For as many streaming services as there is currently are, Netflix remains possibly the premiere platform to watch movies and television shows. The first mainstream streaming service there was, it’s a platform that continues to boast some of the finest and most noteworthy movies you’ll find anywhere.
With a streaming catalog mixed between Netflix original movies and endless amounts of well-known movies like The Social Network, The Farewell, and Cop Land, there’s no shortage of potential viewing options when it comes to Netflix’s impressive lineup of movies.
Here are some of the movies you can currently find streaming on Netflix that we’d recommend checking out.
Updated: November 22.
History: The Crown (2016)
The sixth and final season of Netflix’s breakout series The Crown has officially arrived. Divided into two parts, the first half of season 6 dropped on Netflix this past week, almost a year after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September of 2022.
Jumping ahead in the historical timeline, the sixth season of The Crown follows the fallout from Prince Charles (Dominic West) and Princess Diana’s (Elizabeth Debicki) divorce, the ministerial appointment of Tony Blair (Bertie Carvel), and the tragic vehicular accident that claimed Diana’s life.
As with every season of The Crown before it, the sixth season of Netflix’s historical drama delivers a stirring portrait of Britain’s Royal Family, tracing many of the dramatic events they endured in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. With the second half of the season scheduled for release in mid-December, there’s no better time to catch up on The Crown than the present.
Biopic: The Social Network (2010)
David Fincher’s latest film, the neo-noir thriller The Killer, is currently sitting at the very top of this week’s most-watched movies list on Netflix. As impressive an outing as it is for the lauded director of Seven and Fight Club, it’s also worth pointing out Fincher’s other films also streaming on Netflix right now, including his 2010 biopic, The Social Network.
In the early 2000s, Harvard outcast Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) uses his computer expertise to create a social media network known as Facebook. As the app takes off in popularity, Zuckerberg finds himself facing intense legal battles over Facebook’s formation.
As almost everyone knows, Mark Zuckerberg is currently one of the wealthiest, most powerful billionaires in the world. In addition to exploring how Zuckerberg acquired his immense power, fortune, and fame, The Social Network analyzes the ultimate cost incurred on Facebook’s founder, with Zuckerberg single-handedly destroying relationships, betraying his best friends, and sacrificing his personal morality for success.
Comedy: The Farewell (2019)
Learning that their elderly matriarch (Zhao Shu-zhen) has only a few months left to live, a Chinese-American family reunites for a close gathering in Changchun, where they decide to keep the negative prognosis a secret.
A24 is well-known for giving voices to young and pre-established indie directors, specifically helping promising young talents like Ari Aster (Hereditary), Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse), and the Daniels (Everything Everywhere All At Once) gain a foothold in the film industry.
Included among this list of promising filmmakers is Lulu Wang, whose 2019 dark comedy, The Farewell, achieved significant success among widespread audiences. Drawing on a somewhat drier sense of humor, The Farewell poses some profound questions about the benefit of family secrets.
Thriller: In the Line of Fire (1993)
In the 1990s, acting legend Clint Eastwood entered one of the most successful periods in his career. Garnering acclaim for his various acting performances and directorial outings, Eastwood obtained significant popularity for his work in Hollywood in the ‘90s, including his starring role in the 1993 political thriller, In the Line of Fire.
Guilt-ridden by his failure in protecting J.F.K. from assassination, a veteran Secret Service agent (Eastwood) does all he can to prevent a demented former C.I.A. agent (John Malkovich) from murdering the current President of the United States.
A tense and captivating thriller on par with Hitchcock, In the Line of Fire features one of Eastwood’s most endearing performances as the multi-layered Frank Horrigan. Racked by remorse over his critical shortcomings, Horrigan harbors a softer, more understandable side to his personality, unlike the rough-edged exteriors of Eastwood’s most notable roles (like Harry Callahan or the Man with No Name).
Crime: Cop Land (1997)
It’s hard to think of a better ensemble piece than 1997’s Cop Land, a movie that pits the acting might of Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, and Ray Liotta into one epic crime drama.
Having grown tired of the crime in his town, a New Jersey sheriff (Stallone) stands up to the various corrupt New York police officers who frequent his community.
A bewitching neo-noir crime film, Cop Land focuses on two opposing sides of the same judicial system: the idealistic small-town police and the city detectives who bend the law for their own ends and purposes. Well-written and expertly directed, it also contains some incredible performances from every actor involved.
Slow Burn: The Killer (2023)
Three years after his previous collaboration with Netflix on the Oscar-nominated biopic Mank, director David Fincher returns with his latest cinematic outing, The Killer. A sleek neo-noir crime thriller, Fincher’s The Killer has already won strong reviews from early audiences fortunate enough to see it, serving as another impressive outing for the Hitchcockian filmmaker.
Botching an assassination in Paris, a professional hit man (Michael Fassbender) goes on the lam, dodging his former employers’ attempts to kill him.
In its basic premise and narrative progression, The Killer takes liberal inspiration from dozens of neo-noir films that came before it, including Le Samouraï, The Driver, Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai, and even John Woo’s 1989 similarly-named The Killer. Despite this, Fincher manages to inject his own creative sensibilities as a director into ‘23’s The Killer – a dark and disorienting film as downbeat as Gone Girl, Zodiac, or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Horror: Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
Sitting at a respectably high place on this week’s most-watched movies list on Netflix is the newest addition to the Insidious universe, Insidious: The Red Door. A horrifying continuation of the Insidious franchise, it’s a fitting final chapter in the Lambert family saga, drawing their story to a close in the most effective way imaginable.
Ten years after their last encounter with the inhabitants of The Further, the Lambert family attempt to lay their past demons to rest, confronting the ghostly apparitions that plagued them a decade prior.
Though most critics’ opinions of Insidious: The Red Door were overarchingly mixed, diehard fans of the series have expressed their general satisfaction with the movie. Loaded with callbacks and homages to the original entry in the franchise, it’s a frightening supernatural horror movie that rivals the scares of The Conjuring universe.
Timely: Pain Hustlers (2023)
Ranking as one of the most-watched films on Netflix this week is the streaming platform’s latest exclusive release, Pain Hustlers. Led by an all-star cast of A-list celebrities, the finished film is an ambitious if flawed look at America’s current opioid crisis.
In dire financial straits, a financially struggling single mother (Emily Blunt) accepts a job at a Florida pharmaceutical company, where she is pressured to sell a controversial drug by her eccentric employer (Andy García).
With Blunt, García, Chris Evans, and Catherine O’Hara in the main cast, there’s no denying Pain Hustlers has anything short of an amazing cast. However, the movie’s uneven pacing prevents the actors from excelling in their respective roles, resulting in a decent yet unremarkable crime drama.
Action: Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
It’s the age-old question: Who would win in a fight, Godzilla or King Kong? Answering this question and all its explosive possibilities is the 2021 action monster movie, Godzilla vs. Kong, which pits Japan’s most famous movie monster against the original kaiju himself.
After Godzilla begins aggressively attacking human-populated areas along the coast, the mysterious organization known as Monarch organizes an expedition into the Hollow Earth with the help of the giant gorilla, Kong.
Another satisfactory entry in Legendary’s MonsterVerse series, Godzilla vs. Kong is a kaiju fan’s ultimate fantasy, featuring two literal giants in the genre going head to head in an all-out war for supremacy.
Teen: Sixteen Candles (1984)
In the mid 1980s, soon-to-be ‘80s icon John Hughes directed the first of several phenomenal movies that helped redefine the teenage genre. Starting with 1984’s seminal Sixteen Candles, Hughes ushered in a golden age of teen comedies throughout the next decade, giving way to such cult classics as The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Hoping to have the best sixteenth birthday celebration ever, high school sophomore Sam’s (Molly Ringwald) ambitious plans are thrown into jeopardy when everything starts going wrong on her special day.
Making his directorial debut with Sixteen Candles, Hughes sets many of the foremost characteristics that came to be associated with his films, including an in-depth examination of teen culture and a hearty blend between comedy and drama.
Superhero: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Earlier this year, Sony delivered the highly anticipated sequel to their hit Spider-Verse series with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Like the original Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse totes another exceptional outing for the Spider-Verse franchise, characterized by some glowing visuals, an emotionally engaging story, and a hair-raising cliffhanger ending.
After earning the ire of an aspiring new villain known as the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) comes into contact with the Spider Society – a coalition of Spider-People from every conceivable reality in the Multiverse.
Taking advantage of Marvel’s vast assortment of alternative universes, Across the Spider-Verse brings together practically every version of Spider-Man to ever exist, from Into the Spider-Verse’s Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) to Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s iterations of the character. More than that, though, it focuses on Miles’ growing disconnect between his private identity and his role as Spider-Man–a rift that forms the backbone of Across the Spider-Verse.
Oscar Nominated: Living
Bill Nighy is one of the few actors who can do almost anything he sets his mind to. He can play a hilarious washed-up rockstar in a romantic comedy like Love Actually, a terrifying villain in Pirates of the Caribbean, or channel a more dramatic performance like his starring role in 2022’s Living.
Having little time for family, a lifelong elderly workaholic (Nighy) realizes how shallow and devoid of meaning his life is when he receives a negative medical prognosis.
Based on legendary director Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film, Ikiru, Living follows the same basic plot as its source material, benefiting largely from Nighy’s impressive turn as the existential bureaucrat questioning his life choices. As infinitely sad as it is, it’ll leave you with a renewed passion for life, rather than making the same mistakes as Nighy’s downtrodden lead character.
War: The Kill Team (2019)
Like all standout war movies, The Kill Team depicts the gradual loss of innocence one faces in the heat of combat–going one step further in its breakdown of morals on the battlefield. Currently trending as one of the most-watched movies on Netflix, it’s a touching indie drama that offers a startling representation of the tumultuous War in Afghanistan.
Serving in Afghanistan in the late 2000s, a young U.S. Army soldier (Nat Wolff) remains unsure of what to do when his seemingly kind-hearted sergeant (Alexander Skarsgård) begins murdering innocent civilians.
Based on a sickening true story, The Kill Team evaluates how one retains their sense of right and wrong in the stressful, danger-filled environment of military service. With a narrative as packed with emotion as Apocalypse Now or Platoon, it’s one of the most underrated films from A24 yet.
War: Unbroken
Few people on Earth have had as incredible a life story as Louis Zamperini. An Olympic runner in the mid-1930s, Zamperini would serve as a commissioned officer in the Second World War, enduring some of the worst horrors imaginable during his service.
While fighting in the Pacific Theater of World War II, Army officer Louis Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) is stranded for nearly two months on a raft in the middle of the ocean, before being captured and imprisoned in several Japanese POW camps.
Throughout his time in the Pacific War, Zamperini experienced some of the most nightmarish things a human body can experience: dehydration, starvation, scorching sun, and both physical and mental torture at his captors’ hands. Against all odds, Zamperini survived through it all, demonstrating an inner resilience only few people are capable of mustering.
Fantasy: 13 Going on 30 (2004)
In theory, it’s easy to dismiss 13 Going on 30 as little more than a ripoff of Tom Hanks’ classic ‘80s comedy, Big. However, such a gross oversimplification fails to do justice to this utterly brilliant 2004 fantasy romcom.
Unhappy with her lack of popularity as a teenager, a 13-year-old girl (Christa B. Allen) awakens to find herself a 30-year-old fashion editor (Jennifer Garner), glorying in the newfound freedoms she lacked as a child.
Toting plenty of surprises in regards to its plot, 13 Going on 30’s relatable look at adolescence makes it the refreshing romantic comedy it’s often hailed as. With Garner giving one of her absolute best performances as the multi-faceted Jenna, it’s a film that has the ability to instantly cheer you up the minute you press play.
Romance: A Tourist’s Guide to Love
The number two most-watched movie on Netflix (just behind Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody), A Tourist’s Guide to Love is the newest romantic comedy to land on the streamer, having made its debut earlier this week.
Following an abrupt breakup, a travel executive (Rachel Leigh Cook) accepts an assignment touring Vietnam, unexpectedly finding romance along the way in the form of her tour guide (Scott Ly).
Checking off every romantic comedy trope you can think of, A Tourist’s Guide to Love is your boilerplate romcom, as predictable and forgettable as any of the other similarly-styled films on Netflix. As reliant as it is on cliches, the movie also makes for an extremely comforting film to watch, characterized by some decent chemistry between Cook and her on-screen love interest.
Sci-Fi: Downsizing (2017)
Arriving just in time for the release of Alexander Payne’s latest film–the comedic drama The Holdovers – Downsizing is an absurdist comedy that pokes plenty of fun at real-world topics, ranging from corporate greed and social divisions to environmental change and novelty technological advancements.
Volunteering for a new procedure that shrinks people down to an average of five inches tall, a former occupational therapist (Matt Damon) tries to adjust to life under his new height, befriending an activist (Hong Chau) living in his experimental community.
While some of Payne’s pointed commentary fails to land when it comes to the movie’s satirical elements, Downsizing boasts enough originality to warrant a watch, making it a satisfying addition to Payne’s growing catalog of films.
Feel Good: A Man Called Otto
Since its debut to theaters last December, A Man Called Otto has floated around various streaming services before its arrival to Netflix this past month. Admittedly, it might not be the finest Tom Hanks-led film, but it's warm undertones make it a pleasurable enough film to watch on its own.
Depressed from the death of his wife, the lonely, crotchety Otto (Tom Hanks) grows close with a new family that’s moved in next door. Initially clashing with these neighbors at first, Otto eventually gains a new lease on life through his interactions with them.
In spite of its heavy reliance on life-affirming cliches and messages about hope, A Man Called Otto is generally decent enough to warrant a watch, if only for Hanks’ performance as the cast-against-type titular grouch.
Action: Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
Interestingly, November marks the 69th anniversary of Godzilla, giving way to a loose-knit celebration for the scaly icon with Godzilla Day (officially taking place on November 3). To rein in the festivities, we suggest rewatching any one of the literal dozens of movies featuring Gojira in action, such as 2019’s overlooked sci-fi action epic, Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
After a band of eco-terrorists unleash the invasive King Ghidorah from hibernation, humanity must unite behind Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra to protect them from imminent destruction.
The 35th entry in the Godzilla series, King of the Monsters is the first instance where several other well-known kaiju–like Ghidorah, Rodan, and Mothra–appear in an American film. Bigger and more action-packed than its 2014 predecessor, it’s one of the best Godzilla releases fans have seen yet.
Disaster: The Impossible (2012)
In late 2004, a massive earthquake struck the western coast of Indonesia, the resulting shock waves triggering large-scale destruction along the neighboring coastlines of the Indian Ocean. This historical tsunami and its devastating aftermath form the backbone of 2012’s disaster drama, The Impossible.
Spending their Christmas vacation in Thailand, an American family is torn apart by a large-scale tsunami that sweeps through the surrounding area, with each family member struggling to locate one other in the ensuing aftermath.
Featuring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and a young Tom Holland, The Impossible is a disaster movie with true heart and soul, empathizing with the victims and survivors who endured this horrendous 2004 disaster.
Reality: Botched (2014)
Similarly appearing on this week’s most-watched TV series list on Netflix is the E! reality TV series, Botched. Ranking among the most popular series on E! at the moment, it’s a fascinating look at certain individuals’ unwavering attempts to perfect their physical appearances through any means possible.
In Botched, surgeons Terry Dubrow and Paul Nassif attempt to correct/improve plastic surgeries that have gone horribly wrong, leaving the patients with botched results.
Though the show contains an ample amount of humor, Botched also acts as a stunning anthropological and psychological look at the extent people will go to improve themselves by superficial means, and the potential consequences borne out of their decision.
Anime: Blue Eye Samurai (2023)
In 17th century Japan, a wandering rōnin (Maya Erskine) of mixed heritage sets out in search of the Irish smuggler (Kenneth Branagh) who ruined her life.
Netflix has one of the most impressive lineups of anime TV series and movies out of any streaming service, featuring classic anime shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion and comically long series like One Piece.
Among the newest anime shows currently gaining fans’ attention is the brand-new North American series, Blue Eye Samurai. Rather than drawing inspiration from any pre-existing manga series, Blue Eye Samurai brings an entirely new story to the small screen, one rooted in action, sword fights, and some first-rate 3D animation.
Documentary: How to Become a Mob Boss (2023)
On the opposite end of corrupt police officers are power-hungry mobsters. The main narrative focus of Netflix’s latest documentary, How to Become a Mob Boss, this insightful film delves into the lives and careers of some of history’s most notorious gangsters, following their rapid rise and even faster falls.
Utilizing some sardonic, darkly humorous narration from Peter Dinklage, How to Become a Mob Boss offers an informative guide on obtaining power in the organized crime industry, citing specific examples from the lives of Al Capone, John Gotti, and Pablo Escobar, among others.
While How to Become a Mob Boss is worth watching for its satirical elements, the documentary itself illustrates how these shadowy figures rose through the ranks of the criminal hierarchy. Surviving through severe poverty and rampant crime, these gangsters acquired a near mythical status among the American people of their day, lying, stealing, and murdering their way to historical infamy.
Superhero: Hellboy (2004)
Throughout his career, Guillermo del Toro has always made a habit of freely alternating between commercial blockbuster films and more niche arthouse movies. Following in the footsteps of his early 2000s releases–The Devil’s Backbone and Blade II – del Toro repeated this feat by adapting Mike Mignola’s ghoulish superhero, Hellboy, for the big screen.
Raised by his kindly surrogate father (John Hurt) his entire life, a mild-mannered demon from Hell (Ron Perlman) fights to protect Earth from the sinister forces seeking to destroy it.
The first entry in del Toro’s short-lived Hellboy series, 2004’s Hellboy may take extraneous liberties in bringing Mignola’s hero into the medium of film. Yet del Toro manages to retain the cosmic horror components of the original comic, infusing it with off-kilter comedy and impressive special effects.
Drama: Mutt (2023)
One of the finest arrivals to Netflix in recent memory, Mutt is a stunning indie drama that focuses on identity and sexuality. Set over the course of a single day in New York, Mutt tugs on viewers’ every heartstring, connecting them to a young adult struggling to find their place in the world.
Returning home in New York City after his gender transition, a young trans man (Lío Mehiel) reconnects with the estranged loved ones in his life, including his half-sister (MiMi Ryder), his father (Alejandro Goic), and his heterosexual ex-boyfriend (Cole Doman).
Ascending to the same heights as Brokeback Mountain and Call Me By Your Name, Mutt provides a full-fledged study of a person coming to terms with their new identity in life, bidding goodbye to their former selves and starting fresh.
Mystery: Locked In (2023)
Trending on this week’s most-watched Netflix movies list is the just-released mystery thriller, Locked In. Despite receiving almost entirely mixed to negative reviews, the film has been performing drastically well on Netflix, mainly owing to its plentiful plot twists sprinkled throughout.
Trapped in a marriage she desperately wants out of, a young woman (Rose Williams) has an affair with her husband’s (Finn Cole) best friend (Alex Hassell), their brief romantic dalliance soon having dire repercussions for all parties involved.
Locked In starts off with a promising enough premise, establishing a plotline as evocative and attention-grabbing as Dial M for Murder or Gone Girl. Though the movie ends with a simmer rather than with a bang, some audience members will likely enjoy this recent Netflix exclusive, if only for its first two acts and largely decent performances.
Family: Bee Movie (2007)
Discovering that humans market and consume the honey they work so hard to make, an ordinary honey bee (Jerry Seinfeld) sues the human race, hoping to end the societal injustices incurred on bees for thousands of years.
Even by DreamWorks’ standards, Bee Movie is … a strange movie. A messy, awkward, meandering film with decent animation and a lackluster story, it’s more likely to leave audiences confused rather than actually amused by the film’s contents.
In recent years, however, Bee Movie has attracted something of a cult following, mainly owing to its repeated appearances in memes and other Internet-based jokes. As a result, one can describe Bee Movie as “so bad, it’s actually kind of good,” not unlike other films like The Room, Samurai Cop, and 2006’s The Wicker Man remake.
Underrated: The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)
An unsung masterpiece of the 1970s New Hollywood movement, The Great Waldo Pepper pairs Robert Redford with his recurring director George Roy Hill, fresh off their previous work together on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting.
Angered that he missed his chance to fly aerial combat missions in World War I, an American pilot (Redford) teams up with a German barnstormer (Bo Svenson) to produce dogfight sequences in 1920s Hollywood.
Alternating between sharp comedy and more sobering dramatic moments, The Great Waldo Pepper is a fantastic gem from American cinema’s renaissance period, making endless use of Redford’s nuanced lead performance.