18 of the best Netflix movies for movie nights

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Want a movie that will make you laugh, cry or hide behind the sofa? Whatever your mood, we’ve got you covered…

No-one wants to sit through a turkey and no-one wants to spend hours scrolling to find the movie that suits your mood, so we’ve done the popcorn-eating and streaming legwork for you.

Introducing 18 of the best films on Netflix right now, handily grouped into categories so that you can pick the perfect flick. You are welcome!

Best action thrillers

Wonder Woman

Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, sets out to stop World War 1. DC Comics fans waited 75 years for their heroine’s big screen moment and it didn’t disappoint. One to watch before the sequel hits our screens later this year.

Best for: DC fans and anyone who loves a feisty, strong female role model

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%

IMDB rating: 7.4/10

Divergent

If you like Hunger Games, you’ll love this sci-fi action thriller, starring Kate Winslet and Shailene Woodley. Set in a world where the government divides people into different factions depending on their virtues, Tris doesn’t fit in anywhere, so must fight for her survival…

Best for: A dystopian tale that will delight Hunger Games and sci-fi lovers

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 42%

IMDB rating: 6.7/10

Looper

In this time travel sci-fi thriller, Bruce Willis plays an assassin who must go back in time to be killed by his younger self, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Best for: The sight of fabulous Joseph Gordon-Levitt after three hours in make-up to look like a young Bruce.

Rotten Tomatoes rating**:** 93%

IMDB rating: 7.4/10

Best thriller chillers

Bird Box

A post-apocalyptic nail-biter in which Sandra Bullock plays a bad-ass mum forced to flee with her kids from an ominous presence.

Best for: Sandy B in a kick-arse role with a freaky difference

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 63%

IMDB rating: 6.6/10

A Quiet Place

Quiet Place is another family survival story in a post-apocalyptic world, but in this one, make a sound and it’s all over. Starring Emily Blunt (who is forced to give birth in silence - gulp!), this is a high-tension, highly rated silent epic.

Best for: High tension through a dialogue-free script

Rotten Tomatoes rating**:** 95%

IMDB rating: 7.5/10

Orphan

When a couple decide to adopt another child after a stillbirth, they’re hoping to fill their family with love. Instead, they’re drawn to Esther…

Best for: Popcorn-dropping horror

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 56%

IMDB rating: 6.9/10

Best for heist and gangsta movies

The Irishman

Directed by Martin Scorsese (legend), this epic tale of waning mob glamour stars Robert de Niro (legend) as an ageing gangster reminiscing about his shady, secretive past. Also stars Joe Pesci (legend) and Al Pacino (legend).

Best for: Fans of Goodfellas and The Godfather

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96%

IMDB rating: 7.9/10

Inside Man

Directed by Spike Lee, Inside Man – starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Chiwetel Ejiofor – covers 24 gripping hours, which involve a bank heist and the ensuing high-stakes hostage negotiations with the cops. All in a day’s work, then.

Best for: A heist with a twist

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86%

IMDB rating: 7.6/10

Ocean’s Eleven

A glamorous Hollywood heist movie in which we root for the casino-robbing thieves.

Best for: The all-star cast, including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, and Andy Garcia.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 82%

IMDB rating**:** 7.8/10

Best for uplifting

Legally Blonde

A fabulous, slightly silly feel-good movie starring Reese Witherspoon as a pampered Beverley Hills princess who enrols in to Harvard to win back her ex… then realises there’s more to her than just good looks.

Best for**:** Feeling low? This one will give you the feel-goods. Oh, and the ‘bend and snap’ moment

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 70%

IMDB rating: 4/5

Dumplin’

A pageant movie in which an overweight teenager enters the competition to prove a point to her former beauty queen mum, played by Jennifer Aniston. Feel good and funny, this is just the tonic.

Best for: Dolly Parton fans – her music provides the soundtrack to the movie, and the star wrote six new songs for it, too

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 85%

IMDB rating: 6.6/10

The Pursuit of Happyness

Based on a true story, in this feel good spectacular, we see Chris Gardner (Will Smith) and his young son (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) evicted from their apartment and forced to live in shelters as Chris struggles to create a better life for himself and his son.

Best for: A rags to riches heartwarmer

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 67%

IMDB rating: 8/10

Best for com or rom com

Isn’t It Romantic

This take-off of your usual romantic clichés stars Rebel Wilson as the leading lady, who one day wakes up in an alternate rom-com universe.

Best for: Lovers of rom-coms who can laugh at what they love

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 70%

IMDB rating: 5.9/10

Spy

This spy spoof movie thrusts the CIA’s top behind-the-scenes operative, played by Melissa McCarthy, into the spy limelight. Expect loads of japes (and Jude Law) along the way.

Best for: Watching Melissa M kick her way to success, sometimes in a bad wig and glasses

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95%

IMDB rating: 7/10

Clueless

Alicia Silverstone plays a spoilt, ultra-rich teenager who’s more interested in her wardrobe than getting good grades. Easy watching silliness that provides just the right amount of 90s nostalgia… and Paul Rudd in the heart-throb role.

Best for: Brilliant 90s hair, a snappy script and great gags

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80%

IMDB rating: 6.8/10

Best for watching with your kids (cos you don’t mind it too)

Jumanji

In this romping fantasy adventure, a mysterious board game comes to life and releases all manner of jungle-based hazards. Stars Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst.

Best for: Older children who don’t mind some hair-raising tension alongside the laughs.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 54%

IMDB rating: 7/10

Hotel Transylvania

Expect gags and zany antics galore at this luxury hotel run by Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler. PG-rated.

Best for: This is an easy crowd-pleaser for kids of all ages.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 44%

IMDB rating: 7.1/10

Matilda 

This fabulous movie, based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name, focuses on the life of Matilda: an extraordinary, clever girl living with parents who just don’t get her. PG-rated.

Best for: Kids aged seven upwards will lap up this story of how you don’t have to be an adult to change the world for the better

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 90%

IMDB rating: 6.9/10

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