It’s as great a week as any to sit down and enjoy some of the best movies available on Netflix. The streaming juggernaut has a catalog of over 5,000 films, including a handful of new additions that are must-see entries in existing franchises. Of course, with so many options, it’s tough to narrow down what to watch.

This week’s selections include a variety of films with something for everyone. There’s an iconic rom-com from the late ’90s, a sequel to a franchise that started in the ’80s, a new entry in one of the best horror movie series ever, and two movies to win the Best Original Song Academy Award.

28 Years Later (2025)

The revival of this franchise wasn’t expected in the 2020s, but it ended up being a huge success. 28 Days Later (which is also available on Netflix right now) helped change zombie movies going forward, and the sequel, 28 Weeks Later, was a solid follow-up in 2007.

Not many people saw a new installment coming in 2025 but 28 Years Later brought new life to the franchise and saw Danny Boyle return to the director’s chair. As the title explains, this sequel picks up nearly three decades after the original outbreak in the British Isles, which are quarantined.

28 Years Later follows young Spike, who learns how to hunt with his father and wants to protect his sick mother, all while dealing with he infected around him and the shocking secrets he uncovers. Reviews were strong for the film, which was said to be an improvement over the previous entry.

As both a commercial and critical success, it makes sense that another film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is coming in 2026. This 28 Years Later is also boosted by a great cast, including Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

8 Mile (2002)

In 2002, you’d have been hard-pressed to find many rappers who were a bigger star than Eminem. That made it understandable that the semi-biographical film that he starred in that year, 8 Mile, ended up as a huge hit that made nearly $250 million.

With zero prior acting experience, Eminem wasn’t someone you’d have expected a great performance from. However, 8 Mile was very well-received and a big reason for that was Eminem’s acting, delivering a convincing effort as the protagonist. He carries this film in a way that makes it surprising he didn’t continue acting.

As noted, 8 Mile is a semi-biographical film that follows Eminem’s Jimmy, an aspiring rapper who competes in a freestyle competition to show his skills while dealing with a rough life at home with his hard-drinking mother, her abusive boyfriend, and his little sister.

8 Mile is worth seeing if you’re one of the few people who have never watched it. Even if you’ve seen it often though, it’s a fun rewatch to see the late Brittany Murphy again and get a look at the first movie role for future MCU star Anthony Mackie. Eminem also won an Oscar for the song “Lose Yourself.”

Karate Kid: Legends (2025)

The Karate Kid franchise being as relevant as it is in the 2020s is incredible. The original trilogy was huge in the ’80s and remains a staple for those who grew up with it. The fourth film was a flop that seemed to mark the end of the series, only for that to change in a big way.

A reboot of sorts starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan came in 2010, while the TV series Cobra Kai continued the story from the first films and became a massive success. Those two projects came together for a new installment, Karate Kid: Legends.

This 2025 release brings back both Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio as they play mentors to a young karate prodigy, played by Ben Wang. It keeps the spirit of the franchise and tells a new story in the world, meaning the series can continue in some fashion going forward.

Critics didn’t love Karate Kid: Legends, as it only has a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That said, the consensus is that there are crowd-pleasing aspects, which is evident by the 90% rating from users. Any fan of the franchise should give this a watch.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

The ’90s and ’00s were a great time for teen romantic comedies. There are so many iconic ones from the time, like She’s All That, Clueless, and She’s The Man. While it’s difficult to pick out the best of the bunch, 10 Things I Hate About You has a strong case.

A modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, the film sees Cameron want to date Bianca but she’s only allowed to go out if her asocial older sister Kat is dating, so Cameron hires bad boy Patrick to woo Kat. Everything comes together for a captivating and fun ride.

One of the best things about 10 Things I Hate About You is the incredible cast. Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union, and more round out a talented cast of young performers who only got better with time.

There’s something beautiful about the nostalgia that comes with 10 Things I Hate About You for so many millennials. Whether it’s the cast, the screenplay, iconic moments like Patrick singing to Kat, or the soundtrack, this is a film worth multiple viewings.

RRR (2022)

One of the best movies to watch this week on Netflix is also one of the best films to ever hit the platform. Released in 2022, RRR is a must-see film for so many reasons, from its soundtrack to its action sequences to the visual effects to the performances to the story.

RRR focuses on two men who become fast friends and share a true bond, only to learn that they’re on opposing sides of a war in the 1920s. That is the driving force of the story, with their emotional connection grabbing anyone who watches.

The three-hour runtime can be daunting but RRR is incredibly well-paced. It features more action than some entire action franchises, with sequences involving a motorcycle, a tiger, a spike-covered whip, and more standing out. Each of these scenes is breathtaking.

On top of all of that, RRR also boasts some unbelievable musical numbers. It might seem out of place on paper but the music fits the film perfectly and “Naatu Naatu” was so good that it ended up winning the Best Original Song Academy Award.