Movies The 30 best movies on Netflix Netflix has many quality offerings, including beloved classics and compelling originals. By Kevin Jacobsen and Declan Gallagher Updated on August 9, 2024 08:19AM EDT Close Kwak Do-won in 'The Wailing'; Miles Morales in 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'; Angelina Jolie in 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'. Photo: Well Go USA/Courtesy Everett Collection; Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; 20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection It's hard to believe that Netflix only launched in 2007, but apparently, that’s all the time it takes to change the face of movie/TV consumption. When it introduced its then-revolutionary mail-in rental service, Netflix was competing with businesses like movie theaters, Blockbuster, and even Tower Video. Some of those stalwarts have faltered, but Netflix has only continued to expand its library and influence. Beyond a treasure trove of original series and features, the service has curated a laundry list of excellent films both new and old. Here are the 30 best movies on Netflix right now. 01 of 30 1917 (2019) George MacKay and Benedict Cumberbatch in '1917'. Francois Duhamel/Universal Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection This Oscar-winning war film presents its story with bracing realism. In 1917, Lance Corporal William "Will" Schofield (George MacKay) is a British soldier embarking on a perilous journey through the trenches and battlefields of World War I. Will is paired with Lance Corporal Thomas "Tom" Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and tasked with personally delivering a message to a colonel to call off an offensive attack that would put British soldiers in harm's way. Director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins skillfully give the film the illusion of being shot seamlessly — as if in only one continuous take — which, EW's critic observes, "effectively drops the viewer into the center of the story and compels them to stay there, fully immersed in every muddy step, hunger pang, and rifle click." —Kevin JacobsenWhere to watch 1917: NetflixEW grade: A– (read the review)Director: Sam MendesCast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch 1917 cast and creators explain how they built the film to be one continuous shot 02 of 30 American Psycho (2000) (From left to right) Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, Justin Theroux, Samantha Mathis, and Matt Ross in 'American Psycho'. Everett Collection Christian Bale elevated his career to a new level with his committed portrayal of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. The film centers on Patrick, an investment banker immersed in the empty consumerism of the corporate world, whose jealousy and lust for power leads him to murder. As EW's critic writes, "Mary Harron's American Psycho is a merry-prankster nightmare — a cheerfully irreverent drawing-room slasher movie." While the film was ultimately a box office disappointment, time has been kind to American Psycho; its depiction of a social-climbing yuppie with anxiety over how other people perceive him makes him eerily relatable — just hopefully without the whole serial killer part. —K.J. Where to watch American Psycho: Netflix EW grade: N/A (read the review) Director: Mary Harron Cast: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe Chloë Sevigny struggled with Christian Bale's American Psycho Method acting 03 of 30 Back to the Future (1985) Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in 'Back to the Future'. Universal/Everett A high schooler travels into the past via DeLorean, meets his parents when they were his age, and nearly causes a rift that prevents his existence — a tale as old as time! Robert Zemeckis' beloved sci-fi comedy may have an inherently fantastical premise, but what's helped it endure decades later is its foundation of authentic humanity, thanks in large part to Michael J. Fox's endearing performance. His Marty McFly is plucky in the face of unusual circumstances, and his partnership with his friend and mentor Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) makes them one of the all-time great cinematic duos. —K.J. Where to watch Back to the Future: Netflix Director: Robert Zemeckis Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover Back to the Future cast: Where are they now? 04 of 30 Call Me by Your Name (2017) Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer in 'Call Me by Your Name'. Sony Pictures Classics/Courtesy Everett Collection This sensual tale of yearning set in 1983 Italy is one of director Luca Guadagnino's finest works. Timothée Chalamet stars as Elio, a 17-year-old who falls in love with his father's handsome new graduate student, Oliver (Armie Hammer). Basking in the hot summer days, Elio and Oliver explore the countryside and form a passionate bond that will affect both of their lives forever. The film made a star out of Chalamet, who earned an Oscar nomination for his sensitive, complex performance as a teen coming of age and realizing what he desires for himself. As EW's critic writes of the film, "It’s real life, heartbreaking and sublime." —K.J. Where to watch Call Me by Your Name: Netflix EW grade: A– (read the review) Director: Luca Guadagnino Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Victoire Du Bois Call Me by Your Name director still wants to make a sequel with Timothée Chalamet 05 of 30 The Edge of Seventeen (2016) Hailee Steinfeld and Haley Lu Richardson in 'The Edge of Seventeen'. Murray Close/STX Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection The Edge of Seventeen embraces the wonderfully awkward growing pains of being a teenage girl. Hailee Steinfeld stars as Nadine, a disaffected 17-year-old who is left mortified upon learning her older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) is now dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). Nadine soon offers an ultimatum to Krista: her or Darian. After Krista fails to make this binary choice, Nadine coldly ends their friendship, which sends herself down a darker path than before. "Seventeen gets that being young can feel like The Hunger Games without the prizes," EW's critic writes, "at least there’s always hope — and graduation — on the other side." —K.J. Where to watch The Edge of Seventeen: Netflix EW grade: B+ (read the review) Director: Kelly Fremon Craig Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner Hailee Steinfeld likens Edge of Seventeen to a modern-day John Hughes film 06 of 30 Emily the Criminal (2022) Aubrey Plaza in 'Emily the Criminal'. Sundance Institute Aubrey Plaza gives one of her finest turns to date in this grounded thriller. She plays the titular down-on-her-luck felon who resorts to theft to make her way out from under a mountain of debt. "She may be a wanton criminal, but she's also a woman very much for these times," EW's critic writes. "Not the anti-heroine we knew we needed, maybe, but one that we deserve." It's a visceral, often unbearably anxious film that showcases Plaza's steeliest, most nuanced performance in a career full of them. —Declan Gallagher Where to watch Emily the Criminal: Netflix EW grade: B+ (read the review) Director: John Patton Ford Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Gina Gershon, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Theo Rossi, Bernardo Badillo Aubrey Plaza on why her new thriller Emily the Criminal felt like pulling off a scam 07 of 30 Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) Michelle Yeoh in 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. Allyson Riggs/A24 Few films in recent memory have lived up to their title as well as Everything Everywhere All at Once. Combining science fiction, action, broad comedy, and heart-tugging drama, the film manages to cohere into an absurdist masterpiece about finding value in the life you have, without giving in to regret. Action superstar Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant living in America with her loving husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan) and daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu), with whom she has a strained relationship. One day, while being audited by the IRS, she accepts an offer to escape her life to help prevent a powerful force from destroying the multiverse, setting in motion a dangerous — yet deeply personal — journey. Everything Everywhere All at Once resonated with both critics and audiences, winning seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actress for Yeoh. —K.J. Where to watch Everything Everywhere All at Once: Netflix EW grade: B– (read the review) Directors: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Hong Back to the beginning: Everything Everywhere All at Once's journey to the Oscars 08 of 30 Godzilla Minus One (2023) Godzilla in 'Godzilla Minus One'. Toho International/Courtesy Everett Collection Films in the long-running Godzilla franchise aren't exactly known for their human characters compared to the titular giant reptilian monster, but this universally acclaimed installment is a rare exception. The film focuses on former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a man with PTSD after failing to prevent Godzilla from destroying an island community during World War II. Haunted by the incident, Shikishima looks for redemption when the imposing monster returns to terrorize Japan. EW's critic ranks Godzilla Minus One — which won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects — as the fourth-best film in the franchise, writing, "This sweeping blend of character-driven drama, maritime adventure, and kaiju mayhem is popcorn entertainment at its best." —K.J. Where to watch Godzilla Minus One: Netflix Director: Takashi Yamazaki Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, Kuranosuke Sasaki Godzilla stomps into Oscars race after 7 decades of snubs but King Kong still reigns supreme 09 of 30 It Follows (2014) Maika Monroe in 'It Follows'. RADiUS-TWC/Everett David Robert Mitchell's chilling, low-fi horror opus has inspired a variety of successors, including 2022's Smile and 2023's exceptional Talk to Me. None of those films have replicated dread and unease in quite the same way as Mitchell's original, though. Maika Monroe stars as Jay, a teen who, after engaging in a one-night stand, is given an STD ("sexually transmitted demon") that she can only pass on by sleeping with someone else. If that's not bad enough, the curse also takes the form of shuffling, stalking entities that may or may not be real. —D.G. Where to watch It Follows: Netflix EW grade: A– (read the review) Director: David Robert Mitchell Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Jake Weary, Lili Sepe, Olivia Luccardi It Follows is getting a sequel titled They Follow 10 of 30 The Killer (2023) Michael Fassbender in 'The Killer'. Netflix David Fincher's latest thriller is a white-knuckle, pared-down genre exercise that calls back to '70s exploitation films but also owes quite a bit to Anton Corbijn's The American (2010). Michael Fassbender stars as the nameless assassin who, after a hit goes wrong and his family is targeted, chases after a shadow enforcer (Tilda Swinton) for revenge. EW's critic observes, "With a reptilian coldness, Fassbender infuses the 'Killer' with an eerie stillness that underscores the character's lack of empathy and warmth." —D.G. Where to watch The Killer: Netflix EW grade: C+ (read the review) Director: David Fincher Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Sala Baker The Killer collaborators David Fincher and Andrew Kevin Walker dissect their lethal partnership 11 of 30 La La Land (2016) Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in 'La La Land'. Dale Robinette/Black Label Media/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock Few modern musicals have shined so brightly as Damien Chazelle's vibrant comedy-drama about an actress and a jazz musician who fall in love against the backdrop of Los Angeles. Played with exuberance by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, the pair attempt to achieve their dreams while maintaining their relationship, even if this balancing act proves difficult. Packed with musical sequences both dazzling and wistful, La La Land's strength lies in its embracing of old-school entertainment without being necessarily old-fashioned. Stone won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance, while the film famously almost won Best Picture. —K.J.Where to watch La La Land: NetflixEW grade: A (read the review)Director: Damien ChazelleCast: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, John Legend, J.K. Simmons, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock Ryan Gosling reunites with La La Land star Emma Stone to remind everyone how they 'saved jazz' 12 of 30 Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (2022) Marcel in 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On'. A24 Marcel the Shell With Shoes On adapts the beloved video series of the same name from the early-2010s. The live-action/stop-motion animated hybrid film centers on the titular Marcel (Jenny Slate), a talking seashell who cares for his nana, Connie (Isabella Rossellini). A documentary filmmaker follows Marcel's activities and posts them online, making him a viral sensation and prompting him to make efforts to reunite with the rest of his family. The tender-hearted film blends humor with genuine pathos as it explores themes of family ties and the value of simple kindness. —K.J. Where to watch Marcel the Shell With Shoes On: Netflix Director: Dean Fleischer Camp Cast: Jenny Slate, Isabella Rossellini, Rosa Salazar, Thomas Mann, Dean Fleischer Camp, Lesley Stahl, Jesse Cilio How Lesley Stahl wound up interviewing her tiniest subject in Marcel the Shell With Shoes On 13 of 30 Molly's Game (2017) Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba in 'Molly's Game'. Courtesy of STXfilms Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin made his directorial debut with this engrossing biographical drama about entrepreneur Molly Bloom and her tumultuous experience in the world of high-stakes poker. Jessica Chastain plays the title role, following her journey from aspiring Olympian to bottle service waitress to running an underground poker empire. Her success is soon threatened when multiple mafias get involved in her games leading to an FBI investigation and her indictment. The film soars on the strength of Chastain's charismatic performance, a perfect match for Sorkin's signature clever dialogue. As EW's critic writes, Molly's Game is "a cool, crackling, confident film that appeals to your intelligence instead of insulting it." —K.J. Where to watch Molly's Game: Netflix EW grade: A– (read the review) Director: Aaron Sorkin Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O'Dowd, Bill Camp Jessica Chastain on Molly's Game, Poker, and Idris Elba 14 of 30 Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'. 20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection With the new TV remake with Donald Glover and Maya Erskine now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, there's no better time to revisit the 2005 film of the same name. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star as John and Jane Smith, a couple whose marriage is on shaky ground. They also happen to both be skilled assassins, though neither is aware of each other's occupation. This all changes when they're both assigned to kill the same target, which complicates everything to the point that they're soon tasked with killing each other. Hijinks ensue, and the film is propelled by the undeniable chemistry between Pitt and Jolie, who EW's critic writes have a "chemical zing." Thus, Brangelina was born. —K.J. Where to watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Netflix EW grade: N/A (read the review) Director: Doug Liman Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody, Kerry Washington The new Mr. & Mrs. Smith cast: See the actors from the series vs. the movie 15 of 30 No Hard Feelings (2023) Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman in 'No Hard Feelings'. Macall Polay/Columbia Pictures This raunchy comedy represented both a strong comeback for Jennifer Lawrence after a few low-key years and a return to form for the genre, which has seen lean times as of late. It stars Lawrence as a down-on-her-luck thirtysomething who, in order to repair her car, must deflower a nerdy young man (Andrew Barth Feldman) before he goes off to college. No Hard Feelings isn't a perfect movie, but it is often laugh-out-loud funny and subversive in all the right ways without ever insisting upon itself. EW's critic calls the film "a welcome addition to a dwindling genre — and a reminder that Lawrence is one [of] Hollywood's best (and funniest) leads." —D.G. Where to watch No Hard Feelings: Netflix EW grade: B (read the review) Director: Gene Stupnitsky Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales How a Craiglist ad inspired Jennifer Lawrence's No Hard Feelings 16 of 30 Nyad (2023) Annette Bening and Jodie Foster in 'Nyad'. Kimberley French/Netflix Annette Bening gives an astonishing, Oscar-nominated performance as real-life marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who at 64 trained to become the first person to swim to Cuba. Equally riveting as Nyad's trainer is Jodie Foster (also Oscar-nominated), reminding viewers that in terms of steely confidence, someone rarely does it better than her. "The two women also share an effortless chemistry that breathes vitality into their onscreen bond and wholeheartedly sells their decades-long connection," EW's critic writes. —D.G. Where to watch Nyad: Netflix EW grade: B– (read the review) Directors: Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Cast: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans, Luke Cosgrove, Karly Rothenberg How Nyad star Annette Bening and the filmmakers recreated that inspiring long-distance swim 17 of 30 Phantom Thread (2017) Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Phantom Thread'. Laurie Sparham/Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Paul Thomas Anderson's 1950s-set costume drama is a transfixing exploration of power dynamics within a relationship, and how love can be sickening — literally. Daniel Day-Lewis, in his self-proclaimed final film role, stars as Reynolds Woodcock, a renowned fashion designer who enters a tumultuous romance with Alma (Vicky Krieps), a waitress whom he soon makes his muse. But Alma is much cleverer than she appears, while Reynolds is more difficult to live with than she had hoped, leading to dysfunction. Adorned with dry humor and sumptuous visuals, Phantom Thread is a masterwork from one of modern cinema's best craftsmen. —K.J. Where to watch Phantom Thread: Netflix EW grade: B (read the review) Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville Phantom Thread star Vicky Krieps talks holding her own with Daniel Day-Lewis 18 of 30 The Power of the Dog (2021) Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst in 'The Power of the Dog'. Netflix Jane Campion's adaptation of the Thomas Savage novel is a spellbinding Western drama about power and control. Set in 1920s Montana, the film centers on Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) a cruel rancher who psychologically torments his brother (Jesse Plemons), sister-in-law (Kirsten Dunst), and her soft-spoken son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) on the ranch they share. After Peter discovers a buried secret about Phil, he methodically plots his revenge on his uncle. Campion deservedly won an Oscar for Best Director for the film; as EW's critic praises, "being submerged in her ineffable world feels not just like two hours in the dark, but high art." —K.J. Where to watch The Power of the Dog: Netflix EW grade: A– (read the review) Director: Jane Campion Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Genevieve Lemon, Keith Carradine, Frances Conroy The Power of the Dog director Jane Campion on her personal journey into the year's most Oscar-nominated movie 19 of 30 RRR (2022) N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan in 'RRR'. Raftar Creations/Courtesy Everett Collection This Indian action epic rightfully broke out as an international success in 2022. Set during the British Raj in the 1920s, the film centers on Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and his plan to reunite a kidnapped girl with her mother; meanwhile, a determined officer, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan), is hot on his trail. Their lives intersect when they rescue a boy in a train accident and they form a bond, ironically unaware of each other's identities. Packed with rousing sequences (particularly the performance of the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu"), RRR is an entertaining thrill ride that puts Hollywood blockbusters to shame. —K.J. Where to watch RRR: Netflix Director: S.S. Rajamouli Cast: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, Olivia Morris Russo brothers and RRR director S.S. Rajamouli on the 'universal language' of action movies 20 of 30 Spider-Man 2 (2004) Kirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire in 'Spider-Man 2'. Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection All three films in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy are streaming on Netflix, but the middle entry is the best — and one of the top-tier superhero films ever made. After two years of inhabiting his web-slinging persona, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) faces difficulties in his personal life while also trying to protect his beloved Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) and the city of New York from a new villain, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), whose body is fused with four mechanical tentacles operated with artificial intelligence. What separates Spider-Man 2 from other superhero films is its investment in the personal struggles of its characters, not only exploring Peter's identity but giving us a morally complex villain in Dr. Octavius and a moving emotional throughline with Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), and, thus, providing genuine stakes to one visually stunning action sequence after another. —K.J. Where to watch Spider-Man 2: Netflix EW grade: N/A (read the review) Director: Sam Raimi Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, Donna Murphy Every Sam Raimi film, ranked 21 of 30 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) Spider-Man/Miles Morales in 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'. Sony Pictures Animation This sugar-rush sequel took all of the best things about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and magnified them. It continues the tale of Miles Morales as he struggles with his newfound powers to find his place in a multi-verse of Spider-Men. If only all family-oriented animated films were this invigorating, or indeed, risk-taking. As EW's critic writes, "Across the Spider-Verse mines greater emotional depth by exploring the familial relationships of Gwen and Miles from the perspectives of both parents and children." —D.G. Where to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: Netflix EW grade: B+ (read the review) Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Oscar Isaac How Spider-Punk became the coolest character in Across the Spider-Verse 22 of 30 The Squid and the Whale (2005) Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney in 'The Squid and the Whale'. Everett Collection This understated domestic dramedy follows a Brooklyn family rocked by an impending divorce. After struggling novelist Frank (Jeff Daniels) and his more successful wife, Joan (Laura Linney), reveal their separation to their kids (Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline), everything becomes a battle as the brothers choose sides and the parents try to find a way forward. Writer-director Noah Baumbach excavates his own childhood to tell a story of family strife in all its (sometimes hilarious) messiness. EW's critic calls the film a "caustically funny, awfully sad, pitilessly autobiographical coming-of-age story." —K.J. Where to watch The Squid and the Whale: Netflix EW grade: N/A (read the review) Director: Noah Baumbach Cast: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, William Baldwin, Anna Paquin Twelve CDs Noah Baumbach says you've gotta get 23 of 30 Tangerine (2015) Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez in 'Tangerine'. Everett Collection There is much to praise with this independent film from writer-director Sean Baker: it was shot entirely by iPhones and has great style; it casts two transgender actresses as leads, each giving strong performances. But it's also a good old-fashioned screwball comedy, following a day in the lives of transgender sex worker friends Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), After Alexandra informs Sin-Dee that the latter's boyfriend has been cheating on her, the pair go on a journey through the streets of Hollywood to confront him. EW's critic raves, "Tangerine is touching for its non-condescending stance toward working girls and the spirit of the sidewalk." —K.J. Where to watch Tangerine: Netflix EW grade: A– (read the review) Director: Sean Baker Cast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan, Alla Tumanian, James Ransone Forget Die Hard: Why Tangerine is the best Christmas movie that's not really about Christmas 24 of 30 The Teachers' Lounge (2023) Leonie Benesch in 'The Teachers' Lounge'. Sony Pictures Classics/Everett Collection After this tense Oscar-nominated German film gets going, it refuses to let up. Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is the bright-eyed new teacher at a school where her fellow educators are trying to uncover the culprit behind multiple thefts from the teachers' lounge. She soon finds herself embroiled in the case when she spots a colleague stealing money, only for that colleague to deflect onto her. The Teachers' Lounge moves with the energy of a thriller, with viewers' anxiety rising the further Carla grapples with mounting pressure. —K.J. Where to watch The Teachers' Lounge: Netflix Director: Ilker Çatak Cast: Leonie Benesch, Michael Klammer, Rafael Stachowiak, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Eva Löbau The biggest foreign film winners in Oscar history 25 of 30 Tick, Tick...Boom! (2021) Andrew Garfield in 'Tick, Tick...Boom!'. Macall B. Polay/Netflix Jonathan Larson was a celebrated composer and playwright most famous for penning the Broadway musical Rent. He also wrote a semi-autobiographical musical based on his life called Tick, Tick...Boom!, which Lin-Manuel Miranda adapted to this well-received musical drama. Andrew Garfield, in an Oscar-nominated turn, stars as Larson, following his struggle to mount a musical while dealing with a tumultuous personal life. "Tick, Tick… Boom! is a totem for the thrills and trials of making art, with all the sacrifices and empathy it requires," EW's critic writes. —K.J. Where to watch tick, tick...BOOM!: Netflix EW grade: A– (read the review) Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens How Tick, Tick...Boom! pulled off that Broadway star-studded diner scene 26 of 30 Triple Frontier (2019) Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck in 'Triple Frontier'. Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix J.C. Chandor's masculine action riff, about a group of special ops planning a heist in South America, is a stark contrast to his earlier, more patient efforts in 2011's Margin Call, 2013's All Is Lost, or 2014's A Most Violent Year (his masterpiece). While not as thematically strong as those films, Triple Frontier offers a dose of adrenaline that, much like The Strangers, harkens back to a forgotten era of mid-'70s B pictures. "There may be no honor among thieves," EW's critic writes, "but Triple Frontier certainly makes watching them pretty entertaining." —D.G. Where to watch Triple Frontier: Netflix EW grade: B (read the review) Director: J.C. Chandor Cast: Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund The 15 best Pedro Pascal movies and TV shows, ranked 27 of 30 The Wailing (2016) Kwak Do-won (right) in 'The Wailing'. Well Go USA/Courtesy Everett Collection This brilliant South Korean thriller from director Na Hong-jin turns frenzied after a new villager arrives in a tight-knit community, bringing a wave of serial murders along with him. To elaborate any further would give away some of the film's best-kept twists, of which there are many. Suffice it to say, The Wailing is one of the most over-the-top, gratuitous, and devilishly fun horror pictures of the last decade. As EW's critic praised, "The Wailing never bores as Na slathers his tale with generous supplies of atmosphere and awfulness." —D.G. Where to watch The Wailing: Netflix EW grade: B+ (read the review) Director: Na Hong-jin Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, Kwak Do-won, Kim Hwan-hee, Kim Do-yoon The 20 best exorcism-themed movies 28 of 30 The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More (2024) Benedict Cumberbatch in 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar'. Netflix This whimsical anthology film finds auteur director Wes Anderson bringing the stories of Roald Dahl to life. Originally released as four short films in 2023, Netflix has now assembled them all into one collection. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, which won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short, centers on the titular character's years-long training process to be able to see without his eyes — all so he can cheat at gambling. Other shorts are The Swan (about the struggles of a bullied boy), The Rat Catcher (about, well, an exterminator of rats), and Poison (about a man who finds a snake in his bed). Anderson's flair for carefully crafted aesthetics is a throughline, as is his love of the art of storytelling. —K.J. Where to watch The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More: Netflix Director: Wes Anderson Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend Wes Anderson criticizes editing of Roald Dahl books to remove 'offensive' language: 'What's done is done' 29 of 30 World War Z (2016) Brad Pitt, Abigail Hargrove, and Mireille Enos in 'World War Z'. Jaap Buitendijk/Paramount Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection This pulse-pounding action thriller about a zombie apocalypse may diverge from Max Brooks' best-selling book of the same name, but its virtues are plenty. Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, a former investigator for the United Nations who searches the globe for a cure to the deadly outbreak. Of course, with the outbreak spreading at an accelerated pace, it's a race against the clock as Gerry navigates perilous environments on his quest. "World War Z turns the prospect of the end of our world into something tumultuous and horrifying and, at the same time, exciting," writes EW's critic. "It’s scary good fun." —K.J. Where to watch World War Z: Netflix EW grade: A– (read the review) Director: Mark Forster Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, Matthew Fox, Elyes Gabel Brad Pitt's epic struggle to make World War Z 30 of 30 The Wrong Missy (2020) David Space and Lauren Lapkus in 'The Wrong Missy'. Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix/Everett On paper, The Wrong Missy is nothing new: David Spade goes on a bad date with Lauren Lapkus, whose name is Missy, and then means to invite a cute girl (Molly Sims), hilariously also named Missy, with him on a company retreat to Hawaii. (No points for guessing which Missy ends up on the trip.) The film coasts by on a general likability, but if not for Lapkus' performance, the story would be lost at sea. She glues the entire enterprise together with a mixture of well-played raunch and genuine pathos, selling the moment and keeping the plot bouncing along to the next joke. —D.G. Where to watch The Wrong Missy: Netflix Director: Tyler Spindel Cast: Lauren Lapkus, David Spade, Molly Sims, Jackie Sandler, Rob Schneider The best Saturday Night Live cast members, ranked