Looking for something worth watching? 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. Luckily, we’ve gone and done some extensive research for you and found the best Netflix movies to stream right now.
If you’re looking for films to watch on other platforms, we’ve also found the best Amazon Prime movies and Hulu movies for January 2021.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
If you’re looking for an older movie that hits all the right notes, look no further than this classic. At the ripe young age of 21, Frank (Leonardo Dicaprio) is a skilled forger and con artist who has scammed his way across the country. With an FBI agent (Tom Hanks) hot on his trail, he revels in the pursuit as he evades capture time and time again.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Main Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken
Runtime: 141 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.1
What Happened to Monday (2017)
Jumping forward to the future: What Happened to Monday is set in a society with a strict one-child policy, which is enforced by an armed and dangerous federation army. A group of identical septuplets (Noomi Rapace) attempt to live a single life as one, all assigned to and named after a day of the week. When Monday suddenly goes missing, it’s up to the rest of the family to find her and stay alive.
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Main Cast: Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close, Willem Dafoe
Runtime: 123 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Easy A (2010)
What’s better than a high school drama? A high school dramedy, of course. Easy A follows a clean-cut student who accidentally starts a rumor about herself regarding sexual exploits that never actually happened. Naturally, as the rumor progresses, things get more and more complicated and hilarity and drama ensue. You can find more like this from our list of the best comedies on Netflix right now.
Directors: Will Gluck
Main Cast: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley
Runtime: 92 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Uncut Gems (2019)
Another 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 audience’s attention, we follow a crafty, talkative jeweler through the streets of New York as he attempts to win big, or else lose it all.
Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie
Main Cast: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel
Runtime: 135 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.4
The Last Dance (2020)
Following the rise of the Chicago Bulls in the 90s with unaired footage, The Last Dance has quickly become one of the best sports documentaries you’ll find and one of the overall best documentaries on Netflix right now. With commentary from Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scotty Pippen, and many others, it’s worth watching. You can also check out our list of the best documentaries on Netflix for more options.
Director: Jason Hehir
Main Cast: Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, David Aldridge
Total Episodes: 10
IMDb Rating: 9.2
The Irishman (2019)
This story follows Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a former labor union official and hitman as he recalls his past. With an emphasis on the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), this biographical crime drama is worth a watch.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Main Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
Runtime: 210 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Hostiles (2017)
This western war tragedy is set in 1892 after nearly two decades of fighting between the U.S. and Native American tribes. The story follows a legendary Army Captain as he reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous lands. If you’re looking for more like this, you can check out our list of the best war movies of all time for options.
Director: Scott Cooper
Main Cast: Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi
Runtime: 135 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Marriage Story (2019)
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 isn’t all doom and gloom, it’s an emotional story that shows that divorce doesn’t have to mean the family can’t stay together.
Director: Noah Baumbach
Main Cast: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson
Runtime: 137 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Wacky and exaggerated, Kung Fu Hustle is full of action and comedy that never takes physics into consideration. A small, rundown complex of working-class people is interrupted by two bozos posing as members of the terrifying ax gang, but things get kicked into gear when the real ax gang shows up. With twists and turns, good versus bad, and borderline superpowers, this one is sure to entertain the wire-fighting-action-sequence-lover in you. While it isn’t exactly a masterpiece of a martial arts film, the mix of action and comedy still makes for a great weekend film to watch.
Director: Stephen Chow
Main Cast: Stephen Chow, Wah Yuen, Qiu Yuen
Runtime: 99 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Hardcore Henry (2015)
Hardcore Henry is one of the most intense and unique action movies on Netflix you’ll ever experience. The plot is fairly straightforward, Henry is resurrected with no memory and he must save his wife from a telekinetic warlord. The movie is shot entirely in the first person, however. Meaning you get to see from the viewpoint of Henry throughout the film.
Director: Ilya Naishuller
Main Cast: Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth, Haley Bennett
Runtime: 96 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.7
17 Again (2009)
Unlike your standard coming of age story, this film follows the story of a middle-aged man that gets a second chance at his coming of age story. Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry) is in the process of feeling ungrateful for his life when he suddenly wakes up to find he’s the 17-year old version of himself (Zac Efron). Naturally, he goes back to high school.
Directors: Burr Steers
Main cast: Zac Effron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann
Runtime: 102 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.3
Enter the Dragon (1973)
Widely considered one of the best movies of 1973 and one of the best martial arts movies of all time, Enter The Dragon is probably Bruce Lee’s magnum opus. It’s also the last complete film he appeared in before his death that same year. Academics have since interpreted the film to be an allegory of post-colonial Asia, but if that’s above your head just sit back and enjoy the gorgeously choreographed fight scenes and sleazy 70’s charm.
Director: Robert Clouse
Main Cast: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly
Runtime: 102 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Mr. Right (2015)
I happened upon this underrated little gem after my penchant for action and comedy movies collided with my love for rom-coms. Mr. Right is fun throughout the entire film, and Sam Rockwell is an absolute treasure. The story follows a woman (Anna Kendrick) who is just coming out of a bad break-up. She meets a man who appears to be perfect for her in every way, but as it turns out, he’s a former hitman. This action movie is one of the best on Netflix if you don’t mind some ridiculousness.
Director: Paco Cabezas
Main cast: Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth
Runtime: 95 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.3
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
If you’re 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. After reconnecting after 15 years apart, they begin to think maybe they are meant to be.
Director: Nahnatchka Khan
Main Cast: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito
Runtime: 101 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.8
The Social Dilemma (2020)
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. You can find more content like this from our list of the best documentaries on Netflix.
Director: Jeff Orlowski
Main cast: Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson
Runtime: 94 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
If you’re a fan of good animation and voice acting, then this is a solid choice any day of the week. The story follows Batman as he hunts for the escaped Joker, and like a lot of the DC universe, it’s darker than you’d expect. If you’re more interested in TV shows, we’ve also found the best animated series on Netflix right now.
Director: Sam Liu
Main Cast: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Tara Strong
Runtime: 116 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.4
Dolemite is My Name (2019)
This comedy follows the true-life story of Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy), a washed-up musician who transforms himself into a cult star. Dolemite is My Name is unlike any Eddie Murphy you may have seen but his top-notch performance will still have you laughing in this dramedy.
Director: Craig Brewer
Main Cast: Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key
Runtime: 90 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.3
Total Recall (1990)
If you’re looking to watch more of the classics, this early ’90s film is a great place to start. The story follows Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who has been having a recurring dream in which he journeys to Mars. To find out more about this dream, he purchases a holiday at a corporation that deals with memory implants. Naturally, Quaid remembers that he is actually a secret agent and must take down the evil Mars administration. You can also take a look at our list of the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movies for more like this.
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside
Runtime: 113 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Stardust (2007)
If you find yourself in need of some fantasy action and romance, Stardust delivers all that and more. The plot follows Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox), a young man living in a small countryside bordering a magical land. After professing his love for the village beauty, he sets out on a quest into the magical kingdom to retrieve a fallen star for her. But when he finds out the fallen star isn’t just some lump of rock, things get complicated.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Main Cast: Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Mark Strong, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer
Runtime: 132 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Django Unchained (2012)
A German bounty hunter seeks and purchases a slave named Django (Jamie Foxx) to help him track down some men he is after. But after taking them down, Django wishes to seek out his wife and give her the freedom he has found. The bounty hunter offers to help him, and they manage to pinpoint and infiltrate a corrupt plantation owner’s estate where she is currently enslaved. We’ve found even more of the best Quentin Tarantino movies if you’re looking for more like this.
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Main Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
Runtime: 116 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Snowpiercer (2013)
Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho is well-known for his most recent film, Parasite, but his body of work expands much further. Snowpiercer boasts one of the most unique premises: The entire film taking place on a train that holds the last of the world’s survivors after a failed climate-change experiment. If you’re thinking it looks like Captain America on a snow train, you aren’t terribly far off.
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Main cast: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton
Runtime: 126 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
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.
Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Main cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle
Runtime: 92 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
This action-comedy is unlike any other. Faced with the prospect of new love, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) must face his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes in battle in an effort to win her heart. If you like witty comedies with a dash of action, then dive into the world of Scott Pilgrim.
Director: Edgar Wright
Main Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin
Runtime:112 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.5
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Characteristic of Kubrick’s films, this is one that you may only want to watch once. Shocking and visceral, A Clockwork Orange details the happenings of a gang in the future led by a sociopathic madman. When the leader Alex (Malcolm McDowell) gets imprisoned for one of his many terrible acts, he goes through with experimental therapy to accelerate his release, What he doesn’t realize is how this method will affect him after the fact.
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Main Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates
Runtime: 136 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Stranger Than Fiction is one of Will Ferrell’s more serious roles, but it still works as a comedy. The story follows IRS auditor Harold Crick as he goes about his life, only to be suddenly afflicted by narration only he can hear. Life only gets worse for him as the narration begins to affect his work, love life, and potential death.
Director: Marc Foster
Main Cast: Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman
Runtime: 113 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.5
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