The Best Movies on Netflix to Stream Now
With thousands of films available, an intended movie night can easily turn into an evening of scrolling through Netflix’s library trying to pick the perfect film. From Netflix Originals to cult classics to more modern releases, it can definitely be difficult to choose a movie before the popcorn gets cold.
Luckily, we rounded up the best movies on Netflix that you can stream right now. Whether you’re looking for a fun family movie to watch with the kids, a classic romantic comedy to enjoy with a glass of wine (and tissues!) or a spooky horror flick that will keep you up all night, we’ve got you covered.
Here are the best films on Netflix to consider for your next movie night.
La La Land
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone put their singing abilities on display in this 2016 Oscar-winning musical, which tells the story of two aspiring artists who fall in love while following their dreams in Los Angeles. If you happen to stumble upon “A Lovely Night” at home, put on La La Land — especially before it’s adapted for the Broadway stage.
Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant
Based on Veronica Roth’s best-selling YA book series, Divergent unfolds in a postapocalyptic Chicago split into five personality-based factions: Abnegation (selfless), Amity (peaceful), Candor (honest), Erudite (intellectual) and Dauntless (brave). When Abnegation-born Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) learns she is Divergent — someone who doesn’t fit neatly into any one faction — she has to hide her status to avoid execution and pick a faction to commit to for life. Stream the trilogy on Netflix, which also stars Theo James, Kate Winslet, Ashley Judd, Miles Teller, Zoë Kravitz and more.
1917
Winning three Academy Awards (including Best Cinematography), Sam Mendes’ 2019 war drama follows two young British lance corporals, Will Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman). Under orders from General Erinmore (Colin Firth), the pair must traverse enemy lines to deliver a life-or-death message to Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch), halting an attack that would endanger more than 1,000 men.
A Simple Favor
Fans of 2009’s Jennifer’s Body and 2014’s Gone Girl will adore this campy 2018 mystery thriller. Mommy vlogger and widower Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) meets the glamorous yet mystifying mom of her son’s schoolmate, Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), and they form a connection over many martinis. After Emily disappears without warning, Stephanie uses her online presence to solve the case. Watch this flick before the forthcoming sequel, which recently wrapped up filming in Italy.
Anyone But You
Hey Alexa, crank up “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield! Loosely based on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, this 2023 rom-com stars Euphoria‘s Sydney Sweeney and Top Gun: Maverick‘s Glen Powell as archrivals who land at the same destination wedding. While one’s on a mission to reignite an old flame, the other is desperate to dodge their ex. Naturally, they strike a deal to fake a relationship, all while secretly despising each other.
The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions and The Matrix Resurrections
Just two words: bullet time. In 1999, audiences were captivated by the iconic image of Keanu Reeves’ Neo dodging shots fired in slow motion. Revolutionizing cinema with its stunts and Oscar-winning visual effects, the Wachowskis’ dystopian sci-fi adventure — starring Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving, among others — led to three sequels (all of which are on Netflix), video games, and more.
Kill Bill: Volume 1
Emerging from a four-year coma induced by her jealous ex-lover Bill’s attempt to murder her and her unborn child on her wedding day, a former assassin known as “The Bride” (Uma Thurman) wakes up wanting only one thing: payback. Crafting a lengthy hit list of those complicit with Bill, she sets out to eliminate every last one of them. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill: Volume 1 stars Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah and more.
Jumanji
As Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter Shepherd (Bradley Pierce) settle into a rundown mansion with their aunt, they stumble upon an outmoded, jungle-themed board game. Once they play, the siblings free Alan Parrish (Robin Williams) — trapped within the game’s realm for more than two decades — and all must finish the game to stop the mayhem it summons with each roll of the dice.
Shrek
Meet everybody’s favorite all-star ogre! In this 2001 animated classic, Shrek (Mike Myers) enjoys his peaceful life in his secluded swamp until it’s invaded by a myriad of fairy-tale creatures exiled by the arbitrary ruler Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Joined by the ever-babbling Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek sets out on a journey to retrieve the tower-bound Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) at Farquaad’s behest, all in hopes of reclaiming his boggy oasis.
Thanksgiving
In the aftermath of a fatal Black Friday in Plymouth, Mass., a sadistic killer slips into a pilgrim mask and uses traditional Thanksgiving cutlery to carve out their revenge on the town’s residents. A fresh yet brutal take on the holiday horror genre, Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving serves up a to-die-for ensemble, including Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Nell Verlaque and more.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Guess why he smiles a lot? “Uh, ’cause it’s worth it!” In this A24 feel-good mockumentary, the beloved talking seashell (voiced by Jenny Slate) — a YouTube sensation since 2010 — finally gets his Hollywood moment. Though he may be 1 inch tall, he has a lot of love and life to offer, drawing the attention of a documentarian (Dean Fleischer Camp) and a legion of online followers who could hold the key to reuniting him with his long-lost family.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Ever heard of a hurricane party? Well, at this one, a dynamic group of out-of-touch Gen-Zers opt to weather a tropical storm in a lofty mansion, where they play a murder-in-the-dark-style game that escalates into a full-blown slasher horror. With a killer soundtrack and whip-smart commentary on the iGeneration, Bodies Bodies Bodies stars Amandla Stenberg, Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson and more.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
In 2022, this genre-bending marvel captured the bagel-sized hearts of many, taking home 7 Oscars — including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay — and becoming the first A24 film to earn more than $100 million at the box office. Here, Best Actress Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh steps into the shoes of Chinese American immigrant Evelyn Wong, a fretful laundromat owner who channels kickass powers from her other infinite lives in the multiverse to defeat an imminent threat and its army. An off-beat yet heartrending epic, Everything Everywhere All at Once also stars Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis and more.
X
In the Texas hinterlands, a group of actors set their sights on shooting an X-rated movie in their rental cabin — that is until they become targets of a vicious bloodbath by their older hosts, who hostilely disagree with their lifestyle. Starring scream queens Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega and Brittany Snow, Ti West’s ’80s-set slasher quickly earned a cult following, spawning a prequel titled Pearl (2022) and the upcoming sequel MaXXXine.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Alright, let’s-a go! Jump down the nearest pipe and transport yourself to the colorful world of Nintendo’s iconic video game franchise. Smashing box office records, this 2023 animated blockbuster follows two Italian American plumbers, Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day), who become embroiled in an ongoing battle between the Mushroom Kingdom and the Koopas — and brings a lot of fan-favorite Mario characters to the silver screen, including Princess Peach (voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy), Bowser (voiced by Jack Black) and more.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
In the 2023 follow-up to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) joins forces with Gwen Stacey (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) to rescue various Spider-People from a formidable new villain. As they traverse through the multiverse, they encounter the Spider-Society, a group of Spider-People led by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac).
No Hard Feelings
After losing her car to repossession, 32-year-old Uber driver Maddie Barker (Jennifer Lawrence) — who is on the brink of bankruptcy — responds to a Craiglist ad posted by a wealthy couple (Laura Benanti, Matthew Broderick) seeking someone to “date” their socially awkward son (Andrew Barth Feldman) before he heads off to college. In exchange, she’ll receive a Buick Regal to resume her ride-share gig so she can try and make enough money to keep her house.
Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture
Picking up a few years after where the Emmy-winning PBS series left off, this 2019 historical drama set in the early 20th century follows the Crawley family and their servants as they prepare their Yorkshire estate for a royal visit from the King and Queen. The film features an ensemble reprising their beloved roles, including Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech, Elizabeth McGovern and Maggie Smith.
Love Again
Grieving the loss of her fiancé, Mira Ray (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) sends a series of heartfelt texts to his old cell phone, now in the possession of journalist Rob Burns (Sam Heughan). Assigned to write a profile piece about Céline Dion, Rob enlists the iconic singer’s aid in staging a meeting with his unexpected digital pen pal.
Love at First Sight
Based on Jennifer E. Smith’s 2013 book, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, this 2023 romance takes off with two strangers — played by The White Lotus‘ Haley Lu Richardson and Bohemian Rhapsody‘s Ben Hardy — who form a romantic connection on a lengthy plane ride. Though they part ways upon arrival, the idea of finding each other again isn’t as implausible as it seems, reminding us that destiny often works its own magic.
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food
Ever wonder about the hidden ingredients that sneak into your body? Netflix’s startling documentary uncovers the unsettling presence of hazardous substances in the U.S. food supply. Featuring in-depth investigations and expert interviews, Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food exposes the historical issues within America’s food system, raising awareness about the potential health risks and environmental impacts related to our everyday meals.
Heart of Stone
From the executive producers of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) comes an adrenaline-fueled spy thriller about global intelligence agent Rachel Stone (Gal Gadot), who’s sent on a high-stakes mission to stop a hacker’s plot to steal her organization’s most powerful weapon. Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt and Matthias Schweighöfer also star.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
In this Adam Sandler-produced comedy, Stacey Friedman’s (Sunny Sandler) dream of hosting an unforgettable bat mitzvah takes a hilarious turn when middle school antics get in the way, including a feud with her best friend Lydia (Samantha Lorraine) over the school’s heartthrob (Dylan Hoffman). Based on Fiona Rosenbloom’s eponymous 2007 novel, this family flick also features performances from Sandler, Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Jackie Hoffman and Luis Guzmán.
Run Rabbit Run
This Australian psychological horror film will either have you glued to your seat or running far away from it. Premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Run Rabbit Run stars Succession‘s Sarah Snook as a fertility doctor and single mother who notices her daughter’s chilling shift in behavior, as the little girl claims to remember an ominous past life.
Wham!
Jitterbug! This heartfelt documentary dives into the music career led by the English pop duo Wham!, using ’70s and ’80s archival footage and interviews of band members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.
The Out-Laws
After proposing to his girlfriend Parker (Nina Dobrev), bank manager Owen Browning (Adam DeVine) is finally meeting his fiancée’s parents (Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin). But when his place of work is robbed by notorious thieves, known as the “Ghost Bandits,” Owen learns he’s marrying into a family of lawbreakers. This 2023 crime comedy also stars Poorna Jagannathan, Richard Kind, Lil Rel Howery and more.
They Cloned Tyrone
This sci-fi mystery comedy finds three neighbors — played by Teyonah Parris, John Boyega and Jamie Foxx (who also produced the film) — forming a far-fetched liaison as they try to expose a government cloning conspiracy. They Cloned Tyrone is helmed by Juel Taylor (a first-time director), who also wrote the film, as well as the screenplays for Creed II (2018) and Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021).