The 90 Best Movies On Netflix (September 2023)

Director: Sammi Cohen Runtime: 1h 43m

Cast: Idina Menzel (Bree Friedman), Adam Sandler (Danny Friedman), Sadie Sandler (Ronnie Friedman), Sunny Sandler (Stacy Friedman), Samantha Lorraine (Lydia Rodriguez Katz)

Adam Sandler is typically at his most successful when he unites with those closest to him behind the camera, and in You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah he takes that one step further, starring alongside his wife and daughters. Culturally informed and sensitive, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is a smart portrait of the important celebration, finding comedy and charm in its authenticity. Crucially, it understands and never talks down to the condition of adolescence, and in Sunny Sandler has a young star who clearly learned a lot from the better comedies of her co-star father.

Director: S.S. Rajamouli | Runtime: 3h 5m

Cast: N.T. Rama Rao Jr (Komaram Bheem), Ram Charan (Alluri Sitarama Raju), Alia Bhatt (Sita)

One of the most talked-about international movies in recent years is the bombastic Indian action movie RRR. Based very loosely on real history, RRR features a complex friendship between two men from different backgrounds who come together to fight the British occupation of India. RRR quickly found an audience worldwide because of its tremendous sense of spectacle, from giant fight scenes to an extended dance number. Netflix unfortunately doesn’t have the original Telugu-language audio, but even dubbed it’s hard not to get swept up in the momentum of the global box office hit RRR.

Director: Julius Avery | Runtime: 1h 43m

Cast: Russell Crowe (Father Gabriele Amorth), Daniel Zovatto, Alex Essoea, Franco Nero (The Pope)

If you’re looking for a horror that genuinely delivers on the scares, The Pope’s Exorcist is just the ticket. Russell Crowe plays real-life church employee Father Gabriele Amorth, upon whose books it is based, and tells the story of his investigation into a possessed child. Crowe playing a stoic man of God may seem odd, but the character has a rebelious streak that is perfect for the Australian actor’s presence, and there’s a lot to enjoy about his performance. Critically divisive, The Pope’s Exorcist might not offer much freshness to the genre, but zips along entertainingly and it’s fun in a way that suits the platform.

Director: Laura McGann | Runtime: 1h 46m

Cast: Alessia Zecchini, Stephen Keenan

A literal deep dive into one of the most daring extreme sports, The Deepest Breath is a fascinating profile of free diver Alessia Zecchini and her efforts to set a new world record in the discipline. Chronicling the dangers of attempting such a feat, as well as the personal determination and physical trauma involved, the documentary is both a great technical overview of free diving and a fascinating expose of one woman’s ambition. As nail-biting as any thriller, The Deepest Breath is guaranteed to get the heart pumping.

Director: Rian Johnson | Runtime: 2h 19m

Cast: Daniel Craig (Benoit Blanc), Edward Norton (Miles Bron), Janelle Monae (Cassandra “Andi” Brand), Kathryn Hahn (Claire Debella)

After the success of Knives Out, Netflix signed director and creator Rian Johnson to a deal that brought his planned sequels to the streaming service. The first of these arrived in 2022 with the deliciously labyrinthine Glass Onion. Daniel Craig returns as master detective Benoit Blanc as he gets an invitation to an island where a billionaire set up a murder mystery for his friends to solve. However, when people actually start dying, it is up to Blanc to solve the crime and figure out who the killer really is. Glass Onion picked up an Oscar nomination and was named one of the year’s 10 best films by the National Board of Review, cementing Johnson’s status as a leading murder mystery director and writer.

Director: Paul King | Runtime: 1h 35m

Cast: Ben Whishaw (Paddington), Hugh Bonneville (Henry Brown), Sally Hawkins (Mrs. Brown), Nicole Kidman (Millicent Clyde)

As fuzzy and comforting as its cuddly protagonist, Paddington is a riotous comedy with a heart of gold. Based on the original book series by Michael Bond, the film follows an anthropomorphic bear as he travels from darkest Peru to London, taking refuge with an initially reticent family in Notting Hill. Praised for its gentle humor and positive message about acceptance and belonging, Paddington spawned an equally successful sequel and earned an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Director: Paul Feig | Runtime: 2h 5m

Cast: Kristen Wiig (Annie Walker), Melissa McCarthy (Megan), Maya Rudolph (Lillian), Rose Byrne (Helen)

A riotous comedy that ushered in a new era of raunchy humor, Bridesmaid’s is still widely hailed as one of the funniest films of recent decades. Centered around Kristen Wiig’s Annie and her hapless attempts to serve as Maid of Honor to her best friend Lillian, the movie contains some of the most memorable set pieces in comedy history. Moments like the notorious dress-fitting debacle are not easily forgotten once seen. Fondly remembered as a classic, Bridesmaids has undoubtedly helped shape the comedy landscape as audiences know it today.

Director: Mark Waters | Runtime: 1h 37

Cast: Lindsay Lohan (Cady Heron), Rachel McAdams (Regina George), Lizzy Caplan (Janis Ian)

One of the most beloved and most-quoted movies ever made, Mean Girls is perhaps the definitive high school movie from the early 21st century. Following Lindsay Lohan’s Cady and her desperate attempts to be accepted by the toxically judgmental “Plastics”, the film is famous for its withering put-downs and authentic depiction of teenage hood. Written by Tina Fey, Mean Girls was a smash critical hit on release and remains essential coming-of-age viewing, whatever an audience’s high school experience.

Director: Shane Black | Runtime: 1h 56m

Cast: Ryan Gosling (Holland March), Russell Crowe (Jackson Healey)

Shane Black originally made his name in the 1980s, writing scripts for the likes of Lethal Weapon and Predator. However, his later directorial efforts proved that he was more than a one-trick pony – typified by The Nice Guys. Ryan Gosling stars as a private investigator named Holland who reluctantly teams up with a violent enforcer (Crowe) to find a missing porn star. The movie has become a cult favorite for its often hilarious dynamic between the two protagonists, as well as its throw-back pseudo-noir narrative.

Director: Craig Brewer | Runtime: 1h 58m

Cast: Eddie Murphy (Rudy Ray Moore), Keegan-Michael Key (Jerry Jones), Mike Epps (Jimmy Lynch), Craig Robinson (Ben Taylor), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Lady Reed)

Eddie Murphy had mostly stepped away from acting when he got the chance to star in Dolemite Is My Name, a dream 2019 project telling the true story of Rudy Ray Moore. Murphy gave an instantly iconic depiction of the cult-favorite actor in this Netflix original movie, leading to his best critical reception in many years. The movie received almost universal acclaim and Murphy won the Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the man the world knew as Dolemite, while the movie went on to win eight Black Reel Awards out of 10 nominations.

Directors: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane | Runtime: 1h 39m

Cast: Chloë Grace-Moretz (Nimona), Riz Ahmed (Ballister Boldheart), Eugene Lee Yang (Ambrosius Goldenloin)

An inventive animation that celebrates diversity as well as adventure, Nimona is an acclaimed Netflix original movie. Set in a futuristic medieval kingdom, the film folows Ballister Boldheart after he is seemingly framed for murdering the queen. As he tries to clear his name, he is joined by the precocious shape-shifted Nimona, who appoints herself Ballister’s sidekick. The subsequent adventure is a lesson in friendship and acceptance, while never being less than incredibly entertaining. Critics have praised the movie for its message, awarding it an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Directors: Nick Park, Peter Lord | Runtime: 1h 24m

Cast: Julia Sawalha (Ginger), Mel Gibson (Rocky), Miranda Richardson (Mrs. Tweedy)

A perfect exemplar of Aardman’s signature stop-motion style, Chicken Run is a classic British animated comedy. A satire of classic wartime stories like The Great Escape, the movie centers on a team of anthropomorphic chickens plotting to escape a sadistic farm owner who wants to turn them all into pies. Replete with incredible sight gags and genuinely heart-in-mouth sequences, the movie was acclaimed on release and is set for a follow-up later in 2023, making now the perfect time to enjoy the original.

Director: Joel Crawford | Runtime: 1h 40m

Cast: Antonio Banderas (Puss), Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws), Florence Pugh (Goldilocks)

Despite releasing over a decade after the first film in the Shrek spin-off franchise, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is a more than successful follow-up. Praised by critics for its thoughtfully emotional storytelling, the movie sees Puss attempt to locate the mysterious titular Last Wish in order to restore eight of his nine lives, thwarting the villainous Goldilocks and the Three Bears Crime Family in the process. A surprisingly heartfelt and sentimental tale of mortality, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is seemingly definitive proof that is plenty of life in the Shrek series yet.

Director: Mike Rinada | Runtime: 1h 54m

Cast: Abbi Jacobson (Katie Mitchell), Danny McBride (Rick), Maya Rudolph (Linda Mitchell)

Netflix subscribers looking for a family-friendly animated movie should look no further than The Miitchells vs. The Machines. The comedy stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, and Maya Rudolph as members of a dysfunctional family whose cross-country road trip becomes tangled up in a plot by an evil AI to take over the world. In addition to its talented voice cast, The Mitchells vs. The Machines is noted for its blending of 3D and traditional animation, creating a visually striking romp from beginning to end that won over audiences and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Director: Chris Williams | Runtime: 1h 59m

Cast: Karl Urban (Jacob Holland), Zaris-Angel Hator (Maisie Brumble), Jared Harris (Captain Augustus Crow III), Kathy Burke (Gwen Batterbie)

An environmental fable owing a debt to the likes of Moby Dick, The Sea Beast is a Netflix original movie featuring sailors who track and kill vicious sea beasts that have wreaked havoc against humans for centuries. However, when the greatest of these hunters sets out to kill the famed Red Bluster with a young orphan girl by his side, things don’t go as planned and a widespread conspiracy unfolds. The movie received critical acclaim and was one of two Netflix movies nominated for the Best Animation Oscar, although it lost out to Pinocchio. It sits at over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes as one of the best movies of 2022.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Runtime: 3h

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (Jordan Belfort), Jonah Hill (Donnie Azoff), Margot Robbie (Naomi Lapaglia), Kyle Chandler (FBI Agent Patrick Denham), Rob Reiner (Max Belfort), Jon Bernthal (Brad Bodnick), Matthew McConaughey (Mark Hanna)

Martin Scorsese and muse Leonardo DiCaprio reunited once more for The Wolf Of Wall Street, telling an obscene, obnoxious story of a different breed of gangsters to the director’s usual wise guys. A heady mix of overwhelming excess and DiCaprio’s exhausting charm, The Wolf Of Wall Street is, like Goodfellas before it, a moralizing wolf in sheep’s clothing, pretending to sell an aspirational amoral tale that all comes crashing down. DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort comes across as a chancer, exploiting a system set up for anyone brave enough to ask why not, whose escalation is only matched in scale by Scorsese’s precise distaste for the world he builds. It’s as grotesque as American Psycho and as utterly watchable.

Director: Marc Forster | Runtime: 2h 6m

Cast: Tom Hanks (Otto Anderson), Mariana Trevino (Marisol), Rachel Keller (Sonya), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (Tommy)

The 2022 comedy-drama A Man Called Otto is one of the newer movies on Netflix, but thanks to a great performance by Tom Hanks in the lead role, it remains one of the best as well. Directed by Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball), the movie has Hanks play against type as an older, unfriendly man who mostly wants to live life and be left alone. A widow, he decides he will take his own life after his job forces him into retirement, so he can join his wife, but then he meets a new neighbor and her daughter, and it is their outlook on life that starts to change how he sees the world. Life-affirming and heart-rending in equal measure, the movie will keep viewers hooked right up until A Man Called Otto’s triumphant ending.

Director: Bong Joon-ho | Runtime: 2h

Cast: Tilda Swinton (Lucy Mirando), Paul Dano (Jay), Ahn Seo-hyun (Mija), Byun Hee-bong (Hee Bong), Steven Yeun (K), Jake Gyllenhaal (Johnny Wilcox)

Bong Joon-ho won an Oscar for his 2019 movie Parasite and acclaim for hits such as The Host and Snowpiercer, yet his 2017 release Okja is often surprisingly overlooked. Tilda Swinton stars as a CEO of a company wanting to profit from the “super pig program” while Mija is a young farm girl who helps raise Okja, one of the super pigs. When it comes time for the company to take Okja, Mija sets out to rescue her pig and save it from the unethical business. An environmental parable, as well as a riff on the time-honored “a boy and his dog” trope, Okja is a stern warning about the dangers of corporate greed.

Director: Florian Zeller | Runtime: 2h 3m

Cast: Hugh Jackman (Peter), Laura Dern (Kate), Vanessa Kirby (Beth), Zen McGrath (Nicholas Miller), Anthony Hopkins (Anthony Miller)

Part of director Florian Zeller’s family-oriented trilogy (and a spiritual follow-up to the Oscar-nominated The Father, which won Anthony Hopkins an Oscar for his performance) The Son is another richly-layered familial apologue. Hopkins returns in a small role, but the focus here is on Hugh Jackman’s Peter, who is married to his second wife, with a new baby. However, when his ex-wife shows up with his 17-year-old depressed son Nicholas, who just dropped out of school, Peter realizes he wasn’t there for him and tries to make up for it, even though it might be too late. Hugh Jackman earned a Golden Globe nomination

Director: John G. Avildsen | Runtime: 1h 59m

Cast: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Talia Shire (Adriana Pennino), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed)

In addition to launching one of the great sporting movie franchises, the original Rocky is also a great, Best Picture-winning drama, featuring a gritty and compelling depiction of a down-on-his-luck boxer who gets his big opportunity. Of course, Rocky is also one of the greatest inspirational sports movies of all time, with its training montages and Rocky’s final battle with Apollo becoming iconic movie scenes. Netflix has all the original five Rocky movies available to stream, making it the best platform to binge the classic sports franchise on.

Director: Jeremiah Zagar | Runtime: 1h 58m

Cast: Adam Sandler (Stanley Beren), Queen Latifah (Teresa Sugerman), Juancho Hernangómez (Bo Cruz), Ben Foster (Vince Merrick), Kenny Smith (Leon Rich), Anthony Edwards (Kermit Wilts), Robert Duvall (Rex Merrick)

After a string of streaming-based critical missteps, Adam Sandler surprised a lot of people when he starred in one of Netflix’s best 2022 films. Another great sports drama, Hustle has Sandler star as a down-on-his-luck basketball scout who is sent overseas to find the next big star. While there, he finds that man in Bo Cruz, a great player with raw talent. However, it takes all both men can do to make their dreams come true. Many tipped Sandler for the Best Actor Oscar nomination, but the movie ended up snubbed by the Academy. However, Sandler did win his first Screen Actor’s Guild Award for his performance, and the movie as a whole is an undeniable success.

Director: James Mangold | Runtime: 2h 7m

Cast: Winona Ryder (Susanna Kaysen), Angelina Jolie (Lisa Rowe), Clea Duvall (Georgina Tuskin), Brittany Murphy (Daisy Randone)

Now recognized as Angelina Jolie’s breakthrough role, Girl, Interrupted remains an effective character study over 20 years after its release. Winona Ryder stars as a teenager who suffers a nervous breakdown and overdoses, leading to her admittance to a psychiatric hospital. However, it is the women she meets while there that really make Girl, Interrupted a must-watch film. Angelina Jolie rose to the task, as a woman diagnosed as a sociopath, who sets out to make everyone else’s life hard. Jolie ended up winning an Oscar for her performance as Best Supporting Actress, while also picking up the Golden Globe and Screen Actor’s Guild Award as well.

Director: Edward Berger | Runtime: 2h 28m

Cast: Felix Kammerer (Paul Bäumer), Daniel Brühl (Matthias Erzberger), Albrecht Schuch (Stanislaus “Kat” Katczinsky), Devid Streisow (General Friedrichs)

Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel All Quiet on the Western Front is the first to render the story in the original German and provides a harrowing depiction of World War I. Edward Berger’s film uses careful camera work to depict the machine-like horrors of the war, and creates an engrossing experience. The movie received substantial awards attention, including an Oscar Best Picture nod along with eight other nominations, making it a must-see for Netflix subscribers.

Director: Jane Campion | Runtime: 2h 8m

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch (Phil Burbank), Kirsten Dunst (Rose Gordon), Jesse Plemons (George Burbank), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Peter)

Jane Campion’s revisionist Western The Power of the Dog won plaudits and major awards when it was released in 2021, including an Oscar for Campion’s direction and a Best Picture nomination. The Netflix original movie features a riveting Oscar-nominated performance from Benedict Cumberbatch as a repressed, hypermasculine ranch hand who comes into conflict with his brother’s new wife and her son. Featuring both beautiful landscapes and emotional character drama, The Power of the Dog is one of the best movies to stream on Netflix today.

Director: Noah Baumbach | Runtime: 2h 16m

Cast: Scarlett Johansson (Nicole Barber), Adam Driver (Charlie Barber), Laura Dern (Nora Fanshaw)

Another personal drama from Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a couple whose initially amicable separation becomes a bitter divorce. Featuring a star-studded supporting cast, Marriage Story is a heart-wrenching film driven by Oscar-nominated performances from Driver and Johansson and an Oscar-winning turn by Laura Dern. Acclaimed on release, Marriage Story was recognized by critics and awards bodies alike for the strength of its screenplay and performances, as well as the unflinching realism of its story.

Director: Sam Hargrave | Runtime: 2h 3m

Cast: Chris Hemsworth (Tyler Rake), Golshifteh Farahani (Nik Kahn), Olga Kurylenko (Mia)

Following in the footsteps of the 2020 original, Extraction 2 manages to maintain its forebear’s breakneck pace while streamlining the narrative and improving on the earlier movie’s already impressive set pieces. The movie sees Chris Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake in retirement, after his brutal previous adventure in Dhaka. However, he’s soon thrust back into the action when he’s approached to rescue the sister of his ex-wife Mia. Cranking up the spectacle while still delivering on story, Extraction 2 is a rare sequel that surpasses the original.

Director: David Leitch | Runtime: 2h 6m

Cast: Brad Pitt (Ladybug), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Tangerine), Joey King (The Prince), Bad Bunny (The Wolf)

An irreverent and light-hearted action ensemble, Bullet Train boasts one of the most stacked casts in recent memory. Brad Pitt takes a leading role as the enigmatic Ladybug, an assassin tasked with retrieving a briefcase full of money on a speeding bullet train. This mission pits him against a colorful cast of characters, all with their own agendas and particular dangerous skill sets. Tongue-in-cheek and entertaining from beginning to end, Bullet Train is archetypal action popcorn fodder.

Director: Zack Snyder | Runtime: 2h 28m

Cast: Dave Bautista (Scott Ward), Ella Purnell (Kate Ward), Ana de la Reguera (María Cruz), Matthias Schweighöfer (Ludwig Dieter)

Zack Snyder’s tumultuous exit from the DCEU left many comic fans broken-hearted, yet one of the many upsides to his departure was the advent of his own new shared movie universe – beginning with Army of the Dead. Part heist movie, part horror, the movie revolves around the attempted robbery of a Vegas casino in the aftermath of an apocalyptic zombie event. Returning to the genre that established his directorial credentials (courtesy of the much-lauded Dawn of the Dead) the movie is a stylish blend of action, comedy, and zombie gore. One of the most-streamed movies in Netflix history on release, Army of the Dead proved that Netflix’s faith in Snyder was not misplaced.

Director: Gareth Evans | Runtime: 1h 41m

Cast: Iko Uwais (Yuda), Joe Taslim (Jaka), Donny Alamsyah (Andi), Yayan Ruhian (Mad Dog)

Released in 2011, Gareth Evans’ The Raid raised the benchmark for modern martial arts movies. The story sees a 20-man police squad sent to a high-rise apartment block to arrest a crime lord. When he senses the walls closing in, the officers are forced to fight their way through the building in a furiously-paced barrage of brutal, bloody hand-to-hand combat scenes. Credited with introducing a wider audience to the Indonesian fighting style of pencak silat, as well as charismatic star Iko Uwais, The Raid’s simple story belies its thrilling action and jaw-dropping physicality.

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood | Runtime: 2h 14m

Cast: Viola Davis (Nanisca), Lashana Lynch (Izogie), John Boyega (King Ghezo)

Blending real history with romanticized fiction, The Woman King is a gripping action epic based on the Kingdom of Dahomey’s real-life woman warriors. Starring Viola Davis as a general who trains a group of female warriors to confront slave traders in the 19th century, The Woman King won critical praise, particularly for Davis’s performance and the epic action scenes directed by Gina Prince-Bywood. It may have been shut out of the Oscars, but Davis was up for Best Actress at the Golden Globes, and it was nominated at several other award shows.

Directors: Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick | Runtime: 1h 51m

Cast: Storm Reid (June), Nia Long (Grace Allen), Ken Leung (Kevin)

A cyber thriller that uses inventive narrative devices to tell its story, Missing is one of the high points of the screenlife genre. Storm Reid plays June, an 18-year-old who uses her internet savvy to try and remotely track down her missing mother, who has mysteriously vanished after a trip with her boyfriend. Told strictly through the screens June uses to crack the case, Missing is a spiritual successor to earlier hits like Run and Searching. Praised by both critics and audiences, the movie is an innovative thriller that pushes the boundaries of the genre.

Director: Luc Besson | Runtime: 1h 50m

Cast: Jean Reno (Léon), Gary Oldman (Norman Stansfield), Natalie Portman (Mathilda), Danny Aiello (Tony)

Leon: The Professional introduced the world to Natalie Portman, who played a 12-year-old girl whose family is murdered by corrupt DEA agents. Without a family, and needing help, she enlists the aid of a hitman who lives in her apartment building named Leon (Jean Reno). Directed by Luc Besson, this action thriller also stars a typically sinister Gary Oldman in top form as the man villain opposite Portman’s Mathilda and Reno’s Leon. The movie picked up mostly positive reviews and is a cult classic to this day.

Director: Michael Mann | Runtime: 2h 50m

Cast: Al Pacino (Vincent Hanna), Robert De Niro (Neil NcCauley), Tom Sizemore (Michael Cheritto), Val Kilmer (Cris Shiherlis), Jon Voight (Nate)

Michael Mann’s best movie, Heat remains epic and influential crime thriller nearly three decades after its original release. Following the complex relationship between a top LAPD detective and the career criminal he’s made it his mission to hunt, the movie remains understandably famous for the dynamic between stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. However, the movie is so much more than two great performances, boasting a fantastically scripted slow-burn story and one of the most significant action scenes of all time. While it didn’t win any major awards, Heat remains known as one of the best crime thrillers in cinema history.

Director: Denis Villeneuve | Runtime: 2h 33m

Cast: Hugh Jackman (Keller Dover), Jake Gyllenhaal (Detective Loki)

Denis Villeneuve has become one of the most respected directors working today thanks to his work on sci-fi movies like Dune, Blade Runner 2049, and Arrival. However, one of his most disturbing movies hit in 2013 with the crime drama Prisoners. This tense psychological thriller revolves around the aftermath of an abduction. While one police detective is searching for clues, her father takes matters into his own hands and crosses the line to try to prove who the kidnapper might be. Prisoners picked up an Oscar nomination for its cinematography, yet is often overlooked in Villeneuve’s impressive canon.

Director: Tom Ford | Runtime: 1h 56m

Cast: Amy Adams (Susan Morrow), Jake Gyllenhaal (Edward Sheffield), Armie Hamer (Hutton Morrow)

Cleverly combining imagination with reality, Nocturnal Animals is a psychological thriller that constantly keeps the viewer guessing. Centered on Adams’ Susan Morrow, the movie sees the protagonist reading a novel written by her ex-husband and noticing uncanny similarities between real life and what’s written on the page. The dual narratives perfectly intertwine to create a tense, conspiratorial atmosphere that leaves the viewer never completely sure about who or what to trust. As a result, Nocturnal Animals is one of the most interesting and innovative thrillers on Netflix.

Director: James Cameron | Runtime: 3h 14m

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (Jack Dawson), Kate Winslet (Rose DeWitt Bukater)

One of the most famous and successful romance movies ever made, Titanic is an epic love story in every sense of the word. Previously acclaimed as the highest-grossing movie of all time, the film is a fictionalized retelling of the famous ship’s notorious maiden voyage. Against this backdrop, DiCaprio and Winslet play Jack and Rose, who despite their vastly different backgrounds find all-too-brief love before disaster strikes. Acclaimed for its incredible set pieces and iconic visuals, Titanic still remains a landmark filmmaking achievement years after its release.

Director: Barry Jenkins | Runtime: 1h 57

Cast: KiKi Layne (Clementine Rivers), Stephan James (Alonzo Hunt), Colman Domingo (Joseph Rivers), Teyonah Parris (Ernestine Rivers), Michael Beach (Frank Hunt)

Based on the novel by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk is simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful, expertly dealing with complex themes of racism, prejudice, and justice. Directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), the movie is about a pregnant woman who sets out to prove her lover’s innocence after police arrest him for rape allegations. The movie was a critical success, gaining several accolades and award nominations, including three Oscar nominations and three Golden Globe nominations. Regina King won Best Supporting Actress at both ceremonies, making If Beale Street Could Talk undoubtedly one of the best movies in the Netflix catalog.

Director: Luca Guadagnino | Runtime: 2h 12m

Cast: Armie Hammer (Oliver), Timothée Chalamet (Elio)

Released in 2017, Timothy Chalamet turned heads and impressed the movie world with his performance in the romantic drama, Call Me By Your Name. The movie, based on the novel by Andre Aciman, had Chalamet star as Elio, a young man who lives with his parents in Italy. When his dad invites a young man named Oliver (Armie Hammer) to live with them over the summer, Elio begins to develop strong feelings for Oliver. A touching coming-of-age story, the movie was both a box office and critical success, and Chalamet picked up an Oscar nomination for his role, while the movie earned a Best Picture nomination.

Director: Damien Chazelle | Runtime: 2h 8m

Cast: Ryan Gosling (Sebastian Wilder), Emma Stone (Mia Dolan)

After finding Oscar success with his debut movie Whiplash, Damien Chazelle went on to direct his love letter to the Hollywood musical. The movie was La La Land and starred Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Stone was Mia, an aspiring actress while Gosling was Seb, a jazz pianist. The two began to fall in love, but their own careers and aspirations continue to hold them apart. The movie made $446 million on a $30 million budget and picked up 13 Oscar nominations, winning Best Director for Chazelle and Best Actress for Stone.

Director: Nora Ephron | Runtime: 1h 45m

Cast: Tom Hanks (Sam Baldwin), Meg Ryan (Annie Reed)

Merging the quintessential 90s components of Nora Ephron, Meg Ryan, and Tom Hanks was always likely to be a winning combination, and so it proved with Sleepless in Seattle. The 1993 comedy mega-hit saw Ryan and Hanks play a pair of star-crossed lovers, who fall in love as a result of a talk radio show, despite having never met. Although the premise occasionally veers into the outlandish, the end result is never less than beguilingly romantic. The movie was a box office success, making $227 million (via The Numbers), and it remains known as one of the best romantic comedies of all time.

Director: Juel Taylor | Runtime: 2h 2m

Cast: Jamie Foxx (Slick Charles), John Boyega (Fontaine), Teyonah Parris (Yo-Yo)

A clever blend of science-fiction and fantasy, The Cloned Tyrone has won critical praise across the board since its debut on Netflix. Set in a retro-futuristic world, the movie sees Foxx’s Slick Charles and Parris’ Yo-Yo try to unravel the mystery behind a drug dealer’s supposed death and then immediate reappearance. Hilarious and head-scratching in equal measure, They Cloned Tyrone is a smart sci-fi comedy that raises questions around identity and technology, as well as what makes a human being an individual.

Director: James Cameron | Runtime: 2h 10m

Cast: Edward Furlong (John Connor), Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor), Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator), Robert Patrick (T-1000)

One of the greatest sequels of all time, Terminator 2 is a lesson in how to build a world-conquering franchise and expand established lore that the subsequent Terminator sequels seemingly decided to ignore. However, while the wider franchise has long languished in mediocrity, T2 is still a classic. Set during John Connor’s childhood, the movie memorably reimagines Schwarzenegger’s killer robot as a hero and protector, tasked with guarding humanity’s greatest hope against the highly advanced T-1000. Terminator 2 is a thrill ride from start to finish, with brilliant performances throughout and a story that keeps viewers guessing right until the end.

Director: Alex Garland | Runtime: 2h

Cast: Natalie Portman (Lena), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Dr. Ventress), Tessa Thompson (Josie Radek)

A smart and cerebral sci-fi horror based on Jeff VanderMeer’s celebrated Southern Reach novels, Annihilation’s compelling yet opaque imagery means that the movie demands repeat viewing. Following an all-female team of soldiers and scientists as they investigate a mysterious alien force known as “The Shimmer”, the film features horrifically mutated bears, unnerving visuals, and complex symbolism throughout. However, despite its inherent strangeness, Annihilation has been rightly praised for its contemplative approach to the source material and for a message that goes far beyond the movie’s surface beauty.

Director: Paul Verhoeven | Runtime: 2h 9m

Cast: Casper Van Dien (Jonny Rico), Dina Meyer (Dizzy Flores), Denise Richards (Carmen Ibanez), Jake Busey (Ace Levy), Neil Patrick Harris (Carl Jenkins)

Despite bearing little resemblance to the Rober A. Heinlein novel upon which it was based, Paul Verhoeven’s satirical sci-fi romp Starship Troopers has earned deserved cult-classic status. While Heinlein’s novel was mostly pro-military in tone, Verhoeven created an often comical fascist utopia, making for one of the most misunderstood movies ever made. Thanks to Verhoeven’s open admission that he was making fun of the source novel, it has since become a cult classic and grown more popular as the years have passed. Its blend of ludicrous ultra-violence and on-the-nose Nazi imagery makes Starship Troopers a unique sci-fi movie.

Director: Shawn Levy | Runtime: 1h 46m

Cast: Ryan Reynolds (Adam Reed), Mark Ruffalo (Louis Reed), Jennifer Garner (Ellie Reed), Zoe Saldana (Laura)

Shawn Levy teamed up with his Free Guy star Ryan Reynolds in the Netflix original sci-fi movie The Adam Project. The movie features Reynolds as a time traveler from the future who returns to the present day to save the future from ultimate destruction. While there, he embarks on an adventure with his 12-year-old self, allowing the pair to take a touching moment to go visit their deceased father in the past. While the movie received average reviews, it remains an extremely popular addition to Netflix’s roster, with over three million people watching it in its first weekend alone. It also won the People’s Choice Award for Best Comedy.

Director: Chris Smith | Runtime: 1h 32m

Cast: George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley

In the pantheon of music documentaries, WHAM! is a truly great new addition. Directed by Tiger King’s Director Chris Smith with the deftness of the first season WHAM! tells the story of seminal British pop group Wham! with extensive archival footage and interviews peeling back layers from the early lives of members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. While it may appear to be most appealing to the legion of fans left starry eyed by the band’s meteoric rise over 4 years between 1982 and 1986, WHAM! manages to be about way more than the music. A meditative tale of friendship that is expertly crafted – and enlightening to anyone who knew way more of Michael and less of Ridgley – it is pure unadulterated 1980s nostalgia. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Director: Henry Roosevelt | Runtime: 1h 43m

A terrifying look at what can happen in the American healthcare system – even when many people have a patient’s best interests at heart – Take Care of Maya chronicles a nightmare scenario for any parent. After Maya Kowalski is brought into hospital to try and treat a mysterious illness, doctors and healthcare professionals begin to question everything about her life, going so far as to remove her into state custody. This kickstarts a desperate battle for her parents that ultimately exposes some heartbreaking flaws in the services that are designed to protect the most vulnerable. Praised for its sensitive storytelling, Take Care of Maya avoids sensationalizing a genuinely traumatic tale.

Directors: James Reed & Pippa Erlich | Runtime: 1h 30m

Cast: Craig Foster, Tom Foster

A fascinating look into the lives of some of the ocean’s most enigmatic and intelligent creatures, My Octopus Teacher is one of the most original nature documentaries available on Netflix. The film follows Craig Foster as he forges a relationship with a common octopus in the waters off South Africa. Over the course of a year, Foster learns about the animals extraordinary behavior, observing her ability to defend herself against shark attacks, learn survival techniques, and master her fragile underwater environment. An unconventional story of friendship, My Octopus Teacher is a though-provoking alternative look at life in the ocean.

Director: Peter Jackson | Runtime: 1h 39m

While Director Peter Jackson might be best known for his seminal Lord of the Rings trilogy, perhaps his most impressive accomplishment is the heart-rending World War One documentary film They Shall Not Grow Old. A staggering technical achievement, the movie restores old footage from the early 20th-century conflict into full color, bringing the soldiers and the war to life like never before. Given the grainy quality of early film, empathizing with the real people who fought and died in the trenches isn’t always easy. Jackson’s movie lends their stories an immediacy and an intensity that’s impossible to ignore.

Director: Ryan White | Runtime: 1h 53

Following the success of Hulu’s somewhat controversial dark dramedy Pam & Tommy, Pamela, a love story is a refreshingly authentic window into the world of former Baywatch-star Pamela Anderson. Documenting the highs and lows of her career, as well as the trauma associated with the notorious stolen sex tape, the movie is an empathetic critique of celebrity culture and the misogyny that continues to permeate society. Thought-provoking and powerfully told throughout, Pamela, a love story easily ranks as one of the best documentaries on Netflix.

Director: Leigh Janiak | Runtime: 5h 30m (across three movies)

Cast: Sadie Sink (Ziggy Berman), Kiana Madeira (Deena Johnson), Olivia Scott Welch (Samantha Fraser)

Based on R.L. Stein’s popular book series of the same name, Fear Street is an effective horror anthology that plays with many of the genre’s established tropes. Each entry features recurring characters in a cursed town battling to save their home from the supernatural forces that have been plaguing it for over a century. By telling an overarching story that spans decades, the trilogy has an epic scope that helps make the narrative even more engaging. Coupled with some memorably creepy set pieces, and Fear Street is a worthy addition to Netflix’s horror library.

Director: Susanne Beir | Runtime: 2h 4m

Cast: Sandra Bullock (Malorie Hayes), Trevante Roades (Tom), John Malkovich (Douglas)

An innovative spin on the ever-popular post-apocalyptic horror genre, Bird Box is set in a world in which humanity is imperiled by beings that cause anyone who looks at them to kill themselves. In this inhospitable environment, Sandra Bullock plays Malorie – a mother tasked with getting herself and her two children to safety, despite the dangers. With themes reminiscent of John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place, Bird Box’s central premise creates some fabulously tense set pieces. The movie itself has been a huge hit for Netflix, with the platform claiming that Bird Box was its most-watched film ever within 28 days of release.

Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia | Runtime: 1h 34m

Cast: Iván Massagué (Goreng), Zorion Eguileor (Trimagasi), Alexandra Masangkay (Miharu)

A blend of cutting social commentary and surreal nightmare, The Platform is a Spanish-language horror thriller that’s as brutal as it is thought-provoking. Set in a vertical facility known as The Hole, the movie’s central premise is that all prisoners are fed once a day via a descending platform – initially laden with delicious food, but soon stripped bare, leaving those on the lower levels in a savage battle for survival and their own humanity. A grim rejoinder to the cult of trickle-down economics, the movie’s message is made all the more powerful by some truly haunting visuals.

Director: Gore Verbinski | Runtime: 1h 55m

Cast: Naomi Watts (Rachel Keller), Brian Cox (Richard Morgan), Daveigh Chase (Samara Morgan)

A rare American J-horror remake that actually lives up to the original, Gore Verbinski’s The Ring is a perfect blend of crime mystery, supernatural fantasy, and pure terror. The movie’s famous Macguffin is a cursed videotape that causes anyone who watches it to die in seven days. After her son accidentally sees the sinister footage, Naomi Watts’ Rachel Keller sets out to unearth the truth behind the tape and hopefully save her family. Famous for its surreal and haunting imagery, The Ring still holds up as a tense investigative thriller, with some all-time great scares thrown in for good measure.

Director: Oren Peli | Runtime: 1h 26m

Cast: Kate Featherston (Katie), Micah Sloat (Micah), Mark Fredrichs (Dr. Fredrichs)

While the found-footage horror subgenre fell out of favor after one too many lackluster efforts, Paranormal Activity showed how to do it right. Directed by Oren Peli and produced by Jason Blum before he became a major Hollywood player, this was an independent horror movie that cost only $15,000 to make before selling it to Paramount Pictures. It ended up making $194 million worldwide, one of the most profitable movies in cinema history. The movie consisted of footage from home security cameras, giving a solid explanation for the found footage aesthetic. Paranormal Activity also spawned six sequels.