The 20 Best Netflix Movies to Watch in 2026

Reading time: 3 minutes

Article written by

Marina

Updated on

August 28, 2026

The 20 Best Netflix Movies to Watch in 2026

Netflix has no shortage of movies. The hardest part is often knowing which ones are truly worth the two hours you're about to spend watching them.

Behind the productions highlighted as soon as you open the app, you'll find great dramas, inventive animated films, international cinema, and some works far more unique than you might imagine. Some require patience. Others make you instantly forget the passage of time.

The best Netflix movies at a glance

No.|Film|Genre|Year|Duration|Good to know
1|Frankenstein|Gothic drama, fantasy|2025|2 hr 29 min|An ambitious and violent adaptation
2|Train Dreams|Historical Drama|2025|1 hr 44 min|A contemplative tale
3|The Irishman|Crime, Drama|2019|3 hr 29 min|Very long but profoundly melancholic
4|Roma|Drama|2018|2 hr 15 min|In black and white, at a measured pace
5|Marriage Story|Family Drama|2019|2 hr 16 min|A Separation Without Caricature
6|All Quiet on the Western Front|War, Drama|2022|2h28|Brutal and Difficult
7|The Snow Circle|Survival, Drama|2023|2 hr 24 min|Inspired by a true story
8|The Power of the Dog|Western, drama|2021|2:08 a.m.|Slow and psychological
9|The Trial of the Chicago 7|Historical Drama|2020|2 hr 09 min|Fast-paced dialogue and brilliant cast
10|The Perfect Neighbor|True documentary|2025|1 hr 36 min|Particularly disturbing real footage
11|K-Pop Demon Hunters|Animation, Musical|2025|1 hr 39 min|Suitable for children and adults
12|Wake Up Dead Man|Mystery, dark comedy|2025|2 hr 26 min|A darker investigation for Benoit Blanc
13|Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro|Animation, Fantasy|2022|1 hr 57 min|Darker than family adaptations
14|The Mitchells vs. the Machines|Animation, Comedy|2021|1 hr 54 min|A fast-paced family film
15|The Killer|Thriller, crime|2023|1 hr 58 min|Cold and methodical
16|Rebel Ridge|Action, thriller|2024|2h11|More thoughtful than explosive
17|Glass Onion|Mystery, Comedy|2022|2 hr 19 min|Colorful and intentionally extravagant
18|Don't Look Up|Satire, Comedy|2021|2 hr 18 min|Funny, dark, and unsubtle
19|Athena|Drama, Action|2022|1 hr 37 min|Impressive direction
20|Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man|Crime, Historical Drama|2026|1 hr 54 min|Best watched after the series

Netflix's great dramas and historical films

These films take their time, develop their characters carefully, and don't always aim for a comfortable viewing experience. Several are among the most ambitious productions ever distributed by Netflix 🎥.

1. Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but arrogant scientist, succeeds in creating a living being from human bodies. Terrified by the result of his experiment, he abandons the creature without considering the consequences of this rejection.

Guillermo del Toro doesn't treat the monster as a mere threat. His film is primarily about family ties, abandonment, and the violence passed down from father to child. Jacob Elordi imbues the creature with an unexpected vulnerability, while Oscar Isaac delivers an excessive, often detestable, yet captivating Victor.

Visually, the film is sumptuous. The sets, costumes, and makeup give a real presence to the gothic world imagined by the director. However, the film's length is noticeable, and the very theatrical acting will not appeal to everyone.

Public opinion: the film's beauty, the character portrayed by Jacob Elordi, and his emotional impact are frequently highlighted. More reserved critics mainly mention its length and sometimes overly elaborate direction.

2. Train Dreams

Robert Grainier works as a lumberjack and railroad worker in the northwestern United States at the beginning of the 20th century. As the forests disappear and the country transforms, he builds a simple life with Gladys, his wife.

Train Dreams tells the story of a life that won't change history. That's precisely what makes the film so moving. The joys, the sorrows, the work, and the passing years take on a particular significance without Robert becoming a traditional hero.

Joel Edgerton plays with great restraint. The cinematography gives immense importance to landscapes and changes in light, while the narration gives the film the form of a memory.

The pace is slow, almost meditative. You have to accept letting yourself be carried along rather than expecting a plot full of twists and turns.

Public opinion: The cinematography, Joel Edgerton's performance, and the film's subtlety are highly praised. However, some viewers remain detached from this contemplative film, finding it too tame or too reminiscent of Terrence Malick's work.

3. The Irishman

Frank Sheeran, a former soldier turned truck driver, becomes involved with the Bufalino crime family. He eventually works with Jimmy Hoffa, a powerful union leader whose disappearance remains one of the great mysteries of American history.

Martin Scorsese reunites with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino, but he doesn't try to recreate the energy of his previous gangster films. The Irishman is less about the thrill of crime than about the passage of time and what remains when friends, family, and power disappear.

The film runs for nearly three and a half hours. This length is intentional, even if some scenes could have been tightened. The digital de-aging of the actors can also be distracting, especially in the early parts.

His final act completely changes the perspective. Behind the mafia meetings and contracts lies an aging man, left alone with his decisions.

Audience opinion: the trio of actors, the direction, and the melancholic tone are often admired. The film's length and the digital de-aging effects remain the two most frequent criticisms.

4. Roma

In the early 1970s, Cleo worked as a housekeeper for a family in Mexico City. When the couple who employed her separated, the young woman also went through a difficult time that changed her future.

Alfonso Cuarón films events inspired by his childhood, but chooses to place Cleo at the center of the narrative. The camera observes the house, the street, and everyday gestures with great precision. A seemingly innocuous background can contain as much information as the conversation in the foreground.

The use of black and white is not simply an aesthetic choice. It gives the film the feel of a reconstructed memory, precise in its details but traversed by time.

Roma unfolds slowly and without music intended to dictate emotion. This restraint can create a distance at the beginning, before certain scenes strike with unexpected force.

Public opinion: The photography, Yalitza Aparicio, and the accuracy of the social portrait are frequently praised. However, the contemplative pace leaves some viewers unmoved.

5. Marriage Story

Nicole is an actress. Charlie is a director. After several years together, they decide to separate, initially trying to protect their son and remain amicable. The arrival of lawyers gradually transforms this intention into a confrontation.

Marriage Story doesn't seek to assign blame. Nicole and Charlie each have their own wounds, their own needs, and their own version of what led to the couple's failure.

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver make their arguments so believable they're almost unbearable to watch. A scene in a nearly empty apartment becomes the breaking point of years of pent-up frustration.

The film is talky and emotionally draining. Yet it retains moments of humor and tenderness, which prevents the marriage from being reduced to its failure.

Public opinion: the performances of the two actors and the accuracy of the dialogue are almost universally praised. More negative reviews find the film too long, too theatrical, or unbalanced in favor of Adam Driver's character.

6. All Quiet on the Western Front

Paul Bäumer enlisted in the German army with several comrades, convinced he was embarking on a heroic adventure. Their arrival in the trenches of the First World War shattered this illusion in a matter of hours.

Edward Berger films war as a machine that crushes bodies and individuality. Mud, cold, hunger, and noise are ever-present. Soldiers rarely advance out of courage; they advance because they have no other choice.

The sound design is particularly impressive. Some attacks become almost unbearable, while the moments of silence remind us how young the characters are.

The film takes several liberties with Erich Maria Remarque's novel, notably by adding a subplot about the armistice negotiations. These changes provide a political context, but sometimes distance the narrative from Paul's experience.

Public reaction: The immersive experience, the photography, and the deeply pacifist message have been widely praised. Readers of the novel are more disappointed by the changes made to the book.
⚠️ The war scenes are very violent.

7. The Snow Circle

In 1972, a plane carrying a Uruguayan rugby team crashed in the Andes Mountains. The survivors found themselves isolated in the snow, without proper equipment and with very little food.

JA Bayona tells this true story without turning the survivors into conventional heroic figures. The film emphasizes the group dynamic, solidarity, and the impossible decisions imposed by hunger.

The plane crash is impressive, but the story is never just a spectacle. Bodies become fragile, time blurs, and the mountain ultimately seems limitless.

The film is harrowing and depicts the injuries realistically. However, it treats the dead and the survivors with great dignity, without seeking to exploit the most sensational aspects of the story.

Audience opinion: The reconstruction, the humanity of the narrative, and the respect shown to the victims are particularly appreciated. Several viewers, however, warn that the experience is emotionally and visually very difficult.

8. The Power of the Dog

In 1920s Montana, Phil Burbank runs a ranch with his brother George. When George marries Rose, Phil greets the young woman and her son Peter with constant hostility.

Jane Campion crafts a western where violence rarely involves weapons. A look, a remark, or the sound of a banjo is enough to convey that Phil seeks to control everyone around him.

Benedict Cumberbatch portrays a cruel character whose self-assurance masks deep vulnerabilities. Kodi Smit-McPhee is equally compelling as Peter, more observant and less vulnerable than he initially appears.

The film gradually reveals its true subject: masculinity, repressed desire, and power dynamics. Its extremely slow pace, however, can be discouraging before the pieces fall into place.

Public opinion: the direction, scenery, and performances are often admired. The film is highly divisive regarding its pacing, with some finding it hypnotic and others simply boring.

9. The Trial of the Chicago Seven

In 1969, several activists were tried for conspiracy following demonstrations organized on the sidelines of the Democratic convention in Chicago. Their trial quickly became a confrontation between political power, the judge, and defendants with very different strategies.

Aaron Sorkin uses this historical context to write fast-paced, ironic, and often impactful exchanges. Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Mark Rylance each bring a different energy to the courtroom.

The film simplifies certain events and rearranges reality to construct its narrative. It is therefore better considered a drama inspired by historical facts, and not an exact reconstruction.

This freedom allows for a sustained pace, but also leads to a final scene that is more Hollywood-esque than the rest of the film.

Public opinion: the cast, dialogue, and political relevance of the story are widely praised. The main criticisms concern historical liberties and an occasionally overly dramatic emotional tone.

10. The Perfect Neighbor

For several years, a resident of a Florida neighborhood regularly called the police to complain about children and her neighbors. The interventions increased until this seemingly trivial conflict led to the death of Ajike Owens, a mother of four.

The documentary primarily uses footage recorded by police body cameras. It lacks a traditional narrative and allows events to unfold before the viewer.

This choice makes the progression particularly difficult to watch. We see the warnings, the tensions, and the missed opportunities to defuse the situation. The documentary also examines racism, fear, access to weapons, and the consequences of laws authorizing the use of force in situations of perceived threat.

Public opinion: The power of the images and the importance of the subject matter are frequently cited. Some viewers, however, find the editing too long. The film contains real footage related to a violent death and should be approached with caution.

Animation, mysteries, and action movies to discover on Netflix

These films are more immediate, but not necessarily any less polished. Family animation, crime investigations, political satire, and French action films all coexist without being alike. 🍿

11. K-Pop Demon Hunters

Rumi, Mira, and Zoey form HUNTR/X, a K-pop group capable of filling stadiums. In secret, the three singers use their voices and weapons to protect the world from demons. Their mission becomes complicated when a rival group composed of supernatural creatures begins to seduce their fans.

The film blends musical comedy, action, and Korean folklore with consistent energy. The songs play a genuine role in the story instead of simply interrupting the action.

The animation is colorful, expressive, and full of details inspired by music videos. Beyond the humor, the story also addresses shame, identity, and the pressure placed on artists.

Netflix now presents it as its most popular film. This success is easily explained: children remember the songs, while adults can enjoy the humor and visual quality.

Audience opinion: The songs, animation, and three heroines generated a lot of enthusiasm. Some viewers found the world too busy or would have preferred more time to develop the secondary characters. 🎤

12. Wake Up Dead Man: A Tale of Knives Out

Benoit Blanc finds himself embroiled in a murder case within a religious community. He teams up with a young priest to understand how such a seemingly impossible crime could have been committed.

This third investigation proves to be more serious than Glass Onion. Rian Johnson retains the ironic dialogue and numerous suspects, but focuses more on faith, guilt, and the power wielded by certain charismatic figures.

Daniel Craig almost takes a step back to give Josh O'Connor more screen time. This choice works very well, even if viewers who came solely to see Benoit Blanc might be surprised.

The investigation is complex, and the final act contains many explanations. The film also runs for over two hours and twenty minutes, without all the subplots being essential.

Public opinion: Josh O'Connor, the cast, and the deeper tone are generally praised. More reserved critics find the pacing uneven and the ending too explanatory.

13. Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro

Geppetto, inconsolable after the death of his son, sculpts a puppet that comes to life. Pinocchio then discovers a world traversed by the rise of fascism, war, and the desire of adults to control it.

Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson use stop-motion animation to reinvent a very well-known story. Every character, setting, and movement bears the mark of impressive handcraftsmanship.

This version does not attempt to replicate adaptations intended for young children. Death, grief, and authority play a significant role. Pinocchio is not meant to learn blind obedience; he must understand what it means to love and to choose.

The film contains songs, but remains much darker than a classic family musical.

Audience opinion: the animation, the emotion, and the relationship between Geppetto and Pinocchio are the most appreciated elements. Several parents warn that some themes and images may be disturbing for younger children.

14. The Mitchells versus the machines

Katie Mitchell dreams of attending film school. Her father, worried about her drifting away, decides to take her and the whole family there. The trip is interrupted by a global uprising of electronic devices.

The film moves at a dizzying pace. Drawings, stickers, videos and visual effects constantly pop up on screen, as if Katie's imagination is overflowing into the film.

Amidst this chaos, the story remains very simple: a father and daughter no longer know how to communicate. The robots and the technological apocalypse become almost secondary compared to the difficulties faced by this loving but clumsy family.

The humor is sometimes loud and very fast-paced. This energy can be tiring, but it also gives the film an immediately recognizable personality.

Public opinion: the animation, the characters, and the family dynamic are widely appreciated. Some feedback mentions a fast pace and jokes heavily influenced by internet culture.

15. The Killer

A hitman misses his target after hours of preparation. This failure forces him to flee and find those who now seek to eliminate him.

David Fincher doesn't film a spectacular assassin. He's interested in the routine, the movements, the waiting, and the precautions necessary to remain undetected. The character's inner voice lists strict rules that his own decisions regularly contradict.

Michael Fassbender plays with almost total coldness. This distance is consistent, but it also prevents us from truly connecting with the character.

Action scenes are rare. When they do occur, they are stark, brutal, and devoid of glamour. The film functions more as a study of a man convinced of his perfect rationality than as a professional killer's adventure.

Public opinion: Fincher's direction and Fassbender's performance are widely praised. Other viewers find the film too slow, too cold, or deliberately pretentious.

16. Rebel Ridge

Terry Richmond cycles through a small town to pay his cousin's bail. Police officers stop him and confiscate his money. When he tries to get it back, he uncovers a corrupt system designed to prevent victims from fighting back.

Rebel Ridge avoids turning Terry into a killing machine. A former soldier, he understands violence but first seeks to use the law and negotiation. This restraint makes the confrontations much more interesting.

Aaron Pierre brings a calm presence to the role opposite Don Johnson, excellent as a police chief convinced he controls the city. The film also explores the financial mechanisms that allow these abuses to continue.

The film runs for over two hours, and the pace slows down in the middle. The final action is also less explosive than the beginning might lead one to expect.

Public opinion: Aaron Pierre, the realistic action, and the intelligent script are frequently cited. More mixed reviews lament the film's length and a conclusion deemed too restrained.

17. Glass Onion: A Tale of Two Knives Out

Billionaire Miles Bron gathers several friends at his estate on a Greek island. The weekend is to be dedicated to a murder mystery game. The unexpected arrival of Detective Benoit Blanc quickly signals a real investigation.

The film plays with appearances, memories, and contradictory versions of the same scene. Daniel Craig clearly enjoys himself more with his character, surrounded by a deliberately extravagant cast.

Glass Onion is funny, colorful, and more overtly satirical than the first installment. Its narcissistic billionaire and his guests dependent on his wealth allow the film to poke fun at power, social media, and the illusion of genius.

The mystery is less subtle than it seems, but this simplicity is also part of the joke.

Audience opinion: the cast, humor, and energy of the film are highly praised. However, some viewers find the investigation less elegant than that of the first Knives Out.

18. Don't Look Up: Cosmic Denial

Two astronomers discover that a comet will destroy Earth in a few months. When they try to alert the government and the media, their warning is transformed into a topic of communication, a political debate, and then a phenomenon on social media.

Adam McKay uses this disaster as a satire of scientific denial, the news media, and economic interests. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence portray two researchers ill-prepared for a world where information must first be entertaining to be heard.

The film has several very funny scenes, but it sometimes hammers home its message with exhausting insistence. The caricature is deliberate, and no one is truly spared.

His final act abandons some of the commotion to return to something much more intimate.

Public opinion: the topicality of the subject matter, the cast, and the blend of humor and anxiety resonate with many viewers. Negative reviews mainly criticize its lack of subtlety and its tendency to repeat the same idea.

19. Athena

A few hours after the death of a teenager under suspicious circumstances, his brother Karim leads a revolt in the city of Athena. Another brother, Abdel, a soldier, tries to prevent the situation from descending into uncontrollable violence.

From its opening minutes, the film impresses with a long tracking shot that follows the attack on a police station and then the rioters' return to the city. The camera moves among dozens of people, vehicles, and fireworks without losing the thread of the action.

Romain Gavras films Athena as a tragedy, with three brothers drawn to incompatible camps. The visual power is undeniable.

The political writing is more fragile. Several issues are simplified, and some final revelations weaken what the film had built up.

Public opinion: the opening scene, the long takes, and the intensity of the actors are often praised. Criticism focuses more on the script, considered too thin given the visual ambition.

20. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

At the start of World War II, Tommy Shelby lives in seclusion. A threat involving his son and a political conspiracy forces him to return to Birmingham, where family affairs are never entirely separate from power.

Cillian Murphy returns to Tommy without trying to exactly replicate the character from the early seasons. He plays an older man, still dangerous, but worn down by his losses and his own decisions.

The photography, costumes, and soundtrack remain true to the Peaky Blinders identity. The move to the cinematic format gives greater scope to the sets and action scenes.

The film can be understood without knowing every episode, but it loses much of its emotional weight if one is unaware of the Shelby story.

Public opinion: Fans of the series appreciate Cillian Murphy's return and the resolution of several storylines. Some, however, find the plot predictable or too similar to an extended episode.

What kind of Netflix movie best suits your taste?

Genre | What you'll find | Usual length | Titles concerned
Drama | Complex characters and deliberate pacing | Over 2 hours | Roma, Marriage Story, Train Dreams
Action | Tension, movement, and confrontations | 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes | Rebel Ridge, Athena, Peaky Blinders
Animation | Humor, emotion, and a strong visual universe | Less than 2 hours | K-Pop Demon Hunters, Pinocchio, The Mitchells
Investigation | Suspects, Lies, and Revelations | Over 2 Hours | Wake Up Dead Man, Glass Onion
True story|Human narratives and documented context|Variable|The Snow Circle, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Documentary | Real footage and social investigation | Less than 2 hours | The Perfect Neighbor

How do I share Netflix with Spliiit ? 🔐

Netflix no longer allows users to simply lend their password to someone outside their household. The service now uses an additional subscriber system, available with eligible offers and accounts.

The invited person has their own login details, profile, and recommendations. This is therefore different from the old system of sharing a joint account.

The procedure unfolds as follows:

Owner s enabled the "Additional Member" option from her Netflix account
It lists the name and email address of the person being invited
The co-subscriber accepts the invitation and creates their own login credentials
An existing profile can be transferred to preserve the list, history, and recommendations
The additional subscriber can then watch Netflix on the device of their choice, with one stream at a time

The account holder and the additional subscriber must have subscribed in the same country. Some offers billed by a carrier or included in a bundled package may not allow this option.

Frequently asked questions about the best Netflix movies

What is the best Netflix movie right now?

Frankenstein is among the most ambitious productions in the catalog, while Train Dreams stands out in a much more intimate vein. The best choice depends primarily on the pacing and genre you prefer.

What is the most popular Netflix movie?

Netflix presents K-pop Demon Hunters as its most popular film to date. Its success extends far beyond the usual K-pop audience thanks to its songs, animation, and accessible story.

Which Netflix movies can we watch as a family?

K-Pop's Demon Hunters and The Mitchells vs. the Machines are the most accessible titles on this list. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio can also be watched as a family, but its dark tone and themes surrounding death may be upsetting for young children.

Which Netflix movies are based on true stories?

The Circle of Snow tells the story of the survival of the passengers of the Uruguayan flight that crashed in the Andes in 1972. The Trial of the Chicago 7 is inspired by a real political trial, while The Perfect Neighbor uses footage recorded during a criminal case.

Which Netflix movie should I watch if I prefer a short format?

The Perfect Neighbor, Athena, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Les Mitchell vs. the Machines are all under two hours long. Grand epics like The Irishman, Frankenstein, and All Quiet on the Western Front require a greater commitment.

Can you download Netflix movies?

Many movies can be downloaded from the Netflix app on a compatible device. Download availability depends on the movie, the device, and the subscription plan.

Can you share Netflix with someone who doesn't live in your household?

Yes, when an Additional Subscriber option is available on the account. The invited person then creates their own login credentials. They do not log in with the primary account holder's password.