Best Movies on Netflix February 2020 — A Playlist for Filmmakers

To this day, The Dark Knight remains the pinnacle of superhero films. It works within the confines of the Batman mythos to deliver an insanely satisfying crime story, and star Heath Ledger delivers a Joker performance to end all Joker performances. 

The 1980s spawned plenty of classic horror films, but none have aged quite as well as Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead. Its sequels may have darted in more comedic directions, but the original remains a masterclass in blending pitch black humor with full-blown horror.

American Honey proves one thing: Shia LaBeouf is one hell of an actor. LaBeouf starred in a stint of popcorn films that rarely gave him much room to showcase his talent, but his range has been on full display for several years now, and that renaissance began with American Honey. 

Atlantics is one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences of 2019. It almost feels as if the film created its own genre: Just when you think you know where its plot is headed, it changes direction on you. 

That misdirection—that sense of gradual discovery with new narrative development—isn’t frustrating. It’s rewarding.

Klaus is a strange little film. Though it’s less than a year old, its gorgeous animation and unexpected take on the story of Santa Claus make it feel like it’s been a part of Christmas programming for years.

The found footage sub-genre is typically associated with horror movies, but End of Watch applied some of its stylistic techniques to the buddy cop movie. While there are action and thrills by the handful, this film is first and foremost a bromance and an awesome one at that. 

You didn’t expect to find Tremors on this list, did you? When you want plain good B-movie fun on a Friday night, Tremors is where it’s at. The film pokes fun at the tropes of creature features without ever tipping over into self-parody. And not only does it establish a serious set of rules—it actually follows them.

All of this results in one of the best monster movies of the 1990s. And if you like what you see, you’ll be happy to learn it has a plethora of sequels, each one more insane than the last.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is noteworthy for being the last film the late Heath Ledger starred in. (Ledger passed away before the crew finished filming, so director Terry Gilliam had to bring on Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell to finish his parts.) Considering all that went on behind the scenes, it’s impressive to see how all these moving parts mostly came together. 

You have to give credit to Horns for really shooting for the moon. Daniel Radcliffe stars as a man wanted for the murder of his girlfriend. He inexplicably grows horns, which compels him to admit to his greatest sins and submit to his basest impulses. 

Dirty Harry was insanely influential in the 1970s: The film paved the way for how the action genre would evolve during the era. And it all started with a bad cop out to do anything to bring the bad guy to justice. 

Blade Runner is required viewing for any science-fiction fan. With director Ridley Scott’s Final Cut now on Netflix, you can see the film the way it was intended to be seen, with an ending that greatly improves upon the theatrical version.

Frances Ha is content to move at its own pace. While the film’s narrative may wander, you never really mind because Greta Gerwig is utterly charming as the titular character. Frances moves along trying to make something out of life, before discovering what she needs to do to actually have a life in the first place. 

Hot Fuzz may be one of the best action parodies ever made, but when you want a bit more Americanized slapstick, you opt for The Other Guys. Director Adam McKay’s film has some terrific jokes and seriously impressive action set pieces. 

Moneyball is based on true events, and follows the creation of sabermetrics and the Oakland Athletics as they compete with teams that have larger budgets for acquiring players and “buying playoff spots”. 

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is one of Tim Burton’s best films. The macabre subject matter of this musical is brilliantly filmed and its surreal qualities are ideally suited to the director’s uncanny sensibility. 

The great thing about Taylor Swift’s documentary is that you don’t have to be a die-hard Swiftie to enjoy it. That’s because it focuses less on the pop star’s rise to fame than on her complicated relationship with fame and her struggle to form some kind of political identity. 

Coraline picked up the torch from The Nightmare Before Christmas and delivered an entertaining, albeit sometimes frightening, stop-motion animation film. It’s visually stunning, complemented by frames of utter beauty and significant terror. 

Out of all of PT Anderson’s films, The Master might be the most engrossing. That’s in part due to a trio of incredible performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. 

If you haven’t already seen Inception, then you’ve likely been confused by the debate that’s surrounded it over the past decade. Director Christopher Nolan’s film follows a band of thieves who set out to implant an idea within a wealthy business owner’s mind. It’s discombobulating. It’s sneaky. It’s brilliant. And it remains one of Nolan’s very best films.