The best movies on Netflix Australia: great films you can watch right now

If you're new to Netflix and want to find the best movies to watch, or you're tired of browsing the app for 30 minutes before finding something to watch, you've come to the right place. With thousands of movies at your disposal, it's easy to get stuck in binge-watching mode, but finding the honest-to-goodness best films can be a bit of a hassle.

In an effort to determine the best of the best, we've put together a list of the greatest possible films you can watch – curated by TechRadar editors and backed up with ratings from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes – so that you don't have to sift through the muck. We'll keep this best-of list up to date with the latest movies that are must-watch, so you waste zero screen time searching.

Below, you'll also find a hand-selected list of the top trending newly added movies on Netflix Australia at the moment. Here's what we think you should be watching this month. Alternatively, you could check out our larger, genre-specific lists of Netflix movies below.

The Power of the Dog

Having swept this year's Oscar nominations, The Power of the Dog sees award-winning filmmaker Jane Campion (The Piano) tell a story of a rancher (Benedict Cumberbatch) whose brother (Jesse Plemons) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and son, which inspires him to torment them out of jealousy. That is, until, the boy eventually softens his heart and opens him up to love again. Featuring stellar performances and sensitive direction, The Power of the Dog deserves all the praise it's receiving.

IMDb rating: 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Stream The Power of the Dog on Netflix right now

The Lost Daughter

Acclaimed actress Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary, The Dark Knight) makes her directorial debut with The Lost Daughter, which earned her an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay. It tells the story of a college professor (Olivia Colman) who must confront her troubled past when she befriends a woman (Dakota Johnson) and her young daughter while vacationing in Greece. A slow-burn psychological drama, The Lost Daughter asks some uncomfortable questions about parenthood that will likely strike a chord with mothers everywhere.

IMDb rating: 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Stream The Lost Daughter on Netflix right now

tick, tick...BOOM!

Is there anything Andrew Garfield can't do? In Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut, promising young theatre composer Jonathan Larson (Garfield), who would eventually become famous for his hit musical Rent, navigates love, friendship and the pressures of life as an artist in New York City on the cusp of his 30th birthday. Incidentally, tick, tick...BOOM! is actually based on the semi-autobiographical musical of the same name by Larson himself, whom Garfield plays in this one, so fans of the playwright (and musicals in general) should find lots to love here.

IMDb rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Stream tick, tick...BOOM! on Netflix right now

Don't Look Up

Writer-director Adam McKay (Anchorman, Vice) delivers a scathing satire about the world we live in, faced with the fictional situation of a world-killing meteor, and showing how we as humans would probably react to it. Much like the climate disaster we face today, the people of Don't Look Up quickly politicise the impending catastrophe, turning the fate of humanity into a battle between ideologies, rather than the immense wake-up call to work together that it should be. With everyone distracted by memes and social media grandstanding, time is running out for Earth to come up with a real solution, leading the astronomers who discovered the meteor (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) to go into full-blown panic mode.

IMDb rating: 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 55%

Stream Don't Look Up on Netflix right now

The Harder They Fall

Despite being a period-set western, The Harder They Fall drips with modern-day swag, thanks in large part to stylish direction from first-time feature filmmaker Jeymes Samuel and an all-star cast of today's coolest actors. The Harder They Fall follows Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), a gunslinger who rounds up his own posse of lawmakers to exact revenge on the man who murdered his parents (Idris Elba). He's joined by the likes of Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods), Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2), Regina King (Watchmen) and Lakeith Stanfield (Knives Out), all of which work hard to imbue this hip-hop-favoured Western with verve and energy.

IMDb rating: 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Stream The Harder They Fall on Netflix right now

Worth

A timely film given that we've just passed the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Worth tells the story of an attorney (Michael Keaton) who is faced with the unenviable task of determining how to much compensation to pay families who suffered incalculable losses on 9/11. Along the way, he learns a lesson in empathy. From the makers of the Oscar-winning film Spotlight, Worth also stars Stanley Tucci and Amy Ryan.

IMDb rating: 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

Stream Worth on Netflix right now

Blood Red Sky

What's worse than snakes on a plane? Try vampires! Blood Red Sky is a German-language horror movie that finds leukaemia patient and single mum Nadja (Peri Baumeister) and her son Elias (Carl Anton Koch) trapped on a plane that's been hijacked by terrorists. In order to make it home alive, Nadja is going to have to unleash a terrible secret that she's been hiding for years – the fact that she's a blood-sucking vampire! A gore-soaked blast, Blood Red Sky will delight horror fans.

IMDb rating: 6.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

Stream Blood Red Sky on Netflix right now

Fear Street Trilogy

If you're a fan of slasher films, you're going to love Netflix's trilogy of Fear Street movies, based on the more grown-up books from Goosebumps author R.L. Stine. The first film, Fear Street: 1994, is a throwback to the Scream-style slashers of the 90s, while Fear Street: 1978 takes things back to a more Friday the 13th/Sleepaway Camp style of slasher. Closing out the trilogy is Fear Street: 1666, which switches things up for a folk horror story inspired by the likes of The Witch. Gory and fun, we hope Netflix takes more chances with horror stories like these.

Fear Street: 1994 IMDb rating: 6.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Fear Street: 1978 IMDb rating: 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Fear Street: 1666 IMDb rating: 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Stream the Fear Street Trilogy on Netflix right now

Army of the Dead

By far one of the biggest Netflix blockbusters to date, Army of the Dead sees director Zack Snyder (Justice League, Watchmen) return to the zombie subgenre for the first time since his feature film debut, Dawn of the Dead. The film sees a group of mercenaries enter zombie infested Las Vegas in order to steal upwards of $200 million from a casino vault. Unfortunately for them, they're on a clock, as the whole city is set to be nuked in less than 32 hours. Admittedly, Army of the Dead never really manages to top its audacious opening credits sequence, however, the rest of the film is still action-packed. It also offers an interesting take on zombie mythology that's reminiscent of the White Walkers from Game of Thrones.

IMDb rating: 5.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

Stream Army of the Dead on Netflix right now

The Mitchells vs the Machines

From Phil Lord and Chris Miller, best known for their work on The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs the Machines sees a screen-obsessed family go on a road trip as a way bond, only to find themselves fighting an army of AI-powered smart robots. Featuring some of Spider-Verse's visual touches, including a mix of 2D and 3D visuals, The Mitchells vs the Machines is a funny and clever animated film that thankfully doesn't feature any talking animals for a change.

IMDb rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Stream The Mitchells vs the Machines on Netflix right now

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As tech enthusiasts, it's perhaps unsurprising that we're obsessed with science fiction here at TechRadar. From glorious space operas to mind-bending films that make you think, there's something for everyone on our list of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix Australia.

I Am Mother

A smart, slow-burn science fiction film that favours suspense over explosions, I Am Mother is more akin to the likes of Ex Machina and Moon than it is The Terminator or I, Robot. The mother in question is in fact a robot (voiced by Rose Byrne) who has been raising and preparing a young girl (Clara Rugaard) within a scientific facility since birth, with no contact with the outside world, for reasons unknown. Though the girl, referred to only as 'daughter', loves her 'mother', the arrival of an outsider (Hilary Swank) turns her world upside down with a startling revelation, forcing the girl to question her allegiance to the machine that raised her and its motives. Featuring a story that will keep you guessing, and an incredibly-convincing practical robot suit devised by Weta and performed by Luke Hawker, I Am Mother is a must-watch for sci-fi fans.

IMDB Rating: 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Watch I Am Mother on Netflix right now

Annihilation

If you've seen writer-director Alex Garland's previous sci-fi masterpiece, Ex Machina, you'll know to expect a wild ride with his follow-up, Annihilation. Based on the highly regarded novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation follows a group of women who set off on an expedition into an environmental disaster zone where the laws of nature don't apply. Natalie Portman leads the pack as a biologist searching for her missing husband, and she's joined by Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and more. Though the film has only just been released in theatres in the US, Australia is lucky enough to be one of the countries getting the film on Netflix right away. Equally brainy and terrifying, Annihilation has all the makings of a modern science fiction classic.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Interstellar

One of Christopher Nolan's most ambitious films, Interstellar imagines a future where Earth is on its way out, and humanity must venture out beyond our galaxy to find a suitable new planet to call home. Among these astronauts are Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), who must leave his children behind, despite the journey possibly lasting several decades, and Brand (Anne Hathaway), who is on a mission to track down her partner in the far reaches of space. Simultaneously thought-provoking and mind-bending, Interstellar is a true science fiction spectacle – one that rewards multiple viewings.

IMDB Rating: 8.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 71%

The Matrix

Way back in 1999, The Matrix blew audiences away with its amazing special effects, mind-bending sci-fi plot, incredible wire-fu action scenes, wonderfully era-appropriate industrial soundtrack and spectacular bullet-time camerawork. Though writer-director siblings The Wachowskis would eventually follow it up with two lacklustre sequels, nothing could diminish the story of a virtual superhero named Neo (Keanu Reeves) and his awakening from a lifelike illusion. Neo learns that our world is just a virtual construct developed by machines in order to enslave humanity and use us as batteries to keep itself alive – not the best news to wake up to, that's for sure. In the words of Keanu himself, The Matrix is one film that is guaranteed to make you say "whoa".

IMDB Rating: 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Documentaries offer unprecedented insight into the lives of real people and the extraordinary events that surround them. Fiction is great, but fact truly has the power to move and inspire people like nothing else. With that said, here are some of the best documentaries currently available to stream on Netflix Australia.

Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé

Netflix nabbed a huge exclusive when it locked down the rights to Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé – an in depth documentary showcasing the megastar's awe-inspiring performances at Coachella 2018, intercut with extensive behind-the-scenes and rehearsal footage. More than an incredibly entertaining concert film, Homecoming also acts as a rallying cry for women of colour the world over. A powerful and politically-charged statement that just happens to be filled with absolute bangers, Homecoming is surely to please Beyoncé fans.

IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Watch Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé on Netflix right now

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

It was promised to be the most high-end, luxurious island-set music festival experience known to man, with supermodels, yachts, five-star accommodation and dining all set to provide an experience unlike any other. Unfortunately, festivalgoers were in for a rude shock when they arrived at their supposed paradise, instead finding a setting that looked more like an internment camp than Club Med. Netflix's original documentary Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened tells the story of how this event unraveled, going from party of the century to Hell on Earth.

IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Watch Fyre on Netflix right now

Get Me Roger Stone

The Trump presidency has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, and has been a source of entertainment for late-night shows and comedians across the US. There are books aplenty already published on the Trump White House, yet the world is yet to meet the President-maker, “the trickster”, behind the scenes. Get Me Roger Stone is about the man who puts a Republican in the White House, using every (underhanded) technique he possibly can to get his man the top job. And he does so unashamedly. The documentary follows this self-acclaimed “agent provocateur” – reminiscent of a dapper character right out of a James Bond novel or movie – as he reveals everything he’s done during his long career, from Nixon to Trump. The documentary not only puts the subject, and his Nixon tattoo, centre-stage, it also reveals how the American democracy works in its current form.

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Amanda Knox

Following the enormous success of its original docu-series Making a Murderer, Netflix has once again returned to the ever-popular 'true crime' well with Amanda Knox. The Netflix Original documentary tells the harrowing story of an American exchange student who spent four years in an Italian prison after being convicted for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Forced to endure the prosecution's various character assassination tactics, including public slut-shaming, Knox maintains her innocence at all times, with her appeals eventually reaching Italy's Supreme Court. Amanda Knox is an effective and truly eye-opening documentary that is not to be missed.

IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

Need a good laugh? Netflix Australia is home to some terrific comedies, with a number of hilarious movies ready to stream in an instant. Some are light-hearted, while others are pitch black. With that in mind, there's a comedy for everyone below.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend

Fans of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt rejoice! The impossibly sunny character and her friends Titus, Jacqueline and Lilian are back in Netflix's new interactive special, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend! Like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch before it, the new special allows the viewer to make decisions throughout the story which could lead the character to unexpected places. Admittedly, many of the choices in Kimmy vs. the Reverend are of the pass/fail variety, meaning your story probably won't chase drastically no matter what you choose. That said, the choices do open up a large number of hilarious jokes, so it's worth trying out choices that you know will fail just for the heck out it (you'll even get some secret jokes by choosing every option). Thankfully, regardless of what you choose, you'll always have a 'do-over', meaning you won't cut the story short by making the wrong choice. Oh, and make sure you click on 'skip intro' to get an additional treat.

IMDB Rating: 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Watch Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend on Netflix right now

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Bummed about Eurovision's cancellation this year due to Covid-19? You're in luck, because Netflix's new Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams-starring comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is here to fill the void! Not the satire that many think it is, the film is glorious and sincere love letter to the world's biggest music competition. The film follows the Icelandic pub band Fire Saga which, due to unforeseen circumstances, becomes the country's only eligible submission into the Eurovision Song Contest. With a number of fantastic original songs, and cameos-galore from Eurovision's biggest stars, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga might be the most purely enjoyable crowd-pleaser that Netflix has delivered to date.

IMDB Rating: 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 64%

Watch Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga on Netflix right now

Dolemite Is My Name

For years, aspiring entertainer Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) struggled to break into show business, mostly due to the fact that he wasn't particularly good at anything. Taking inspiration from a local homeless person's hilariously filthy rhymes, Rudy takes on the persona of a foul-mouthed pimp named Dolemite, immediately becoming an underground sensation across black America. Of course, it's not enough to break into the Billboard charts with his raunchy comedy albums – Rudy's got bigger dreams, such as starring in his very own Dolemite movie! Now, Rudy and his crew gang – portrayed in the film by the likes of Keegan-Michael Key, Wesley Snipes, Omar Epps, Craig Robinson and more – set out to make a film for the people, one which has pimps, drug pushers, blood, boobs and an all-girl karate army! Based on a true story, Dolemite is My Name is a true underdog story about making your own dreams into a reality, even if you don't have any real talent to speak of! If you love movies like Ed Wood, you'll love Dolemite Is My Name.

IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Watch Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix right now

Always Be My Maybe

With the success of Crazy Rich Asians finally proving that there's indeed an audience hungry for mainstream films made from an Asian perspective, Netflix's film Always Be My Maybe has arrived at the perfect time to reinforce that truth. The film's story is universal: after growing apart years ago, two childhood friends end up back in each other's lives only to fall in love all over again. It helps that those two friends are played by none other than the hilarious comedian Ali Wong (from Netflix's standup special, Ali Wong: Baby Cobra) and the extremely charming Randall Park (Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Interview). With an amazing guest appearance from man-of-the-moment Keanu Reeves, Always Be My Maybe is one of the most enjoyable romantic comedies that Netflix has delivered to date.

IMDB Rating: 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Watch Always Be My Maybe on Netflix right now

Between Two Ferns: The Movie

Following an interview incident that leaves guest Matthew McConaughey dead, Between Two Ferns host Zach Galifianakis is sent on a quest by his boss Will Ferrell to film a whole season's worth of interviews in a single week in order to redeem himself. To do this, Zach and his crew head out on an epic road trip to interview the likes of Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Benedict Cumberbatch and more. Featuring hilariously offbeat humour and deliciously awkward interviews, Between Two Ferns is underscored by a surprisingly sweet story about friendship and loyalty. It also saves its funniest moments for the closing credits, where a number of outtakes give us a peek behind the process of filming these interview segments. Spolier alert: Zach and his guests find it very difficult to keep a straight face.

IMDB Rating: 6.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 80%

Watch Between Two Ferns: The Movie on Netflix right now

Coming to America

Perhaps the most charming and endlessly entertaining comedy of Eddie Murphy's career, Coming to America takes the standard 'fish out of water' concept and weaves pure magic with it. Unhappy with the arranged marriage set up by royal parents, Prince Akeem of the wealthy (and fictitious) African nation of Zamunda sets off for America in search of love with help from his squire, Semmi (Arsenio Hall). Before long, Akeem falls for the smart and independent Lisa (Shari Headley), heir to the McDowell's fast food restaurant empire. Insistent that he win her affections with his personality and not his wealth, Akeem and Semmi pretend to be poor and acquire jobs at McDowell's. Now, the pair must contend with Lisa's over-protective father (John Amos) and her jerk boyfriend (Eriq La Salle). Full of heart and bloody hilarious, Coming to America is a comedy classic.

IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

Need some kid-friendly entertainment that will make the whole family happy? We've selected some of the best family movies that Netflix Australia has to offer. Each one of these films is guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

How to Train Your Dragon

One of the best animated films of the last decade, How to Train Your Dragon surprised everyone with its tale of a young Viking boy who defies his village's dragon hunting ways to become the very first dragon rider. When Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) stumbles upon an injured Night Fury, the rarest and most-feared dragon in existence, he manages to befriend the creature (which he adorably names 'Toothless'), eventually teaching his family a valuable lesson in the process. Packed with incredible action and adventure, How to Train Your Dragon is a classic that can be enjoyed by both young and old.

IMDB Rating: 81%, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

The Iron Giant

Criminally overlooked by audiences upon initial release, The Iron Giant is an animated film that has steadily grown in appreciation over the years, to the point where many traditional animation purists now consider it an undisputed classic. The feature-length debut of director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), and Set during the 1950s at the height of the 'Red Scare' period of America's history, The Iron Giant tells the story of a lonely boy named Hogarth (Eli Marienthal) who makes a new best friend in an enormous amnesiac robot (Vin Diesel). The robot eventually realises that he was actually built as a weapon, and before long, the authorities find out about him and set out on a quest to destroy the gentle giant. Now the boy and his metallic friend have to protect each other at all costs. A touching film in the tradition of E.T. the Extra-terrestrial, The Iron Giant deserves to be considered as not just a terrific animated film, but as one the greatest films of the '90s, period.

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Back to the Future

A time-travelling classic from director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and producer Steven Spielberg (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Back to the Future sees 1980s teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) race back to the 1950s to ensure that his parents meet during high school and fall in love – he better succeed, because if he fails, he'll be wiped from existence in his current timeline! To do this, he'll need help from Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) – an eccentric scientist who's built a working time machine in the form of a DeLorean sports car. A fantastic fish-out-of-water tale that leans heavily on 1950s nostalgia, great performances and terrific visual effects, Back to the Future can be considered a high-watermark from everyone involved.

IMDB Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

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