5 Must-Watch Movies On Netflix This Week

Wind River

Credit: Lionsgate

The weekend has come and gone, and while there are certainly enough streaming recommendations in my latest weekend streaming guide, it never hurts to have a few more options. It’s a chilly week in January. There are worse things to do than curl up on the couch with a good movie, a warm blanket, a hot cup of cocoa or tea, and perhaps someone to share it all with.

The following films are all quite different from one another, spanning decades, and all five are available to stream right now on Netflix. We’ll start with the most recent of the bunch.

28 Years Later (2025)

I actually only just realized that 28 Years Later was available on Netflix. The sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is currently in theaters, and will likely come to VOD soon, with a Netflix release later this year. The long-awaited return to the 28 Days Later zombie franchise got somewhat mixed reviews, but you’ll want to watch it before you see The Bone Temple, which is faring much better with critics and audiences. If you enjoy tense post-apocalyptic thrillers, give this one a shot.

007: Goldfinger (1964)

Perhaps the most classic – and certainly the best-reviewed – of all the James Bond films, Goldfinger is Agent 007 at the top of his game. It’s hard to beat Sean Connery when it comes to Bond films, and Goldfinger even won an Academy Award (for sound editing). Critics called this film the one where James Bond “comes into focus” and found its feet, introducing the fun gadgets, ramping up the humor and giving fans a sprawling spy story spanning numerous foreign locations. I’m adding this to my list, too, because I haven’t seen it in many years.

Wind River (2017)

I recommend Wind River every chance I get. I’ve pretty much fallen off the Taylor Sheridan bandwagon with all the TV shows he keeps churning out, but pretty much all of the movies he made were great and the neo-Western Wind River is one of my favorites. The story follows the investigation of a murdered indigenous woman on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Jeremy Renner plays US Fish and Wildlife Service Agent, Cory Lambert, and Elisabeth Olsen plays FBI Agent Jane Banner.

The two embark on a dangerous mission to find out what happened and bring the killers to justice. Graham Green, Kelsey Asbille, Gil Birmingham and many other talented actors fill out the cast. It’s a tough watch, but an important movie, which Sheridan wrote to bring awareness to the troublingly high rate of murder and rape of indigenous women both on and off the reservation.

Licorice Pizza (2021)

I’ve watched Paul Thomas Anderson’s excellent One Battle After Another twice in the last month, and I’m pretty sure it’s become my favorite of his films. If you’re a fan, check out his previous film, Licorice Pizza, for a very different kind of movie. It’s the first MGM film since Rain Man to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

The coming-of-age movie takes place in the ‘70s and follows a teen actor, Gary (played by Cooper Hoffman, son of Seymour Hoffman) and a young photographer’s assistant, Alana (played by Alana Haim) as they navigate relationships, the 1973 oil crisis and more. The ensemble cast includes many veteran actors, from Sean Penn to Bradley Cooper, but it’s the debut role for both its leads.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

The only animated film on this list, don’t mistake it for some happy-go-lucky kids cartoon. Grave of the Fireflies is about the horrors and degradations of war. Written and directed by Isao Takahata, the story follows two orphans who struggle to survive following WWII and the devastation of the Pacific War. This is the highest-rated film on the list, widely considered to be one of the greatest animated movies ever made. It’s also the most depressing. Still, if you enjoy classic anime, you should grab a box of tissues and give it a go.

Seen any good movies lately? Any recommendations? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.