The 6 Best Netflix Movies of 2026 So Far — From Peaky Blinders to Sadie Sandler

The 6 Best Netflix Movies of 2026 So Far — From Peaky Blinders to Sadie Sandler

If you think Netflix just cranks out forgettable content, 2026 is proving you wrong. From a Peaky Blinders epic finale to a Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reunion, the streaming giant has been quietly stacking some genuinely great movies this year. Let us break down the six Netflix originals you absolutely need to watch right now.

1. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby one last time, and it is absolutely worth your time. Creator Steven Knight and director Tom Harper deliver something unexpected — instead of a victory-lap nostalgia fest, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is a surprisingly downbeat epilogue about legends fading into myth and the old world collapsing. Murphy spends the entire film looking like he carries the weight of every decision he has ever made, and honestly, it works. If you followed Tommy Shelby through six seasons of the BBC series, this is the swan song he deserves.

2. People We Meet on Vacation

Emily Henry fans, this one is for you. Director Brett Haley adapted Henry's bestselling romance novel into a genuinely charming film starring Emily Bader as travel writer Poppy and Tom Blyth (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) as her best friend Alex. The premise — two people who take annual vacations together but keep denying there is a spark — sounds cliché on paper, but the chemistry between Bader and Blyth makes it feel effortless. Sarah Catherine Hook and Lucien Laviscount also pop up as the other halves who clearly know these two are terrible at being just friends. It is the kind of movie that makes you want to immediately text your own person.

3. The Rip

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are back together, and they brought director Joe Carnahan along for the ride. The Rip is a one-location thriller set in a Miami-Dade suburban house that turns out to be a cartel stash house. Damon plays Dane Dumars, a world-weary lieutenant investigating a cop killing while trying to root out a dirty cop on his own team. Carnahan throws in all the classic Netflix action movie tropes — dim lighting, heavy exposition, explosive first five minutes — but the twist-a-minute pacing and the sheer enjoyment of watching Damon and Affleck grunt and curse their way through a siege make it highly entertaining. It is not high art, but it is absolutely gripping.

4. Roommates

Happy Madison producing thoughtful comedies about young women? In this economy? Yes, and it is actually great. Roommates, directed by Chandler Levack, pairs Sadie Sandler as buttoned-up Devon with Chloe East (The Fabelmans, Heretic) as free-spirited Celeste. The two impulsively become college roommates and clash in every predictable (and surprisingly heartfelt) way. It leans into Happy Madison absurdist humor — there is an exploding Thanksgiving dinner scene that is genuinely wild — but the emotional core about figuring out how to be a responsible adult hits harder than you would expect from a Sandler-produced comedy.

5. KPop Demon Hunters

This was the movie that made Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos rethink his whole theaters are a relic of the past stance. KPop Demon Hunters became such a cultural phenomenon that Netflix had no choice but to give it a theatrical run, and the box office results were insane. A K-pop group fighting actual demons? It sounds ridiculous, and it absolutely leans into that — but the action choreography, the soundtrack, and the sheer entertainment value make it one of Netflix biggest wins of the year.

6. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein

After scoring a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein remains essential viewing. Del Toro brings his signature visual artistry and emotional depth to Mary Shelley classic tale, creating something that feels both ancient and urgently modern. If you somehow missed this one during awards season, it is still sitting on Netflix waiting for you.

What Makes These Netflix Movies Stand Out

Netflix has always struggled with the Netflix original label — audiences tend to assume lower quality. But 2026 is shifting that perception. Between legacy franchises like Peaky Blinders, star power reunions like Affleck and Damon, and surprise hits like KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix is proving it can compete with theatrical releases on quality, not just volume. With The Rip, Roommates, and more still in the mix, the second half of 2026 is looking just as strong.

So what are you waiting for? Grab some snacks, pick one of these, and cancel whatever plans you had for tonight.