Netflix, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways…

There’s no denying that the streaming platform has come up trumps during the neverending coronavirus lockdown, keeping us supplied with a steady stream of new film titles each month. If we had one criticism, though, it’s this: there’s almost too much choice.

But if you, like this writer, have ever found yourself scrolling endlessly through the many movies available to watch on Netflix, please don’t despair. Because, in a bid to help you out, we’ve cherry-picked the 50 absolute best films streaming right now (a list which we vow to keep updated henceforth).

From musicals, dramas and sweeping romances, to sci-fi films, psychological thrillers and horror flicks, there truly is something here for everyone.

The one thing each of these titles has in common, though? Well, they’re guaranteed to keep you entertained from titles to credits.

Happy viewing.

Bridesmaids

Ever felt as if you’re losing your best friend? Then you need to watch this hilarious (yet oddly affecting) film about Annie, who achieves bridesmaidzilla status when she loses her cool over her BFF’s impending nuptials.

Run

If you thought Carrie’s Margaret White was the ultimate bad movie mum, think again: in Run, Sarah Paulson’s Diane has made a point of raising her own daughter in total isolation. As such, she has totally controlled Chloe since the moment she was born… and so, yeah, you better believe things escalate when Chloe becomes a teenager with a lot of questions.

Tragic Jungle / Selva Trágica

Boasting a red-hot 91% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Tragic Jungle (which will become available for streaming on 9 June) sees a young woman flee into the depths of the Mayan jungle to escape an arranged marriage. There, though, untamed nature soon merges the human with the supernatural.

Watch the trippy trailer for yourself below:

Labyrinth

If you’re looking for a twisted take on Alice In Wonderland, then this fantastical film – starring Jennifer Connelly, the late and great David Bowie, and a whole host of Jim Henson’s puppets – is a must-watch. because trust us; it’s achieved such cult status for a reason…

Blackfish

It’s the documentary that shattered hearts all over the world. And that’s because the story of Tilikum, the captive killer whale at the centre of Blackfish, underscores problems not just within the sea-park industry, but with humanity’s relationship to nature.

Skater Girl

When a teen in rural India discovers a life-changing passion for skateboarding, she faces a rough road as she follows her dream to compete. Available for streaming on 11 June, you can sate your curiosity by watching the trailer below:

About A Boy

As Will Freeman, Hugh Grant very much embraces all the shades of grey that come with playing a hopelessly flawed character. He attends a single parent support group and pretends he has a two-year-old son, solely with the aim of picking up women. He covers up the murder of a hapless duck. He allows himself to be blackmailed into becoming a sort of surrogate big brother to young teen Marcus… and yet, again, Will isn’t all bad. Indeed, he may be Grant’s best character to date, hammering home an all-important reminder: “No man is an island.”

A Star Is Born

A searing tale of love and passion, the first half of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s A Star Is Born feels as swooningly romantic as any Old Hollywood classic. The haunting second half, though, deals expertly with the burdens of mythmaking, creating art, and jealousy – and teaches us a vital lesson about mental health and addiction in the process, too. 

Death Becomes Her

When novelist Helen (Goldie Hawn) loses the love of her life to narcissistic actor Madeline (Meryl Streep), she is absolutely bereft. Bereft, that is, until she learns of a bewitching immortality treatment that might just help her to outdo her long-time rival. 

Sure, this macabre movie may not have had rave reviews from contemporary critics back in 1992, but they have since been proven dead wrong. Because Death Becomes Her is the sort of over-the-top comic classic that is thoroughly deserving of its cult status.

Stardust

One of this writer’s all-time favourite films, Stardust – adapted from Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name – has it all. Think thoroughly wicked witches, space-dwelling pirates, swordplay, true love’s first kiss, adventure, and an out-of-this-world cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Henry Cavill, Sienna Miller, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Charlie Cox, Ian McKellen, Ricky Gervais, and Ben Barnes are just a few of the megawatt names on the bill!

Crazy Rich Asians

When New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) agree to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding), she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. What Nick has failed to let his girlfriend know, however, is that his family is obscenely wealthy (and famous!) and that he is the country’s most eligible bachelor. 

Go into this one expecting to fall in love with romantic comedies all over again, and keep an eye out for Awkwafina’s show-stealing performance.

The Trial Of The Chicago Seven

The Trial Of The Chicago 7 takes us back in time to the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the eruption of violence between protestors and police, and the shockingly biased trial that resulted from the event. It’s a movie about protest, about the change that it can affect. And it’s a movie that’s been making a lot of noise on this year’s awards circuit, too, garnering several Oscar nominations (including Best Picture).

Pride & Prejudice

As in, yes, the gorgeous Jane Austen adaptation starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, and Rosamund Pike. What more do you need to know, eh?

Room

Brie Larson is absolutely astonishing in Room, taking on the role of a young woman who has been held captive in an isolated shed by her kidnapper for years. In creating a fairy-tale world for her little son to escape into, though, Joy discovers a way to regain her freedom and return to her old life.

The Impossible

The Impossible, starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, feels a lot like a horror film at times. It is, however, based on the incredible true story of one family who were caught in the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami. Devastating and difficult to watch? Absolutely. A painful reminder of the 230,000 people who lost their lives that fateful day? Of course. And yet, somehow, this film manages to feel incredibly hopeful, too.

Us

Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o) just wants to enjoy a beach holiday with her family. But, as fans of Jordan Peele’s identity horror Us know all too well, this becomes impossible when four masked strangers descend upon the Wilsons’ holiday home, forcing them into a desperate fight for survival. And, when the masks eventually come off, things get even more frightening…

Game Night

As incredibly funny and fast-paced as it is smart, Game Night sees Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams take on the role of a married couple attending a seemingly harmless murder mystery with their friends. As the night progresses, though, things begin to take surprising twists and turns, and it soon becomes apparent that not all is what it seems to be…

Molly’s Game

In this energetic directorial debut from Aaron Sorkin, we follow the true story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), who runs a high-stakes poker game for prominent stars and mafia. When she  finds herself in trouble with the FBI, though, she sees her star come tumbling down – and turns to lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) for help.

La La Land

The almost-Oscar winner weaves a bittersweet tale of love and friendship between aspiring actor Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz musician Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), as they pursue their dreams in Los Angeles – a city which values commodity, praises shallowness, and prides physical appearance above all else.

Mudbound

Based on the novel of the same name. Mudbound (starring an unrecognisable Mary J. Blige) sees two Mississippi families – one Black, one white – confront the brutal realities of prejudice, farming and friendship in a divided World War II era.

Roma

The exquisitely tragic Roma follows the life of a live-in housekeeper of a middle-class family, as a semi-autobiographical take on Cuarón’s upbringing in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City.

Svaha: The Sixth Finger

A Korean box office topper, Svaha: The Sixth Finger is a dark and moody detective-thriller about a pastor hired to look into a shadowy religious cult. Ideal viewing for a dark and stormy night…

Red Dot

High-concept thriller Red Dot, aka Netflix’s first-ever feature film from Sweden, starts off by treading somewhat familiar territory; David and Nadja, a couple in their late 20s, are struggling to navigate the peaks and troughs of their increasingly rocky relationship. When Nadja becomes pregnant, though, the duo realise they have to make a decision about their marriage: are they in, or are they out?

In a bid to rekindle the romance, the couple decide to travel to the magnificent expanses in the north of Sweden for a ski hike. But, after a quarrel with two local hunters, their make-or-break trip slowly turns into a nightmare as they find themselves relentlessly pursued through a snowstorm by a stranger with a laser sight gun. 

Go in expecting to hold your breath for a very long time… and gasp in horror at that unexpected ending, too.

Rocks

All about a teenage girl’s struggle to take care of herself and her little brother, this outstanding film perfectly captures what it’s truly like to be a teen carrying the weight of the world.

As Stylist contributor Victoria Sanusi puts it: “Rocks really does feel bigger than it’s hour and a half run time. And it’s a landmark for so many women who haven’t felt seen or reflected in the productions they’ve grown up watching.”

No wonder it has a 98% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, eh?

Funny Girl

Starring Barbra Streisand at her brilliant best, rich musical movie Funny Girl follows the life of the 1930s comedan Fannie Brice, from her early days in the Jewish slums of New York, to the height of her career with the Ziegfeld Follies.

Your Name

In this extraordinary Japanese coming-of-age tale, two teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. But things become even more complicated when they decide to meet in person.

Fair warning, though: don’t go in thinking Your Name is “for kids” just because it’s a cartoon. Profoundly touching, it’s actually one of the best films out there showing how we process and experience time and loss.

10 Cloverfield Lane

As unlike the original Cloverfield film as it’s possible to be, this tense thriller sees Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wake up to find herself in a bunker with a stranger named Howard (John Goodman).

He claims he rescued her from a car crash and spirited her underground to save her from a now-uninhabitable outside world. She suspects, though, that he’s lying in a bid to keep her calm and quiet.

What’s really going on outside? Will she ever be able to escape Howard’s clutches? And why oh why is there a vat of hydrofluoric acid down here with them…?

12 Years A Slave

Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a free African-American who is promised a fortnightly job by Brown and Hamilton. However, after arriving in Washington DC, he realises that he has been sold into slavery.

Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o, this Academy Award-winning film has been praised for driving straight to the heart of the cruelties of oppression.

The Secret Garden

In this classic tale for all ages (directed by Agnieszka Holland), a spoiled young girl finds herself transformed when she uncovers a secret garden which has been neglected and hidden for years. Slowly but surely, the magic of the outdoors winds its spell upon her and the entire household, setting in motion a chain of wonders.

Always Be My Maybe

When childhood sweethearts Sasha and Marcus have a falling out as teens, they don’t speak to one another for 15 years. When their paths cross in San Francisco, it quickly becomes apparent that they still have feelings for one another. Too bad, then, that they now inhabit entirely different worlds.

”Always Be My Maybe explores what it means to be Asian, exploring the sacrifices of immigrant parents and the fact that none of the leads in this film could be written off as the token Asian,” says Stylist contributor Hannah-Rose Yee. 

“Because they’re all Asian. But it has plenty more to say on subjects other than diversity, too.”

Galaxy Quest

When a group of washed-up actors from the cult sci-fi television series, Galaxy Quest, are abducted by a race of aliens, they quickly realise that their (very friendly) captors have zero concept of TV. Instead, they wholeheartedly believe that the actors are the heroic space travellers they portray on-screen… and that they’re the only ones who can save them from a formidable foe, too. 

Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver star in this laugh-out-loud 1999 satire, which explores sexist tropes in sci-fi with aplomb. And, yes, it’s one of this writer’s favourite films of all time ever. What of it?

Sorry To Bother You

Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson star in Sorry to Bother You, a daring (and wonderfully weird) satire on capitalist greed.

And, describing the film as “explosive and memorable” in her review for Stylist, Kemi J Williams promises: “Director Boots Riley wants you to hear him loud, clear and buy into his compelling message. 

“And the risks he takes in doing so, even if they don’t quite take your fancy, must be respected in a world of over-done, over-marketed, sequel-and-remake-sodden features. Especially when the message strikes at the heart of human greed; something even the poorest among us are often guilty of.”

West Side Story

Easily one of the best musical adaptations to date, the OG West Side Story sees lovers Maria (Natalie Wood) and Tony (Richard Beymer) find themselves entangled in the bitter battle between their gangster families. Knowing this feud will lead to disastrous consequences, Maria sends Tony to end the fight.

Whether he succeeds or not, we will not say (spoilers). What we will say, though, is this: Rita Moreno’s tour de force performance of America is worth tuning in for alone, because it really is that good.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which is an adaptation of August Wilson’s play of the same name, tells the story of the “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey in 1927 Chicago. 

And the Netflix Original –which stars Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman – already has a bevy of awards nominations to its name, despite the fact it only dropped on the streaming platform last December.

“This is not a story where experience trumps young ambition, but one that demonstrates the dangers of how unpredictable young ambition can be and how valuable life is,” promises Stylist’s Kiran Meeda. 

The Dig

Adapted from the popular 2008 novel of the same name by John Preston, The Dig is an account of the most famous archaeological dig in Britain in modern time – the discovery of the Anglo-Saxon burial ship at Sutton Hoo, known as “Britain’s Tutankhamun”.

Set against the intense backdrop of a nation on the eve of war in 1939, the story channels class tensions, love and loss through the eyes of those affected by the dig and its treasures, including the widowed landowner of the state the burial mounds are on, Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), and the amateur archaeologist she hires to excavate their secrets, Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes).

This film has picked up a handful of nominations for the 2021 Baftas, and is a likely contender for the Oscars, too, so well worth your time.

Set It Up

In the smart and furiously funny Set It Up, two overworked and underpaid assistants come up with a plan to get their bosses off their backs by setting them up with each other. Guess what happens next?

Yes, God, Yes

In the critically-acclaimed Yes, God, Yes, Natalia Dyer stars as Alice, a 16-year-old Catholic girl who finds herself plagued by “lustful” thoughts after an AOL chat turns unexpectedly racy.

Keen to seek redemption, she attends a four-day religious retreat (described by the director as a “brainwashing” experience) to try and suppress what she sees as “sinful” urges, but her mission becomes increasingly impossible when she finds herself falling head-over-heels for a cute upperclassman.

The film currently boasts a 93% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising the film’s sensitive and honest approach to Alice’s discovery of masturbation and all the guilt, shame, and pleasure that comes with it. 

Spider Man: Into The Spider-Verse

If you’re looking for a movie that looks and feels like an actual comic book, this award-winning animation does just that. 

You know the story by heart, of course, even if you don’t realise it: Miles Morales gains superpowers from a spider bite, and sets to protecting the city as Spider-Man. Before too long. though, he starts meeting alternate versions of himself (like the OG Spider-Man, for example) and soon becomes embroiled in an epic battle to save the multiverse.

The Forty-Year-Old Version

After winning at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Radha Blank’s The Forty-Year-Old Version is now available to stream via Netflix. 

It tells the tale of Radha, a down-on-her-luck New York playwright, who’s desperate for a breakthrough before 40. When she foils what seems like her last shot at success, though, she’s left with no choice but to reinvent herself as a rapper: RadhaMUSPrime. 

“The Forty-Year-Old Version is hilariously good,” raved one viewer. “Haven’t laughed this hard at a movie since I can remember. So many highlights. The salute to Spike, Harlem, female [MCs], and finding your voice at 40… what a gem of a film.”

Hereditary

Hereditary is the terrifying Toni Collette horror movie that scientists have dubbed one of the scariest films of all time. Ever. 

“It’s as if Hereditary is a parasite that’s burrowed itself deep into my brain, latching on to my innermost self and depositing eggs all over it,” reads Stylist’s review of the haunted house flick. 

“And you know what’s worse? Those eggs will remain there, dormant, ready to hatch open the next time I’m alone in the dark. Or, just maybe, the next time I’m not quite as alone as I think I am…”

Clueless

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, cult classic Clueless tells the tale of Cher, a rich high-school student who takes it upon herself to help a new student gain popularity. And, in the process, she unexpectedly discovers that she has feelings for someone very close to her, too.

The Handmaiden

Not to be confused with The Handmaid’s Tale, this erotic fantasy from Park Chan-wook whisks us away to Korea in the 1930s, as an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri) teams up with a con man (Ha Jung-woo) to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman (Kim Min-hee) out of her inheritance.

Is it a love story? A revenge thriller? A puzzle film? Or something else entirely? Settle down and prepare to have your senses well and truly ravished as you find out.

His House

In His House, refugees Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) risk everything to escape with the violent conflict of Sudan. An accident at sea, though, sees them arrive in the UK grieving a tragic loss.

After spending time at a detention centre, they are granted a grimy house of their very own. It feels like a fresh start. But it isn’t long before they realise something is deeply wrong with their new home. 

Dubbing the film “a beautiful and challenging tragedy,” Stylist reviewer Dahaba Ali Hussen promises: “Director Remi Weekes keeps you rooted here in the UK during the course of his powerful debut, while at the same time spiriting you away to another continent, and keeping you trapped within the confines of your mind.”

Da 5 Bloods

Directed by Spike Lee, this war drama sees four African American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.

It leans hard into comedy as well as tragedy, menace, and powerful action-packed wartime flashbacks. And it’s been picking up award nominations left, right, and centre this year, so it’s well worth watching before the winners of the 2021 Baftas and Oscars are announced.

Booksmart

In this brilliant teen comedy, best friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) realise that they have been cast aside by their surroundings for being bookworms and pretentious. Cue them deciding to let loose and make up for the lost time, with somewhat disastrous consequences…

The Call

Definitely not to be confused with Halle Berry’s film of the same name, The Call straddles the line between thriller and horror as a woman finds herself connected by phone to a serial killer in her house.

The big twist? They’re both in the same house, but set 20 years apart – and everything our heroine says has the potential to put another woman’s past, and life, on the line. And, yes, the results have earned this South Korean flick that much-coveted 100% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Marriage Story

This award-winning film, all about a once-happy couple’s struggle through a gruelling, coast-to-coast divorce, offers an intimate look at the emotions that pour out when a relationship is put under extreme stress.

The News Of The World

Set five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks) travels from town to town telling stories about presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe.

In the plains of Texas, though he crosses paths with 10-year-old Johanna (Helena Zengel), and agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two will face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place that either can call home.

Spirited Away

This spectacularly beautiful animation by acclaimed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki is the sort of nightmare-inducing fable that’s very much made for adults.

It tells the story of 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi), who stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. Seemingly abandoned, this writer hastens to point out, but not actually abandoned.

After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her family.

Will she succeed?

My Octopus Teacher

This award-nominated documentary tells the incredible story of filmmaker Craig Foster, who spends a year forging a relationship with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest.

Images: Netflix, Sarah Gavron, Rex Features, Getty, Universal Pictures