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The 25 best drama movies on Netflix

Florence Pugh in 'The Wonder'; Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman'; Angelina Jolie in 'Girl, Interrupted'
Florence Pugh in 'The Wonder'; Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman'; Angelina Jolie in 'Girl, Interrupted'

Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection (2), Columbia/Courtesy Everett Collection Florence Pugh in 'The Wonder'; Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman'; Angelina Jolie in 'Girl, Interrupted'

One of the best characteristics of drama films is how seamlessly they combine with any other genre. Maybe you're in the mood for a straight suspenseful couple of hours, but perhaps you're dreaming of swoon-worthy elements — you want the love interests to have to work to earn them, though — so you go for a romantic drama. Or maybe you're looking for something to tug on your heartstrings, so you sit down to a coming-of-age tale. From historical fiction to modern docudramas, here are the best dramas available to stream on Netflix as of October 2023.

<i>Catch Me If You Can</i> (2002)

Leonardo DiCaprio has transformed into all kinds of characters, and he does just that as the chameleonic Frank Abagnale Jr. in this snappy crime drama. Based on a true story, Frank successfully pulls off a series of cons all over the country in 1960s America, using his wits and boyish good looks to trick people into trusting him as an airline pilot, a Secret Service agent, a doctor, and a prosecutor. His cons are tracked by an FBI agent (Tom Hanks), who is constantly on his tail, but Frank manages to escape and reinvent himself time and time again. DiCaprio is at his charming best here, and director Steven Spielberg takes full advantage of his leading man's charisma to help transport the viewer back to the glamour (and danger) of days gone by. "Spielberg catches you up in the blithe spirit of how easy it was, in an era when the technology of surveillance was in its infancy, for a smart operator to manipulate the power of suggestion," wrote EW's critic in 2002.

Where to watch Catch Me If You Can: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Nathalie Baye, Amy Adams, James Brolin

Related content: Every Leonardo DiCaprio film performance, ranked

Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Catch Me If You Can'
Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Catch Me If You Can'

<i>Miss Juneteenth</i> (2020)

One of the most underrated indie dramas of the decade so far, Miss Juneteenth is a lived-in examination of a mother and daughter's relationship as they grapple with expectations placed on them. Nicole Beharie plays Turquoise, single mother to Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), who is working multiple jobs to make ends meet. She pushes Kai to compete in the Miss Juneteenth pageant, which she won in her youth, even though her daughter expresses little interest in following in her footsteps. Featuring an impressively naturalistic turn from Beharie — who earned multiple critics' award notices for her work — Miss Juneteenth is a loving yet realistic tribute to finding one's path despite the roadblocks that inevitably pop up along the way. —K.J.

Where to watch Miss Juneteenth: Netflix

Director: Channing Godfrey Peoples

Cast: Nicole Beharie, Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze

Related content: Miss Juneteenth director on honoring history and celebrating phenomenal Black womanhood

Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze in 'Miss Juneteenth'
Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze in 'Miss Juneteenth'

<i>The Age of Adaline</i> (2015)

This romantic drama is one of those films where your willingness to just go with its fantastical plot is directly related to whether it works for you. Blake Lively stars as Adaline Bowman, a woman who dies in the 1930s but is revived by a lightning strike that also prevents her from aging. Stuck for decades at the age of 29, Adaline progresses through time in that perpetually youthful state — even while her daughter ages naturally. Drawing off similar melancholic vibes of another morality fantasy, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), The Age of Adaline is a surprisingly moving film, with sensitive performances by Lively and Harrison Ford, who plays a past lover of Adaline who recognizes her decades later. As EW's critic wrote, the film is "a good reminder that love, even when it's complicated or painful or doesn't last, is a whole lot better than immortality." —K.J.

Where to watch The Age of Adaline: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Cast: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Kathy Baker, Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn

Related content: Jaden Smith thinks Age of Adaline is the best movie ever (outside of Twilight)

Michiel Huisman and Blake Lively in 'The Age of Adaline'
Michiel Huisman and Blake Lively in 'The Age of Adaline'

<i>Captain Phillips</i> (2013)

Barkhad Abdi's declaration of "I'm the captain now" may have taken on a life of its own, but this action drama has substance beyond the catchphrase. Based on the true story of Richard Phillips and his experience as captain of a U.S. cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates, Captain Phillips unfolds with nerve-wracking tension as the eponymous merchant mariner tries to negotiate his way through a delicate situation. Tom Hanks delivers one of his best modern performances as the beleaguered captain — with the film's final scene ranking as one of the finest of his storied career — while Abdi, making his film debut as ruthless pirate leader Abduwali Muse, rightfully earned himself an Oscar nomination.

Where to watch Captain Phillips: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Catherine Keener

Related content: Captain Phillips: An Oscar deep dive

Tom Hanks and Faysal Ahmed in 'Captain Phillips'
Tom Hanks and Faysal Ahmed in 'Captain Phillips'

<i>The Deer Hunter</i> (1978)

Just a few years after the end of the Vietnam War, director Michael Cimino helmed what would become known as one of the era's most defining films. This war drama tells the story of three close friends living in small-town America who enlist in the military, unaware of what horrors await them. From lost limbs to a dangerous game of Russian roulette, each man emerges forever changed by the experience, trying to move on from unspeakable trauma. Speaking directly to the American veteran's experience during turbulent times, the bracing epic — featuring standout turns from a young Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep — was showered with accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. —K.J.

Where to watch The Deer Hunter: Netflix

Director: Michael Cimino

Cast: Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken

Related content: Christopher Walken's best roles

Christopher Walken, John Cazale, and Robert De Niro in 'The Deer Hunter'
Christopher Walken, John Cazale, and Robert De Niro in 'The Deer Hunter'

<i>Fences</i> (2016)

The works of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson had remained unadapted to feature film until Denzel Washington took on the challenge of bringing Fences to the big screen. Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, the film centers on sanitation worker Troy Maxson (Washington), whose dreams of playing for Major League Baseball was dashed many years prior. This, and other unresolved issues, result in Troy taking out his feelings on those around him, from his loving wife Rose (Viola Davis) to his son Cory (Jovan Adepo), who has sporting dreams of his own. Led by powerhouse performances from Washington and Davis — the latter of whom won numerous awards including an Oscar for her work — Fences is a fascinating snapshot of life for a Black family living in postwar America, and all the love, hurt, and weight of expectations therein. —K.J.

Where to watch Fences: Netflix

Director: Denzel Washington

Cast: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, Saniyya Sidney

Related content: Denzel Washington on getting the cast back together for Fences

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in 'Fences'
Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in 'Fences'

<i>The Wife</i> (2018)

Glenn Close turns in one of her most riveting performances here as Joan Castleman, the wife of a prominent author for whom she has ghostwritten numerous novels. After her husband is set to receive the Nobel Prize, Joan's simmering resentment over him taking all the credit for her work (in addition to his continued infidelity) leads to an intense confrontation. Close earned numerous accolades for her performance, winning at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards...only to shockingly lose at the Oscars. But her stirring turn remains powerful, awards or not — as EW's critic noted, Close's face is "just a marvel of emotional intelligence and control; in the thrilling release of the revelatory final scenes, she's a hurricane." —K.J.

Where to watch The Wife: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Björn Runge

Cast: Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, Christian Slater, Max Irons, Annie Starke, Harry Lloyd, Elizabeth McGovern

Related content: Glenn Close says The Wife represents where she hopes the industry is going

Glenn Close in 'The Wife'
Glenn Close in 'The Wife'

<i>Pride & Prejudice</i> (2005)

Many adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novel have been released over the years, but few have had the kind of lasting impact as this 2005 film. Keira Knightley stars as the charming Elizabeth Bennet, the second oldest of five sisters living in the late-18th century who contends with societal pressures while repeatedly crossing paths with the aloof Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). Released at a time when the BBC miniseries adaptation still loomed large in the public consciousness, Pride & Prejudice was initially met with skepticism but drew praise for its performances and for Wright's vision, with EW's critic claiming he "makes the past feel as swirling and alive as the present." —K.J.

Where to watch Pride & Prejudice: Netflix

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Joe Wright

Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Judi Dench

Related content: Brett Goldstein wants to make Muppets Pride and Prejudice with Miss Piggy

Keira Knightley in 'Pride & Prejudice'
Keira Knightley in 'Pride & Prejudice'

<i>Thank You for Your Service</i> (2017)

While numerous films have depicted the hellishness of war, sometimes the more interesting story comes from what happens when soldiers return home. Such is the case with Thank You for Your Service, which finds Miles Teller's Iraq War veteran Adam Schumann struggling to readjust to life in Kansas between his PTSD and survivor's guilt. The underrated drama, as EW's critic wrote, proved "successful at capturing the Iraq War's effects on American lives," centering on the specific sense of malaise experienced by veterans coming back to a country that doesn't always provide them with the help they need to re-acclimate.  —K.J.

Where to watch Thank You for Your Service: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Jason Hall

Cast: Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Joe Cole, Amy Schumer, Beulah Koale, Scott Haze

Related content: Thank You for Your Service trailer sees Miles Teller return from war

Haley Bennett and Miles Teller in 'Thank You for Your Service'
Haley Bennett and Miles Teller in 'Thank You for Your Service'

<i>To Leslie</i> (2022)

The 2023 Oscar nominations featured high-profile favorites like Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water, but Andrea Riseborough's surprise nomination for this largely unknown indie drama was one of the top stories of the day. Riseborough stars as the eponymous Leslie, a Texas woman who wastes her lottery winnings on drugs and alcohol and is now looking for a second chance, hoping to make amends with her estranged son. To Leslie had a tiny release in 2022 but was subsequently boosted by numerous celebrity endorsements for Riseborough, with the film's creative team forgoing traditional awards campaigning in favor of strong word of mouth. While the film treads a similar path as other stories about addiction, the strength of Riseborough's raw performance is more than enough to make this worth watching. —K.J.

Where to watch To Leslie: Netflix

Director: Michael Morris

Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Allison Janney, Marc Maron, Andre Royo, Owen Teague, Stephen Root

Related content: Andrea Riseborough responds to Oscar nomination criticism, says Hollywood is 'abhorrently unequal'

Andrea Riseborough in 'To Leslie'
Andrea Riseborough in 'To Leslie'

<i>The Power of the Dog</i> (2021)

Simmering with tension, Jane Campion's moody revisionist Western is a transfixing examination of power and control — and the lengths to which a boy will go to protect his mother. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Phil, a spiteful rancher who torments his brother's (Jesse Plemons) new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her sensitive teenage son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) against the backdrop of 1920s Montana. As Phil plays psychological mind games on his farm's new inhabitants, Peter quietly calculates how to get back at his uncle after discovering a buried secret. The widely-acclaimed drama earned a whopping 12 Oscar nominations, including acting nominations for all four central performances, with Campion becoming only the third woman to win Best Director. —K.J.

Where to watch The Power of the Dog: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Jane Campion

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Genevieve Lemon, Keith Carradine, Frances Conroy

Related content: The Power of the Dog director Jane Campion on her personal journey into the year's most Oscar-nominated movie

Kodi Smit-McPhee and Benedict Cumberbatch in 'The Power of the Dog'
Kodi Smit-McPhee and Benedict Cumberbatch in 'The Power of the Dog'

<i>The Irishman</i> (2019)

Longtime collaborators Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro reunited for this 2019 gangster epic, about the real-life hitman Frank Sheeran and his experiences working for the Mafia. Spanning several decades, the film tracks Frank's evolution from truck driver to trusted gunman for crime boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and bodyguard for the infamous Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Despite his professional success, his home life deteriorates, particularly his relationship with his daughter. While its 209-minute runtime may be daunting, the film moves along at an entertaining clip (thanks in part to master editor Thelma Schoonmaker), and the viewer's patience is rewarded with a haunting conclusion that recontextualizes all that came before. The Irishman scored 10 Oscar nominations, and though it was criminally shut out when it came to wins, time will be kind to the film, even if it wasn't to Sheeran. —K.J.

Where to watch The Irishman: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin, Ray Romano, Stephen Graham, Bobby Cannavale

Related content: Martin Scorsese really doesn't want you to watch The Irishman on your phone

Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman'
Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman'

<i>Call Me by Your Name</i> (2017)

An idyllic Italian summer in 1983 is the perfect setting for this sensual romantic drama. Timothée Chalamet, in his breakout performance, plays Elio, a bookish 17-year-old who finds himself unexpectedly drawn to his father's new grad student, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a preppy jock-type who reciprocates those feelings for Elio. The hot summer days only enhance the lust between the young men, as their relationship blossoms. Call Me by Your Name was a major critical success, with EW's Leah Greenblatt writing, "The small miracle of the movie isn't just that it tells a gay love story with such unreserved tenderness, but that it makes the fate of a romance not meant to last feel like much more than exquisitely framed filmmaking." It earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Chalamet, with James Ivory winning for his adapted screenplay. —K.J.

Where to watch Call Me by Your Name: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Victoire Du Bois

Related content: Call Me by Your Name director still wants to make a sequel with Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet in 'Call Me by Your Name'
Timothée Chalamet in 'Call Me by Your Name'

<i>Carol</i> (2015)

Forbidden love has rarely been as luscious as it is in Todd Haynes' sweeping romantic drama set in 1950s New York. Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) is a quiet department store clerk who encounters Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett), an elegant customer who entrances her. The two eventually get to know each other and carry out a secret affair, but their bliss is interrupted when Carol's soon-to-be ex-husband uses the affair as leverage to get full custody of their young daughter. Adapted from the 1952 novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, Carol was one of the most celebrated films of 2015, earning a 10-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, topping numerous year-end critics' lists, and receiving six Oscar nominations (though curiously not for Best Picture). —K.J.

Where to watch Carol: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Todd Haynes

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, Kyle Chandler

Related content: Carol stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, director Todd Haynes on the film's forbidden love story

Cate Blanchett in 'Carol'
Cate Blanchett in 'Carol'

<i>The Wonder</i> (2022)

Following the Great Famine in 19th-century Ireland, British nurse Lib (Florence Pugh) is called to look after a girl who has not eaten in months, claiming to be fed with "manna from Heaven." As villagers come to be in the presence of a seemingly holy girl, Lib meets a journalist (Tom Burke) who suspects it all to be a ruse. Tackling themes of science vs. faith and family trauma, this period drama nearly tips over into gothic horror, brimming with moody atmosphere. As EW's Leah Greenblatt wrote in her review, "The sumptuous cinematography, by Ari Wegner (The Power of the DogZola), makes the landscape look like a Brönte novel, full of windswept moors and flickering, fire-lit shadows. Pugh, too, is pretty much perfectly cast, an actress with such a keen emotional presence that she tends to cut through pretense and triviality like a hot knife." —K.J.

Where to watch The Wonder: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Sebastián Lelio

Cast: Florence Pugh, Kíla Lord Cassidy, 
Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, Elaine Cassidy, Caolán Byrne, Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds

Related content: Florence Pugh says she 'most definitely' abused herself to create her Midsommar character

Florence Pugh in 'The Wonder'
Florence Pugh in 'The Wonder'

<i>Prisoners</i> (2013)

"After his young daughter and friend go missing, a desperate father clashes with the detective on the case and takes matters into his own hands." This Netflix description for Prisoners sounds like it could be for any number of thrillers on the streamer, each more generic than the next, with this one starring Hugh Jackman as Keller Dover — the dad-turned-vigilante. But Denis Villeneuve's engrossing psychological drama rises above your standard Netflix fare, exploring moral ambiguity and the ultimate price of seeking vengeance. "Watching the movie, we behold Keller's actions and feel that they may be horribly unjustified — a daring place for a film to put its hero — and we also behold his actions and feel that they may be what true morality demands," wrote EW's Owen Gleiberman in his review. "It's a sign of the film's power that either scenario could turn out to be true, and that each one is just as scary." —K.J.

Where to watch Prisoners: Netflix

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano

Related content: The 15 best Jake Gyllenhaal performances

Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman in 'Prisoners'
Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman in 'Prisoners'

<i>Phantom Thread</i> (2017)

Paul Thomas Anderson's beautiful, dark, twisted love story unfolds with the precision of the urbane fashion designer at its center. Daniel Day-Lewis, in what is presumed to be his final film role, plays Reynolds Woodcock, a celebrated dressmaker in 1950s London who falls in love with Alma (Vicky Krieps), a waitress who soon becomes his muse. Though Reynolds' sister Cyril (a scene-stealing Lesley Manville) fears that Alma may be distracting him from his work, Alma proves herself equally matched with the stubborn Reynolds. With Oscar-winning costumes and a nominated score by Jonny Greenwood, Phantom Thread is a hypnotic (and shockingly honest) exploration of love and the shifting power dynamics therein. —K.J.

Where to watch Phantom Thread: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville

Related content: Phantom Thread star Vicky Krieps talks holding her own with Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Phantom Thread'
Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Phantom Thread'

<i>Girl, Interrupted</i> (1999)

This psychological drama follows 18-year-old Susanna (Winona Ryder) after a nervous breakdown leads to a suicide attempt and a year-and-a-half-long stint at a psychiatric hospital. At the hospital she lives with an eccentric group of fellow patients, one of them being the charismatic Lisa (Angelina Jolie, in an Oscar-winning performance), whose influence puts Susanna's mental health at risk. While the film received somewhat mixed reviews from critics overall, EW's Owen Gleiberman praised the film as "shrewd, tough, and lively — a junior-league One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest that never makes the mistake of portraying its protagonist as a victim-naif." —K.J.

Where to watch Girl, Interrupted: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy, Elisabeth Moss, Jared Leto, Vanessa Redgrave, Whoopi Goldberg

Related content: Winona Ryder reveals her real-life battle with anxiety

Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie in 'Girl, Interrupted'
Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie in 'Girl, Interrupted'

<i>Frances Ha</i> (2012)

One of the best-known additions to the mumblecore movement that briefly invaded independent cinema during the mid-2010s, Frances Ha is also one of the most charming. Directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written by the film's star, Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha chronicles a rough period in 27-year-old aspiring dancer Frances Halladay's life. Struggling with the dissolution of one of her closest friendships, financial challenges, and difficulties with her chosen career, Frances is both unmoored and undeterred. A late-20s coming-of-age story released in 2012, Frances Ha contains some vague similarities to HBO's Girls (Adam Driver, for one), but the film offers such a high level of style, point of view, and performance as to distinguish itself from the rest of the genre. —Sammi Burke

Where to watch Frances Ha: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Noah Baumbach

Cast: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen

Related content: Frances Ha: Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach interview

Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig in 'Frances Ha'
Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig in 'Frances Ha'

<i>Beyond the Lights</i> (2014)

Money and celebrity are no guarantees of happiness, as evidenced by the romantic drama Beyond the Lights. Noni Jean (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is a London-raised vocalist whose star is on the rise. Managed by her mother Macy (Minnie Driver), and involved in a celebrity relationship with fellow musical artist, Kid Culprit (Machine Gun Kelly), Noni feels trapped in the life she has created for herself and attempts suicide. Saved at the last minute by a police officer named Kaz (Nate Parker), Noni is given a second chance at life and love as the two begin to fall for each other. But with all the challenges posed by Noni's fame, relationship, and mental health, will they ever be able to make it work?  Beyond the Lights, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, was ahead of its time when it premiered in 2014, offering nuanced discussions around race, fame, and mental health. —S.B.

Where to watch Beyond the Lights: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver, Colson Baker, Danny Glover, Machine Gun Kelly

Related content: Beyond the Lights: Watch Gugu Mbatha-Raw transform into a pop star

Gugu Mbatha-Raw in 'Beyond the Lights'
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in 'Beyond the Lights'

<i>La La Land</i> (2016)

Old Hollywood was built on movie musicals like La La Land, a modern film that feels like it was transported into theaters directly from 1952. Five years after playing opposite one another in their first collaboration, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are back at it, this time falling in love in Los Angeles. Mia (Stone) and Seb (Gosling) are aspiring artists — her an actress, him a jazz musician — both striking out in the City of Angels. After several chance encounters, the two begin dating, their relationship unfolding against the city's most romantic landmarks, all lit and styled to make Los Angeles look as alluring as the dreams Mia and Seb can't keep themselves from chasing. A classic Hollywood musical in the style of Singin' in the Rain, La La Land is a strong argument for a once beloved, now less forgotten movie genre. —S.B.

Where to watch La La Land: Netflix

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Damien Chazelle

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, J.K. Simmons

Related content: La La Land director breaks down the movie's amazing opening

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in 'La La Land'
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in 'La La Land'

<i>Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile</i> (2019)

It's difficult to spoil the ending to Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. If you're not already familiar with the true story of Ted Bundy (played here by Zac Efron), the film's title is unlikely to leave the quality of his character open to debate. What distinguishes director Joe Berlinger's 2019 attempt from the many other true crime retellings of this story, however, is the point of view on which the script is centered. Adapted from a memoir by Bundy's ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall (Lily Collins), Extremely Wicked tracks Kendall's emotional processing of the case, starting as a girlfriend who refuses to believe her partner could be capable of committing such atrocities and ending as a new woman, finally beginning to heal. EW's Leah Greenblatt wrote in her review of Efron's performance, "Alternately charming, belligerent, and incalculably shrewd, he captures both the shark-like charisma of Bundy and the deeply damaged man beneath." —S.B.

Where to watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Joe Berlinger

Cast: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario, Haley Joel Osment, Jim Parsons, John Malkovich, James Hetfield

Related content: How Zac Efron survived playing Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Zac Efron in 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile'
Zac Efron in 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile'

<i>I'm Thinking of Ending Things</i> (2020)

If you're looking for structure or a linear story with a clearly defined ending, then Charlie Kaufman's I'm Thinking of Ending Things might not be the right film for you. Written and directed by Kaufman and adapted from Ian Reid's novel by the same name, the film is a psychological thriller that traffics in the surreal, shifting fluidly between narrative and free association, all grounded in excellent performances by the film's actors. Jessie Buckley stars as the Young Woman — her name and occupation changing frequently — who contemplates ending her seven-week relationship during a Thanksgiving trip to meet her new boyfriend Jake's (Jesse Plemons) parents (David Thewlis and Toni Collette) at their farmhouse. Throughout the visit, character ages change, an old janitor weaves himself in and out of the story, and a maggot-infested pig makes more than a few appearances. There is an explanation for all the absurdity — but you might not catch it on the first viewing. With the film's true premise often clouded, what audiences are left with are Kaufman's "dizzying stretches of dialogue," as EW's Leah Greenblatt describes them. These conversations, she says, "have the quality of both earnest debate and avant-garde theater, ebbing and flowing on their own inscrutable tides." —S.B.

Where to watch I'm Thinking of Ending Things: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Charlie Kaufman

Cast: Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette, David Thewlis

Related content: Jessie Buckley on her singular, brilliant turn in I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Jesse Plemons and Jessie Buckley in 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things'
Jesse Plemons and Jessie Buckley in 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things'

<i>The Devil All the Time</i> (2020)

Based on the novel by Donald Ray Pollock, The Devil All the Time features a tangled web of connections spanning the two decades post-WWII. When Arvin (Tom Holland) loses his parents (Bill Skarsgård and Haley Bennett), he moves in with his grandmother. He meets Lenora (Eliza Scanlen), who becomes an unofficial sibling to him. Nearly a decade later, Lenora is seduced by a new reverend in town (Robert Pattinson). She comes close to killing herself after she realizes that she's pregnant and the reverend denies his involvement, but changes her mind at the last second. Unfortunately, it was a second too late. This film's not for the faint of heart as it features murder, religious extremism, rape, and other sensitive topics. But with an all-star cast pulling off incredible performances, director Antonio Campos nails the adaptation. —S.B.

Where to watch The Devil All the Time: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Antonio Campos

Cast: Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Sebastian Stan, Haley Bennett, Eliza Scanlen, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, Harry Melling

Related content: Tom Holland did not know Jake Gyllenhaal was a producer on his new movie

Tom Holland in 'The Devil All the Time'
Tom Holland in 'The Devil All the Time'

<i>Sweet Girl</i> (2021)

Killers for hire, big pharma's lies, and a touch of corporate espionage, oh my! Sweet Girl's got it all. Starring Jason Momoa as Ray, a man seeking answers and responsibility after his wife's death, Sweet Girl puts the greed of pharmaceutical companies on blast. Featuring subway stabbings, FBI ambushes, and a twist that nobody could see coming, this action-packed drama is definitely the film version of a page-turner. (A scene-flipper? Frame-forwarder? Eh, we'll work on that.) Sweet Girl received mixed critical reviews, but anything that can make your jaw drop like that is a winner in our book. —S.B.

Where to watch Sweet Girl: Netflix

Director: Brian Andrew Mendoza

Cast: Jason Momoa, Isabela Merced, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Adria Arjona, Raza Jaffrey, Justin Bartha, Lex Scott Davis, Michael Raymond-James, Amy Brenneman

Related content: Watch Jason Momoa shave off his signature locks for a good cause: 'Here's to new beginnings'

Isabela Merced and Jason Momoa in 'Sweet Girl'
Isabela Merced and Jason Momoa in 'Sweet Girl'

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