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The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (August 2024)

Mia Goth loses her mind in Pearl.
A24

Netflix is always unpredictable when it comes to the movies that top its charts. Case in point, a Kevin Hart comedy from 2018, Night School, is now high among the most popular movies on Netflix. The thing to remember is that Netflix viewers want what they want. And this week, what they want is Hart playing the hits in a comedy that seems like it could have been made in the ’80s with few changes to the script.

The other big addition this week is the horror film Pearl, which also veers into black comedy. This movie is part of the X trilogy that includes the recently released MaXXXine. But Pearl also works as a standalone film even if you’ve never seen the other two.

Keep reading for the rest of our picks for the best movies on Netflix right now. We update this list every Friday so you’ll always have fresh options when planning out your movie nights on the weekend.

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+. For Netflix fans, check out the 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now.

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.

Editor’s Pick

Pearl (2022)

Pearl
76%
7.0/10
r
102m
Genre
Horror, Drama
Stars
Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright
Directed by
Ti West
Watch on Netflix

Pearl is both the prequel to Ti West’s X and the name of the character played by Mia Goth. During World War I, Pearl is left at home by her husband with her overbearing mother, Ruth (Tandi Wright), and her nearly infirm father (Matthew Sunderland).

The movie makes it clear pretty early on that Pearl makes Hannibal Lecter seem well-adjusted. Pearl is so convinced that she’s got what it takes to be a movie star that she completely breaks from reality. And even the affections of a local projectionist (David Corenswet) can’t keep Pearl from going off the deep end.

Night School (2018)

Night School
43%
5.6/10
pg-13
111m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle
Directed by
Malcolm D. Lee
Watch on Netflix

Teddy Walker (Borderlands star Kevin Hart) had it all in Night School, including a successful job as a salesman and the love of a beautiful and wealthy woman, Lisa King (Megalyn Echikunwoke). But one major mistake leaves Teddy out of work and unable to get another job of the same caliber because he never graduated high school.

In the hope of keeping Lisa in the dark about his misfortune, Teddy enrolls in night school at the local high school, which is taught by Carrie Carter (Tiffany Haddish). Teddy eventually befriends his classmates and Carrie, but he’ll need to confront some things about himself if he wants to make it through the class.

Other Netflix Movies

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
47%
6.1/10
pg-13
118m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh
Directed by
Edward Zwick
Watch on Netflix

Tom Cruise walks tall and plays bigger in his second turn as Jack Reacher in the action sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. After remotely working with his ally Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders), Jack (Cruise) is informed that she’s imprisoned for murder. Jack also learns that he may be the father of a teenager named Samantha (Danika Yarosh).

While trying to prove Susan’s innocence, Jack finds himself framed and imprisoned for murder as well. That’s only a minor inconvenience for Jack, but he’ll still have to clear his name and protect Susan and Samantha from an assassin known as The Hunter (Patrick Heusinger).

RED (2010)

RED
67%
7.0/10
pg-13
111m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Stars
Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman
Directed by
Robert Schwentke
Watch on Netflix

In the latter decades of his career, Bruce Willis appeared in a lot of bad movies. Red was a welcome respite from his direct-to-video era. Plus, any movie with a cast that includes Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Karl Urban always deserves a second look.

Willis plays Frank Moses, an ex-CIA agent who is classified as Retired, Extremely Dangerous. Frank knows too much, and that’s why someone in the agency wants him dead. That forces Frank to go on the run with a woman he likes, Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker), even though she doesn’t immediately reciprocate his feelings. Frank also has to get some of his old allies together, including Joe Matheson (Freeman), Marvin Boggs (Malkovich), and Vicky Winslow (Mirren) together to get the CIA off his back.

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024)

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
4.0/10
pg
82m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Carolyn Lawrence, Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown
Directed by
Liza Johnson
Watch on Netflix

Don’t let the name fool you. Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is the new SpongeBob SquarePants movie with Tom Kenny reprising his role alongside several of the stars of the show. But this film does bring a supporting character, Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence), to the forefront.

When their beloved home, Bikini Bottom, is stolen from the bottom of the ocean, Sandy and SpongeBob are forced to leave the sea behind to go on a rescue mission. For Sandy, that means taking off her diving suit and reacclimating to land while also reuniting with her family in Texas. Even with help, it’s going to take a lot to find Bikini Bottom and put it back where it belongs.

Tarot (2024)

Tarot
36%
4.8/10
pg-13
92m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika
Directed by
Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Watch on Netflix

You don’t need mystic powers to see that Tarot was savaged by critics. Regardless, horror fans made it a minor hit in theaters. The film stars Harriet Slater as Haley, with Adain Bradley as her ex-boyfriend, Grant. While partying with friends at a mansion, Haley uses a cursed tarot deck to read the future for herself and everyone else present.

Soon after, the group finds themselves being stalked and attacked by characters from the Tarot deck who have come to life. If Haley, Grant, and the rest can’t figure out a way to destroy the magic cards, then their fates are sealed.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
46%
6.1/10
pg-13
115m
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon
Directed by
Gil Kenan
Watch on Netflix

Unlike the previous sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the original Ghostbusters, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), and Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), get to play larger roles alongside the current generation of Ghostbusters in Frozen Empire. Under the guidance of Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) and Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) and her brother, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), have come to New York to develop new technology for busting ghosts.

The Ghostbusters are going to need all of the tech help they can get when an ancient spirit unleashes a new ice age on New York City. And if they can’t stop it, then the whole world may fall to this frozen empire.

Find Me Falling (2024)

Find Me Falling
50%
6.5/10
pg-13
94m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars
Harry Connick Jr., Agni Scott, Ali Fumiko Whitney
Directed by
Stelana Kliris
Watch on Netflix

Second chances are all too rare in life, and John (Harry Connick Jr.) really needs one in the rom-com Find Me Falling. Unfortunately for John, his choice location for a respite from his failing music career is a place where some of the locals choose to commit suicide.

John’s old flame, Sia (Agni Scott), is also living nearby, and she inspired his biggest hit song before their relationship was shattered. Sia has been keeping a secret from John, but there’s more than enough mutual resentment between them to keep them apart. But there’s also a love that hasn’t died, and it may still lead them back to each other.

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Bone Tomahawk
73%
7.1/10
133m
Genre
Western, Horror, Drama
Stars
Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins
Directed by
S. Craig Zahler
Watch on Netflix

Bone Tomahawk is an indie Western that brings Kurt Russell back to the genre as Sheriff Franklin Hunt. In 1890, Hunt’s small town of Bright Hope is rocked by the abductions of an outlaw called Purvis (David Arquette), a deputy named Nick (Evan Jonigkeit), and a young woman, Samantha O’Dwyer (Lili Simmons). This unlikely trio has been taken by a renegade native tribe that is known for eating its victims.

Rather than abandoning the victims to their fate, Hunt, John Brooder (Matthew Fox), and others form a rescue party to bring them back home. But as they venture deeper into dangerous territory, the posse finds themselves facing threats on all sides, which may make a safe return impossible.

American Psycho (2000)

American Psycho
64%
7.6/10
r
102m
Genre
Thriller, Drama, Crime
Stars
Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas
Directed by
Mary Harron
Watch on Netflix

Nearly a quarter century ago, Christian Bale played Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, and it may still be the actor’s darkest character to date. In 1987, Patrick outwardly has it all as an investment banker with a beautiful fiancée, Evelyn Williams (Reese Witherspoon). Except Patrick hates Evelyn and he’s insanely jealous of his co-workers, especially Paul Allen (Jared Leto).

And when we say “insanely,” that doesn’t cover it all. Patrick doesn’t need much to work up to murdering someone. But as more people are targeted by Patrick, he draws some very unwelcome attention from the police.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
54%
6.7/10
r
118m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige
Directed by
Mark Molloy
Watch on Netflix

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F puts Eddie Murphy back into the title role for the first time since 1994. Axel Foley is a Detroit cop who has barged into Beverly Hills’ jurisdiction on a case three times before. And Beverly Hills Police Captain Cade Grant (Kevin Bacon) is really upset that Axel is at it again.

Axel doesn’t care about the consequences because this is personal. Someone is targeting his adult daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige), and only her ex-boyfriend, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is willing to help Axel save her. However, Axel may still have some other friends left in the police department, and he’ll need them when everything comes crashing down on him.

Warcraft (2016)

Warcraft
32%
6.7/10
pg-13
123m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster
Directed by
Duncan Jones
Watch on Netflix

Warcraft has a bad reputation among video game movies for trying to do too much with its first film. Admittedly, there is a lot of lore to take in as the orcs attempt to escape destruction on their world, Draenor, by traveling through portals to a world called Azeroth, which is largely populated by humans. While the horde of orcs attacks Azeroth’s people, not all of the orcs are vicious killers. Durotan (Toby Kebbell) is a noble orc chieftain who has reasons to believe that his people have been misled.

Meanwhile, Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel) attempts to rally the people of Azeroth in defense of their world. But amid an overwhelming threat against orcs and humans alike, Lothar may have to come to terms with Durotan so they can stand against their mutual enemies.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

Pokémon Detective Pikachu
53%
6.5/10
pg
105m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton
Directed by
Rob Letterman
Watch on Netflix

For a movie that is based on a video game franchise, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu is surprisingly friendly to first-time viewers who know nothing about the small Pokémon monsters that are pitted in battles against each other for the amusement of humans. In Ryme City, humans and Pokémon live together and enslaving the creatures is against the law.

When Ryme City police detective Harry Goodman is missing and presumed dead, his estranged son, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith), is shocked to discover that he can understand his father’s partner, Detective Pikachu, who is voiced by Deadpool & Wolverine’s Ryan Reynolds. Tim and Pikachu soon realize that they’ll have to team up and uncover a conspiracy if they ever hope to find Harry again.

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Fifty Shades of Grey
46%
4.2/10
r
125m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Thriller
Stars
Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle
Directed by
Sam Taylor-Johnson
Watch on Hulu

Madame Web was perhaps the only way that Dakota Johnson could ever get people to forget that she was in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. So let’s remind everybody, shall we? The original installment rocketed Johnson to stardom for her role as Anastasia “Ana” Steele, a college student who interviews billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) on behalf of her sick friend.

Ana and Christian hit it off, and he introduces her to the world of sexual bondage and other kinks that tend to be labeled deviant. Ana accepts Christian’s proclivities at first. But the deeper she gets with Christian, the further he wants to go with his sexual games.

Ultraman: Rising (2024)

Ultraman: Rising
121m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Animation, Family
Stars
Christopher Sean, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita
Directed by
Shannon Tindle
Watch on Netflix

Bringing up a kid is never easy, even for a superhero. Just ask Ken Sato (Christopher Sean), the title hero of Ultraman: Rising. As Ultraman, Ken can grow to giant size, and that’s a power that comes in handy when he’s fighting giant monsters or kaiju.

The twist in this film is that after a battle with a female kaiju, Ken is left with a dilemma about what to do with her child. The baby kaiju hasn’t done anything wrong. So rather than destroy the creature, Ken is going to attempt to raise the baby himself. It may be the most heroic thing the current Ultraman has ever done, and it’s also going to put Ken through a lot of stress.

Hit Man (2024)

Hit Man
83%
7.4/10
r
115m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Crime
Stars
Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio
Directed by
Richard Linklater
Watch on Netflix

Richard Linklater’s Hit Man could have scored a full theatrical release in part because Glen Powell is one of the breakout stars of 2024. But instead, it’s now a Netflix original that was co-written by both Powell and Linklater. The former is headlining the film as Gary Johnson, a man who has found his calling as an undercover operative for the police.

Gary pretends to be an assassin, and he helps the police arrest his would-be clients. It’s a good racket for Gary until he meets Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona), a woman who wants her husband killed so she can escape his physical abuse. Maddy is the first “client” that Gary has ever been real with, and he doesn’t want to see her get arrested like his other marks. As much as Gary might try to believe otherwise, helping Maddy and getting emotionally involved with her may bring his life crashing down around him.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Godzilla Minus One
81%
7.9/10
pg-13
125m
Genre
Science Fiction, Horror, Action
Stars
Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada
Directed by
Takashi Yamazaki
Watch on Netflix

There is an English dub of Godzilla Minus One on Netflix, but the original Japanese voice track has better performances. This is one of the best Godzilla movies ever made in part because the creature is allowed to be a fearsome monster instead of a heroic giant. It’s also notable for featuring a strong focus on the human side of the story, especially with the main character Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki).

In the last days of World War II, Shikishima can’t bring himself to fulfill his duty as a kamikaze pilot. A chance encounter with Godzilla only brings more shame upon Shikishima. During the aftermath of the war, Shikishima forms an unexpected bond with Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe) and the infant child she adopted. Yet Shikishima’s inability to let go of his regret may destroy him before Godzilla can get around to killing him and everyone else in Japan.

Miller's Girl (2024)

Miller's Girl
41%
5.2/10
r
93m
Genre
Mystery, Thriller, Drama
Stars
Martin Freeman, Jenna Ortega, Bashir Salahuddin
Directed by
Jade Halley Bartlett
Watch on Netflix

Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega stars as the title character in Miller’s Girl, but Cairo Sweet doesn’t really belong to anyone. She’s rich, bored, and extremely creative. In fact, it’s Cairo’s creativity and knowledge that draw the attention of her much older teacher, Jonathan Albert Miller (Martin Freeman), a man who feels trapped by his life choices and by his loveless marriage with Beatrice June Harper (Dagmara Domińczyk).

When Cairo writes a story about an intimate affair between a student and her teacher, it sets in motion life-changing events that may spiral out of control for both Cairo and Miller.

Anyone But You (2023)

Anyone But You
52%
6.2/10
r
104m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Mia Artemis
Directed by
Will Gluck
Watch on Netflix

Anyone but You is one of the rare rom-coms to become a smash hit, while also solidifying Sydney Sweeney as a star … and keeping her out of movie jail for co-starring in Madame Web. Sweeney plays Bea, a young woman who forms an instant connection with a guy named Ben (Twisters star Glen Powell). But after a great first date, things end very badly and they both blame each other.

Bea and Ben are unwillingly drawn back into each other’s orbit at the wedding for Halle (Hadley Robinson) and Claudia (Alexandra Shipp). Despite being unhappy about their reunion, Bea and Ben also have their own reasons to make the other guests believe that they’re a couple. And then the sparks start to fly between them again.

Anna (2019)

Anna
40%
6.6/10
r
119m
Genre
Thriller, Action
Stars
Sasha Luss, Helen Mirren, Luke Evans
Directed by
Luc Besson
Watch on Netflix

Anna turns back the clock to the end of the Cold War as the title character, Anna Poliatova (Sasha Luss), is drawn into the KGB’s web and trained to become one of the agency’s top operatives. Anna completely gives herself over to the KGB because she’s been promised that this will only be temporary. If Anna completes five years of service, she’ll be free to do anything that she wants.

Unfortunately for Anna, the KGB has no intention of honoring its promise to her. If she wants an exit from this life, then she’ll have to make one herself. And if that means Anna has to broker a deal with CIA agent Leonard Miller (Oppenheimer‘s Cillian Murphy) and betray everyone around her, then so be it.

Baby Driver (2017)

Baby Driver
86%
7.5/10
r
113m
Genre
Action, Crime
Stars
Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James
Directed by
Edgar Wright
Watch on Netflix

Don’t let the name Baby Driver fool you into thinking that this is some kid’s flick. Edgar Wright’s action comedy can be downright brutal at times, but it never loses its sense of humor. Ansel Elgort plays the title character, whose real name is Miles. But he’s known professionally as Baby, and he’s an incredible getaway driver who is forced to work for Doc (Kevin Spacey).

After Baby seemingly escapes his servitude to Doc, he simply wants to start a new life with his girlfriend, Debora (Lily James). However, Doc won’t let Baby go that easily, and he forces him to take part in one last heist alongside Buddy (Jon Hamm), Darling (Eiza González), and Bats (Jamie Foxx). This crew is far more dangerous than Baby realizes, and he’ll have to think fast if he wants to get out alive.

The Wages of Fear (2024)

The Wages of Fear
r
104m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Ana Girardot
Directed by
Julien Leclercq
Watch on Netflix

In 1953, Georges Arnaud’s The Wages of Fear was brought to the big screen by director Henri-Georges Clouzot who turned it into arguably one of the greatest action thrillers ever made. Director Julien Leclercq has a lot to live up to with the modern remake, which is a Netflix exclusive.

The names and faces may be different, but the story remains largely unchanged from the original. An oil fire is out of control, and the only way to put it out and save lives is with controlled explosions using nitroglycerin. Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Ana Girardot, and Sofiane Zermani play a group of disparate and desperate individuals who agree to transport the nitroglycerin across hundreds of miles of dangerous terrain. At the end of their journey is a payday that could change their lives forever, assuming they live long enough to get paid.

Your Lucky Day (2023)

Your Lucky Day
64%
5.8/10
89m
Genre
Crime, Thriller
Stars
Angus Cloud, Elliot Knight, Jessica Garza
Directed by
Dan Brown
Watch on Netflix

Winning the lottery should be one the best days in anyone’s life. But in Your Lucky Day, Sterling (Angus Cloud) didn’t actually win. He killed someone to get his hands on the winning ticket, and he left witnesses: Amir (Mousa Hussein Kraish), Abraham (Elliot Knight), and his girlfriend, Ana-Marlene (Jessica Garza).

Not even Sterling can kill that many people in cold blood, which is why he tries to bargain with them. He’ll share some of the money from the ticket if they help him hide his crime. This plan has multiple problems, but Sterling’s hostages and would-be accomplices simply can’t deter him from this course of action. He’s going to get this lottery money if it’s the last thing he does — and it might be.

Damsel (2024)

Damsel
46%
7.8/10
pg-13
110m
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Stars
Millie Bobby Brown, Nick Robinson, Robin Wright
Directed by
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Watch on Netflix

In Damsel, life’s a fairytale for Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown), a young woman who lives with her father, Lord Bayford (Ray Winstone), and her stepmother, Lady Bayford (Angela Bassett). Elodie doesn’t know much about the way of the world, but she’s smitten with Prince Henry (Nick Robinson), and quickly agrees to marry him.

Elodie doesn’t realize that Henry’s mother, Queen Isabelle (Robin Wright), only agreed to the union because her family can sacrifice Elodie’s life to an actual dragon to satisfy a debt. Now, Elodie can’t count on some handsome prince to save her. So she’ll just have to save herself.

Spaceman (2024)

Spaceman
56%
5.8/10
r
108m
Genre
Science Fiction, Drama
Stars
Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan
Directed by
Johan Renck
Watch on Netflix

Adam Sandler has a rare dramatic turn in Spaceman, a sci-fi drama that casts him as a Czech astronaut named Jakub Procházka. Jakub is on a very long mission in the solar system and suffers from extreme loneliness. Back on Earth, Jakub’s wife, Lenka Procházka (Carey Mulligan), wants to leave him, but the mission controllers refuse to let her break up with him via transmission over fears that it could affect his mental state.

Perhaps it’s too late to save Jakub’s sanity, because he’s already conversing with an alien spider that he calls Hanuš (Paul Dano). It seems like Hanuš has a greater grasp on Jakub’s problem than he does, and Hanuš isn’t above emotionally torturing Jakub with some painful memories to get what he wants. And there may not be a happy ending on this mission for either Jakub or Hanuš.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Everything Everywhere All at Once
81%
7.8/10
r
140m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan
Directed by
Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan
Watch on Netflix

Until this year’s Oscar ceremony crowns a new winner, Everything Everywhere All At Once is the reigning Best Picture from the Academy Awards. Outside of some Marvel and DC movies, no other film has so effectively used the multiverse as a storytelling device as this one did.

Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis all won Oscars for their performances in this movie, but it’s Yeoh’s Evelyn Quan Wang who serves as the film’s main character. Evelyn is about as far from heroic as it gets, and her relationship with her husband, Waymond Wang (Quan), and their daughter, Joy Wang (Stephanie Hsu), is incredibly strained. Regardless, poor and ordinary Evelyn is the only hope that the multiverse has to prevent a disaster. And she’ll have to step up or else the entire multiverse will collapse.

Thanksgiving (2023)

Thanksgiving
63%
6.4/10
r
106m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae
Directed by
Eli Roth
Watch on Netflix

Sixteen years after creating a fake Thanksgiving trailer for Grindhouse, Eli Roth turned it into a real movie with all the elements of the holiday. It might be the best Thanksgiving horror film ever made, largely by default, since the rest are pretty bad. The story begins with a Black Friday rampage that goes horribly wrong and leaves several people dead.

One year later, someone is going around town dressed as one of the original Pilgrims, John Carver, and carving up people who were there on that fateful Black Friday. Whoever is under that mask is apparently out to kill as many people as possible, and even the cops seem powerless to stop the murders.

Orion and the Dark (2024)

Orion and the Dark
75%
91m
Genre
Family, Comedy, Animation, Fantasy
Stars
Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Angela Bassett
Directed by
Sean Charmatz
Watch on Netflix

Almost everyone is afraid of the dark when they’re a kid. The problem with Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is that he’s scared of everything, not just the dark. The animated adventure, Orion and the Dark, gives Orion a chance to conquer his fears alongside an unexpected companion: The living embodiment of Dark (Paul Walter Hauser).

Rather than let this kid lose years of his life to a laundry list of fears, Dark takes Orion out for a wild night to prove that he doesn’t have to be defined by the things that he’s afraid about. It’s a gesture of friendship from Dark, but can Orion finally let go of his phobias and embrace life?

Dumb Money (2023)

Dumb Money
66%
6.9/10
r
104m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, History
Stars
Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, America Ferrera
Directed by
Craig Gillespie
Watch on Netflix

The infamous GameStop short squeeze was dramatized for the big screen in Dumb Money. Paul Dano headlines the cast as Keith Gill, an armchair investor who notices that hedge funds and other big market players are betting that the video game retailer GameStop will go under. Instead of letting that happen, Gill and others like him drive up GameStop’s stock to unsustainable highs and cause the professional investors to lose millions.

There’s no shortage of stars in this cast, which includes Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Myha’la Herrold, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Seth Rogen, Talia Ryder, Sebastian Stan, and Shailene Woodley. There are also plenty of shattered dreams, as many of the amateur investors lose everything they put into the GameStop stocks.

Society of the Snow (2023)

Society of the Snow
71%
8.0/10
r
144m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt
Directed by
J. A. Bayona
Watch on Netflix

Netflix’s Society of the Snow is a Spanish thriller by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director J. A. Bayona. This film is not the first to tell the story of the survivors of 1972 Uruguayan plane crash, which was most notably the subject of the American film Alive in 1993.

However, Bayona’s movie goes to far greater lengths to be authentic than the previous adaptations, including bringing production to the actual site of the crash and utilizing the real accounts of the survivors. Most of the cast members are also newcomers, which works in the film’s favor because it keeps the audience in suspense about who will live, and how far they will go to survive.

The Equalizer 3 (2023)

The Equalizer 3
58%
6.8/10
r
109m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars
Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandrea
Directed by
Antoine Fuqua
Watch on Netflix

Denzel Washington spends so much time sitting down and sipping lattes in The Equalizer 3 that you may start to wonder if the actor himself is injured, and not just his character, Robert McCall. After nearly getting himself killed while recovering stolen funds, McCall slowly recovers in a small town on the coast of Italy. McCall also becomes close to the doctor who saved him, Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone), as well as the police officer who brought him to safety, Gio Bonucci (Eugenio Mastrandrea).

As McCall grows to love the town and its people, he realizes that the Italian mafia is terrorizing his new friends. And if anyone’s going to be terrorizing bad guys in this franchise, it’s Robert McCall. If you’re evil, don’t make McCall stand up. His stuntman will kill you.

Maestro (2023)

Maestro
78%
7.3/10
r
129m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Music
Stars
Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer
Directed by
Bradley Cooper
Watch on Netflix

Composer Leonard Bernstein has been dead for 33 years, but he may prove to be an important figure in next year’s Oscar race. Netflix’s Maestro was written and directed by Bradley Cooper, who cast himself as Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as his wife, Felicia Montealegre.

Before falling in love with Felicia, Bernstein was in an affair with David Oppenheim (Matt Bomer). However, Bernstein’s marriage with Felicia doesn’t mean that he plans to give up sleeping with other men. This places an incredible strain on their union, even though the love between Bernstein and Felicia is never in doubt.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
62%
7.4/10
pg
97m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey
Directed by
Sam Fell
Watch on Netflix

Back in 2000, Chicken Run became a surprise hit with fans of all ages. So what if there was a mere twenty-three-year gap between films? It’s not like chickens can tell time! Although the extended period did leave some major roles to be recast, including Zachary Levi and Thandiwe Newton taking over as Rocky and Ginger from Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha from the original.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget takes place not too long after the first film, but long enough for Rocky and Ginger to have a daughter named Molly (as voiced by The Last of Us’ Bella Ramsey). The chickens may have escaped from Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), but she’s far from through with them. If Ginger wants to keep her family safe, she will have to lead a team to break into Tweedy’s compound and discover what she has in store for them.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie
46%
7.1/10
pg
93m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day
Directed by
Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath
Watch on Netflix

The Super Mario Bros. Movie pulled off the Herculean feat of making audiences forget all about that live-action Super Mario Bros. film. Instead, Nintendo’s iconic characters, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), are right at home in this lavishly animated flick that updates their origin story and sets them on a path of adventure.

In the realm of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Furiosa‘s Anya Taylor-Joy) is preparing to defend her kingdom against Bowser (Jack Black), the king of the Koopas, who is weirdly infatuated with her. Peach doesn’t need Mario to rescue her, at least not a first. But Luigi could definitely use some help as he tries to survive as Bowser’s prisoner. And along the way, Mario can prove to himself that he has the heart of a hero.

Leo (2023)

Leo
66%
7.0/10
pg
102m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong
Directed by
Robert Smigel, Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim
Watch on Netflix

For 74 years, the titular lizard of Leo has shared an enclosure with a turtle named Squirtle (Bill Burr) as the official pets of a fifth-grade classroom in Florida. However, Leo (Adam Sandler) comes to believe that he’s wasted his life in captivity, which is why he plots his escape.

When Leo makes his bid for freedom, he accidentally reveals his ability to speak to Summer (Sunny Sandler), one of the students in his classroom. Through Summer and the other students in the class, Leo discovers a new purpose in life while contending with mean substitute teacher Mrs. Malkin (Cecily Strong).

Minions (2015)

Minions
56%
6.4/10
pg
91m
Genre
Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton
Directed by
Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin
Watch on Netflix

Before The Rise of Gru and Despicable Me, Minions chronicles the origins of the dim-witted yellow henchmen who live only to serve the most evil person alive. In 1968, that person was Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock), the world’s first female supervillain.

The three primary Minions, Kevin, Stuart, and Bob (all three of whom are voiced by Pierre Coffin), are genuinely eager to please Scarlet and help her seize the throne of England. However, their incompetence and honest mistakes accidentally make Scarlet their nemesis even when they really want her to succeed.

The Killer (2023)

The Killer
72%
7.4/10
r
118m
Genre
Crime, Thriller
Stars
Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
Directed by
David Fincher
Watch on Netflix

David Fincher’s latest thriller, The Killer, shows us that the life of a professional assassin, as played by Michael Fassbender, can be pretty mundane and boring … right up until he accidentally misses his target. From that point on, the assassin’s life is anything but boring. And suddenly, even his contact, Hodges (Charles Parnell), is ghosting him.

Not even fleeing the country is enough for the assassin to evade an international manhunt, as well as two rival assassins, The Expert (Tilda Swinton) and The Brute (Sala Baker), who have been hired to take him out.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
86%
8.7/10
pg-13
140m
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure
Stars
Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by
Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers
Watch on Netflix

You could call Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse “amazing, spectacular,” or “sensational” and it would still undersell just how terrific this movie is. Somehow, the team behind the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse topped themselves with an even more thrilling sequel that reunites Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld).

Unfortunately for the would-be couple, it’s not a happy reunion. Gwen is keeping secrets from Miles while running from a difficult family situation at home. As for Miles himself, he’s inadvertently created a new nemesis: The Spot (Jason Schwartzman). Miles has also been targeted by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), the Spider-Man of the year 2099. And if Miles can’t get home to his own world, then his life will never be the same.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

No Hard Feelings
59%
6.4/10
r
104m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
Directed by
Gene Stupnitsky
Watch on Netflix

No Hard Feelings was Jennifer Lawrence’s comeback movie after spending a few years away from the big screen. And she certainly makes a memorable impression as Maddie Barker, a woman who is on the verge of losing her home and her car over her money problems.

That’s why Maddie accepts a bizarre job from Laird (Matthew Broderick) and Allison Becker (Laura Benanti). If Maddie can seduce their son, Percy Becker (Andrew Barth Feldman), and bring him out of his shell before he goes off to college then she can save herself from her financial black hole. Unfortunately for Maddie, Percy may be undatable and he is nearly immune to her obvious charms.

Big George Foreman (2023)

Big George Foreman
45%
6.6/10
pg-13
129m
Genre
History, Drama
Stars
Khris Davis, Forest Whitaker, Sullivan Jones
Directed by
George Tillman, Jr.
Watch on Netflix

During the 1990s, George Foreman shocked the boxing world by becoming the oldest world champion nearly two decades after he had lost the title. Big George Foreman finally gives the legendary boxer his due with a biopic that chronicles his life story, from living in poverty to Olympic gold and an unmatched career in the ring.

Khris Davis headlines the movie as George Foreman, and the story largely focuses on Foreman’s brush with death and his subsequent reinvention as a devout minister. But after 10 years out of the ring, Foreman begins an unlikely comeback that cemented his place in boxing history.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

They Cloned Tyrone
74%
6.4/10
r
122m
Genre
Science Fiction, Comedy, Mystery
Stars
John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx
Directed by
Juel Taylor
Watch on Netflix

Netflix has no shortage of star power in its new sci-fi comedy, They Cloned Tyrone. John Boyega, WandaVision‘s Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx headline the ’70s-era Blaxploitation throwback, and they give this film its bite. Boyega plays Fontaine, a local crime enforcer who gets gunned down before the neighborhood pimp, Slick Charles (Foxx).

At least that’s what Slick Charles believes happened, but he’s clearly shaken when Tyrone (Boyega) reappears to take Fontaine’s place. With the help of Slick Charles and his top prostitute, Yo-Yo (Parris), this trio is going to unravel the truth about Tyrone or die trying. Although death is definitely not their preferred outcome.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
51%
6.6/10
pg-13
144m
Genre
Music, History, Drama
Stars
Naomi Ackie, Ashton Sanders, Stanley Tucci
Directed by
Kasi Lemmons
Watch on Netflix

The story of Whitney Houston is both a triumph and a tragedy. The late singer rose from obscurity to become one of the most famous women in the world, only to die suddenly at 48 years old. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody doesn’t attempt to sugarcoat Houston’s history, as it follows her meteoric rise and equally epic fall.

In the film, Whitney (Naomi Ackie) is supported by her friend-turned-lover Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams) before hitting the music industry like a tidal wave. As Whitney’s fame grows, she marries Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) and descends into drug addiction that threatens her career and even her life. And yet it’s impossible not to root for Whitney to pull herself out of that spiral.

The Magician's Elephant (2023)

The Magician's Elephant
9.7/10
pg
99m
Genre
Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Noah Jupe, Mandy Patinkin, Natasia Demetriou
Directed by
Wendy Rogers
Watch on Netflix

Netflix just took home the Oscar for Best Animated feature for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, and it’s already got another strong animated flick out this week. The Magician’s Elephant adapts Kate DiCamillo’s novel of the same name, and it tells the story of a young orphan named Peter (Noah Jupe). Peter’s only wish in life is to find his missing sister, Adele (Pixie Davies), Through a fortune teller, Peter is told that he has to find a Magician (Benedict Wong) who will summon an elephant.

Incredibly, the prophecy comes true. But before the elephant can lead Peter to his sister, he is forced to perform three impossible tasks. And the attempt will change Peter’s life forever.

The Magician’s Elephant | Official Trailer | Netflix

Munich: The Edge of War (2022)

Munich: The Edge of War
53%
6.8/10
129m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, Jeremy Irons
Directed by
Christian Schwochow
Watch on Netflix
Two college friends find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing war in this film based on Robert Harris’ 2017 novel Munich, which is set against the backdrop of the tense, 1938 meeting in Munich of the European nations that would eventually find themselves embroiled in the second World War. Jeremy Irons portrays U.K. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, while George MacKay and Jannis Niewöhner play the former Oxford University classmates who become reluctant spies.

The Sea Beast (2022)

The Sea Beast
115m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris
Directed by
Chris Williams
Watch on Netflix
Chris Williams, the co-director of Disney’s Big Hero 6 and Moana, takes the helm on the animated high-seas adventure The Sea Beast about a young girl who stows away on a famous monster-hunting ship, only to discover that everything she thought she knew about monsters and hunters might be wrong. Zaris-Angel Hator portrays aspiring monster-hunter (and stowaway) Maisie, while Karl Urban voices legendary hunter Jacob Holland in this all-ages feature that’s exciting, funny, and much deeper than its premise suggests.

Enola Holmes (2020)

Enola Holmes
68%
6.6/10
123m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Mystery, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Directed by
Harry Bradbeer
Watch on Netflix
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, Sherlock Holmes, 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.

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022)

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
117m
Genre
Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Alisha Weir, Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch
Directed by
Matthew Warchus
Watch on Netflix
Roald Dahl’s beloved tale comes back to the screen in this live-action adaptation that casts Alisha Weir as the titular, precocious young girl whose intelligence and strange abilities are put to good use while trying to forge her own path and survive in a world of self-absorbed, naive, and downright evil adults. Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, and Emma Thompson play supporting roles in the film, helmed by director Matthew Warchus.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
139m
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Stars
Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe
Directed by
Rian Johnson
Watch on Netflix
Director Rian Johnson returns for another mystery with intrepid detective Benoit Blanc in this sequel to surprise hit Knives Out, Glass Onion. This time around, Blanc heads to Greece to solve a mystery involving an eccentric tech billionaire and the circle of friends — and potential enemies — he gathers for a dinner on a remote island. The recipient of a long list of award nominations, Glass Onion features an ensemble cast that includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and Kathryn Hahn, among others.

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
117m
Genre
Animation, Fantasy, Drama, Music
Stars
Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Directed by
Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Watch on Netflix

One of Hollywood most visionary filmmakers turns his attention to one of the most beloved tales in children’s literature in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, a stop-motion animated adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. Featuring the voices of Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, and Gregory Mann, as Jiminy Cricket, Gepetto, and Pinocchio, respectively, the film chronicles the marionette Pinocchio’s quest to become a living boy — a journey that brings him through one adventure after another.

The star-filled voice cast also includes John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, and Tilda Swinton, among others. Some reviewers have named it one of the year’s best films, animated or otherwise.

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Always Be My Maybe
64%
6.8/10
pg-13
102m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves
Directed by
Nahnatchka Khan
Watch on Netflix
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.
Always Be My Maybe | Trailer | Netflix
Movie images and data from:
Blair Marnell

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features.

Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from A/V components and smart home devices to encryption software, cloud backup platforms, search engine tools, and more. He has written for Digital Trends for over three years, covering entertainment content, A/V, and smart home devices.

The best movies on Disney+ right now (August 2024)
Trudy prepares to swim the English Channel in Young Woman and the Sea.

Disney+ is a great place to stream some of the best movies. While animated blockbusters are what Disney is best known for, there is also plenty of genre variety on the streamer. With Marvel Studios superhero capers, Lucasfilm's Star Wars space operas, and National Geographic's wealth of inspiring and educational documentaries, audiences are spoiled for choice.

The streamer's impressive catalog can make it tough for viewers to pick something for movie night. Thankfully, there is more than enough to suit the tastes of every demographic, and this monthly guide focuses on some of the best movies on Disney+ right now.

Read more
The 35 best sitcoms on Netflix right now (August 2024)
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Compared to earlier this year, August is a very quiet month on Netflix if you love sitcoms. The only new show from another network this month is Act Your Age, a comedy series that came and went last year in the blink of an eye. Netflix has also debuted the second season of Unstable, an unconventional workplace comedy starring Rob Lowe and his son, John Owen Lowe, as a father and son.

But the real attractions in our roundup of the best sitcoms on Netflix are the classic shows like Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, and Martin. When paired with recent hits like The Conners and Young Sheldon, Netflix has a powerhouse lineup that should keep you laughing for a long time.

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The best family movies on Netflix right now
A boy and his friends hold flashlights in the dark in Monster House.

With just a little time left for family movie night this summer, our list of the best family movies on Netflix will help you maximize those precious evenings. You might still argue a little over what to watch, but our list narrows down Netflix's extensive library, so you won't have to scroll over and over.

This month, there are just three new entries -- Monster House, Minions, and Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie -- but there are plenty of great options available.

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