3 best Netflix movies to watch (and 2 to skip) for New Year’s Day 2023
By Mads Lennon
Happy New Year! Can you believe that it’s 2023 already? I feel like 2022 went by so fast, but maybe it’s just me. With a new year ahead of us full of great television and films, we’ve got a list of Netflix movies you should watch (or skip) to start the year off on the right foot.
The following list highlights different movies available on Netflix, mostly recent additions or new Netflix Original films. New Year’s Day is different for everyone.
Some of us don’t do much for New Year’s Eve, so the first day of the year is just a relaxing day off work, while others use the day to recuperate from a gnarly hangover after spending the night before partying into the wee hours of the morning. Either way, you’re valid, and we’ve tried to ensure the list addresses all types of people!
Best Netflix movies to watch on New Year’s Day
Below, we’ve curated a guide to a few Netflix movies you should watch and some you might want to skip (at least for now) on New Year’s Day.
No Escape
Watch! Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, and Pierce Brosnan star in this 2015 action thriller film about a family who finds themselves in the middle of a political uprising after moving to Southeast Asia. No Escape received a surprisingly high audience score when it premiered, and the film was just added to Netflix. It’s an easy-to-watch thriller that should keep you entertained while you’re enjoying a leisurely day off.
BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
Skip! BARDO is sure to be an awards contender at the 2023 Academy Awards, given its credentials as a film from director Alejandro González Iñárritu. But New Year’s Day might not be the best time to watch this Mexican comedy film.
For starters, it’s very long, running close to three hours. If you’re hungover or looking for something more mindless, then BARDO probably isn’t the right choice. But if you like to keep up with awards season, you should schedule a time to watch this one at some point.
Enola Holmes 2
Watch! For those who missed Enola Holmes 2 when it premiered in October, New Year’s Day might be the perfect time to watch it. It’s an enjoyable and entertaining film that received excellent reviews from fans and critics. Plus, if you just watched The Witcher: Blood Origin and you’re missing Henry Cavill, he’s one of the leads in this movie!
Slumberland
Skip! If you have kids to keep entertained, then Slumberland might be a good choice, but otherwise, you’re better off skipping this one. The fantasy adventure film starring Jason Momoa sounded good on paper, but it didn’t quite land the execution.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Watch! Based on the popular novel of the same name by Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing is one of several Sony movies on Netflix right now. This murder mystery follows Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young woman who was abandoned as a girl and raised herself in the dangerous North Carolina marshlands. Kya becomes something of a local legend to the people in the nearby town and is soon the suspect in a murder investigation.
Which Netflix movies are you planning to watch (or skip) on New Year’s Day?