40 Of The Best Movies On Netflix NZ In 2026
Siriol Dafydd
Entertainment Writer | Urban List, Sydney
Buttering up the popcorn and firing up one of the best movies on Netflix New Zealand has got to be our favourite thing ever.
But how often do you find yourself endlessly scrolling, looking for something half-decent to kick back to? Well, scroll no more, friends, Urban List is here to save the day with all the best movies worth watching on Netflix NZ right now
People We Meet on Vacation
In the mood for an easy feel-good romcom? People We Meet on Vacation will do the job nicely. The story follows lifelong best mates who take holidays together every year. But, as with all great romantic comedies, we gradually uncover hidden feelings, romantic complications, and then all sorts of ups and downs. It won’t change your life, but it’s a cosy movie that won’t make your brain work too hard.
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart
If you fancy something with a bit more depth and real-life seriousness, this feature-length documentary takes a close look at the 2002 abduction of 14‑year‑old Elizabeth Smart from her Salt Lake City bedroom. Combining interviews with Elizabeth herself, input from family and investigators, and archival material, it details the horrific nine months she spent held captive by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. It’s powerful and truly fascinating, but be warned, it goes into detail about the intense psychological and emotional trauma experienced by Elizabeth and her family.
The Rip
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck together again at last (again). And boy, do they know how to put together a good movie. Based on a true story, The Rip is a gripping crime thriller about a team of Miami police officers torn apart after they find millions of dollars in cash in a run-down stash house. Basically, once they find out that an outsider somehow knew about the money, all hell breaks loose in a tense rollercoaster of who-can-we-trust paranoia, greed, and a whole heap of action. So, if you’re in the mood for a gritty thriller, check out The Rip from January 16 2026.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
If you haven’t seen Daniel Craig’s Knives Out movie series, it’s basically like a modern-day Poirot but with a more satirical edge (and what’s not to love about that, eh?). Unlike the previous two instalments in the franchise, Wake Up Dead Man has a bit of a dark and gothic vibe, with all the action taking place in a small-town church after a priest shows up inexplicably dead. It’s worth checking out the first two movies, too, but if you haven’t seen them, you’ll still be able to enjoy the standalone plot here.
Jay Kelly
Jay Kelly is a character-driven comedy-drama written and directed by Oscar-nominated Noah Baumbach (aka Greta Gerwig’s hubby). The story follows an ageing film star (played by George Clooney) and his long-suffering manager (played by Adam Sandler) as they travel through Europe on a journey of self-reflection. Expect thoughtful musings about the trials and tribulations of fame, along with plenty of time to stare wistfully at Clooney (if that’s your thing).
The Woman in Cabin 10
The Woman in Cabin 10 is a psychological thriller with a bunch of whodunnit twists. With Keira Knightley in the lead role, the story follows a travel journalist who reckons she heard a woman being thrown overboard her luxury cruise. But, as all passengers seem to be accounted for, and with plenty of gaslighting thrown into the mix, she has to figure out whether she’s crazy and/or in danger while still stuck onboard. Think Flight Plan meets Speed 2 meets murder mysteries in general, and you’ll be in the right ballpark.
Goodbye June
Directed by Kate Winslet and written by her son, Joe Anders, Goodbye June is a character-driven and heartfelt drama worth watching. Although it’s set over Christmas, it’s definitely not a cosy feel-good comedy. In fact, it’s about a family who reunite over the holidays to say goodbye to their dying mother. You’ll find some dry wit in there and a few funny bittersweet moments, but generally speaking, be prepared for raw emotion.
The Thursday Murder Club
Oh, we do love a good old ‘based on a book’ adaptation. And, with an all-star cast of British and Irish acting royalty like Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie (to name but a few), this one’s worth a watch. The story follows a group of retirement village residents who meet weekly to solve cold case murders. But, when someone from their orbit is suddenly beaten to death in his home, things get a lot more interesting — and potentially dangerous. Although it is about murder, it’s generally a warm and funny watch you can relax to.
The Great Flood
In the mood for an intense Korean disaster movie? (Who isn’t?). Following a researcher and her young son as they try to escape an apartment building during a catastrophic and potentially world-ending flood, The Great Flood is tense, full of emotional jeopardy, and offers plenty of action too boot. Not one for when you feel overwhelmed, tired, or fragile, for sure… but if you want action and thrills, give it a go.
Last Breath
Based on the 2019 documentary of the same name, Last Breath tells the amazing and barely believable true story of a deep-sea diver trapped underwater during a routine maintenance dive. Starring Woody Harrelson, it explores the tense response as his team attempts to rescue him against all odds, crazy weather, and an oxygen tank that’s fast running out.
Scoop
Greenland
Spaceman
Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan and Isabella Rossellini are going intergalactic in this one. Six months into a solo mission, lonely astronaut Sandler is forced to confront the cracks in his marriage with a little help from a mysterious creature sharing the ship with him. Dark, psychological and at times bizarre, Spaceman demonstrates a very different side to Sandler's usual witty quips.
Damsel
Millie Bobby Brown can't do much wrong in our eyes, so we had to include this dark, modern take on the fairytale classics. Basically, the story follows Brown's marriage to a charming prince as it turns into a fierce fight for survival when she's offered up as a sacrifice to a terrifying fire-breathing dragon. There's a big backing cast (think Angela Bassett and Ray Winstone) that's sure to transport you into another realm - perfect for those who love a little fantasy in their lives
Shirley
The Beautiful Game
Meet Mal (Bill Nighy) the manager of England's charming homeless soccer team, as he leads them to the Homeless World Cup in Rome. As the team takes a chance on the new talented but rather troubled striker Vinny, Mal must keep them together and help them truly become united to take out the cup. It’s utterly heart-warming and uplifting — enjoy.
Badland Hunters
This South Korean smash topped the Netflix movie charts pretty much as soon as it was, and we sure can see why. In a post-apocalyptic world known as the badlands, a group of skilled hunters emerge as the last line of defence against ruthless bandits and mutant creatures. Led by the formidable duo of Nam San and Choi Ji-wan, the hunters navigate the desolate wastelands, scavenging for resources to sustain their struggling village. Fast-paced and intense, add Badland Hunters to your binge list immediately.
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The Kitchen
Orion And The Dark
NYAD
Three decades after giving up marathon swimming in exchange for a prominent career as a sports journalist, at the age of 60, Diana Nyad (four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening) becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her: the 110 mile trek from Cuba to Florida—often called the “Mount Everest” of swims. Watch it here.
Pain Hustlers
Pain Hustlers is Erin Brocavich meets Wolf Of Wall Street. If that should tell you anything, it should say this flick is one you can't skip. This high-octane and sharp Netflix movie is naturally filled with all the laughs, casting the likes of Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Catherine O’Hara, and Andy Garcia.
Taking place in the heart of sunny Florida, Liza (Blunt) envisions the dream life for her and her young daughter. After landing a job at a struggling pharma start-up let by Pete (Evans), Liza's charisma and wit feeds her right into the underbelly of a criminal conspiracy.
Reptile
Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems. By doing so, he dismantles the illusions in his own life. Super uplifting and chill, eh
They Cloned Tyrone
A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (Boyega, Foxx and Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in They Cloned Tyrone, a pulpy mystery caper. Watch it here.
Extraction 2
Chris Hemsworth returns as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2, the sequel to Netflix's blockbuster action film Extraction. After barely surviving the events of the first movie, Rake is back as the Australian black ops mercenary, tasked with another deadly mission: rescuing the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held. Watch it here.
The Mother
Let's just say, if it stars Jennifer Lopez—we're down to watch it. In The Mother—A deadly female assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die
Fantasy fiends, this one's for you. When King Edward dies, peace is threatened as his two potential heirs, Aethelstan and Aelfweard, battle to claim the crown. Uhtred hears that Aethelstan, once his ward and protégé, is to fight, he rides to help him secure victory, but the young prince has fallen under a dark influence. And when Aethelstan’s actions threaten the life Uhtred has known, Uhtred has to decide where his loyalties lie, with the king, or with his homeland. Watch it here.
Luther: The Fallen Sun
Everyone's favourite rough-around-the-edges British cop Luther is back for a feature-length film in an epic continuation of the award-winning TV saga. Prepare to be gripped as a gruesome serial killer (in the form of Gollum himself, Andy Serkis) terrorises London while brilliant but disgraced detective John Luther (Idris Elba) sits behind bars. Haunted by his failure to capture the cyber psychopath who now taunts him, Luther decides to break out of prison to finish the job by any means necessary. Watch it here.
The Pale Blue Eye
Christian Bale, the man can seriously act. In this murder-crime thriller, he plays the enigmatic detective, August Landor, who must decipher a series of brutal killings in the fog and snow-ridden plains of 19th-century upstate New York. Aided by a quirky young poet, Edgar Allen Poe, the pair slowly unravel the mystery but discover an even darker truth and tragedy along the way. Watch it now
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
So, some people are saying this could be one of the best Netflix movies of all time, but we'll leave that decision up to you. After the success of the first Knives Out movie, Benoit Blanc returns to peel back the layers in another whodunnit. This time, he finds himself at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is only the first of many puzzles. Blanc soon meets a distinctly disparate group of friends gathering at the invitation of billionaire Miles Bron for their yearly reunion. Among those on the guest list are Miles’ former business partner Andi Brand, current Connecticut governor Claire Debella, cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay and her conscientious assistant Peg, and influencer Duke Cody and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey. As in all the best murder mysteries, each character harbours their own secrets and lies. Watch it here
The Wonder
If you think you could get sick of Florence Pugh, think again. In The Wonder, Pugh stars as an English Nightingale Nurse Lib Wright in 1862 (13 years after the Great Famine) who gets called to the Irish Midlands by a devout community to conduct a 15-day examination over one of their own. Anna O’Donnell is an 11-year-old girl who claims not to have eaten for four months, surviving miraculously on “manna from heaven”. As Anna's health rapidly deteriorates, Lib is absolutely determined to unearth the truth, challenging the faith of Anna’s community. Watch it here.
The Good Nurse
Amy, a compassionate nurse and single mother struggling with a life-threatening heart condition, is stretched to her physical and emotional limits by the hard and demanding night shifts at the ICU. But help arrives when Charlie, a thoughtful and empathetic fellow nurse, starts at her unit. While sharing long nights at the hospital, the two develop become pretty good friends but a series of mysterious patient deaths sets off an investigation that points to Charlie as the prime suspect. Not to freak you out but this one is based on true events. Watch it here.
Luckiest Girl Alive
Luckiest Girl Alive centres on Ani FaNelli, a sharp-tongued New Yorker who appears to have it all: a sought-after position at a glossy magazine, a killer wardrobe and a dream Nantucket wedding on the horizon. But when the director of a crime documentary invites her to tell her side of the shocking incident that took place when she was a teenager at the prestigious Brentley School, Ani is forced to confront a dark truth that threatens to unravel her meticulously crafted life. Watch it here.
The Gray Man
The Gray Man is CIA operative Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), AKA Sierra Six. Plucked from a federal penitentiary and recruited by his handler, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), Gentry was once a highly-skilled, Agency-sanctioned merchant of death...just your run-of-the-mill job, right? However, the tables turn and now Six is the target, hunted across the globe by Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a former cohort at the CIA, who will stop at nothing to take him out. Watch it here.
Hustle
Adam Sandler is back and this time around, he’s starring as a basketball scout. After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past, Stanley Beren (Sandler) takes it upon himself to bring the phenom to the States without his team's approval. Against the odds, they have one final shot to prove they have what it takes to make it in the NBA. Watch it here.
Bubble
Get comfy for one of the most beautiful anime animations you’ll ever witness. This story is set in Tokyo after bubbles that broke the laws of gravity rained down on Earth. Cut off from the outside world, Tokyo has become a playground for a group of young people who have lost their families, acting as a battlefield for parkour team battles as they leap from building to building. Hibiki, a young ace, makes a pretty damn reckless move one day and plummets into the gravity-bending sea. His life is saved by Uta, a girl with mysterious powers. Watch it here.
Rescued By Ruby
We mean, how can you go wrong with yet another movie about his man and his dog? Based on a true story, state trooper Dan (Grant Gustin) dreams of joining the K-9 Search And Rescue team, but no one will give him the chance. Shelter dog Ruby dreams of having a home, but is running out of hope. When fate brings Dan and Ruby together, it's their unshakable bond that helps them face their toughest challenge yet. Watch Rescued By Ruby here.
The Adam Project
If you’re keen to hit cruise on your brain then you’re going to love The Adam Project. Deep in the sci-fi genre, after accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-travelling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self on a big ol’ mission to save the future. No, it won’t be up for any big film awards but it will give you a nice dose of escapism and we mean, with its stars Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldaña at the helm—you’re in good hands. The Adam Project is also directed by Shawn Levy who’s responsible for the likes of Stranger Things, Night At The Museum and Free Guy. Not to mention, the film is completely action-packed and speckled with good laughs too. Watch The Adam Project here.
Munich—The Edge Of War
If you haven’t previously picked up the paperback of the same name by Robert Harris, you’re in for a treat. The year is 1938 and Europe is on the brink of war, Adolf Hitler is preparing to invade Czechoslovakia and the UK is desperately trying to find some kind of solution. Pressure builds and Hugh Legat, a British civil servant, and Paul von Hartmann, a German diplomat, travel to Munich for an emergency conference. As negotiations begin, the two, who also happen to be old friends, find themselves at the centre of a web of political subterfuge. Watch Munich—The Edge of War here.
The Lost Daughter
Get ready to lap up all that is Olivia Coleman in Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut, The Lost Daughter. In this one, Leda (Olivia Coleman) meets a mother and her young daughter while holidaying in Italy. Becoming obsessed with the mother-daughter relationship, Leda remembers her own experiences of early motherhood, memories filled with terror, intensity and a whole lot of confusion. You'll also find Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Ed Harris, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Mescal and Dagmara Dominczyk starring in this psychological thriller.
Don't Look Up
Don't Look Up follows Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student, and her professor Dr Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system. The problem—it’s on a direct collision course with Earth. The other problem? No one really seems to care. With the help of Dr Oglethorpe, Kate and Randall embark on a media tour that takes them from the office of an indifferent President (Meryl Streep) and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason (Jonah Hill), to the airwaves of The Daily Rip, an upbeat morning show hosted by Brie (Cate Blanchett) and Jack (Tyler Perry).
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Main image credit: Netflix
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