34 Best Movies On Netflix Australia Right Now

Director: Juel Taylor
Starring: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Released: 2023
IMDB Rating: 6.7

A Hustler, a Pimp and a Pro walk into a conspiracy…

Directed by Juel Taylor (Creed II), They Cloned Tyrone is one of the best new movies on Netflix. It follows an unlikely trio of characters as they delve deeper into a nefarious government conspiracy theory that leads them to devise an elaborate plan to infiltrate a secret government base that’s hidden underneath their neighbourhood.

Released on the same day as the pop culture event of Barbenheimer, They Cloned Tyrone had a lot to compete with on opening day; but with powerful performances from John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris, this Netflix movie is a hilarious new comedy that, really, you should have all streamed already.

Director: Sam Hargave
Starring: Chris Hemsworth
Genre: Action, Thriller
Released: 2023
IMDB Rating: 7

Tasked with extracting a family who is at the mercy of a Georgian gangster, Tyler Rake infiltrates one of the world’s deadliest prisons in order to save them. But when the extraction gets hot, and the gangster dies in the heat of battle, his equally ruthless brother tracks down Rake and his team to Sydney, in order to get revenge.

One of Australia’s favourite tough guys, Chris Hemsworth returns with Extraction 2, an action-packed sequel to the celebrated Netflix Original movie. Within a few days of its release, the film had the biggest opening weekend for a Netflix movie in 2023 and earned the new record as the first Netflix franchise to have two movies sitting in the Top 10 at the same time.

Director: David Fincher
Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: 2020
IMDB Rating: 6.8

The first movie released on Netflix by iconic director David Fincher, Mank, is the true story of a lost era of old Hollywood, following a revered screenwriter known by everyone as “Mank”, as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane.

Starring Gary Oldman in the titular role, Mank earned the most Oscar nominations in 2021 with 10, winning Oscars for Best Production Design and Cinematography. And before Fincher’s highly-anticipated second title, The Killer, starts streaming on Netflix, Mank should keep you ticking over with Fincher’s signature dark and mysterious lens.

Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz
Genre: Action, Crime
Released: 2022
IMDB Rating: 7.8

Robert Pattinson (Tenet, Water For Elephants) brings a darker nuance to the infamous caped crusader, starring in the titular role as Bruce Wayne aka Batman.

Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell star alongside Pattinson in an all-star cast for Matt Reeves’ superhero flick, but don’t expect the comic book style you’ve seen before.

The Batman is a dark and moody crime thriller closer to Se7en than it is The Avengers, as Wayne chases down The Riddler; a serial killer who live-streams his murders of Gotham City’s elite citizens.

Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen, Sean Bean, Liv Tyler
Genre: Adventure
Released: 2001-2003
IMDB Rating: 8.8-9

I’m struggling to think of a better trilogy in cinema history than Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. Sure, there’s good trilogies knocking around – The Dark Knight, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, The Godfather – but none that have three epic movies that are equally as good as the others… looking at you Part III.

Recently re-released onto Netflix on the 20th anniversary of The Return of the King, LOTR, starring Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom, is a classic good v evil, cinematic masterpiece that follows two unassuming hobbits as they attempt to destroy the One Ring of Power and save Middle Earth from Lord Sauron.

Each one of The Lord of the Rings is a triumph in its own right; it’s one of the only film series – if not the only film series – that I’ve watched back-to-back in a movie marathon from start to finish. I’m not saying binge them, although you can, but it’s certainly worth a leisurely re-watch when you have a spare three hours.

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Released: 2014
IMDB Rating: 7.2

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) believes he has put his career as a U.S. Marine behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life in Boston. But when he befriends Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenage girl forced into prostitution by members of the ultra-violent Russian mafia, his retirement is cut abruptly short.

Denzel Washington reunites with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua as The Equalizer, a trained vigilante with a lifetime of serving sweet vengeance to anyone who preys on the defenceless. With the highly-anticipated 3rd instalment released this year, now is the best time to revisit this classic Denzel thriller.

Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Released: 2006
IMDB Rating: 8.5

Before Oppenheimer, Inception or Interstellar, Christopher Nolan was first introducing his now iconic craft through one of his earliest works, The Prestige.

A masterful thriller, The Prestige is an interconnected web of narratives and moving timelines that follows the mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy, full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.

Starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as two feuding magicians trying to perfect a teleportation trick in Victorian London and a supporting cast that boasts Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Andy Serkis, and even David Bowie as Nikola Tesla, The Prestige sits as one of Nolan’s most underrated films.

Director: Peter Farrelly
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 8.2

In 1962, back in the era of segregation in America’s Deep South, a working-class bouncer (Viggo Mortensen) takes a job driving a world-class African-American pianist Dr. Donald Shirley (Mahershala Ali) through the Southern states on a concert tour.

Green Book is the Oscar-winning true story that explores a stained era of American history, where below the Mason-Dixon line, African-Americans were forced to find alternative accommodation to their white neighbours, relying only on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.

Director: Edward Berger
Starring: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Bruhl
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Released: 2022
IMDB Rating: 8.1

Directed by Edward Berger, the First World War set All Quiet on the Western Front tells the story of a 17-year-old soldier (Felix Kammerer) whose romantic view of war is shattered when he is thrust onto the frontlines and witnesses firsthand the brutality of man.

Nominated for nine Oscars, this latest adaptation of Ericha Maria Remarque’s influential novel of the same name is an emotionally and viscerally powerful antiwar movie of impeccable craft, the scenes of trench warfare a harrowing experience of sound and fury that is matched by an emotional core that haunts long after the end credits role.

It’s certainly one of the best new movies on Netflix in 2023.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio
Genre: Crime, Drama
Released: 2002
IMDB Rating: 8.1

Suspenseful, clever, and with some light comedy thrown in for good measure, Catch Me If You Can centres around the very true story of Frank Abagnale Jr; a 17-year-old con man who managed to pass millions of dollars through forged checks.

The film has a cat-and-mouse feel to it as FBI agent Carl Hanratty, played by Hanks, tries to track down and arrest Abagnale Jr, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who relishes the chase.

Well-written and with impeccable acting Catch Me If You Can remains one of the best movies on Netflix Australia.

Director: J.D. Dillard
Starring: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson
Genre: Biography, War
Released: 2022
IMDB Rating: 6.6

Based on true events, Devotion tells the story of Ensign Jesse Brown, the first African-American Naval aviator to see combat, and his wingman Lieutenant Tom Hudner who witnessed firsthand Brown’s heroics during the Korean War.

Starring two of the best up-and-coming actors Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell in standout performances, Devotion succeeds as both an action-packed war movie and a powerful biopic that honours a real-life war hero in a film that is both entertaining and illuminating.

Director: Jeff Tremaine
Starring: Douglas Booth, Colson Baker, Iwan Rheon
Genre: Biography, Music
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7

Based on the notorious biography of legendary hard rock band Motley Crüe, The Dirt chronicles the rise of the Los Angeles-based rockers from the Sunset Strip of the early ‘80s to playing stadiums around the world, and every drug-fuelled moment of excess in between.

Those who know about the storied exploits of Motley Crüe – who feature among their ranks Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx – can expect much in the way of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, in a biopic that leaves little to the imagination in its portrayal of the excess fuelled highs and tragic lows from America’s sleaziest rock band.

Director: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Wesley Snipes
Genre: Biography, Comedy
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.2

Rudy Ray Moore may not be a well-known name to mainstream audiences, yet his impact on comedy, independent film, and hip-hop was monumental. Dolemite is My Name, the Netflix-produced biopic, chronicled Moore’s career from struggling artist to comedy superstar with the release of blaxploitation classic Dolemite, which Moore produced and starred in.

Eddie Murphy delivers one of his best performances as Moore, portraying the energetic ambition of the always-hustling entrepreneur, not to mention the curse-laden and rhythmic comic stylings that led Moore to be labelled “the godfather of rap”. Fine supporting turns by Wesley Snipes and Keegan-Michael Key, along with Craig Brewer’s assured direction, results in Dolemite is My Name as a biopic of big laughs and lively spirit.

Director: Vince Gilligan
Starring: Aaron Paul, Jonathan Banks, Matt Jones
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.3

El Camino follows on from the events of the iconic and popular television series Breaking Bad. The film illuminates what happened to Jesse after the final episode and was written & directed by Breaking Bad’s creator, Vince Gilligan.

El Camino is engaging, well-acted and works as a perfect epilogue to Breaking Bad; although the film is also enjoyable for those who haven’t seen Breaking Bad.

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Richard Roxburgh
Genre: Biopic, Music
Released: 2022
IMDB Rating: 7.3

Elvis delivers as an emotional and exhilarating biopic that delves into the legend, the music, and the man that was Elvis Presley, which director Baz Luhrmann delivers with hip-shaking bombast.

Told through the perspective of Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) – the notorious manager of Presley who was loathed by many Elvis fans for his tight-gripped control of the superstar – Elvis portrays both the mythos and the humanity of The King of Rock n’ Roll.

Best of all is the performance by Austin Butler, who becomes Elvis Presley in body and spirit, commanding the screen with a primal raw superstardom that comes across once a generation.

Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, Henry Golding & Hugh Grant
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Released: 2020
IMDB Rating: 7.8

Mickey Pearson is a rich man thanks to the impressive marijuana empire that he runs in London. However, when he tries to sell his highly profitable business, word gets out and multiple shady characters try to steal his domain through bribery and blackmail.

The film is very ‘Guy Ritchie’ – British gangsters and an intricate plot – so, if you’re a fan of Ritchie, The Gentleman is definitely a film on Netflix you’re going to enjoy.

Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix
Genre: Action, Drama
Released: 2000
IMDB Rating: 8.5

There are good movies on Netflix; there are even new movies on Netflix. But Ridley Scott’s epic is the best movie on Netflix right now. From its expert storytelling and world building, to classic themes of good vs. evil and a hero’s quest to rise above adversity, Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator will forever live in the upper echelons of cinematic history.

Russell Crowe stars in the leading role of Maximus, a former Roman General who is forced into slavery by the villianous Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, after his father, the late Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius elects Maximus as his sole heir.

Gladiator was an instant hit and won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor… not a bad haul.

Director: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, Kathy Bates
Genre: Biography, Crime
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 6.9

Starring the formidable duo of Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson, The Highwaymen tells the true story of former Texas Rangers Frank Hamer and Maney Gault, who in the 1930s are tasked with tracking down and arresting notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde.

The Highwaymen has a throwback swagger in its story of old-school justice dispensed against a deadly class of criminals adored by the public. Costner and Harrelson have great chemistry as the aging lawmen who despair at the changing nature of the world, while director John Lee Hancock provides strong direction in one of the top movies on Netflic right now.

Director: Jeremiah Zagar
Starring: Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangomez
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Released: 2022
IMDB Rating: 7.3

Hustle follows Sandler’s character, Stanley Sugerman – a pro basketball scout who gets fired. However, after seeing Bo Cruz, a Spanish amateur baller, play, Stanley makes it his mission to get Bo into the NBA.

The plot is simple but compelling, especially for those who love basketball and was considered by many film-lovers to be one of the best movies on Netflix in 2022.

Plus, Sandler’s performance is next-level; many believe the actor should be nominated for an Oscar because of his performance in Hustle.

Director: Bryan Fogel
Starring: Bryan Fogel, Grigory Rodchenkov
Genre: Documentary, Sport
Released: 2017
IMDB Rating: 7.9

A ground-breaking documentary that led to real-world implications in the sports world, Icarus tells the story of Russian scientist and whistle-blower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of Russia’s national anti-doping laboratory, who was involved in a state-run doping program that led to Russia winning 30 Olympic medals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Earning Netflix its first Oscar with a win for Best Documentary in 2018, Icarus also led to the partial eight-year ban of Russia from international competition. Gripping documentary filmmaking at its finest, Icarus brings a real-life conspiracy to the masses with engrossing, courageous insight.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
Genre: Crime, History
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.8

A long-time passion project for director Martin Scorsese, The Irishman stars Robert De Niro in the alleged true story of Frank Sheeran, a hitman for the Italian-American Mafia and self-confessed killer of labour union leader Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino in his first film with Scorsese.

Also starring Joe Pesci and Harvey Keitel, The Irishman is something of a gangster movie paradise, and with such a stacked cast and a story set across several decades, needed was an epic three-and-a-half-hour runtime to do it justice. The result is an epic crime movie filled with terrific performances and state-of-the-art filmmaking.

Director: Chad Stahleski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Willem Dafoe, Michael Nyqvist
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Released: 2014
IMDB Rating: 7.4

A legendary assassin, named John Wick, comes out of retirement when his dog — a gift from his late wife — is killed by a mobster. One of the best and, to be honest, more original action movies to be released in recent years, John Wick is filled with violence. But unlike most films that focus on hitmen and mobsters, it’s not just bloody gore with no substance or plot. The characters in this film are nuanced and three-dimensional; especially John Wick himself, thanks to both excellent writing and Keanu Reeves’ flawless performance.

With some seriously sublime fight scene choreography and a clever story, John Wick is one of the best movies on Netflix right now. Better still, you can also watch the second and third John Wick movies on Netflix, to prepare yourself for John Wick: Chapter 4.

Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 8.4

This gritty and grounded film explores the origin story behind Batman’s most famous nemesis, the Joker. With an Oscar-winning performance from Phoenix, stunning cinematography and a plot that leaves you feeling conflicted – the Joker does terrible things near the end of the film but you can kind of empathize with why he does them – this is one hell of a film.

If you’re a fan of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, you’ll love Joker.

Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana De Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Toni Collette
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.9

The only way to describe Knives Out is clever. Within the first ten minutes, you’ll think you’ve figured the whole murder mystery out, even before Daniel Craig’s character Benoit Blanc. But then the rug is pulled out from under you and you’ll be so engrossed in this witty comedy trying to figure out the puzzle. Enjoyable, compelling and refreshingly original – plus every member of the stellar ensemble cast is on their A-game acting-wise – makes Knives Out one of the best movies on Netflix Australia.

Knives Out is arguably better written than an Agatha Christie novel and is a movie you have to see at least once before you die.

And, while Knives Out will have no relation with the sequel Knives Out 2 – which we expect to be released later in 2022 – it will see Daniel Craig reprise his role to solve an entirely new mystery.

Director: Noah Baumbach
Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern
Genre: Drama
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.9

Marriage Story focuses on the severing of a modern marriage, comprised of renowned theatre director Charlie (Adam Driver) and his leading lady wife Nicole (Scarlett Johansson). When Nicole wants to reignite her once promising Hollywood career, it causes friction in her relationship with Charlie, that quickly escalates into divorce proceedings and custody over their 10-year-old son Henry (Azhy Robertson.)

Marriage Story is supposedly based on director Noah Baumbach’s own divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Baumbach lays it all on the line here: the failures, the frailties, the ego, and the heartbreak. Driver and Johansson are fantastic in the film, digging deep into their respective emotional reservoirs in their portrayal of a couple enduring an incredibly painful process, scoring Oscar nominations in the process.

Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Released: 2011
IMDB Rating: 7.6

Moneyball follows the Oakland Athletics baseball team’s 2002 season and how their general manager Billy Beane attempted to assemble a competitive team based on statistics. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and is critically acclaimed for its story, direction and acting; particularly the performances of Pitt and Hill. It’s easily one of the best movies to stream on Netflix Australia.

If you liked The Big Short, The Blind Side or Ford v Ferrari, you’ll love Moneyball.

Director: Ben Nicholas, David Tryhorn
Starring: Pelé, Gilberto Gil, Mario Zagallo
Genre: Documentary, Sport
Released: 2021
IMDB Rating: 7

This biographical documentary on Brazilian footballer Pelé focuses on the extraordinary 12-year period in which the football legend went from a young superstar in 1958 to a national hero in 1970, in which he won three World Cups.

Released a year before the death of the soccer legend, Pelé is the ultimate chronicle of one of the greatest sports superstars at the peak of his talents. Great use of archival footage and interviews (old and new) help present a fascinating insight into the man and the myth that was and is Pelé.

Director: Hanns-Bruno Kammertöns, Vanessa Nöcker, Michael Wech
Starring: Michael Schumacher, Corinna Schumacher
Genre: Documentary, Sport
Released: 2021
IMDB Rating: 7.4

Schumacher is a documentary that delves into the life and career of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, who as a driver for Ferrari dominated the F1 circuit in the early 2000s, before retiring from the sport in 2012. A tragic ski accident in 2013 resulted in a substantial brain injury and paralysis that has seen the German F1 legend withdraw from public view.

The only official documentary supported by the Schumacher family, Schumacher uses exclusive interviews and archival footage to deliver an intimate and at times heartbreaking portrait of one of the biggest names in the history of Formula 1.

Director: Tom Wright
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Jada Alberts
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Released: 2022
IMDB Rating: 6.6

The Stranger has been Netflix’s runaway success becoming one of the most-watched movies around the world. Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris go head to head in this crime thriller that retraces the steps of a missing teenager in Queensland. It’s loosely based on the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe back in 2003. This is by far one of the best Aussie films to come out in years. Get around it.

Director: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Released: 2020
IMDB Rating: 7.7

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is based on one of the most notorious trials in recent history; in Chicago in 1968, a peaceful protest at the Democratic National Convention turned violent, which led to the organisers of the event being charged with conspiracy to incite a riot by the hostile Nixon administration.

The film is an incredible courtroom drama and every single member of the cast turns in a powerful performance – especially Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen, who shines here in a rare non-comedic role.

Director: Fernando Meirelles
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Genre: Drama, History
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.6

Based on the play by Anthony McCarten, The Two Popes centres on a fictional meeting between Pope Benedict a.k.a. Cardinal Ratzinger (Anthony Hopkins), and Pope Francis a.k.a. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), after which Ratzinger announced his decision to step away from the Chair of Peter.

A biopic that is more facade than fact, The Two Popes nevertheless is a fascinating exploration into the power dynamics within the Catholic Church, and the men bequest by God to represent it. The performances are fantastic, especially by Pryce who, on top of bearing a strong resemblance to Bergoglio, expertly portrays the voice, cadence, body language, and internal moral struggle of perhaps the most recognisable man in the world.

Director: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie
Starring: Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Released: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.4

Directed by acclaimed independent filmmakers Joshua and Benjamin Safdie, Uncut Gems stars Adam Sandler as a jeweller whose gambling addiction places him deep in debt with the mafia. A big bet on a high-stakes NBA game could be his only lifeline.

Featuring what many believe to be Adam Sandler’s best performance in his storied filmography, Netflix’s Uncut Gems is an anxiety-inducing thriller that is relentless in its tension and reminds many of the high-wire character-driven thrillers from the ‘70s. A supporting performance by NBA legend Kevin Garnett as himself adds a surreal aspect to the gritty drama.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn
Genre: Sci-Fi
Released: 2018
IMDB Rating: 7.4

Before Facebook and its omnipotent overlord Mark Zuckerberg announced he’d jost regular gladiator bouts against other tech bros in the Metaverse, Steven Spielberg first introduced the unsuspecting population to the limitless potential of the online digital realm, with a peak into the future of humanity where gaming has become seamlessly integrated into our everyday lives.

It’s an interesting presentatuin of what the world might look like in some decades time, with space and resources in the real world dwindling, the majority of people spend the majority of their lives hooked up to headsets and machines that allow 360 movement, living, socialising and playing in the Oasis.

This movie became an instant favourite when it came out and is a must-watch for any gaming fans.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey
Genre: Crime, Comedy, Biography
Released: 2013
IMDB Rating: 8.2

The Wolf Of Wall Street is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, one of Wall Street’s most famous scam artists. Set in the late 80s and early 90s, the film centres around Belfort, played by DiCaprio, starting his own brokerage firm and then defrauding wealthy investors out of millions of dollars. Entertaining, raunchy, and exquisitely stylistic, there’s a reason your mates constantly bring up how good The Wolf Of Wall Street is.

If you’ve somehow never seen this movie, do so immediately; otherwise, The Wolf Of Wall Street is always a good movie choice if you’re in the mood for a re-watch. One of the best movies on Netflix, without a doubt.