Why you should watch: A double winner at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in 2024, this bold genre-bending drama celebrates womanhood and those with the audacity to make change. Mixing the hot topic of transgender identity with Mexican drug cartels, plus song and dance is an incredibly ambitious endeavour, but nonetheless one acclaimed by top critics, with Vanity Fair calling it “sincere, sentimental filmmaking” that “proves wholly winning”.

Available November 13

Why you should watch: Spellbound boasts the kind of creative talent that almost can’t not produce a hit. The all-star production team includes Shrek director Vicky Jenson, heavyweight Disney composer Alan Menken and his The Little Mermaid and Tangled collaborator lyricist Glenn Slater. The voice acting cast are pretty much all household names - Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow… the list goes on.

Available November 22

Why you should watch: This is producer Denzel Washington’s third adaptation of one of Wilson’s works, after Fences (2016) and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), both of which were critically-acclaimed. It is a thought-provoking examination of the meaning of legacy, how the past and present intertwine, and one’s ability to affect the future.

Available November 22

Why you should watch: Despite the vital work of embryonic nurse Jean Purdy towards the birth of IVF, she died young and her contributions were largely ignored by history until the 2010s. This film seeks to tell the real story, and explores Purdy as the true driving force behind the research, which she carried out while caring for her mother (Joanna Scanlan). This is a human-led account of an historical breakthrough that has helped shape modern society for the better.

Available November 22

Why you should watch: The film is based on spine-chilling true events, highlighting the audacious actions of a killer without a conscience. Zovatto is eerie as Alcala, while Kendrick is all-too relatable as the single woman who senses her date isn’t the perfect match. The Guardian was full of praise for her directorial debut last year, praising how the 39-year-old has a “knack for building suspense”. Woman of the Hour is an impressive debut from Kendrick - and will leave you tense and uncomfortable throughout.

Available October 18

Why you should watch: Rebel Ridge only came out in September, but it has already cemented itself as one of the best new films currently on Netflix. With a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this action thriller has been widely praised in the few weeks it's been out, with Pierre's performance hinting at huge future success. It's good versus evil, a thriller with a conscience, and it's more nuanced than your average action film.

Available now

Why you should watch: Hitman proved to be something of a hit - pardon the pun - when it came out last year. Glen Powell's performance received critical acclaim, with Rotten Tomatoes heralding the movie an "outstanding showcase" for the star. It's loosely based on the true story of Gary Johnson, so plenty to google while watching. The Richard Linklater comedy isn't reinventing the wheel, but it works just fine if you want to disengage-brain for two hours.

Available now

Why you should watch: If you're a fan of Godzilla films, then this is a must-watch. Godzilla Minus One was nominated for 128 awards following its release, winning 63, including an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. It's also considered one of the best films of 2023, and one of the best Godzilla films of all time. As The Guardian said at the time: "This latest contribution to the franchise is one of the very best. It's up there with the original 1954 film."

Available now

Why you should watch: In 2019, Parasite became the first non-English film to ever win Best Picture at the Oscars. And it deserved all the accolades. The original - and quite bonkers! - script will make you laugh just as much as it'll make you cry, and will keep you entertained throughout. It has been described as a "tragicomic masterclass that will get under your skin" (The Guardian). Unmissable.

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Why you should watch: If you've seen 1986's Top Gun, then you need to watch this sequel. Not only does it live up to the original, but many are of the opinion that it surpasses it, which is no easy feat! It's full of action, but with an emotional heart too - and it's got planes flying really fast - come on! Top Gun: Maverick was a smash hit at the box office, bringing in over $1.4 billion during its run. Some even believe that it saved the cinema industry, which was on its knees following the pandemic.

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Why you should watch: Both Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davies were nominated for Oscars for their performances in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. With a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, this 2020 hit has been described as having "a detonation of acting firepower" (The Guardian) on show. Well worth the price of admission just to watch two powerhouse performances.

Available now

Why you should watch: If you want to watch a horror that will leave you deeply uncomfortable, then look no further than Get Out. A tense, disturbing watch that will make you want to see it again just so you can catch all the hints and twists you missed the first time around. A star turn from British actor Daniel Kaluuya, this film which holds a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated for 218 awards, winning 88, including an Oscar. It's the thinking man's horror, with a deeply unsettling moral message.

Available now

Why you should watch: This is a difficult watch at times, but well, well worth it. Featuring star turns from Ejofor and Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave was released to widespread acclaim 11 years ago, winning three Oscars. The film is so iconic that the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" - perhaps the highest honour a film could receive.

Available now

Why you should watch: Easily one of the best war films of all time, 1917 is unique in the fact that director Sam Mendes decided to have the film appear as two continuous shots. It's a masterpiece in film-making, and features some gripping, harrowing action set pieces. But it's not all explosions and fighting. The viewer goes through an emotional rollercoaster alongside main character Lance Corporal Schofield. 1917 was nominated for 10 Oscars, winning three. It has 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Why you should watch: This unsettling horror movie features "genuine scares through every corridor" according to Rotten Tomatoes. With a 100% score, this is currently the highest-rated film on the website. As The Guardian said: "British writer-director Remi Weekes has constructed a horror film that takes the overstuffed and overfamiliar haunted house sub-genre and briefly revitalises it." A must-watch for horror buffs.

Available now

Why you should watch: Even if you don't know the story of Rudy Ray Moore, you should watch this for Eddie Murphy's performance alone. The actor was nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal. The movie was so good that Time magazine named it in their top 10 films of the year. It currently has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Available now

Why you should watch: Don't let the fact that this is animated put you off. Grave of the Fireflies is globally regarded. It was a hit in Japan when it was first released, and has grown in reputation in the West in the years since. New York Times critic Glenn Kenny called it "one of the most startling and moving animated films ever".

Available now

Why should you watch: Why shouldn't you? The Harry Potter movies are perhaps the most iconic films of all time and have left a lasting legacy. There's even a TV series coming in the future. It's one of those franchises that probably won't ever be successfully rebooted, due to the legendary status of the originals. Magic, mayhem, and monsters are to be found in every one of these spellbinding movies. And if you've already seen them, what's the harm in rewatching them again and again and again?

Available now

Why you should watch: Mudbound proved to be a critical success when it was released back in 2017, picking up four Oscar nominations after hitting screens. As a critic from Time magazine wrote: "There's not a minute in Mudbound that doesn't feel deeply felt and believable." A truly intimate epic, with an unforgettable cast.

Available now

Why you should watch: Five words - Scorcese, De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci. It's three titans of acting working with one of the best directors in cinema history. Unsurprisingly, The Irishman was nominated for 10 Oscars following its release. The National Board of Review also placed it in their list of Top 10 Films of 2019. It currently has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the lengthy run-time, you won't regret watching this one.

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Why you should watch: It might be a tearjerker, but Driver and Johansson's performances are absolutely mesmerising in this movie. So much so, that they were both nominated for Oscars in 2020. British GQ described it as "a film of heartwarming comedy and the bleak destruction of a legal separation". Marriage Story will undoubtedly break your heart. It has a rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Available now

Why should you watch: It's slick, it's funny, it's full of action, and has a big shoot-out. It's also considered to be one of the best films of not only Pegg and Frost's careers, but of the 21st century in general. A modern British classic, Hot Fuzz is still highly regarded all these years later, and has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Available now

Why should you watch: Uncut Gems is the film that proved Adam Sandler is more than just a comedy guy. It's largely considered to be his best work - which is high praise indeed for the man whose flicks include Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, and The Wedding Singer. Uncut was also placed in the National Board of Review's top 10 films of 2019. Adam Sandler films can be pretty hit or miss, but this one is most definitely a hit. Don't expect many laughs though, this is most definitely a pretty dark thriller.

Available now

Why you should watch: Widely regarded as one of the best films of all time, if you haven’t already seen this movie, where have you been?! Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are magic as Jack and Rose, the musical score is mesmerising, the drama is heartbreaking, and My Heart Will Go On still gives us chills, some 30 years on. Titanic won 11 Oscars in 1998 for good reason - and its legacy is well-earned. A film you simply have to see at least once in your life.

Available now