The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (August 2023)

Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Genre: Romantic Comedy | Director: Claire Scanlon

Cast: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Pete Davidson

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a rom-com junkie — obsessed to the point of running a podcast on it, actually. So it’s no surprise that Set It Up, Netflix’s 2018 original film starring Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell, is easily my favorite movie the streamer has on offer, even five years after its premiere. While they’ve made plenty of other rom-coms since the film was released, the story of two down-on-their-luck executive assistants who attempt to set their bosses up with each other for a little free time is easily still their best.

While it’s not the first time Powell and Deutch starred together — that award goes to Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!! — and both have gone onto much bigger projects, it’s a sweet and heartwarming film that’s easy to get into, even if the comedy’s a bit cringe-worthy. It’s rare to find rom-coms made after 2005 whose leads have such immediate, entertaining, and believable chemistry and even rarer to find a cast filled with heavyweights who are just as much fun — can you believe this film also boasts the likes of Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs, and Pete Davidson? Not to mention it’s an easy hour and forty-five minutes, perfect for watching (and rewatching, as I do) whenever you want a little fun in your life. —Maggie Boccella, News Editor

Run Time: 2 hrs 3 min | Director: Tom Harper

Cast: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Jing Lusi

Heart of Stone is a heart-pumping new action adventure from director Tom Harper. Centering on the highly trained agents of a secret global peacekeeping organization, Heart of Stone follows as these operatives attempt to protect a dangerous piece of technology from a nefarious hacker. With a Mission Impossible vibe and Fast and the Furious-type adventures, Heart of Stone is a fun ride thanks to writer Greg Rucka (The Old Guard). The film showcases espionage thrills, a hint of mystery, and huge cinematic stunts, allowing stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan, along with Alia Bhatt and Jing Lusi, to absolutely dazzle. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 37 min | Genre: Drama Comedy | Director: Rob Burnett

Cast: Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez

The 2016 Netflix original The Fundamentals of Caring is one of those movies I find myself inserting into any film conversation I’m having, and it’s unfortunately rare that someone has even heard of it, let alone seen it. Based on Jonathan Evison’s novel The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving and written and directed by Rob Burnett, this charming, heartwarming road trip dramedy stars Paul Rudd as Ben Benjamin (yes, that’s his name), an unemployed writer searching for meaning in his life after an unfathomable tragedy. Hoping to remedy his situation, he enrolls in a caregiving class and is paired with Trevor (Craig Roberts), a darkly humored, cynical teenager with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy who is not exactly keen on leaving the house or having a caregiver.

This isn’t the typical type of Paul Rudd vehicle you might be expecting. Yes, he’s still hilarious when the story calls for it (the scene of him and Roberts in the car with a Slim Jim is Rudd-tastic), but for the most part, he isn’t the one quipping witty jokes — rather, he’s leaning into his more vulnerable side as he fields Trevor’s insults and taking care of Trevor during their cross-country road trip. Along the way, they meet Dot, a fellow lost soul with a sharp tongue and an open mind, played beautifully by Selena Gomez. Just as these characters need each other, you need this movie in your life. The Fundamentals of Caring is the epitome of a hidden gem. – Emilly Bernard, Features Editor

Run Time: 1 hr 46 min | Director: Laura McGann

Cast: Kristof Coenen, Sean Russel Herman, Stephen Keenan, Audrey Mestre

Witness the incredible strength and skill needed for one of the most dangerous, deadliest extreme sports in the water: freediving. The Deepest Breath provides background information on the sport and introduces audiences to Alessia Zecchini, an Italian woman with the goal, passion, and talent to break records. The Deepest Breath utilizes Zecchini’s family and loved ones to share her story, along with archive footage and chats with her friend and expert safety diver, Stephen Keenan. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hr 2 min | Director: Juel Taylor

Cast: Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, Teyonah Parris

Drawing inspiration from real government experimentation on the Black community in America, They Cloned Tyrone is oozing with poignant satire bolstered by absurdity. Jamie Foxx (Day Shift), John Boyega (Attack the Block), and Teyonah Parris (Candyman) star in the feature film directorial debut of Juel Taylor (Creed II), which is a delightfully stylized throwback to 1970s Blaxploitation films. These three dynamite superstars play a hustler, a pimp, and a sex worker who stumble onto a vast government conspiracy taking place just below their neighborhood, forcing them to rise up to take down this sinister plot. This retro-futuristic film filled with existentialism and hope is the perfect summer watch. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Genre: Documentary, Music | Director: Chris Smith

Cast: George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley

Director Chris Smith (Tiger King) does a retrospective on the influential band WHAM! featuring archival footage and interviews that paint the full picture of the musical careers of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. The documentary covers the early lives of the two best friends who would form the pop duo and follows their meteoric rise from ambitious teenagers to accomplishing their dream of playing their last concert at Wembley Stadium. It’s a wonderfully nostalgic walk through the 80s pop scene that gives never-before-seen insight into George Michael’s struggles with being a gay man in the spotlight during the height of the AIDS crisis. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Genre: Comedy, Crime | Director: Tyler Spindel

Cast: Adam DeVine, Nina Dobrev, Pierce Brosnan, Ellen Barkin

The Out-Laws is a fun romp that feels like a mix of Meet the Parents and True Lies. Adam DeVine (Workaholics) and Nina Dobrev (Let’s Be Cops) lead this action comedy as a couple named Owen and Parker whose wedding weekend gets an unexpected wrinkle when Parker’s parents rob Owen’s bank. Turns out the parents, played by Pierce Brosnan (Mamma Mia!) and Ellen Barkin (Drop Dead Gorgeous), are an infamous criminal duo called the Ghost Bandits. But this time, they stole from the wrong person, and the only way to get Parker back from a dangerous group of killers is to enlist Owen’s help to rob more banks to pay off the kidnappers. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 41 min | Director: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Indya Moore

Based on the charming graphic novel, Nimona is a delightful animated action-comedy film co-directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane. With a screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, Nimona showcases an exciting animation style with unexpectedly gorgeous scenescapes created by blending a science-fiction futuristic aesthetic with medieval elements. Nimona features the voice of Chloë Grace Moretz in the titular role, a young and tenacious shapeshifter, alongside the voice of Riz Ahmed as Ballister Boldheart, a knight framed for murder. As unlikely allies fighting for freedom and each other, Nimona and Boldheart reveal the power of trust, love, and family. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 2 min | Genre: Action | Director: Sam Hargrave

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Olga Kurylenko

Written by Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame) and directed by Sam Hargrave, Extraction 2 is a large-scale assault on the senses with incredible action, stellar casting, and a heart-pumping pace. The second film in the exciting franchise, Extraction 2 is brilliantly shot and spends most of its two-hour run time on thrilling, explosive stunts with graceful combat choreography. Chris Hemsworth reprises his role from the first Extraction film, once again playing fearless mercenary Tyler Rake alongside Golshifteh Farahani, who also returns as Nik Khan. Ideal viewing for Jason Bourne fans, Extraction 2 embraces the action thriller genre without hesitation. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hr 6 min | Genre: Comedy, Drama | Director: Marc Forster

Cast: Tom Hanks, Mack Bayda, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller

Tom Hanks (Cast Away) stars in this American remake of the Swedish film adaptation of the Fredrik Backman novel about a miserable old widower who gets dragged into finding a new purpose in life by his neighbors. This film is a refreshing role for perpetual nice guy Hanks, who gets to stretch his acting muscles as he conveys grief and hopelessness in ways not often written for such a likable actor. His evolution from a misanthrope who’s ready to meet his wife on the other side to a caring and begrudgingly outgoing figure is endearing to watch, and his interactions with Mariana Treviño (Club de Cuervos) as Marisol, which serve as the catalyst for this change, are the best part of this rollercoaster of emotions.

Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Genre: Action Drama | Director: Niki Caro

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Paul Raci, Gael García Bernal

Jennifer Lopez kicks serious ass in The Mother, a gritty, action-packed drama about a military-trained assassin intent on protecting the daughter she had to give up. Directed by Niki Caro (Mulan), The Mother features Gael García Bernal and Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale) as terrifying villains, building a suspenseful plot that feels like a delicious blend of Taken and Hanna. The Mother truly succeeds as both an action film and a drama solely due to Lopez and her innate ability to embody strength and vulnerability, love and passion, and fluidity through intense scenes and stunts. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 39 min | Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family | Director: Wendy Rogers

Cast: Brian Tyree Henry, Natasia Demetriou, Mandy Patinkin, Benedict Wong

Based on the fantastic novel of the same name written by Kate DiCamillo, The Magician’s Elephant is a whimsical and inspirational story of bravery in the face of the impossible. When a fortune teller convinces Peter (Noah Jupe), a young orphan, that he must follow a magical elephant to be reunited with his sister, he agrees to perform Herculean tasks to win the prized pachyderm. In his attempts to perform these gargantuan feats, he is aided and supported by a wonderful cast of characters with equally amazing voice talents, including Brian Tyree Henry (The Eternals), Mandy Patinkin (The Princess Bride), and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange). – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 2 hr 9 min | Genre: Crime Drama, Mystery, Thriller | Director: Jamie Payne

Cast: Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis

Idris Elba (The Suicide Squad) reprises his role as John Luther, the disgraced London detective who always gets his man by any means necessary. At its core, Luther has always been a new take on the Sherlock Holmes character, and in this new film that takes place after the events of the series, it seems he has finally found his Moriarty in the brand-new character David Robey, played by Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings). Luther: The Fallen Sun makes great use of the film budget and promises to give fans bigger action sequences and an epic narrative displaying the full force of the London police as they chase down Luther, who has escaped prison to capture a serial killer. For long-time fans of the Luther series, this movie will be the next chapter we’ve all been waiting for. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 52 min | Genre: Documentary | Director: Ryan White

Cast: Pamela Anderson, Gregory Butler, Rob Bowman

Following Hulu’s critically acclaimed limited series Pam & Tommy, actress Pamela Anderson is taking control of her narrative and allowing director Ryan White to help her tell her story in the documentary Pamela: A Love Story. Shared through her own words, Pamela: A Love Story prudently explores Anderson’s journey from a teenager with dreams to a universal sex symbol embroiled in an infamous scandal. Featuring archives of never-before-seen footage, personal home videos, diaries, and journals, Pamela: A Love Story is a raw look at the trauma, ambitions, and humanity behind the pop culture icon. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Genre: Horror Thriller Mystery | Director: Nathaniel Martello-White

Cast: Ashley Madekwe, Jorden Myrie, Bukky Bakray, Michael Warburton, Caroline Martin

Nathaniel Martello-White both writes and directs The Strays, a clever film that explores classism, privilege, and perception through a unique lens. Building tension, The Strays has been compared to Get Out, as it is also a thrilling psychological drama set in an idyllic suburban town. The film stars Ashley Madekwe (The Umbrella Academy) as Neve, a mother and wife who has carefully curated her perfect life through details and deliberate lies. Raising questions both about Neve’s sanity and her reality, The Strays watches her world unravel when she mysteriously notices strangers infiltrating her delicate facade. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 39 min | Genre: Sci-Fi Action | Director: Yeon Sang-ho

Cast: Kang Soo-youn, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo

Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who also wrote the screenplay, Jung_E is a beautifully designed science-fiction/action drama set in the terrifying near future. After Earth becomes inhospitable, humans relocate to shelters in space, leading to a civil war between the Allied Force and the Adrian Republic. After 35 years, a leading tech company, Kronoid, clones the brain of an Allied Forces’ legendary mercenary, releasing an AI version of the Captain to save humanity. Starring Kang Soo-yeon in her final film performance before her death, Jung_E also features Kim Hyun-joo and Ryu Kyung-soo, rounding out the incredible cast of this fascinating film. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Genre: Comedy Romance | Director: Kenya Barris

Cast: Jonah Hill, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Kenya Barris (Black-ish) directs Jonah Hill in You People, an uproarious comedy about race, family, and culture clashes based on a screenplay they co-wrote together. Co-starring with Hill are comedic icons Eddie Murphy (Coming 2 America) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), who absolutely dazzle in You People in a story that presents varying perspectives to universal themes, emphasizing progress and generational differences. Supported by a stacked cast, including Nia Long, Lauren London, and David Duchovny, You People’s narrative relies heavily on the on-screen talent more than the written dialogue to provide the laughs in this romantic comedy about families. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Genre: Biography Drama | Director: Stephen Herek

Cast: Rob Lowe, Johnny Berchtold, Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Rob Lowe stars in Dog Gone, a touching family film about a beloved pet dog whose unexpected disappearance inspires a young man to embark on a life-changing journey with his parents to find their furry friend who is in need of life-saving medication. Based on a true story chronicled in Pauls Toutonghi’s book, Dog Gone is, at its core, about a fractured relationship between a father (Lowe) and his son (Johnny Berchtold). Director Stephen Herek (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure) carefully captures the slow and steady pace at which the family bond is repaired, paralleled by their hike into the Appalachian Trail. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 8 min | Genre: Thriller Horror Mystery | Director: Scott Cooper

Cast: Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Lucy Boynton, Gillian Anderson

Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), who adapted The Pale Blue Eye from Louis Bayard’s novel, this gruesome thriller reunites the director with star Christian Bale (Thor: Love and Thunder). In The Pale Blue Eye, Bale plays a retired detective reluctantly investigating the odd murder of a cadet attending West Point Academy in 1830. Blending elements often associated with horror into a criminal investigation and murder mystery, The Pale Blue Eye is a unique feature about an even stranger crime. Cooper’s clever use of color and shadows presents an impressive allure as his characters put together the pieces of the puzzle. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 16 min | Genre: Absurdist Comedy Drama | Director: Noah Baumbach

Cast: Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle

Written for the screen and directed by Noah Baumbach, White Noise is based on the book by Don DeLillo. An interesting balancing act by Baumbach, White Noise has been described as both a dark comedy and a horrific mystery, which could easily be a reflection on the philosophical questions broached by the absurdist film, such as the existence of joy in a precarious society. Starring skillfully adaptable actors including Adam Driver (House of Gucci) and Greta Gerwig (Barbie) as a fascinatingly mundane American couple attempting to grapple with existential dread blossoming from universal realities, White Noise provides these versatile performers a solid foundation from which to thrive. – Yael Tygiel