Buzz
There’s no shortage of entertainment available to us today, which brings about a frustrating dilemma: so much to choose from, yet we can't decide. With endless movie options, we often end up mindlessly scrolling through huge digital collections, overwhelmed by choices, only to quit and do something mundane like washing the dishes instead.
To save you from endless scrolling and household chores, here’s a curated list of standout films to check out before you get lost in the sea of infinite streaming content on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Choose one from this refined list, and say goodbye to decision fatigue.
1. 13TH (2016)
Ava DuVernay’s powerful documentary takes an unflinching look at the American prison system, exploring it through the lens of racial injustice. It’s both eye-opening and infuriating.
Where to watch it: Netflix
2. AIRPLANE! (1980)
A hilarious spoof of disaster films, featuring Julie Hagerty, Robert Hays, Peter Graves, and Leslie Nielsen in a wild cockpit adventure. This is one you don’t want to miss.
Where to watch it: Netflix
3. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992)
Funny, touching, grand, and personal, this tale of an all-female baseball league during World War II stands as one of the finest films of modern cinema. And let’s not forget—it also taught us that there’s no crying in baseball.
Where to watch it: Hulu
4. THE BIG SICK (2017)
The surprise hit romantic comedy of 2017, starring Kumail Nanjiani as a budding comedian who falls for Emily (Zoe Kazan), a PhD student, even though his family pressures him to pursue a traditional Pakistani arranged marriage. Written by Nanjiani and his wife, Emily V. Gordon, it’s a brilliant and semi-autobiographical film. But really, no one would blame you for watching it just for Holly Hunter.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
5. A GHOST STORY (2017)
Another standout from last year’s Sundance Film Festival, this contemplative look at grief will either captivate you completely or leave you unmoved. Featuring Rooney Mara (eating pie for the first time in her life) and Casey Affleck (mostly under a sheet), it’s a polarizing but deeply rewarding journey.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
6. THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS (2016)
Inventive and explosive, this adaptation of the novel revitalizes the flagging zombie genre. Set in a post-apocalyptic Britain, a group of hybrid children, who crave human flesh yet possess the capacity to learn, are held captive by the military to develop a cure and study their behaviors. The brightest of them all, Melanie (Sennia Nanua), has plans to escape.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
7. THE GODFATHER (1972) AND THE GODFATHER II (1974)
Don’t think of it as two of the greatest films ever made—think of it as one six-and-a-half-hour saga with a quick break in between. And if you have the whole day free, let The Godfather III reel you back in.
Where to watch it: Netflix
8. THE INDIANA JONES
QUADRILOGY (1981 - 2008)
All four Indiana Jones films—from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—are available on Amazon, allowing you to spend an entire day seeking legendary artifacts while outrunning Gestapo agents. Just be cautious around snakes…
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
9. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009)
In case you missed it, Quentin Tarantino’s revenge-fueled, Nazi-slaying adventure is now streaming without the risk of dealing with old, volatile nitrate film. This is where Christoph Waltz made his iconic debut as a charismatic villain, going head-to-head with Brad Pitt’s American GI and Mélanie Laurent’s French Jewish cinema owner, all plotting to eliminate Hitler.
Where to watch it: Netflix
10. THE LOBSTER (2015)
In Yorgos Lanthimos’s absurd 2016 film, being single is punishable by law. Colin Farrell’s character, David, has 45 days to find a soulmate or face being transformed into an animal of his choice. The humor is as dry as a desert salt lick, and the dystopian setting is so bizarre, it highlights just how odd love can be.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
11. THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED) (2017)
Noah Baumbach is known for digging deep into his characters, exposing their raw emotions for us to see. In his latest film, Adam Sandler plays an unemployed divorcee who moves in with his father (Dustin Hoffman) and navigates complex relationships with his sister, half-brother, and daughter, all while dealing with a challenging diagnosis.
Where to watch it: Netflix
12. MOONLIGHT (2016)
A groundbreaking film and last year’s Best Picture winner, Barry Jenkins’s story follows Chiron (Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes) as he comes of age, grappling with the weight of his own and others’ reactions to his sexuality. It’s a moving and powerful portrait, supported by incredible performances, including an Oscar-winning turn by Mahershala Ali.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
13. MUDBOUND (2017)
It’s incredible that we can now enjoy some of the season’s top films from the comfort of our homes, and with Netflix and Amazon pushing for more original content, this will only become more common. One of the standout films of 2017 (and easily the best ensemble), Dee Rees’s masterpiece intertwines the lives of a white family and a black family in WWII-era Mississippi, blending moments of joy and sorrow.
Where to watch it: Netflix
14. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
Gather your friends and challenge them to a bet that Tim Burton didn’t direct this iconic holiday movie, in which Jack Skellington attempts to take over Santa’s role. Prepare for a delightfully eerie sing-along, and walk away with your friends’ money.
Where to watch it: Netflix
15. OKJA (2017)
If you thought a story about a young girl and her genetically-engineered super pig couldn’t make you cheer, it’s time to experience this quirky gem from Bong Joon-ho. Thought-provoking and visually stunning? That’s the spirit, super pig.
Where to watch it: Netflix
16. PADDINGTON (2014)
The follow-up to this animated favorite is now showing in theaters, delivering even more heartwarming, feel-good excitement. The original features the charming bear on a hilarious and chaotic adventure through London. Don’t forget the marmalade!
Where to watch it: Netflix
17. THE PRESTIGE (2006)
Christopher Nolan’s mesmerizing and thrilling dive into the world of stage magic and Tesla-powered wonders cleverly conceals its secrets right under our noses, all while leaving us baffled. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman star as rival illusionists locked in an intense and dangerous competition.
Where to watch it: Netflix
18. SCREAM (1996)
Wes Craven brilliantly plays on his own horror formula in this rare film that both satirizes and thrills the genre. Enjoy the slasher genius, but don’t forget the unforgettable 1990s fashion and the absence of cell phones.
Where to watch it: Hulu
19. SICARIO (2015)
In this tense crime thriller, Emily Blunt portrays an FBI agent grappling with the ethical compromises required in the pursuit of a ruthless Mexican drug kingpin. The film is a masterclass of talent, featuring Blunt, director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049), and cinematographer Roger Deakins, whose vast and distinguished career speaks for itself.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
20. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
A flawless blend of serial killer thriller, detective mystery, and horror, Jonathan Demme’s masterpiece sees Jodie Foster’s portrayal of Clarice Starling as a quiet whirlwind at the heart of this chilling tale, despite Anthony Hopkins stealing much of the spotlight. Fun fact: It was released on Valentine’s Day.
Where to watch it: Hulu
21. SUNSET BLVD. (1950)
Considered one of the finest examples of film noir, Billy Wilder’s explosive masterpiece tells the story of a once-celebrated actress (who’s anxiously awaiting her close-up, Mr. DeMille) and a struggling screenwriter whose doomed relationship with her culminates in his fate—floating in her swimming pool, heading in the wrong direction.
Where to watch it: Netflix
22. SWISS ARMY MAN (2016)
Colorful, effervescent, and wonderfully bizarre, Paul Dano stars in this musical oddity as a despondent castaway on an island who discovers a talking, farting corpse played by a very post-Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe. Together, they rescue each other and embark on a quest to return to civilization, all while delighting in the glories of Jurassic Park.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
23. THE TRUMAN SHOW (1998)
Filled with optimism and humanity, Peter Weir’s sci-fi classic stars Jim Carrey as a man who has unknowingly been the star of a reality show his entire life, surrounded by actors, except for him. Combining deep philosophical musings with the world of reality TV is no small feat, yet the film is also endlessly engaging.
Where to watch it: Netflix
24. THE WITCH (2015)
Masterfully crafted with a meticulous eye for historical detail, this chilling existential horror follows a New England farm family in the 1630s, convinced a witch has cast a curse on them. Anya Taylor-Joy delivers an unforgettable performance as she guides us through the madness involving a possessed goat and a growing sense of dread.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
25. ZODIAC (2007)
Directed by David Fincher with his signature attention to detail, this chilling film delves into the unsolved case of a series of grisly murders in the San Francisco Bay Area. It explores the darkest corners of human nature and our unyielding pursuit of justice, with standout performances from Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey, Jr., and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime
