30 Best Movies On Netflix Right Now (May 2024)

Sept. 23, 2023, 5:11 p.m.

Movies

30 Best Movies On Netflix Right Now (May 2024)

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Summary The best movies on Netflix include a range of genres and both original and licensed content.

Subscribers can enjoy new movies on Netflix every week, providing a rich entertainment experience for the monthly cost.

Some of the best movies on Netflix include Leave the World Behind, The Power of the Dog, and Marriage Story.

The best movies on Netflix are a key reason that the streaming giant has managed to maintain its dominance of the highly competitive market for years, as the platform offers subscribers an unparalleled range of titles — including both original content and licensed blockbuster films. Ranging across the decades and almost every conceivable genre, Netflix subscriptions include some of the best movies of all time, and whether you're looking for a family film everyone will enjoy, a sci-fi to challenge you, or a comedy to just leave your face sore from laughing, we have recommendations for the best movies on Netflix.

Subscribers can enjoy new movies on Netflix every week, with the platform seeking to give the broadest, richest entertainment experience for its monthly cost. From Oscar-winning dramas to stunning animations and the greatest comic book movie of all time, there's something for everyone. And we will update this article regularly to make sure all recommendations are fresh.

Related Best Horror Movies On Netflix (January 2024) With all the streaming content out there, you're bound to find a great horror film to enjoy for the season and Netflix is the best place to look at.

Best Drama Movies On Netflix

Dark Waters (2019)

Dark Waters Director Todd Haynes Release Date November 22, 2019 Cast Bill Camp , Louisa Krause , Denise Dal Vera , Bill Pullman , Mare Winningham , Daniel R. Hill , Anne Hathaway , Tim Robbins , William Jackson Harper , Kevin Crowley , Mark Ruffalo , Victor Garber Runtime 126 minutes

Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway are both cinematic powerhouses when it comes to gripping dramas, and bringing them together under the directorship of Todd Haynes in the 2019 legal thriller Dark Water made the movie a recipe for success both at the box office and on Netflix. Dark Waters is a semi-fictionalized retelling of the infamous 1990s legal case where lawyer Robert Bilott (played by Ruffalo) took chemical manufacturer DuPont to court for damages to the local environment of his grandmother's town of Parkersburg, West Virginia.

As the drama unfolds, the case gets messier and messier, with suspected unregulated chemicals being used that led to the deaths of both natural wildlife and the livestock the residents of the town depend on for their livelihood. While it didn't win many, Dark Waters was nominated for multiple awards, and was successful in securing the Environmental Media Award for Best Feature Film in 2020.

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Leave The World Behind (2023)

Between her work in Homecoming and Gaslight, Julia Roberts is proving herself just as adept at taking on dark, dramatic subject matter as she is with feel-good rom-coms, and Leave the World Behind is another prime example. In the film, she plays Amanda Sandford, a wife and mother who takes her family on a spontaneous Long Island vacation. However, things go awry when none of their technology devices work, and a father and daughter show up at the vacation house claiming they live there.

As Amanda gets closer to the father, G. H. (Mahershala Ali), she discovers that all these strange occurrences may be the result of a government conspiracy. Leave the World Behind is written and directed by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, who also produced Homecoming and Gaslit, and the movie proves to be another winning collaboration with Roberts. Like these other works, Leave the World Behind is a slow burn, which may not appeal to everybody. But Esmail knows how to turn up the dread and menace of technology on society, making Leave the World Behind more than worth the watch.

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The Power Of The Dog (2021)

The Power of the Dog Release Date November 17, 2021 Director Jane Campion Runtime 126 minutes

The 2020s have seen a cultural shift as society examines traditional values alongside new ones, particularly within art, and the Western movie genre is no exception. From acclaimed director Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog is the definitive revisionist Western. Based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank, a charming yet cruel rancher who uses toxic masculinity to torment those around him and repress his true desires.

The Power of the Dog landed on a staggering number of 10 best movie lists and its awards nominations were also numerous. Along with Cumberbatch, actors Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee were all nominated for Oscars for their roles. Campion took home the Best Director statuette, becoming the first woman to win two Academy Awards in that category (her first was for The Piano). With its expert direction, stellar performances, and thought-provoking themes, The Power of the Dog is one of the best movies on Netflix.

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All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

All Quiet on the Western Front Release Date October 28, 2022 Director Edward Berger Cast Felix Kammerer , Albrecht Schuch , Daniel Brühl Runtime 150 minutes

Deservedly handed a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, Netflix's 2022 adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's classic novel All Quiet on the Western Front is a remarkable, stark meditation on the reality of war. Telling the story of World War I from the German perspective — typically not the side of the trenches cinema's light shines on — it is the first adaptation to be told in the original German.

It is an important movie, showing the harrowing experience of young soldiers thrown into battlefields, but it is also thoroughly entertaining thanks to its moving central performances. Even with the military genre potentially limiting wider audience interest, All Quiet on the Western Front is a genuine must-see for Netflix subscribers.

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Marriage Story (2019)

In a close-run race, Marriage Story is the best Noah Baumbach movie, which hits all of his hallmarks as a filmmaker and is an incredible advert for the craft of directing. Even beyond those achievements, which matter less to Netflix viewers than the simple question of quality, Marriage Story is an incredible, must-watch movie that is easily one of the best movies on Netflix.

Starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in twin career-best performances, Marriage Story is horribly compelling, showing the harrowing story of a couple whose initially amicable separation becomes a bitter divorce. It's like watching a world crumble in slow motion, with Driver and Johansson's on-screen son the tragic middle ground of a battle that is propelled almost accidentally towards catastrophe. And while it's very, very sad, Marriage Story's overall message about failure and future is a very important one.

Marriage Story was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, with Laura Dern winning Best Supporting Actress in 2020 for her role in the movie (in addition to a Golden Globe).

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May December (2023)

May December Release Date December 1, 2023 Director Todd Haynes Cast Natalie Portman , Julianne Moore , Charles Melton Runtime 113 Minutes

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are two of today's most respected actors, and the Oscar winners co-star in May December, directed by Todd Haynes. Loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, the film sees actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman) cast in a film to play the controversial public figure, Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Moore), who years earlier was caught having sex with her son's 13-year-old schoolmate, Joe Yoo. 23 years later, Gracie and Joe (Charles Melton) are married, and Elizabeth travels to Georgia to meet them and prepare for her role.

While it's no surprise that Portman and Moore are stellar as their characters, Melton all but steals the show. The Riverdale actor has been picking up awards steam, with Melton winning the Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor. This taut three-hander movie is thought-provoking and uncomfortable, raising serious questions about age differences in romantic relationships. But for such weighty subject matter, May December also has moments of humor and levity.

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Related New On Netflix: All 109 Movies & TV Shows Arriving In May May on Netflix is packed with new TV shows and movies including Archer, Bridgerton season 3, and Atlas.

Best Comedy Movies On Netflix

Lift (2024)

Lift Release Date January 12, 2024 Director F. Gary Gray Cast Kevin Hart , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Sam Worthington , Vincent D'Onofrio , Úrsula Corberó , Billy Magnussen , Jacob Batalon , Jean Reno Writers Daniel Kunka , Emerald Fennell , Simon Kinberg

Netflix kicked off 2024 on a strong note when heist comedy Lift arrived in January. The movie was originally due to arrive in August 2023, but was pushed back due to the then-ongoing 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The movie doesn't reinvent the wheel, and doesn't seek to, being a solid entry into the ever-popular genre of comedies focusing on professional criminals. Subscribers seeking an easy watch guaranteed to prompt a laugh or two definitely won't be disappointed.

Lift stars Kevin Hart as Cyrus, a known thief, and follows him and his crew as they become embroiled in a roller-coaster of events that start when they kidnap an NFT artist. Kevin Hart is joined in the Lift cast by Vincent D'Onofrio, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, and several more in a solid ensemble cast.

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Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Eddie Murphy largely stepped out of the public eye in the 2010s, but he made a resounding, kick-the-door-down comeback with Dolemite Is My Name. In the Netflix comedy biopic, Murphy plays Rudy Ray Moore, a performer who adopts the persona of Dolemite, a foul-mouthed showman who dresses like a stereotypical pimp. Moore looks to break into blaxploitation films as Dolemite, but he's told he doesn't fit the toned physique of the industry standard. Not one to be deterred, Moore seeks to produce and star in his own movie, and he rounds up a crew of friends and misfits to help.

While Dolemite Is My Name is possibly Murphy's best movie, and he was absolutely robbed of an Oscar nomination, it's Da'Vine Joy Randolph who steals the show as Lady Reed, a charming woman whom Moore convinces to tour with him and eventually star in his movie. Now gaining much-deserved attention and acclaim for her work in Only Murders in the Building and The Holdovers, this is Randolph's breakout role. A charming underdog story with an even more charming cast, Dolemite Is My Name is one of the best movies on Netflix.

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Uncut Gems (2019)

Uncut Gems Release Date December 13, 2019 Director Josh Safdie , Benny Safdie Cast Jonathan Aranbayev , Eric Bogosian , The Weeknd , Idina Menzel , Noa Fisher , Kevin Garnett , Tommy Kominik , LaKeith Stanfield , Jacob Igielski , Adam Sandler , Julia Fox , Keith Williams Richards Runtime 134 minutes

Between The Ridiculous 6 and Hubie Halloween, not every Adam Sandler-Netflix collaboration is a winner, but Uncut Gems knocks it out of the park and proves that the iconic comedy actors should take on serious roles more often. In the film, he plays Howard Ratner, a New York City jeweler with a serious gambling addiction that turns deadly.

Nobody does anxiety like the Safdie brothers, and Uncut Gems is so intense it feels like there's a ticking time bomb in every scene. That time bomb is Howard himself, and his self-destructive behavior is trainwreck level — an appropriate description considering it's impossible to look away. Uncut Gems is the opposite of a relaxing watch, but it's artistic, memorable, and haunting.

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Related All 39 Movies & TV Shows Leaving Netflix This Month Netflix features a revolving door of content that comes and goes from month to month. Here are all the movies and shows leaving in May 2024.

Best Action Movies On Netflix

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Mortal Kombat (2021) Director Simon McQuoid Release Date April 23, 2021 Cast Jessica McNamee , Matilda Kimber , Mehcad Brooks , Lewis Tan , Sisi Stringer , Joe Taslim , Daniel Nelson , Hiroyuki Sanada , Chin Han , Max Huang , Laura Brent , Tadanobu Asano , Elissa Cadwell , Ludi Lin , Josh Lawson Runtime 110 minutes

With shows like The Last Of Us and Fallout alongside movies like Five Nights At Freddys and The Super Mario Bros, it's safe to say that video game adaptations are taking the world by storm. This isn't a new trend though, and in 2021 one of the first successful modern video game movies arrived — Mortal Kombat. Netflix subscribers seeking gory fight-filled action that's rife with impressive special effects will find Mortal Kombat more than satisified, as the movie is just as bombastic yet gripping as the game series it's based on.

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The premise of Mortal Kombat is relatively straightforward. Earth is one of several realms that exist within the universe, and the fragile peace between Earth and neighboring realm Outworld is maintained by a regular fighting tournament. The movie focuses on the champions of Earth as they're found, trained, and then entered into the fray, fighting for their lives against the champions of Outworld to secure the safety of the mortal world.

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Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2 (2003 & 2004)

Kill Bill Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date October 10, 2003 Cast David Carradine , Michael Madsen , Uma Thurman , Daryl Hannah , Lucy Liu , Vivica A. Fox

Quentin Tarantino is one of the most celebrated (and controversial) directors in modern cinema, and one of his most visually striking movies to date is the two-part kung-fu inspired action epic Kill Bill. Starring Uma Thurman as The Bride, Kill Bill is a revenge story with levels of violence few films can match. After being betrayed on her wedding day by her boss, the titular Bill (David Carradine) and fellow assassins, The Bride spends multiple years in a coma thanks to being shot in the head.

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When she awakens she has one thought on her mind — eliminating those that wronged her. Tarantino was on top form as a director when making both halves of the Kill Bill duology, and to say that it's filled from start to finish with unforgettable scenes and imagery is an understatement. Uma Thurman is joined in the Kill Bill cast by the likes of Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, and Daryl Hannah, with every name on the roster portraying a unique character that Netflix subscribers won't soon forget.

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Enola Holmes (2020)

Enola Holmes Release Date September 23, 2020 Director Harry Bradbeer Cast Millie Bobby Brown , Helena Bonham Carter , Sam Claflin , Fiona Shaw , Henry Cavill , Louis Partridge , Burn Gorman , Adeel Akhtar , Susie Wokoma Runtime 123 minutes

Millie Bobby Brown became an A-list celebrity thanks to her breakout role as Eleven in Netflix's Stranger Things, so it's only fitting that her biggest and best movie role is also on the streaming platform. In Enola Holmes, Brown plays the eponymous heroine, the youngest sibling in a family that contains renowned detective, Sherlock Holmes. When their mother goes missing, Enola sets out to find her, and may just prove that Sherlock isn't the smartest Holmes after all.

Between movies like Glass Onion and Enola Holmes, Netflix is breathing new life into the murder mystery genre. Brown was casting genius, as films of this genre hinge on how much the audience roots for the detective at the center. The movie proved so successful that a 2022 sequel followed, and Enola Holmes 3 is in the works, proving that Netflix audiences can't get enough of the teenage detective.

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Damsel (2024)

Damsel Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Release Date March 8, 2024 Writers Dan Mazeau Cast Millie Bobby Brown , Nick Robinson , Angela Bassett , Robin Wright , Ray Winstone , Brooke Carter , Shohreh Aghdashloo

Millie Bobby Brown has starred in many high-profile Netflix projects, such as Stranger Things and Enola Holmes, and 2024 saw her partnering with the streamer for the dark action-fantasy movie Damsel. The plot sees Brown's Elodie marrying Prince Henry, whom she initially isn't interested in, but goes along with the wedding for the good of the people of her own kingdom. However, Henry soon betrays her, throwing her into a chasm which brings her face-to-face with a terrifying dragon.

Of course, this simple set-up isn't all it seems, and it's here that the thematic depth of Damsel truly takes shape. The story is one of self-empowerment, and Elodie quickly learns that, just like Henry, the dragon which has besieged the kingdom over centuries has its own motives, though — unlike Henry — isn't the threat many believe it to be.

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The Killer (2023)

The Killer (2023) Release Date November 10, 2023 Director David Fincher Cast Michael Fassbender , Tilda Swinton , Kerry O'Malley , Charles Parnell , Lacey Dover , Monique Ganderton , Sala Baker Runtime 118 Minutes

David Fincher is a magnet for actors looking to tap into the dark side of their characters, and Michael Fassbender's titular anti-hero in The Killer is going to go down as one of his most memorable characters, which is saying a lot considering Fincher has given audiences Tyler Durden and the English-language version of Lisbeth Salander. Like The Narrator in Fight Club and Nick and Amy Dunne in Gone Girl, The Killer has the protagonist speak to the audience in voice-over, giving them a window into his twisted mind.

Based on the French graphic novel of the same name by Alexis "Matz" Nolent and Luc Jacamon, The Killer centers on the nameless assassin (Fassbender) who deals with the massive fallout after a job goes wrong. With as much substance as it has style, The Killer is yet another win for Fincher, whose sterling filmography is one of the most impressive of any working director today. The Killer will go down as one of Fassbender's greatest characters, and with any luck, he and Fincher will become frequent collaborators.

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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

The 2020s are a great time to be a fan of big movie sleuths, with Kenneth Branagh's Poirot carving out his own surprise shared universe and Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc standing just on the other side of the parody line. Both detectives owe a lot of Agatha Christie, but Blanc is all the creation of Rian Johnson and Craig's performance, with is joyful. After Knives Out's success, Netflix brought the sequel, Glass Onion, to the platform, proving that their expensive acquisition model can still include absolute gems.

Here, Blanc is back as he's invited to a billionaire's personal island (a thinly veiled nod to Elon Musk, played by Ed Norton), to play along with a murder mystery. Naturally, participants — and Glass Onion's cast is another barn-stormer, like its predecessor — start dying for real, and Blanc is called into action. An Oscar nominee, Glass Onion is a great fix for anyone looking for a complex but rewarding mystery to get their teeth into.

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Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)

The first movie in the series, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, was revolutionary for its awe-inspiring animation, and became only the sixth non-Disney/Pixar movie to win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. And the franchise might strike gold again with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The film picks up with Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) who travels through the Multi-verse with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), where they happen upon an entire team of Spider-People. But things heat up when Miles and the Spider-People face a new threat and find themselves in conflict over how to defeat it.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is every bit as beloved as the first film, with its stellar animation and thrilling action scenes. Unlike so many cinematic franchises that release movies to increasingly diminishing returns, Miles Morales has many more adventures in him as Spider-Man, and no matter where he goes, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will always be remembered as one of his best.

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Related 30 Best TV Shows On Netflix Right Now (May 2024) From classics like Gilmore Girls and Seinfeld to twisty sci-fi like Stranger Things, the best shows on Netflix have something for everyone.

Best Biopics & Documentaries On Netflix

The Deepest Breath (2023)

The Deepest Breath Release Date July 19, 2023 Director Laura McGann Cast Alessia Zecchini , Stephen Keenan Runtime 108 Minutes

A stunning, provocative look at one of the world's most dangerous, barely fathomable sports, the documentary The Deepest Breath is a fascinating profile of free diver Alessia Zecchini. As well as exploring Zecchini's quest to set a world record in free-diving, the documentary chronicles her relationship with her safety diver partner, Stephen Keenan, as well as the personal toll and associated dangers with the sport. The Deepest Breath is the perfect pick for anyone looking for Netflix's best documentary.

The documentary culminates in Zecchini's attempt to free-dive Blue Hole’s arch, a notorious tunnel 56m down into a sinkhole, which previously took the lives of other divers, including Natalia Molchanova in 2015. The shocking tragedy that unfolds is as compelling as the portrait of the sportswoman herself and the sport is intriguing. It's a strangely intoxicating film, whose most important message is arguably the final message Zecchini was sent before her attempt to dive through the arch: “Live for today for you never know what’s coming down the line."

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Harriet (2019)

Harriet Release Date November 1, 2019 Director Kasi Lemmons Cast Joe Alwyn , Tory Kittles , Vondie Curtis-Hall , Cynthia Erivo , Vanessa Bell Calloway , Antonio J. Bell , Deborah Ayorinde , Leslie Odom Jr. , Jennifer Nettles , Tim Guinee , Zackary Momoh , Janelle Monae , Omar Dorsey , Clarke Peters , Henry Hunter Hall

Tony Award-winning Cynthia Erivo has proven she is just as talented and magnetic on the screen as she is on stage, and Harriet is not only one of her best movies but one of the best on Netflix. In Harriet, she plays abolitionist and freedom fighter Harriet Tubman who escapes slavery and puts her life on the line to help others find freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Erivo was unsurprisingly nominated for a slew of awards for her portrayal of Tubman. In addition to receiving an Oscar nomination for her performance, she was also nominated for Best Original Song for "Stand Up". Harriet doesn't reinvent the biopic wheel, but it exquisitely captures the story of one of the most important historical figures in American history, and Erivo gives a winning performance.

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Maestro (2023)

Bradley Cooper may have first made a name for himself playing obnoxious jerks in comedies like Wedding Crashers and The Hangover, but he's now on his way to becoming one of Hollywood's most respected filmmakers. He had a splashy directorial debut in 2018 with A Star is Born, and he follows it up with another story about a musician, Maestro, a Leonard Bernstein biopic. Cooper plays Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as his wife, Felicia Montealegre. Maestro centers on the couple's tumultuous yet loving relationship as it weathers heartbreaking conflicts due to Bernstein's frequent affairs with men and his substance abuse.

While Hollywood was waiting with bated breath to see what Cooper would follow A Star is Born with, and he's the central figure as Bernstein, it's Mulligan who steals the show. She delivers a heart-wrenching performance, wholeheartedly capturing the trials and tribulations of being married to a successful artist, and is considered an early frontrunner in the 2024 Best Actress race at the Oscars. She and Cooper have layered, mature, and dazzling chemistry, and as a result, Maestro elevates the entire biopic genre.

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Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)

Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda is widely considered Broadway's latest visionary so it's only appropriate that his feature film directorial debut was about another legendary composer: Jonathan Larson, best known for writing the smash-hit musical Rent. Tick, Tick... Boom! follows Larson (Andrew Garfield) struggling to finish his musical Superbia before it's workshopped. Larson also puts increasing pressure on himself to become a successful composer before his looming 30th birthday.

Tick, Tick... Boom! wholeheartedly captures the misery, frustration, and doubt that struggling creatives face, yet they are powerless to resist the siren song of the arts. Andrew Garfield often brings an earnest passion to his roles, and this, along with his striking musical talent, makes him the perfect person to play Larson. Larson tragically passed away at the age of 35, before he saw Rent become a success, but his legacy lives on, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is the perfect person to tell his story.

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

The movie that many agree should have won the late Chadwick Boseman a posthumous Oscar, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is based on the August Wilson play of the same name and centers on possibly the most dramatic, eventful recording session ever seen on-screen. It takes place on a sweltering summer day in 1920s Chicago in which famous blues singer Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) and her band assemble at Paramount's Recording Studios to record an album, and tension rises faster than the blistering temperature.

One of the greatest, most important playwrights in American history, Wilson's works give an articulate, profound voice to the Black American experience, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a shining example of this. While Boseman's life was tragically cut short, his performance as the charismatic yet hot-headed trumpeter Levee Green deserves to be just as iconic as superhero Black Panther.

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Best Sci-Fi Movies On Netflix

The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

The Matrix Resurrections Director Lana Wachowski Release Date December 22, 2021 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Runtime 2h 28m

The Matrix trilogy was one of the most influential sci-fi franchises of the late '90s and early 2000s, with the story of Neo, Trinity, and the virtual world masquerading as reality becoming culturally definitive. The series' use of special effects — especially "bullet time" — also redefined action movies, with almost every single one released since taking some degree of inspiration from them. In 2021 the franchise returned with The Matrix 4, titled The Matrix Resurrections, which picks up the story 60 years after The Matrix Revolutions and adds additional layers to Neo and Trinity's tale.

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While it was far from the success story of the first three Matrix movies, The Matrix Resurrections is a solid sci-fi movie that's guaranteed to entertain Netflix subscribers seeking a cerebral watch with some dazzling visuals. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss both return as Neo and Trinity (despite their characters dying in the previous movie), and they're joined by the likes of Jonathan Groff, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Neil Patrick Harris.

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Glass (2019)

Helmed by M. Night Shyamalan and featuring the likes of Bruce Willis, James McAboy, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, and Anya Taylor-Joy in the cast, 2019's Glass is an instant recipe for a highly enjoyable action sci-fi movie. The third movie in Shyamalan's Unbreakable trilogy following Split, Glass brings McAvoy's Wendall Crumb, Willis's David Dunn, and Samuel L. Jackson's Elijah Price together for a showdown that exposes the existence of superpowered individuals to the world.

The entire movie builds a winding meta-narrative that feels incredibly apt in the 2020s when superhero movies still continue to dominate pop culture

Glass features plenty of mystery and intrigue, as well as some outstanding fight sequences and performances from the entire cast. Shyamalan's unique directorial style can be felt throughout, and the third film in the trilogy more than stands up as a sequel to both Unbreakable and Split. The entire movie builds a winding meta-narrative that feels incredibly apt in the 2020s when superhero movies still continue to dominate pop culture, and definitely isn't one to miss for Netflix subscribers.

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Related 10 Best Netflix Movies Of 2023 Netflix produced a lot of great movies in 2023, but 10 of them stand out as the best Netflix originals of the year, making it worthwhile to rank them.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

They Cloned Tyrone Release Date July 21, 2023 Director Juel Taylor Cast John Boyega , Teyonah Parris , Jamie Foxx , Kiefer Sutherland , David Alan Grier , J. Alphonse Nicholson Runtime 119 Minutes

Marrying high-concept science-fiction with fantasy, satire and all manner of other genres, The Cloned Tyrone is one of the best Netflix Original movies released in 2023. Set in a drab retro-futuristic world, it stars John Boyega as the titular drug dealer, who drags himself through the same cycle of everyday life, in a grim Groundhog Day-style mundane nightmare that not even being shot repeatedly seems to interrupt.

Delightfully twisty, and featuring a walking homage to Blaxpoitation movies in Jamie Foxx's pimp Slick Charles, They Cloned Tyrone is fast-paced, occasionally bizarre and a great way to spend a couple of hours. Come for the sci-fi, but stay for the Mary J Blige elevator scene.

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Best Rom-Coms & Teen Movies On Netflix

Blended (2014)

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have teamed up to make several romantic comedies, including cult classics in the genre like 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer. In 2014, they reunited once more for Blended, a relatively by-the-numbers romantic comedy that utilizes their on-screen chemistry to deliver a satisfying viewing experience. While Blended doesn't reinvent the wheel, it does tick all the boxes fans of the duo expect, and it's unsurprising it's currently one of the most popular rom-coms on Netflix.

Blended is a second-love romance movie, with both Sandler and Barrymore playing single parents struggling to balance loneliness and dating with the struggles of raising children singlehandedly. After the pair have an awkward meet-cute at a pharmacy they go on a very unsuccessful date, only to later find themselves at the same family safari retreat in Africa. The cast also features Bella Thorne, Joel McHale, and Terry Crews, all of whom give hilarious performances.

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To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

To All the Boys I've Loved Before Release Date August 17, 2018 Director Susan Johnson Cast Lana Condor , Anna Cathcart , John Corbett , Janel Parrish , Israel Broussard , Noah Centineo Runtime 102 minutes

In the age of streaming, romantic comedies are being given fewer and fewer theatrical runs, with many going straight to online platforms. While this is unfortunate for cinema-going fans of the genre, Netflix is a rom-com lover's paradise, as it boasts many original titles from Always Be My Maybe to The Kissing Booth, and To All the Boys I've Loved Before is one of the best. It sees the romantic yet shy teenage protagonist Lara Jean (Lana Condor) have her worst nightmare come true when the private love letters she wrote to her crushes go public.

Like many great teen movies, To All the Boys I've Loved Before is based on the book trilogy by Jenny Han, and the two follow-up novels also have Netflix adaptations. Genre stories that have a predominantly female audience, namely rom-com and young adult, are often dismissed, but it's impossible to ignore what a winning movie series To All the Boys is. Even though the film trilogy has wrapped, the franchise has launched a spin-off show called XO Kitty about Lara Jean's younger sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart), proving the enduring popularity of To All the Boys.

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You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)

Adam Sandler tends to make the most at the box office when he's surrounded by those closest to him in real life (whether the critical reception of those movies matches or not). In Netflix Original You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah he goes one step further, starring alongside his wife and daughters, with Sunny Sandler taking center stage. In fact, this is not his movie at all, though he does deliver a solid performance.

Culturally informed and sensitive, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is a smart portrait of a landmark celebration, finding comedy and charm in its authenticity, but also in the universality of teenage life. Crucially, it understands and never talks down to the condition of adolescence, and the younger Sandler is the pick of You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah's cast — a fledgling star who clearly learned a lot from the better comedies of her co-star father.

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Best Family Movies On Netflix

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)

Netflix subscribers looking for a family-friendly animated movie should look no further than The Mitchells vs. The Machines. The comedy stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, and Maya Rudolph as members of a dysfunctional family whose cross-country road trip becomes tangled up in a plot by an evil AI to take over the world. Particularly pertinent storytelling in 2023. Blending both 3D and traditional animation, The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one of the most visually impressive animations on the platform (and indeed of recent years, generally) and it deservedly picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Full of heart, funny and featuring a wonderfully unhinged villain turn from Olivia Colman, The Mitchells vs. The Machines offers something for everyone. It can surely only be a matter of time before Netflix cements plans for The Mitchells vs. The Machines 2. It can't come soon enough.

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Paddington (2014)

Paddington Release Date January 16, 2015 Director Paul King Cast Hugh Bonneville , Ben Whishaw , Nicole Kidman , Sally Hawkins Runtime 95minutes

Given Hollywood's fascination with eking as much money out of nostalgic properties as possible, it was only a matter of time before someone turned their attention to the famous marmalade sandwich-loving bear from Darkest Peru. Luckily, that someone was Paul King, who made Paddington, an achingly British delight that has as much heart as it does slapstick comedy. Essentially a found family comedy, the beloved movie is the perfect answer for anyone looking for a unifying family watch.

Based on the original book series by Michael Bond, Paddington sees the wholesome bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw, invited (somewhat reluctantly by certain parties) to live with a family in Notting Hill. The very definition of a gentle, cozy comedy, Paddington carries a deeper meaning of acceptance and love, and boasts easily one of the highest rewatchability scores of all of Netflix's best movies.

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Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

It would be perilously easy to dismiss a Shrek movie spin-off from 2022 as a bit of a cash grab, but to do so would be a fatal error when it comes to Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. Directed by Joel Crawford and ingeniusly dropping the traditional Shrek animation style for something more dynamic and beautiful, The Last Wish is not only the best Shrek franchise movie, but also one of the best animated movies of all time.

It may have taken a decade to get to cinemas after the first Puss spin-off, but Puss In Boots: The Last Wish proves the age-old adage that good things come to those who wait. It's funny, family-friendly, and packs in Paddington levels of heart, along with a surprisingly deep message about mortality. Once more starring Antonio Banderas as the perfectly-cast feline mercenary, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is the perfect propaganda for the future of the Shrek movie franchise.

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