It's Oscar season, which means it's the one time of year when Netflix puts out movies that are supposed to be good. Not all of Netflix's awards contenders this year are viable; unfortunately, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein is not good enough to make our list of the best movies to watch on Netflix right now. But other potential contenders — like indie drama Train Dreams, showbiz satire Jay Kelly, and the latest star-studded Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man — are worth watching. KPop Demon Hunters, meanwhile, wasn't intended to be a contender at all, but now it's looking like it could win Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Sometimes Netflix puts out movies that are better than they're supposed to be.
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 forites.
Last updated Dec. 12; newer additions are at the top.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Josh O'Connor and Daniel Craig, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
NetflixDaniel Craig is back as Detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, to solve what's being described as his "most dangerous" and "most personal" case yet. The latest murder takes place at a small church in upstate New York where, according to the trailer, Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor) is being labeled as the prime suspect. Like the previous installments in Rian Johnson's whodunit film series — Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery — Wake Up Dead Man features a stacked cast. The ensemble includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. -Kat Moon [Trailer]
Jay Kelly
Adam Sandler and George Clooney, Jay Kelly
NetflixWriter-director Noah Baumbach's latest awards-season contender for Netflix is an affectionate Hollywood satire. George Clooney plays the titular actor, who's a lot like the real George Clooney, at least in his persona. He takes a trip to Europe with his longtime manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), as he tries to spend time with his daughter, who resents him for prioritizing his career over her. Clooney and Sandler are at their best, and the stacked supporting cast also includes Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, and Stacy Keach. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Caught Stealing
Austin Butler, Caught Stealing
Niko Ternise/Columbia PicturesAustin Butler stars in this funny, gritty crime caper from director Darren Aronofsky. Butler plays Hank, a former baseball phenom turned burnout bartender in mid-'90s New York City. His life hasn't turned out how he wanted, but at least he has a great girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoë Kritz). When his drug dealer neighbor asks him to take care of his cat while he's out of town, Hank finds himself pulled into a criminal underworld of corrupt cops, Russian hit men, and Orthodox Jewish gangsters. If he survives, he's gonna he to make some changes in his life. It's a little bit Scorsese, a little bit Coen Brothers, and a whole lot of fun. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
The Northman
Alexander Skarsgard, The Northman
Modern-day Viking Alexander Skarsgård stars in this historical action epic as a prince out to enge the death of his father, and he does so with both incredible patience and brutality. Director Robert Eggers is one of the best filmmakers working today, and The Northman is another fine addition to his collection. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Nouvelle Vague
Zoey Deutch, Nouvelle Vague
NetflixProlific auteur Richard Linklater directs this (mostly French-language) film history drama about the making of Breathless, the epochal film that ushered in the French New We and changed cinema forever. Guillaume Marbeck plays director Jean-Luc Godard, Zoey Deutch plays pixie cut-popularizing American star Jean Seberg, and Paris plays itself in beautiful black-and-white cinematography. It's one of two films from Linklater on the list; Hit Man, from last year, is a little further down the list. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Train Dreams
Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
NetflixJoel Edgerton — one of the world's best kinda underrated actors — is finally getting some Oscar buzz for his outstanding performance in this indie drama that premiered at Sundance in 2025. Edgerton plays Robert Granier, a logger in the early 20th century Pacific Northwest who witnesses the end of the American frontier on a macro level while missing his family on a micro level. It comes from the filmmaking team of Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, who previously worked on last year's Oscar nominee Sing Sing, and also stars past Oscar nominees Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
A House of Dynamite
Rebecca Ferguson, A House of Dynamite
Eros Hoagland/NetflixKathryn Bigelow's new film was a hit at the Venice Film Festival, and now, A House of Dynamite is in your house, too. The political thriller, the first movie Bigelow has directed since 2017's Detroit, is set in the tense period just before a potential crisis; a nuclear missile has been launched at Chicago by an unknown source, leing U.S. officials to determine who's responsible and how to ert catastrophe. Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Tracy Letts, and Jared Harris star. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
The Perfect Neighbor
The Perfect Neighbor
NetflixGeeta Gandbhir's acclaimed documentary, which earned re reviews when it premiered at Sundance, explores the murder of Ajike "AJ" Owens in Florida in 2023, which ignited a nationwide conversation about stand-your-ground laws. Using bodycam footage, The Perfect Neighbor traces the events that led up to the fatal shooting of Owens, a Black mother of four, by neighbor Susan Lorincz, a white woman who had a history of calling the cops on Black children playing in the neighborhood. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
Dog Man
Dog Man
Universal PicturesThis Captain Underpants spinoff from DreamWorks is low-key one of the funniest family comedies of the year. It follows Dog Man, a half-man, half-dog police officer as he battles against Petey, "the World's Most Evilest Cat," voiced by Pete Didson. It's a very silly, gag-driven movie that runs wild with the "what if a dog was a policeman?" premise in a crowd-pleasing way (it topped the box office earlier this year). -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
The Thursday Murder Club
Celia Imrie, Sir Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, and Pierce Brosnan, The Thursday Murder Club
Giles Keyte/NetflixThis cozy mystery based on a novel of the same name by Richard Osman features an impressive cast: Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie star as retirees, true crime aficionados, and amateur sleuths trying to solve a murder in their community. It's like if Only Murders in the Building were British, a movie, and didn't he any millennials getting in the way of the gray-haired action. Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) directs, with a supporting cast of great British actors including Richard E. Grant and Naomi Ackie. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
DEVO
DEVO
NetflixThe iconic synth-rock band DEVO is the subject of this eponymous documentary from director Chris Smith (Fyre). The doc charts the band's story from their origins as absurdist, philosophical weirdos from Akron, Ohio to their herky-jerky march to the top of the charts with unique songs like "Whip It." They brought Dadaism and the concept of "de-evolution" to the masses, and this film shows how it happened, pyramid hats and all. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Happy Gilmore 2
Adam Sandler, Happy Gilmore 2
NetflixHappy's back! This sequel, nearly 30 years in the making, finds hockey player-turned-pro golfer Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) coming out of retirement to earn money to support his daughter's dream. He may be older, but he still has a temper. The Sandman is joined by returning cast members Julie Bowen as Happy's late wife Virginia and Christopher McDonald as his rival Shooter McGin, as well as new faces including Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny) as his caddy, and a slew of celebrity cameos. The jokes are as silly as ever, like a running gag about a douchey executive hing the worst breath anyone has ever smelled. The first Happy Gilmore is streaming on Netflix, too. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters
NetflixAny K-pop fan would recognize names like Teddy Park, Lindgren, Jenna Andrews, and Stephen Kirk. They're behind hit songs by juggernaut groups including BTS, BLACKPINK, and TWICE (think "Butter," "Ddu-du Ddu-du," and "I Can't Stop Me," just to name a few). Well, these producers, along with a score of others, worked on the music for the animated film KPop Demon Hunters. If that's not enough to pique your interest, consider this voice acting cast: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Joel Kim Booster, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. Like its title suggests, the Sony-produced Netflix original is about a K-pop girl group who moonlight as supernatural slayers. -Kat Moon [Trailer]
Pig
Nicolas Cage, Pig
Did Reamer/NEON"We don't get a lot of things to really care about." If that idea resonates with you, you'll want to see the indie drama Pig. Nicolas Cage stars as a onetime prominent chef from Portland who left society to go live in the woods with his beloved truffle-foraging pig. When his pig is stolen, he has to return to the city to look for what matters to him. It's a similar premise to John Wick, with assassin action replaced by tragicomic character study. It's a top-tier Cage performance, and probably his most subtle in at least 20 years. The 2021 film was the debut feature from writer-director Michael Sarnoski, and his confident and emotionally resonant work led to him becoming one of Hollywood's most promising rising directors, with A Quiet Place: Day One under his belt and an adaptation of popular video game Death Stranding in the works. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Nonnas
Lorraine Bracco, Brenda Vaccaro, Susan Sarandon, and Talia Shire, Nonnas
Jeong Park/NetflixIf you're looking for a feel-good comedy for the whole family, Nonnas will hit the spot. Vince Vaughn stars as a guy from Staten Island who, after his mother dies, decides to open an Italian restaurant in her honor where all the food is cooked with love by older Italian American ladies. They're not his nonnas, and not all of them are technically nonnas (grandmothers) at all, but they're all great chefs with big personalities. They're played by film and TV legends Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, and Susan Sarandon, and they're just a ton of fun to hang out with. You'll want to share a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs with them, family style. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Hoc
Tom Hardy, Hoc
NetflixTom Hardy stars in this gonzo, ultriolent action flick from director Gareth Evans, who is best known for directing the Indonesian cult classics The Raid and The Raid 2, two of the most intense action movies of the past 20 years. There's not much of a plot — Hardy plays a crooked cop who descends deep into his city's underworld to find a politician's missing son — but plot's not really what it's about. It's about seeing some of the most extreme, bone-crunching action you'll find anywhere. That nightclub scene! The cast also includes Forest Whitaker, Timothy Olyphant, and Jessie Mei Li. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Pangolin: Kulu's Journey
Pangolin: Kulu's Journey
Gareth Thomas/Courtesy of NetflixOne of the best ways to wash away the doomsday news cycle is to escape into this poignant film from Pippa Ehrlich, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher. Once again, the bond between man and animal is the focus, with a wildlife conservationist taking on the task of rehabilitating a traumatized pangolin named Kulu — who behes like a playful puppy but looks like a prehistoric armadillo — in South Africa. More heartwarming than heartbreaking — but with plenty of both — Pangolin: Kulu's Journey is a reminder that the natural world can still be a refuge for all. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
One of Them Days
Keke Palmer and SZA, One of Them Days
Sony PicturesBaby, this is Keke Palmer...and SZA! The multitalented performers star in this theatrical hit buddy comedy as two roommates trying to get money for the rent before 6pm, when their landlord will kick them out. It's a long day in Los Angeles movie in the style of Friday, built for 2025 — the reason they don't he rent money is because SZA's character's boyfriend lost it all in crypto. Palmer and SZA are so funny together, and the supporting cast — which includes Maude Apatow, Janelle James, Lil Rel Howery, and Katt Williams — is hilarious, too. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Aftermath
Mason Gooding, Aftermath
Voltage PicturesThis fun little action thriller features a standout villain performance from Scream franchise breakout Mason Gooding. He plays the leader of a team of militiamen that take over Boston's Tobin Bridge in order to kidnap a whistleblower (Dichen Lachman). But they don't realize that one of the people they've taken hostage on the bridge is a recently returned Army Ranger named Eric (Dylan Sprouse), who was on his way to the movies with his teenage sister, Madeline (Megan Stott). Eric will not stand for Madeline to be put in danger, so he fights back, in the style of one vs. many action thrillers like First Blood and Die Hard. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Saturday Night
Gabriel LaBelle, Ella Hunt, Matt Wood, and Dylan O'Brien, Saturday Night
CTMGWriter-director Jason Reitman dramatizes the behind-the-scenes chaos in the 90 minutes leading up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live (then called Satuday Night) in 1975. Gabriel LaBelle (The Fabelmans) plays young Lorne Michaels, who is doing everything in his power to make sure the show goes live at 11:30. The cast of young stars playing the cast of young stars includes Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris (no relation), Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd, and Nicholas "Cousin Greg" Braun as Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Kneecap
Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, JJ Ó Dochartaigh, and Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Kneecap
Sony Pictures ClassicsThis musical comedy is pure anarchy in the best way. It's an exaggerated biopic about the titular hip-hop group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language about Irish Republican politics and taking lots of drugs with equal gusto. For Kneecap, partying and politics are all part of the same thing. These lads he the classic Irish gift of gab, and the movie is sort of like a tall tale about three people who made something out of nothing through talent, attitude, and a little bit of luck. It's heily fictionalized, to be fair, but there's an element of truth to most of it. You've never seen a musician biopic like this. Michael Fassbender co-stars. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Will & Harper
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, Will & Harper
NetflixThis sweet and funny documentary follows Will Ferrell and comedy writer Harper Steele, who he been close friends since they worked on SNL together, on a road trip across the country after Steele transitions from living as male to female. Ferrell learns how to be a better ally, while Steele learns how to nigate America as a trans woman and how to better accept herself. It's a charming, vulnerable story about friendship that will make you love Harper Steele and love Will Ferrell even more. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
It's What's Inside
It's What's Inside
NetflixIt's What's Inside is what A24's party-game-gone-horribly-wrong Talk to Me should he been, and could be the spiritual successor to the delightfully twisted Bodies Bodies Bodies. The conceptually rich horror film about college friends who reunite for a wedding and swap bodies — yes, swap bodies! — when one guest brings some new tech over for some entertainment goes to some seriously depred places, and the excellent cast is up for the actors' exercise and then some. More "OMG!" than scary, It's What's Inside is twisted fun about Gen Z'ers who are obsessed with all things surface level. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Rebel Ridge
Aaron Pierre, Rebel Ridge
NetflixTerry (Aaron Pierre) is trying to post bail for his cousin when all his money is stolen by local cops who seized his possessions under false pretenses. Now, Terry has a whole conspiracy that he'll need to unrel — and a lot of dirty cops to deal with along the way. The action in this one, which comes from Green Room director Jeremy Saulnier, packs a ton of energy, and Pierre, who replaced John Boyega in the lead role after Boyega dropped out during filming, is outstanding. It's always nice when a movie turns out OK even with that sort of behind-the-scenes upheal. -Phil Owen [Trailer]
His Three Daughters
Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne, His Three Daughters
Sam Levy/NetflixAn old man is dying and in hospice care, and his three daughters (Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon, and Natasha Lyonne) are reunited as they stay with him during his final days. All is not well, of course — the daughters don't get along under the best of circumstances. His Three Daughters is the best sort of emotional family drama: the touching kind that feels like you're watching something that really happened. -Phil Owen [Trailer]
Hit Man
Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, Hit Man
Brian Roedel/Courtesy of NetflixRichard Linklater is known for making thoughtful films about suburbia and the inevitable toll that time takes, but his latest is pure fun. Hit Man stars Top Gun: Merick's Glen Powell (who also co-wrote the film with Linklater) as a college professor who goes undercover as a hit man in order to arrest those who try to hire him. But when a beautiful woman (Adria Arjona) tries to enlist his services to kill her husband, he falls in love with her and tries to se her from the law. The film is astonishingly based on a true story and earned re reviews on the festival circuit late last year. As Gia Baker-Whitelaw writes in her TV Guide review, "Linklater understands that the best rom-com protagonists he strong personalities — the weirder the better — and Arjona and Powell are happy to play their assigned roles to the hilt." -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One
TohoOn the American side of the Godzilla franchise, things don't usually get too serious, but maybe we're doing it wrong. Because Godzilla Minus One, the latest Godzilla flick from Japan, is both an awesome Godzilla spectacle made at a tiny fraction of the cost of the American ones, and a fascinating rumination on post-World War II Japan. Which is to say that Godzilla Minus One is that rare monster flick that we can say is just a great movie, period, rather than being "good for a Godzilla movie." -Phil Owen [Trailer]
Scoop
Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell, Scoop
Photo by Peter Mountain/NetflixIn 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]
Daughters
Daughters
NetflixThis immensely emotional documentary charts the stories of several young American girls and their imprisoned fathers, and their preparations for a special Daddy-Daughter Dance at the prison. While that may sound like a feel-good sort of thing, it's only partly uplifting — Daughters is an unflinching look at some of the many ways that the U.S.'s practice of mass incarceration affects not just the people in prison, but their families and everyone else they know. If you're in the mood for feeling every emotion you've got in you, Daughters is the right choice. -Phil Owen [Trailer]
More recommendations:
The best TV shows on Netflix right nowThe Greatest Night in Pop
Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie, The Greatest Night in Pop
Netflix'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
Enzo Vogrincic, Society of the Snow
Quim Vives/NetflixThe 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]
Maestro
Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, Maestro
NetflixThe expertly composed Maestro wed in seven Oscar nominations in 2024. 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 heaped praise on both lead performances. -Kat Moon [Trailer]
May December
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, May December
NetflixIn 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]
The Killer
Michael Fassbender, The Killer
NetflixDid 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]
The Saint of Second Chances
Rebecca and Mike Veeck, The Saint of Second Chances
NetflixThis 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 he 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]
The Deepest Breath
Alessia Zecchini, The Deepest Breath
NetflixThe 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]
Nimona
Nimona
NetflixThis 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]
All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front
NetflixThis epic adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's classic and ever-timely 1929 anti-war novel was 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]
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, Daniel Craig, and Leslie Odom Jr., Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
John Wilson/NetflixThe 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 De Bautista. The plotting is brilliant, the performances are delightful, and the social commentary is astute. In his review for TV Guide, Jordan Hoffman ge it a 9 out of 10, an exceptionally high score for any movie, let alone a Netflix Original after 2019. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Emily the Criminal
Aubrey Plaza, Emily The Criminal
Vertical Entertainment/Roadside AttractionsAubrey 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
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
NetflixIt 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]
My Father's Dragon
My Father's Dragon
NetflixIf you don't he 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 ge 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 he, but it's still really good. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
RRR
RRR
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]
The Lost Daughter
Dakota Johnson and Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Yannis Drakoulidis/NetflixMaggie 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 Power of the Dog
Kodi Smit-McPhee and Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Kristy Griffin/NetflixJane 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]
tick, tick... BOOM!
Andrew Garfield, tick tick...Boom!
NetflixLin-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]
Found
Lily, Chloe, and Sadie, Found
NetflixThis 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]
Pray Away
Pray Away
NetflixRyan 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]
Da 5 Bloods
Da 5 Bloods
NetflixSpike Lee's war epic 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
My Octopus Teacher
NetflixThis 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]
I Am Not Your Negro
I Am Not Your Negro
NetflixRaoul 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]
Roma
Roma
Carlos SomonteSorry 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 he 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
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
Larry BusaccaI'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]
Always Be My Maybe
Randall Park and Ali Wong, Always Be My Maybe
NetflixAli 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 he to be overcome before true happiness can be found. -Kaitlin Thomas [Trailer]
The Irishman
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Ray Romano, The Irishman
NetflixMartin 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]
Dolemite Is My Name
Eddie Murphy, Dolemite Is My Name
Francois Duhamel/NetflixIn 1970s Los Angeles, struggling musician-comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) decides to create a raunchy alter ego named Dolemite in an effort to get noticed. The movie highlights the way, through his work, Moore was able to help pioneer rap as a musical genre. It also provides wider commentary on the blaxploitation phenomenon, and touches on some of Murphy's own feelings about the critics who he commented on his films. Spoiler: He doesn't care! -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
NetflixChadwick Boseman's final movie role was in this Netflix original, which is based on the Tony-nominated August Wilson play. Viola Dis 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 Dis and Boseman elevate it. -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]