The Netflix film library is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get. That’s truer now than ever before, as the streaming giant continues to add new titles from every genre to its ever-expanding platform. Before you get too excited about that “Forrest Gump” quote, though, we should inform you that the 1994 Tom Hanks movie is not currently streaming on Netflix. But trust us when we say you still have tons of other classics to choose from.
To determine the best movies to watch on Netflix this April, 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 April 2022, 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, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood, and directorial credits are from IMDb.)
Looking for one of the most profitable and controversial horror flicks of all time? It goes by the name of “The Exorcist” and it once had audience members fainting in their seats. Catch it streaming on Netflix and you might be surprised to discover that it still packs quite the punch. Afterwards, you might want to come down with a beloved family comedy like “Shrek” or “How to Train Your Dragon,” both of which are available. (On Netflix and otherwise, these are the best comedy movies available to stream right now.)
Click here to see the best movies to stream on Netflix this month
Also streaming are two of the highest-rated films in IMDb history. One is “The Shawshank Redemption” and it sits atop the website’s list of the Top 250 Movies. Just two spots down is “The Dark Knight,” the game-changing superhero film from Christopher Nolan. You can watch both titles this month on Netflix along with other critical and commercial darlings like “Django Unchained,” “Stand By Me,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Inception,” and “The Social Network.” It’s all just a few clicks away. (Netflix offers more than movies, of course. These are the 50 best Netflix original series.)
50. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (96,804 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (4,835 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (70 reviews)
> Directed by: Susan Johnson
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49. The Exorcist (1973)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (376,295 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (420,561 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: William Friedkin
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48. Lady Bird (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (260,681 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (22,988 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (398 reviews)
> Directed by: Greta Gerwig
47. Dunkirk (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (595,440 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (69,228 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (461 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
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46. Snatch (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (811,774 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (394,711 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (142 reviews)
> Directed by: Guy Ritchie
45. The Town (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (367,843 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (142,333 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Affleck
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44. The Florida Project (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (103,567 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (13,520 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (314 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Baker
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43. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (216,821 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (415,796 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (54 reviews)
> Directed by: Wes Craven
42. Midnight in Paris (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (402,967 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (82,703 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (224 reviews)
> Directed by: Woody Allen
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41. Wind River (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (223,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (29,613 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (253 reviews)
> Directed by: Taylor Sheridan
40. Donnie Brasco (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (291,291 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (204,292 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (56 reviews)
> Directed by: Mike Newell
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39. Into the Wild (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (594,510 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (179,594 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (200 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Penn
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38. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (108,146 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (56,616 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (64 reviews)
> Directed by: Arthur Penn
37. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (680,767 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (260,715 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (260 reviews)
> Directed by: David O. Russell
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36. Awakenings (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (132,710 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (55,236 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (34 reviews)
> Directed by: Penny Marshall
35. True Grit (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (323,355 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (158,421 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (275 reviews)
> Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
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34. Moneyball (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (391,423 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (92,018 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (267 reviews)
> Directed by: Bennett Miller
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33. Léon: The Professional (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,081,769 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (274,510 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: Luc Besson
32. Her (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (567,662 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (101,810 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: Spike Jonze
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31. Warrior (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (450,064 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (59,533 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (192 reviews)
> Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
30. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (158,141 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (2,455 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (331 reviews)
> Directed by: Aaron Sorkin
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29. Shrek (2001)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (638,681 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1,378,744 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (208 reviews)
> Directed by: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
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28. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (316,987 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (188,724 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (188 reviews)
> Directed by: Dean DeBlois
27. Marriage Story (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (272,813 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (184 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (391 reviews)
> Directed by: Noah Baumbach
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26. Rush (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (452,579 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (79,330 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Ron Howard
25. The Social Network (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (654,350 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (204,423 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (329 reviews)
> Directed by: David Fincher
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24. The Irishman (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (351,546 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (1,057 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (453 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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23. Hell or High Water (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (214,372 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (40,252 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: David Mackenzie
22. Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (57,480 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (113 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (232 reviews)
> Directed by: Craig Brewer
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21. The Green Mile (1999)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,204,006 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (814,054 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (134 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Darabont
20. The Imitation Game (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (717,585 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (104,116 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (285 reviews)
> Directed by: Morten Tyldum
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19. Beasts of No Nation (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (77,493 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (8,145 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (143 reviews)
> Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga
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18. Batman Begins (2005)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (1,360,431 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,115,836 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (288 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
17. The Artist (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (235,905 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (58,691 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (320 reviews)
> Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius
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16. Argo (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (590,474 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (208,987 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (359 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Affleck
15. Blade Runner (1982)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (721,985 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (338,132 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (121 reviews)
> Directed by: Ridley Scott
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14. My Fair Lady (1964)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (90,701 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (187,112 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (61 reviews)
> Directed by: George Cukor
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13. Casino Royale (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (601,654 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (703,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (259 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Campbell
12. Django Unchained (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,427,183 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (429,752 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (291 reviews)
> Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
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11. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (616,488 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1,922,847 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (269 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Greengrass
10. Stand by Me (1986)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (380,190 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (270,467 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (57 reviews)
> Directed by: Rob Reiner
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9. Dangal (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (171,447 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (2,333 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (17 reviews)
> Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari
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8. Inception (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (2,171,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (571,783 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (361 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
7. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (701,608 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (324,778 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
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6. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (693,881 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (312,983 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (212 reviews)
> Directed by: Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders
5. Taxi Driver (1976)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (761,825 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (260,919 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (94 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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4. Klaus (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (119,752 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (2,481 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (70 reviews)
> Directed by: Sergio Pablos
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3. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,292,307 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (993,591 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (143 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Spielberg
2. The Dark Knight (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 9/10 (2,419,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,831,566 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (345 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
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1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 9.3/10 (2,465,102 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (887,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (77 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Darabont
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