Netflixputs thousands of movies at your fingertips, but not all of them are worth watching. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff? The service’s algorithm sometimes gets it right, but it is prone to dishing up the same boring suggestions.
That’s why I’ve rounded up some excellent films, across a variety of genres, all of which are available to stream today with your Netflix subscription.
2013
Runtime
2 hours 14 minutes
Tom Hanks is always on good form and that’s especially true inCaptain Phillips, a Paul Greengrass movie that dramatizes a real 2009 hijacking where the titular seafarer was held hostage by Somali pirates. Barkhad Abdi stars alongside Hanks in his debut role as the leader of the pirates, giving an equally strong performance—the pair were nominated for plenty of awards.
The film is suitably frantic and stressful; you feel right there in the action, where things could go from bad to worse within seconds. You’ll probably need time to digest it once you’ve finished, especially after the powerful ending.
2024
1 hour 45 minutes
Michael Keaton returned as the manic Betelgeuse in 2024’sBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to the movie from over 35 years prior, alongside Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and director Tim Burton. The result is brilliantly chaotic, with plenty of macabre humor and the fantastical creativity that Burton is famous for.
Primary among the newcomers isWednesday’s Jenna Ortega as the daughter of Ryder’s Lydia, and she fits in to the wacky proceedings well, as do others like Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci. Ultimately, though, it’s the delight of Keaton that you’re here for—and he picks up the iconic character again with ease.
1992
1 hour 35 minutes
Wayne’s Worldis one of those movies that you may have seen clips or GIFs from (headbanging toBohemian Rhapsodyin the car) or heard quotes from (“schwing!") but never actually seen in its entirety. If that’s the case, it’s time to change that this week. While the humor might not be for everyone, this spin-off from aSaturday Night Livesketch stands up as an entertaining romp.
It stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth, two lovers of rock music who run a public-access television show. Their luck seems to change for the better when Rob Lowe’s television producer takes an interest in their show, but it leads to tensions in the pair’s friendship. The movie is undeniably silly, but it also has genuine heart. Party on!
2022
1 hour 55 minutes
The Sea Beastwas nominated for an Oscar and became one of Netflix’s most popular animated films. It’s easy to see why. It’s about warriors who take to the sea to dispatch beasts to protect the humans back on land. One such crew is that of the Inevitable, on which a young orphan stows away to see for herself what happens on the water.
Directed byBig Hero 6’s Chris Williams, it’s a neat fantasy tale, made even better by the incredible animation. It’s vibrant and dynamic, and the action scenes are thrilling. Even if you don’t have any children to watch this alongside,The Sea Beastis a rollicking good time.
1 hour 28 minutes
Originally released as four separate short films,The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar and Three Morepackages together Wes Anderson’s adaptations of some lesser-known Roald Dahl stories. Each is as great as the last, with actors like Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, and Dev Patel playing multiple characters.
If you’re not fond of Wes Anderson’s distinctive style, this isn’t likely to win you over, but give it a chance. It’s a visual treat for one—the colors and costumes certainly, but also charming touches like seeing the sets slide in and out, as if you’re watching a stage production. Everyone will likely have a different favorite from the anthology, but I’m fond ofPoison, where a doctor rushes to help a man who is unable to move from bed due to a venomous snake lying on him.
If you don’t think you’ll have the chance to watch all of these movies this week,add them to your Netflix watchlistso you can come back to them when you’re ready. Just don’t leave it too long, as Netflix does rotate its licensed movie collection.
Netflix
Stream all of these great movies, along with plenty more original and licensed programming, with a Netflix subscription.
