Best Netflix movies: the 41 best films worth watching in September 2024

Tom Power
·13 min read

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L to R) Jamie Foxx (Producer) as Slick Charles, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo and John Boyega as Fontaine sitting on a car on the set of They Cloned Tyrone.
Credit: PARRISH LEWIS/NETFLIX

Searching for the best Netflix movies to stream today? You're in luck. TechRadar's entertainment experts have put in the hard yards to compile a list of the 41 best movies to watch on Netflix, including a number of the streamer's original offerings and plenty of licensed ones. The streamer has a seemingly immeasurable number of films to choose from these days, so we're sure you'll be glad of our help.

If you want even more recommendations, you should read our everything new on Netflix in September 2024 guide and if you want to catch some movies before they bid farewell to the streamer this month, then have a look at everything leaving Netflix in September 2024. It's packed with numerous new movies that have made their way onto the streamer over the past month, including older classics too. However, if you're in the mood to binge watch a TV show or rather focus on something shorter, then check out our best Netflix TV shows to watch list.

From animated flicks to war epics, Netflix's movie library has something for everyone and we've made it easier for you to decide what to watch by picking out the best from each genre, so read on to get the lowdown on the best Netflix films available to you.

Best action movies on Netflix

Baby Driver

Baby Driver, which is now on Netflix.
Baby Driver, which is now on Netflix.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 113 minutes
Main cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Eiza GonzƔlez and Jon Bernthal
Director: Edgar Wright
RT score: 92%

? Watch Baby Driver on Netflix now

? Watch Baby Driver's trailer on YouTube

All Quiet on the Western Front

Still of a soldier in All Quiet on the Western Front
Still of a soldier in All Quiet on the Western Front

Age rating: R
Runtime: 148 minutes
Main cast: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, and Moritz Klaus Director: Edward Berger
RT score: 90%

? Watch All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix now

? Watch All Quiet on the Western Front's YouTube trailer

The Harder They Fall

Idris Elba as Rufus Buck in The Harder They Fall as two men stand behind him in a Western town.
Idris Elba as Rufus Buck in The Harder They Fall as two men stand behind him in a Western town.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 139 minutes
Main cast: Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, and LaKeith Stanfield
Director: Jeymes Samuel
RT score: 88%

? Watch The Harder They Fall on Netflix now

? Watch The Harder They Fall's YouTube trailer

Best animated movies on Netflix

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood

Milo Coy as Stan looking off camera in an astronaut suit on the moon.
Milo Coy as Stan looking off camera in an astronaut suit on the moon.

Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 98 minutes
Main cast: Jack Black, Bill Wise, Lee Eddy, Milo Coy, Zachary Levi, and Glen Powell Director: Richard Linklater
RT score: 91%

? Watch Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood on Netflix now

? Watch Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood's trailer on YouTube

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

(L-R) Gepetto (voiced by David Bradley) and Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann). The picture shows Pinocchio touching Gepetto's nose and smiling.
(L-R) Gepetto (voiced by David Bradley) and Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann). The picture shows Pinocchio touching Gepetto's nose and smiling.

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, and Finn Holfhard
Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
RT score: 96%

? Watch Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio on Netflix now

? Watch Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio's trailer on YouTube

The Mitchells vs The Machines

The Mitchells vs. the Machines key art. Mochi the pug sits on the front of a car as the Mitchell family have smiles on their faces as robots blast at them in the background.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines key art. Mochi the pug sits on the front of a car as the Mitchell family have smiles on their faces as robots blast at them in the background.

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 114 minutes
Main cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Michael Rianda, and Olivia Colman
Director: Michael Rianda
RT score: 97%

? Watch The Mitchells vs the Machines' on Netflix now

? Watch The Mitchells vs the Machines' YouTube trailer

Nimona

Nimona smiling and holding her arms up as she's surrounded by different pink creatures such as a rhino, gorilla and a shark.
Nimona smiling and holding her arms up as she's surrounded by different pink creatures such as a rhino, gorilla and a shark.

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 102 minutes
Main cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, and Frances Conroy Directors: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
RT score: 92%

? Watch Nimona on Netflix now

? Watch Nimona's trailer on YouTube

The Sea Beast

A red sea creature with big yellow eyes looks at Maisie Brumble holding up a blue creature as Jacob Holland sits behind her in a rowing boat.
A red sea creature with big yellow eyes looks at Maisie Brumble holding up a blue creature as Jacob Holland sits behind her in a rowing boat.

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: Karl Urban, Zaris Angel-Hator, Jared Harris, and Dan Stevens
Director: Chris Williams
RT score: 94%

? Watch The Sea Beast on Netflix now

? Watch The Sea Beast's trailer on YouTube

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Miles Morales falls through an interdimensional portal in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Miles Morales falls through an interdimensional portal in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 140 minutes
Main cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Luna Lauren Velez, Bryan Tyree Henry, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, and Jason Schwartzman
Directors: Kemp Powers, Joaquin Dos Santos, and Justin K. Thompson
RT score: 95%

? Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix now

? Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's YouTube trailer

Ultraman: Rising

Ultraman flies through the air with his baby kaiju riding on his back in Netflix's Ultraman: Rising movie
Ultraman flies through the air with his baby kaiju riding on his back in Netflix's Ultraman: Rising movie

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 117 minutes
Main cast: Christopher Sean, Julia Harriman, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young and Gedde Watanbe
Director: Shannon Tindle
RT score: 83%

? Watch Ultraman: Rising on Netflix now

? Watch Ultraman: Rising's YouTube trailer

Best comedy movies on Netflix

Hustle

Adam Sandler as Stanley Beren sitting on a chair watching a basketball game with a basketball by his feet.
Adam Sandler as Stanley Beren sitting on a chair watching a basketball game with a basketball by his feet.

Age rating: 15
Runtime: 118 minutes
Main cast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, and Robert Duvall Director: Jeremiah Zagar
RT score: 93%

? Watch Hustle on Netflix now

? Watch Hustle's trailer on YouTube

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Monty Python and the Holy Grail cast dressed as knights with cartoon figures behind them.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail cast dressed as knights with cartoon figures behind them.

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 92 minutes
Main cast: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin
Directors: Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam
RT score: 96%

? Watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Netflix now

? Watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail's trailer on YouTube

Hit Man

Adria Arjona stands next to the many disguises of Glen Powell in Hit Man
Adria Arjona stands next to the many disguises of Glen Powell in Hit Man

Age rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes
Main cast: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Molly Kate Bernard, Retta and Evan Holtzman
Director: Richard Linklater
RT score: 95%

? Watch Hit Man on Netflix now

? Watch Hit Man trailer on YouTube

Best drama movies on Netflix

Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes wearing a blue dress with her hands on her hips as a train sits behind her.
Enola Holmes wearing a blue dress with her hands on her hips as a train sits behind her.

Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 124 minutes
Main cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helen Bonham Carter
Director: Harry Bradbeer
RT score: 91%

? Watch Enola Holmes on Netflix now

? Watch Enola Holmes' YouTube trailer

The Irishman

Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) and Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) debate Hoffaā€™s next move.
Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) and Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) debate Hoffaā€™s next move.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 209 minutes
Main cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, and Anna Paquin
Director: Martin Scorsese
RT score: 95%

? Watch The Irishman on Netflix now

? Watch The Irishman's YouTube trailer

The Hand of God

Filippo Scotti in The Hand of God
Filippo Scotti in The Hand of God

Age rating: R
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Filippo Scotti, Tony Servillo, Teresa Sapoangelo, and Marlon Joubert Director: Paolo Sorrentino
RT score: 83%

? Watch The Hand of God on Netflix now

? Watch The Hand of God's YouTube trailer

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Age rating: R
Runtime: 94 minutes
Main cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, and Colman Domingo
Director: George C. Wolfe
RT score: 97%

? Watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on Netflix now

? Watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom's YouTube trailer

Molly's Game

A still from the movie Molly's Game of two people sat beside in court
A still from the movie Molly's Game of two people sat beside in court

Age rating: R
Runtime: 140 minutes
Main cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong
Director: Aaron Sorkin
RT score: 81%

? Watch Molly's Game on Netflix now

? Watch Molly's Game trailer

Beasts of No Nation

Idris Elba as Commandant in Beasts of No Nation.
Idris Elba as Commandant in Beasts of No Nation.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 137 minutes
Main cast: Idris Elba, Abraham Atta, and Kurt Egyiawan
Director: Cary Fukunaga
RT score: 91%

? Watch Beasts of No Nation on Netflix now

? Watch Beasts of No Nation's YouTube trailer

Hacksaw Ridge

Andrew Garfield as wounded soldier Desmond Doss looking at an explosion behind him as he holds onto a rope.
Andrew Garfield as wounded soldier Desmond Doss looking at an explosion behind him as he holds onto a rope.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 139 minutes
Main cast: Andrew Garfield, Luke Bracey, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington and Teresa Palmer
Director: Mel Gibson
RT score: 84%

? Watch Hacksaw Ridge on Netflix now

? Watch Hacksaw Ridge's YouTube trailer

The Power of the Dog

Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank look up in the distance with a backdrop of mountains behind him.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank look up in the distance with a backdrop of mountains behind him.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 128 minutes
Main cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee
Director: Jane Campion
RT score: 94%

? Watch The Power of the Dog on Netflix now

? Watch The Power of the Dog's YouTube trailer

Phantom Thread

Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread
Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread

Age rating: R
Runtime: 130 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, and Camilla Rutherford
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
RT score: 91%

? Watch Phantom Thread on Netflix now

? Watch Phantom Thread's YouTube trailer

Roma

A black and white picture of the Roma cast hugging each other on the beach as the tide comes in behind them.
A black and white picture of the Roma cast hugging each other on the beach as the tide comes in behind them.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 134 minutes
Main cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Fernando Grediaga, and Daniela Demesa
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
RT score: 96%

? Watch Roma on Netflix now

? Watch Roma's YouTube trailer

Society of the Snow

ENZO VOGRINCIC as NUMA looking helpless and kneeling in the snow.
ENZO VOGRINCIC as NUMA looking helpless and kneeling in the snow.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 145 minutes
Main cast: Enzo Vogrincic, Augustin Padella, Esteban Bigliardi, and Simon Hempe Director: J.A. Bayona
RT score: 90%

? Watch Society of the Snow on Netflix now

? Watch Society of the Snow's YouTube trailer

The Wonder

Florence Pugh as Lib Wright turning to look at the camera in a graveyard.
Florence Pugh as Lib Wright turning to look at the camera in a graveyard.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 109 minutes
Main cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, and Elaine Cassidy
Director: Sebastien Lelio
RT score: 89%

? Watch The Wonder on Netflix now

? Watch The Wonder's YouTube trailer

Best horror movies on Netflix

The Conjuring 2

Vera Farmiga looking scared while creepy nun Valak stands behind her
Vera Farmiga looking scared while creepy nun Valak stands behind her

Age rating: R
Runtime: 133 minutes
Main cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Maddison Wolfe, Frances Oā€™Connor, and Lauren Esposito
Directors: James Wan
RT score: 80%

? Watch The Conjuring 2 on Netflix now

? Watch The Conjuring 2's YouTube trailer

The Fear Street movie trilogy

Fear Street Part Two 1978 key art. Sadie Sink looks terrified in the orange Fear Street poster.
Fear Street Part Two 1978 key art. Sadie Sink looks terrified in the orange Fear Street poster.

Age rating: R
Runtimes: 107 minutes (Fear Street 1); 110 minutes (Fear Street 2); 114 minutes (Fear Street 3)
Main cast: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Welch, Gillian Jacobs, Sadie Sink, Benjamin Flores Jr, Emily Rudd, and Ryan Simpkins
Director: Leigh Janiak
RT score: 84% (Fear Street 1); 87% (Fear Street 2); 88% (Fear Street 3)

? Watch Fear Street Part 1 on Netflix now

? Watch Fear Street Part 1's YouTube trailer

His House

His House poster image featuring a scared looking man
His House poster image featuring a scared looking man

Age rating: TV-14
Runtime: 93 minutes
Main cast: Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu
Director: Remi Weekes
RT score: 100%

? Watch His House on Netflix now

? Watch His House's YouTube trailer

It Follows

Jay sits in a chair looking scared as Hugh watches on in It Follows
Jay sits in a chair looking scared as Hugh watches on in It Follows

Age rating: R
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, and Olivia Luccardi
Director: David Robert Mitchell
RT score: 95%

? Watch It Follows on Netflix now

? Watch It Follows' YouTube trailer

Best romance movies on Netflix

Call Me by Your Name

Armie Hammer and TimothƩe Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Armie Hammer and TimothƩe Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name

Age rating: R
Runtime: 132 minutes
Main cast: TimothƩe Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Esther Garral, AndrƩ Aciman and Victoire Du Bois
Director: Luca Guadagnino
RT score: 94%

? Watch Call Me By Your Name on Netflix now

? Watch Call Me By Your Name's YouTube trailer

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All The Boys I've Loved Before
To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Anna Cathcart, Israel Broussard, Janel Parrish, Madeleine Arthur and John Corbett
Director: Susan Johnson
RT score: 96%

? Watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before on Netflix now

? Watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before's YouTube trailer

Best sci-fi movies on Netflix

Upgrade

A man's face, half blurred against a red background
A man's face, half blurred against a red background

Age rating: R
Runtime: 100 minutes
Main cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Harrison Gilbertson, Betty Gabriel, Melanie Vallejo and Benedict Hardie
Director: Leigh Whannell
RT score: 88%

? Watch Upgrade on Netflix now

? Watch Upgrade's trailer on YouTube

Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla facing away from camera, with his huge rear spine visible
Godzilla facing away from camera, with his huge rear spine visible

Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 125 minutes
Main cast: Ry?nosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, and Yuki Yamada
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
RT score: 98%

? Watch Godzilla Minus One on Netflix now

? Watch Godzilla Minus One's YouTube trailer

Okja

Mija looks intently as she sits in a rockpool.
Mija looks intently as she sits in a rockpool.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes
Main cast: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Giancarlo Espostio
Director: Bong Joon-ho
RT score: 86%

? Watch Okja on Netflix now

? Watch Okja's YouTube trailer

They Cloned Tyrone

L to R) Jamie Foxx (Producer) as Slick Charles, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo and John Boyega as Fontaine sitting on a car on the set of They Cloned Tyrone.
L to R) Jamie Foxx (Producer) as Slick Charles, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo and John Boyega as Fontaine sitting on a car on the set of They Cloned Tyrone.

Age rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes
Main cast: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris
Director: Juel Taylor
RT score: 95%

? Watch They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix now

? Watch They Cloned Tyrone's YouTube trailer

Best thriller movies on Netflix

A Simple Favor

Anna Kendrick takes a picture of Blake Lively in A Simple Favor
Anna Kendrick takes a picture of Blake Lively in A Simple Favor

Age rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Main cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Linda Cardellini, Dustin Milligan, Ava LaFramboise, Rupert Friend, Jean Smart, Ian Ho and Joshua Satine
Director: Paul Feig
RT score: 84%

? Watch A Simple Favor on Netflix now

? Watch A Simple Favor's YouTube trailer

Emily the Criminal

Aubrey Plaza looks concerned in a still from Emily the Criminal
Aubrey Plaza looks concerned in a still from Emily the Criminal

Age rating: R
Runtime: 97 minutes
Main cast: Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Gina Gershon, Brandon Sklenar, Megalyn Echikunwoke and Jonathan Avigdori
Director: John Patton Ford
RT score: 94%

? Watch Emily the Criminal on Netflix now

? Watch Emily the Criminal's YouTube trailer

Captain Phillips

A Somali pirate points a gun at Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) in Captain Phillips.
A Somali pirate points a gun at Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) in Captain Phillips.

Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 134 minutes
Main cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Barkhad Abdirahman and Catherine Keener
Director: Paul Greengrass
RT score: 93%

? Watch Captain Phillips on Netflix now

? Watch Captain Phillips' YouTube trailer

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Cast photo for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Cast photo for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 141 minutes
Main cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, and Leslie Odom Jr
Director: Rian Johnson
RT score: 92%

? Watch Glass Onion on Netflix now

? Watch Glass Onion's YouTube trailer

Jaws

Roy Scheider in Jaws
Roy Scheider in Jaws

Age rating: PG
Runtime: 124 minutes
Main cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine GaryDirector: Steven Spielberg
RT score: 97%

? Watch Jaws on Netflix now

? Watch the Jaws trailer on YouTube

Oldboy

A movie poster for Oldboy of Choi Min-sik's face
A movie poster for Oldboy of Choi Min-sik's face

Age rating: R
Runtime: 120 minutes
Main cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Director: Park Chan-wook
RT score: 83%

? Watch Oldboy on Netflix now

? Watch the Oldboy trailer

How we choose the best Netflix movies

To land a place on our list of best Netflix movies, each title doesn't have to be a huge hit on the world's best streaming service (i.e. one of the most-streamed movies in the platform's entire history). Instead, the movie needs to pass two tests: hold an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (RT) and be personally recommended by one of the members of the TechRadar streaming team.

Our team of writers include Matthew Bolton, Amelia Schwanke, Tom Power, Lucy Buglass and Grace Morris, who all write and watch movies every day. We have varying views of what makes a good movie, which means our personal tastes cover a wide-range of genres and even sub-genres like psychological thrillers, action adventures, superhero spectacles, supernatural horrors and romantic dramas.

Together, we use this criteria and our cinephile expertise to help inform which films we pick to be the best Netflix movies. There are thousands of movies to stream on Netflix and this changes every month with new arrivals and removals, so this is by no means an exhaustive list. Instead, make sure to check back in with us every month to see which new entries we add.

For more Netflix coverage, read our best Netflix documentaries and best Netflix shows guides. Yet to subscribe to the streaming giant? Read our guide on how to sign up to Netflix, too. Or, you're fed up of the recent price hikes, see whether you should cancel Netflix instead.

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