Netflix releases a lot of new movies every year, and 2025 has been no exception. Over the past 12 months, a steady stream of Netflix original movies has debuted on the streaming service to keep subscribers entertained.
It’s been a bumpy ride in 2025. Over the summer, it looked like putting together a substantial roundup of new Netflix movies worth watching was going to be a struggle. But the big red streamer was clearly saving the best for last, as in recent months, the tide has turned, and some genuinely great Netflix movies have finally arrived.
In total, 39 new Netflix movies were released in 2025. However, it should be noted that I’m excluding international movies to keep this roundup concise (if you factor in non-English language movies, there are more than 100 flicks to pick from). And of those several dozen movies, these are the new Netflix movies in 2025 that I believe are worthy of your watchlist.
Best Netflix movies of 2025
‘KPop Demon Hunters’
Let’s get the pick that you probably knew was coming out of the way first. You can’t talk about Netflix movies in 2025 without giving a nod towards “KPop Demon Hunters.” This animated fantasy-musical became not just the biggest streaming flick of the year, but the most-watched Netflix original of all time, and it broke that long-held record in just a matter of weeks. A monster hit without a doubt, “KPop Demon Hunters” captured the imagination of both critics and viewers, with the latter group awarding it a pretty rare 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
If you missed the boat on this one over the summer (perhaps you’d temporarily canceled your Netflix account), the beauty of “KPop Demon Hunters” is its simplicity. Everything you need to know about this all-ages fantasy movie is right there in the title: It sees a K-pop group sell out stadiums by day, and battle hordes of shadowy demons by night. Packing vibrant animation, with a hint of “Spider-Verse” sheen about it, and a soundtrack stuffed with earworms, it’s not my favorite Netflix movie of the year, but I can completely understand why it’s so popular.
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‘A House of Dynamite’
“A House of Dynamite” falls right within my preferred wheelhouse, so it’s little surprise that I found myself completely captivated by this political thriller. I adore dialogue-heavy movies, ones that play out with a pacing almost akin to a stage production, and “A House of Dynamite” most certainly has that engaging theatrical quality that always draws me in. The slightly messy structure (it’s split into three chapters, with the timeline resetting twice) and the extremely divisive ending were sore spots for some viewers, but I was hooked from start to finish.
The latest movie from Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow (director of “The Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty”), “A House of Dynamite,” centers on a doomsday, but alarmingly plausible, situation. It opens on a day like any other, but things take a turn when an unknown enemy launches a nuclear missile. Its target: the United States. What follows is an intense scramble to figure out who is responsible and how to respond. As the moment of impact draws closer, the suspension is ratcheted up further, and viewers are left to consider the frightening realities of our times.
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‘Ballad of a Small Player’
If these Netflix movies were presented in ranked order instead of by release date, “Ballad of a Small Player” would definitely be at the foot of the pile. There is no denying that this psychological thriller, from “Conclave” director Edward Berger, is fundamentally flawed. The second and third acts become increasingly muddled. However, the opening portion certainly had me “all-in” on this original, and even when things get messy, I was able to appreciate the strong performance from Colin Farrell in the lead role of a gambler drowning in his own poor decisions.
Set in Macau, Farrell plays Lord Doyle (not his real name), a wannabe high-roller whose luck at the table turned years ago, and yet he continues to bet big in the hopes of winning it all back. With his spiraling debts finally catching up to him, alongside his past misdeeds, he gets an unlikely shot at redemption when he meets a casino employee named Dao-Ming (Fala Chen). Even as the narrative becomes increasingly woolly in the back-half, the beautiful cinematography at least ensures you’ve always got something very pretty to look at.
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‘Frankenstein’
Visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and the iconic gothic tale of “Frankenstein” appear to be a match made in cinematic heaven, on paper at least. While the final result wasn’t quite the stuff of dreams I had envisioned, there’s no denying that del Toro’s celebrated style fits this source material to a tee. An epic in every sense of the word, from its lavish production design (Netflix clearly spared no expense) to its butt-numbingly chunky 150-minute runtime, this latest spin on Mary Shelly’s enduring classic is a marvel to watch unfold. I just wish del Toro didn’t feel the need to spoon-feed viewers the novel’s central thesis.
I’m sure you know the narrative basics here: “Frankenstein” centers on an egotistic scientist who creates a “monster” out of reanimated body parts, only to be repulsed by his own creation. Oscar Isaac plays the titular creator in a rare underwhelming turn from the typically magnetic actor. However, it’s Jacob Elordi who steals the show as the creature, crafted from patchwork skin and cursed to wander alone. In this adaptation, he’s an immortal being, capable of regenerating even after sustaining significant injury, which only adds to the tragedy of his existence.
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‘Train Dreams’
Earlier in the year, I declared “Frankenstein” the most visually stunning Netflix movie of 2025. Let “Train Dreams” serve as a lesson in never being too hasty, because the beauty of this meditative period drama absolutely took my breath away. Set in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, it’s a truly gorgeous depiction of an era of great change, and while it’s not as showy or easily accessible as some movies on this list, it proves that an awful lot of emotion can be imparted with just a few words. Of course, it helps when you’ve got Joel Edgerton on top form, delivering a performance that resonates long after the credits roll.
Based on the novella of the same name by Denis Johnson, “Train Dreams” centers on Robert Grainer (Edgerton), a man employed to work on the sprawling Great Northern Railway. His work takes him away from his wife (Felicity Jones) and young child, and while he feels isolated, he’s also inspired by the beauty and camaraderie that surrounds him. There’s a very good reason “Train Dreams” has been earmarked as the Netflix movie in 2025 with the most Oscar potential, and while it’s not the current frontrunner, it should find its way into the Best Picture field.
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‘Jay Kelly’
“Jay Kelly” is one for the true movie lovers among us. Like most movies about the trials and tribulations of the Hollywood industry, it veers into self-indulgence a little too often, but it successfully celebrates the power of cinema. If you have an appreciation for film as an art form, then the grand finale is practically guaranteed to have your eyes getting a little misty. It also sees George Clooney playing a role that he seems practically born to play, and Adam Sandler provides excellent support. A much-needed reminder that when Sandler moves beyond the fart jokes he’s most (in)famous for, he can deliver a wonderful performance.
From director Noah Baumbach (the man behind Netflix’s “Marriage Story” and co-writer of “Barbie”), “Jay Kelly” focuses on the eponymous actor, played by Clooney. Chronicling a winding trip through picturesque Europe, Kelly reflects on his career and the personal sacrifices made to become a world-renowned movie star. Sandler plays his faithful manager, a character who endures his own rich character arc across the trip. If you love movies, then you need to watch “Jay Kelly.” It’ll have you reflecting on the flicks that have left an imprint on your own life.
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‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’
At this point, “Knives Out” stands as one of the most consistently high-quality franchises in modern movie history. Not since “Toy Story,” or perhaps “John Wick,” can I think of a trilogy where each installment has kept the same high bar intact. Kudos to writer/director Rian Johnson for delivering once again. Wake Up Dead Man” is another masterful murder mystery, and even more impressively, it certainly doesn’t rest on its laurels either. This time, the star isn’t the returning Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, but newcomer Josh O’Connor as Rev. Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer turned man of faith, who completely steals every scene.
Which isn’t to say Craig isn't again fantastic as Blanc, and while the mystery in “Knives Out 3” might be the most solvable to date, it’s still delightfully twisting with plenty of reveals and a tell-all conclusion that wraps things up in a supremely satisfying fashion. However, when I reflect on “Wake Up Dead Man,” it’s not the whodunit hijinks I’ll remember; it’s the intimacy of a single moment when O’Connor’s Jud offers a struggling woman much-needed solace during a moment of crisis. That’s a powerful scene I didn’t expect from “Knives Out.”
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