21 best Netflix movies to watch right now (May 2024)

Netflix has a great slate of new movies coming out this summer! In May 2024, there’s no shortage of good movies to stream right now. And, there’s even more on the way later this month with Unfrosted (May 3), Sing Street (May 9), Mother of the Bride (May 9), Madame Web (May 14), and Atlas starring Jennifer Lopez (May 24). 

Our team of writers and editors at Netflix Life will be updating the list as new movies are released throughout the month, so check back if you need a new movie to stream this week. 

Let’s get the list started with the top movie on Netflix right now, Anyone But You! 

Anyone But You 

• Release Date: Dec. 22, 2023
• Directed by Will Gluck
• Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, GaTa, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Dermot Mulroney, Darren Barnet, and Rachel Griffiths

Anyone But You is one of the most popular movies on Netflix in May 2024. The R-rated romantic comedy premiered in theaters in December 2023 before making its streaming debut on Netflix in April 2024. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, Glen Powell, or Sydney Sweeney, you’re probably going to love this movie. 

Anyone But You is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. In the film, Bea, played by Sweeney, and Ben, played by Powell, meet by chance and have a wonderful time together before it ends poorly. They reunite after their siblings begin dating and get engaged. The majority of the film takes place in Sydney for the wedding, where Bea and Ben are forced to interact with each (and more!) for the sake of their families. Will they fall in love? 

You’ll have to watch to find out! Personally, I didn’t love Anyone But You, but it’s a must-watch for rom-com fans!

Rebel Moon

• Part 1 Release Date: Dec. 22, 2023
• Part 2 Release Date: April 19, 2024
• Directed by Zack Snyder 
• Cast: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher, Charlie Hunnam, Anthony Hopkins, and more

Rebel Moon is the biggest movie series on Netflix right now. Rebel Moon – Part Two: Scargiver just premiered on Netflix on April 19. It’s been the biggest movie released on Netflix this spring, and it’s only getting more popular with the highly anticipated director’s cut, which is R-rated and even more action-packed! It’s coming later this summer. The first movie, Rebel Moon – Part One: Child of Fire, premiered in December 2023, and it was a huge success for Netflix. 

The story revolves around Kora, a former soldier, who enlists the help of other outlaws and rebels to fight against the Motherworld after the settlers and farmers of a small planet rise up against the empire. Plus, there's an absolutely insane grain-harvesting montage!

Look, Rebel Moon has some major flaws. I’m very hopeful the R-rated version of this story is better. It feels like it will be! Stay tuned for more information about the future of the Rebel Moon series. 

Players 

• Release Date: Feb. 14, 2024
• Directed by Trish Sie
• Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Tom Ellis, Joel Courtney, Augustus Prew, Liza Koshy, Ego Nwodim, Marin Hinkle, and more 

Players is a new Netflix romantic comedy that premiered on Valentine’s Day 2024. It instantly became the top movie in the United States immediately. Players stars Gina Rodriguez, Tom Ellis, and Damon Wayans Jr., all of whom have been in TV shows that were super popular on Netflix in Jane the Virgin, Lucifer, and New Girl, respectively. With this cast, it’s easy to see why this movie is so popular. 

Players tells the story of Mack (Rodriguez), who works as a sportswriter in New York. Mack hasn’t been interested in settling down, but after meeting Nick (Tom Ellis), Mack is ready to pursue the relationship… or is she? You’ll have to watch to find out! 

Players didn’t get great reviews from critics and audiences, but it’s still one of the best romantic comedies released on Netflix in a long time. We could see this movie being one of the most popular Netflix movies of the month, for sure.

Gran Turismo

• Release Date: Aug. 25, 2023
• Directed by Neill Blomkamp
• Cast: David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner, Djimon Hounsou, and more 

Gran Turismo is based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a real Gran Turismo video game player, who becomes a professional racecar driver. It premiered in theaters in the summer of 2023, and it was a big decent theatrical success. Now, the movie is available to stream on Netflix, and we highly recommend it! 

According to Rotten Tomatoes, Gran Turismo was not a huge hit among critics, but the movie has a 98% audience approval rating, which is massive. It seems like everyone who watches the movie has positive things to say about it, which is a great sign! If you like racing movies or are a fan of the Gran Turismo video games, you should definitely check out the movie while it’s available on Netflix. 

There are also a few Netflix original tie-ins to this movie! David Harbour is, of course, one of the biggest Netflix stars of all time. He stars as Jim Hopper in the hit series Stranger Things. Darren Barnet starred in all four seasons of Never Have I Ever and the Netflix original Christmas movie, Love Hard. 

Leave the World Behind 

• Release Date: Nov. 22, 2023
• Directed by Sam Esmail
• Cast: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, Kevin Bacon, and more 

Leave the World Behind premiered on Netflix on Nov. 22, 2023, and it’s one of the biggest Netflix movies of all time. The film tells the story of a family vacation gone wrong. When the Sandford family takes a vacation to a rental house outside of the city, they find themselves in a predicament as the owner and his daughter return home with news that society is on the brink of collapse. Strange things start to happen. 

Leave the World Behind might not be everything fans hope for, especially with a cast like this. That’s a huge draw to watch the movie. For me, I didn’t mind the story, and I liked most of the performances. It’s a bit similar to another movie released in the last few years, but I don’t want to give anything away. It’s best, I think, if fans know virtually nothing heading into this movie. 

Leave the World Behind is sixth most-watched Netflix original movie in its first month on the platform and is higher on the list than Extraction, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and The Mother. That’s pretty impressive! 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

• Release Date: April 5, 2023
• Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
• Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, and more

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is one of the best movies on Netflix and has been for some time. It’s the only movie on Netflix in February 2024 that’s been in the Netflix Top 10 for the United States for longer than 10 weeks. Its streak of 11 weeks in the top 10 is about to reach 12. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is based on the Nintendo video game. It tells the story of a plumber, named Mario, who is called upon for an epic quest to save the Princess, Peaches, from Bowzer.

There were a lot of jokes about this movie before its premiere, but it’s actually a solid movie! It’s really funny, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular on Netflix right now. It also grossed more than $1 billion at the box office. Barbie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie were the only movies of 2023 to achieve that feat! 

If you’re looking for a super fun movie to watch on Netflix right now, you can’t go wrong with The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It’s a good movie for the whole family to watch, which is not the case for many of the other titles on this list.

May December

• Release Year: 2023
• Directed by Todd Haynes
• Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton, Cory Michael Smith, D. W. Moffett, Piper Curda, Elizabeth Yu, and Gabriel Chung 

May December premieres on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. It’s easily one of the best Netflix original movies of the year so far, and it might just be the top movie of the year when it’s all over. The film actually got a theatrical release in the US beginning on Nov. 17 to make sure it qualifies for all of the big awards, and the reviews for the film are great! There’s no doubt this is going to be a big hit on Netflix.

The film follows Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), an actress, who travels to meet with a woman who she’ll be playing in an upcoming movie about that woman’s life. The woman, Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), had a romantic and sexual relationship with a minor, Joe Yoo (Charles Melton), and went to prison. Later, Gracie and Joe married, and they are still together. The film is inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, but it definitely takes certain liberties with this story.

May December should be one of the most discussed movies on Netflix this awards season. It’s too hard to say if it’s going to score any nominations, but it’s in the conversation. Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and Charles Melton are incredible in this movie.

The Killer

• Release Year: 2023 
• Directed by David Fincher 
• Cast: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O’Malley, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, and Tilda Swinton

David Fincher’s movie, The Killer, premiered on Netflix on Nov. 10, and it’s easily one of the best new Netflix movies of 2023. Michael Fassbender stars in the film, which is based on the French graphic novel of the same name by Matz Nolent and Luc Jacamon.

The Killer tells the story of, well, the Killer (Michael Fassbender). Yes, that’s the character’s name, and he’s out for revenge, or something of that nature, while on a killing spree that spans most of the United States, along with other locations.

If you’re a fan of David Fincher, you’re going to love The Killer. It performed well with critics, and although it has an underwhelming audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s definitely worth watching on Netflix. If you’re looking for a new movie to watch around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the year’s end, you can’t go wrong with The Killer. 

Leo

• Release Year: 2023
• Directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim
• Cast: Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Rob Schneider, Allison Strong, Jo Koy, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Stephanie Hsu, and more

Leo is the perfect movie to watch with the family. The Netflix original movie stars Adam Sandler as Leo, a lizard who has been a class pet at an elementary school. After years of solitude, he breaks out of his cage to see what this life thing is all about, but things don’t go according to his plan.

Leo premiered on Netflix on Nov. 21, and it’s definitely one of the best and most popular Netflix movies of the year. It’s appropriate for the whole family, which makes it the perfect movie to stream this time of year. Netflix knows exactly what they’re doing, and it’s great.

While I didn’t think an animated Adam Sandler movie about a lizard would move the needle for me, Leo is actually really good! I was definitely impressed, and I’m just happy it didn’t veer into the ridiculous nature of some of Sandler’s movies. It’s a solid movie to watch on Netflix.

If you’re an Adam Sandler fan, this is the perfect movie to watch on Netflix tonight.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

• Release Year: 2023
• Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
• Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Shea Whigham, Greta Lee, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, and Oscar Isaac

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is streaming on Netflix beginning on Oct. 31, 2023. That’s great news because we know fans have been waiting a long time to watch this movie on Netflix.

Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which premieres in 2018 and was available to stream on Netflix for almost two years over 2019 and 2020. The first movie was a big hit on Netflix, and we’re sure Across the Spider-Verse will be as popular or even more popular.

The film continues Miles Morales’s story. With an interdimensional villain, the Spot, wreaking havoc, Miles goes on an adventure with Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Woman, and meets a lot of interesting Spideys along the way.

Across the Spider-Verse is not the end of Miles’ story. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is also in the works. It was supposed to be released in 2024, but we know that’s not going to happen. It’s been officially pulled from the calendar, but we’re expecting it will get a new premiere date when the actors’ strike ends.

We’ve got another new movie next up on the list of the best movies to watch tonight, just in case Across the Spider-Verse isn’t your style.

No Hard Feelings

• Release Year: 2023
• Directed by Gene Stupnitsky
• Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Matthew Broderick, Scott MacArthur, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Kyle Mooney

No Hard Feelings is one of the best new movies on Netflix in October 2023. The film premiered in theaters on June 23, 2023. It’s on Netflix thanks to Netflix’s deal that brings Sony movies to the streaming service outside of their theatrical run.

No Hard Feelings tells the story of Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) who is hired by the parents of Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) to break their 19-year-old son out of his shell before he attends college in the fall. It’s creepy and uncomfortable, but it’s also so funny. I was so surprised that they were actually able to make this premise work.

This raunchy comedy toes the line and crosses it at times. It’s one of the funniest movies of the year so far. Lawrence is incredible as always. This is a bit of a different role than we’ve seen her in before, but she crushes it. She’s the sole reason this movie works, although Feldman delivers in his performance as well.

They Cloned Tyrone

• Release Year: 2023
• Director: Juel Taylor
• Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx, and Kiefer Sutherland

They Cloned Tyrone is easily one of Netflix's best original movies released in 2023. This gonzo sci-fi caper film stars John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx as a drug dealer, a sex worker, and a pimp. It’s an unlikely group, yet they come together to investigate a mysterious cloning conspiracy unraveling in their very own neighborhood, the Glen. What happens when they begin inspecting things they’ve always believed to be normal around their town?

Everything from the church they attend to their haircare products might be hiding a sinister secret. They Cloned Tyrone is a slick, stylish film with beautiful cinematography and expert directing from Juel Taylor. It’s a hilarious film with several tense, jaw-dropping scenes, but also insightful, and it provides sharp social commentary.

There are plenty of throwback references to classic 1970s Blaxploitation films and more recent features like Eddie Murphy’s Black Dynamite, and even shades of Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You. Boyega, Parris, and Foxx are genuinely at their best here. I could watch them banter with each other for hours. The soundtrack is also fantastic, and you can tell the cast had excellent chemistry which each other. I’d love for Netflix to release a blooper reel for this one!

Extraction 2

• Release Year: 2023
• Director: Sam Hargrave
• Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Olga Kurylenko, Daniel Bernhardt, Tinatin Dalakishvili, and Idris Elba

Extraction 2 premiered on Netflix on June 16, 2023, and it’s well on its way to becoming one of the most popular Netflix movies of all time. Chris Hemsworth returns as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2, and there’s more extracting that needs to be had. This time, Rake is trying to save his ex-wife’s sister and her two children from a Georgian prison. As usual, all hell breaks loose, and Rake’s team finds themselves on the run from a militant group. It’s wild!

According to Netflix, the first Extraction, which is No. 8 on the all-time Netflix Top 10 for new movies, was watched more than 135 million times during its first month on the streaming service. Extraction 2 was watched 84 million times in its first two weeks on Netflix. It looks like Extraction 2 just missed out on cracking the Netflix Top 10 and being more popular than the first movie.

And the best news? Extraction 3 is already in the works! This looks like it could be one of Netflix’s biggest franchises ever.

The Mother

• Release Year: 2023
• Directed by Niki Caro
• Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci, and Gael García Bernal

Jennifer Lopez stars in the latest Netflix action drama film, The Mother. As you might have guessed from the title, The Mother stars Lopez as, well, the Mother. A dangerous assassin, the Mother falls in with many deadly assailants and a crime syndicate. So when she gets pregnant by one of the men involved in the syndicate, she’s forced to give up her daughter in the hopes of keeping her safe.

Years later, the men from her past return to seek revenge on the Mother for something she did when she was still working for them, and she has to come out of hiding to protect her daughter, Zoe, who has settled in with a nice, normal adoptive family. The Mother will do whatever it takes to keep Zoe safe, which means getting her hands dirty.

The Mother isn’t the most original action film, but if you’re looking for a well-acted movie with some intense action sequences, this should do the trick. Jennifer Lopez is the obvious high point here, and if all you’re really looking for is to watch J.Lo kick butt, The Mother will serve you just fine.

A Man Called Otto

• Release Year: 2022
  Directed by Marc Forster 
  Cast: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Truman Hanks, and Mike Birbiglia

A Man Called Otto was released on Netflix in May 2023 after its premiere in theaters in December 2023. It’s one of the most recent theatrical releases to be added to the streaming service. The film is based on the best-selling book, A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman. There’s another movie based on the book, so don’t get them confused.

A Man Called Otto tells the story of a grumpy, old man, Otto Anderson, played by Tom Hanks, who learns a few things about himself, life, and gains perspective after a new family with young kids moves in next door and befriending Marisol, played by Mariana Treviño.

A Man Called Otto has a 97% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. We have a feeling A Man Called Otto will be one of the most popular new releases on the streaming service for a while, but it won’t stay there forever. After Netflix, it will likely move to Disney Plus, but don’t worry, you have a while until that happens.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

• Release Year: 2022 
• Directed by Rian Johnson 
• Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery premiered in theaters in late 2022 for a limited run before its worldwide release on Netflix just in time for the holidays. The film is the sequel to Knives Out, which tells the story of Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he investigates the death of Harlan Thrombey, a famous author.

In the new movie, Benoit Blanc is invited to the private island of a billionaire tech entrepreneur, Miles Bron, for his murder mystery party with some of Miles’ closest friends. What happens next, you’ll have to see to believe.

Glass Onion is one of Netflix’s most popular comedies to date. There’s already a third movie from Rian John in the works, but few details about the movie are known at this point. The only thing we do know is that Craig will be back as Benoit Blanc for Knives Out 3. 

The movie also features the star of Outer Banks, Madelyn Cline, in a supporting role. If you’re a big Outer Banks fan, you have to see Cline as Whiskey in the Netflix original movie.

Do Revenge

• Release Year: 2022
• Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
• Cast: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Sophie Turner, Rish Shah, Eliza Bennett, Jonathan Daviss, Alisha Boe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and more

Do Revenge is about to become your go-to movie on Netflix. The popular dark comedy is inspired by the classic 1951 noir thriller Strangers on a Train by Alfred Hitchcock. Of course, this movie has a bit of a twist as it’s funny and follows a bunch of high schoolers. But the revenge pact between two people is what connects these two movies.

In this Netflix original movie, characters Drea and Eleanor become friends after going through traumatic high school experiences, and they decide to get back at the other’s bully. Their reputations are ruined and they have serious trust issues now, so they’ve got nothing to lose but team up and get even.

The movie has many callbacks to classic teen movies such as Mean Girls and Cruel Intentions, and iconic ’90s star Sarah Michelle Gellar even appears as the school’s Headmaster! It’s seriously a fun ride from start to finish and is really worth the watch.

Hustle

• Release Year: 2022
• Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
• Starring Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster, Robert Duvall, Juancho Hernangómez, Anthony Edwards, and more

 Hustle was added to Netflix in June 2022 and it didn’t take long for it to shoot up to the Top 10 movies list. It’s a sports drama starring Adam Sandler as a scout for the basketball team the Philadelphia 76ers. Even if you’re not a sports fan, this movie has something for everybody as we follow a promising player’s rise to stardom. It’s really inspiring and even though it’s not based on a true story, it feels real!

Plus, there are multiple real-life athletes from the NBA who make appearances in Hustle, including Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Seth Curry, Trae Young, Luka Doncic, and many more. That’s pretty impressive.

Adam Sandler is receiving rave reviews for his performance as Stanley Sugerman in Hustle. You should definitely check this movie out! It's one of the best of Sandler's movies, and it's the best Adam Sandler movie streaming on Netflix.

The Adam Project

• Release Year: 2022
• Directed by Shawn Levy
• Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Zoë Saldana, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, and Catherine Keener

If you’re a fan of blockbuster movie actor Ryan Reynolds, then I already know you’re going to love The Adam Project. The sci-fi/adventure film came out on Netflix on March 11, 2022 and was an instant hit with viewers.

The story follows a pilot named Adam Reed who goes back in time from 2050 and meets his younger self. Sounds cool, right? It’s also emotional and a fun ride from start to finish. Director Shawn Levy has teamed up with Reynolds twice now, and viewers should trust Levy from his past works which include Night at the Museum, Cheaper by the Dozen, Big Fat Liar, and Just Married.

The Adam Project also has a stellar soundtrack that fans couldn’t help but add to their music libraries. And if you fall in love with the child actor in the movie, Walker Scobell, we come bearing good news. Scobell has just been selected to play Percy Jackson in the upcoming Disney+ show.

This is a great one for the whole family to watch! Now flip the page for another recommendation that isn’t so child-friendly.

Don’t Look Up

• Release Year: 2021 
• Directed by Adam McKay 
• Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep

Don’t Look Up was the top Netflix movie in the world at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. It premiered on Netflix on Christmas Eve.

Don’t Look Up is a commentary on the current climate crisis facing the world. It tells the story of two scientists, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, who discover a comet heading directly toward the planet. There’s time to act, but they are met with ineptitude and worse as they try to ring the alarm.

Overall, the reaction to Don’t Look Up has been pretty polarizing. I thought the movie was a little longer than I would have wanted it to be, but there are so good laughs, some good points made, and incredible performances. The whole cast is as good as advertised!

If you like McKay’s other movies, you’re probably going to like Don’t Look Up. 

Always Be My Maybe

• Release Year: 2019
• Directed by Nahnatchka Khan
• Starring Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Dae Kim, Vivian Bang, and Michelle Buteau

If you’re looking for a great new rom-com to watch on Netflix, Always Be My Maybe is the movie for you. The Netflix original film premiered on Netflix on Friday, May 31. The film has gotten great reviews and might be one of Netflix’s most successful movies yet.

In the film, two friends, played by Ali Wong and Randall Park, from childhood reconnect later in life and start having romantic feelings for one another. Will their different paths be able to come together? You’ll have to find out in the movie.

I really hope Netflix keeps making movies like this. There’s definitely a gap in the rom-com genre, especially in terms of representation. Always Be My Maybe should be a lesson for other studios.

Here’s to hoping Netflix makes a sequel based on this movie! Park and Wong have amazing chemistry, and we hope they can continue this story at the streaming service.

That's the list of the best Netflix movies to watch right now! We'll share more updates and add new movies to the list as they're released on Netflix.