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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.
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Some of the best movies on Netflix include
Leave the World Behind
,
The Power of the Dog
, and
Marriage Story
.
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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. And we will update this article regularly to make sure all recommendations are fresh.
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Best Drama Movies On Netflix
Dark Waters (2019)
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Dark Waters
Director Todd Haynes 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.
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Leave The World Behind (2023)
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Release Date December 8, 2023 Director Sam Esmail Cast Julia Roberts , Mahershala Ali , Ethan Hawke , Myha’la , Farrah Mackenzie 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.
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The Power Of The Dog (2021)
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The Power of the Dog
Western
Drama
Release Date November 17, 2021 Director Jane Campion 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.
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All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)
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All Quiet on the Western Front
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.
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Marriage Story (2019)
Marriage Story
Release Date December 6, 2019 Director Noah Baumbach Cast Ray Liotta , Merritt Wever , Kyle Bornheimer , Alan Alda , Mickey Sumner , Adam Driver , Mark O’Brien , Julie Hagerty , Scarlett Johansson , Laura Dern Runtime 136 minutes
In a close-run race, Marriage Story is the best Noah Baumbach movie, which hits all of his hallmarks as a filmmaker and is an incredible advert for the craft of directing. Even beyond those achievements, which matter less to Netflix viewers than the simple question of quality, Marriage Story is an incredible, must-watch movie that is easily one of the best movies on Netflix.
Starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in twin career-best performances, Marriage Story is horribly compelling, showing the harrowing story of a couple whose initially amicable separation becomes a bitter divorce. It’s like watching a world crumble in slow motion, with Driver and Johansson’s on-screen son the tragic middle ground of a battle that is propelled almost accidentally towards catastrophe. And while it’s very, very sad, Marriage Story‘s overall message about failure and future is a very important one.
Marriage Story was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, with Laura Dern winning Best Supporting Actress in 2020 for her role in the movie (in addition to a Golden Globe).
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May December (2023)
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May December
Drama
Romance
Release Date December 1, 2023 Director Todd Haynes Cast Natalie Portman , Julianne Moore , Charles Melton 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 Gentlemen (2019)
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The Gentlemen
Director Guy Ritchie Release Date January 24, 2020 Cast Henry Golding , Jeremy Strong , Matthew McConaughey , Colin Farrell , Hugh Grant , Charlie Hunnam , Michelle Dockery 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).
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Lift (2024)
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Lift
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.
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Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
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Dolemite Is My Name
Biography
Comedy
Drama
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
Mortal Kombat (2021)
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Mortal Kombat (2021)
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.
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Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2 (2003 & 2004)
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Kill Bill
R
Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date October 10, 2003 Cast David Carradine , Michael Madsen , Uma Thurman , Daryl Hannah , Lucy Liu , Vivica A. Fox
Quentin Tarantino is one of the most celebrated (and controversial) directors in modern cinema, and one of his most visually striking movies to date is the two-part kung-fu inspired action epic Kill Bill. Starring Uma Thurman as The Bride, Kill Bill is a revenge story with levels of violence few films can match. After being betrayed on her wedding day by her boss, the titular Bill (David Carradine) and fellow assassins, The Bride spends multiple years in a coma thanks to being shot in the head.
When she awakens she has one thought on her mind — eliminating those that wronged her. Tarantino was on top form as a director when making both halves of the Kill Bill duology, and to say that it’s filled from start to finish with unforgettable scenes and imagery is an understatement. Uma Thurman is joined in the Kill Bill cast by the likes of Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, and Daryl Hannah, with every name on the roster portraying a unique character that Netflix subscribers won’t soon forget.
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Enola Holmes (2020)
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Enola Holmes
Release Date September 23, 2020 Director Harry Bradbeer Cast Millie Bobby Brown , Helena Bonham Carter , Sam Claflin , Fiona Shaw , Henry Cavill , Louis Partridge , Burn Gorman , Adeel Akhtar , Susie Wokoma 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.
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Damsel (2024)
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Damsel
Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Release Date March 8, 2024 Writers Dan Mazeau Cast Millie Bobby Brown , Nick Robinson , Angela Bassett , Robin Wright , Ray Winstone , Brooke Carter , Shohreh Aghdashloo
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.
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The Killer (2023)
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The Killer (2023)
Action
Adventure
Crime
Release Date November 10, 2023 Director David Fincher Cast Michael Fassbender , Tilda Swinton , Kerry O’Malley , Charles Parnell , Lacey Dover , Monique Ganderton , Sala Baker 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.
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Release Date December 23, 2022 Director Rian Johnson Cast Dave Bautista , Daniel Craig , Edward Norton , Janelle Monae , Kathryn Hahn , Leslie Odom Jr. , Jessica Henwick , Madelyn Cline , Kate Hudson , Ethan Hawke 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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Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)
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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Superhero
Animation
Action
Adventure
Release Date June 2, 2023 Director Joaquim Dos Santos , Kemp Powers , Justin K. Thompson Cast Shameik Moore , Hailee Steinfeld , Oscar Isaac , Jake Johnson Runtime 120 Minutes
The first movie in the series, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, was revolutionary for its awe-inspiring animation, and became only the sixth non-Disney/Pixar movie to win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. And the franchise might strike gold again with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The film picks up with Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) who travels through the Multi-verse with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), where they happen upon an entire team of Spider-People. But things heat up when Miles and the Spider-People face a new threat and find themselves in conflict over how to defeat it.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is every bit as beloved as the first film, with its stellar animation and thrilling action scenes. Unlike so many cinematic franchises that release movies to increasingly diminishing returns, Miles Morales has many more adventures in him as Spider-Man, and no matter where he goes, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will always be remembered as one of his best.
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Best Biopics & Documentaries On Netflix
The Deepest Breath (2023)
The Deepest Breath
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.”
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Harriet (2019)
Harriet
PG-13
Biography
Drama
History
Release Date November 1, 2019 Director Kasi Lemmons Cast Joe Alwyn , Tory Kittles , Vondie Curtis-Hall , Cynthia Erivo , Vanessa Bell Calloway , Antonio J. Bell , Deborah Ayorinde , Leslie Odom Jr. , Jennifer Nettles , Tim Guinee , Zackary Momoh , Janelle Monae , Omar Dorsey , Clarke Peters , Henry Hunter Hall
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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.
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Maestro (2023)
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Maestro
Biography
Drama
Music
Release Date December 20, 2023 Director Bradley Cooper Cast Bradley Cooper , Carey Mulligan , Maya Hawke , Sarah Silverman , Matt Bomer Runtime 156 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.
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Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)
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tick, tick… BOOM!
Release Date November 12, 2021 Director Lin-Manuel Miranda 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.
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Best Sci-Fi Movies On Netflix
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
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The Matrix Resurrections
Director Lana Wachowski Release Date December 22, 2021 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Runtime 2h 28m
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.
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Glass (2019)
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Glass
Director M. Night Shyamalan Release Date January 16, 2019 Cast Luke Kirby , Bruce Willis , James McAvoy , Samuel L. Jackson , Anya Taylor-Joy , Charlayne Woodard , Sarah Paulson , Spencer Treat Clark Runtime 129 minutes
Helmed by M. Night Shyamalan and featuring the likes of Bruce Willis, James McAboy, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, and Anya Taylor-Joy in the cast, 2019’s Glass is an instant recipe for a highly enjoyable action sci-fi movie. The third movie in Shyamalan’s Unbreakable trilogy following Split, Glass brings McAvoy’s Wendall Crumb, Willis’s David Dunn, and Samuel L. Jackson’s Elijah Price together for a showdown that exposes the existence of superpowered individuals to the world.
The entire movie builds a winding meta-narrative that feels incredibly apt in the 2020s when superhero movies still continue to dominate pop culture
Glass features plenty of mystery and intrigue, as well as some outstanding fight sequences and performances from the entire cast. Shyamalan’s unique directorial style can be felt throughout, and the third film in the trilogy more than stands up as a sequel to both Unbreakable and Split. The entire movie builds a winding meta-narrative that feels incredibly apt in the 2020s when superhero movies still continue to dominate pop culture, and definitely isn’t one to miss for Netflix subscribers.
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They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
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They Cloned Tyrone
Release Date July 21, 2023 Director Juel Taylor Cast John Boyega , Teyonah Parris , Jamie Foxx , Kiefer Sutherland , David Alan Grier , J. Alphonse Nicholson 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.
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Upgrade (2018)
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Upgrade
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.
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Best Rom-Coms & Teen Movies On Netflix
Blended (2014)
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Blended (2014)
Director Frank Coraci Release Date May 23, 2014 Cast Adam Sandler , Drew Barrymore , Kevin Nealon , Terry Crews , Wendi McLendon-Covey Runtime 117 Minutes
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have teamed up to make several romantic comedies, including cult classics in the genre like 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer. In 2014, they reunited once more for Blended, a relatively by-the-numbers romantic comedy that utilizes their on-screen chemistry to deliver a satisfying viewing experience. While Blended doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does tick all the boxes fans of the duo expect, and it’s unsurprising it’s currently one of the most popular rom-coms on Netflix.
Blended is a second-love romance movie, with both Sandler and Barrymore playing single parents struggling to balance loneliness and dating with the struggles of raising children singlehandedly. After the pair have an awkward meet-cute at a pharmacy they go on a very unsuccessful date, only to later find themselves at the same family safari retreat in Africa. The cast also features Bella Thorne, Joel McHale, and Terry Crews, all of whom give hilarious performances.
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To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Romance
Comedy
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.
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You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
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.
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Best Family Movies On Netflix
Shrek (2001)
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Shrek
Director Vicky Jenson , Andrew Adamson Release Date May 18, 2001 Cast Cameron Diaz , Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , John Lithgow Runtime 90 minutes
While Disney was considered the undisputed and unrivaled source of all the best animated family movies throughout most of the 20th century, DreamWorks proved themselves as serious contenders for the title with 2001’s Shrek, which now sits as one of the best family movies available on Netflix.Shrek stars Mike Myers as the titular ogre who, after his swamp is beset with refugee fairytale creatures, must go on a quest to rescue the incredibly capable (and not at all in need of rescue, really) Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz).
He is joined along the way by his incredibly irritating but ever-loyal future best friend Donkey (Eddie Murphy), a talking Donkey. Shrek was such a success that it secured both multiple sequels and DreamWorks place as a houshold name among family-friendly studios. Shrek’s plot and animation may have contributed to its success, but the key reason it became an instant hit was its humor. Shrek is laugh-out-loud hilarious in a way that few — if any — Disney movies have managed to match before or since, and it has more than stood the test of time despite the decades since its 2001 release.
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The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
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The Mitchells vs. the Machines
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 movie 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.
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Paddington (2014)
Paddington
Release Date January 16, 2015 Director Paul King Cast Hugh Bonneville , Ben Whishaw , Nicole Kidman , Sally Hawkins Runtime 95minutes
Given Hollywood’s fascination with eking as much money out of nostalgic properties as possible, it was only a matter of time before someone turned their attention to the famous marmalade sandwich-loving bear from Darkest Peru. Luckily, that someone was Paul King, who made Paddington, an achingly British delight that has as much heart as it does slapstick comedy. Essentially a found family comedy, the beloved movie is the perfect answer for anyone looking for a unifying family watch.
Based on the original book series by Michael Bond, Paddington sees the wholesome bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw, invited (somewhat reluctantly by certain parties) to live with a family in Notting Hill. The very definition of a gentle, cozy comedy, Paddington carries a deeper meaning of acceptance and love, and boasts easily one of the highest rewatchability scores of all of Netflix’s best movies.
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