Special Report

Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Every month Netflix adds some movies to its roster and loses some, so the overall menu changes regularly. As usual with this top-flight streaming service, there’s something to suit every taste and every age bracket in the current lineup – for everybody, in fact.

To determine the best movies to stream on Netflix this February, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of January 2022, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, and ruled out documentaries. (Data on streaming availability, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood, and directorial and cast credits are from IMDb.)

The No. 1 movie is “The Dark Knight” from 2008. This is the second installment of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy and a sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins.” It stars Christian Bale in the title role and Heath Ledger as the Joker. Tragically Ledger, who delivered an unforgettable performance, died the year “The Dark Knight” was released. (Here are 20 movie and tv stars who died far too young.)

In the No. 2 slot is another franchise film – “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” from 1991, directed by James Cameron, who also co-wrote the script. In this sequel to the 1984 movie “The Terminator,” Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a reprogrammed Terminator sent back in time to protect the future leader of the human resistance against the artificial intelligence Skynet. It features what was groundbreaking computer-generated imagery more than 30 years ago and still looks amazing. (Here are the 25 best movie sequels of all time.)

Click here to see the 50 best movies to stream on Netflix this month

Elsewhere on the list, you’ll find everything from classic musicals like “My Fair Lady” (1964) to landmark horror films like “The Exorcist” (1973) to action-filled spy fare like “The Bourne Ultimatum” (2007).

Courtesy of A24

50. The Disaster Artist (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (145,375 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (15,351 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (350 reviews)
> Directed by: James Franco

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Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

49. Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (5,461 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (5,986 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (111 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Sollett

Courtesy of Netflix

48. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (96,804 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (4,835 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (70 reviews)
> Directed by: Susan Johnson

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

47. Dances with Wolves (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (250,448 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (213,805 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (76 reviews)
> Directed by: Kevin Costner

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46. The Exorcist (1973)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (376,295 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (420,561 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: William Friedkin

Courtesy of A24

45. Lady Bird (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (260,681 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (22,988 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (398 reviews)
> Directed by: Greta Gerwig

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

44. The Town (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (367,843 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (142,333 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Affleck

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

43. Snatch (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (811,774 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (394,711 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (142 reviews)
> Directed by: Guy Ritchie

Courtesy of A24

42. The Florida Project (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (103,567 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (13,520 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (314 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Baker

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Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

41. The Guns of Navarone (1961)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (47,868 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (20,768 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (24 reviews)
> Directed by: J. Lee Thompson

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

40. Midnight in Paris (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (402,967 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (82,703 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (224 reviews)
> Directed by: Woody Allen

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Courtesy of Ascot Elite Entertainment Group

39. Wind River (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (223,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (29,613 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (253 reviews)
> Directed by: Taylor Sheridan

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

38. Donnie Brasco (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (291,291 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (204,292 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (56 reviews)
> Directed by: Mike Newell

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

37. Into the Wild (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (594,510 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (179,594 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (200 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Penn

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36. Mudbound (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (46,035 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (5,906 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (200 reviews)
> Directed by: Dee Rees

Courtesy of Bir Film

35. I Lost My Body (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (29,388 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (633 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: Jérémy Clapin

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34. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (680,767 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (260,715 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (260 reviews)
> Directed by: David O. Russell

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

33. Awakenings (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (132,710 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (55,236 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (34 reviews)
> Directed by: Penny Marshall

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

32. Philomena (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (97,066 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (52,457 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (200 reviews)
> Directed by: Stephen Frears

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Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

31. True Grit (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (323,355 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (158,421 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (275 reviews)
> Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

30. Moneyball (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (391,423 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (92,018 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (267 reviews)
> Directed by: Bennett Miller

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Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

29. Léon: The Professional (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,081,769 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (274,510 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: Luc Besson

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

28. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (188,358 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (878,111 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (53 reviews)
> Directed by: Mel Stuart

Courtesy of Lionsgate

27. Warrior (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (450,064 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (59,533 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (192 reviews)
> Directed by: Gavin O’Connor

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26. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (158,141 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (2,455 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (331 reviews)
> Directed by: Aaron Sorkin

Courtesy of Netflix

25. I’m No Longer Here (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (6,950 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (119 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (43 reviews)
> Directed by: Fernando Frias

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24. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (316,987 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (188,724 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (188 reviews)
> Directed by: Dean DeBlois

Courtesy of Netflix

23. Marriage Story (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (272,813 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (184 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (391 reviews)
> Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

22. Rush (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (452,579 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (79,330 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Ron Howard

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21. The Social Network (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (654,350 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (204,423 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (329 reviews)
> Directed by: David Fincher

Courtesy of Netflix

20. The Irishman (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (351,546 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (1,057 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (453 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese

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19. Hell or High Water (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (214,372 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (40,252 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: David Mackenzie

Courtesy of United Artists

18. Rain Man (1988)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (490,155 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (314,261 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (80 reviews)
> Directed by: Barry Levinson

Courtesy of Netflix

17. Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (57,480 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (113 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (232 reviews)
> Directed by: Craig Brewer

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16. There Will Be Blood (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (544,988 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (255,474 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (243 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Courtesy of Bleecker Street Media

15. Beasts of No Nation (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (77,493 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (8,145 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (143 reviews)
> Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga

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14. Batman Begins (2005)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (1,360,431 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,115,836 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (288 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Courtesy of Bir Film

13. Wadjda (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (19,766 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (13,494 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (122 reviews)
> Directed by: Haifaa Al-Mansour

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

12. The Artist (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (235,905 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (58,691 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (320 reviews)
> Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius

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11. Blade Runner (1982)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (721,985 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (338,132 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (121 reviews)
> Directed by: Ridley Scott

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

10. My Fair Lady (1964)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (90,701 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (187,112 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (61 reviews)
> Directed by: George Cukor

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Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

9. Casino Royale (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (601,654 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (703,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (259 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Campbell

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

8. Django Unchained (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,427,183 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (429,752 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (291 reviews)
> Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

7. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8/10 (616,488 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1,922,847 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (269 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Greengrass

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6. Stand by Me (1986)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (380,190 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (270,467 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (57 reviews)
> Directed by: Rob Reiner

Courtesy of E Stars Films

5. Dangal (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (171,447 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (2,333 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (17 reviews)
> Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari

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4. Taxi Driver (1976)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (761,825 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (260,919 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (94 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Courtesy of Netflix

3. Klaus (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (119,752 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (2,481 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (70 reviews)
> Directed by: Sergio Pablos

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,033,964 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (749,360 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (84 reviews)
> Directed by: James Cameron

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1. The Dark Knight (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 9/10 (2,419,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,831,566 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (345 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan

 

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