35 best films on Netflix to watch right now
NETFLIX can be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of content available, it can be hard to know what to watch.
Thankfully if you're in the mood for a film, here is a guide to which Netflix movies you should feast your eyes on, updated on a regular basis.
- The best documentaries on Netflix
- The best series on Netflix
Drama
1. Boiling Point
If you don't want to be kept on the edge of your seat, this one might not be for you.
But if you're up for a breathless thrill-ride through the stressful world of a restaurant, you really could do no better.
Stephen Graham shines as Andy, the head chef of an up-market London restaurant, and is surrounded by a stellar supporting cast including Vinette Robinson and Jason Flemyng.
Boiling Point was shot in just one take, with four attempts taken to get the finished article that you see on screen.
It's a phenomenal technical achievement, and well worth checking out even just to marvel at how they accomplished it.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 99 %.
2. The Invisible Man
The Handmaid's Tale star Elisabeth Moss leads the cast of this chilling reimagining of Universal's classic monster movie, which comes courtesy of Saw co-creator Leigh Whannell.
The Invisible Man tells the story of architect Cecilia Kass, who drugs her abusive boyfriend to escape a life trapped in his oppressive home.
However, while she initially believes him dead, an invisible presence in her home leads her to believe he may have found a terrifying new way to stalk her.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 92%
3. The Irishman
Crime thriller The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) as he looks back on his work for the Bufalino crime family.
As an older man and WWII veteran he reflects on all of his prolific hits and debates his involvement in the disappearance of his good friend Jimmy Hoffa.
If you're a fan of The Godfather films or Goodfellas, this'll be right up your street.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 86 %.
4. Hillbilly Elegy
The American drama film has had polarising reviews. since landing on the streaming site.
It is based on a memoir of the same name written by J. D. Vance which was published in 2016 and follows the story of Yale law student - Vance - whose career dreams are ruined when he has to return to Ohio to help his family.
The blockbuster explores and reflects on Vance's Appalachian family history and stars Amy Adams.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 86%.
5. Marriage Story
Adam Driver and Scarlett Johanssen star as a stage director and his actor wife who go through the stages of marriage that aren't told.
The pair go through a gruelling divorce that pushes them and their personal extremes to the limit.
The couple's story of their marriage troubles is inspired by the director, writer and producer of the film.
Noah Baumbach based it on his divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh as well as his parents divorce.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 85%
6. Bohemian Rhapsody
This biographical musical drama tells the story of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
It begins at their formation in 1970 and goes through to their iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985.
Featuring an incredible performance from Rami Malek - who won a Best Actor Oscar for the role - as Freddie, the film features a huge array of the band's biggest hits.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 85%
7. The Big Short
This 2015 film is a 2015 American biographical comedy-drama showing how the financial crisis of 2007–2008 was triggered by the United States housing bubble.
It features an all-star cast including Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.
While it sounds like a bit of a dry subject, the way it is filmed makes it an interesting watch, with several of the film's characters directly address the audience, most frequently Gosling's, who serves as the narrator.
8. The Father
This film saw Sir Anthony Hopkins win the Best Actor Oscar for his work in this 2021 film.
It sees Anthony pay the titular father, who refuses all assistance from his daughter (Olivia Colman) as he ages.
As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.
Romance
9. Me Before You
This 2016 film stars Emilia Clarke as the quirky Louisa "Lou" Clark, who moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet.
However, her cheerful outlook on life is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier.
Will has been left feeling very cynical about life, but his attitude starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living.
As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 73%
10. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
If teen rom-coms are your favourite then this ticks every box.
With newcomers Lana Condor and Noah Centineo in high school portraying a fake relationship, what could go wrong?
A heart-warming film series based on the best-selling book of the same name by Jenny Han.
It also star Sex and the City's John Corbett.
There's also a sequel to get stuck into if you're a fan of the first film.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 86 %.
11. Call Me By Your Name
A powerful and affectionate portrayal of love acted out by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.
Chalamet plays 17-year-old Elio Perlan, the American-Italian who's close to his father and enjoys reading and transcribing.
When Oliver (Hammer) arrives as a charming American Scholar, the two embark on a beautiful awakening that will change their lives forever.
Call Me By Your Name received critical acclaim for its superbly acted romance.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 86%.
12. Warm Bodies
A love story like no other, Warm Bodies shows the power of human connection in the zombie apocalypse.
After a zombie epidemic, an unusual zombie encounters a human and the two form a special relationship.
Their struggle for survival in a lifeless world presents all sorts of challenges, but love proves to be the cure to the pandemic nobody saw coming.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 81 %.
13. Dirty Dancing
If you're looking for a classic 80s film, look no further than Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze.
The pair play Baby and Johnny, who meet at a holiday camp in the summer of 1963.
Baby has her eyes opened after learning to dance and getting to know Johnny and his working class friends.
The pair fall in love despite the social barriers between them - not to mention Baby's father, and love triumphs all through the medium of dance set against a stellar soundtrack.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 90%
1. Pride and Prejudice
The Jane Austen classic got another movie adaptation in 2005 starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.
Elizabeth is headstrong while Mr Darcy is enigmatic and their hot and cold relationship is a riveting watch.
With an excellent cast and fantastic chemistry between Keira and Matthew, it's the perfect film romance that does justice to the original novel.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 89%
Horror/Thriller
15. Hush
Heart-pounding thriller Hush by director Mike Flanagan follows the story of a deaf woman living alone in the woods.
Secluded and existing in a silent world, this young woman has to fight her way to safety after a psychotic killer appears outside her window.
With no one around for miles, it proves to be a bloody battle for survival.
If you're not good with gore then we suggest swerving this as it doesn't hold back with its grisly battle sequences.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 73 %.
16. Army of the Dead
This zombie heist film by Zack Snyder stars Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick and Ella Purnell.
Army Of The Dead is set in Las Vegas after a zombie outbreak and follows a group of mercenaries who have been tasked with carrying out the greatest heist ever - within the quarantine zone.
As you might expect, things don't go according to plan, but it makes for a fun watch with plenty of action to keep you entertained.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 75%
17. Gerald's Game
Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) and his wife Jessie (Carla Gugino) try and rekindle the lost spark in their marriage with a retreat to a remote lake house.
However, a dangerous sex game leaves Gerald dead and Jessie handcuffed to the bed.
During this time she must battle hallucinations and the sheer panic of being unable to do anything.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 91%
18. V Wars
If you get scared at films like Contagion or simply want to be frightened out of your wits, then this series is for you.
After a fast-spreading disease turns people into blood-sucking fiends, two best friends must team up in order to save humanity.
Starring Ian Somerhalder in another vampire-esque role this is a blood-soaked blend of action and tension.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 96%
19. Shaun of the Dead
Simon Pegg stars in this comedy horror which he also wrote alongside director Edgar Wright.
It follows Shaun and his friend Ed, played by Nick Frost, as they are initially unaware of a zombie outbreak.
Once realisation dawns on them, they attempt to seek refuge in their local pub with their loved ones, with varying degrees of success.
Funny and with plenty of blood, it's a must for comedy horror fans.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 93%
20. Prisoners
Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal star in this 2013 crime thriller.
Hugh's character Keller Dover faces every parent's worst nightmare when his six-year-old daughter, Anna, and her friend go missing.
The only lead is an old motorhome that had been parked on their street.
The head of the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake), arrests the driver (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces Loki to release his only suspect.
However, Dover, knowing that his daughter's life is at stake, decides to take matters into his own hands.
Animations
21. Spirited Away
Studio Ghibli made up a part of everyone's childhood and Spirited Away is a standout success.
The Oscar-winning production follows Chihiro, who is led to a mysterious town where her parents turn into pigs after eating the local food.
On a mission to find her parents once they go missing and adamant to find her way home, Chihiro befriends Haiku in this mystical tale.
Set in Japan, the original language is Japanese but there's both English dubbing and subtitles available.
If you're new to anime, Spirited Away is a great place to start and will likely get you addicted to the genre.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 97%.
22. The Mitchells vs. The Machines
This animated film follows Katie Mitchell and her family as they embark on a road trip ahead of her first year at film school.
However, their plans are interrupted when all the world's electronic devices come to life and stage an uprising.
It's up to Katie, her family and two friendly robots to save the planet.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 89%.
23. My Neighbour Totoro
Studio Ghibli is the gift that keeps on giving with this family friendly, heartwarming animation.
Two girls find that their country home is in the middle of a mystical forest inhabited by fascinating mythical creatures.
They befriend Totoro, the king of the forest as well as the biggest and eldest of the mystical land.
While their mother is sick in hospital, the girls are taken on an adventure where they begin to understand the realities of life.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
24. How to Train Your Dragon
Family friendly animation about the son of a Viking Chief who is trying to live up to his father's expectations of him.
Wanting to mark his passage into manhood is harder as he isn’t built like the rest of the Viking’s on the island.
However, when a rare breed of dragon lands on the island, injured and in need of a trainer, his luck begins to change.
also has two sequels, so if you're a fan of the original you're in luck.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 91%
Comedy
25. Always Be My Maybe
If you’re a sucker for the childhood sweethearts trope then this film is definitely one to put on the watchlist.
After being friends since childhood, two pals are reunited after 15 years.
Reconnecting as adults who followed very different career paths, the two begin to see what they've missed over the years.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 89%.
26. The Gentlemen
This action comedy film from 2019 was written, produced and directed by Guy Ritchie and features an all-star cast including Matthew McConaughey, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery and Hugh Grant in a very different guise to what romcom fans are used to.
The story follows an American marijuana kingpin in England (McConaughey) who is looking to sell his business, setting off a chain of blackmail and schemes to undermine him.
With plenty of action, swearing and laughs, it's a return to form for Guy Ritchie and well worth a watch.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 84%
27. Pitch Perfect
Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson lead the cast in this fun 2012 film.
The plot follows Barden University's all-girl a cappella group, the Barden Bellas, as they compete against another a cappella group from their college to win Nationals.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 83%
28. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
This 1987 film stars the late, great John Candy and the equally hilarious Steve Martin.
Steve plays control freak Neal Page, who is trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and children.
His flight is rerouted to a distant city in Kansas because of a freak snowstorm and as if that wasn't stressful enough, he is then with talkative Del Griffith (John).
Despite finding him incredibly annoying, Neal must work with Del and overcome the travelling fiasco to reach their destinations in time, with much hilarity along the way.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 87%
29. Superbad
This 2007 film follows two inseparable best friends as they navigate the last weeks of high school and are invited to a gigantic house party.
They spend a long day trying to secure enough alcohol to supply the party and inebriate two girls in order to kick-start their sex lives before they go off to college.
However, their quest is complicated after one of them falls in with two inept cops who are determined to show him a good time.
Action
30. Bad Boys
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are Miami detectives investigating $100million worth of seized mafia heroin which is stolen from a secure police vault.
The two police officers embark on a journey in order to recover the money.
However their lives are made harder when internal affairs snooping around they also have their boss breathing down their necks.
An action comedy with dirty coppers, snooping wives and a bachelor who refuses to settle down.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 78%.
31. Ocean's Eleven
George Clooney and Brad Pitt can still leave fans swooning when they pull off a bank heist.
They band together a group of ex-cons to rob $150million dollars from an underground vault that serves three of Las Vegas' biggest casinos.
Teaming up with nine other men, the criminal specialists co-ordinate a heist to end all heists.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 80 %.
32. Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman had a long wait for her very own standalone movie, but damn it was worth it.
Gal Gadot plays the heroine, who saves Chris Pine's Steve Trevor when his plane crashes on the shores of her secret Amazonian island.
The warrior princess soon learns about World War I and sets out to save the human race with Steve's help.
As well as some seriously good action sequences and great chemistry between Gal and Chris, there are some funny moments which are sometimes lacking in other DC Universe films.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating:87%
33. Point Break
This 1991 film stars Keanu Reeves, a federal agent who infiltrates a gang he suspects are behind a string of bizarre bank robberies in Southern California.
The gang - a group of surfers - are lead by Patrick Swayze's character Bodhi and are addicted to the buzz the robberies gives them.
However, things become complicated for Keanu's character when he falls in love with a female surfer close to the gang, which complicates his sense of duty.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 79%
34. The Crow
This 1994 action fantasy follows musician Eric Draven, who is brutally murdered alongside his fiancée the night before their wedding by members of a violent inner-city gang.
On the anniversary of their death, Eric rises from the grave and assumes the gothic mantle of the Crow, a supernatural avenger.
Seeking out his killers, Eric gets his revenge by murdering them, before confronting head gangster Top Dollar to complete his mission.
The film takes on an extra eeriness due to the fact actor Brandon Lee, who played Eric, was fatally wounded during filming.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 90%
35. The Gray Man
Two of Hollywood's hottest actors - Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans - star in this 2022 action thriller.
When the CIA's top asset - his identity known to no one - uncovers agency secrets, he triggers a global hunt by assassins set loose by his ex-colleague.
The film is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney.
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 90%