Bad news first: August is nearly here, which means 2024 is more than halfway over. But the good news is that there are plenty of new Netflix movies that have come out in the first half of this year that are worth your time. Sure, there have also been some stinkers. But lucky for you, I watch them all, and I’m to help you cut through the noise with a list of the best Netflix movies that have come out in 2024, so far.
It’s been a huge year for actor Glen Powell who you can see on the big screen in Twisters , or on the small screen on Netflix’s Hit Man , a new dark comedy from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater. Netflix also is known for romantic comedies, and Gina Rodriguez is has a great new one for the streamer called Players. Plus, ’80s music fans got a real treat of a documentary with the Netflix doc The Greatest Night in Pop , about the history-making recording of “We Are the World” in 1985.
In otherwords, Netflix has had a movie for everyone come out in the first half of 2024. Read on for a list of the 10 best new Netflix movies that have come out in 2024, so far. And if you don’t see your favorite 2024 Netflix movie on this list, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. Different strokes for different folks, and all that jazz.
Easily the best Netflix original film of 2024 so far is Hit Man , Richard Linklater’s smart, sexy comedy with the soon-to-be A-lister Glen Powell. Powell, who also co-wrote the film, stars as Gary Johnson, the mild-mannered undercover cop who finds he just might like himself more as a sexy, dangerous hit man—especially after a beautiful woman named Madison (Adria Arjona) takes an interest in him. Powell gets to flex his range in a wide array of silly costumes, as well as his sizzling chemistry with the equally talented Arjona. The two stars shine brightest in the already-iconic Notes App scene, in which Powell and Arjona seamlessly feed off of each other’s energy. It’s rhythmic, choreographed dance, and it’s an absolute delight to watch.
Netflix documentaries rarely miss, and this 2024 documentary that chronicles the recording of the charity single “We Are the World” is no exception. Directed by Bao Nguyen ( Be Wate r), this doc is a delightful behind-the-scenes look at the fateful night in 1985 when 40 or so of the most famous pop singers in the world gathered in one room, to record a song written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, to raise money for famine relief in various African countries. Richie, who still looks great at 74, steers the narrative, walking viewers through writing the song, wrangling the artists, and recording the track. But the best part is the high-quality footage from the all-night recording, featuring unforgettable moments like Stevie Wonder steering a lost Bob Dylan through recording his verse, and Cyndi Lauper sheepishly removing her mountain of jewelry to record a clean track. If you’re a fan of ’80s music, The Greatest Night in Pop is a must-watch.
Written and directed by Page Hurwitz, Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution is another stand-out documentary from Netflix. This one is centered on a showcase performance of over 20 LGBTQ+ comedians at Los Angeles’s Greek Theater back in May 2022. Big names in comedy like Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Eddie Izzard, Hannah Gadsby, Tig Notaro, Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Bob The Drag Queen, and Trixie Mattel, and more all got up on stage with a stand-up routine. Some spoke about their lives as queer comedians, while others told unrelated jokes. But the real meat of the documentary is not the present-day performers, but the queer history lesson that Hurwitz weaves in, including archival footage of Richard Pryor, Robin Tyler, Sandra Bernhard, and more.
Every once in a while, Netflix releases a genuinely solid romantic comedy with a strong cast, funny jokes, and a couple with actual chemistry. Like Set It Up and Always Be My Maybe before it, Players —the new Netflix romantic comedy that began streaming on Valentine’s Day—checks all of those boxes. Gina Rodriguez and Damon Wayans Jr. star as old college buds who have perfected the art of picking up one-night stands in bars. Their playful chemistry is meant to be—but unfortunately, Rodriguez has her sights set on the older, more mature Pulitzer finalist played by Tom Ellis. Rodriguez proves she’s the rom-com queen with her easy, relatable charm. Plus, in a refreshing modern twist, one of the “players” bats for both teams.
Orion and the Dark is significantly better than your average Netflix animated movie for kids, likely because it was written by Charlie Kaufman, aka the filmmaker behind artsy intellectual movies like Being John Malkovich , Adaptation , and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind . Kaufman adapted Orion and the Dark from the children’s book of the same name by Emma Yarlett, and added his cerebral, Kaufman-y flavor. Orion (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), an anxious 11-year-old boy who’s afraid of, well, everything. But he’s especially afraid of the dark. One night while lying in bed, terrified—and trying to convince himself not to run to his parents’ room—Orion meets the cartoon personification of his greatest fear, aka Dark (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). It’s a tad derivative of Pixar’s Inside Out , but still a thoughtful and heartwarming tale that’s sure to speak to anyone who is, or was, an anxious child.
Black Barbie Shonda Rhimes in Black Barbie . Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
This Netflix documentary was produced by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers of Shondaland, and offered a refreshing counter-narrative to last year’s film of the summer, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie . Written and directed by Lagueria Davis, Black Barbie delved into the history of the first Black Barbie doll, which debuted at Mattel in 1980, 31 years after the launch of the original white Barbie. You’ll get a history lesson from the Black Mattel employees who were instrumental in creating the first Black Barbie doll, and you’ll also get a deeply personal story from Davis, who tells her own story of how she came to see herself in the doll. As Decider contributor Radhika Menon pointed out in her excellent review of the film , “By the documentary’s end, it’s still grappling with the idea that Black Barbie is in second place behind blonde-haired, blue-eyed Malibu Barbie—which only makes the documentary richer.”
Scoop —a dramatic retelling of Prince Andrew’s infamous 2019 BBC interview, in which he callously brushed off his longtime friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—feels like Netflix’s version of an old-school made-for-TV prestige film. There’s not quite enough there there for a theatrical release, but cast is still stacked with talent: Gillian Anderson as BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew, and Billie Piper as as Sam McAlister, the producer who secured the interview with Prince Andrew for BBC’s Newsnight . The interview itself was less than an hour, but Scoop focuses in on the long process leading up to that fateful day. For those unfamiliar with the story, it’s a compelling recreation of recent history, depicted by some of Britain’s best.
Find Me Falling , which began streaming on Netflix this month, stars Harry Connick Jr. as a misanthropic rock star named John Allman who moves to the island nation of Cyprus in order to get away from all the pressure and fame. Unfortunately, John failed to do his research. As he quickly learns—after he yells at a trespasser to get off his property, only for said trespasser to leap to his death off the side of a high cliff—his new home overlooks a “suicide hotspot.” Because of this plot line, Find Me Falling is a little deeper and a lot more emotional than your average destination Netflix romantic comedy. Yes, John does find love in a gorgeous, seaside location. But he also learns to let people back into his life, by realizing that one kind gesture can save a life. Written and directed by Stelana Kliris, Find Me Falling is just the right blend of inspirational, romantic, and funny. Be sure to have a tissue box ready.
After knowing and loving him as the boisterous, opinionated Schitt’s Creek resident David Rose, Daniel Levy’s 2024 Netflix movie, Good Grief —which began streaming back in January—may surprise viewers. Written and directed by Levy in his directorial debut, Levy casts himself as a thirty-something man dealing with the aftermath of the tragic and sudden death of his husband (played by Luke Evans). Levy’s character is forced to reconcile with some hard truths about his late husband, but more importantly, about his own handling of loss. It’s a light touch of a movie, with not very many laughs (save one hilarious Kaitlyn Dever cameo ), but plenty of heart. It’s not perfect, but it is a thoughtful rumination on grief.
Look, Damsel , the 2024 fantasy film on Netflix, isn’t going to win any Oscars. But it is a whole lot of fun. Millie Bobby Brown stars as a princess of an impoverished kingdom, who agrees to marry another land’s prince (played by Love, Simon star Nick Robinson) in exchange for money for her people. She certainly didn’t expect her new groom to unceremoniously toss her into a cavern on her wedding day. Now, she must use her wits—and her surprisingly utilitarian wedding dress—to survive. The movie is slick, shiny, fantasy fun, and it’s a perfect star vehicle for the charming and talented Stranger Things actor.
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