Spooky season is here, and the best streaming services are serving up plenty of treats by way of must-watch movies. But when you’re spoiled for choice, narrowing down what to watch next can quickly exactly the kind of headache you don’t need to put a damper on your weekend.
Whenever I can’t decide what to watch, I make a beeline for the Netflix top 10 to cut through the noise quickly. Of course, you’re bound to find some over-hyped duds alongside the gems. That’s why, each week, I comb through Netflix’s ranking of the most-watched movies on its platform to highlight which ones actually deserve a spot on your watchlist.
This week, that includes the earworm-filled hit of the summer from the animation team behind the “Spider-Verse” films, a vigilante thriller starring Gerard Butler that critics got wrong, and a nostalgia-filled martial arts drama that’ll take you back to simpler times.
Not feeling any of these picks? For even more streaming recommendations, be sure to check out our guide to everything new on Netflix this month. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the three must-watch movies in Netflix’s top 10.
This article is based on Netflix’s top 10 movies list in the U.S. as of 11:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 5.
Best movies in the Netflix top 10
‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (2025)
Watch On
“Karate Kid: Legends” honestly didn’t deserve as much hate as it got from critics. Sure, it’s no capital “C” cinema, but neither were the original “Karate Kid” movies. Sometimes you just want a breezy watch, a feel-good story that restores your faith in underdogs. Throw in a classic training montage or two and some popcorn, and you’ve got yourself a fun way to spend a few hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
The sixth entry in the “Karate Kid” franchise wears its nostalgia proudly on its sleeve, with Ben Wang taking center stage this time as Li Fong, a kung fu prodigy who moves to the Big Apple with his mother to attend an elite school. A local pizza shop owner (Joshua Jackson) and his daughter (Sadie Stanley) help pull him out of his shell, but when the shop threatens to close, he’ll have to win a local karate competition to save the day. To stand a chance against the reigning champ, he’ll need some guidance from two legendary mentors: Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).
Watch it now on Netflix
‘Law Abiding Citizen’ (2009)
Watch On
Speaking of movies that got a bad rap, Gerard Butler is once again in the Netflix top 10 with another pulse-pounding thriller, “Law Abiding Citizen.” It’s the latest critically panned movie to finally find its audience on the streamer, following in the footsteps of summer debuts like “Kandahar” and “Plane.”
Butler stars as a former CIA agent whose life is shattered when his wife and daughter are killed in a home invasion. When the killer’s prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) gets him off scot-free with a plea deal, he gets justice with his fists. It may be your cookie-cutter “buff white guy takes matters into his own hands” storyline, but its 75% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter suggests audiences are just fine with that.
Watch it now on Netflix
‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ (2025)
Watch On
Netflix’s biggest hit of the summer, “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” has regained its throne at the top of the streaming charts. And yes, I am still shouting from the rooftops about how great this movie is. I’m not a K-pop fan by any means, and I had an absolute blast with this one. I even caught the sing-along version in theaters to seal the Honmoon together with friends.
This bubble-gum pop animated adventure follows chart-topping idols Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) — a hit K-pop trio who are actually the latest in a long line of demon hunters whose harmony shields the world from supernatural evils. Their biggest challenge yet comes when a rival boy band turns out to be demons in disguise. With the souls of their fans on the line, the trio gears up to slay the day, but victory will mean conquering their own inner demons first.
Watch it now on Netflix
Netflix top 10 movies right now
1. “K-Pop Demon Hunters” (2025)
2. “Dog-Man” (2025)
3. “About My Father” (2023)
4. “Ruth & Boaz” (2025)
5. “Karate Kid: Legends” (2025)
6. “The Mask” (1994)
7. “K-Pop Demon Hunters: Sing-Along” (2025)
8. “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (2012)
9. “Alice” (2022)
10. “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009)
Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.