Netflix puts 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.
5 Captain Phillips
|
Release Year |
2013 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
2 hours 14 minutes |
Tom Hanks is always on good form and that's especially true in Captain 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.
These Are My 9 Favorite Action Movies on Netflix
Looking for action movies that kick butt and take names for their entire runtime? Check out these awesome titles on Netflix!
4 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
|
Release Year |
2024 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 45 minutes |
Michael Keaton returned as the manic Betelgeuse in 2024's Beetlejuice 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 is Wednesday'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.
3 Wayne's World
|
Release Year |
1992 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 35 minutes |
Wayne's World is one of those movies that you may have seen clips or GIFs from (headbanging to Bohemian Rhapsody in 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 a Saturday Night Live sketch 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!
Need a Good Laugh? Stream These 8 Netflix Standup Shows
Life got you down? Want to invert that frown? These are the best stand-up shows on Netflix!
2 The Sea Beast
|
Release Year |
2022 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 55 minutes |
The Sea Beast was 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 by Big 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 Beast is a rollicking good time.
1 The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More
|
Release Year |
2024 |
|---|---|
|
Runtime |
1 hour 28 minutes |
Originally released as four separate short films, The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar and Three More packages 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 of Poison, where a doctor rushes to help a man who is unable to move from bed due to a venomous snake lying on him.
Looking for a Short Weekend Watch? These 10 Netflix Movies Are Less Than 30 Minutes
Try these bite-sized films if you're short on time.
If you don't think you'll have the chance to watch all of these movies this week, add them to your Netflix watchlist so 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.
Stream all of these great movies, along with plenty more original and licensed programming, with a Netflix subscription.
