It's Oscar season, which means it's the one time of year when Netflix puts out movies that are supposed to be good. Not all of Netflix's awards contenders this year are viable; unfortunately, Guillermo del Toro'sFrankenstein is not good enough to make our list of the best movies to watch on Netflix right now. But other potential contenders — like indie dramaTrain Dreams, intense thrillerA House of Dynamite, and sophisticated true crime documentaryThe Perfect Neighbor — are worth watching. KPop Demon Hunters, meanwhile, wasn't intended to be a contender at all, but now it's looking like it could win Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Sometimes Netflix puts out movies that are better than they're supposed to be. 

This is a list of the best movies to watch on Netflixright now. To keep things relevant, we're specifically highlighting the best recent releases, Netflix originals, and some of our own personal favorites.

Last updated Nov. 21; newer additions are at the top.

Train Dreams

Joel Edgerton — one of the world's best kinda underrated actors — is finally getting some Oscar buzz for his outstanding performance in this indie drama that premiered at Sundance in 2025. Edgerton plays Robert Granier, a logger in the early 20th century Pacific Northwest who witnesses the end of the American frontier on a macro level while missing his family on a micro level. It comes from the filmmaking team ofClint Bentley andGreg Kwedar, who previously worked on last year's Oscar nomineeSing Sing, and also stars past Oscar nomineesFelicity Jones,Kerry Condon, andWilliam H. Macy.-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

A House of Dynamite

Kathryn Bigelow's new film was a hit at the Venice Film Festival, and now, A House of Dynamite is in your house, too. The political thriller, the first movie Bigelow has directed since 2017's Detroit, is set in the tense period just before a potential crisis; a nuclear missile has been launched at Chicago by an unknown source, leaving U.S. officials to determine who's responsible and how to avert catastrophe. Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Tracy Letts, and Jared Harris star. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

The Perfect Neighbor

Geeta Gandbhir's acclaimed documentary, which earned rave reviews when it premiered at Sundance, explores the murder of Ajike "AJ" Owens in Florida in 2023, which ignited a nationwide conversation about stand-your-ground laws. Using bodycam footage, The Perfect Neighbor traces the events that led up to the fatal shooting of Owens, a Black mother of four, by neighbor Susan Lorincz, a white woman who had a history of calling the cops on Black children playing in the neighborhood. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Dog Man

ThisCaptain Underpants spinoff from DreamWorks is low-key one of the funniest family comedies of the year. It follows Dog Man, a half-man, half-dog police officer as he battles against Petey, "the World's Most Evilest Cat," voiced byPete Davidson. It's a very silly, gag-driven movie that runs wild with the "what if a dog was a policeman?" premise in a crowd-pleasing way (it topped the box office earlier this year).-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

The Thursday Murder Club

This cozy mystery based on a novel of the same name byRichard Osman features an impressive cast:Helen Mirren,Ben Kingsley,Pierce Brosnan, andCelia Imrie star as retirees, true crime aficionados, and amateur sleuths trying to solve a murder in their community. It's like ifOnly Murders in the Building were British, a movie, and didn't have any millennials getting in the way of the gray-haired action.Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) directs, with a supporting cast of great British actors includingRichard E. Grant andNaomi Ackie.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

DEVO

The iconic synth-rock bandDEVO is the subject of this eponymous documentary from directorChris Smith (Fyre). The doc charts the band's story from their origins as absurdist, philosophical weirdos from Akron, Ohio to their herky-jerky march to the top of the charts with unique songs like "Whip It." They brought Dadaism and the concept of "de-evolution" to the masses, and this film shows how it happened,pyramid hats and all.-Liam Mathews [Trailer]  

Happy Gilmore 2

Happy's back! This sequel, nearly 30 years in the making, finds hockey player-turned-pro golfer Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) coming out of retirement to earn money to support his daughter's dream. He may be older, but he still has a temper. The Sandman is joined by returning cast membersJulie Bowen as Happy's late wife Virginia andChristopher McDonald as his rival Shooter McGavin, as well as new faces including Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio (akaBad Bunny) as his caddy, and a slew of celebrity cameos. The jokes are as silly as ever, like a running gag about a douchey executive having the worst breath anyone has ever smelled. The firstHappy Gilmore is streaming on Netflix, too.-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

KPop Demon Hunters

Any K-pop fan would recognize names like Teddy Park, Lindgren, Jenna Andrews, and Stephen Kirk. They're behind hit songs by juggernaut groups including BTS, BLACKPINK, and TWICE (think "Butter," "Ddu-du Ddu-du," and "I Can't Stop Me," just to name a few). Well, these producers, along with a score of others, worked on the music for the animated film KPop Demon Hunters. If that's not enough to pique your interest, consider this voice acting cast: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Joel Kim Booster, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. Like its title suggests, the Sony-produced Netflix original is about a K-pop girl group who moonlight as supernatural slayers. -Kat Moon[Trailer]

Pig 

"We don't get a lot of things to really care about." If that idea resonates with you, you'll want to see the indie dramaPig.Nicolas Cage stars as a onetime prominent chef from Portland who left society to go live in the woods with his beloved truffle-foraging pig. When his pig is stolen, he has to return to the city to look for what matters to him. It's a similar premise toJohn Wick, with assassin action replaced by tragicomic character study. It's a top-tier Cage performance, and probably his most subtle in at least 20 years. The 2021 film was the debut feature from writer-directorMichael Sarnoski, and his confident and emotionally resonant work led to him becoming one of Hollywood's most promising rising directors, withA Quiet Place: Day One under his belt and an adaptation of popular video gameDeath Stranding in the works.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

Nonnas

If you're looking for a feel-good comedy for the whole family,Nonnas will hit the spot.Vince Vaughn stars as a guy from Staten Island who, after his mother dies, decides to open an Italian restaurant in her honor where all the food is cooked with love by older Italian American ladies. They're not his nonnas, and not all of them are technically nonnas (grandmothers) at all, but they're all great chefs with big personalities. They're played by film and TV legendsLorraine Bracco,Talia Shire,Brenda Vaccaro, andSusan Sarandon, and they're just a ton of fun to hang out with. You'll want to share a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs with them, family style.-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

Havoc

Tom Hardy stars in this gonzo, ultraviolent action flick from directorGareth Evans, who is best known for directing the Indonesian cult classics The Raid andThe Raid 2, two of the most intense action movies of the past 20 years. There's not much of a plot — Hardy plays a crooked cop who descends deep into his city's underworld to find a politician's missing son — but plot's not really what it's about. It's about seeing some of the most extreme, bone-crunching action you'll find anywhere. That nightclub scene! The cast also includesForest Whitaker,Timothy Olyphant, andJessie Mei Li.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

Pangolin: Kulu's Journey

One of the best ways to wash away the doomsday news cycle is to escape into this poignant film from Pippa Ehrlich, the director of the Oscar-winning documentaryMy Octopus Teacher. Once again, the bond between man and animal is the focus, with a wildlife conservationist taking on the task of rehabilitating a traumatized pangolin named Kulu — who behaves like a playful puppy but looks like a prehistoric armadillo — in South Africa. More heartwarming than heartbreaking — but with plenty of both —Pangolin: Kulu's Journey is a reminder that the natural world can still be a refuge for all. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

One of Them Days

Baby, this isKeke Palmer...andSZA! The multitalented performers star in this theatrical hit buddy comedy as two roommates trying to get money for the rent before 6pm, when their landlord will kick them out. It's a long day in Los Angeles movie in the style of Friday, built for 2025 — the reason they don't have rent money is because SZA's character's boyfriend lost it all in crypto. Palmer and SZA are so funny together, and the supporting cast — which includesMaude Apatow,Janelle James,Lil Rel Howery, andKatt Williams — is hilarious, too.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

Despicable Me 4

When all else fails, there's always the Minions. The little yellow guys with anet worth of $5 billion are back for their latest adventure that your kids will watch 5 billion times. To be fair, the Minions aren't the main characters here — that would be Gru (Steve Carell), the reformed supervillain-turned-family man, who has to save his family from his old nemesis, a French bad guy named Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell). But you and I both know it's all about the Minions. It's always about the Minions. It's only about the Minions. All hail our Minion overlords.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

Aftermath

This fun little action thriller features a standout villain performance fromScream franchise breakoutMason Gooding. He plays the leader of a team of militiamen that take over Boston's Tobin Bridge in order to kidnap a whistleblower (Dichen Lachman). But they don't realize that one of the people they've taken hostage on the bridge is a recently returned Army Ranger named Eric (Dylan Sprouse), who was on his way to the movies with his teenage sister, Madeline (Megan Stott). Eric will not stand for Madeline to be put in danger, so he fights back, in the style of one vs. many action thrillers likeFirst Blood andDie Hard.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]

Saturday Night

Writer-directorJason Reitman dramatizes the behind-the-scenes chaos in the 90 minutes leading up to the first episode ofSaturday Night Live (then calledSatuday Night) in 1975.Gabriel LaBelle (The Fabelmans) plays youngLorne Michaels, who is doing everything in his power to make sure the show goes live at 11:30. The cast of young stars playing the cast of young stars includesLamorne Morris asGarrett Morris (no relation),Dylan O'Brien asDan Aykroyd, andNicholas "Cousin Greg" Braun asJim HensonandAndy Kaufman. -Liam Mathews[Trailer]

Kneecap

This musical comedy is pure anarchy in the best way. It's an exaggerated biopic about the titular hip-hop group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language about Irish Republican politics and taking lots of drugs with equal gusto. For Kneecap, partying and politics are all part of the same thing. These lads have the classic Irish gift of gab, and the movie is sort of like a tall tale about three people who made something out of nothing through talent, attitude, and a little bit of luck. It's heavily fictionalized, to be fair, but there's an element of truth to most of it. You've never seen a musician biopic like this.Michael Fassbender co-stars. -Liam Mathews[Trailer]

Will & Harper

This sweet and funny documentary followsWill Ferrell and comedy writerHarper Steele, who have been close friends since they worked onSNL together, on a road trip across the country after Steele transitions from living as male to female. Ferrell learns how to be a better ally, while Steele learns how to navigate America as a trans woman and how to better accept herself. It's a charming, vulnerable story about friendship that will make you love Harper Steele and love Will Ferrell even more.-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

It's What's Inside

It's What's Inside is what A24's party-game-gone-horribly-wrongTalk to Me should have been, and could be the spiritual successor to the delightfully twistedBodies Bodies Bodies. The conceptually rich horror film about college friends who reunite for a wedding and swap bodies — yes, swap bodies! — when one guest brings some new tech over for some entertainment goes to some seriously depraved places, and the excellent cast is up for the actors' exercise and then some. More "OMG!" than scary,It's What's Inside is twisted fun about Gen Z'ers who are obsessed with all things surface level. -Tim Surette[Trailer]

Rebel Ridge

Terry (Aaron Pierre) is trying to post bail for his cousin when all his money is stolen by local cops who seized his possessions under false pretenses. Now, Terry has a whole conspiracy that he'll need to unravel — and a lot of dirty cops to deal with along the way. The action in this one, which comes fromGreen Room directorJeremy Saulnier, packs a ton of energy, and Pierre, who replaced John Boyega in the lead role after Boyega dropped out during filming, is outstanding. It's always nice when a movie turns out OK even with that sort of behind-the-scenes upheaval.-Phil Owen[Trailer]

His Three Daughters

An old man is dying and in hospice care, and his three daughters (Elizabeth Olsen,Carrie Coon, andNatasha Lyonne) are reunited as they stay with him during his final days. All is not well, of course — the daughters don't get along under thebest of circumstances.His Three Daughters is the best sort of emotional family drama: the touching kind that feels like you're watching something that really happened.-Phil Owen[Trailer]

Hit Man

Richard Linklater is known for making thoughtful films about suburbia and the inevitable toll that time takes, but his latest is pure fun.Hit Man starsTop Gun: Maverick's Glen Powell (who also co-wrote the film with Linklater) as a college professor who goes undercover as a hit man in order to arrest those who try to hire him. But when a beautiful woman (Adria Arjona) tries to enlist his services to kill her husband, he falls in love with her and tries to save her from the law. The film is astonishingly based on a true story andearned rave reviews on the festival circuit late last year. As Gavia Baker-Whitelawwrites in her TV Guide review, "Linklater understands that the best rom-com protagonists have strong personalities — the weirder the better — and Arjona and Powell are happy to play their assigned roles to the hilt." -Tim Surette[Trailer]

Godzilla Minus One

On the American side of the Godzilla franchise, things don't usually get too serious, but maybe we're doing it wrong. BecauseGodzilla Minus One, the latest Godzilla flick from Japan, is both an awesome Godzilla spectacle made at a tiny fraction of the cost of the American ones, and a fascinating rumination on post-World War II Japan. Which is to say thatGodzilla Minus One is that rare monster flick that we can say is just a great movie, period, rather than being "good for a Godzilla movie." -Phil Owen[Trailer]

Scoop

In 2019,BBC Newsnight managed to land an interview with British Royal Prince Andrew to discuss his relationship with billionaire convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — that interview had major negative consequences for the prince, and would lead to his ostracism from the royal family over the next few years. This docudrama tells the story of how that incredibly unlikely interview came to be, both from the perspectives of the media and the royal family's PR liaison who was responsible for making it happen.Scoop condenses the details of this story a bit more than it needs to, but it makes up for it with riveting performances by Anderson, Piper, and Hawes and a kinetic pace that never lets you look away. -Phil Owen[Trailer]

Daughters

This immensely emotional documentary charts the stories of several young American girls and their imprisoned fathers, and their preparations for a special Daddy-Daughter Dance at the prison. While that may sound like a feel-good sort of thing, it's only partly uplifting — Daughters is an unflinching look at some of the many ways that the U.S.'s practice of mass incarceration affects not just the people in prison, but their families and everyone else they know. If you're in the mood for feeling every emotion you've got in you, Daughters is the right choice. -Phil Owen [Trailer]

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The Greatest Night in Pop

'80s kids remember the charity anthem "We Are the World," a massive collaboration put together between Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Bob Geldof, Harry Belafonte, and Quincy Jones to bring awareness to famine in Africa that brought together dozens of pop music's biggest stars. This documentary with tons of behind-the-scenes footage charts its creation, from Jackson's humming of a melody to the ultra-secretive recording session to its impact (it's still the ninth-best selling physical single of all-time), and it's all guided by the charismatic Richie, whose recounting of meeting with Jackson in his animal-filled house kicks off this unbelievable story. It's worth watching just to see Bob Dylan look very uncomfortable the entire time. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Society of the Snow

The disaster of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in 1972 has been covered in many books and movies, but J.A. Bayona's take stands on its own thanks to some heart-pounding action sequences. The film covers the survivors of a plane crash in the Andes, and the lengths — including cannibalism — to which they had to go to see the next day.Society of the Snow is one of Netflix's 2024 Oscar nominees, most notably for its nomination for Best International Feature. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Maestro

The expertly composedMaestro waved in seven Oscar nominations in 2024. In addition to directing and writing this biopic about composer Leonard Bernstein, Bradley Cooper stars in the leading role, opposite Carey Mulligan as Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre. It's hardly surprising that critics heaped praise on both lead performances. -Kat Moon [Trailer]

May December

In May December, Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe's (Charles Melton) marriage threatens to crumble when an actor shows up on their porch one day. To prepare for a film, Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) has made it her goal to learn about their controversial relationship beyond the tabloid headlines from two decades ago. But what happens when the actor takes her research a little too far? -Kat Moon [Trailer]

The Killer

David Fincher's newest project, The Killer, is based on the French graphic novel series of the same name that was first published in 1998. The film stars Michael Fassbender as an assassin bent on fulfilling his mission without letting emotions cloud his judgment. Charles Parnell, Kerry O'Malley, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, and Tilda Swinton round out the cast. The Killer's trailer promises a chilling energy signature to Fincher's films, as well as high-octane, smoothly choreographed action scenes. -Kat Moon [Trailer]

The Saint of Second Chances

This documentary is less a historical document and more of a series of true tall tales passed down from generation to generation about the Veeck family, notably Bill Veeck, the beloved and fun-loving owner of the Chicago White Sox in the 1970s, and his son Mike, whose up-and-down relationship with his dad — which hit a low after Mike's brainchild, the infamous "Disco Sucks" night, tarnished Bill's reputation — eventually left him clawing his way back up in the world of baseball and reflecting on his relationship with his own family. Mike is charismatic as he talks about his dad and his life, and Malmberg and Neville have fun with the direction, bringing in Charlie Day to play a young Mike Veeck in reenactments. It's a heartwarming story that transcends the world of baseball. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Deepest Breath

The A24-produced documentary about a couple at the top of the freediving world really delves into what drives people to risk everything to be the best. World champion freediver Alessia Zecchini and Irish safety diving instructor Stephen Keenan seemed destined to meet, but their passion for exploring beneath the surface and risk-taking meant danger would always be near what they loved to do. There are some interesting storytelling choices made by director Laura McGann that some say border on manipulation, but the end result is worth it, and no one can deny that the stunning and treacherous underwater footage of the dives will make your heart pound. -Tim Surette[Trailer] 

Nimona

This charming animated movie about not putting labels on people may seem pretty typical, but it relays that message well and is the rare family-friendly film with LGBTQ+ themes. (The film was reportedly delayed multiple times and eventually canceled in 2021 by boneheaded Disney leadershipbecause of its LGBTQ+ storyline, before being revived by Annapurna and Netflix.) Based on the award-winning graphic novel by ND Stevenson,Nimona features Riz Ahmed as the voice of a disgraced knight whose only chance at redemption is a rambunctious, shapeshifting teenager (Chloë Grace Moretz). Set in a world that evokes science-fiction and D&D fantasy, it's a feast for the eyes, but it's your heart that will feel the fullest by the end. -Tim Surette[Trailer] 

All Quiet on the Western Front

This epic adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's classic and ever-timely 1929 anti-war novel was one of the best Netflix Original movies of 2022, and the winner of the Best International Film award at the 2023 Academy Awards as well as a nominee for Best Picture. It tells the story of Paul Bäumer (Felix Bammerer), a 17-year-old who enlists in the Germany army and gets a firsthand look at the pointless, dehumanizing slaughter of World War I. It's a devastating film that's especially notable for composer Volker Bertelmann's modern, powerful score.-Liam Mathews[Trailer] 

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery  

The first Knives Out was a box office smash, and the sequel got the widest (though still very brief) theatrical release for a Netflix movie ever, but make no mistake, this stylish sequel is a Netflix film. Daniel Craig returns as master detective Benoit Blanc, who's tasked with solving a murder mystery at a Greek villa that starts out as a game and turns real. The cast includes Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista. The plotting is brilliant, the performances are delightful, and the social commentary is astute. In his review for TV Guide, Jordan Hoffman gave it a 9 out of 10, an exceptionally high score for any movie, let alone a Netflix Original after 2019.-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

Emily the Criminal

Aubrey Plaza stars in this crime drama that isn't technically a Netflix original but had such a small indie release that it may as well be.The White Lotus star plays the titular aspiring artist, who has a crushing amount of student debt and a past felony conviction that prevents her from getting a job that makes enough money to pay down what she owes. But then she meets a guy named Youcef (Theo Rossi), who runs a credit card fraud ring. It's a tight little thriller with astute social commentary.-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

It took Guillermo del Toro a decade to bring this passion project, a stop-motion adaptation of the timeless tale of the puppet who wants to be a real boy, to life. GDT's take is steeped in his signature allegorical style of dark fantasy, setting the story in Fascist 1930s Italy and making Pinocchio much less cute than the Disney version of popular imagination. In hisreview for TV Guide, Jordan Hoffman had particular praise for Pinocchio's character design. "He's lively and charming and lovable, but still looks like real wood," he wrote. "It truly is a work of minor magic."-Liam Mathews [Trailer]

My Father's Dragon

If you don't have a kid, you might consider picking one up to watch My Father's Dragon, the latest animated film from Irish studio Cartoon Saloon. Cartoon Saloon gave us the outstanding Wolfwalkers, as well as Song of the Sea and The Secret of Kells, all of which were nominated for Oscars and all of which are fantastic.My Father's Dragon is an adaptation of the classic children's novel of the same name, and features the voices ofJacob Tremblay,Gaten Matarazzo, andWhoopi Goldberg. We miss the Irish accents Cartoon Saloon movies usually have, but it's still really good.-Tim Surette[Trailer]

RRR

As Americans, we're pretty much just "Marvel movie, drrr drrr, Star Wars, drrr drrr," but now's your chance to expand your range to some quality action from international cinema. S.S. Rajamouli's insane epicRRR is a global phenomenon, a dazzling period adventure about two real figures from India's history who meet, form a friendship, and fight the British Raj together, and find a missing girl. With over-the-top, physics-defying action sequences, you won't care that it runs over three hours long. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Lost Daughter

Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut is dark, psychological goodness. In this adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel,Olivia Colman stars as Leda, a college professor on a solo trip to Greece, where she meets and becomes obsessed with Nina (Dakota Johnson), a young, overwhelmed mother. It all quickly turns into the vacation from hell as Nina forces Leda to confront memories of her own experience as a young mother.Jessie Buckley plays the younger version of Leda in flashbacks, whilePeter Sarsgaard,Ed Harris,Dagmara Dominczyk, andPaul Mescal fill out the rest of the cast. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Power of the Dog

Jane Campion's first film since 2009 heads out on the range with one mean cowboy inBenedict Cumberbatch. The 1925-set Western quickly reaches a boil and holds it as a rancher (Jesse Plemons) gets a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) whom his brother (Cumberbatch) takes astrong disliking to. It's a masterclass of simmering tension and spellbinding acting, but if you're here for shoot 'em ups, this Western ain't it. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

tick, tick... BOOM!

Lin-Manuel Miranda has a type: musicals about guys who are worried their time is running out. And why mess with success? Miranda makes his directorial debut with this film adaptation, already racking up good reviews, ofRent creator Jonathan Larson's semi-autobiographical musical.Andrew Garfield stars as the struggling playwright, who's anxious that he hasn't accomplished enough by his upcoming 30th birthday. (The story is made more poignant by Larson's real-life early death at the age of 35, the night beforeRent's off-Broadway premiere.) Garfield is a hit in this,Vanessa Hudgens is in her element, andBradley Whitford does a rock-solid Sondheim impersonation. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Found

This documentary about three adopted Chinese high schoolers looking into their roots could also pass as a robot test, because if you aren't moved to tears at some point, then you're made out of tin. What makes it so effective is that it looks at adoption from every angle: the girls looking for answers and discovering their culture, their adoptive families looking to help them find their roots, the Chinese families who were forced to give up their babies under China's one child policy, and the intrepid investigator who helps adopted children find their birth parents in China. It's an emotional wallop. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Pray Away

Ryan Murphy andJason Blum executive produce this documentary about Exodus International, an Evangelical group formed in the '70s that claims it could turn gay people straight through prayer and conversion therapy. What's most interesting about this film is that it features interviews with ex-leaders who are now speaking out against the movement they were part of for so many years. -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]

Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee's latest is a sprawling drama split between two timelines: the first during the Vietnam War, where a group of Black soldiers band together, and the second during the present, where the surviving members, now aging veterans, return to the country in the hopes of recovering the remains of their fallen squad leader (Chadwick Boseman, in one of his last performances) and locating the gold they buried years ago. It's a dazzling, stylized adventure, and the kind of movie that will make you walk away feeling like you learned something without skimping on character development. -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]

My Octopus Teacher

This film about the intimate relationship between a man and his octopus won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2021. Craig Foster, a diver, buddies up with an octopus in South Africa for a year, documenting her life as she sleeps, eats, and battles sharks. The whole experience teaches Foster about life and moves him to gain appreciation for humanity's relationship with nature, as well as form a closer bond with his son. The whole thing feels a little like a more wholesome version of Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water, but I'm not here to knock anyone who dares to explore interspecies friendships. -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]

I Am Not Your Negro

Raoul Peck's 2016 documentary that's an adaptation of James Baldwin's manuscript about racism in America through the eyes of Black people -- specifically civil rights activists Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X, and Medgar Evans -- is a visual masterpiece with a clear message: America has failed the Black community. The powerful 2016 film brims with energy through old footage of segregation and current shots of protests in the streets in the wake of police violence against minorities. It's an essential watch to better understand America's shameful past and present. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Roma

SorryMank, you aren't the best black-and-white film on Netflix. Not even close.Alfonso Cuaron's 2018 personal tale of a housekeeper in Mexico to a wealthy Mexican family won Best Foreign Film, Best Director (Cuaron), and Best Cinematography (Cuaron) at the 91st Academy Awards, but could have won tons more. It's both quiet and epic in scope, balancing a fascinating relationship between a hard-working woman named Cleo and the family that relies on her, unforgettable shots involving hundreds of extras, and a sensitive story on life bubbling under the surface. –Tim Surette [Trailer]

Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé

I'm going to go out on a limb and say thatHomecoming is perhaps the best, most impactful concert film of at least the past few years. This isBeyoncé at the absolute top of her game, showing not only her historic performance at Coachella 2018, but the emotionally and physically taxing preparation that led up to it. It's just a pleasure to watch, not only because Beyoncé's unparalleled work ethic and commitment to precision, but because of how dedicated she and her team of artists, dancers, and musicians were to making sure the performance was a celebration of Black culture. It's calledHomecoming because of the way it evokes traditions made popular by homecoming concerts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and it's maybe the most entertaining history lesson you'll ever get. Also, there's a pitch-perfect Destiny's Child reunion. We love to see it. -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]

Always Be My Maybe

Ali Wong co-wrote this 2019 romantic comedy in which she stars as Sasha, a celebrity chef who returns home to San Francisco to open a new restaurant and runs into her former childhood friend, Marcus (co-writer Randall Park). The romantic chemistry from their teenage years still remains, and after she breaks off her engagement to her fiancé after he delays their wedding yet again, Sasha attempts to embark on a new relationship with Marcus. However, his fears and her fame -- and a great guest spot from Keanu Reeves -- create obstacles that first have to be overcome before true happiness can be found. -Kaitlin Thomas [Trailer]

The Irishman

Martin Scorsese loves telling stories about almost-great men undone by their own hubris, andThe Irishman is the latest example of that. A lot was made of its three-hour runtime, and its use of CGI to de-age its stars,Robert De Niro,Joe Pesci, andAl Pacino, but those aren't the only things this film has to offer. De Niro plays Frank Sheeran, the titular Irishman, who works as a hitman alongside Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and famous Teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino), both of whom are tied to organized crime. It's an epic about power and betrayal, and contains easily the best performance De Niro's given in years. -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]

Dolemite Is My Name

In 1970s Los Angeles, struggling musician-comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) decides to create a raunchy alter ego named Dolemite in an effort to get noticed. The movie highlights the way, through his work, Moore was able to help pioneer rap as a musical genre. It also provides wider commentary on the blaxploitation phenomenon, and touches on some of Murphy's own feelings about the critics who have commented on his films. Spoiler: He doesn't care! -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Chadwick Boseman's final movie role was in this Netflix original, which is based on the Tony-nominated August Wilson play.Viola Davis stars as Ma Rainey, a powerhouse blues singer in 1927 Chicago who holds up a recording session to butt heads with her white manager, and Boseman plays a trumpeter in the recording session angling to get a foothold in the music business. On its own, it's a good film that has a lot to say about race and music ownership, but the performances from Davis and Boseman elevate it. -Aliison Picurro [Trailer]