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Jenni Israelsen
Netflix, Amazon's Prime Video, Peacock, Max, Apple TV+, Paramount+ and others boast all sorts of streaming films for fans with various tastes, from comedy and horror to an Anne Hathaway double feature. There are recent theatrical releases like Zac Efron's buzzy pro wrestling drama, a restored 1970 Beatles movie available for the first time in decades, plus a slew of original flicks such as Jerry Seinfeld's Pop-Tarts movie, a new film adaptation of a John Green book and a return to the film world for Brooke Shields, in a Netflix flick perfect for moms of all stripes.
Yarn sculptor Aren (Justice Smith) is recruited by wise mentor Roger (David Alan Grier) into a secret organization of Black agents whose mission is to keep white people comfortable, and Aren's first assignment turns messy when love gets in the way of the job. It's a satirical take on the "magical negro" trope that makes some points about race and culture before losing its way (and any sort of bite) when the film turns into a predictable rom-com.
An entertaining blast rather than being blasphemous, the biblical epic stars LaKeith Stanfield as the title character, a weed dealer in Jerusalem circa A.D. 33 who sees the respect Jesus gets and touts himself as "the new messiah." Directed by Jeymes Samuel ("The Harder They Fall"), it's a bold, thought-provoking retelling of the resurrection story through the lens of Black culture that anyone can relate to, believer or not.
Like "Carol" painted with some noir-ish shades, the 1960s-set thriller casts Thomasin McKenzie as the title character, a mousy secretary at a Boston boys prison who lives at home with an abusive dad (Shea Whigham) drinking himself to death. Eileen gets a pick-me-up at work with the arrival of sophisticated psychologist Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), who pulls the fragile younger woman into unfortunate circumstances.
A very ripped (and amazing) Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson play members of the Von Erich pro wrestling dynasty in this gripping 1980s-set biopic. Raised by their ex-wrestler father (Holt McCallany), the Von Erichs find success in the ring while navigating a series of tragic losses outside it in director Sean Durkin's touching story of Americana mixed with sibling rivalry, parental pressure and brutal despair.
It's nice to see Brooke Shields still relevant, and as a lead in a rom-com no less. ("Suddenly Susan" hive, rise up!) But this cheeseball affair is only for Shields completists: The actress plays a famous geneticist whose daughter (Miranda Cosgrove) drops the bomb that she's suddenly getting married, and then the protective mom finds out at the destination wedding in Thailand that the father of the groom is her college ex (Benjamin Bratt).
What could easily be just another R-rated "one crazy night" teen comedy gets a boost from its lively main characters. Jess (Antonia Gentry) and Hannah (Julia Lester) made a pact to have the perfect senior prom at 13, but on the eve of the big night, Jess dumps her cheating beau and Hannah comes out as a lesbian. When they have to scramble to find the perfect dates, assorted shenanigans and, of course, personal growth ensue.
Jerry Seinfeld's delightfully ridiculous directorial debut explores the origins of Pop-Tarts with an extremely silly not-so-true story and tons of gags and cameos. The comedian and Melissa McCarthy play Kellogg's employees tasked in 1963 with creating a toaster pastry before their competitors, a processed food spin on the space race that also involves a milk mafia, disgruntled breakfast cereal mascots and a heap of nostalgia.
Netflix has always been known for its volume of titles. Few streaming platforms have libraries that compare to Netflix's when it comes to the output of both originals and licensed content. The two latest additions to our best movies list, Godzilla Minus One and Hit Man, represent the best of both worlds. Licensing the Academy Award-winning Godzilla Minus One is a major get for the service, given that most American Godzilla flicks live on Max. And Richard Linklater's Hit Man, starring Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, could very well be Netflix's best original film of 2024.
This is a list of the best movies to watch on Netflix right now. To keep things relevant, we're specifically highlighting the best recent releases, Netflix originals, and some of our own personal favorites.
On the American side of the Godzilla franchise, things don't usually get too serious, but maybe we're doing it wrong. Because Godzilla Minus One, the latest Godzilla flick from Japan, is both an awesome Godzilla spectacle made at a tiny fraction of the cost of the American ones, and a fascinating rumination on post-World War II Japan. Which is to say that Godzilla Minus One is that rare monster flick that we can say is just a great movie, period, rather than being "good for a Godzilla movie." -Phil Owen [Trailer]
A romantic comedy movie starring two blonde leads harkens back to the days of yore, which is probably at least some of the reason why Anyone But You was such a big hit. The film follows Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell), who, after their fairy tale first date turns to mutual hate, reunite at a destination wedding. And then, get this, a series of events forces them to pretend to be a couple in order to keep up appearances. Classic! Actually, it literally is classic: Anyone But You is loosely based on the Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
A24 is putting some of its fine movies on Netflix, but the big deal it has with Warner Bros. Discovery (and therefore Max) means that the movies Netflix does get won't be there for long. So watch this horror flick about a group of friends who play some deadly games at a secluded mansion before it leaves the service. With a distinct Gen Z flavor, an escalating sense of paranoia, and an ending that just tickled me, it's the perfect "I don't know what to watch tonight" watch. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
'80s kids remember the charity anthem "We Are the World," a massive collaboration put together between Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Bob Geldof, Harry Belafonte, and Quincy Jones to bring awareness to famine in Africa that brought together dozens of pop music's biggest stars. This documentary with tons of behind-the-scenes footage charts its creation, from Jackson's humming of a melody to the ultra-secretive recording session to its impact (it's still the ninth-best selling physical single of all-time), and it's all guided by the charismatic Richie, whose recounting of meeting with Jackson in his animal-filled house kicks off this unbelievable story. It's worth watching just to see Bob Dylan look very uncomfortable the entire time. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
The expertly composed Maestro raked in Oscar nominations this season. In addition to directing and writing this biopic about composer Leonard Bernstein, Bradley Cooper stars in the leading role, opposite Carey Mulligan as Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre. It's hardly surprising that critics are heaping praise on both lead performances. -Kat Moon [Trailer]
In May December, Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe's (Charles Melton) marriage threatens to crumble when an actor shows up on their porch one day. To prepare for a film, Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) has made it her goal to learn about their controversial relationship beyond the tabloid headlines from two decades ago. But what happens when the actor takes her research a little too far? -Kat Moon [Trailer]
David Fincher's newest project, The Killer, is based on the French graphic novel series of the same name that was first published in 1998. The film stars Michael Fassbender as an assassin bent on fulfilling his mission without letting emotions cloud his judgment. Charles Parnell, Kerry O'Malley, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, and Tilda Swinton round out the cast. The Killer's trailer promises a chilling energy signature to Fincher's films, as well as high-octane, smoothly choreographed action scenes. -Kat Moon [Trailer]
Rarely do sequels match the energy of the original, but in this case, Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to 2018's Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, should clear some space for more trophies. Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) returns as a more established hero and travels the Spider-Verse with Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), where they, along with a group of various Spider-People from different universes, must stop a new evil. The animation is incredible, the beats are delicious, and the emotional story hits hard. This is as close to a must-watch as there is. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
It would be a shame if They Cloned Tyrone got lost in the Netflix shuffle. The sci-fi mystery is director Juel Taylor's feature film debut, and boasts a trio of standout lead performances from John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx, playing three people thrown together by circumstance who, after a shooting in their neighborhood, find themselves wrapped up in an increasingly bizarre government conspiracy. Their search for answers leads them down an eerie path, and to say more would be a disservice to this funny, inventive film. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
The A24-produced documentary about a couple at the top of the freediving world really delves into what drives people to risk everything to be the best. World champion freediver Alessia Zecchini and Irish safety diving instructor Stephen Keenan seemed destined to meet, but their passion for exploring beneath the surface and risk-taking meant danger would always be near what they loved to do. There are some interesting storytelling choices made by director Laura McGann that some say border on manipulation, but the end result is worth it, and no one can deny that the stunning and treacherous underwater footage of the dives will make your heart pound. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
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