Searching for the best Netflix movies to stream today? You're in luck. TechRadar's entertainment experts have put in the hard yards to compile a list of the 44 best movies to watch on Netflix, including a number of the streamer's original offerings and plenty of licensed ones. The streamer has a seemingly immeasurable number of films to choose from these days, so we're sure you'll be glad of our help.
If you want even more recommendations, you should read our everything new on Netflix in August 2024 guide and if you want to catch some movies before they bid farewell to the streamer this month, then have a look at everything leaving Netflix in August 2024. It's packed with numerous new movies that have made their way onto the streamer over the past month, including older classics too. However, if you're in the mood to binge watch a TV show or rather focus on something shorter, then check out our best Netflix TV shows to watch in August 2024.
From animated flicks to war epics, Netflix's movie library has something for everyone and we've made it easier for you to decide what to watch by picking out the best from each genre, so read on to get the lowdown on the best Netflix films available to you.
Best action movies on Netflix
Baby Driver
Age rating: R
Runtime: 113 minutes
Main cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Eiza González and Jon Bernthal
Director: Edgar Wright
RT score: 92%
Famed British filmmaker Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Shaun of the Dead) put pedal to the metal with this barnstorming high-octane action-thriller, and I've loved it since I saw it in the theater. Elgort plays 'Baby', a getaway driver who relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to get his crew of goons out of a jam whenever he's needed. However, when he falls for Debora (James), the woman of his dreams, 'Baby' sees a way out of his crime-based life for good – but naturally, he's forced into one final job, which threatens the freedom and clean slate he desperately craves. I think it's one of the most slick and stylish flicks we've had in years, and Wright's signature kinetic style elevates it beyond other simple action fare. I also love the soundtrack, which is woven right into the action, like the action version of a musical. Baby Driver is a pulsating, thrills-a-minute ride that deserves more recognition.
The Woman King
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 135 minutes
Main cast: Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, and John Boyega
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
RT score: 94%
Set in the 1820s, this Viola Davis-fronted historical epic tells the tale of General Nanisca (Davis) and the wider Adojie tribe, the all-female warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey across a 200-year period. Starring a number of other terrific Black actors including Lashana Lynch, John Boyega, Thuso Mbedu, and Sheila Stim, The Woman King is a weighty, crowd-pleasing spectacle that many have likened to Braveheart in its action, tonality, and themes surrounding defiance in the face of invading forces. A splashy popcorn flick, sure, but one filled with substance, as well as deeper societal and historical subject matter.
All Quiet on the Western Front
Age rating: R
Runtime: 148 minutes
Main cast: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, and Moritz Klaus Director: Edward Berger
RT score: 90%
It’s been a good few years since Dunkirk and 1917 reminded audiences of the horrors of war, but Netflix assumed that responsibility with shocking but beautifully-made WWI epic, All Quiet on the Western Front. Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s landmark novel of the same name (which was first adapted into a feature film in 1930), this award-winning German-language movie tells the story of a young German soldier (Felix Kammerer) whose naive expectations of fighting for his country are shattered by war’s harrowing reality. As you'd expect, All Quiet on the Western Front is brutal, vivid and poignant – just don’t expect to reach its credits feeling particularly joyous.
The Harder They Fall
Age rating: R
Runtime: 139 minutes
Main cast: Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, and LaKeith Stanfield
Director: Jeymes Samuel
RT score: 88%
Jeymes Samuel's feature film directorial debut wasn't expected to be this good. But The Harder They Fall, which stars the likes of Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, and Regina King, is a superb Western that deserves your attention. Jonathan Majors, who was recently found guilty of domestic abuse and whose career is effectively over as a result, plays Nat Love, an outlaw who discover his mortal enemy Rufus Black (Elba) is being released from prison. Unsurprisingly, Love takes the law into his own hands and assembles his crack team of gunslingers to stop that from happening. A stylized, gun-toting action flick that's somewhat predictable in its makeup, The Harder They Fall will have you whooping and hollering at the screen regularly.
Best animated movies on Netflix
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 98 minutes
Main cast: Jack Black, Bill Wise, Lee Eddy, Milo Coy, Zachary Levi, and Glen Powell Director: Richard Linklater
RT score: 91%
Netflix is home to lots of great animated flicks, so if you’re keen to mix up your movie-watching diet, films don't come much more unconventional than the streamer’s Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood. Boyhood director Richard Linklater returns to filmmaking duties with this animated feature, which tells the story of the 1969 moon landing from multiple perspectives. The movie shares the visual style of Linklater’s previous animation, 2006's A Scanner Darkly, and features the voice talents of The Super Mario Bros. Movie's Jack Black, Shazam! Fury of the Gods' Zachary Levi, and Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell. Despite its needlessly lengthy title, Apollo 10 1/2 is a genuinely unique take on one of history’s most iconic moments, and serves as yet more proof of Netflix's willingness to invest in boundary-pushing storytelling.
• Watch Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood on Netflix now
• Watch Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood's trailer on YouTube
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, and Finn Holfhard
Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
RT score: 96%
Who says Netflix has lost its taste for originality? With Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the streamer breathes new life into Carlo Collodi's beloved 1883 fairytale about a wooden puppet who longs to become a real boy. Shot entirely using stop-motion (in a manner akin to Netflix series The House), del Toro’s darker adaptation is set in 1930s Italy during Mussolini’s fascist regime and features a star-studded voice cast that includes Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz and Cate Blanchett. Indisputably one of the best Netflix movies in years.
The Mitchells vs The Machines
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 114 minutes
Main cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Michael Rianda, and Olivia Colman
Director: Michael Rianda
RT score: 97%
One of the best Netflix family movies The Mitchells vs the Machines stars Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson), an aspiring filmmaker who's about to head to college – until her dad, conscious that they've been drifting apart, cancels her plane ticket and insists on a family road trip. Halfway through this fraught journey, an AI takes revenge on its billionaire creator and the world is suddenly under duress from smart robots. A lot of Spider-Verse's visual touches cross over into this film, with 2D annotations and drawings on the already-pretty 3D visuals. Most of all, it's nice to see Netflix backing a family movie that's not just full of talking dogs and other hackneyed nonsense so often seen in CG kids' fare.
Nimona
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 102 minutes
Main cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, and Frances Conroy Directors: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
RT score: 92%
Based on ND Stevenson's 2015 graphic novel of the same name, Nimona is a delightfully fun, action-packed, funny, and heartfelt flick that's also unapologetically queer. Star Wars alumnus Riz Ahmed voices Ballister Blackheart, a futuristic knight who's framed for a crime he didn't commit. The only witness who can save him from a lengthy jail term is Nimona (The Peipheral's Chloe Grace Moretz), a shapeshifter who Blackheart is sworn to seek out and destroy. Cue a wild buddy cop-style adventure that teaches kids to have an open mind about people who are different to them in more ways than one. Nimona has been lauded for its LGBTQ+ representation, subversive storytelling, and gorgeous visuals among many other positives. A truly worth entry in our best Netflix movies guide.
Paddington
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 95 minutes
Main cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, and Samuel Joslin
Director: Paul King
RT score: 97%
We're just going to say it: Paddington is one of the best family movies of all time. Don't argue with us. At first glance, everyone's favorite, marmalade sandwich-eating Peruvian bear didn't seem like he'd be the star of a truly terrific family-friendly film. As it turns out, though, Paddington (voiced with a deftness, warmth, and stacks of humor by Ben Whishaw) is a bonafide movie star – and his first CGI-cum-live-action movie proves it. You'll laugh yourself silly at its slapstick moments, you'll cry at its heart-wrenching (and heart-warming!) scenes, and shout "I didn't know they were in it!" at every big-name actor who appears. In short: go and watch it immediately.
The Sea Beast
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: Karl Urban, Zaris Angel-Hator, Jared Harris, and Dan Stevens
Director: Chris Williams
RT score: 94%
The Sea Beast proved Disney doesn’t have a monopoly on layered, child-friendly storytelling upon its arrival in July 2022. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero Six), the movie follows Jacob Holland (voiced by The Boys’ Karl Urban), a celebrated sea monster hunter whose life is upended when a young girl, Maisie Brumble (newcomer Zaris-Angel Hator), stows away on his ship. Charming, action-packed, and beautifully-rendered, The Sea Beast was praised by audiences and critics alike upon release, and serves as further proof that Netflix should think twice about scaling back its animation department. If it still is, that is.
Shrek
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 89 minutes
Main cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow
Directors: Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
RT score: 88%
This universally popular animated movie is must-see for film fans of all ages. With its witty, subversive take on fairy tales, stellar performances from its voice cast, CG animation that holds up over 20 years later, iconic licensed soundtrack, and plenty of adult-based humor to go alongside its child-friendly comedy, Shrek is an undisputed classic. For anyone who hasn’t seen it (and why wouldn’t you have?), Shrek stars Myers as the titular ogre, who finds his swamp overrun by fairy tale creatures after the nefarious Lord Farquaad (Lithgow) kicks them out of their homes. Alongside annoying new best friend Donkey (Murphy), Shrek makes a pact with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz) to get his swamp (and peace and quiet) back. As you’d expect, things suddenly spiral out of control in predictably hilarious fashion. An easy film to include on our best Netflix movies list and now a fifth is on the way.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 140 minutes
Main cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Luna Lauren Velez, Bryan Tyree Henry, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, and Jason Schwartzman
Directors: Kemp Powers, Joaquin Dos Santos, and Justin K. Thompson
RT score: 95%
As a spectacularly assembled animated superhero film, there are few better than it in the genre space right now than Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – both from animation and storytelling perspectives. Set 14 months after Into the Spider-Verse, viewers are reunited with Miles Morales, Gwen Stacey, and Peter B Parker as they embark on a new multiverse-spanning journey that, unlike its forebear, won't be such an easy one to navigate. In my Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse review, I said it "fulfils its ambitious promise to deliver an amazing follow-up to its 2018 predecessor". Once you've watched it, read my Across the Spider-Verse ending explained article to see how it sets up its Beyond the Spider-Verse sequel. Then, see where it ranks in our best Spider-Man movies guide, or find out how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order.
• Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix now
• Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's YouTube trailer
Ultraman: Rising
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 117 minutes
Main cast: Christopher Sean, Julia Harriman, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young and Gedde Watanbe
Director: Shannon Tindle
RT score: 83%
Ultraman: Rising is an animated reboot of the iconic Japanese franchise by Tsuburaya Productions. The superhero movie follows all-star athlete Ken Sato (voiced by Christopher Sean), who returns home to take on the Ultraman mantle as Tokyo is attacked by giant monsters. However, Sato soon finds himself adopting a baby kaiju of his own and must protect both his hometown and the baby monster from evil. Ultraman: Rising has been praised for its action-packed entertainment, gorgeous visuals, heartwarming story and current themes that's perfect for the whole family.
Best comedy movies on Netflix
Hustle
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 118 minutes
Main cast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, and Robert Duvall Director: Jeremiah Zagar
RT score: 93%
If you were a fan of 2019's Uncut Gems, listen up: Hustle, a surprisingly entertaining basketball drama, delivers more Adam Sandler-sized surprises. After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad, Stanley Sugerman (Sandler), a down-on-his-luck Philadelphia 76ers scout, takes it upon himself to bring the young phenom to the States without his team's approval. Against the odds, the pair must work to prove that they both deserve to make it big in the NBA. That synopsis might sound like standard sports drama fare, but Hustle earned unexpectedly glowing reviews ahead of its muted release. Trust us: this is no Jack and Jill.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 92 minutes
Main cast: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin
Directors: Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam
RT score: 96%
Monty Python and the Holy Grail did more for the satire and parody subgenres than many other comedies have done in the last 50 years. A witty and biting take on the legend of King Arthur, Monty Python and the Holy Grail stars the titular and legendary British comedy outfit as King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, who embark on a hilarity-infested quest to seek the Holy Grail. If you're a fan of Monty Python, you'll likely have seen this one countless times over. First-time viewers, though, will cackle and guffaw their way through the film's rivetingly silly scenarios. The Black Knight scene, Knights of the Roundtable dance number, deadly Rabbit of Caerbannog sequence, and Knights Who Say "Ni!" moment are just four instantaneously classic moments waiting to be viewed. Just don't blame us if you end up endlessly quoting this flick long after the credits have rolled. (NB: Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python's Flying Circus are also available to stream).
• Watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Netflix now
• Watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail's trailer on YouTube
Hit Man
Age rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes
Main cast: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Molly Kate Bernard, Retta and Evan Holtzman
Director: Richard Linklater
RT score: 95%
One of Netflix's highly-anticipated new movies was Hit Man, which definitely proved to be a hit, man! The twisted comedy went down a treat with its 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and spent three weeks at the number one spot in the Netflix Global top 10 list when it was released in June. Glen Powell stars as Gary Johnson, an undercover agent who poses as a fake hitman to help a woman in need and soon finds himself falling for her. It’s a deceptively dark thriller that’s packed with drama and romance, which is bound to bring entertainment to any night of the week. Meanwhile, Hollywood’s newest A-lister Powell will have you swooning as he oozes charisma in any role he plays.
Best drama movies on Netflix
Enola Holmes
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 124 minutes
Main cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helen Bonham Carter
Director: Harry Bradbeer
RT score: 91%
Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown started to expand her acting career with this period-set comedy-mystery flick that's both an adaptation of Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes Mysteries book series and a spin-off of the Sherlock Holmes legend. Brown plays the titular character (and younger sister of Cavill's Sherlock), who travels to London to locate her missing mother. Unsurprisingly, she gets side-tracked, and finds herself teaming up with a runaway lord to get to the bottom of a particularly thrilling case that threatens the UK. A breezy but fun-filled adventure flick, Enola Holmes bubbles away nicely with its more than entertaining narrative, which is ably led by Brown's effervescent Holmes. Its sequel is also available to stream on Netflix.
The Irishman
Age rating: R
Runtime: 209 minutes
Main cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, and Anna Paquin
Director: Martin Scorsese
RT score: 95%
This threateningly long Scorsese pic attracted attention for the extensive effects work used to de-age its old stars, and it's a creative decision that's sometimes distracting. But there's no denying the appeal of seeing Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino in the same movie together for likely the last time, and this life-spanning, mostly rewarding crime epic is a suitable tribute to their collective talents. The Irishman is an unmissable crime movie that follows Frank Sheeran (De Niro) as he recounts his long association with the Bufalino crime family and infamous union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). It's a languid film – and not a patch on Goodfellas – but absolutely among the best Netflix movies the streaming service has financed to date. Find out where we ranked it in our best Martin Scorsese movies piece.
The Hand of God
Age rating: R
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Filippo Scotti, Tony Servillo, Teresa Sapoangelo, and Marlon Joubert Director: Paolo Sorrentino
RT score: 83%
The Hand of God marks the movie-making return of beloved Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, and tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a young man (Filippo Scotti, standing in for a teenage Sorrentino) grappling with the pressures of growing up in 1980s Naples. As well as referring to the infamous goal scored by Argentine footballer (and Napoli legend) Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup, the film's title alludes to a tragic and life-affirming event that forces its protagonist to grow up quicker than he'd otherwise like. To say more risks spoiling The Hand of God's most tender moments, though the movie's beautiful locations, hypnotic camerawork, and larger-than-life characters ensure it ranks among Sorrentino's best work.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Age rating: R
Runtime: 94 minutes
Main cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, and Colman Domingo
Director: George C. Wolfe
RT score: 97%
Based on the play by August Wilson – and despite the gorgeous period set dressing and costume design, it definitely feels very stage-y – Oscar winner Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a fantastic watch. Viola Davis stars as legendary 'Mother of Blues' Ma Rainey, with the film focusing on one fraught recording session with Ma and her band, and the tension between the musician and her white producers and management. The late Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) stars as Levee, an innovative trumpet player who struggles to find his place in the music scene, amid bandmates who don't always take him seriously. It's a sad but insightful movie that explores how culture is worth protecting and valuing, in a world where it's easily taken and monetized, and the film truly comes to life in its amazing musical sequences.
Beasts of No Nation
Age rating: R
Runtime: 137 minutes
Main cast: Idris Elba, Abraham Atta, and Kurt Egyiawan
Director: Cary Fukunaga
RT score: 91%
We won't beat about the bush – Beasts of No Nation is a tough watch. No Time to Die's Cary Fukunaga directs this harrowing feature, which follows the journey of a young orphan (Abraham Attah) forced into becoming a child soldier by a fierce warlord (Idris Elba) during an unnamed African civil war. An adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala's novel of the same name, Beasts of No Nation is a masterfully-shot story documenting the human cost of conflict, and places the uncomfortable realities of war front and centre. This isn't one to watch with the kids, but sitting through its two-hour narrative is an enlightening, dare-we-say necessary movie experience.
Hacksaw Ridge
Age rating: R
Runtime: 139 minutes
Main cast: Andrew Garfield, Luke Bracey, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington and Teresa Palmer
Director: Mel Gibson
RT score: 84%
Mel Gibson's biographical war epic Hacksaw Ridge is a blood-soaked true story about pacifist combat medic Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), who saved 75 men during World War II in the Battle of Okinawa without using a weapon. The Oscar winner is another success story for director Gibson following the likes of his previous projects Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, which all became a cultural phenomenon. Hacksaw Ridge had my heart-pounding. It's a cinematic masterpiece that shines a light on the barbaric nature of war with scenes more horrifying than Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. Gibson also manages to capture Doss' heroic spirit despite the cataclysm unfolding around him.
The Power of the Dog
Age rating: R
Runtime: 128 minutes
Main cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee
Director: Jane Campion
RT score: 94%
It’s safe to say that Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog was the critical hit – and one of the best Netflix movies – of 2021. Widely praised for its slow-burning psychological drama, it follows the story of a menacing rancher (Benedict Cumberbatch) who doesn’t take kindly to the arrival of his brother’s new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Cumberbatch arguably gives a career-best performance as the volatile Phil Burbank here, which undoubtedly made interesting prep for Doctor Strange 2. It's a slow-burner, but The Power of the Dog is a masterful piece of filmmaking.
Phantom Thread
Age rating: R
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, and Camilla Rutherford
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
RT score: 91%
Shortly after Licorice Pizza – director Paul Thomas Anderson's most recent flick – hit 2023's awards circuit, Netflix added his previous film Phantom Thread to its library. This one tells the story of a dressmaker (Daniel Day-Lewis) in 1950s London who falls for a young waitress (Vicky Krieps). That might sound like a potentially boring narrative, but Phantom Thread is actually masterfully-shot. It's also a poignant exploration of what it means to be an artist, combining Oscar-winning costume design with a stunning soundtrack (from Radiohead and frequent Anderson collaborator Johnny Greenwood) to rank among its director's finest work. One of the best Netflix movies, this certainly is.
Roma
Age rating: R
Runtime: 134 minutes
Main cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Fernando Grediaga, and Daniela Demesa
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
RT score: 96%
An astonishing ode to motherhood in all forms, Roma is the most personal film to date from visionary director Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity). On paper, it's is not the easiest sell – a subtitled black and white film about a live-in housekeeper spoken almost entirely in Spanish and the indigenous Mixtec language. But Cuarón's 2018 critical hit is nonetheless riveting from a cinematic standpoint. More a series of vignettes than a traditional three-act story, it examines the life of a Mexico City family in the early 1970s during a time of great social upheaval.
Society of the Snow
Age rating: R
Runtime: 145 minutes
Main cast: Enzo Vogrincic, Augustin Padella, Esteban Bigliardi, and Simon Hempe Director: J.A. Bayona
RT score: 90%
J.A. Bayona’s latest flick – based on real-life events – is a harrowing portrayal of human endurance and how our primal survival instincts assume dominance over our humanity. Society of the Snow tells the tragic story of the 1972 Andes Air Disaster, which saw a Uruguayan rugby team crash-land in the freezing South American mountain range en route to a Chile-based tournament. Trapped in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, the 16 survivors are forced to take extreme measures in order to stay alive. A heart-breaking and grim tale of human morality, but one that equally shines an earnest, powerful light on surviving against all odds. If you enjoyed Society of the Snow, then check out these five true survival thrillers to watch next.
The Wonder
Age rating: R
Runtime: 109 minutes
Main cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, and Elaine Cassidy
Director: Sebastien Lelio
RT score: 89%
Florence Pugh (Black Widow, A Good Person) proved her generational talent yet again in Netflix's unsettling drama-cum-horror The Wonder. Set in the Irish Midlands in 1862, the movie stars Pugh as an English nurse called to observe a young girl (Kíla Lord Cassidy) who remains miraculously alive and well despite not having eaten for four months. As period dramas go, The Wonder is an absorbing and fantastic flick that confirms Pugh's ability to embody every role she plays.
The Theory of Everything
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 123 minutes
Main cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Tom Prior, Simon McBurney and Harry Lloyd
Director: James Marsh
RT score: 80%
James Marsh’s award-winning biopic The Theory of Everything brings to life the powerful story of physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne), who is diagnosed with motor neurone disease at 21-years-old. Despite this life-changing diagnosis, Hawking gains astronomical success in the field of physics and faces hardships with the support of his wife Jane (Felicity Jones). The Theory of Everything isn’t just a biopic, it’s also an emotional love story about two people fighting unprecedented odds and how their lives are profoundly changed. Redmayne and Jones’ phenomenal performances as Hawking and Jane make this a masterpiece of a cinema filled with happiness, heartbreak and hope that makes it well worth watching.
Best fantasy movies on Netflix
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Age rating: R
Runtime: 132 minutes
Main cast: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Stephanie Hsu
Directors: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
RT score: 94%
This absurdist multi-genre flick, which garnered universal acclaim and a seemingly infinite number of trophies on the 2023 awards circuit, though, is one of the best we've ever seen. Everything Everywhere All at Once (EEAAO) stars Yeoh (The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Brothers Sun) as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant who learns that she must connect with alternate reality versions of herself in order to stop a supremely powerful being from destroying the multiverse. Quan (Loki season 2, The Goonies) plays Evelyn's husband Waymond and Hsu (Joy Ride) is Evelyn's daughter Joy. An epic assault on the senses with tons of heart, spectacular visuals, and an mind-boggling appreciation for philosophical themes like existentialism, nihilism, generational trauma, and racial identity, EEAAO is a masterful film that's everything you want from a multiverse movie.
Okja
Age rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Giancarlo Espostio Director: Bong Joon-ho
RT score: 86%
If you've enjoyed Bong Joon Ho's Oscar Best Picture winner Parasite, you might want to check out his previous movie, Okja, which is still one of the best Netflix movies on the platform. It tells the bizarre tale of a young girl Mija and her best pal, an enormous creature called Okja, whose friendship comes under threat when a nasty CEO (Tilda Swinton) has evil plans for the titular animal. It's a refreshing movie with a nice angle of animal activism – a very different proposition to Parasite, for sure, but one that also demonstrates the director's ability to blend genres.
Best horror movies on Netflix
The Conjuring 2
Age rating: R
Runtime: 133 minutes
Main cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Maddison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor, and Lauren Esposito
Directors: James Wan
RT score: 80%
The Conjuring 2 sees Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to investigate the Enfield poltergeist case. As you can expect, weird and scary things are afoot, and it's up to the couple to get to the bottom of the supernatural goings-on. I think the movie is terrifying and a rare occurrence of a sequel outshining its predecessor. With the horror flick being well received upon initial release, it helped to further cement Wan's (Aquaman) place as one of the rising directing stars of the horror genre, too, with the filmmaker going on to direct other horror movie classics over the past decade. One of the best horror movies The Conjuring and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It are also on Netflix.
The Fear Street movie trilogy
Age rating: R
Runtimes: 107 minutes (Fear Street 1); 110 minutes (Fear Street 2); 114 minutes (Fear Street 3)
Main cast: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Welch, Gillian Jacobs, Sadie Sink, Benjamin Flores Jr, Emily Rudd, and Ryan Simpkins
Director: Leigh Janiak
RT score: 84% (Fear Street 1); 87% (Fear Street 2); 88% (Fear Street 3)
Launched in July 2021 as part of a new Netflix horror movie binge watch experiment, the Fear Street movie trilogy looked to recapture the bold and innovative multi-film storytelling formula that other popular horror franchises had seemingly perfected. And, in short, it did. Set across three flicks, the Fear Street series – itself based on R.L. Stine's books of the same name – told the story of a group of 90s-era teens as they attempt to break a curse that's loomed over their town for over 300 years. With lashings of the supernatural and witchcraft, R-rated slasher violence, an intriguing narrative, and more than a few notable faces – Stranger Things' Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke are among its cast – the Fear Street movies are well worth watching.
His House
Age rating: TV-14
Runtime: 93 minutes
Main cast: Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu
Director: Remi Weekes
RT score: 100%
This Weekes-directed movie stars Mosaku (Loki) and Dirisu (Gangs of London) as Rial and Bol, a refugee couple from South Sudan who struggle to adjust to their new life in the UK. The overriding issue? The duo believe there's an evil supernatural force haunting their council home and the surrounding area. His House might not sound all that thrilling, but you'll want to give it a chance, trust us. Mosaku and Dirisu deliver powerhouse performances in this occasionally terrifying movie that, like Get Out, has plenty of important things to say about cultural and socio-political divides. There's a reason why it holds a perfect 100% RT critical score – it's because it's a darn good film.
It Follows
Age rating: R
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, and Olivia Luccardi
Director: David Robert Mitchell
RT score: 95%
This Mitchell-directed film shouldn't be slept on – which, in some ways, is ironic, given the lengths its lead character Jay goes to in order to stay awake. Why? Because, in It Follows, the titular character is pursued by a supernatural entity after it's passed onto her through a sexual encounter with her at-the-time boyfriend Hugh. The entity in question will constantly (albeit) slowly track the currently infected individual until it catches them, upon which time it'll kill them – and then work its way back up the chain to murder every other person who was infected. It's a bit on the nose with its thematic exploration of sexually transmitted diseases, but It Follows is an otherwise terrifically terrifying and seriously underrated film that deserves more acclaim. A long overdue sequel is in the works, too, so best catch this one while you can.
Best romance movies on Netflix
Call Me by Your Name
Age rating: R
Runtime: 132 minutes
Main cast: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Esther Garral, André Aciman and Victoire Du Bois
Director: Luca Guadagnino
RT score: 94%
Prior to his global success Challengers, director Luca Guadagnino created the romantic masterpiece that is Call Me by Your Name. The coming-of-age story stars Timothée Chalamet as 17-year-old Elio, who falls for his father's handsome assistant Oliver (Armie Hammer). Although their relationship is temporary, Elio realizes his sexual orientation and tries to come to terms with it. Their romance is set against the dreamy backdrop of gorgeous Italian scenery and was Chalamet's major breakout role that set him on a course to become the established Hollywood star he is now.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Anna Cathcart, Israel Broussard, Janel Parrish, Madeleine Arthur and John Corbett
Director: Susan Johnson
RT score: 96%
To All the Boys I've Loved Before became one of the streamer's "most viewed original films ever with strong repeat viewing" when the first installment of the rom-com franchise landed on Netflix. Based on Jenny Han's book trilogy, To All the Boys I've Loved Before follows teenager Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) whose unassuming life is upended when her secret love letters are mailed out to every boy she's ever loved. The hit love story refreshed the rom-com genre and developed a cult following with its realistic depiction of teenage life and high school relationships. To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a top tier feel good movie and is one of the best Netflix teen movies with its lovable and relatable characters.
Best sci-fi movies on Netflix
Upgrade
Age rating: R
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Harrison Gilbertson, Betty Gabriel, Melanie Vallejo and Benedict Hardie
Director: Leigh Whannell
RT score: 88%
Upgrade is something that was desperately needed to refresh streaming action movies. I sorely miss genre-based action thrillers in the mainstream cinema landscape that are visually interesting and build on underlying themes, but Upgrade soon answered my prayers. Saw and Insidious writer Leigh Whannel's polished and tense direction makes this movie inventive yet still manages to tie into the memorable plot. In Upgrade, Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) is left paralyzed in hospital after a deadly mugging which killed his wife. He's offered the chance to walk again by implanting an artificial intelligence chip called STEM and he soon develops superhuman strength. As he seeks revenge on the attackers who ruined his life, he becomes a brutal killing machine with the help of STEM. The cyberpunk action flick is still etched into my mind with its stylish cinematography, dark twists and jaw-dropping action sequences, which makes it definitely worth watching.
Godzilla Minus One
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 125 minutes
Main cast: Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, and Yuki Yamada
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
RT score: 98%
Few movies have recently spawned as many “where can I stream it?” questions as Godzilla Minus One. Finally, though, months after the unexpectedly successful film’s theatrical release, Netflix has not only secured its streaming rights, but it also surprisingly dropped the sci-fi horror epic on its platform in early June.
A new Japanese entry in Godzilla’s packed back catalogue, Minus One returns to the iconic kaiju’s roots with a destruction-filled and trauma-inducing tale set in post-war Japan. In it, the island nation desperately wrestles with the titanic monster’s emergence from the deep and subsequently terrifying rampage across the Asian country.
Easily one of 2023’s best movies, Godzilla Minus One is a thematically rich, harrowing, and occasionally jaw-dropping spectacle. Read our Godzilla Minus One review to learn more about the first-ever Godzilla flick to win an Oscar. There's also a black and white version of the movie that was released on Netflix on August 1.
The Matrix
Age rating: R
Runtime: 136 minutes
Main cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving
Director: Lana and Lilly Wachowski (formally known as Larry and Andy Wachowski)
RT score: 83%
Held up as one of the best sci-fi movies of its generation, if not one of the sci-fi flicks ever made, The Matrix is a ground-breaking film that introduced plenty of wholly creative new ideas – the advent of bullet time, anyone? – to Hollywood circles. Reeves plays Thomas Anderson, a lowly, miserably, and introverted computer programmer who is heralded as a messianic figure (named Neo and/or The One) who can help humanity win a brutal, years-long war against intelligent machines that have trapped the human race in a simulation to hide the fact that said machines feed off human energy sources in a dystopian future. Things get way more complicated from then on out. Still, it's an absolute masterpiece and set a seemingly impossible standard that its three sequels (and many other sci-fi films since) have failed to live up to.
They Cloned Tyrone
Age rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris
Director: Juel Taylor
RT score: 95%
They Cloned Tyrone is an absolutely brilliant movie. To discuss its plot at length is to spoil its biggest surprises, but here's a brief synopsis to give you a flavor of what to expect: "A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper." We thoroughly enjoyed what it has to offer on multiple levels and our exclusive chat with John Boyega is well worth reading for a peak behind the curtain on its production. Once you're watched it, be sure to read our ending explainer on They Cloned Tyrone for Boyega's thoughts on its surprising ending.
Best thriller movies on Netflix
A Simple Favor
Age rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Main cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Linda Cardellini, Dustin Milligan, Ava LaFramboise, Rupert Friend, Jean Smart, Ian Ho and Joshua Satine
Director: Paul Feig
RT score: 84%
If you mix scandal, lies and secrets with a stylish suburban neo-noir then you get the cocktail that is A Simple Favor. Two women are at the center of intrigue in Paul Feig’s mystery thriller when single mother Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) becomes friends with the mysterious Emily (Blake Lively) who suddenly disappears without a trace. When Stephanie goes on a mission to track her down, she stumbles upon something far more sinister than she could ever imagine. Lively is delicious as the scene-stealing femme fatale of Emily whose razor-sharp remarks and brilliantly bizarre behavior is topped off with jaw-dropping outfits and a 1960s French pop soundtrack.
Emily the Criminal
Age rating: R
Runtime: 97 minutes
Main cast: Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Gina Gershon, Brandon Sklenar, Megalyn Echikunwoke and Jonathan Avigdori
Director: John Patton Ford
RT score: 94%
Emily the Criminal sees Aubrey Plaza take on the role of Emily, a college graduate who is struggling to find work due to her criminal record. In a desperate bid to make money, she becomes involved in a credit card fraud scheme which swiftly goes off the rails when she becomes romantically involved with the organizer. Plaza expertly embodies the despair that forces Emily to the lowest level of crime and is a gripping story of someone escaping constant turmoil. If you love a crime thriller, Emily the Criminal is a short, sharp movie that will have you hooked for the entire 97 minutes running time with gripping criminal activities.
Captain Phillips
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 134 minutes
Main cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Barkhad Abdirahman and Catherine Keener
Director: Paul Greengrass
RT score: 93%
Based on the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking, Captain Phillips follows American merchant mariner Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) who is taken hostage by Somali pirates when they seize the US container ship Maersk Alabama. Phillips and his crew are defenceless against the brutality of pirate captain Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi) and his group as Phillips must work out a way to ensure everyone's safety. On top of Hanks' powerful performance of an everyday man thrown into a life or death situation, Jason Bourne director Paul Greengrass keeps us in suspense though his shaky camerawork, heart-pounding action and realistic characters.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 141 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and Leslie Odom Jr
Director: Rian Johnson
RT score: 92%
Knives Out wowed fans and critics alike in 2019, so sequels were inevitable. The first of those – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – is another elaborate and highly entertaining whodunnit from director Rian Johnson. Buoyed by its excellent ensemble cast and a confidence carried over from its predecessor’s success, Glass Onion is even showier and bolder than Knives Out – though the film proved exceptionally divisive among fans of Benoit Blanc's debut outing upon release.
How we choose the best Netflix movies
To land a place on our list of best Netflix movies, each title doesn't have to be a huge hit on the world's best streaming service (i.e. one of the most-streamed movies in the platform's entire history). Instead, the movie needs to pass two tests: hold an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (RT) and be personally recommended by one of the members of the TechRadar streaming team.
Our team of writers include Matthew Bolton, Amelia Schwanke, Tom Power, Lucy Buglass and Grace Morris, who all write and watch movies every day. We have varying views of what makes a good movie, which means our personal tastes cover a wide-range of genres and even sub-genres like psychological thrillers, action adventures, superhero spectacles, supernatural horrors and romantic dramas.
Together, we use this criteria and our cinephile expertise to help inform which films we pick to be the best Netflix movies. There are thousands of movies to stream on Netflix and this changes every month with new arrivals and removals, so this is by no means an exhaustive list. Instead, make sure to check back in with us every month to see which new entries we add.
For more Netflix coverage, read our best Netflix documentaries and best Netflix shows guides. Yet to subscribe to the streaming giant? Read our guide on how to sign up to Netflix, too. Or, you're fed up of the recent price hikes, see whether you should cancel Netflix instead.
