10 best Netflix movies to watch (and 2 to skip) in February 2023
By Mads Lennon
February is right around the corner, and that means so is Valentine’s Day! With the romantic holiday knocking at our doors, now is the time to look ahead to some of the most exciting Netflix movies releasing next month.
Perhaps the most anticipated Netflix movie arriving in February is the Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher rom-com Your Place or Mine. Witherspoon and Kutcher play best friends (and total opposites) who swap houses and lives for a week.
Other movies coming to Netflix in February include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, La La Land, True Spirit, and more!
Best Netflix movies to watch (and skip) in February 2023
Without further ado, here are nine films coming to Netflix in February 2023 that you don’t want to miss (and two you can skip).
Arctic, Feb. 1
Watch! Mads Mikkelsen stars in this Icelandic survival drama about a plane crash survivor who must decide whether to risk trekking into the unknown or stay by his camp. If you’re looking for a good thriller or a wilderness survival tale, this 2018 movie Arctic is a great choice. Mikkelsen received near unanimous praise for his performance.
True Spirit, Feb. 3
Watch! Based on the incredible true story of Jessica Watson, the youngest person to sail solo around the world, True Spirit looks to be an inspiring film anchored by an excellent performance from Titans star Teagan Croft.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Feb. 1
Watch! Return to the Shire this February when Netflix brings the trilogy to its catalog on Feb. 1! It doesn’t look like they will be releasing the extended editions, but if you’re eager to revisit these beloved fantasy films, now is the time!
Your Place or Mine, Feb. 10
Watch! I’m not totally sold on Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher’s romantic chemistry just yet, but the trailer for Your Place or Mine still has me excited thanks to its early 2000s rom-com vibes. Your Place or Mine is bound to be a big hit this Valentine’s Day.
Ouija, Feb. 16
Skip! Ouija (2014) might have a compelling cast with stars like Olivia Cooke and Shelley Hennig, but trust me when I say this supernatural horror film is a total dud. You’d be much better off watching its sequel, Ouija: Origin of Evil, directed by Mike Flanagan, which also happens to be on Netflix!
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Feb. 4
Watch! The feel-good, family-friendly musical Lyle Lyle, Crocodile will arrive on Netflix in select regions (including the U.S.) on Feb. 4! The Primm family finds a singing crocodile in their new house and must band together to protect him from their evil neighbor intent on getting rid of him.
La La Land, Feb. 1
Watch! See the romantic musical comedy film that won Emma Stone her first Academy Award. Arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day, La La Land is a must-watch if you haven’t seen it yet, especially if you’re a fan of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s on-screen chemistry.
Re/Member, Feb. 14
Watch! This upcoming Japanese teen horror film focuses on a group of high school students who must find the remains of a body scattered throughout their school or risk the “Red Person” killing them repeatedly and forcing them to repeat the day over and over again.
Viking Wolf, Feb. 3
Skip! Viking Wolf, or “Vikingulven,” is an upcoming Norwegian horror movie about a teenager who witnesses a bizarre event at a party and then starts experiencing strange desires. It sounds interesting enough, but the trailer didn’t leave me very thrilled.
Unlocked, Feb. 17
Watch! This Korean thriller follows a young woman who finds her life upended when a dangerous man gets his hands on her phone and uses it to stalk her. Unlocked is based on the bestselling Japanese novel by Akira Teshigawara. It was previously adapted into a Japanese movie called Stolen Identity, so this is a Korean adaptation of that film.
The Strays, Feb. 22
Watch! In a movie that seems to borrow from Don’t Worry Darling, The Stepford Wives, and Get Out, The Strays is a new horror flick starring Salem alum Ashley Madekwe as an upper-middle-class woman whose life begins unraveling when mysterious figures arrive in town.
We Have a Ghost, Feb. 24
Watch! Honestly, I didn’t even need to know the plot to know that We Have a Ghost would be on my February watchlist. The cast alone was enough to sell me. David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Tig Notaro, and Jennifer Coolidge? I’m in. This adventure-comedy centers on a family realizing they have a ghost haunting their new house. The film is based on a short story by Geoff Manaugh.
Which Netflix movies (or older movies being added to Netflix) are you most excited to watch/revisit this February?