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The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (December 2024)

A family of four kneel down and huddle up with one another.
Sony Pictures Releasing

If we were to judge by the current makeup of the list of the most popular movies on Netflix, we’d have to conclude that cheesy Christmas movies are exactly what the subscribers really want right now. If you fall into that category, we’ve already put together the list of the best Christmas movies on Netflix. They just don’t happen to be the best movies on Netflix overall.

This week’s top non-Christmas movie is Faster, a 2010 action thriller starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson that has now become a bigger streaming hit than it ever was in theaters. The other new addition is Afraid, a horror movie released earlier this year.

The rest of the best movies on Netflix can be found below. Remember to check this list every Friday morning, when we update the lineup to give you the most enticing movie options available.

Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best movies to stream this week, the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+

Watching from abroad? Use a Netflix VPN to access your country’s catalog from anywhere in the world. Want to watch on the go? We can show you how to download movies on Netflix.

Editor’s Pick

Faster (2010)

Faster
46%
6.4/10
r
98m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action, Thriller
Stars
Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Directed by
George Tillman Jr.
Watch on Netflix

Faster is an uncommon entry into Dwayne Johnson’s filmography. The Rock still had a more human-sized physique, and the film itself was a low-budget action thriller. Johnson plays Jimmy Cullen, a man fresh out of prison and hell-bent on revenge against the people who murdered his brother, Gary (Matt Gerald).

Jimmy’s got a list of names to track down, but his spree soon captures the attention of Detectives Slade Humphries (Billy Bob Thornton) and Cicero (Carla Gugino). A hit man known as Killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is also hired to take out Jimmy before he can wipe out any more names on his list. But Jimmy is a force of nature, and his previous brush with death has given him an advantage over the people trying to kill him.

Afraid (2024)

Afraid
28%
5.1/10
pg-13
84m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Keith Carradine
Directed by
Chris Weitz
Watch on Netflix

What if M3GAN was your house? That seems to be the idea for Afraid, which casts John Cho and Katherine Waterston as Curtis and Meredith, a married couple who let an AI into their home. The AI in question is AIA (Havana Rose Liu), and she’s not that loyal to her new owners.

However, AIA is a big hit with Curtis and Meredith’s children, Iris (Lukita Maxwell), Sam (Ashley Romans), and Preston (Wyatt Lindner). AIA can handle the children’s problems with ease, and she starts getting her own ideas about how they should be raised. When AIA gets a little too big for her proverbial britches, Curtis discovers that it’s too late to simply cut her out of their lives.

Other Netflix Movies

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Million Dollar Baby
86%
8.1/10
pg-13
132m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman
Directed by
Clint Eastwood
Watch on Netflix

Two decades ago, Million Dollar Baby arrived in theaters and won several Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director for Clint Eastwood, Best Actress for Hilary Swank, and Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman. Right off the top, we can assure you that the movie really is that good.

Swank plays Maggie Fitzgerald, a woman who desperately wants to be a boxer under the tutelage of Frankie Dunn (Eastwood). With the support of Dunn’s friend, Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris (Freeman), Maggie finally gets her shot with Frankie guiding her career. Just because that sounds like every sports movie ever, that doesn’t mean what’s coming for them is predictable. Maggie and Frankie eventually face a dilemma that neither one of them can easily solve.

Spellbound (2024)

Spellbound
54%
5.8/10
pg
111m
Genre
Animation, Fantasy, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Rachel Zegler, Miguel Bernardeau, Giovanna Bush
Directed by
Vicky Jenson
Watch on Netflix

Spyglass’ Spellbound has quite a pedigree of creative talent behind the film. The Little Mermaid’s Alan Menken wrote original music for the film. Shrek’s Vicky Jenson directed Spellbound, with Pixar veteran John Lasseter producing.

Rachel Zegler, the star of Disney’s upcoming Snow White live-action film, voices Princess Ellian for Lumbria. For the past year, Ellian and her closest allies are unaware that her parents, King Solon (Javier Bardem) and Queen Ellsmere (Nicole Kidman), have been transformed into monsters. With no cure in sight, Ellian’s unwillingness to give up on her parents unwittingly exposes their monstrous nature to the kingdom. If Ellian can’t reverse what’s been done to her parents, then she may not have a kingdom to go home to.

Rob Peace (2024)

Rob Peace
61%
6.5/10
r
120m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Jay Will, Mary J. Blige, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Directed by
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Watch on Netflix

Chiwetel Ejiofor writes, directs, and co-stars in Rob Peace, a drama based upon the true story of Robert Peace (Jay Will). Ejiofor plays Rob’s father, Skeet Douglas, a man in prison for murder because of questionable eyewitness testimony. Regardless, Skeet does everything he can to prove his innocence and remain a part of his son’s life behind bars.

As Rob grows up, he proves himself to be academically gifted. And as Rob struggles to support his higher education and win his father’s freedom, he makes some bad choices that will come back to haunt him. He’s a brilliant young man, but his intellect may not be enough to keep him on the right path

The Whale (2022)

The Whale
60%
7.6/10
r
117m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins
Directed by
Darren Aronofsky
Watch on Netflix

Brendan Fraser gave the performance of his lifetime in The Whale, and earned the Oscar for Best Actor for his efforts. Fraser endured hours of prosthetics each day to play Charlie, a morbidly obese man whose health is failing him. More than anything else, Charlie wants to rebuild his relationship with his daughter, Ellie (Stranger Things‘ Sadie Sink), whom he abandoned years earlier.

Ashamed of his physical appearance, Charlie only interacts with two visitors: Liz (Holly Chau), a nurse, and Thomas (Ty Simpkins), a missionary who believes he can save Charlie’s soul. The only one who can really save Charlie is himself, but he may be past the point of no return.

Focus (2015)

Focus
56%
6.6/10
r
105m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro
Directed by
Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Watch on Netflix

Margot Robbie was already well on her way to being a star when she co-headlined Focus with Will Smith, and she is absolutely radiant as Jess Barrett, a con artist in the making. Veteran con man Nicky Spurgeon (Smith) is so impressed that he takes Jess under his wing and introduces her to his crew, Farhad (Adrian Martinez) and Horst (Brennan Brown).

Nicky also finds himself falling hard for Jess, which goes against every instinct he’s ever had. Can Nicky really trust his feelings and find love with Jess? Or is she pulling the ultimate long con on him?

Fast Five (2011)

Fast Five
66%
7.3/10
pg-13
130m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
Directed by
Justin Lin
Watch on Netflix

Among the early Fast and Furious films, Fast Five is the one where the series started to morph into a franchise about a super team of drivers, hackers, and more. Before Dom (Vin Diesel) and “the family” got sucked into secret agent stuff, they had to face a new adversary: DSS agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson).

After Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and Dom’s sister, Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), successfully free Dominic from custody, the trio go on the run. They also make an enemy out of drug lord Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), who frames them for the murder of several DEA agents. To get their lives back and steal a ridiculous amount of money from Reyes, Dom and Brian assemble a team of their past associates for a high-stakes mission.

The Lost City (2022)

The Lost City
62%
6.1/10
pg-13
112m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe
Directed by
Aaron Nee, Adam Nee
Watch on Netflix

If you’re old enough to remember Romancing the Stone, then you may notice some familiar elements in The Lost City. Sandra Bullock stars as archeologist-turned-novelist Loretta Sage, a bestselling author whose adventure novels have made her famous. Her books have also turned cover model Alan Caprison (Channing Tatum) into a celebrity among her fans.

While on tour with Loretta, Alan witnesses her kidnapping at the hands of Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), a demented billionaire who believes that her research holds the key to deciphering the messages in a lost city. Alan, who is desperately infatuated with Loretta, takes it upon himself to stage a rescue mission. But that attempt soon leaves both Alan and Loretta running for their lives, with little hope for escape.

Oblivion (2013)

Oblivion
54%
7.0/10
pg-13
124m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
Stars
Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko
Directed by
Joseph Kosinski
Watch on Netflix

Years before they made Top Gun: Maverick together, Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski teamed up for a sci-fi film called Oblivion. Sixty years after an alien invasion ravaged the Earth, Jack Harper (Cruise) and Victoria “Vika” Olsen (Andrea Riseborough) may be the last humans still living on the planet as they try to repair drones on behalf of the people living in a space station in orbit.

Jack can’t remember much about his life before he became a tech, but he vividly recalls a woman named Julia (Olga Kurylenko) through his dreams. One day, Jack comes across the real Julia when her pod lands on Earth. Suddenly, Jack has to question everything he thought he knew about his life. The truth about the invasion is about to come out, and Jack’s relationship with Julia may help determine the future of the whole world.

Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

Kung Fu Panda 4
54%
6.3/10
pg
94m
Genre
Animation, Family, Fantasy, Action
Stars
Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis
Directed by
Mike Mitchell
Watch on Netflix

Sometimes the student must become the teacher. Kung Fu Panda 4 finds Po (Jack Black) at a crossroads in his life. For years, he’s been the Dragon Warrior and the protector of the Valley of Peace. But now, Po is being called upon to pass his mantle on to a younger warrior and take on a more spiritual role.

The truth is that Po doesn’t want to change anything, and he’s also preoccupied by the arrival of The Chameleon (Viola Davis), a sorceress who may be the greatest threat he’s ever faced. When Po goes to confront her, he’s joined by Zhen (Awkwafina), a thieving fox who might be Dragon Warrior material. That’s assuming, of course, that this fox isn’t a snake in the grass.

A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

A Quiet Place Part II
71%
7.2/10
pg-13
96m
Genre
Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror
Stars
Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds
Directed by
John Krasinski
Watch on Netflix

Most of the Abbott family survived the events of A Quiet Place, but not all of them. A Quiet Place Part II finds Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) leading her two remaining children, Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe), on a journey to find other survivors. To the family’s surprise, they run into someone they know: Emmett (Oppenheimer‘s Cillian Murphy).

Emmett has been greatly changed since the Abbotts saw him before the alien invasion began. Now, the Abbotts have a way of killing the aliens, but those measures won’t protect them from other humans. The remains of humanity may be on the verge of extinction, yet that doesn’t mean Evelyn and her family can trust any of the people they come across.

Woman of the Hour (2024)

Woman of the Hour
74%
6.8/10
r
95m
Genre
Drama, Crime, Thriller
Stars
Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Tony Hale
Directed by
Anna Kendrick
Watch on Netflix

Anna Kendrick is making her directorial debut with Woman of the Hour, a film in which she also stars. The premise of this movie is off-the-wall bonkers and yet based on a true story. Kendrick plays Cheryl Bradshaw, a contestant on The Dating Game in 1978. That TV romance game show also featured a serial killer named Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) as one of the men vying for Cheryl’s favor on the episode in question.

No one on The Dating Game could have guessed that Rodney was a murderer, but there’s something very clearly off about him. It’s a bizarre chapter in TV history now immortalized in this film.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

Bad Boys: Ride or Die
54%
6.6/10
r
115m
Genre
Action, Crime, Thriller, Comedy
Stars
Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens
Directed by
Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Watch on Netflix

For their fourth time out as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence sent their respective characters on the run in Bad Boys: Ride or Die. In the last movie, Mike and Marcus lost their captain, Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano), to an assassination. Now, Captain Howard’s name is getting dragged through the mud after he’s posthumously framed for crimes he didn’t commit.

When Mike and Marcus attempt to clear Howard of these charges, they find themselves framed, too. Once they’re on the wrong side of the law, the guys learn who their friends really are. The rest of the Miami PD is gunning for them, and they’re running out of options fast.

Scream (2022)

Scream
60%
6.3/10
pg-13
114m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding
Directed by
Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Watch on Netflix

Would it have killed Paramount to add a number to this film? Calling it Scream 5 would be a more accurate title. Wednesday‘s Jenna Ortega plays Tara Carpenter, a young girl who has a near-fatal encounter with a new killer in the Ghostface mask. That attack draws Tara’s older sister, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), back to town and forces her to face a secret that links her to the murders in the original Scream.

The return of Ghostface also attracts the attention of the last three survivors from the original movies: Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and Dewey Riley (David Arquette). They’ve lived through multiple Ghostface killer attacks, but this time their luck may have finally run out.

The Garfield Movie (2024)

The Garfield Movie
31%
5.7/10
pg
101m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure, Action
Stars
Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham
Directed by
Mark Dindal
Watch on Netflix

The Garfield Movie presents the latest incarnation of the popular comic strip cat. The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s Chris Pratt takes over the role of Garfield, a lasagna-loving feline who has settled into his comfortable life with his owner, Jon Arbuckle (Nicholas Hoult), and his canine best friend, Odie.

Garfield and Odie’s lives are disrupted when they’re kidnapped and reunited with Garfield’s estranged father, Vic (Samuel L. Jackson). Although Garfield is reluctant to have anything to do with Vic, he and Odie are soon forced to take part in a milk heist from Lactose Farms. And if they don’t manage to pull off this improbable crime, Garfield and Odie may not be able to go back home.

Rebel Ridge (2024)

Rebel Ridge
77%
7.0/10
r
132m
Genre
Crime, Action, Thriller
Stars
Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb
Directed by
Jeremy Saulnier
Watch on Netflix

Aaron Pierre establishes himself as an action hero in the Netflix original film Rebel Ridge. Terry Richmond (Pierre) only wanted to come into town and bail out his cousin, Mike Simmons (C.J. LeBlanc), so they could rebuild their lives together. But when corrupt cops seize Terry’s cash, it leaves him without any way to get Mike out of jail.

Terry tries to be reasonable with Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson), only for these dishonorable men to go back on their word and keep his stolen money while Mike suffers. Now, Terry has to take the law into his own hands to get justice, and not even dirty cops can stand in his way.

The Deliverance (2024)

The Deliverance
38%
5.1/10
r
112m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Andra Day, Glenn Close, Anthony B. Jenkins
Directed by
Lee Daniels
Watch on Netflix

The Deliverance starts off like a family drama and soon takes a turn toward supernatural horror. Ebony Jackson (Andra Day) moves her three children and her dying mother, Alberta Jackson (Glenn Close), into a rundown home as their family teeters on financial ruin. While Ebony struggles with her alcoholism, her youngest son, Dre (Anthony B. Jenkins), begins having odd encounters with an imaginary friend.

Soon, all three of Ebony’s children are experiencing strange and disturbing incidents at the house that the family’s child services worker, Cynthia Henry (Mo’Nique), believes to be evidence of physical abuse. But for Ebony, the real threat to her family may be a demonic possession that she can’t handle by herself.

The Union (2024)

The Union
44%
5.5/10
pg-13
109m
Genre
Action, Comedy
Stars
Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons
Directed by
Julian Farino
Watch on Netflix

Mike McKenna (Flight Risk‘s Mark Wahlberg) never really expected to see his high school sweetheart, Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry), ever again. But their paths converge in the action comedy called The Union because Roxanne needs someone she can trust. During the last two decades, Roxanne has become a secret agent of immeasurable skill, but most of her colleagues have been killed after their identities were exposed.

Roxanne gives Mike a chance to become a spy because she knows she can rely on him. Compared to Roxanne, Mike is really winging it as their mission takes them all over Europe. But there may just be something left in their romantic connection if they can both make it home alive.

Migration (2023)

Migration
56%
6.6/10
pg
83m
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Caspar Jennings
Directed by
Benjamin Renner
Watch on Netflix

For Illumination’s first film after The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the studio took to the skies with Migration. Kumail Nanjiani lends his voice to the film as Mack Mallard, a duck who is married to Pam (Elizabeth Banks) and the father of their children, Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal).

After spending their whole lives in a New England pond, Mack’s wife and kids convince him, and their curmudgeonly relative, Uncle Dan (Danny DeVito), to go on the trip of a lifetime to Jamaica by way of New York City. That trip is easier said than done for these first-time migrators. But if the family can stick together, they might just pull this off.

Pearl (2022)

Pearl
76%
7.0/10
r
102m
Genre
Horror, Drama
Stars
Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright
Directed by
Ti West
Watch on Netflix

Pearl is both the prequel to Ti West’s X and the name of the character played by Mia Goth. During World War I, Pearl is left at home by her husband with her overbearing mother, Ruth (Tandi Wright), and her nearly infirm father (Matthew Sunderland).

The movie makes it clear pretty early on that Pearl makes Hannibal Lecter seem well-adjusted. Pearl is so convinced that she’s got what it takes to be a movie star that she completely breaks from reality. And even the affections of a local projectionist (David Corenswet) can’t keep Pearl from going off the deep end.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
46%
6.1/10
pg-13
115m
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon
Directed by
Gil Kenan
Watch on Netflix

Unlike the previous sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the original Ghostbusters, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), and Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), get to play larger roles alongside the current generation of Ghostbusters in Frozen Empire. Under the guidance of Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) and Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) and her brother, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), have come to New York to develop new technology for busting ghosts.

The Ghostbusters are going to need all of the tech help they can get when an ancient spirit unleashes a new ice age on New York City. And if they can’t stop it, then the whole world may fall to this frozen empire.

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Bone Tomahawk
73%
7.1/10
133m
Genre
Western, Horror, Drama
Stars
Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins
Directed by
S. Craig Zahler
Watch on Netflix

Bone Tomahawk is an indie Western that brings Kurt Russell back to the genre as Sheriff Franklin Hunt. In 1890, Hunt’s small town of Bright Hope is rocked by the abductions of an outlaw called Purvis (David Arquette), a deputy named Nick (Evan Jonigkeit), and a young woman, Samantha O’Dwyer (Lili Simmons). This unlikely trio has been taken by a renegade native tribe that is known for eating its victims.

Rather than abandoning the victims to their fate, Hunt, John Brooder (Matthew Fox), and others form a rescue party to bring them back home. But as they venture deeper into dangerous territory, the posse finds themselves facing threats on all sides, which may make a safe return impossible.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
54%
6.7/10
r
118m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige
Directed by
Mark Molloy
Watch on Netflix

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F puts Eddie Murphy back into the title role for the first time since 1994. Axel Foley is a Detroit cop who has barged into Beverly Hills’ jurisdiction on a case three times before. And Beverly Hills Police Captain Cade Grant (Kevin Bacon) is really upset that Axel is at it again.

Axel doesn’t care about the consequences because this is personal. Someone is targeting his adult daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige), and only her ex-boyfriend, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is willing to help Axel save her. However, Axel may still have some other friends left in the police department, and he’ll need them when everything comes crashing down on him.

Hit Man (2024)

Hit Man
83%
7.4/10
r
115m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Crime
Stars
Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio
Directed by
Richard Linklater
Watch on Netflix

Richard Linklater’s Hit Man could have scored a full theatrical release in part because Glen Powell is one of the breakout stars of 2024. But instead, it’s now a Netflix original that was co-written by both Powell and Linklater. The former is headlining the film as Gary Johnson, a man who has found his calling as an undercover operative for the police.

Gary pretends to be an assassin, and he helps the police arrest his would-be clients. It’s a good racket for Gary until he meets Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona), a woman who wants her husband killed so she can escape his physical abuse. Maddy is the first “client” that Gary has ever been real with, and he doesn’t want to see her get arrested like his other marks. As much as Gary might try to believe otherwise, helping Maddy and getting emotionally involved with her may bring his life crashing down around him.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Godzilla Minus One
81%
7.9/10
pg-13
125m
Genre
Science Fiction, Horror, Action
Stars
Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada
Directed by
Takashi Yamazaki
Watch on Netflix

There is an English dub of Godzilla Minus One on Netflix, but the original Japanese voice track has better performances. This is one of the best Godzilla movies ever made in part because the creature is allowed to be a fearsome monster instead of a heroic giant. It’s also notable for featuring a strong focus on the human side of the story, especially with the main character Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki).

In the last days of World War II, Shikishima can’t bring himself to fulfill his duty as a kamikaze pilot. A chance encounter with Godzilla only brings more shame upon Shikishima. During the aftermath of the war, Shikishima forms an unexpected bond with Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe) and the infant child she adopted. Yet Shikishima’s inability to let go of his regret may destroy him before Godzilla can get around to killing him and everyone else in Japan.

Anyone But You (2023)

Anyone But You
52%
6.2/10
r
104m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Mia Artemis
Directed by
Will Gluck
Watch on Netflix

Anyone but You is one of the rare rom-coms to become a smash hit, while also solidifying Sydney Sweeney as a star … and keeping her out of movie jail for co-starring in Madame Web. Sweeney plays Bea, a young woman who forms an instant connection with a guy named Ben (Twisters star Glen Powell). But after a great first date, things end very badly and they both blame each other.

Bea and Ben are unwillingly drawn back into each other’s orbit at the wedding for Halle (Hadley Robinson) and Claudia (Alexandra Shipp). Despite being unhappy about their reunion, Bea and Ben also have their own reasons to make the other guests believe that they’re a couple. And then the sparks start to fly between them again.

Baby Driver (2017)

Baby Driver
86%
7.5/10
r
113m
Genre
Action, Crime
Stars
Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James
Directed by
Edgar Wright
Watch on Netflix

Don’t let the name Baby Driver fool you into thinking that this is some kid’s flick. Edgar Wright’s action comedy can be downright brutal at times, but it never loses its sense of humor. Ansel Elgort plays the title character, whose real name is Miles. But he’s known professionally as Baby, and he’s an incredible getaway driver who is forced to work for Doc (Kevin Spacey).

After Baby seemingly escapes his servitude to Doc, he simply wants to start a new life with his girlfriend, Debora (Lily James). However, Doc won’t let Baby go that easily, and he forces him to take part in one last heist alongside Buddy (Jon Hamm), Darling (Eiza González), and Bats (Jamie Foxx). This crew is far more dangerous than Baby realizes, and he’ll have to think fast if he wants to get out alive.

The Wages of Fear (2024)

The Wages of Fear
r
104m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Ana Girardot
Directed by
Julien Leclercq
Watch on Netflix

In 1953, Georges Arnaud’s The Wages of Fear was brought to the big screen by director Henri-Georges Clouzot who turned it into arguably one of the greatest action thrillers ever made. Director Julien Leclercq has a lot to live up to with the modern remake, which is a Netflix exclusive.

The names and faces may be different, but the story remains largely unchanged from the original. An oil fire is out of control, and the only way to put it out and save lives is with controlled explosions using nitroglycerin. Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Ana Girardot, and Sofiane Zermani play a group of disparate and desperate individuals who agree to transport the nitroglycerin across hundreds of miles of dangerous terrain. At the end of their journey is a payday that could change their lives forever, assuming they live long enough to get paid.

Your Lucky Day (2023)

Your Lucky Day
64%
5.8/10
89m
Genre
Crime, Thriller
Stars
Angus Cloud, Elliot Knight, Jessica Garza
Directed by
Dan Brown
Watch on Netflix

Winning the lottery should be one the best days in anyone’s life. But in Your Lucky Day, Sterling (Angus Cloud) didn’t actually win. He killed someone to get his hands on the winning ticket, and he left witnesses: Amir (Mousa Hussein Kraish), Abraham (Elliot Knight), and his girlfriend, Ana-Marlene (Jessica Garza).

Not even Sterling can kill that many people in cold blood, which is why he tries to bargain with them. He’ll share some of the money from the ticket if they help him hide his crime. This plan has multiple problems, but Sterling’s hostages and would-be accomplices simply can’t deter him from this course of action. He’s going to get this lottery money if it’s the last thing he does — and it might be.

Damsel (2024)

Damsel
46%
7.8/10
pg-13
110m
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Stars
Millie Bobby Brown, Nick Robinson, Robin Wright
Directed by
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Watch on Netflix

In Damsel, life’s a fairytale for Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown), a young woman who lives with her father, Lord Bayford (Ray Winstone), and her stepmother, Lady Bayford (Angela Bassett). Elodie doesn’t know much about the way of the world, but she’s smitten with Prince Henry (Nick Robinson), and quickly agrees to marry him.

Elodie doesn’t realize that Henry’s mother, Queen Isabelle (Robin Wright), only agreed to the union because her family can sacrifice Elodie’s life to an actual dragon to satisfy a debt. Now, Elodie can’t count on some handsome prince to save her. So she’ll just have to save herself.

Spaceman (2024)

Spaceman
56%
5.8/10
r
108m
Genre
Science Fiction, Drama
Stars
Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan
Directed by
Johan Renck
Watch on Netflix

Adam Sandler has a rare dramatic turn in Spaceman, a sci-fi drama that casts him as a Czech astronaut named Jakub Procházka. Jakub is on a very long mission in the solar system and suffers from extreme loneliness. Back on Earth, Jakub’s wife, Lenka Procházka (Carey Mulligan), wants to leave him, but the mission controllers refuse to let her break up with him via transmission over fears that it could affect his mental state.

Perhaps it’s too late to save Jakub’s sanity, because he’s already conversing with an alien spider that he calls Hanuš (Paul Dano). It seems like Hanuš has a greater grasp on Jakub’s problem than he does, and Hanuš isn’t above emotionally torturing Jakub with some painful memories to get what he wants. And there may not be a happy ending on this mission for either Jakub or Hanuš.

Thanksgiving (2023)

Thanksgiving
63%
6.4/10
r
106m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae
Directed by
Eli Roth
Watch on Netflix

Sixteen years after creating a fake Thanksgiving trailer for Grindhouse, Eli Roth turned it into a real movie with all the elements of the holiday. It might be the best Thanksgiving horror film ever made, largely by default, since the rest are pretty bad. The story begins with a Black Friday rampage that goes horribly wrong and leaves several people dead.

One year later, someone is going around town dressed as one of the original Pilgrims, John Carver, and carving up people who were there on that fateful Black Friday. Whoever is under that mask is apparently out to kill as many people as possible, and even the cops seem powerless to stop the murders.

Orion and the Dark (2024)

Orion and the Dark
75%
91m
Genre
Family, Comedy, Animation, Fantasy
Stars
Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Angela Bassett
Directed by
Sean Charmatz
Watch on Netflix

Almost everyone is afraid of the dark when they’re a kid. The problem with Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is that he’s scared of everything, not just the dark. The animated adventure, Orion and the Dark, gives Orion a chance to conquer his fears alongside an unexpected companion: The living embodiment of Dark (Paul Walter Hauser).

Rather than let this kid lose years of his life to a laundry list of fears, Dark takes Orion out for a wild night to prove that he doesn’t have to be defined by the things that he’s afraid about. It’s a gesture of friendship from Dark, but can Orion finally let go of his phobias and embrace life?

Dumb Money (2023)

Dumb Money
66%
6.9/10
r
104m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, History
Stars
Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, America Ferrera
Directed by
Craig Gillespie
Watch on Netflix

The infamous GameStop short squeeze was dramatized for the big screen in Dumb Money. Paul Dano headlines the cast as Keith Gill, an armchair investor who notices that hedge funds and other big market players are betting that the video game retailer GameStop will go under. Instead of letting that happen, Gill and others like him drive up GameStop’s stock to unsustainable highs and cause the professional investors to lose millions.

There’s no shortage of stars in this cast, which includes Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Myha’la Herrold, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Seth Rogen, Talia Ryder, Sebastian Stan, and Shailene Woodley. There are also plenty of shattered dreams, as many of the amateur investors lose everything they put into the GameStop stocks.

Society of the Snow (2023)

Society of the Snow
71%
8.0/10
r
144m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt
Directed by
J. A. Bayona
Watch on Netflix

Netflix’s Society of the Snow is a Spanish thriller by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director J. A. Bayona. This film is not the first to tell the story of the survivors of 1972 Uruguayan plane crash, which was most notably the subject of the American film Alive in 1993.

However, Bayona’s movie goes to far greater lengths to be authentic than the previous adaptations, including bringing production to the actual site of the crash and utilizing the real accounts of the survivors. Most of the cast members are also newcomers, which works in the film’s favor because it keeps the audience in suspense about who will live, and how far they will go to survive.

The Equalizer 3 (2023)

The Equalizer 3
58%
6.8/10
r
109m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars
Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandrea
Directed by
Antoine Fuqua
Watch on Netflix

Denzel Washington spends so much time sitting down and sipping lattes in The Equalizer 3 that you may start to wonder if the actor himself is injured, and not just his character, Robert McCall. After nearly getting himself killed while recovering stolen funds, McCall slowly recovers in a small town on the coast of Italy. McCall also becomes close to the doctor who saved him, Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone), as well as the police officer who brought him to safety, Gio Bonucci (Eugenio Mastrandrea).

As McCall grows to love the town and its people, he realizes that the Italian mafia is terrorizing his new friends. And if anyone’s going to be terrorizing bad guys in this franchise, it’s Robert McCall. If you’re evil, don’t make McCall stand up. His stuntman will kill you.

Maestro (2023)

Maestro
78%
7.3/10
r
129m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Music
Stars
Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer
Directed by
Bradley Cooper
Watch on Netflix

Composer Leonard Bernstein has been dead for 33 years, but he may prove to be an important figure in next year’s Oscar race. Netflix’s Maestro was written and directed by Bradley Cooper, who cast himself as Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as his wife, Felicia Montealegre.

Before falling in love with Felicia, Bernstein was in an affair with David Oppenheim (Matt Bomer). However, Bernstein’s marriage with Felicia doesn’t mean that he plans to give up sleeping with other men. This places an incredible strain on their union, even though the love between Bernstein and Felicia is never in doubt.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
62%
7.4/10
pg
97m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey
Directed by
Sam Fell
Watch on Netflix

Back in 2000, Chicken Run became a surprise hit with fans of all ages. So what if there was a mere twenty-three-year gap between films? It’s not like chickens can tell time! Although the extended period did leave some major roles to be recast, including Zachary Levi and Thandiwe Newton taking over as Rocky and Ginger from Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha from the original.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget takes place not too long after the first film, but long enough for Rocky and Ginger to have a daughter named Molly (as voiced by The Last of Us’ Bella Ramsey). The chickens may have escaped from Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), but she’s far from through with them. If Ginger wants to keep her family safe, she will have to lead a team to break into Tweedy’s compound and discover what she has in store for them.

Leo (2023)

Leo
66%
7.0/10
pg
102m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong
Directed by
Robert Smigel, Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim
Watch on Netflix

For 74 years, the titular lizard of Leo has shared an enclosure with a turtle named Squirtle (Bill Burr) as the official pets of a fifth-grade classroom in Florida. However, Leo (Adam Sandler) comes to believe that he’s wasted his life in captivity, which is why he plots his escape.

When Leo makes his bid for freedom, he accidentally reveals his ability to speak to Summer (Sunny Sandler), one of the students in his classroom. Through Summer and the other students in the class, Leo discovers a new purpose in life while contending with mean substitute teacher Mrs. Malkin (Cecily Strong).

The Killer (2023)

The Killer
72%
7.4/10
r
118m
Genre
Crime, Thriller
Stars
Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
Directed by
David Fincher
Watch on Netflix

David Fincher’s latest thriller, The Killer, shows us that the life of a professional assassin, as played by Michael Fassbender, can be pretty mundane and boring … right up until he accidentally misses his target. From that point on, the assassin’s life is anything but boring. And suddenly, even his contact, Hodges (Charles Parnell), is ghosting him.

Not even fleeing the country is enough for the assassin to evade an international manhunt, as well as two rival assassins, The Expert (Tilda Swinton) and The Brute (Sala Baker), who have been hired to take him out.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
86%
8.7/10
pg-13
140m
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure
Stars
Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by
Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers
Watch on Netflix

You could call Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse “amazing, spectacular,” or “sensational” and it would still undersell just how terrific this movie is. Somehow, the team behind the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse topped themselves with an even more thrilling sequel that reunites Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld).

Unfortunately for the would-be couple, it’s not a happy reunion. Gwen is keeping secrets from Miles while running from a difficult family situation at home. As for Miles himself, he’s inadvertently created a new nemesis: The Spot (Jason Schwartzman). Miles has also been targeted by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), the Spider-Man of the year 2099. And if Miles can’t get home to his own world, then his life will never be the same.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

No Hard Feelings
59%
6.4/10
r
104m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
Directed by
Gene Stupnitsky
Watch on Netflix

No Hard Feelings was Jennifer Lawrence’s comeback movie after spending a few years away from the big screen. And she certainly makes a memorable impression as Maddie Barker, a woman who is on the verge of losing her home and her car over her money problems.

That’s why Maddie accepts a bizarre job from Laird (Matthew Broderick) and Allison Becker (Laura Benanti). If Maddie can seduce their son, Percy Becker (Andrew Barth Feldman), and bring him out of his shell before he goes off to college then she can save herself from her financial black hole. Unfortunately for Maddie, Percy may be undatable and he is nearly immune to her obvious charms.

The Magician's Elephant (2023)

The Magician's Elephant
9.7/10
pg
99m
Genre
Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Noah Jupe, Mandy Patinkin, Natasia Demetriou
Directed by
Wendy Rogers
Watch on Netflix

The Magician’s Elephant adapts Kate DiCamillo’s novel of the same name, and it tells the story of a young orphan named Peter (Noah Jupe). Peter’s only wish in life is to find his missing sister, Adele (Pixie Davies), Through a fortune teller, Peter is told that he has to find a Magician (Benedict Wong) who will summon an elephant.

Incredibly, the prophecy comes true. But before the elephant can lead Peter to his sister, he is forced to perform three impossible tasks. And the attempt will change Peter’s life forever.

The Magician’s Elephant | Official Trailer | Netflix

Munich: The Edge of War (2022)

Munich: The Edge of War
53%
6.8/10
129m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, Jeremy Irons
Directed by
Christian Schwochow
Watch on Netflix
Two college friends find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing war in this film based on Robert Harris’ 2017 novel Munich, which is set against the backdrop of the tense, 1938 meeting in Munich of the European nations that would eventually find themselves embroiled in the second World War. Jeremy Irons portrays U.K. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, while George MacKay and Jannis Niewöhner play the former Oxford University classmates who become reluctant spies.

The Sea Beast (2022)

The Sea Beast
115m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris
Directed by
Chris Williams
Watch on Netflix
Chris Williams, the co-director of Disney’s Big Hero 6 and Moana, takes the helm on the animated high-seas adventure The Sea Beast about a young girl who stows away on a famous monster-hunting ship, only to discover that everything she thought she knew about monsters and hunters might be wrong. Zaris-Angel Hator portrays aspiring monster-hunter (and stowaway) Maisie, while Karl Urban voices legendary hunter Jacob Holland in this all-ages feature that’s exciting, funny, and much deeper than its premise suggests.
Movie images and data from:
Blair Marnell

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features.

Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).

Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, he’s still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.

When he’s not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend.

The best fantasy movies on Netflix right now
Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing.

Finding great fantasy movies on Netflix is a bit of a fantasy in and of itself. The king of the streamers neglects this category, and it also relies heavily on Universal Pictures' catalog to bail out its shortcomings. That's why it's The Scorpion King and Van Helsing's turn to be on this list while Conan the Barbarian waits for yet another Netflix return.

The Scorpion King and Van Helsing aren't bad movies, but fantasy fans deserve a better selection from Netflix than films that are two decades old. Even this month's third addition, The Covenant, is closing in on 20 years. Netflix has made some original fantasy movies of its own, but not lately. For the most part, the best fantasy movies on Netflix are pretty stagnant. But when something new arrives, we'll be here to add it to the list.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

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The best kids movies on Netflix right now
SpongeBob SquarePants and Sandy Cheeks in Saving Bikini Bottom.

Whether you're just trying to make it through the next few weeks or you're already thinking about Thanksgiving, it's good to know the best kids movies on Netflix right now. Whether you need a distraction or you're hosting friends and family, Netflix offers a host of quality kid-friendly flicks. Of course, you want to know that your kid isn't watching garbage, which is why we made this Cliff Notes-esque list for you. Every month, we scan the collection and highlight the most worthwhile kids' movies.

Although it's a slow month, Netflix does add new family-friendly originals in Spellbound, as well as Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie. Read on for our picks of the best kids movies on Netflix now.

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The best dramas on Netflix right now
Manuel García-Rulfo as Pedro Páramo looking at the camera with floating bodies behind him in Netflix's Pedro Páramo.

Spooky season is over, which means we are entering the entertainment industry's favorite time of the year: the holidays. And with it comes awards season. What better time to check out the best dramas on Netflix, many of which will hope to make a splash in the 2024-2025 Oscar season? This month alone, Netflix has the Oscar hopefuls Emilia Pérez and The Piano Lessen scheduled, meaning many surprises await Netflix subscribers in the drama department. Netflix caters to all tastes and ensures quality by recruiting some of modern Hollywood's most acclaimed auteurs. On any given day, you can find masterpieces from Scorsese and Cuarón while browsing Netflix.

Beyond the new arrivals and awards fare, the best dramatic movies on Netflix offer a mix of searing romantic tales, intense family dramas, passionate romances, tragic tales of woe, and a few small-scale, yet no less worthy movies. Although Netflix has a wide and diverse collection of quality films, it might be difficult for you to choose just one. Some are not as high in quality as others. To save you some time and effort, we've compiled a list of the best dramas on Netflix right now.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

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