It takes a lot to stay on top in the streaming age, and the secret to Netflix’s success is a never-ending stream of content. Thanks to some ridiculous budgets, Netflix is constantly adding original movies to go along with films from other studios. That’s why there’s almost always something new on Netflix on a weekly basis. To help you keep track of the constant updates, we’ve updated our list of the best movies on Netflix right now.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime, and the best movies on Disney+. Watching from abroad? Use a Netflix VPN to access your country’s catalog from anywhere in the world. Want to watch on the go? We can show you how to download movies on Netflix.
129m
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Idris Elba, Dermot Crowley, Cynthia Erivo
Directed by
Jamie Payne
Idris Elba’s John Luther returns in the Netflix original film Luther: The Fallen Sun. And right off the bat, Luther is tossed in jail for everything illegal he did in the Luther TV series. Luther’s incarceration was engineered by his current adversary, David Robey (Andy Serkis), and it demonstrates just how much Robey fears the disgraced detective.
However, Luther eventually escapes from prison to go after Robey and bring him down for good. Unfortunately for Luther, his former colleagues on the police force are also hunting for him.
116m
Genre
Action, Drama, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz
Directed by
Marc Forster
In case you hadn’t guessed, the “Z” in World War Z stands for zombie. And unfortunately for Brad Pitt’s Gerry Lane, he finds himself thrust into the middle of an unfolding zombie apocalypse. For the sake of his wife, Karin Lane (Mireille Enos), and their two daughters, Gerry reluctantly agrees to help U.N. researchers discover the source of the zombie virus in the hopes of finding a vaccine before the entire planet is overrun. It’s a race against time, and Gerry’s efforts may already be too late.
136m
Genre
Drama, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Stars
Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Hae-jin
Directed by
Jo Sung-hee
Widely regarded as Korea’s first blockbuster space adventure, Space Sweepers is set in the year 2092 and follows the colorful crew of The Victory, a salvage ship that retrieves debris from space and sells it to the megacorporation that owns humanity’s last hope for survival, an orbiting space station high above the toxic surface of Earth. When the crew encounters a young girl in their latest salvage haul, it kicks off a wild adventure that pits them against powerful forces intent on steering mankind’s future. Filled with gorgeous visual-effects sequences, fascinating characters, and plenty of comedy — and a memorable robot named Bubs — the film is a fast-paced, fun throwback to classic space adventures with some wonderfully modern twists.
12m
Genre
Drama, Animation
Directed by
Will McCormack, Michael Govier
From writer/director duo Michael Govier and Will McCormack, If Anything Happens explores a world of profound grief with the beautifully illustrated, meditative tale of a family’s tragic loss resulting from a school shooting. Navigating the incident’s emotional aftermath, the short animated film begins in a dark and near-unforgiving place, but through the power of love and the will to move forward, the film progresses into a place of love, forgiveness, and hope. It’s certainly not the easiest film to watch in this roundup, but it’s worthy of attention for its emotional bravery and stellar composition.
93m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Emma Stone, Cam Gigandet, Amanda Bynes
Directed by
Will Gluck
A seemingly harmless lie turns into something far more complicated in this 2010 high-school comedy that delivers a modern spin on The Scarlet Letter. After student Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) gets out of a camping trip with her best friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka) by telling a lie involving a mysterious date, it kicks off a salacious, schoolwide rumor. Instead of fighting it, Olive decides to embrace the stigma of being the “school tramp” and even finds a way to profit off it by pretending to sleep with classmates being bullied about their sexuality in exchange for gift cards and other rewards.
127m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Family, Comedy
Stars
David Harbour, Jahi Di'Allo Winston, Anthony Mackie
Directed by
Christopher Landon
David Harbour plays a lonely ghost in this supernatural comedy with an all-star cast. After Kevin (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) and his family move into a rundown house, they soon discover it’s not entirely empty. The house’s other occupant, Ernest the ghost (Harbour), quickly becomes an internet sensation and sends Kevin on a wild journey to investigate his new, ghostly pal’s death. Anthony Mackie, Jennifer Coolidge, and Tig Notaro fill out the cast, with Freaky filmmaker Christopher Landon behind the camera as writer and director.
95m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Mystery
Stars
Éric Herson-Macarel, Damien Boisseau, Elisabeth Ventura
Directed by
Patrick Imbert
This gorgeously animated French-language film from director Patrick Imbert chronicles a Japanese photojournalist’s quest for the truth regarding a mysterious mountain climber and his connection to one of the first teams to attempt to climb Mount Everest. A Cannes Film Festival darling praised for its beautiful visual achievement and compelling story, The Summit of the Gods is the rare adaptation of a Japanese manga series that does right by its source material — which was itself based on a 1998 novel by Baku Yumemakura. Fascinating and emotional, the film makes it tough not to be pulled along on the characters’ epic journey.
131m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Kasumi Arimura, Hana Toyoshima, Ryuya Wakaba
Directed by
Rikiya Imaizumi
A charming comedy about life and love with a mature twist, this film from director and writer Rikiya Imaizumi follows a former sex worker, played by Kasumi Arimura, who decides to settle for a while in a small seaside town, working at bento stand. She quickly becomes a beloved figure around town, thanks to her unapologetic enjoyment of the world around her, and her ability to comfort the lonely souls who cross her path.
95m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln, Griffin Murray-Johnston
Directed by
Glendyn Ivin
Naomi Watts stars in this emotional rollercoaster of a film about a woman struggling to recover from a catastrophic injury she suffered during a family vacation. After her children bring home an injured bird, her character’s efforts to rehabilitate the magpie — nicknamed “Penguin” — unfold in parallel with her own healing journey. Andrew Lincoln plays a supporting role in the film, which earned acclaim from critics on the festival circuit before arriving on Netflix.
109m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Jesse Williams
Directed by
Aline Brosh McKenna
Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher star in this sweetly simple romantic comedy about two friends whose decision to switch homes for a week has some unintended consequences. The film is written and directed by Crazy Ex-Girlfriend series writer (and occasional director) Aline Brosh McKenna, and delivers a well-timed dose of rom-com laughs to coincide with Valentine’s Day.
87m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish
Directed by
Kitao Sakurai
Eric André and Lil Rel Howery headline this hidden-camera prank film that has them playing two friends, Chris and Bud, who embark on an ill-fated road trip so Chris can tell his high school sweetheart he loves her. As they stumble from one ridiculous scenario to another, they’re pursued by Bud’s convict sister (Tiffany Haddish), whose car they stole for the trip. Raunchy, shocking, and relentlessly funny, the film blends scripted scenes with wild hidden-camera pranks and its duo’s signature comedy for a film that’s all about the journey, not the destination.
179m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars
Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
Directed by
Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson’s trilogy of blockbuster films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings were a critical and commercial hit that had a ripple effect across Hollywood and made stars out of the films’ ensemble cast. The first of those films, The Fellowship of the Ring, introduces the diminutive hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) and his friends, whose peaceful, idyllic lives in their pastoral home are shaken up when they’re forced to embark on a quest to destroy a powerful magic artifact that could spell doom for the entire world. They’re joined by a colorful group of allies on the journey, which spans a world of fantastic and terrifying creatures, dire predicaments, and inspiring heroism.
113m
Genre
Action, Fantasy, Horror
Stars
Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, Natasha Liu Bordizzo
Directed by
J.J. Perry
Jamie Foxx is a pool cleaner who moonlights as a vampire hunter in this action-horror film that also features Dave Franco and Snoop Dogg in supporting roles. The film is directed J.J. Perry, the award-winning stunt coordinator on recent installments of the Fast & Furious films, and that pedigree is apparent in the movie’s impressive fight sequences. Fast-paced and explosive with plenty of humor, the film is a fun popcorn flick that doesn’t ask you to think too much — just to sit back and enjoy the action.
98m
Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
Stars
Kang Soo-youn, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo
Directed by
Yeon Sang-ho
This sci-fi film from the writer and director of Train to Busan is part explosive action spectacle, part exploration of big business and technology run amok. The film follows a scientist working on the next generation of lethal, combat-oriented artificial intelligence, developed from the brain patterns of one of the world’s most celebrated mercenaries, who was left comatose after a failed mission. The catch here is that the mercenary is actually the mother of the scientist, who has spent decades grappling with both her mother’s legacy and the company’s ownership of what remains of her mother.
85m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Steve Glew, Kathy Glew, Ridoyanul Hoq
Directed by
Bryan Storkel, Amy Bandlien Storkel
This documentary explores the strange saga of Steve Glew, a desperate factory worker in rural Michigan who found himself at the center of an international trade controversy, battling some of the candy industry’s most powerful figures, after he he saw a moneymaking opportunity in Pez candy dispensers. His journey would take him to remote regions of Eastern Europe just after the fall of the Berlin Wall, making million-dollar deals involving the small, plastic candy dispensers, all while dodging corporate spies and shady characters both inside and outside the U.S. You wouldn’t expect the world of Pez to hold this much drama, but the story of Steve “Pez Outlaw” Glew is a fascinating one filled with real-world characters as colorful as the candy dispensers at the heart of it.
115m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris
Directed by
Chris Williams
Chris Williams, the co-director of Disney’s Big Hero 6 and Moana, takes the helm on this animated high-seas adventure about a young girl who stows away on a famous monster-hunting ship, only to discover that everything she thought she knew about monsters and hunters might be wrong. Zaris-Angel Hator portrays aspiring monster-hunter (and stowaway) Maisie, while Karl Urban voices legendary hunter Jacob Holland in this all-ages feature that’s exciting, funny, and much deeper than its premise suggests.
112m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong
Directed by
Edgar Wright
Edgar Wright’s 2010 adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s popular comic book series isn’t just one of the greatest comic book movies of all time — it’s also one of the greatest video game movies ever made, too. Michael Cera takes on the titular, lead role in the film, which follows slacker bassist Scott Pilgrim as he attempts to win the heart of Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). In order to do so, however, he’ll have to battle his way through her evil exes. Filled with amazing comics- and gaming-inspired visual effects, as well as an impressive list of cameos and supporting cast members playing ridiculously memorable roles, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is like no other film out there, and offers a funny, heartfelt, and ambitious adventure.
123m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Mystery, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Directed by
Harry Bradbeer
Millie Bobby Brown shines as the title character in this action-packed, fun-filled twist on the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories. When her mother turns up mysteriously missing, teenage Enola Holmes hits the trail to find her — something her more famous brother, Sherlock Holmes, is simply too preoccupied to do. As she sniffs out clues, Enola discovers she might just have as much as, or even more of, a knack for this sleuthing thing than her brother, slowly uncovering a dangerous conspiracy that threatens to rattle the English aristocracy.
97m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Stars
Jaeden Martell, Isis Hainsworth, Adrian Greensmith
Directed by
Peter Sollett
Jaeden Martell and Adrian Greensmith play a pair of teenage friends who decide to form a heavy metal band and enter their high school’s Battle of the Bands competition. What they don’t expect, however, is to have their friendship tested and to learn about a lot more than music when they recruit a shy cellist to join them. Along with being a fun, funny coming-of-age film, Metal Lords features one of the most intense soundtracks of any recent film, thanks to the involvement of Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello as music supervisor. As if that wasn’t enough to make this one stand out, the script was penned by Game of Thrones co-creator D.B. Weiss and is one of his first Netflix-exclusive projects.
110m
Genre
Action, Drama
Stars
Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer
Directed by
Tony Scott
Do you feel the need for speed? This 1986 film helped turn Tom Cruise into a bona fide star with its story about a hotshot pilot (Cruise) at the Navy’s prestigious Top Gun school. As Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Cruise is joined by Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, and Anthony Edwards for a tale that blends spectacular aerial photography with intense music to deliver one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters of the era.
130m
Genre
Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian Anderson
Directed by
Scott Cooper
Christian Bale portrays a detective investigating a series of murders at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1830 in this thriller from Crazy Heart filmmaker Scott Cooper. While that premise is intriguing on its own, the story has him working with an eccentric young cadet at the school named Edgar Allen Poe. Expect the macabre and you won’t be disappointed.
145m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery
Stars
Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton
Directed by
Steven Spielberg
Set in the not-too-distant future, this 2002 film from Steven Spielberg casts Tom Cruise as an agent in the “Precrime” division of the police force that aims to stopcrimes before they happen. When he finds himself framed for a murder he doesn’t plan to commit, he ends up on the run and must figure out a way to clear his name and find out who targeted him.
117m
Genre
Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Alisha Weir, Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch
Directed by
Matthew Warchus
Roald Dahl’s beloved tale comes back to the screen in this live-action adaptation that casts Alisha Weir as the titular, precocious young girl whose intelligence and strange abilities are put to good use while trying to forge her own path and survive in a world of self-absorbed, naive, and downright evil adults. Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, and Emma Thompson play supporting roles in the film, helmed by director Matthew Warchus.
132m
Genre
Western, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, Zoe Kazan
Directed by
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
What’s better than one Western from the Coen brothers? How about six? The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a sextet of short films, all set in the Wild West. They follow different characters through wild plots that explore the themes of human depravity and cosmic justice (or injustice) that recur so often in the Coens’ works. The eponymous chapter in the collection follows Buster Scruggs (Tim Blake Nelson), a sharpshooting, guitar-slinging cowboy roaming the West and singing of his adventures. In another, a lonely prospector (Tom Waits) digs for his fortune.
139m
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Stars
Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe
Directed by
Rian Johnson
Director Rian Johnson returns for another mystery with intrepid detective Benoit Blanc in this sequel to surprise hit Knives Out. This time around, Blanc heads to Greece to solve a mystery involving an eccentric tech billionaire and the circle of friends — and potential enemies — he gathers for a dinner on a remote island. The recipient of a long list of award nominations, Glass Onion features an ensemble cast that includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and Kathryn Hahn, among others.
101m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Jun Shison, Riria, Alice Hirose
Directed by
Tetsuro Araki
This animated feature from Attack on Titan director Tetsuro Araki is set in a postapocalyptic Tokyo where a mysterious event has affected the laws of gravity, leaving strange bubbles and urban debris floating throughout the city. Skilled racers compete in parkour-like competitions for food and supplies, and when one gifted young man encounters a strange girl while exploring the epicenter of the gravity-twisting “bubble event,” their relationship changes the lives of everyone around them. A gorgeous spectacle of sights and sounds, Bubble begs to be seen on a high-end entertainment system, as it delivers remarkably detailed scenes of the characters traversing the city and a powerful score that accentuates its most thrilling — and quietest — moments.
123m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson
Directed by
Jude Weng
Uprooted from her Brooklyn life, Pilialoha “Pili” Kawena (Kea Peahu) and her family travel to Oahu to care for her ailing grandfather. Initially disappointed by the lack of big-city buzz and activity, they discover a pirate journal that alludes to an ancient treasure buried somewhere on the island. As Pili and her older brother begin their quest for the trove, their journey takes them on a Hawaiian odyssey that connects them with their ancient island heritage. A loving family drama, Finding ‘Ohana is like The Goonies set amid the breathtaking beauty of Hawaii.
85m
Genre
Documentary, Crime
Directed by
Chapman Way, Maclain Way
What happens when a waste-removal tycoon with mob ties decides to buy a minor league hockey team and make his teenage son the general manager and president? That question was answered when Jimmy Galante brought the Danbury Trashers to his Connecticut hometown in 2004 and had his 17-year-old son, A.J., run the UHL expansion team for two wild, brawl-filled seasons — a run that eventually led to a massive FBI bust that sent the elder Galante to prison and forced the team to disband. Part Slap Shot, part The Sopranos (Galante was rumored to be the real-world inspiration for Tony Soprano, after all), the outrageous story of the Trashers is almost too crazy to believe, but the documentary is packed with interviews and archival footage — including ESPN broadcasts from the Trashers’ brief run — that hammers home how real this crazy sports saga was. And when you’re done with this story, make sure to check out more of the documentaries in the Untold series.
117m
Genre
Animation, Fantasy, Drama, Music
Stars
Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Directed by
Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
One of Hollywood most visionary filmmakers turns his attention to one of the most beloved tales in children’s literature in this stop-motion animated adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. Featuring the voices of Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, and Gregory Mann, as Jiminy Cricket, Gepetto, and Pinocchio, respectively, the film chronicles the marionette Pinocchio’s quest to become a living boy — a journey that brings him through one adventure after another. The star-filled voice cast also includes John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, and Tilda Swinton, among others. Some reviewers have named it one of the year’s best films, animated or otherwise.
127m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Thriller
Stars
Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Directed by
David Leitch
Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde director David Leitch helms this fast-paced, action-comedy adventure that casts Brad Pitt as a tired assassin who would like nothing more than to retire from the murder game. Unfortunately, his latest mission has him taking on an entire train full of hired killers as it speeds through Japan. Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, and Sandra Bullock round out the film’s ensemble cast.
90m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Misha Defonseca
Directed by
Sam Hobkinson
Move over, Tiger King. Netflix has another wild documentary you need to see to believe. The film chronicles the far-reaching investigation that took place after the publication of Misha Defonseca’s widely circulated 1997 memoir, Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years, in which the author describes her experiences as a young Holocaust survivor who was raised by wolves while searching Europe for her parents. It’s best not knowing any of the twists and turns the story takes ahead of time, so just sit back and let this true, stranger-than-fiction story unfold. You won’t be disappointed.
117m
Genre
Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama
Stars
Jason Momoa, Marlow Barkley, Chris O'Dowd
Directed by
Francis Lawrence
A young girl, a magical map, and an eccentric creature with a penchant for adventure come together in this fantastic, family-friendly adventure inspired by the classic Nemo in Slumberland comic strips. Jason Momoa portrays the mischievous creature that partners with Nemo (Marlow Barkley) for a journey through Slumberland that — she hopes — will reunite her with her father.
107m
Genre
Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, Jurnee Smollett
Directed by
Joseph Kosinski
Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and Deadpool screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick team up with Marvel Cinematic Universe star Chris Hemsworth for this dark, psychological thriller set in a futuristic, free-roaming prison where the inmates have volunteered for a series of tests with experimental, emotion-controlling drugs. Hemsworth plays the facility’s brilliant, charismatic overseer, while Miles Teller (Whiplash) and Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country) portray a pair of prisoners who become suspicious of the experiment’s true purpose.
125m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra
Directed by
Ramin Bahrani
Based on Aravind Adiga’s 2008 novel of the same name, The White Tiger follows the rags-to-riches story of Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav), an impoverished Indian villager who, through hard work (and a little manipulation), pushes himself into a much-lauded driver position for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), two highly influential business magnates. Coming to love his position, a tragic misstep places Balram in the crosshairs of Ashok’s family. Unwilling to serve as a scapegoat, Balram chooses to fight back against the corrupt forces at play.
102m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves
Directed by
Nahnatchka Khan
Childhood friends Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) cross paths as adults, years after a teenage fling, and soon find themselves navigating life and love while maintaining two very different career paths and social circles. She’s a celebrity chef who hangs out with Keanu Reeves and he installs air conditioners. Can they ever find common ground? You probably know the answer to that already, but watching how they get there is where the fun lies — particularly when it comes to Reeves’ memorable performance.
105m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Adventure
Stars
Lyric Ross, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele
Directed by
Henry Selick
Visionary stop-motion filmmaker Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline) teams up with Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) for this story of two demons who attempt to trick a teenage girl into bringing them into the mortal world. Peele and frequent collaborator Keegan-Michael Key voice the two, titular demons, while This Is Us actress Lyric Ross voices the young girl, Kat Elliot. The film is Selick’s first feature since 2009’s Coraline, and critics tend to agree that the film is worth the wait.
156m
Genre
War, Drama
Stars
Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters
Directed by
Spike Lee
This 2020 war drama marked a celebrated return to form for director, producer, and co-writer Spike Lee, and earned a long list of honors and awards for both Lee and the magnificent performances of the film’s talented cast. The story follows a group of Vietnam War veterans who return to the jungle hoping to find the remains of their dead squad leader and a hidden treasure they left behind during the war. Delroy Lindo leads a cast that also includes Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jean Reno, and the late, great Chadwick Boseman.
121m
Genre
Drama, Music
Stars
Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús
Directed by
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Andrew Garfield stars as Rent playwright Jonathon Larson in this semi-autobiographical film directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The musical drama chronicles Larson’s struggles to bring the rock musical he’s been working on for years to the stage while navigating love, friendships, and both personal and professional pressure in New York City.
98m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland
Directed by
Rebecca Hall
The title of this black-and-white drama, based on Nella Larsen’s celebrated 1929 novel of the same name, is a reference to the ability of some light-skinned African Americans to be perceived as white. The critically acclaimed film follows a pair of former childhood friends — portrayed by Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga — whose unexpected reunion brings tension into both of their lives as they navigate the segregated environment of 1920s New York City. André Holland and Alexander Skarsgård play supporting roles in the film, which is beautifully shot and surprisingly subtle given its powerful themes.
102m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud
Directed by
Jim Henson
Jim Henson directed this dark, musical fantasy that famously cast David Bowie as the spandex-clad Goblin King, Jareth, whose efforts to steal away human children are challenged by a teenage girl who accidentally wished for her infant sibling to disappear. In one of her earliest roles, Jennifer Connelly portrays 16-year-old Sarah, who must navigate a massive maze in a dangerous, magical world filled with strange creatures in order to rescue her brother. Another great example of the brilliant work of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, which brought many of the magical world’s inhabitants to life, Labyrinth remains a touchstone film for generations of fantasy fans.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
120m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King
Directed by
Barry Jenkins
Filmmaker Barry Jenkins’ follow-up to his Oscar-winning feature Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk casts KiKi Layne as a young woman desperately attempting to clear the name of her wrongly imprisoned partner before their child is born. Stephan James co-stars with Layne in the film, which earned Regina King an Academy Award for her supporting performance, as well as a long list of other accolades for the feature.
101m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata
Directed by
Taika Waititi
Based on Barry Crump’s novel Wild Pork and Watercress, Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as an unlikely foster father/foster child duo. After his adoption by the Faulkner family, Ricky (Dennison) attempts to settle into his new family, but tragic events scare the boy into the dense New Zealand wilderness. Hec (Neill), Ricky’s foster parent, tracks the boy down but suffers a debilitating injury in the process. Bonding over their pasts and hoping for a freer future, the pair decide to hide away in the brush together. But with a national manhunt underway to find the man and boy, how long can their odyssey truly last? Hunt for the Wilderpeople lives and breathes through Neill and Dennison’s onscreen chemistry, an acting partnership only deepened by Waititi’s rich and emotive script.
82m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Samantha Sloyan
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
A deaf, mute novelist living deep in the woods wants nothing more than to finish her new book, but a mysterious killer has other plans for her in this thriller from Midnight Mass and Oculus filmmaker Mike Flanagan. Actress Kate Siegel, who plays prominent roles in nearly all of Flanagan’s projects, portrays horror novelist Maddie Young, pushed to her limits by a murderer who thinks her inability to speak or hear will make her easy prey. Tense, thrilling, and filled with clever use of sound and minimal dialogue, Hush offered an early hint of the great things to come from one of horror’s most talented filmmakers.
130m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baren Cohen, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Directed by
Aaron Sorkin
Hollywood stalwart Aaron Sorkin rises to the occasion once more with his blistering interpretation of the 1969 Democratic National Convention trials, where seven Vietnam protestors were charged with crimes well beyond their intent. As peaceful demonstrations turn caustic, prejudice bleeds into testimony and eyewitness accounts of what took place the day of the riots. Featuring performances from Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baren Cohen, Alex Sharp, and John Caroll Lynch, Sorkin’s big-budget historical drama takes liberties here and there, but the result is a spellbinding examination of American history.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
91m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle
Directed by
Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Widely regarded as one of the funniest movies ever made, this parody of Arthurian legend was written and performed by the famous Monty Python comedy troupe and directed by troupe members Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. The film chronicles various elements of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail and those of his fellow Knights of the Round Table as they encounter one ridiculous scenario after another in pursuit of the relic. If you’ve ever wondered about the airspeed of a swallow, the best ways to determine whether someone is a witch, or how a fuzzy bunny could be the most terrifying creature in the world, well … you might not get all the answers in this film, but you’ll definitely find plenty of laughs.
94m
Genre
Documentary, Drama
Stars
Skyler Gisondo, Kara Hayward, Vincent Kartheiser
Directed by
Jeff Orlowski
Director Jeff Orlowski’s The Social Dilemma is an eye-opening docudrama that puts big tech like Google, Facebook, and Instagram under the microscope. Various talking heads (many ex-employees of big tech) weigh in on social media’s harmful implications — from algorithmic data mining to mental health detriments. The more one watches Orlowski’s film, the more questions one begins asking about their own social media exposure. The Social Dilemma doesn’t stray from its intent, leaving us with all kinds of things to think about (particularly our own social media accounts) once the credits roll.
187m
Genre
Action, Drama
Stars
N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt
Directed by
S. S. Rajamouli
The most expensive Indian film ever made at the time of its release, this three-hour, action-filled epic offers a fictional account of two real-life revolutionaries’ adventures in the time before they became famous freedom fighters. Packed with gorgeous set pieces, stunning action, excellent performances, and yes, even some fantastic music and dance sequences, RRR is one of the most successful films to come out of India in recent years and has quickly become one of the most talked-about films on Netflix.
89m
Genre
Drama, Thriller, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Jacob Latimore, Seychelle Gabriel, Storm Reid
Directed by
J.D. Dillard
In this tense drama from director and co-writer J.D. Dillard, a brilliant young street magician in Los Angeles finds himself in over his head when he gets entangled with a violent drug supplier and must use every trick he knows to save himself and his sister. A surprise hit, Sleight won over audiences at the Sundance Film Festival with its unexpected twist on conventional thrillers, as well as star Jacob Latimore’s compelling performance.
100m
Genre
Family, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson
Directed by
Mel Stuart
Gene Wilder was at his wacky best in this beloved adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which follows a young boy’s adventure through a candy-filled wonderland when he wins the opportunity to visit the eccentric, reclusive chocolatier Willy Wonka (Wilder). Infinitely quotable and filled with iconic — and occasionally terrifying — moments, director Mel Stuart’s film is a silly, psychedelic fantasy tale that still holds up more than 50 years after it first hit screens.
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