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 The Lord of the Rings, The Boxtrolls, and We Have a Ghost , 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 1.
Fantasy: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
It’s a rarity in the film industry where you see a sequel surpass the quality of the original. But it’s even more rare when the third and final entry in a series is considered the best of the bunch, as is the case with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Having successfully defeated Saruman (Christopher Lee), the remaining armies of Rohan and Gondor join together to combat Sauron’s invading armies, providing a distraction for Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) as they continue their trek to Mordor.
The exciting conclusion to Peter Jackson’s LOTR series, The Return of the King ends Jackson’s awe-inspiring trilogy on a blessedly high note. Objectively the best movie in the franchise, the action scenes are bigger, the CGI smoother, and the emotional payoff cathartic. Anyone who sets out to tell a story over the course of three films should take notes from this movie.
Comedy: We Have a Ghost
The newest movie to arrive to Netflix, We Have a Ghost is a markedly lighter film than director Christopher Landon’s previous films (Paranormal Activity, Freaky, Happy Death Day). Gearing itself more towards families than any of Landon’s earlier works, it’s a fun, if uneven film that coasts on its talented cast.
Moving into a new house, teenager Kevin (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) is surprised to find the ghost of the last occupant (David Harbour) still hanging around. Recording the ghost on his phone, Kevin and his newfound companion become online sensations, catching the attention of the CIA.
With its basis in social media, trending topics, and random celebrity status, We Have a Ghost is an undeniably clever movie in its general concept. While it might not fully deliver on its premise, it still does a decent job conveying a palpable comedic mystery, filled with entertaining performances from a villainous Tig Notaro and Jennifer Coolidge as a harebrained TV psychic.
Crime: 2 Guns
Who would’ve thought that Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg would make for such an effective pairing? A stylized buddy cop film, there’s more to love about 2 Guns than there is to dislike, most especially the indomitable chemistry between its two lead stars.
Bobby (Washington) and Stig (Wahlberg) are two criminal partners secretly working undercover, unbeknownst to each other. Working separately, the two try to manipulate one another into aiding their mission to take down an infamous drug lord (Edward James Olmos).
It helps to think of 2 Guns as a bold and brash action buddy cop movie in the same mold as Lethal Weapon, 48 Hrs., and Point Break. Throwing in a healthy dose of comedy, 2 Guns is unquestionably a bit on the sillier side, but its smarmy shootouts and nonstop banter between Washington and Wahlberg’s characters is more than enough to win over most viewers.
Mystery: The Strays
A recent arrival to Netflix, The Strays is as much a mystery as it is a horror film, maintaining a central narrative that immediately calls to mind social thrillers like Get Out. Naturally, it’s not nearly as good as Jordan Peele’s masterful debut, but The Strays is nevertheless a mystery movie that’ll leave you tense and guessing throughout.
Having built the perfect life for herself in the suburbs, a meticulous woman (Ashley Madekwe) faces a grave threat from her past when two strangers arrive in town.
Analyzing race, differing social classes, and privilege-based existence, The Strays is a stirring horror mystery with some strong messages behind it. Reviews have greatly differed among audience members (with critics lauding it and many other viewers panning it), but it’s a matter of taste to see if the movie is up to your standards.
War: All Quiet on the Western Front
As we all know, war is a horrendous thing, bringing with it its own set of tribulations that plague combatants and civilian non-combatants alike. Regardless of if we’re talking about World War 1, World War 2, or any other conflict, we all know war is hell — the main message conveyed in the excellent 2022 film, All Quiet on the Western Front.
Near the end of World War 1, an idealistic 17-year-old (Felix Kammerer) joins the German Army. Arriving to the front lines, the young man’s romanticized view of war is quickly shattered when he realizes the horrific and chaotic conditions on the battlefield.
Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s largely autobiographical book of the same name, All Quiet on the Western Front invites viewers into the trenches of the Great War, witnessing what life was like for German soldiers on the front. Recently nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, it emphasizes that — regardless of political or military allegiances — each soldiers’ life was terrible in its own way, and that war is inherently awful for all parties involved.
Documentary: Murdaugh Murders
Currently trending as the most-watched TV series on Netflix, Murdaugh Murders covers one of the most shocking and complex legal cases in the US right now. If you’ve been following the trial, you already know how many details are involved in the investigation of Richard Murdaugh— but Murdaugh Murders helps unpack the alleged crimes Murdaugh has been charged with in a fully comprehensible way.
For over a century, the Murdaugh family reigned over South Carolina’s Low Country. In 2019, that all changed when a local teenager was killed in a boating accident involving Richard Murdaugh’s son, resulting in all kinds of various crimes being attached to Murdaugh’s name.
As the fifth week of Murdaugh’s trial wraps up, Netflix’s latest true crime documentary comes at an extremely relevant time. With Murdaugh facing over 100 criminal charges — including the murder of his wife and son — Murdaugh Murders is an exhaustive introduction to Murdaugh’s case, highlighting some of the most important facts surrounding each major charge.
Family: The Boxtrolls
Over the past decade, stop-motion animation has been gaining renewed traction among mainstream audiences. Although it’s still not nearly as popular or commonly-used as the crisp CGI of Disney, Pixar, or DreamWorks’ films, various filmmakers have made inspired use of stop-motion in recent years, as seen with films like Pinocchio, Frankenweenie, and The Boxtrolls.
Beneath the city of Cheesebridge is a bustling community of creatures known as the Boxtrolls. Having been raised by the Boxtrolls for his entire life, a human boy (Isaac Hempstead Wright) tries to protect his adoptive family from a ruthless exterminator (Ben Kingsley).
Loaded with astonishing animation, vibrant characters, and witty dialogue, The Boxtrolls is as much a movie you have fun marveling at as much as you do actually watching it. It’s also a far more child-friendly option than other stop-motion movies out there (A Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, etc.), making it a palatable choice for the whole family.
Horror: 47 Meters Down: Uncaged
Rising to the top of this week’s Netflix most-watched list is the generally underrated horror thriller, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged. A fairly satisfying sequel to 2017’s earlier 47 Meters Down, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged mostly lives up to the expectations set by the original film, succeeding where most other horror sequels fail.
Touring a sunken Mayan city beneath the sea, a group of scuba-diving vacationers are pursued through the labyrinthine city by a ravenous great white shark.
As with most natural horror films of this variety, if you’re expecting to turn on this movie and watch Jaws, you’ll be greatly disappointed. But if you’re the kind of viewer who enjoys those high-concept Jaws knock-offs (Lake Placid, Shark Night, Piranha), you’ll have a fantastic time watching 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.
Romance: Along Came Polly
Valentine’s Day has just passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little romance in your life — even if it is in the form of a romantic comedy. Whether you’re single or happily taken, you’re bound to fall in love with the lighthearted charm that comes with Along Came Polly.
Discovering that his newlywed wife (Debra Messing) cheated on him during their honeymoon, a New York actuary (Ben Stiller) tries to get his life back on track, meeting and falling in love with a former school classmate (Jennifer Aniston).
The low-brow gross-out humor can get a bit tiring, but all in all, Along Came Polly is the perfect date night movie, combining tender romance with a great ensemble cast. Even if the love story doesn’t hook you, you’ll be able to enjoy the hilarious antics of Philip Seymor Hoffman — a former child star trying to reassert his place in pop culture — or Hank Azaria as a suave French scuba diver.
Underrated: Barb Wire
“Wow, this movie is crazy” doesn’t even begin to tap the surface of Barb Wire. In the ‘90s, this would’ve been the kind of film you accidentally discover upon stumbling around for 30 minutes inside a Blockbuster, paving the way for a strange but sublimely fun night.
In the near distant future, a Second Civil War has fractured America in two. Standing in the middle of it all is Barb Wire (Pamela Anderson), a night club owner/mercenary whose loyalty is put into question when her former lover (Temuera Morrison) arrives looking for help.
Unwaveringly panned by critics upon its 1996 release, Barb Wire has gained a significant cult following as the years have gone by. Even Roger Ebert, the most influential critic of them all, positively commented on Barb Wire’s kitschy aesthetic, pointing out that, while it’s clearly not a good movie, that doesn’t stop it from being an entertaining one.
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Richard Chachowski is a freelance writer based in New Jersey. He loves reading, his dog Tootsie, and pretty much every movie to ever exist (especially Star Wars).