The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (October)
Trying to find the best movie to watch on Netflix can be a daunting challenge. We’ve all been there. You’ve decided you’re going to watch something. You have the entirety of Netflix at your disposal, including even a pared-down list of films you’ve already bookmarked to watch at a future date. But then there’s the choosing. You’ve gotta find something that fits your mood, or something you and your friend/significant other/couch companion can agree on. You spend hours browsing, and by the time you stumble on something you think maybe is the one, it’s too late, you’re too tired, and indecision has won out.
Never fear, though, because we here at Collider have a guide to help you find the perfect Netflix movies available in the U.S. We’ve thumbed through the library and assembled a list of some of the best films currently available for streaming, from classics to hidden gems to new releases and beyond. This list of the best movies on Netflix is updated weekly with all-new choices, so be sure to return the next time you’re looking for something great to watch.
Editor’s note: This post was last updated on October 28th to include The Good Nurse.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Director: Jane Campion | Genre: Western Drama | Run Time: 2 hr 6 min
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee
The Power of the Dog is a slow, sly movie that reveals itself to you in subtle, measured glimpses at tenderness that are otherwise caked in grit, cruelty and crudity. Set in 1920s Montana, Jane Campion‘s awards contender stars Benedict Cumberbatch, giving one of his best performances yet as Phil Burbank; a gruff and bitter cowboy who takes an immediate disliking to his brother’s (Jesse Plemmons) new wife, Rose (Kirsten Dunst). In turn, her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) takes a disliking to him, determined to protect his mother, setting the stage for fascinating, subtle power plays and dynamic shifts as the contentious new family attempts to settle in together. As with all Campion films, you can expect exquisite shots and stunning glimpses into small moments of human vulnerability, but The Power of the Dog is also a challenging, often caustic film about tracing the ripples of toxicity. It certainly isn’t your average Neo-western, so don’t go in expecting standoffs our shootouts, but even without those flashy calling cards, The Power of the Dog makes a striking impact that seems to land all in one final blow. – Haleigh Foutch
Do Revenge (2022)
Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson | Genre: Teen Comedy | Run Time: 1 hr 58 min
Cast: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke
This is what teen comedy dreams are made of. Starring Riverdale’s Camila Mendes and Stranger Things scenestealer Maya Hawke, Do Revenge revolves around an unlikely friendship between fallen popular girl Drea (Mendes) and new student Eleanor (Hawke). After being wronged by friends and exes, the two of them hatch the perfect plan: to help each other get revenge. With plot twists you won’t see coming, sharp comedy, and a killer soundtrack (not to mention epic cameos by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sophie Turner), this is a truly generation-defining film among the ranks of Heathers and Mean Girls. – Taylor Gates
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Director: Barry Jenkins | Genre: Romance Drama | Run Time: 1 hr 59 min
Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Teyonah Parris
If there was ever a film that deserves more love and admiration, it is Barry Jenkins’ magnificent If Beale Street Could Talk. Adapted from the novel of the same name by one of history’s greatest writers, the great James Baldwin, and could not be a more graceful honoring of his legacy. In addition to being a gorgeous cinematic experience, every single frame is overflowing with compassion for characters trying to find a way to live a life together. Set in 1970s Harlem, it centers on Tish (KiKi Layne) who is about to have a child with her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt (Stephan James). As they dream of a future together, the couple’s hopes are dashed when Alonzo is arrested for a crime he did not commit. A moving look at the tragedy found in the everyday, both Layne and James are outstanding in every single moment. When your film also has a supporting cast of Regina King, who won an Oscar for her role as Tish’s mother, and Coleman Domingo as Tish’s father, it becomes a masterclass in acting from start to finish. – Chase Hutchinson
When Harry Met Sally…
Director: Rob Reiner I Genre: Romance Comedy I Run Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
Autumn is upon us, and you know what that means? Following two people who could not be more different from each other go from hate, to like, to hate again, and finally, to love. When Harry Met Sally.. stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in one of the most famous romcoms of all time. Harry and Sally bump into each other unexpectedly throughout their 20s and into their 30s, hating each time until heartbreak brings them together as best friends. They bond over their failed romances, even get their respective best friends together, and spend most of the movie oblivious to or purposefully ignoring the fact that they are perfect for each other. Oh – and there’s an orgasm in Kats Deli, we couldn’t forget that! Nora Ephron gave us a love story for the ages that still feels fresh and nuanced watching it thirty years later. Add in a sublime supporting cast of Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby – and you have yourself a timeless classic. Set against the red and yellow leaves of New York City, When Harry Met Sally.. Is essential Autumnal viewing. – Emma Kiely
The Nice Guys (2016)
Director: Shane Black | Genre: Action Comedy | Run Time: 1 hr 56 min
Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer
Between Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, writer/director Shane Black has proven himself to the be the king of crackling neo-noir. In The Nice Guys, you have private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and fixer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) teaming up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman (Margaret Qualley), but it’s all about how Black plays with genre conventions and film tropes to constantly upend expectations. Gosling has never been funnier, and in an alternate, better universe, The Nice Guys would have been a massive hit and we’d have an amazing comic franchise. As it stands, we only have this movie, so at least we can treasure this outing of March and Healy. – Matt Goldberg
Tick, Tick… Boom! (2012)
Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda | Genre: Drama Musical Biography | Run Time: 1 hr 55 min
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús
Hamilton and In the Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda directs the long-awaited film adaptation of RENT creator Johnathan Larson‘s Tick, Tick… Boom! The result is an excellent movie musical that’s every bit a love letter to theater itself as much as it is to Larson and his tragic tale of short-lived genius. Which is perhaps what makes Miranda such an exceptional fit for the material in his filmmaking debut, and not just because his every-damned-award-winning musical Hamilton is all about capturing the beauty and tragedy of short-lived genius: the Broadway polymath has also been vocal about how Tick, Tick… Boom! influenced and inspired him as a creator, and he even starred in a production of the show several years ago. Equally at home is Andrew Garfield as Larson himself, showcasing a hell of a singing voice and yet another outstanding performance that will lift you up, rake you through the anxiety of excellence, before absolutely breaking your heart. It’s a beautiful film based on a beautiful piece of writing, and whether you’re a fan of Garfield’s, Miranda’s, Larson’s, or just the theater dahling, it’s a moving testament to those who openly embrace ambition, earnestly love performance, and believe that both give them the power to change lives. – Haleigh Foutch
Hell or High Water (2016)
Director: David Mackenzie | Genre: Western Crime Drama | Run Time: 1 hr 42 min
Cast: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges
When it comes to heist movies, Hell or High Water walks amongst the most emotional, contemplative, and Texan experiences of them all. David Mackenzie (Starred Up) and Taylor Sheridan’s (Sicario) raging critique of classism and corruption endemic to the modern American financial system is on full display from the opening of the film. Graffiti and billboards paint the picture of poverty and desperation many folks struggle with throughout the country. The Midland setting, southern accents, and numerous six-packs of texas treasures Lone Star and Shiner give the film a specific tone despite the thematic elements being more ubiquitously relatable. Ben Foster and Chris Pine truly shine as two brothers built of different character, morals, and functions. Their fraternal love is at once silly and tender. Jeff Bridges and his partner Gil Birmingham chew and churn through conversations about history, life, and crime in a way that endears and enchants. Their chemistry is natural and comedic, and their calm approach to the chase is starkly contrasted against the adrenaline-pumping, unpredictable actions of the Howard brothers on their bank-robbing binge.
Skyfall (2012)
Director: Sam Mendes | Genre: Action Adventure | Run Time: 2 hr 33 in
Cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
Just when you think you’ve seen it all in the James Bond franchise,Skyfallcomes along. The third outing starring Daniel Craig as 007 had a lot riding on it, and director Sam Mendes and the writers came out swinging. From the opening sequence the film set itself apart—Bond was part of a team, and Bond was not invincible. The twists and turns of what follows is unpredictable and gripping. The action scenes are jaw-dropping, but it’s the character development that keeps you hooked. There’s no denying that the film suffers from the franchise’s inherent misogyny, but it also takes risks that one wouldn’t expect from the 23rd installment of the franchise. Mendes brings the best of Bond together to craft a fantastic film. Skyfall isn’t just a great James Bond entry, it’s a great film! – Monita Mohan
The Imitation Game (2014)
Director: Morten Tyldum | Genre: War Drama | Run Time: 1 hr 54 min
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear
One of the most highly acclaimed films of 2014, The Imitation Game has largely faded into obscurity in the years since its release. This is a shame because it really is a pretty great movie. The Imitation Game draws a portrait of the life and times of Alan Turing, one of the most brilliant scientists of his time. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing, it shows how the mathematician and computer scientist was recruited by the British government to crack the German Enigma code during World War II. It also, perhaps more importantly, shows how despite his contributions, Turing was ostracised and subjected to a horrible fate after it came out that he was gay. Is it a truly accurate historical piece? Not really, but this Academy Award-winning film is certainly a great watch and deserves praise for bringing Turing’s once-forgotten story to a global audience. – Remus Noronha
I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Director: Charlie Kaufman | Genre: Thriller Horror | Run Time: 2 hr 14 min
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis
Charlie Kaufman is no stranger to films that make you feel like your brain is leaking out of your head, like with his directorial debut Synecdoche, New York, or with screenplays like Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. With I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Kaufman adapts Iain Reid‘s novel of the same name, in which Jake (Jesse Plemons) brings his girlfriend (Jessie Buckley) to meet his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis). But of course no Kaufman story could be that simple, as I’m Thinking of Ending Things becomes a twisty, strange, and remarkable experience unlike any other film. By the end, I’m Thinking of Ending Things becomes one of the most insane and towering achievements of Kaufman’s career, which is really saying something. — Ross Bonaime
Phantom Thread (2017)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson | Genre: Romance Drama | Run Time: 2 hr 11 min
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Vicky Krieps
Some ofPaul Thomas Anderson‘s finest films have focused on captivating pairings, such as The Master, Punch-Drunk Love, or his first collaboration with Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood. The second Anderson/Day-Lewis film, Phantom Thread, told the story of a unique, rich, and often extremely hilarious romance between Day-Lewis’ fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock, and his muse-turned-wife Alma (Vicky Krieps). Phantom Thread has a stillness and beauty unlike any other Anderson film so far, a stunning Anderson masterpiece, with an expectedly great performance by Day-Lewis, but also tremendous supporting roles by Krieps and Lesley Manville. – Ross Bonaime
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Genre: Drama Mystery | Run Time: 2 hr 45 min
Cast: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Sydney Pollack, Marie Richardson
Divisive, controversial, erotic, meandering—all of these adjectives and more could accurately describe filmmaking giant Stanley Kubrick’s final film, but it’s a must-watch regardless of the divided opinion. Eyes Wide Shutfinds Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman—still married at the time—playing a couple in New York City working through some issues of their own, when an admission from Kidman’s character that she’s thought about infidelity leads Cruise’s character on a sexual odyssey of insecurity. Almost nothing in this film is to be taken literally, as Kubrick crafts something more along the lines of a daydream (or nightmare), and subsequent watches only further illuminate the film’s various themes and motifs. What does it all mean? Is there one right answer? You be the judge. But on a pure carnal level, the sexiness of this one is off the charts. – Adam Chitwood
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Director: George C. Wolfe | Genre: Drama Music | Run Time: 1 hr 34 min
Cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo
The 2020 film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a powerhouse showcase for the acting talents of all involved, including Chadwick Boseman in his final live-action performance. Based on the stage play of the same name, the film chronicles a day in the life of iconic recording artist Ma Rainey as she assembles her team to record a new album on a hot summer day in 1927. Tensions rise and the dialogue crackles between these various characters, as Boseman’s trumpeter dreams of making it big on his own while the temperamental Ma Rainey knows what lies ahead all too well. This is an excellent performance-driven drama. – Adam Chitwood
The Good Nurse (2022)
Director: Tobias Lindholm | Genre: Drama | Run Time: 2 hr 1 min
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Noah Emmerich, Nnamdi Asomugha, Kim Dickens
Tobias Lindholm‘s haunting The Good Nurse, based on a true story, shows both how monstrous people can be, while also showing the importance of compassion. Jessica Chastain plays Amy Loughren, a nurse who is dealing with a dangerous heart condition, who meets the newest nurse, Charlie Cullen (Eddie Redmayne) and immediately strikes up a friendship with him. When a series of mysterious deaths at the hospital start to raise eyes, Amy believes that Charlie might be behind these deaths and attempts to find out what is really going on. Chastain is excellent as the caring nurse, but Redmayne is shocking as a potential monster waiting to be uncovered. But put together, Chastain and Redmayne play The Good Doctor like a battle between humanity and indifference, in a film that will both get under your skin, while also making the viewer thankful for those who see the best in people.
The Lost Daughter (2021)
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal | Genre: Psychological Drama | Run Time: 2 hr 1 min
Cast: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley
In her directorial debut, Maggie Gyllenhaal has to handle a complex balance in telling the story of Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman). Leda takes a holiday to Greece and upon watching young mother Nina (Dakota Johnson) with her child, Leda reflects back on her own struggles with motherhood. Adapting ElenaFerrante‘s novel of the same name, Gyllenhaal presents a lead character whose impulsiveness could easily have been seen as selfish, but instead, Gyllenhaal and Colman present Leda as an intricate and extremely complicated character. The Lost Daughter provides not only another great Colman performance, but a fantastic introduction to Gyllenhaal as a commanding filmmaker. – Ross Bonaime
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Director: Steven Soderbergh | Genre: Heist Comedy | Run Time: 1 hr 57 min
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy García, Julia Roberts
The film that kicked off a beloved franchise, Ocean’s Eleven is one of the greatest heist movies of all time. It follows the charming Danny Ocean (George Clooney) after he violates his parole to pull off a complex con in Las Vegas, simultaneously robbing the Bellagio, Mirage, and MGM Grand casinos. To complete his plan, he assembles a team of colleagues and criminals alike. The film also stars a dazzling Julia Roberts as Danny’s ex-wife – and his rival’s current girlfriend. – Taylor Gates
The Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Director: Leigh Janiak | Genre: Horror | Run Time: 5 hr 30 min
Cast: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Sadie Sink
Inarguably one of the best Netflix originals ever, the Fear Street trilogy is the perfect binge-watch. This adaptation of the R.L. Stine book series is an interconnected trilogy of horror movies, each with its own tone and twist on the slasher genre, bound by characters and mythology. The action begins in Fear Street: 1994, which introduces the town of Shadyside where everything bad always tends to happen. A group of teenagers finds themselves hunted down by a bevy of serial killers from the town’s past, only to discover the culprit may be a centuries-old curse. The second film, Fear Street: 1978, is a summer camp slasher that goes into Shadyside’s past to recount a horrific event while revealing more of the mythology until the third and final movie, Fear Street: 1666, works as an origin story for the curse and the Shadyside Witch. These movies absolutely rule, and are perfect for a Friday night date night. – Adam Chitwood
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Director: Boots Riley | Genre: Comedy Fantasy | Run Time: 1 hr 52 min
Cast: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler
It’s best to go intoSorry to Bother You as cold as possible, but if you need to know the brief synopsis, it follows Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a young black man who discovers he’s a wiz at telemarketing when he puts on his “white voice”, but as he starts becoming more successful, he begins to compromise his values. But that’s just the basic premise of Boots Riley’s scathing satire on race, capitalism, art, masculinity, and commerce. It’s not a film that works 100% of the time, but its ambition is undeniable, and the film is at turns hilarious, damning, and completely bonkers. – Matt Goldberg
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Director: Mike Rianda | Genre: Comedy Adventure | Run Time: 1 hr 54 min
Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
You’ve seen a zillion animated family comedy movies, but The Mitchells vs. the Machines is undoubtedly one of the best. Produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and originally made by Sony Pictures Animation – the studio behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – the film finds a father and daughter struggling to connect, and follows the family as the father decides they should take a road trip to send her off to college where she’s studying to be a filmmaker.Alongthe way, the robot apocalypse occurs, forcing them to work together to make it through. At every turn The Mitchells vs. the Machines is surprising. It puts in the work so that the emotional scenes hit hard, but it’s also wildly colorful and beautifully artistic as Mike Rianda pushes the boundaries of visual expression. On top of all that, the film is hilarious, bringing to mind the colorful comedy of Lord and Miller’s other films – most notably Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. This movie will have you cackling and crying in equal measure, and it’s one of the best films of 2021 full stop. – Adam Chitwood
Crimson Peak (2015)
Director: Guillermo del Toro | Genre: Horror Fantasy | Run Time: 1 hr 59 min
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam
The first thing to know about Guillermo del Toro’s misunderstood 2015 film Crimson Peak is that it’s a Gothic romance, not a horror movie. There are ghosts to be sure, and definitely spooky parts, but the film is more inspired by Jane Eyre or Rebecca than it is The Conjuring. And that’s why it’s so great. Set in 1901, the story follows an aspiring author (Mia Wasikowska) who meets a dashing English gentleman (Tom Hiddleston) and falls in love. The two quickly marry, and she moves to a remote part of England to live in an aging estate with her new husband and his icy sister (Jessica Chastain). The estate ends up being full of ghosts, and twists abound as our young protagonist finds herself in over her head. It’s a haunting, romantic, and chilling ghost story that’s lovingly crafted by one of the best filmmakers working today. – Adam Chitwood
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