3 Donald Sutherland Movies on Netflix to Watch In Honor Of the Late, Great Star

When the world learned that actor Donald Sutherland died at the age of 88 on Thursday afternoon, film lovers of every generation mourned his passing.

Sutherland’s storied acting career spans a whopping six decades, from his earliest roles in the 1960s to his most recent roles in the 2020s. Boomers love Sutherland for his celebrated performances in movies like The Dirty Dozen, Klute, Don’t Look Now, and the 1970 movie version of M*A*S*H. Gen X-ers love him from Ordinary People, Citizen X, and Outbreak. And, of course, millennials and Gen-Z know Sutherland best as the quietly menacing villain of The Hunger Games series, President Snow.

Sutherland is one of those legendary actors and household names who, infamously, was never nominated for an Academy Award. Nor did he try to chase down a nomination, as so many other actors in his position may have done. Instead, he simply worked, and let his work speak for itself.

There are over 100 Donald Sutherland movies you could watch today in his memory. But if you’re only looking for Donald Sutherland movies on Netflix, your choice is a bit narrower. Read on to see what Donald Sutherland movies on Netflix are available to stream right now.

1. Animal House (1978)

   If you prioritize just one movie on Netflix to honor Sutherland, make it National Lampoon’s Animal House—both because it’s one of his great (albeit brief) early performances, and because the movie is leaving Netflix on June 30. Considered by many to be one of the funniest movies of all time, this frat house college comedy features Sutherland as the young, dorky English professor Dave Jennings. But he’s one of those hip teachers, who smokes weed and hooks up with his students, ya dig? Sutherland’s take on a “cool” professor who wishes he was still a kid is priceless.

   WATCH ANIMAL HOUSE ON NETFLIX

2. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (2022)

   This Netflix adaptation of a 2020 Stephen King novella flew under the radar when it came out, and now it has the distinction of being one of Sutherland’s final movie roles. Written and directed by John Lee Hancock, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone tells the story of a young boy named Craig (played by Jaeden Martell) who takes a job reading out loud to a grumpy, elderly billionaire, Mr. Harrigan (Sutherland). The two become friends, and, after Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig finds he still gets texts from the old man. Sutherland does what he always did best in his late career: A performance filled with both intimidating gravitas and heartbreaking humanity.

   WATCH MR. HARRIGAN’S PHONE ON NETFLIX

3. The Eagle (2011)

   One thing about Donald Sutherland? The man loved his job. He was always working, usually on multiple films a year. And yes, that means you’d sometimes see Sutherland in movies like The Eagle, which is not to be confused with Sutherland’s 1976 war movie, The Eagle Has Landed. No, The Eagle was a 2011 Roman Empire epic starring Channing Tatum, based on Rosemary Sutcliff’s 1954 novel The Eagle of the Ninth. Sutherland plays Tatum’s uncle, and though the film didn’t receive great views, it’s just another example of Sutherland’s prolific and varied career. A true acting legend.

   WATCH THE EAGLE ON NETFLIX