10 Greatest Netflix Original Movies of 2025, Ranked
Netflix’s reputation may have had its ups and downs over the years, but there’s no denying the fact that the streaming service is one of the most important forces in the entertainment industry today. Apart from its vast collection of licensed titles, the streamer produces a number of original shows and movies every year, many of which have earned critical and audience acclaim, and 2025 is no different.
This year’s best Netflix original movies include highly anticipated franchise films, auteur-driven masterpieces, and more underrated gems, spanning a wide range of genres and styles. Though the overall quality of Netflix Originals may be arguably in decline, these movies show that the iconic streaming service still has the potential to do some great work. Now, without further ado, here’s our ranked selection of the 10 greatest Netflix Original movies of 2025, including some of the biggest films of the year.
10
‘In Your Dreams’ (2025)
An animated adventure-comedy directed and co-written by Alex Woo, In Your Dreams follows the story of 12-year-old Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her younger brother, Elliot (Elias Janssen). The siblings embark on a fantastical journey into their absurd dreamland to ask the Sandman to grant them a perfect family, running into some odd, threatening characters along the way before their wish can come true. The film’s voice cast includes Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti, Gia Carides, Omid Djalili, and SungWon Cho in supporting roles.
Sweet, simple, and fun, In Your Dreams is a charming throwback to classic animated children’s films, joining Netflix’s ever-expanding animation library. The story may follow a very familiar trope, but it adds some refreshing and imaginative touches through its interesting visual art, effects, and tone, all of which come together to make this a delightful animated movie. On its premiere, In Your Dreams was well received by critics for its heartwarming narrative and art design, earning an Astra Film Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
9
‘A House of Dynamite’ (2025)
An apocalyptic political thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Noah Oppenheim, A House of Dynamite revolves around an imminent missile attack on the United States launched by an unknown enemy. As every government and military official races against the clock to deal with the situation, they struggle to identify the adversary while also navigating how to respond to such a critical and unprecedented threat. Idris Elba stars as the President of the United States, with Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, and more in major roles.
In her first new feature film since 2017, Bigelow delivers a heart-pounding political/military thriller that takes a sharp and raw look at the current sociopolitical landscape, but does so with high entertainment value. Featuring gritty action scenes and dramatic performances, especially by Elba and Ferguson, the film is a gripping thriller presented from multiple points of view in the style of Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon. Though it has generated some political controversies and faced technical criticisms, A House of Dynamite has been critically acclaimed and remains one of Netflix’s best of the year.
8
‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ (2024)
A British stop-motion animated comedy film based on Aardman Animations’ popular Wallace & Gromit franchise, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is the second feature film in the series and a sequel to the 1993 short film, The Wrong Trousers. Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, the movie follows Gromit, Wallace’s brave and intelligent beagle, as he grows concerned for his master’s safety when Wallace’s newly invented smart gnome goes rogue and unleashes evil upon them. Ben Whitehead voices Wallace, with Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith, and Diane Morgan in key roles.
The latest installment of Wallace & Gromit sees the charming titular duo bring back all the fun and comfort that the franchise has always been known for. On its BBC premiere in 2024, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl received sweeping accolades for its animation style and humor, and it has been hailed as a successful expansion on the legacy of the Claymation comedy icons. Released internationally on Netflix in 2025, the film has earned several accolades, including two BAFTA Awards and an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
7
‘Jay Kelly’ (2025)
George Clooney stars as the titular protagonist in this comedy-drama film directed by Noah Baumbach, who also co-wrote the film with Emily Mortimer. Jay Kelly follows the story of a famous movie actor who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting on his past, present, life choices, relationships, and legacy alongside his devoted friend and manager, Ron (Adam Sandler). The film boasts a stacked cast, with Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Stacy Keach, Riley Keough, and Greta Gerwig in significant roles.
An uplifting, character-driven film anchored by its legendary star, Jay Kelly premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival and earned sweeping praise across the festival circuit. The film is both a poignant, humorous, and intimate self-reflection of one’s guilt and glories, as well as a delightful satire of Hollywood, in which Clooney steals the screen with his charming vulnerability and excellent chemistry with the equally impressive Sandler. The movie has earned several accolades, and it has the rare distinction of being named one of the top 10 films of the year by both the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review.
6
‘Nouvelle Vague’ (2025)
Directed by Richard Linklater, Nouvelle Vague is a period comedy-drama that reimagines the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s French New Wave film Breathless. Through this story, the movie explores how Godard’s film paved the way for a new kind of cinema and shaped the titular movement during the 1950s and ’60s. Guillaume Marbeck stars as Godard and Zoey Deutch as the iconic actress of the era, Jean Seberg, with Aubry Dullin, Bruno Dreyfürs, Matthieu Penchinat, and Adrien Rouyard as various prominent personalities of French cinema.
Nouvelle Vague premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it earned critical acclaim for its stunning cinematography and period detail. The film is a visually and thematically moving love letter to one of the most influential periods in cinematic history, presented through a playful, dramatic narrative. Beautifully shot and passionately told, the movie is an admirable showcase of Richard Linklater’s creative genius, as well as its stars’ acting talents. It’s by far the most gorgeous film released on Netflix this year.
5
‘Frankenstein’ (2025)
Written, directed, and produced by Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein is a gothic science fiction film adapted from Mary Shelley’s eponymous 1818 novel. The film reimagines the familiar story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), a brilliant and egotistical scientist whose ambitious experiment of infusing life into the dead results in a monstrous creature (Jacob Elordi) with dangerous consequences for both creator and creation. Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, and Charles Dance star in supporting roles.
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a sweeping, artful, and gorgeously made reimagination of the 19th-century literary classic. The film takes a more humane approach to one of literature and cinema’s most iconic monsters, portrayed to full effect by Jacob Elordi’s outstandingly innocent and layered performance, which makes the film a more moving and unsettling adaptation than any before. On its release, Frankenstein was widely acclaimed for its atmospheric production and emotionally grounded narrative, and it’s easily one of Netflix’s best films of the year.
4
‘The Perfect Neighbor’ (2025)
Directed and produced by Geeta Gandbhir, The Perfect Neighbor is a documentary film about the 2023 killing of Ajike Owens in Ocala, Florida. The documentary uses mostly bodycam footage and call archives to chronologically recount the events leading to the tragic incident, in which Susan Louise Lorincz fatally shot Owens, her neighbor. The film also explores the wider systemic issues caused by Florida’s controversial stand-your-ground laws.
Unarguably one of the best documentaries on Netflix, The Perfect Neighbor is a deeply disturbing look at how tragedy is often the result of unchecked resentment manifesting in violent outrage, coupled with systemic failures. The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where Gandbhir won the Directing Award, and the documentary went on to earn critical acclaim and win several Critics’ Choice Awards. Since its release, the film has been praised by reviewers and audiences alike for its direction, editing, and overall production, as well as its exploration of systemic bias.
3
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ (2025)
KPop Demon Hunters is an animated musical fantasy film directed and co-written by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. Following a K-pop girl group that fights demons — especially their demonic rival boy band, the Saja Boys — the film has everything one could want: a sweet story, stunning animation, and an incredible soundtrack. Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo star as the voices of HUNTR/X, while Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami take on the singing for the trio. Ahn Hyo-seop, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun appear in key voice roles.
Inspired by Korean mythology, K-pop, and anime, KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s most-watched title of all time and undoubtedly one of the biggest successes of the year. The movie earned widespread acclaim and became a bona fide phenomenon, breaking music records, garnering multiple Grammy nominations (including a highly coveted one for Song of the Year), and inspiring Halloween costumes everywhere.
2
‘Train Dreams’ (2025)
Directed by Clint Bentley and adapted from Denis Johnson’s eponymous 2011 novella, Train Dreams follows the story of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger and railroad worker in the early 20th-century Pacific Northwest. The film follows 80 years of quiet yet profound life as he raises his family and endures decades of hard labor while grappling with immense tragedy and the rapidly changing landscape of America. Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy star in supporting roles.
Train Dreams is a gorgeous and tragic drama that explores themes of grief, loss, loneliness, and the beauty in ordinary existence. Since its release, the film has received critical acclaim for Bentley’s direction and Joel Edgerton’s gripping performance, winning several accolades across the 2025 film festival circuit. A movie that’s both intimate and epic at the same time, Train Dreams has been named one of the top 10 films of the year by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
1
‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2025)
Directed by Rian Johnson, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is a sequel to 2022’s Glass Onion and the third installment in the Knives Out film series. Daniel Craig returns as super sleuth Benoit Blanc, this time investigating the seemingly impossible murder of a monsignor in a remote Catholic church in upstate New York, where its cult-like community and their web of faith, fanaticism, and corruption become Blanc’s biggest challenge. The film’s massive ensemble cast also includes Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
One of the most anticipated films of 2025, Wake Up Dead Man premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it earned critical acclaim. A splendidly puzzling and gripping locked-room mystery, the movie revolves around themes of the radicalization of power within religious institutions. The film has been widely hailed by critics as the best entry in the Knives Out series so far, with Craig once again proving that Benoit Blanc is hands down the best modern cinematic detective.
- Release Date
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November 26, 2025
- Runtime
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140 minutes
- Director
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Rian Johnson
- Writers
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Rian Johnson
- Producers
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Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson
