Looking for something great to watch on Netflix? From award-winning dramas to wild comedies and everything in between, this list of 30 fantastic films has something for every mood. Whether you're in the mood to laugh, cry, think deeply, or just have a good time, these are the best movies currently streaming on Netflix.

1. Godzilla Minus One

You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. While American films featuring the iconic kaiju focus heavily on large-scale monster-vs.-monster battles and often sideline the human element, writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese legend with a masterful blend of monstrous mayhem and human emotion.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, the film follows a disgraced kamikaze pilot, played by Ryunosuke Kamiki, who faces not only his haunting past but also the devastating power of Godzilla. With the world still reeling from nuclear trauma, the film adds layers of emotional depth—whether it's quiet moments shared over a humble home-cooked meal or harrowing scenes of city-leveling destruction. The stunning visuals earned the film an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but what truly sets it apart is its heart. Even on a smaller screen, the emotional weight hits as hard as Godzilla’s footsteps.

2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

In 2018, we got what remains one of the best superhero movies of all time with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That’s an incredibly tough act to follow—but Across the Spider-Verse does so with flair, heart, and even more dazzling animation.

In the second chapter of Miles Morales' saga, our young Spider-Man is growing up and trying to juggle his double life in Brooklyn. A surprise visit from Gwen Stacy (aka Spider-Woman) pulls him into a wild multiverse adventure filled with new spider-people, a mysterious villain, and a choice that could change the entire Spider-Verse forever.

Sure, we’re all a little burnt out on multiverse stories—but this one is clever, exhilarating, and visually stunning. The new characters are a blast, voiced by an A-list cast including Issa Rae, Oscar Isaac, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni, and Greta Lee. With bold action, emotional stakes, and next-level animation, this sequel somehow raises the bar even higher than its Oscar-winning predecessor.

How to watch: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is streaming on Netflix.

3. Boyz n the Hood

Director John Singleton gave us one of the most powerful dramas of the 1990s in his directorial debut. Boyz n the Hood is a raw and unflinching portrait of Black life in South Central Los Angeles. It follows Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a teen navigating a world of gang rivalries, systemic injustice, and the guidance of his wise father Furious (an incredible Laurence Fishburne).

But the film is about more than just street violence — it explores how cycles of poverty and systemic racism shape the lives of its characters. It was a landmark film in shifting how Black stories were told in mainstream cinema, paving the way for future classics. It also launched careers for stars like Nia Long, Regina King, Ice Cube, and Morris Chestnut.

How to watch: Boyz n the Hood is streaming on Netflix.

4. May December

Todd Haynes’s latest film is more than a true-crime-inspired domestic drama. With a razor-sharp script from Samy Burch, May December becomes a smart, biting satire of melodrama and celebrity obsession.

Julianne Moore plays a woman with a scandalous past that’s thrust back into the spotlight when an actress (played by Natalie Portman) arrives to research her life for a film. What follows is a story of manipulation, performance, and social spectacle, all tinged with unsettling humor and eerie intimacy.

How to watch: May December is streaming on Netflix.

5. Crossroads

Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana, and Taryn Manning take center stage in this millennial cult classic. Written by Shonda Rhimes, Crossroads is part road trip comedy, part emotional coming-of-age drama.

The trio journeys to Los Angeles — for a music audition, a family reunion, and some soul-searching — encountering big revelations along the way. With unforgettable karaoke scenes and plot twists that hit like a freight train, Crossroads is a nostalgic gem that perfectly captures the messy, emotional rollercoaster of teen girlhood.

How to watch: Crossroads is streaming on Netflix.

6. The Kitchen

In a dystopian near-future London, The Kitchen explores what happens when a community under siege decides to fight back. Directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya, the film is both a gripping sci-fi story and a political allegory about housing, gentrification, and resistance.

Kane Robinson and Jedaiah Bannerman shine as residents of The Kitchen — the last free housing zone in the city — fighting to survive brutal police raids and government neglect. It’s a haunting, timely, and visually stunning debut for Kaluuya behind the camera.

How to watch: The Kitchen is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Nimona

Set in a world where knights and high-tech gadgets collide, Nimona is a fun, fierce animated adventure with a ton of heart.

Shapeshifting misfit Nimona (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz) teams up with disgraced knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) to bring down a corrupt institution. With themes of identity, queerness, and found family, Nimona hits emotional notes that resonate deeply — all while serving thrilling fight scenes and gorgeous animation.

How to watch: Nimona is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Maria

In Maria, Angelina Jolie disappears into the role of opera legend Maria Callas, delivering one of her most restrained and haunting performances to date.

Set in Callas’ final days in Paris, director Pablo Larraín (of Spencer and Jackie) paints a surreal, melancholy portrait of a woman reflecting on fame, love, and loss. With visual elegance and emotional depth, Maria is a meditative biopic unlike any other.

How to watch: Maria is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Closer

Mike Nichols' Closer is a seductive drama about love, betrayal, and the messiness of human desire. Four characters — played by Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Julia Roberts, and Clive Owen — fall in and out of relationships in deeply dysfunctional (and very entertaining) ways.

It’s provocative, cynical, and laced with dialogue that cuts like a knife. Whether you find it brilliant or borderline trashy, Closer is impossible to look away from.

How to watch: Closer is streaming on Netflix.

10. Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee’s war epic Da 5 Bloods is a powerful exploration of Black veterans reckoning with the trauma of war and racism.

The story follows four aging soldiers who return to Vietnam to find the remains of their fallen squad leader (played in flashbacks by Chadwick Boseman) and recover buried gold. With brilliant performances — especially from Delroy Lindo — and a potent political punch, it’s one of Lee’s most searing recent works.

How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is streaming on Netflix.

11. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

This chaotic animated family comedy is a joyride of tech-fueled mayhem and heartfelt bonding. When the robot apocalypse hits, it’s up to the dysfunctional Mitchell family to save the world.

With wild visuals, meme-worthy humor, and big-hearted emotion, this is a film both kids and adults will love. Bonus: the voice cast includes Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, and Olivia Colman as a rogue A.I.

How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is streaming on Netflix.

12. The Power of the Dog

Director Jane Campion delivers a slow-burn Western filled with menace, mystery, and emotional depth.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Phil Burbank, a domineering rancher whose cruelty masks deep inner turmoil. With stunning performances by Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee, this Oscar-winning film is subtle, beautiful, and devastating.

How to watch: The Power of the Dog is streaming on Netflix.

13. Hit Man

A thrilling blend of rom-com and undercover crime caper, Hit Man stars Glen Powell as a philosophy professor-turned-fake assassin.

When he meets a client (Adria Arjona) looking to escape her abusive husband, sparks fly — and identities start to blur. With direction from Richard Linklater, the film is stylish, clever, and impossibly charming.

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Okja

Director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) brings his signature blend of whimsy, horror, and heart to this eco-fable about a girl and her genetically modified “super pig.”

When a corporation tries to take her beloved Okja away, young Mija sets off on a globe-trotting rescue mission. Okja is weird, wild, and deeply moving — a true original.

How to watch: Okja is streaming on Netflix.

15. Marriage Story

Noah Baumbach’s heartbreakingly honest drama about divorce captures the beauty and pain of love’s unraveling.

With career-best performances from Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, Marriage Story is emotional, tender, and quietly devastating — a gut punch that still somehow heals.

How to watch: Marriage Story is streaming on Netflix.

16. tick, tick... Boom!

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut celebrates the life and genius of Rent creator Jonathan Larson, brought to life by a sensational Andrew Garfield.

With stunning musical numbers and raw emotion, tick, tick... Boom! is a love letter to ambition, creativity, and the ticking clock that drives all artists.

How to watch: tick, tick... Boom! is streaming on Netflix.

17. Will & Harper

Since their early days on Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have shared a creative bond that led to everything from A Deadly Adoption to Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. But Will & Harper, directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), is their most personal collaboration yet.

This intimate documentary follows the two friends on a road trip across America as they reconnect after Harper comes out as a trans woman. With stops at dive bars, basketball games, and a surly Texas steakhouse, the film blends humor and vulnerability, offering a heartfelt portrait of friendship and identity in today’s America.

How to watch: Will & Harper is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Sing Street

Set in 1980s Dublin, Sing Street is a joyous coming-of-age musical from Once director John Carney. When shy teen Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) starts a band to impress a girl, he finds unexpected purpose in the process.

With an unforgettable soundtrack, great chemistry between the young cast, and themes of rebellion, creativity, and first love, Sing Street is both a nostalgic throwback and a timeless underdog story.

How to watch: Sing Street is streaming on Netflix.

19. Roma

A masterpiece from director Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is a deeply personal, black-and-white elegy to memory, class, and womanhood.

Set in 1970s Mexico City, the story follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a live-in housekeeper working for a middle-class family as political unrest stirs around her. Quietly powerful and gorgeously shot, Roma is an emotional triumph that earned Cuarón a well-deserved Oscar for Best Director.

How to watch: Roma is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Farha

Set during the 1948 Nakba, Farha is a gut-wrenching coming-of-age tale based on a true story.

As war descends on her Palestinian village, 14-year-old Farha (Karam Taher) dreams of education, only to be forced into hiding as violence erupts. Directed by Darin J. Sallam, this powerful film conveys history through the eyes of a child — intimate, harrowing, and essential.

How to watch: Farha is streaming on Netflix.

21. I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) returns with a cerebral mind-bender that’s equal parts horror, philosophy, and emotional unraveling.

Starring Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons, this adaptation of Iain Reid’s novel follows a woman on a surreal visit to meet her boyfriend’s parents — a visit that quickly morphs into an existential nightmare. Unsettling, poetic, and unforgettable.

How to watch: I'm Thinking of Ending Things is streaming on Netflix.

22. RRR

Big, bold, and completely bonkers, RRR is a maximalist action extravaganza from Indian director S. S. Rajamouli.

Set in 1920s colonial India, it imagines two freedom fighters as mythic heroes (played by N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan) with tiger-punching, bridge-swinging, dance-battling abilities. Every scene is turned up to eleven — especially the now-iconic “Naatu Naatu” musical number.

How to watch: RRR is streaming on Netflix.

23. A Simple Favor

Glamour, cocktails, and murder come together in this slick suburban noir-comedy from Paul Feig.

Anna Kendrick stars as a cheerful mommy vlogger who befriends stylish, mysterious Blake Lively — until Lively disappears without a trace. What follows is a twist-filled, campy delight that goes full Gone Girl with a wink.

How to watch: A Simple Favor is streaming on Netflix.

24. The Polka King

You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Jack Black scam retirees in a bedazzled vest.

In The Polka King, Black plays Jan Lewan, a real-life Pennsylvania polka star who turned out to be running a massive Ponzi scheme. Based on the documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King, this comedy leans into the bizarre true story with gusto, backed by hilarious supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman.

How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

The Benoit Blanc Cinematic Universe is alive and thriving. In this follow-up to Knives Out, Daniel Craig returns as the Southern sleuth, now investigating a murder at a tech mogul’s (Edward Norton) opulent Greek island estate.

With a star-studded ensemble — including Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, and Kathryn Hahn — Glass Onion is sharper, weirder, and more satirical than its predecessor. A whodunnit for the influencer age.

How to watch: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix.

26. Klaus
Who says animated holiday movies are just for December? Klaus, an Oscar-nominated feature from Spanish animator Sergio Pablos, is one of the most charming and emotionally satisfying films on Netflix. The hand-drawn animation is stunning, and the story — about a spoiled postman (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) sent to a remote town where he meets a reclusive toymaker (J.K. Simmons) — reimagines the origin of Santa Claus with heart, wit, and a surprising emotional punch. It’s the kind of film that sneaks up on you and leaves you misty-eyed by the final act. — A.F.
How to watch: Klaus is streaming on Netflix.

27. The Trial of the Chicago 7
Aaron Sorkin’s courtroom drama recounts the true story of seven anti-Vietnam War protesters who were charged with conspiracy after the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Sorkin’s script is characteristically snappy and razor-sharp, and the ensemble cast — including Sacha Baron Cohen, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eddie Redmayne, and Mark Rylance — delivers stellar performances across the board. It’s part historical drama, part legal thriller, and entirely gripping, with themes that feel unfortunately timeless. — B.E.
How to watch: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is streaming on Netflix.

28. Enola Holmes
Millie Bobby Brown steps out of Hawkins and into Victorian London as Sherlock Holmes’s rebellious younger sister in this delightful adventure-mystery film. Enola is smart, strong-willed, and always one step ahead, making her a fantastic heroine for a new generation. With Henry Cavill as Sherlock and Helena Bonham Carter as their fiery mother, the cast is stacked with charm. The action is clever, the message empowering, and the vibe refreshingly fun. — K.P.
How to watch: Enola Holmes is streaming on Netflix.

29. The Wonder
Florence Pugh stars in this haunting psychological drama set in 19th-century Ireland. As an English nurse sent to a rural village to observe a young girl who hasn’t eaten in months, Pugh brings a quiet, steely determination to the role that anchors the film. The Wonder is eerie, atmospheric, and deeply thought-provoking, exploring the collision of science, religion, and trauma with a slow-burn intensity. Pugh is, unsurprisingly, phenomenal. — S.C.
How to watch: The Wonder is now streaming on Netflix.

30. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Forget everything you thought you knew about Pinocchio. Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion adaptation transforms the classic tale into a gorgeously macabre and emotionally complex fable about love, loss, and humanity. Set in Fascist-era Italy, this isn't your Disney childhood version — it's darker, deeper, and visually spectacular. The craftsmanship alone is enough to warrant a watch, but del Toro’s signature heart and melancholy make it unforgettable. — B.E.
How to watch: Pinocchio is streaming on Netflix.