Every year, there are hundreds of movies made around the world, some of which go on to become popular hits that earn millions, win awards, and set imaginations aflame. But it’s one thing to be a hit today — making your mark on cinematic history is a whole other game. Netflix is home to several great movies, but only a handful have had a truly transformative impact on the film industry as a whole. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the greatest movies on Netflix that changed film forever, including both legendary classics and modern landmarks.
Looking for more great works of cinema? Be sure to check out our lists of the best movies on Netflix, movie masterpieces on Netflix, and movies with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
‘Parasite’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.5/10
A darkly comedic social thriller written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite follows the working-class Kim family, who slowly infiltrate the home of the wealthy Park family using every underhanded tactic they can think of. But they soon realize that they’re not the only “parasites” in the Parks’ lives and that the comfortable positions they’ve made for themselves hang by a thread. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin, and more.
A bitingly satirical suspense film, Parasite uses its central family’s story to explore themes of class discrimination, greed, and the depths to which a human being can stoop in order to survive. A critical and commercial success both in South Korea and internationally, the movie premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first South Korean film to win the Palme d’Or. The film set many more records, including becoming the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
‘Barbie’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 6.8/10
An unexpectedly existential movie about the eponymous fashion doll line, Barbie was directed by Greta Gerwig, who also co-wrote the screenplay with her husband, Noah Baumbach. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, the movie follows them on a journey of self-discovery to the real world. The movie also features a stacked supporting cast that includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, and more.
A record-breaking film — and one of the biggest hits of 2023 — Barbie is an insightful examination of its titular doll’s history and social impact, as well as the real-world experiences of sexism, patriarchy, and social othering. It’s a unique, thoughtful film with great comedy and real emotion, all brought to life brilliantly by its stellar cast. The movie was named one of the top 10 films of the year by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute and earned several accolades, including eight Academy Award nominations, nine Golden Globe nominations, and a record 18 nominations for Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
‘Rear Window’ (1954)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and written by John Michael Hayes, Rear Window is a 1954 mystery thriller film inspired by Cornell Woolrich‘s 1942 short story “It Had to Be Murder.” Starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly, the film follows a photographer confined to his home with a broken leg who accidentally witnesses an apparent murder. Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, and more appear in supporting roles.
First screened at a benefit premiere in New York City, Rear Window was a critically and commercially successful film that competed for the Golden Lion at the 1954 Venice Film Festival. The film is easily one of the most iconic movies directed by its legendary filmmaker, with an endlessly suspenseful plot and amazing performances by its star-studded cast. Often hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, Rear Window earned four Academy Award nominations and was added to the National Film Registry in 1997 by the United States Library of Congress, underscoring its undeniable impact on American cinema.
‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.8/10
Written, directed, and produced by John Hughes, The Breakfast Club is a 1985 teen coming-of-age comedy following five high school students who are stuck in detention together under the watchful eye of their strict vice principal. Though they’re each from different cliques (and embody different high school archetypes), they find common ground and form unexpected bonds. The film stars Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy.
Often regarded by John Hughes fans as the very pinnacle of the filmmaker’s acclaimed career, The Breakfast Club is a quintessentially ’80s comedy that had a huge impact on the cultural landscape of the decade. A true landmark of American pop culture, the film has inspired generations, with countless references, tributes, and parodies in subsequent movies and shows. The film was a huge critical and commercial hit at the time of its premiere, receiving praise from reviewers and audiences for its authentic storytelling and excellent performances. It’s now considered one of the greatest films of all time.
‘Psycho’ (1960)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Written by Joseph Stefano and produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho is a 1960 suspense thriller film that’s widely regarded as the defining movie of the slasher genre. Inspired by Robert Bloch’s eponymous 1959 novel, the film revolves around the case of a beautiful woman (Janet Leigh) who steals money from her employer and goes on the run. When she checks into an out-of-the-way motel, she encounters a shy young man named Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), who is dominated by his overbearing mother. Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Martin Balsam appear in key roles.
Psycho was a very polarizing film at the time of its premiere, panned by some critics and lauded by others. However, the audience was unanimous in their love for the movie, and it went on to receive numerous accolades, including four Academy Awards. Filmed in black-and-white with a minuscule budget and cast, Psycho is a contained, character-driven thriller that maximizes terror through its tight direction and gripping performances. Easily one of Hitchcock’s most influential movies, Psycho is now considered one of the greatest films of all time, and in 1992, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
‘Do the Right Thing’ (1989)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.0/10
Produced, written, and directed by Spike Lee, Do the Right Thing is a racially charged slice-of-life comedy-drama that revolves around an everyday Brooklyn neighborhood. The movie explores mounting racial tensions between African-American residents and the Italian-American owners of a local pizzeria, which explode into tragedy and violence on the hottest day of the summer. Lee also stars in the film, leading an ensemble cast that includes Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, and Samuel L. Jackson, with Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez in their feature film debuts.
Do the Right Thing made waves when it premiered at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, generating both acclaim and controversy and receiving a nomination for the Palme d’Or. It’s a vibrant, entertaining film that presents a clear-eyed perspective on racial violence in America, both in the actions of authority figures like police officers and the choices of everyday citizens. Widely regarded as one of Lee’s best works and one of the greatest American films of all time, the movie received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe nominations. It was also selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1999.
‘Airport’ (1970)
Rotten Tomatoes: 75% | IMDb: 6.6/10
- Release Date
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May 29, 1970
- Runtime
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137 Minutes
- Director
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George Seaton
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Burt Lancaster
Mel Bakersfeld
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Dana Wynter
Cindy Bakersfeld
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Dean Martin
Vernon Demerest
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Barbara Hale
Sarah Demerest
Written and directed by George Seaton, Airport is a 1970 disaster drama that’s credited with originating the modern disaster film genre. Adapted from Arthur Hailey‘s eponymous 1968 novel, the film stars Burt Lancaster as airport manager Mel Bakersfield and Dean Martin as pilot Vernon Demerest, with Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, and more in supporting roles. The movie revolves around the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago, where a suicide bomber attempts to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner during a disastrous snowstorm.
Airport received very mixed reviews at the time of its premiere, but it was still a huge commercial success. To be fair to the critics, it’s a crowd-pleaser that wastes a lot of time on frankly boring character drama before getting to the actual entertaining bits, but it does feature some great performances and a highly detailed production. The movie earned 10 Academy Award nominations, spawned three sequels, and set off a disaster movie trend that continues today. Incidentally, Airport and its sequels were also an inspiration for the landmark 1980 parody film Airplane!.
‘Y Tu Mama También’ (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Directed, produced, co-edited, and co-written by Alfonso Cuarón, Y Tu Mamá También (English: And Your Mother Too) is a Mexican coming-of-age comedy-drama set primarily in 1999. Cuarón co-wrote the film with his brother, Carlos Cuarón, and the plot revolves around the friendship between two teenage boys (Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal), which is unexpectedly tested when they go on an impromptu road trip with an older woman (Maribel Verdú).
A film with bold and explicit depictions of sex, nudity, and drug use — not to mention some very complex themes — Y Tu Mamá También caused quite a stir with ratings bodies at the time of its release in 2001. And yet, it’s that very same unflinching and unapologetic storytelling that has made the film a cultural landmark, both for Mexico in particular and cinema as a whole. It’s an entertaining road trip comedy that evolves into so much more while also addressing Mexico’s economic and political realities in the ’90s. Appropriately, the film was a huge hit at the box office and a critical darling, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.