Another weekend at the box office has come and gone with little to write home about. Despite the instant success of Dan Trachtenberg‘s Predator: Badlands, which earned $80 million worldwide in its first three days, the rest of the current theatrical line-up continues to disappoint. Underwhelming arrivals for the likes of Sydney Sweeney‘s new sports biopic Christy and the Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson-led Die My Love compound the frustration felt by the likes of Tron: Ares and more over recent weeks. Thankfully, the current streaming slate is far from underwhelming, with plenty of options for you to enjoy from your own home. With that in mind, here’s a list of three movies you should watch on Netflix this week.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
3
‘In the Heights’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.2/10
Later this month, the eyes of the film-loving world will be on the hotly anticipated Wicked: For Good. To get you in the mood already, why not try one of director Jon M. Chu‘s previous musical projects, In the Heights? Set in Washington Heights, the movie documents the dream-chasing bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) as he spends his days yearning for and singing about a better life.
If you liked Wicked, you’ll love In the Heights. A toe-tapping ode to pop music featuring a brilliant selection of songs, In the Heights is rip-roaring fun from start to finish. However, it’s also much more than simply a few great songs, with this touching central story of the magnetic Usnavi sure to keep you gripped throughout. This weekend, you’ll want to sit back, get comfortable, and turn the volume up on the perfect appetizer before the Wicked sequel everyone’s talking about.
2
‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.3/10
October might be over, but why should you give up on the horror genre? Released as a direct sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows a now-adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor), who, as a result of the horrors he experienced as a child, has turned to alcohol like his father. Now using his supernatural abilities for good, Danny’s life is changed when he encounters the mysterious Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran), a young girl with even stronger abilities than his.
One of the most underrated Stephen King adaptations currently streaming, Doctor Sleep is both a gripping psychological horror and an intense discussion about addiction and recovery. Taking over the story from the legendary Stanley Kubrick is Mike Flanagan, one of the best horror directors in modern cinema, and the perfect man for this sequel. In two-and-a-half hours, Flanagan crafts a beautifully terrifying atmosphere that suitably follows up Kubrick’s iconic first movie.
1
‘Frances Ha’ (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.4/10
One of the best and worst aspects of Netflix is the constant revolving door of titles. As beloved movies leave, great ones arrive, with one of the best new November arrivals coming in the form of Frances Ha. Starring Greta Gerwig and directed by her husband, Noah Baumbach, the movie follows the former as the titular Frances, a woman living in New York and struggling to find her place. As an apprentice for a dance company, Frances decides to chase her performing dreams, even if they seem less attainable by the day.
Boasting one of Gerwig’s best performances before she transitioned into an acclaimed director, Frances Ha is the sort of stylistic, critically acclaimed tale that is also accessible to a wider audience. A beautiful story that weaves seamlessly through the life of an eccentric central character, Frances Ha is both visually stunning and emotionally moving.
- Release Date
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May 17, 2013
- Runtime
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86 Minutes
- Director
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Noah Baumbach
- Producers
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Noah Baumbach, Rodrigo Teixeira, Scott Rudin, Lila Yacoub