Since the release of its critically acclaimed war movie Beasts of No Nation, Netflix has built a strong movie library, especially in the dramatic genre. The best dramas on Netflix include several high-profile star vehicles, helmed by some of the industry’s most acclaimed filmmakers. Revered directors like Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuarón, Jane Campion, and David Fincher have all worked with Netflix, cementing its reputation as the undisputed leader of the streaming world.
From underrated gems to international offerings and even a few award contenders that took the streamer all the way to the Dolby Theater, Netflix is killing it in the dramatic genre. However, because Netflix has a wide and diverse collection of quality films, it might be difficult for you to choose just one, especially because some are not as high-quality as others. To save you some time and effort, we’ve compiled a list of the best dramas on Netflix right now.
Netflix may be a treasure trove when it comes to content, but it doesn’t have everything. Thankfully, we’ve also curated a list of the best dramas on Hulu and the best drama shows on Amazon Prime Video.
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Emily the Criminal2022
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The Power of the Dog2021
Spaceman (2024)
Adam Sandler has quickly become the reigning king of Netflix. His latest effort, Spaceman, is a sci-fi drama about an astronaut who, half a year into his solo mission on the edges of the solar system, bonds with the mysterious creature he finds hiding on his ship. Spaceman features a strong performance from Sandler and an equally impressive supporting cast, including the always-reliable Carey Mulligan and a gripping Paul Dano as the voice of the creature. Far more concerned with the lead character’s fractured psyche than with exploring its sci-fi themes, Spaceman is an engaging character study that allows Sandler to flex the acting muscles he seldom gets to use.
The Unforgivable (2021)
A powerful Sandra Bullock delivers some of her finest work on the screen in The Unforgivable. The 2021 drama features Bullock as Ruth, a woman recently released from prison after serving 20 years for murder, who becomes determined to reconcile with her younger sister. Bullock is the main draw behind The Unforgivable, an otherwise by-the-numbers drama elevated by the actress’ committed, heart-wrenching portrayal. The film risks being overly dire, but Bullock and a great supporting cast, including Vincent D’Onofrio and the mighty Viola Davis, ultimately drive the story home, ending on a safe yet positive note.
Society of the Snow (2023)
J. A. Bayona’s Society of the Snow is among Netflix’s most acclaimed recent films. The plot dramatizes the 1972 Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crash, forcing the survivors, including several members of a Uruguayan rugby team, to rely on each other to survive. Harrowing yet powerful, Society of the Snow is an expertly crafted survival drama that boasts the best of Bayona’s technical skill. Featuring a cast of mostly inexperienced actors who bring an additional layer of realism to the ordeal, Society of the Snow is a gripping tale of resilience and willpower. It received two Oscar nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling at this year’s Oscars.
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Julia Roberts won an Oscar for her performance as the titular character in Steven Soderbergh’s 2000 drama Erin Brockovich. The plot follows Brockovich, a single woman who receives a job as a legal assistant, where she uncovers a cover-up by a powerful company that’s been poisoning a local city’s power supply. The film is a brilliant showcase for Roberts, who delivers the most purposeful, spirited, and memorable performance of her career. The actress is dynamite as Brockovich, fully supporting a crowd-pleasing story about the pursuit of justice against powerful corporations that care little about the people they damage.
Whiplash (2014)
Damien Chazelle jumped to the peak of success and acclaim with his 2014 drama, Whiplash. Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) stars as Andrew, an ambitious aspiring drummer who enrolls in the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory. There, he is bullied and pushed to his limit by his overbearing and ruthless instructor, Terrence Fletcher, played by a masterful J. K. Simmons. Whiplash is an intense look at the cost of overwhelming ambition and the humanity that’s lost on the path to success. Featuring an Oscar-winning villainous turn from Simmons, Whiplash is a dramatic masterpiece that viewers won’t soon forget.
May December (2023)
Acclaimed auteur Todd Haynes reteams with his long-time muse, Julianne Moore, for the dramedy May December. Natalie Portman stars as Elizabeth, an actress traveling to Savannah to spend time with Gracie (Moore), the woman she’s set to play in an upcoming movie. Gracie rose to infamy years earlier after her scandalous affair with a 13-year-old boy became public. Anchored by career-best turns from Portman and Moore, May December is a discomforting masterpiece that seamlessly blends drama and humor to tackle profound issues. The film also benefits from a stunning showcase from Charles Melton, who delivers one of the year’s most heartbreaking performances.
Maestro (2023)
Bradley Cooper’s second directorial effort, Maestro, chronicles the life of renowned composer and conductor, Leonard Bernstein. Cooper stars as Bernstein, with the film revolving around his marriage with actress Felicia Montealegre, played by a stellar Carey Mulligan. Maestro sees Cooper go overboard both in front of and behind the camera, with a showy performance and even showier directing. However, the film finds strength in Mulligan’s stoic performance, even if it doesn’t necessarily reveal anything new about Bernstein’s private life or his legacy in modern music.
Rustin (2023)
Colman Domingo stars as activist Bayard Rustin in George C. Wolfe’s biographical drama Rustin. Based on Rustin’s real life, the film follows his efforts and contributions to the civil rights movement and his pivotal role in helping Martin Luther King Jr. organize the 1963 March on Washington. Powered by an outstanding turn from Domingo, Rustin shines a light on one of history’s most undersung heroes, whose name was all but erased because of his standing as a Black gay man. Rustin does not reinvent the biopic, but it remains a worthwhile showcase for both Domingo and Bayard Rustin.
Nuovo Olimpo (2023)
Fans of LGBTQ+ movies can’t find a more worthy movie than Nuovo Olimpo. The Italian romantic drama stars Damiano Gavino and Andrea Di Luigi star as Enea and Pietro, two young men who meet and fall in love in 1970s Rome. Unexpected circumstances separate them, leading them to try to reunite throughout the years, even as their lives take different directions. Sweeping and rising on the strong chemistry between Gavino and Di Luigi, Nuovo Olimpo is a gorgeous and emotional romantic drama that makes the best out of its straightforward premise. Well-crafted romantic dramas are becoming a rarity, making Nuovo Olimpo stand even taller in the current entertainment landscape.
Fair Play (2023)
Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor star in Chloe Domont’s erotic thriller Fair Play. The plot centers on a young couple working at a hedge fund firm. When one gets an unexpected promotion over the other, their relationship slowly unravels. A glorious return for the long-dormant erotic thriller genre, Fair Play offers the same psychological thrills as classics like Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. Rising on the strength of its well-matched leads and Domont’s wicked screenplay, Fair Play is a biting, engaging, and steamy thriller that will keep audiences on edge.
NYAD (2023)
Four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening and two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster star in the biographical drama Nyad. The directorial debut of Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the film is based on Diana Nyad’s biography and chronicles her efforts to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Featuring a traditional crowd-pleasing narrative elevated by the considerable talents of its two leads, Nyad is an uplifting sports drama that paints its real-life subject in a decidedly positive light. The film has stirred controversy and reignited doubts about Nyad’s real-life swimming feats, adding another fascinating layer to this story.
The Impossible (2012)
Two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor star in J. A. Bayona’s 2012 disaster drama The Impossible. Based on María Belón’s experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the film chronicles her family’s struggle to survive and reunite following the disaster. The Impossible marks Tom Holland’s film debut and features a harrowing performance from Watts that earned her an Oscar nomination in 2013. Tough to watch but undeniably rewarding, The Impossible does justice to its incredible real-life story.
The Devil All the Time (2020)
A large ensemble led by Spider-Man himself (Tom Holland) proves a major draw for Antonio Campos’ Southern Gothic thriller The Devil All the Time. Also starring Bill Skarsgård, Sebastian Stan, and Robert Pattinson, the film is set in the years following World War II and continues into the 1960s, following several storylines of revenge and violence in two Ohio towns.
Although harrowing and violent, The Devil All the Time provides a worthy showcase for its impressive cast and a suitably engrossing decades-spanning mystery. The film’s constant descent into darkness might be too much for some, but its storytelling approach, engrossing atmosphere, and excellent ensemble are reason enough to press play on this gothic nightmare.
The King (2019)
Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet stars in the 2019 historical drama The King. Drawing from several Shakespeare plays, the plot centers on the young King Henry V of England, chronicling his rise to power and his handling of the war against France. Featuring a stellar supporting cast, including Robert Pattinson as the Dauphin of France, The King is a riveting tale of court intrigue for fans of period pieces. It might not be a faithful retelling of history, but it features enough lush scenery and outstanding production values to satisfy viewers.
To Leslie (2022)
Andrea Riseborough stars in Michael Morris’ 2022 drama To Leslie. The plot revolves around Leslie, a single mother struggling with alcoholism who starts working in a motel after squandering the money she won at the lottery. To Leslie might be more famous for the controversial Oscar campaign that resulted in Riseborough’s much-discussed Best Actress nomination. However, the film is a haunting, poignant portrayal of addiction powered by Riseborough’s committed, passionate performance. To Leslie‘s plot is conventional, but Riseborough’s work is worth the price of admission.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Charlie Kaufman’s surrealist, genre-bending 2020 film I’m Thinking of Ending Things stars Oscar nominees Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons. It follows a young woman on a trip to visit her boyfriend’s parents. The story is intercut with scenes of a school janitor at work, adding to the film’s layered and challenging narrative. I’m Thinking of Ending Things will leave audiences scratching their heads, as it offers multiple questions and no answers. However, the film is also among the most daring and thought-provoking Netflix originals, making it required viewing for fans of intricate and slightly frustrating narratives.
Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)
The Dig (2021)
Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan and Harry Potter‘s Ralph Fiennes star opposite Lily James in the 2021 historical drama The Dig. The plot dramatizes the real-life story of Edith Pretty and Basil Brown and his 1939 excavation on her land in Sutton Hoo. Although the plot might not sound like a prime source for a compelling drama, The Dig is a rich and gorgeously-shot story about friendship, legacy, and the importance of the past. Mulligan and Fiennes are at their usual best, while Mike Eley’s cinematography perfectly captures the lush vistas of the English countryside.
The Wonder (2022)
Sebastián Lelio’s 2022 period psychological drama The Wonder stars Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh. Based on the eponymous 2016 novel, the film follows an English nurse sent to a rural village to observe a young girl who has seemingly survived for months without eating. Led by a remarkable turn from Pugh and benefitting from Lelio’s atmospheric approach, The Wonder is a fascinating look at faith and prejudice that ranks as one of Netflix’s most ambitious original efforts.
The Woman King (2022)
Academy Award winner Viola Davis leads an impressive ensemble cast in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s historical epic The Woman King. Davis plays General Nanisca, the leader of an all-female group of warriors, the Agojie, tasked with protecting the kingdom of Dahomey.
As Nanisca trains the next generation of warriors, a foreign threat forces the Agojie to defend their kingdom and way of life. The Woman King received praise for its cast and action sequences, with many considering it among the best films of 2022. Unfortunately, it received no recognition from the Academy, with Davis’ snub in the Best Actress category being particularly controversial.
Carol (2015)
Acclaimed director Todd Haynes united Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Oscar nominee Rooney Mara in the sweeping romantic drama Carol. The film follows the blossoming romance between Carol Aird, a mature woman going through a divorce, and Therese Belivet, an aspiring photographer, in 1950s New York.
Carol received universal acclaim from critics, who praised Haynes’ direction, Blanchett and Mara’s performances, and the film’s screenplay and production values. Carol often ranks among critics’ best movies of the 2010s, cementing its place as a modern classic.
Mudbound (2017)
Dee Rees directs the 2017 historical drama Mudbound. Set in World War II, the film centers on two veterans dealing with severe PTSD returning from the war as their families struggle with poverty in rural Mississippi. Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, and Mary J. Blige star. Mudbound received acclaim from critics, with the cast attracting near-universal praise. Blige earned considerable praise, including an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress and one for Best Original Song for the film’s theme, Mighty River.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
Jeymes Samuel makes his feature directorial debut with The Harder They Fall, starring Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, and Lakeith Stanfield. The plot centers on an outlaw who reunites his gang upon realizing his long-time enemy will soon get released from prison. The Harder They Fall is among the few Westerns with an all-Black cast, with characters loosely based on real-life figures from the American West.
Emily the Criminal (2022) new
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Spike Lee directs an ensemble cast including Delroy Lindo — robbed of an Oscar nomination — Jonathan Majors, and the late Chadwick Boseman in Da 5 Bloods. The plot follows a group of four aging Black Vietnam veterans who return to the country to retrieve the remains of their squad leader and the gold treasure they buried during their war days.
Hustle (2022)
Roma (2018)
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) new
Phantom Thread (2017)
The Lost Daughter (2021)
The Power of the Dog (2021) new
Passing (2021)
The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Pieces of a Woman (2020)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Mank (2020)
Concrete Cowboy (2020)
Marriage Story (2019)
The Two Popes (2019)
The Irishman (2019)
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