Searching for the best Netflix movies to stream today? You're in luck. TechRadar's entertainment experts have put in the hard yards to compile a list of the 42 best movies to watch on Netflix, including a number of the streamer's original offerings and plenty of licensed ones. The streamer has a seemingly immeasurable number of films to choose from these days, so we're sure you'll be glad of our help.
If you want even more recommendations, you should read our everything new on Netflix in December 2024 guide and if you want to catch some movies before they bid farewell to the streamer this month, then have a look at everything leaving Netflix in December 2024. It's packed with numerous new movies that have made their way onto the streamer over the past month. However, if you're in the mood to binge watch a TV show or rather focus on something shorter, then check out our best Netflix TV shows to watch list.
From animated flicks to war epics, Netflix's movie library has something for everyone and we've made it easier for you to decide what to watch by picking out the best from each genre, so read on to get the lowdown on the best Netflix films available to you.
Best action movies on Netflix
Zero Dark Thirty
Age rating: R
Runtime: 113 minutes
Main cast: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
RT score: 91%
Baby Driver
Age rating: R
Runtime: 113 minutes
Main cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Eiza González and Jon Bernthal
Director: Edgar Wright
RT score: 92%
• Watch Baby Driver on Netflix now
• Watch Baby Driver's trailer on YouTube
All Quiet on the Western Front
Age rating: R
Runtime: 148 minutes
Main cast: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, and Moritz Klaus Director: Edward Berger
RT score: 90%
• Watch All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix now
• Watch All Quiet on the Western Front's YouTube trailer
The Harder They Fall
Age rating: R
Runtime: 139 minutes
Main cast: Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, and LaKeith Stanfield
Director: Jeymes Samuel
RT score: 88%
• Watch The Harder They Fall on Netflix now
• Watch The Harder They Fall's YouTube trailer
Best animated movies on Netflix
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 98 minutes
Main cast: Jack Black, Bill Wise, Lee Eddy, Milo Coy, Zachary Levi, and Glen Powell Director: Richard Linklater
RT score: 91%
• Watch Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood on Netflix now
• Watch Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood's trailer on YouTube
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, and Finn Holfhard
Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
RT score: 96%
• Watch Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio on Netflix now
• Watch Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio's trailer on YouTube
The Mitchells vs The Machines
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 114 minutes
Main cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Michael Rianda, and Olivia Colman
Director: Michael Rianda
RT score: 97%
• Watch The Mitchells vs the Machines' on Netflix now
• Watch The Mitchells vs the Machines' YouTube trailer
Nimona
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 102 minutes
Main cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, and Frances Conroy
Directors: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
RT score: 92%
• Watch Nimona's trailer on YouTube
The Sea Beast
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: Karl Urban, Zaris Angel-Hator, Jared Harris, and Dan Stevens
Director: Chris Williams
RT score: 94%
• Watch The Sea Beast on Netflix now
• Watch The Sea Beast's trailer on YouTube
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 140 minutes
Main cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Luna Lauren Velez, Bryan Tyree Henry, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, and Jason Schwartzman
Directors: Kemp Powers, Joaquin Dos Santos, and Justin K. Thompson
RT score: 95%
• Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix now
• Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's YouTube trailer
Ultraman: Rising
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 117 minutes
Main cast: Christopher Sean, Julia Harriman, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young and Gedde Watanbe
Director: Shannon Tindle
RT score: 83%
• Watch Ultraman: Rising on Netflix now
• Watch Ultraman: Rising's YouTube trailer
Best comedy movies on Netflix
Hustle
Age rating: 15
Runtime: 118 minutes
Main cast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, and Robert Duvall
Director: Jeremiah Zagar
RT score: 93%
• Watch Hustle's trailer on YouTube
The Big 4
Age rating: R
Runtime: 141 minutes
Main cast: Putri Marino, Lutesha, Abimana Aryasatya, Arie Kriting, and Kristo Immanuel
Director: Timo Tjahjanto
RT score: 100%
• Watch The Big 4 on Netflix now
• Watch The Big 4 trailer on YouTube
Hit Man
Age rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes
Main cast: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Molly Kate Bernard, Retta and Evan Holtzman
Director: Richard Linklater
RT score: 95%
• Watch Hit Man on Netflix now
• Watch Hit Man trailer on YouTube
Best drama movies on Netflix
Enola Holmes
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 124 minutes
Main cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helen Bonham Carter
Director: Harry Bradbeer
RT score: 91%
• Watch Enola Holmes on Netflix now
• Watch Enola Holmes' YouTube trailer
The Irishman
Age rating: R
Runtime: 209 minutes
Main cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, and Anna Paquin
Director: Martin Scorsese
RT score: 95%
• Watch The Irishman on Netflix now
• Watch The Irishman's YouTube trailer
The Hand of God
Age rating: R
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Filippo Scotti, Tony Servillo, Teresa Sapoangelo, and Marlon Joubert Director: Paolo Sorrentino
RT score: 83%
• Watch The Hand of God on Netflix now
• Watch The Hand of God's YouTube trailer
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Age rating: R
Runtime: 94 minutes
Main cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, and Colman Domingo
Director: George C. Wolfe
RT score: 97%
• Watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on Netflix now
• Watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom's YouTube trailer
Molly's Game
Age rating: R
Runtime: 140 minutes
Main cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong
Director: Aaron Sorkin
RT score: 81%
• Watch Molly's Game on Netflix now
Beasts of No Nation
Age rating: R
Runtime: 137 minutes
Main cast: Idris Elba, Abraham Atta, and Kurt Egyiawan
Director: Cary Fukunaga
RT score: 91%
• Watch Beasts of No Nation on Netflix now
• Watch Beasts of No Nation's YouTube trailer
The Power of the Dog
Age rating: R
Runtime: 128 minutes
Main cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee
Director: Jane Campion
RT score: 94%
• Watch The Power of the Dog on Netflix now
• Watch The Power of the Dog's YouTube trailer
Phantom Thread
Age rating: R
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, and Camilla Rutherford
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
RT score: 91%
• Watch Phantom Thread on Netflix now
• Watch Phantom Thread's YouTube trailer
Roma
Age rating: R
Runtime: 134 minutes
Main cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Fernando Grediaga, and Daniela Demesa
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
RT score: 96%
• Watch Roma's YouTube trailer
Society of the Snow
Age rating: R
Runtime: 145 minutes
Main cast: Enzo Vogrincic, Augustin Padella, Esteban Bigliardi, and Simon Hempe
Director: J.A. Bayona
RT score: 90%
• Watch Society of the Snow on Netflix now
• Watch Society of the Snow's YouTube trailer
The Wonder
Age rating: R
Runtime: 109 minutes
Main cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, and Elaine Cassidy
Director: Sebastien Lelio
RT score: 89%
• Watch The Wonder on Netflix now
• Watch The Wonder's YouTube trailer
Best horror movies on Netflix
A Quiet Place Part II
Age rating: R
Runtime: 97 minutes
Main cast: Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe
Director: John Krasinski
RT score: 95%
• Watch A Quiet Place Part II on Netflix now
• Watch A Quiet Place Part II YouTube trailer
Creep
Age rating: R
Runtime: 77 minutes
Main cast: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice
Director: Patrick Brice
RT score: 91%
The Fear Street movie trilogy
Age rating: R
Runtimes: 107 minutes (Fear Street 1); 110 minutes (Fear Street 2); 114 minutes (Fear Street 3)
Main cast: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Welch, Gillian Jacobs, Sadie Sink, Benjamin Flores Jr, Emily Rudd, and Ryan Simpkins
Director: Leigh Janiak
RT score: 84% (Fear Street 1); 87% (Fear Street 2); 88% (Fear Street 3)
• Watch Fear Street Part 1 on Netflix now
• Watch Fear Street Part 1's YouTube trailer
His House
Age rating: TV-14
Runtime: 93 minutes
Main cast: Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu
Director: Remi Weekes
RT score: 100%
• Watch His House on Netflix now
• Watch His House's YouTube trailer
Best romance movies on Netflix
Call Me by Your Name
Age rating: R
Runtime: 132 minutes
Main cast: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Esther Garral, André Aciman and Victoire Du Bois
Director: Luca Guadagnino
RT score: 94%
• Watch Call Me By Your Name on Netflix now
• Watch Call Me By Your Name's YouTube trailer
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Anna Cathcart, Israel Broussard, Janel Parrish, Madeleine Arthur and John Corbett
Director: Susan Johnson
RT score: 96%
• Watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before on Netflix now
• Watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before's YouTube trailer
Best sci-fi movies on Netflix
Upgrade
Age rating: R
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Harrison Gilbertson, Betty Gabriel, Melanie Vallejo and Benedict Hardie
Director: Leigh Whannell
RT score: 88%
• Watch Upgrade on Netflix now
• Watch Upgrade's trailer on YouTube
Godzilla Minus One
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 125 minutes
Main cast: Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, and Yuki Yamada
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
RT score: 98%
• Watch Godzilla Minus One on Netflix now
• Watch Godzilla Minus One's YouTube trailer
Okja
Age rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Giancarlo Espostio
Director: Bong Joon-ho
RT score: 86%
• Watch Okja's YouTube trailer
They Cloned Tyrone
Age rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris
Director: Juel Taylor
RT score: 95%
• Watch They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix now
• Watch They Cloned Tyrone's YouTube trailer
Best thriller movies on Netflix
Woman of the Hour
Age rating: R
Runtime: 94 minutes
Main cast: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Tony Hale, and Nicolette Robinson
Director: Anna Kendrick
RT score: 90%
• Watch Woman of the Hour on Netflix now
• Watch the Woman of the Hour YouTube trailer
A Simple Favor
Age rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Main cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Linda Cardellini, Dustin Milligan, Ava LaFramboise, Rupert Friend, Jean Smart, Ian Ho and Joshua Satine
Director: Paul Feig
RT score: 84%
• Watch A Simple Favor on Netflix now
• Watch A Simple Favor's YouTube trailer
Emily the Criminal
Age rating: R
Runtime: 97 minutes
Main cast: Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Gina Gershon, Brandon Sklenar, Megalyn Echikunwoke and Jonathan Avigdori
Director: John Patton Ford
RT score: 94%
• Watch Emily the Criminal on Netflix now
• Watch Emily the Criminal's YouTube trailer
Captain Phillips
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 134 minutes
Main cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Barkhad Abdirahman and Catherine Keener
Director: Paul Greengrass
RT score: 93%
• Watch Captain Phillips on Netflix now
• Watch Captain Phillips' YouTube trailer
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 141 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and Leslie Odom Jr
Director: Rian Johnson
RT score: 92%
• Watch Glass Onion on Netflix now
• Watch Glass Onion's YouTube trailer
Jaws
Age rating: PG
Runtime: 124 minutes
Main cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine GaryDirector: Steven Spielberg
RT score: 97%
• Watch the Jaws trailer on YouTube
Oldboy
Age rating: R
Runtime: 120 minutes
Main cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Director: Park Chan-wook
RT score: 83%
How we choose the best Netflix movies
To land a place on our list of best Netflix movies, each title doesn't have to be a huge hit on the world's best streaming service (i.e. one of the most-streamed movies in the platform's entire history). Instead, the movie needs to pass two tests: hold an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (RT) and be personally recommended by one of the members of the TechRadar streaming team.
Our team of writers include Matthew Bolton, Amelia Schwanke, Tom Power, Lucy Buglass and Grace Morris, who all write and watch movies every day. We have varying views of what makes a good movie, which means our personal tastes cover a wide-range of genres and even sub-genres like psychological thrillers, action adventures, superhero spectacles, supernatural horrors and romantic dramas.
Together, we use this criteria and our cinephile expertise to help inform which films we pick to be the best Netflix movies. There are thousands of movies to stream on Netflix and this changes every month with new arrivals and removals, so this is by no means an exhaustive list. Instead, make sure to check back in with us every month to see which new entries we add.
For more Netflix coverage, read our best Netflix documentaries and best Netflix shows guides. Yet to subscribe to the streaming giant? Read our guide on how to sign up to Netflix, too. Or, you're fed up of the recent price hikes, see whether you should cancel Netflix instead.
