(Credit: Netflix)

The weekend is here, and the undeniable task of picking movies on Netflix stands tall. If you have been keeping an eye on Netflix’s releases, you know that these past few months, it’s been a pure crime scene.

And by that, we mean the streamer is bringing you back-to-back true-crime dramas, and that’s why we thought of bringing you some light-hearted movies to lighten the mood.

But don’t confuse these films for some content to pass the time; they’ll actually give you something to feel, laugh about, or carry into Monday. And the best part? None of them are the obvious “top ten” everyone’s already talking about.

These picks share one thing in common: they are all about people finding their place in the world, whether through music, travel, or just awkward adulthood. They’re not big, loud blockbusters, but they are the kind of movies that hit like an inside joke between you and the screen.

So let’s make this weekend easier for you. Grab a blanket and press play on one (or all five) of these gems.

The five best movies to watch on Netflix this weekend

Yesterday (Danny Boyle, 2019)

What if you woke up and realised you were the only person on Earth who remembered The Beatles? If you have, then congratulations, as you have just entered the plot of Yesterday. But if you are thinking that the premise is all a gimmick, then you are wrong. At its heart, this is a funny and slightly melancholic love letter to music, to second chances, and to daring to step up when the spotlight suddenly lands on you.

Himesh Patel is instantly likeable in the lead, and yes, you will leave humming classics you didn’t even know you remembered. But more than that, it’s a story about chasing your dream while realising the real magic might already be in your life. Perfect for when you want something uplifting without being sugary.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller, 2013)

Who hasn’t heard of this film? If you haven’t, have you ever wanted to throw your phone into a drawer and just run off into the world? Walter Mitty takes that same fantasy and gives it a cinematic glow. Ben Stiller directs and stars as Walter, an ordinary guy with a very unordinary imagination, and the rest is cinema.

This one’s part travelogue and part self-discovery story, which obviously comes with travel. Apart from that, you have stunning visuals that will make you want to renew your passport. It’s easy to watch and quietly inspiring.

Adventureland (Greg Mottola, 2009)

Before Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart became household names, they were the awkward yet lovable pair at the centre of Adventureland. Set in the summer of 1987, the movie takes us into a rundown amusement park where minimum wage and maximum confusion about adulthood collide.

It’s funny in that bittersweet way. Think less roller coasters and more quiet moments of honesty between rides. And if you’ve ever had a summer job that was half disaster, half unforgettable, this one will feel like looking back through a photo album.

The Way Way Back (Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, 2013)

How about a piece of classic Steve Carell to light up your weekend? Except here, Carell isn’t the goofy nice guy but a stepdad from hell. Don’t worry, though, the film’s heart belongs to Liam James as a shy teenager who finds an unlikely summer family at a local water park.

The Way Way Back is warm, funny, and quietly cathartic. It nails that feeling of being sixteen and completely misunderstood until the right people show up at exactly the right time. And Sam Rockwell’s performance? It’s like a hug in movie form.

Lars and the Real Girl (Craig Gillespie, 2007)

Now here’s a movie that sounds strange on paper but works like a charm on screen. Ryan Gosling plays Lars, a painfully shy man who introduces his small town to his new girlfriend. But there’s a catch. This girlfriend is not a human but a life-sized doll.

Given its plot, the film could’ve been crude or mean-spirited, but instead, it is unexpectedly tender. It’s about community and the odd ways people find connection. Gosling plays it with such sincerity that you stop laughing at the premise and start rooting for Lars. By the end, you’ll realise it’s less about the doll and more about the people who choose kindness.