Welcome to TechRadar's best Netflix movies article. In this guide, you'll find a collection of the 43 greatest films that are available to stream on the world's most popular streaming platform, including Netflix Originals and licensed flicks, such as 2024 Oscar winner Godzilla Minus One and global phenomenon Top Gun: Maverick.
Searching for other Netflix recommendations? You should read our everything new on Netflix in December 2024 guide and everything leaving Netflix in December 2024 if you want do some last-minute or first-time watching of titles saying goodbye to Netflix. Our new Netflix movies guide is also worth perusing for the freshest flicks to hit the service. But if you're more of a TV show watcher, we've also got you covered with our best Netflix TV shows to watch.
Netflix's movie library has something for everyone spanning a vast amount of genres so to stop you from endlessly scrolling through the content mines, we've made it easier for you to decide by picking out the best from each genre, so read on to get the scoop on the best Netflix films around.
Best action movies on Netflix
Baby Driver
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 113 minutes
Main cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, and Kevin Spacey
Director: Edgar Wright
RT score: 92%
Fancy a rip-roaring ride in the fast lane? High-octane action comedy Baby Driver will certainly deliver on that wish. Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver follows getaway driver Baby (Ansel Elgort) who uses his iPod playlists to drown out his tinnitus, which cleverly provides the killer soundtrack to his car chases. While Baby wants to escape his life of crime, he is forced into taking on one more job from criminal mastermind Doc (Kevin Spacey), which swiftly takes a turn for the worst. Baby Driver sounds as good as it looks (it won the Empire Award for Best Soundtrack in 2018) with exhilarating pursuits, gravity-defying stunts, action-packed twists and heartwarming romance that will have you clinging onto your car dashboard.
• Watch Baby Driver on Netflix now
• Watch Baby Driver's trailer on YouTube
Top Gun: Maverick
Age rating: 12
Runtime: 131 minutes
Main cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connolly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, and Val Kilmer
Director: Joseph Kosinski
RT score: 96%
One of 2022’s best movies, Top Gun: Maverick is a near-perfect example of how to deliver a long overdue sequel to a 1980s cult classic film. Action star Tom Cruise reprises his role as Peter ‘Maverick’ Mitchell from 1986’s Top Gun, with the experienced pilot forced to confront his past while training a new generation of aviators for a dangerous mission in enemy territory. In my Top Gun: Maverick review, I called the dormant franchise’s latest entry a “jaw-dropping spectacle” and “bona fide blockbuster” that’s “superior to its predecessor in almost every conceivable way”. Stick it on your best Netflix movies watchlist ASAP.
• Watch Top Gun: Maverick on Netflix now
• Watch Top Gun: Maverick's trailer on YouTube
How I Became a Super Hero
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 97 minutes
Main cast: Pio Marmaï, Vimala Pons, Leïla Bekhti, and Léonie Souchaud
Director: Douglas Attal
RT score: 83%
How I Became a Super Hero is a French superhero film where humans and superheroes coexist in Parisian society. However, when a new drug gives powers to ordinary people, two cops join forces with two ex-superheroes to stop a dark organisation trafficking superpowers. How I Became a Super Hero is a refreshing change of pace from Marvel and DC blockbusters and focuses more on plot than action, with a realistic yet intriguing take on how super powers would impact society. Hopefully there will be a sequel so we can explore this new world more!
• Watch How I Became a Super Hero on Netflix now
• Watch How I Became a Super Hero's trailer on YouTube
All Quiet on the Western Front
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 148 minutes
Main cast: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, and Moritz Klaus
Director: Edward Berger
RT score: 90%
It’s been a good few years since Dunkirk and 1917 reminded audiences of the horrors of war, but Netflix assumed that responsibility with shocking but beautifully-made WWI epic All Quiet on the Western Front. Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s landmark novel of the same name (which was first adapted into a feature film in 1930), this German-language movie tells the story of a young German soldier (Felix Kammerer) whose naïve expectations of fighting for his country are shattered by war’s harrowing reality. As you'd expect, All Quiet on the Western Front is brutal, vivid, and poignant – just don’t expect to reach its credits feeling particularly joyous.
• Watch All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix now
• Watch All Quiet on the Western Front's trailer on YouTube
Best animated movies on Netflix
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
Age rating: 12
Runtime: 98 minutes
Main cast: Jack Black, Bill Wise, Lee Eddy, Milo Coy, Zachary Levi, and Glen Powell
Director: Richard Linklater
RT score: 91%
If you’re keen to mix up your movie-watching diet, films don't come more unconventional than Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood. Linklater's (Boyhood) 2022 animated feature, which tells the story of the 1969 moon landing from multiple perspectives, is a sweet and nostalgic visual feast for the eyes that'll hug at the heartstrings of anyone who's dreamed of heading to space. Apollo 10 1/2 shares the visual style of Linklater’s previous animation – 2006's A Scanner Darkly – and features The Super Mario Bros. Movie's Jack Black, Shazam! Fury of the Gods' Zachary Levi, and Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell in various voice acting roles. Long title notwithstanding, it's a fascinating and visually bold take on one of history’s most iconic moments. More of these kind of films, please, Netflix.
• Watch Apollo 10 1/2 on Netflix now
• Watch Apollo 10 1/2's trailer on YouTube
Song of the Sea
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 94 minutes
Main cast: Tomm Moore, Ross Murray, Paul Young, Stephan Roelants
Director: Tomm Moore
RT score: 99%
This Irish hidden gem has a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and it's PG rated, so fun for most of the family! It's perfect for those who love folklore as it's packed with popular creatures like selkies and plenty of gorgeous visuals throughout. It also has a lot of depth, and we're not just talking about the ocean. There's plenty of emotion here, and it's one of the most beautiful explorations of loss I've ever seen. A must watch.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, and Finn Holfhard
Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
RT score: 96%
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio breathed new life into Carlo Collodi's beloved 1883 fairytale – about a wooden puppet who longs to become a real boy – when it debuted on the platform in late 2022. Shot entirely using stop-motion (in a manner akin to Netflix series The House), del Toro’s darker adaptation is set in 1930s Italy during Mussolini’s fascist regime and features a star-studded voice cast who bring vivacity, levity, menace, and more to each of the films' distinct characters. Easily one of the best Netflix movies of recent times, animated or otherwise – and its multiple trophy wins on the 2023 awards circuit proved it.
• Watch Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio on Netflix now
• Watch Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio's trailer on YouTube
The Mitchells vs the Machines
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 114 minutes
Main cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Michael Rianda, and Olivia Colman
Director: Michael Rianda
RT score: 97%
In The Mitchells vs The Machines, Jacobson voices Katie Mitchell, an aspiring director who's set to leave home for college – until her dad, conscious that they're not as close as they used to be, cancels her plane ticket and decides to travel across the country with Abbi for one final family road-trip. Midway through said journey, an AI seeks retribution on its billionaire creator and the world is suddenly thrown into disarray by a robot uprising. Plenty of Spider-Verse's visual touches are evident in this one, with 2D annotations and drawings on the already-pretty 3D visuals. A beautiful film in more ways than one and fully deserving of its spot on both this list and best Netflix family movies list.
• Watch The Mitchells vs The Machines on Netflix now
• Watch The Mitchells vs the Machines' trailer on YouTube
Nimona
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 102 minutes
Main cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, and Frances Conroy
Directors: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
RT score: 92%
Based on ND Stevenson's 2015 graphic novel of the same name, Nimona is a delightfully fun, action-packed, funny, and heartwarming flick that's also unapologetically queer. Ahmed (Star Wars: Rogue One) stars as Ballister Blackheart, a knight of a futurism-inspired realm who's framed for the murder of his kingdom's queen. The only individual who can get him out of a tight spot is Nimona (The Peipheral's Chloe Grace Moretz), a shapeshifter who the realm's knights are sworn to keep their citizens safe from. Cue an extraordinarily fun buddy cop-style tale that teaches kids to accept people for who they are. With its authentic LGBTQ+ representation, subversive storytelling, and creative animation style, among many other positives, Nimona is a worthy inclusion in our best Netflix movies guide.
• Watch Nimona's trailer on YouTube
Paddington 1 and 2
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 95 minutes (Paddington 1); 103 minutes (Paddington 2)
Main cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, and Samuel Joslin
Director: Paul King
RT score: 97% (Paddington 1); 99% (Paddington 2)
Not that it needed saying, but Paddington and its sequel – Paddington 2 – are some of the best family movies ever made. And no, I won't be explaining why, because it's pretty much self-explanatory. On the surface, the world-renowned marmalade sandwich-eating Peruvian bear didn't seem like the kind of character to lead a universally adored duology. As it happens, however, Paddington (voiced with a deftness, warmth, and stacks of humor by Whishaw) is an unassuming but fantastic movie star, with his two big-screen adventures proving as much. You'll cry laughing at their slapstick moments, cry some more at its heart-wrenching (and heart-warming!) scenes, and do your best Leonardo Di Caprio pointing meme impersonation whenever a big-name star shows up. Stream two of the best Netflix movies immediately.
• Watch Paddington on Netflix now
• Watch Paddington's trailer on YouTube
The Sea Beast
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: Karl Urban, Zaris Angel-Hator, Jared Harris, and Dan Stevens
Director: Chris Williams
RT score: 95%
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero Six), The Sea Beast tells the tale of famous sea monster hunter Jacob Holland (voiced by The Boys’ Karl Urban), who unexpectedly finds a young stowaway – Maisie Brumble (Angel Hator) – on board his seafaring vessel. Charming, action-packed, and beautifully-rendered, The Sea Beast has been a mainstay of this guide for a long time. Not only that, but it also showed that Netflix needed to think twice about scaling back its animation department upon the film's arrival. Judging by the great animated movies we've received since, it's done just that, too.
• Watch The Sea Beast on Netflix now
• Watch The Sea Beast's trailer on YouTube
Spirited Away
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 125 minutes
Main cast: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, and Susan Egan
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
RT score: 96%
Legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and his award-winning animation company Studio Ghibli are pretty much unmatched when it comes to gorgeous, 2D-style kid-friendly flicks. They're all beautifully animated and most are deeply moving, with plenty of rich, deep themes and subject matter than you'd expect from movies aimed squarely at your children. Nearly all of Ghibli's films are available on Netflix, but it's Spirited Away that's arguably the studio's most famous and popular work of art (sorry, My Neighbor Totoro fans). Without giving too much away: the best anime is about a girl named Chihiro whose parents are turned into pigs (yes, really) who then goes to work in a mystical bathhouse. If you're looking for a Studio Ghibli marathon, then check out Every Studio Ghibli movie ranked: our definitive list of anime Ghibli films.
• Watch Spirited Away on Netflix now
• Watch Spirited Away's trailer on YouTube
Best comedy movies on Netflix
Hustle
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 118 minutes
Main cast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, and Robert Duvall
Director: Jeremiah Zagar
RT score: 93%
If you were a fan of 2019's Uncut Gems (also on this list), then listen up: Hustle, a surprisingly entertaining basketball drama, aims to deliver more Adam Sandler-sized surprises. After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad, Stanley Sugerman (Sandler), a down-on-his-luck Philadelphia 76ers scout, takes it upon himself to bring the young phenom to the States without his team's approval. Against the odds, the pair must work to prove that they both deserve to make it big in the NBA. That synopsis might sound like standard sports drama fare, but Hustle earned unexpectedly glowing reviews ahead of its muted release. Trust us: this is no Jack and Jill.
• Watch Hustle's trailer on YouTube
Matilda the Musical
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 122 minutes
Main cast: Emma Thompson, Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, and Stephen Graham
Director: Matthew Warchus
RT score: 93%
Heavily inspired by the successful stage musical of the same name – which itself is influenced by Roald Dahl's classic novel – Matilda the Musical is a delightful sing-a-long comedy-drama that's fun for the whole family. Weir portrays the titular character who, as a response to her horrendous upbringing, develops telekinetic abilities. Armed with powers that can help people (and mischievously get back at those who have wronged her), Matilda puts her abilities to good and humorous use, such as taking on the wicked Crunchem Hall School headmaster Miss Trunchbull (Thompson). A superb reimagining of a beloved story whose soundtrack will live in your head for days.
• Watch Matilda the Musical on Netflix now
• Watch Matilda the Musical's trailer on YouTube
Wicked Little Letters
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, and Timothy Spall
Director: Thea Sharrock
RT score: 80%
After hearing good things about the black comedy Wicked Little Letters, I decided to fish it out of my Netflix library and it's safe to say I wasn't disappointed. Set in 1920s England, Wicked Little Letters is based on the true story of the Littlehampton libels. When conservative local Edith (Olivia Colman) and the people of Littlehampton start receiving vulgar letters, the unruly Irish migrant Rose (Jessie Buckley) is charged with the crime. When a young headstrong police woman suspects something is wrong, she teams up with the town's women to investigate. It's a foul-mouthed fiasco full of hilarious profanities that make this farcical comedy a very entertaining watch.
• Watch Wicked Little Letters on Netflix now
• Watch the Wicked Little Letters trailer on YouTube
Best drama movies on Netflix
The Irishman
Age rating:15
Runtime: 209 minutes
Main cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, and Anna Paquin
Director: Martin Scorsese
RT score: 95%
This threateningly long Scorsese pic attracted attention for the extensive effects work used to de-age its old stars, and it's a creative decision that's sometimes distracting. But there's no denying the appeal of seeing Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino in the same movie together for likely the last time, and this life-spanning, mostly rewarding crime epic is a suitable tribute to their collective talents. The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran (De Niro) as he recounts his long association with the Bufalino crime family and infamous union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). It's a languid film – and not a patch on Goodfellas – but absolutely among the best Netflix movies the streaming service has financed to date. You can see how The Irishman ranked on our best Martin Scorsese movies list.
• Watch The Irishman on Netflix now
• Watch The Irishman's trailer on YouTube
Uncut Gems
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 135 minutes
Main cast: Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, and Kevin Garnett
Directors: Benny and Josh Safdie
RT score: 91%
This sweaty-palmed thriller tells the frenetic tale of Howard Ratner (Sandler), a jeweller and gambler who plans a gem sale that'll solve all his problems. Instead, Howard makes more and more ill-advised bets, and the walls begin to close in. Uncut Gems is a stressful but enthralling film with a really impressive performance from Sandler, not to mention a fantastic ensemble cast. It's a fascinating character study, as you watch Ratner begin to suffocate under the weight of his terrible decisions and inability to put anyone but himself first. A seriously underrated film.
• Watch Uncut Gems on Netflix now
• Watch Uncut Gems' trailer on YouTube
The Hand of God
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Filippo Scotti, Tony Servillo, Teresa Sapoangelo, and Marlon Joubert
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
RT score: 83%
The Hand of God marks the movie-making return of beloved Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, and tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a young man (Filippo Scotti, standing in for a teenage Sorrentino) grappling with the pressures of growing up in 1980s Naples. As well as referring to the infamous goal scored by Argentine footballer (and Napoli legend) Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup, the film's title alludes to a tragic and life-affirming event that forces its protagonist to grow up quicker than he'd otherwise like. To say more risks spoiling The Hand of God's most tender moments, though the movie's beautiful locations, hypnotic camerawork, and larger-than-life characters ensure it ranks among Sorrentino's best work.
• Watch The Hand of God on Netflix now
• Watch The Hand of God's trailer on YouTube
Roma
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 134 minutes
Main cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Fernando Grediaga, and Daniela Demesa
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
RT score: 96%
An astonishing ode to motherhood in all forms, Roma is the most personal film to date from visionary director Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity). On paper, it's is not the easiest sell – a subtitled black and white film about a live-in housekeeper spoken almost entirely in Spanish and the indigenous Mixtec language. But Cuarón's 2018 critical hit is nonetheless riveting from a cinematic standpoint. More a series of vignettes than a traditional three-act story, it examines the life of a Mexico City family in the early 1970s during a time of great social upheaval.
• Watch Roma's trailer on YouTube
Society of the Snow
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 145 minutes
Main cast: Enzo Vogrincic, Augustin Padella, Esteban Bigliardi, and Simon Hempe
Director: J.A. Bayona
RT score: 90%
J.A. Bayona’s latest flick – based on real-life events – is a harrowing portrayal of human endurance and how our primal survival instincts assume dominance over our humanity. Society of the Snow tells the tragic story of the 1972 Andes Air Disaster, which saw a Uruguayan rugby team crash-land in the freezing South American mountain range en route to a Chile-based tournament. Trapped in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, the 16 survivors are forced to take extreme measures in order to stay alive. A heart-breaking and grim tale of human morality, but one that equally shines an earnest, powerful light on surviving against all odds. One of the best Netflix movies, from a foreign language perspective, you’ll see.
• Watch Society of the Snow on Netflix now
• Watch Society of the Snow's trailer on YouTube
The Two Popes
Age rating: 12
Runtime: 125 minutes
Main cast: Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, and Sidney Cole
Director: Fernando Meirelles
RT score: 89%
As soon as Pope Francis was elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013, people started asking when Jonathan Pryce – who shares a remarkable likeness with the Pontiff – might play him on screen. Netflix eventually made it come to pass, as City of God and The Constant Gardener director Fernando Meirelles took a peek through the keyholes of the Vatican. We’ll never know how accurate the portrayal of Francis's meetings with Benedict XVI – his more conservative predecessor (played by Anthony Hopkins) – really are, but The Two Popes is a brilliant odd couple drama, especially when the duo let their hair down to watch their teams face off in the 2014 World Cup final.
• Watch The Two Popes on Netflix now
• Watch The Two Popes trailer on YouTube
The Wonder
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 109 minutes
Main cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, and Elaine Cassidy
Director: Sebastien Lelio
RT score: 85%
Pugh (Black Widow, Dune Part 2) proved her generational talent yet again in Netflix's unsettling drama-cum-horror The Wonder. Set in the Irish Midlands in 1862, the movie stars Pugh as an English nurse called to observe a young girl (Kíla Lord Cassidy) who remains miraculously alive and well despite not having eaten for four months. Ciarán Hinds, Niamh Algar, and Toby Jones also star in Sebastián Lelio’s period mystery. As period dramas go, The Wonder is an absorbing and fantastic flick that confirms Pugh's ability to embody every role she plays.
• Watch The Wonder on Netflix now
• Watch The Wonder trailer on YouTube
Beasts of No Nation
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 137 minutes
Main cast: Idris Elba, Abraham Atta, and Kurt Egyiawan
Director: Cary Fukunaga
RT score: 91%
We won't beat about the bush – Beasts of No Nation is a tough watch. No Time to Die's Cary Fukunaga directs this harrowing feature, which follows the journey of a young orphan (Abraham Attah) forced into becoming a child soldier by a fierce warlord (Idris Elba) during an unnamed African civil war. An adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala's novel of the same name, Beasts of No Nation is a masterfully-shot story documenting the human cost of conflict, and places the uncomfortable realities of war front and centre. This isn't one to watch with the kids, but sitting through its two-hour narrative is an enlightening, dare-we-say necessary movie experience.
• Watch Beasts of No Nation on Netflix now
• Watch Beasts of No Nation's trailer on YouTube
Best fantasy movies on Netflix
The Harry Potter collection
Age ratings: PG and 12
Runtimes: Between 138 minutes and 160 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, and Richard Harris
Directors: Chris Columbus, Mike Newell, Alfonso Cuaron, and David Yates
RT scores: Between 77% and 96%
The incredibly popular Harry Potter films don't really need a formal introduction. For anyone who's been living in a cave for the last 15 years, though: they're based on J.K. Rowling's hugely successful fantasy book series, and tell the magical story of Harry Potter, a young wizard who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Oh, and his increasingly dramatic and perilous conflict with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who wants to subjugate wizards and muggles (that's non-magic wielders) alike. Given the franchise's worldwide fanbase, the Harry Potter films were extraordinarily successful during their theatrical run between 2001 and 2011. Cumulatively, the octet raked in $7.7 billion globally, made overnight stars of its young cast, and cemented Harry Potter as the cultural phenomenon of our times. A TV series remake is currently in the works for Max, but we're unconvinced it'll capture the imagination, allure, and majesty of the films. Find out how to watch the Harry Potter movies in order or read our Harry Potter movies ranked piece while you're here.
• Watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on Netflix now
• Watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone's trailer on YouTube
Okja
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Giancarlo Espostio
Director: Bong Joon-ho
RT score: 86%
If you've enjoyed Bong Joon-ho's Oscar Best Picture winner Parasite, you might want to check out his previous movie, Okja, which is still one of the best Netflix movies on the platform. It tells the bizarre tale of a young girl Mija and her best pal, an enormous creature called Okja, whose friendship comes under threat when a nasty CEO (Tilda Swinton) has evil plans for the titular animal. It's a refreshing movie with a nice angle of animal activism – a very different proposition to Parasite, for sure, but one that also demonstrates the director's ability to blend genres.
• Watch Okja's trailer on YouTube
Best history movies on Netflix
Mudbound
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 135 minutes
Main cast: Carey Mulligan, Jason Mitchell, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige, Garrett Hedlund, and Rob Morgan
Director: Dee Rees
RT score: 97%
Based on the novel by Hillary Jordan, Oscar-nominated Mudbound tells the story of two World War II veterans who return to rural Mississippi and struggle with racism and PTSD from the horrors of war. Everything about Mudbound is captivating, from the performance, soundtrack and direction. It's clear that Netflix were desperate to get their hands on this historical drama as the streamer paid $12.5m for the rights to distribute Mudbound, with Netflix taking the title of spending the most money on a single movie at the Sundance film festival in 2017. If you're looking to watch a poignant story with important themes and sublime cinematography, then give Mudbound a watch.
• Watch Mudbound on Netflix now
• Watch Mudbound's YouTube trailer
Joy
Age rating: 12
Runtime: 115 minutes
Main cast: Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, Bill Nighy, and Joanna Scanlan
Director: Ben Taylor
RT score: 89%
Don't let this historical drama disappear into the Netflix algorithm as Joy tells the uplifting true story of three pioneering British scientists in the 60s and 70s who developed the world's first 'test tube baby', Louise Joy Brown. Despite opposition from the church, state, media and medical establishment, they bravely made the discovery that has since changed lives around the world. Joy is an authentic and loving tribute to the miracles of science that I guarantee will have you in tears of joy.
• Watch the Joy trailer on YouTube
Best horror movies on Netflix
Creep
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 77 minutes
Main cast: Patrick Brice, Mark Duplass
Director: Patrick Brice
RT score: 91%
Few found footage movies have creeped (no pun intended!) me out the way Creep did. While it's not constant jump scares and loud noises, there are absolutely a few well timed, completely out of the blue scares that really got to me. It's a real gem of a horror movie which is why it's no surprise it got a sequel, and its own TV series, which is soon coming to Shudder. Here, we follow a videographer who accepts a job in a remote location then quickly realises he shouldn't have. That's all you need to know...
• Watch Creep's trailer on YouTube
Shaun of the Dead
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Dylan Moran, Kate Ashfield
Director: Edgar Wright
RT score: 92%
Horror and comedy is a match made in heaven, and you really can't do much better than Shaun of the Dead. In this self described 'zom-rom-com', Simon Pegg is brilliant as the titular character, a man going through relationship issues with his girlfriend, Liz. Before he really gets a chance to fix the mess he's made, an even bigger mess shows up in the form of the apocalypse, which brilliantly makes fun of the zombie genre with plenty of references, visual gags and quotable moments. Ready to grab a pint and wait for all this to blow over?
• Watch Jaws' trailer on YouTube
Talk to Me
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 94 minutes
Main cast: Sophia Wilde, Miranda Otto, Otis Dhanji, Alexandra Jensen, and Joe Bird
Directors: Danny and Michael Philippou
RT score: 95%
Talk to Me follows a group of teenagers who discover they can talk to spirits using a mysterious severed and embalmed hand. Unsurprisingly, things go very, very wrong as they group mess with forces they can't control. Talk to Me is a terrifically devised, creepy, and gripping flick that *ahem* doesn't hold your hand throughout. Its cast is fantastic, its twists and turns horrifying, and its occasional jump scares are actually that – scary. Imbued with a violent energy that never crosses the line into cruelness or gratuitousness for the sake of it, this is a frighteningly good movie you'll want to watch more than once. A worthy inclusion in our best Netflix movies article.
• Watch Talk to Me on Netflix now
• Watch Talk to Me's trailer on YouTube
The Cabin in the Woods
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 95 minutes
Main cast: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz
Directors: Drew Goddard
RT score: 92%
Continuing on with the trend of great comedy horrors, The Cabin in the Woods is another triumph. It takes everything you know about the typical slasher genre and turns it on its head. While scarier than Shaun of the Dead in terms of its suspense and jumpy moments, it is also very funny, and is accessible to newcomers to the genre as well as long-time horror fans. There's plenty of twists and turns here, as you never really know where it's going to go next. The performances here are also great, playing on those stereotypical horror tropes.
The Lure
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 95 minutes
Main cast: Kinga Preis, Michalina Olszańska, Marta Mazurek, Jakub Gierszał
Directors: Agnieszka Smoczynska
RT score: 89%
The Lure is a musical horror movie based on The Little Mermaid and honestly, if that doesn't sell it to you, I don't know what will. This wonderfully unique movie does one of my favourite things, taking fairy tales and making them thoroughly messed up. It's also a great place to start if you want to brush up on your knowledge of non-English language movies, as it was made by Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Smoczynska. This comes highly recommended if you want to try something a little more out there, you'll be glad you did.
Best romance movies on Netflix
Set It Up
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 105 minutes
Main cast: Glen Powell, Zoey Deutch, Lucy Liu, and Taye Diggs
Director: Claire Scanlon
RT score: 92%
It's often rare to see a rom-com get such a high Rotten Tomatoes score, but when Set It Up was released back in 2016 it became a trailblazer in the world of modern rom-coms, finally bringing life to the dying genre. Now a full-blown Hollywood star, Glen Powell stars as Charlie and Zoey Deutch plays Harper, two exploited assistants who set up their demanding bosses to eliminate the stress of working for them. Set It Up is powered by Powell and Deutch's irresistible romantic chemistry, which make it a must-watch in my eyes.
• Watch Set It Up on Netflix now
• Watch the Set It Up trailer on YouTube
Notting Hill
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 124 minutes
Main cast: Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Rhys Ifans, and Hugh Bonneville
Director: Roger Michell
RT score: 84%
Notting Hill is no doubt one of the most iconic romance films in cinematic history and was the highest-grossing British film of all time when it was released in 1999. The story is a classic boy meets girl scenario when London bookshop owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant) has a chance encounter with famous American actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts). As the unassuming guy falls in love with the glamorous film star, the paparazzi's fascination with the couple complicates their relationship and they struggle to adapt their striking different lifestyles. While Notting Hill has a simple plot and may fall into the category as a stereotypical romance, Grant and Roberts' sublime performances make this a stand-out film and are no doubt one of the best roles of their careers. Also, who wouldn't want to see the suave Grant playing another charming and vulnerable romantic lead?
• Watch Notting Hill on Netflix now
• Watch Notting Hill's trailer on YouTube
Best sci-fi movies on Netflix
Attack the Block
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 88 minutes
Main cast: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh
Director: Joe Cornish
RT score: 91%
Attack the Block is a mix of genres admittedly, but it's worthy of going alongside our sci-fi gems considering the otherworldly nature of the antagonists! In this science fiction comedy horror, we follow a teenage gang who have to defend themselves from alien invaders on a council estate in South London on Bonfire Night, so there's a lot going on. It's funny, it's gripping, it's a wild ride from start to finish and one of my favourite movies of all time. There's also some huge British stars here like John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker, so it's a real all-round achievement.
Annihilation
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 115 minutes
Main cast: Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac
Director: Alex Garland
RT score: 88%
Ex Machina director Alex Garland helms this hypnotic adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer's novel of the same name, which follows a group of explorers – led by Natalie Portman's Lena – who enter 'The Shimmer', a mysterious, quarantined zone of mutating plants and animals. Sci-fi fans will find plenty of aliens to enjoy here, but Annihilation is also an ambitious psychological thriller that will leave you questioning the events of its final moments. Oscar Isaac also stars alongside Portman, which should be reason enough to give this one a go (that being said, the squeamish should look elsewhere). Stick this on your best Netflix movies watchlist ASAP.
• Watch Annihilation on Netflix now
• Watch Annihilation's trailer on YouTube
Godzilla Minus One
Age rating: 12
Runtime: 125 minutes
Main cast: Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, and Yuki Yamada
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
RT score: 98%
Few movies have spawned as many “where can I stream it?” questions as Godzilla Minus One in recent times. Finally, though, months after the unexpectedly successful film’s theatrical release, Netflix has not only secured its UK streaming rights, but it also surprisingly dropped the sci-fi horror epic on its platform on June 1. A new Japanese entry in Godzilla’s packed back catalogue, Minus One returns to the iconic kaiju’s roots with a destruction-filled and trauma-inducing tale set in postwar Japan. In it, the island nation desperately wrestles with the titanic monster’s emergence from the deep and subsequently terrifying rampage across the Asian country. Easily one of 2023’s best movies, Godzilla Minus One is a thematically rich, harrowing, and occasionally jaw-dropping spectacle. Read our Godzilla Minus One review to learn more about the first-ever Godzilla flick to win an Oscar.
• Watch Godzilla Minus One on Netflix now
• Watch Godzilla Minus One's trailer on YouTube
They Cloned Tyrone
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris
Director: Juel Taylor
RT score: 95%
They Cloned Tyrone is an absolutely brilliant movie. To discuss its plot at length is to spoil its biggest surprises, but here's a brief synopsis to give you a flavor of what to expect: "A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper." We thoroughly enjoyed what it has to offer on multiple levels and our exclusive chat with John Boyega is well worth reading for a peak behind the curtain on its production. Once you're watched it, be sure to read our ending explainer on They Cloned Tyrone for Boyega's thoughts on its surprising ending.
• Watch They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix now
• Watch They Cloned Tyrone's trailer on YouTube
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Age rating: 12
Runtime: 133 minutes
Main cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Michael Keaton, Laura Harrier, Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau
Director: Jon Watts
RT score: 92%
Spider-Man has had a number of great (and not so great) movie adaptations since 2002's Spider-Man, but when Tom Holland stepped into the suit of the web-slinging hero it was met with critical acclaim. Netflix was home to all three of the MCU's Tom Holland-starring films, however Spider-Man: No Way Home (which made it onto our best superhero movies list) and Spider-Man: Far From Home were both removed from the streaming platform.
The Sony Pictures-developed Marvel films have been on and off the streaming titan in recent years, but viewers can still enjoy the first instalment of the current wallcrawler in Spider-Man: Homecoming on British shores. Led by the charismatic Holland, and with a stellar supporting cast including Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, and Jacob Batalon, the MCU-set flick is as enjoyable and entertaining as it is dramatic and at-times tonally dark. Find out where it ranks in our best Spider-Man movies list before reading up on how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order.
• Watch Spider-Man: Homecoming on Netflix now
• Watch the Spider-Man Homecoming trailer on YouTube
Best thriller movies on Netflix
Woman of the Hour
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 94 minutes
Main cast: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Nicolette Robinson, Tony Hale
Director: Anna Kendrick
RT score: 80%
Woman of the Hour is technically not a horror (it's more of a thriller), however I described it as the scariest movie I'd seen in 2024. There's good reason for that, because it's based on a chilling real life story about a woman named Sheryl Bradshaw, who had a run-in with the now infamous Dating Game killer before his horrific crimes had been exposed. Not only does this look at Rodney Alcala's killing spree, it most importantly looks at the women who fell under his charming spell, admit a sexist 70s Hollywood backdrop. It's a stunning directorial debut for Anna Kendrick, I'd love to see her do more like this.
• Watch Woman of the Hour on Netflix now
•Watch Woman of the Hour's trailer on YouTube
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Age rating: 12A
Runtime: 141 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and Leslie Odom Jr
Director: Rian Johnson
RT score: 91%
Knives Out wowed fans and critics alike in 2019, so sequels were understandably inevitable. The first of those – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – is another elaborate and highly entertaining whodunnit from director Rian Johnson. Buoyed by its excellent ensemble cast and a confidence carried over from its predecessor’s success, Glass Onion is even showier and bolder than Knives Out – though the film proved exceptionally divisive among fans of Benoit Blanc's debut outing upon release. Still, fans of the murder mystery genre, Daniel Craig, and Johnson will be silly to miss out watching one of the best Netflix movies.
• Watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix now
• Watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery's trailer on YouTube
Parasite
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 131 minutes
Main cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Jo Yeo-jeong, and Choi Woo-sik
Director: Bong Joon-ho
RT score: 99%
Joon-ho's 2020 Best Picture Oscar winner is now on Netflix – and, given it's one of the best films ever made (based on Rotten Tomatoes, anyway), it needs to be seen ASAP if you missed it during its original theatrical run. A black comedy-thriller, Parasite tells the story of an impoverished South Korean family who infiltrate a wealthy family's home and start living the life of luxury. Okay, that story synopsis doesn't sound all that appealing, but it belies Parasite's stunning exploration of socioeconomic hardship, class divide, wealth disparity, and late stage captialism. A monumental filmmaking achievement that'll be a mainstay of this best Netflix movies guide for a long time.
• Watch Parasite on Netflix now
• Watch Parasite's trailer on YouTube
The Hunger Games
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 133 minutes
Main cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
Director: Gary Ross
RT score: 84%
Back in 2008, The Hunger Games dominated the best sellers' lists with its dystopian tale of a futuristic fractured society that made teenagers (from the ages of 12 and 18) fight to the death in a yearly televised event. The series of books by Suzanne Collins have since spawned a multi-billion dollar movie franchise that continues to grow. There are now five movies with a sixth called The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping scheduled to be released in theaters sometime in 2026. At the time of writing, you can stream the first four movies on Netflix but the 2023 prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, isn't on the service (you'll have to head over to Prime Video to stream that).
• Watch The Hunger Games on Netflix now
• Watch The Hunger Games' trailer
How we choose the best Netflix movies
Netflix is home to thousands of movies, so our entertainment experts have scoured the streamer's entire film library and handpicked the best new movies and older fare that are worth your time. You're welcome in advance.
To land a place on our list of best Netflix movies, each title doesn't have to be a huge hit on the world's best streaming service (i.e. one of the most-streamed movies in the platform's entire history). Instead, the movie needs to pass two tests: hold an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (RT) and be personally recommended by one of the members of the TechRadar streaming team.
Our team of writers include Matthew Bolton, Amelia Schwanke, Tom Power, Lucy Buglass and Grace Morris, who all write and watch movies every day. We have varying views of what makes a good movie, which means our personal tastes cover a wide-range of genres and even sub-genres like psychological thrillers, action adventures, superhero spectacles, supernatural horrors and romantic dramas.
Together, we use this criteria and our cinephile expertise to help inform which films we pick to be the best Netflix movies. There are thousands of movies to stream on Netflix and this changes every month with new arrivals and removals, so this is by no means an exhaustive list. Instead, make sure to check back in with us every month to see which new entries we add.
For more Netflix coverage, read our best Netflix documentaries and best Netflix shows guides. Yet to subscribe to the streaming giant? Read our guide on how to sign up to Netflix, too, or whether you should cancel Netflix.
