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The best Netflix original movies right now

Aaron Pierre in Rebel Ridge.
Netflix

Although it’s been a relatively quiet year for Netflix original movies, September has delivered two films that might rank among the streamer’s best in 2024. First, Rebel Ridge has finally given the streamer a homegrown low-budget action flick that’s raced to the top of the most popular movies on Netflix. If that was an easy trick to pull off, Netflix would have done it more often. Our other new addition to the best Netflix original movies is The Deliverance, a haunting supernatural family drama that’s particularly timely for the Halloween season.

Netflix did have another original hit this month, Uglies, which is another sci-fi dystopian future in the mold of Divergent. But since that film isn’t very good, we’re excluding Uglies from our roundup of the best Netflix original movies right now. You can find the rest of our picks below.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, try our other lists of the best movies to stream this week, best Netflix movies, the best Hulu original series, and the best Amazon Prime original movies.

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

Rebel Ridge may have perfected the low-budget action formula that’s been feeding Netflix for years. Aaron Pierre stars as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who is just passing through Shelby Springs to bail his cousin, Mike Simmons (C.J. LeBlanc), out of jail. Terry and Mike are looking to start over with some honest work, but the town’s corrupt cops pull over Terry and legally steal his money under asset forfeiture.

Terry tries just about everything to heep himself from dealing a harsh beating on these dirty cops. He even offers Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson) a chance to let the department keep most of his money in exchange for giving him enough to free Mike. Burnne and his men fail to live up to their end of the bargain, and now it’s time for Terry to make them regret that decision. They’ve messed with the wrong man, and this movie may go a long way toward establishing Pierre as an action star.

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

Bringing up three kids and caring for her ailing mother, Alberta Jackson (Glenn Close), is a real struggle for Ebony Jackson (Andra Day). And The Deliverance doesn’t do her any favors by dumping her family drama straight into a horror story.

Because Ebony is so financially poor, she’s forced to move her family into a rundown home that’s inevitably haunted. And when the supernatural forces at work harm Ebony’s children, the family’s social worker, Cynthia Henry (Mo’Nique), believes that Ebony is abusing her kids. The truth is more insidious, and Ebony will have to confront something truly evil if she wants to save her family from darkness.

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

The Union is both the name of this Netflix original movie and the secretive organization that Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry) belongs to. For over two decades, Roxanne has made a positive difference in the world as one of The Union’s undercover operatives. Now, The Union is in crisis, agents are dying, and Roxanne needs the help of someone she never thought she’d see again: Mike McKenna (Flight Risk‘s Mark Wahlberg), her old high school boyfriend.

Roxanne is so desperate for Mike’s assistance that she doesn’t really ask him — she just takes him against his will. But once Mike understands what’s at stake, he warms up to the idea of being an everyman spy. And the romance that Mike and Roxanne shared 25 years ago finds new life as they face incredible danger together.

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024)

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
4.0/10
pg
82m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Carolyn Lawrence, Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown
Directed by
Liza Johnson
Watch on Netflix

SpongeBob SquarePants (Tom Kenny) is taking a supporting role in Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, which finally sheds more light on why a squirrel named Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence) decided to live under the sea. Sue Nahmee (Wanda Sykes), Sandy’s boss at the Bureau Of Official Texas Science, has done the unthinkable and stolen Bikini Bottom and almost everyone who lives there from the bottom of the ocean.

To save their friends and their home, Sandy and SpongeBob leave the water behind and travel to Texas. Sandy’s family is helpful, but even their assistance may not be enough for Sandy and SpongeBob to overcome Sue’s bizarre agenda for Bikini Bottom.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
53%
r
118m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige
Directed by
Mark Molloy
Watch on Netflix

30 years have gone by, but it’s almost like no time at all has passed for Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Even in his native Detroit, Axel has a tendency to leave a lot of destruction in his wake. Now, Axel is heading back to Beverly Hills for another personal case that could jeopardize his career.

But it’s not like Axel had much of a choice. His estranged daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige), is in danger, even though she’s not happy to see him. To keep Jane safe, Axel will team up with her ex-boyfriend, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), to unravel a deadly criminal organization.

Find Me Falling (2024)

Find Me Falling
50%
6.5/10
pg-13
94m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars
Harry Connick Jr., Agni Scott, Ali Fumiko Whitney
Directed by
Stelana Kliris
Watch on Netflix

Find Me Falling is a very old-school rom-com starring Harry Connick Jr. as John, an aging musician whose latest album has flopped. Hoping to get away from his life of fame and refocus, John buys a remote cliffside home in Cyprus only to discover that it’s a suicide hotspot.

John also encounters Sia (Agni Scott), the woman he once loved more than anything else before his family chased her away. Now, they may have a second chance to find love, if Sia can stop catching John in compromising situations that make it look like he’s cheating on her.

Trigger Warning (2024)

Trigger Warning
39%
4.7/10
107m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Drama
Stars
Jessica Alba, Anthony Michael Hall, Tone Bell
Directed by
Mouly Surya
Watch on Netflix

If you haven’t seen Trigger Warning before, then you may soon realize that you actually have. The film borrows elements from other action movies that came before it, including Road House, First Blood, and Walking Tall. Jessica Alba stars as Parker, a Special Forces commando who is far from recovered from her ordeals in battle. Nevertheless, Parker has come home to deal with the estate of her late father, Harry (Alejandro De Hoyos).

While looking after Harry’s bar, Parker suspects that her father may have been murdered. She also runs up against Sen. Ezekiel Swann (Anthony Michael Hall) and a gang that’s making life hell for the people in her hometown. So maybe it’s time for Parker to raise a little hell of her own.

Ultraman: Rising (2024)

Ultraman: Rising
121m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Animation, Family
Stars
Christopher Sean, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita
Directed by
Shannon Tindle
Watch on Netflix

ILM teamed up with Tsuburaya Productions to provide the animation for Ultraman: Rising, the latest iteration of the Japanese superhero. Visually, this film is a cut above almost every other animated flick on Netflix. It also puts the new Ultraman, Ken Sato (Christopher Sean), into the weird position of being a father to a baby kaiju.

The baby is the offspring of a female kaiju that Ultraman defeated in battle. Ken’s decision to spare and adopt the child is admirable, but bringing this kid up is going to be a real challenge. The baby kaiju is already huge, and it’s only going to get bigger if Ken can live up to being the father it needs.

Unfrosted (2024)

Unfrosted
42%
5.5/10
pg-13
97m
Genre
Comedy, History
Stars
Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan
Directed by
Jerry Seinfeld
Watch on Netflix

Is Unfrosted the worst movie of the decade as some critics claim? Of course not. Netflix has plenty of films that are far worse than this one. Unfrosted doesn’t quite get to “so bad, it’s good” status, but it is one of those films like The Room where you just have to see it for yourself.

Director, co-writer, and star Jerry Seinfeld plays fast and loose with the actual history of how Pop-Tarts were created. Seinfeld also lined up a lot of comedic performers, including Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, and Hugh Grant, to ham it up as much as possible. This film might be a camp classic in the making, but not necessarily because it was meant to be one.

Mother of the Bride (2024)

Mother of the Bride
39%
4.9/10
pg
90m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, Benjamin Bratt
Directed by
Mark Waters
Watch on Netflix

Mother of the Bride puts Brook Shields in the central role as the title character, Lana. Years ago, Lana loved Will (Benjamin Bratt), a boy who broke her heart. Decades later, Lana’s daughter, Emma (Miranda Cosgrove), is set to marry RJ (Sean Teale), at a luxurious island resort.

If you’ve seen any rom-coms before, you’ve probably already guessed that RJ’s father is Will. And as much as Lana still has hard feelings about how things ended with Will, she can’t help rediscovering her feelings for the man he’s become. Whether Lana can bring herself to trust Will again is another matter, as she’s trying to hold on to her heart this time.

The Beautiful Game (2024)

The Beautiful Game
60%
6.3/10
pg-13
125m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Bill Nighy, Micheal Ward, Valeria Golino
Directed by
Thea Sharrock
Watch on Netflix

For people in America, it’s often difficult to grasp just how popular soccer (football) is around the world. But there are still more important things than the game itself. The Beautiful Game is a drama about the English team that is competing in the Homeless World Cup, a real event that is not only meant to bring the plight of homeless people to the forefront — it’s also a chance to help lift the players out of their dire circumstances.

Bill Nighy (Love Actually) plays Mal, the coach of England’s team who believes he’s found a true soccer talent in Vinny (Michael Ward), a man living out of his car. Mal proves to be persuasive despite Vinny’s initial resistance, but his addition to the team also adds a significant amount of friction ahead of the tournament. Yet, just like almost every other sports movie, this team can still come together.

Scoop (2024)

Scoop
63%
6.6/10
103m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper, Rufus Sewell
Directed by
Philip Martin
Watch on Netflix

American audiences may not be as familiar with the story of Scoop as their counterparts in the U.K.. The movie is a dramatization of a 2019 interview with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) that led to his public downfall over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (Colin Wells).

The focus of the story isn’t on either Andrew or Epstein. Instead, it’s about the behind-the-scenes struggle between presenter Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) and producer Sam McAlister (Billie Piper) as they clash while attempting to land the on-camera interview with the prince. It’s a battle of wills, even when Emily and Sam are supposed to be on the same side.

Shirley (2024)

Shirley
57%
6.3/10
pg-13
117m
Genre
History, Drama
Stars
Regina King, Lance Reddick, Terrence Howard
Directed by
John Ridley
Watch on Netflix

Outside of scandal, tragedy, or inflated political mythology, we don’t tend to remember the politicians of the past. Director John Ridley’s Shirley attempts to change that for Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress. Watchmen’s Regina King portrays Chisholm in 1972 as she makes a historic bid in the Democratic primaries, becoming the first Black woman to run for President.

This is an uphill battle from the start for Chisholm, who comes to realize just how little support she’s receiving from both women and the Black community. But Chisholm is a trailblazer, and she stands up for her beliefs and for herself in this story. The film is a tribute to Chisholm, and also a reminder that change is always worth fighting for.

Irish Wish (2024)

Irish Wish
47%
5.5/10
pg
94m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos
Directed by
Janeen Damian
Watch on Netflix

For Lindsay Lohan, the career comeback remains a work in progress. But perhaps having a hit Netflix movie can help move that along. In Irish Wish, Lohan plays Maddie Kelly, a book editor who has fallen for one of her authors, Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos). But before Maddie can work up the courage to confess her feelings, he falls head over heels for her best friend, Emma Taylor (Elizabeth Tan).

During a trip to Ireland for Paul and Emma’s wedding, Maddie makes a wish and suddenly finds herself in Emma’s shoes as the bride-to-be. The problem is that Maddie doesn’t know Paul very well even in this new timeline, and she has more chemistry with an English photographer, James Thomas (Ed Speleers), whom she met briefly before making her life-altering wish.

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

Fairytale weddings are supposed to go off without a hitch at the end of the story. But Damsel shakes things up for Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown). After living a sheltered life with her father, Lord Bayford (Ray Winstone), and her stepmother, Lady Bayford (Angela Bassett), Elodie isn’t initially up for marrying Prince Henry (Nick Robinson). But for the sake of her people, Elodie gives Henry a chance and finds common ground before their union.

What Elodie doesn’t know is that Henry’s family has a centuries-old debt to a dragon, and his mother, Queen Isabelle (Robin Wright), only proposed the wedding to use Elodie as a suitable sacrifice for the creature. Now, Elodie has to take up a sword and fight for her life. And in the process, she’ll also have to create a new ending for 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

How far away do you have to go to run away from your problems? Not even outer space is far enough for Jakub Procházka (Adam Sandler) in Spaceman. As an astronaut, it’s Jakub’s job to explore the great unknown, even if his loneliness and heartbreak are eating him up inside. He’s also desperate to hear from his wife, Lenka Procházka (Carey Mulligan), whom he doesn’t realize wants to leave him.

Jakub’s story takes a turn when he meets Hanuš (Paul Dano), a telepathic alien spider who wants to learn more about humanity. Jakub’s memories are a window to another world for Hanuš, but neither the man nor the alien will like what Hanuš sees there.

The Kitchen (2023)

The Kitchen
67%
4.8/10
r
108m
Genre
Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Kane Robinson, Jedaiah Bannerman, BACKROAD GEE
Directed by
Daniel Kaluuya, Kibwe Tavares
Watch on Netflix

Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya co-wrote The Kitchen with Joe Murtagh, and he also co-directed it with Kibwe Tavares. However, Kaluuya doesn’t take a leading role in this dystopian drama. Instead, Kane Robinson headlines the movie as Izi, a man who is living in the Kitchen, one of the last remnants of social housing in London.

Izi is eager to escape from that life and find something better for himself, at least until he meets a young boy named Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman). Suddenly, Izi has a reason to stay and build a fatherly bond with Benji, who badly needs that in his life. But when it comes time to choose between staying with Benji or escaping the Kitchen, not even Izi knows which way he’ll turn.

Players (2024)

Players
51%
5.6/10
r
105m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Tom Ellis
Directed by
Trish Sie
Watch on Netflix

Mack (Gina Rodriguez) thinks she’s figured out the dating world in Players, and she’s not interested in simply going through a series of traditional romances to find happiness. Instead, Mack knows how to seduce almost anyone she wants for short-term hookups, and she’s so good at it that she’s been able to help her friends – Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.), Sam (Augustus Prew), and Little (Joel Courtney) – do the same.

But this wouldn’t be a rom-com if there wasn’t an actual chance for romance. That’s where Nick (Lucifer‘s Tom Ellis) comes in. Unlike her previous suitors, Nick really speaks to Mack on a deeper level and she decides that she wants a long-term romance with him. However, Mack soon discovers that her pickup artist tactics won’t help her win Nick’s heart. She needs to do that on her own.

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

Some kids have to settle for an imaginary friend to cure their loneliness. Orion (Jacob Tremblay) has something even better: The living embodiment of Dark (Paul Walter Hauser). DreamWorks Animation’s Orion and the Dark tells the story of how Orion meets the Dark after a lifetime of being afraid of just about everything, especially the dark.

When Dark gets tired of hearing Orion railing against him, he introduces himself and takes the young boy on a whirlwind adventure that’s designed to help him conquer his fears. Dark has only the best of intentions, but it’s ultimately Orion who has to actually find a way to deal with the phobias that have held him back.

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

There are plenty of movies about survivors overcoming the odds in a heartwarming way. Society of the Snow is not one of those films. Director J. A. Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) dramatizes the story of the 1972 Uruguayan plane crash that has become famous (and infamous) for the lengths that the people on board had to go to in order to pull through.

If you don’t already know the details about what happened, it’s better to remain in the dark about who makes it out alive, and what they had to do. Regardless, this is a thrilling film that could potentially snag Best Foreign Film if it lands an Oscar nomination.

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

Maestro may be Netflix’s best hope for Oscar gold this year. Bradley Cooper directed, wrote, and stars in the film as the famous composer Leonard Bernstein, with Carey Mulligan as Leonard’s wife, Felicia Montealegre. The movie spans Leonard’s decades-long relationship and eventual marriage to Felicia, for whom he left his relationship with David Oppenheim (Matt Bomer).

Despite having children with Felicia, including Jamie Bernstein (Maya Hawke), Leonard continuously seeks out affairs with other men, which pushes his bond with Felicia to its breaking point. To keep the love of his life, Leonard needs to prove himself to her one last time.

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire
32%
6.3/10
pg-13
134m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam
Directed by
Zack Snyder
Watch on Netflix

Rebel Moon is basically Zack Snyder’s Star Wars, and he couldn’t even keep it contained to a single movie. On the upside, that means Netflix is investing in two big-budget sci-fi films for 2023 and 2024. The first film, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, follows Kora (Sofia Boutella), a former member of the Imperium who is seeking a chance to reinvent herself on Veldt, a world far out of the reach of Motherworld’s intergalactic empire.

Or so Kora thought. When the Imperium arrives on Veldt with plans to bring it under Motherworld’s control, Kora rebels. And she also seeks out warriors like Titus (Djimon Hounsou), Kai (Charlie Hunnam), Gunnar (Michiel Huisman), Tarak (Staz Nair), and Nemesis (Doona Bae), who are willing to lay down their lives to keep Veldt free.

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

Despite a 23-year gap between films and a largely new voice cast, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget seamlessly picks up after the original animated classic. Rocky (Zachary Levi) and Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) now have a daughter, Molly (The Last of Us’ Bella Ramsey), and the rest of the chickens are enjoying their freedom on a secluded island.

However, Ginger is correct to be suspicious about a nearby construction site, because their former owner, Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), is looking for revenge. Meanwhile, Molly proves to be far too rebellious to remain in the sanctuary, which forces Ginger, Rocky, and their friends to undertake a risky trip to the outside world, where they will have to break into the new Funland Farms to save their child and secure their future.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Leave the World Behind
67%
6.5/10
r
141m
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars
Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke
Directed by
Sam Esmail
Watch on Netflix

It’s anything but a wonderful apocalypse in Leave the World Behind, Sam Esmail’s adaptation of Rumaan Alam’s novel. Julia Roberts stars as Amanda Sandford, the wife of Clay (Ethan Hawke), and the mother of their two children: Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) and Archie Sandford (Charlie Evans).

After experiencing a series of unexplained events at their vacation rental house, Amanda and Clay are alarmed by the sudden arrival of the home’s owner, G.H. Scott (Mahershala Ali), and his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la). G.H. claims there is a blackout in the city, but the crisis is much deeper than that. And if this is the apocalypse and the end of everything they’ve known, can the two families truly trust each other?

Rustin (2023)

Rustin
68%
6.6/10
pg-13
108m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman
Directed by
George C. Wolfe
Watch on Netflix

Fear the Walking Dead and Euphoria standout Colman Domingo is winning a lot of praise for his performance as the title character in Rustin. So don’t be too shocked if a Best Actor Oscar nomination comes out of that. As for the film itself, it chronicles the life of Bayard Rustin, a civil rights activist who should be more of a household name like his contemporaries, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Aml Ameen).

So why isn’t Rustin more widely known for helping to organize the pivotal 1963 March on Washington? Because Rustin was gay, and his contributions to the movement were downplayed. But this film may go a long way toward changing that.

The Killer (2023)

The Killer
73%
6.8/10
r
118m
Genre
Crime, Thriller
Stars
Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
Directed by
David Fincher
Watch on Netflix

Michael Fassbender’s title character in The Killer certainly has a lot to say in his inner monologue, but he never shares his name with the audience. The Killer seems like a consummate professional as an assassin right up until he completely botches a hit early in the film even after meticulously preparing for it.

Failure is not an option in this world, because now the killer is the target of his own organization. There’s a price on his head, and The Expert (Tilda Swinton) and The Brute (Sala Baker) are both out to collect. But not if The Killer finds them first.

Pain Hustlers (2023)

Pain Hustlers
44%
6.5/10
r
122m
Genre
Drama, Crime
Stars
Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Catherine O'Hara
Directed by
David Yates
Watch on Netflix

Emily Blunt’s Liza Drake is a struggling single mother in David Yates’ Pain Hustlers. Because Liza has to take care of her daughter, Phoebe (Chloe Coleman), she proves to be receptive to an offer from Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) to join a pharmaceutical startup led by Dr. Neel (Andy Garcia).

Liza is given the task of getting local doctors to recommend and prescribe the company’s signature drug. This turns out to be something that Phoebe has a talent for. But there’s a darker side to this hustle that threatens to pull Liza into a criminal conspiracy that may destroy everything she loves.

NYAD (2023)

NYAD
64%
7.1/10
pg-13
121m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans
Directed by
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
Watch on Netflix

There aren’t a lot of movies about long-distance swimmers, but Diana Nyad is one of a kind. Nyad is a biopic that casts Annette Bening as the title character who is facing an existential crisis in her 60s. Nyad’s best days as a swimmer are behind her, and she has to live with the regret that she was never able to finish her attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida.

That’s why Nyad goes to her friend, Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster), to help her make a daring new attempt to swim that treacherous stretch of water without a shark cage getting in her way. However, not even Nyad herself realizes just how grueling and challenging the swim will be once she’s in the ocean.

Reptile (2023)

Reptile
52%
7.2/10
r
136m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone
Directed by
Grant Singer
Watch on Netflix

A simple murder case is anything but routine in the new thriller Reptile. Someone has brutally murdered Summer Elswick (Matilda Lutz), and suspicion falls on her boyfriend, Will Grady (Justin Timberlake); her ex-husband, Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman); and a third man, Eli Phillips (Michael Pitt).

Detective Tom Nichols (Benicio del Toro) is in charge of the investigation, and he trusts his wife, Judy (Alicia Silverstone), with details about the case because she notices things that he doesn’t. Unfortunately for Tom, the closer he looks at Summer’s murder, the more he sees the connections to his own life and to a larger conspiracy.

Fair Play (2023)

Fair Play
74%
6.5/10
r
113m
Genre
Thriller, Drama
Stars
Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan
Directed by
Chloe Domont
Watch on Netflix

Hedge fund co-workers Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) and Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) share a lot in Netflix’s erotic thriller, Fair Play. They both have a passion for the business, and each other, even though their relationship is strictly forbidden by their company. Regardless, their relationship goes smoothly, especially when Luke believes he’s getting a coveted promotion.

When the job goes to Emily instead, her relationship with Luke starts to go very badly. Luke’s jealousy and paranoia poison every aspect of his bond with Emily, to the point where they can no longer trust each other. And if they aren’t careful, the fallout may also crush their career ambitions.

Love at First Sight (2023)

Love at First Sight
55%
6.9/10
pg-13
91m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Haley Lu Richardson, Ben Hardy, Rob Delaney
Directed by
Vanessa Caswill
Watch on Netflix

Hadley Sullivan (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver Jones (Ben Hardy) experience instant affection in Love At First Sight. But just because there’s love doesn’t necessarily mean that romance will follow. Hadley and Oliver meet each other while waiting for a flight to London, and they bond during the long overseas trip. But at the airport, they part without closure.

As Hadley and Oliver deal with their respective family drama, they realize that they want to give love a chance if they can reunite with each other. Yet some things are better left to fate.

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
71%
6.0/10
pg-13
103m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler
Directed by
Sammi Cohen
Watch on Netflix

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is the story of the friendship turned rivalry between two young Jewish girls, Stacy Friedman (Sunny Sandler) and Lydia Rodriguez Katz (Samantha Lorraine). These inseparable BFFs both have their eyes on Andy Goldfarb (Dylan Hoffman), and that leads to some serious ruptures in their previously steadfast bond.

Adam Sandler produced the film and co-stars as Stacy’s father, Danny Friedman, with Idina Menzel as his wife, Bree Friedman. Danny and Bree have a lot of conflicts with Stacy over her pending Bat Mitzvah, but they also have the emotional experience to help their daughter find a way forward without sacrificing her friendships.

The Monkey King (2023)

The Monkey King
59%
6.0/10
pg
92m
Genre
Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Family, Comedy
Stars
Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport
Directed by
Anthony Stacchi
Watch on Netflix

The legend of the Monkey King has been explored several times in adaptations of the Chinese novel, Journey To the West. And now, Netflix’s The Monkey King reimagines the tale as an animated epic. Jimmy O. Yang headlines the film as the Monkey King, an actual monkey whose quest for acceptance leads him to act recklessly and risk the lives of his tribe.

After stealing a weapon from Dragon King (Fire Island‘s Bowen Yang) to battle a demon, Monkey King takes on a young girl named Lin (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) as his assistant. But the Dragon King’s revenge is already in motion and Monkey King can’t escape the consequences of his own actions forever.

Nimona (2023)

Nimona
75%
7.6/10
pg
101m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang
Directed by
Troy Quane, Nick Bruno
Watch on Netflix

Chloë Grace Moretz provides the voice of the title character in Netflix’s Nimona, and she’s definitely no Disney princess. Quite the opposite in fact. Nimona is more of a mischievous shapeshifter who has taken it upon herself to help a would-be knight, Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), clear his name for the assassination of the queen.

Calling Ballister “Boldheart” is a real bit of nominative determinism, especially when he’s already defying norms by loving another man. But when Nimona’s secrets come to light, Ballister must decide whether to be a “hero” or a friend.

The Perfect Find (2023)

The Perfect Find
57%
5.2/10
99m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers, Gina Torres
Directed by
Numa Perrier
Watch on Netflix

The Perfect Find is not entirely unlike the classic romantic comedy How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Both films feature 40-year-old Black women who reinvigorate their lives when they find new romance with much younger lovers. But in this film, Jenna (Gabrielle Union) carries the weight of her personal failures with her, especially in the aftermath of her breakup with Brian (DB Woodside). She even has to ask her frenemy, Darcy (Gina Torres), for a job.

That’s why it may have been a bad idea for Jenna to romance Darcy’s son, Eric (Keith Powers), who also happens to be her new co-worker. Jenna didn’t originally know that Darcy was Eric’s mother, and she doesn’t let that stop her from pursuing a relationship with him regardless of the consequences.

Lou (2022)

Lou
51%
6.1/10
r
107m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall-Green
Directed by
Anna Foerster
Watch on Netflix

Who is Lou? In the movie that shares her name, Lou Adell (Allison Janney) is simply the landlady for a young mother, Hannah Dawson (Jurnee Smollett), and her daughter, Vee (Ridley Asha Bateman). At least that’s what Lou wants everyone to believe. It’s a deception that she has learned to live with.

But when Vee is kidnapped by her biological father, Philip (Logan Marshall-Green), Lou springs into action and displays fighting skills that go far beyond the ordinary. Lou also has a personal connection to this drama, and she won’t stop until Vee is back home where she belongs.

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
79%
7.6/10
pg
117m
Genre
Animation, Fantasy, Drama, Music
Stars
Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley
Directed by
Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Watch on Netflix

Guillermo del Toro is no stranger to the world of the fantastical, which made the director a more-than-natural fit for a reimagining of Pinocchio. With Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the director goes all-in with stop motion animation for a story takes place in Italy during World War II. In a fit of despair, Geppetto (voiced by David Bradley) cuts down a tree grown in memory of his son who died in World War I, and uses the lumber to create a puppet he calls Pinocchio (Gregory Mann).

Soon after, the Wood Sprite brings Pinocchio to life and tasks Sebastian J. Cricket (Ewan McGregor) with being his guiding conscience. What follows is a story about discovering who you really are in a world full of near-infinite possibilities, both big and small.

Roma (2018)

Roma
r
135m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey
Directed by
Alfonso Cuarón
Watch on Netflix

Roma is writer-director Alfonso Cuarón’s homage to his childhood, heritage, and the many places and things that would inspire and invigorate one of the most renowned international auteurs of our time. Part autobiography, part narrative-fiction, the film follows the life and times of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a nanny and servant to an upper-middle-class Mexican family.

When the patriarch Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) runs off with his mistress, Cleo is invited by Sofia (Marina de Tavira), the mother of the household, to take a vacation with her and her four children. But after discovering she’s pregnant, civil strife in 1970s Mexico City threatens everything for Cleo and those she cares for most. A brilliant piece of cinema that was nominated for 10 Oscars, Roma is not one to be missed.

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

The Pale Blue Eye
130m
Genre
Mystery, Crime, Horror
Stars
Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Lucy Boynton
Directed by
Scott Cooper
Watch on Netflix
Christian Bale reunites with Scott Cooper (Out of the Furnace and Hostiles) for the mystery thriller, The Pale Blue Eye. In 1830, retired detective Augustus Landor (Bale) is summoned to West Point, New York, to investigate a death at the U.S. Military Academy. Landor learns that the heart was removed from the body, and the marks on the deceased cadet’s neck imply a murder took place. Searching for answers, Landor receives help from Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Melling), a young military cadet who wants to solve the case. It’s the same Poe who will eventually become the legendary author of acclaimed works such as The Raven and The Fall of the House of Usher. The gothic mystery is full of twists and turns that will keep the audience guessing through the last frame.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
140m
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Stars
Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe
Directed by
Rian Johnson
Watch on Netflix
In the Knives Out sequel Glass Onion, Tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his closest friends – Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), and Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) – to his mansion on a private island in Greece to take part in a murder mystery weekend. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and Bron’s former partner, Cassandra “Andi” Brand (Janelle Monáe), also receive invites to Bron’s mansion, The Glass Onion. Although Bron stages a fake murder for the game, a real crime occurs, much to the shock of the guests. With Blanc on the scene, it’s up to the world’s greatest detective to solve another case.

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022)

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
117m
Genre
Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Alisha Weir, Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch
Directed by
Matthew Warchus
Watch on Netflix
Based on the 1988 novel by Roald DahlMatilda the Musical is an adaptation of the 201o stage musical of the same name. Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir) is a sweet and loving child who loves to read and use her imagination. Unfortunately, her parents, Mr. Wormwood (Stephen Graham) and Mrs. Wormwood (Andrea Riseborough), continuously neglect Matlida. They send her to Crunchem Hall School, where she develops a special relationship with her teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey (Lashana Lynch). While Miss Honey takes a liking to Matilda, Miss Agatha Trunchbull (Emma Thompson), the cruel headmistress of Crunchem Hall School, punishes Matilda at every turn. Eventually, Matilda develops telekinesis abilities and uses them to fend off her parents and Miss Trunchbull.

The Good Nurse (2022)

The Good Nurse
65%
6.8/10
r
121m
Genre
Drama, Crime, Mystery
Stars
Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Noah Emmerich
Directed by
Tobias Lindholm
Watch on Netflix

Based on a real story, The Good Nurse follows Amy Loughren (Jessica Chastain), a working single mother whose career as a nurse could be jeopardized if her employers knew that she suffers from cardiomyopathy. Her new colleague, Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne), helps Amy hide her secret, and they become good friends. That’s why Amy doesn’t initially believe detectives Danny Baldwin (Nnamdi Asomugha) and Tim Braun (Noah Emmerich) when they tell her that Charles may be connected to several suspicious deaths. Unfortunately for Amy, the more she looks into it, the more she suspects that her friend is a serial killer.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

All Quiet on the Western Front
76%
7.9/10
r
147m
Genre
War, Drama, Action
Stars
Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer
Directed by
Edward Berger
Watch on Netflix
Some war movies glorify the battlefield and tales of wartime heroism. All Quiet on the Western Front is not one of those movies. It’s more like a horror story, and the monster is humanity itself. In the waning days of World War I, teenagers Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), Albert Kropp (Aaron Hilmer), and Ludwig Behm (Adrian Grünewald) enthusiastically join the German army in the misguided belief that they will become heroes. However, their romantic notions of war are soon shattered as senseless death and destruction unfold on the battlefield and break them one by one.

Tick, Tick... BOOM! (2021)

Tick, Tick... BOOM!
74%
7.5/10
pg-13
120m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús
Directed by
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Watch on Netflix
A cinematic adaptation of the autobiographical Jonathan Larson play of the same name, Netflix’s Tick, Tick… Boom! finds musical maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda in the director’s chair, with Andrew Garfield starring as Jon, a theater composer on the cusp of what could be his big break. In the days leading up to a performance of the musical that may finally put Jon on the map, encroaching stresses from family, friends, and the panicked NYC zeitgeist of the early ’90s threaten to get in the way of Jon’s dreamed-of artistic success. A big, bold homage to Larson’s source material and a beautiful musical drama in its own right, Tick, Tick… Boom! is a panorama of show-stopping emotions that simply can’t be missed.

The Adam Project (2022)

The Adam Project
55%
6.7/10
pg-13
106m
Genre
Science Fiction, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana, Jennifer Garner
Directed by
Shawn Levy
Watch on Netflix
Ryan Reynolds stars as an awry time-traveling fighter pilot in the action/adventure original The Adam Project. After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, the pilot finds his 12-year-old self and enlists himself on a crucial mission to save the future.

Passing (2021)

Passing
83%
6.8/10
99m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland
Directed by
Rebecca Hall
Watch on Netflix
Would it surprise you to learn that the novel, Passing, is almost 100 years old now? Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut takes Nella Larsen’s story and keeps the original setting. Hall even shot the film in black and white as a stylistic choice. The story follows two Black women, Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson) and Clare Kendry (Ruth Negga), both of whom can “pass” as white. Yet only Clare chooses to do so, by marrying a wealthy white man, John Bellew (Alexander Skarsgård). Meanwhile, Irene embraces her Black identity and marries Dr. Brian Redford (André Holland). Yet when Clare and Irene re-enter each other’s lives after years apart, the choices they’ve made may come back to haunt them.

Mank (2020)

Mank
6.9/10
r
132m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins
Directed by
David Fincher
Watch on Netflix
Directed by David Fincher from a script written by his late father, Jack Fincher, Mank takes you back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Specifically, it brings you into the world of Herman J. Mankiewicz — known not so affectionately as “Mank” — as he races to finish his magnum opus, Citizen Kane. His worldview and perspective of Hollywood are increasingly scathing and fueled by drink as he becomes jaded by the industry he’s working so hard to prop up.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

The Trial of the Chicago 7
76%
7.8/10
r
130m
Genre
History, Drama
Stars
Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Directed by
Aaron Sorkin
Watch on Netflix
In 1968, protests broke out at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and local and federal law enforcement responded with extreme violence. In 1969, seven people were further charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more anti-American activities and put on a highly publicized trial that served as a referendum on Cold War patriotism and the social unrest of the ’60s. Aaron Sorkin wrote and directed this high-energy legal drama with his traditional panache frenetic pacing.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

To All the Boys I've Loved Before
64%
7.1/10
pg-13
100m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Directed by
Susan Johnson
Watch on Netflix
Netflix forays into teen romance in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and the slightly-less-beloved sequel To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. Lana Condor stars as teenaged Lara Jean, a quiet outsider at her high school, who has a habit of writing love letters to all of her crushes. Of course, she’d never dream of sending them. But when they’re mysteriously leaked to the entire school, it turns out her crushes may actually be interested. As all that romance begins to spiral out of control, the letters wreak havoc on her life, inspiring more love than she can handle.

Enola Holmes (2020)

Enola Holmes
68%
6.6/10
pg-13
123m
Genre
Mystery, Crime, Adventure
Stars
Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Directed by
Harry Bradbeer
Watch on Netflix
Everybody knows Sherlock Holmes, but did you know his significantly younger sister, Enola? Turns out, he doesn’t know her very well either. But when their mother suddenly goes missing and Sherlock takes only a tepid interest, Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) proves she’s got just as much sleuthing ability as her famous brother as she takes off for London to uncover the mystery. Along the way, she helps a runaway lord, unwittingly stumbling into a sprawling conspiracy impacting the highest levels of government.

Related Topics: Netflix | Hulu | Amazon Prime | More Streaming Services

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Blair Marnell
Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…
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