If you’re looking for a good movie to stream, Netflix has you covered, no matter what sort of film you’re in the mood to watch.The streaming service has a massive library filled with new and original films, as well as classic favorites and critical darlings that span Hollywood history.With a library that massive, picking one film can be a little tough, though.That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best movies available on Netflix right now.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Netflix , the best movies on Hulu , the best movies on Amazon Prime , and the best movies on Disney+ .
Jaws (1975) new 98% 87% 8.0/10 Genre Adventure, Thriller Stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw Directed by Steven Spielberg pg 124m Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking 1975 thriller made generations of movie audiences afraid to go in the water with its tale of a man-eating great white shark that terrorizes tourists and residents around a New England resort town.The film casts Roy Scheider as the local police chief who recruits a marine biologist played by Richard Dreyfuss and a salty sea captain played by Robert Shaw to hunt down the killer shark.Not only does the film feature groundbreaking practical effects that still hold up more four decades later, John Williams’ brilliantly simple score for the film remains one of the most iconic — and simple — pieces of movie music to this day.There’s a reason Jaws was one of the first big summer blockbusters, and despite a series of lackluster sequels and spinoffs in the years that followed, it remains as captivating and terrifying today as it was years ago.
watch on Netflix Legally Blonde (2001) 70% 59% 6.3/10 Genre Comedy, Romance Stars Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair Directed by Robert Luketic pg-13 96m Reese Witherspoon stars in this 2001 comedy about a sorority girl who attempts to win back her boyfriend by enrolling in Harvard Law School and ends up battling bias and misogyny en route to becoming a successful lawyer.The film is based on Amanda Brown’s 2001 novel of the same name, and much like its eternally self-confident protagonist, the film might seem easy to dismiss on the surface but actually delivers its message with a surprising amount of nuance and self-aware wit.Both Witherspoon and the film itself received Golden Globe Award nominations, and the movie went on to spawn not just a pair of sequels but also a hit Broadway musical.
watch on Netflix Stargate (1994) 53% 42% 7.1/10 Genre Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Stars Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson Directed by Roland Emmerich pg-13 116m Kurt Russell and James Spader star in this clever, entertaining sci-fi adventure as a pair of explorers tasked with venturing through a mysterious portal discovered in Egyptian ruins.Russell plays Colonel Jack O’Neil, while James Spader portrays the scientist whose theories regarding alien intervention in ancient Egypt just might prove true after all.Although the film failed to win over critics, it did earn a loyal fan following that supported not one but multiple spinoff series that spanned multiple seasons and expanded the Stargate universe exponentially.watch on Netflix Misha and the Wolves (2021) 81% 61% 6.8/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Sam Hobkinson pg-13 90m Move over, Tiger King , Netflix has another wild documentary you need to see to believe.
The film chronicles the far-reaching investigation that took place after the publication of Misha Defonseca’s widely circulated 1997 memoir Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years , in which the author describes her experiences as a young Holocaust survivor who was raised by wolves while searching Europe for her parents.It’s best not knowing any of the twists and turns the story takes ahead of time, so just sit back and let this true, stranger-than-fiction story unfold.You won’t be disappointed.watch on Netflix I Care a Lot (2020) 78% 66% 6.3/10 Genre Drama, Comedy, Thriller Stars Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage Directed by J Blakeson r 118m Rosamund Pike portrays a diabolical con artist who poses as the legal guardian for elderly people in order to seize their assets in this dark, satirical thriller.
Her highly profitable scam takes a dangerous turn when her latest victim turns out to be the mother of a powerful mob boss, leading to a deadly battle of wills between Pike’s character and a ruthless criminal kingpin played by Peter Dinklage.Eiza González and Dianne Wiest play supporting roles in the film, which earned praise from critics and led to Pike taking home a Golden Globe Award for her performance.watch on Netflix The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) 100% 58% 7.6/10 Genre Action, Fantasy Directed by Kwang-Il Han Cast Theo James, Lara Pulver, Graham McTavish tv-ma A prequel to the live-action The Witcher series, Nightmare of the Wolf follows a brash monster hunter whose investigation leads to a pivotal moment in the timeline of the show’s dark fantasy world.The film is animated by the same studio responsible for hit shows The Legend of Korra , Voltron: Legendary Defender , and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts , so it’s no surprise how beautiful it looks, but unlike those kid-friendly series, Nightmare of the Wolf is a brutal, bloody adventure aimed at the same audience as The Witcher.Theo James, Lara Pulver, and Graham McTavish are among the notable actors lending their voices to the film’s cast.watch on Netflix Untold: Crime and Penalties (2021) 7.4/10 Genre Documentary, Sports Directed by Chapman Way, Maclain Way Cast Jimmy Galante, AJ Galante tv-ma What happens when a waste-removal tycoon with mob ties decides to buy a minor league hockey team and make his teenage son the general manager and president? That question was answered when Jimmy Galante brought the Danbury Trashers to his Connecticut hometown in 2004 and had his 17-year-old son, A.J., run the UHL expansion team for two wild, brawl-filled seasons — a run that eventually led to a massive FBI bust that sent the elder Galante to prison and forced the team to disband.
Part Slapshot , part The Sopranos (Galante was rumored to be the real-world inspiration for Tony Soprano, after all), the outrageous story of the Trashers is almost too crazy to believe, but the documentary is packed with interviews and archival footage — including ESPN broadcasts from the Trashers’ brief run — that hammers home how real this crazy sports saga was.watch on Netflix Good Time (2017) 92% 80% 7.4/10 Genre Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller Stars Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Benny Safdie Directed by Josh & Benny Safdie r 101m Josh and Ben Safdie, the writer/director duo behind 2019’s Uncut Gems , have a penchant for producing electric crime thrillers — a calling first realized with their 2017 film, Good Time .Our story follows Connie (Robert Pattinson) and Nick (Ben Safdie), two brothers who attempt to rob a New York City bank together.When their plan goes awry and Nick is arrested, Connie will do whatever it takes to free his brother before the authorities come crashing down on him, too.
Good Time is a ceaseless NYC thrill ride with a firm foot on the gas, never once letting up on the adrenaline and chaos.watch on Netflix Mank (2020) 83% 79% 6.9/10 Genre Drama, Biography, History Stars Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins Directed by David Fincher r 131m In this photographic gem of a Hollywood retrospective, director David Fincher delivers a finely layered drama about the writing of a Golden Age masterpiece.
The writer in question is Herman J.Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman).
The film he’s writing, commissioned by Orson Welles (Tom Burke), is Citizen Kane .Mank ‘s narrative shifts back and forth from the 1930s to the 1940s, chronicling the turbulent life of its title character throughout his development of the screenplay.Mank was written by the late Jack Fincher, the director’s father, and features amazing performances from its rich ensemble cast.
It’s a great watch for cinephiles and casual viewers alike and a dazzling and authentic take on La La Land’s heyday.
watch on Netflix Ravenous (2017) 88% 5.8/10 Genre Horror Directed by Robin Aubert Cast Marc-Andre Grondin, Monia Chokri tv-ma Ravenous (originally titled Les Affamés ) begins after a mysterious plague has annihilated much of Quebec, turning its victims into shrieking, flesh-eating monsters.The story follows various survivors who eventually band together to fight back the horde, but despite the familiar plot, this isn’t a typical zombie movie; it is a deliberately paced, eerily beautiful horror movie.The protagonist is a man named Bonin (Marc-Andre Grondin), who wanders the countryside, finding other survivors and slaying zombies.As the group grows, the film gives each character proper development, so they feel fully fleshed out, unlike the stock survivors of many a zombie film.
While the film has its gory moments, Ravenous frequently employs an atmosphere of dread built through uncanny imagery, such as when the zombies congregate before a shrine made of furniture.watch on Netflix Django Unchained (2012) 87% 81% 8.4/10 Genre Western, Drama, Action Stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio Directed by Quentin Tarantino r 165m In Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained , the barrage of spaghetti-western bullets is never-ending.When Django (Jamie Foxx) is rescued from enslavement by the mysterious Dr.King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), the unlikely duo forms a partnership.Django agrees to help Schultz track down bounties.In return, Schultz will help Django locate his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington).After some winter bounty hunts, Django and Schultz track Broomhilda to the plantation of a notorious slaver named Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).He’s a charismatic host, but cunning like no other, and it’s not long before Candie and his cohorts begin sniffing out Django’s true intentions.
Big, bold, and bloody, Django Unchained is Tarantino’s second collaboration with actor Christoph Waltz and the first with the late composer, Ennio Morricone.watch on Netflix The Beguiled (2017) 79% 77% 6.3/10 Genre Drama, Thriller Stars Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning Directed by Sofia Coppola r 94m The tension just keeps getting higher in this Civil War-era drama from filmmaker Sofia Coppola, based on Thomas P.Cullinan’s novel of the same name.Colin Farrell portrays a Union soldier who’s forced to take refuge in a Southern boarding school for women, only to have his presence there upset the institution’s delicate balance of power.Sexual tension and dark secrets flame the fires of drama, pitting the women against each other while a terrible war rages outside the school’s doors.watch on Netflix The Old Guard (2020) 81% 70% 6.7/10 Genre Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy Stars Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood r 125m Netflix goes superhero in this action-packed flick about a secret organization of immortals that has protected the Earth from extinction for centuries.
But when they are set up on an emergency mission, their powers are mistakenly exposed to the world.Now they must work together to ensure none of the various powerful competing interests can control them for personal or monetary gain.
watch on Netflix Do the Right Thing (1989) new 93% 93% 8.0/10 Genre Comedy, Drama Stars Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro Directed by Spike Lee r 120m Often found on lists of the greatest movies ever made, Spike Lee’s 1989 drama unfolds during one of the hottest days of the year in a Brooklyn neighborhood where racial tension has reached a boiling point.An Italian-American pizzeria owned by Sal (Danny Aiello) becomes the focal point for drama in the film, which has Lee’s character delivering pizzas throughout the neighborhood while navigating the complicated relationships around every corner.The film earned a pair of Academy Award nominations and remains a critically acclaimed work of cinema decades after it first hit theaters.watch on Netflix There Will Be Blood (2007) 91% 93% 8.2/10 Genre Drama Stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J.O’ Connor Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson r 158m Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood is a grim character study of one Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), a burgeoning oil tycoon in early 20th-century California.Daniel is the type of man who would sell his soul to make a buck, which makes the arrival of Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) all the more serendipitous.The boy claims there is oil on his family’s property, and he’ll tell Daniel where it is for cash.The pair transact, and Daniel journeys to the town of Little Boston with his son H.W.
(Dillon Freasier) to try and purchase the Sunday Ranch for drilling.What’s waiting for Daniel is a dastardly foe and his family’s cursed land.Or is Plainview the curse himself? There Will Be Blood is a two-hour-plus descent into a hell of business meets faith, featuring an Oscar-winning lead performance from Daniel Day-Lewis.watch on Netflix Nocturnal Animals (2016) 73% 67% 7.5/10 Genre Mystery, Drama, Crime, Thriller Stars Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhall, Michael Shannon Directed by Tom Ford r 116m In Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals , Amy Adams is Susan Morrow, a successful Los Angeles art gallery owner.
One morning, Susan receives a manuscript for her ex-husband Edward’s (Jake Gyllenhall) latest novel, entitled Nocturnal Animals , along with an invitation to meet for dinner.As Susan begins paging through the manuscript, a macabre tale of backcountry crime unfolds onscreen.
Seamlessly combining three narrative threads (present-day, Edward’s novel, and Susan and Edward’s past), Nocturnal Animals lives in a bizarre and uncompromising world where fiction informs the real, and vice versa.Led by amazing performances from its key cast, this is one you don’t want to pass on.watch on Netflix The Midnight Sky (2020) 50% 58% 5.6/10 Genre Sci-Fi, Drama Stars George Clooney, Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo Directed by George Clooney pg-13 158m An adaptation of the 2016 Lily-Brooks Dalton novel Good Morning, Midnight , George Clooney directs and stars in this cataclysmic sci-fi thriller.After a powerful radiation event eradicates a majority of the earth’s population, scientist Augustine Lofthouse (Clooney) knows his days are numbered.Hoping to make contact with any returning spacecraft to warn the travelers of earth’s decimation, Augustine makes contact with the homebound crew of a Jupiter rover.
When the signal is disturbed, Augustine’s discovery of a girl named Iris (Caoilinn Springall) encourages the weary scientist to journey across the North Pole in hopes of finding a stronger antenna to alert the Jupiter crew.A compelling Netflix movie from start to finish, Clooney’s stab at the post-apocalyptic genre is certainly not a miss.watch on Netflix Enola Holmes (2020) 91% 68% 6.6/10 Genre Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Stars Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, Henry Cavill Directed by Harry Bradbeer pg-13 92m So, you thought Sherlock Holmes was played out? Well, you thought wrong because you didn’t know he had a little sister.
Millie Bobby Brown shines as the title character in this action-packed, fun-filled twist on the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories.When her mother turns up mysteriously missing, teenage Enola Holmes hits the trail to find her — something her more famous brother is simply too preoccupied to do.
As she sniffs out clues, Enola discovers she might just have as much as, or even more of, a knack for this sleuthing thing than her brother, slowly uncovering a dangerous conspiracy that threatens to rattle the English aristocracy.watch on Netflix
A Ghost Story (2017) 91% 84% 6.9/10 Genre Drama, Romance, Fantasy Stars Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Will Oldham Directed by David Lowery r 92m In the wake of a fatal car crash, C (Casey Affleck) returns to the earth as a white-sheeted phantom.After a spiritual pilgrimage back to the suburban ranch he shared with M (Rooney Mara), C’s spirit begins to haunt the home.Time seeps away as minutes, months, and years pass.
M grieves, new families come and go, but the house (and the ghost) remain.Director David Lowery shot the project in relative secrecy, using the same VFX crew that lent their talents to Lowery’s Disney-financed remake of Pete’s Dragon .A cinematic experience like no other, A Ghost Story explores love, life, and loss in ways seldom seen onscreen.watch on Netflix Bad Trip (2021) 77% 61% 6.6/10 Genre Comedy Stars Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish Directed by Kitao Sakurai r 84m Eric André and Lil Rel Howery headline this hidden-camera prank film that has them playing two friends, Chris and Bud, who embark on an ill-fated road trip so Chris can tell his high school sweetheart he loves her.As they stumble from one ridiculous scenario to another, they’re pursued by Bud’s convict sister (Tiffany Haddish), whose car they stole for the trip.Raunchy, shocking, and relentlessly funny, the film blends scripted scenes with wild hidden-camera pranks and its duo’s signature comedy for a film that’s all about the journey, not the destination.
watch on Netflix The Devil All the Time (2020) 64% 55% 7.1/10 Genre Crime, Drama, Thriller Stars Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Bill Skarsgård Directed by Antonio Campos r 138m Written and directed by Antonio Campos, The Devil All the Time is American Gothic at its most perverse.Set in rural southern Ohio and West Virginia after World War II, the story follows Arvin Russell (Tom Holland), a young man who is determined to protect his loved ones against the corruption and violence that plagues his town.From complete strangers to the most powerful institutions in the area, brutality is pervasive as everyone seeks desperately to assert their own small bits of power in a broken — but recovering — world.Things aren’t getting better for everyone, however, and The Devil All the Time takes its time exploring the generational trauma and cold truths that inhabit this sinister town.watch on Netflix Digital Trends Streaming Roundup Best movies on Amazon Best movies on Disney+ Best movies on HBO Max Best movies on Hulu The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) 89% 79% 7.3/10 Genre Comedy, Drama, Musical Stars Liam Neeson, James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson Directed by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen r 133m What’s better than a new Western from the Coen brothers? How about six? The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a sextet of short films, all set in the Wild West.They follow different characters through wild plots that explore the themes of human depravity and cosmic justice (or injustice) that recur so often in the Coens’ works.
The stories and protagonists vary wildly.The eponymous sequence follows Buster Scruggs (Tim Blake Nelson), a sharpshooting, guitar-slinging cowboy roaming the West and singing of his adventures.In another, a lonely prospector (Tom Waits) digs for his fortune.The stories in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs fall on the surreal end of the Coen spectrum — they’re somewhat comical, occasionally brutal folk tales that don’t always leave the viewer feeling they’ve learned a lesson.
Here’s our list of the best comedies on Netflix to browse if you’re looking for more in this genre.watch on Netflix Stowaway (2021) 77% 63% 5.6/10 Genre Drama, Sci-Fi Directed by Joe Penna Cast Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson, Toni Collette tv-ma After the three-person crew of a manned mission to Mars discovers a fourth, accidental occupant of their ship, a crisis occurs when a related equipment failure leaves only enough oxygen to support the original crew.That’s the heart-wrenching premise of this sci-fi drama that Netflix won the right to distribute in the U.S.after a bidding war.
The moral quandary posed by the film is supported by a small but impressive cast, with Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, and Toni Collette portraying the ship’s crew and Shamier Anderson portraying the engineer who wakes up inside the ship shortly after takeoff.
watch on Netflix Vivo (2021) 86% 65% 6.8/10 Genre Animation, Musical, Family Stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Gloria Estefan Directed by Kirk DeMicco pg 98m The first musical animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation, Vivo follows a musically gifted kinkajou — a long-tailed, raccoon-like mammal usually found in tropical regions — as he embarks on a journey from Havana, Cuba, to Miami, Florida, in order to bring a message of love to his guardian’s former partner.Hamilton and In the Heights mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda created the songs for the film and voices Vivo the kinkajou, with Ynairaly Simo voicing Gabi Hernández, the young girl who helps Vivo on his quest.A long list of popular Cuban musicians and performers — including Gloria Estefan — fill out the film’s cast and contribute to a musical score rooted in the region’s history and culture.
watch on Netflix Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) 80% 61% 7.8/10 Genre Comedy Stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara Directed by John Hughes pg-13 108m Widely considered one of the best films of celebrated filmmaker John Hughes, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off casts Matthew Broderick as the movie’s titular teenage slacker, whose decision to skip school one day kicks off an adventure with his best friend and girlfriend that could either be the best day of their lives or the worst.Alan Ruck and Mia Sara deliver wonderful performances as the pair swept away in Ferris’ plans, but it’s Broderick who steals the show as the fourth-wall-breaking hero of the story.While the film served as Hughes’ love letter to Chicago, it was Broderick’s portrayal of Ferris that made the character one of Hollywood’s most iconic teenage rebels of ’80s cinema.watch on Netflix I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) 82% 78% 6.6/10 Genre Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense Stars Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis Directed by Charlie Kaufman r 134m Writer-director Charlie Kaufman ( Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , Synecdoche, New York ) is at his most delightfully weird in this Netflix original movie.
This time- and the perspective-bending story follows a young, nameless woman on a road trip to her new boyfriend’s parents’ house in the middle of a blizzard.When she gets there, she finds the parents (Toni Collette, David Thewlis) are extremely weird, and the house seems to exist in some kind of surreal alternate reality where time and character morph with abandon.Alternatively strange and hilarious, and constantly thought-provoking, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is powered by strong writing and outstanding performances from all the actors involved.watch on Netflix Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021) 83% 67% 6.2/10 Genre Horror Stars Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, Fred Hechinger Directed by Leigh Janiak r 105m This retro slasher feature based on R.L.
Stine’s book series of the same name follows a group of teenagers in fictional Shadyside, Ohio, who find themselves terrorized by a supernatural killer with a link to the town’s dark history.Dripping with ’90s nostalgia and plenty of blood, the movie is the first installment of a trilogy that explores Shadyside’s deadly reputation as the murder capital of the country, with each chapter unfolding in a different era.Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, and Fred Hechinger star in the terrifying tale.watch on Netflix Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) 61% 48% 6.0/10 Genre Action, Thriller Stars Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino, Chloe Coleman Directed by Navot Papushado r 114m Karen Gillan plays a lethal assassin who finds herself on the run after she refuses to kill a young girl in this fast-paced, beautifully choreographed thriller.
While fleeing the mysterious organization out to end her contract, Gillan finds an unexpected ally in the mother she thought she lost (played by Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey) and a trio of brutally effective hitwomen (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino).With nonstop action and an impressive ensemble of leading ladies, the film gives new meaning to smashing the patriarchy.watch on Netflix Wildling (2018) 71% 58% 5.5/10 Genre Fantasy, Mystery and Thriller, Horror Stars Liv Tyler, Brad Dourif, Bel Powley Directed by Fritz Böhm r 93m Life has never been normal for Anna (Bel Powley).Confined to an attic bedroom, her adolescence is spent on empty days of staring out the window, longing for the wilderness.
Cared for by a man she refers to as “Daddy” (Brad Dourif), he warns Anna that lurking in the world outside her bedroom is a terrifying creature called the Wildling.
Traumatic events unfold, and a teenage Anna awakens in a hospital.When Ellen Cooper (Liv Tyler), the local sheriff, agrees to take Anna in, the dark mythos of the Wildling starts spreading.Is Anna losing her mind, or is something evil truly afoot in the woods? Director Fritz Böhm delivers a gripping yet morose fairytale about the coming-of-age process, a time where we lose touch with our mind and body when we need them most.watch on Netflix Midnight Run (1988) 94% 78% 7.5/10 Genre Action, Comedy Stars Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin Directed by Martin Brest r 122m Robert De Niro plays a bounty hunter tasked with bringing in a shifty accountant portrayed by Charles Grodin in this classic comedy directed by Beverly Hills Cop filmmaker Martin Brest.Dubbed “the Casablanca of buddy comedies” by Rolling Stone, the film was a surprise hit based on the memorable chemistry between De Niro and Grodin, whose characters must deal with one setback after another on their cross-country journey, as well as corrupt cops, overzealous FBI agents, mafia hitmen, and a host of other threats.
Nominated as one of the year’s best films at the 46th Golden Globe Awards, Midnight Run remains a truly underappreciated gem of ’80s cinema featuring two actors who bring the best out of each other’s performances.watch on Netflix Over the Moon (2020) 81% 60% 6.4/10 Genre Adventure, Musical, Fantasy, Comedy, Kids And Family, Animation Stars John Cho, Sandra Oh, Ken Jeong Directed by Glen Keane pg 100m Fei Fei (Cathy Ang), grieving the loss of her mother, clings to a legend about a moon goddess named Chang’e.Much to the dismay of her father and his new family, the girl aims to prove that the goddess does indeed exist.To do so, she begins work on a rocket that will take her to the moon to prove Chang’e’s existence.Filled with heart and mesmerizing animation, Over the Moon often looks and feels like your standard Disney epic, but the familiar structure and dazzling music are enough to keep everyone glued to the screen.
watch on Netflix Fruitvale Station (2013) 94% 85% 7.5/10 Genre Drama Stars Michael B.
Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael Murray Directed by Ryan Coogler r 85m Before he was one of Marvel Studios’ most celebrated filmmakers, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler wrote and directed this 2013 biographical film that cast Michael B.Jordan as Oscar Grant, who was murdered by police officer Johannes Mehserle in 2009 while traveling on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in Oakland, California.The film chronicles the events of Grant’s day leading up to his fatal encounter with BART officers that was caught on video and ignited months of protests that — after similar incidents were recorded in the years that followed — would eventually coalesce into the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice.A powerful, personal film that puts a face on one of the many victims of deadly police misconduct in recent years, Fruitvale Station launched Coogler’s career and earned a long list of awards for both its director and star while bringing wider attention to Grant’s story.
watch on Netflix Silver Linings Playbook (2012) 92% 81% 7.7/10 Genre Drama, Romance, Comedy Stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro Directed by David O.Russell r 121m Adapted from Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel of the same name, David O.Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook is an ensemble tour de force with a stripped-down Bradley Cooper as its lead.When Patrick Solitano Jr.
(Bradley Cooper) is released from eight months of intensive psychiatric care, he moves back in with his parents, Pat Sr.(Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver).Intent on getting his wife back, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a widowed woman with an unspecified disorder of her own.As she and Pat begin to bond, Tiffany asks Pat to enter a dance competition with her, a move that Pat is convinced will get him his wife back.
A romantic comedy turned on its head and injected with emotional realism, Silver Linings Playbook explores love, family, and psychosis in ways that other filmmakers would never dare to.watch on Netflix His House (2020) 100% 72% 6.5/10 Genre Mystery, Thriller, Horror Stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Wunmi Mosaku, Matt Smith Directed by Remi Weekes r 93m After suffering a major tragedy on their pilgrimage from South Sudan to the U.K., Bol (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku), married refugees fleeing their war-ravaged country, are placed in a decrepit tenement home.
As Bol does his best to acclimate to a new life of racial discrepancy, a series of horrific ghouls make themselves known to the grieving man.Blending a socio-political immigration story with a haunted house story, His House bends both sub-genres in a way we’ve never seen pulled off before.
An exciting and unsettling directorial debut from Remi Weekes, His House should definitely fill your screen this weekend.watch on Netflix The White Tiger (2021) 91% 76% 7.1/10 Genre Drama Stars Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra Jonas Directed by Ramin Bahrani r 126m Based on Aravind Adiga’s 2008 novel of the same name, The White Tiger follows the rags-to-riches story of Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav), an impoverished Indian villager that, through hard work (and a little manipulation), pushes himself into a much-lauded driver position for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), two highly influential business magnates.Coming to love his position, a tragic misstep places Balram in the crosshairs of Ashok’s family.
Unwilling to serve as a scapegoat, Balram chooses to fight back against the corrupt forces at play.
A gripping class-drama akin to Parasite mates with Joker , The White Tiger is one of the greatest dramas you can stream today.watch on Netflix Finding ‘Ohana (2021) 85% 69% 6.1/10 Genre Action, Adventure, Comedy Stars Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson Directed by Jude Weng pg 123m Uprooted from her Brooklyn life, Pilialoha “Pili” Kawena (Kea Peahu) and her family travel to Oahu to care for her ailing grandfather.Initially disappointed by the lack of big-city buzz and activity, they discover a pirate journal that alludes to an ancient treasure buried somewhere on the island.As Pili and her older brother begin their quest for the trove, their journey takes them on a Hawaiian odyssey that connects them with their ancient island heritage.
A loving family drama, Finding ‘Ohana is The Goonies meets visually breathtaking Hawaii.
watch on Netflix Always Be My Maybe (2019) 90% 64% 6.8/10 Genre Comedy, Romance Stars Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves Directed by Nahnatchka Khan pg-13 102m Childhood friends Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) cross paths as adults, years after a teenage fling, and soon find themselves navigating life and love while maintaining two very different career paths and social circles.She’s a celebrity chef who hangs out with Keanu Reeves and he installs air conditioners.Can they ever find common ground? You probably know the answer to that already, but watching how they get there is where the fun lies — particularly when it comes to Reeves’ memorable performance.watch on Netflix Moonlight (2016) 98% 99% 7.4/10 Genre Drama, Romance Stars Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders, Alex R.Little Directed by Barry Jenkins r 111m 2016’s Best Picture winner established Mahershala Ali as a tour de force actor and introduced the world to the brilliant Ashton Sanders.Moonlight attempts to convey the Black experience through three defining chapters of one man’s life.Chiron (Sanders) grows up in Miami, surrounded by a community that is full of love and support despite the crack epidemic that is ravaging it.
As Chiron is pulled from his biological family by drug abuse and misunderstanding, he’s guided into manhood by Juan (Ali), a man who recognizes the struggles Chiron will face as a gay Black man.Juan tries to help Chiron find peace with his identity.watch on Netflix The Mitchells vs.The Machines (2021) 98% 80% 7.7/10 Genre Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi Stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda Directed by Mike Rianda pg 114m Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo that gave us The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , return for this animated feature about a dysfunctional family that ends up becoming humanity’s last, best hope against a robot uprising.Mike Rianda ( Gravity Falls ) makes his directorial debut with the film, which also features an impressive voice cast that includes Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Eric Andre, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Blake Griffin, and Conan O’Brien, among other familiar names (and voices).An early favorite for the year’s best animated feature — and one of the best movies of the year — The Mitchells vs.The Machines has quickly become a surprise hit for Netflix.
watch on Netflix The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) 89% 76% 7.8/10 Genre Drama, History Stars Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baren Cohen, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Directed by Aaron Sorkin r 130m Hollywood stalwart Aaron Sorkin rises to the occasion once more with his blistering interpretation of the 1969 Democratic National Convention trials, where seven Vietnam protestors were charged with crimes well beyond their intent.As peaceful demonstrations turn caustic, prejudice bleeds into testimony and eyewitness accounts of what took place the day of the riots.Featuring performances from Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baren Cohen, Alex Sharp, and John Caroll Lynch, Sorkin’s big-budget historical drama takes liberties here and there, but the result is a spellbinding examination of American history.watch on Netflix My Octopus Teacher (2020) 95% 82% 8.1/10 Genre Documentary Stars Craig Foster Directed by Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed g 85m The Academy Award winner in the Best Documentary Feature category at the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, My Octopus Teacher chronicles the year filmmaker Craig Foster spent free-diving off the South African coast and forging a relationship with a wild octopus he discovered there.In following the octopus’s life and experiences, Foster learns lessons about his own life and relationship to the world around him and his family.
watch on Netflix Shadow (2018) 94% 7.0/10 Genre Drama Directed by Zhang Yimou Cast Deng Chao, Sun Li, Ryan Cheng tv-ma Legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou followed up his misbegotten The Great Wall with 2018’s Shadow , a beautiful return to form.The film begins when Commander Ziyu (Deng Chao) is defeated in a duel with enemy commander Yang Cang (Hu Jun), losing an important city in the process.This infuriates Ziyu’s king, who demotes Ziyu to commoner status and tries desperately to reclaim the city.Unbeknownst to the king, the actual Ziyu is on the verge of death after the duel, replaced by a body double who must now train to beat Yang Cang.Shadow is a historical epic of grand scope, heavy on intrigue and stylish combat sequences accented by a stark color palette.
watch on Netflix Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) 97% 91% 8.2/10 Genre Comedy Stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin Directed by Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones pg 90m Widely regarded as one of the funniest movies ever made, this parody of Arthurian legend was written and performed by the famous Monty Python comedy troupe and directed by troupe members Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones.The film chronicles various elements of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail and those of his fellow Knights of the Round Table as they encounter one ridiculous scenario after another in pursuit of the relic.If you’ve ever wondered about the airspeed of a swallow, the best ways to determine whether someone is a witch, or how a fuzzy bunny could be the most terrifying creature in the world, well … you might not get all the answers in this film, but you’ll definitely find plenty of laughs.
watch on Netflix Loving (2016) 88% 79% 7.0/10 Genre Biography, Drama, History Stars Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Nick Kroll Directed by Jeff Nichols pg-13 123m Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, and inspired by the 2012 HBO documentary The Loving Story, Loving depicts the trials and tribulations of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), an interracial couple who wanted nothing more than to be wed.But after traveling from Virginia to Washington D.C., to get married, the couple is tracked down by their hometown authorities and charged with violating Virginia’s segregation laws.For their prison sentences to be thrown out, the couple must agree to vacate Virginia and not return for 25 years.But the couple doesn’t want to give up on their love.
Ruth writes to Attorney General Robert F.Kennedy, which sets into motion one of the most vital Supreme Court cases in civil rights history.watch on Netflix If Anything Happens I Love You (2020) 100% 7.8/10 Genre Drama, Animation Directed by Michael Govier, Will McCormack pg 12m From writer/director duo Michael Govier and Will McCormack, If Anything Happens explores a world of profound grief in a beautifully illustrated and meditative manner.Navigating the emotional aftermath of one family’s tragic loss, the short animation begins in a dark and near-unforgiving place, but through the power of love and the will to move forward, the film progresses into a place of love, forgiveness, and hope.
Not the easiest watch in this roundup, but worthy of attention for its emotional bravery and stellar composition.watch on Netflix Uncut Gems (2019) 91% 91% 7.4/10 Genre Drama Stars Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Kevin Garnett Directed by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie r 135m Uncut Gems is not for the faint-hearted.
The Safdie Brothers’ drama about a gambling-addicted jeweler is a relentlessly intense, high-stress ride through the world of high-stakes gambling.Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a charismatic New York City jeweler who is always on the lookout for the next big score.When NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett takes an interest in Howard’s most recent high-value acquisition, believing it brings him luck, Sandler makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime.Unfortunately, not everyone in his life is willing to wait for that windfall.Howard has to perform a precarious balancing act between business, family, debt collectors, and more to get the payoff.watch on Netflix Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) 95% 8.2/10 Genre Drama, fantasy Stars Ivana Baquero, Sergi López Directed by Guillermo del Toro r 115m Pan’s Labyrinth is a breathtakingly beautiful and heart-wrenchingly tragic film.
Winner of three Academy Awards (on six nominations), Pan ‘s Labyrinth launched director Guillermo del Toro onto the American awards show radar and introduced audiences to the blend of sci-fi, horror, and surrealistic elements that characterize his style.Set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows an imaginative young girl who also may just be a princess of an underground kingdom.Cast aside by her cruel, militaristic stepfather and isolated from her mother, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) entertains herself on the grounds of their home in the Spanish countryside.When she stumbles upon a stone labyrinth presided over by a suspicious faun named Pan (Doug Jones), she is asked to complete three life-threatening tasks to prove she is the mythical princess, returned to reclaim her kingdom.
Ofelia’s journey is expertly foiled by a guerrilla resistance to the rule of fascist Francisco Franco and the crumbling fragility of her newly formed family.watch on Netflix Roma (2018) 95% 96% 7.7/10 Genre Drama Stars Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira Directed by Alfonso Cuarón r 148m Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma opens quietly, the camera staring, motionless, at a tile floor as the credits play; eventually, water pours over the floor, as the sound of a mop spills in from just offscreen.
It’s a boldly mundane opening, fitting for a film about an ordinary woman.Roma follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a maid working in the household of a wealthy doctor, Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) and his wife, Sofia (Marina de Tavira).Cleo cleans the house, tends to the children, and keeps the household running as Antonio and Sofia’s marriage strains.Cleo is the type of character typically relegated to the background of stories like this, but Cuaron makes her the focus, depicting her daily labor and struggles with a surprise pregnancy and unreliable lover.It’s a beautiful Netflix film, delicately composed and shot in stark black and white.watch on Netflix The Disaster Artist (2017) 91% 76% 7.4/10 Genre Comedy, Drama Stars James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie Directed by James Franco r 103m James Franco directs, produces, and stars in The Disaster Artist , an adaptation of Greg Sestero (portrayed in the film by Dave Franco) and Tom Bissell’s non-fiction book of the same name.Both the novel and film are a chronicle of Sestero’s rollercoaster friendship with infamous cult film legend Tommy Wiseau (Franco), an enigmatic actor with Hollywood dreams and plenty of money to pursue them — although no one can figure out why he’s so rich.
After being turned down for role after role, Tommy decides to write, direct, and star in his own film called The Room , a bizarre and disjointed melodrama that he also casts Greg in.As the film runs into continued troubles and delays (mostly because of Tommy’s inabilities as a filmmaker), tensions rise between Greg and Tommy, along with the rest of the cast and crew.Whether you’ve seen The Room or not, The Disaster Artist is a mesmerizing examination of one of the strangest film productions of all time.watch on Netflix The Babysitter (2017) 72% 6.3/10 Genre Horror, Comedy Directed by McG Cast Bella Thorne, Judah Lewis, Samara Weaving tv-ma Cole (Judah Lewis) loves his babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving).She’s fun, good-looking, and worships the dark lord of all dark lords.
Behind Bee’s charming smile is a sinister satanist with a thirst for blood.As members of a creepy cult begin their descent over Cole’s life, it’s up to the preteen to outsmart their efforts before he becomes Bee’s next victim.
A Netflix original film, The Babysitter doesn’t surprise in many ways but follows the genre formula to a tee, and we love the dedication.
It’s campy, edgy, and a joyride through and through.watch on Netflix Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2017) 97% 81% 7.9/10 Genre Adventure, Comedy Stars Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata Directed by Taika Waititi pg-13 101m Based on Barry Crump’s novel Wild Pork and Watercress , Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as an unlikely foster-father/foster-child duo.After his adoption by the Faulkner family, Ricky (Dennison) attempts to settle into his new family, but tragic events scare the boy into the dense New Zealand wilderness.Hec (Neill), Ricky’s foster-parent, tracks the boy down but suffers a debilitating injury in the process.Bonding over their pasts and hope for a freer future, the pair decide to hide away in the brush together.
But with a national manhunt underway to find the man and boy, how long can their odyssey truly last? Hunt for the Wilderpeople lives and breathes through Neill and Dennison’s onscreen chemistry, an acting partnership only deepened by Waititi’s rich and emotive script.watch on Netflix movies on Disney+ right now The 55 best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now The best shows on Disney+ right now The 87 best movies on HBO Max right now The best shows to binge-watch on Netflix right now.
