We get it, there are a lot of good movies on Netflix; so much so that deciding on just one is no easy task and we end up spending an hour going through our queues and every random genre in the streaming giant’s massive library. To make the most out of our streaming, maximize our movie-watching time and prevent ourselves from getting caught in the infinite abyss, we’ve put together a list of the best movies on Netflix, with a little something for everyone.
But, you may want to get on these movies sooner rather than later before they end up on the list of titles leaving Netflix. Let’s take a look at some of the best movies to watch for anyone with a Netflix subscription as of December 2023. Remember to check back later in the month as there is always something new on Netflix worth checking out.
The Killer (2023)
The latest addition to David Fincher’s stellar filmography, The Killer follows Michael Fassbender’s titular assassin as he deals with the fallout of a hit gone wrong. With his world crashing down around him, this cold and calculated killer with a certain fondness for The Smiths and internal monologues decides to get back at those who tried to take away the one thing he cares about.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
After a gruesome killing in a Los Angeles coffee shop, three policemen played by Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kevin Spacey, begrudgingly work together to get to the bottom of the mystery and the wide-reaching conspiracy behind it in L.A. Confidential. Add in a femme fatale played by Kim Basinger in an Oscar-winning performance and Danny DeVito’s tabloid publisher, and you have yourself the best L.A. detective movie.
Stream L.A. Confidential on Netflix.
Black Swan (2010)
One of Darren Aronofsky’s best movies, Black Swan follows New York City ballet dancer Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) as she becomes consumed by her obsession with becoming the lead in “Swan Lake” as well as the competition between a new arrival, Lily (Mila Kunis). Losing touch with herself, those around her, and reality as a whole, the determined dancer stops at nothing to be the best, no matter what she has to sacrifice in the process.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Not to be confused with David Ayer’s very similarly titled 2016 film, James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad follows the titular group of villains and anti-heroes as they attempt to prevent a tyrannical dictator from unleashing a destructive force that could bring on the end of the world. With hellacious violence, a tremendous amount of heart, and a top-notch John Cena performance as Peacemaker, this movie slaps.
Stream The Suicide Squad on Netflix.
Boyz N The Hood (1991)
One of the best movies from a first-time director, John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood is one of the defining films of the 1990s with its brilliant coming-of-age story about a group of young men trying to survive in South Central Los Angeles. Outstanding performances by Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett add to this enriching experience, making it one of the best of all time.
Stream Boyz n the Hood on Netflix.
Blockers (2018)
Kay Cannon’s Blockers follows a trio of parents (played by John Cena, Leslie Mann, and Ike Barinholtz) as they try to prevent their daughters from carrying out their plan of losing their virginity on prom night. This raucous comedy is full of over-the-top and oftentimes gross moments, but it also has a great deal of heart, which is honestly refreshing.
The Batman (2022)
Set outside the former DCEU and the upcoming DCU, Matt Reeves’ The Batman follows Robert Pattinson’s young and brooding masked vigilante as he tries to track down the demented Riddler (Paul Dano) and stop him from murdering more of Gotham’s power players. Clocking in at three hours, this epic comic book movie feels a lot like David Fincher’s Se7en, both in tone and its various twists and turns.
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, which earned the filmmaker an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, tells the story of Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), a Colorado police officer who went undercover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1970s. With the help of Detective Philip “Flip” Zimmerman (Adam Driver), the resourceful and tenacious cop goes all the way to the top where he meets Grand Wizard David Duke, played by Topher Grace.
Stream BlacKkKlansman on Netflix.
Wonder Woman (2017)
After appearing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince was given time to shine on her own in the 2017 superhero movie, Wonder Woman. Directed by Patty Jenkins, this incredibly successful DCEU title follows Wonder Woman as she discovers her true powers and destiny while fighting in World War I, a global conflict that puts her up against an ancient force.
Stream Wonder Woman on Netflix.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Just when Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) thought his life couldn’t get any more out of hand, he comes in contact with the Spider-Society, a group of web-slingers from across the Multiverse. With one of the best Spider-Man villains in the mysterious Spot (Jason Schwartzman), the tyrannical Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), and a returning Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), this teenage superhero has his hands full in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Stream Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix.
The Social Network (2010)
David Fincher’s The Social Network, which totally should have won Best Picture at the 83rd Academy Awards, is set in the formative days of Facebook, and follows Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) as he attempts to get the massive platform off the ground. With its intense pace, outstanding performances, and remarkable score, there’s a lot to love in this early 2010s gem.
Stream The Social Network on Netflix.
Whiplash (2014)
Featuring what could very well be the best J.K. Simmons performance as the intimidating Terence Fletcher, Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash is a tour de force, to say the least. This 2014 music drama/thriller follows jazz drummer Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) as he pushes himself to the edge to be the best of the best, which ultimately isn’t enough for the perfectionistic and short-tempered teacher. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually grueling, this is worth another visit nearly a decade after its release.
13 Going On 30 (2004)
After wishing to be “thirty, flirty, and thriving,” Jenna Rink (Christa B. Allen) goes from being a girl in the infancy of her teenage years to a fully-established adult (played by Jennifer Garner) who edits her favorite magazine. In 13 Going on 30, Jenna tries to make sense of it all while also making great changes in the lives of everyone around her, including her childhood best friend, Matty Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo). And is it too late for a sequel?
Stream 13 Going on 30 on Netflix.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
In the years since flopping at the box office, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World has become an undeniable classic and one of the best movies of the early 2010s. Edgar Wright’s clever and eye-popping adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels is fun from beginning to end with its story about the titular hero (Michael Cera) fighting all of Ramona Flowers’ (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) exes.
Stream Scott Pilgrim vs. the World on Netflix.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski, a movie that really earned its R-rating, remains one of the best Coen Brothers movies 25 years after its release. This timeless dark comedy starts with the Dude (Jeff Bridges) trying to figure out why someone would break into his house and urinate on his rug, and it doesn’t let up from there.
Stream The Big Lebowski on Netflix.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Ron Howard’s Academy Award-winning biographical drama, A Beautiful Mind, tells the story of famed mathematician John Nash (Russell Crowe) as his life takes a turn from one of great promise and respect to a living nightmare upon being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Told over the course of several decades, the moving and inspirational drama paints an honest picture of brilliance and mental illness.
Stream A Beautiful Mind on Netflix.
War Of The Worlds (2005)
Steven Spielberg’s 2005 adaptation of War of the Worlds follows down-on-his-luck longshoreman Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) as he tries to protect his young daughter (played by Dakota Fanning) and teenage son (Justin Chatwin) after extraterrestrial beings invade the planet with the intention of wiping out humanity. Big action sequences, heightened drama, and those terrifying tripods await.
Stream War of the Worlds on Netflix.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Directed by Nicholas Stoller, Forgetting Sarah Marshall follows composer Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) as he attempts to get over a high-profile breakup by spending a few days at a Hawaiian resort. However, upon arriving, he discovers that his ex, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) is also there with her new rock star boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Hilarity and awkwardness ensue.
Stream Forgetting Sarah Marshall on Netflix.
The Firm (1993)
Tom Cruise plays Mitch McDeere, a young hot-shot attorney, in Sydney Pollack’s 1993 adaptation of John Grisham’s legal thriller, The Firm. The movie centers on McDeere as he is hired by a prestigious law firm only to discover that its partners aren’t as noble or harmless as they present themselves to be. Once he uncovers a terrible secret within the company, the junior attorney finds himself in a delicate situation.
Gladiator (2000)
After being betrayed by the late emperor’s son (played byJoaquin Phoenix), formerly decorated Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) is left for dead before being sold into slavery and forced to fight as a gladiator. In Ridley Scott’s epic, Gladiator, Maximus rises from the ashes to become a hero of the common man as he rises through the ranks of the ancient sport.
Love Actually (2003)
Written and directed by Richard Curtis, 2003’s Love Actually features 10 separate yet interconnected stories that play out in the weeks leading up to Christmas. From a writer falling in love with a woman whose language he doesn’t speak to a widower helping his step-son impress a girl in his class, and so much more, these tales of love, loss, and new beginnings have it all.
Stream Love Actually on Netflix.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
P.J. Hogan’s 1997 romantic comedy, My Best Friend’s Wedding follows Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) as she does everything in her power to prevent her longtime friend, Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney) from marrying his young and rich fiancée, Kimberly Wallace (Cameron Diaz).
Stream My Best Friend’s Wedding on Netflix.
The Mission: Impossible Movies (1996 – 2011)
The first four Mission: Impossible movies follow IMF agent Ethan Stone (Tom Cruise) and his team as they attempt to prevent one global incident after another. With stakes that seem to only increase with each installment, the franchise sees the team of spies, hackers, and daredevils as they put their reputation, and lives, on the line to save the world from disaster.
Stream Mission: Impossible on Netflix.
Stream Mission: Impossible 2 on Netflix.
Stream Mission: Impossible 3 on Netflix.
Stream Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol on Netflix.
Dune (2021)
In 2021, Denis Villeneuve released the first installment of his multi-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s landmark sci-fi novel, Dune. The epic follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he is forced to fight for survival after his family is betrayed and attacked by House Harkonnen. On the desert planet of Arrakis, the young heir finds new purpose, and allies,as he encounters a mysterious clan of local natives known as the Fremen.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Despite not being old enough to vote, Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) becomes one of the most successful bank robbers and conmen in United States history in Steven Spielberg’s 2002 biopic, Catch Me If You Can. However, Abagnale’s time masquerading as a doctor, air pilot, lawyer, and other professions begins to run out when FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) gets on the case.
Stream Catch Me If You Can on Netflix.
Backdraft (1991)
Ron Howard’s 1991 action thriller, Backdraft, follows brothers Stephen (Kurt Russell) and Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin) as they learn to coexist in the Chicago Fire Department. But their different attitudes and philosophies on life aren’t their only battles, as the two siblings are forced to hunt down a deadly arsonist who treats the “Windy City” as his personal playground.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
One of the most harrowing war stories, Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan follows a group of soldiers, led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks), as they attempt to locate a young soldier (Matt Damon) after his three brothers are killed in combat. The World War II epic is full of explosive action sequences, like the storming of Omaha Beach, incredibly dramatic moments, and wonderful performances by its large ensemble cast.
Stream Saving Private Ryan on Netflix.
Field of Dreams (1991)
One of the all-time great baseball movies, Field of Dreams follows Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) as plows his valuable Iowa cornfields and constructs a baseball diamond after hearing a voice telling him “If you build it, he will come.” The baseball field in the middle of the heartland is just the beginning, as the obsessed baseball fan embarks upon a road trip that ends with an incredibly emotional reunion.
Stream Field of Dreams on Netflix.
Jaws (1975)
Following a string of shark attacks near Amity Island, the town’s chief of police Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) teams up marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and hardened ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) to bring the fight to the monster fish. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, one of the best horror movies of all time, still has a ferocious bite nearly 50 years after it terrified audiences around the world.
Stand By Me (1986)
If you want to go back and rewatch Stand By Me as an adult, now is the perfect time to revisit Rob Reiner’s classic adaptation of Stephen King’s The Body. This coming-of-age drama follows four friends as they embark upon a journey over the last weekend of summer to find the body of a boy who was supposedly hit by a train deep in the Oregon forest. The remains of the poor soul aren’t the only thing these childhood buddies will discover in the fading days of childhood.
Stream Stand By Me on Netflix.
Vice (2018)
Not your conventional biopic, Adam McKay’s Vice pieces together the life, career, and legacy of former United States Vice President Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) as climbs corporate and political ladders to become arguably the most powerful man in the country during the early days of the 21st century.
U-571 (2000)
Set in the early days of the United States’ involvement in World War II, the 2000 military action drama U-571 follows a group of American submariners as they embark upon a perilous mission to capture Nazi Germany’s elusive Enigma machine, a mission that could change the course of the global conflict. Though it takes some liberties with history, it’s time to revisit this intense military affair starring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, and Jon Bon Jovi.
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
Juel Taylor’s sci-fi infused love letter to the Blaxploitation films of the 1970s, They Cloned Tyrone follows Fontaine (John Boyega) as he teams up with Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx) and Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris) as they accidentally uncover a clandestine government operation involving clones, drugs, and control of the Glen neighborhood. From the movie’s humble beginnings all the way to its conspiracy-heavy ending, this Netflix original is one hell of a ride.
Stream They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix.
Lost In Translation (2003)
Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, with its ambiguous cliffhanger ending, remains one of the best movies to come from Focus Features in the early 2000s for multiple reasons. This somber and moving experience follows Bob Harris (Bill Murray), a fading Hollywood actor who has turned to starring in Japanese commercials, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), the wife of a celebrity photographer, as they strike up an unlikely friendship in Tokyo and create an unforgettable experience.
Stream Lost in Translation on Netflix.
The Jerk (1979)
After coming to the realization that his entire life has been a lie, the dimwitted Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) sets out on a series of misadventures that sees him leave his rural Mississippi hometown to reinvent himself in Carl Reiner’s The Jerk. Self-discovery isn’t the only thing that awaits Navin, as he soon discovers that the big world is full of danger, mystery, and even more danger.
The Karate Kid Movies (1984 – 1989)
Between 1984 and 1989, audiences went on an adventure with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) as he goes from being an out-of-place transplant in Reseda, California, to one of the best martial artists in the greater Los Angeles area. With the help of his mentor and trainer, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), Daniel rises to the occasion time and time again.
Stream The Karate Kid on Netflix.
Stream The Karate Kid Part II on Netflix.
Stream The Karate Kid Part III on Netflix.
Heat (1995)
Fans of The Dark Knight’s opening bank robbery, Grand Theft Auto’s most daring heist missions, and practically any movie about gangs of highly-skilled thieves should check out Michael Mann’s 1995 classic, Heat. The movie features a tremendous cat-and-mouse game between a veteran detective (played Al Pacino) and criminal mastermind (played by Robert De Niro) as the former attempts to catch the latter after a big score ends multiple murders. And with Heat 2 in the works, now’s the perfect time to go back and watch this crime epic.
To Leslie (2022)
Years after winning nearly $200,000 in a local lottery, Leslie Rowland (Andrea Riseborough) returns to her hometown penniless, disgraced, and in need of some redemption. Over the course of To Leslie, the broken woman attempts to rekindle relationships with 20-year-old son, mother, and everyone else she’s hurt over the years with her drinking and thieving, which is a task easier said than done.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Nominated in the Best Animated Feature category at the 2023 Academy Awards, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, not to be confused with the Disney+ exclusive that was also released in 2022, serves as a reinvention of the timeless story of a wooden puppet with dreams of becoming a real boy. This painstakingly crafted stop-motion musical was all the rage upon its release thanks to its animation, dark story, and outstanding performances by the likes of Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Chrisoph Waltz, and Tilda Swinton.
Stream Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio on Netflix.
La La Land (2016)
Years before turning his attention to the Apollo space program or 1920s Hollywood, writer-director Damien Chazelle gave cinema one of the most beloved musicals in recent memory with 2016’s La La Land. Centering on jazz pianist Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling) and actress Amelia Dolan (Emma Stone), the award-winning romantic musical tells a story of a couple faced with a difficult and unavoidable truth: you can have love or your aspirations, not both.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
In the follow-up to his 2019 whodunit, Rian Johnson introduces audiences to a new set of characters, an exotic location, and a multi-layered murder mystery that can only be solved by Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the first of at least two movies in the franchise exclusive to Netflix, is full of thrills, chills, and hilarity around every corner.
Stream Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix.
The Raid 2 (2014)
Gareth Evans’ 2014 crime epic The Raid 2 picks up almost immediately after the events of the filmmaker’s 2012 instant classic, The Raid, further expanding the story of elite police officer Rama (Iko Uwais) as he goes undercover to bring down a powerful and dangerous crime syndicate in one of the best action movies of the past decade.
Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
Now a detective in her own right, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) is given her first major case: a matchstick girl who has gone missing in Victorian era London. With the help of her older brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), the young sleuth attempts to get to the bottom of a vast criminal conspiracy (and matters of the heart) in the wonder Enola Holmes 2.
Stream Enola Holmes 2 on Netflix.
Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)
Killer rabbits, an unflinching Black Knight, and other dangers aren’t enough for King Arthur (Graham Chapman) or the men in his company as they embark upon a quest to find the mythical holy grail. Released in 1975, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is certainly a comedy that will cheer you up when in a funk.
Stream Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Netflix.
All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)
Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) and his school buddies think they are in for the adventure of a lifetime upon joining the German army at the height of World War I, but they soon find out that claims of “Paris in six weeks” are nothing more than false hopes given to new recruits. In Edward Berger’s adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, boys become men as they face one hellish day after another while members of the government attempt to broker a peace deal with France and its allies.
Stream All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix.
The Power Of The Dog (2021)
Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), a closed-off and abrasive rancher in 1920s Montana, becomes even more cruel when his brother, George (Jesse Plemons) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) in Jane Campion’s Academy Award-winning drama The Power of the Dog.
Stream The Power Of The Dog on Netflix.
Mank (2020)
David Fincher’s Mank (which was written by his late father in the 1990s) serves a flashy history lesson of 1930s Hollywood (and society as a whole) as experienced by alcoholic and sometimes unlikeable screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) as he writes Orson Welles’ crowning achievement Citizen Kane and deals with the fallout from the people on which his characters were based. This black-and-white affair is classic Fincher but with a “Golden Age of Hollywood” feel to it.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
It is hard to say who is the protagonist and who’s the antagonist in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, but that doesn’t matter to the two leads (played by Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman) as their performances go above and beyond in this 2020 adaptation of a stage play about a high-tempered and heated recording session in 1920s Chicago. The biggest tragedy of this film is the fact that Boseman tragically passed away before he became aware of the universal acclaim his portrayal of Levee Green would receive upon its release.
Stream Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix.
Roma (2018)
Alfonso Cuarón’s 2018 black-and-white drama Roma follows the lives of domestic workers and the families whose lives they tend to set in 1970s Mexico City. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards (winning three) following its release, Roma is a touching and daunting feat in filmmaking, and helped further cement Cuarón’s place in movie history.
This is just a small portion of the best movies on Netflix, as there are literally thousands of decorated films from all corners of the earth. If you want to see all of the good movies on Netflix that are set to come out this year, check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 Netflix Movies guide.
Der obige Text ist eine maschinelle Übersetzung. Quelle: https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2553720/the-best-movies-on-netflix-right-now?rand=21968
