Trying to find the best movie to watch on Netflix can be a daunting challenge. We’ve all been there. You’ve decided you’re going to watch something. You have the entirety of Netflix at your disposal, including even a pared-down list of films you’ve already bookmarked to watch at a future date. But then there’s the choosing. You’ve gotta find something that fits your mood, or something you and your friend/significant other/couch companion can agree on. You spend hours browsing, and by the time you stumble on something you think maybe is the one, it’s too late, you’re too tired, and indecision has won out.

Never fear, though, because we here at Collider have a guide to help you find the perfect Netflix movies available in the U.S. We’ve thumbed through the library and assembled a list of some of the best films currently available for streaming, from classics to hidden gems to new releases and beyond. This list of the best movies on Netflix is updated weekly with all-new choices, so be sure to return the next time you’re looking for something great to watch.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows on Netflix, best comedies on Netflix, and best dramas on Netflix.
Editor’s note: This post was last updated on February 17th to include Your Place or Mine.
RELATED: The 7 Best New Movies on Netflix in December 2022

COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Image via Netflix

Director: Jane Campion | Genre: Western Drama | Run Time: 2 hr 6 min
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee
The Power of the Dog is a slow, sly movie that reveals itself to you in subtle, measured glimpses at tenderness that are otherwise caked in grit, cruelty and crudity. Set in 1920s Montana, Jane Campion’s awards contender stars Benedict Cumberbatch, giving one of his best performances yet as Phil Burbank; a gruff and bitter cowboy who takes an immediate disliking to his brother’s (Jesse Plemmons) new wife, Rose (Kirsten Dunst). In turn, her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) takes a disliking to him, determined to protect his mother, setting the stage for fascinating, subtle power plays and dynamic shifts as the contentious new family attempts to settle in together. As with all Campion films, you can expect exquisite shots and stunning glimpses into small moments of human vulnerability, but The Power of the Dog is also a challenging, often caustic film about tracing the ripples of toxicity. It certainly isn’t your average Neo-western, so don’t go in expecting standoffs our shootouts, but even without those flashy calling cards, The Power of the Dog makes a striking impact that seems to land all in one final blow. – Haleigh Foutch

Watch on Netflix

Your Place or Mine (2023)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Aline Brosh McKenna
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Chao, Jesse Williams
Written and directed by Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Your Place or Mine is a traditional rom-com in every sense of the word. Your Place or Mine has two undeniably stunning leads in Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show) and Ashton Kutcher(Two and a Half Men), takes place in major cities on both coasts, and falls into a slew of expected narrative traps. Although there are quite a few outdated ideals in Your Place or Mine, it does enjoy a fantastic supporting cast and a cute romance at its core, leaving most of the flaws worth ignoring. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

Pamela: A Love Story (2023)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 1 hr 52 min | Genre: Documentary | Director: Ryan White
Cast: Pamela Anderson, Gregory Butler, Rob Bowman
Following Hulu’s critically acclaimed limited series Pam & Tommy, actress Pamela Anderson is taking control of her narrative and allowing director Ryan White to help her tell her story in the documentary Pamela: A Love Story. Shared through her own words, Pamela: A Love Story prudently explores Anderson’s journey from a teenager with dreams to a universal sex symbol embroiled in an infamous scandal. Featuring archives of never-before-seen footage, personal home videos, diaries, and journals, Pamela: A Love Story is a raw look at the trauma, ambitions, and humanity behind the pop culture icon. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

Jung_E (2023)

Image via Netflix 

Run Time: 1 hr 39 min | Genre: Sci-Fi Action | Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Cast: Kang Soo-youn, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who also wrote the screenplay, Jung_E is a beautifully designed science-fiction/action drama set in the terrifying near future. After Earth becomes inhospitable, humans relocate to shelters in space, leading to a civil war between the Allied Force and the Adrian Republic. After 35 years, a leading tech company, Kronoid, clones the brain of an Allied Forces’ legendary mercenary, releasing an AI version of the Captain to save humanity. Starring Kang Soo-yeon in her final film performance before her death, Jung_E also features Kim Hyun-joo and Ryu Kyung-soo, rounding out the incredible cast of this fascinating film. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

You People (2023)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Genre: Comedy Romance | Director: Kenya Barris
Cast: Jonah Hill, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Kenya Barris (Black-ish) directs Jonah Hill in You People, an uproarious comedy about race, family, and culture clashes based on a screenplay they co-wrote together. Co-starring with Hill are comedic icons Eddie Murphy(Coming 2 America) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), who absolutely dazzle in You People in a story that presents varying perspectives to universal themes, emphasizing progress and generational differences. Supported by a stacked cast, including Nia Long, Lauren London, and David Duchovny,You People’s narrative relies heavily on the on-screen talent more than the written dialogue to provide the laughs in this romantic comedy about families. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

Dog Gone (2023)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Genre: Biography Drama | Director: Stephen Herek
Cast: Rob Lowe, Johnny Berchtold, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Rob Lowe stars in Dog Gone, a touching family film about a beloved pet dog whose unexpected disappearance inspires a young man to embark on a life-changing journey with his parents to find their furry friend who is in need of life-saving medication. Based on a true story chronicled in Pauls Toutonghi’s book, Dog Gone is, at its core, about a fractured relationship between a father (Lowe) and his son (Johnny Berchtold). Director Stephen Herek (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure) carefully captures the slow and steady pace at which the family bond is repaired, paralleled by their hike into the Appalachian Trail. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 2 hrs 8 min | Genre: Thriller Horror Mystery | Director: Scott Cooper
Cast: Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Lucy Boynton, Gillian Anderson
Directed by Scott Cooper(Crazy Heart), who adapted The Pale Blue Eye from Louis Bayard’s novel, this gruesome thriller reunites the director with star Christian Bale (Thor: Love and Thunder). In The Pale Blue Eye, Bale plays a retired detective reluctantly investigating the odd murder of a cadet attending West Point Academy in 1830. Blending elements often associated with horror into a criminal investigation and murder mystery, The Pale Blue Eye is a unique feature about an even stranger crime. Cooper’s clever use of color and shadows presents an impressive allure as his characters put together the pieces of the puzzle. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

White Noise (2022)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 2 hrs 16 min | Genre: Absurdist Comedy Drama | Director: Noah Baumbach
Cast: Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle
Written for the screen and directed by Noah Baumbach,White Noise is based on the book by Don DeLillo. An interesting balancing act by Baumbach, White Noise has been described as both a dark comedy and a horrific mystery, which could easily be a reflection on the philosophical questions broached by the absurdist film, such as the existence of joy in a precarious society. Starring skillfully adaptable actors including Adam Driver (House of Gucci) and Greta Gerwig (Barbie) as a fascinatingly mundane American couple attempting to grapple with existential dread blossoming from universal realities, White Noise provides these versatile performers a solid foundation from which to thrive. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 2 hrs 19 min | Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monáe
Rian Johnson’s follow-up to his hit mystery movie Knives Out, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery allows Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) to reprise his role as investigator Benoit Blanc. With an intriguing new puzzle, the famed southern detective heads to Greece, where he finds a new group of suspects. The deliberate casting of incomparable talent deserves an award of its own. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery features stars like Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision), to name a few. Star power aside, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery continues to captivate with twists, enigmas, and even some clever laughs. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

Prisoners (2013)

Image Via Warner Bros.

Run Time: 2 hr 33 min | Director: Dennis Villeneuve
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard
For his first English language picture, Dennis Villeneuve delivered an instant classic in the vein of Seven or Zodiac.Prisoners may be Dennis Villeneuve’s most underrated film. It’s heavy, like a waterlogged coat, and driven forward by the dramatic reactions of the characters lost in the haze of mystery in this missing child thriller. Superb performances, melancholic music, and a rainy atmosphere reinforce the weighted tone of the film. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the fastidious detective Loki, trying to connect the dots between old cold cases, missing children, and a dead body. Hugh Jackman and Terrence Howard metamorphose into two men on the edge of desperation as they abduct the man (Paul Dano) they believe to be responsible for their missing daughters. It’s a dark story about faith, resolve, and morality that sees a community pushed to its emotional limit. There’s little respite from the darkness in the world of prisoners, as each scene compounds the mystery and pain in the wake of two missing children.

Watch on Netflix

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

Image via Netflix

Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Genre: Fantasy Musical | Director: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Cast: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchiois one of the most beautiful adaptations of the classic fairytale. Highlighted by the monster maestro’s love of creatures, Guillermo del Toro(The Shape of Water) crafts an enchanting version of the story, working in tandem with co-director Mark Gustafson (The PJs) to bring this stop-motion masterpiece to life. Like most del Toro projects, Pinocchio may not be suitable for younger audiences as the director enjoys his darker themes and images, even in his most whimsical projects. Expressed through claymation, this rendition of Pinocchio follows the grieving Italian woodcarver Geppetto, voiced by Game of Thrones alum David Bradley, as his wish magically brings to life his wooden marionette. – Yael Tygiel

Watch on Netflix

Do Revenge (2022)

Image via Netflix

Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson | Genre: Teen Comedy | Run Time: 1 hr 58 min
Cast: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke
This is what teen comedy dreams are made of. Starring Riverdale’s Camila Mendes and Stranger Things scenestealer Maya Hawke, Do Revenge revolves around an unlikely friendship between fallen popular girl Drea (Mendes) and new student Eleanor (Hawke). After being wronged by friends and exes, the two of them hatch the perfect plan: to help each other get revenge. With plot twists you won’t see coming, sharp comedy, and a killer soundtrack (not to mention epic cameos by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sophie Turner), this is a truly generation-defining film among the ranks of Heathers and Mean Girls. – Taylor Gates

Watch on Netflix

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Image via Annapurna Pictures

Director: Barry Jenkins | Genre: Romance Drama | Run Time: 1 hr 59 min
Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Teyonah Parris
If there was ever a film that deserves more love and admiration, it is Barry Jenkins’ magnificent If Beale Street Could Talk. Adapted from the novel of the same name by one of history’s greatest writers, the great James Baldwin, and could not be a more graceful honoring of his legacy. In addition to being a gorgeous cinematic experience, every single frame is overflowing with compassion for characters trying to find a way to live a life together. Set in 1970s Harlem, it centers on Tish (KiKi Layne) who is about to have a child with her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt (Stephan James). As they dream of a future together, the couple’s hopes are dashed when Alonzo is arrested for a crime he did not commit. A moving look at the tragedy found in the everyday, both Layne and James are outstanding in every single moment. When your film also has a supporting cast of Regina King, who won an Oscar for her role as Tish’s mother, and Coleman Domingo as Tish’s father, it becomes a masterclass in acting from start to finish. – Chase Hutchinson

Watch on Netflix

When Harry Met Sally…

Image Via Columbia Pictures

Director: Rob Reiner I Genre: Romance Comedy I Run Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
Autumn is upon us, and you know what that means? Following two people who could not be more different from each other go from hate, to like, to hate again, and finally, to love. When Harry Met Sally.. stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in one of the most famous romcoms of all time. Harry and Sally bump into each other unexpectedly throughout their 20s and into their 30s, hating each time until heartbreak brings them together as best friends. They bond over their failed romances, even get their respective best friends together, and spend most of the movie oblivious to or purposefully ignoring the fact that they are perfect for each other. Oh – and there’s an orgasm in Kats Deli, we couldn’t forget that! Nora Ephron gave us a love story for the ages that still feels fresh and nuanced watching it thirty years later. Add in a sublime supporting cast of Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby – and you have yourself a timeless classic. Set against the red and yellow leaves of New York City, When Harry Met Sally.. Is essential Autumnal viewing. – Emma Kiely

Watch on Netflix

The Nice Guys (2016)

Image via Warner Bros.

Director: Shane Black | Genre: Action Comedy | Run Time: 1 hr 56 min
Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer
Between Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, writer/director Shane Black has proven himself to the be the king of crackling neo-noir. In The Nice Guys, you have private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and fixer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) teaming up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman (Margaret Qualley), but it’s all about how Black plays with genre conventions and film tropes to constantly upend expectations. Gosling has never been funnier, and in an alternate, better universe, The Nice Guys would have been a massive hit and we’d have an amazing comic franchise. As it stands, we only have this movie, so at least we can treasure this outing of March and Healy. – Matt Goldberg

Watch on Netflix

Tick, Tick… Boom! (2012)

Image via Netflix

Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda | Genre: Drama Musical Biography | Run Time: 1 hr 55 min
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús
Hamilton and In the Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda directs the long-awaited film adaptation of RENT creator Johnathan Larson’s Tick, Tick… Boom! The result is an excellent movie musical that’s every bit a love letter to theater itself as much as it is to Larson and his tragic tale of short-lived genius. Which is perhaps what makes Miranda such an exceptional fit for the material in his filmmaking debut, and not just because his every-damned-award-winning musical Hamilton is all about capturing the beauty and tragedy of short-lived genius: the Broadway polymath has also been vocal about how Tick, Tick… Boom! influenced and inspired him as a creator, and he even starred in a production of the show several years ago. Equally at home is Andrew Garfield as Larson himself, showcasing a hell of a singing voice and yet another outstanding performance that will lift you up, rake you through the anxiety of excellence, before absolutely breaking your heart. It’s a beautiful film based on a beautiful piece of writing, and whether you’re a fan of Garfield’s, Miranda’s, Larson’s, or just the theater dahling, it’s a moving testament to those who openly embrace ambition, earnestly love performance, and believe that both give them the power to change lives. – Haleigh Foutch

Watch on Netflix

The Addams Family (1991)

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld | Genre: Comedy | Run Time: 1 hr 40 min
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Workman, and Judith Malina
While so many adaptations of The Addams Family tend to keep the characters animated—understandably so, given the family’s macabre interests—the best iteration of this morbid family brought Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, and Puglsey into the live-action. Barry Sonnenfeld’s take focuses on the love and bonds of this twisted family, particularly between brothers Gomez (a delightfully dynamic Raul Julia) and Uncle Fester (an almost unrecognizable Christopher Lloyd). Even though they’re creepy and they’re kooky, The Addams Family is always about family first. Even if they try to maim and kill each other, it’s all out of love for one another. — Ross Bonaime

Watch on Netflix

The Imitation Game (2014)

Image via The Weinstein Company

Director: Morten Tyldum | Genre: War Drama | Run Time: 1 hr 54 min
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear
One of the most highly acclaimed films of 2014, The Imitation Game has largely faded into obscurity in the years since its release. This is a shame because it really is a pretty great movie. The Imitation Game draws a portrait of the life and times of Alan Turing, one of the most brilliant scientists of his time. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing, it shows how the mathematician and computer scientist was recruited by the British government to crack the German Enigma code during World War II. It also, perhaps more importantly, shows how despite his contributions, Turing was ostracised and subjected to a horrible fate after it came out that he was gay. Is it a truly accurate historical piece? Not really, but this Academy Award-winning film is certainly a great watch and deserves praise for bringing Turing’s once-forgotten story to a global audience. – Remus Noronha

Watch on Netflix

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

Image via Netflix

Director: Charlie Kaufman | Genre: Thriller Horror | Run Time: 2 hr 14 min
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis
Charlie Kaufman is no stranger to films that make you feel like your brain is leaking out of your head, like with his directorial debut Synecdoche, New York, or with screenplays like Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. With I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Kaufman adapts Iain Reid’s novel of the same name, in which Jake (Jesse Plemons) brings his girlfriend (Jessie Buckley) to meet his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis). But of course no Kaufman story could be that simple, as I’m Thinking of Ending Things becomes a twisty, strange, and remarkable experience unlike any other film. By the end, I’m Thinking of Ending Things becomes one of the most insane and towering achievements of Kaufman’s career, which is really saying something. — Ross Bonaime

Watch on Netflix

Phantom Thread (2017)

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson | Genre: Romance Drama | Run Time: 2 hr 11 min
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Vicky Krieps
Some ofPaul Thomas Anderson’s finest films have focused on captivating pairings, such as The Master, Punch-Drunk Love, or his first collaboration with Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood. The second Anderson/Day-Lewis film, Phantom Thread, told the story of a unique, rich, and often extremely hilarious romance between Day-Lewis’ fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock, and his muse-turned-wife Alma (Vicky Krieps). Phantom Thread has a stillness and beauty unlike any other Anderson film so far, a stunning Anderson masterpiece, with an expectedly great performance by Day-Lewis, but also tremendous supporting roles by Krieps and Lesley Manville. – Ross Bonaime

Watch on Netflix