Movie nights will definitely be memorable with the help of the 10 best movies streaming on Netflix right now. With homes now having easy access to the internet, Netflix provides flexibility and freedom of choice rarely seen on television. In recent years, they’ve also released a lot of original content that became financially and critically successful.
Once in a while, Netflix adds movies to their selection. These range from classics and hits of yesteryear to the more recent box office successes. One great thing about Netflix is that it continues to improve and add to their already extensive line-up. We even see indie films and movies that don’t have as much exposure. As such, there are a lot of high-quality films, making Netflix a very attractive choice for movie aficionados. For those who are more into documentaries, you can also check the 11 best serial killer documentaries on Netflix streaming in 2015.
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There are literally thousands of movies released in a year and the selection in Netflix offers hundreds of choices. To sort the best among them we have to look into what most people rate as the best. First, we take the 100 most popular movies on Netflix and list them down. Next, we take one of the most popular rating websites, Rotten Tomatoes which compile ratings from various reviewers around the world. Of course, we also need a second opinion to carefully weigh each movie and that’s where Metacritic comes in. Both websites provide their own algorithm for rating movies and it will give us a good idea of what movies are the best right now.
We don’t take into account financial earnings of these movies as we’re looking for quality specifically. Also, a lot of great films don’t have much exposure, which limits their earnings compared to others which are well marketed. Of course, you’ll find a mix of both major films and indie hits on this list. Do keep in mind that people have their own opinions when it comes to films and some of those on this list might not be your cup of tea. With that in mind, let’s head into the 10 best movies streaming on Netflix right now.
10. Short Term 12
Year Released: 2013
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 99
Metacritic Rating: 82
Short Term 12 is the winner of two SXSW Film Festival Awards and is the first indie film to be mentioned on this list. It stars Brie Larson, who plays a staff member of a residential treatment facility, trying to help the children there while facing her own personal problems. The film has been critically acclaimed for many aspects and even the actors have been given praise for their performances.
9. Blackfish
Year Released: 2013
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98
Metacritic Rating: 83
Up next in our list of best movies streaming on Netflix right now is Blackfish, that is a documentary based on the orca named Tilikum in SeaWorld. It gives us an idea of the environment of captive killer whales and the story behind killer whale attacks. The film was nominated a BAFTA Award for Best Documentary and was picked up by CNN Films for a wider release.
8. Tangerine
Year Released: 2015
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97
Metacritic Rating: 85
Tangerine ranks 8th in our list of best movies streaming on Netflix right now. It is a story of a transgender sex worker who discovers that her pimp boyfriend is cheating. It’s another independent film that found a wider release thanks to Magnolia Pictures picking it up. What’s intriguing about the film is that it was shot with only three iPhone 5s.
7. Pulp Fiction
Year Released: 1994
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94
Metacritic Rating: 94
Pulp Fiction is director Quentin Tarantino’s second feature film and considered one of his biggest successes. The movie is a star studded with names such as John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bruce Willis part of the cast. It became a critical and commercial success, winning the best film at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival. It is now considered a classic and is definitely one for those who enjoy Tarantino’s work.
6. The Act of Killing
Year Released: 2013
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96
Metacritic Rating: 89
Another documentary to make it into this list, The Act of Killing is about people who participated in the Indonesian killings of 1965 to 1966 resulting in the genocide of 1 million people. It’s a great documentary in showing the blurry distinction people have between heroes and murderers. This film won as the best documentary at the 67th BAFTA awards. This is definitely not for everyone, but for those interested, its acclaim makes it part of the 10 best movies streaming on Netflix right now.
5. The Babadook
Year Released: 2014
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98
Metacritic Rating: 86
The Babadook ranks 5th in our list of best movies streaming on Netflix right now. It is a critically successful horror film that managed to get a bit of success at the box office as well. A lot of people praise the tension building and psychological aspect of the film no longer seen with many of those in the horror genre. The popularity of the film even led to a cult following and it notably avoids any gore as seen in most horror films today.
4. We Are The Best
Year Released: 2014
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97
Metacritic Rating: 87
We Are the Best! Is a Swedish-Danish film based on the graphic novel entitled Never Goodnight. The film has been praised for its great story and acting. The film is about two 13-year-old girls who are ostracized because of their love of punk rock music. The girls go on a journey to form their own band and learn how to play music.
3. Spotlight
Year Released: 2015
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96
Metacritic Rating: 93
Starring Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton, Spotlight is a film about the true story of how Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” team investigated child sex abuse in Boston done by Roman Catholic priests. The investigation would lead to a 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service Award. Spotlight is the first film from a mini-major studio to win at the Academy Awards as Best Picture.
2. How to Survive a Plague
Year Released: 2012
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 99
Metacritic Rating: 86
How to Survive a Plague is a documentary about the start of the AIDS Epidemic and the efforts of numerous organizations to get support from the government. The documentary is directed and was covered by journalist David France who dedicated it to his partner who passed away due to the virus. The documentary features a lot of archived footage and real documented events.
1. Hoop Dreams
Year Released: 1994
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98
Metacritic Rating: 98
Hoop Dreams is a documentary about two African-American high school students and their dream to become professional basketball players. It was originally intended as a short film, but ended up being done in five years with over 250 hours of footage. It won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, going on to become a commercial and critical success. With great reviews from both critics and audiences, Hoop Dreams is at the top of the 10 best movies streaming on Netflix right now.
