a lady detective trying to wade through institutional sexism rounds out the cast for a lively, sparky story that isn’t particularly believable as history, but sure lands well as funny, engaging metaphor. — Tasha Robinson

Drive-Away Dolls

Where to watch: Digital rental/purchase on Amazon / Apple TV

Don’t get fooled by only seeing one Coen name in the credits; Drive-Away Dolls (or its original title, which still appears in the credits: Drive-Away Dykes ) has the same hilarious crime-caper spirit that marks all of the Coen brothers’ best early works.

The ’90s-set movie follows two lesbian friends (Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan) on an East Coast road trip with two clueless gangsters hot on their trail. Equal parts excellent friends-on-the-road movie and crime comedy, Drive-Away Dolls is an early contender for the most fun movie of 2024, and one that will likely be hard to beat. — Austen Goslin

Lisa Frankenstein

Where to watch: Peacock or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon / Apple TV

Sometimes, you just want to see Kathryn Newton wear increasingly elaborate ’80s goth outfits as she and an undead Victorian musician go around killing people who’ve wronged her.

Lisa Frankenstein is a loving homage-slash-parody of old schlocky horror comedies, and even though some of the connective tissue is missing from scene to scene, it’s a shockingly good time. — PR

Orion and the Dark

Where to watch: Netflix

On its surface, Orion and the Dark seems like a standard fairy-tale-like children’s story about a scared boy meeting the personification of Darkness, who helps him get over his fears. But it takes a twisty turn when it’s revealed this story is being told by a grown-up version of that little boy to his daughter.

It’s not just a cute framing device, but one that warps the story and makes it way weirder than when it starts out (in the best way). — PR

Hundreds of Beavers

Where to watch: Fandor, free with a library card on Hoopla, or digital rental/purchase on Amazon and Apple TV

“What if Looney Tunes, but for adults, and filtered through video games and silent slapstick comedy?” That’s the genius combination that makes Hundreds of Beavers one of the most special movies of the year, a pure expression of cinematic comedy that will have you laughing in stitches. The low-budget indie follows Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Twes), a trapper trying to survive in the harsh winter of the Great Lakes region. He’s surrounded by hundreds of beavers (which are presented as people in mascot beaver costumes) who view him as a threat, and he must solve a series of problems and puzzles to survive and thrive in the harsh environment.

Ludicrously silly and packed to the brim with jaw-dropping gags and special effects on its limited budgets, Hundreds of Beavers is the funniest movie I’ve seen in years. It’s the perfect antidote for what has ailed mainstream American comedy for years, by actually bringing back jokes instead of just the tone of comedy. I can not recommend it highly enough. — PV

Where to watch: Paramount Plus

Fans of the Broadway musical Mean Girls , based on the 2004 movie Mean Girls , have understandably bridled against some of the changes in this screen adaptation, from the many songs cut from the Broadway version to the casting of protagonist Cady Heron . But while it’s an imperfect translation of the stage experience, it still stands on its own as a lively, creatively staged movie that puts plenty of verve into its catchy, inviting musical numbers.

The performances aren’t out to replace the 2004 version of the movie: They’re new interpretations, delivered with big musical energy. This is a tremendously fun movie, designed to send people home singing. — TR

Self Reliance

Where to watch: Hulu

Jake Johnson’s directorial debut follows a man who’s so at sea after a breakup that he agrees to star in an underground reality competition where he tries to survive for a month with assassins trying to kill him. But Self Reliance isn’t the kind of manic thriller that premise suggests; Johnson told Polygon it’s much more of a mashup of two of his favorite movies : Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket and the Adrian Lyne thriller Jacob’s Ladder . That’s an odd combination of improbably dissimilar projects, but they coalesce into an offbeat indie comedy about human connection, and the mortifying ordeal of trying to be known by people who aren’t all that interested in the knowing.

Produced by The Lonely Island and featuring Andy Samberg playing himself in a pretty hilarious cameo, Self Reliance has some of the same dry humor and secret sentiment as the group’s movie Palm Springs , but with even smaller stakes and even less predictable storytelling. It’s goofy stuff, but it’s an enjoyably light story that’s designed to keep the audience guessing. And it’s just about impossible to watch without wondering: Would I do any better under these circumstances? — TR

The best movies of 2024 so far

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‘Mother of the Bride’ Review: Brooke Shields Says I Do to Netflix’s Aggressively Inoffensive Rom-Com

Miranda Cosgrove also stars in the respectable yet unremarkable streaming feature, in which a high-strung widow reunites with her ex-flame at her daughter’s destination wedding.

By Courtney Howard

Courtney Howard

• ‘Mother of the Bride’ Review: Brooke Shields Says I Do to Netflix’s Aggressively Inoffensive Rom-Com 1 week ago
• ‘Prom Dates’ Review: A Pact Goes Pear-Shaped in More Ways Than One in Hulu’s Reductive Raunch-Com 2 weeks ago
• ‘Unsung Hero’ Review: The Family That Prays Together, Plays Together in Uplifting Faith-Based Biopic 3 weeks ago

After “Ticket to Paradise” and “Shotgun Wedding” showed us the different ways in which calamity ensues when planning weddings abroad, Netflix releases “ Mother of the Bride ,” which combines the essential elements of both those recent romantic comedies into one passable package. The far-off setting emphasizes the lavish and luxe, though the narrative is cheaply woven and fairly threadbare. While “Mean Girls” director Mark Waters ’ latest fails to add anything unique to the conversation, it does scrounge up a modest amount of heart when it comes to its saccharine sweet message of never giving up on happily ever after.

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Interpersonal relationships between the couples don’t hold a modicum of complexity, providing varying degrees of dampened, rushed resolutions. The audience rarely feels the pull of their emotions or the weight of their decisions. The inclusion of a gay couple is welcomed, though the filmmakers don’t do much with that couple, utilizing Clay and Scott primarily to aid Lana’s arc rather than giving them any internality.

Waters falters in exhibiting the nimble visual dexterity of previous projects. There’s no feeling connoted through aesthetic stylization, as when Regina George’s betrayal dawns on Cady in “Mean Girls” or the curse transference between mother and daughter in “Freaky Friday.” There are few grand movie moments to match the heart-swells in “Just Like Heaven” or the red dress reveal in “He’s All That.” The closest we ever get to something of tangible value are a sunset slow dance between the former lovers and copious drone shots of the sprawling resort property in travelogue-style transitional sequences. Perhaps the peppy, occasionally swoony soundtrack married to the perfectly lit imagery is supposed to inspire our connection to the material, but it doesn’t.

Even so, there are a handful of highlights within its algorithm-aided box-checking. Emma is empathetic to her mother’s extenuating circumstances, which is refreshing to see reflected in Robin Bernheim Burger’s writing and Cosgrove’s nuanced, thoughtful performance. Janice’s horny double-entendres (which Harris blessedly delivers with campy aplomb) are hilarious, especially since she’s never even shown kissing someone she’s hitting on, let alone getting her groove on with them. Shields and Bratt have a chemistry that sparks in their stolen looks and vulnerable intimacies, despite an overall lack of burning desire and heat conducted by their connection. It’s fun to see them stretching their muscles by incorporating genre-mandated physical comedy (via recurring clumsy pratfalls) as it helps to endear this cute couple to us.

Still, with its stale sentiments on social media’s toxic culture of likes and superficial depth exploring second chances at true love, the film’s more palatable qualities are needlessly subdued. In fact, it goes out of its way to not offend anyone with delicate sensibilities, whether it be over-explaining motivations or providing forgettable, reductive scenarios. And while a gentle, light-hearted romp is indeed welcomed in these taxing times, there’s much left to be desired from our journey with these likable but under-developed characters.

“Mother of the Bride” is now streaming on Netflix.

Reviewed on Netflix, May 5, 2024. Running time: 88 MIN.

• Production: A Netflix release of a Motion Picture Corporation of America production. Producer: Brad Krevoy. Executive producers: Brooke Shields, Oliver Ackermann, Galen Fletcher, Robin Bernheim Burger, Amanda Phillips, Jimmy Townsend, Vince Balzano.
• Crew: Director: Mark Waters. Screenplay: Robin Bernheim Burger. Camera: Ed Wu. Editor: Travis Sittard. Music: Caroline Ho.
• With: Brooke Shields, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Rachael Harris, Sean Teale, Chad Michael Murray, Michael McDonald, Wilson Cruz.

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Sorry Haters, ‘Madame Web’ Is More Fun Than Any MCU Movie Since ‘Avengers: Endgame’

Where to stream:.

• Dakota Johnson

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Madame Web’ on Netflix, a Megafiasco That Traps Poor Dakota Johnson in Superhero Hell

‘madame web’ ending explained: dakota johnson’s superhero movie sets up a sequel that likely won’t happen, maya rudolph and jimmy fallon say they “lost it” during will ferrell’s last ‘snl’ read-through in 2002: “we were all just crying”, ‘madame web’ comes to digital, but when will it be streaming on netflix.

Shortly after Madame Web was added to Netflix on Tuesday, one of the rising Google trends was “Why is Madame Web so bad?”

I can only assume this is because, Netflix subscribers, like me, are slowly coming to the correct realization that Madame Web —the much-mocked superhero film starring Dakota Johnson that flopped in the box office—is not so bad. It is, in fact, quite fun. All those haters just didn’t see the vision. But me and Dakota have that Madame Web foresight, and we can see this movie as the silly, campy romp it’s clearly meant to be.

To be clear, I’m not trying to argue that Madame Web is a good movie. Obviously, it’s not a good movie! But it’s also not nearly as bad as the critics and internet memes—many of which were already calling Madame Web the worst film of the year—made it out to be. You see, there are good movies. There are bad movies. And then there are fun movies. And Madame Web, while not good, is most definitely fun.

Directed by S.J. Clarkson in her feature film debut, Madame Web s tars Johnson as the little-known Marvel character Cassie Webb. We meet Cassie as a 30-year-old paramedic whose near-death experience on the job triggers a latent superpower: the ability to see the future minutes before it happens. This power drives Cassie to save three teenage girls—Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced), and Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor)—from being murdered by a deranged guy with Spider-Man-esque powers. As it turns out, this guy can see the future too, and in his visions, he’s murdered by these teen girls. But not if he kills them first!

The movie is at its best when Johnson acts as the reluctant babysitter to these three teenage Charlie’s-Angels- in-training. Johnson’s dry, deadpan delivery works perfectly with her character’s socially awkward misanthropy, as well as the movie’s playful tone. I mean, the exaggerated enunciation when she says “Las Arañas”—which literally just means “the spiders” in Spanish, but in the context of the film refers to a secret society of spider-people—is in the running for best line delivery of the year. Plus, the movie inexplicably takes place in 2003, which means every so often we get a cheeky little reference to Cassie watching American Idol , or a poster for Beyoncé’s Dangerously In Love album in the background. Does it make sense for the narrative? Not really! Was I having the time of my life jamming out to Britney Spears’s hit single, “Toxic”? You bet!

I have to be honest: I had infinitely more fun watching Dakota Johnson responding, “I don’t know, man” to a guy who asks if he’s on the correct train than I have at any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies or TV shows from Disney in the last five years. I don’t care about the multiverse. I don’t care about the lore. I don’t care what “Phase” of Marvel we’re in now. (Four? Eight? I literally could not tell you.)

Madame Web doesn’t just take place in 2003, it recreates the feeling of watching a superhero movie in 2003. It doesn’t expect, or even reward, any prior knowledge of comic books from audiences. More importantly, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. These are people with made-up powers running around in tights. No one should be trying to get an Oscar nomination. It’s not that deep! I mean, even the new Deadpool movie looks like it’s going for a more serious tone. Deadpool ! The guy makes pegging jokes!

Scoff at my taste in cinema if you must, but I simply can’t hate a movie that makes superheros silly again. Las arañas know what I’m talking about.

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The 15 new movies you'll want to stream this summer, from 'Atlas' to 'Beverly Hills Cop 4'

All the coolest summer films – and hot starry vehicles – aren't just at the movie theaters. It's about to get very real on your streaming services.

Nicole Kidman might say heartbreak feels good in a place with a big screen, but it's on Netflix where you'll find her and Zac Efron in a movie this June. The streamer also boasts a Jennifer Lopez sci-fi thriller, a killer Glen Powell comedy, a Mark Wahlberg/ Halle Berry spy flick, and Eddie Murphy 's latest "Beverly Hills Cop" installment in the coming months. Meanwhile Apple TV+ offers a team-up with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck and a movie featuring recent Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone , while things aren't too shabby over at Prime Video with action movies starring A-list ex-wrestlers Dave Bautista and John Cena .

Here's an exclusive peek at 15 movies to stream from your couch this summer:

'Atlas' (May 24)

Data analyst Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez) has spent her life trying to take down a rogue robot (Simu Liu) bent on replacing humans with machines. When a mission to capture him goes haywire, her only way to survive and save mankind is to pilot a mech suit and reluctantly trust an onboard AI.

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Where to watch: Netflix

'Jim Henson: Idea Man' (May 31)

Director Ron Howard's documentary chronicles the life and work of beloved filmmaker Jim Henson. Featuring archival footage and interviews with Rita Moreno, Jennifer Connelly and others, the movie follows Henson from his early days as a puppeteer to becoming the icon behind "Sesame Street" and the Muppets.

Where to watch: Disney+

'Hit Man' (June 7)

Based on a true story, Richard Linklater's crime comedy stars Glen Powell as a nerdy philosophy professor who moonlights as an undercover fake hitman for the police. He tries to help and ends up falling for a woman (Adria Arjona) wanting her ex dead, and their romance turns hazardous for both of them.

'BRATS' (June 13)

This documentary is a must-see for anyone who grew up on the "Brat Pack" movies of the 1980s. Director Andrew McCarthy reunites with fellow actors and friends including Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy and Jon Cryer to tell their story, plus sits down with the guy who actually coined the "Brat Pick" nickname back in the day.

Where to watch: Hulu

'Ultraman: Rising' (June 14)

Fun fact: Like Godzilla, Ultraman has been a pop-culture staple in Japan for decades. The latest incarnation comes to the U.S. via an animated adventure featuring a baseball superstar/superhero who defends Earth but also is tasked with raising the monstrous baby offspring of his greatest nemesis.

'Trigger Warning' (June 21)

The action thriller casts Jessica Alba as a highly trained special forces operative on duty overseas when she gets the news of her father's unexpected death. The commando, who's really handy with a knife, returns to her hometown, runs afoul of a violent gang, inherits her dad's bar and seeks the truth of what happened to him.

'A Family Affair' (June 28)

Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron were lovers in 2012's "The Paperboy" and they're rekindling that onscreen flame in this romantic comedy. Joey King stars as the assistant to a movie star (Efron) and unhappily discovers that her mother (Kidman) has a secret romance going on with her boss.

'Fancy Dance' (June 28)

"Killers of the Flower Moon" breakout Lily Gladstone stars in this drama as Jax, a woman who's long taken care of her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. When Jax loses custody of her niece to the state, the two go on the lam to find Roki's missing mon.

Where to watch: Apple TV+

'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' (July 3)

Axel Foley is back, y'all! Eddie Murphy's Detroit detective returns to Beverly Hills when his daughter (Taylour Paige) is threatened, teaming up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his old cop friends (John Ashton and Judge Reinhold) to expose corruption and conspiracy in the police department.

'Descendants: The Rise of Red' (July 12)

The new installment of Disney's "Descendants" franchise features Red (Kylie Cantrall), rebellious offspring of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora). The crimson-haired young punk partners with her roommate, Cinderella's strait-laced daughter Chloe (Malia Baker), on a time-travel mission to stop Red's mom from going down a villainous path.

'My Spy: The Eternal City' (July 18)

The sequel to the 2020 family spy comedy returns Chloe Coleman as the now-teenage Sophie and Dave Bautista as CIA agent/father figure JJ. Their new adventure takes them to Italy, where JJ is chaperoning Sophie's school choir trip and they become embroiled in a terrorist plot to assassinate JJ's boss (Ken Jeong).

Where to watch: Prime Video

'The Instigators' (Aug. 9)

In Doug Liman's heist film, desperate father Rory (Matt Damon) and ex-con Cobby (Casey Affleck) are paired up on a job to rob a corrupt politician. The situation goes sideways, the duo is pursued by cops, crooks and politicians alike, and even Rory's therapist (Hong Chau) lends a hand as they try to escape capture.

'Jackpot!' (Aug. 15)

Paul Feig's action comedy envisions a near-future Los Angeles where lottery winners have to survive until sundown or their killer can claim billions. Awkwafina plays a new LA resident who mistakenly obtains a "lucky" ticket and John Cena is the amateur protection agent helping her out in exchange for a piece of her prize.

'The Union' (Aug. 16)

Mark Wahlberg stars in the action comedy as a New Jersey construction worker who hasn't seen his high school sweetheart (Halle Berry) in forever. Catching up isn't in her plans, as she's now a spy who recruits him for a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe with sparks of both the explosive and romantic sort.

'The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat' (Aug. 23)

This adaptation of Edward Kelsey Moore's 2013 novel stars Sanaa Lathan, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Uzo Aduba as a trio of best friends. They've weathered four decades of ups and downs since coming together as high school pals in the 1960s, but now heartbreak, illness and other challenges test those close bonds.

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Movie Review: Brooke Shields and Benjamin Bratt deserve more than Netflix’s ‘Mother of the Bride’

This image released by Netflix shows Brooke Shields and Benjamin Bratt in a scene from “Mother of the Bride.” (Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix via AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Chad Michael Murray and Brooke Shields in a scene from “Mother of the Bride.” (Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix via AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Miranda Cosgrove, left, and Brooke Shields in a scene from “Mother of the Bride.” (Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix via AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Brooke Shields and Rachael Harris in a scene from “Mother of the Bride.” (Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix via AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Benjamin Bratt in a scene from “Mother of the Bride.” (Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix via AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Sean Teale and Miranda Cosgrove in a scene from “Mother of the Bride.” (Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix via AP)

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Romantic comedies are in a destination wedding rut. Perhaps it’s a collective post-COVID wanderlust kicking in, or, more cynically, some combination of tax credits and a place producers want to spend time. But between “ Ticket to Paradise ,” “Anyone But You,” “ Shotgun Wedding ” and now Netflix’s “ Mother of the Bride ,” the conceit is starting to curdle.

The problem is bigger than the setting, of course. There’s only so much heavy lifting a picturesque location, photogenic bodies and enviable resort outfits can do to make up for a lame story. Also, the appeal of an out-of-reach travelogue is limited in this age of influencers living wildly extravagant lifestyles around the clock on Instagram and TikTok (not to mention the sharp ways “White Lotus” has skewered and luxuriated in those worlds).

“Mother of the Bride,” now streaming on Netflix, wonders what might happen if you find out a few days before the wedding that your kid (Miranda Cosgrove) is marrying the offspring of the guy who broke your heart. That’s what happens to Brooke Shields’ Lana. She arrives in Phuket, Thailand, for her daughter’s wedding, meets the groom (Sean Teale), turns around and sees that his father is her college ex, Will (Benjamin Bratt). Barely a minute passes before they both fall into a pond.

Later, she’ll walk in on him emerging from the shower, hit him in a sensitive spot playing pickleball and, after they’ve made some progress, overhear the wrong conversation at the wrong time. This is a movie that is adhering to some kind of romantic comedy checklist, but whose ingredients add up to very little in the end.

Our tolerance for a silly set-up in a romantic comedy is usually pretty generous if we’re given a clever, charming script and authentic emotions. Just think of how ridiculous so many of the greats sound on paper, from “Sabrina” to “Sleepless in Seattle”? Is it fair to compare “Mother of the Bride” to Nora Ephron and Billy Wilder? Maybe not, but it never hurts to be aware of a North Star, which veterans like screenwriter Robin Bernheim Burger and director Mark Waters no doubt are. Just look at the title. This movie even has a romantic foil in a younger doctor (Chad Michael Murray) who is smitten with Lana, which can’t help but remind of Keanu Reeves in Nancy Meyers’ “Something’s Gotta Give.”

But this is so wildly contrived from the start that you never get to that moment where you’re enjoying it enough to stop asking questions, like did Lana never google Will in the 20 years they’ve been apart and find out that he’s a wildly rich and successful businessman? Or why would a major corporation offer an intern who has a barely maintained lifestyle Instagram that she started freshman year of college “six figures” to help promote their luxury hotels? Why are we supposed to root for these young people with seemingly infinite resources (one of their wedding presents in a multimillion Tribeca loft) who agree to get married in a month because a brand asks them to? Maybe more fundamentally, did the kids and a wedding have to be involved in this story at all? Does it make the idea of Will and Lana getting back together too weird to be fun? Couldn’t they have simply run into one another at a resort?

I won’t go so far as to say that “Mother of the Bride” feels like an AI creation but it does feel at least a little stitched together from pieces of other romantic comedies of varying quality. Why cast a capable comedian like Rachel Harris as the best friend only to have her say lines like “Is he on the menu”? Or give Wilson Cruz so little to do as Will’s brother?

And it’s a shame, too, because Shields and Bratt came ready to play, to fall in the pond and be minimally clothed for comedy’s sake. There must be a new generation of romantic comedy writers and directors who grew up on Ephron and Meyers out there and are ready to give us something that’s commercial and glossy but also smart and fun to revisit (ahem, remember “Set It Up”?). Maybe they just need to be given a shot.

“Mother of the Bride,” a Netflix release streaming Thursday, is rated TV-PG. Running time: 90 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

'Extraction 2' Review: Chris Hemsworth's Action Series Gets Bigger, but Not Necessarily Better

Chris Hemsworth returns for the Netflix sequel that can't quite recapture the charm of the original film.

There have been a number of action-hero archetypes in film over the years. We've had your Glib Action Heroes — think Schwarzenegger and Willis in their heydays. We've also had Mythic Action Heroes, which range from Mad Max to most superheroes put on screen these days. But lately what we've seen more of than anything is the Sad Action Hero, the fearless warrior who is too depressed to do anything other than murder a bunch of bad guys, and if he gets him or herself killed in the process, so what? Keanu Reeves ' John Wick is obviously this subgroup's reigning king, but with the release of the first Extraction in 2020, Chris Hemsworth 's Tyler Rake proved to be an exciting new addition to the Sad Action Hero canon.

Produced and co-written by the Russo Brothers (architects of a handful of the best Marvel movies , including Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Infinity War ) and directed by their long-time stunt coordinator, Sam Hargrave , Extraction was a B-movie blast — a throwback beat 'em up that found Hemsworth tearing through a crowded and corrupt South Asian city to rescue a kidnapped teenaged boy from a Bangladeshi drug lord. Though its "white savior" setup had some crying foul, Hargrave's movie proved to be a great time for anyone looking for little more than thrilling action choreography and delightfully brutal fisticuffs. Now, three years later, Hemsworth is back in Extraction 2 , a bigger, more expensive-looking sequel that sheds some of the first movie's more problematic elements but also loses a lot of its down-and-dirty charm.

'Extraction 2' Starts Strong With an Epic 21-Minute Continuous Action Sequence

Extraction 2 , directed once again by Hargrave with Joe Russo handling writing duties by himself, picks up immediately after the climax of the first film. Rake, a special-ops soldier turned mercenary who has never emotionally recovered from losing his young son to cancer, has seemingly died after completing his mission, getting riddled with gunfire, and falling off a bridge. Although, as that film's final scene teased, Rake, in fact, has survived. To Extraction 2 's credit, it doesn't just have Rake immediately and magically recover from his many serious injuries. Instead, we first see him in a deep coma that only his handler and lone friend Nik ( Golshifteh Farahani ) wants to give him a chance to fight through.

When he inevitably wakes up, he goes through months of physical therapy, eventually retiring to a small cabin where he can live out his days with his dog and chickens. However, you can't keep a Sad Action Hero out of the field for long, and Rake is eventually visited by a stranger (Hemsworth's Thor buddy Idris Elba ) with a new mission ... only this time it's personal. It turns out Rake's ex-wife's sister is married to Davit, an Eastern European terrorist (what are the odds?), and she and her two kids are currently confined with Davit inside a Georgian prison. Rake is tasked with extracting them, a mission he is compelled to take on, as he still feels massive guilt for not being there for his own wife when his son died. As with the first movie, the extraction itself is only half the battle, as Rake then also has to escort the ex-sister-in-law and both kids to safety, which isn't easy once Davit's terrorist-leader brother, Zurab ( Tornike Gogrichiani ), sends his entire army out to take down Rake and anyone else who gets in his way.

As far as set-ups go, it works well enough, and during its first 50 minutes, Extraction 2 gives fans of the original film everything they could ask for. In an attempt to surpass the continuous-action "oner" that proved to be a highlight of the first movie, Extraction 2 's prison break is shot and then digitally stitched together to look like the action all happens in a single take. It's 21 minutes long and takes Rake from inside the prison during a full-on riot to an extended car chase to a moving train, where he battles not only armed terrorists but two circling attack helicopters. Even better, the camera leaves Hemsworth for a stretch during the sequence to instead track Farahani, an underrated contributor last time who gets to become a full-fledged action star this go-round. It's all breathtakingly assembled, and though you know it's aided by tons of digital trickery, the sequence still looks more realistic than anything you see in, say, Fast X . When the on-screen cut finally comes, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Extraction 2 is the next-level sequel that fans were hoping for.

Following a Killer First 50 Minutes, 'Extraction 2' Starts Running out of Steam

And then, sadly, things start to get off track. The action slows way down and the plot moves to Vienna, Austria, where Rake incorrectly assumes the family will now be safe. Instead, Zurab and his army soon follow, and, for a while, Extraction 2 bizarrely turns into a far-less-entertaining riff on Die Hard or maybe Mission: Impossible . Gone is the exotic urban environment of the first film and even the barren and wintry Georgian setting the new film had been utilizing. Instead, we get a long and much less impressive action sequence set in and around a tall skyscraper. It's something we've seen done too many times, and it's at this point that Extraction 2 starts to feel generic in a way that's similar to too many other Netflix originals. Near the end of that sequence, Rake inexplicably fails to kill Zurab when he has the chance, setting up a final-act brawl inside a deserted church that feels both nondescript and a little too John Wick -esque. After a blistering opening half, Extraction 2 quickly runs out of ideas.

Also not helping is the fact that neither the story nor the supporting characters are able to hold the viewer's attention all that well in this sequel. The first Extraction was purposefully an impersonal film, highlighted by fleeting moments of humanity captured in the burgeoning friendship between Rake and the teenaged boy he rescues. Rake doesn't even fight the main villain in the original movie; that job instead falls to Nik in a clever little aside that takes place after the climax of the film. The sequel, however, makes everything personal, which pushes it away from Extraction 1 into a space where the drama feels more conventional and, thus, more mundane. Rake is fighting for his family this time. Zurab is fighting for his brother. At a certain point, nothing seems to matter but these guys getting the chance to try to kill each other. And a lot of the first movie's "a guy just doing his job" vibe gets lost along the way, as the movie morphs into a kind of revenge picture we've seen a million times before. Extraction 2 also tries to mine drama from one of the ex-sister-in-law's kids, Sandro ( Andro Jafaridze ), who has been brainwashed by his father and uncle and must eventually choose whether to follow in their footsteps or protect his mother. His loyalty swings back and forth, and the character ultimately proves to be more frustrating than interesting.

Meanwhile, Elba briefly shows up for two quick scenes, the second of which only exists to vaguely suggest further sequels and a growing Extraction universe . (I may have groaned.) Nik's brother, Yaz ( Adam Bessa ) has a much larger presence this time, although whether that was necessary can certainly be debated. True story: I rewatched the first Extraction the day before watching Extraction 2 and still didn't recognize Yaz as someone we had already met. So his jump in importance is a bit jarring. You eventually yearn for the simplicity of the first film, when all you had to worry about was Rake and the kid he was rescuing, with a slight detour to allow for David Harbour to put in a few minutes of deft character-actor work. (Elba is a fine replacement for Harbour in theory, but it feels like he's in more of a "do a friend a favor and then cash a check" mode.)

Sometimes action movies can earn a good reputation based on the strength of one particularly well-executed scene, and Extraction 2 's prison heist may be enough to keep the film on the right side of genre history. The film also deserves props for elevating Farahani to a level where she's positioned almost as an equal to the still-very-good Hemsworth, as opposed to just a briefly cool side character. But, in every other way, Extraction 2 feels like a glossier and more by-the-numbers extension of the first movie. By giving Rake, their Sad Action Hero, something more to fight for, the filmmakers accidentally stripped the character of what made him so compelling in the first place.

Extraction 2 releases June 16 on Netflix.