These 32 original films run the gamut as far as genre is concerned, but the one thing they have in common? They're all excellent. The 32 best Netflix original movies These 32 original films run the gamut as far as genre is concerned, but the one thing they have in common? They're all excellent. By Ilana Gordon, :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles. EW's editorial guidelines and James Mercadante on November 6, 2025 6:13 a.

These 32 original films run the gamut as far as genre is concerned, but the one thing they have in common? They're all excellent.

The 32 best Netflix original movies

These 32 original films run the gamut as far as genre is concerned, but the one thing they have in common? They're all excellent.

By Ilana Gordon,

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and James Mercadante

on November 6, 2025 6:13 a.m. ET

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro'; Matías Recalt as Roberto Canessa and Augustín Pardella as Fernando 'Nando' Parrado in 'Society of the Snow'; John Boyega as Fontaine, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, and Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles in 'They Cloned Tyrone'. Credit:

Jason McDonald/Netflix; Netflix; Parrish Lewis/Netflix

What a difference a decade makes. Known for partnering with the best directors, writers, and talent, Netflix dropped the company's first original film (*Beasts of No Nation*) in 2015. As of the 2025 Academy Awards ceremony, the streamer has 26 Oscars.

Original and exclusive Netflix titles make up 50 percent of the platform's available offerings in the United States, but don't let that overwhelm you. In the interest of streamlining your experience, EW took the liberty of selecting the 32 best Netflix original movies for your viewing pleasure.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Felix Kammerer as Paul Bäumer in 'All Quiet on the Western Front'.

Based on the 1929 literary novel — which was later adapted into an Oscar-winning movie in 1930, a made-for-TV movie in 1979, and finally, a film released theatrically and on Netflix in 2022 — this German language World War I movie remains one of the starkest examples of anti-war sentiment in cinematic history. *All Quiet *follows Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), a young German recruit, over the course of the 18 months he spends serving in Northern France on the frontlines of the war's Western Front.

Director Edward Berger's film focuses on Paul's transformation; the longer the conflict rages on, the further the young man drifts from a youthful, patriotic enlistee, to a battle-hardened soldier, traumatized by what he's seen and those he's lost. An aesthetic experience, EW's critic writes that "the spectral score by composer Volker Bertelmann is gorgeously unsettling, and the cinematography achieves a kind of painterly, panoramic grandeur." —*Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *All Quiet on the Western Front*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Edward Berger** **

**Cast: **Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl** **

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Tim Blake Nelson as Buster Scruggs in 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'.

Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Coen brothers got tired of limiting themselves to one narrative in their projects, so for their Netflix film, *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs*, they decided to mix it up and tell multiple stories. Set up as a six-part Western anthology, the film focuses thematically on the American frontier, and tells the stories of a cheerful cowboy, an unlucky would-be bank robber, a traveling promoter whose business is going downhill, a grizzled prospector, a woman headed West in search of a husband, and a group of passengers in a stagecoach.

While the Coens mess around with genre in each chapter and the cast differs from story to story, the six narratives are given a sense of consistency courtesy of the unique Coen voice, which the pair previously deployed on projects like *True Grit* and *No Country for Old Men*. And while there are certainly frontrunner stories in terms of quality and effectiveness, the entire film is worth a watch. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Directors: **Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

**Cast: **Tyne Daly, James Franco, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Heck, Grainger Hines, Zoe Kazan, Harry Melling, Liam Neeson, Tim Blake Nelson, Jonjo O'Neill, Chelcie Ross, Saul Rubinek, Tom Waits

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Idris Elba as Commandant in 'Beasts of No Nation'. Red Crown Prods/Participant Media/Come What May Prods/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Another war film, the powerful drama *Beasts of No Nation* follows a brutal civil dispute in Africa as told through the eyes of a child soldier. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Abraham Attah and Idris Elba, the film is a harrowing, confronting look at humanity in the face of the devastation of war. After its release on Netflix, it was a huge success on the platform, receiving more than three million views in North American in just 10 days. However, despite its critical and relative commercial success, the movie didn't receive any Oscar nominations. *Beasts of No Nation *may not be filled with A-list Hollywood stars, but it is one of Netflix's greatest films to date. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Beasts of No Nation*: Netflix

**Director: **Cary Joji Fukunaga** **

**Cast: **Idris Elba, Kurt Egyiawan, Jude Akuwudike, Emmanuel "King King" Nii Adom Quaye, Abraham Attah** **

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Delroy Lindo as Paul in 'Da 5 Bloods'.

David Lee/Netflix

Wars and wounds collide in Spike Lee's 2020 film *Da 5 Bloods*, a meditation on race, generational trauma, and American intervention. Toggling between the past and present, the film follows four Black war veterans as they return to Vietnam, intent on recovering a locker of gold bars and the body of their fallen friend and squad leader, Stormin' Norman (Chadwick Boseman), both of which were lost during a napalm strike.

Guided in their quest by Tiên, the ex-girlfriend of one of the former soldiers, and forced to confront landmines — both real and emotional — the remainder of the squad must reconcile the horrors of their past with the difficulties of their present if they hope to escape Vietnam for a better future. Incorporating archival newsreel for additional context, *Da 5 Bloods* is a war film with action sequences, but many of the battles pit man against his memory. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Da 5 Bloods*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Spike Lee

**Cast: **Chadwick Boseman, Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr. ** **

Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Eddie Murphy as Rudy in 'Dolomite Is My Name'. François Duhamel/Netflix

Los Angeles in the 1970s is a terrible place to live if you're struggling, and aspiring show business professional Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) can't seem to break in. After years of working a dead-end job as a record store manager and grinding for stage time, Rudy creates a character inspired (or stolen, depending on how literal you want to get) by an unhoused man who wanders into his store. Armed with a new name, new vocabulary, and new wardrobe, Rudy as Dolemite starts taking over the comedy scene — but he's not content to stop there.

Determined to turn Dolemite into a blaxploitation karate film starring himself, Rudy cobbles together a screenwriter (Keegan-Michael Key), a celebrated character actor (Wesley Snipes), and a comedian (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), and decides to do it himself. Based on the true story of Rudy Ray Moore, a comedian, filmmaker, and godfather of rap, *Dolemite Is My Name* is a period biopic that perfectly balances jokes and heart. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Dolemite Is My Name*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Craig Brewer

**Cast: **Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'. Netflix

Rian Johnson is a man who laughs in the face of genre: From fantasy blockbusters like *Star Wars* to whodunnit comedies, this writer and director gets around. And after a three-year hiatus, he and everyone's favorite pastel-clad detective, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) are back with a second addition to their *Knives Out* franchise.

Released both in theaters and on Netflix, *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery* tells the story of a friend group caught up in the allure of money, fame, power, and murder — but, in all truthfulness, the film is just as effective as travel propaganda for the Greek island on which the story is set. Miles Bron (Edward Norton) is a tech billionaire prototype who organizes a murder mystery at his remote estate, but his weekend plans are interrupted by the appearance of an old friend and current enemy, Cassandra Brand (Janelle Monae), as well as the unanticipated arrival of Detective Blanc. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Rian Johnson

**Cast: **Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Madelyn Cline

Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)

Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in 'Happy Gilmore 2'.

Scott Yamano/Netflix

*Happy Gilmore* fans waited almost three decades for a sequel and Adam Sandler made it worth their while. *Happy Gilmore 2 *picks up years after Happy won the Tour Championship; he's now broke, dealing with alcohol abuse, and struggling to pay for his daughter's ballet training. After not playing golf for a decade, Happy agrees to pick up the clubs once more to win money for his family and to take down a slimy new golf league.

Sandler treats the film like a giant party, inviting back members of the original cast, old friends and co-workers, his entire immediate family, and one musical sensation. Nineties nostalgists and Sandler fans will appreciate the references and cameos, and golf enthusiasts will enjoy the steady stream of professional players. Nobody is going to mistake *Happy Gilmore 2* for an Oscar contender, but as comedy sequels go, this one feels like a reunion you want to attend. —*I.G.***

Where to watch *Happy Gilmore 2*: Netflix

**Director: **Kyle Newacheck

**Cast: **Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, Ben Stiller

The Harder They Fall (2021)

Regina King as Trudy Smith, Idris Elba as Rufus Buck, and LaKeith Stanfield as Cherokee Bill in 'The Harder They Fall'.

David Lee/Netflix

The traditional Western movie gets a shot of adrenaline and style in *The Harder They Fall*, one of the few cowboy films in which all the main cast are played by Black actors. Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) is a former enslaved man turned cowboy hero whose tragic, Batman-esque origin story has led him down a path of vigilantism. Love uses his outlaw status to rob worse outlaws, and the biggest offender working is Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), supported by his loyal crew, including Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield). When Love was a child, Buck murdered his parents in front of him, and all these years later, Love is still desperate for revenge.

Aided by US Marshall Reeves (Delroy Lindo) and his former lover and current saloon owner Mary (Zazie Beetz), Love is ready to face off against Buck — only to learn the two have more in common than he could ever have believed. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Harder They Fall*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Jeymes Samuel

**Cast: **Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, Deon Cole

Hustle (2022)

Juancho Hernangómez as Bo Cruz and Anthony Edwards as Kermit Wilts in 'Hustle'. Scott Yamano/Netflix

"Guys in their 50s don't have dreams," says Adam Sandler's character, Stanley Sugerman, in the sports film *Hustle*. "They have nightmares and eczema." Sugerman is unwilling to admit it, but he hasn't given up on his fantasy of becoming an NBA coach, even though he's spent his life on the road working as an international scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. After finally receiving a promotion to assistant coach, Stanley is able to realize his professional ambitions and spend more time at home with his wife (Queen Latifah) and daughter.

But when Stanley's mentor dies, precipitating a changeup in the 76ers' front office, Stanley finds himself demoted back to talent scout. During a trip to Spain, he discovers Bo Cruz (former Toronto Raptors player Juancho Hernangómez), an unknown baller with an undeniable gift. But if Stanley is going to convince the league to take Bo seriously, both he and the budding athlete will need to put in some serious work. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Hustle*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Jeremiah Zagar** **

**Cast: **Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangómez, Ben Foster, Kenny Smith, Anthony Edwards, Robert Duvall

The Irishman (2019)

Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa and Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran in 'The Irishman'. Netflix

You'd probably expect any film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring the legendary trifecta of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci to be nothing short of exceptional — and Netflix's *The Irishman* does not disappoint. The 2019 film is based on *I Heard You Paint Houses*, the 2004 memoir of Frank Sheeran, who found himself embroiled with a Philadelphia-based Italian mob. This is essential viewing for film fans of all kinds, but especially if your favorites include the likes of *The Godfather,* *Goodfellas, *or *Taxi Driver*. As EW's critic puts it, it's "kind of caps-lock Scorsese — the greatest hits of his career revisited once more, with feeling."

The film famously used CGI to 'de-age' its three stars, so *The Irishman* is one of the first films to follow its characters across several decades without having to cast multiple actors for the same role. Just make sure to set aside plenty of time, as this epic effort from De Niro and Scorsese clocks in at three-and-a-half hours. —*Meg Walters*

Where to watch *The Irishman*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Martin Scorsese

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

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KPop Demon Hunters (2023)

Zoey (voice: Ji-young Yoo), Rumi (voice: Arden Cho), and Mira (voice: May Hong) in 'KPop Demon Hunters'.

Netflix continues to earn K-Pop cred by introducing audiences to a new genre favorite: *KPop Demon Hunters*. Already the platform's most-watched movie *ever*, this sci-fi musical follows a group called Huntr/x, which is made up of three performers who also happen to be talented demon slayers. Their most powerful weapon is their voices, which they use to create a magical barrier that prevents demons from entering the human world and feasting on the souls inside.

Huntr/x's path toward demon eradication gets complicated when a demon boy band comes on the scene and starts attracting a fan base of their own. Add in incredible music numbers and some plot twists, and you have a golden opportunity to spend an evening falling in love with Netflix's most upbeat original movie. Think South Korean *Buffy*, but with more bangers. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *KPop Demon Hunters*: Netflix

**Directors: **Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

**Cast:** Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, Lee Byung-hun

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Mahershala Ali as G.H. Scott, Myha'la as Ruth Scott, Julia Roberts as Amanda Sandford, and Ethan Hawke as Clay Sandford in 'Leave the World Behind'.

In 2021, Barack Obama put the postapocalyptic novel *Leave the World Behind *by Rumaan Alam on his summer reading list, and two years later, Netflix's cinematic adaptation of the thriller hit the platform. A story about a family getaway that goes awry after a cyberattack causes the breakdown of social order, the film interrogates ideas about technology overreliance and exactly what the end of the world might look like.

With actors like Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Kevin Bacon handling the starring roles and the Obamas' production company co-executive producing, *Leave the World Behind *has no shortage of big names or big ideas to offer. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Leave the World Behind*: Netflix

**Director: ** Sam Esmail

**Cast: **Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, Kevin Bacon

The Lost Daughter (2021)

Dakota Johnson as Nina and Olivia Colman as Leda in 'The Lost Daughter'.

Yannis Drakoulidis/Netflix

Complicated women take center stage in the stripped down plot of *The Lost Daughter*, a shimmering adaptation of author Elena Ferrante's 2006 novel. Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley bless us with their performances of protagonist Leda Caruso at different points in her life. The current version of Leda (played by Coleman) is an academic on a solo holiday in Greece, where she meets a young mother named Nina (Dakota Johnson) struggling to handle her active 3-year-old. Leda and Nina bond over the difficulties of motherhood, their interactions informed by the flashbacks of Leda's past history with her own two daughters.

Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut — which she also wrote — *The Lost Daughter *is a brilliant psychological drama that feeds on the fire stoked by our perceived failures as parents, and the shame that parents — especially mothers — feel when making choices to prioritize their own well-being over that of their children. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Lost Daughter*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A

**Director: **Maggie Gyllenhaal** **

**Cast: **Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Ed Harris, Paul Mescal

Mank (2020)

Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz in 'Mank'. Netflix

*Mank *tells the story of the making of Orson Welles' famous 1941 classic, *Citizen Kane*. Directed by David Fincher, the movie stars Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz, or 'Mank', the "scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter," as he struggles to complete the screenplay of *Citizen Kane* on time. Written by Fincher's late father, the film was shot in black-and-white and aimed to recreate some of the cinematographic style of Welles' work. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and while the movie only took home two awards, it still won more than *Citizen Kane*.

As EW's critic notes in her review of the film, *Mank* might not be for everyone, but it is the ultimate film for lovers of old Hollywood: "part love letter, part cautionary tale, and still somehow a mystery." —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Mank*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **David Fincher** **

**Cast: **Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Tom Burke, Lily Collins, Charles Dance, Tom Pelphrey

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

Chadwick Boseman as Levee (left) and Viola Davis as Ma Rainey (center) in 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'. David Lee/Netflix

Chadwick Boseman could hardly have chosen a better vehicle to demonstrate his limitless talent than *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*, the film which ended up serving as the celebrated actor's final onscreen performance. Paired opposite the film's other star — Viola Davis, who disappears into the role of the titular Ma Rainey, a famous blues singer and force of nature — the two conjure up what EW's critic describes as an "acting masterclass" of a performance. Adapted from August Wilson's 1984 play, the film tells the story of Ma and her group of Black bandmates as they attempt to record in a Chicago studio during the 1920s.

What should be a straightforward day of music grinds to a halt as the artists struggle to deal with personality clashes, an ambitious trumpeter named Levee (Boseman), and the band's mercurial frontwoman. Also starring Taylour Paige (*Zola*) as Ma's love interest, *Ma Rainey *is a must-see for its homage to the titular blues legend and its importance in the Chadwick Boseman acting canon. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **George C. Wolfe ** **

**Cast: **Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, Michael Potts, Taylour Paige

Maestro (2023)

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro'.

Jason McDonald/Netflix

Bradley Cooper — first demonstrating his moviemaking prowess with 2018's acclaimed *A Star Is Born* remake starring Lady Gaga — is now two-for-two with another Academy Award-nominated film. For *Maestro*, Cooper puts his six years of preparation on display, donning the black tux (and controversial prosthetic nose) of American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, a figure that has captivated him since childhood. This biopic centers on the complex relationship between Bernstein and his wife, the Costa Rican-Chilean actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan), while also exploring his clandestine affairs with men.

Featuring dynamic performances, dreamlike symbolic imagery, and a six-minute dialogue-free conducting scene, *Maestro* is essentially catnip for film lovers and pundits alike, as EW's critic claims that it "deserves the same level of respect from viewers as one of Bernstein's public performances of the music of Mahler." —*James Mercadante*

Where to watch *Maestro*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Bradley Cooper

**Cast:** Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Michael Urie

Marriage Story (2019)

Scarlett Johansson as Nicole Barber and Adam Driver as Charlie Barber in 'Marriage Story'. Wilson Webb/Netflix

*Marriage Story* was a smash hit from Netflix that garnered six Oscar nominations and one win (for Laura Dern in the Best Supporting Actress category). Directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Dern, the film follows a married couple going through an increasingly thorny divorce. While it's not always an easy watch, *Marriage Story *offers an unflinching, heart-wrenching look at how the practicalities and legalities of divorce can tear apart the people involved.

"They've lost their voices; they've lost a sense of who they are," Baumback tells EW. "They're trying to figure out what they believe anymore. And that's a dangerous place, I think, for a couple to find themselves." —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Marriage Story*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Noah Baumbach

**Cast: **Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty, Merritt Wever

Mudbound (2017)

Mary J. Blige as Florence Jackson in 'Mudbound'. Netflix

Two families are mired in poverty, each with a son who fought bravely in World War II only to return to the Mississippi Delta with nothing but PTSD to show for their troubles. But the only difference between the Jacksons and McAllans is the color of their skin. Dee Rees' *Mudbound* follows the two families as they fight their wars both abroad and within the home, and discover that trauma bonds deeper than blood.

Jason Mitchell is exceptional as Ronsel Jackson, bringing emotional honesty to a war hero who, because he is Black, is treated like anything but. Also featuring an all-star ensemble that includes Mary J. Blige, Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, and Garrett Hedlund, EW's critic writes that "*Mudbound* is never preachy, reductive, or undercut by its own good intentions. Just the opposite. It's a deeply felt American tale told with heart and humanity." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Mudbound*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Dee Rees

**Cast: **Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, Jonathan Banks

Okja (2017)

Okja and Ahn Seo-hyun as Mija in 'Okja'. Netflix

Two years before Bong Joon Ho wowed the world with *Parasite, *the South Korean director partnered with Netflix to make *Okja*. A pig-centered movie that leans decidedly more towards *Animal Farm* than *Babe*, the movie follows Mija, a South Korean teen who bonds with Okja, the "super pig" she's helped raise — only to have Okja taken from her after he is crowned the winner of an agrochemical company's competition for best pig. With Okja headed for the slaughterhouse, Mija travels from South Korea to New York City on a mission to save her friend and to help expose the inhumane practices of the Mirando Corporation and its leader, Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton).

A mixture of science, fantasy, action, and adventure, *Okja *is one of those movies you have to see to believe. As EW's critic writes, *Okja* is "the antithesis of cookie-cutter, made-by-committee filmmaking. Prepare to be amazed, grossed out, provoked, punchdrunk, and tickled." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Okja*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Bong Joon Ho** **

**Cast: **Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Ahn Seo-hyun, Byun Hee-bong, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Yoon Je-moon, Shirley Henderson, Daniel Henshall, Devon Bostick, Choi Woo-shik, Giancarlo Esposito, Jake Gyllenhaal

The Perfect Neighbor (2025)

Ajike Owens' family in 'The Perfect Neighbor'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Florida is known for employing a stand-your-ground law, a legal policy that provides residents the option of employing lethal force rather than retreating as a means of self-defense. The law has proven controversial in the past, but in 2023, it was tested when 35-year-old Ajike Owens was shot through a locked door while waiting to speak with her neighbor.

*The Perfect Neighbor* gives an unvarnished accounting of the events leading up to and following Owens' murder using body cam footage collected during the police's prior visits to the killer's house. What emerges is a documentary free from editorializing — the story is told by Ajike, her neighbors, the police investigating the conflicts, and the killer herself. The events in the film are hard to stomach, but the systemic issues the documentary highlights make *The Perfect Neighbor* a must-watch. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Perfect Neighbor*: Netflix

**Director:** Geeta Gandbhir

The Power of the Dog (2022)

Kodi Smit-McPhee as Peter Gordon and Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank in 'The Power of the Dog'.

Kirsty Griffin/Netflix

Directed by Jane Campion, *The Power of the Dog* is a 1920s Western based on the book of the same name by Thomas Savage that follows Phil, a gruff cowboy, and his brother's new family who have recently moved onto the ranch. The film picked up a staggering 12 Oscar nominations and won Best Director, with Campion becoming the third female director ever to win the award.

The four central actors each give remarkable performances and Benedict Cumberbatch is deeply complex and arresting as Phil. "He's really beautiful and also a little scary, and he's charismatic," Campion explained to EW. Unlike old-school Westerns, *The Power of the Dog* is a dark, twisted, slow burn of a film that hinges on emotion, manipulation, secrets, and desire. —*M.W.*

Where to watch *The Power of the Dog*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Jane Campion** **

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

Private Life (2018)

Paul Giamatti as Richard Grimes and Kathryn Hahn as Rachel Biegler in 'Private Life'. Jojo Whilden/Netflix

Creating a baby can suck the life out of even the most stable of relationships — especially when the process doesn't go as planned. Richard and Rachel (Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn) are middle-aged artists living in New York City and struggling with infertility. As they submerge themselves in the process, juggling IVF procedures, adoption interviews, and researching other options, the couple's marriage becomes increasingly strained. Their lives are further complicated when the couple's college-aged niece Sadie (Kayli Carter) comes to stay with them and offers to assist with their conception issues.

A nuanced, grounded look at living with infertility, *Private Life *brilliantly depicts the emotional journey that is struggling to conceive without pandering or offering convenient solutions. Hahn and Giamatti are brilliantly matched and director Tamara Jenkins guides the film with a deft hand, providing well-earned laughs to relieve the tension, but never at the expense of the heartache involved. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Private Life*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Tamara Jenkins

**Cast: **Paul Giamatti, Kathryn Hahn, Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon, John Carroll Lynch, Desmin Borges, Denis O'Hare** **

Roma (2018)

Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo, Marco Graf as Pepe, and Marina de Tavira as Sra. Sofía in 'Roma'. Carlos Somonte/Netflix

*Roma* was arguably Netflix's first big original movie that really caught the attention of critics and film buffs alike. It was the first Netflix film to receive a Best Picture nod at the Oscars and ultimately won the award for Best Foreign Language Film. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón (*Gravity*, *Children of Men*) and starring a cast of relatively unknown Mexican actors, the black-and-white film follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a housekeeper for an upper-class family in the 1970s where Cuarón himself grew up.

Like life, *Roma *is a complex, sprawling film that is light on the plot and heavy on the atmosphere. With plenty of long, wide shots, it sends its viewers diving headfirst into Cuarón's version of 1970s Mexico City and ultimately, packs a weighty, emotional punch. —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Roma*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A

**Director: **Alfonso Cuarón

**Cast: **Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Jorge Antonio Guerrero

Society of the Snow (2023)

Enzo Vogrincic as Numa Turcatti, Matías Recalt as Roberto Canessa, and Augustín Pardella as Fernando 'Nando' Parrado in 'Society of the Snow'.

With many retellings often fixating on the gruesome chain of events from the 1972 Andes flight disaster, Pablo Vierci's 2009 book *La Sociedad de la Nieve* — a narrative more attuned to philosophical rumination — lingered with director J.A. Bayona. Thirteen years after making *The Impossible*, Bayona set his lens upon this tragedy, where 16 passengers were marooned in the icy embrace of an Andean glacier after a Uruguayan plane accident.

Nominated for Oscars in the Best International Feature Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling categories, *Society of the Snow *is not a story for the faint of heart, as it presents the unforgiving, stomach-turning brutality of the natural world juxtaposed with the exquisite resilience illustrated by the survivors. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Society of the Snow*: Netflix

**Director: **J.A. Bayona

**Cast: **Enzo Vogrincic, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Felipe González Otaño, Luciano Chatton, Valentino Alonso, Francisco Romero, Agustín Berruti, Andy Pruss, Simón Hempe, Juan Caruso, Esteban Bigliardi, Rocco Posca, Esteban Kukuriczka, Rafael Federman, Manuela Olivera, Agustín Della Corte, Tomas Wolf

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles, and John Boyega as Fontaine in 'They Cloned Tyrone'. Parrish Lewis/Netflix

Dropping on the exact weekend as the dual box-office behemoth *Barbenheimer*, *They Cloned Tyrone* never received the flowers it truly deserved. A *Get Out*-esque sci-fi conspiracy caper steeped in the grainy stylings of a 1970s Blaxploitation cinema, Juel Taylor's directorial debut finds an unlikely trio — neighborhood drug dealer Fontaine (John Boyega), Nancy Drew-like sex worker Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris), and smooth-talking pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx) — as they probe mysterious occurrences in their community, which leads them to an underground lab where Black people are the test subjects of government experiments.

Nailing the quick-witted, spitfire dialogue, all three leads demand attention with an electric chemistry and camaraderie. While embracing familiar tropes, *They Cloned Tyrone *weaves an original story that stands out as a diamond in the thick of many Netflix duds. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *They Cloned Tyrone*: Netflix

**Director:** Juel Taylor

**Cast:** John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, Kiefer Sutherland, David Alan Grier

Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)

Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson in 'Tick, Tick... Boom!'.

Macall Polay/Netflix

A movie musical directed by *Hamilton's* Lin-Manuel Miranda, *Tick, Tick… Boom!* is based on the stage show of the same name by Jonathan Larson, the composer of *Rent*. Starring Andrew Garfield in the leading role, the film loosely follows Larson's own life as a struggling songwriter as he turns 30 in 1990s New York City. Told in a series of flashbacks that come to life on screen during a performance of the stage version of *Tick, Tick…Boom!*, the biopic of sorts takes you on a painfully relatable journey of friendship, heartbreak, and being an artist.

With numerous Broadway cameos and Easter eggs, it's the perfect, heartfelt ode to musical theater, and the remarkable Jonathan Larson is at the center of it all. "He's a warrior for art and love and the soul, and he wants everyone to sing their song," Garfield tells EW. "He wants everyone to be their own particular note in this grand harmony of a truly meaningful life." —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Tick, Tick… Boom!*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Lin-Manuel Miranda** **

**Cast: **Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Jordan Fisher, Robin de Jesus, Bradley Whitford ** **

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Alex Sharp as Rennie Davis, Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin, John Carroll Lynch as David Dellinger, and Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman in 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'.

Nico Tavernise/Netflix

A 2020 Netflix original based (loosely) on a true story, *The Trial of the Chicago 7* details the story of seven men who find themselves on trial after a large protest against the Vietnam War during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, *The Trial of the Chicago 7* bears his recognizable fast-paced, verbose style and features an almost impossibly starry ensemble cast. As Sorkin tells EW, *The Trial of the Chicago 7* took 12 years to make after he first thought of bringing the famous court case to life on screen. Nevertheless, it still came at a remarkably appropriate political moment.

"It's funny, I've been asked, did the script change at all to mirror the times?" he says. "And no, it didn't; the times changed to mirror the script." While this film may recount the story of a war and a group of protestors from over 50 years ago, it's surprisingly relevant to modern audiences. —*M.W.*

Where to watch *The Trial of the Chicago 7*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Aaron Sorkin** **

**Cast: **Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Frank Langella, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton** **

Triple Frontier (2019)

Ben Affleck as Tom 'Redfly' Davis in 'Triple Frontier'. Netflix

Why rob a bank when you can put your life on the line stealing money from the cartel? In *Triple Frontier*, the J.C. Chandor-directed and Netflix produced action/adventure movie, a group of former special-ops soldiers come to the realization that they have not been properly compensated for their years spent in military service, and decide to get what's theirs by robbing a drug lord. Chandor brings out the big guns to play his team of military men, enlisting an ensemble composed of Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal.

A good, old-fashioned male bonding film with a lot of money on the line, EW's critic writes, "There may be no honor among thieves, but *Triple Frontier* certainly makes watching them pretty entertaining." *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Triple Frontier*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **J.C. Chandor

**Cast: **Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, Pedro Pascal

The Two Popes (2019)

Anthony Hopkins as Cardinal Ratzinger and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in 'The Two Popes'. Peter Mountain/Netflix

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles mines heart and humor from the holiest places in his biographical drama, *The Two Popes*. In the wake of the real-life Vatican Leaks scandal, Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) hopes to abdicate the papacy but finds he must first convince his former rival, Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), not to pursue an early retirement so he might assume the role instead.

Adapted from New Zealand writer Anthony McCarten's play by the same name — which is inspired by the 2013 papal transition — the film tracks the German Benedict and the Argentinian Bergoglio (soon to be Pope Francis) as the two wax philosophic on everything from God and their own perceived failings to soccer and the Swedish pop band ABBA. EW's critic writes, "Together, Hopkins and Pryce lift *Popes* above its loose patchwork of monologue, flashback, and personal reckoning, and let the movie get down to its truest root: scaling the mystery that makes all men, even the most seemingly unknowable and sacrosanct, human." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Two Popes*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Fernando Meirelles** **

**Cast: **Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce** **

The White Tiger (2021)

Adarsh Gourav as Balram and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Pinky in 'The White Tiger'.

Singh Tejinder/Netflix

An Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama, *The White Tiger'*s title refers to a special kind of person; a once in a generation thinker. The movie tells the story of Balram (Adrarsh Gourav), a successful entrepreneur whose career belies his impoverished beginnings. Adapted from a 2008 novel and nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, the Ramin Bahrani-directed film elevates the story from the classic tale of rags-to-riches by grounding itself in the moral and ethical sacrifices Balram must make to rise above the paralyzing circumstances into which he was born.

Also starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Pinky — the American-raised wife of Balram's employer — *The White Tiger *handles heavy themes of class, caste, and what one owes family with a light touch. Of course, none of this would be possible without Gourav, who EW's critics says delivers a breakout performance: "Through his eyes, Balram's singular story — in all its wild, exuberant improbability — roars to life." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The White Tiger*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Ramin Bahrani** **

**Cast: **Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao** **

Will & Harper (2024)

Harper Steele and Will Ferrell in 'Will & Harper'.

Courtesy of Netflix

*Saturday Night Live* launched Will Ferrell's comedy career and turned castmates and co-writers into lifelong pals. Ferrell's nearly 30-year friendship with one of the show's former head writers changed one day when he received an email stating that said writer was transitioning to live as a woman.

*Will & Harper* follows Ferrell and comedy writer Harper Steele as the two embark on a road trip across America to better understand their new dynamic and explore this next phase in their friendship. A buddy comedy unlike any you've seen before, *Will & Harper* is an ongoing conversation about show business, platonic relationships, and living one's authentic life in modern America. Since leaving *SNL*, Ferrell has taken on dramatic roles, but never has he been more human and honest than in this prescient and funny documentary. *—I.G*

Where to watch *Will & Harper*: Netflix

**Director: **Josh Greenbaum

**Cast: **Will Ferrell, Harper Steele

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)

Idina Menza as Bree Friedman, Samantha Lorraine as Lydia Rodriguez Katz, Adam Sandler as Danny Friedman, Sunny Sandler as Stacy Friedman, and Sadie Sandler as Ronnie Friedman in 'You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah'. Netflix

Adam Sandler brings his family to work in *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah*, a Netflix original comedy starring him and his two real-life daughters. A film about the joys — and horrors — of middle school, becoming a woman, and throwing a kickass party, *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah *is a Gen Z take on a coming-of-age story. If you need more convincing, EW named *Bat Mitzvah *as one of Adam Sandler's 11 best movies and the film is currently Sandler's top-rated project on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nepo babies get a bad rap, but Sunny and Sadie Sandler prove their father's talent is genetic, and with Sandler once again teaming up with his *Uncut Gems* costar Idina Menzel, *Bat Mitzvah* is a family reunion in more ways than one. —*I.G.***

Where to watch *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah*: Netflix**

**Director: **Sammi Cohen**

**Cast: **Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Samantha Lorraine, Dylan Hoffman, Sarah Sherman, Dan Bulla, Ido Mosseri, Jackie Hoffman, Luis Guzmán

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The 32 best Netflix original movies

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Elle Fanning freaked out Predator: Badlands costar with this unique talent: 'Did she just break h...

Dimitrius SchusterKoloamatangi and Fanning also discuss the challenges of learning Yautja, the alien language created for the film. Elle Fanning freaked out Predator: Badlands costar with this unique talent: 'Did she just break her arms?' Dimitrius SchusterKoloamatangi and Fanning also discuss the challenges of learning Yautja, the alien language created for the film. By Lauren Huff :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/PXL202501060627063092a245c0a56a194868af7b6a47af56223c.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Fanning also discuss the challenges of learning Yautja, the alien language created for the film.

Elle Fanning freaked out Predator: Badlands costar with this unique talent: 'Did she just break her arms?'

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Fanning also discuss the challenges of learning Yautja, the alien language created for the film.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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Thia (Elle Fanning) in 'Predator: Badlands'. Credit:

20th Century Studios

Double-jointedness can come in handy when you're a movie star.

Just ask Elle Fanning, who got to put this talent to good use in the sci-fi action thriller *Predator: Badlands, *where she played a synthetic human (synth, for short) named Thia, who happens to be missing the lower half of her body.

"I do have double-jointed elbows, which is kind of shown off in a couple scenes, which I am proud of," she tells **, adding, "Dan [Trachtenberg, director] loved that."

And that's not all Fanning can do. "I can also keep my eyes open for a very long time without blinking, and so I would like to say I did that myself," she says. "They did not do that with the computer. There's a scene where I have to look like I'm shut down, like a robot shut down, and I kept my eyes open. That was me."

Sitting next to Fanning during this interview is Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who plays Dek, the film's young Predator. Outcast from his clan, Dek goes on a quest to prove himself with a treacherous first hunt on a remote alien planet, where he finds an unlikely ally in Thia. Schuster-Koloamatangi calls his costar a "hell of a performer," but admits to being freaked out by her more unusual talents.

"When she did her double-jointed thing, I remember looking over, I was sitting down just cooling off, and she was showing Dan, and I was looking like, wait, *what the hell just happened*?" he says, laughing. "*Did she just break her arms*? It was very practical."

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How 'Predator: Badlands' director made a predator to 'fall in love' with, hints at 'Alien' connection

When Fanning first read the script, she says she had no idea how she was going to spend so much of the film using just her torso, but she credits Trachtenberg, whom she calls "a man with a plan," for figuring it all out. "Most of the time I had very stylish blue stockings on, and I was cut in half and had to learn how to walk on my hands," she explains. "But it was also in a robotic way because she does have a superhuman strength to her that she can walk fast, and she's not a human, so we were trying to figure out that physicality."

Thia also spends a lot of time strapped to Dek's back, which involved wires and a wheelbarrow attached to Schuster-Koloamatangi's hips that Fanning would sit in. But, at the end of the day, Fanning says she put all her faith in her director. "I really put my full trust into him, and to join the ranks of other actors who have played these iconic Weyland-Yutani synths and androids — it was pretty exciting for me. I'm a big fan of that world and that franchise," she says.

Thia (Elle Fanning) and Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) in 'Predator: Badlands'.

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Balancing practical and visual effects was also a challenge when it came to the looks of the characters themselves. Surprisingly, both actors spent about the same amount of time in the hair and makeup chair — typically between an hour and an hour and a half — largely because Dek's face was mostly CGI.

"I was lucky enough, I only had to wear the prosthetic suit, so it came on limb by limb, and then we zipped everything up and covered it with the tunic," Schuster-Koloamatangi says of his day-to-day routine. "I had an open-face cowl, so I thank God I didn't have to sit in the chair for hours getting prosthetic makeup on. They kind of just left it as is to capture the performance. So it was only literally an hour."

The film also required both stars — especially Schuster-Koloamatangi — to speak an entirely new alien language, Yautja, which was created for the movie by linguist Britton Watkins. The costars admit that learning the language was one of the biggest challenges in making the film. "It's so interesting, I've never done anything where I have to pretend I completely understand what he's saying, but he's speaking in an entirely new language that was constructed for this film," Fanning says, before bragging on her costar, "Yautja, it's a true language that he is fluent in now."

Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and Thia (Elle Fanning) in 'Predator: Badlands'.

Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

According to Schuster-Koloamatangi, the most challenging aspect of the dialect is the clicking and vibration noises it requires, all of which he produced himself, much to his own surprise. "I thought it was going to be fake as well. I thought I could freestyle all my lines when they told me," he says with a laugh. "But yeah, it was a cool process, and I think it's such a cool detail for fans of the franchise. They've never had a language established within the Yautja culture that people can enjoy and have fun with and learn."

At this, Fanning cuts in to share that some fans have even started to slide into Schuster-Koloamatangi's DMs with some Yautja. "Yeah, it's crazy," he says. "I was like, wait, did you watch the film? How did you even? Did someone leak the film? I got scared [thinking] I leaked the film, and I was like, wait, no way. It's really cool for the fans, I think, that they have this to watch and enjoy, and have a little fun with themselves."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

*Predator: Badlands* hits theaters Friday.

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Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi lead del Toro's longgestating film as Frankenstein and his Creature. Frankenstein cast: Who's who in Guillermo del Toro's heartbreaking Netflix adaptation Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi lead del Toro's longgestating film as Frankenstein and his Creature. By Allison DeGrushe :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/allisondegrusheEWbiophotoe5f8e89253c84b7085a43c502a3051a4.jpg) Allison DeGrushe Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at . She has been working at since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify. EW's editorial guidelines November 7, 2025 8:00 a.m.

Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi lead del Toro's long-gestating film as Frankenstein and his Creature.

*Frankenstein *cast: Who's who in Guillermo del Toro's heartbreaking Netflix adaptation

Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi lead del Toro's long-gestating film as Frankenstein and his Creature.

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

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Jacob Elordi as The Creature and Mia Goth as Elizabeth in 'Frankenstein'. Credit:

Courtesy of Netflix

- Guillermo del Toro's long-gestating adaptation of *Frankenstein* is centered around the theme of forgiveness.

- Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Jacob Elordi lead a high-profile cast.

- *Frankenstein *is now streaming on Netflix.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has long been an admirer of Mary Shelley's *Frankenstein*, having spent years trying to bring his own adaptation of the Gothic masterpiece to life. After several stops and starts, del Toro's vision finally found a home at Netflix.

For del Toro, this *Frankenstein *is deeply personal. He's described the story as one of pain, regret, and especially forgiveness, the latter being inspired by a conversation with his father.

As he explained to **, it's about "forgiving someone and forgiving yourself into *being*." He added, "What you realize is a grudge takes two prisoners and forgiveness liberates two people." Reflecting on the timing, he said, "I thought I could make the movie, but then I went, *'No, thank God it didn't happen until now.'"*

After a theatrical run, *Frankenstein *is now streaming on Netflix. Below is an introduction to the cast of Frankenstein — who they're playing and where you've seen them before.

Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein

Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in 'Frankenstein'.

Ken Woroner/Netflix

Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac is nothing if not versatile, with roles that include a struggling folkie in *Inside Llewyn Davis *(2013), a driven mayor on *Show Me a Hero *(2015), and a rebellious X-wing fighter pilot in the *Star Wars *sequel trilogy (2015–2019).

Isaac is also known for his roles on TV shows like *Scenes from a Marriage* (2021) and Marvel's *Moon Knight *(2022), as well as an array of blockbusters that include *X-Men: Apocalypse* (2016), *Annihilation* (2018), the *Spider-Verse* franchise (2018–present), and *Dune *(2021).

Coming up, Isaac will headline season 2 of the Emmy-winning Netflix series *Beef *alongside three-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan.

Oscar Isaac reveals the 'untranslatable' dirty joke Guillermo del Toro directed him with in Spanish on 'Frankenstein'

Oscar Isaac on creating Frankenstein's doctor — and giving him a 'rock star' quality (exclusive)

Isaac plays the lead role of Victor Frankenstein, the scientist who creates life from death. Christian Convery (*Sweet Tooth*, *Cocaine Bear*) appears as a young Victor.

Speaking with EW, Isaac hinted that his version of Victor Frankenstein will be much different than past depictions. The actor shared that fans will witness the doctor go through "an entire arc of a human life," adding, "He himself becomes much more of a monster and a creature by the end of it."

Jacob Elordi as The Creature

Jacob Elordi as The Creature in 'Frankenstein'.

Ken Woroner/Netflix

Jacob Elordi first broke out in *The Kissing Booth* trilogy (2018–2021), but it was his turn as toxic high school jock Nate Jacobs on HBO's *Euphoria* (2019–present) that turned heads. He's since earned praise for his performance as Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola's *Priscilla *(2023) and as Felix Catton in Emerald Fennell's *Saltburn *(2023).

Next up, Elordi will star opposite Margot Robbie in Fennell's *Wuthering Heights*.

Elordi takes on the role of The Creature, a.k.a. Frankenstein's monster, in del Toro's *Frankenstein*. According to the director, Elordi's connection to the monster ran deep.

"He said something to me that was touching and real: 'This creature is more me than me,'" del Toro recalled to EW. "He said, 'And people don't know that, and I'm going to be able to be myself through this.' He brought a truth to this performance that's really something to behold."

Mia Goth as Elizabeth Harlander and Claire Frankenstein

Mia Goth as Elizabeth in 'Frankenstein'; Mia Goth as Claire Frankenstein and Christian Convery as young Victor Frankenstein in 'Frankenstein'.

Ken Woroner/Netflix (2)

Mia Goth has earned her place as a scream queen thanks to breakout performances in Ti West's *X *trilogy (2022–2024), playing adult film star Maxine Minx and killer Pearl Douglas.

Next, she's set to star in two major projects: Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey* and Shawn Levy's *Star Wars: Starfighter*.

In *Frankenstein*, Goth takes on two roles. The first is Elizabeth, William's fiancée. The other is Victor and William's late mother, Claire. Del Toro told *Elle* that he tailored the role of Elizabeth specifically for Goth after hearing her speak about motherhood and her desire to "care about another human being selflessly."

Felix Kammerer as William Frankenstein

Felix Kammerer as William Frankenstein in 'Frankenstein'.

Frank Ockenfels/Netflix

Felix Kammerer is best known for his powerful debut as soldier Paul Bäumer in the Oscar-winning *All Quiet on the Western Front *(2022). Since then, Kammerer has appeared on the Netflix miniseries *All the Light We Cannot See *(2023) and in the historical survival drama *Eden *(2024), among other projects.

Here, Kammerer portrays William Frankenstein, Victor's younger brother and the "golden child." In an October 2025 interview with Numéro Netherlands, the actor described the experience as "a journey," especially working alongside Isaac.

"We brought those characters alive while interacting with each other," he said. "Sometimes it felt like they needed each other to really exist. You need William for Victor and you need Victor for William. Otherwise it wouldn't really work."**

Charles Dance as Baron Leopold Frankenstein

Charles Dance as Leopold Frankenstein and Christian Convery as young Victor Frankenstein in 'Frankenstein'.

Ken Woroner/Netflix

Throughout his long career, Charles Dance has played no shortage of imposing, calculating characters. With his unmistakable voice and commanding presence, Dance has left his mark on everything from and *Alien 3 *(1992) and *Michael Collins* (1996) to *Game of Thrones *(2011‍–‍2015) and *The Crown *(2019‍–‍2020).

Dance plays Baron Leopold Frankenstein, the father of Victor and William. Fun fact: Dance portrayed the very same character in 2015's *Victor Frankenstein.* In del Toro's version, however, the father-son dynamic takes a darker turn.

Rather than the "very kind, doting father" seen in previous adaptations, Isaac described this Baron to EW as "a very domineering father that's quite abusive but that expects so much of him. And in fact, somebody that Victor blames for the death of his beloved mother."

Christoph Waltz as Henrich Harlander

Christoph Waltz as Henrich Harlander in 'Frankenstein'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Christoph Waltz is a two-time Oscar winner for his roles in Quentin Tarantino's *Inglourious Basterds* (2009) and *Django Unchained* (2012).

Audiences might also recognize the veteran actor for playing the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond films *Spectre *(2015) and *No Time to Die* (2021), or as billionaire Sebastian "Bash" Steed in season 5 of *Only Murders in the Building *(2025).

Now, Waltz steps into the shoes of Henrich Harlander, a powerful and wealthy arms dealer who funds Victor's dangerous experiments.

Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson

Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson in 'Frankenstein'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Lars Mikkelsen, the older brother of actor Mads Mikkelsen, rose to fame in Danish film and TV productions before being introduced to Western audiences with roles on *House of Cards *(2015–2018) and *The Witcher *(2019–present).

He's also a *Star Wars *staple, playing the calculating Grand Admiral Thrawn on *Star Wars Rebels *(2016–2018), *Ahsoka* (2023), and *Star Wars: Tales of the Empire *(2024).

In *Frankenstein*, Mikkelsen plays Captain Anderson, the captain who comes upon an ailing Victor Frankenstein in the Arctic.**

David Bradley as The Blind Man

Sofia Galasso as Anna-Maria and David Bradley as Blind Man in 'Frankenstein'.

Ken Woroner/Netflix

David Bradley's played baddies in two of the biggest franchise's of this century. He starred as Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch in the *Harry Potter *films (2001–2011), and helped orchestrate the bloody Red Wedding as Lord Walder Frey on *Game of Thrones *(2011–2017).

He's also collaborated with del Toro before, voicing Geppetto in del Toro's Oscar-winning adaptation of *Pinocchio *(2022), as well as Merlin on the animated series *Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia *(2017–2018).

Bradley reunites with del Toro for *Frankenstein*, playing a character called The Blind Man. The actor told *Metro* that "there's a similarity" in *Pinocchio* and *Frankenstein*.

"It's someone who wants to play God creating a human being and then rejects it," he explained. "And in a way, that's what Geppetto did with Pinocchio, and that's what Frankenstein does with the Creature. So, it was nice to play someone on the other side of the fence who accepts him straight away because he can't see him."

Where can I watch Frankenstein?**

*Frankenstein *premieres on Netflix on Friday, Nov. 7.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

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Published: November 07, 2025 at 03:38PM on Source: PRIMO MAG

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Frankenstein cast: Who's who in Guillermo del Toro's heartbreaking Netflix adaptation

Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi lead del Toro's longgestating film as Frankenstein and his Creature. Frankenstein  cast: Wh...

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What you didn't see on TV watching Wicked: One Wonderful Night: Extra Remy, an unintentional mash...

A lyric flub? Thank goodness! The audience was thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo sing &34;The Wizard and I&34; a second time. What you didn't see on TV watching Wicked: One Wonderful Night: Extra Remy, an unintentional mashup, and more A lyric flub? Thank goodness! The audience was thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo sing &34;The Wizard and I&34; a second time. By Patrick Gomez :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/pgomezheadshot25b24b6c6d8948899ca9b24a6a9a6844.jpg) Patrick Gomez is an Executive Editor at . Formerly at People magazine and The A.V.

A lyric flub? Thank goodness! The audience was thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo sing "The Wizard and I" a second time.

What you didn't see on TV watching Wicked: One Wonderful Night: Extra Remy, an unintentional mashup, and more

A lyric flub? Thank goodness! The audience was thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo sing "The Wizard and I" a second time.

By Patrick Gomez

Patrick Gomez is an Executive Editor at . Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related.

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November 7, 2025 8:15 a.m. ET

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Cynthia Enrivo and Ariana Grande on 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'. Credit:

Not all the magic made it on TV for *Wicked: One Wonderful Night*.

Though taped in front of a live audience, NBC's two-hour television special actually filmed for almost four hours on Sept. 24 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood (the same theater where the Oscars take place).

Much of that extra time was spent setting the stage for the next performance, but there was plenty to keep guests entertained between takes. Rather than looking at their watches, the fan-filled audience was thrilled any time a performer was asked to do a second take on a song.

Here's what you didn't see from home.

An unintentional "Wizard and I" and "Defying Gravity" mashup

Jeff Goldblum and Cynthia Erivo during 'The Wizard and I' on 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Cynthia Erivo is a renowned Tony winner with hundreds of Broadway performances under her belt — meaning she knows how to power through a flub with the audience none the wiser. And that's exactly what happened during her initial run at "The Wizard and I."

Though vocally on point, something rang odd about the bridge of the song: Erivo accidentally started singing part of "Defying Gravity." It's an understandable flub, given that when Elphaba sings of her future being "unlimited," the orchestration sounds almost identical to the Act I finale.

Even more adorableness from Remington

At most tapings, there is someone tasked with keeping the audience energized throughout the long taping period. During many of the filming breaks, the audience emcee would bring up people in the audience wearing elaborate costumes — including young Remington, whom the audience would later see become an instant sensation filling in as the Elphaba role during Ariana Grande's performance of "Popular."

Just one example of the 4-year-old's effortless charm: The emcee called him to the steps of the stage and asked "How old are you?" To which Remington, apparently mishearing the question, replied, "I'm good."

Remington and Ariana Grande perform 'Popular' on 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Remington's mom revealed it wasn't even the movie that made her son fall in love with the world of *Wicked*, it was seeing all the branded merch at their local Target.

Prior to the "Popular" performance, Grande spent some time chatting with Remington, asking to borrow his broomstick to place it aside during their performance so she could hand him a wand instead, but promising to return it — which she ultimately almost forgot to do until reminded by the audience.

Best and worst moments from 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

Why Jonathan Bailey is not on stage for the 'Wicked' TV special

Free dance lessons

Hollywood isn't above paying audience members. Tapings are often long days and the energy of those there just for fun may wane in hour 7 of cheering on the host of *America's Got the Voice Warriors*. But that was not the case at *Wicked: One Wonderful Night*. (In fact, we hear people were selling their tickets for thousands of dollars!)

That makes it all the more impressive that the studio audience — including Erivo's partner Lena Waithe and a very eager Frankie Grande, there with mom Joan to support his little sister — quickly learned some choreography and prop work using flowers minutes before cameras rolled on the opening number.

It probably helped that the routine was taught by *Wicked* and *Wicked: For Good* choreographer Christopher Scott.

A "thank u" to Ariana

In addition to the costume contests and overdosing on Remington cuteness, the audience emcee played music during the downtime — including Grande's hit "thank u, next." The song got an instant reaction from the crowd, who began singing along.

A few lines in, Grande poked her head out from the side curtain with a face of excitement, which elicited a giant cheer from the audience.

Defying gravity takes time

Cynthia Erivo flies above the audience during 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Though much of *Wicked* and *Wicked: For Good* was shot practically, there's still a lot of movie magic needed to, say, make someone fly.

Cathy Rigby makes it look easy (at 72, she's still flying high over audiences as Peter Pan), but performing while harnessed is no joke. So it's perhaps no surprise that Erivo's "Defying Gravity" was shot in segments.

Though every note was pitch perfect both times, Erivo actually flew over the Dolby twice to sing the final portion of the modern classic — to the thrill of the audience, some of whom were in tears watching the star soar both physically and vocally.

Deleting a dictator

Speaking of "Defying Gravity," at the live taping when Nessarose actress Marissa Bode introduced her movie sister's big number, she included a warning about the importance of standing up to a "power-hungry dictator" that was cut from the NBC broadcast. The statement had a clear connection to the musical's plot surrounding the tyrannical Wizard and Elphaba's rebellion. But the politically outspoken Bode's words carried even greater weight in the current political climate and the audience cheered loudly when she made the not-so-subtle declaration.**

A second take of Babs and Judy

*Wicked: One Wonderful Night* concluded with the best rendition of "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again" since Barbara Streisand and Judy Garland first performed it on *The Judy Garland Show* in 1963. And audiences got to see it twice!

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande duet during 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

After the first take (again with tears in the audience), the telecast's director came out and told his stars it was perfect. But Ervio and Grande weren't content. After looking at each other briefly, they declared they wanted the pleasure of singing it again. To the shock of no one, the entire room was happy to oblige.**

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*Wicked: One Wonderful Night *is streaming on Peacock now.

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW TV"

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Source: TV

Published: November 07, 2025 at 03:38PM on Source: PRIMO MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byDamon Long

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November 07, 2025

What you didn't see on TV watching Wicked: One Wonderful Night: Extra Remy, an unintentional mash...

A lyric flub? Thank goodness! The audience was thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo sing &34;The Wizard and I&34; a second t...

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