5 Netflix Movies You Need to Watch Right Now

With the pandemic still in full force, we find ourselves at home a lot more than we did about a year ago. Adjusting to working or learning from home in any capacity can be a real challenge. It’s important to take time to unwind and relax after a long day, but with many activities and excursions closed, there are limited options right now. A popular pastime many of us result in is finding a movie on a streaming platform like Netflix. However, most of the struggle is genuinely locating a film that you know you will enjoy without wasting time reading reviews and texting friends for recommendations.

 

Netflix updates its content quite frequently and as a result, it can be difficult to stay up to date with what new movies and shows are being added to or removed from the service. Sometimes viewers find out months later that the movie they’ve been eager to watch was added a while back. It takes time to narrow down your options, but now it’s time to take a peek and choose the one that’s calling your name. Looking for the perfect film to watch after school or work? Here are 5 movies that PopularTV thinks you will absolutely love. 

 

 

1. Nightcrawler (2014)

 

This dramatically suspenseful film stars Jake Gyllenhaal. Need we say more? We will! His character, Louis Bloom, discovers a new career as a cameraman after barely scraping by as a thief and being caught by police. As an inexperienced journalist, Bloom unethically tampers with evidence at crime scenes and manipulates scenarios in order to sell his “exclusive” footage to news stations. He’s willing to push any boundaries and ignore right from wrong in order to get the “money shot” every station is desperate to purchase. After throwing ethics out of the window and skating on the thin ice, Bloom is almost certain he is invincible. But what happens when he goes too far? 

 

 

2. Lady Bird (2017) 

 

Saoirse Ronan strikes again with another unforgettable role in the dramatic comedy: Lady Bird. This movie, directed by the iconic Greta Gerwig, captures the nostalgic journey of Christine McPherson, who gives herself the name “Lady Bird,” during her senior year of high school. She navigates first relationships, heated fights with her parents and the dreadful decision of where to attend college in this coming-of-age film. It’s everything you do and don’t want to relive from growing up as a teenager. Also starring Timothee Chalamet, Lucas Hedges, and Beanie Feldstein, Lady Bird is a must-see. 

 

 

3. Spotlight (2015)

 

Perfect for those who value cinematic truth and the genre of drama, Spotlight provides an ideal example of how to respectfully cover a controversial subject through film. It follows the Boston Globe’s investigation and journalistic research revolving around sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Through a captivating and accurate series of events, viewers are able to understand and witness what it was like for journalists to stand up for what was right while still remaining as unbiased as possible. The film won Best Picture and features an all-star cast which includes Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Ruffalo. 

 

 

4. Uncut Gems 

 

Many will speculate about sitting through a film where Adam Sandler is not playing a completely ridiculous or comedic role. However, Uncut Gems is a thrilling and suspenseful must-see for all movie fans. As a Jewish jeweler and unforgettable regular at the casino, betting and gambling is something Howard (Adam Sandler) feels very comfortable doing. Despite the close calls and trouble that confronts him every so often, his fears of going too far are practically nonexistent. It’s all like a game to him. Howard’s bets are not only risky, but also lead to a plethora of debts he must pay off in a timely manner. But what happens when he goes a little overboard? 

 

 

5. The Gift

 

Need to stay up for any reason tonight? Well, The Gift will make you want to avoid the dark and much more than that. Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) are just settling into their new home and adjusting to their seemingly perfect life as a married couple. But when the pair run into Gordo, an old classmate of Simon’s, a series of strange events begin to unfold. Simon claims he doesn’t really remember anything about Gordo even when gifts from his old peer begin to appear at their home. The originally flattering gestures soon turn into a real-life nightmare. And once a horrifying secret is revealed, Robyn questions not only Simon but the safety of their home and future together.