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There are many ways to find worthwhile movies to watch on Netflix. You could turn to the platform's top 10 most-watched ranking, or maybe check out the “what’s new” section. However, one method I personally default to when I need to find my next on the big red streaming service is looking for picks that score highly on the persistently popular film database, IMDb.
Getting a high ranking on IMDb is actually a pretty tough challenge. IMDb ratings are crowd-sourced by users, and popular movies typically have hundreds of thousands of individual ratings. These are then averaged out for an overall rating out of 10. This makes scoring high difficult. After all, there will always be a broad range of opinions that impact the score.
For example, the current movie of the moment, “One Battle After Another,” has only managed a 7.7 out of 10. In fact, a major studio movie scoring above an 8.0 is somewhat uncommon. That’s why I’ve combed through Netflix's current library and found five movies with high IMDb ratings.
‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994)
Arguably, Quentin Tarantino’s magnum opus, “Pulp Fiction,” is a sprawling crime drama with a cast of memorable characters who have become cinematic legends. Hailed for its narrative innovation, its ultra-sharp writing, and its countless nods to Hollywood classics, “Pulp Fiction” is a treasure trove. It’s the sort of film that you can watch multiple times, and still unearth something you missed on your next rewatch. It’s a masterpiece.
Still referenced across media to this day, “Pulp Fiction” is presented out of chronological order and tells several fascinating tales that are interconnected in surprising ways. Each character is intriguing enough to anchor an entire movie, but are just part of the glorious puzzle that is “Pulp Fiction”. There’s the hitman duo, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), crime boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), his actress wife, Mia (Uma Thurman), and debt-drowning boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis). I don't really need to say more, "Pulp Fiction" sells itself on its reputation alone.
IMDB score: 8.8
Watch "Pulp Fiction" on Netflix now
‘Forrest Gump’ (1994)
Sticking with ‘90s classics, Netflix is also the place to watch “Forrest Gump.” This Best Picture-winning drama is considered by many to be Tom Hanks’ finest hour, and explores the extraordinary life of its titular protagonist. Iconic lines like “Run, Forrest, run” have entered the pop culture vernacular, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that behind Hanks there is a strong supporting cast, including Robin Wright, Gary Sinise and Sally Field.
Opening with Forrest (Hank) recounting his life story to a stranger on a bus bench, the movie flashes back to his childhood, and from there, viewers follow Forrest across a life well lived. Forrest has played his part in several history-shaping events across the 20th century, from the Vietnam War to the Watergate scandal. You could accuse the movie of being overly sentimental, but it’s so well-balanced that it never feels cloying.
IMDB score: 8.8
Watch "Forrest Gump" on Netflix now
‘Whiplash’ (2014)
“Whiplash” is one of my favorite movies of the 2010s, and to this day, it remains one of the best on-screen representations of destructive obsession. Director Damien Chazelle drew on his own experience in a competitive jazz band to tell a teacher-student story that is anything but your typical feel-good tale. J.K. Simmons' performance as the demanding Terence Fletcher won him a deserved Oscar and is the movie’s very best element.
Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is a young jazz drummer with dreams of becoming one of the greats. Invited to play in the top ensemble at his prestigious music school, here he comes into contact with Fletcher (Simmons), a cruel instructor who pushes his pupils to the brink. Desperate to earn approval, Andrew pushes himself to the limits of his abilities, but also his sanity. “Whiplash” is electric throughout, but the finale somehow finds an extra gear, bringing down the curtain to thunderous applause.
IMDB score: 8.5
Watch "Whiplash" on Netflix now
‘1917’ (2019)
![1917 - Official Trailer [HD] - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YqNYrYUiMfg/maxresdefault.jpg)
On a technical level, there are few war movies as impressive as Sam Mendes’ “1917.” Inspired by the stories recounted to Mendes by his grandfather, who served in World War I, the entire movie is presented as a single, continuous take. This brings viewers right into the muddy trenches alongside its two soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman). It’s a war movie with the momentum of a thriller, and it’s not shy about exploring both the heroism of wartime alongside the tragedy of such a large human sacrifice.
Set in, you’ve guessed it, 1917, the movie’s two protagonists are given a seemingly impossible mission; they have less than 24 hours to cross enemy territory and deliver a vital message. If they fail, a battalion of more than 1,600 men will be sent to slaughter, including Blake’s brother. What follows is an incredibly intense race against time. Even if the story is simple, it’s effective, and as a display of meticulous filmmaking, it’s almost unrivaled.
IMDB score: 8.2
Watch "1917" on Netflix now
‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2013)
Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” is excessive in every way. From its curse word-filled script (it broke the world record for most profanity in a film) to its lengthy 180-minute runtime. “The Wolf of Wall Street” doesn’t do anything by half measures. But it’s undoubtedly entertaining, even if it's swimming in a pool of moral decay, and doesn’t always cast a negative light on its collection of rule-bending corporate bankers.
Based on the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), “The Wolf of Wall Street” charts his career from selling penny stocks to founding a powerful brokerage that wasn’t too concerned with doing things by the book. Also starring Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie and Matthew McConaughey, you probably wouldn’t want to take financial advice from any of its characters, but spending three hours in their company is a blast.
IMDB score: 8.2
Watch "The Wolf of Wall Street" on Netflix now
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