Best films on Netflix in October 2024

Whether it's romance you're after, or a hard-hitting thriller, an old classic, or a new release, here's tvguide.co.uk's rundown of the best films on Netflix in October 2024...

Woman of the Hour

Drama | Crime | Mystery

2024 | Anna Kendrick | 89 mins

Summary:The film Woman of the Hour is a crime thriller based on the scary true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala. Unbelievably, he appeared on national television after murdering five women. Woman of the Hour follows him as he appears on The Dating Game, where he manages to win a date with a young woman called Cheryl Bradshaw – who soon realizes something isn’t right. Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick plays Cheryl (and directs), while It Follows actor Daniel Zovatto portrays serial killer Alcala.

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

Rebel Ridge

Crime | Action | Thriller | Drama

2024 | Jeremy Saulnier | 132 mins | 15

Summary:This new movie, which is exclusive to Netflix, follows a former marine as he confronts corruption in a small town. When law enforcement find any excuse to seize the bag of money he needs to post his cousin's bail, he goes to dramatic - and understandable - lengths to get it back. It stars British actor Aaron Pierre, as well as Hollywood stars Don Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb.

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

Hit Man

Crime | Comedy | Romance

2023 | Richard Linklater | 116 mins

Summary:Hollywood's new favourite leading man, Glen Powell stars as a mild-mannered college professor who moonlights as a fake hitman for the police. However, when he's tasked with helping a woman escape an abusive relationship, he must put all the skills hes learned in his fake role as a hitman to the test to survive…

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

Godzilla Minus One

Science Fiction | Horror | Action

2023 | Takashi Yamazaki | 124 mins | 12A

Summary:Godzilla Minus One is yet another film focusing on the world-famous Juggernaut kaiju, but arguably one of the better ones. This Japanese-language instalment of the franchise is set in post-war Japan, and follows a former kamikaze pilot as he battles PTSD following an encounter with Godzilla. As with all good Godzilla movies, a thrilling battle between the giant creature and humans commences...

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

Parasite

Comedy | Thriller | Drama

2019 | Bong Joon-ho | 133 mins | 15

Summary:Korean-language comedy-drama Parasite tells the story of a poor family living in the slums of Seoul. When the father, Kim Ki-taek, is hired to be the chauffeur of a wealthy family, the Kim family's fortunes take a turn. Soon, the family find a way into the same household and begin living a parasitic life there…

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.

Available now

Top Gun: Maverick

Action | Drama

2022 | Joseph Kosinski | 131 mins

Summary:The sequel to 80s hit Top Gun sees Tom Cruise's Capt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell return to face his past. The aging pilot is tasked with training a group of young Top Gun mavericks, including the son of his dead best friend Goose. Glen Powell and Miles Teller star alongside movie behemoth Cruise in this action hit.

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.

Available now

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Drama | Music

2020 | George C. Wolfe | 94 mins | 15

Summary:Inspired by the real-life American singer Ma Rainey, this movie chronicles tensions rising during a turbulent Blues recording session in 1920s Chicago. Starring Viola Davies in the title role, this Oscar-winning movie also features the late Chadwick Boseman in his final film role before his death in 2020.

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

Get Out

Mystery | Thriller | Horror

2017 | Jordan Peele | 104 mins | 15

Summary:Jordan Peele's directorial debut, Get Out tells the story of a young black man (Daniel Kaluuya) who goes to meet his white girlfriend's family for the first time. However, he soon uncovers some shocking secrets about them and their disturbing friends during his harrowing visit…

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

12 Years a Slave

Drama | History

2013 | Steve McQueen | 134 mins | 15

Summary:Solomon is a free African-American, living in New York in 1841. However, when he is captured by two con men, he is sold into slavery and forced to work at a plantation in Louisiana for 12 years. A moving , harrowing drama based on a true story, starring Chiwetel Ejofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Lupita Nyong’o.

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

1917

War | History | Thriller

2019 | Sam Mendes | 119 mins | 15

Summary:A war film depicted in two continuous shots that follows a young soldier (George MacKay) as he's tasked with delivering a vital message to another battalion, risking his life in the process. A race against time, the message could save the lives of 1,500 soldiers, as well as his brothers….

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.

Available now

His House

Horror | Thriller

2020 | Remi Weekes | 93 mins

Summary:Vera's Wunmi Mosaku and Slow Horses' Sope Dirisu star as a refugee couple who escape war-torn Sudan - only to end up in a British village where something seriously evil lurks beneath the surface. Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star Matt Smith also features in this creepy horror, directed by

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

Dolemite Is My Name

Drama | Comedy | History

2019 | Craig Brewer | 118 mins

Summary:A biographical comedy featuring a star turn from Eddie Murphy. He stars as comedian and singer Rudy Ray Moore who, during his stand-up performances and movies, portrayed a character called Dolemite. This 2019 movie chronicles Moore's adoption of his unrestrained alter-ego as he guns for a shot at Hollywood.

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

Grave of the Fireflies

Animation | Drama | War

1988 | Isao Takahata | 89 mins | 12A

Summary:An animated Japanese-language film, Grave of the Fireflies chronicles the lives of two orphans as they try to survive in the final few months of the Pacific War during WWII. Based on a semi-autobiographical short story of the same name, it was made by well-known Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli.

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

Life of Brian

Comedy

1979 | Terry Jones | 94 mins | 15

Summary:Jewish man Brian was born on the same day as - and next door to - Jesus Christ, and is mistaken to be the Messiah. To make matters worse for Brian, the harder he tries to prove that he isn’t the son of God, the more the people believe that he is. The Monty Python group's third, and arguably its most iconic, film.

Why you should watch: So risky at the time, Life of Brian was actually banned in Norway for being blasphemous! As well as proving to be highly controversial at the time, the film was an instant hit, and has remained so over the past five decades. Widely regarded as one of the best comedy films of all time, Life of Brian is unmissable if you're a fan of whimsical satires - or just a fan of Monty Python in general. A true comedy for the ages.

Available now

The Harry Potter Films

Adventure | Fantasy

2001 | Chris Columbus | 152 mins | PG

Summary:Everyone alive must surely know the story of Harry Potter. A boy wizard, he takes on the forces of evil to save the wizarding world, all while juggling school work at the magnificent Hogwarts. The films, which launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione from their first year in Hogwarts in The Philosopher's Stone to their devastating final battle against Voldemort in The Deathly Hallows Part 2.

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

Mudbound

Drama

2017 | Dee Rees | 135 mins | 15

Summary:This historical drama tells the story of two World War II veterans, one white, one black, as they return home to Mississippi. Once there, they both are forced to deal with PTSD and racism in their own way. Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke and Rob Morgan star in this moving drama.

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

The Irishman

Crime | Drama | History

2019 | Martin Scorsese | 209 mins

Summary:This epic Martin Scorsese gangster drama features an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. De Niro portrays a truck driver who becomes a hitman when he gets involved with a mobster and his crime family. A mammoth film, it runs at close to three and a half hours long.

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.

Available now

Marriage Story

Drama

2019 | Noah Baumbach | 137 mins

Summary:Marriage Story is a hard-hitting drama starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as a couple going through a heartbreaking divorce. Their coast-to-coast split is complicated by custody issues surrounding their young son.

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

Hot Fuzz

Crime | Action | Comedy

2007 | Edgar Wright | 121 mins | 15

Summary:The second film in Edgar Wright's Cornetto Trilogy, Simon Pegg portrays a London police officer who gets transferred to a quiet village in the country. Joined by a hapless local bobby played by (real life best friend) Nick Frost, the comedy duo uncover a sinister conspiracy taking place in Sandford. Timothy Dalton, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, and Bill Bailey also appear amongst a star-studded cast.

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

Uncut Gems

Drama | Thriller | Crime

2019 | Benny Safdie | 136 mins | 15

Summary:Funny man Adam Sandler plays a charismatic jeweller who places the bet of a lifetime. If it works out, it could change his life forever. Joining Sandler in this crime thriller are the likes of Julia Fox and Idina Menzel.

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

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy

1975 | Terry Jones | 91 mins | 12A

Summary:A satirical take on Arthurian legends, the Monty Python crew - in their second cinema outing - bring to life King Arthur and his knights of the round table. The film follows them on their hilarious journey as they're tasked by God himself to find the missing Holy Grail.

Why should you watch: Almost 50 years on, and The Holy Grail is just as funny (and naughty) now as it was then. If you want something where you can just sit back and laugh and laugh and laugh, then this is the film for you. There's a reason why it's still considered to be one of the greatest comedy films of all time.

Available now

Titanic

Drama | Romance

1997 | James Cameron | 194 mins | 12

Summary:The Titanic's maiden voyage. Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) has a first-class ticket, while Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) has managed to snag a third-class ticket in a poker game. During the ship's doomed crossing from Southampton to New York, the unlikely couple fall in love, in this epic classic from James Cameron.

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

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