Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (April 2026): Our Top Picks
April 10, 2026 | Film Chop
Looking for the best movies on Netflix right now? You’re in the right place. Whether you want a gripping thriller, a feel-good crowd-pleaser, or an Oscar-winning drama, Netflix has more genuinely great films than you can get through in a month. We update this list regularly to reflect what’s actually worth your time — no algorithm-padding, no filler picks.
Best Movies on Netflix April 2026: This Month’s Top Picks
April 2026 is a strong month on Netflix. The platform has quietly assembled one of the best streaming libraries it’s had in years, with a mix of acclaimed originals, recent releases, and timeless classics. Here are five films we especially recommend diving into this month.
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery — Rian Johnson’s mystery sequel is endlessly rewatchable, and even better on a second viewing when you can appreciate all the foreshadowing.
- The Irishman — If you haven’t made time for Scorsese’s three-and-a-half-hour gangster epic yet, April is the month to commit. It rewards patience.
- Marriage Story — Noah Baumbach’s divorce drama is devastating, funny, and one of Adam Driver’s finest performances.
- Extraction 2 — The action sequel delivers exactly what the first film promised, with Chris Hemsworth going full throttle in jaw-dropping set pieces.
- Roma — Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-winning masterpiece is one of the most visually stunning films of the last decade. Watch it in the dark with the sound turned up.
The Best Movies on Netflix Right Now, Ranked
Here’s our full ranking of the best movies on Netflix worth watching right now, with a breakdown of what makes each one worth your time.
1. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Rian Johnson’s follow-up to Knives Out is a sun-drenched murder mystery set on a private Greek island, with a tech billionaire (Edward Norton) gathering his inner circle for a game that turns deadly. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is at his most delightfully eccentric, and the ensemble — which includes Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista — is having the time of their lives. Glass Onion commits to the bit with rare conviction: it’s as smart as it thinks it is, and funnier than you’d expect.
2. The Irishman (2019)
Martin Scorsese reunited Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino for a late-career magnum opus about mob enforcer Frank Sheeran and his alleged role in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. At 209 minutes, The Irishman demands your full attention — and it earns every minute. It’s a film about aging, loyalty, and the quiet violence of a life lived in service of other men’s ambitions, and one of the most haunting final acts Scorsese has ever put on screen.
3. Marriage Story (2019)
Noah Baumbach’s portrait of a marriage dissolving in real time is precise, empathetic, and emotionally brutal in the best way. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver both deliver career-best performances as a couple who still love each other but can’t figure out how to stay together. The film’s centerpiece argument scene is one of the most uncomfortable and cathartic things you’ll see in a drama — the kind of scene that sticks with you for days.
4. Roma (2018)
Alfonso Cuarón’s semi-autobiographical film follows a domestic worker in 1970s Mexico City as her employer’s family unravels and political upheaval churns through the streets around her. Shot in luminous black and white by Cuarón himself, Roma is deeply quiet and deeply felt — a film that accumulates emotional weight so gradually you don’t realize how moved you are until it’s over. It won three Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography, and the praise is completely justified.
5. The Power of the Dog (2021)
Jane Campion’s slow-burn western is the most unsettling film on Netflix and one of the great psychological thrillers of recent years. Benedict Cumberbatch plays a domineering Montana rancher who systematically torments his brother’s new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her quiet son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The film holds its cards close to the chest until an ending that recontextualizes everything you’ve watched — and rewards a second viewing even more than the first.
6. Don’t Look Up (2021)
Adam McKay’s apocalyptic satire stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as two astronomers who discover a comet headed for Earth — and can’t get anyone to care. It’s broad, intentionally exhausting, and absolutely relentless in its cynicism about media, politics, and human complacency. Don’t Look Up has divided critics sharply, but for viewers who share McKay’s bleak worldview, it lands with the force of — well, a comet.
7. Extraction (2020)
Chris Hemsworth plays a black-market mercenary tasked with rescuing the kidnapped son of an Indian drug lord from the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Extraction is almost pure kinetic energy — a non-stop action showcase directed by Sam Hargrave (a former Marvel stunt coordinator) with an almost insane commitment to single-take sequences and brutal physicality. If you want action, this is one of the best pure action films Netflix has ever produced.
8. Hustle (2022)
Adam Sandler delivers one of his best straight dramatic performances as a Philadelphia 76ers scout who discovers a generational basketball talent (Juancho Hernangómez) in Spain and goes all-in on getting him to the NBA. Hustle is warm, unpretentious, and completely sincere — a sports movie that earns its crowd-pleasing moments because it actually takes the time to build the characters around them. NBA fans will love spotting the cameos; everyone else will just love the film.
9. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Sony’s wildly inventive animated film follows a chaotic family road trip that turns into humanity’s last hope during a robot uprising. It’s a genuinely funny, visually inventive comedy that works equally well for kids and adults who grew up on internet culture. The voice cast — Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, and Eric André — is perfect, and the animation style feels genuinely fresh in a genre dominated by polished sameness.
10. Bird Box (2018)
Sandra Bullock plays a woman navigating a post-apocalyptic world where supernatural entities cause anyone who sees them to immediately take their own life — meaning the survivors must navigate blindfolded. Bird Box is tense, efficiently paced, and anchored by a genuinely committed performance from Bullock. It became one of Netflix’s most-watched films ever at the time of release, and it still holds up as a solid thriller.
Best Netflix Movies by Genre
Not sure what mood you’re in? Here’s a breakdown of the best movies on Netflix by genre to help you narrow it down.
Best Netflix Action Movies
For pure adrenaline: Extraction and its sequel Extraction 2 are the gold standard for Netflix action. Both are directed with exceptional craft and anchored by Hemsworth at his most committed. If you want something bigger and glossier, The Gray Man (Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans) delivers globe-hopping blockbuster scale.
Best Netflix Thrillers and Mysteries
Glass Onion is the obvious choice, but don’t sleep on The Power of the Dog for something slower and more psychological. Fans of procedural mystery should also check out our roundup of the best psychological thriller movies of all time — several of which are streaming on Netflix right now.
Best Netflix Dramas
The Irishman, Marriage Story, and Roma form something close to a Holy Trinity of Netflix prestige drama. All three were Oscar contenders, all three are streaming in full, and all three are the kind of films that feel important to have seen.
Best Netflix Horror
Netflix has become a legitimate home for horror. Bird Box remains a crowd-pleasing starting point, but for something with more craft and ambition, explore our full guide to the best horror movies on Netflix right now — updated monthly.
Best Netflix Movies for Date Night
Marriage Story is an unusual choice for date night (bring tissues), but Hustle and Glass Onion are crowd-pleasing picks that work well for two. For more options, check out our best date night movies list — it covers Netflix and beyond.
What to Watch on Netflix Next
Finished everything on this list? Here are some Film Chop guides to keep you going:
- Best Movies on Hulu Right Now — for when you’ve exhausted Netflix and want to switch lanes
- Best Feel-Good Movies — uplifting picks across all platforms when you need a mood boost
- Best Movies of All Time — our definitive all-time ranking to help you build out your watchlist
- Best Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix — a dedicated guide for science fiction fans
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best movies on Netflix right now?
As of April 2026, our top picks are Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Irishman, Marriage Story, Roma, and The Power of the Dog. These represent the strongest mix of entertainment, critical acclaim, and rewatchability in the current Netflix library.
What new movies are coming to Netflix in April 2026?
Netflix adds new titles throughout the month. The picks highlighted in our “April 2026 Top Picks” section at the top of this article reflect what we recommend seeking out this month. Check Netflix’s “New This Month” category for the complete list of recent additions.
What is the most-watched movie on Netflix ever?
Netflix has reported that Bird Box set records for viewership in its first weeks of release. Other films like Red Notice, Don’t Look Up, and the Extraction franchise have also ranked among Netflix’s most-watched originals globally.
Does Netflix have good movies?
Yes — significantly better than its reputation sometimes suggests. Netflix has produced multiple Oscar winners (Roma, The Power of the Dog), released major theatrical titles (The Irishman, Marriage Story), and built a genuinely strong action franchise in the Extraction series. The key is knowing where to look, which is exactly what this list is for.