(Credits: Open Road Films)

Weekend plans get ten times easier when you already know which movies to watch, so this list is built for anyone who wants something meaningful without doing the homework. But mind you, this Netflix watchlist is a strong set this week, but the range is broad, so you’ll find at least one film of your choice.

The pull here is simple: each film gets moving fast. Each film is just a story that opens the door and keeps you inside without forcing you to decode anything. And there is a wide variety of genres also, so you don’t have to worry about this being a single genre list.

Some of these films will leave you brainstorming during and after the climax to be prepared. If you’re also tired of watching the same old action flicks on Netflix, this is your chance.

So before you spend your weekend scrolling until you forget why you opened the app in the first place, here are five films that actually earn their spot on your screen.

The five best movies to watch on Netflix this weekend

The Six Triple Eight (Tyler Perry, 2024)

The Six Triple Eight opens the list because it carries real history that stays clear, even if you walk in knowing nothing about the mission. The film follows the only all-Black, all-women battalion sent overseas during World War II to fix a massive backlog of letters that had left soldiers waiting for news from home. Sounds interesting and noble, right? And the good part is that the story moves with purpose from the moment they arrive. You watch these women step into a job nobody wanted to give them. On top of that, they push through doubt from every direction and build momentum.

There is weight in the mission itself if you think about it, and the film keeps the focus on how much it mattered to the people waiting on those letters. The performances are so natural that you will think that you are there with them for a second. And of course, the clarity in the storytelling makes it one of the strongest picks for a weekend watch.

Copshop (Joe Carnahan, 2021)

Sliding from real history into sharp tension, Copshop will totally shift the flow. The film starts with Teddy Murretto, a con artist running for his life, who intentionally gets himself arrested to hide inside a small-town police station. The problem is that the hitman chasing him, Bob Viddick, gets himself locked up in the same building minutes later. The night gets worse when a second, far more unpredictable hitman shows up outside, turning the station into a pressure cooker.

The rookie officer on duty, Valerie Young, becomes the only person standing between three dangerous men, and the story builds through actual choices. You see how Teddy tries to talk his way out, how Viddick plays the long game, and how Valerie tries to figure out who is telling the truth. The film moves through direct confrontations. It is fun because the setup itself keeps the story alive.

Overboard (Rob Greenberg, 2018)

After the pressure of Copshop, we get Overboard, which is the story of Kate, a single mom juggling multiple jobs, while Leonardo is a spoiled yacht owner who treats everyone around him terribly. When Leonardo falls off his yacht and loses his memory, Kate sees an opportunity to get back at him for humiliating her earlier that day. She convinces him they are married and brings him home to help with housework and childcare.

The comedy comes from Leonardo trying to adjust to chores, kids, and real responsibility while Kate tries to keep her lie steady long enough to get what she needs. The movie works because the characters actually change through the situation. Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez have done an excellent job in their characters, and why not? They are both known for their amazing comic timings.

State of Fear (Pamela Yates, 2005)

Moving back into heavier territory, State of Fear pulls you into a political thriller mode. The film uses archival footage and real interviews to explain how Peru lived through years of violence connected to the Shining Path insurgency. The documentary breaks down major events so you understand how communities were affected and how the government responded to rising attacks. It focuses on survivors who describe curfews and disappearances.

You also hear from investigators who explain how fear spread across the country and influenced public decisions. It’s a straightforward documentary that keeps its information clear enough that you never feel lost. It shows how misinformation grew and how political leaders used fear for control. But it also shows resolution by showing how the truth eventually came out through collected evidence.

Homefront (Gary Fleder, 2013)

Closing the list on a steady note, Homefront follows Phil Broker, a former DEA agent who moves to a quiet town with his daughter to start over after a dangerous undercover job. Their attempt at a fresh start is disrupted when a high school conflict draws attention from a local criminal group. Gator Bodine, the local meth dealer, discovers Phil’s past and sees an opportunity to use it for his own gain.

The story grows as Phil tries to protect his daughter while avoiding the violent world he left behind. You see how the tension increases once Gator involves people from Phil’s former life, and this leads to confrontations that push Phil back into skills he hoped to leave behind. The tension of protecting his daughter while facing his past in real time is something that’ll keep you on your toes this weekend.