Top Rated Movies Netflix

From Quentin Tarantino, starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis
Rated R

Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It tells several interrelated stories of criminals in Los Angeles. It is renowned for its eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references. The film follows the lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits who intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption. The film features John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bruce Willis in the lead roles. It is widely regarded as a classic of independent film and a cult classic.

From James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Rated R

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 sci-fi action film directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Edward Furlong. It is the sequel to the 1984 film The Terminator and the second installment in the Terminator franchise. The film follows Sarah Connor and her son John as they attempt to protect John from the cyborg assassin sent to the future to kill him. The resistance has sent back a protector, the T-800, to help the Connors. As they struggle to survive, the threat of the T-1000, a superior cyborg sent back to kill John, looms over them. In order to save mankind from the rise of machines, the Connors must stop the T-1000 and destroy the sinister artificial intelligence system Skynet. Terminator 2: Judgment Day was a huge success upon its release, grossing over $520 million at the box office and becoming the highest grossing film of 1991. It received critical acclaim for its action scenes, special effects, and acting performances. The film won four Academy Awards and remains one of the most beloved and iconic films of the 1990s.

From Roman Polanski, starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Rated R

The Pianist is a 2002 biographical drama directed by Roman Polanski. Set during World War II, the film follows the struggle of Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman as he survives the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Holocaust. After escaping a massive roundup by the Nazis, Szpilman finds himself living in the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto, and must fend for himself in order to survive. In his attempt to find food and shelter, he meets a German officer, Wilm Hosenfeld, who eventually provides him with enough sustenance to keep him alive until the end of the war. With the help of Hosenfeld, Szpilman is able to remain in hiding in a ruined house, and even continues to practice the piano. Eventually, Szpilman is discovered by Soviet troops and the film ends with his triumphant return to the concert stage. The Pianist is a powerful and heart-wrenching story of the survival of one man during one of history's darkest periods.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior
Rated R

Memento is a psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows the story of Leonard Shelby, a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia and is searching for his wife's killer. He is unable to make new memories, but uses notes and tattoos to remember his mission. Leonard meets a variety of characters along his journey as he attempts to piece together the story of his wife's murder. During his search, he discovers a complex web of secrets and lies, along with the truth about his past. The film is told in a non-linear narrative, with the events of the past and present intertwined. This allows the audience to experience Leonard's confusion and disorientation, as he attempts to make sense of his situation.

From Mel Gibson, starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen
Rated R

Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama directed by and starring Mel Gibson. It tells the story of William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish warrior who leads the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. Through his courage and leadership, Wallace rallies his countrymen to fight for their freedom. Along the way, his passion for the cause of freedom unites the Scottish people, even as he struggles with personal tragedy and betrayal. His tragic death at the end of the film serves as an inspiration to future generations. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards and grossing nearly $200 million worldwide.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Rated R

Oldboy is a South Korean psychological thriller directed by Park Chan-wook. The film follows Dae-su Oh, a businessman who is suddenly abducted and imprisoned in a mysterious hotel-like prison for 15 years without explanation. After his sudden release, Dae-su embarks on a quest to discover his captor and the motives behind his imprisonment. Along the way, he uncovers a complex conspiracy of revenge and betrayal involving himself, his captor, and a woman from his past. With the help of his newfound ally, Mi-do, Dae-su embarks on a violent, suspenseful journey of redemption and revenge.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn
Rated R

Reservoir Dogs is a 1992 crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino. It tells the story of a group of criminals brought together by a mysterious crime boss to carry out an intricate diamond heist. When the heist goes wrong, tensions within the group quickly rise as the criminals begin to suspect that one of them is an undercover cop. As the truth about their mission is revealed and their loyalty to one another tested, the men must use their knowledge and skills to survive. With its nonlinear narrative, stylized violence, and ensemble cast, Reservoir Dogs is one of Quentin Tarantino’s most acclaimed films and a classic of independent film.

From Gus Van Sant, starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

Good Will Hunting is a 1997 drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. The film tells the story of Will Hunting (Damon), a genius-level math prodigy from a South Boston working class neighborhood. Will works as a janitor at MIT and is struggling to find his place in the world. After being arrested for a fight, Will meets Sean (Williams), a renowned therapist and professor at Harvard. Sean helps Will confront his inner demons and find his true purpose in life. Along the way, he learns to embrace his talents, to love and to be loved, and to live life to its fullest.

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne
Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romantic science fiction film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. It stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple who have undergone a procedure to erase each other from their memories. While under the procedure, they reflect on the memories of their relationship and explore their feelings for each other. The film is an exploration of the nature of love, memory, and regret. It has been met with critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2005.

From Guy Ritchie, starring Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham, Vinnie Jones
Rated R

Snatch is a 2000 British crime comedy film written and directed by Guy Ritchie, featuring an ensemble cast. Set in the London criminal underworld, the film contains two intertwined plots: one dealing with the search for a stolen diamond, and the other with a small-time boxing promoter, Turkish, and his mischievous friend, Tommy, who become entangled in organized crime. The film follows a series of shady characters, including Franky Four Fingers, a professional thief, and Bullet Tooth Tony, a violent criminal. The diamond is eventually found by a pawn broker, who is soon targeted by Boris, a psychotic crime lord, who wants to recover the diamond and hire Franky to help him with a bigger heist. Meanwhile, Turkish and Tommy become increasingly involved in the boxing promotions business, ultimately leading them to the heart of a dangerous criminal empire. The film is a fast-paced adventure filled with dark humor, bold characters, and plenty of twists and turns. With its blend of British and American elements, Snatch captures the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the London underworld to great effect.

From Gavin O'Connor, starring Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison
Rated PG-13

Warrior is a 2011 American sports drama film directed by Gavin O'Connor and starring Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, and Joel Edgerton. The plot follows two estranged brothers, Tommy (Hardy) and Brendan Conlon (Edgerton), who are both mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters. Tommy, an ex-Marine with a tragic past, returns home and enlists the help of Brendan, a former MMA fighter-turned-teacher, to train him for a high-stakes elimination tournament. With the help of Brendan's wife Tess (Jennifer Morrison), the two brothers must overcome their differences and battle fighters from around the world in order to win the tournament and its prize money. Along the way, they must deal with the struggles of their pasts, their strained relationship, and their own inner demons.

From Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Köhler
Rated R

Downfall is a 2004 German-language historical drama directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. The film is based on numerous accounts of the final weeks of Adolf Hitler's rule of Nazi Germany in 1945. It stars Bruno Ganz as Hitler and chronicles the fall of the Third Reich from the perspective of Hitler and his inner circle. As the Soviet Union advances on Berlin, Hitler and his generals desperately attempt to maintain control of the situation, while struggling to comprehend the magnitude of their ultimate defeat. As the Nazi regime begins to unravel, Hitler's personal life becomes increasingly chaotic and his sanity begins to slip away. The film culminates in his suicide and the surrender of Berlin to the Allies. Downfall is a powerful and emotionally charged retelling of a dark chapter in world history.

From Danny Boyle, starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd
Rated R

Trainspotting is a black comedy drama written by Irvine Welsh and directed by Danny Boyle. Set in Scotland during the late 1980s, the film follows the lives of a group of heroin addicts who, despite their best efforts, can't seem to break away from their addiction. The story is narrated by the lead character, Mark Renton, and focuses heavily on the themes of friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of drug use. The film is notable for its dark humor, intense scenes of drug use, and its depiction of an addictive lifestyle. Ultimately, the film explores whether or not it is possible to escape from a life of addiction and, if so, how one might do so.

From Jim Sheridan, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Alison Crosbie, Philip King
Rated R

In the Name of the Father is a 1993 biographical drama directed by Jim Sheridan. The film tells the true story of Gerry Conlon, who, along with his father Giuseppe, and other family members, were falsely convicted in 1974 of the IRA bombing of a London pub. The film follows Gerry's fight to prove his innocence, while also exploring his relationship with his father, who is unjustly serving a life sentence in prison. Along the way, Gerry meets a lawyer who helps him through his struggle, and the film ultimately shows his eventual exoneration.

From Oliver Stone, starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David
Rated R

Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, and Charlie Sheen. It depicts the experiences of a U.S. Army infantry unit during the Vietnam War. The film follows the events of the platoon's leader, Chris Taylor (Sheen), as he struggles with the harsh realities of war, both within himself and the platoon. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Stone), Best Sound (Richard Portman and William H. Wheeler), and Best Editing (Claire Simpson). The story focuses on the moral chaos of Vietnam and the effects of the war on a group of soldiers, and is considered one of the most influential films about the Vietnam War.

From Richard Attenborough, starring Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Seth
Rated PG

Gandhi is a 1982 epic biographical drama film about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the leader of India's non-violent, non-cooperative independence movement against the British Raj during the 20th century. Directed by Richard Attenborough and written by John Briley, the film stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. The film covers over fifty years of Gandhi's life, from his childhood in India to his death at the hands of a Hindu extremist. It tracks the major milestones in his political and spiritual evolution, such as his transformation from a lawyer to a spiritual leader, his adoption of the philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence), and his development of satyagraha (the power of the truth). The film features an ensemble cast consisting of many leading Indian actors, including Roshan Seth as Patel, Rohini Hattangadi as Kasturba Gandhi, Saeed Jaffrey as Nehru, and Shabana Azmi as Mirabehn. The film was shot in both India and England, and was a critical and commercial success, winning eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Kingsley.

From Tim Burton, starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange
Rated PG-13

Big Fish is a 2003 fantasy film directed by Tim Burton and starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, and Helena Bonham Carter. The film tells the story of Edward Bloom, an eccentric and adventurous man who has lived an extraordinary life. His son, Will, is determined to uncover the truth behind his father's tall tales, but as he gets closer to the truth, he finds himself drawn into his father's magical world. Through a series of fantastical adventures, Will discovers the truth about his father's life and learns to appreciate the extraordinary world his father has created.

From Wilson Yip, starring Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan, Ka-Tung Lam
Rated R

Ip Man is a 2008 Hong Kong biographical martial arts film based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun and teacher of Bruce Lee. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen as Ip Man, with martial arts choreography by Sammo Hung. The film focuses on events in Ip Man's life that supposedly took place in the city of Foshan during the Sino-Japanese War. It features numerous martial arts fights between Ip Man and Japanese, British, and later American opponents. The latter is played by the British actor and martial artist Darren Shahlavi. The film follows Ip Man's life from his youth to middle age, through his career as a Wing Chun master, and his struggles to overcome the growing Japanese occupation of China. The film also touches upon themes of racism, heroism and patriotism. Ip Man is forced to fight in numerous challenges from rival kung fu schools and Japanese martial artists, culminating in a fight against General Miura, a powerful Japanese military leader. Despite its low budget, Ip Man was a success at the Chinese box office, grossing over US$21 million worldwide. It was well-received in

From Barry Levinson, starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino, Gerald R. Molen
Rated R

Rain Man is a 1988 American road comedy-drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. It tells the story of an abrasive, selfish young wheeler-dealer Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise), who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), an autistic savant, of whose existence Charlie was unaware. Motivated by his father's disappearance, Charlie is forced to embark on a cross-country journey with Raymond to confront his father's past. The film was critically acclaimed, praised for its screenplay and performances of Hoffman and Cruise, and was a box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1988. It won four Academy Awards at the 61st Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Hoffman.

From Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi
Rated R

The King's Speech is a 2010 period drama directed by Tom Hooper and starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce. The film tells the story of King George VI of the United Kingdom, who struggles to overcome a debilitating stammer, aided by his speech therapist Lionel Logue. Set between 1926 and 1939, the film follows the relationship between the King and Logue as they attempt to cure the King's speech impediment in time for him to address the nation and inspire them in the face of the looming threat of Nazi Germany. Through their struggles, the King and Logue build an unlikely friendship and the King finds the courage to address his people and lead them through one of the most pivotal turning points in history.

From Billy Bob Thornton, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh, John Ritter
Rated R

Sling Blade is a 1996 drama film written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, and stars Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh and John Ritter. The film tells the story of Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man who is released from a psychiatric hospital, where he has been for most of his adult life, after killing his mother and her lover. Once released, Karl moves in with a kind and elderly man, Frank Wheatley, and his daughter, Anne, who takes a liking to him. Karl soon learns of Frank's abusive behavior towards Anne, and he decides to take matters into his own hands. With the help of Frank's friend and neighbor, Vaughan Cunningham, Karl creates a plan to protect Anne. However, his plan is not without consequences, as he is forced to confront the dark secrets of his past. In the end, Karl must decide whether he is willing to take the necessary steps for justice to be served.

From Woody Allen, starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway, Michael Murphy
Rated R

Manhattan is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Woody Allen and starring Allen and Diane Keaton. The story follows the complicated relationship between a divorced New York comedy writer (Allen) and his teenage girlfriend (Mariel Hemingway). The story also follows Allen's relationship with his best friend, played by Michael Murphy, and his ex-wife (Meryl Streep). The story is set against a backdrop of the beautiful streets of Manhattan and follows the characters as they navigate their lives, exploring the complexities of love, ambition, and relationships. Despite their differences, the characters are connected by their love of the city and its culture. The film is a love letter to the city of New York and an exploration of the complexities of relationships.

From David Lynch, starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Jeanne Bates
Rated R

Mulholland Drive is a dreamlike neo-noir mystery film directed by David Lynch and starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, and Justin Theroux. The story follows an amnesiac Betty Elms as she arrives in Los Angeles, and unravels the mystery of her identity and the hidden dark secrets of Hollywood. Along the way, she is aided by a mysterious woman named Rita, and the two become intertwined in a dream-like world of desire, ambition, and terror. As the story progresses, the two women are forced to confront a deep-seated conspiracy involving a powerful and dangerous figure called “Mr. Roque”. The film is a complex and riveting exploration of identity, the power of dreams, and the dangers of ambition.

From Tomas Alfredson, starring Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl
Rated R

Let the Right One In is a 2008 Swedish romantic horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson. The film follows the story of Oskar, a twelve-year-old boy who befriends a mysterious vampire girl named Eli. As their friendship grows, Oskar learns more about Eli's dark past, and Eli protects Oskar from a group of bullies. Meanwhile, in the background of the story, a series of gruesome murders occur, and it becomes apparent that Eli is responsible. As the story progresses, Oskar and Eli must confront the consequences of their relationship while also trying to find a way to be together. The film is an exploration of love, friendship, and the power of empathy amid a backdrop of horror and violence.

From Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell
Rated PG-13

The Artist is a 2011 French romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michel Hazanavicius and starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo. Set in 1927, the story follows George Valentin, a silent film star during the last days of the silent era, as the introduction of talking pictures threatens to render his career obsolete. He meets Peppy Miller, a young dancer with a passion for Hollywood films. As their respective careers rise and fall, the two develop a bond that will last a lifetime. The Artist won five Academy Awards and was nominated for an additional four. It is praised for its innovative approach to film-making and its celebration of the beauty of silent films.