Netflix has added a ton of new movies for the month of April, but these six flicks should go straight to the top of your must-watch list. The constant turnover is the best and worst part of the modern streaming landscape, and each new month means dozens of films and shows come and go from Netflix and other streamers.
While this puts unnecessary pressure on subscribers to watch as much as possible before the end of the month, it also opens the door for new discoveries every few weeks. Netflix isn’t just a home for old content, and they also carry up-to-the-minute movies that have just come out of theaters. Furthermore, they produce many excellent original films as well.
The best new movies on Netflix for April are a healthy mix of all three, with some classics, some new releases, and even some Netflix originals making the list. April is a major turnover month for Netflix, and as dozens of things leave the platform, dozens more join the catalog for a limited time.
The list features something for every type of movie fan, and almost every genre is represented. The best new movies this month are star-studded, and each has blockbuster qualities that make them necessary viewing. Even though the cost of Netflix continues to rise, these movies more than make up for the monthly subscription fee.
Anaconda (2025)
Anaconda is fresh off its theatrical run where it snagged $135 million against a $45 million budget, and it joined the Netflix catalog in late March. The ridiculous comic romp borrows the name from the cheesy ’90s monster flick, but takes things in an entirely different direction. The movie banks on the charisma of Paul Rudd and Jack Black.
Thankfully, the comic icons work perfectly together, and Anaconda has more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. Critics pooh-poohed the comedy as they almost always do, but it’s so much better than its lackluster Rotten Tomatoes score reveals. There’s a charming nostalgic quality to the film that hearkens back to a bygone era of cinema.
With mainstream comedy effectively extinct, Anaconda is a rare specimen indeed. It’s not the greatest film ever made, but it does exactly what big-budget comedies set out to do. It’s never boring, and is an ideal movie for streaming on Netflix because it can be watched over and over again with the touch of a button.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026)
Four years after the beloved series ended, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man continued the story in a feature-length film. Reassembling a lot of the classic cast for a finale of sorts, the Peaky Blinders movie has been a divisive addition to the soon-to-be burgeoning franchise. Unfortunately, there was no way to keep everyone happy while delivering a quality film.
Cillian Murphy is electric as always, and The Immortal Man is a must-watch for those who enjoyed the series. It isn’t recommended for newcomers, at least until they’ve seen the rest of the series. There is an oppressive dourness to the story that is entirely intentional, even if it isn’t exactly what many die-hard fans expected.
Putting that aside, The Immortal Man is a great addition to Netflix’s catalog. It’s the sort of high-class entertainment that the streamer is known for producing on occasion, and it will likely be better regarded once some of the heat has died down. It might not land every punch, but it is certainly better for taking a few swings.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
If one is looking for a shot of action-packed nostalgia, Netflix has just added the first five films in the Mission: Impossible franchise. The 1996 debut flick introduces Tom Cruise as the incomparable Ethan Hunt, and the high-tension thriller still excites three decades later. It’s reaching a point where a new generation is just discovering the series.
There is a quaintness to Mission: Impossible when it is compared to its later sequels, but with that quaintness comes a charm that was lost in the recent installments. It’s a simple-but-effective story that has aged well when compared to other ’90s films. Many of the movie’s action set pieces are etched into the annals of spy film history.
The practical effects in conjunction with Brian De Palma’s direction give the film a cinematic quality that elevates it beyond simple popcorn fare. It’s an excellent film, and not just a good genre picture. Even if it’s for a revisit, Mission: Impossible is one of those crowd-pleasing movies on Netflix that has something for every viewer.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)
The return of the 28 Days Later franchise has been a pleasant surprise, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple might be the most surprising of all. It’s a follow-up to 2025’s 28 Years Later and builds on the mythology of the legacy sequel. Both films are now streaming on Netflix for curious viewers to discover.
The Bone Temple is eerie and philosophical, and fleshes out the universe that started back in the early 2000s. Ralph Fiennes steals the show, but he is joined by an ensemble cast that give performances above and beyond what’s expected in horror. The best word to describe the movie is striking, and it juxtaposes beautiful and nightmarish visuals.
It’s one of the best new additions to Netflix’s catalog, and it would be a crown jewel on any streamer. Considering it premiered in January, it’s one of the newest films on streaming. It isn’t for the faint of heart, but there is a richness found in The Bone Temple that is rare in even the headiest horror movies.
American Gangster (2007)
Ridley Scott’s American Gangster is one of Denzel Washington’s best films, and certainly features one of his strongest performances. Though it plays fast and loose with the real-life story, it’s a quintessential gangster film in that it chronicles the rise and fall of a modern-day mafioso. In less skilled hands, the movie could have easily been a disaster.
Scott’s active camera work keeps American Gangster cooking through even its slowest moments, and the frenetic nature of the filmmaking parallels the frantic nature of Frank Lucas’ life. The most memorable aspects of the movie are the performances of Washington and co-star Russell Crowe, and they both deserve all the accolades they received from the 2000s classic.
American Gangster can usually be found on one of the major streaming services, and it joins Netflix in April. Though it isn’t rare, it’s an absolute must-watch before it eventually leaves some time in the near future. It’s pure cinematic excellence, and features a few moments that defined the gangster genre and the careers of its headlining stars.
Casino (1995)
Though it is often overshadowed by Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese’s Casino is one of the strongest entries in the director’s entire filmography. It’s just as big and intense as the aforementioned 1990 gangster classic, and it has its own charms that actually help it stand out from its more famous counterpart. Naturally, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are highlights.
Scorsese captures the massive scope of Las Vegas in his camera lens, and uses Sin City as the perfect backdrop for his signature narrative structure. Supporting stars like James Woods add another layer, and Casino is an epic on a scale not seen since the Golden Age of Hollywood. Nevertheless, it doesn’t waste a second of its lengthy running time.
Unlike theatrical audiences who had to sit through all three hours without any breaks, the advent of streaming actually makes Casino more digestible. It can be enjoyed all at once or in bite-sized chunks, and either way it’s divided up, it’s a bona fide classic. Few films on Netflix can touch Casino‘s style and genuine cinematic appeal.
Sources: Box Office Mojo
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January 16, 2007
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Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph