Looking for something worth watching right now? With thousands of TV shows and good movies on Netflix to choose from, finding the perfect film on the best streaming service can be a real pain. Good thing weve done some extensive research for you and found the best Netflix movies to stream right now.
If youre looking for films to watch on other platforms, weve also found the best Amazon Prime movies, the best Hulu movies, and the best Disney+ movies for January 2022.
Apocalypse Now [1979]
98%
94 %
8.4/10
r 147m
Genre Drama, War
Stars Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
From unforgettable and historic director/writer Francis Ford Coppola comes an abstract and artistic war movie about the Vietnam War, told through descriptive scenes of allegorical allure and irresistible imagery. When an American officer [Martin Sheen] in Vietnam is given an unlikely mission, he must locate and assassinate a rogue Special Forces Colonel who has convinced himself and some locals that he is a god. Starring then-rising star Martin Sheen and the legendary Marlon Brando, the creative and award-winning cinematography is the vessel that this film travels by, cementing it in history as one of the most legendary pieces of film to date. The version on Netflix now is known as the Redux, which includes almost an hour of extra, never-before-seen footage to enjoy.
Blade Runner [1982]
89%
84 %
8.1/10
r 118m
Genre Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller
Stars Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young
Directed by Ridley Scott
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
A sci-fi, cyberpunk dreamscape of epic proportions, Blade Runner is a classic that should be viewed by anyone claiming to be a fan of the genre. Harrison Ford plays a blade runner someone who hunts down rogue synthetic humans known as replicants whos after a small group of replicants who have commandeered a ship in space and returned to Earth with a mysterious mission. Even if youve seen this movie before, the final cut is featured on Netflix right now and includes new scenes to nerd out to.
Moneyball [2011]
94%
87 %
7.6/10
pg-13 134m
Genre Drama
Stars Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Directed by Bennett Miller
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
In an emotional and witty David and Goliath tale, Moneyball tells the true story of General Manager Billy Beane and his crazy plan that changed baseball forever. The Oakland As are in dire financial straits and just lost their best players because of it, Beane [Brad Pitt] enlists the help of Yale Economics graduate Peter Brand [Jonah Hill] and uses analytics to recruit new players. Beyond being a momentous and sincere telling of a true event in baseball history, writers Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian make the dialogue crisp and genuine. Differing from just about any role hes ever played, Brad Pitts performance is the icing on the cake.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day [1991] new
93%
75 %
8.5/10
r 137m
Genre Action, Sci-Fi
Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
Directed by James Cameron
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
In arguably the best James Cameron movie, the machines of Skynet are at it again. One of the many great sequels in film history, Terminator 2: Judgement Day is an encore that takes this sci-fi story above and beyond. Spoiler alert: After the first terminator failed to destroy the Connor family line in The Terminator, another is reprogrammed and sent back in the sequel to protect a young John Connor [Edward Furlong] from a new and terrifying threat: a liquid metal T-1000 [Robert Patrick], which is a more efficient killing machine in every way possible.
The Manual streaming roundup
- Best shows on Netflix
- Best movies on Amazon Prime
- Best movies on Hulu
- Best movies on Disney+
Léon: The Professional [1994]
74%
64 %
8.5/10
r 110m
Genre Action, Crime, Drama
Stars Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman
Directed by Luc Besson
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
A darkly charming and morally divisive movie that you may have missed, Léon: The Professional is a somewhat slow-moving drama that keeps you interested with its incredible performances all the way through. After Mathildas [Natalie Portman] family is murdered, her neighbor, the assassin Léon [Jean Reno], reluctantly takes the young girl in and trains her against the brutal outside world. Highlighted by some incredible performances by Jean Reno and Natalie Portman, we see her at a young age showing why she has been an acting force for decades not to mention Gary Oldman in an outstanding supporting performance that fits right in among his consistently impressive roles.
Dances with Wolves [1990]
83%
72 %
8/10
pg-13 181m
Genre Adventure, Drama, Western
Stars Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
Directed by Kevin Costner
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
What could be interpreted as a love letter to the American frontier and a bygone era, Dances with Wolves is a western-style Civil War drama that offers one of Kevin Costners best performances and certainly is his best-directed feature. When a Civil War lieutenant, John Dunbar, sees the tragedies of war and the destruction that his people cause, he chooses to live out his life with a tribe of Native Americans.
Good Time [2017]
92%
80 %
7.4/10
r 102m
Genre Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Directed by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
A wildly original, exciting, and personal film from the Safdie Brothers, Good Time is a slow but sure rise in tension and anxiety that keeps the viewer enthralled. This is a story of Connie Nikas [Robert Pattinson], a selfish con man who dedicates one perilous New York night to the rescue of his brother, who has been arrested after their foolish attempt at armed robbery. In what is arguably Robert Pattinsons best performance, he complements the crisp writing, distinctive direction, and indelible cinematography that makes this film a visceral experience.
There Will Be Blood [2007]
91%
93 %
8.2/10
r 158m
Genre Drama
Stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
Another fantastically dark film from director Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood is a wonderful addition to the list of all-time best performances from legendary leading man Daniel Day-Lewis. A cutthroat oil prospector and entrepreneur named Daniel Plainview [Day-Lewis] successfully cons locals out of their land using his recently adopted son as a prop, but encounters issues when a young and emphatic preacher [Paul Dano] begins to take notice and dole out his religiously driven justice. This movie is shocking and profound and does well to steadily build tension until the epic and indelible climax.
Minority Report [2002]
90%
80 %
7.6/10
144m
Genre Action, Crime, Mystery
Stars Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton
Directed by Steven Spielberg
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
For fans of sci-fi, Steven Spielberg teams up with superstar Tom Cruise for a futuristic action drama that blows audiences away. Set in futuristic 2054 Washington, D.C., the police force employs psychic technology to see and stop crime before it even happens. Any fan of sci-fi should check this movie out if you also enjoy seeing Tom Cruise kick some ass and do all his own stunts, mixed with the smooth sci-fi visual effects that make it into a spectacle for its time.
Ip Man [2008]
86%
59 %
8/10
r 106m
Genre Drama, Action, History
Stars Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Lynn Hung
Directed by Wilson Yip
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
When Japanese forces invade China during World War II, a wealthy and respected Wing Chun kung fu grandmaster Ip Man [Donnie Yen] is forced to leave his home and survive on the Japanese-occupied streets of Foshan. This biographical tale of Ip Man, who was Bruce Lees mentor, focuses on the events that may have taken place during that time. Due to its historical ode and its epic fighting scenes, Ip Man has topped our list of the best kung fu movies ever.
Mank [2020]
83%
79 %
6.9/10
r 132m
Genre Drama, History
Stars Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins
Directed by David Fincher
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
With moreAcademy Award nominations in 2021 than any other film, Mank held 10 nominations and is a film feat of historic proportions. Herman J. Mank Mankiewicz [Gary Oldman] is given a deadline to finish the screenplay for Orson Welles Citizen Kane, and must also deal with old Hollywood politics, corruption, and debilitating alcoholism. Filmed in a style reminiscent of the classic Welles films for which it won best cinematography and production design this film goes above and beyond, and is one of David Finchers best films to date.
Extraction [2020]
67%
56 %
6.7/10
r 116m
Genre Drama, Action, Thriller
Stars Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda
Directed by Sam Hargrave
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
With lots of violence and big explosions, Extraction is a whole lot of fun and one of the best-choreographed films of last couple of years. When mercenary Tyler Rake [Chris Hemsworth] is hired to save an imprisoned warlords son, the stakes rise exponentially as more and more local gunrunners and traffickers learn of the situation. Fulfilling the vision of veteran stunt coordinator/first-time director Sam Hargrave is quite an accomplishment, which makes it a contender for one of the best Chris Hemsworth movies if you dont include the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines [2021]
98%
80 %
7.8/10
pg 114m
Genre Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction, Action
Stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
Directed by Michael Rianda
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
If youre looking for a new family comedy on Netflix, The Mitchells vs. The Machines checks all the right boxes. The plot follows a quirky and dysfunctional family with some generational communication struggles. When the Mitchells take a road trip to help the father [Danny McBride] reconnect with his daughter [Abbi Jacobson], they find themselves stuck in a car together as the only humans who can stop a sudden robot apocalypse.
The Hateful Eight [2015]
74%
68 %
7.8/10
r 188m
Genre Crime, Drama, Mystery, Western
Stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
Available in the original 168-minute slow burn, or the extended version cut into episodes, The Hateful Eight is definitely one of Quentin Tarantinos best films. An unlikely group of Old West strangers ends up stranded in a cabin during a harsh snowstorm, but nothing is as it seems in this situation. Full of expected violence and witty banter, this film leans heavily toward the latter, leaving some audiences impatient with its suspense.
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond - Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton [2017]
92%
77 %
7.7/10
tv-ma
Genre Documentary, Comedy
Cast Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Miloš Forman
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
This incredibly powerful and reality-bending Netflix documentarychronicles the filming and acting processes behind the filmMan on the Moon, where Jim Carrey delves deeply into his own psyche years after his spiritual and mental separation from the character of Jim Carrey and into the characters Andy Kaufman and Tony Clifton. Throughout this film, we see detailed behind-the-scenes footage on set, where Carrey, playing Kaufman, loses his perception of self and even experiences visceral tear-jerking moments with the real people who were close to Kaufman. This film is one of the best Jim Carrey movies to learn about him as an actor, a character, and a vessel, all of which become ambiguously melded together in a somewhat melancholic showing of sheer talent and wavering identity.
Uncut Gems [2019]
92%
91 %
7.4/10
r 136m
Genre Drama, Crime, Thriller
Stars Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Lakeith Stanfield
Directed by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
A Safdie brothers treasure, Uncut Gems is an emotional and gritty thriller starring the unlikely Adam Sandler, who shines in a new genre of torrential anxiety. With a legendary score designed to keep the audiences rapt attention, we follow a crafty, talkative jeweler through the streets of New York as he attempts to win big, or else lose it all.
Marriage Story [2019]
94%
94 %
7.9/10
r 137m
Genre Drama
Stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern
Directed by Noah Baumbach
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
This Netflix original movie is a beautiful look into just how complicated marriage and family can be, dissecting a husband and wife in the middle of a divorce. But Marriage Story isnt all doom and gloom its an emotional story that shows that divorce doesnt have to mean a family cant stay together.
Always Be My Maybe [2019]
90%
64 %
6.8/10
pg-13 101m
Genre Romance, Comedy
Stars Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves
Directed by Nahnatchka Khan
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
If youre looking for a good romantic comedy on Netflix, Always Be My Maybe is a great place to start. The story follows Sasha [Ali Wong] and Marcus [Randall Park], two people who everyone assumed would end up together. Reconnecting after 15 years apart, they begin to think maybe they are meant to be.
The Social Dilemma [2020]
85%
78 %
7.6/10
pg-13 94m
Genre Documentary, Drama
Stars Skyler Gisondo, Kara Hayward, Vincent Kartheiser
Directed by Jeff Orlowski
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
What are the effects of social networks on the human psyche? This Netflix documentary is a terrifying look inside how and why tech giants like Facebook, Twitter, and Google operate in the way they do. You get to hear from tech experts in different fields discussing the negative impact and polarizing nature of these attention-grabbing algorithms they created.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail [1975]
97%
91 %
8.2/10
pg 91m
Genre Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle
Directed by Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
watch on Netflix
watch on Netflix
This classic 1970s British comedy from Monty Python, considered to be one of the best comedies of all time, follows King Arthur [Graham Chapman] and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on a low-budget and absolutely absurd search for the Holy Grail. Comedy ensues as this medieval group of soldiers encounters a plethora of silly obstacles in their quest for greatness.
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