With an ever-expanding library, Netflix offers an overwhelming number of choices, making it difficult to separate the truly great films from the forgettable ones. While new releases often dominate the spotlight, many exceptional films remain buried under the sheer volume of content. Whether they are underrated gems, overlooked classics, or simply films that haven’t received the attention they deserve, these movies stand out amidst the mediocrity.
That’s where we come in. This list is designed to help you cut through the clutter and discover some great films on Netflix that you can watch right now; carefully selected to ensure your time is spent on something truly worthwhile. So, if you’re tired of endlessly scrolling and unsure what to watch next, let this be your guide.
1. Grave of the Fireflies (1988) | Director: Isao Takahata
Grave of the Fireflies remains one of the most profound anti-war films ever made, a heartbreaking yet poetic meditation on loss and survival. Directed by Isao Takahata and based on Akiyuki Nosaka’s short story, the film follows Seita and his little sister Setsuko as they struggle to endure the devastation of World War II’s final days. Through breathtaking animation and deeply human storytelling, Takahata crafts a poignant tribute to those who suffered in silence, ensuring their pain is neither forgotten nor turned into mere spectacle.
Unlike many war films, Grave of the Fireflies doesn’t glorify heroism or battlefield victories. Instead, it lingers on quiet, intimate moments, emphasizing the fragility of life and the indifference of the world to innocent suffering. Now available on Netflix, this Studio Ghibli masterpiece remains an essential and deeply moving cinematic experience.
Related to Great Films on Netflix: All Isao Takahata Movies Ranked
2. Do The Right Thing (1989) | Director: Spike Lee
Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing is one of the most urgent and enduring films about race relations in America. A masterclass in filmmaking, it blends heightened visual style, vibrant cinematography, and razor-sharp dialogue to create an experience that is both thought-provoking and incendiary. Lee constructs the film with a deliberate theatricality—his characters often break the fourth wall, and the color-drenched frames pulse with energy, making it impossible for viewers to sit back passively.
Set on the hottest day of the year, the film simmers with tension until it explodes, challenging audiences to engage with its themes rather than offering easy resolutions. Its relevance has only grown with time, cementing it as one of the greatest American films ever made. Now available on Netflix, Do the Right Thing isn’t just a film—it’s an essential conversation that continues to demand attention.
Related List: 10 Best Spike Lee Movies
3. Schindler’s List (1993) | Director: Steven Spielberg
Despite its widespread acclaim, Schindler’s List has notable detractors. Kubrick famously remarked, “The Holocaust is about six million people who get killed. Schindler’s List is about 600 who don’t,” a sentiment echoed by Gilliam. Haneke criticized the suspense in the Auschwitz shower scene, while Godard accused the film of profiting from tragedy. Yet these arguments overlook the film’s role in reigniting discourse on the Holocaust at a time when antisemitism and denial were on the rise—something Spielberg himself emphasized in his Oscar speech. The filmmaking process was deeply personal for Spielberg, forcing him to confront his own history and heritage.
What critics often misinterpret is that the film does not treat Oskar Schindler’s actions as a triumph, but rather as a pyrrhic victory against an unfathomable loss. It stands as a deeply moving reflection on human failure, framed through Spielberg’s signature humanism. This was his first major historical drama, a genre he would return to for some of his most accomplished works. With its haunting Expressionist style and John Williams’s unforgettable score, Schindler’s List cemented itself as not just one of Spielberg’s defining achievements but one of the most important films ever made. Now streaming on Netflix, it remains a harrowing yet essential piece of cinema.
Also Read: 15 Best Steven Spielberg Movies
4. Y Tu Mamá También (2001) | Director: Alfonso Cuarón
This provocative and insightful coming-of-age road movie follows two teenage boys, Julio (Gael García Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna), as they embark on a life-changing trip across Mexico with an older woman, Luisa (Maribel Verdú). Coming from different class backgrounds, the boys mask their insecurities with bravado, but as the journey unfolds, deeper anxieties and desires surface. Unbeknownst to them, Luisa is facing a personal crisis, and their impulsive invitation sets the stage for a poignant exploration of youth, friendship, and fleeting passion.
One of Y Tu Mamá También’s most striking elements is its omniscient narrator, offering glimpses into the characters’ pasts and futures while subtly commenting on Mexico’s sociopolitical landscape. With handheld cinematography, natural lighting, and an improvised feel, Alfonso Cuarón crafts an authentic and deeply intimate story. Now available on Netflix, this modern classic remains one of the most emotionally resonant and visually distinctive films of the 21st century.
Also Read: All Alfonso Cuarón Movies Ranked
5. Oldboy (2003) | Director: Park Chan-Wook
Oldboy put Korean cinema on the global stage and remains a defining work in the revenge genre. The second chapter in Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy is a hyper-violent, bloodcurdling tale of retribution, blending the Oedipus complex, themes of incest, and a fleeting sense of empathy. It’s a nightmarish descent into despair, layered with Kafkaesque aesthetics and disturbing off-screen violence.
A drunken, arrogant man is held captive for fourteen years until he is suddenly released without explanation. Given only a cell phone, money, and expensive clothes, he sets out to find the man responsible—Lee Woo-jin—and seek revenge. Park masterfully paints both characters in shades of grey, never imposing a moral stance, while exploring how revenge can be both punishment and catharsis. Oldboy is as shocking as it is unforgettable—and now, it’s streaming on Netflix.
Related Read: 40 Best South Korean Movies of the 21st Century
6. The Squid and The Whale (2005) | Director: Noah Baumbach
In one of the most painfully funny scenes in The Squid and the Whale, Bernard Berkman’s (Jeff Daniels) elder son, Walt (Jesse Eisenberg), performs Pink Floyd’s Hey You for an audience, boldly passing it off as his own. In another, the younger son, barely 12 years old, casually drinks beer while chatting with his brother. These moments, both darkly comedic and deeply revealing, are just small examples of how subtly brilliant and sharply observed Noah Baumbach’s film is. The film’s acidic wit only enhances its raw, unflinching portrayal of a dysfunctional family, led by two egotistical writers whose personal and professional failures ripple through their children’s lives.
While many filmmakers claim their work is personal, The Squid and the Whale is Baumbach’s most directly autobiographical film—a painfully honest reflection of his own upbringing, with parents who were a novelist and a critic. Brimming with brutally authentic character moments, it captures life in all its messy, fractured, and deeply human complexity. Now available to stream on Netflix, The Squid and the Whale is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates sharp, intimate storytelling at its finest.
Related to Great Films on Netflix: All Noah Baumbach Movies Ranked
7. Whiplash (2014) | Director: Damien Chazelle
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, Whiplash is less about the pursuit of perfection and more about the psychological toll of obsession. If you’ve ever had a demanding teacher or authority figure, this film might hit too close to home. Its intense sound design—blending pounding drums, sharp dialogue, and jazz rhythms—amplifies the anxiety, making for an almost suffocating experience.
Miles Teller stars as Andrew Neiman, a young jazz drummer determined to achieve greatness. Under the brutal mentorship of Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), he is pushed beyond his limits, facing verbal abuse and relentless pressure that threaten his sanity. Simmons delivers a performance as terrifying as it is mesmerizing, keeping both Andrew and the audience on edge until the final, electrifying climax. Now streaming on Netflix, Whiplash remains an unforgettable dive into the dark side of ambition.
8. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) | Director: George Miller
After the disappointment of Beyond Thunderdome, George Miller took a step back before envisioning a new Mad Max film as a relentless chase sequence. Working with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris, he storyboarded the film before writing the script, a process that took over a decade. Production, initially planned for the early 2000s, was delayed due to 9/11 and Miller’s commitment to Happy Feet. The project continued evolving, and Mel Gibson eventually dropped out due to age.
When Fury Road finally arrived in 2015, it exceeded all expectations. Tom Hardy took over as Max, but Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa became the true hero of the film. Instantly hailed as one of the greatest action films ever made, its breathtaking effects, cinematography, and masterful editing cemented its place in cinematic history. Even if you haven’t seen the previous Mad Max films, Fury Road stands on its own as a genre-defining masterpiece. Now, with its prequel Furiosa on the horizon, there’s no better time to revisit this action classic—available to stream on Netflix.
Also Read: The 25 Best Films Of 2015
9. Okja (2017) | Director: Bong Joon-ho
Bong Joon-ho’s Okja, co-written with Jon Ronson and featuring an eclectic cast including Paul Dano and Tilda Swinton, is one of the most unexpected entries in his filmography. With its environmental themes, heavy use of CGI, and animated elements, it seemed like Bong was stepping into unfamiliar territory. However, any doubts were quickly dispelled when the film arrived on Netflix to largely positive reviews.
Seamlessly balancing socio-political commentary without becoming preachy, Okja avoids the pitfalls that many genre films succumb to. While it may not rank among Bong’s absolute best, it remains a bold, emotionally resonant film that showcases his ability to blend spectacle with substance—one that’s well worth watching on Netflix.
Related to Great Films on Netflix: All Bong Joon-ho Movies Ranked
5. The Meyerowitz Stories (2017) | Director: Noah Baumbach
Like any Noah Baumbach film, The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) unfolds its emotional depth gradually, peeling back layers of resentment, love, and long-buried grievances with precision. On the surface, it appears to be a collection of disjointed, hyperactive, and often tense vignettes—scattered memories of the Meyerowitz family as they navigate their relationships with their aging patriarch, Harold (Dustin Hoffman), a once-revered artist whose ego looms large over his children’s lives.
Baumbach masterfully dissects family dynamics, exploring the subtle tensions and lifelong insecurities that shape each character. Whether through moments of sharp wit or heartbreaking vulnerability, the film presents an honest and deeply relatable portrayal of what makes and breaks a family. The performances elevate the film further, with Adam Sandler delivering one of the finest performances of his career—bringing a quiet depth and wounded sincerity to his role. Now streaming on Netflix, The Meyerowitz Stories is a bittersweet, character-driven gem that blends humor and melancholy in a way only Baumbach can.
