The 15 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
We all love our relaxed, home-cinema movie nights, where you sit down, grab some snacks, and turn on Netflix & chill. However, sometimes, trying to find the right movie to watch ends up taking longer than the runtime of the actual movie. Don’t worry though, you’re in the right place to prevent that from happening for the next fifteen times you’re stuck trying to find something to watch.
I’m bringing you the ultimate list of the 15 best movies that are on Netflix right now. We’ll rank them solely based on their IMDb scores, but you can choose what you want to watch based on your mood – they are all absolutely awesome. I’ll do my best to include a little bit of everything, for everyone. Enjoy!
Honorable mentions: ‘Spirited Away’ (2001) & ‘Dolemite Is My Name’ (2019)
Before we proceed with the top fifteen, I have a couple of honorable mentions that failed to make the cut for different reasons.
Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away’ (2001) might be the best – nay, IS the best – animated movie I’ve ever watched and certainly fits among the greatest movies of all time in general. However, the reason why it didn’t make the cut despite being one of the best-rated movies on this list is because it’s not available on Netflix US.
It is, however, available on many international Netflix versions, like Netflix UK, Australia, and various European Netflix versions, so all you need is a solid VPN, and you can access ‘Spirited Away’ in no time.
The second honorable mention I have here is Eddie Murphy’s ‘Dolemite Is My Name’ (2019). Murphy portrayed Rudy Ray Moore, a real-life comedy and rap pioneer who made a huge name for himself against all odds. It was a spectacular surprise of a film for me that absolutely had me in stitches.
The problem with it making the list is that it simply isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. You might love it, or you might hate it, but if you’re up for some crude, rude comedy, you won’t find many better flicks than this one. Now, let’s proceed with the list.
15. ‘Insidious’ (2010)
IMDb score: 6.8/10
What it’s about: Dalton is a kid who ended up in a comatose state, but the doctors couldn’t figure out what was going on. As it turns out, his spirit is astral-projected to a realm called The Further, where he is being held by a demon. His family does their best to help get Dalton back before evil spirits – and the demon – take over his body.
Why you should watch it: If you’re not really a fan of the horror genre but are willing to give it a shot – for me, ‘Insidious’ was that one movie that made me fall in love with horror flicks forever. Surely, it’s chilling, but the thing about ‘Insidious’ is that the story is absolutely captivating, rather than the movie being just gory or full of jump scares.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a couple of those, but it’s simply one of the coolest horror stories out there. Definitely give it a shot, and you won’t regret it.
14. ‘Bullet Train’ (2022)
IMDb score: 7.3/10
What it’s about: Five different assassins find themselves on their respective missions on the very same train. Little did they know, their missions had a lot in common. In fact, they might be more connected than meets the eye…
Why you should watch it: I watched ‘Bullet Train’ literally just months ago. I’ve heard it was good, but it was kind of low on my priority list. But, boy, was I wrong. It’s jam-packed with smart action, intricate character relationships and development, and some brilliant dark humor that will absolutely blow your mind.
The cast is also phenomenal, so there you have it – one of the best action comedies on Netflix!
13. ‘Paddington’ (2014)
IMDb score: 7.3/10
What it’s about: A little bear from Peru who speaks English and loves marmalade travels to London to find himself a new home when his parent figures – his Auntie and Uncle – can’t take care of him anymore. Lost, alone, and scared at London’s Paddington Station, he meets the Browns – a sweet family that will soon become his own…
Why you should watch it: I may be biased because ‘Paddington’ is one of my favorite family movies ever, but it doesn’t even matter – it’s just absolutely awesome. I mean, the only thing I need to tell you is that the Queen herself (God rest her soul) had Paddington for some tea during her recent jubilee celebration. This is a family cult classic and an absolute must-watch.
12. ‘John Wick’ (2014)
IMDb score: 7.4/10
What it’s about: A former top-class assassin – the very best in the business, that is – enjoys retirement with his wife, who sadly passed away due to an illness. All he has left from her is his pup – until thugs break into his home, kill his dog, and steal his car. It becomes the worst mistake of their lives – because they awoke Baba Yaga…
Why you should watch it: I’m honestly not that keen on action films, but I do enjoy seeing a good one. ‘John Wick’ might be one of the best, if not the best action flick ever. When you decide to watch such a film, you’re looking for incredible, well-choreographed, well-directed, and well-acted action – and my golly, you’re getting the very best of it all with ‘John Wick.’
Films 1-3 are available on Netflix, but the first is by far the best if you ask me.
11. ‘A Man Called Otto’ (2022)
IMDb score: 7.5/10
What it’s about: The story follows Otto, a grumpy old man with a chip on his shoulder who decides to end his own life after his beloved wife passes away, and he feels as if he has nothing to live for anymore. A new, young family moves into his neighborhood, and a stray cat keeps coming back to his doorstep. This is the start of something beautiful – the start of a new breath of life in Otto…
Why you should watch it: I will spare words because it’s hard to talk about this film and not spoil it, but to me, the only better Tom Hanks role in his rich, illustrious career was Forrest Gump. He is simply brilliant, and the story is amazing. It truly is one of the best films you can find on Netflix – just be ready with some tissues, because tears will be shed.
10. ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
IMDb score: 7.8/10
What it’s about: Puss in Boots, the legendary hero and outlaw, loses eight of his nine lives during a party in Del Mar. Advised by the town doctor to retire, Puss initially refuses but changes his mind after a duel with a wolf. Traumatized, he follows the doctor’s advice and meets Mama Luna, burying his clothes. Months later, he encounters Perrito, an optimistic Chihuahua. Goldilocks and her Three Bears Crime Family approach Puss to help them steal a map leading to The Wishing Star. However, they leave, thinking Puss is dead. Determined to regain his lost lives, Puss sets out to find The Wishing Star.
Why you should watch it: You’ve probably seen the Shrek films, as well as the previous ‘Puss in Boots’ films – but neither is quite as incredible as this one. The story is awesome, beautiful, and touching – but the animation is even better. If you haven’t seen ‘The Last Wish’ yet – especially if you have kids, but even without them – check it out on Netflix ASAP.
9. ‘Mystic River’ (2003)
IMDb score: 7.9/10
What it’s about: Three childhood friends – Dave, Jimmy, and Sean grew apart over the years. They come back together in tragedy when Jimmy’s daughter is found murdered. Sean, now a police officer, works on the case while Jimmy is convinced that Dave had something to do with his daughter’s death…
Why you should watch it: Clint Eastwood did a spectacular job balancing the mysterious, ‘whodunit’ elements of the movie with really deep character development, aided by phenomenal performances from Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Tim Robbins. If you haven’t seen this film yet, it will quickly become one of your go-to crime mystery thrillers once you do.
8. ‘Black Swan’ (2010)
IMDb score: 8.0/10
What it’s about: Nina is a highly talented ballerina shooting for the stars. She is incredibly close – but the pressure of what her artistic director asks of her, and the rivalry between her and another fantastic dancer pushes her to her very limits. Once pushed to her limits psychologically, the limits and boundaries between what’s real and what’s not become blurred…
Why you should watch it: I’ll start this off by saying that Darren Aronofsky isn’t for everyone. He is dark, riveting, and knows how to hit you so hard psychologically that you recover from the movie for days. But that’s where his brilliance lies. ‘Black Swan’ is a masterpiece in its own right, and it is by far the most phenomenal performance you’ll see from Natalie Portman – and she’s had many.
7. ‘Prisoners’ (2013)
IMDb score: 8.1/10
What it’s about: In Conyers, Pennsylvania, during a Thanksgiving celebration, girls Anna Dover and Joy Birch go missing after playing on an RV. Detective Loki arrests the RV’s occupant, Alex Jones, but realizes his low IQ makes him an unlikely kidnapper. Meanwhile, Loki discovers no evidence in the RV and investigates local pedophiles, leading him to a corpse at the house of Priest Patrick Dunn. Dunn confesses to killing the man as part of his “war on God,” prompting further complications in the investigation. Convinced of Alex’s guilt, Keller Dover, the father of one of the missing girls, takes matters into his own hands, assaulting Alex and kidnapping him for torture in an empty building he owns.
Why you should watch it: Denis Villeneuve at the helm, directing Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Paul Dano… the entire cast is star-studded. Top it all off with a spectacular mystery that will touch your heart in every possible way, and you get one of the best movies of the century so far, let alone the 2010s as a decade.
The only thing I needed here was Christian Bale, and the perfect cast of the top three most talented actors of this generation would be completed.
6. ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
IMDb score: 8.2/10
What it’s about: A paleontologist tours a theme park that uses highly advanced technology to extract fossilized DNA and create living, breathing dinosaurs. Inevitably, things go south when nature shows its teeth, both literally, and figuratively.
Why you should watch it: When ‘Jurassic Park’ came out, people were literally scared that Steven Spielberg somehow resurrected real dinosaurs. I mean, some of the scenes look impressive, even by today’s standards. You’re getting a classic adventure/action flick that you could watch a million times, and still enjoy it as if you were watching it for the first time.
5. ‘Heat’ (1995)
IMDb score: 8.3/10
What it’s about: A group of thieves complete heist after heist, but there’s a detective in the LAPD that’s right on their tails – and they start to feel the heat. Neil was taught by his criminal mentor – never have anything in your life you couldn’t walk out on in thirty seconds. But Neil fell in love, giving Lieutenant Hanna the opportunity to turn the heat – into a bust.
Why you should watch it: Al Pacino and Robert De Niro were both a part of ‘Godfather II’ – but the first time they actually appeared in a scene together was in this very film. It’s an absolutely spectacular action film with a fantastic cast, and an intriguing storyline – but the best part of the movie, naturally, is the chemistry between De Niro and Pacino. Utter brilliance!
4. ‘Oldboy’ (2003)
IMDb score: 8.3/10
What it’s about: In 1988, Oh Dae-Su – a drunk and a problem to society – is kidnapped, fed, and sedated for fifteen years, with only a TV to keep himself entertained. And yet, after fifteen long years, his kidnappers simply release him. Now, they encourage him to find them within five days to get his revenge. But who could’ve done that to Oh Dae-Su, and why?
Why you should watch it: ‘Oldboy’ was a smash hit, then seemed to be forgotten, but then last year – on the movie’s 20th anniversary – it once again gained its rightful cult-classic status. Despite not being an English-language film, ‘Oldboy’ is highly regarded as one of the best action dramas in history. Give it a shot – trust me, it’ll break your all-time top 15 list.
3. ‘Whiplash’ (2014)
IMDb score: 8.5/10
What it’s about: A young drummer wants to become the best ever, so he starts attending a brutal music conservatory where he is taught and trained by a sadistic, brutal mentor. The mentor stops at nothing to get perfection out of his student – and the student stops at nothing to achieve it.
Why you should watch it: This three-time Acadamy Award-winning film put Miles Teller in that superstar tier of young, prosperous actors, and got J.K. Simmons an Oscar. It’s riveting, hard, and absolutely, utterly, unequivocally brilliant. I watched it only once because I couldn’t bear to watch it again, honestly – but I remember every single detail of the film.
That’s how much impact it has on the viewer.
2. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)
IMDb score: 8.6/10
What it’s about: In the sequel to ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ Miles Morales encounters a villain that deletes the boundaries between universes. Now, Spidey himself is dragged across the multiverse with other Spider-People from various universes, all fighting to protect the multiverse and handle the new enemy.
Along the way, Miles questions what it actually means to be a hero, and refuses to accept that his fate – and the fate of his loved ones – has been written long before it happens.
Why you should watch it: So, the first movie – ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ – got an Oscar, and deservedly so. But, one could argue that the sequel is even better. The animation is yet again breathtaking, but the storyline in this film is the absolute driving force of the film. You’ll want to watch it over and over again – and boy, I can’t wait for the trilogy to be completed!
1. ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (1975)
IMDb score: 8.7/10
What it’s about: A Korean War veteran and a criminal is charged, but pleads insanity, which leads to him being taken into a mental institution. He encounters a tyrannical nurse terrorizing the patients, and now, the man takes it upon himself to lead them into a fight against her and the tyranny they endure each day.
Why you should watch it: ‘Put the ball in the hole. The old Indian game!’ Jack Nicholson had his fair share of spectacular movies, but this one will devastate you. Five Academy Awards that were well-deserved, and an 8.7/10 rating that doesn’t really encapsulate the magnitude of this movie.
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ is rightfully considered one of the best motion pictures of all time.
These are the fifteen best movies you can currently find on Netflix, but there are so many more we haven’t had the chance to mention, like Coppola’s ‘The Conversation,’ for instance. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did (and do), and if you ever want to find more amazing films and lists – you know where to find us! Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!