Looking for a good movie? Here we bring you a list of the best movies on Netflix UK right now, ranging from action and adventure to thrillers and documentaries. There are so many great movies on Netflix, but sometimes it can be Also Lots to choose from and it’s really hard to search, so we’ve sifted through the lot to come up with the ultimate list of movies we think you’ll enjoy.
If you’re looking for TV shows to watch on Netflix UK, check out our best TV shows on Netflix article. You can also check out our guide to all Netflix packages.
This list is updated monthly, but movies change daily on Netflix. This could mean that one or two of these movies are no longer available by the time you come to read this article, and some good new movies may have sprung up.
Let’s get down to business then. Here are the best movies to watch on Netflix in the UK right now.
Knives out
Lions Gate
Rian Johnson’s hit Knives Out has everything you need from a murder mystery. Southern detective Benoit Blanc is charged with the suspicious death of Harlan Thrombey, who left a wealthy estate behind. As the Thrombey family fights for their fortune, Blanc must unravel the pieces to find out who was behind the murder once and for all.
You can also catch the brilliant sequel, Glass Onion, on Netflix.
Don’t look up
netflix
Don’t Look Up is a black comedy that follows two astronomers who discover that a giant comet is about to hit Earth and cause a mass extinction. However, trying to warn the general public and the media is proving difficult, as people just don’t want to look up and face the truth.
In the west, nothing is new
netflix
All Quiet on the Western Front is the second most nominated film at the 2023 Oscars, with nine awards. This adaptation of a 1929 novel traces the final days of World War I from the perspective of a young German soldier. Gradually he learns the horrors of battle as he struggles to survive.
Tick, tick… Boom!
netflix
Tick, tick… Boom! is the biographical story of Jonathan Larson (the creator of Rent), an aspiring music maker in New York City who wonders if he’s on the right career path, while trying to juggle his own personal relationships. If that’s not enough for you, it stars Andrew Garfield and is directed by musical royalty, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Taken away as if by magic
There are a ton of Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix, and one of the most beloved is Spirited Away – having received numerous accolades, including sixteenth place on the “Best Movies of the 21st Century” list. The film follows young Chihiro, who must save her parents from being turned into beasts forever.
The hunger Games
Lions Gate
All four films in The Hunger Games series are currently available to stream on Netflix UK. The first follows Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who is forced into a competition where contestants fight to the death to win. These films are currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity ahead of the release of the previous film later this year.
beasts of no nation
Netflix’s first original movie may boast Idris Elba in its cast, but great as he is, he’s not the real star here. That honor goes to Abraham Attah, the Ghanaian teenager making his acting debut here as a young boy trained for service as a child soldier in a brutal civil war. Unsurprisingly, it’s quite unsettling, but it’s undeniably powerful and hard to forget.
Under the Shadow
Set in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, this Persian language is the rarest thing: a horror movie that feels genuinely new. That’s partly thanks to the relatively new monster (the Dark Djinn), partly to the setting, and partly to Narges Rashidi’s brilliant central performance. He also manages the trick of being totally terrifying while barely shedding a single drop of blood.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
netflix
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is one of the funniest family animated movies in years, and criminally underrated. Katie Mitchell is about to enroll in film school. However, her family insists on taking her on a trip to college. Their journey is interrupted by the impending robot apocalypse, and as such the four must band together to save the world.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
This movie is like cooking pot, and whether you’ll enjoy it will all depend on whether you’re a Eurovision nut or not. Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams play an Icelandic singing duo who dream of making their Eurovision win a reality. With cameos from real competitors in the competition, commentary from Graham Norton and catchy songs, it’s the euro trash we’ve always wanted.
Marriage story
Buckle up for an emotional grill with Marriage Story, as over the course of a few hours we see the gradual process of a divorce unfold, becoming more toxic and ugly over time. It shows the complexity of relationship breakdown and how the legal elements of separation conflict with the couple’s emotions. It’s not the easiest watch, but it’s certainly instructive and quite heartbreaking.
Annihilation
This clever sci-fi flick from director Alex Garland (of the excellent Ex Machina too) hit theaters in the US, but went straight to Netflix here in the UK. Don’t take that as a bad sign though: it’s not that Annihilation is bad, just that studio Paramount feared its mix of trippy visuals, dark horror, and loose plot would turn into big throwbacks to the box office. It’s not an easy watch, but believe us, it’s worth it.
Anima
Anima is something a little different: this 15-minute short is basically one long music video. However, it is a long music video featuring Thom Yorke for three songs from his album Anima and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Crank up the volume and settle in for a surreal, dystopian dance that would be the perfect warm-up for a meatier film.
Life of Brian from Monty Python
This Monty Python classic retells the story of Jesus of Nazareth from the perspective of Brian, who is not the Messiah, just a very mean boy. As silly as it is satirical, the film pokes fun at religious and historical figures in that special, surreal way that only the best of Monty Python ever could.
The devil of all time
With an all-star cast including Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Sebastian Stan – The Devil Of All The Time tells the story of a South American village plagued by a number of troubled characters. It explores the concept of how faith can be twisted to justify malicious behavior, and follows a young man as he does his best to protect himself – and his family.
Fyre: The Biggest Party That Ever Happened
This Netflix original documentary follows the horrific production issues – and post-production arrests – that plagued the Fyre Festival, here dubbed the biggest party that ever took place. From co-founder Ja Rule to a pilot who trained on Microsoft Flight Simulator, it’s a tour de force of incompetence.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
This Western anthology from the Coen Brothers tells six separate and unrelated stories set in the Old West. Don’t look for the connections between the characters – there aren’t any – but rather follow the ebb and flow of the theme, as the directors explore the mortality, the kindness and the futility of existence through these stories while utterly distinct and utterly memorable.
Pellet
Dumplin’ brings a new twist to the traditional American beauty pageant – showing how we should celebrate all bodies of different shapes and sizes, rather than the “ideal look” that has been perpetuated for so long. Add to that Jennifer Anniston and a Dolly Parton soundtrack, and you have the perfect movie for a cozy night in.
The night is coming for us
If you liked Indonesian martial arts epic The Raid but thought it might be just a bit more violent, then The Night Comes for Us might be for you. Raid star Iko Uwais returns – albeit in a supporting role this time around – and the martial arts action is equally impressive, but now backed by enough gore to make The Evil Dead blush.
Paddington 2
Canal Workshop
Both Paddington movies are on Netflix, but Paddington 2 is one of the few movies to have a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes — and for good reason. There’s the beloved bear who ventures through London, a heartfelt family story that will leave you in tears and a flamboyant Hugh Grant as the villain – what more could you ask for?
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