The 12 Best Netflix Movies of 2024, Ranked by PureWow's Editors

• Director: Hannah MacPherson
• Cast: Madison Bailey, Antonia Gentry, Griffin Gluck
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Genre: Sci-Fi, Slasher
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 25% | IMDb 5/10

Time Cut follows Lucy, a teenager who accidentally time-travels to the year 2003 and attempts to save her big sister from a masked killer. It may not be award-worthy, but it has such a fascinating plot and quite a few '90s Easter eggs. Also, fun fact: The movie hit number one on Netflix's top 10 list of movies within a week of being released.

PureWow Associate Commerce Strategist Jael Rucker says, "In my opinion, there are two different types of time travel movies…the 'serious' type a la Denzel Washington’s 2006 film Déjà Vu where there are hardly any 'fun' moments so to speak, and then there is the 'goofy' type, like the Back to the Future series. On the time travel scale, Time Cut lands smackdab in the middle."

• Director: Jerry Seinfeld
• Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield, Hugh Grant
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Genre: Comedy
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 40% | IMDb 5.5/10

Melissa McCarthy, Max Greenfield, Hugh Grant and Amy Schumer are just a few familiar faces in this star-studded joy ride. Very loosely inspired by the true story of the invention of Pop-Tarts, Unfrosted follows two rival cereal companies as they compete to create the next big breakfast product. This marked Seinfeld’s directorial debut. And according to former editor Karelle McKay, it's worth adding to your queue.

She wrote in her review, "If you’re looking for a fact-based story about the making of the Pop-Tart, then you won’t find it here. Unfrosted is a loosely based comedy film that will take you on a fun and pleasantly chaotic ride. From evil milk delivery men to a brawl between cereal mascots."

• Director: Janeen Damian
• Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Brad Krevoy. Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos, Ayesha Curry
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 42% | IMDb 5.2/10

The Lohanaissance is still going strong, and I'm certainly not complaining. In this feel-good rom-com, Lohan plays a book editor whose life is turned upside down after she wishes for true love with an ancient stone. This marked Lohan's second consecutive film with Netflix, after releasing Falling for Christmas in 2022.

McKay wrote in her review, "Since the majority of Irish Wish takes place in Ireland, the film does a great job of incorporating Irish culture into the narrative, from showcasing the beautiful landscapes to implementing an Irish dance number. Overall, Irish Wish is a feel-good, lighthearted romantic comedy that is enjoyable to watch."

• Director: Trish Sie
• Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Joel Courtney, Augustus Prew, Liza Koshy
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Genre: Romantic Comedy
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 53% | IMDb 5.7/10

Gina Rodriguez is Mack, a young woman who treats dating like a game—until she finally meets a charming guy who’s worth playing for keeps. Despite her character's bold dating habits, Rodriguez still manages to bring her delightful charm to this role. The overall tone of the film is fun and it does a great job of exploring friendships.

In her review, PureWow Senior Editor of News and Entertainment Greta Heggeness wrote, "The plot goes beyond your typical rom-com because it doesn’t solely focus on Mack’s relationship with a potential new suitor. It also explores her friendship with her best friend, Adam, and how it changes when someone new enters the picture. You’ll find yourself torn between rooting for the new relationship and wanting things to go back to the way they were." 

• Director: Jerry Ciccoritti
• Cast: Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Katy Mixon Greer
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Genre: Romantic Comedy
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 81% | IMDb 5.3/10

Lacey Chabert is Kathy, a widow who magically brings a (hot) snowman to life with the help of a special red scarf. What ensues is—you guessed it—a romance. This Hallmark-style rom-com is charming and so full of heart, and it gets viewers in the holiday spirit.

PureWow VP of News and Entertainment Philip Mutz said in his review, "The film is really fun if you can get past the ridiculous premise and the challenging dialogue. Milligan gives Buddy the Elf-style charm and naivety (only with abs) as he learns about love and life as a human being. And Chabert keeps the film surprisingly grounded by constantly questioning the premise of a magical snowman."

• Director: Malcolm Washington
• Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts
• Run Time: 125 minutes
• Genre: Drama
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 89% | IMDb 6.2/10

There are so many things I love about this movie, which follows the ongoing tension between two siblings who can't agree on what to do with a special family heirloom. There's the star-studded cast (gotta love a Washington family affair), the layers of symbolism and the men's rousing rendition of "Berta, Berta." But really, it's the film's meaningful message and powerful storytelling that sets it apart.

In my review, I wrote, "The Piano Lesson is filled with strong performances and memorable scenes, but it's more than a star-studded drama. It poses valid questions about what it means to honor one's legacy while exploring important themes like grief, the American Dream, complex family dynamics and the effects of slavery."

• Director: Pablo Larraín
• Cast: Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher
• Run Time: 124 minutes
• Genre: Psychological Drama, Biopic
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 74% | IMDb 6.7/10

Jolie shines as the iconic opera singer Maria Callas in this gripping biopic, which already earned her a well-deserved Golden Globes nod. It's incredible to see the actress completely immerse herself in the role, capturing even the smallest details of the famed signer's complex personality.

Not surprisingly, critics are predicting an Oscar nomination—including Heggeness. She writes, "Jolie didn’t rely on post-production to sell her performance. She put in work behind the scenes to learn Callas’s mannerisms and educate herself on the world of opera, and it shows. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that Jolie has been studying Callas for years. Her body language is an ideal combination of sultry and confident, but her eyes tease the haunting truth behind the singer’s complicated life."

• Director: Cristina Comencini
• Cast: Barbara Ronchi, Serena Rossi, Christian Cervone
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Genre: Drama
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes (N/A) | IMDb 7.4/10

This poignant Italian drama tells the story of Amerigo, a seven-year-old boy who, as part of a postwar initiative, leaves his impoverished family in Naples and boards a train to go live with a well-off family in 1946.

The film, which is based on Viola Ardone's 2019 novel of the same name, became the eighth most-watched film on Netflix just a few days after its release, thanks in part to its deep themes, including displacement and post-war poverty. There are several moments that will tug at your hearstrings, and the performances are nothing short of brilliant. (I highly recommend watching with some tissues nearby.)

• Director: Richard Linklater
• Cast: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio
• Run Time: 115 minutes
• Genre: Romance, Comedy, Crime Thriller
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 95% | IMDb 6.8/10

Hit Man tells the story of a man who leads a double life as a college professor and an undercover detective, and it is so inventive and fun. It's got all the makings of an entertaining date night movie: compelling characters, humor, mystery and just the right amount of charm. I love that this film kept me on the edge of my seat, and as much as I like the sizzling chemistry between Ron and Madison, it's Glen Powell who makes this film truly great.

PureWow's Senior Director of Special Projects and Royals Rachel Bowie would also agree. In her rave review, she wrote, "Watching Powell go from being a bandana-wearing bad guy with neck tattoos to a freckle-faced British man is not just fun, it’s captivating. It also makes him quite easy to root for, even when he’s doing unethical things. In fact, that’s the magic of this summer-feeling movie: Its success in getting you to root for the bad guy. But is he the bad guy? I don’t know, we’re still deciding." 

• Director: Ben Taylor
• Cast: Bill Nighy, Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton
• Run Time: 115 minutes
• Genre: Biographical Drama
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 90% | IMDb 7.1/10

Did you know that Louise Joy Brown, the world's first IVF baby, was born in 1978? Well, this inspiring and insightful biopic tells the full story, detailing how an embryologist, a skilled scientist and a surgeon worked together to develop the first "test tube baby." The movie thoughtfully explores the incredible impact of science, reproductive health and the power of perseverance.

There's a good balance of educational content and storytelling, and I really love how the film captures this time period, from the '70s costumes to the old-fashioned cars. The entire main cast also does a solid job. (Nighy’s standout performance is definitely Oscar-worthy.)

• Director: Anna Kendrick
• Cast: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Nicolette Robinson, Tony Hale
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Genre: Crime Thriller
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 91% | IMDb 6.6/10

Inspired by true events, this chilling film revolves around Sheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress who lands a gig on the television show The Dating Game and winds up being matched with a serial killer. The film was well-received by critics, and it explores important themes like misogyny, sexism and female agency.

In my 5-star review, I wrote, "Woman of the Hour is a haunting serial killer thriller that smartly avoids the typical approach of exploring the killer's mind and shifts the focus to victims who were targeted. It's impossible to not grow attached to the victims, and Daniel Zovatto's portrayal of Alcala will make you think twice about striking up a harmless conversation with a charming photographer."

• Director: Jeremy Saulnier
• Cast: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denma
• Run Time: 131 minutes
• Genre: Crime Thriller
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 96% | IMDb 6.8/10

The film revolves around Terry, a former marine whose plans to bail his cousin out of jail go south when a pair of corrupt police officers confront him and seize his life’s savings. Aaron Pierre is phenomenal as Terry, the no-nonsense veteran who's hungry for vengeance and justice, and I'll admit, I still think about that unpredictable ending to this day.

The edge-of-your-seat thriller tackles real and timely issues like systemic racism, police brutality, the controversial civil asset forfeiture process and racial profiling. Thanks to the impeccable storytelling, suspense and solid performances, the movie soared to the number one spot on Netflix's top ten list in just three days.