The 50 best movies on Netflix right now
It’s truly a mystery how the movie hunt on Netflix turns into a scroll-fest every time. What’s an even bigger mystery is how we, as viewers, fall into the trap religiously without fail. But believe it or not, it happens to the best of us.
That’s why, in addition to our daily and weekly recommendations, we’ve curated a movie list, available at all times on Netflix, that will ease your treasure hunt at least halfway.
From punch-fest action thrillers to unpredictable mysteries and laugh-out-loud comedies, this Netflix watchlist has something for everyone. However, patience is key when dealing with this list because, unlike your usual cup of binge sessions, which highlight the top five or top ten titles, this one is going to be bigger and better.
All you need to do is carry the list whenever you feel like watching something worthwhile on Netflix. While that’s exactly as non-negotiable as sunscreen to your ten-step skincare routine, for those still scratching their heads, here are the 50 best movies on Netflix to watch right now.
The 50 best movies to watch on Netflix right now
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2025)
Everybody loves a good murder mystery, especially when Rian Johnson’s southern sleuth, Benoit Blanc, takes on the case. However, in what was the most-talked-about offering of 2025, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Blanc doesn’t just get involved in an ordinary whodunit, but something he describes as an “impossibly perfect crime.” In this third instalment of the beloved Knives Out series, viewers find Blanc in a small parish in upstate New York.
The reason? The most unlikely crime has just taken place: the mysterious murder of corrupt Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, who was found dead in a tiny closet inside his own church. While the locked-door mystery is itself mind-boggling, even for the sharp-witted detective, what draws Blanc all the more to the case is the suspect: the boxer-turned-priest, Father Jud, who was only sent recently to assist Wicks at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude.
Okja (Bong Joon Ho, 2017)
Regarded as one of the modern cultural cornerstones of the sci-fi genre, Okja is a thought-provoking action-adventure film, directed by Oscar-winning South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho, which explores themes of animal rights and corporate greed. It tells the story of a young South Korean girl, Mija, who goes above and beyond to prevent a greedy multinational corporation from slaughtering her best friend, a massive, genetically engineered pig named Okja.
Okja opens in 2007 when the Mirando Corporation announces a competition to breed a specific number of “super pigs,” and a decade later, Mija finds one in the mountains, ultimately befriending it. But when the corporation’s gluttonous CEO gets a hunch of Okja’s whereabouts, she takes him back to New York City, forcing Mija to embark on a dangerous rescue mission, which comes at a great personal cost.
Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025)
Although many adaptations of Mary Shelley’s seminal 1818 novel have come and gone, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein undoubtedly stands out. The Oscar-nominated movie stars Oscar Isaac as the brilliant, yet egotistical, scientist Victor Frankenstein, who brings the Creature, portrayed by Jacob Elordi, to life through a ghastly experiment, ultimately culminating in the unravelling of both the creator and his tragic creation.
The Gothic reimagination of the classic novel explores themes of loneliness and redemption, anchored by a nonlinear narrative that focuses ideally on the tragic yet emotional bond between Frankenstein and his creature, capturing the difficulty and impossibility of assimilation in a world that disregards diversity. Constructed with a literary tool of shifting POVs, del Toro’s Frankenstein borrows as much as it breaks away, making the Netflix adaptation one-of-a-kind on its own.
KPop Demon Hunters (Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, 2025)
2025 was all about wins for Netflix, and a lot of that credit goes to the record-breaking animated musical, KPop Demon Hunters. In addition to becoming the most-watched movie on Netflix of all time, the urban fantasy film went on to leave its mark on the ongoing award season. The animated movie centres on a world-famous K-pop girls’ group, HUNTR/X, who lead double lives as demon slayers.
Weaponising their music and dance to summon and strengthen a musical barrier called the Honmoon to protect humanity from the world of monsters, the trio goes against a dangerous rival boy band of demons, the Saja Boys. KPop Demon Hunters follows HUNTR/X as they risk everything to solidify and transform the Honmoon barrier into a Golden Honmoon in an attempt to permanently seal the demon world away from that of humans.
May December (Todd Haynes, 2023)
While May December doesn’t qualify as a direct adaptation, the black comedy drama reportedly mirrors the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, in which the said American teacher pleaded guilty in 1997 to two counts of second-degree rape of a child and marrying her former student, garnering nationwide attention. The critically acclaimed film stars Natalie Portman as an actor who travels to Savannah, Georgia, to research for her upcoming role in an independent film.
She has been cast to play Gracie Atherton-Yoo, infamous for raping 13-year-old Joe Yoo, a schoolmate of her son, and giving birth to their children while in prison. May December follows the actor as she travels to Savannah, launching the scrutiny of a new film on the couple, in turn, opening the doors ajar for unravelling power dynamics as Gracie takes control of the narrative, all while treating her now-adult husband with infantilising authority.
Y tu mamá también (Alfonso Cuarón, 2001)
Y tu mamá también is a Mexican coming-of-age comedy-drama that hits home every single time. Set in 1999 against the backdrop of Mexico’s real political and economic realities, particularly the conclusion of the seven decades of presidents from the Institutional Revolutionary Party and the simultaneous ascent of Vicente Fox’s opposition party, the 2001 film, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, follows two teenage boys on their road trip with a woman in her late twenties.
Y tu mamá también captures the natural loss of innocence, exploring the intricacies and complexities of male friendships, raging hormones, sexual desires, and the contrast between the characters’ personal lives and the turbulent shifting political landscapes of then Mexico. The film is constructed in a documentary-like approach with an omniscient narrator, enhancing the rawness of the social surroundings and scenery.
Carry-On (Jaume Collet-Sera, 2024)
Christmas breaks are usually associated with mushy romantic comedies and vacation cinemascapes. But Netflix took a leap of faith in 2024 with a gritty action thriller set during the holidays, Carry-On, and it didn’t disappoint. The intense suspense thriller follows Ethan Kopek, a young TSA officer working the Christmas Eve shift, when he suddenly becomes a victim of a mysterious blackmailer who demands he allow a dangerous, travel-sized nerve agent onto a flight.
As a former police academy dropout, Ethan must outsmart the traveller within the crowded environment of LAX as the blackmailer uses his pregnant girlfriend to mould the situation in his favour. Carry-On tells the story of Ethan’s bravery as he goes headfirst to identify and subsequently neutralise the threat, becoming the hero instead of a Santa Claus the world didn’t know it needed.
His Three Daughters (Azazel Jacobs, 2024)
Undoubtedly one of the most-talked-about offerings of 2023, His Three Daughters is a poignant dramedy on Netflix, which follows the reunion of three completely opposite estranged sisters – control freak Katie, anxious and detached Christina, and moody, stoner step-sister Rachel – in a New York City apartment in the wake of their ailing father’s deteriorating health.
Although it is an impending tragedy that brings the trio back together, His Three Daughters doesn’t capture the awkwardness of old resentments. Instead, it captures those tense, claustrophobic interactions when they are forced to live together, sparking internal conflicts over their roles, past, and future, as each sister takes a different approach to grapple with grief as they all prepare for the inevitable.
Rebel Ridge (Jeremy Saulnier, 2024)
Rebel Ridge is a sweaty action thriller with equal doses of punches and emotion. Starring Aarone Pierre as former Marine Terry Richmond, the Netflix original movie finds Richmond in an extreme predicament as he faces systemic corruption in a small Louisiana town. While attempting to post bail for his cousin, Richmond gets pulled over and stripped of his $36,000 in cash by corrupt officers.
When Terry turns to legal help to get his money back, the cops purposefully escalate the harassment, targeting him and his cousin. Rebel Ridge follows Terry as he joins forces with a court clerk who helps him uncover that the department has been unjustly using civil forfeiture to fund itself and cover up corruption, exploring the themes of justice, racism, and the abuse of power.
Rustin (George C Wolfe, 2023)
Based on a story by Julian Breece about the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, Rustin is a biographical drama film inspired by the true story of the titular character who assisted Martin Luther King Jr and others in organising the 1963 March on Washington. Chronicling the life of Rustin, the openly gay Black activist who conquered and overcame relentless racism and homophobia during the organisation of the milestone event, the Oscar-nominated movie focuses on his grit and resilience, while also exploring his friendship with Dr King.
Despite confronting brutal prejudice from white opponents as well as members within the civil rights movement, Rustin, through his strategic genius, achieved the unthinkable, against all odds. Rustin, currently streaming on Netflix, depicts the frantic organisation behind the march where Dr Martin Luther King delivered his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
They Cloned Tyrone (Juel Taylor, 2023)
Directed by Juel Taylor in his feature directorial debut, They Cloned Tyrone is a sci-fi mystery movie with a comedic twist, largely a unicorn of its kind. The comedy mystery revolves around an unlikely trio who expose a shadow government cloning conspiracy. The Netflix movie follows drug dealer Fontaine, client Slick Charles, and sex worker Yo-Yo, who come to learn about conspiracy cloning led by the government to control the Black population of a neighbourhood.
After Fontaine realises that he’s one of the many clones made to maintain the status quo, he comes across his real self, who reveals that the real purpose of the mission is forced assimilation. They Cloned Tyrone tells the story of the trio’s resistance against an unjust government scheme, their subsequent infiltration inside the facility to expose the operation, and the ultimate unveiling that the program was never really exclusive to their neighbourhood.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2022)
As the second instalment of the Knives Out franchise, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery stands a class apart. In this mystery thriller, Daniel Craig reprises his role as the southern sleuth, Benoit Blanc, finding himself taking on a new case involving tech billionaire Miles Bron and his close-knit group of Disruptors, who head out to Bron’s private island in Greece for a murder mystery game over the weekend during the worldwide lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Blanc’s presence at the island is a mystery in itself, it’s not the central one that defines Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Instead, the real suspense kicks off when the playful murder mystery game turns out to be uncannily real as one of their own is murdered in cold blood, in plain sight, raising the stakes of what was supposed to be a much-needed getaway.
Roma (Alfonso Cuarón, 2018)
Another Alfonso Cuarón-directed film that undoubtedly makes the cut as one of the best movies currently streaming on Netflix is Roma, which also boasts a promising 96% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Described as a semi-autobiographical take on Cuarón’s own upbringing in Mexico City’s Colonia Roma neighbourhood, the historical drama, shot entirely in black and white, centres on the life of a live-in indigenous housekeeper of an upper-middle-class Mexican family.
Set in the early 1970s, Roma follows Cleo, an indigenous house help, who helps Sofia and her husband Antonia raise their four children. As Cleo navigates an unprecedented personal heartbreak after getting pregnant by her boyfriend, Fermin, who mindlessly abandons her upon hearing the news, Sofia’s husband leaves her for a mistress, plunging the family into uncertainty and instability. Sofia, seeking solace, heads to a beach vacation with the kids and Cleo, but in the process, they unknowingly open the gates to an emotional turning point.
The Rip (Joe Carnahan, 2026)
As one of the most-talked-about movies of 2026, The Rip is going to be right at home in this list. The action thriller reunites the fan-favourite Hollywood duo Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Miami cop partners who get stuck in a tricky situation after finding the most unlikely pile of papers in a safehouse. What the team discovers is millions in cash, and soon after the discovery, trust within the group begins to fray as tensions surface.
Since nobody can leave the scene without counting the money, everyone has to survive twice the threat: the night and each other. The Rip follows the team’s predicament as outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, pulling in everything and everyone into question as the probability of a mole inside the department increases by the minute.
Priscilla (Sofia Coppola, 2023)
Inspired by Priscilla Presley and Sandra Harmon’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, Priscilla is a biographical drama movie starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi. The film, currently streaming on Netflix, was released worldwide in 2023 to universal acclaim and is based on Priscilla Presley’s life and her complicated romantic relationship with the King of Rock and Roll, AKA Elvis Presley.
Priscilla focuses on the intimate, oft-troubled 14-year relationship she shared with Elvis Presley, highlighting Priscilla Presley’s experiences primarily by illuminating her loneliness and opening up about the challenges of living under the intense scrutiny of fame. The biographical drama captures the drastic shift in their dynamics under the spotlight, starting from the early stages of puppy love when she was 14 and he was 24, to when things became increasingly controlling in their marriage.
Private Life (Tamara Jenkins, 2018)
In the American comedy drama, Private Life, directed by Tamara Jenkins, the definition of family and the desperation of midlife, especially in cases of infertility, collide to portray a surprisingly relatable and modern story. The Netflix movie tells the story of Richard and Rachel, a New York couple in their late 40s, struggling with infertility.
Private Life captures their desperate journey as the stressed couple goes through gruelling, expensive fertility treatments, making peace with failed attempts despite the extreme psychological toll. While Rachel and Richard also explore adoption, the comedy drama follows them through their various attempts, as they eventually find hope and help close to home.
Train Dreams (Clint Bentley, 2025)
Based on Denis Johnson’s beloved 2011 novella, Train Dreams is an extraordinary period drama which tells the story of Robert Grainer, a man whose life unfolds over the course of unprecedented change. Orphaned at a tender age, Robert’s youth to adulthood takes place entirely in the wilderness of the towering forests of the Pacific Northwest, where he eventually helps build the railroads in early 20th-century America.
He gets married and makes a home together, but then work takes him miles away from his family. While nothing may have prepared Robert for this turn in life, it does come with its awakenings. Train Dreams highlights a bygone way of life that’s constantly evolving, capturing a time and space that rests better in memories, along with the lives of those people, including Robert, who built a bridge to a future that they could only dream of.
The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2008)
Thankfully, Netflix is not just home to groundbreaking original productions, but also to old blockbusters, such as The Hurt Locker, which won Kathryn Bigelow her ‘Best Director’ Oscar. The tense war drama, planted with suspense at every twist and turn, revolves around a US Army explosive ordnance disposal squad posted in Iraq, with the spotlight on the reckless Sergeant William James.
Already coping with a change in leadership after the death of their team leader, with James taking over, the clash is imminent with fellow sergeants and specialists over his risky approach to defusing bombs. While The Hurt Locker illuminates the psychological strain of the job as a whole, unlike most war movies, it chooses to highlight James as someone who doesn’t recoil from the danger of his work but thrives on it, feeling more at home in war than in normalcy.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (Kelly Fremon Craig, 2023)
An eye-opening coming-of-age comedy-drama film based on Judy Blume’s 1970 novel, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. follows 11-year-old Margaret Simon, who relocates from New York City to the New Jersey suburbs only to struggle to fit in. As she navigates new friendships, she joins a secret club, Pre-Teen Sensations, whose only motto is discussing boys and menstruation. But the more she finds herself engulfed in these high-school discussions, the more she experiences anxiety about physical changes.
She eventually turns to god, but even regarding faith, things aren’t so black and white for Margaret. Raised without a specific religion by a Christian mother and a Jewish dad, as she researches different belief systems for a school project, she personally questions god directly. While Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. sheds light on the universal challenges of adolescence, the movie portrays how certain aspects inevitably come into play in determining the intensity.
The Power of the Dog (Jane Campion, 2021)
The Power of the Dog is a Western psychological drama that won director Jane Campion the Oscar for ‘Best Director’ at the 94th Academy Awards. Widely regarded as one of the greatest movies released in 2021, the period drama is set in Montana in 1925 and follows wealthy ranch-owning brothers Phil and George Burbank. During a cattle drive, the latter stumbles across widowed inn owner Rose Gordon and George is quickly swept by her.
But Phil doesn’t accept their union, or Rose, or her son, Peter. If anything, his disdain turns into a war of intimidation against Rose and Peter, until Phil begins to take an unexpected mentoring interest in the son, who mirrors him and his own buried vulnerabilities. Although The Power of the Dog doesn’t prepare you for the plot twist, just so you know, the movie is packed with layered themes of toxic masculinity, power struggles, and repressed desires.
Left-Handed Girl (Shih-Ching Tsou, 2025)
Left-Handed Girl marks filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou’s solo directorial debut, a very personal offering that returns her to her childhood in Taipei. The coming-of-age portrait follows a single mother of two girls who return together to Taipei after spending several years away, living in the countryside. The trio return to open their own stand at a bustling night market.
Left-Handed Girl tells the story of the family as each gives their all to fit into the new environment, making ends meet, all while trying to keep the family together. However, when their conventional grandfather enters the business and restricts his youngest left-handed granddaughter from using what they call her “devil hands,” intergenerational family secrets begin to unfold, making way for an intense, confrontational drama.
Nouvelle Vague (Richard Linklater, 2025)
Regarded as Oscar-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater’s love letter to the revolutionary spirit of the French New Wave, Nouvelle Vague is a reimagination of the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, which solidified Godard’s legendary status in global cinema. The Netflix movie is a cinematic effort that turns the camera back 60 years in an attempt to capture one of the most pivotal moments in cinematic history.
Nouvelle Vague pans the focus on critic-turned-director Godard as he makes and breaks rules, introducing a mix of new faces and fresh talents to breathe life into his vision. The movie captures the active dynamism and creative upheaval that defined one of the world’s most acclaimed and beloved movies, in turn, taking viewers to the streets of 1959 Paris to witness a tribute to the transformative power of cinema.
Always Be My Maybe (Nahnatchka Khan, 2019)
Not many romantic comedies have made the cut of the best movies currently streaming on Netflix, but there’s no way we’d skip Always Be My Maybe. The emotional drama stars Ali Wong and Randall Park as childhood friends Sasha and Marcus, who have lost touch with each other since a brief fling ended terribly during their teenage years. Yet, true love has a way of finding you when you least expect it, and something similar happens to the two.
Despite years of estrangement, when Sasha returns to San Francisco to open her own restaurant, neither she nor Marcus can keep their repressed feelings to themselves. But what is a romantic comedy without a little bit of bitterness? With Marcus’ insecurities and Sasha’s culinary fame and demanding career, the challenges are one too many, even before a relationship can begin. However, the question is: are those obstacles enough to hold them back?
All Quiet on the Western Front (Edward Berger, 2022)
Adapted from Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel, All Quiet on the Western Front is an Oscar-nominated epic anti-war film, serving as the third on-screen adaptation of the book. The Netflix adaptation follows young German soldier Paul, who willingly enlists in World War II, only to be taken aback and disillusioned by the brutal, traumatising reality of trench warfare.
The seminal anti-war work highlights the loss of innocence and the psychological destruction of a generation, focusing on the graphic struggles for survival on the Western Front. All Quiet on the Western Front is a powerful depiction of war experiences from the front lines, which not only left soldiers physically hurt, but also mentally incapable of rejoining and assimilating into civilian life.
Atlantics (Mati Diop, 2019)
Directed by Mati Diop for her feature directorial debut, Atlantics is a romantic drama with a supernatural twist, which was selected to compete for Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The festival appearance was a milestone moment for Diop, who became the first Black woman to direct a movie featured in the competition at the festival. Now, coming to the genre-bending feature, set in Dakar, Senegal, the movie tells the story of 17-year-old Ada.
Although Ada’s marriage is fixed with a man from a wealthy household, that doesn’t stop her from falling in love with Souleiman, a labourer building a futuristic tower. But when, in an attempt to evade the financial struggles mounting every day over unpaid labour, Souleiman and his colleagues board boats to fend for a better life in Spain, the boat disappears at sea, and the men are presumed dead. Atlantics follows Ada as she struggles with an unimaginable loss, while trying to make sense of the strange supernatural occurrences happening all around.
Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach, 2013)
Netflix’s Hall of Fame truly attests to the fact that old is gold. However, if you have doubts, Frances Ha is now available for streaming on Netflix. The comedy drama stars Greta Gerwig as Frances, a 27-year-old dancer living in New York City, with her best friend, Sophie, whose seemingly idyllic life comes crumbling down when the latter announces her plans to relocate from Brooklyn to Tribeca, Sophie’s dream neighbourhood.
As an apprentice at a dance company where financial stability is a dream too good to be true, Frances is left with no option but to vacate the Brooklyn apartment. But this is not the only time she has to undergo the tiring procedure. Frances Ha follows her disorganised life as she deals with professional setbacks, dwindling finances, and fractured friendships, ultimately learning to make peace with the realities of adulthood.
The Irishman (Martin Scorsese, 2019)
Directed and produced by the legendary Martin Scorsese, The Irishman is a hard-hitting gangster film based on Charles Brandt’s 2004 book, I Heard You Paint Houses. Featuring a prolific ensemble featuring the likes of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, the crime thriller chronicles the life of a World War II veteran and truck driver, Frank Sheeran, who evolves into a top mafia hitman and labour union official.
The Irishman captures the slow rise of the hitman over the span of decades, his close friendship with Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa and his allegiance to mobster Russell Bufalino, highlighting Frank’s involvement in the eventual disappearance of Hoffa in 1975. The film is constructed in a flashback sequence as Frank looks back at his life on a hospital bed, facing the consequences of his actions.
Stand By Me (Rob Reiner, 1986)
Inspired by Stephen King’s famous 1982 novella, The Body, Stand by Me is a classic coming-of-age drama, which derives its title from Ben E King’s 1961 song of the same name. The adventure movie, set in 1959, Castle Rock, Oregon, follows four 12-year-olds, one of whom overhears his older brother, Billy, talking with a friend about finding the dead body of a missing boy outside the town. Afraid that the police would clock him in relation to a car theft, Billy doesn’t confide in his findings to the law.
Somehow, the entire exchange gives the four the idea to embark on a hike to find the body, believing the discovery could make them local heroes. Stand by Me captures their journey as each confronts unexpected defining experiences, situations, repressed traumas, and personal fears. While the movie undoubtedly opens with a youthful energy, the swift transition of its tone is indicative of the fleeting nature of childhood.
The Killer (David Fincher, 2023)
A David Fincher action thriller is enough keywords to have any cinephile sold, but to save you the trouble of riddle-solving, you simply cannot miss out on The Killer while you’re here. Adapted from Alexis “Matz” Nolent’s French graphic novel series, the high-octane nail-biter stars Michael Fassbender as an elite assassin, the Killer, and his systemic spiral into psychological chaos following the brutal murder of his girlfriend.
Following a mission gone wrong, the Killer’s employer has his girlfriend ruthlessly attacked in the Dominican Republic as part of scrubbing the trail. But the incident sparks a fire of revolt within the Killer, who embarks on a revenge quest to hunt each and every one involved in the attack, breaking his own rules of professionalism and defying every obstacle in the way to bring justice, albeit a twisted one.
The Lost Daughter (Maggie Gyllenhaal, 2021)
Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal for her feature directorial debut, The Lost Daughter is a psychological drama inspired by Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel. Although not an easy watch, it is an important one, which follows Leda, a middle-aged professor who becomes fixated on a young mother and daughter duo on a Greek vacation. Leda first observes them on a beach when the mother struggles with her daughter before the latter briefly goes missing.
While Leda finds her, she keeps a doll belonging to her, highlighting her complex, troubling internal state, which makes one want to question her intentions. The Lost Daughter reveals Leda’s stories in flashbacks, explaining the origins of her current behaviour to explore the themes of the darker sides of parenting. The movie doesn’t flinch in acknowledging that motherhood can be overwhelming, but it also stresses the cost.
The Matrix (The Wachowskis, 1999)
What began as a sci-fi thriller in 1999 quickly became a landmark in cinematic storytelling. The Matrix, created by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, introduced audiences to a world where reality is manufactured, and everything we see is part of a sophisticated digital illusion, much like today. The movie follows Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), a computer programmer who spends his nights hacking under the name “Neo”. But when a group of rebels contacts him, he learns that the world he lives in is not real.
Neo is pulled out of the simulation by Morpheus and Trinity, who explain that machines have trapped humanity in a virtual reality called the Matrix. As Neo begins to understand the truth, he trains to fight back, discovering he might be “The One” who can break the system. What makes The Matrix special is that it doesn’t just deal with tech but also blends it with martial arts and futuristic tech. The Matrix grew into a global franchise and left a lasting impact on pop culture, from fashion and action films to internet conspiracy theories.
12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013)
Solomon Northup’s memoir, which was first published in 1853, serves as the basis for 12 Years a Slave, which is widely known as a searing adaptation of a man’s descent from freedom to captivity. Living as a free musician in New York, Northup is deceived, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the Deep South, which is a brutal reversal that stretches across twelve long years.
Chiwetel Ejiofor leads the film with a restrained, aching performance, surrounded by a cast that includes Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender, and Sarah Paulson. And if you think that the movie relies purely on sentiment, you’re about to be proven wrong because it stays brutally close to the historical record, showing the economic system and individual cruelty that kept slavery in place. The story ends where it began, with Northup reclaiming his freedom, but the weight of what he has endured lingers long after.
Beasts of No Nation (Cary Joji Fukunaga, 2015)
A classic masterpiece! Again, based on a novel, Beasts of No Nation is Netflix’s first original feature and hence holds a special spot. The novel is by Uzodinma Iweala and is a raw portrait of war through a child’s eyes. The story follows Agu, a boy orphaned by civil conflict in a fictional West African country, as he is recruited by a rebel group and trained to kill. With no safe place left, Agu becomes both soldier and survivor.
Abraham Attah gives a breakout performance as Agu, while Idris Elba plays the Commandant. Elba’s character is a man whose authority blurs the lines between protector and predator. The film avoids romanticising war and takes an unflinching look at the loss of childhood and identity. Director Fukunaga’s camerawork captures both the beauty of the land and the brutality within it. Beasts of No Nation earned global acclaim and opened conversations about child soldiers and war crimes.
Bird Box (Susanne Bier, 2018)
Bird Box will forever remain one of the initial milestones of Netflix, which made it what it is today. Directed by Susanne Bier and based on Josh Malerman’s 2014 novel, Bird Box is a post-apocalyptic thriller that takes place in a world overrun by mysterious entities which cause people to die by suicide if seen. Sandra Bullock stars as Malorie, a woman determined to protect two children and survive, even if it means traversing dangerous terrain while blindfolded.
Told through intercut timelines, the film alternates between Malorie’s current journey down a river to seek refuge and the earlier days of societal collapse, where survivors attempt to piece together the rules of this unseen threat. As trust breaks down and safe spaces dwindle, Malorie is forced to make difficult decisions to ensure survival. Bird Box sparked viral attention upon release and tapped into larger anxieties around isolation.
Gerald’s Game (Mike Flanagan, 2017)
One of the best watches on Netflix, Gerald’s Game is a psychological thriller that stays mostly inside one room. It follows a married couple, Jessie and Gerald, who drive out to a quiet lake house hoping to fix what is broken between them. But when a bedroom game goes wrong, and Gerald dies suddenly, Jessie is left handcuffed to the bed, completely alone. Thereafter, it becomes a survival film and so much more.
With no way to escape, Jessie loses track of time. Hunger and thirst take hold, but it’s the memories from her past that push her the hardest. Hallucinations blur into real fears, and Jessie has to fight both her body and her mind to make it out alive. Carla Gugino gives a deeply physical and emotional performance, carrying almost every frame. Based on Stephen King’s novel, the film mixes suspense with personal pain in a way that is unforgettable.
Oldboy (Park Chan-wook, 2003)
Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy is another of the most talked-about films on the internet. It begins with a man named Oh Dae-su being kidnapped and locked in a small, windowless room. He doesn’t know why, who took him, or how long he will be there. It turns out to be 15 years. No visitors. No answers. Just food through a slot and a television to mark the passing days. And then, one day, he is released without warning.
As Dae-su steps back into the world, he is given clothes, money, and a phone and the strange promise that everything is far from over. What follows is a violent, emotional search for the truth, leading to a final reveal that rewrites everything he thought he knew. Choi Min-sik gives a haunting performance full of anger and confusion, and let us warn you about the multiple heartbreaks you will experience throughout the film. Known for its unforgettable scenes and dark storytelling, Oldboy became a major moment in South Korean cinema and still leaves a lasting mark on anyone who watches it.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson, 2022)
Before Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro gave us this masterpiece set during the rise of fascism in Italy. Pinocchio brings a darker and more emotional take on the classic story of Pinocchio. It begins with Geppetto, a grieving father, who carves a wooden puppet after losing his son. One night, the puppet comes to life, but instead of being well-behaved, he is loud and full of questions about the world.
Pinocchio struggles to understand what it means to be good as he faces war, along with loss and the pressure to obey. Along the way, he meets soldiers, performers, and spirits who challenge how he sees himself. The stop-motion animation is meticulously detailed in this film and is yet another reason to watch it. Gregory Mann voices Pinocchio with warmth and energy, while David Bradley gives Geppetto an aching sadness. Though inspired by the original book, this version tells its own story, one that is full of life and sorrow.
Marriage Story (Noah Baumbach, 2019)
This film got Scarlett Johansson her first Oscar nomination. Marriage Story follows a couple trying to end their marriage without losing everything else in the process. Charlie is a theatre director based in New York, whereas Nicole is an actor who wants a new start in Los Angeles. They still care about each other, but their lives no longer fit, and once lawyers get involved, things turn sharp and complicated.
As the custody battle over their young son grows, both Charlie and Nicole try to hold on to their dignity while struggling with frustration and all the pieces of their shared past. Of course, the regret factors in too. The best part about this film is that it doesn’t paint either side as right or wrong. It just lets them be human. Adam Driver and Johansson give deeply layered performances that make even the quietest scenes feel heavy.
The Platform (Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, 2019)
This Spanish film, The Platform, although released in 2019, came to people’s attention in 2024. It is set inside a tall vertical prison where each floor has two people and one giant hole in the middle. Every day, a platform filled with food starts at the top and moves down but only for a few seconds per level. Those above eat first. Those below get what’s left, if anything at all.
Goreng wakes up on one of the middle floors with a cellmate and no clear way out. As time passes, he begins to understand how the system works, how unfair it is, and how people above or below him change when survival is at stake. Each floor becomes a test of trust and desperation, and what people are willing to do when they are starving. Iván Massagué leads the film and gives us a strange story that leaves its message open but impossible to ignore.
Past Lives (Celine Song, 2023)
If you want a meaningful romantic drama on Netflix, Past Lives has got to be on your watchlist. It follows two childhood friends, Nora and Hae Sung, who are separated when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Years later, they reconnect online, sharing stories from two completely different lives. As time goes on, the friendship gets hushed until another twelve years pass and they finally meet again in person, this time in New York.
Now adults, they spend just a few days together. Eventually, they got caught in the strange space between what they were and what they had become. Greta Lee’s and Teo Yoo’s performances stay soft and believable, never trying to force emotion, and a huge credit for that goes to director Celine Song. The film explores what it means to leave someone behind and how timing shapes our most personal decisions. Past Lives gently lingers on the idea that some connections stay important, even if they don’t stay permanent.
Don’t Look Up (Adam McKay, 2021)
In Don’t Look Up, two astronomers make a discovery that should change everything. They find a giant comet is on a direct path to Earth, and with only months until impact, they head straight to the government, the media, and the public, expecting panic. But weird and hilarious things happen when they get spun and denied at every level.
As the clock runs down, scientists beg the world to take the threat seriously, but politics and celebrity news seem to matter more. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence lead the film with amazing urgency and disbelief, just the right amount. While the cast around them plays up the absurdity of the response. Directed by Adam McKay, the film uses dark humour to point at real-world inaction, especially around climate change and media noise. While exaggerated on purpose, the story walks closely with the idea of how easy it can be to ignore something huge when no one wants to hear it.
Train to Busan (Yeon Sang-ho, 2016)
A pioneer film in the history of Korean cinema, Train to Busan begins with a business trip that takes a terrifying turn. A father and daughter board a fast train to visit her mother. At first, nothing seems unusual until a sick passenger stumbles onboard just before departure. Within minutes, the infection spreads, and the passengers find themselves trapped with a growing number of violent, fast-moving zombies.
As the train races through city after city, each stop becomes a new test of survival. Seok-woo, played by Gong Yoo, slowly shifts from a distracted father to someone willing to risk everything for his daughter. But if you are confusing it with your regular, chaos-filled zombie movies, then this one’s not it because it contains heavy drama and emotions. The film gained global attention for its emotional moments and sensitive performances. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, it remains one of the most talked-about zombie films of the decade.
The Terminator (James Cameron, 1984)
There are chances you might’ve watched this one a thousand times before, but it keeps getting introduced to a new generation as a cult classic. When it was first released in 1984, The Terminator introduced something new to science fiction. And not just a time-travel plot or a robotic villain, but a mix of future technology and gritty survival. The story begins in Los Angeles, where a young woman named Sarah Connor is suddenly targeted by a relentless killer sent from the future. He is not human, and he won’t stop.
What Sarah doesn’t know is that her life matters because of what is still to come. The machine chasing her is trying to erase that future before it can begin. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the Terminator, while Linda Hamilton builds Sarah from ordinary to iconic. James Cameron keeps the tension high while keeping track of the story. Though it became a massive franchise, the first film still stands on its own.
Erin Brockovich (Steven Soderbergh, 2000)
Julia Roberts earned her first Oscar because of her confident and groundbreaking performance in this role. Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich is based on the true story of a single mother who, without legal training or resources, helped bring down a company accused of poisoning a town’s water supply. At the start, Erin is just looking for work while dealing with money problems and raising three kids. She finds it at a small law firm and, while filing paperwork, comes across something that doesn’t sit right.
That instinct turns into a months-long investigation, as she knocks on doors, visits sick families, and pieces together the damage caused by toxic waste. Julia Roberts plays Erin with confidence, sharp and sort of sarcastic humour, and determination, earning wide praise for the role. The film doesn’t show an expert fighting a system but how a determined amateur learns as she goes, refusing to back down. Erin Brockovich became a courtroom drama that stood out for how plainly it told a big story through one person’s persistence.
Mean Girls (Mark Waters, 2004)
Few teen movies have aged like Mean Girls because this classic gave us lines people still quote and characters that feel real and are still roleplayed. It is funny, sure, but also sharp in a way that leaves an everlasting imprint, showing how small things like lunch tables and group texts can turn into social warfare fast. And let’s not forget the brilliant casting that was as iconic as the costumes, and let’s not forget that it was written by the genius of Tina Fey.
After being homeschooled for years, Cady Heron enters the world of high school without knowing the rules. She is smart, kind, and completely unprepared for the politics of American high school. The Plastics take her in, led by Regina George, who smiles sweetly but doesn’t forget anything. What begins as curiosity turns into imitation, then sabotage, until Cady starts losing the version of herself she arrived with. Lindsay Lohan plays the role perfectly, while Rachel McAdams turns Regina into one of the most memorable movie characters of the 2000s.
Mudbound (Dee Rees, 2017)
Mudbound is set in rural Mississippi during the 1940s, where two families live on the same land under unequal conditions. The McAllans have moved from the city to manage a farm, while the Jacksons have worked that land for generations. Both families live by the farm’s demands and the rules others have already decided for them.
When Ronsel Jackson returns from serving in the war, he finds the respect he earned abroad means nothing at home. Jamie McAllan returns as well, carrying memories he can’t ignore. The two form a bond that draws attention in a place that punishes anything unfamiliar. What begins as uneasy distance grows harder to manage over time. Jason Mitchell and Garrett Hedlund gave performances that felt lived-in and stayed close to the characters.
Blonde (Andrew Dominik, 2022)
Although we have seen multiple documentaries about Marilyn Monroe over the years, Blonde was a special experiment for a never-before-seen take on her story. And no, this is not a biography, and it’s not trying to be. Blonde is more like a dream (or a nightmare) shaped around Marilyn Monroe’s public life and private pain. And you won’t need to conduct a fact-check on it because it just wants you to sit with the feeling of being seen by everyone and still feeling alone.
Ana de Armas plays Marilyn as someone constantly performing, even when no one is watching. The story moves from childhood to fame to collapse, but not in a straight line. It shows her being renamed, reimagined, and repeatedly told who to be. Some moments feel real, others feel imagined, and that’s the whole point. Based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel, the film is more emotional than historical.
The Meyerowitz Stories (Noah Baumbach, 2017)
Another Noah Baumbach film on the list, this is the story of a family that talks a lot but rarely listens. The Meyerowitz Stories brings together adult siblings who have grown up with a father too focused on himself to notice much else. Now, after years apart, they are back in the same house, dealing with old habits and a man who still sees them as unfinished projects.
The film follows them in pieces: lunches, errands, arguments that sound like jokes until they don’t. Adam Sandler plays Danny, the eldest, with frustration that builds across scenes, while Ben Stiller’s Matthew tries to stay polite but never fully succeeds. Harold, their father, lives in his own bubble of past achievements and current complaints. This film just lets these characters sit in their awkward, familiar rhythms, which makes it a relatable watch.
Nimona (Nick Bruno & Troy Quane, 2023)
This animated classic, Nimona, starts with a hero falling from grace. Ballister Boldheart was supposed to be a knight until one moment changed everything and turned him into a fugitive. That’s when loud and messy Nimona shows up, who is very interested in destruction. She also happens to be a shapeshifter and maybe the only person who still wants to help him.
At first, Ballister doesn’t trust her. But as they run from the law, it becomes clear Nimona’s not just trouble; she is carrying a lot he doesn’t see. Chloë Grace Moretz voices Nimona with the apt wild energy, while Riz Ahmed brings an edge to Ballister. Based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson, Nimona turns familiar tropes on their head. It is about finding safety in people who don’t fit the mould and are okay with breaking it.
Hit Man (Richard Linklater, 2024)
This movie starts so casually, you’ll barely realise it’s about a killer. Hit Man introduces a professor who moves through life without much noise and then suddenly steps into an undercover job that pulls him into a world he never expected. He pretends to be a contract killer for police stings, so each meeting pushes him into a new version of himself. Things shift when a woman shows up asking for help, so the story picks up this steady spark that turns his role into something risky.
The movie works mostly because Glen Powell keeps the character fun without overacting. He switches betweena soft-spoken teacher and a bold undercover persona so the film stays engaging even during smaller moments. The story moves clearly from one turn to the next, so it becomes a smooth watch for anyone who wants a simple mix of humour and tension.