We get it, there are a lot of good movies on Netflix; so much so that deciding on just one is no easy task and we end up spending an hour going through our queues and every random genre in the streaming giant’s massive library. With great original films, beloved classics, and recent theatrical releases, Netflix’s movie collection makes the platform one of the best streaming services to subscribe to in 2024. That being said, we’ve put together a list of the best movies on Netflix that we think you’ll like.
But, you may want to get on these movies sooner rather than later, before they end up on the list of titles leaving Netflix. Let’s take a look at some of the best movies to watch for anyone with a Netflix subscription as of May 2024. Remember to check back later in the month as there is always something new on Netflix worth checking out.
Anyone But You (2023)
Months after a first date goes sour, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) cross paths once again at a destination wedding. Upon discovering that their exes are also in attendance, the bitter enemies attempt to act like a happy couple. A surprise 2023 box office hit, Anyone But You is a hilarious, raunchy, and modern take on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Stream Anyone But You on Netflix.
Amadeus (1984)
Despite being a wildly inaccurate biopic, the Academy Award-winning Amadeus remains one of the best music movies of all time. Telling the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) as told through the eyes of the bitter and jealous Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), Miloš Forman’s epic is something to behold. From the acting to the musical performances to the lovely costume design, everything about this movie just works.
The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)
When it comes to Gen-Z coming-of-age comedies, few movies capture the heart and spirit of 2016’s The Edge of Seventeen. Kelly Fremon Craig’s directorial debut follows Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld) as she navigates the daily grind of being a teenager on the cusp of adulthood and everything that comes with it. And helping guide her along the way is Max Bruner (Woody Harrelson), who could very well be one of the best on-screen teachers of this century.
Stream The Edge of Seventeen on Netflix.
Jumanji (1995)
One of the best family movies from the ‘90s, Jumanji is one of those rare cinematic experiences that has something for everyone. Action, drama, comedy, and heart are found throughout this 1995 Robin Williams movie about a mysterious and powerful board game that brings the jungle and all its dangers to a quiet New Hampshire town.
Shrek (2001)
There are animated movies, and then there is Shrek, the 2001 DreamWorks Animation classic that pokes fun at fairy tale tropes while also introducing some of the most beloved characters of the 21st century. After Shrek (Mike Myers) discovers that his quiet swamp is silent and secluded no more, he makes a deal to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) to restore order. But it ends up being far more complicated than anyone would have expected.
Traffic (2000)
One of Steven Soderbergh’s best movies, Traffic turns its attention to the War on Drugs and everyone who gets wrapped up in it, directly and indirectly. With a large ensemble cast that includes the likes of Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Don Cheadle, multiple interwoven storylines, and a grounded approach, this Academy Award-winning film is a cinematic masterpiece.
The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar and Three More (2023)
A little more than half a year after The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and three other short films were released on Netflix, Wes Anderson’s series of Roald Dahl adaptations were combined into a full-length anthology, making it easier than ever to watch these charming stories. The Academy Award-winning short film and the three other included titles – The Swan, The Ratcatcher, and Poison – are some of Anderson’s best work and are incredibly charming and endearing.
Stream The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar and Three More on Netflix.
Born On The Fourth Of July (1989)
One of the best Vietnam movies, Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July follows Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) as he goes from an idealistic and patriotic teenager to one of the most vocal opponents of the conflict after experiencing great trauma in combat. Told over many years, this emotionally stirring biopic follows one man’s odyssey to find meaning and purpose in life, a journey that takes him to the jungles of Vietnam, the deserts of Mexico, and various political conventions.
Stream Born on the Fourth of July on Netflix.
Baby Driver (2017)
Edgar Wright’s 2017 crime flick, Baby Driver, follows Miles (Ansel Elgort), aka “Baby,” a young yet talented getaway driver, as he carries out a series of jobs for criminal mastermind, Doc (Kevin Spacey). But after years of using his unparalleled driving skills to help pull off increasingly dangerous heists, the music-loving driver sets his sights on a better tomorrow, one that doesn’t involve trigger-happy gunmen, double-crossers, or high-speed pursuits.
Stream Baby Driver on Netflix.
American Graffiti (1973)
Several years before turning his attention to “a galaxy far, far away,” George Lucas took audiences to Modesto, California, for his seminal coming-of-age drama, American Graffiti. Set on the final day of summer break, this Golden Globe winner follows a group of high school grads (played by Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard) as they contemplate their respective paths in life while saying goodbye to their adolescence.
Stream American Graffiti on Netflix.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Nora Eprhon’s You’ve Got Mail follows independent bookstore owner Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) and book chain magnate Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), who are bitter rivals in the real world, as they unknowingly fall madly in love with one another on AOL. A time capsule to life in the late ‘90s, this all-time great romantic comedy is full of heart and charm.
Stream You’ve Got Mail on Netflix.
Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
A movie that would never be PG today, Smokey and the Bandit follows race car driver Bo “Bandit” Darville (Burt Reynolds) as he attempts to get a semi-truck full of Coors beer from Texas to Atlanta with an extremely short deadline. This journey gets even more intense after Bandit picks up Carrie (Sally Field), a runaway bride who stood up the son of Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason), who makes it his mission to stop the bootlegger through any means necessary.
Stream Smokey and the Bandit on Netflix.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
One of the funniest Adam Sandler movies, Happy Gilmore follows the titular hockey player-turned-golfer as he uses his unorthodox skills to become an overnight golfing sensation and save his grandma’s house. This proves to be no easy task, however, as vindictive and arrogant golfer Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) will stop at nothing to embarrass the rising star.
Stream Happy Gilmore on Netflix.
Inside Man (2006)
The 2006 Spike Lee joint, Inside Man, starts off with a rather simple premise: a team of thieves break into a New York City bank and hold everyone hostage while they wait for their demands to be met. However, as the movie goes on and we learn more about the robbers and the bank, the once seemingly everyday robbery turns into something much bigger with far greater ramifications for everyone involved.
The Matrix (1999)
In March 1999, the Wachowskis ushered in a new era for the sci-fi and action movie genres with The Matrix. After computer programmer Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), aka Neo, finds himself on the radar of the mysterious Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), he teams up with a mysterious man named Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) who offers him a chance to take one of two vastly different paths: one makes things “normal” while the other shows how far down the rabbit hole goes.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Everything Everywhere All at Once became an overnight sensation upon its release in 2022 and became one of the most unique Best Picture Winners the following year. With an outstanding cast led by Michelle Yeoh, a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional story that resonates with audiences of all ages, and some of the most impressive fight choreography and visual effects, this is a movie you won’t want to miss on Netflix.
Stream Everything Everywhere All at Once on Netflix.
Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (2022)
Based on a series of shorts and an illustrated book by director Dean Fleischer Camp and star Jenny Slate, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a cinematic experience like no other. Channeling the personal experiences of its creators, this story is about a small shell (voiced by Slate) trying to find its place in the world and also reunite with his long-lost family after becoming a viral internet star. Charming, heartfelt, and critically acclaimed, this was CinemaBlend’s favorite 2022 movie.
Stream Marcel the Shell with Shoes On on Netflix.
The Disaster Artist (2017)
Released in 2017, James Franco’s The Disaster Artist recreates the life and legacy of Tommy Wiseau (who is played by Franco), the eclectic and mysterious director and star of the 2003 cult film, The Room. Starring Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, and Alison Brie, this Golden Globe-winning film sheds light on what some consider to be the worst film of all time while also celebrating the man, the myth, and the legend behind its legendary status.
Stream The Disaster Artist on Netflix.
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
Perhaps the greatest college movie of all time, National Lampoon’s Animal House is a down-and-dirty ‘70s comedy that everyone should watch at least once in their lives. With classic characters like John “Bluto” Blutarsky (John Belushi) and the dastardly Dean Vernon Wormer (John Vernon), one of the most ridiculous parade sequences ever caught on film, and one unforgettable party after another, there’s just so much to love.
Stream National Lampoon’s Animal House on Netflix.
Society Of The Snow (2023)
A Best International Feature Film nominee at the 2024 Academy Awards, Society of the Snow recounts the Uruguayan 1972 Andes flight disaster that saw a group of young survivors band together to live long enough to be rescued from the perilous situation. J. A. Bayona, the filmmaker behind the emotional survival drama, The Impossible, directs this Netflix original.
Stream Society of the Snow on Netflix.
Rustin (2023)
George C. Wolfe’s Academy Award-nominated biographical drama, Rustin, takes a deep dive into how Civil Rights activist Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo) helped build the foundation for what would become one of the key moments of the 20th century: the historic 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Moneyball (2011)
Often considered one of the best baseball movies of all time, Moneyball tells the story of how general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) revolutionized the way the Oakland Athletics looked at building a roster as well as how the program completely changed the game as a whole.
X (2022)
Ti West had already established himself as one of the great modern horror directors by the time X was released in 2022, his slasher film about a pornographic film crew being attacked being hunted down by a pair of killers deep in the heart of Texas took him to the next level. Starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, and Brittany Snow, this franchise-starter is one hell of a good time.
Something's Gotta Give (2003)
In 2003, Nancy Meyers gave us one of the best romantic comedies of all time with Something’s Gotta Give, a charming love story about an unlikely pair who attempt to make it work despite their many, many differences.
Stream Something’s Gotta Give on Netflix.
El Conde (2023)
Released in 2023, Pablo Larraín’s El Conde takes an unusual satirical approach to the life and legacy of notorious Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet by making it more of a horror movie than a political thriller. In this version of the megalomaniacal leader’s story, he is a 250-year-old vampire seeking death, which is difficult due to those around him fighting feverishly to keep him alive.
Maestro (2023)
One of the best 2023 Netflix movies, Bradley Cooper’s Maestro sees the actor-turned-filmmaker take on one of his biggest roles yet: Leonard Bernstein. This two-hour exploration of Berstein, his music, and the relationship he shared with his wife, Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan), sheds light on the man, the myth, and the legend of the celebrated composer.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
One of the biggest 2023 box office stories was The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the long-awaited video game adaptation from Illumination and Nintendo. The star-studded cast led by Chris Pratt as the iconic plumber, the callbacks to the video game world, and an unlikely hit song were some of the reasons this movie was just so much fun.
Stream The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Netflix.
Gran Turismo (2023)
It’s true that 2023 was a banner year for video game movies, and one of the biggest contributors was Sony’s Gran Turismo adaptation. This movie, which chronicled the true story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) as he went from an avid Gran Turismo player to an actual race car driver, featured an all-time underdog story and was better than it had any right being.
Stream Gran Turismo on Netflix.
Paddington (2014)
If you’re looking for a great way to spend a couple of hours with the family, then Paddington is going to be the way to go. This charming, endearing, and all-around hilarious movie follows a young Paddington Bear (Ben Whishaw) as he tries to find his place in London, a scary experience that is made not so bad by the Brown family.
May December (2023)
Todd Haynes’ 2023 drama, May December, follows actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) as she spends time with the couple at the center of a scandalous romance while preparing to play one of them in a movie based on their story. Over time, however, what starts as a research trip turns into something much deeper.
Stream May December on Netflix.
Uncut Gems (2019)
If you were to look up anxiety-inducing movies in the dictionary, it would say “See: Uncut Gems.” The Safdie brothers’ 2019 thriller follows New York jeweler and gambling addict Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) as he puts everything (and we mean everything) on the line to pull off an improbable yet fortune-changing bet.
The Killer (2023)
The latest addition to David Fincher’s stellar filmography, The Killer follows Michael Fassbender’s titular assassin as he deals with the fallout of a hit gone wrong. With his world crashing down around him, this cold and calculated killer with a certain fondness for The Smiths and internal monologues decides to get back at those who tried to take away the one thing he cares about.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
After a gruesome killing in a Los Angeles coffee shop, three policemen, played by Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kevin Spacey, begrudgingly work together to get to the bottom of the mystery and the wide-reaching conspiracy behind it in L.A. Confidential. Add in a femme fatale played by Kim Basinger in an Oscar-winning performance and Danny DeVito’s tabloid publisher, and you have yourself the best L.A. detective movie.
Stream L.A. Confidential on Netflix.
Boyz N The Hood (1991)
One of the best movies from a first-time director, John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood is one of the defining films of the 1990s with its brilliant coming-of-age story about a group of young men trying to survive in South Central Los Angeles. Outstanding performances by Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett add to this enriching experience, making it one of the best of all time.
Stream Boyz n the Hood on Netflix.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)
Just when Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) thought his life couldn’t get any more out of hand, he comes in contact with the Spider-Society, a group of web-slingers from across the Multiverse. With one of the best Spider-Man villains in the mysterious Spot (Jason Schwartzman), the tyrannical Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), and a returning Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), this teenage superhero has his hands full in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Stream Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Nominated in the Best Animated Feature category at the 2023 Academy Awards, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, not to be confused with the Disney+ exclusive that was also released in 2022, serves as a reinvention of the timeless story of a wooden puppet with dreams of becoming a real boy. This painstakingly crafted stop-motion musical was all the rage upon its release, thanks to its animation, dark story, and outstanding performances by the likes of Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Christoph Waltz, and Tilda Swinton.
Stream Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio on Netflix.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
In the followup to his 2019 whodunit, Rian Johnson introduces audiences to a new set of characters, an exotic location, and a multi-layered murder mystery that can only be solved by Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the first of at least two movies in the franchise exclusive to Netflix, is full of thrills, chills, and hilarity around every corner.
Stream Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix.
Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)
Killer rabbits, an unflinching Black Knight, and other dangers aren’t enough for King Arthur (Graham Chapman) or the men in his company as they embark upon a quest to find the mythical holy grail. Released in 1975, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is certainly a comedy that will cheer you up when in a funk.
Stream Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Netflix.
All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)
Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) and his school buddies think they are in for the adventure of a lifetime upon joining the German army at the height of World War I, but they soon find out that claims of “Paris in six weeks” are nothing more than false hopes given to new recruits. In Edward Berger’s adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, boys become men as they face one hellish day after another while members of the government attempt to broker a peace deal with France and its allies.
Stream All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix.
The Power Of The Dog (2021)
Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), a closed-off and abrasive rancher in 1920s Montana, becomes even more cruel when his brother, George (Jesse Plemons) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) in Jane Campion’s Academy Award-winning drama The Power of the Dog.
Stream The Power Of The Dog on Netflix.
Roma (2018)
Alfonso Cuarón’s 2018 black-and-white drama Roma follows the lives of domestic workers and the families whose lives they tend to set in 1970s Mexico City. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards (winning three) following its release, Roma is a touching and daunting feat in filmmaking, and helped further cement Cuarón’s place in movie history.
This is just a small portion of the best movies on Netflix, as there are literally thousands of decorated films from all corners of the earth. If you want to see all of the good movies on Netflix that are set to come out this year, check out CinemaBlend’s guide to all the 2024 Netflix originals
