The 30 best movies on Netflix

1917 (2019)

This Oscar-winning war film presents its story with bracing realism. In 1917, Lance Corporal William "Will" Schofield (George MacKay) is a British soldier embarking on a perilous journey through the trenches and battlefields of World War I. Will is paired with Lance Corporal Thomas "Tom" Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and tasked with personally delivering a message to a colonel to call off an offensive attack that would put British soldiers in harm's way.

Director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins skillfully give the film the illusion of being shot seamlessly — as if in only one continuous take — which, EW's critic observes, "effectively drops the viewer into the center of the story and compels them to stay there, fully immersed in every muddy step, hunger pang, and rifle click." —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch 1917: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch

American Psycho (2000)

Christian Bale elevated his career to a new level with his committed portrayal of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. The film centers on Patrick, an investment banker immersed in the empty consumerism of the corporate world, whose jealousy and lust for power leads him to murder. As EW's critic writes, "Mary Harron's American Psycho is a merry-prankster nightmare — a cheerfully irreverent drawing-room slasher movie." While the film was ultimately a box office disappointment, time has been kind to American Psycho; its depiction of a social-climbing yuppie with anxiety over how other people perceive him makes him eerily relatable — just hopefully without the whole serial killer part. —K.J.

Where to watch American Psycho: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Mary Harron

Cast: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

This sensual tale of yearning set in 1983 Italy is one of director Luca Guadagnino's finest works. Timothée Chalamet stars as Elio, a 17-year-old who falls in love with his father's handsome new graduate student, Oliver (Armie Hammer). Basking in the hot summer days, Elio and Oliver explore the countryside and form a passionate bond that will affect both of their lives forever. The film made a star out of Chalamet, who earned an Oscar nomination for his sensitive, complex performance as a teen coming of age and realizing what he desires for himself. As EW's critic writes of the film, "It’s real life, heartbreaking and sublime." —K.J.

Where to watch Call Me by Your Name: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Victoire Du Bois

Captain Phillips (2013)

Barkhad Abdi's declaration of "I'm the captain now" may have taken on a life of its own, but this action drama has substance beyond the catchphrase. Based on the true story of Richard Phillips and his experience as captain of a U.S. cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates, Captain Phillips unfolds with nerve-wracking tension as the eponymous merchant mariner tries to negotiate his way through a delicate situation.

Tom Hanks delivers one of his best modern performances as the beleaguered captain — with the film's final scene ranking as one of the finest of his storied career — while Abdi, making his film debut as ruthless pirate leader Abduwali Muse, rightfully earned himself an Oscar nomination. —K.J.

Where to watch Captain Phillips: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Catherine Keener

Carol (2015)

This period drama from auteur Todd Haynes is one of the most sumptuous films of the modern era. Therese (Rooney Mara) is a department store clerk who has a chance encounter with a glamorous older woman, Carol (Cate Blanchett), in 1950s New York. A secret affair blossoms from there, as Carol and Therese forge an intense emotional and romantic connection that complicates their lives. With deeply felt, Oscar-nominated performances from Blanchett and Mara and stunning technical craft — from the music score to the period-specific production design and costumes — Carol is a transporting experience from start to finish. —K.J.

Where to watch Carol: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Todd Haynes

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, Kyle Chandler

Emily the Criminal (2022)

Aubrey Plaza gives one of her finest turns to date in this grounded thriller. She plays the titular down-on-her-luck felon who resorts to theft to make her way out from under a mountain of debt. "She may be a wanton criminal, but she's also a woman very much for these times," EW's critic writes. "Not the anti-heroine we knew we needed, maybe, but one that we deserve." It's a visceral, often unbearably anxious film that showcases Plaza's steeliest, most nuanced performance in a career full of them. —Declan Gallagher

Where to watch Emily the Criminal: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: John Patton Ford

Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Gina Gershon, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Theo Rossi, Bernardo Badillo

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Films in the long-running Godzilla franchise aren't exactly known for their human characters compared to the titular giant reptilian monster, but this universally acclaimed installment is a rare exception. The film focuses on former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a man with PTSD after failing to prevent Godzilla from destroying an island community during World War II. Haunted by the incident, Shikishima looks for redemption when the imposing monster returns to terrorize Japan.

EW's critic ranks Godzilla Minus One — which won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects — as the fourth-best film in the franchise, writing, "This sweeping blend of character-driven drama, maritime adventure, and kaiju mayhem is popcorn entertainment at its best." —K.J.

Where to watch Godzilla Minus One: Netflix

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, Kuranosuke Sasaki

Jaws (1975)

The miracle of this granddaddy of all summer blockbusters is that it still holds up nearly 50 years later. Steven Spielberg's iconic thriller about a great white shark terrorizing beachgoers and the trio of men who try to hunt it down is pure entertainment at its most biting. From the menacing Oscar-winning score by John Williams to the vividly drawn personalities of the three heroes to the near-constant state of dread, Spielberg's confidence in his vision is remarkable to witness, especially so early in his career. —K.J.

Where to watch Jaws: Netflix

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton

The Killer (2023)

David Fincher's latest thriller is a white-knuckle, pared-down genre exercise that calls back to '70s exploitation films but also owes quite a bit to Anton Corbijn's The American (2010). Michael Fassbender stars as the nameless assassin who, after a hit goes wrong and his family is targeted, chases after a shadow enforcer (Tilda Swinton) for revenge. EW's critic observes, "With a reptilian coldness, Fassbender infuses the 'Killer' with an eerie stillness that underscores the character's lack of empathy and warmth." —D.G.

Where to watch The Killer: Netflix

EW grade: C+ (read the review)

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Sala Baker

Miss Juneteenth (2020)

This underseen independent drama finally gives Nicole Beharie the role she deserves, and she makes the most of the opportunity, delivering one of the most nuanced performances in recent years. Beharie plays Turquoise, a single mother whose glory days as the winner of the Miss Juneteenth pageant are behind her. Now working multiple jobs to support her 15-year-old daughter, Turquoise hopes she will follow in her footsteps by entering the pageant herself, though her daughter is less than enthused. Tackling themes of family legacy, broken dreams, and unexpected victories, Miss Juneteenth is a lovingly realistic examination of mothers and daughters. —K.J.

Where to watch Miss Juneteenth: Netflix

Director: Channing Godfrey Peoples

Cast: Nicole Beharie, Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze

Molly's Game (2017)

Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin made his directorial debut with this engrossing biographical drama about entrepreneur Molly Bloom and her tumultuous experience in the world of high-stakes poker. Jessica Chastain plays the title role, following her journey from aspiring Olympian to bottle service waitress to running an underground poker empire. Her success is soon threatened when multiple mafias get involved in her games leading to an FBI investigation and her indictment.

The film soars on the strength of Chastain's charismatic performance, a perfect match for Sorkin's signature clever dialogue. As EW's critic writes, Molly's Game is "a cool, crackling, confident film that appeals to your intelligence instead of insulting it." —K.J.

Where to watch Molly's Game: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O'Dowd, Bill Camp

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

With the new TV remake with Donald Glover and Maya Erskine now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, there's no better time to revisit the 2005 film of the same name. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star as John and Jane Smith, a couple whose marriage is on shaky ground. They also happen to both be skilled assassins, though neither is aware of each other's occupation. This all changes when they're both assigned to kill the same target, which complicates everything to the point that they're soon tasked with killing each other. Hijinks ensue, and the film is propelled by the undeniable chemistry between Pitt and Jolie, who EW's critic writes have a "chemical zing." Thus, Brangelina was born. —K.J.

Where to watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Doug Liman

Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody, Kerry Washington

No Hard Feelings (2023)

This raunchy comedy represented both a strong comeback for Jennifer Lawrence after a few low-key years and a return to form for the genre, which has seen lean times as of late. It stars Lawrence as a down-on-her-luck thirtysomething who, in order to repair her car, must deflower a nerdy young man (Andrew Barth Feldman) before he goes off to college. No Hard Feelings isn't a perfect movie, but it is often laugh-out-loud funny and subversive in all the right ways without ever insisting upon itself. EW's critic calls the film "a welcome addition to a dwindling genre — and a reminder that Lawrence is one [of] Hollywood's best (and funniest) leads." —D.G.

Where to watch No Hard Feelings: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Gene Stupnitsky

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales

Nyad (2023)

Annette Bening gives an astonishing, Oscar-nominated performance as real-life marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who at 64 trained to become the first person to swim to Cuba. Equally riveting as Nyad's trainer is Jodie Foster (also Oscar-nominated), reminding viewers that in terms of steely confidence, someone rarely does it better than her. "The two women also share an effortless chemistry that breathes vitality into their onscreen bond and wholeheartedly sells their decades-long connection," EW's critic writes. —D.G.

Where to watch Nyad: Netflix

EW grade: B– (read the review)

Directors: Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

Cast: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans, Luke Cosgrove, Karly Rothenberg

Phantom Thread (2017)

Paul Thomas Anderson's 1950s-set costume drama is a transfixing exploration of power dynamics within a relationship, and how love can be sickening — literally. Daniel Day-Lewis, in his self-proclaimed final film role (though that's not true), stars as Reynolds Woodcock, a renowned fashion designer who enters a tumultuous romance with Alma (Vicky Krieps), a waitress whom he soon makes his muse. But Alma is much cleverer than she appears, while Reynolds is more difficult to live with than she had hoped, leading to dysfunction. Adorned with dry humor and sumptuous visuals, Phantom Thread is a masterwork from one of modern cinema's best craftsmen. —K.J.

Where to watch Phantom Thread: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Jane Campion's adaptation of the Thomas Savage novel is a spellbinding Western drama about power and control. Set in 1920s Montana, the film centers on Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) a cruel rancher who psychologically torments his brother (Jesse Plemons), sister-in-law (Kirsten Dunst), and her soft-spoken son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) on the ranch they share. After Peter discovers a buried secret about Phil, he methodically plots his revenge on his uncle. Campion deservedly won an Oscar for Best Director for the film; as EW's critic praises, "being submerged in her ineffable world feels not just like two hours in the dark, but high art." —K.J.

Where to watch The Power of the Dog: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Jane Campion

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Genevieve Lemon, Keith Carradine, Frances Conroy

A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

John Krasinski proved his horror movie bona fides with his jump-scare-filled breakout hit A Quiet Place, and the inevitable sequel did not disappoint. Set in a postapocalyptic world where a blind, extraterrestrial species with sensitive hearing has ravaged humanity, A Quiet Place Part II follows the Abbott family's continued survival as they are forced to retreat from their destroyed home. Armed with the knowledge of the creatures' vulnerability to high-frequency feedback, the family sets out into dangerous territory and reunites with a family friend, Emmett (Cillian Murphy), who discovers another weakness that could help them defeat the species.

The sound design is once again a highlight in Part II as Krasinski broadens the scope of the universe he created, with EW's critic praising, "Krasinski manages to render relatively straightforward tasks — nursing a baby, tuning a radio, walking through a train car — harrowing." —K.J.

Where to watch A Quiet Place Part II: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: John Krasinski

Cast: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, John Krasinski, Okieriete Onaodowan

RRR (2022)

This Indian action epic rightfully broke out as an international success in 2022. Set during the British Raj in the 1920s, the film centers on Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and his plan to reunite a kidnapped girl with her mother; meanwhile, a determined officer, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan), is hot on his trail. Their lives intersect when they rescue a boy in a train accident and they form a bond, ironically unaware of each other's identities. Packed with rousing sequences (particularly the performance of the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu"), RRR is an entertaining thrill ride that puts Hollywood blockbusters to shame. —K.J.

Where to watch RRR: Netflix

Director: S.S. Rajamouli

Cast: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, Olivia Morris

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

This sugar-rush sequel took all of the best things about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and magnified them. It continues the tale of Miles Morales as he struggles with his newfound powers to find his place in a multi-verse of Spider-Men. If only all family-oriented animated films were this invigorating, or indeed, risk-taking. As EW's critic writes, "Across the Spider-Verse mines greater emotional depth by exploring the familial relationships of Gwen and Miles from the perspectives of both parents and children." —D.G.

Where to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Oscar Isaac

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

This understated domestic dramedy follows a Brooklyn family rocked by an impending divorce. After struggling novelist Frank (Jeff Daniels) and his more successful wife, Joan (Laura Linney), reveal their separation to their kids (Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline), everything becomes a battle as the brothers choose sides and the parents try to find a way forward. Writer-director Noah Baumbach excavates his own childhood to tell a story of family strife in all its (sometimes hilarious) messiness. EW's critic calls the film a "caustically funny, awfully sad, pitilessly autobiographical coming-of-age story." —K.J.

Where to watch The Squid and the Whale: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Noah Baumbach

Cast: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, William Baldwin, Anna Paquin

Stand by Me (1986)

A search for a missing body is the catalyst for a group of boys coming of age in this treasured classic, based on a Stephen King novella. Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell star as the quartet of preteens who hope to become local heroes by finding the body of a fellow boy — and learn a lot about life along the way. An ode to friendship, EW's critic calls Stand by Me "a timeless classic for boys of all eras, best captured by the film's final line: 'I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?'" —K.J.

Where to watch Stand by Me: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Rob Reiner

Cast: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland

Tangerine (2015)

There is much to praise with this independent film from writer-director Sean Baker: it was shot entirely by iPhones and has great style; it casts two transgender actresses as leads, each giving strong performances. But it's also a good old-fashioned screwball comedy, following a day in the lives of transgender sex worker friends Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), After Alexandra informs Sin-Dee that the latter's boyfriend has been cheating on her, the pair go on a journey through the streets of Hollywood to confront him. EW's critic raves, "Tangerine is touching for its non-condescending stance toward working girls and the spirit of the sidewalk." —K.J.

Where to watch Tangerine: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Sean Baker

Cast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan, Alla Tumanian, James Ransone

The Teachers' Lounge (2023)

After this tense Oscar-nominated German film gets going, it refuses to let up. Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is the bright-eyed new teacher at a school where her fellow educators are trying to uncover the culprit behind multiple thefts from the teachers' lounge. She soon finds herself embroiled in the case when she spots a colleague stealing money, only for that colleague to deflect onto her. The Teachers' Lounge moves with the energy of a thriller, with viewers' anxiety rising the further Carla grapples with mounting pressure. —K.J.

Where to watch The Teachers' Lounge: Netflix

Director: Ilker Çatak

Cast: Leonie Benesch, Michael Klammer, Rafael Stachowiak, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Eva Löbau

Tick, Tick...Boom! (2021)

Jonathan Larson was a celebrated composer and playwright most famous for penning the Broadway musical Rent. He also wrote a semi-autobiographical musical based on his life called Tick, Tick...Boom!, which Lin-Manuel Miranda adapted to this well-received musical drama. Andrew Garfield, in an Oscar-nominated turn, stars as Larson, following his struggle to mount a musical while dealing with a tumultuous personal life. "Tick, Tick… Boom! is a totem for the thrills and trials of making art, with all the sacrifices and empathy it requires," EW's critic writes. —K.J.

Where to watch tick, tick...BOOM!: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens

Triple Frontier (2019)

J.C. Chandor's masculine action riff, about a group of special ops planning a heist in South America, is a stark contrast to his earlier, more patient efforts in 2011's Margin Call, 2013's All Is Lost, or 2014's A Most Violent Year (his masterpiece). While not as thematically strong as those films, Triple Frontier offers a dose of adrenaline that, much like The Strangers, harkens back to a forgotten era of mid-'70s B pictures. "There may be no honor among thieves," EW's critic writes, "but Triple Frontier certainly makes watching them pretty entertaining." —D.G.

Where to watch Triple Frontier: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: J.C. Chandor

Cast: Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund

Vera Drake (2004)

Writer-director Mike Leigh's characterization of the title character in this powerful period drama is so vivid, that you'd be forgiven if you assumed she was based on a real-life person. The film follows Vera (Imelda Staunton), a humble wife and mother living in 1950s London who attends to various people around the city. Notably, her work includes illegally performing abortions for girls and women who need them, putting herself at risk for the benefit of others. It's a harrowing story but beautifully portrayed by Staunton, who won a BAFTA and earned an Oscar nomination for her soul-bearing performance. —K.J.

Where to watch Vera Drake: Netflix

Director: Mike Leigh

Cast: Imelda Staunton, Eddie Marsan, Daniel Mays, Phil Davis, Sally Hawkins

The Wailing (2016)

This brilliant South Korean thriller from director Na Hong-jin turns frenzied after a new villager arrives in a tight-knit community, bringing a wave of serial murders along with him. To elaborate any further would give away some of the film's best-kept twists, of which there are many. Suffice it to say, The Wailing is one of the most over-the-top, gratuitous, and devilishly fun horror pictures of the last decade. As EW's critic praised, "The Wailing never bores as Na slathers his tale with generous supplies of atmosphere and awfulness." —D.G.

Where to watch The Wailing: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Na Hong-jin

Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, Kwak Do-won, Kim Hwan-hee, Kim Do-yoon

Will & Harper (2024)

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have been close friends since joining Saturday Night Live in the mid-'90s. After Steele came out as a trans woman in 2022, she and Ferrell embarked on a road trip across America so he could get to know her authentic truth and for her own personal journey of self-acceptance. This documentary — hilarious and moving in equal measure — chronicles the trip as Ferrell learns how to be an ally and wield his privilege for good and Steele opens up about her demons and finds catharsis. "Come for the laughs, cameos, and raw emotions," writes EW's critic, "stay for the pitch-perfect theme song co-written and performed by Kristen Wiig." —K.J.

Where to watch Will & Harper: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Josh Greenbaum

Cast: Will Ferrell, Harper Steele

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More (2024)

This whimsical anthology film finds auteur director Wes Anderson bringing the stories of Roald Dahl to life. Originally released as four short films in 2023, Netflix has now assembled them all into one collection. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, which won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short, centers on the titular character's years-long training process to be able to see without his eyes — all so he can cheat at gambling.

Other shorts are The Swan (about the struggles of a bullied boy), The Rat Catcher (about, well, an exterminator of rats), and Poison (about a man who finds a snake in his bed). Anderson's flair for carefully crafted aesthetics is a throughline, as is his love of the art of storytelling. —K.J.

Where to watch The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More: Netflix

Director: Wes Anderson

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend

The Wrong Missy (2020)

On paper, The Wrong Missy is nothing new: David Spade goes on a bad date with Lauren Lapkus, whose name is Missy, and then means to invite a cute girl (Molly Sims), hilariously also named Missy, with him on a company retreat to Hawaii. (No points for guessing which Missy ends up on the trip.) The film coasts by on a general likability, but if not for Lapkus' performance, the story would be lost at sea. She glues the entire enterprise together with a mixture of well-played raunch and genuine pathos, selling the moment and keeping the plot bouncing along to the next joke. —D.G.

Where to watch The Wrong Missy: Netflix

Director: Tyler Spindel

Cast: Lauren Lapkus, David Spade, Molly Sims, Jackie Sandler, Rob Schneider