For as many streaming services as there is currently are, Netflix remains possibly the premiere platform to watch movies and television shows. The first mainstream streaming service there was, it’s a platform that continues to boast some of the finest and most noteworthy movies you’ll find anywhere.
With a streaming catalog mixed between Netflix original movies and endless amounts of well-known movies like Spaceman, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Step Brothers, there’s no shortage of potential viewing options when it comes to Netflix’s impressive lineup of movies.
Here are some of the movies you can currently find streaming on Netflix that we’d recommend checking out.
Updated: March 15.
Sci-Fi: Spaceman (2024)
Currently ranked as the most-watched movie on Netflix, Spaceman offers a wholly different kind of Adam Sandler film than most audiences might expect. Rather than yet another middling family comedy, Spaceman instead acts as a taut sci-fi drama, delivering a far more abundant supply of emotional scenes than it does humorous ones.
Fretting about his family and personal life back on Earth, a Czech astronaut traveling through space for six months (Sandler) happens across an extraterrestrial creature (Paul Dano) who provides him both comfort and friendship.
While some aspects of Spaceman fall a bit flat here and there, Sandler’s performance in the film is beyond reproach. Opting for a far more subtle and dialed-back portrayal in lieu of his usual in-your-face brand of comedy, Sandler’s dramatic capabilities as an actor are on full display in this Netflix exclusive film.
Comedy: Step Brothers (2008)
Like most of Will Ferrell’s comedies, viewers will either love Step Brothers or vehemently despise it. More often than not, though, most audience members tend to fall into the former category, praising the movie for its unique, coarse, often flat-out bizarre low-brow humor.
When their single parents (Richard Jenkins and Mary Steenburgen) end up getting married, two childish slackers in their 40s (Ferrell and John C. Reilly) are forced to live together under a shared roof.
Despite receiving mixed reviews back in 2008, Step Brothers has garnered its own avid cult following in the years since its release, with many of its most colorful lines (“It’s the Catalina mixer!”) firmly embedded in modern pop culture.
Superhero: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
With the relatively recent release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans have since reappraised Andrew Garfield’s short-lived tenure as New York’s famous webslinger, looking back at his performance in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man with increasingly fond admiration.
After getting bitten by a genetically mutated spider, average high school student Peter Parker (Garfield) inexplicably receives strange spider-like superpowers. Donning a mask and referring to himself as Spider-Man, Peter then attempts to use his newfound powers to protect his hometown of New York from harm.
Though it doesn’t match the acclaim of the Tobey Maguire or Tom Holland-led Spider-Man movies, The Amazing Spider-Man manages to get viewers’ hearts pumping through its inventive plot and harrowing action sequences. Not only that, but it also gave fans one of the more underrated portrayals of Spider-Man yet in the form of Garfield’s snarky webhead.
Family: Turbo (2013)
Also appearing on this week’s most-watched movies list on Netflix is the all too overlooked DreamWorks animated movie, Turbo. A crowd-pleasing family movie with an all-star voice cast, Turbo more than manages to live up to the esteem of its DreamWorks counterparts in Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, or How to Train Your Dragon.
Having spent his entire life fantasizing about participating in the Indianapolis 500, an extraordinarily fast garden snail (Ryan Reynolds) trains for the race in the hopes of making his long-time dream a reality.
With its glossy animation and strong vocal performances, Turbo has enough entertaining qualities to justify its trending popularity on Netflix right now. While perhaps not as well-known as most other DreamWorks properties, that doesn’t mean it’s anything less than a rip-roaring sports comedy most viewers will readily enjoy.
Thriller: Fear (1996)
Yet another movie currently trending on this week’s most-watched movies list on Netflix is the mostly forgotten 1996 horror thriller, Fear. Receiving mixed to negative reviews upon its initial release, Fear has since become something of a cult classic among more modern audiences.
Happily content in their upper-class lifestyle, a wealthy Seattle family begins to worry when their teenage daughter (Reese Witherspoon) starts dating an enigmatic young man (Mark Wahlberg) from below their social class.
Launching the careers of Wahlberg and Witherspoon and propelling them to teen heartthrob status, Fear has often been described as “Fatal Attraction for teens” by contemporary viewers. An unpretentious psychological thriller, its suspenseful narrative is bound to win over most nostalgic fans of 1990s cinema.
Action: Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
The unexpected breakout film of 2022, Everything Everywhere All at Once served as another landmark film from indie powerhouse, A24. Lovingly strange and unapologetically genre-defying, it’s easily one of the best, most original films of the past decade.
As she faces off against various challenges in her personal and professional lives, a middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) soon finds herself caught in the middle of an intense battle between herself and an omnipotent, alternative version of her daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
Earning limitless accolades in the months after its release, Everything Everywhere All at Once is the 2020s’ answer to The Matrix, cobbling together action, martial arts, and surrealism with a heart-warming story about love, family, and existentialism.
Horror: The Babadook (2014)
It’s not an exaggeration to refer to the 2014 psychological horror film, The Babadook, as the scariest movie on Netflix right now. A modern masterpiece of psychological horror, the film effortlessly crawls beneath viewers’ skin throughout its sparse hour and a half runtime, chilling audiences to the very bone.
Struggling to care for her precocious young son (Noah Wiseman) on her own, a widowed mother (Essie Davis) begins experiencing disturbing visions of a top hat-wearing demon known as “The Babadook.”
Like all the best psychological horror movies (The Shining, The Blair Witch Project), The Babadook opts for a far more methodical approach to the standard horror narrative, lulling viewers with its mundane first act before cranking it up to Exorcist levels of scary.
Classic Comedy: Life of Brian (1979)
In the ancient kingdom of Judea, ordinary Roman-Jewish worker Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) finds himself repeatedly mistaken for a religious messiah, with Brian sharing numerous coincidental similarities to Jesus of Nazareth (Kenneth Colley).
Few comedy troupes have achieved as respected a reputation as Monty Python. Of course, looking at the troupe’s impressive output of films and TV series – including Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian – it’s easy to understand why.
Though each of the Pythons’ movies are certainly worth seeing, a case can be made in favor of Life of Brian as the troupe’s definitive masterpiece. Boasting the same absurdist humor as Flying Circus and The Holy Grail, Life of Brian also introduces a far more thought-provoking satirical take on organized religion, advocating for freedom of thought above all else.
Crime: Griselda (2024)
Currently sitting at the top of this week’s most-watched TV series list is the latest Netflix exclusive series, Griselda. A fascinating biographical crime drama centered around one of Colombia’s most infamous figures, it’s also among the finest TV shows to air in 2024 yet.
Coming of power in 1980s Miami, powerful cartel leader Griselda Blanco (Sofia Vergara) climbs through the ranks of the criminal hierarchy, her meteoric rise coming at a tragic cost for her friends and family.
Abandoning the comedic pretext of her earlier performances (such as her breakout role on Modern Family), Vergara opts for a more grounded interpretation of her lead character in Griselda, terrifying audiences with her straightforward brutality and boundless ambition.
Teen: Crossroads (2002)
Also appearing on Netflix’s most-watched movies list this week is the 2002 teen comedy drama, Crossroads. Best known for featuring one of the earliest acting appearances of pop star Britney Spears, it’s a film seemingly destined to achieve cult popularity among nostalgic 2000s viewers.
Keeping a promise they made as young children, three childhood friends (Spears, Zoe Saldana, and Taryn Manning) who drifted apart in high school reunite on a cross-country road trip ahead of their graduation.
Despite its disastrously poor reception 22 years ago, Crossroads has managed to find a more loving audience among modern viewers, many of whom have praised Spears’ scene-stealing performance as the high school introvert, Lucy.
True Crime: Lover, Stalker, Killer (2024)
The second most-watched movie on Netflix right now, Lover, Stalker, Killer offers a far darker alternative to the traditional Valentine Day’s viewing experience. Instead of harping on an emotional love story, Lover, Stalker, Killer focuses on a disturbing true crime case underscoring the dangers of romantic obsession.
Upon moving to Nebraska in 2012, ordinary mechanic Dave Kroupa started an online dating profile, quickly matching with a single woman in the area. In the weeks that followed, what began as a casual one-night fling turns into a living nightmare for Kroupa, leading to stalking, vandalism, and eventually murder.
A far cry from the campier humor of Players, Lover, Stalker, Killer chronicles an unsettling true story in the realm of online dating, displaying a cautionary tale of how unreciprocated love can soon spiral into something far more sinister.
Classic: The Conversation (1974)
After becoming a breakthrough success with 1972’s The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola followed up on his gangster epic by turning his attention to a more dialed-back and evocative thriller film— something that came in the form of 1974’s The Conversation.
While surveilling a paranoid couple (Cindy Williams and Frederic Forrest) in the park, an audio surveillance expert (Gene Hackman) overhears a disturbing secret he believes might result in someone’s murder.
Now considered one of Coppola’s greatest movies, The Conversation acts as a send-up of sorts to Alfred Hitchock’s most notable movies, borrowing elements of Vertigo, Rear Window, and Strangers on a Train and combining them into one cohesive piece.
History: The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)
Another movie sitting on this week’s most-watched list, The Greatest Night in Pop documents the historic “We Are the World” concert in 1985–an event that saw some of the industry’s most famous figures appear on one massive stage.
In an effort to provide financial relief for starving families in Africa, calypso singer Harry Belafonte organized a massive concert recording in January, 1985, recruiting such stars as Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson.
Chronicling one of the most important moments in modern musical history, The Greatest Night in Pop also illustrates how some of the most iconic celebrities of the 1980s came together for a noble cause, setting aside personal time to collaborate on one massive project.
Prison: Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
Yet another film ranking among the most-streamed movies on Netflix right now, Brawl in Cell Block 99 hammer home the oppressive, extraordinarily dangerous conditions that characterize many American prisons.
When his kidnapped family’s lives are threatened by a merciless crime lord (Dion Mucciacito), an inmate in a maximum security prison (Vince Vaughn) reluctantly agrees to assassinate a fellow prisoner.
A hard-boiled love letter to ‘70s exploitation films, Brawl in Cell Block 99 has all the rugged violence and engaging plot points as a Quentin Tarantino film, propelling itself forward based on Vaughn’s powerhouse performance.
Western: Seraphim Falls (2006)
Another film sitting on this week’s most-watched movies list on Netflix, Seraphim Falls also ranks among the best Western films currently cataloged on the streaming platform. Combining crisp cinematography with an exceptionally strong cast, it’s that rare Western that will appeal to most members of the audience.
In the late 1860s, a veteran of the Union Army (Pierce Brosnan) flees from a vengeful soldier (Liam Neeson) he wronged in the past, sending the two on a fateful flight across the American West.
Though Seraphim Falls borrows extensively from the dozens of similarly-veined revenge Westerns before it, the movie’s balanced narrative focus and moral ambiguity allows for a more thought-provoking interpretation of the genre.
War: Fury (2014)
There have been many, many, many movies to depict the horrors of World War II, from famous dramas like Saving Private Ryan to more stylistic interpretations like Inglourious Basterds. As many WWII movies that have been released in the past, though, few focus on what combat was like for troops in the confines of a steel tank–something Fury does gloriously well.
In the final months of World War II, a young, inexperienced American soldier (Logan Lerman) joins the battle-hardened crew of a Sherman tank led by a world-weary staff sergeant (Brad Pitt).
With its A-list cast and compelling war sequences, Fury never shies away from portraying the grim reality of the Second World War, valuing story and character over gratuitous violence or mind-numbing action scenes.
Music: The Blues Brothers (1980)
Quite possibly the most iconic movie of either John Belushi or Dan Aykroyd’s career, The Blues Brothers also serves as one of the finest films based around a pre-existing SNL sketch (in this case, Belushi and Aykroyd’s eponymous fedora-wearing jazz duo).
Hoping to pay off the mounting debt owed by their childhood orphanage through a charity concert, jazz enthusiasts Jake (Belushi) and Elwood (Aykroyd) Blues embark on a cross-country trip to reunite their old band.
Blending head-bopping jazz numbers with an irrevocable brand of comedy, The Blues Brothers has nothing but strong features, from its hilarious (and over-the-top) car chases to its endless supply of celebrity cameos (Carrie Fisher, John Candy, Aretha Franklin, and Cab Calloway).
Animated: Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)
Currently trending as the most-watched movie on Netflix this week is the 2023 family-friendly animated film, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. Like DreamWorks’ recent release (Orion and the Dark), the movie offers up a fun and light-hearted portrait of family, acceptance, and coming to terms with one’s so-called weaknesses.
After breaking her mother’s (Toni Collette) express wishes to avoid swimming in the ocean, a 16-year-old girl (Lana Condor) discovers that she is the direct descendant of the queen of krakens (Jane Fonda).
To be fair, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken might not always succeed in its more poignant subject matter. Yet even then, the movie’s inventive plot and gleaming visuals prove immersive enough to redeem Ruby Gillman’s relatively meager shortcomings.
Intense: Lift (2024)
Currently sitting on top of this week’s most-watched movies list is the recent Netflix exclusive arrival, Lift. An action heist comedy with an all-star cast, the movie makes for another momentous addition to comedian Kevin Hart’s rapidly expanding filmography.
Arranging a talented crew of professional criminals, veteran thief Cyrus (Hart) and his team plan an ambitious heist on a passenger flight ferrying $500 million worth of gold bullion from the United Kingdom to Switzerland.
While it’s true that Lift is not without its fair share of problems–its story and pacing, in particular, leave much to be desired–the movie’s massive ensemble make it all worthwhile, as seen with the performances of Hart, Mbatha-Raw, and Billy Magnussen.
Sports: The Hill (2023)
Currently sitting at the top of this week’s most-watched movies list on Netflix is the 2023 biographical sports drama, The Hill. A dramatized account of baseball player Rickey Hill’s life and career, it’s among the most feel-good movies on the streaming platform at the moment.
Wanting to pursue a career in baseball against his family’s wishes, a young man suffering from a degenerative spinal disease (Colin Ford) undergoes a vigorous training regimen in the hopes of impressing a visiting talent scout (Scott Glenn).
To be sure, The Hill has its fair share of weaknesses, drawing on a cut-and-paste plot line found in most other inspirational sports movies before it. However, the film’s talented cast makes it all worthwhile, with The Hill featuring otherwise fine performances from Ford, Randy Quaid, Joelle Carter, and Glenn.
Documentary: Einstein and the Bomb (2023)
Yet another film appearing on Netflix’s most-watched movies list is a 2023 movie centered around the creation of the atomic bomb. (No, it’s not Oppenheimer.) A Netflix-exclusive documentary film, Einstein and the Bomb analyzes – you guessed it – the good doctor’s contributions to the atomic bomb.
Reflecting back on his life from his latter days at Princeton University, Albert Einstein shares his thoughts on the unpredictability of the nuclear bomb and the role he played in developing it for U.S. forces in World War II.
An ideal factual companion piece to Christopher Nolan’s critically applauded Oppenheimer biopic, Einstein and the Bomb focuses on the same vital questions Nolan brings up in his own film, including humanity’s relationship to a device able to end the world at the click of a button.
Survival: Society of the Snow (2023)
Currently ranking as the second most popular movie on Netflix behind The Single Moms Club is the 2023 survival thriller, Society of the Snow. Based on a startling true story, the film dramatizes the horrific events of a 1972 flight disaster that claimed the lives of 29 people.
Crash-landing in the Andes Mountains in the early 1970s, the survivors of a brutal plane crash soon resort to desperate measures, spending a total of two months in the mountains as they await rescue.
Like most survival films, Society of the Snow features a harrowing portrait of individuals enduring hostile environmental conditions in order to survive. A fantastic thriller, it’s also among the finest recent arrivals to Netflix.
Mystery: Oldboy (2003)
Without doubt one of the bleakest, strangest, most unforgettably unsettling movies ever made, Oldboy also appears among the most popular movies ever directed by South Korean legend, Park Chan-wook.
After spending 15 years locked up in a secluded hotel room by a mysterious assailant, a kidnap victim (Choi Min-sik) tries to decipher his captors’ identity once he’s set free, leading him down a path of gory revenge.
Taking its simple premise and exploring its narrative possibilities to the full fullest, Oldboy never shies away from its dark or uncomfortable subject matter, priding itself on its ability to leave viewers both disgusted and enthralled through its sheer unpredictability.
Fantasy: Noah (2014)
A postmodern throwback to the Biblical epics commonly made in the 1950s and ‘60s, Noah also draws on a far grittier and more cerebral presentation for its central narrative, likening itself more to Gladiator than to The Ten Commandments.
In ancient civilization, the Biblical prophet Noah (Russell Crowe) hastily prepares to build an arc that will ensure the survival of his family and two of every creature on Earth ahead of a catastrophic flood.
Weaving in a topical discussion about the growing dangers of climate change, Noah’s unconventional take on an age-old story makes it one of the more original (and somewhat controversial) adaptations of a Biblical legend in cinematic history.
Romance: 27 Dresses (2008)
Also appearing on this week’s most-watched movies list on Netflix is the 2008 romantic comedy, 27 Dresses. Perhaps best suited for dedicated fans of the romantic comedy genre, 27 Dresses coasts on its light-hearted humor, melodramatic romance, and the agreeable performances of its talented cast.
Having served as the bridesmaid for 27 different weddings, a young woman (Katherine Heigl) wonders whether to accept a bridesmaid proposal for a ceremony between her sister (Malin Åkerman) and the man she’s secretly in love with (Edward Burns).
Enjoyably corny and somehow refreshingly cliched, 27 Dresses’ faithful adherence to the traditional romcom formula makes it an altogether easy movie to watch, thanks in large part to Heigl and James Marsden’s inspired chemistry together.
Biopic: The Disaster Artist (2017)
Since its release in 2003, Tommy Wiseau’s The Room has earned widespread attention for its status as one of the worst movies ever made. Poorly acted, atrociously written, and incompetently directed, the dramatized story of The Room’s production forms the basis of 2017’s biographical comedy, The Disaster Artist.
Struggling to break into the film industry on their own, two best friends (James Franco and Dave Franco) pool their efforts together to make their very own movie. To everyone’s surprise, the finished film becomes an unexpected cult sensation–albeit for all the wrong reasons.
Based on Greg Sestero’s personal accounts of The Room’s filming and his friendship with Wiseau, The Disaster Artist offers a hilarious interpretation of just how the worst movie ever made underwent production in the first place.
Drama: The Great Debaters (2007)
Unsurprisingly, most movies starring Denzel Washington remain worth seeing for some reason or another–if only for Washington’s famously astute performances. Such is the case for 2007’s The Great Debaters, a historical drama based on an inspirational true story.
In 1935, a debate team coach at the historically Black Wiley College (Washington) encourages his team through numerous debates against prejudiced white intellectuals across the American South.
One of the greatest historical movies to evaluate what life was like in the Jim Crow era Southern U.S., The Great Debaters also illustrates the tremendous uphill battle faced by the 1935 Wiley College debate team–a team who triumphed over bigotry and racism in their academic endeavors.
Underrated: The Mustang (2019)
Don’t let its kitschy-sounding premise fool you – 2019’s The Mustang is a superb drama that offers some deep insight into the topic of incarceration, redemption, and rehabilitation within the American judicial system.
Taking part in an experimental new program, a misanthropic prison inmate (Matthias Schoenaerts) attempts to care for and train a high-spirited wild mustang captured from the outside world.
Through its fascinating central narrative, The Mustang illustrates how certain individuals can fundamentally change for the better with the right support. Advocating for peaceful understanding and rehabilitation when it comes to incarcerated prison inmates, The Mustang will more than likely leave you with some misty eyes after initial viewing.