It’s the start of a new month, which means a fresh wave of movies landing on Netflix U.K. and in February 2024 that includes a trio of well-received flicks.
Netflix’s slate for February is a little smaller than usual but there’s still a respectable handful of films worth adding to your watchlist. These must-watch picks include a sports biopic that earned Will Smith his first Oscar win, as well as a romantic period drama starring Florence Pugh. Plus, there’s a very underrated British comedy that stars Asim Chaudhry and Britain’s Got Talent runner-up, Jack Carroll.
All the movies on this list scored at least 88% or higher on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. Strong reviews don’t necessarily mean a movie will appeal to your specific taste, but a high RT score is a solid indication of overall quality. So, without further introduction, let’s dive into this month’s list of the best new to Netflix U.K. movies.
'King Richard' (2021)
No, this isn’t a film about “The King in the Car Park” — that would be 2022’s "The Lost King" with Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan — instead "King Richard" sees Will Smith play Richard Williams, the overbearing but fiercely supportive father of Venus and Serena Williams, two of the greatest tennis players in history.
Determined to push his daughters to their limits, Richard is armed with an unwavering vision for success and a meticulously crafted 78-page plan. This biopic chronicles the life of a unique, but highly flawed, character and explores how he guided the Williams sisters to world-conquering success, with plenty of help from his wife Oracene Price (Aunjanu Ellis) along the way. Smith won an Oscar for his commanding performance as Richard, although what should have been a career highlight for the American actor was overshadowed by an infamous on-stage slap.
Genre: Sports
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stream it on Netflix
'Lady Macbeth' (2016)
Based on the 1865 novella "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" by author Nikolai Leskov, "Lady Macbeth" is a fantastic showcase of the immense talent of Florence Pugh. While the actress has since gone on to make a household name for herself in movies such as Midsommar, Little Women and Oppenheimer, this 2016 independent drama gained her plenty of deserved recognition at an early stage of her career.
In "Lady Macbeth", Pugh plays Katherine, a young woman sold off by her cold family into a loveless marriage with a man twice her age. When she meets a charming worker on her husband’s estate, Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis), the two find themselves engaging in a passionate affair. The consequences of her actions could be severe, but finding her spirit awoken by her relationship with Sebastian, Katherine schemes to get what she wants regardless of the dramatic fallout that will inevitably occur.
Genre: Drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
Stream it on Netflix from Feb. 15.
'Eaten by Lions' (2018)
A criminally overlooked comedy with a cast of very funny Brits including Asim Chaudhry, Jack Carroll and Johnny Vegas, "Eaten by Lions" comes from writer/director Jason Wingard, who expanded his award-winning short film “Going to Mecca” into this full-length feature.
"Eaten by Lions" centers on the relationship between half-brothers Omar (Antonio Aakeel) and Pete (Carroll), who live with their grandmother after the tragic death of their parents in a bizarre accident involving a hot air balloon and hungry lions. When said grandmother passes, Omar and Pete set out to Blackpool on a mission to locate the former’s estranged father. Along the way, they meet a cast of colourful characters and get into all sorts of trouble.
Genre: Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Stream it on Netflix
