Movie night is easy with a Netflix subscription. From award-winning dramas to hilarious comedies, as well as films you won’t find anywhere, Netflix has it all. The list of films available on the streaming service just keeps growing, too, with more movies coming to Netflix every month. With so much to choose from, picking just one movie can be tough, but there’s no need to stress about it. We look through the entire collection every week to make sure this list of the best movies on Netflix available right now is always updated.
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.
The White Tiger (2021)
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 that, 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. A gripping class-drama akin to Parasite mates with Joker, The White Tiger is one of the greatest dramas you can stream today.
Stowaway (2021)
After the three-person crew of a manned mission to Mars discovers a fourth, accidental occupant of their ship, a crisis occurs when a related equipment failure leaves only enough oxygen to support the original crew. That’s the heart-wrenching premise of this sci-fi drama that Netflix won the right to distribute in the U.S. after a bidding war. The moral quandary posed by the film is supported by a small but impressive cast, with Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, and Toni Collette portraying the ship’s crew and Shamier Anderson portraying the engineer who wakes up inside the ship shortly after takeoff.
The Dig (2021)
Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), a widowed landowner, decides to tackle the Sutton Hoo burial mounds on her sprawling Suffolk estate. To do so, she hires amateur archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to tackle the job. As he and his crew begin the work, they unearth profound treasures that spark a national call to arms for prominent British historians. As a hierarchy of high-class excavators steamrolls Edith’s private operation, Edith argues for Brown’s position as the higher-ups try and force him out. A brilliant ensemble cast and picturesque cinematography make The Dig one of the most intriguing historical dramas on Netflix.
tick, tick...BOOM! (2021) new
Genre Drama, Music
Stars Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús
Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda
121m
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.
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
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.
Fruitvale Station (2013)
Before he was one of Marvel Studios’ most celebrated filmmakers, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler wrote and directed this 2013 biographical film that cast Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant, who was murdered by police officer Johannes Mehserle in 2009 while traveling on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in Oakland, California. The film chronicles the events of Grant’s day leading up to his fatal encounter with BART officers that was caught on video and ignited months of protests that — after similar incidents were recorded in the years that followed — would eventually coalesce into the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. A powerful, personal film that puts a face on one of the many victims of deadly police misconduct in recent years, Fruitvale Station launched Coogler’s career and earned a long list of awards for both its director and star while bringing wider attention to Grant’s story.
Passing (2021) new
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.
Red Notice (2021) new
Genre Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Stars Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot
Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber
116m
Dwayne Johnson plays an Interpol agent whose latest mission has him teaming up with a notorious art thief, played by Ryan Reynolds, in order to catch an even more notorious art thief, played by Gal Gadot. Given the three actors involved, that’s probably enough to make this a must-see movie, so the abundance of action, comedy, and witty banter is just icing on the cake.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
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.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
George Clooney directs and stars in this cataclysmic sci-fi thriller, an adaptation of the 2016 Lily-Brooks Dalton novel Good Morning, Midnight. After a powerful radiation event eradicates a majority of the earth’s population, scientist Augustine Lofthouse (Clooney) attempts to make contact with any returning spacecraft to warn the travelers of Earth’s decimation. When he eventually makes brief, interrupted contact with the homebound crew of a Jupiter rover, he decides to set off on a journey across the North Pole along with a young survivor named Iris (Caoilinn Springall) in order to find a stronger antenna to reach the incoming Jupiter crew.
The Harder They Fall (2021) new
This neo-Western adventure brings together some of Hollywood’s hottest African-American actors for a stylized spin on the genre filled with epic action, great music, and memorable performances. Lovecraft Country and Loki actor Jonathan Majors plays Nat Love, a man looking to avenge the murder of his parents by the ruthless outlaw Rufus Buck, played by Idris Elba. Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, and Edi Gathegi join Majors and Elba in the film’s impressive ensemble. Read our The Harder They Fall review for more spoiler-free reasons to watch.
It Follows (2015) new
This 2014 horror film was praised for its fresh, frightening tale about a teenager who discovers she’s been given a sexually transmitted curse that passes from one partner to the next and kills its current host if it’s not passed on. Stylish and tense, the film casts Maika Monroe as a teenage girl forced to contend with the curse stalking her wherever she goes.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Often found on lists of the greatest movies ever made, Spike Lee’s 1989 drama unfolds during one of the hottest days of the year in a Brooklyn neighborhood where racial tension has reached a boiling point. An Italian-American pizzeria owned by Sal (Danny Aiello) becomes the focal point for drama in the film, which has Lee’s character delivering pizzas throughout the neighborhood while navigating the complicated relationships around every corner. The film earned a pair of Academy Award nominations and remains a critically acclaimed work of cinema decades after it first hit theaters.
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Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
Karen Gillan plays a lethal assassin who finds herself on the run after she refuses to kill a young girl in this fast-paced, beautifully choreographed thriller. While fleeing the mysterious organization out to end her contract, Gillan finds an unexpected ally in the mother she thought she lost (played by Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey) and a trio of brutally effective hitwomen (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino). With nonstop action and an impressive ensemble of leading ladies, the film gives new meaning to smashing the patriarchy. Read our spoiler-free Gunpowder Milkshake review for more reasons to watch.
The Babysitter (2017)
Cole (Judah Lewis) loves his babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving). She’s fun, good-looking, and worships the dark lord of all dark lords. Behind Bee’s charming smile is a sinister satanist with a thirst for blood. As members of a creepy cult begin their descent over Cole’s life, it’s up to the preteen to outsmart their efforts before he becomes Bee’s next victim. A Netflix original film, The Babysitter doesn’t surprise in many ways but follows the genre formula to a T, and we love the dedication. It’s campy, edgy, and a joyride through and through.
The Disaster Artist (2017)
James Franco directs, produces, and stars in The Disaster Artist, an adaptation of Greg Sestero (portrayed in the film by Dave Franco) and Tom Bissell’s non-fiction book of the same name. Both the novel and film are a chronicle of Sestero’s rollercoaster friendship with infamous cult-film legend Tommy Wiseau (Franco), an enigmatic actor with Hollywood dreams and plenty of money to pursue them — although no one can figure out why he’s so rich. After being turned down for role after role, Tommy decides to write, direct, and star in his own film called The Room, a bizarre and disjointed melodrama that he also casts Greg in. As the film runs into continued troubles and delays (mostly because of Tommy’s inabilities as a filmmaker), tensions rise between Greg and Tommy, along with the rest of the cast and crew. Whether you’ve seen The Room or not, The Disaster Artist is a mesmerizing examination of one of the strangest film productions of all time.
Sleight (2016)
In this tense drama from director and co-writer J.D. Dillar, 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.
Nightbooks (2021) new
In this dark, but (relatively) family-friendly horror feature, a young boy with an affinity for writing scary stories finds himself stuck in the magical apartment owned by a powerful witch (Krysten Ritter) and must tell her a new story every night if he wants to survive. Come for the mild scares, stay for the beautiful fantasy elements in this unique film.
Hush (2016)
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.
Total Recall (1990)
Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Verhoeven directed this 1990 adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale and filled it with his trademark blend of over-the-top violence, sex, and dark social satire. One of the most expensive films ever made at the time of its release, Total Recall cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as a construction worker in humanity’s far-flung future who suddenly finds himself at the heart of an interplanetary conspiracy that may or may not even be real. Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Rachel Ticotin, and Michael Ironside play supporting roles in this brutal — and occasionally brutally funny — adventure that brings Schwarzenegger’s character from Earth to Mars in pursuit of the truth about himself and his past. Along with being a critical and commercial success when it was released, the film also won a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects at the Academy Awards.
Space Sweepers (2021)
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.
Stardust (2007)
Claire Danes and Charlie Cox star in this fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman’s 1999 novel of the same name. The film follows Tristan (Cox), a young man on a quest to retrieve a fallen star for his beloved, only to discover that the star has taken the shape of a peculiar, beautiful woman named Yvaine (Danes). Their adventure together has them cross paths with a colorful collection of allies and enemies, including a sinister witch played by Michelle Pfeiffer, a ruthless prince played by Mark Strong, and a pirate captain played by Robert De Niro who is more than he appears.
Yes, God, Yes (2020) new
Stranger Things alum Natalia Dyer stars in writer-director Karen Maine’s Yes, God, Yes, a coming-of-age take on religious repression and burgeoning sexuality. Alice (Dyer) and her friend Laura (Francesca Reale) decide to attend their Catholic school’s annual Kirkos retreat. On their pilgrimage, Alice inadvertently enters into a promiscuous AOL chat when she tries to look up a particular sex act. This puts into place a daisy chain of rumors among Alice’s peers, with Alice’s genuine innocence and curiosity put uncomfortably in the middle. Based on her 2017 short film of the same name, Maine’s Yes, God, Yes is a nuanced and mature story of one teenager trying to wade her way through the stigma of sex, featuring a powerful lead performance from Dyer.
The Social Dilemma (2020)
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.
Malcolm X (1992)
Denzel Washington portrays African American activist and community leader Malcolm X in this biographical film co-written and directed by Spike Lee, and offers up one of the actor’s most brilliant performances to date. Lee’s film covers a wide span of Malcolm X’s life, from his early years and troubled childhood, his experiences as a criminal and prisoner, and on through his conversion to Islam and his shifting perspectives on both the Nation of Islam and white nationalism in the years leading up to his 1965 assassination. The screenplay is inspired by Alex Haley’s groundbreaking 1965 book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which he collaborated on with Malcolm X before his murder. Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., and Delroy Lindo play supporting roles in the film, which offers a powerful peek at a pivotal time in American history and one of the period’s most influential figures.
Zodiac (2007)
David Fincher directed this thriller that chronicles the manhunt surrounding the infamous Zodiac Killer, who terrorized San Francisco during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film is based on the book of the same name by Robert Graysmith, whose own investigation of the murderer while working as a political cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle turned into an obsession and led him down some increasingly dark — and possibly deadly — paths. Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Graysmith, and is joined in the cast by Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr., as well as Chloë Sevigny, Brian Cox, and other acclaimed actors in supporting roles. Praised for its writing and innovative filmmaking techniques, Zodiac was named one of the best films of the 21st century in a BBC critics’ poll.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
The year is 1877. When a blizzard rips through the mountain passes of Wyoming, a band of weary stagecoach travelers decides to hole up at Minnie’s Haberdashery. The pilgrims include bounty hunters John Ruth and Major Marquis Warren (Kurt Russell and Samuel L. Jackson, respectively); Ruth’s bounty, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), on her way to the noose; a Confederate loudmouth (Walton Goggins); and their stagecoach driver (James Parks). No one trusts the others, an issue only exacerbated when Minnie’s turns out to be occupied by several other stormbound folks. When personalities begin to clash, the eight occupants start picking sides and losing their minds. Quentin Tarantino’s eighth film features a stellar cast, impressive visuals, and plenty of iconic Tarantino dialogue.
Labyrinth (1986)
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.
House Party (1990)
The spirit of the ’90s is alive and well in this musical, R-rated comedy starring Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher “Play” Martin — better known as iconic hip hop duo Kid ‘n Play — which was written and directed by Reginald Hudlin and featured a long list of Black actors and musicians both well-established and early in their careers. The film follows Kid (Reid) as he attempts to sneak out of the office and evade his father, school bullies, racist police officers, and all manner of other threats in order to attend the party of the year at his best friend Play’s house. Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, and a long list of other future stars play key roles in the film (along with cameos from George Clinton and other musicians), which was based on a student film Hudlin created while attending Harvard University. The film was so popular that it inspired multiple sequels, but none of the follow-ups quite matched the joy of the original, which turned Kid ‘n Play into bona fide big-screen actors in addition to their musical achievements.
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking 1975 thriller made generations of movie audiences afraid to go in the water with its tale of a man-eating great white shark that terrorizes tourists and residents around a New England resort town. The film casts Roy Scheider as the local police chief who recruits a marine biologist played by Richard Dreyfuss and a salty sea captain played by Robert Shaw to hunt down the killer shark. Not only does the film feature groundbreaking practical effects that still hold up more four decades later, John Williams’ brilliantly simple score for the film remains one of the most iconic — and simple — pieces of movie music to this day. There’s a reason Jaws was one of the first big summer blockbusters, and despite a series of lackluster sequels and spinoffs in the years that followed, it remains as captivating and terrifying today as it was years ago.
Stargate (1994)
Kurt Russell and James Spader star in this clever, entertaining sci-fi adventure as a pair of explorers tasked with venturing through a mysterious portal discovered in Egyptian ruins. Russell plays Colonel Jack O’Neil, while James Spader portrays the scientist whose theories regarding alien intervention in ancient Egypt just might prove true after all. Although the film failed to win over critics, it did earn a loyal fan following that supported not one but multiple spinoff series that spanned multiple seasons and expanded the Stargate universe exponentially.
I Care a Lot (2020)
Rosamund Pike portrays a diabolical con artist who poses as the legal guardian for elderly people in order to seize their assets in this dark, satirical thriller. Her highly profitable scam takes a dangerous turn when her latest victim turns out to be the mother of a powerful mob boss, leading to a deadly battle of wills between Pike’s character and a ruthless criminal kingpin played by Peter Dinklage. Eiza González and Dianne Wiest play supporting roles in the film, which earned praise from critics and led to Pike taking home a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)
A prequel to the live-action The Witcher series, Nightmare of the Wolf follows a brash monster hunter whose investigation leads to a pivotal moment in the timeline of the show’s dark fantasy world. The film is animated by the same studio responsible for hit shows The Legend of Korra, Voltron: Legendary Defender, and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, so it’s no surprise how beautiful it looks, but unlike those kid-friendly series, Nightmare of the Wolf is a brutal, bloody adventure aimed at the same audience as The Witcher. Theo James, Lara Pulver, and Graham McTavish are among the notable actors lending their voices to the film’s cast. Read our The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf review for more spoiler-free reasons to watch.
Untold: Crime and Penalties (2021)
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 Slapshot, 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.
Mank (2020)
In this photographic gem of a Hollywood retrospective, director David Fincher delivers a finely layered drama about the writing of a Golden Age masterpiece. The writer in question is Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman). The film he’s writing, commissioned by Orson Welles (Tom Burke), is Citizen Kane. Mank‘s narrative shifts back and forth from the 1930s to the 1940s, chronicling the turbulent life of its title character throughout his development of the screenplay. Mank was written by the late Jack Fincher, the director’s father, and features amazing performances from its rich ensemble cast. It’s a great watch for cinephiles and casual viewers alike and a dazzling and authentic take on La La Land’s heyday.
Ravenous (2017)
Ravenous (originally titled Les Affamés) begins after a mysterious plague has annihilated much of Quebec, turning its victims into shrieking, flesh-eating monsters. The story follows various survivors who eventually band together to fight back the horde, but despite the familiar plot, this isn’t a typical zombie movie; it is a deliberately paced, eerily beautiful horror movie. The protagonist is a man named Bonin (Marc-Andre Grondin), who wanders the countryside, finding other survivors and slaying zombies. As the group grows, the film gives each character proper development, so they feel fully fleshed out, unlike the stock survivors of many a zombie film. While the film has its gory moments, Ravenous frequently employs an atmosphere of dread built through uncanny imagery, such as when the zombies congregate before a shrine made of furniture.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood is a grim character study of one Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), a burgeoning oil tycoon in early 20th-century California. Daniel is the type of man who would sell his soul to make a buck, which makes the arrival of Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) all the more serendipitous. The boy claims there is oil on his family’s property, and he’ll tell Daniel where it is for cash. The pair transact, and Daniel journeys to the town of Little Boston with his son H.W. (Dillon Freasier) to try and purchase the Sunday Ranch for drilling. What’s waiting for Daniel is a dastardly foe and his family’s cursed land. Or is Plainview the curse himself? There Will Be Blood is a two-hour-plus descent into a hell of business meets faith, featuring an Oscar-winning lead performance from Daniel Day-Lewis.
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
In Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals, Amy Adams is Susan Morrow, a successful Los Angeles art gallery owner. One morning, Susan receives a manuscript for her ex-husband Edward’s (Jake Gyllenhall) latest novel, entitled Nocturnal Animals, along with an invitation to meet for dinner. As Susan begins paging through the manuscript, a macabre tale of backcountry crime unfolds onscreen. Seamlessly combining three narrative threads (present-day, Edward’s novel, and Susan and Edward’s past), Nocturnal Animals lives in a bizarre and uncompromising world where fiction informs the real, and vice versa. Led by amazing performances from its key cast, this is one you don’t want to pass on.
Enola Holmes (2020)
So, you thought Sherlock Holmes was played out? Well, you thought wrong because you didn’t know he had a little sister. 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 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.
A Ghost Story (2017)
In the wake of a fatal car crash, C (Casey Affleck) returns to the earth as a white-sheeted phantom. After a spiritual pilgrimage back to the suburban ranch he shared with M (Rooney Mara), C’s spirit begins to haunt the home. Time seeps away as minutes, months, and years pass. M grieves, new families come and go, but the house (and the ghost) remain. Director David Lowery shot the project in relative secrecy, using the same VFX crew that lent their talents to Lowery’s Disney-financed remake of Pete’s Dragon. A cinematic experience like no other, A Ghost Story explores love, life, and loss in ways seldom seen onscreen.
Bad Trip (2021)
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.
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Vivo (2021)
The first musical animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation, Vivo follows a musically gifted kinkajou — a long-tailed, raccoon-like mammal usually found in tropical regions — as he embarks on a journey from Havana, Cuba, to Miami, Florida, in order to bring a message of love to his guardian’s former partner. Hamilton and In the Heights mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda created the songs for the film and voices Vivo the kinkajou, with Ynairaly Simo voicing Gabi Hernández, the young girl who helps Vivo on his quest. A long list of popular Cuban musicians and performers — including Gloria Estefan — fill out the film’s cast and contribute to a musical score rooted in the region’s history and culture.
Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)
This retro slasher feature based on R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name follows a group of teenagers in fictional Shadyside, Ohio, who find themselves terrorized by a supernatural killer with a link to the town’s dark history. Dripping with ’90s nostalgia and plenty of blood, the movie is the first installment of a trilogy that explores Shadyside’s deadly reputation as the murder capital of the country, with each chapter unfolding in a different era. Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, and Fred Hechinger star in the terrifying tale.
Midnight Run (1988)
Robert De Niro plays a bounty hunter tasked with bringing in a shifty accountant portrayed by Charles Grodin in this classic comedy directed by Beverly Hills Cop filmmaker Martin Brest. Dubbed “the Casablanca of buddy comedies” by Rolling Stone, the film was a surprise hit based on the memorable chemistry between De Niro and Grodin, whose characters must deal with one setback after another on their cross-country journey, as well as corrupt cops, overzealous FBI agents, mafia hitmen, and a host of other threats. Nominated as one of the year’s best films at the 46th Golden Globe Awards, Midnight Run remains a truly underappreciated gem of ’80s cinema featuring two actors who bring the best out of each other’s performances.
Finding ‘Ohana (2021)
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 The Goonies meets visually breathtaking Hawaii.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
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.
Shadow (2018)
Legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou followed up his misbegotten The Great Wall with 2018’s Shadow, a beautiful return to form. The film begins when Commander Ziyu (Deng Chao) is defeated in a duel with enemy commander Yang Cang (Hu Jun), losing an important city in the process. This infuriates Ziyu’s king, who demotes Ziyu to commoner status and tries desperately to reclaim the city. Unbeknownst to the king, the actual Ziyu is on the verge of death after the duel, replaced by a body double who must now train to beat Yang Cang. Shadow is a historical epic of grand scope, heavy on intrigue and stylish combat sequences accented by a stark color palette.
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
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.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Uncut Gems is not for the faint-hearted. The Safdie Brothers’ drama about a gambling-addicted jeweler is a relentlessly intense, high-stress ride through the world of high-stakes gambling. Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a charismatic New York City jeweler who is always on the lookout for the next big score. When NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett takes an interest in Howard’s most recent high-value acquisition, believing it brings him luck, Sandler makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Unfortunately, not everyone in his life is willing to wait for that windfall. Howard has to perform a precarious balancing act between business, family, debt collectors, and more to get the payoff.
Roma (2018)
Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma opens quietly, the camera staring, motionless, at a tile floor as the credits play; eventually, water pours over the floor, as the sound of a mop spills in from just offscreen. It’s a boldly mundane opening, fitting for a film about an ordinary woman. Roma follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a maid working in the household of a wealthy doctor, Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) and his wife, Sofia (Marina de Tavira). Cleo cleans the house, tends to the children, and keeps the household running as Antonio and Sofia’s marriage strains. Cleo is the type of character typically relegated to the background of stories like this, but Cuaron makes her the focus, depicting her daily labor and struggles with a surprise pregnancy and unreliable lover. It’s a beautiful Netflix film, delicately composed and shot in stark black and white.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2017)
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.
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