Netflix was first founded in 1997 and, since then, has evolved and delivered a number of award-winning titles. But, with so much quality content to choose from, you may be asking yourself, what should I be watching on Netflix? This list takes you through some of our personal favorites.
So without further ado, let’s get into the best movies (in our opinion) that are out on Netflix right now.
Disclosure: This list is based on the personal opinion of our team, and as such, may include titles that may not be the most popular, well-known, or critically acclaimed. But we think they’re amazing anyway! This list is not meant to be exhaustive or objective, but we think you’ll love these titles just as much as we do.
Netflix Standard with Ads
- Stream on two screens
- On demand content
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$6.99/month
Netflix Standard
- No ads
- Stream on two screens
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$15.49/month
Netflix Premium
- No ads
- Stream on four screens
- HD and 4K video quality
- Downloads on up to six devices
$22.99/month
Our favorite movies to watch on Netflix
The Woman King (2022)
Source: IMDb
Rating: PG-13
What it’s about: In 19th-century West Africa, a courageous all-female warrior group, led by a fearless commander, confronts a fresh threat from a neighboring empire. While training to defend their kingdom, they must confront both new and old adversaries, and uncover long-hidden secrets along the way.
Why we love it: It’s not often that we’re given films set in pre-colonial Africa, especially one that focuses on the customs, way of life, and mores of those that lived there—even more rare is a film whose main characters are all women. Viola Davis shines in her role as Nanisca and is supported by an equally talented cast.
Our rating: ⚔️ ⚔️⚔️ ⚔️⚔️ 5 out of 5 swords — This movie doesn’t just pass the Bechdel test, but exceeds it monumentally. This film highlights the plight of powerful women without defaulting to romantic storylines for the vast majority of them, or centering the plot around falling in love (at least romantically. The cinematography, acting, and world-building is also out of this world and helps to give this movie the rare 5 out of 5 rating.
The Wiz (1978)
Source: IMDb
Rating: G
What it’s about: A ‘modern’ remake of the classic Wizard of Oz that’s been around long enough to be considered a classic itself.
Why we love it: The Wiz’s star-studded cast includes Diana Ross and Michael Jackson in his prime (if there’s such a thing as Michael Jackson out of his prime). This soulful rendition of the Wizard of Oz gives new light and flavor to a familiar storyline.
Our rating: 👠👠👠👠👠 5 out of 5 ruby red slippers — This film packs as much of a punch now as it did almost 50 years ago. The genius reimagining of many of the musical numbers of its forebearer won’t just make you want to watch the film, but to sing along as well! Featuring some of the greatest voices in history, you won’t know whether to add this movie to your watch list or your playlist.
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Rating: R
What it’s about: Tish and her family work to prove the innocence of her friend and lover, Fonny, when he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit.
Why we love it: Barry Jenkins is less a director than he is a craftsman. A craftsman that is able to take shining pieces of others’ artistry and glue them together to make some of the most gorgeous installations you’ve ever seen. If Beale Street is a love letter to love itself and while it is dealing with so many other themes, the relationship between Tish and Fonny is so blindingly full and true that it carries the entire film.
Our rating: 🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎 5 out of 5 hearts — This film holds so much love in each frame, it’d be difficult to not get swept up in the emotional intensity that flows through it. Performed beautifully by a star-studded cast, this film will leave you breathless and with a new favorite score to sip tea to in the cool, fall mornings.
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Rating: R
What it’s about: Dolemite Is My Name tells the story of how comedian Rudy Ray Moore created his alter ego, Dolemite, and became a Blaxploitation icon.
Why we love it: This film is kind of like a Russian doll. On its surface, it’s a belly laugh-inducing comedy with a return to form performance by Eddie Murphy surrounded by a delightful ensemble. But on the inside, it’s this gut-wrenchingly beautiful look at what film can mean to people and what it can mean to see the neighborhood you grew up in represented on the big screen, anchored by a performance that should have secured Eddie Murphy a long overdue Oscar nod.
Our rating: 🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩 5 out of 5 pimp hats — If you love comedies, Blaxploitation, films set in the 70’s, ensemble casts, inspiriting true stories, and/or biopics, then you’ll love this movie. There’s a little something for everyone to take away from watching this. Just make sure you have some tissues close by, for all kinds of tears.
All Quiet on the Western Front
Source: Netflix
Rating: R
What it’s about: A group of young German recruits experience the unexpected horrors and hardships of World War I. The film delves into their journey of camaraderie, survival, and the profound impact of war on their lives and the world around them.
Why we love it: The cinematography of this film cannot be beat, and it beautifully brings to color an era of history over 100 years in the past. It does a fantastic job of illuminating the oftentimes pointless aspects of war and the unsuspecting youth whose lives are caught in the crosshairs.
Our rating: 🧨🧨🧨🧨🧨 4.9 out of 5 bombs — This film captivates, but at roughly 2 and a half hours, it’s definitely on the longer side. It takes a moment for the momentum and action to build, but once it does it’s well worth the wait.
The Nice Guys (2016)
Rating: R
What it’s about: Another comedy set in the 70’s, The Nice Guys takes us into the LA porn industry as two detectives investigate a suicide that leads to a hidden conspiracy.
Why we love it: This film was Ryan Gosling’s audition tape for Barbie—that coupled with his role in Remember the Titans (he’s always been Ken, folks). His bumbling, has-no-clue-what-he’s-doing-but-will-wing-his-way-into-the-answers-he-needs attitude coupled with Russell Crowe’s straight-laced, no-nonsense-but-only-when-it-amuses-him demeanor create the perfect buddy-cop dynamic to follow as we uncover the secrets of this investigation.
Our rating: 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ 4.8 out of 5 sunglasses. The action-comedy is easily one of the superior genres of film and when done right, it creates endlessly rewatchable movies that keep you entertained in multiple ways.
Skyfall (2012)
Rating: PG-13
What it’s about: Agent M’s past has come back to retaliate and it’s up to James Bond to track down and destroy the threat once and for all.
Why we love it: Skyfall delivers on all fronts. The direction, the score, the acting, every facet of this film is working at a 10 to give us one of the most sexy, thrilling, and satisfying action films of the past few decades. The cherry on top comes from the illustrious cinematographer Roger Deakins. His keen eye and visual prowess coats this film in a veil of gorgeous shots that build upon everything else that’s already in motion.
Our rating: 🕵🏾🕵🏾🕵🏾🕵🏾🕵🏾 4.5 out of 5 spies — The only thing holding this movie back is what holds all Bond films back: just a dash of misogyny and questionable choices with its female characters. Though, in other entries, it’s much more than a dash, so we can take this small amount as a win.
Star Trek (2009)
Rating: PG-13
What it’s about: Burdened with his father’s legacy, James T. Kirk joins Starfleet with the hopes of making a name for himself, and in turn must defeat a Romulan with a vendetta who wants to destroy the federation.
Why we love it: This film holds a special place in some of the hearts of our team at Flixed. It acted as a gateway into the world of Star Trek, with a cast that mirrors the original series’ cast in an uncanny, yet welcoming way.
Our rating: 🖖🏾🖖🏾🖖🏾🖖🏾 4.5 out of 5 live long and prospers — Full of high speed action, tense moments, and trippy imaginings of space life, Star Trek is a great choice for anyone looking to get into the sci-fi genre, or are just in the mood for a newer take on a classic series.
Army of the Dead (2021)
Source: IMDb
Rating: R
What it’s about: A group of mercenaries attempt a dangerous heist in zombie-infested Las Vegas to retrieve money from an abandoned casino vault. They must navigate through intelligent and aggressive zombies while facing their own personal struggles to survive and complete the mission.
Why we love it: This movie melds comedy with the expected horror of any good zombie flick. Each member of the team is a character in their own right, and the chemistry of the cast makes for a great watch.
Our rating: 🧟♂️🧟♂️🧟♂️🧟♂️ 4.4 out of 5 zombies — Even though, the comedic element and certain plot nuances (such as the existence of a zombie queen) make this film stand out, it’s still your run-of-the-mill zombie movie.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Source: IMDb
Rating: TV-MA
What it’s about: The first of its kind from Netflix, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch follows a young video game developer in the 1980s who becomes obsessed with adapting a fictional make-your-own-adventure novel into a video game—but it’s up to the viewer how the story ends.
Why we love it: While most movies have you helplessly follow the journey of its main characters, this one puts the power in your hands. Instead of just observing as a passerby, the film asks the question, “what would you do?” Each decision brings you further down a rabbit hole of your own concoction, and you can always see how another decision may play out instead. This isn’t just one film, but many rolled into one.
Our rating: 🖥️🖥️🖥️🖥️ 4.3 out of 5 computers — Though the storyline is interesting, especially depending on what decisions you make over the course of the film, the main appeal of the movie is its interactive element, as opposed to its acting, storyline, or plot.
Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Rating: PG
What it’s about: When the evil sprit Pitch seeks to coat the world in nightmares, the Immortal Guardians must team up to stop him and protect the children of the world.
Why we love it: We’ve found Rise of the Guardians to be quite unknown amongst other Dreamworks or animated titles at large. And it’s a shame, because this movie is both beautifully designed in its imagining of holiday-based fairytale legends and poignant with its messages of being loved and remembered by those around us.
Our rating: ❄️❄️❄️❄️ 4 out of 5 snowflakes — This is a lovely film to watch with any children in your life or by yourself. It’s able to transcend just being for kids by having a little more to say that still resonates with us even as we get older. The 3D animation has aged in the decade since this film came out, but that doesn’t detract from the overall beauty of its concepts and story.
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Lisa Holden • Author
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
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