The best Netflix TV shows and movies to download

Green Room

One of the best films of 2016, Green Room is a shockingly-violent thriller from writer/director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin) which places a young punk band in a brutal standoff against a group of murderous neo-Nazis (led by a truly scary Sir Patrick Stewart) after they witness a murder in a skinhead bar. Pulling no punches whatsoever, Green Room takes its Assault on Precinct 13-inspired premise and barrels headfirst into some seriously gruesome territory, featuring the kind of grisly carnage that'd make a hardened gorehound wince. In other words, it's totally gnarly! On a sadder note, the film's lead star, Anton Yelchin, tragically died in an accident midway through 2016, making Green Room one of his final films.

IMDB Rating: 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Jaws

You’re gonna need a bigger tablet. Why? Because Jaws has been made available for download on the Netflix app! The classic film that gave birth to the summer blockbuster, and made director Steven Spielberg a household name, Jaws is the ultimate shark movie. WIth its bone-chilling musical score from John Williams, and terrific performances from Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw, Jaws has inspired entire generations to stay out of the water. An endlessly rewatchable classic that has stood the test of time, Jaws is the perfect film to download take with you to the beach. Better yet, you could even watch it while on a boat trip…

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Pulp Fiction

One of the most influential films ever made, Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award and Palme d’Or-winning masterpiece Pulp Fiction inspired a legion of copycats and forced the film industry to change the way it approached pop culture. Now available for download on the Netflix app, Pulp Fiction is an ingenious crime anthology with three interlocking parts – one follows two hitmen as they go on a job and experience what may or may not be an act of God, another sees one of those hitmen take the boss’ wife out for dinner with unexpected results, while the third involves a boxer who takes money from said boss to take a dive, but has other plans in mind. Violent, audacious and with little concern to the rules of cinema, Pulp Fiction is the kind of whip-smart classic that can be watched at the drop of a hat. So why not download it now?

IMDB Rating: 8.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Good Will Hunting

The film that made superstars of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Good Will Hunting is now available for download on the Netflix app. How do you like them apples? If you answered ‘quite a bit’, then it’s high time you watch this inspiring film again. After solving an astonishingly complex mathematical problem posed by a genius Harvard professor (Stellan Skarsgård), a troubled young janitor named Will (Matt Damon) is offered a second chance at life. Though he is gifted with astounding brilliance, Will has trouble letting go of the pain and bottled-up resentment caused by his tough South Boston upbringing. In an effort to get through to Will, the professor employs the help of his old psychologist friend, Sean (Robin Williams), in the hope that he may provide the breakthrough he so desperately needs to move forward. Featuring the very best performance of the late Robin Williams career, Good Will Hunting is a touching and powerful film that will make even the toughest person tear up. 

IMDB Rating: 8.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

City of God

Looking for something a little more international to download? Consider City of God as your next destination. Based on true events that took place over three decades in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro, this incredible film accurately recreates the lively and energetic vibe of Brazil, but also counters it with some truly harrowing scenes of devastating violence (some of which involving young children –  you have been warned). In the 'City of God', kids brandish firearms and kill each other indiscriminately over petty drug deals. While that might sound like too much to bear, the terrific filmmaking on display from Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund will keep you glued to the screen, as will the film's authentic performers and compelling story. One of the greatest films of all time, City of God is like Goodfellas scored to a samba beat. If you loved the Netflix Original series Narcos, you should consider City of God a must-see film. 

IMDB Rating: 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Zoolander

Looking to download a movie that’s filled with really, really, ridiculously good looking people? The hilarious Ben Stiller comedy Zoolander should be your first port of call. There’s a conspiracy afoot! Someone is out to brainwash the world’s number one male model, Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), in order to force him to assassinate the Malaysian Prime Minister at an upcoming fashion show. Now, Derek and his modelling rival, Hansel (Owen Wilson), must team up with Time magazine reporter, Matilda (Christine Taylor), to uncover this conspiracy before it’s too late! The kind of hilarious comedy that only gets better with age, Zoolander is the perfect go-to funny flick for any occasion. 

IMDB Rating: 6.6

Hot Fuzz

If you're after something that's hilarious and action-packed, Hot Fuzz is the perfect film to download. Following the success of their classic rom-zom-com, Shaun of the Dead, director Edgar Wright, star and writer Simon Pegg and co-star Nick Frost teamed up once again to bring their hilarious sensibilities to the buddy-cop movie genre with Hot Fuzz. London super-cop Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is involuntarily transferred to a village in the English countryside for making his superiors look bad by comparison. There, he teams up with dim-witted (but well-meaning) cop Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) and together, the pair uncover a murder conspiracy. If films like Point Break and Bad Boys II are in constant rotation at your place, you absolutely owe it to yourself to grab a Cornetto and watch Hot Fuzz.

IMDB Rating: 7.9

Stephen Lambrechts
Senior Journalist, Phones and Entertainment

Stephen primarily covers phones and entertainment for TechRadar's Australian team, and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming in both print and online for over a decade. He's obsessed with smartphones, televisions, consoles and gaming PCs, and has a deep-seated desire to consume all forms of media at the highest quality possible. 


He's also likely to talk a person’s ear off at the mere mention of Android, cats, retro sneaker releases, travelling and physical media, such as vinyl and boutique Blu-ray releases. Right now, he's most excited about QD-OLED technology, The Batman and Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga.