Netflix has plenty of great films to watch, if you know where to look. I’m here to put an end to your doomscroll and recommend five movies that I’ve watched and rate highly.
This week’s picks include a murder mystery, a Carrey comedy, and a beloved blockbuster. Even if you only have time to see one this week, you’re bound to enjoy it.
5
The Thursday Murder Club
The Thursday Murder Club is based on the first novel in a popular murder mystery book series by Richard Osman; Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin bought the film rights before it was even published. Five years later, the Chris Columbus-directed movie has arrived, and the result is precisely what you would expect from the two entertainment giants: well-cast, amusing, and cozy. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s charming and fun.
The story is set in the fictional Coopers Chase, a retirement community that is home to seniors Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Joyce (Celia Imrie), and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley). All four actors are clearly having a good time and spending a few hours in their company is a pleasure. Together, the characters form the eponymous club, where they spend an afternoon each week solving cold cases. When their home comes under threat and someone they know is murdered, their skills become even more vital.
4
Edge of Tomorrow
Tom Cruise has been in the action star phase of his career for a long time now, but that’s hardly a problem when he’s so good at it. Edge of Tomorrow, directed by Doug Liman, might be one of Cruise’s best. It’s set on an Earth that has been invaded by aliens, with a global military created to wipe them out. Cruise stars as Major William Cage, a man who has no combat experience but is sent into battle. He quickly dies but wakes up to find himself stuck in a time loop.
Through each loop, Cage hones his abilities, working alongside Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). Both Cruise and Blunt are excellent—not only believable in the fast-paced battle sequences, but also in how they ground their characters and make them easy to root for. I was concerned that the premise could lead to the movie feeling repetitious and boring, but it’s far from it. Edge of Tomorrow is completely thrilling from beginning to end.
3
Liar Liar
While I get a kick from seeing Jim Carrey ham it up as Dr. Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog films, it’s a shame he doesn’t put his comedic talents to use elsewhere anymore. Nevertheless, his great streak during the 90s and 00s isn’t going anywhere. One of the standouts from that period is Liar Liar, in which Carrey plays a lawyer named Fletcher who suddenly finds he’s unable to lie after his son wishes it for his birthday.
Considering Fletcher has a tendency to skirt the truth, which led to the breakdown of his marriage to Audrey (Maura Tierney), the consequences prove drastic—and hilarious. It’s made especially worse because he has an important court case to handle. Carrey is a master of physical comedy and he’s in full flow here, elevating the relatively simple story to great heights. No matter how many times I watch Liar Liar, I never tire of it.
2
Limitless
According to Limitless (which is new to Netflix this month), we only have access to 20% of our brain’s power. It’s nonsense in reality, but roll with it. Bradley Cooper plays Eddie Morra, a down-on-his-luck author living in New York who finds his life transformed when he’s given a drug that unlocks his full potential. He wins back his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish), finishes his book, and picks up new skills with ease.
So far, so peachy. However, with his drug supply running out, the situation turns sour as people end up dead and Eddie begins experiencing time skips in which he has no memory of the previous days. Cooper is great in the lead role, and it’s always good to see Robert De Niro, here playing a wealthy businessman. Limitless also stylishly visualizes Eddie’s new-found abilities (and side effects). Overall, it’s a lively and engaging watch.
Is there such a thing as a flawless film? If there is, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is certainly deserving of the status. Despite premiering over four decades ago, Spielberg’s science fiction flick remains every bit as engrossing, delightful, and moving as ever. The story of a young boy, Elliott (Henry Thomas), befriending a curious alien that he discovers in his shed is lovely—it’s sure to impact you no matter your age.
E.T. is worth watching for its iconic shots and quotes alone. If you’ve somehow never seen the movie, you’ll be amazed by how much of it is still part of our culture. The moment where Elliott flies in the sky on his bike, with the friendly alien in the basket and the large moon illuminated behind them, is utterly magical. Then there’s E.T.’s insistence that he must “phone home”, a phrase that you’ll only ever hear in his voice thereafter.
Do you remember a time before Netflix? Media consumption was very different then. But it’s also changed a lot since the dawn of streaming services. Netflix is no longer the one-stop shop it once was because other companies wanted a piece of the pie. Despite that, it still plays host to a great selection of movies, both original productions and licensed titles.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stream all of these great movies, along with plenty more original and licensed programming, with a Netflix subscription.