Special Report

Best Movies to Stream On Netflix This Month

wutwhanfoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Every month Netflix adds some movies to its roster and loses some, so the overall menu of available films 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 March, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and audience and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, a movie and TV review aggregator. All ratings are as of February 2022 and were weighted equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either site and ruled out documentaries. Data on current streaming availability is from the streaming guide Reelgood, and directorial and cast credits are from IMDb.

The No. 1 movie is the ever-popular 1994 prison drama “The Shawshank Redemption” based on the 1982 Stephen King novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” It stars Tim Robbins as a banker sentenced to life for a murder he didn’t commit and Morgan Freeman as fellow prisoner Ellis “Red” Redding, whom he befriends. It has an IMDb user rating of 9.3/10, a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 98%, and a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score 91%.

At No. 2 is “The Dark Knight” from 2008. The second installment of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy and a sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins” 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.)

Elsewhere on the list, you’ll find everything from classic musicals like “My Fair Lady” (1964) to action-filled spy fare like “The Bourne Ultimatum” (2007) to landmark horror films like “The Exorcist” (1973) . (Here are the 50 best horror movies of all time.)

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

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

50. As Good as It Gets (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (286,975 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (378,808 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (79 reviews)
> Directed by: James L. Brooks

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

49. Gattaca (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (290,017 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (208,849 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (64 reviews)
> Directed by: Andrew Niccol

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

48. Looper (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (550,438 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (180,475 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (269 reviews)
> Directed by: Rian Johnson

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

47. Braveheart (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (988,748 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (32,708,456 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (84 reviews)
> Directed by: Mel Gibson

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of STX Entertainment

46. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (113,349 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (27,536 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (216 reviews)
> Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig

Courtesy of A24

45. 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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

44. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (440,178 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (119,228 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (256 reviews)
> Directed by: David Fincher

Courtesy of Netflix

43. 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 Warner Bros.

42. The Exorcist (1973)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (376,295 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (420,561 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: William Friedkin

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of A24

41. 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

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

40. 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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

39. 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

38. 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

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

37. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (216,821 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (415,796 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (54 reviews)
> Directed by: Wes Craven

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

36. 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

Courtesy of Ascot Elite Entertainment Group

35. 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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

34. 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

33. 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

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

32. 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

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

31. 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

30. 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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

29. 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

28. 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

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

27. 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

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

26. 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

25. 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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Rocket Science

24. 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 DreamWorks Distribution

23. Shrek (2001)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (638,681 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1,378,744 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (208 reviews)
> Directed by: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

22. 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

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Netflix

21. 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

20. 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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

19. 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

18. 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

Courtesy of Lionsgate

17. 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

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Netflix

16. 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

Courtesy of Paramount Vantage

15. 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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

14. The Green Mile (1999)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,204,006 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (814,054 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (134 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Darabont

Courtesy of Bleecker Street Media

13. 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

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

12. 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

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

11. 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

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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

9. Casino Royale (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (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: 8.0/10 (616,488 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (1,922,847 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (269 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Greengrass

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

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

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

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 Warner Bros.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (2,419,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,831,566 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (345 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 9.3/10 (2,465,102 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (887,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (77 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Darabont

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.