First 30 BEST MOVIES ON NETFLIX RANKED (MAY 2023) Part-1
In our world of massive entertainment options, who’s got time to waste on the below-average? You’ve got a subscription, you’re ready for a marathon, and you want only the best movies no Netflix to watch. With thousands of choices on the platform, both original and acquired, we’ve found the first 30 top Netflix movies with the highest Rank.
The most recent additions of best movies on Netflix include This Is The End, Traffic, Captain Phillips (see Tom Hanks movies ranked), Chicken Run (see DreamWorks Animation movies ranked), Paranormal Activity.
Rank NO:1 LEAVE NO TRACE (2018)
Critics Consensus: Leave No Trace takes an effectively low-key approach to a potentially sensationalistic story -- and further benefits from brilliant work by Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie.
Synopsis: A father and daughter live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful nature reserve near Portland, Ore.,... [More]
Starring: Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie, Jeff Kober, Dale Dickey
Directed By: Debra Granik
Rank NO:2 HIS HOUSE (2020)
Critics Consensus: Featuring genuine scares through every corridor, His House is a terrifying look at the specters of the refugee experience and a stunning feature debut for Remi Weekes.
Synopsis: A refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new... [More]
Starring: Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, Matt Smith, Cornell John
Directed By: Remi Weekes
Rank NO:3 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2010)
Critics Consensus: Boasting dazzling animation, a script with surprising dramatic depth, and thrilling 3-D sequences, How to Train Your Dragon soars.
Synopsis: Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is a Norse teenager from the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life.... [More]
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill
Directed By: Christopher Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Rank NO:4THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION (2020)
Critics Consensus: The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist's life -- and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut.
Synopsis: Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her... [More]
Starring: Welker White, Reed Birney, Radha Blank, Peter Kim
Directed By: Radha Blank
Rank NO:5 UNDER THE SHADOW (2016)
Critics Consensus: Under the Shadow deftly blends seemingly disparate genres to deliver an effective chiller with timely themes and thought-provoking social subtext.
Synopsis: After Shideh's building is hit by a missile during the Iran-Iraq War, a superstitious neighbor suggests that the missile was... [More]
Starring: Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian
Directed By: Babak Anvari
Rank NO:6 MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975)
Critics Consensus: A cult classic as gut-bustingly hilarious as it is blithely ridiculous, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has lost none of its exceedingly silly charm.
Synopsis: A comedic send-up of the grim circumstances of the Middle Ages as told through the story of King Arthur and... [More]
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle
Directed By: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Rank NO:7 MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (2020)
Critics Consensus: Framed by a pair of powerhouse performances, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom pays affectionate tribute to a blues legend -- and Black culture at large.
Synopsis: Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her... [More]
Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo
Directed By: George C. Wolfe
Rank NO:8 DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (2019)
Critics Consensus: In dramatizing Rudy Ray Moore's stranger-than-fiction story, Eddie Murphy makes Dolemite Is My Name just as bold, brash, and ultimately hard to resist as its subject.
Synopsis: Performer Rudy Ray Moore develops an outrageous character named Dolemite, who becomes an underground sensation and star of a kung-fu,... [More]
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Keegan-Michael Key
Directed By: Craig Brewer
Rank NO:9 HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (2016)
Critics Consensus: The charmingly offbeat Hunt for the Wilderpeople unites a solid cast, a talented filmmaker, and a poignant, funny, deeply affecting message.
Synopsis: A boy (Julian Dennison) and his foster father (Sam Neill) become the subjects of a manhunt after they get stranded... [More]
Starring: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House
Directed By: Taika Waititi
Rank NO:10 MUDBOUND (2017)
Critics Consensus: Mudbound offers a well-acted, finely detailed snapshot of American history whose scenes of rural class struggle resonate far beyond their period setting.
Synopsis: Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees' Mudbound is an epic story of two families... [More]
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige
Directed By: Dee Rees
Rank NO:11 CHICKEN RUN (2000)
Critics Consensus: Chicken Run has all the charm of Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit, and something for everybody. The voice acting is fabulous, the slapstick is brilliant, and the action sequences are spectacular.
Synopsis: This engaging stop-motion, claymation adventure tells the story of an American rooster who falls in love with a gorgeous hen... [More]
Starring: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks
Directed By: Peter Lord, Nick Park
Rank NO:12 I LOST MY BODY (2019)
Critics Consensus: Beautifully animated and utterly unique, I Lost My Body takes audiences on a singularly strange journey whose unexpected contours lead to a wholly satisfying destination.
Synopsis: A severed hand escapes from a dissection lab, determined to find its body again.... [More]
Starring: Hakim Faris, Victoire Du Bois, Patrick d'Assumçao, Belek Abdelmalek
Directed By: Jérémy Clapin
Rank NO:13 ROCKS (2020)
Critics Consensus: A fresh, funny coming-of-age story rooted in realistic characters and anchored with a meaningful message, Rocks is as solid as its title suggests.
Synopsis: A London teen takes care of her younger brother after their mother abruptly leaves.... [More]
Starring: Bukky Bakray, Ruby Stokes, Sarah Niles, Layo-Christina Akinlude
Directed By: Sarah Gavron
Rank NO:14 ROMA (2018)
Critics Consensus: Roma finds writer-director Alfonso Cuarón in complete, enthralling command of his visual craft - and telling the most powerfully personal story of his career.
Synopsis: Cleo is one of two domestic workers who help Antonio and Sofía take care of their four children in 1970s... [More]
Starring: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Marco Graf, Fernando Grediaga
Directed By: Alfonso Cuarón
Rank NO:15 ATLANTICS (2019)
Critics Consensus: An unpredictable supernatural drama rooted in real-world social commentary, Atlantique suggests a thrillingly bright future for debuting filmmaker Mati Diop.
Synopsis: Arranged to marry a rich man, young Ada is crushed when her true love goes missing at sea during a... [More]
Starring: Mama Sané, Amadou Mbow, Ibrahima Traoré, Amina Kane
Directed By: Mati Diop
Rank NO:16 PSYCHO (1960)
Critics Consensus: Infamous for its shower scene, but immortal for its contribution to the horror genre. Because Psycho was filmed with tact, grace, and art, Hitchcock didn't just create modern horror, he validated it.
Synopsis: Phoenix secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), on the lam after stealing $40,000 from her employer in order to run away... [More]
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock
Rank NO:17 LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)
Critics Consensus: One of the more cutting-edge films of the 1970s, this religious farce from the classic comedy troupe is as poignant as it is funny and satirical.
Synopsis: Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) is an average young Jewish man, but through a series of ridiculous events, he gains a... [More]
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Directed By: Terry Jones
Rank NO:18 TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE (2018)
Critics Consensus: To All the Boys I've Loved Before plays by the teen rom-com rules, but relatable characters and a thoroughly charming cast more than make up for a lack of surprises.
Synopsis: A teenage girl's love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her life.... [More]
Starring: Lana Condor, John Corbett, Noah Centineo, Emilija Baranac
Directed By: Susan Johnson
Rank NO:19 AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
Critics Consensus: One of the most influential of all teen films, American Graffiti is a funny, nostalgic, and bittersweet look at a group of recent high school grads' last days of innocence.
Synopsis: On the last day of summer vacation in 1962, friends Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), Steve (Ronny Howard), Terry (Charles Martin Smith)... [More]
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith
Directed By: George Lucas
Rank NO:20 OUTSIDE IN (2018)
Critics Consensus: Brilliantly brought to life by tenderly empathetic performances from Jay Duplass and Edie Falco, Outside In tells a sobering -- yet thoroughly absorbing -- story.
Synopsis: An ex-convict tries to readjust to life in his small town and forms an intense relationship with his former high... [More]
Starring: Jay Duplass, Edie Falco, Kaitlyn Dever, Ben Schwartz
Directed By: Lynn Shelton
Rank NO:21 THE IRISHMAN (2019)
Critics Consensus: An epic gangster drama that earns its extended runtime, The Irishman finds Martin Scorsese revisiting familiar themes to poignant, funny, and profound effect.
Synopsis: In the 1950s, truck driver Frank Sheeran gets involved with Russell Bufalino and his Pennsylvania crime family. As Sheeran climbs... [More]
Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Anna Paquin
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
Rank NO:22 MARRIAGE STORY (2019)
Critics Consensus: Observing a splintering union with compassion and expansive grace, the powerfully acted Marriage Story ranks among writer-director Noah Baumbach's best works.
Synopsis: A stage director and his actor wife struggle through a grueling divorce that pushes them to their limits.... [More]
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Azhy Robertson, Laura Dern
Directed By: Noah Baumbach
Rank NO:23 IT FOLLOWS (2015)
Critics Consensus: Smart, original, and above all terrifying, It Follows is the rare modern horror film that works on multiple levels -- and leaves a lingering sting.
Synopsis: After carefree teenager Jay (Maika Monroe) sleeps with her new boyfriend, Hugh (Jake Weary), for the first time, she learns... [More]
Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary
Directed By: David Robert Mitchell
Rank NO:24 KLAUS (2019)
Critics Consensus: Beautiful hand-drawn animation and a humorous, heartwarming narrative make Klaus an instant candidate for holiday classic status.
Synopsis: A desperate postman accidentally brings about the genesis of Santa Claus.... [More]
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso
Directed By: Sergio Pablos
Rank NO:25 CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017)
Critics Consensus: Call Me by Your Name offers a melancholy, powerfully affecting portrait of first love, empathetically acted by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.
Synopsis: It's the summer of 1983, and precocious 17-year-old Elio Perlman is spending the days with his family at their 17th-century... [More]
Starring: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar
Directed By: Luca Guadagnino
Rank NO:26 THE POWER OF THE DOG (2021)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10293406/
Critics Consensus: Brought to life by a stellar ensemble led by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog reaffirms writer-director Jane Campion as one of her generation's finest filmmakers.
Synopsis: Severe, pale-eyed, handsome, Phil Burbank is brutally beguiling. All of Phil's romance, power and fragility is trapped in the past... [More]
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Directed By: Jane Campion
Rank NO:27 CAROL (2015)
Critics Consensus: Shaped by Todd Haynes' deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material.
Synopsis: Aspiring photographer Therese spots the beautiful, elegant Carol perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two... [More]
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy
Directed By: Todd Haynes
Rank NO:28 THE LOST DAUGHTER (2021)
Critics Consensus: A strikingly assured debut for writer-director Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter unites a brilliant cast in service of a daringly ambitious story.
Synopsis: Alone on a seaside vacation, Leda becomes consumed with a young mother and daughter as she watches them on the... [More]
Starring: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Jessie Buckley
Directed By: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Rank NO:29 EMILY THE CRIMINAL (2022)
Critics Consensus: A taut thriller that contains a wealth of social commentary, Emily the Criminal is stolen by Aubrey Plaza's terrific work in the title role.
Synopsis: Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal... [More]
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Jonathan Avigdori
Directed By: John Patton Ford
Rank NO:30 THE SEA BEAST (2022)
Critics Consensus: An original animated tale that's often as daring as its characters, The Sea Beast sends audiences on a voyage well worth taking.
Synopsis: In an era when terrifying beasts roamed the seas, monster hunters were celebrated heroes -- and none were more beloved... [More]
Starring: Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, Dan Stevens
Directed By: Chris Williams