5 Netflix movies perfect for a Memorial Day 2024 weekend movie night

Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who protect the freedoms Americans are fortunate to have, is traditionally the kick-off to summer. The federal holiday gives many an extra day off of work, allowing for a long weekend of fun. Don't forget, between the barbeques and other activities, to treat yourself to some downtime with some great movies on Netflix.

The Hunger Games films

Act now because, on May 31, the first four films in The Hunger Games franchise will be removed from Netflix. Watch Katniss and Peeta from their first games, where they reign as victors, to an all-out war on the Captiol. Based on the novel series by Suzanne Collins, these films are set in a dystopian world formerly known as North America, which has been separated into 12 districts run by the Capitol. After an uprising, the Capitol arranges what is known as The Hunger Games, where each district is required to send a boy and girl tribute where they fight the other tributes to the death until one remains the victor. The story unfolds across four films, available on Netflix, and a fifth prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which streams on Starz.

Sand Castle

The Netflix original film Sand Castle is a war drama inspired by true events. Set in Iraq in 2003, it follows a group of American soldiers at the beginning of the second Gulf War. Newbie Private Matt Ocre (Nicholas Hoult), who only joined the military for college money, finds himself with a group ordered to repair a water pumping station outside Baqubah. He quickly learns that trying to win over the locals is a dangerous mission, and he discovers the true cost of war in the streets, squares, and schools. The film also stars Henry Cavill, Glen Powell, Logan Marshall-Green, Beau Knapp, Neil Brown Jr., Parker Sawyers, Sam Spruell, Sammy Sheik, and Tommy Flanagan.

The Judge

Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall, The Judge is a legal drama that, at its heart, is a family drama. Hank (Downey) is a successful Chicago lawyer who, upon the death of his mother, returns to his hometown. Here, he is reunited with his brothers and his estranged father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall), who is revealed to be wanted for murder. Hank takes it upon himself to discover the truth and, during his search, begins to reconnect with his family that he walked away from years prior. The supporting cast includes Vera Farmiga, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard, and Billy Bob Thornton.

The Little Things

The neo-noir crime thriller The Little Things is set in 1990s Los Angeles and follows detectives Joe "Deke" Deacon (Denzel Washington) and James "Jimmy" Baker (Rami Malek). Deke, who is sent to LA on an evidence retrieval assignment, is pulled into a recent murder investigation, in which Baker notices the current murder resembles elements of an unsolved serial murder case. This leads him on a hunt for the killer, who they believe to be a loner, Albert Sparma, portrayed by Jered Leto. Along the way, Deke uncovers disturbing secrets of his past that could threaten more than just the case.

A Simple Favor

A Simple Favor is a crime comedy thriller based on the novel by Darcey Bell starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively as two unlikely friends who bond only because their sons are friends. Stephanie (Kendrick) is a homemaker vlogger whose elegant and mysterious new friend, Emily (Lively), comes up missing. Stephanie, along with Emily's husband Sean (Henry Golding) try to unravel the tangled web of betrayals, secrets and more to discover what happened to Emily.

What movies will you be watching on Netflix this weekend?