---

View Entire Post ›

Just admit it, we could all use a little comfort right now. The world’s an uncertain place, and we’re spending too much time alone with our own thoughts (and cats). The greatest gift we could give ourselves is some binge-ably-good TV, which is why we’re directing you to Netflix because the streaming platform’s got comfort-watching on lock. From seasons-long comedy favorites to compelling dramas, sitcoms, and more, these shows basically double as ASMR-therapy for your nerves.

Here are the best feel-good series streaming on Netflix right now.

Schitt’s Creek

5 seasons, 66 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

Every good thing you’ve ever heard about this show… it’s all true. The cast? Terrific. Eugene Levy plays Johnny Rose, a rich video-store magnate who loses his fortune when his business manager fails to pay his taxes. Catherine O’Hara plays his wife, Moira, a former soap opera star who, along with her husband and their two pampered children, must move to a town called Schitt’s Creek when the family is forced to scale down their extravagant lifestyle. It’s the rudest of wake-up calls, but it’s comedy gold for us, especially as the show leans into the talent of its creator, Dan Levy, and the hijinks of David Rose’s sister, Alexis (Annie Murphy). Everyone’s brilliant in this thing, and it’s a damn shame the show is so overlooked by American audiences. Let’s change that.

Parks and Recreation

7 seasons, 125 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10

The fact that we’re labeling a TV show about politics as comfort food in this post-2016 climate should serve as the highest form of praise, but here, we’ll heap on more. Amy Poehler is never better than as an idealistic public servant named Leslie Knope, whose constant optimistic outlook actually inspires hope in the promise of government. She’s got a passion — and a love of waffles — that’s near infectious, and she’s surrounded by a team of eccentric oddballs, who all get their time to shine, none more so than Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson, a mustachioed manly-man and a pyramid of greatness unto himself. You had us at “meat tornado.”

The Office (U.S.)

9 seasons, 201 episodes | IMDb: 8.8/10

There’s a reason that billions of Netflix users are bingeing this workplace comedy during quarantine. It’s the TV equivalent of a weighted blanket, a reassuring mix of laugh-out-loud comedy and genuine storytelling with characters that feel like family by the time the series is done. Of course, you’ll need to get through the growing pains of the show’s first season — it’s only six episodes and there’s still plenty of humor there — but once the writers hit their stride in season two, all bets are off. Good luck choosing a favorite among characters like Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert, and underdog, Creed Bratton.

Jane the Virgin

5 seasons, 100 episodes | IMDb: 7.8/10

This genre-defying telenovela send-up has one of the weirdest premises of any show, ever: Jane Villanueva, a devout Catholic who’s vowed to remain a virgin until marriage, is accidentally artificially inseminated during a routine gynecological visit and becomes pregnant. It sounds more soap-operatic than comedic, but that’s where Jane proves naysayers wrong, infusing the title character’s unlikely journey with countless funny moments that shock and delight viewers at every turn. While Gina Rodriguez’s radiant performance as Jane is the heart of the show, its comedic success is largely thanks to two characters: Her long-lost father, telenovela superstar Rogelio de la Vega (Jaime Camil); and the Narrator (brilliantly voiced by Anthony Mendez), whose helpful explanations and perfectly timed interjections make him as integral to the proceedings as Jane herself. Just try not to have fun bingeing this thing. We dare you.

New Girl

7 seasons, 146 episodes | IMDb: 7.7/10

Fox’s comedy about a quirky girl who moves in with three male roommates quickly evolved from a pretty straightforward premise to become one of the best shows on TV. Zooey Deschanel plays Jess, a teacher who’s forced to room with three guys, Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Winston (Lamorne Morris), after she discovers that her boyfriend’s been cheating on her. For the next seven seasons, the gang grows to become close friends — getting married, having babies, experiencing sympathy PMS, and getting stuck on a cruise ship, among other disasters. Still, it’s the chemistry between the four mains that makes every outlandish episode work. That, and our enduring desire to understand the rules of a game of “True American.”

Queer Eye

5 seasons, 36 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10

This Netflix revival keeps everything that was funny about the original Bravo series but injects a surprising amount of heart by casting an all-new Fab Five, who seem ready to conquer the world, one small-minded town at a time. The first installment of the revamped series stunned viewers with its sincerity and ability to bring people together despite the hateful rhetoric surrounding issues faced by the LGBTQ community. Was it fun to see a bunch of Gays pull up into a middle-of-nowhere town and teach a redneck how to dress and woo the ladies? Sure, but the show banked on more than just laughs and drama to keep it afloat and every season after has followed that formula — whether the boys head to Atlanta, the Mid-West, or even Japan — thrusting the group into even more uncomfortable situations to see if their brand of feel-good TV can melt even the most conservative of hearts. Spoiler: they can.

Gilmore Girls

7 seasons, 153 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

Maybe the wittiest, pop-culture rich drama ever, Gilmore Girls has managed to hold up incredibly well over the years. It’s a great show to watch with a new generation of television viewers, it’s a great show to watch while bingeing on food, and it’s a great show to watch during a global lockdown. Honestly, isn’t it better to worry about Rory’s choice in boyfriends instead of the effects of a months-long pandemic?

The Circle

1 season, 12 episodes | IMDb: 7.5/10

The Circle might be one of the most comforting yet tensely dramatic reality series that we’ve ever seen on TV. It manages to strike that delicate balance between watchable chaos and heartwarming human connection stories that so few of its ilk can master. The basic premise follows a group of strangers living in separate pods and only interacting with one another online. They can catfish their fellow contestants — some succeed, some fail miserably which is infinitely more fun to watch — but the goal is to get high user ratings and make it to the final. You’d think a show about people fighting for likes on profile photos would be vapid, but there’s a surprising amount of depth and feeling with this thing. There’s also Joey Sasso.

The Great British Baking Show

7 seasons, 70 episodes | IMDb: 8.6/10

The Great British Bake Off (and this slightly retitled American version) is guilty pleasure binge material for so many that it’s no wonder it shows up here. If I watch other cooking shows to travel to exotic places and vicariously experience strange foods, GBBS is kind of the opposite of that. Its strength is that it’s goofily charming. And we’ve become so accustomed to camera-hogging reality villains and performative not-here-to-make-friendsing that a show featuring charming grandmas and shy Brits is really a breath of fresh air.

The Good Place

3 seasons, 37 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

Michael Schur (The Office, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) steps away from his usual workplace sitcom for this afterlife comedy, which focuses on Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), who finds herself in “the good place” after her life comes to an end. Though told this is because she’s led a good, altruistic life, Eleanor knows she’s pretty much a terrible person and is only in this utopia because of its architect’s (Ted Danson) mistake. With this limitless, fictional world, Schur is able to take chances and create a truly goofy show that still deals with morality and other philosophical issues. While the first season is great, a spoiler-filled twist really opens up the show’s potential in its second season, and it only gets better from there. Enjoy Danson’s bowties and Manny Jacinto’s Bortles jokes.

The West Wing

7 seasons, 156 episodes | IMDb: 8.8/10

Television’s all-time best political drama is Aaron Sorkin at his absolute best, working with one of the finest ensemble casts in television history. The show wavers after the fourth season (when Sorkin left), but it picks back up in its final season (with Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda). Here’s a celebration of the greatest fictional President of all time to get you warmed up for it.

We’re living in some very strange times. We’re stuck in our homes for the foreseeable future, professional sports are pretty much locked in a holding pattern, and large gatherings are completely out of the question. Major events like the Olympics and state fairs have either been moved or canceled outright. This includes this weekend’s Kentucky Derby.

Usually taking place on the first Saturday of May, the Kentucky Derby has been run 145 times. The last time it was postponed (it’s currently slated for September 5th) was 1945 — that gives you some idea of how serious the cancellation is. In an attempt to keep the derby spirit alive, NBC is broadcasting a virtual race using computer-simulated horses this Saturday at 12 pt / 3 et. If you’d rather not watch some computer horses running around an animated track, Old Forester is also hosting a derby, using turtles instead of horses on Saturday night (yes, really). Either way, both events can only be made better by being paired with bourbon (and big hats, if you wish).

We asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us the best bourbons to drink while watching animated horses or real-life turtles race around a track for literally no reason other than the futile attempt to make us all feel normal for a few fleeting moments. Because if you’re going to be watching either of these races, you’re going to want a stiff drink.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Matt Shields, bartender at The Bay Restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

I have an eye for aesthetics and an appreciation for the classics. That’s why I think Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is the way to go with a Julep. It’s always the first whiskey to pop in my head when the derby is mentioned, or if a julep is requested at the bar.

Wild Turkey 101

Jessi Lorraine, bartender at Elda in San Francisco

I really love Wild Turkey 101 bourbon for that perfect spicy/smooth combination. Both have great punchy spice notes on the front and finish soft and sweet on the back of the palate.

Maker’s Mark

Amanda Carto, bartender at Nickel City in Austin, Texas

I’ve always been partial to Maker’s Mark. It’s a wheated bourbon with a high corn ratio in its mash bill, which carries through in its taste with a smooth finish. It’s a great sipping bourbon neat or on the rocks, and at 90 proof holds up well in a cocktail without being overshadowed.

Woodford Reserve

Gabriela Dimovska, general manager at V DTLA in Los Angeles

I would stay classy and go with the Woodford Reserve, which is made where the derby is held. As a Swede in the US (a very recent move) I wouldn’t dare to be different on Derby Day. Plus, it’s a pretty cool way to serenade the OG Kentucky bourbon.

Four Roses Single Barrel

Danielle Becker, bartender at the Aspen Meadows Resort in Aspen, Colorado

For simple tasty classic bourbon cocktails, I love using Four Roses. When making a bourbon cocktail like the julep, all the flavors need to blend together yes, but also, the bourbon needs to stand up next to all that ice and dilution. That’s why I love the Single Barrel from Four Roses — it’s high proofed but also flavorful to add something sweet to the drink.

Buffalo Trace

Freddy Concepcion Ucan Tuz, bartender at JW Marriott in Cancun, Mexico

Buffalo Trace Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. It’s a great bourbon with soft notes of vanilla and subtle fruit, with oak and drying spice that prove fantastic for a mint julep. It makes the mint julep well balanced.

Bulleit

Wesley MacDonald, owner of Caña Bar and Kitchen in Curaçao

Make sure it is quality, yet affordable. What you put in, is what you get out. If you use a beautiful, cask strength, single-barrel bourbon, it will definitely result in a delicious julep, however, it can better be enjoyed at the end of the party and then use a decent bourbon such as Bulleit or Maker’s for the juleps.

Old Forester Birthday

David Powell, Hudson Whiskey brand ambassador

I think that the Derby is a Kentucky born American tradition, and as such, it calls for a Kentucky-made bourbon. I could easily sub in Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, or a Russell’s Reserve, or Heaven Hill Bonded, or EH Taylor here, they’re all great representations of what makes Kentucky so important to American Whiskey. I want Hudson to own the Belmont Stakes, Kentucky deserves to own the derby.

Writer’s Picks:

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year

A few years ago, father and son duo Jimmy and Eddie Russell launched Russell’s Reserve, a higher-end Wild turkey series. They’ve dropped a handful of whiskeys, but the ten-year-old Russell’s Reserve bourbon is still one of the best, most affordable whiskeys on the market. The flavors of toffee, caramel, vanilla, and leather pair perfectly with the derby or literally any day.

Booker’s

Booker’s definitely isn’t for those new to bourbon. It’s barrel strength, uncut, and unfiltered. It’s bold and brash and full of flavors of vanilla, oak, and caramel and even though its high proof, it still remains smooth and sippable.

I don’t know about you, but humor is about the only thing keeping me from curling up in the fetal position and wailing these days. The fact that people can be so darned witty, even in the midst of a global pandemic, brings me great delight and hope that not all is lost.

One restaurant in Texas has its finger on the pulse of quippy one liners. El Arroyo, which serves up Tex-Mex in Austin, posts constantly changing sayings on their sign, and they’re simply chuckle-worthy. The restaurant’s sign is so popular it even has its own dedicated Instagram account.

---

Some of the sayings undoubtedly come from memes floating around the interwebs. Others are sent in by fans. I can only assume some are the brainchild of some creative mind filling tacos in the back. Who knows.

But check some of their out their signs, shared by Heidi Kleyn on Facebook:

In recent weeks, El Arroyo has hopped on the pandemic humor train, and they have not disappointed.

Thanks for the laughs, El Arroyo!

---

View Entire Post ›

On Thursday, the Parks and Recreation gang reunited for a new special. Why? Because they had nothing better to do. Seriously, no one has anything to do, famous or not, because we’ve all been quarantining for a month-and-a-half, with no clear end in sight. And so, like late night TV and daytime talk shows and SNL, the cast of one of NBC’s most rewatchable shows turned on their webcams and did one of those Zoom-style shows that have become commonplace. And while it was largely meant as a distraction from our sorrows and anxieties, the team couldn’t resist ending it with a real heart-tugger.

The episode concluded with Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson corralling everyone onto the same webchat channel to cheer up Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope. And how best to cheer her up besides serving her breakfast for dinner? By singing about Li’l Sebastian, Pawnee’s most dearly departed horse. Chris Pratt’s Andy Dwyer led the charge as the cast sang through an oldie but goodie.

It was a naked attempt to extract tears nationwide. And, judging from social media, it seems to have worked.

Some fans were able to hold back tears long enough to catch an Easter Egg.

It went so well, one person couldn’t help but compare/contrast it with another celebrity sing-a-along.

The Parks and Rec special was held in part to raise funds for the charity Feeding America, which seeks to help those facing hunger during the pandemic. If you’d like to donate, you can do so here.

Within the first five minutes of the Parks and Recreation reunion special, we see Bobby Newport wearing a “Knope 2012” pullover, Ben Wyatt pulling out his stop-motion “would a depressed person make this?” doll and Cones of Dunshire board game (all while wearing a Letters to Cleo shirt), and every character’s Gryzzl points. The episode, the show’s first since February 2015, is full of callbacks and references to Parks‘ original seven-season run, including Andy’s Johnny Karate get-up and Lil’ Sebastian shirt, a reprise of Mouse Rat’s “5,000 Candles in the Wind,” and in-universe episodes of At Home with Joan (a lonely step down from Pawnee Today) and Ya Heard? With Perd!

But one thing it’s missing is arguably the show’s most enduring quote: treat yo’ self.

It was a genuine delight to see Aziz Ansari and Retta on-screen again as soulmates Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle, and while there was plenty of talk about Bali and the importance of teachers (all of whom deserve a brand-new Mercedes), I kept expecting them to drop a “treat yo’ self,” but they never did. We did get “clink” noises, though. This is not a complaint, as I didn’t want the reunion special to only be wink-wink nods to fans, but it is genuinely surprising, as Treat Yo’ Self is now a holiday. It’s a quote that even non-Parks fans know and use, like how Homer Simpson’s “d’oh” is part of the lexicon.

“Treat yo’ self” even appeared on the show’s official Twitter before the special.

I wonder if it’s because, frankly, Aziz and Retta are probably sick of it. As Parks writer Alan Yang, who came up with the phrase (and directed this year’s Tigertail) said in 2018, “I apologize to Retta and Aziz because the amount of times they get yelled at on the street I’m sure is annoying. But it’s really fun! You’re writing for a sitcom on a network — why not have a catchphrase?” Hearing at least one “treat yo’ self” wouldn’t have made the reunion any better or worse, and besides, it didn’t need to be said; a new episode of Parks and Recreation, even through a virtual reunion, was already a treat (yo’ self).

Last Updated: April 30th

The Netflix name has meant many things, including the best shows not on TV. And while there are some glaring omissions in their selection of good movies, there’s still plenty to peruse. Narrowing them down to just 50 of the best Netflix films wasn’t easy. Nonetheless, here’s a ranked list of the best movies on Netflix streaming no film lover should miss, all of them just a simple click away.

Related: The Best Comedies On Netflix Right Now

1. Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Run Time: 115 min | IMDb: 8.5/10

The Indiana Jones franchise has been housed on Amazon Prime for a while now, but it’s finally making its way to Netflix with the streaming platform hosting all four feature films. Of course, nothing beats the original, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and as far as travel and adventure go, this movie has everything you could possibly want. A hero with a love for archeology and whips? Check. An adventure to recover a stolen artifact with destructive powers? Check check. Harrison Ford beating up Nazis while uttering sarcastic one-liners and with a twinkle in his eye? Did movies even exist before this?

Add To Netflix Queue

2. The Matrix (1999)

Run Time: 136 min | IMDb: 8.7/10

The Wachowski sisters created one of the greatest sci-fi films in cinematic history with their mind-bending Matrix trilogy, but the original is hard to top. Keanu Reeves plays Neo, a young man unplugged from the matrix — a kind of alternate reality that keeps humans docile, so machines can harvest their life energy. He teams up with a band of rebels fighting the machines (Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus and Carrie-Ann Moss as Trinity) and faces off against a henchman named Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving). The real draw of this trilogy, besides its inventive storyline, is the CGI effects. The movie also sports some of the most imaginative fight sequences you’ll ever see on the big screen.

Add To Netflix Queue

3. There Will Be Blood (2007)

Run Time: 158 min | IMDb: 8.2/10

Daniel Day-Lewis stars in this gritty, Oscar-winning drama from Paul Thomas Anderson playing a turn-of-the-century prospector, who risks his faith and his family for oil. Daniel Plainview is a shrewd, callous businessman who adopts the orphaned son of a dead employee to make himself look more appealing to investors. When he hits oil in California, he wages a war with a local preacher and his family who stand in the way of Daniel’s progress. Violence and yes, plenty of blood, follow.

Add To Netflix Queue

4. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Run Time: 117 min | IMDb: 8.5/10

The Oscar-winning animated film follows a young kid named Miles, who becomes the web-slinging hero of his reality, only to cross paths with other iterations of Spider-Man across different dimensions who help him defeat a threat posed to all realities. Mahershala Ali, John Mulaney, and Jake Johnson make up the film’s talented voice cast, but it’s the striking visuals and daring story-telling technique that really serves the film well.

Add To Netflix Queue

5. The Irishman (2019)

Run Time: 209 min | IMDb: 8.7/10

Martin Scorsese delivers another cinematic triumph, this time for Netflix and with the help of some familiar faces. Robert De Niro and Al Pacino team up (again) for this crime drama based on actual events. De Niro plays Frank Sheeran a World War II vet who finds work as a hitman for the mob. Pacino plays notorious Teamster Jimmy Hoffa, a man who frequently found himself on the wrong side of the law and the criminals he worked with. The film charts the pair’s partnership over the years while injecting some historical milestones for context. It’s heavy and impressively cast and everything you’d expect a Scorsese passion-project to be.

Add To Netflix Queue

6. Inception (2010)

Run Time: 148 min | IMDb: 8.8/10

Christopher Nolan’s imaginative sci-fi adventure will most likely be remembered as one of the best genre films in cinematic history, and for good reason. The movie — which stars everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy to Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine — is the ultimate heist flick, following a group of thieves who must repurpose dream-sharing technology to plant an idea into the mind of a young CEO. DiCaprio pulls focus as Cobb, a troubled architect with a tragic past who attempts to pull off the impossible so that he can return to his family.

Add To Netflix Queue

7. Roma (2018)

Run Time: 135 min | IMDb: 7.8/10

Oscar-winning writer/director Alfonso Cuaron delivers what may be his most personal film to date. The stunningly-shot black-and-white film is an ode to Cuaron’s childhood and a love letter to the women who raised him. Following the journey of a domestic worker in Mexico City named Cleo, the movie interweaves tales of personal tragedy and triumph amidst a backdrop of political upheaval and unrest.

Add To Netflix Queue

8. Taxi Driver (1982)

Run Time: 114 min | IMDb: 8.3/10

Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, and Cybill Shepherd star in this Martin Scorsese crime thriller about a veteran with mental health issues who works a night job, driving a taxi around New York City. De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a Vietnam war vet who moonlights as a cap driver to cope with his insomnia. During a long shift, he contemplates assassinating a politician to help out the woman he’s fallen in love with (Shepherd) and killing a pimp after befriending an underage prostitute (Foster). It’s a wild ride, full of darkly comedic moments, and an even more harrowing looks at the consequences of war.

Add To Netflix Queue

9. Magnolia (1999)

Run Time: 188 min | IMDb: 8/10

Paul Thomas Anderson’s complicated portrait of humanity, the joys, the failings, and the relationships that give our lives meaning, is not what we’d dub an easy watch. It’s long, full of storylines and characters that intersect and influence each other in a myriad of ways, and at one point, frogs begin falling from the sky. But it’s well-acted — Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman star — and beautifully written.

Add To Netflix

10. Ex Machina (2014)

Run Time: 108 min | IMDb: 7.7/10

Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller breathed new life into the tired A.I. trope when it landed in theaters a few years ago. The film focuses on a naïve young programmer (Domhnall Gleeson), who’s selected amongst a pool of applicants to evaluate a new A.I. life form. The poor kid is whisked away to a remote villa to spend time with the eerily-human-looking robot, Ava (Alicia Vikander), and her eccentric, often cruel creator Nathan (Oscar Isaac), a genius with an ego to match his talent. The film takes some twists you don’t expect, and Isaac gives cinema one of its greatest dance sequences, in case you needed more reason to watch.

Add To Netflix Queue

SKIP TO: #1-10 | #21-30 | #31-40 | #41-50

[else]
[/if]

11. Pan’s Labryinth (2006)

Run Time: 118 min | IMDb: 8.2/10

Guillermo Del Toro’s fantasy war epic focuses on a young girl named Ofelia, who grows up during a time of political unrest in her native Spain after a brutal Civil War ravages the country. Ofelia escapes the horrors committed by her stepfather when she accepts a challenge from a magical fairy, who believes her to be the reincarnation of Moanna, the princess of the underworld. If she completes three tasks, she’ll achieve immortality. The film is a play on folklore and fables from Del Toro’s youth, but there’s an undercurrent based in reality — the real cost of war — that grounds this film and makes it even more compelling.

12. Django Unchained (2012)

Run Time: 164 min | IMDb: 8.4/10

Another Quentin Tarantino classic, this violent visit back in time to America’s era of slavery carries major Western vibes and gives Lenoard DiCaprio a refreshing turn as the film’s big bad, a plantation owner named Calvin Candie. Tarantino favorite Christoph Waltz plays a German bounty hunter who teams up with Jamie Foxx’s Django, a former slave looking to free his wife (Kerry Washington) from Candie’s clutches. There’s a lot of gore and uncomfortable dialogue and over-the-top action, really, everything you’d expect, but DiCaprio, Waltz, and Foxx make it all worth it.

Add To Netflix Queue

13. Room (2015)

Run Time: 118 min | IMDb: 8.2/10

Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay star in this gripping drama about a mother and son held hostage for nearly a decade. The film, based off a work of fiction, pulls elements from real life trauma cases as it follows a woman named Joy (Larson) and her son Jack (Tremblay) who exists in a singular room, cut off from the outside world. The two plot an escape, are eventually rescued and must cope with the effects of their harrowing ordeal while adjusting to life outside of the room. Larson is deserving of every award she won for this thing, and her chemistry with Tremblay will have you grabbing for the tissues throughout the film.

Add To Netflix Queue

14. Inglorious Basterds (2009)

Run Time: 153 min | IMDb: 8.3/10

Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Christoph Waltz, and Eli Roth star in Quentin Tarantino’s imaginative World War II drama about a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers with a plan to assassinate Hitler. The film flip-flops between Pitt’s Southern-accented Lt. Aldo Raine’s mission to scalp Nazis and blow-up an exclusive event for SS officers in Paris and French actress Melanie Laurent, who plays a theater-owner with a devious plan of her own. It’s full of mesmerizing performances and Tarantino’s unique brand of humor — oh, and a lot of Nazi killing.

15. Minority Report (2002)

Run Time: 145 min | IMDb: 7.6/10

Steven Spielberg is the genius behind this mind-bending, futuristic crime drama starring Tom Cruise and Colin Farrell. Cruise plays John Anderton, a police chief in charge of a unit capable of arresting criminals before they commit their crimes thanks to a trio of psychics called “precogs.” When Anderton is identified as a future murderer, he goes on the run with one of the precogs and uncovers a deeper conspiracy that forces him (and us) to question the nature of free will.

Add To Netflix Queue

16. The Social Network (2010)

Run Time: 120 min | IMDb: 7.7/10

It’s hard not to watch this Aaron Sorkin-penned, David Fincher-directed masterpiece and have your viewing experience colored by Facebook, and founder Mark Zuckerberg’s, many political misdealings. Jesse Eisenberg plays the boy genius, an outcast whose brainchild is the product of a bad breakup and sexism. He partners with Andrew Garfield’s business-minded Eduardo Saverin and the two create the famous social networking site before Zuckerberg outs his friend and alienates himself. The story isn’t new, but watching it play out is still thrilling, mostly because Eisenberg is just so damn good at being a dick.

Add To Netflix Queue

17. Drive (2014)

Run Time: 100 min | IMDb: 7.8/10

A stone-faced Ryan Gosling steers us through the criminal underworld created by director Nicolas Winding Refn in this high-speed thriller. Gosling plays a near-silent stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway man. When he gets involved with his next-door neighbor and her young son, his carefully cultivated life is thrown into chaos, forcing him to align with criminals and take on risky jobs to protect the pair and keep a firm grip on the wheel.

Add To Netflix Queue

18. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Run Time: 99 min | IMDb: 7.8/10

The early aughts action-comedy borrows elements from famous Kung Fu films of the ’70s and pairs them with a completely ridiculous plot and some impressive cartoon-style fight sequences to produce a wholly original flick that we guarantee you’ll marvel at. The film follows the exploits of two friends, Sing and Bone, who impersonate gang members in the hopes of joining a gang themselves and inadvertently strike up a gang war that nearly destroys the slums of the city. Of course, the real draw here is the absurdist, over-the-top comedy that takes place during some of the film’s biggest action sequences. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, but only if you check your brain at the door.

Add To Netflix Queue

19. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Run Time: 103 min | IMDb: 7.8/10

You can’t think of classic ’80s teen comedies and not include Matthew Broderick’s rebellious school comedy in those musings. Broderick brought Ferris Bueller, a smart-mouthed kid with a flair for the dramatic, to life in this beloved movie that also stars Alan Ruck and Jennifer Grey. Bueller goes to extreme lengths to skip school with his best friend and girlfriend, leading them on an adventure that includes a musical parade in the city and a brush with the law. Being bad never looked so fun.

Add To Netflix Queue

20. The Lobster (2015)

Run Time: 119 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz star in this dark, absurdist comedy about a man searching for love under some very strange circumstances. Farrell plays David, a man whose wife recently left him. David is sent to a hotel where he’s told he must find a mate within 45 days or be turned into an animal. While there, David witnesses strange rituals and must follow strict rules in order to find love, but it’s not until he ventures into the woods, where the “loners” live, that he pairs up with a woman (Weisz) who may be his soulmate. It’s weird, eccentric, and the perfect Farrell-starring vehicle.

21. Steve Jobs (2015)

Run Time: 122 min | IMDb: 7.2/10

Add To Netflix Queue

22. Her (2013)

Run Time: 126 min | IMDb: 8/10

Spike Jonze imagines a world in which Artificial Intelligence can become something more than just a personal assistant program. Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore Twombly, a depressed introvert going through a divorce who starts up a relationship with an OS named Samantha. Things get serious before Theodore begins to realize that romance with an A.I. is more complicated than he thought. What follows is a thoughtful exploration of love, relationships, and the ways human beings find connection in a plugged-in world.

23. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Run Time: 149 min | IMDb: 8.5/10

We’re in the end game now. The Russo brothers return to direct the first of this two-part wrap-up. Josh Brolin plays the ultimate villain, a purple meat-head named Thanos, who’s insistent upon solving the Universe’s over-population problem. The film does a good job of giving fans some long-awaited pairings — Thor meets the Guardians of the Galaxy crew while Tony Stark and Doctor Strange square off — and it manages to fit its enormous, A-list cast into an over two-hour flick that never feels like it’s running too long.

Add To Netflix Queue

24. The Witch (2016)

Run Time: 92 min | IMDb: 6.8/10

Robert Eggers’ Sundance hit attracted some of the oddest complaints directed at any film in recent years when some disgruntled audience members suggested it wasn’t scary enough. Maybe they were watching a different movie? Set in colonial New England, the austere film follows a family outcast from their strict religious community and trying to make it on their own at the edge of some deep, dark woods. It essentially takes the witch-fearing folklore of the era at face value, watching the family disintegrate under the insidious influence of a nearby witch. It’s a slow-burn horror movie, light on shocks, heavy on unease, and thematically rich in ways that only become apparent later.

25. Moonlight (2016)

Run Time: 111 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight will always be remembered for winning the Academy Award for Best Picture after a mix-up that initially named La La Land as the winner. But that’s just an asterisk attached to a momentous coming-of-age story set over three eras in a young man’s life as he grows up in Miami, grappling with the sexuality he feels will make him even more of an outcast while searching for guidance that his drug-addicted mother (Naomie Harris) can’t provide. The film is both lyrical and moving and won justifiable acclaim for its talented cast, including a Best Supporting Actor award for Mahershala Ali as a sympathetic drug dealer.

Add To Netflix Queue

26. Marriage Story (2019)

Run Time: 136 min | IMDb: 8.1/10

Noah Baumbach’s star-studded divorce drama is pure Oscar bait, but in the best way. The film takes a look at messy breakups with Scarlett Johansson playing an actress and mother named Nicole, who is intent on separating from her stage director husband Charlie (Adam Driver). Laura Dern and Ray Liotta play their hard-hitting lawyers, who don’t help in diffusing the tension and resentment building between the pair when Nicole moves herself and their son across the country. It’s an intimate look at the emotional wreckage of a divorce and the struggle to put a family back together again, and it’s carried by some brilliant performances by Driver and Johansson.

27. The King’s Speech (2010)

Run Time: 118 min | IMDb: 8/10

Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter star in this British period flick that follows the impromptu and unexpected ascension of King George VI. Firth plays the king in question, a man thrust into a leadership role while trying to overcome a career-impeding stutter and break free from the shadow of his older brother. Rush plays an Australian speech therapist tasked with helping the king overcome his stutter, and his unorthodox methods cause a stir among the royal household. Firth is terrific as always and watching both him and Rush bounce off each other makes up the best this film has to offer.

29. Catfish (2010)

Run Time: 87 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

Before he scored his own MTV show, filmmaker Nev Schulman was exposing cons on the internet in this documentary, that basically introduces the term “catfish” to the cultural lexicon. The film captures Nev’s growing online-only friendship with a young woman and her family, exposing the secrets and lies they’re keeping along the way and reminding us all: you really can’t trust people.

Add To Netflix Queue

30. I Lost My Body (2019)

Run Time: 81 min | IMDb: 7.6/10

This beautifully animated French fantasy film follows the story of a young man named Naoufel, or rather, his hand which has been severed from his body and spends most of the film escaping labs and trying to get back to its owner. The film flits between the past and present, watching Naoufel’s life unfold from a young orphan to an accidental carpenter’s apprentice — which is how he lost his appendage — all while exploring themes of love, loss, and destiny.

31. Y Tu Mama También (2002)

Run Time: 106 min | IMDb: 7.7/10

After a stint in Hollywood, Alfonso Cuarón returned to Mexico for this story of two privileged high school boys (Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal) who road trip with an older woman (Maribel Verdú) in search of an unspoiled stretch of beach. In the process, they discover freedom like they’d never imagined — and maybe more freedom than they can handle. Cuarón’s stylish film plays out against the backdrop of Mexican political upheaval and plays with notions of upturning the established order on scales both large and small, all the while suggesting that no paradise lasts forever.

Add To Netflix Queue

32. Groundhog Day (1993)

Run Time: 101 min | IMDb: 8/10

Bill Murray has some great comedies living on his resumé, but few are as iconic, or at least, well-loved as Groundhog Day. That’s because watching Murray play a surly weather-man forced to relive the same day over and over again is basically a comedy goldmine of a plot. At first, Phil (Murray) enjoys the time loop, binge-drinking, filming some half-hearted news segments in a hick town in Pennsylvania, having one-night stands, etc, but eventually, he realizes that in order to escape his never-ending bed-and-breakfast hell, he’s got to better himself, not an easy task.

33. Mudbound (2017)

Run Time: 134 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

Netflix spent much of 2017 trying to establish itself as an alternative to movie theaters as a place to find quality new films. The results were mostly strong, and none stronger than Mudbound, Dee Rees’ story of two families — one white and one black — sharing the same Mississippi land in the years before and after World War II. Rees combines stunning images, compelling storytelling, and the work of a fine cast (that includes Jason Mitchell, Carey Mulligan, Garett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, and Mary J. Blige) to unspool a complex tale about the forces the connect black and white Americans and the slow-to-die injustices that keep them apart.

Add To Netflix Queue

34. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Run Time: 117 min | IMDb: 8.0/10

Matthew McConaughey’s Dallas Buyer Club is a searing look at how the world failed the LGBTQ community during the devastating AIDS crisis. McConaughey stars as Ron Woodruff, a man diagnosed with the disease in the 80s during a time when the illness was still misunderstood and highly stigmatized. Woodruff went against the FDA and the law to smuggle in drugs to help those suffering from the disease, establishing a “Dallas Buyers Club” and fighting in court to the right to aid those in need. The story is all the more powerful because it’s true and McConaughey delivers one of the best performances of his career as Woodruff, a man who changes his entire outlook on life after being dealt a tragic blow.

Add To Netflix Queue

35. Snowpiercer (2013)

Run Time: 126 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

Chris Evans stars in this sci-fi thriller from auteur Bong Joon-ho. The film, set years into the future following a devastating ice age caused by mankind, follows Evans’ Curtis who lives in poverty on a train that continuously circles the Earth and contains all that remains of human life. Curtis is part of the “scum” that the people relegated to the back of the train while the “elite” enjoy the privilege of wealth and status that comes with living in the front. Curtis sparks a rebellion that ends in bloodshed and a devastating reveal when he makes it to the train’s engine room and discovers just how the elite have been fueling their operation. It’s a dark, grimy action piece that should give fans a new appreciation for Evans’ talent.

36. Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013)

Run Time: 179 min | IMDb: 7.8/10

When this French coming-of-age drama premiere in 2013 it sparked plenty of controversies. The film centers on a blooming romance between a naïve teenager named Adele and her free-spirited lover, Emma. Praised for painting an honest portrait of a lesbian romance on screen while also scrutinized for its sometimes graphic sexual content, the film marked a turning point in how the LGBTQ community was represented on film and gave people a heartbreaking look at a young woman discovering herself and her sexual identity in an unforgiving world.

Add To Netflix Queue

37. Elizabeth (1998)

Run Time: 124 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

Cate Blanchett plays the famous monarch in this period piece that charts her earliest days on the throne. Blanchett’s Elizabeth is a young woman being held prisoner by her older sister, the current Queen, before wearing the crown when that woman dies. She must contend with the political machinations of older men in her court, a religious uprising, and the scandal of having a married lover and yet not taking a husband for her own. It’s really the best kind of British drama.

38. It Comes At Night (2017)

Run Time: 86 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

Writer/director Trey Edward Shults followed up his unnerving family portrait in 2015’s Krisha with a look at another family under the most desperate of circumstances. After an unknown illness has wiped out most of civilization, a number of threats — both seen and unseen — come for a family held up in their home out in the wilderness. It’s a subtle, dream-like tale that stars Joel Edgerton and Christopher Abbot as two patriarchs intent on keeping their families safe, no matter the cost.

Add To Netflix Queue

39. Frances Ha (2012)

Run Time: 86 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

Before Greta Gerwig was directed Oscar-nominated coming-of-age dramas, she was writing and starring in this black-and-white dramedy about a young woman also trying to find her way in the professional dance world of New York City. Gerwig is magnetic in the titular role of Frances, a dancer dissatisfied with her career prospects and forced to contemplate a move to Tribeca on the whim of her best friend and roommate. That trek across Manhattan serves as a jumping off point for Frances, who travels home, then to France, before settling in Washington Heights on her journey to self-discovery.

Add To Netflix Queue

40. Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Run Time: 118 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

Look, it’s hard to keep track of the Marvel Universe timeline so we’re not going to explain where Ant-Man and the Wasp fits into the grander scheme of this blockbuster monopoly. The only thing you really need to know about this action flick, which sees Paul Rudd returning to play the shrinking superhero and Evangeline Lily playing his partner in fighting crime, is that it’s a hell of a fun watch. Rudd returns to the character more seasoned in the superhero verse and thus, more comfortable with his leading man status, but he benefits greatly from a team-up with Lily and a well-written script.

Add To Netflix Queue

41. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

This classic Western starring Clint Eastwood follows the adventures of a stiff-lipped bounty hunter, a sociopathic mercenary, and a fast-talking Mexican bandit. The trio is connected by a grave full of gold, a few near executions, and a lot of bad blood. Highway robberies, assassination attempts, and a famous Mexican standoff make this a worthy entry on the action flicks list, plus it’s one of Eastwood’s most iconic roles.

42. Cloverfield (2008)

Run Time: 85 min | IMDb: 7/10

Disappointing sequels aside, the original installment in J.J. Abrams’ Cloverfield trilogy remains one of the greatest works of found-footage in the history of film. Most of that is because the narrative style lends itself to the tension, chaos, and horror of fleeing a monster destroying New York City. The film follows a group of friends caught in the bedlam after a Godzilla-like creature begins attacking the Big Apple. While trying to save each other and make it out of the city before the bombs drop, the friends document their journey. The directing by Matt Reeves is superb, almost too good, because you often feel a part fo the action, for better and worse.

Add To Netflix Queue

43. The Hateful Eight (2015)

Run Time: 167 min | IMDb: 7.8/10

It seems almost perverse to think about watching The Hateful Eight at home, given how big a deal Quentin Tarantino made of its 70mm format at the time of its release. And while it looks great on the big screen it’s not like that’s an option right now. And, in some ways, the film feels just at home on the small screen, since it’s at heart a chamber mystery that brings together a collection of unsavory characters (Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh among them) as mystery and murder unfold in their ranks.

Add To Netflix Queue

44. Green Room (2015)

Run Time: 95 min | IMDb: 7/10

When a punk rock group accidentally witnesses the aftermath of a murder, they are forced to fight for their lives by the owner of a Nazi bar (Patrick Stewart) and his team. It’s an extremely brutal and violent story, much like the first two features from director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin and Murder Party), but this one is made even tenser by its claustrophobic cat-and-cornered-mouse nature. Once the impending danger kicks in, it doesn’t let up until the very end, driven heavily by Stewart playing against type as a harsh, unforgiving, calculating character.

45. The Two Popes (2019)

Run Time: 125 min | IMDb: 7.6/10

Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce play off each other in this fictionalized comedy about two of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church. Hopkins plays Pope Benedict XVI near the end of his tenure as he struggles with the disillusionment of his role and his faith. Pryce plays Cardinal Bergoglio (who would later become Pope Francis) who’s also going through a crisis of faith and wishes to leave his post. What follows is two hours of two of the greatest actors paling around with each other, delivering some laughs as they get deep about the philosophical leanings of these two great men.

Add To Netflix Queue

46. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Run Time: 122 min | IMDb: 7.7/10

Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star in this drama that’s equal parts rom-com and a harrowing look at mental illness. Cooper plays Pat Solitano, a former high school teacher who recently completed a stint at a mental institution. Things aren’t going well for Pat. He’s moved back in with his overbearing parents (a wickedly-funny Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver), his now ex-wife cheated on him, he doesn’t get along with his therapist, and he’s operating under the delusion that if he gets fit and gets his sh*t together, he can get his wife back. Lawrence plays Tiffany, a young woman with problems of her own. She’s depressed after the death of her husband and prefers sex with strangers to drown the pain. The two strike up a friendship that pushes both to their mental and emotional limits. It’s a messy, complicated love story, which makes for a nice change of pace if sappy-sweet rom-coms just aren’t doing it for you.

47. Mystic River (2003)

Run Time: 138 min | IMDb: 7.9/10

Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, and Tim Robbins star in this heartbreaking drama about a group of high school friends, whose lives are shattered following a terrible family tragedy. The men have reunited after years apart after the daughter of one, Jimmy (Penn) is murdered, and another member of the group, Dave (Robbins) is suspected of the killing. Sean (Bacon) is a detective investigating the case as the story takes unpredictable, often frustrating twists and turns before revealing the truth of what happened.

Add To Netflix Queue

48. Burning (2018)

Run Time: 148 min | IMDb: 7.6/10

Walking Dead alum Steven Yeun stars this psychological thriller from South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong. Yeun plays Ben, a rich millennial with a mysterious job who connects with a woman named Shin Hae-mi on a trip to Africa. The two journey back home together where Ben meets Shin’s friend/lover Lee Jong-su. The three hang-out regularly, with Lee growing more jealous of Ben’s wealth and privilege while he’s forced to manage his father’s farm when his dad goes to prison. But it’s when Shin disappears, and Lee suspects Ben’s involvement, that things really go off the rails.

Add To Netflix Queue

49. Hell or High Water (2016)

Run Time: 102 min | IMDb: 7.6/10

Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges star in this neo-Western crime thriller about a pair of brothers who go on a bank-robbing spree to save their family’s ranch. Pine plays Toby, a down-on-his-luck father struggling to live right under mountains of inherited debt while Foster plays Tanner, his ex-con brother who has a wild streak that often endangers the two men on their jobs. Bridges is the aging sheriff tasked with bringing them to justice but his job is made harder by the locals, who have no love for the bank chain the boys are stealing from. It’s a gritty, unapologetic tale of a forgotten America brought to life by some brilliant performances and an impressive script from Taylor Sheridan.

Add To Netflix Queue

50. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)

Run Time: 100 min | IMDb: 8/10

This coming-of-age indie is based on a beloved book, but if fans were worried that the story of a depressed teenager who finds friends and a sense of belonging in a group of lovable misfits wouldn’t translate on screen, they shouldn’t have been too concerned. Stephen Chbosky wrote the novel, but he also penned the screenplay and directed this flick, which sees Logan Lerman play Charlie, the social outcast, and Emma Watson play Sam, the alt-pixie-dream girl he falls for. Everyone’s good in this, but it’s Ezra Miller’s Patrick who really stands out.

Recent Changes Through April 2020:
Removed: Rosemary’s Baby, The Shawshank Redemption, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Blade Runner, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, GoodFellas
Added: The Witch, Django Unchained, Catfish, Taxi Driver, Silver Linings Playbook, Steve Jobs

Fans have spent much of 2020 thus far wondering when Drake would release his untitled forthcoming sixth album, but at least he’s been keeping his fans at bay by releasing new tracks. There’s been “Toosie Slide,” “Desires,” featuring Future and, back in late February, he shared a double single: “When They Say When/Chicago Freestyle.” Now he’s announced that those tracks will be a part of another project entirely, called Dark Lane Demo Tapes.

The project will have 14 songs and will feature appearances from Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Fivio Foreign, the aforementioned Future, and more. In a post to his Instagram page, Drake said, “My brothers @oliverelkhatib @ovonoel put together alot of the songs people have been asking for (some leaks and some joints from SoundCloud and some new vibes).” He also promised a summer release for his forthcoming sixth album saying, “6th STUDIO ALBUM DROPPING SUMMER 2020!!! Lucky number 6.”

The announcement of Dark Lane Demo Tapes arrived just a day after Drake celebrated the four-year anniversary of his 2016 album Views with footage of him recording “Feel No Ways” from the album.

Check out the Instagram post above to see the tracklist for Dark Lane Demo Tapes.

Dark Lane Demo Tapes is out 05/01 via OVO Sound.

---

View Entire Post ›