5 best Netflix shows and movies to watch (and 3 to skip) for New Years 2024

Can you believe that 2023 is already coming to a close? It feels like the year was just beginning and yet here we are, already about to wrap it up and head into a new year. With just a few days remaining, you might be enjoying some relaxing time off during these strange days between Christmas and New Years. If you're looking for something to watch on Netflix in that time, we can help!

Whether you want something on in the background as you do other things or you're looking for something specific to sink a few hours into, the following list offers a mixture of movies and television shows worth watching over the weekend, plus a few that you might want to think twice about before hitting play.

Uncharted

If you haven't gotten the chance to watch Tom Holland's interpretation of Nathan Drake then you might want to do so ASAP because Uncharted will be leaving Netflix in January, specifically Jan. 14 is the last day to watch it. Uncharted received mixed reviews and isn't necessarily fondly regarded by fans, but it might be a good mindless action movie to put on over the weekend if you're looking to turn your brain off for a bit, especially if you're not attached to the source material.

Verdict: WATCH

The Crown

Now that The Crown is officially over for good, you might be thinking about finally watching the whole thing from beginning to end. If you're really dedicated to learning all about the royal family, watching the show might be worth it, but it's a dense way to spend a weekend. The Crown is a challenging show to binge and is better watched in short chunks spread out over a lengthy period. Plus, the last couple of seasons have received significantly less acclaim than the early ones.

Verdict: SKIP

Beverly Hills Cop

Did you know that Netflix is making Beverly Hills Cop 4 with Eddie Murphy returning in the lead role as Axel Foley? The fourth movie is expected to release in 2024, so now is a great time to revisit the 1984 classic that started it all. Beverly Hills Cop is an action buddy-cop comedy about a drifting Detroit cop who finds himself a fish out of water when he's tasked with going to Beverly Hills to investigate a friend's murder.

Verdict: WATCH

Grey's Anatomy

Most of us love Grey's Anatomy and there are certainly enough episodes to keep you busy for a few days and then some, but if you want something lighthearted for the New Year then you'll probably want to steer clear of this one. While Grey's does offer plenty of heartwarming moments and humor, it also has a lot of notably sad and depressing installments. It is a medical drama after all. No need to start the year thinking of mysterious ailments you could have thanks to the show.

Verdict: SKIP

Mask Girl

Mask Girl is one of the best shows of 2023 that you might have missed. Based on a popular webtoon, Mask Girl follows an insecure office worker who has been consistently told she's ugly by everyone in her life since she was a kid, even her own mother. By night, she masquerades as her alter ego, "Mask Girl," in an online forum where she receives tons of attention. When "Mask Girl" gets into a serious altercation with a viewer, things quickly spiral out of control.

Verdict: WATCH

13 Going on 30

Sometimes the best way to close out a year and bring in a new one is by relaxing with an old favorite. Who doesn't love 13 Going on 30? Especially if you're a 1990s baby who just turned 30 recently (like me). Jennifer Garner stars in this heartwarming movie about a teenager who accidentally wishes herself into a 30 year old. Since this film isn't a Netflix Original, it could be removed at any time, so now is the perfect chance to rewatch it!

Verdict: WATCH

Leave the World Behind

Leave the World Behind is a great new Netflix movie based on Rumaan Alam's novel of the same name, but it might make you super paranoid. If you've seen people discussing this movie on social media, it's almost always filled with fearmongering and conspiracy theories as people theorize that the film is hinting at something apocalyptic coming our way. If you're in the mood for something that will give you the chills then go for it, but otherwise maybe save this one for later.

Verdict: SKIP

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

For those who missed Scott Pilgrim Takes Off when it premiered last month, you might want to take the opportunity to check it out, especially if you were a fan of the graphic novels or the live-action adaptation. The cast of the movie all returned to reprise their roles in this endearing animated series that puts a big twist on the source material. Fans and critics alike both loved this new take on the series and it's a fun, lighthearted way to end the year.

Verdict: WATCH