The beauty ofNetflixis that the streaming service has a wealth of genre options at your disposal. If you want to get your action fix on, you are free to do so. If you’re in the mood for a comedy,thriller, or straight-uphorrormovie, they’ve got those as well. But sometimes it’s hard to beat a genuinely great drama, and boy does Netflix have a wealth of options in this particular genre. To help whittle down your choices, we’ve gone ahead and curated a list of the very best dramas on Netflix right now, which run the gamut from period pieces to relationship dramas tolittle-known gems. There are movies from big, well-known filmmakers on this list, and there are also films from up-and-comers that are absolutely worth checking out.
So peruse through our list of the best drama movies on Netflix below, and get to watchin’. But beware: some of these may require a tissue or seven.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the bestmovieson Netflix or the bestcomedies,thrillers, orhorrorfilms on the platform.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
Editor’s note: This article was updated July 2024 to include Leave the World Behind.
‘Leave the World Behind’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 6.4/10
Leave the World Behind
Writer and directorSam Esmail(Mr. Robot) adapts the hit apocalyptic novel of the same name byRumaan Alamwith the help of some of Hollywood’s biggest names, includingMahershala Ali(Moonlight),Julia Roberts(Homecoming),Ethan Hawke(Training Day), andKevin Bacon(The Following). The story tracks two families who are reluctantly stuck together in a house as a mysterious power and internet blackout causes electronics everywhere to go haywire, creating danger around every corner with boats, planes, and cars crashing left and right. This psychological thriller creates an air of mystery around the cause of the disturbances by taking away the sources of information that we take for granted every day, creating a tense atmosphere where anything can happen.
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‘To Leslie’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.1/10
DirectorMichael Morrismakes his feature film debut withTo Leslie, a small-town drama inspired by the true story of a Texas woman who won over $100,000 in the lottery and ended up spending it all on drugs and alcohol.Andrea Riseborough(What Remains) gives a stunning Academy Award-nominated performance as the titular Leslie, who finds herself broke and destitute shortly after her big win.
To Leslieis a gritty and honest portrayal of addiction and the ways it not only affects alcoholic and drug-addicted people but also their loved ones. But through the grime and heartbreak, the story shows that, no matter how dark things get, it’s never too late to try to make a better life for yourself. The film premiered at the 2022 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival and received widespread critical acclaim.
‘A Man Called Otto’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 7.5/10
A Man Called Otto
Based on the novelA Man Called OvebyFredrik Backman,A Man Called Ottofollows a curmudgeonly widower played byTom Hanks(Apollo 13), who is all but ready to end his life. However, his new neighbors are just as stubborn as he is, constantly forcing him to interact with them as they try to get Otto to embrace life again. The movie was directed byMarc Forster(Christopher Robin) and written byDavid Magee(Finding Neverland), withMariana Treviño(Club de Cuervos),Rachel Keller(Legion), andManuel Garcia-Rulfo(The Lincoln Lawyer) playing supporting roles.
A Man Called Ottoreceived largely positive reviews from critics. The film is a great opportunity to see Hanks in the sort of layered, emotional roles the acclaimed actor does best. But be warned — the movie gets pretty depressing. Let this be your content warning that the film contains themes of suicide, miscarriage, and gentrification.
‘RRR’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.8/10
An award-winning film with an impressive budget that allowed for an extravagant spectacle,RRRis an action-packed Indian musical adventure sure to get toes tapping. Directed byS.S. Rajamouli,RRRbuilds a beautifully moving fictional story inspired by historical events. StarringN.T. Rama Rao Jr.andRam Charan,RRRtakes audiences to the 1920s, where Indian revolutionaries begin to fight back against British colonialists.
Seamlessly transitioning through fierce fight sequences, explosions that rivalMichael Bay, and magnificent moments,RRRis a truly inspired cinematic specimen. The movie was critically acclaimed and won numerous awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Song.
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.8/10
All Quiet on the Western Front
A young German soldier’s terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I.
Based onErich Maria Remarque’s classic novel,All Quiet on the Western Frontis an epic war drama film by directorEdward Berger, who also co-wrote the screenplay withLesley PatersonandIan Stokell. Set during World War I,All Quiet on the Western Frontfollows a young soldier, Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), and his distress as he finds his ideals shattered by the realities of war. Diverging from the novel, Berger’sAll Quiet on the Western Frontalso builds a parallel storyline to reveal the armistice negotiations that ended the war. The movie starsAlbrecht SchuchandDaniel Brühl, among others.
All Quiet on the Western Frontis an examination of war and the trauma it brings that won almost universal acclaim. With high praise for its narrative, cinematography, and the performances of its cast,All Quiet on the Western Frontreceived a host of award nominations, including 14 nominations at the British Academy Film Awards and nine at the Academy Awards, including for Best Picture. The movie ultimately won the Oscars for Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
‘Emily the Criminal’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 6.7/10
Emily the Criminal
Written and directed byJohn Patton Fordin his debut,Emily the Criminalstars the usually dry-wittedAubrey Plaza(The White Lotus) in a spectacularly unexpected role. Set in Los Angeles and co-starringTheo Rossi(Luke Cage), the film follows Plaza as the down-on-her-luck titular character Emily, who, desperate for work, finds herself involved in a dangerous scam that lures her deeper into the criminal underworld.
Presenting ambiguous values and fascinating philosophical implications,Emily the Criminalis an engaging and suspenseful crime drama bolstered by the performances of its lead cast. The cat-and-mouse chemistry between Rossi and Plaza is perfect, with the two actors playing off each other triumphantly throughout the entire film.Emily the Criminalreceived critical acclaim upon its release and was nominated for several awards, with Ford winning the Best First Screenplay prize at the 2022 Independent Spirit Awards.
‘The Good Nurse’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb: 6.8/10
The Good Nurse
In The Good Nurse, Jessica Chastain stars as Amy Loughren, a caring nurse and single mother with a critical heart condition that threatens her life. Working in the intensive care unit during the night shifts, Amy is pushed to the breaking point until a new nurse named Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne) starts working there. The equally compassionate Charlie builds rapport with her, and her burden is lifted- along with making a dear friend. As time passes, however, several patient deaths set off a police investigation that implicates Charlie as the culprit, with Amy now thrust in the middle of it all. Amy will have to dig deeper and determine the truth - and decide what to do if the truth is uglier than she had hoped. Based on the book by Charles Graeber and based on a true story, The Good Nurse is a true-crime story with thriller elements that will release stateside on July 20, 2025.
Directed byTobias Lindholm(Mindhunter),The Good Nurseis a true-crime drama that places a couple of Oscar winners in a tense circumstance.Jessica Chastain(The Eyes of Tammy Faye) co-stars as an ICU nurse who becomes wary when her colleague (Eddie Redmayne) is suspected of causing the untimely deaths of patients in the hospital where they work. With a script fromKrysty Wilson-Cairns,The Good Nurseis based on the real-life case of serial killer Charles Cullen, unraveling drama with high stakes for these two medical professionals.
Chastain and Redmayne’s thrilling cat-and-mouse game is captivating as they play through the labyrinth of lies and mysteries folded intoThe Good Nurse.The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and received positive reviews from critics. Redmayne, in particular, received high praise for his performance and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
‘Hustle’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.3/10
A film that once again proves thatAdam Sandlerhas the acting chops to take on more serious roles,Hustleis a sports drama that is as sincere as it is sturdy. Sandler plays Stanley Sugarman, a struggling basketball talent scout who aspires to be a coach. After a career setback, he hitches his hopes and money on an unknown but talented Spanish player named Bo Cruz, played by real-life basketball playerJuancho Hernangómez. Stanley begins training the young talent for the NBA draft with the hope of making a triumphant comeback story for himself. The film was directed byJeremiah Zagarand written byTaylor MaterneandWill Fetters.
Hustleis an underdog story through and through, charming without being cloying in a manner that more than wins you over. It doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but Sandler is as good as he has ever been in melding his comedic and serious sensibilities into one measured performance. The montages, bonding, and emotional development all work quite well, making it a film that never fails to win you over, even when its characters often lose.Hustlewas positively received by critics upon its release and earned Sandler a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, his first ever.
‘Okja’ (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Directed and co-written by acclaimed filmmakerBong Joon-ho,Okjais a science-fiction adventure that’s as heartfelt as it is fantastical. The film follows Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun), a young girl who lives with her grandfather — one of several people tasked with raising a super pig for a giant corporation that intends to use them for food. Mija bonds with their pig, named Okja, and when the corporation comes to collect, it sets off a series of high-stakes attempts to get her back. The film was written by Bong Joon-hoandJon Ronsonand features an ensemble cast that includesTilda Swinton,Paul Dano,Steven Yeun,Jake Gyllenhaal, and more.
Okjareceived great reviews from critics and competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. The movie is Bong Joon-Hoat his most sentimental, without sacrificing any of his sublime sense of craft. The film finds a dark sense of humor in everything, from jokes about language to whatever is going on with Jake Gyllenhaal, who delivers one of his most eccentric performances ever. It is a more hopeful film than most of the director’s works, though it remains committed to finding more tragic truths amidst the bright colors and vibrant visuals we see along the way.
‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | IMDb: 6.6/10
I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Written and directed byCharlie Kaufman,I’m Thinking of Ending Thingsis a surrealist psychological thriller based on the 2016 book of the same name byIain Reid. The film centers on a young woman(Jessie Buckley)who takes a trip with her boyfriend, Jake (Jesse Plemons), to meet his parents while considering ending their relationship. Conversations on the drive feel just a bit off, with interjections and strange disruptions all beginning to get under your skin. It only gets more reflective from there, breaking down the narrative boundaries set out for itself to reveal something far more resonant.
I’m Thinking of Ending Thingsreceived positive reviews from critics and was nominated for several wards. A remarkable work of adaptation from one of the best to ever do it, Kaufman’sI’m Thinking of Ending Thingstakes an already remarkable book and makes it so much more. It’s a film where every cut and each line packs significance, presenting a rich text that gets better each time you see it.
