Netflix has a vast library of movies to choose from, including comedies, action movies, true crime documentaries, and thrillers. But so much choice can be overwhelming. What if all you know is you want to see something good and new? Well, we've got you covered.
Mashable's Entertainment team has dedicatedly watched the best (and worst) Netflix has to offer. From this, we've curated the ten best Netflix original movies of 2025. Whether you want mind-bending sci-fi, wild action, a heart-warming crowd-pleaser, a twisted eat-the-rich thriller, or excellent animated adventures, you'll find something worth watching (and even rewatching) below.
Note: Some of Netflix's much-anticipated 2025 releases haven't yet been seen, like Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and Rian Johnson's third Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man. But fret not! We'll update this list as the year goes on.
10. Lost in Starlight
Lost in Starlight, Netflix's first Korean animated movie, presents romance with a sci-fi twist. Astronaut Nan-young (voiced by Kim Tae-ri) prepares to leave Earth for Mars, a journey that comes with extra emotional baggage because her mother died there on a similar scientific expedition. She crosses paths with Jay (voiced by Hong Kyung), a slacker with surprising musical talent, and the two kick off a whirlwind romance against a backdrop of Seoul in 2050. But when it comes time for Nan-young to blast off to space, will their love survive?
The central romance proves to be Lost in Starlight's greatest weakness, with the film often prioritizing Jay's band over Nan-young's life-threatening journey to Mars. Still, its exploration of Nan-young's trauma over the loss of her mother is heart-wrenching, and director Han Ji-won ensures that Lost in Starlight is a visual marvel. Vibrant colors and the clash between retro and future tech make Lost in Starlight a feast for the eyes; if you're looking to watch more international animation, this isn't a bad place to start. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Kim Tae-ri, Hong Kyung, Kang Koo-han, Ahn Young-mi, Sharon Kwon, Yun A-yeong, David John Robbins, and Jang Mi
How to watch: Lost in Starlight is now streaming on Netflix.
9. Frozen Hot Boys
If you have a warm spot in your heart for underdog movies like The Mighty Ducks and Cool Runnings, you'll love Frozen Hot Boys. (Though, I should warn you, it's not a sequel to Hot Frosty!)
This Thai comedy centers on a band of teen boys in a juvenile detention center. Peer pressure is intense, but a wholesome form of bonding emerges when a young teacher urges her students to compete in an ice-carving competition in Japan. They won't let the melting heat of Thailand, the sneers of their headmistress, jealous bullies, or their total lack of ice-carving experience get in their way!
A tale of redemption, brotherhood, and hope, Frozen Hot Boys is sweet as it is funny. — K.P.
Starring: Natapohn Tameeruks, Chatchai Chinnasri, Nuttawat Thanataviepraserth, and Sadanont Durongkavarojana
How to watch: Frozen Hot Boys is now streaming on Netflix.
8. Back in Action
Aptly titled, Back in Action not only refers to the plotline of this charming espionage comedy but also the return of its stars to the spotlight.
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz co-star as a couple of spies who fake their deaths to flee their dangerous jobs once they learn they've got a baby on the way. Cut to 15 years later, when they're middle-aged with a cozy suburban life that's interrupted by an unexpected visit from some former colleagues. To keep their kids safe, they'll need to go on one more mission. And things get pretty zany — and yeah, corny too. But there's an undeniable pleasure in watching Diaz and Foxx bounce off each other's energy.
In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Don't overthink it. Turn on Back in Action, and allow the star power and nostalgia for the heyday of '90s rom-coms, the peak of Cameron Diaz fame, and the fun of all that wash over you." — K.P.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz. Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, Kyle Chandler, and Glenn Close
How to watch: Back in Action is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Delicious
If you loved Parasite or Knives Out, you'll appreciate the dark humor at play in Delicious, an eat-the-rich movie out of Germany.
Written and directed by Nele Mueller-Stöfen, Delicious follows a German family of four on their annual retreat to their luxurious French villa. Arriving in the midst of a protest, these tourists shrug off the political unrest, lounging about and leaving out their dirty dishes because their usual maid is away. Lucky, then, that they run into experienced maid Teodora (Carla Díaz) — not so lucky it's with their car.
Despite this rocky start, Teodora gets close to each family member, tapping into their deepest desires and fears. Pretty early on, you may figure out what she and her rebellious friends in service are up to. But that doesn't take away from this movie's biting climax. — K.P.
Starring: Valerie Pachner, Fahri Yardım, Carla Díaz, and Naila Schuberth
How to watch: Delicious is now streaming on Netflix.
6. Nonnas
Speaking of delicious, this comedy written by Liz Maccie and directed by her husband Stephen Chbosky will have you craving a home-cooked Italian meal.
Inspired by a true story of the restaurant Enoteca Maria, Nonnas stars Vince Vaughn as an average Joe who channels his grief over losing his mother and grandmother into a tantalizing new venture. He uses his inheritance to build a new restaurant in Staten Island, and hires Italian grandmothers (or nonnas) to become the chefs using their family recipes. Personalities clash, but ultimately these strong-willed women come together to create something stupendous.
It's a feel-good comedy full of love, joy, and laughs. — K.P.
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Linda Cardellini, and Susan Sarandon
How to watch: Nonnas is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Plankton: The Movie
Can't get enough of SpongeBob SquarePants? Well, Netflix is dedicated to bringing fresh fun to the pineapple under the sea. Last year, the streaming service premiered Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, and this year brings the debut of Plankton: The Movie.
Mr. Krabs' pint-sized nemesis has long been dedicated to wicked schemes and Krabby Patty recipe heists. But it turns out that all that focusing on his wicked mission has left his robot wife Karen feeling unfulfilled! So, how does she get back at her spouse for his out-of-whack work-life balance? She boots him and aims to take over the world herself. As she runs amok, he must team up with SpongeBob to repair his marriage — and save Bikini Bottom from her wrath while they're at it.
This daffy animated comedy directed by Dave Needham is an absolute hoot for SpongeBob fans of all ages. Cue it up for a family movie night! — K.P.
Starring: Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Clancy Brown, and Rodger Bumpass
How to watch: Plankton: The Movie is now streaming on Netflix.
4. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
The Witcher fans were gifted another animated film this year, helping ease the wait between seasons of the live-action Netflix series. Directed by The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf's Kang Hei Chul and animated by South Korea's Studio MIR, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep sent us on a deep seaside quest into a looming war between humans and merpeople, based on The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski's short story "A Little Sacrifice."
Unexpectedly for The Witcher universe, Sirens of the Deep mirrors Disney's version of Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale The Little Mermaid, but with incredibly violent and thrilling animated action. Sadly, the romance scenes are deeply awkward. However, in a treat for fans that makes it worthwhile, the film sees Doug Cockle, who voiced Geralt of Rivia in the games, returning to the role, alongside Joey Batey and Anya Chalotra, who played bard Jaskier and sorcerer Yennefer in the TV show. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Doug Cockle, Joey Batey, Anya Chalotra, and Christina Wren
How to watch: The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is now streaming on Netflix.
3. The Quilters
Jenifer McShane's The Quilters is a hidden treasure on Netflix. This award-winning documentary short film takes viewers behind the walls of a maximum-security prison in Missouri, where incarcerated men are finding a road to redemption one quilt at a time.
In a small room, buzzing with the sound of sewing machines and the cutting of fabric, they gather to create incredible crafts for a good cause. Each quilt they make is donated to a foster kid in the surrounding counties. Each quilt is a chance for these people — many convicted of violent crimes — to discover their creative side and to give something back. Their story is marvelously heart-warming, and incredibly feels thorough even with a 33-minute runtime! — K.P.
How to watch: The Quilters is now streaming on Netflix.
2. USS Callister: Into Infinity
Okay, technically Black Mirror's USS Callister: Into Infinity is a TV episode, not a movie. But since it's feature-length, and since it's way better than much of Netflix's other 2025 film fare so far, it more than deserves this spot.
Black Mirror's first official sequel episode, Into Infinity picks up in the wake of Season 4's USS Callister. Nanette Cole (Cristin Milioti) and the rest of the Callister crew are now fighting for their lives within the video game Infinity, and their in-game actions are drawing the suspicion of Infinity's real-world players. Nanette will have to reconnect with her outside self and Infinity head James Walton (Jimmi Simpson), sparking uneasy alliances and game-changing reveals about the nature of Infinity itself. The result isn't as strong as the original USS Callister, but watching Black Mirror channel both Star Wars and Fortnite is oodles of fun — not to mention a delightful palate cleanser after Black Mirror Season 7's bleaker offerings. — B.E.
Starring: Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson, Billy Magnussen, Milanka Brooks, Osy Ikhile, Paul G. Raymond, and Jesse Plemons
How to watch: USS Callister: Into Infinity is now streaming on Netflix.
1. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Cheese-loving inventor Wallace (voiced by Ben Whitehead) and his trusty beagle Gromit make a triumphant return in Aardman and Netflix's Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, which received a 2025 Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. Vengeance Most Fowl sees Wallace and Gromit face off with a foe from their past, The Wrong Trousers villain Feathers McGraw. Now behind bars, this dastardly penguin's got a scheme to take down Wallace and Gromit once and for all — one that involves an army of evil smart gnomes and a zoo prison break.
What follows is classic Wallace & Gromit. Incredible Claymation set pieces and Rube Goldberg-esque inventions abound, all held together by the sweet yet comedic interplay between the oblivious Wallace and the hyper-competent Gromit. But it's the film's stand against AI — represented here by smart gnome Norbot (voiced by Reece Shearsmith) — that lends it an especially fresh edge, one that emphasizes the loving craft that goes into every Wallace & Gromit film. As I wrote in my review, "When you're watching Vengeance Most Fowl, or any stop-motion animated movie, you're keenly aware that you're watching the culmination of years' worth of effort... That appreciation of effort and process is something no speedy Norbot or other AI could give you, and Vengeance Most Fowl rightfully wants you to know that." — B.E.
Starring: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, and Reece Shearsmith
How to watch: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is now streaming on Netflix.
* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.
