Like other streaming services, Netflix has been known in recent years for its innovative original series (including “House of Cards,” “Ozark,” “Black Mirror,” “BoJack Horseman,” and “Stranger Things”) and its many award-winning movie productions (including Oscar-winners “Marriage Story” and “The Power of the Dog.”) It has also recently had great success licensing classic TV shows, recently reporting that in the first two quarters of last year, some 45% of its views were for such series as “Suits” and “Breaking Bad.”
But as movie buffs well know, one of the great gifts Netflix brings to audiences is its rich catalog of feature films produced elsewhere, from hot-ticket blockbusters to acclaimed independent efforts. And while some titles seem to have found a permanent home on the platform, others come and go.
To determine the best movies to stream on Netflix this February, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of early February 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, and ruled out documentaries. Data on streaming availability, also current as of early February, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
You’ll find films spanning more than 60 years of cinematic history on this list, and entries from such famed directors as Miloš Forman, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Quentin Tarantino, J.J. Abrams, Baz Luhrmann, Clint Eastwood, and Steven Soderbergh, as well as veteran helmsmen like George Roy Hill, Don Siegal, and J. Lee Thompson (whose 1961 action flick “The Guns of Navarone” is the oldest movie here).
Every one of these films has won strong audience and critical approval, and they’re all available for your home viewing pleasure. (These were the most watched movies on Netflix in the first half of 2023.)
Here is a list of the best movies to stream on Netflix this month:
50. Erin Brockovich (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (201,137 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (418,741 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (149 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
49. A Man Called Otto (2022)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (56,766 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (5,000 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (201 reviews)
- Directed by: Marc Forster
48. Charley Varrick (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (11,660 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (3,148 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (24 reviews)
- Directed by: Don Siegel
47. The Impossible (2012)
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (226,654 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (49,422 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (202 reviews)
- Directed by: J.A. Bayona
46. Blue Jay (2016)
Source: Courtesy of The Orchard
Source: Courtesy of The Orchard
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (16,105 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (2,427 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (32 reviews)
- Directed by: Alex Lehmann
45. John Wick (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (576,949 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (84,099 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (219 reviews)
- Directed by: Chad Stahelski and David Leitch
44. Shazam! (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (294,658 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (17,897 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (412 reviews)
- Directed by: David F. Sandberg
43. The White Tiger (2021)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (54,128 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (1,016 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (170 reviews)
- Directed by: Ramin Bahrani
42. The Night Comes for Us (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (23,843 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (984 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (33 reviews)
- Directed by: Timo Tjahjanto
41. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019)
Source: Courtesy of StudioCanal
Source: Courtesy of StudioCanal
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (12,504 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (358 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (78 reviews)
- Directed by: Will Becher and Richard Phelan
40. Joker (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,067,897 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (66,339 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 68% (587 reviews)
- Directed by: Todd Phillips
39. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (70,612 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (133,584 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: Jon Avnet
38. It (2017)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (488,616 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (67,821 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (386 reviews)
- Directed by: Andy Muschietti
37. The Suicide Squad (2021)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (331,485 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (2,500 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (369 reviews)
- Directed by: James Gunn
36. Roma (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (148,393 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (5,701 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (400 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
35. The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films
Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (81,225 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (79,097 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (154 reviews)
- Directed by: Noah Baumbach
34. V for Vendetta (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (1,066,529 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (904,466 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (256 reviews)
- Directed by: James McTeigue
33. Elvis (2022)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (162,797 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (10,000 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (364 reviews)
- Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
32. Good Time (2017)
Source: Courtesy of A24
Source: Courtesy of A24
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (104,096 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (9,424 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (238 reviews)
- Directed by: Josh and Benny Safdie
31. Jackie Brown (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (330,948 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (215,508 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (84 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
30. Paddington (2014)
Source: Courtesy of TWC-Dimension
Source: Courtesy of TWC-Dimension
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (105,218 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (50,357 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (163 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul King
29. Wonder Woman (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (611,008 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (135,481 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (470 reviews)
- Directed by: Patty Jenkins
28. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (472,231 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (313,001 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (293 reviews)
- Directed by: J.J. Abrams
27. Prisoners (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (637,815 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (108,697 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (253 reviews)
- Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
26. Love and Monsters (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (107,648 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (54 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (107 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Matthews
25. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (96,804 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (4,835 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (70 reviews)
- Directed by: Susan Johnson
24. Living (2022)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (24,811 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (773 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (221 reviews)
- Directed by: Oliver Hermanus
23. The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (47,868 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (20,768 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (24 reviews)
- Directed by: J. Lee Thompson
22. Gravity (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (791,410 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (303,360 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (356 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
21. High Plains Drifter (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (52,462 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (35,967 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (29 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
20. Mudbound (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Film & TV House
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Film & TV House
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (46,035 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (5,906 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (200 reviews)
- Directed by: Dee Rees
19. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (680,767 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (260,715 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (260 reviews)
- Directed by: David O. Russell
18. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (179,508 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (2,455 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (331 reviews)
- Directed by: Aaron Sorkin
17. Warrior (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (450,064 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (59,533 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (192 reviews)
- Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
16. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (316,987 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (188,724 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (188 reviews)
- Directed by: Dean DeBlois
15. Marriage Story (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (272,813 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (184 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (391 reviews)
- Directed by: Noah Baumbach
14. Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (61,771 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (113 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (232 reviews)
- Directed by: Craig Brewer
13. Rush (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (482,996 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (79,330 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (235 reviews)
- Directed by: Ron Howard
12. The Farewell (2019)
Source: Courtesy of A24
Source: Courtesy of A24
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (57,395 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (2,490 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (343 reviews)
- Directed by: Lulu Wang
11. Apollo 13 (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (298,490 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (433,114 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (93 reviews)
- Directed by: Ron Howard
10. Jurassic Park (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (909,321 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1,071,829 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (130 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
9. Stand by Me (1986)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (380,190 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (270,467 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (57 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob Reiner
8. RRR (2022)
Source: Courtesy of Phars Film
Source: Courtesy of Phars Film
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (154,757 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (909 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (100 reviews)
- Directed by: S.S. Rajamouli
7. Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (132,951 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (144,364 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (70 reviews)
- Directed by: John Singleton
6. Life of Brian (1979)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (412,500 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (259,144 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (70 reviews)
- Directed by: Terry Jones
5. Klaus (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (119,752 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (2,481 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (70 reviews)
- Directed by: Sergio Pablos
4. The Sting (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (250,672 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (61,793 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (63 reviews)
- Directed by: George Roy Hill
3. Whiplash (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (763,755 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (70,602 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (297 reviews)
- Directed by: Damien Chazelle
2. L.A. Confidential (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (551,824 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (150,890 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (115 reviews)
- Directed by: Curtis Hanson
1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (954,220 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (279,963 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (83 reviews)
- Directed by: Miloš Forman