Navigating any streaming service on the hunt for a movie to watch can be a daunting task. With so many options, choosing the right one can be downright overwhelming.
It doesn’t seem like too long ago when Netflix was a virtual Blockbuster, with just about every hit film, and every new release, included in its library. Nowadays, however, it’s just one of many streaming services, equally known for its original series as its films. (These are the 50 best Netflix original series.)
With competitors including HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and Hulu (not to mention ad-supported streamers including Vudu and Tubi) also in the fray, Netflix remains the original and the largest one of them all, even though they famously announced that they lost 200,000 subscribers in Q1 this year, and expects to lose as many as 2 million more this quarter. That’s a relative drop in the bucket of its estimated 221.64 million global paid memberships as of March 31, however. (Speaking of other streaming platforms, here’s where to stream 50 great movies you’ve probably never seen.)
To determine the best movies to stream on Netflix this May, 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. Documentaries were not considered. Data on streaming availability, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood.
Click here to see the best movies to stream on Netflix this month
From “Paddington” to “Nightmare on Elm Street,” from “The Disaster Artist” to “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and all the way up to the No. 1 entry on this list – “Saving Private Ryan” – there’s a movie on Netflix for every mood.
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
50. Road to Perdition (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (257,017 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (188,984 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (214 reviews)
> Directed by: Sam Mendes
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
49. Big Fish (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (427,374 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (498,471 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (220 reviews)
> Directed by: Tim Burton
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
48. Roma (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (148,393 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (5,701 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (400 reviews)
> Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
47. In the Line of Fire (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (98,094 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (55,121 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (71 reviews)
> Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
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Source: Courtesy of TWC-Dimension
46. Paddington (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (105,218 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (50,357 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (163 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul King
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
45. Little Women (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (55,003 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (87,630 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (39 reviews)
> Directed by: Gillian Armstrong
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
44. Gattaca (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (290,017 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (208,849 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (64 reviews)
> Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
43. Looper (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (550,438 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (180,475 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (269 reviews)
> Directed by: Rian Johnson
Source: Courtesy of STX Entertainment
42. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (113,349 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (27,536 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (216 reviews)
> Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig
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Source: Courtesy of A24
41. The Disaster Artist (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (145,375 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (15,351 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (350 reviews)
> Directed by: James Franco
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
40. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (498,432 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (51,506 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (441 reviews)
> Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
39. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (440,178 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (119,228 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (256 reviews)
> Directed by: David Fincher
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
38. 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
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
37. Menace II Society (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (55,052 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (62,747 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (42 reviews)
> Directed by: Albert & Allen Hughes
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
36. The Exorcist (1973)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (376,295 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (420,561 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: William Friedkin
Source: Courtesy of A24
35. 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
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
34. 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
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
33. 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
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
32. 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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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
31. Dirty Harry (1971)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (149,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (76,913 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (47 reviews)
> Directed by: Don Siegel
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros./Seven Arts
30. 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
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Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
29. 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
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
28. 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
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
27. 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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Source: Courtesy of GEM Entertainment
26. Her (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (567,662 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (101,810 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: Spike Jonze
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
25. Forrest Gump (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,905,676 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,244,237 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (104 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
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Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
24. 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
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
23. 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
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
22. 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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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
21. 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
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
20. 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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Source: Courtesy of Open Road Films
19. Nightcrawler (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (495,525 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86,557 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (274 reviews)
> Directed by: Dan Gilroy
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
18. 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
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
17. 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
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Source: Courtesy of Netflix
16. 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
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
15. 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
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
14. 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
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
13. 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
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
12. Casino Royale (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (601,654 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (703,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (259 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Campbell
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Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
11. 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
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
10. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (616,488 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1,922,847 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (269 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Greengrass
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Source: Courtesy of The Ladd Company
9. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (329,016 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (75,039 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (54 reviews)
> Directed by: Sergio Leone
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
8. 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
Source: Courtesy of Filmarti
7. 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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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
6. 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
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
5. 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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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
4. 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: Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
3. 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
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
2. 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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Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
1. 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
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