(Credits: Netflix)

All of us have experienced the pain of wasting two hours on a forgettable film, only to wonder why we didn’t pick something that mattered. Time is the one thing we can’t stream back, which is why choosing the right titles each week feels more important than ever.

And if you are looking for titles for Netflix for this week, you are in for a swing, as this week’s releases are about stories that stay with you. A soldier who saved lives without ever firing a gun. A killer whose crimes still shape the way we tell horror. An anime saga that has carried a generation from childhood into adulthood.

These are the releases that come with weight. Not just entertainment, but the kind of films and shows that make you think, talk, and maybe even argue long after they end.

So instead of scrolling endlessly, here are the five titles you can press play on this week, knowing your time won’t be wasted.

Five must-watch movies and series coming to Netflix this week

Hacksaw Ridge (Mel Gibson, 2016)

Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge was never just a war movie. It was a story of kindness and bravery that will be told for years. The story of Desmond Doss, a U.S. Army medic who refused to carry a weapon. Sent into the hellfire of Okinawa, he chose to save lives instead of taking them, rescuing dozens of wounded soldiers without ever firing a shot. Andrew Garfield leads the film with a performance that earned him an Oscar nomination.

This isn’t a movie about explosions and victory chants in case you were wondering. It’s about conscience and the bravery to stand apart. That’s why it stands out in a sea of war dramas, as it flips the genre on its head, showing how moral courage can be as powerful as physical strength. It’s coming to Netflix on October 1st and deserves a revisit for those who missed it and a rewatch for anyone who forgot how moving it really is.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025)

This docudrama has got the most people excited, and everyone is just waiting for October 3rd. Monster: The Ed Gein Story takes a sharp turn into true crime. Ed Gein was the notorious murderer whose crimes in 1950s Wisconsin became the blueprint for horror villains like Norman Bates (Psycho) and Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). The limited series isn’t content with the gruesome details, but it also explores how his actions echoed through culture, shaping decades of nightmares on screen.

Why watch? Because it’s not just another gore-fest. True-crime fans get context alongside the crime: how Gein’s story bled into Hollywood and why his legacy still lingers in the horror genre today. If you have ever sat through a scary movie and wondered, Who thinks of this stuff?, this series points to one chilling answer.

One Piece (Season 25)

If horror feels too heavy, Netflix also has pure escapism on deck. One Piece is back with Season 25, and Luffy’s Straw Hat crew are still charting their long, unpredictable journey across the seas. This anime has outlasted trends and weathered reboots and still commands a global fandom like few others can. For the fans, it’s a “life-changing” experience, and there’s no denying that.

Season 25 isn’t just another stretch of episodes. It’s a continuation of one of the most ambitious sagas in the world of anime. For loyal fans, it’s the payoff for years of dedication. For newcomers, it’s proof that One Piece has become a cultural landmark. And while starting from season one feels daunting, diving into the new arc is still a chance to see why this series has become shorthand for anime itself.

Steve (Tim Mielants, 2025)

Netflix’s Steve takes us back to 1996, dropping us into a single tense day at a last-chance school for troubled boys. At the centre is Cillian Murphy as the weary headteacher, trying to protect the kids in his care while fighting battles no one else can see. It is adapted from Max Porter’s novella ‘Shy’, and the film strips the story down to its rawest form.

And that’s exactly why it’s unmissable. Murphy, fresh off his Oscar win, doesn’t play Steve like a teacher on a pedestal. He plays him as a man barely holding it together, and it’s riveting. Directed by Tim Mielants, the film doesn’t waste a second. After a short theatrical run, it hits Netflix on October 3rd, and it’s the week’s biggest reason to clear your schedule.

Meet Joe Black (Martin Brest, 1998)

Finally, a return to the late ’90s. Meet Joe Black casts Brad Pitt as Death, yes, literal Death, who takes human form to better understand life and love. His relationship with a young woman and his uneasy bond with her wealthy father (played by Anthony Hopkins) create a romance that’s sweeping, surreal, and sometimes baffling in its ambition.

Why watch now? Because it’s the kind of film that doesn’t get made anymore. It’s Hollywood swinging for the fences, and whether you buy into its strangeness or not, Pitt’s performance makes it unforgettable. For romance fans, it’s a reminder that even Death can fall head over heels.