Every month, Netflix adds a host of acclaimed movies to its roster, while retiring other movies to make space for the influx in options. No matter what you’re in the mood for, be it comedy, action, horror, sci-fi, or romance, you’re likely to find a great film to stream on Netflix this month.
To determine the best movies to stream on Netflix this August, 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 July 2022, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. (Data on streaming availability, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood, and directorial credits are from IMDb.)
New additions to the list include “Spider-Man 2,” which has frequently been ranked among the best superhero films ever and one of the rare sequels that actually improves upon the original. (Here are movie sequels that were better than the original.)
Click here to see the 50 best movies to stream on Netflix this month
Other new films on the list include John Hughes’s classic teen slacker comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and Greta Gerwig’s award-winning coming-of-age drama “Lady Bird,” which follows a high school senior as she navigates her artistic aspirations, the cross-class dynamics at her Catholic school, and a turbulent relationship with her overbearing mother.
Also enjoy your pick of endlessly rewatchable classics by Martin Scorsese including “Goodfellas” and “Taxi Driver,” as well as Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner,” and Stanley Kubrick’s war masterpiece “Full Metal Jacket,” which is one of 25 dramas that became famous after flopping in theaters.
50. In the Line of Fire (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (98,094 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (55,121 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (71 reviews)
> Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
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49. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (69,957 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (41,423 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (49 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Aldrich
48. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (575,740 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (1,151,886 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (274 reviews)
> Directed by: Sam Raimi
47. Paddington (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (105,218 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (50,357 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (163 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul King
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46. Deliverance (1972)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (103,391 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (49,473 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (62 reviews)
> Directed by: John Boorman
45. 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
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44. Love & Basketball (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (20,127 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (186,899 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (95 reviews)
> Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood
43. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (498,432 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (51,506 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (441 reviews)
> Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
42. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (335,601 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (729,007 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (71 reviews)
> Directed by: John Hughes
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41. 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
40. Menace II Society (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (55,052 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (62,747 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (42 reviews)
> Directed by: Albert & Allen Hughes
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39. Leave No Trace (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (55,265 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (4,960 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (240 reviews)
> Directed by: Debra Granik
38. Dunkirk (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (595,440 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (69,228 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (461 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
37. 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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36. 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
35. The Hunt for Red October (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (188,284 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (172,798 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (73 reviews)
> Directed by: John McTiernan
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34. 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
33. 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
32. 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
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31. Dirty Harry (1971)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (149,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (76,913 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (47 reviews)
> Directed by: Don Siegel
30. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (108,146 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (56,616 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (64 reviews)
> Directed by: Arthur Penn
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29. 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
28. The Hurt Locker (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (434,495 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (96,200 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (289 reviews)
> Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
27. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (205,660 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (396,152 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (74 reviews)
> Directed by: Rob Reiner
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26. 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
25. 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
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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
23. The Fighter (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (351,452 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (121,585 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (254 reviews)
> Directed by: David O. Russell
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
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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
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
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19. 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
18. Nightcrawler (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (495,525 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86,557 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (274 reviews)
> Directed by: Dan Gilroy
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
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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
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. Boogie Nights (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (250,273 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (189,642 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (73 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
13. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,578,386 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1,212,887 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (372 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
12. 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
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11. Argo (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (590,474 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (208,987 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (359 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Affleck
10. 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
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9. Se7en (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,517,067 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (468,879 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (82 reviews)
> Directed by: David Fincher
8. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (329,016 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (75,039 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (54 reviews)
> Directed by: Sergio Leone
7. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (886,117 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (749,469 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (203 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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6. 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
5. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (701,608 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (324,778 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (83 reviews)
> Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
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4. The Departed (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,241,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (738,191 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
3. 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
2. 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
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1. Goodfellas (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,070,370 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (430,048 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (103 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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