Time to settle in with a movie inspired by real events. The 30 best Netflix movies based on true stories streaming now

Time to settle in with a movie inspired by real events.

The 30 best Netflix movies based on true stories streaming now

Time to settle in with a movie inspired by real events.

By Declan Gallagher

and Kevin Jacobsen

on August 1, 2025 07:09AM EDT

Timothée Chalamet as Henry V in 'The King'; Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in 'Rustin'; Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in 'Hit Man'. Credit:

Netflix (2); Matt Lankes/Netflix

Since the dawn of the medium, fact-based films have given audiences insight into real events in a personal, visceral fashion. While there are dramatizations, such as 2023's *Society of the Snow*, there are also inventive docu-thrillers like the movies of Paul Greengrass, and epics like *The Irishman* (2019).

Unsurprisingly, Netflix has a treasure trove of movies based on true stories. In addition to original programming, the streamer offers endless options for outside projects that draw inspiration from real events far and wide.

Join ** as we recommend the 30 best Netflix movies based on true stories streaming now.

22 July (2018)

Isak Bakli Aglen as Torje Hanssen and Jonas Strand Gravli as Viljar Hanssen in '22 July'. Erik Aavatsmark/Netflix

Paul Greengrass, an expert at making fact-based docu-thrillers like *Bloody Sunday* (2002) and *United 93* (2006), helmed this gruesome but riveting account of the deadliest terror attack in Norway's history since WWII: when Anders Behring Breivik (Anders Danielsen Lie) murdered 77 people at a children's summer camp in 2011. Greengrass' harrowing epic, divided into three chapters and chronicling everything from Breivik's massacre to his sentencing, is not an easy watch. It is, however, timely and necessary, and by the end, it is somehow rather hopeful. —*Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *22 July*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B– (read the review)

**Director:** Paul Greengrass

**Cast:** Anders Danielsen Lie, Jon Øigarden

American Gangster (2007)

Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas in 'American Gangster'.

David Lee/Universal

Denzel Washington. Russell Crowe. Ridley Scott. This irresistible combo joined forces to bring the fascinating story of drug kingpin Frank Lucas to the big screen, while admittedly taking some creative liberties in the process. The gangster epic tracks the rise and fall of Lucas (Washington) as his heroin business turns into a monopoly, with Det. Richie Roberts (Crowe) hot on his trail. EW's critic calls *American Gangster* "meticulous and detailed, a drug-world epic that holds you from moment to moment, immersing you in the intricate and sleazy logistics of crime." —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Where to watch *American Gangster*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Ridley Scott

**Cast:** Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, Armand Assante, John Ortiz, John Hawkes, RZA**

Black Hawk Down (2001)

Ewan McGregor as SPC John 'Grimesey' Grimes (center) in 'Black Hawk Down'.

Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

This harrowing war drama recounts the Battle of Mogadishu, in which Somali rebels shot down American Black Hawk helicopters whose crews were attempting to take down a Somalian warlord's advisers. While Ridley Scott's recreation got knocked for its inaccuracies, the film is nonetheless a gripping portrait of the hellish nature of war. "*Black Hawk Down* is driven by scenes of gripping, unflinching battle, touched by [Scott's] talent for communicating through the colors he chooses, even in the spray of mud on a wounded man's face," writes EW's critic. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Black Hawk Down*: Netflix

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Director:** Ridley Scott

**Cast:** Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Sam Shepard

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)

Maxwell Simba as William Kamkwamba in 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind'.

Chiwetel Ejiofor directed this lovely adaptation of William Kamkwamba's memoir, chronicling his upbringing as a young African boy who, after being forced to leave his beloved school due to his family's impoverished condition, sets about constructing a windmill that he hopes will save his community from famine.

*The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* is reminiscent of those wonderful Disney movies from the '60s and '70s which told stories for younger audiences yet still delighted older viewers. Ejiofor's adaptation spins a heartwarming story that doesn't shave off its harder edges but is always entertaining and consistently feel-good. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind*: Netflix

**Director:** Chiwetel Ejiofor

**Cast:** Maxwell Simba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lily Banda

Captain Phillips (2013)

Tom Hanks as Capt. Richard Phillips in 'Captain Phillips'.

Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett

Another wonderful, impossibly taut Paul Greengrass thriller, this one charts the 2008 hijacking of the *Maersk Alabama* shipping vessel by Somali pirates. As Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) works to protect his crew and alert rescuers to their plight, he comes head-to-head with the antagonizers' de facto leader (the astonishing, Oscar-nominated Barkhad Abdi).

One of Greengrass' most assured and textured works, *Captain Phillips* tells a well-known true story with little concession to Hollywood storytelling or dramatic grandstanding. Greengrass is unrivaled at combining professional actors with inexperienced performers and semi-improvised scenarios to create the feeling of actually being present for an unprecedented event. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Captain Phillips*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Paul Greengrass

**Cast:** Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi

Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore (center) in 'Dolemite Is My Name'.

Craig Brewer's excellent biopic profiles Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy), who directed a grindhouse passion project based around a character he created named Dolemite, inadvertently crafting one of the most iconic bad movies of all time in the process.

Brewer's film is a fine-tuned combination of period drama and behind-the-scenes comedy. It's also notable for giving future Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph her earliest scene-stealing performance; her penultimate scene with Murphy is the film's most radical and moving. In its story of outsiders banding together to fulfill their dreams, the movie is quietly but effectively heartwarming. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Dolemite Is My Name*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Craig Brewer

**Cast:** Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess

First They Killed My Father (2017)

Sarun Nika, Sveng Socheata, Run Malyna, Oun Srey Neang, Sareum Srey Moch, Heng Dara, and Phoeung Kompheak as Geak, Ma, Chaou, Keav, Loung, Meng, and Pa Ung in 'First They Killed My Father'.

Netflix/Courtesy Everett

Angelina Jolie directed and co-wrote this adaptation with Loung Ung, based on the latter's memoir about her experiences throughout the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia during the 1970s. Jolie is a director for whom overstatement is as essential in her craft as camera movement, but here, she tempers her more outrageous instincts and delivers a film that's more powerful for its subdued nature, comfortable in its quietness and content to let audiences fill in some of the more horrific details for themselves. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *First They Killed My Father*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Angelina Jolie

**Cast:** Sreymoch Sareum, Kompheak Phoeung, Socheata Sveng, Dara Heng, Kimhak Mun, Tharoth Sam

The Good Nurse (2022)

Eddie Redmayne as Charlie Cullen and Jessica Chastain as Amy Loughren in 'The Good Nurse'. JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Some films are made more disturbing with the knowledge that the events depicted really happened. *The Good Nurse* is one of them. Jessica Chastain stars as Amy Loughren, an ICU nurse who befriends a recently hired nurse named Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne). Working the night shift together, Amy is alarmed when one of their patients mysteriously dies, leading to an investigation that suggests the death may have been deliberate — and Charles is the main suspect. Bolstered by Chastain and Redmayne's committed performances, EW's critic calls *The Good Nurse* "a methodical and smartly wrought psychological thriller." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *The Good Nurse*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Tobias Lindholm

**Cast:** Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne

The Highwaymen (2019)

Woody Harrelson as Maney Gault and Kevin Costner as Frank Hamer in 'The Highwaymen'. Netflix

Retired Texas Rangers — the upright Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and hard-drinking Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson) — are called back to duty by former governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson (Kathy Bates) to hunt down the notorious Bonnie Parker (Emily Probst) and Clyde Barrow (Edward Bossert).

John Lee Hancock's forceful procedural does a terrific job of complimenting Arthur Penn's 1967 classic *Bonnie and Clyde* without spoiling any of that film's pleasures, wisely keeping Parker and Barrow in the background and telling a different side of the true-crime saga altogether. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *The Highwaymen*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** John Lee Hancock

**Cast:** Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, Kathy Bates, John Carroll Lynch, Kim Dickens, Thomas Mann**

Hit Man (2024)

Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in 'Hit Man'.

Matt Lankes/Netflix

Glen Powell cemented his A-list status with this jovial, fact-based comedy-thriller from director Richard Linklater based on an infamous *Texas Monthly* article about Gary Johnson, a mild-mannered professor who contributed to nearly 70 arrests by posing as a hitman.

*Hit Man* is a terrific showcase for Powell's comedic and leading man talents and one of the most unabashedly fun films Linklater has made in decades. Paired here with Adria Arjona, Powell is graced with a costar more than capable of curating a fizzy, classic romance, reminding one of the halcyon days of Hepburn and Tracy or Bogart and Bacall. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Hit Man*: Netflix

**Director:** Richard Linklater

**Cast:** Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta

I'm Still Here (2024)

Selton Mello and Fernanda Torres as Rubens and Eunice Paiva with their onscreen children in 'I'm Still Here'.

Alile Onawale/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

This 2025 Oscar winner for Best International Feature follows one woman's resilience through the Brazilian military dictatorship of the 1970s. Fernanda Torres stars as Eunice Paiva, a real-life activist who doggedly pursued answers following the enforced disappearance of her politician husband. Torres delivers a tremendously moving performance — for which she rightfully won a Golden Globe and received an Oscar nomination — as a woman who must maintain her strength for the benefit of her children, becoming an admired figure in her fight for justice in the process. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *I'm Still Here*: Netflix

**Director:** Walter Salles

**Cast:** Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro**

The Irishman (2019)

Jesse Plemons as Chuckie O'Brien, Ray Romano as Bill Bufalino, Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran, and Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa in 'The Irishman'. Netlfix

As much as we love a Martin Scorsese gangster epic, part of us hopes he'll never make another after this rigorous epic charting the rise and fall of real-life gangster Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), who claims to have had a hand in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

Scorsese's picture sidesteps any hint of conspiracy that Hoffa's story typically carries, delivering a somber, lived-in portrait of organized crime members as mid-level businessmen. The film is nearly three and a half hours long but is so packed with history and incident that you'll hardly notice the length. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *The Irishman*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Martin Scorsese

**Cast:** Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin, Ray Romano, Stephen Graham, Bobby Cannavale

The King (2019)

Timothée Chalamet as Henry V in 'The King'.

David Michôd helmed this highly entertaining historical epic starring Timothée Chalamet as Henry V, Prince of Wales, who is thrown into a dark world of betrayal and violence after inheriting the throne from his assassinated brother.

Michôd's picture is a refreshing entry in the genre, functioning just as well as an action picture as a moody, thoughtful coming-of-age drama with impossibly high stakes. An all-star cast including Robert Pattinson, Thomasin McKenzie, Lily-Rose Depp, and ​​Ben Mendelsohn help the director bring a suitably muddy and brutal image of the 15th century to life. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *The King*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** David Michôd

**Cast:** Timothée Chalamet, Robert Pattinson, Joel Edgerton, Lily-Rose Depp, Ben Mendelsohn, Sean Harris

Kneecap (2024)

Naoise 'Móglaí Bap' Ó Cairealláin as himself in 'Kneecap'.

Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Some music biopics involve the artist in pre-production, getting their permission on what (and what not) to include in representing their life story. This rousing musical dramedy about the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap takes it a step further by having them play themselves, a bold choice that's also perfectly in line with the group's unique and creative spirit. As the film explores, Kneecap gained notoriety with their embrace of the Irish language and politically-minded lyrics, providing an undercurrent of dramatic stakes and urgency not always seen in similar music-based dramas. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Kneecap*: Netflix

**Director:** Rich Peppiatt

**Cast:** Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, JJ Ó Dochartaigh, Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, Adam Best, Simone Kirby, Michael Fassbender

Lion (2016)

Nicole Kidman as Sue Brierley, David Wenham as John Brierley, and Sunny Pawar as Saroo Brierley in 'Lion'. Mark Rogers/Weinstein Co.

This moving, Oscar-nominated drama tells the extraordinary true story of Saroo Brierley. As a 5-year-old boy living in Khandwa, India, Saroo was accidentally separated from his family after falling asleep on a moving train. Arriving in Calcutta, Saroo went through the orphanage system and was adopted by an Australian couple. In adulthood, he took great efforts to locate his original home to reunite with his birth family. Told with sincerity and nuance, *Lion* is an emotional triumph full of stellar performances, particularly by Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel as the younger and older versions of Saroo, respectively. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Lion*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Garth Davis

**Cast:** Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Rooney Mara, David Wenham, Nicole Kidman**

The 15 best crime movies on Netflix that blur the line between right and wrong

The 22 best Netflix mystery movies to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes

Maestro (2023)

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro'.

Bradley Cooper stars as Leonard Bernstein in this warts-and-all exploration of the famed composer, which he wrote, directed, and stars in alongside Carey Mulligan as Bernstein's long-suffering wife, Felicia Montealegre.

Cooper's film is much more an examination of Bernstein's marriage than his career, and all the better for it. Rather than run through Bernstein's accomplishments as many biopics would, it isolates incidents from his and Montealegre's life, which inevitably paints a well-rounded portrait of euphoria and sorrow. If there was any doubt after he took *A Star Is Born* to new heights, *Maestro* proves Cooper one of the most finely tuned filmmakers of his generation. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Maestro*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Bradley Cooper

**Cast:** Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Michael Urie

Mank (2020)

Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz in 'Mank'. Netflix

David Fincher's black-and-white dissection of *Citizen Kane*'s inception stars Gary Oldman as the titular Herman "Mank" Mankiewicz in one of the actor's best (and quietest) later-era roles. Approached by Orson Welles (Tom Burke) to write a script for the young director's magnum opus, *Mank* returns to memories of his aborted friendship with William Randolph Hearst (Charles Dance) and his beloved Marion Davies (a brilliant, Oscar-nominated Amanda Seyfried).

*Mank*, from a long-gestating script by the director's late father, Jack Fincher, is a celebratory exploration of filmmaking. There are moments at which he indulges a satirical cynicism that will be familiar to his fans, but overall he seems to be in unironic awe of the art form to which he's devoted his life. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Mank*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** David Fincher

**Cast:** Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Tom Burke, Lily Collins, Charles Dance, Tom Pelphrey

Maria (2024)

Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in 'Maria'.

Pablo Larrain/Netflix

Like director Pablo Larraín's previous biopics about famous 20th-century women (2016's *Jackie* and 2021's *Spencer*), this drama about renowned opera singer Maria Callas is less a traditional recounting of her life and more an examination of her damaged psyche. Angelina Jolie stars as Callas in the last seven days before her death, reminiscing about her tumultuous life and career fluctuations. It's a marvelous showcase for Jolie, who, as EW's critic writes, "employs her mystique to convey Maria's own air of detached mystery while also digging deep into the diva's psychological wounds." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Maria*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Pablo Larraín

**Cast:** Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee

Marriage Story (2019)

Scarlett Johansson as Nicole Barber and Adam Driver as Charlie Barber in 'Marriage Story'. Wilson Webb/Netflix

Noah Baumbach's superb portrait of a once-loving marriage in decline, inspired in no small part by his own divorce from Jennifer Jason Leigh, stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as warring spouses who suffer myriad indignities throughout 137 minutes, most notably being forced to relocate to Los Angeles.

Baumbach is a master at crafting highly watchable films around fairly repugnant characters, so it's something of a surprise that *Marriage Story* contains the highest volume of empathetic people in any of his works to date. This is probably Baumbach's least caustic and most heartfelt work, a movie that paints realistic subjects in situations that are authentic, and, at times, harrowing. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Marriage Story*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Noah Baumbach

**Cast:** Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty, Merritt Wever

The Mauritanian (2021)

Tahar Rahim as Mohamedou Ould Slahi in 'The Mauritanian'.

Graham Bartholomew/STXfilms

This harrowing drama recounts the harrowing true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man held at Guantanamo Bay for nearly 15 years without being charged following the events of 9/11. The film details the torture and abuse Slahi (Tahar Rahim) experienced while detained, and the efforts of lawyer Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster, in a Golden Globe-winning performance) to secure him a fair trial. EW's critic notes, *The Mauritanian* "reaches for something not many Hollywood productions do: Telling a story centered not just the moral quandaries its Western characters face, but on the soul of the man at the center of it all." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *The Mauritanian*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Kevin Macdonald

**Cast:** Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch

On the Basis of Sex (2018)

Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 'On the Basis of Sex'. Focus Features

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an extraordinary woman, particularly in her fight for gender equality. This sturdy biopic, about the future Supreme Court Justice's early career, follows Ginsburg's (Felicity Jones) struggle to be taken seriously as a woman in the legal field and her taking on a case that would help create a precedent against sex discrimination. Writes EW's critic, "the film represents a noble attempt to showcase the roots of how deeply her efforts and passions would come to alter the fabric of American life." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *On the Basis of Sex*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Mimi Leder

**Cast:** Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston, Kathy Bates

Roma (2018)

Yalitza Aparicio as Cleodegaria 'Cleo' Gutiérrez, Marco Graf as Pepe, Fernando Grediaga as Antonio, and Marina de Tavira as Sofía in 'Roma'. Carlos Somonte/Netflix

Inspired by his own childhood, Alfonso Cuarón's gorgeously designed, emotional portrait of a Mexico City family and their live-in domestic worker is remarkably intimate and astoundingly relatable, regardless of the audience's ages or where they grew up. Much like Greta Gerwig's *Lady Bird *(2017), *Roma *tells a focused story about a specific time and place which somehow paints a broad portrait of the entire world at this moment. It's a bold and invigorating piece of cinema that conjures and sustains a mysterious, warm yet dangerous mood for its duration. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Roma*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A (read the review)

**Director:** Alfonso Cuarón

**Cast:** Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Jorge Antonio Guerrero

Rustin (2023)

(From left to right): Gus Halper as Tom Kahn, CCH Pounder as Dr. Anna Hedgeman, Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, Melissa Rakiro as Yvette, Ayana Workman as Eleanor, Lilli Kay as Rochelle, and Jordan-Amanda Hall as Charlene in 'Rustin'.

Colman Domingo received a much-deserved Oscar nomination for his turn here as Bayard Rustin, a key adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. (Aml Ameen) who dedicated his life to the Civil Rights movement but was largely erased from history due to his homosexuality. Domingo and director George C. Wolfe (*Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*) take a rousing and rather imaginative approach to the material, which has been covered in many other projects but never quite from this perspective. Framed around King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington, Wolfe's film is both an all-encompassing portrait of Rustin and that of the cause to which he dedicated his life. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Rustin*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** George C. Wolfe

**Cast:** Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Jeffrey Wright, Glynn Turman, CCH Pounder, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Audra McDonald

Scoop (2024)

Billie Piper as Sam McAlister in 'Scoop'.

An Emmy nominee for Outstanding Television Movie, *Scoop *dissects how the BBC program *Newsnight* landed its earth-shattering interview between Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) and Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) over the now disgraced royal's long-standing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

*Scoop* is a compelling dramatization of an unbelievable true story that's still fairly recent history. It's a breathless newsroom thriller that clocks in at a perfectly modulated 102 minutes. Anderson steals scenes, but Billie Piper carries the film as *Newsnight* booker Sam McAlister, who works her bum off to secure Andrew's public self-immolation. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Scoop*: Netflix

**Director:** Philip Martin

**Cast:** Gillian Anderson, Keeley Hawes, Billie Piper, Rufus Sewell

Shirley (2024)

Regina King as Shirley Chisholm in 'Shirley'.

Glen Wilson/Netflix

John Ridley's galvanizing biopic stars Regina King as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman in the United States who launched a 1972 bid for president. King's powerhouse performance, Ridley's keen visual direction, and the subject's exceptional mettle set *Shirley* apart from other biopics that struggle to find life. This is a vibrant and exceptionally lively film that celebrates Chisholm's singular accomplishments as it explains them to a new generation of viewers perhaps unfamiliar with her historical career. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Shirley*: Netflix

**Director:** John Ridley

**Cast:** Regina King, Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, André Holland, Terrence Howard

Society of the Snow (2023)

The cast of 'Society of the Snow'.

J.A. Bayona's harrowing film — about the infamous 1972 plane crash that stranded a Uruguayan rugby team in the Andes mountains — is a chilling account of the lengths one will go to live another day and a hopeful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.

Bayona also directed 2012's *The Impossible*, which chronicled a family's attempts at reunion after being separated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Much like that film, *Society of the Snow *finds tremendous compassion in the most extreme circumstances. He grounds this picture with genuine heart, rewarding his viewers for what can at times be a gruesome watch that's among the most visceral and authentic survival pictures in recent memory. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Society of the Snow*: Netflix

**Director:** J.A. Bayona

**Cast:** Enzo Vogrincic, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Felipe González Otaño, Luciano Chatton, Valentino Alonso, Francisco Romero, Agustín Berruti, Andy Pruss, Simón Hempe, Juan Caruso, Esteban Bigliardi, Rocco Posca, Esteban Kukuriczka, Rafael Federman, Manuela Olivera, Agustín Della Corte, Tomas Wolf

Tick, Tick… BOOM! (2021)

Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson in 'Tick, Tick... BOOM!'. Macall B. Polay/Netflix

This Lin-Manuel Miranda-directed bio-drama profiles *Rent* scribe Jonathan Larson in an all-singing, all-dancing celebration of art and life itself which ranks among the finest works much of its cast has participated in. Larson penned the musical of the same name in 1990, six years before he died of an aortic dissection on the eve of *Rent*'s Off-Broadway debut. Played here by Andrew Garfield, Larson is given something of a second life through Miranda's film, in which he's able to live out the success and adulation that eluded him during his lifetime. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Tick, Tick… BOOM!*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Lin-Manuel Miranda

**Cast:** Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

(Center, from left to right): Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Bobby Seale, Mark Rylance as William Kunstler, Ben Shenkman as Leonard Weinglass, and Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden in 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'.

Niko Tavernise/Netflix

Aaron Sorkin's second directorial project (which, of course, he also wrote) details the infamous 1969 trial in which seven defendants were charged with conspiracy by the United States after participating in protests at the Chicago Democratic National Convention.

More visually dynamic and emotionally nuanced than *Molly's Game* but equally thrilling, *Chicago 7* is an ambitious work that straddles satire and genuine sentiment. But this Sorkin project has a superior relevance and heft as, more than 50 years after the events depicted, the country continues to find itself in flux. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *The Trial of the Chicago 7*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Aaron Sorkin

**Cast:** Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Frank Langella, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton

The Two Popes (2019)

Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 'The Two Popes'. Peter Mountain/Netflix

Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins each earned Oscar nominations for their turns as Cardinal Bergoglio (the future Pope Francis) and Pope Benedict XVI, respectively. Following the Vatican leaks and Benedict's tainted legacy, Bergoglio aims to deliver his resignation but is met with resistance by the acting Pope, who has other plans for the Cardinal.

With heavy dialogue and closed settings, Fernando Meirelles' film is clearly adapted from a play (Anthony McCarten's *The Pope*, to be exact), but it never feels unduly contained or claustrophobic. *The Two Popes* is a masterclass in performance from two veterans of the form, one wise enough to clear the aisles so they may do what they do best without any distraction. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *The Two Popes*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Fernando Meirelles

**Cast:** Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins

Wicked Little Letters (2024)

Olivia Colman as Edith Swan and Jessie Buckley as Rose Gooding in 'Wicked Little Letters'.

Sony Classics Pictures

Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley star as former friends who find themselves embroiled in a legal case regarding some creatively profane letters terrorizing a sleepy English village. In addition to being a properly funny, pleasingly irreverent comedy featuring stupendous turns from two of the best actors working today, *Wicked Little Letters* is also a tense mystery. Director Thea Sharrock wields a confident hand, never letting the humor get too broad or allowing the suspense (and some unexpected tragedy) to overtake the tone. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Wicked Little Letters*: Netflix

**Director:** Thea Sharrock

**Cast:** Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins, Timothy Spall

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

Read More

---

Source: Astro Blog

Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

August 01, 2025

The 30 best Netflix movies based on true stories streaming now

Time to settle in with a movie inspired by real events. The 30 best Netflix movies based on true stories streaming now ...

Read More

Netflix has many quality offerings, including beloved classics and compelling originals. The 25 best movies on Netflix

Netflix has many quality offerings, including beloved classics and compelling originals.

The 25 best movies on Netflix

Netflix has many quality offerings, including beloved classics and compelling originals.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Declan Gallagher

on August 1, 2025 06:59AM EDT

Greta Lee as Nora Moon in 'Past Lives'; Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek in 'Parasite'; Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa in 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. Credit:

A24; Neon; Warner Bros.

When Netflix introduced its then-revolutionary mail-in rental service in the late '90s, it was competing with businesses like movie theaters, Blockbuster, and even Tower Video. Some of those stalwarts have faltered, but Netflix has only continued to expand its library and influence, shifting to a streaming platform in 2007 that offers studio and indie films, cable and broadcast TV series, and its own prestige (or not) content.

Beyond a treasure trove of original series and features, the service has curated a laundry list of excellent films both new and old. Here are the 25 best movies on Netflix right now.

George MacKay as Lance Corporal Will Schofield and Benedict Cumberbatch as Colonel Mackenzie in '1917'.

Francois Duhamel/Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

This Oscar-winning war film presents its story with bracing realism. In *1917*, Lance Corporal William "Will" Schofield (George MacKay) is a British soldier embarking on a perilous journey through the trenches and battlefields of World War I. Will is paired with Lance Corporal Thomas "Tom" Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and tasked with personally delivering a message to a colonel to call off an offensive attack that would put British soldiers in harm's way.

Director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins skillfully give the film the illusion of being shot seamlessly — as if in only one continuous take — which, EW's critic observes, "effectively drops the viewer into the center of the story and compels them to stay there, fully immersed in every muddy step, hunger pang, and rifle click." —*Kevin Jacobsen*****Where to watch *1917*: Netflix******EW grade:** A– (read the review)******Director:** Sam Mendes******Cast:** George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch**

Barbarian (2022)

Georgina Campbell as Tess in 'Barbarian'.

20th Century Studios

The plot of this brilliantly revolting horror comedy is best left unsaid if you're not already familiar. (Suffice it to say, you won't look at motherhood quite the same way ever again.) *Barbarian* is a master class in walking a tonal tightrope between OTT terror and some genuinely well-placed laughs. —*Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *Barbarian*: Netflix

**Director:** Zach Cregger

**Cast:** Georgina Campbell, Justin Long, Bill Skarsgård, Richard Brake, Matthew Patrick Davis**

Clueless (1995)

Stacey Dash as Dionne Davenport and Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz in 'Clueless'.

Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

*As if* we wouldn't recommend this '90s favorite whenever it shows up on any streaming service.**** Amy Heckerling cleverly adapted the story structure of Jane Austen's classic novel *Emma* and it with a Beverly Hills high school setting. In her most iconic role, Alicia Silverstone plays Cher Horowitz, a fashion-forward popular student who enjoys tending to her projects, by which we mean playing with people's lives, from becoming a matchmaker for her teachers to giving new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover. But Cher's pampered world is thrown into chaos when Tai takes a liking to the boy she might be *totally* crushing on. While EW's critic initially gave *Clueless* a C+, the film has since been regarded as a modern classic and one of the best high school movies of all time. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Clueless*: Netflix

**EW grade:** C+ (read the review)

**Director:** Amy Heckerling

**Cast:** Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Donald Faison

Emily the Criminal (2022)

Aubrey Plaza as Emily Benetto in 'Emily the Criminal'. Sundance Institute

Aubrey Plaza gives one of her finest turns to date in this grounded thriller. She plays the titular down-on-her-luck felon who resorts to theft to make her way out from under a mountain of debt. "She may be a wanton criminal, but she's also a woman very much for these times," EW's critic writes. "Not the anti-heroine we knew we needed, maybe, but one that we deserve." It's a visceral, often unbearably anxious film that showcases Plaza's steeliest, most nuanced performance in a career full of them. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Emily the Criminal*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+ (read the review)

**Director:** John Patton Ford

**Cast:** Aubrey Plaza, Gina Gershon, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Theo Rossi, Bernardo Badillo

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Godzilla in 'Godzilla Minus One'.

Toho International/Courtesy Everett Collection

Films in the long-running *Godzilla* franchise aren't exactly known for their human characters compared to the titular giant reptilian monster, but this universally acclaimed installment is a rare exception. The film focuses on former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a man with PTSD after failing to prevent Godzilla from destroying an island community during World War II. Haunted by the incident, Shikishima looks for redemption when the imposing monster returns to terrorize Japan.

EW's critic ranks *Godzilla Minus One* — which won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects — as the fourth-best film in the franchise, writing, "This sweeping blend of character-driven drama, maritime adventure, and kaiju mayhem is popcorn entertainment at its best." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Godzilla Minus One*: Netflix

**Director:** Takashi Yamazaki

**Cast:** Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, Kuranosuke Sasaki

I'm Still Here (2024)

Selton Mello as Rubens Paiva and Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva with their onscreen children in 'I'm Still Here'.

Alile Onawale/Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Fernanda Torres delivers one of 2024's best performances as Brazilian activist Eunice Paiva in this deeply emotional drama. Based on a true story, the film follows Eunice as she grapples with the forced disappearance of her politician husband under Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s. As she tries to hold things together for her children, she seeks answers for where her husband is — and if he's still alive. Torres provides a steadfast determination to her performance as Eunice, winning a Golden Globe and receiving an Oscar nomination for her work. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *I'm Still Here*: Netflix

**Director:** Walter Salles

**Cast:** Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro

I'm Your Venus (2025)

Amara Xtravaganza and Gisele Xtravaganza in 'I'm Your Venus'.

One of the standout ballroom performers featured in the seminal 1990 documentary *Paris Is Burning* is Venus Xtravaganza, whose life was tragically cut short after being found strangled to death at the age of 22. Believed to be the victim of a hate crime, the unsolved case is reexamined in this moving documentary about Venus' biological and chosen families coming together to honor her memory and find answers. Director Kimberly Reed also leaves plenty of room to celebrate Venus' life and her lasting impact on the trans community and ball culture. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *I'm Your Venus*: Netflix

**Director:** Kimberly Reed

**Cast:** Venus Xtravaganza, Gisele Xtravaganza, Gia Marie Love, Dominique Jackson

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa in 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. Jasin Boland/Warner Bros.

*Mad Max: Fury Road* was a major gamble that paid off in glorious fashion. With the previous *Mad Max* film released 30 years prior, director George Miller returned to the lawless world he created and proved there was still plenty of gas left in the (souped-up) tank. Tom Hardy takes over for Mel Gibson as "Mad" Max Rockatansky, a weary traveler who joins insurgent leader Furiosa (Charlize Theron) in her fight to free the enslaved wives of the villainous warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). A gonzo chase across a desert wasteland follows, featuring some of the most inventive action sequences ever envisioned. *Mad Max: Fury Road* was a box office success and became one of the unlikeliest films to win six Oscars. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Mad Max: Fury Road*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** George Miller

**Cast:** Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Zoë Kravitz, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton**

Melancholia (2011)

Kirsten Dunst as Justine in 'Melancholia'. Magnolia Pictures

The all-too-real anxiety surrounding the end of the world looms large in this Lars von Trier-directed drama, in which a rogue planet is predicted to collide directly with Earth. The true power of *Melancholia*, though, is in its portrayal of depression, as Kirsten Dunst's Justine experiences on the day of (and after) her disastrous wedding at her sister and brother-in-law's castle. Justine's feelings of impending doom lead to her accepting the apocalypse, contrasting with her sister Claire's (Charlotte Gainsbourg) growing existential fear.

Von Trier may be known for his provocative style, but, as EW's critic writes, the director sets aside his need to shock here, "to create striking visual tableaux that, in their majestic simplicity, convey a profound emotional depth that transcends words." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Melancholia*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Lars von Trier

**Cast:** Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, Kiefer Sutherland, Cameron Spurr, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt

Miss Juneteenth (2020)

Nicole Beharie as Turquoise Jones and Alexis Chikaeze as Kai Jones in 'Miss Juneteenth'.

Vertical Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection

This underseen independent drama finally gives Nicole Beharie the role she deserves, and she makes the most of the opportunity, delivering one of the most nuanced performances in recent years. Beharie plays Turquoise, a single mother whose glory days as the winner of the Miss Juneteenth pageant are behind her. Now working multiple jobs to support her 15-year-old daughter, Turquoise hopes she will follow in her footsteps by entering the pageant herself, though her daughter is less than enthused. Tackling themes of family legacy, broken dreams, and unexpected victories, *Miss Juneteenth* is a lovingly realistic examination of mothers and daughters. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Miss Juneteenth*: Netflix

**Director:** Channing Godfrey Peoples

**Cast:** Nicole Beharie, Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze

Nyad (2023)

Annette Bening as Diana Nyad and Jodie Foster as Bonnie Stoll in 'Nyad'. Kimberley French/Netflix

Annette Bening gives an astonishing, Oscar-nominated performance as real-life marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who at 64 trained to become the first person to swim to Cuba. Equally riveting as Nyad's trainer is Jodie Foster (also Oscar-nominated), reminding viewers that in terms of steely confidence, someone rarely does it better than her. "The two women also share an effortless chemistry that breathes vitality into their onscreen bond and wholeheartedly sells their decades-long connection," EW's critic writes. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Nyad*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B– (read the review)

**Directors: **Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

**Cast:** Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans, Luke Cosgrove, Karly Rothenberg

Parasite (2019)

Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo, Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek, Jang Hye-jin as Chung-sook, and Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung in 'Parasite'.

Neon/Moviestore/Shutterstock

Who is the real parasite in *Parasite*? Is it the low-income, working Kim family that gradually worms their way into the lives of the wealthy Park family? Or is it the Parks benefiting from the hard work of those they deem below them? Bong Joon Ho's darkly comedic thriller is brilliant and propulsive in many ways, entertaining the audience with its twists and turns while also providing trenchant social commentary about class and capitalism. EW's critic calls *Parasite* a "serrating, brilliantly stylized portrait of class and fate and family" as well as "a filmgoing experience that refuses to fit into any box." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Parasite*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Bong Joon Ho

**Cast:** Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin

The 29 best movies on Hulu

The 30 best Netflix original movies

Past Lives (2023)

Greta Lee as Nora Moon and Teo Yoo as Hae Sung in 'Past Lives'. Jon Pack/A24

All of us have wondered what would've happened if we chose a different path earlier in our lives. This auspicious feature debut from writer-director Celine Song poignantly tackles this idea, telling the story of Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), childhood friends (with the potential for something more) who grew apart after the former left South Korea. Now in their 30s, they decide to reconnect in New York City, though their relationship is complicated by the fact that Nora is now married. EW's critic calls *Past Lives* "at once heartbreaking and life-affirming" in its approach to "confronting questions about who we are, who we were, and who we could've been." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Past Lives*: Netflix

**Director:** Celine Song

**Cast:** Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Jesse Plemons as George Burbank and Kirsten Dunst as Rose Gordon in 'The Power of the Dog'. Netflix

Jane Campion's adaptation of the Thomas Savage novel is a spellbinding Western drama about power and control. Set in 1920s Montana, the film centers on Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) a cruel rancher who psychologically torments his brother (Jesse Plemons), sister-in-law (Kirsten Dunst), and her soft-spoken son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) on the ranch they share. After Peter discovers a buried secret about Phil, he methodically plots his revenge on his uncle. Campion deservedly won an Oscar for Best Director for the film; as EW's critic praises, "being submerged in her ineffable world feels not just like two hours in the dark, but high art." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *The Power of the Dog*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Jane Campion

**Cast:** Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Genevieve Lemon, Keith Carradine, Frances Conroy

RRR (2022)

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. as Komaram Bheem and Ram Charan as Alluri Sitarama Raju in 'RRR'.

Raftar Creations/Courtesy Everett Collection

This Indian action epic rightfully broke out as an international success in 2022. Set during the British Raj in the 1920s, the film centers on Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and his plan to reunite a kidnapped girl with her mother; meanwhile, a determined officer, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan), is hot on his trail. Their lives intersect when they rescue a boy in a train accident and they form a bond, ironically unaware of each other's identities. Packed with rousing sequences (particularly the performance of the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu"), *RRR* is an entertaining thrill ride that puts Hollywood blockbusters to shame. *—K.J.***

Where to watch *RRR*: Netflix**

**Director:** S.S. Rajamouli

**Cast:** N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, Olivia Morris

Saturday Night (2024)

(From left to right): Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Matt Wood as John Belushi, and Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd in 'Saturday Night'.

*Saturday Night Live* has become a true institution in the television landscape...which would surprise most people involved in the making of the late-night sketch show in 1975. This propulsive dramedy from writer-director Jason Reitman gives us a near-minute-by-minute dramatization of the nail-biting 90 minutes leading up to the show's premiere on Oct. 11, 1975. EW's critic praises *Saturday Night* as "a wildly entertaining love letter to a night of television that marked a cultural watershed." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Saturday Night*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Jason Reitman

**Cast:** Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O'Brien, Emily Fairn, Matt Wood, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Braun, Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Kaia Gerber, Tommy Dewey, Willem Dafoe, Matthew Rhys, J.K. Simmons

Shiva Baby (2021)

Rachel Sennott as Danielle in 'Shiva Baby'. Utopia

Don't be fooled by the slight, 78-minute runtime or the silliness of the poster: This is one of the most anxiety-inducing films of the decade — intentionally so. In her breakout role, Rachel Sennott plays Danielle, an aimless college student attending a shiva with her parents. While there, she grapples (often hilariously) with a series of awkward interactions, particularly when she spots her sugar daddy and finds out he's married. EW's critic praises *Shiva Baby* as "blithely ruthless," calling it "a sort of endless festivus of cringe so visceral it borders on body horror." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Shiva Baby*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Emma Seligman

**Cast:** Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Polly Draper, Danny Deferrari, Fred Melamed, Dianna Agron

Spencer (2021)

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in 'Spencer'. Pablo Larrain/Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

*Spencer* is far from the Princess Diana biopic you would expect. Beginning with a title card that reads "A fable from a true tragedy," this psychological drama from Pablo Larraín envisions an emotionally taxing Christmas holiday that Princess Diana spent with the British royal family in 1991. While the holiday took place in real life, the film imagines how Diana may have felt as the pressures of her situation cause her to unravel. Kristen Stewart's Oscar-nominated portrayal of Diana is a genius bit of casting, as she plays into the discomfort of the beloved princess with shocking vulnerability. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Spencer*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Pablo Larraín

**Cast:** Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Farthing, Sean Harris, Sally Hawkins

Tangerine (2015)

Mya Taylor as Alexandra and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as Sin-Dee Rella in 'Tangerine'. Everett Collection

There is much to praise with this independent film from writer-director Sean Baker: it was shot entirely by iPhones and has great style; it casts two transgender actresses as leads, each giving strong performances. But it's also a good old-fashioned screwball comedy, following a day in the lives of transgender sex worker friends Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), After Alexandra informs Sin-Dee that the latter's boyfriend has been cheating on her, the pair go on a journey through the streets of Hollywood to confront him. EW's critic raves, "*Tangerine* is touching for its non-condescending stance toward working girls and the spirit of the sidewalk." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Tangerine*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Sean Baker

**Cast:** Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan, Alla Tumanian, James Ransone

The Teachers' Lounge (2023)

Leonie Benesch as Carla Nowak in 'The Teachers' Lounge'.

Sony Pictures Classics/Everett Collection

After this tense Oscar-nominated German film gets going, it refuses to let up. Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is the bright-eyed new teacher at a school where her fellow educators are trying to uncover the culprit behind multiple thefts from the teachers' lounge. She soon finds herself embroiled in the case when she spots a colleague stealing money, only for that colleague to deflect onto her. *The Teachers' Lounge* moves with the energy of a thriller, with viewers' anxiety rising the further Carla grapples with mounting pressure. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Teachers' Lounge*: Netflix

**Director: **Ilker Çatak

**Cast:** Leonie Benesch, Michael Klammer, Rafael Stachowiak, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Eva Löbau

Tick, Tick... BOOM! (2021)

Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson in 'Tick, Tick... BOOM!'. Macall B. Polay/Netflix

Jonathan Larson was a celebrated composer and playwright most famous for penning the Broadway musical *Rent*. He also wrote a semi-autobiographical musical based on his life called *Tick, Tick...Boom!*, which Lin-Manuel Miranda adapted to this well-received musical drama. Andrew Garfield, in an Oscar-nominated turn, stars as Larson, following his struggle to mount a musical while dealing with a tumultuous personal life. "*Tick, Tick… Boom!* is a totem for the thrills and trials of making art, with all the sacrifices and empathy it requires," EW's critic writes. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Tick, Tick... BOOM!*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director: **Lin-Manuel Miranda

**Cast:** Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens

Triple Frontier (2019)

Oscar Isaac as Santiago 'Pope' Garcia and Ben Affleck as Tom 'Redfly' Davis in 'Triple Frontier'. Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix

J.C. Chandor's masculine action riff, about a group of special ops planning a heist in South America, is a stark contrast to his earlier, more patient efforts in 2011's *Margin Call*, 2013's *All Is Lost*, or 2014's *A Most Violent Year* (his masterpiece). While not as thematically strong as those films, *Triple Frontier* offers a dose of adrenaline that, much like *The Strangers*, harkens back to a forgotten era of mid-'70s B pictures. "There may be no honor among thieves," EW's critic writes, "but *Triple Frontier *certainly makes watching them pretty entertaining." *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Triple Frontier*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** J.C. Chandor

**Cast:** Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund

Will & Harper (2024)

Harper Steele and Will Ferrell in 'Will & Harper'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have been close friends since joining *Saturday Night Live* in the mid-'90s. After Steele came out as a trans woman in 2022, she and Ferrell embarked on a road trip across America so he could get to know her authentic truth and for her own personal journey of self-acceptance. This documentary — hilarious and moving in equal measure — chronicles the trip as Ferrell learns how to be an ally and wield his privilege for good and Steele opens up about her demons and finds catharsis. "Come for the laughs, cameos, and raw emotions," writes EW's critic, "stay for the pitch-perfect theme song co-written and performed by Kristen Wiig." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Will & Harper*: Netflix

**Director: **Josh Greenbaum

**Cast:** Will Ferrell, Harper Steele

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More (2024)

Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar in 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar'.

This whimsical anthology film finds auteur director Wes Anderson bringing the stories of Roald Dahl to life. Originally released as four short films in 2023, Netflix has now assembled them all into one collection. *The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar*, which won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short, centers on the titular character's years-long training process to be able to see without his eyes — all so he can cheat at gambling.

Other shorts are *The Swan *(about the struggles of a bullied boy), *The Rat Catcher *(about, well, an exterminator of rats), and *Poison *(about a man who finds a snake in his bed). Anderson's flair for carefully crafted aesthetics is a throughline, as is his love of the art of storytelling. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More*: Netflix

**Director: **Wes Anderson

**Cast:** Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend

The Wrong Missy (2020)

David Spade as Tim Morris and Lauren Lapkus as Missy in 'The Wrong Missy'.

Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix/Everett

On paper, *The Wrong Missy* is nothing new: David Spade goes on a bad date with Lauren Lapkus, whose name is Missy, and then means to invite a cute girl (Molly Sims), hilariously also named Missy, with him on a company retreat to Hawaii. (No points for guessing which Missy ends up on the trip.) The film coasts by on a general likability, but if not for Lapkus' performance, the story would be lost at sea. She glues the entire enterprise together with a mixture of well-played raunch and genuine pathos, selling the moment and keeping the plot bouncing along to the next joke. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Wrong Missy*: Netflix

**Director: **Tyler Spindel

**Cast:** Lauren Lapkus, David Spade, Molly Sims, Jackie Sandler, Rob Schneider

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

Read More

---

Source: Astro Blog

Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

August 01, 2025

The 25 best movies on Netflix

Netflix has many quality offerings, including beloved classics and compelling originals. The 25 best movies on Netflix ...

Read More

The streamer has a large library of timeless treasures from decades past. The 12 best classic movies on Netflix right now

The streamer has a large library of timeless treasures from decades past.

The 12 best classic movies on Netflix right now

The streamer has a large library of timeless treasures from decades past.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Declan Gallagher

on August 1, 2025 07:04AM EDT

Tracy Camilla Johns as Nora Darling in 'She's Gotta Have It'; Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler in 'Jurassic Park'; Roy Scheider as Chief Martin Brody in 'Jaws'. Credit:

Island Pictures/Courtesy: Everett Collection; Murray Close/Sygma/Sygma via Getty; Universal Studios/Courtesy of Getty

The best part about classic movies is that there are more and more of them with each passing year. That said, to ensure true timelessness, we only included selections made before 2005. Netflix has classic movies of all genres, for every taste group and age range. In addition to older features like *The Guns of Navarone* (1961) and *Jaws* (1975), there are also slightly more modern favorites like *The Age of Innocence* (1993) and *Jurassic Park* (1993).

Join EW as we highlight the 12 best classic movies on Netflix right now.

The Age of Innocence (1993)

Winona Ryder as May Welland and Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer in 'The Age of Innocence'.

Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Even Martin Scorsese's most violent gangster epics don't quite compare to the emotional devastation at the heart of this period drama. A departure from the legendary director's typical subject matter, *The Age of Innocence* nonetheless has many features of a Scorsese film, centered on an ecosystem with its own set of punishing rules and customs. Set in Gilded Age New York, the film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer, a lawyer in a love triangle with cousins May (Winona Ryder) and Ellen (Michelle Pfeiffer). EW's critic calls *The Age of Innocence* "a masterfully orchestrated tale of romantic yearning." —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Where to watch *The Age of Innocence*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Martin Scorsese

**Cast:** Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder

American Graffiti (1973)

Candy Clark as Debbie in 'American Graffiti'.

George Lucas' nostalgic coming-of-age dramedy is an earnest ode to his formative years growing up in Modesto, Calif., in the early-'60s. Centering on a group of friends hanging out on the last day of summer vacation, *American Graffiti* is a slice-of-life film that follows their exploits over the course of the evening. Some deal with relationship problems, while others are more concerned with celebrating their last night in their hometown before the rest of their lives begin. Told in a series of dreamy vignettes (aided by a killer soundtrack), the film transports the viewer back to a specific time and place, a snapshot of life before it got messy and complicated. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *American Graffiti*: Netflix

**Director:** George Lucas

**Cast:** Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Cindy Williams, Wolfman Jack, Harrison Ford

Dazed and Confused (1993)

Jeremy Fox as Hirschfelder, Esteban Powell as Carl Burnett, Wiley Wiggins as Mitch Kramer, and Mark Vandermeulen as Tommy Houston in 'Dazed and Confused'.

Gramercy Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Rated by EW as the third-best high school movie of all time, *Dazed and Confused* is a seminal film, not only for Generation X but for generations to come. Richard Linklater's Texas-set hangout comedy follows various soon-to-be seniors and first-year students on the last day of high school in 1976, from hazings to ragers, humiliations to revelations. It also gave rise to future A-lister Matthew McConaughey, solidifying his "All right, all right, all right" persona here as a guy who's probably a little too old to be hanging out with teenagers. The cult classic may be light on plot, but the vibes still have us livin', man. L-I-V-I-N. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Dazed and Confused*: Netflix

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Director:** Richard Linklater

**Cast:** Jason London, Joey Lauren Adams, Milla Jovovich, Rory Cochrane, Adam Goldberg, Cole Hauser, Parker Posey, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck**

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Robert Romanus as Mike Damone and Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'. Universal/Everett

In a decade largely remembered for John Hughes' contributions to coming-of-age teen comedies, Amy Heckerling's *Fast Times at Ridgemont High* has proven just as indelible in the years since. The film, written by first-time screenwriter Cameron Crowe, chronicles the lives of teenagers attending high school in a San Fernando Valley town, bursting with hormones and ready to enter the real world. It's plenty raunchy, but there's also a refreshing honesty to its depiction of growing up and figuring out who you want to be. EW's rated it one of the best teen movies of all time, claiming *Fast Times* "presents the 'glory days' with unvarnished awkwardness and a truth-first approach, setting the template for every great teen comedy that followed." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Fast Times at Ridgemont High*: Netflix

**Director:** Amy Heckerling

**Cast:** Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, Ray Walston

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Aunt (voice: Akemi Yamaguchi), Seita (voice: Tsutomu Tatsumi), and Setsuko (voice: Ayano Shiraishi) in 'Grave of the Fireflies'.

Studio Ghibli/Kobal/Shutterstock

Far from your traditionally kid-friendly animated adventure, this sobering hand-drawn drama explores the horrors of war with bracing imagery. The film centers on a pair of young siblings, Seita and Setsuko, as they try to survive the chaos of the Pacific War in Kobe, Japan. EW's critic ranks *Grave of the Fireflies* as one of the best Studio Ghibli films of all time, calling it a "legendary tear-jerker" that depicts a world in which "the fires of war are still burning hot enough to consume life, love, and family." It's a tough watch, but devastatingly effective as an antiwar statement. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Grave of the Fireflies*: Netflix

**Director:** Isao Takahata

**Cast:** Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi

Groundhog Day (1993)

Bill Murray as Phil Connors in 'Groundhog Day'. Columbia Pictures/Getty Images

After cynical reporter Phil (Bill Murray) gets stuck in a time loop, constantly waking up on Feb. 2, he decides to exploit his powers and tries to seduce his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell). While she rejects him time and time again, Phil comes to find he has genuine feelings for her, and his cold, bitter heart gradually warms. "*Groundhog Day* — with its really high concept — unfolds with a goofy elegance that feels like a tonic," wrote EW's critic in 1993. Decades later, the fantasy comedy remains a favorite, one worth revisiting again and again. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Groundhog Day*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A (read the review)

**Director:** Harold Ramis

**Cast:** Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray**

The 24 best classic movies to watch on Amazon Prime Video right now

The 31 best drama movies on Netflix

The Guns of Navarone (1961)

(From left to right): Gia Scala as Anna, James Darren as Spyros Pappadimos, Anthony Quinn as Andrea Stavros, David Niven as John Anthony Miller, Stanley Baker as Casey 'Butcher' Brown, and Gregory Peck as Keith Mallory in 'The Guns of Navarone'. Everett Collection

One of the oldest films currently available on Netflix, *The Guns of Navarone* is also one of the best war films on the streamer. Taking place during World War II, the film centers on a mission by Allied forces to destroy a Nazi fortress and the two large-caliber guns preventing British troops from being rescued. Featuring an all-star cast led by Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn, *The Guns of Navarone* is a good old-fashioned muscular adventure that earned seven Oscar nominations, winning for its special effects. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Guns of Navarone*: Netflix

**Director:** J. Lee Thompson

**Cast:** Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, Anthony Quayle, Irene Papas, Gia Scala, James Darren

Jaws (1975)

Robert Shaw as Quint, Roy Scheider as Chief Martin Brody, and Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in 'Jaws'. Everett Collection

The miracle of this granddaddy of all summer blockbusters is that it still holds up 50 years later. Steven Spielberg's iconic thriller about a great white shark terrorizing beachgoers and the trio of men who try to hunt it down is pure entertainment at its most biting. From the menacing Oscar-winning score by John Williams to the vividly drawn personalities of the three heroes to the near-constant state of dread, Spielberg's confidence in his vision is remarkable to witness, especially so early in his career. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Jaws*: Netflix

**Director:** Steven Spielberg

**Cast:** Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton

Jurassic Park (1993)

Sam Neill as Alan Grant, Joseph Mazzello as Tim Murphy, and Ariana Richards as Lex Murphy in 'Jurassic Park'.

Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

Steven Spielberg's quintessential blockbuster is arguably a trussed-up exploitation riff, but what a perfect riff it is. Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern play scientists sent on a media weekend to the titular park, where things go horribly awry. Remarkably, the film remains a high watermark for digital effects, especially in light of the ropey-looking dinosaurs from the *Jurassic World* movies. —*Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *Jurassic Park*: Netflix

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Director:** Steven Spielberg

**Cast:** Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, Richard Attenborough**

The Karate Kid (1984)

Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in 'The Karate Kid'.

Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett

We could — pardon the pun — wax on about the virtues of this enduring coming-of-age classic for days. Ralph Macchio stars as Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who learns to stand up for himself thanks to the teachings of his apartment building's handyman, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita, in an Oscar-nominated performance). Mr. Miyagi instructs his young student on the art of karate and finding inner peace, allowing Daniel to stand up to his bullies and channel his emotions. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Karate Kid*: Netflix

**Director:** John G. Avildsen

**Cast:** Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, William Zabka

Midnight Run (1988)

Robert De Niro as Jack Walsh and Yaphet Kotto as Special Agent Alonzo Mosely in 'Midnight Run'.

Universal/Everett

Before Martin Brest tanked his career with the atomic bomb *Gigli* (2003), he helmed this quintessential buddy comedy starring Charles Grodin and Robert De Niro as a mob accountant and a bounty hunter, respectively, who travel to L.A. for the former's court trial. Along the way, they must avoid thugs and cops alike, and darn it if they don't develop a grudging admiration for each other. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Midnight Run*: Netflix

**Director:** Martin Brest

**Cast:** Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano, John Ashton

She's Gotta Have It (1986)

Tracy Camilla Johns as Nora Darling and Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon in 'She's Gotta Have It'. Everett Collection

Spike Lee established with this feature directorial debut that he was going to be one of his generation's signature voices. Shot in striking black and white, *She's Gotta Have It* centers on Nora Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a Brooklyn artist who has relationships with three men, each of whom wants her to commit exclusively to them. But Nora is a free spirit who enjoys her liberation; of course, problems arise when the three men meet and decide to be more proactive about the situation. The depiction of the messy complications of polyamorous love was refreshing at the time and remains so today. Lee also adapted the story into a TV series for Netflix in the late-2010s. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *She's Gotta Have It*: Netflix

**Director:** Spike Lee

**Cast:** Tracy Camilla Johns, Spike Lee, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

Read More

---

Source: Astro Blog

Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

August 01, 2025

The 12 best classic movies on Netflix right now

The streamer has a large library of timeless treasures from decades past. The 12 best classic movies on Netflix right now ...

Read More

Classic frat boy antics. Dave Franco recalls Zac Efron dislocating his thumb while grabbing each other in Neighbors

Classic frat boy antics.

Dave Franco recalls Zac Efron dislocating his thumb while grabbing each other in Neighbors

Classic frat boy antics.

By Daysia Tolentino

Published on August 1, 2025 07:00AM EDT

Leave a Comment

Dave Franco; Zac Efron. Credit:

Monica Schipper/Getty; Charley Gallay/Getty

In a movie centered around frat bros, it's no surprise that the roughhousing in *Neighbors* went a *little* too far.

On the most recent episode of *Call Her Daddy*, host Alex Cooper asked Dave Franco how Zac Efron broke his hand while shooting *Neighbors*. The *Together* actor described how Efron injured himself during a fight scene.

"I'm trying to remember if I was wearing a cup and he came in just really strong," Franco said. "I think it was a dislocated thumb to be fair, but it happened."**

Alison Brie and Dave Franco had to use the bathroom while 'physically attached' for 'Together'

'Regretting You' stars preview the film's surprising levity, tears, and shocking secrets in first look (exclusive)

*Neighbors *follows the standoff between young couple Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) and the fraternity house next door. The frat's leaders Teddy (Efron) and Pete (Franco) are determined to throw a legendary end-of-year party.

In one scene, Teddy and Pete have a fight after the latter sleeps with the former's girlfriend. The two grab onto each other's crotches in an attempt to get the other person to relent. This is when Efron hurt his hand.

"I just think he came in with enough force from the wrong angle," Franco recalled.**

Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dave Franco, Zac Efron, and Jerrod Carmichael in 'Neighbors'.

Glen Wilson/Universal Pictures

*** Sign up for **'s free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.***

Appearing on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon *in 2014, Efron said the cast did all of their own stunts in *Neighbors.* The *Iron Claw* star also addressed injuring himself during the movie.

"Those Franco brothers just have balls of steel," he joked. "But I did legitimately break my hand."

Listen to the full episode of *Call Her Daddy *with Dave Franco below.**

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

Read More

---

Source: Astro Blog

Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

August 01, 2025

Dave Franco recalls Zac Efron dislocating his thumb while grabbing each other in Neighbors

Classic frat boy antics. Dave Franco recalls Zac Efron dislocating his thumb while grabbing each other in Neighbors Cl...

Read More