The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (September 2024)
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The superb sci-fi action flick Edge of Tomorrow has been absent from all streaming platforms for too long. But on September 7, it’s coming back to Netflix for a late celebration of its 10th anniversary. We’ve seen unheralded low-budget action flicks rise to the top of the most popular movies on Netflix, but we’ll be shocked if Edge of Tomorrow doesn’t receive a similar reception.
Meanwhile, the horror film The Deliverance has been hanging around in the No. 1 slot on that list for just over a week. It may be a little early to start the Halloween celebrations, but horror fans have already embraced The Deliverance, even if critics have not.
Keep reading for more of the best movies on Netflix right now. We update this list every Friday so you’ll always have fresh options when planning your weekend movie nights.
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
Edge of Tomorrow (2014) [New]
Metacritic: 71%
IMDb: 7.9/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 114m
Genre: Action, Science Fiction
Stars: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton
Directed by: Doug Liman
American audiences may not realize it, but Edge of Tomorrow is based on the Japanese sci-fi book, All You Need Is Kill. That title may have lost something in translation, but this is one of Tom Cruise’s best action movies. Cruise stars as William Cage, a military journalist demoted to the frontline ahead of a major offensive against alien invaders in Europe.
Despite Cage’s death on the battlefield, he finds himself reliving the same day over and over again thanks to his close encounter with one of the aliens. Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), a woman who previously experienced the time loop, takes Cage under her wing and trains him to be a great soldier each repeating day. However, no matter how many times Cage relives the day, it soon becomes clear that humanity may be destined to lose the war.
The Deliverance (2024) [New]
Metacritic: 38%
IMDb: 5.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 112m
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Stars: Andra Day, Glenn Close, Anthony B. Jenkins
Directed by: Lee Daniels
The Deliverance starts off like a family drama and soon takes a turn toward supernatural horror. Ebony Jackson (Andra Day) moves her three children and her dying mother, Alberta Jackson (Glenn Close), into a rundown home as their family teeters on financial ruin. While Ebony struggles with her alcoholism, her youngest son, Dre (Anthony B. Jenkins), begins having odd encounters with an imaginary friend.
Soon, all three of Ebony’s children are experiencing strange and disturbing incidents at the house that the family’s child services worker, Cynthia Henry (Mo’Nique), believes to be evidence of physical abuse. But for Ebony, the real threat to her family may be a demonic possession that she can’t handle by herself.
Other Netflix Movies
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) [New]
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 137m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
Directed by: James Cameron
Considering it’s been 33 years since Terminator 2: Judgment Day was the summer blockbuster of 1991, it’s held up remarkably well. That’s true of most of James Cameron’s movies, but this one in particular was a quantum leap over its impressive predecessor. Ten years after the events of the first film, John Connor (Edward Furlong) is languishing in foster care while his mother, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), is locked up in an asylum because no one believes her story about killer androids from the future.
They should have listened to Sarah when they had the chance, because the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) has come back in time to finish the job. Only an older model T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) stands between the Connors and a nearly invulnerable killer. But with this machine on their side, John and Sarah may be able to change the future itself.
Star Trek Beyond (2016) [New]
Metacritic: 68%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 122m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban
Directed by: Justin Lin
In the Star Trek reboot timeline, everything happens early for Captain Kirk (Chris Pine). Thus, Star Trek Beyond gives Kirk a mid-life crisis in his early ’30s, about two decades ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Spock (Zachary Quinto) is facing a crisis of his own, as a personal loss forces him to question whether he should stay on the Enterprise or help his people survive.
All of those external problems will have to wait, because Krall (Idris Elba) has captured most of the Enterprise’s crew and irreparably damaged the ship. Now, Kirk, Spock, Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban), and Scotty (Simon Pegg) have to rally the survivors to fight back. Their new friend, Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), may even be able to help them unravel the mystery behind Krall and why he knows so much about the Federation.
The Union (2024) [New]
Metacritic: 44%
IMDb: 5.5/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 109m
Genre: Action, Comedy
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons
Directed by: Julian Farino
Mike McKenna (Flight Risk‘s Mark Wahlberg) never really expected to see his high school sweetheart, Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry), ever again. But their paths converge in the action comedy called The Union because Roxanne needs someone she can trust. During the last two decades, Roxanne has become a secret agent of immeasurable skill, but most of her colleagues have been killed after their identities were exposed.
Roxanne gives Mike a chance to become a spy because she knows she can rely on him. Compared to Roxanne, Mike is really winging it as their mission takes them all over Europe. But there may just be something left in their romantic connection if they can both make it home alive.
Migration (2023) [New]
Metacritic: 56%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 83m
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Caspar Jennings
Directed by: Benjamin Renner
For Illumination’s first film after The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the studio took to the skies with Migration. Kumail Nanjiani lends his voice to the film as Mack Mallard, a duck who is married to Pam (Elizabeth Banks) and the father of their children, Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal).
After spending their whole lives in a New England pond, Mack’s wife and kids convince him, and their curmudgeonly relative, Uncle Dan (Danny DeVito), to go on the trip of a lifetime to Jamaica by way of New York City. That trip is easier said than done for these first-time migrators. But if the family can stick together, they might just pull this off.
Pearl (2022)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: R
Duration: 102m
Genre: Horror, Drama
Stars: Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright
Directed by: Ti West
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.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
Metacritic: 47%
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 118m
Genre: Action, Thriller
Stars: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh
Directed by: Edward Zwick
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)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 111m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Stars: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman
Directed by: Robert Schwentke
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.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Metacritic: 46%
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 115m
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy
Stars: Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon
Directed by: Gil Kenan
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)
Metacritic: 50%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 94m
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars: Harry Connick Jr., Agni Scott, Ali Fumiko Whitney
Directed by: Stelana Kliris
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)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Duration: 133m
Genre: Western, Horror, Drama
Stars: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins
Directed by: S. Craig Zahler
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)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 7.6/10
Rated: R
Duration: 102m
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime
Stars: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas
Directed by: Mary Harron
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)
Metacritic: 54%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: R
Duration: 118m
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige
Directed by: Mark Molloy
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.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)
Metacritic: 53%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 105m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton
Directed by: Rob Letterman
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)
Metacritic: 46%
IMDb: 4.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 125m
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Stars: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle
Directed by: Sam Taylor-Johnson
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)
Duration: 121m
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Animation, Family
Stars: Christopher Sean, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita
Directed by: Shannon Tindle
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)
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 115m
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Crime
Stars: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio
Directed by: Richard Linklater
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)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 7.9/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 125m
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Action
Stars: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada
Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki
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.
Anyone But You (2023)
Metacritic: 52%
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 104m
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Stars: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Mia Artemis
Directed by: Will Gluck
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.
Baby Driver (2017)
Metacritic: 86%
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 113m
Genre: Action, Crime
Stars: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James
Directed by: Edgar Wright
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)
Rated: R
Duration: 104m
Genre: Action, Thriller
Stars: Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Ana Girardot
Directed by: Julien Leclercq
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)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 5.8/10
Duration: 89m
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Angus Cloud, Elliot Knight, Jessica Garza
Directed by: Dan Brown
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)
Metacritic: 46%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 110m
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Nick Robinson, Robin Wright
Directed by: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
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)
Metacritic: 56%
IMDb: 5.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 108m
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Stars: Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan
Directed by: Johan Renck
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 Hanu? (Paul Dano). It seems like Hanu? has a greater grasp on Jakub’s problem than he does, and Hanu? 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 Hanu?.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 140m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan
Directed by: Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan
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)
Metacritic: 63%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 106m
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae
Directed by: Eli Roth
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)
Metacritic: 75%
Duration: 91m
Genre: Family, Comedy, Animation, Fantasy
Stars: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Angela Bassett
Directed by: Sean Charmatz
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)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rated: R
Duration: 104m
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History
Stars: Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, America Ferrera
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
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)
Metacritic: 71%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: R
Duration: 144m
Genre: Drama, History
Stars: Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt
Directed by: J. A. Bayona
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)
Metacritic: 58%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 109m
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandrea
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
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)
Metacritic: 78%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: R
Duration: 129m
Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer
Directed by: Bradley Cooper
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)
Metacritic: 62%
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 97m
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey
Directed by: Sam Fell
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)
Metacritic: 46%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 93m
Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day
Directed by: Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath
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)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 102m
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars: Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong
Directed by: Robert Smigel, Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim
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)
Metacritic: 56%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 91m
Genre: Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton
Directed by: Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin
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)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 118m
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell
Directed by: David Fincher
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)
Metacritic: 86%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 140m
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Stars: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers
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)
Metacritic: 59%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 104m
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
Directed by: Gene Stupnitsky
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)
Metacritic: 45%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 129m
Genre: History, Drama
Stars: Khris Davis, Forest Whitaker, Sullivan Jones
Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.
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)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 122m
Genre: Science Fiction, Comedy, Mystery
Stars: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx
Directed by: Juel Taylor
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)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 144m
Genre: Music, History, Drama
Stars: Naomi Ackie, Ashton Sanders, Stanley Tucci
Directed by: Kasi Lemmons
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)
IMDb: 9.7/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 99m
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
Stars: Noah Jupe, Mandy Patinkin, Natasia Demetriou
Directed by: Wendy Rogers
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.
Munich: The Edge of War (2022)
Metacritic: 53%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Duration: 129m
Genre: Drama, History
Stars: George MacKay, Jannis Niew?hner, Jeremy Irons
Directed by: Christian Schwochow
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 Niew?hner play the former Oxford University classmates who become reluctant spies.
The Sea Beast (2022)
Duration: 115m
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars: Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris
Directed by: Chris Williams
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)
Metacritic: 68%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Duration: 123m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Comedy, Crime
Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Directed by: Harry Bradbeer
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)
Duration: 117m
Genre: Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars: Alisha Weir, Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch
Directed by: Matthew Warchus
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)
Duration: 139m
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Stars: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe
Directed by: Rian Johnson
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)
Duration: 117m
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Drama, Music
Stars: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
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)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 102m
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Stars: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves
Directed by: Nahnatchka Khan
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.
