Summary
- The best movies on Netflix include a range of genres and both original and licensed content.
- Subscribers can enjoy new movies on Netflix every week, providing a rich entertainment experience for the monthly cost.
- Some of the best movies on Netflix include
Leave the World Behind
,
The Power of the Dog
, and
Atlas
.
The best movies on Netflix are a key reason that the streaming giant has managed to maintain its dominance of the highly competitive market for years, as the platform offers subscribers an unparalleled range of titles — including both original content and licensed blockbuster films. Ranging across the decades and almost every conceivable genre, Netflix subscriptions include some of the best movies of all time, and whether you’re looking for a family film everyone will enjoy, a sci-fi to challenge you, or a comedy to just leave your face sore from laughing, we have recommendations for the best movies on Netflix.
Subscribers can enjoy new movies on Netflix every week, with the platform seeking to give the broadest, richest entertainment experience for its monthly cost. From Oscar-winning dramas to stunning animations and the greatest comic book movie of all time, there’s something for everyone currently on Netflix, and we will update this article regularly to make sure all recommendations are fresh.
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Best Drama Movies On Netflix
American Psycho (2000)
American Psycho
Based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) an investment banker in New York in 1987 who leads a double life as a serial killer. As investigators circle Bateman after the disappearance of a colleague, he finds himself trapped in a spiral of murder and excess, unable to stop himself from giving in to his increasingly dark urges. Also stars Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon.
- Director
- Mary Harron
- Release Date
- April 13, 2000
- Writers
- Bret Easton Ellis , Mary Harron , Guinevere Turner
- Runtime
- 101 minutes
Few movies have been dissected and analyzed as frequently as American Psycho, the 2000 satirical horror-drama from director Mary Harron. Harron also co-wrote the screenplay, which is based on the 1991 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. Just like the book, American Psycho is a scathing take-down of the cynical and dehumanized nature of the high-flying brokers of Wall Street, with Christian Bale playing the embodiment of all all their worst elements with his now-iconic character, Patrick Bateman.
However, despite its setting, American Psycho is nothing like movies such as Boiler Room or The Wolf of Wall Street. The focus of Harron’s thriller isn’t shading financial dealings but, instead, a distinct disconnect that runs throughout the characters — one so strong that protagonist/antagonist Patrick Bateman turns to serial murder just to feel a shred of emotion. Incredibly dark and violent throughout, few of the movies currently avaiable on Netflix are likely to stick with subscribers after viewing quite like American Psycho.
Dark Waters (2019)
Dark Waters
Dark Waters is a biographical legal thriller directed by Todd Haynes. Mark Ruffalo stars as environmental attorney Robert Bilott, who takes on an extensive legal battle against chemical giant DuPont after discovering evidence of toxic contamination in a small town. The film also features Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, and Bill Camp, portraying the personal and professional challenges faced during the pursuit of justice.
- Release Date
- November 22, 2019
- Cast
- Bill Camp , Louisa Krause , Denise Dal Vera , Bill Pullman , Mare Winningham , Daniel R. Hill , Anne Hathaway , Tim Robbins , William Jackson Harper , Kevin Crowley , Mark Ruffalo , Victor Garber
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway are both cinematic powerhouses when it comes to gripping dramas, and bringing them together under the directorship of Todd Haynes in the 2019 legal thriller Dark Water made the movie a recipe for success both at the box office and on Netflix.Dark Waters is a semi-fictionalized retelling of the infamous 1990s legal case where lawyer Robert Bilott (played by Ruffalo) took chemical manufacturer DuPont to court for damages to the local environment of his grandmother’s town of Parkersburg, West Virginia.
As the drama unfolds, the case gets messier and messier, with suspected unregulated chemicals being used that led to the deaths of both natural wildlife and the livestock the residents of the town depend on for their livelihood. While it didn’t win many, Dark Waters was nominated for multiple awards, and was successful in securing the Environmental Media Award for Best Feature Film in 2020.
Leave The World Behind (2023)
Leave the World Behind (2023)
A family’s getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door.
- Release Date
- December 8, 2023
- Director
- Sam Esmail
- Runtime
- 141 Minutes
Between her work in Homecoming and Gaslight, Julia Roberts is proving herself just as adept at taking on dark, dramatic subject matter as she is with feel-good rom-coms, and Leave the World Behind is another prime example. In the film, she plays Amanda Sandford, a wife and mother who takes her family on a spontaneous Long Island vacation. However, things go awry when none of their technology devices work, and a father and daughter show up at the vacation house claiming they live there.
As Amanda gets closer to the father, G. H. (Mahershala Ali), she discovers that all these strange occurrences may be the result of a government conspiracy. Leave the World Behind is written and directed by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, who also produced Homecoming and Gaslit, and the movie proves to be another winning collaboration with Roberts. Like these other works, Leave the World Behind is a slow burn, which may not appeal to everybody. But Esmail knows how to turn up the dread and menace of technology on society, making Leave the World Behind more than worth the watch.
The Power Of The Dog (2021)
The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog is a Western drama film adapted from the novel by Thomas Savage. When a widow and her son move into a ranch, she captures the attention of a kindly gentleman named George, much to the chagrin of his brother, Phil. After they marry, Phil’s temper begins to flare, and he begins to torment the two – but his behavior may spell disaster when his new nephew’s darker side comes to light.
- Release Date
- November 17, 2021
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
The 2020s have seen a cultural shift as society examines traditional values alongside new ones, particularly within art, and the Western movie genre is no exception. From acclaimed director Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog is the definitive revisionist Western. Based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank, a charming yet cruel rancher who uses toxic masculinity to torment those around him and repress his true desires.
The Power of the Dog landed on a staggering number of 10 best movie lists and its awards nominations were also numerous. Along with Cumberbatch, actors Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee were all nominated for Oscars for their roles. Campion took home the Best Director statuette, becoming the first woman to win two Academy Awards in that category (her first was for The Piano). With its expert direction, stellar performances, and thought-provoking themes, The Power of the Dog is one of the best movies on Netflix.
All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)
All Quiet on the Western Front
Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel, All Quiet on the Western Front is a World War I movie following Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) as he quickly realizes that war isn’t about becoming a hero, but rather just surviving the terrifying experience. The film received critical praise upon release and even won four Academy Awards.
- Release Date
- September 29, 2022
- Director
- Edward Berger
- Cast
- Felix Kammerer , Albrecht Schuch , Daniel Brühl
- Runtime
- 143 Minutes
Deservedly handed a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel All Quiet on the Western Front is a remarkable, stark meditation on the reality of war. Telling the story of World War I from the German perspective — typically not the side of the trenches cinema’s light shines on — it is the first adaptation to be told in the original German.
It is an important movie, showing the harrowing experience of young soldiers thrown into battlefields, but it is also thoroughly entertaining thanks to its moving central performances. Even with the military genre potentially limiting wider audience interest, All Quiet on the Western Front is a genuine must-see for Netflix subscribers.
May December (2023)
May December
May December is a drama romance film that follows a married couple who once controlled the headlines with their tabloid romance. Two decades later, the couple’s supposed marital bliss begins to crack under the weight of an actress researching them, preparing to star in a film about their lives.
- Release Date
- December 1, 2023
- Runtime
- 113 Minutes
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are two of today’s most respected actors, and the Oscar winners co-star in May December, directed by Todd Haynes. Loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, the film sees actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) cast in a film to play the controversial public figure, Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Moore), who years earlier was caught having sex with her son’s 13-year-old schoolmate, Joe Yoo. 23 years later, Gracie and Joe (Charles Melton) are married, and Elizabeth travels to Georgia to meet them and prepare for her role.
While it’s no surprise that Portman and Moore are stellar as their characters, Melton all but steals the show. The Riverdale actor has been picking up awards steam, with Melton winning the Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor. This taut three-hander movie is thought-provoking and uncomfortable, raising serious questions about age differences in romantic relationships. But for such weighty subject matter, May December also has moments of humor and levity.
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Best Comedy Movies On Netflix
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is an animated action-comedy that sees creative outsider Katie Mitchell as she is accepted into the film school of her dreams and is eager to leave home and find “her people.” However, when her nature-loving dad insists on having the whole family drive her to school and bond during one last family road trip, the family suddenly finds itself in the middle of the robot apocalypse. Katie and her father will need to find common ground to stand a chance against the armies of smartphones, fridges, and whatever other sentient machines are out to capture humanity.
- Release Date
- April 30, 2021
- Director
- Mike Rianda
- Cast
- Eric Andre , Maya Rudolph , Abbi Jacobson , Beck Bennett , Mike Rianda , Fred Armisen , Conan O’Brien , Olivia Colman , Danny McBride , Sasheer Zamata , Charlyne Yi
- Runtime
- 117 minutes
Netflix subscribers looking for a family-friendly animated comedy should look no further than The Mitchells vs. The Machines. The comedy stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, and Maya Rudolph as members of a dysfunctional family whose cross-country road trip becomes tangled up in a plot by an evil AI to take over the world. Particularly pertinent storytelling in 2023. Blending both 3D and traditional animation, The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one of the most visually impressive animations on the platform (and indeed of recent years, generally) and it deservedly picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Full of heart, funny and featuring a wonderfully unhinged villain turn from Olivia Colman, The Mitchells vs. The Machines offers something for everyone. It can surely only be a matter of time before Netflix cements plans for The Mitchells vs. The Machines 2. It can’t come soon enough.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley is the fourth film in the popular comedy franchise starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy returns as Axel Foley in the Netflix film alongside returning cast members Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt also star in the sequel as new characters.
- Release Date
- July 3, 2024
- Director
- Mark Molloy
- Runtime
- 118 Minutes
The Beverly Hills Cop franchise was a landmark action-comedy from the release of the first movie in 1984 through to 1994’s Beverly Hills Cop III. After the franchise spent several decades dormant, Netflix brought back Eddie Murphy to reprise his role as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. The fourth Beverly Hills Cop movie picks up 30 years after the previous entry, with Foley still working as a Detroit police detective.
Murphy is joined in the cast by the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Taylor Paige, with cast members of Judge Reinhold and John Ashton also reprising their Beverly Hills Cop roles. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F may not reinvent the wheel when it comes to action-comedy movies, but it hits all the right notes and is considered by the majority of critics and viewers alike to be a nostalgia-pleasing return to the franchise, with Murphy’s performance in particular being regularly praised.
The Gentlemen (2020)
The Gentlemen
From writer/director Guy Ritchie comes The Gentleman, an action/crime comedy that follows a prominent American cannabis dealer in London as he attempts to leave the industry for good. When word gets out that the dealer is looking to sell off his business, several opportunists emerge from the woodwork, employing every manner of schemes and ploys they can to undercut him and claim the market for themselves.
- Release Date
- January 24, 2020
- Runtime
- 113 minutes
Guy Ritchie is hard to beat when it comes to British gangster movies, and in 2024 he teamed up with Netflix for The Gentlemen TV show. The show is as hilarious as it is action-filled, as is the 2019 movie it’s based on — also called The Gentlemen — which is also currently available to stream on Netflix. The Gentlemen features an all-star cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant, and Charlie Hunnam. Much like the show, The Gentlemen movie features all the trappings of classic Guy Ritchie movies like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Like many Guy Ritchie movies,
The Gentlemen
features many interlocked threads, but mainly revolves around Mickey Pearson (McConaughey), an American Cannabis magnate operating illegally in the UK.
Like many Guy Ritchie movies, The Gentlemen features many interlocked threads, but mainly revolves around Mickey Pearson (McConaughey), an American Cannabis magnate operating illegally in the UK. This narrative is framed by conversations between adept gang fixer Raymond (Hunnam) and investigative reporter Fletcher (Hugh Grant), who are both involved in the story but also explain many of the events through hilarious voice-overs (especially in Hugh Grant’s case).
Lift (2024)
Lift
From F. Gary Gray, the director of Friday and The Italian Job comes Lift – an action-heist movie starring Kevin Hart and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. In the film, an international crew with several heists under their belts is recruited to stop a terrorist attack from happening. To do that, the team will have to conduct a high-stakes heist on a plane mid-flight.
- Release Date
- January 12, 2024
- Director
- F. Gary Gray
- Cast
- Kevin Hart , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Sam Worthington , Vincent D’Onofrio , Úrsula Corberó , Billy Magnussen , Jacob Batalon , Jean Reno
- Writers
- Daniel Kunka , Emerald Fennell , Simon Kinberg
Netflix kicked off 2024 on a strong note when heist comedy Lift arrived in January. The movie was originally due to arrive in August 2023, but was pushed back due to the then-ongoing 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and doesn’t seek to, being a solid entry into the ever-popular genre of comedies focusing on professional criminals. Subscribers seeking an easy watch guaranteed to prompt a laugh or two definitely won’t be disappointed.
Lift stars Kevin Hart as Cyrus, a known thief, and follows him and his crew as they become embroiled in a roller-coaster of events that start when they kidnap an NFT artist. Kevin Hart is joined in the Lift cast by Vincent D’Onofrio, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, and several more in a solid ensemble cast.
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Dolemite Is My Name
Based on the true story of the fictional character Dolemite, Dolemite Is My Name is a biography/comedy movie that explores the life of Rudy Ray More and the origins of the titular character he created. Stemming from several stand-up sessions he performed, the character continued to grow and take a shape of his own as Rudy struggled to get the original film made.
- Release Date
- October 25, 2019
- Director
- Chelsea Gilson
- Cast
- T.I. , Keegan-Michael Key , Tituss Burgess , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Eddie Murphy , London Worthy , Wesley Snipes , Craig Robinson , Mike Epps , Chris Rock , Chelsea Gilson
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
Eddie Murphy largely stepped out of the public eye in the 2010s, but he made a resounding, kick-the-door-down comeback with Dolemite Is My Name. In the Netflix comedy biopic, Murphy plays Rudy Ray Moore, a performer who adopts the persona of Dolemite, a foul-mouthed showman who dresses like a stereotypical pimp. Moore looks to break into blaxploitation films as Dolemite, but he’s told he doesn’t fit the toned physique of the industry standard. Not one to be deterred, Moore seeks to produce and star in his own movie, and he rounds up a crew of friends and misfits to help.
While Dolemite Is My Name is possibly Murphy’s best movie, and he was absolutely robbed of an Oscar nomination, it’s Da’Vine Joy Randolph who steals the show as Lady Reed, a charming woman whom Moore convinces to tour with him and eventually star in his movie. Now gaining much-deserved attention and acclaim for her work in Only Murders in the Building and The Holdovers, this is Randolph’s breakout role. A charming underdog story with an even more charming cast, Dolemite Is My Name is one of the best movies on Netflix.
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Best Action Movies On Netflix
Under Paris (2024)
Under Paris (2024)
Beneath the bustling streets of Paris lies a hidden world filled with ancient secrets and dark mysteries. A group of daring urban explorers sets out to uncover the truth buried within the city’s catacombs, only to find themselves facing a series of terrifying challenges. As they unravel the enigmatic past of Paris, they must confront their deepest fears to survive.
- Director
- Xavier Gens
- Release Date
- June 5, 2024
- Cast
- Berenice Bejo , Nassim Lyes , Léa Léviant , Anaïs Parello , Iñaki Lartigue
- Runtime
- 101 Minutes
One of the best action movies currently on Netflix was an unexpected sleeper hit — the French action-horror disaster movie Under Paris, a tale that places humanity against genetically modified sharks which, according to many viewers and critics, is the best movie featuring sharks since Jaws. The plot of Under Paris is unique among shark movies too, as it takes place in the freshwater Seine river rather than out on the open ocean. This is possible thanks to a giant shark adapting to survive outside salt water.
Of course, being in such a densely populated area as Paris, especially one where nobody is prepared for the previously-impossible threat of a killer shark, means that the death and carnage come thick and fast. While Under Paris isn’t the most critically acclaimed movie in Netflix, it’s performed incredibly well with audiences, and has remained one of the most popular titles on the platform since its release in June 2024. While it’s slick and stylish, it’s also as much an easy-watch as its premise suggests, and subscribers seeking something thrilling to switch off to on movie night are sure to be satisfied.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
Mortal Kombat (2021)
In this 2021 adaptation of the classic video game franchise, Mortal Kombat follows MMA fighter Cole Young, who finds himself targeted by Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung, who has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt him down. Learning of his heritage, he finds himself joining the likes of special forces members Sonya Blade, Jackson “Jax” Briggs, and others as they discover they may be Earth’s last line of defense from a hellish invasion from another realm.
- Director
- Simon McQuoid
- Release Date
- April 23, 2021
- Cast
- Jessica McNamee , Matilda Kimber , Mehcad Brooks , Lewis Tan , Sisi Stringer , Joe Taslim , Daniel Nelson , Hiroyuki Sanada , Chin Han , Max Huang , Laura Brent , Tadanobu Asano , Elissa Cadwell , Ludi Lin , Josh Lawson
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
With shows like The Last Of Us and Fallout alongside movies like Five Nights At Freddys and The Super Mario Bros, it’s safe to say that video game adaptations are taking the world by storm. This isn’t a new trend though, and in 2021 one of the first successful modern video game movies arrived — Mortal Kombat. Netflix subscribers seeking gory fight-filled action that’s rife with impressive special effects will find Mortal Kombat more than satisified, as the movie is just as bombastic yet gripping as the game series it’s based on.
The premise of Mortal Kombat is relatively straightforward. Earth is one of several realms that exist within the universe, and the fragile peace between Earth and neighboring realm Outworld is maintained by a regular fighting tournament. The movie focuses on the champions of Earth as they’re found, trained, and then entered into the fray, fighting for their lives against the champions of Outworld to secure the safety of the mortal world.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Enola Holmes
Adapted from the first book in Nancy Springer’s The Enola Holmes Mysteries series, Enola Holmes follows the titular heroine, the younger sister of famous London detective Sherlock Holmes, as she attempts to solve the disappearance of her mother and unwittingly gets drawn into a mystery that could threaten all of Great Britain. Millie Bobbie Brown stars as Enola, with a cast that includes Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helena Bonham Carter.
- Release Date
- September 23, 2020
- Director
- Harry Bradbeer
- Runtime
- 123 minutes
Millie Bobby Brown became an A-list celebrity thanks to her breakout role as Eleven in Netflix’s Stranger Things, so it’s only fitting that her biggest and best movie role is also on the streaming platform. In Enola Holmes, Brown plays the eponymous heroine, the youngest sibling in a family that contains renowned detective, Sherlock Holmes. When their mother goes missing, Enola sets out to find her, and may just prove that Sherlock isn’t the smartest Holmes after all.
Between movies like Glass Onion and Enola Holmes, Netflix is breathing new life into the murder mystery genre. Brown was casting genius, as films of this genre hinge on how much the audience roots for the detective at the center. The movie proved so successful that a 2022 sequel followed, and Enola Holmes 3 is in the works, proving that Netflix audiences can’t get enough of the teenage detective.
Damsel (2024)
Damsel
A dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. Thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive
- Director
- Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
- Release Date
- March 8, 2024
- Writers
- Dan Mazeau
Millie Bobby Brown has starred in many high-profile Netflix projects, such as Stranger Things and Enola Holmes, and 2024 saw her partnering with the streamer for the dark action-fantasy movie Damsel. The plot sees Brown’s Elodie marrying Prince Henry, whom she initially isn’t interested in, but goes along with the wedding for the good of the people of her own kingdom. However, Henry soon betrays her, throwing her into a chasm which brings her face-to-face with a terrifying dragon.
Of course, this simple set-up isn’t all it seems, and it’s here that the thematic depth of Damsel truly takes shape. The story is one of self-empowerment, and Elodie quickly learns that, just like Henry, the dragon which has besieged the kingdom over centuries has its own motives, though — unlike Henry — isn’t the threat many believe it to be.
The Killer (2023)
The Killer (2023)
Based on the graphic novel by Alexis Nolent, The Killer is a Netflix film directed by David Fincher. Michael Fassbender stars as the titular character. This hitman experiences a near-miss on a mission and now must wrestle with his conscience and his employers as he begins to fight against his ways as an assassin.
- Release Date
- November 10, 2023
- Runtime
- 118 Minutes
David Fincher is a magnet for actors looking to tap into the dark side of their characters, and Michael Fassbender’s titular anti-hero in The Killer is going to go down as one of his most memorable characters, which is saying a lot considering Fincher has given audiences Tyler Durden and the English-language version of Lisbeth Salander. Like The Narrator in Fight Club and Nick and Amy Dunne in Gone Girl, The Killer has the protagonist speak to the audience in voice-over, giving them a window into his twisted mind.
Based on the French graphic novel of the same name by Alexis “Matz” Nolent and Luc Jacamon, The Killer centers on the nameless assassin (Fassbender) who deals with the massive fallout after a job goes wrong. With as much substance as it has style, The Killer is yet another win for Fincher, whose sterling filmography is one of the most impressive of any working director today. The Killer will go down as one of Fassbender’s greatest characters, and with any luck, he and Fincher will become frequent collaborators.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery follows Detective Benoit Blanc’s continuing detective work in Greece. When tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends to his private island, Benoit Blanc must step in to solve the case when one of them is killed.
- Release Date
- December 23, 2022
- Runtime
- 139 minutes
The 2020s are a great time to be a fan of big movie sleuths, with Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot carving out his own surprise shared universe and Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc standing just on the other side of the parody line. Both detectives owe a lot of Agatha Christie, but Blanc is all the creation of Rian Johnson and Craig’s performance, with is joyful. After Knives Out‘s success, Netflix brought the sequel, Glass Onion, to the platform, proving that their expensive acquisition model can still include absolute gems.
Here, Blanc is back as he’s invited to a billionaire’s personal island (a thinly veiled nod to Elon Musk, played by Ed Norton), to play along with a murder mystery. Naturally, participants — and Glass Onion‘s cast is another barn-stormer, like its predecessor — start dying for real, and Blanc is called into action. An Oscar nominee, Glass Onion is a great fix for anyone looking for a complex but rewarding mystery to get their teeth into.
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Best Biopics & Documentaries On Netflix
The Deepest Breath (2023)
The Deepest Breath
The Deepest Breath is a documentary film by writer-director Laura McGann and follows Alessia Zecchini, a freediver, as she prepares herself to attempt a record-breaking deep-sea dive. With the assistance of Stephen Keenan, a world-renowned safety diver, the two will pursue a dangerous but thrilling dream under the ocean.
- Release Date
- July 19, 2023
- Director
- Laura McGann
- Cast
- Alessia Zecchini , Stephen Keenan
- Runtime
- 108 Minutes
A stunning, provocative look at one of the world’s most dangerous, barely fathomable sports, the documentary The Deepest Breath is a fascinating profile of free diver Alessia Zecchini. As well as exploring Zecchini’s quest to set a world record in free-diving, the documentary chronicles her relationship with her safety diver partner, Stephen Keenan, as well as the personal toll and associated dangers with the sport. The Deepest Breath is the perfect pick for anyone looking for Netflix’s best documentary.
The documentary culminates in Zecchini’s attempt to free-dive Blue Hole’s arch, a notorious tunnel 56m down into a sinkhole, which previously took the lives of other divers, including Natalia Molchanova in 2015. The shocking tragedy that unfolds is as compelling as the portrait of the sportswoman herself and the sport is intriguing. It’s a strangely intoxicating film, whose most important message is arguably the final message Zecchini was sent before her attempt to dive through the arch: “Live for today for you never know what’s coming down the line.”
Harriet (2019)
Tony Award-winning Cynthia Erivo has proven she is just as talented and magnetic on the screen as she is on stage, and Harriet is not only one of her best movies but one of the best on Netflix. In Harriet, she plays abolitionist and freedom fighter Harriet Tubman who escapes slavery and puts her life on the line to help others find freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Erivo was unsurprisingly nominated for a slew of awards for her portrayal of Tubman. In addition to receiving an Oscar nomination for her performance, she was also nominated for Best Original Song for “Stand Up”. Harriet doesn’t reinvent the biopic wheel, but it exquisitely captures the story of one of the most important historical figures in American history, and Erivo gives a winning performance.
Maestro (2023)
Maestro
Maestro is a biographical drama about the famous composer Leonard Bernstein. Bradley Cooper stars as Leonard Bernstein and also wrote and directed the film. The movie chronicles Bernstein’s life from 1946, when he met Felicia Montealegre, through his two engagements and three children. Maya Hawke, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Silverman, and Matt Bomer star alongside Cooper.
- Release Date
- December 20, 2023
- Runtime
- 129 Minutes
Bradley Cooper may have first made a name for himself playing obnoxious jerks in comedies like Wedding Crashers and The Hangover, but he’s now on his way to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected filmmakers. He had a splashy directorial debut in 2018 with A Star is Born, and he follows it up with another story about a musician, Maestro, a Leonard Bernstein biopic. Cooper plays Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as his wife, Felicia Montealegre. Maestro centers on the couple’s tumultuous yet loving relationship as it weathers heartbreaking conflicts due to Bernstein’s frequent affairs with men and his substance abuse.
While Hollywood was waiting with bated breath to see what Cooper would follow A Star is Born with, and he’s the central figure as Bernstein, it’s Mulligan who steals the show. She delivers a heart-wrenching performance, wholeheartedly capturing the trials and tribulations of being married to a successful artist, and is considered an early frontrunner in the 2024 Best Actress race at the Oscars. She and Cooper have layered, mature, and dazzling chemistry, and as a result, Maestro elevates the entire biopic genre.
Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)
tick, tick… BOOM!
Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his feature directorial debut with tick, tick…BOOM!, an adaptation of the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, who revolutionized theater as the creator of Rent. The film follows Jon (Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner Andrew Garfield), a young theater composer waiting tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while writing what he hopes will be the next great American musical. Days before he’s due to showcase his work in a make-or-break performance, Jon is feeling the pressure from everywhere: from his girlfriend Susan, who dreams of an artistic life beyond New York City; from his friend Michael, who has moved on from his dream to a life of financial security; amidst an artistic community being ravaged by the AIDS epidemic.
- Release Date
- November 12, 2021
- Cast
- Alexandra Shipp , Joshua Henry , Judith Light , Bradley Whitford , Robin de Jesús , Vanessa Hudgens , Tariq Trotter , Andrew Garfield , Mj Rodriguez
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda is widely considered Broadway’s latest visionary so it’s only appropriate that his feature film directorial debut was about another legendary composer: Jonathan Larson, best known for writing the smash-hit musical Rent. Tick, Tick… Boom! follows Larson (Andrew Garfield) struggling to finish his musical Superbia before it’s workshopped. Larson also puts increasing pressure on himself to become a successful composer before his looming 30th birthday.
Tick, Tick… Boom! wholeheartedly captures the misery, frustration, and doubt that struggling creatives face, yet they are powerless to resist the siren song of the arts. Andrew Garfield often brings an earnest passion to his roles, and this, along with his striking musical talent, makes him the perfect person to play Larson. Larson tragically passed away at the age of 35, before he saw Rent become a success, but his legacy lives on, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is the perfect person to tell his story.
Best Sci-Fi Movies On Netflix
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire continues the story of a new generation of ghost hunters composed of Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Podcast (Logan Kim), who received help from the original team in the previous movie. Paul Rudd returns as Gary Grooberson and franchise co-creator Ivan Reitman returns to write and produce.
- Director
- Gil Kenan
- Release Date
- March 22, 2024
- Writers
- Jason Reitman , Gil Kenan
- Runtime
- 115 Minutes
Many of the best theatrical releases head to Netflix as their first stop on a tour of the various streaming platforms, and 2024’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is currently available for subscribers to enjoy. The supernatural sci-fi comedy is the latest installment in one of cinema’s most iconic franchises, and the latest Ghostbusters movie will definitely appeal both to fans of the series and newcomers alike. Starring the likes of Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, and Patton Oswalt, Frozen Empire follows on from Ghostbusters: Afterlife while re-introducing original Ghostbusters cast members Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, and Ernie Hudson.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is as much a celebration of the franchise as it is a new story, as it sees the team from Afterlife heading to New York to reestablish the Ghostbusters. However, this coincides with a mass emergence of ghosts and supernatural entities across the city. While Frozen Empire is far from the most critically acclaimed movie on Netflix, it’s one that nontheless will make for a great movie night for all but the youngest of subscribers.
Life (2017)
Life
Set in the near future on a spaceship returning from a mission to Mars, Life follows the crew of the ship as they inadvertently awaken an alien lifeform in one of their Martian soil samples. Not only intelligent but extremely hostile, the alien begins to attack the crew, who end up in a fight for their lives as they attempt to eliminate the threat their ship now poses to Earth. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, Olga Dihovichnaya, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Ariyon Bakare.
- Director
- Daniel Espinosa
- Release Date
- March 24, 2017
- Writers
- Paul Wernick , Rhett Reese
- Runtime
- 104 Minutes
The 2017 sci-fi horror movie Life comes from director Daniel Espinosa, the creative mind also behind Morbius. It’s an intriguing take on the classic premise of astronauts being stuck in space with a dangerous alien entity, with its near-future setting and focus on extraterrestrial evolution giving it many unique elements that help it to feel fresh. Life stars the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds, among others, who are all scientists and astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
A probe from Mars brings back a sample containing dormant cellular life. When the team manage to awaken it, it rapidly evolves into a complex — and deadly — life form. While Life may not be the most groundbreaking sci-fi horror out there, it is a solid modern entry into the subgenre, and ticks many of the fan-pleasing boxes in a way that few others on Netflix can quite match. The performances of the cast are especially noteworthy, as are the special effects used to bring its terrifying creature, which the team dub Calvin, to life.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One is the first Godzilla film released by Toho since 2016’s Shin Godzilla. Minus One is a reimagining of the original 1954 Godzilla and takes the franchise back to its roots by exploring the harsh life of post-war Japan. The story follows Koichi Shikishima, a failed kamikaze pilot, who struggles with survivor guilt as a giant monster attacks the city.
- Director
- Takashi Yamazaki
- Cast
- Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Minami Hamabe , Yûki Yamada , Munetaka Aoki , Hidetaka Yoshioka , Sakura Andō , Kuranosuke Sasaki
- Runtime
- 125 Minutes
Godzilla has been a staple of cinema for decades, and while 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has been considered by some longstanding fans of the giant lizard to be a departure from what made the character so beloved (and feared), the same cannot be said for 2023’s Godzilla Minus One. The most recent Godzilla movie from Japanese studio Toho, who first brought the kaiju to screens in 1954, Godzilla Minus One is a return to the roots of the franchise. Set in the 1940s, Godzilla Minus One sees Godzilla rampaging across an unprepared Tokyo.
It’s a pure disaster movie through and through, taking the core themes of the earliest Godzilla movies and bringing them to life with modern CGI — CGI that won an Academy Award, no less.Godzilla Minus One is easily one of the best disaster movies currently available on Netflix, and features incredibly solid performances from cast members like Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, and Yuki Yamada.
Atlas (2024)
Atlas (2024)
Atlas is a 2024 Netflix original movie starring Jennifer Lopez as Atlas Shepherd. Atlas, a data analyst who doesn’t trust AI, who sets out to recover a rogue robot. But when things don’t go according to plan, she is forced to trust AI in order to save humanity.
- Director
- Brad Peyton
- Release Date
- May 24, 2024
Netflix subscribers seeking an explosive sci-fi movie that delivers many of the genres’ most popular tropes, including AI, space exploration, and mechs, need look no further than 2024’s Atlas. While Atlas bombed in the eyes of critics, audiences clearly felt incredibly differently, as the movie reached the number 1 spot on Netflix in multiple territories. Jennifer Lopez stars in Atlas as the titular Atlas Shepherd, a counter-terrorism agent and AI-skeptic who finds she has to work with an Artificial Intelligence to apprehend a robot gone rogue.
Critics seemed to believe that Atlas presented several interesting concepts and an intriguing premise but failed to see them through properly. This doesn’t seem to have dissuaded audiences though, and many Netflix subscribers have been raving about the 2024 action sci-fi movie. The CGI and visuals in particular stand out, and Lopez is joined in the Atlas cast by several notable names, including Mark Strong and Simu Liu.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
The Matrix Resurrections
Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison – a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.
- Director
- Lana Wachowski
- Release Date
- December 22, 2021
- Studio(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Runtime
- 148 Minutes
The Matrix trilogy was one of the most influential sci-fi franchises of the late ’90s and early 2000s, with the story of Neo, Trinity, and the virtual world masquerading as reality becoming culturally definitive. The series’ use of special effects — especially “bullet time” — also redefined action movies, with almost every single one released since taking some degree of inspiration from them. In 2021 the franchise returned with The Matrix 4, titled The Matrix Resurrections, which picks up the story 60 years after The Matrix Revolutions and adds additional layers to Neo and Trinity’s tale.
While it was far from the success story of the first three Matrix movies, The Matrix Resurrections is a solid sci-fi movie that’s guaranteed to entertain Netflix subscribers seeking a cerebral watch with some dazzling visuals. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss both return as Neo and Trinity (despite their characters dying in the previous movie), and they’re joined by the likes of Jonathan Groff, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Neil Patrick Harris.
Related
10 Best Netflix Movies Of 2023
Netflix produced a lot of great movies in 2023, but 10 of them stand out as the best Netflix originals of the year, making it worthwhile to rank them.
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
They Cloned Tyrone
They Cloned Tyrone is a comedic sci-fi mystery movie by director Juel Taylor and writer Tony Rettenmaier. The film follows a group of people who stumble upon a top-secret cloning experiment being conducted by the U.S. government when a man who died following a failed drug deal reappears – completely unscathed.
- Release Date
- July 21, 2023
- Director
- Juel Taylor
- Runtime
- 119 Minutes
Marrying high-concept science-fiction with fantasy, satire and all manner of other genres, The Cloned Tyrone is one of the best Netflix Original movies released in 2023. Set in a drab retro-futuristic world, it stars John Boyega as the titular drug dealer, who drags himself through the same cycle of everyday life, in a grim Groundhog Day-style mundane nightmare that not even being shot repeatedly seems to interrupt.
Delightfully twisty, and featuring a walking homage to Blaxpoitation movies in Jamie Foxx’s pimp Slick Charles, They Cloned Tyrone is fast-paced, occasionally bizarre and a great way to spend a couple of hours. Come for the sci-fi, but stay for the Mary J Blige elevator scene.
Upgrade (2018)
Upgrade
Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, Upgrade is a Sci-Fi, Action, and Cyberpunk film starring Betty Gabriel, Logan Marshall-Green, and Harrison Gilbertson. The plot sees a man suffering a tragic accident and becoming paralyzed as a result. He soon accepts a STEM implant that gives him back his body and much more.
- Director
- Leigh Whannell
- Release Date
- June 1, 2018
- Cast
- Betty Gabriel , Logan Marshall-Green , Harrison Gilbertson
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
2018’s Upgrade has become a surprise hit on Netflix, experiencing a resurgence in popularity since it was added to the extensive library of movies on the streaming service. Directed and written by Leigh Whannell, the writer behind Saw and Insidious and the director of 2020’s The Invisible Man, Upgrade is a dystopian sci-fi movie set in 2046 with a strong cyberpunk aesthetic. The story revolves around Grey (Logan Marshall-Green), a technophobe and auto mechanic. After a home invasion leaves his wife dead and Grey paralyzed, he receives cybernetic implants to help him walk.
However, all is not what it seems with STEM, the enhancement that gives Grey his mobility back. Neither was the attack on his home that took the life of his wife Asha (Menalie Vallejo) random. The plot of Upgrade is filled with many twists and turns, and it stands proud as an action thriller as well as a cerebral sci-fi that explores the risks of AI.
Best Rom-Coms & Teen Movies On Netflix
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Based on the novel by Jenny Han, To All the Boys I Loved Before sees high-school student Lara Jean Covey caught in a terrifyingly awkward situation when her deepest secrets leak out. Lara, who has many passionate crushes, has written confession letters to all of them – with no intention of ever sending them. However, when all five letters somehow reach her five loves, Lara’s high school life becomes an exercise in crisis management as she desperately attempts to gain control of it all.
- Release Date
- August 17, 2018
- Director
- Susan Johnson
- Cast
- Lana Condor , Anna Cathcart , John Corbett , Janel Parrish , Israel Broussard , Noah Centineo
- Runtime
- 102 minutes
In the age of streaming, romantic comedies are being given fewer and fewer theatrical runs, with many going straight to online platforms. While this is unfortunate for cinema-going fans of the genre, Netflix is a rom-com lover’s paradise, as it boasts many original titles from Always Be My Maybe to The Kissing Booth, and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of the best. It sees the romantic yet shy teenage protagonist Lara Jean (Lana Condor) have her worst nightmare come true when the private love letters she wrote to her crushes go public.
Like many great teen movies, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is based on the book trilogy by Jenny Han, and the two follow-up novels also have Netflix adaptations. Genre stories that have a predominantly female audience, namely rom-com and young adult, are often dismissed, but it’s impossible to ignore what a winning movie series To All the Boys is. Even though the film trilogy has wrapped, the franchise has launched a spin-off show called XO Kitty about Lara Jean’s younger sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart), proving the enduring popularity of To All the Boys.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
Based on the novel by Fiona Rosenbloom, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is a comedy/drama that follows two best friends, Stacy and Lydia, who are on the cusp of their bat mitzvahs. The inseparable pair find their friendship threatened when a new boy enters the scene, and the all-too-expected middle-school drama continues to mount – leaving their dream bat mitzvahs hanging by a thread.
- Release Date
- August 25, 2023
- Director
- Sammi Cohen
- Cast
- Idina Menzel , Jackie Sandler , Adam Sandler , Samantha Lorraine , Dylan Hoffman
- Runtime
- 103 Minutes
Adam Sandler tends to make the most at the box office when he’s surrounded by those closest to him in real life (whether the critical reception of those movies matches or not). In Netflix Original You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah he goes one step further, starring alongside his wife and daughters, with Sunny Sandler taking center stage. In fact, this is not his movie at all, though he does deliver a solid performance.
Culturally informed and sensitive, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is a smart portrait of a landmark celebration, finding comedy and charm in its authenticity, but also in the universality of teenage life. Crucially, it understands and never talks down to the condition of adolescence, and the younger Sandler is the pick of You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah’s cast— a fledgling star who clearly learned a lot from the better comedies of her co-star father.