Trying to find the best movie to watch on Netflix can be a daunting challenge. We’ve all been there. You’ve decided you’re going to watch something. You have the entirety of Netflix at your disposal, including even a pared-down list of films you’ve already bookmarked to watch at a future date. But then there’s the choosing. You’ve gotta find something that fits your mood, or something you and your friend/significant other/couch companion can agree on. You spend hours browsing, and by the time you stumble on something you think maybe is the one, it’s too late, you’re too tired, and indecision has won out.
Never fear, though, because we here at Collider have a guide to help you find the perfect Netflix movies available in the U.S. We’ve thumbed through the library and assembled a list of some of the best films currently available for streaming, from classics to hidden gems to new releases and beyond. This list of the best movies on Netflix is updated weekly with all-new choices, so be sure to return the next time you’re looking for something great to watch.
Editor’s note: This post was last updated on May 27th to include Michael Clayton and Identity
The Power of the Dog
Director/Writer: Jane Campion
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee
The Power of the Dog is a slow, sly movie that reveals itself to you in subtle, measured glimpses at tenderness that are otherwise caked in grit, cruelty and crudity. Set in 1920s Montana, Jane Campion‘s awards contender stars Benedict Cumberbatch, giving one of his best performances yet as Phil Burbank; a gruff and bitter cowboy who takes an immediate disliking to his brother’s (Jesse Plemmons) new wife, Rose (Kirsten Dunst). In turn, her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) takes a disliking to him, determined to protect his mother, setting the stage for fascinating, subtle power plays and dynamic shifts as the contentious new family attempts to settle in together. As with all Campion films, you can expect exquisite shots and stunning glimpses into small moments of human vulnerability, but The Power of the Dog is also a challenging, often caustic film about tracing the ripples of toxicity. It certainly isn’t your average Neo-western, so don’t go in expecting standoffs our shootouts, but even without those flashy calling cards, The Power of the Dog makes a striking impact that seems to land all in one final blow. – Haleigh Foutch
Watch The Power of the Dog on Netflix
Argo
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Written by: Chris Terrio
Cast: Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, Tate Donovan, Scoot McNairy
Argo is one of those Best Picture winners that has gained more criticism as a result of its success. While it may not have deserved to take home the top prize over Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty, or Django Unchained, Argo is hardly a safe crowd pleaser like The Artist or Green Book. Ben Affleck tells the fascinating story of Tony Mendez, a real CIA operation to rescue American Embassy employees in Iran. Mendez disguises the hostages as the crew of a fake science-fiction film, and courts in some Hollywood names to help him make the premise believable. While there are sequences of unbearable tension, Affleck mixes in a good deal of Hollywood satire as well.-Liam Gaughan
The Social Network
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Aaron Sorkin
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer, Justin Timberlake, and Max Minghella
The Social Network almost seemed like a joke at first. How could Zodiac and Fight Club director David Fincher make a movie about Facebook, even with The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin handling the screenplay. But The Social Network ended up not only becoming one of Fincher’s best, it also became one of the best films of the 2010s, as Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg in this sort-of origin story for the major social media platform. Everything about The Social Network it pitch-perfect, from the thumping score by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor to the rapid-fire dialogue delivered by a fantastic cast. With The Social Network, Fincher crafted a surprisingly great look at social media and the closed-off people who create this virtual worlds. – Ross Bonaime
Watch The Social Network on Netflix
Tick, Tick… Boom!
Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Writers: Jonathan Larson and Steven Levenson
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens
Hamilton and In the Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda directs the long-awaited film adaptation of RENT creator Johnathan Larson‘s Tick, Tick… Boom! The result is an excellent movie musical that’s every bit a love letter to theater itself as much as it is to Larson and his tragic tale of short-lived genius. Which is perhaps what makes Miranda such an exceptional fit for the material in his filmmaking debut, and not just because his every-damned-award-winning musical Hamilton is all about capturing the beauty and tragedy of short-lived genius: the Broadway polymath has also been vocal about how Tick, Tick… Boom! influenced and inspired him as a creator, and he even starred in a production of the show several years ago. Equally at home is Andrew Garfield as Larson himself, showcasing a hell of a singing voice and yet another outstanding performance that will lift you up, rake you through the anxiety of excellence, before absolutely breaking your heart. It’s a beautiful film based on a beautiful piece of writing, and whether you’re a fan of Garfield’s, Miranda’s, Larson’s, or just the theater dahling, it’s a moving testament to those who openly embrace ambition, earnestly love performance, and believe that both give them the power to change lives. – Haleigh Foutch
Watch Tick, Tick… Boom! on Netflix
Hell or High Water
Director: David Mackenzie
Writer: Taylor Sheridan
Cast: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham, Dale Dickey, William Sterchi
When it comes to heist movies, Hell or High Water walks amongst the most emotional, contemplative, and Texan experiences of them all. David Mackenzie (Starred Up) and Taylor Sheridan’s (Sicario) raging critique of classism and corruption endemic to the modern American financial system is on full display from the opening of the film. Graffiti and billboards paint the picture of poverty and desperation many folks struggle with throughout the country. The Midland setting, southern accents, and numerous six-packs of texas treasures Lone Star and Shiner give the film a specific tone despite the thematic elements being more ubiquitously relatable. Ben Foster and Chris Pine truly shine as two brothers built of different character, morals, and functions. Their fraternal love is at once silly and tender. Jeff Bridges and his partner Gil Birmingham chew and churn through conversations about history, life, and crime in a way that endears and enchants. Their chemistry is natural and comedic, and their calm approach to the chase is starkly contrasted against the adrenaline-pumping, unpredictable actions of the Howard brothers on their bank-robbing binge.
Watch Hell or High Water on Netflix
Big Fish
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: John August
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, and Marion Cotillard
While filmmaker Tim Burton is best known for making films that are whimsical and/or fantastically dark, 2003’s Big Fish is his most successful dramatic effort by far. Burton made the movie in the immediate wake of his father’s death, which brings added emotional heft to the story of a dying man (Albert Finney) telling his life’s story to his son (Billy Crudup). The father embellishes just about everything (or does he?), and flashbacks find Ewan McGregor playing his younger self as he goes on a series of fantastical adventures. It all builds to a really emotional finale that will have you in tears. – Adam Chitwood
The Imitation Game
Director: Morten Tyldum
Writer: Graham Moore
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance, and Mark Strong
One of the most highly acclaimed films of 2014, The Imitation Game has largely faded into obscurity in the years since its release. This is a shame because it really is a pretty great movie. The Imitation Game draws a portrait of the life and times of Alan Turing, one of the most brilliant scientists of his time. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing, it shows how the mathematician and computer scientist was recruited by the British government to crack the German Enigma code during World War II. It also, perhaps more importantly, shows how despite his contributions, Turing was ostracised and subjected to a horrible fate after it came out that he was gay. Is it a truly accurate historical piece? Not really, but this Academy Award-winning film is certainly a great watch and deserves praise for bringing Turing’s once-forgotten story to a global audience. – Remus Noronha
Watch The Imitation Game on Netflix
Inception
Director/Writer: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine
By 2010, Christopher Nolan had already shown he could make mind-mending films (Memento, The Prestige) and large-scale action films (the first two installments of his Batman trilogy). But with Inception, Nolan combined the two in spectacular fashion, creating a massive spectacle that was unlike anything audiences had seen before. In Inception, Nolan made wild ideas manageable, and crafted remarkable set pieces that literally turned the world on its head. With its remarkable cast, shocking ideas and insane special effects, Inception showed that Nolan was absolutely a director to be reckoned with. — Ross Bonaime
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Writer/Director: Charlie Kaufman
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, and David Thewlis
Charlie Kaufman is no stranger to films that make you feel like your brain is leaking out of your head, like with his directorial debut Synecdoche, New York, or with screenplays like Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. With I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Kaufman adapts Iain Reid‘s novel of the same name, in which Jake (Jesse Plemons) brings his girlfriend (Jessie Buckley) to meet his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis). But of course no Kaufman story could be that simple, as I’m Thinking of Ending Things becomes a twisty, strange, and remarkable experience unlike any other film. By the end, I’m Thinking of Ending Things becomes one of the most insane and towering achievements of Kaufman’s career, which is really saying something. — Ross Bonaime
Watch I’m Thinking of Ending Things on Netflix
Michael Clayton
Director/Writer: Tony Gilroy
Cast: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sidney Pollack, and Michael O’Keefe
The 2007 drama Michael Clayton still holds up tremendously well. The story centers on an attorney (played by George Clooney) who’s trying to cope with a colleague’s apparent breakdown all while a major client that his law firm is representing is being sued in a class action case. It’s a potboiler thriller, but Tony Gilroy’s director elevates it above your standard John Grisham adaptation into something far more cinematic and introspective. – Adam Chitwood
Watch Michael Clayton on Netflix
Gattaca
Writer/Director: Andrew Niccol
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, and Jude Law
Easily one of the best science fiction films of the 1990s, Andrew Niccol’s movie explores prejudice through the unique concept of genetic discrimination. In a near-future setting (beautifully designed with a mid-century modern look), Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) aspires to be an astronaut, but because he was born out of love and not genetically crafted like others in this future, he’s got a heart condition that rules him out of employment. Determined to follow his dream, he takes the identity of Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a perfect specimen now confined to a wheelchair. As Vincent tries to keep the ruse alive, he’s suspected of murder at his company, Gattaca. The film is thrilling, sad, and reframes our thinking about prejudice in clever, thoughtful ways. It is sci-fi at its finest and has lost none of its punch over the past couple of decades. – Matt Goldberg
Nightbooks
Director: David Yarovesky
Writers: Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis
Cast: Winslow Fegley, Krysten Ritter, Lidya Jewett
A delightful “gateway horror” film for the whole family (ok, maybe not the super young kids), Nightbooks is adapted from the book of the same name and follows two kids trapped by a vicious (but fabulous) witch who demands a new scary story each night. Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 and Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter is giddily glamorous and genuinely menacing as the big bad witch in question, and director David Yarovesky (Brightburn) does a fantastic job translating horror staples into family-friendly fare, making for a film that’s genuinely spooky, but still a whole ton of fun. Further credit to Yarovesky, Nightbooks is also one of the best and most distinct-looking Netflix originals in recent memory and it takes care to build out its world of magic and horror with a stylish flourish. Speaking of style, don’t even get me started on Ritter’s glittering costumes because I could write a novel of praise. Whether you’re looking for a new spooky season favorite, or you’re just looking for a good spooky movie regardless of the season, Nightbooks is a creepy, creative treat. – Haleigh Foutch
Worth
Director: Sara Colangelo
Writer: Max Borenstein
Cast: Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, Stanley Tucci, Tate Donovan, and Lauren Benati
I know a drama set in the wake of 9/11 is a tough sell, but Worth is absolutely one of the best films of 2021. Based on a true story, it follows an attorney in Washington D.C. who is tasked with figuring out exactly how much each of the 9/11 victims’ families will receive as part of insurance payouts, literally deciding each person’s worth. He battles bureacracy and cynicism at every turn, and is touched by his interactions with the victims’ families. Michael Keaton and Amy Ryan give terrific performances here, and Stanley Tucci is a scene-stealer as always. — Adam Chitwood
Silver Linings Playbook
Writer/Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, and Julia Stiles
While Silver Linings Playbook was billed as an “Oscar movie,” scoring eight nominations including Best Picture, at heart it’s really just a solid romantic comedy. Bradley Cooper plays a man suffering from bipolar disorder who moves back in with his parents after being released from a psychiatric hospital. He meets a recently widowed young woman (Jennifer Lawerence) who vows to help him get back with his ex-wife, but wouldn’t you know it, while training for a big dance competition Cooper and Lawrence accidentally fall in love. It’s charming and offbeat, owing to filmmaker David O. Russell’s unique sensibilities, and Cooper and Lawrence (in an Oscar-winning performance) have tremendous chemistry. – Adam Chitwood
Watch Silver Linings Playbook on Netflix
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Director: George C. Wolfe
Writer: Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Potts
The 2020 film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a powerhouse showcase for the acting talents of all involved, including Chadwick Boseman in his final live-action performance. Based on the stage play of the same name, the film chronicles a day in the life of iconic recording artist Ma Rainey as she assembles her team to record a new album on a hot summer day in 1927. Tensions rise and the dialogue crackles between these various characters, as Boseman’s trumpeter dreams of making it big on his own while the temperamental Ma Rainey knows what lies ahead all too well. This is an excellent performance-driven drama. – Adam Chitwood
Watch Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix
The Lost Daughter
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Writer: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Cast: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Jack Farthing, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ed Harris
In her directorial debut, Maggie Gyllenhaal has to handle a complex balance in telling the story of Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman). Leda takes a holiday to Greece and upon watching young mother Nina (Dakota Johnson) with her child, Leda reflects back on her own struggles with motherhood. Adapting Elena Ferrante‘s novel of the same name, Gyllenhaal presents a lead character whose impulsiveness could easily have been seen as selfish, but instead, Gyllenhaal and Colman present Leda as an intricate and extremely complicated character. The Lost Daughter provides not only another great Colman performance, but a fantastic introduction to Gyllenhaal as a commanding filmmaker. – Ross Bonaime
Watch The Lost Daughter on Netflix
Django Unchained
Director/Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Johnson, Walton Goggins, and James Remar
Quentin Tarantino’s most financially successful film to date remains his 2012 Western epic Django Unchained, which is set in 1858 and tells the story of a freed slave’s (Jamie Foxx) quest to save his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from the clutches of a ruthless plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) – with the help of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz), of course. Django Unchained is tremendously unsettling in terms of providing an unflinching glimpse at the lives of slaves in America (and the cruelty inflicted upon them), but it also has that Tarantino touch that makes it wildly entertaining – a combination that may strike some as odd or in poor taste. However you fall, DiCaprio’s menacing performance is undeniably among his very best, Foxx’s arc is particularly impressive, and it’s hard to argue with Waltz’s Oscar win for his supporting turn. – Adam Chitwood
Watch Django Unchained on Netflix
The Fear Street Trilogy
Director: Leigh Janiak
Writers: Leigh Janiak and Phil Graziadei (Part One), Zak Olkewicz (Part Two), Phil Graziadei and Leigh Janiak and Kate Trefry (Part Three)
Cast: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Sadie Sink, and more
Inarguably one of the best Netflix originals ever, the Fear Street trilogy is the perfect binge-watch. This adaptation of the R.L. Stine book series is an interconnected trilogy of horror movies, each with its own tone and twist on the slasher genre, bound by characters and mythology. The action begins in Fear Street: 1994, which introduces the town of Shadyside where everything bad always tends to happen. A group of teenagers finds themselves hunted down by a bevy of serial killers from the town’s past, only to discover the culprit may be a centuries-old curse. The second film, Fear Street: 1978, is a summer camp slasher that goes into Shadyside’s past to recount a horrific event while revealing more of the mythology until the third and final movie, Fear Street: 1666, works as an origin story for the curse and the Shadyside Witch. These movies absolutely rule, and are perfect for a Friday night date night. – Adam Chitwood
Sorry to Bother You
Writer/Director: Boots Riley
Cast: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Danny Glover, Steven Yuen, and Armie Hammer
It’s best to go into Sorry to Bother You as cold as possible, but if you need to know the brief synopsis, it follows Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a young black man who discovers he’s a wiz at telemarketing when he puts on his “white voice”, but as he starts becoming more successful, he begins to compromise his values. But that’s just the basic premise of Boots Riley’s scathing satire on race, capitalism, art, masculinity, and commerce. It’s not a film that works 100% of the time, but its ambition is undeniable, and the film is at turns hilarious, damning, and completely bonkers. – Matt Goldberg
Watch Sorry to Bother You on Netflix
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Director: Mike Rianda
Writers: Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe
Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen, and Beck Bennett
You’ve seen a zillion animated family comedy movies, but The Mitchells vs. the Machines is undoubtedly one of the best. Produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and originally made by Sony Pictures Animation – the studio behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – the film finds a father and daughter struggling to connect, and follows the family as the father decides they should take a road trip to send her off to college where she’s studying to be a filmmaker.Alongthe way, the robot apocalypse occurs, forcing them to work together to make it through. At every turn The Mitchells vs. the Machines is surprising. It puts in the work so that the emotional scenes hit hard, but it’s also wildly colorful and beautifully artistic as Mike Rianda pushes the boundaries of visual expression. On top of all that, the film is hilarious, bringing to mind the colorful comedy of Lord and Miller’s other films – most notably Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. This movie will have you cackling and crying in equal measure, and it’s one of the best films of 2021 full stop. – Adam Chitwood
Watch The Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix
Read Next
About The Author
