7 Great Movies Leaving Netflix At The End Of April

As May approaches, we can be excited about a new month that will offer a fresh slate of movies to watch on Netflix. However, that also means we must say goodbye to a few dozen movies, several of which are tough to watch go. In particular, there are seven movies I’d like to highlight that will be gone by the end of April, including a recent box-office-dominating comedy that found massive success and adoration despite its R-rating, an important documentary about a revolutionary magazine that helped the LGBTQ+ find its voice, and a recent Oscar-winning gem that houses one of the most talked-about comebacks in Hollywood history. It’s these movies (and many more) that make up your soon-to-be-deleted list for April—which means you need to get moving.

So where should you start? Like I said, I’ve got seven great recommendations for you this month. Below, I’ll list each of those movies, along with plot descriptions, trailers, why you should watch them and when they expire. Then at the bottom of the article, you can find a full list of every single movie leaving Netflix in April 2025.

7 Great Movies Leaving Netflix In April 2025

No Hard Feelings (2023)

If you ask me, comedies are in a sad state right now. Where other genres, like action and thrillers, receive major backing from studios, it’s rare for a star-driven comedy to gain much headway in theaters. That’s what made the box office success of No Hard Feelings ($87.3 million worldwide) so special. Jennifer Lawrence, known mostly for her dramatic work (she won an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook), was free to flex her comedic chops in this rare, unapologetic R-rated high-concept comedy that feels like a throwback to the kinds of adult-targeted flicks that thrived in the 2000s. This gem from director Gene Stupnitsky (who also directed the raunchy comedy Good Boys) follows Lawrence’s character Maddie, a struggling bartender whose financial troubles put her at risk of losing her childhood home. Desperate for cash, she answers a Craigslist ad from two wealthy parents (Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick) offering a car to anyone who can “date” their shy, introverted 19-year-old son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), before he heads off to college. Such an outrageous set-up leads to surprising depth as Maddie helps Percy grow up and let go of his insecurities.

No Hard Feelings leaves Netflix on April 20, 2025.

Ahead of the Curve (2020)

Queer women have always fought for visibility and community in this world, which, over the years, has required the kind of grassroots activism we don’t always see or hear about. Luckily, there are documentaries like Ahead of the Curve, which doesn’t just celebrate the past and the women who have fought for such agency, but also engages how the needs and identities of the LGBTQ+ community have changed over time, making its story and message feel both urgent and contemporary. Directed by Jen Rainin and Rivkah Beth Medow, this important document follows the rise of the bestselling lesbian magazine Curve and its creator Franco Stevens, who fought to fund the first issues of a magazine that would eventually go on to become a trailblazer for representation. Where many retrospectives focus on a singular narrative or individual, Ahead of the Curve is about the entire community the magazine represented, highlighting the importance of intersectionality to the queer cause by showcasing the diverse voices that made up the community. The documentary smartly moves from the past into the vague future dominated by digital media and social platforms, asking important questions about what queer visibility means in this new world and how the next generation will shape what activism looks like.

Ahead of the Curve leaves Netflix on April 21, 2025.

This is 40 (2012)

Three years ago, I became a father. And two kids and a million new life complications later, I have learned just how manic life becomes once you do. But there’s real beauty to the messiness of family life, a sort of beauty that can be hilarious and fulfilling as much as it is anxiety-inducing. And This is 40 captures such an amalgamation perfectly. This semi-autobiographical comedy from Judd Apatow draws heavily from the director’s own experiences, with his real-life wife, Leslie Mann, appearing in the film as the family matriarch and his two daughters, Maude and Iris Apato, appearing as the children. Meanwhile, Paul Rudd takes on the fatherly duties in Apatow’s place in this sort-of sequel to Knocked Up that follows the characters of Pete and Debbie, two struggling parents who feel burdened by everything, from career setbacks to financial pressures, to, well, the inevitable reality of aging. We turn in as the couple faces a critical juncture in their lives as they try to balance everything without losing themselves—or each other. Beyond Rudd and Mann, the movie features memorable turns from John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks and Jason Segel, making for 134 minutes of comic genius, powered by Apatow’s signature blend of slice-of-life comedy and vulnerability.

This is 40 leaves Netflix on April 30, 2025.

The Whale (2022)

Darren Aronofsky is the kind of filmmaker that tends to divide audiences as he broaches uncomfortable subject matters. From overwhelming addiction in Requiem for a Dream to failing health in The Wrestler to the troubles of motherhood in Mother, his films force us to confront life’s most debilitating dilemmas. But because of such a daring approach, Aronofsky has showcased an incredible track record of extracting career-defining performances, from (in order of the movies I just listed) Ellen Burstyn to Mickey Rourke to Jennifer Lawrence. He’s even earned two of his actors Oscars—one for Natalie Portman in Black Swan, and another for Brendan Fraser in the movie I’m recommending on this list, The Whale. Fraser delivers a powerhouse performance in a role that required intense makeup (which Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Annemarie Bradley won an Oscar for) and practical effects for his morbidly obese character Charlie, who makes a desperate attempt to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), as his health rapidly declines. Adapted from a play by Samuel D. Hunter, this story takes place almost entirely within the walls of Charlie’s dark apartment, creating for a claustrophobic experience that forces us to become intimate with Charlie as he faces the end.

The Whale leaves Netflix on April 30, 2025.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Obviously, making a movie isn’t a one-person operation. From the director to the actors to everyone behind the camera, a film could require hundreds of hands throughout its formation. But the production team behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse truly takes the cake, as over 1,000 animators were required to pull off its incredible, unmatched aesthetic. The animation is even more inventive that its preceding film, Into the Spider-Verse, with distinct styles developed for its multitude of new universes, effectively pushing the boundaries of what animated movies can look like and achieve. But the movie isn’t just all flash—it’s a deeply felt story about identity, fate and family, making it resonate in ways we typically don’t find in superhero tales. This wildly successful sequel follows Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he reunites with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) to travel into the vast multiverse of Spider-People tasked with protecting all the different realities. When Miles challenges one of the multiverse’s leaders, Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), he sets off a chain reaction that forces him to become a multi-dimensional hero. The stacked cast for this movie includes Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jason Schwartzman, Karan Soni, Andy Samberg and Amandla Stenberg—whoa. Don’t miss this one.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse leaves Netflix on April 30, 2025.

Whiplash (2014)

If you ask me, movies are way too long these days, to the point where it’s more common for a film to broach 130 minutes than be contained to a tight 90 minutes. It’s especially depressing when you see how much electricity Damien Chazelle packs into Whiplash, a movie that churns at a relentless pace for 107 straight minutes without ever taking its foot off the gas pedal—short movies can be just as magical, trust me. Filled with incredible performances (including an Oscar-winning turn for J.K. Simmons) and breathtaking musical numbers, this thrilling and often horrifying film feels more like a psychological thriller than a musical drama, all while remaining true to a slice-of-life story that never colors outside the lines of a harsh reality. The story follows Andrew Nieman (Miles Teller), who dreams of becoming a legendary drummer like Buddy Rich. He joins a prestigious music academy ran by the tyrannical conductor Terence Fletcher (Simmons), who uses brutal, manipulative techniques to extract the most from his musicians. This dynamic leads to a punishing mentorship that tests the limits of Andrew’s mental state as he questions what is required to achieve true greatness. Filmed in just 19 days, this document of toxic ambition offers a razor-sharp examination of the dangers of perfectionism.

Whiplash leaves Netflix on April 30, 2025.

Always (1989)

Whenever I’m tasked with recommending a movie by Steven Spielberg—a timeless director who sports a legendary body of work that consists of both award-winning dramas and industry-defining blockbusters—I tend to reach for a lesser-known film: Always. A remake of the 1943 film A Guy Named Joe, this passion project from Spielberg is packed to the brim with incredible performances from the likes of Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and John Goodman, who come together to deliver bittersweet yet important tale about how to move on from death. This journey directly involves our main character Pete (Dreyfuss), a risk-taking aerial firefighter who dies after a tragic accident. But he immediately returns as a spirit who is tasked with guiding a new pilot, Ted Baker (Brad Johnson), even as this new man falls for Pete’s former love, Dorinda (Hunter), who is dealing with her own grief after the death of her boyfriend. This complicated endeavor teaches both Pete and Dorinda how to let go of love and move onto whatever’s next, no matter how scary it may seem. An emotionally rich story filled with all kinds of unexpected lessons, Always also holds the notable distinction of housing Audrey Hepburn’s final on-screen performance before her death in 1993. Everything about this movie feels magical and necessary, and it’s always been one of my favorites.

Always leaves Netflix on April 30, 2025.

Every Movie Leaving Netflix In April 2025

Note: The dates mark your final days to watch these movies.

• April 19: The Estate (2022); Ready (2008); Satya 2 (2013); Varane Avashyamund (2020)
• April 20: No Hard Feelings (2023)
• April 21: Ahead of the Curve (2020)
• April 24: Minions (2015)
• April 25: Knights of the Zodiac (2023); Yogi Berra: It Ain’t Over (2023)
• April 29: Patriots Day (2016)
• April 30: 99 Homes (2014); A Man Wanted (2017); About Time (2013); Always (1989); Annie (2014); Dallas Buyers Club (2013); Definitely, Maybe (2008); Erin Brockovich (2000); Europa Report (2013); Friday (1995); Fury (2014); Heroes (1977); King Kong (2005); Little Fockers (2010); Maid in Manhattan (2002); Meet the Fockers (2004); Meet the Parents (2000); Next Friday (2000); Notting Hill (1999); Out of Africa (1985); Queen & Slim (2019); Schindler’s List(1993); Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978); Silverado (1985); Spider-Man (2002); Spider-Man 2 (2004); Spider-Man 3 (2007); Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023); Tank (1984); The Adolf Eichmann Trial (2011); The Frozen Ground (2013); The Good Shepherd (2006); The Other Side of the Mountain (1975); The Road to El Dorado(2000); The Secret of My Success (1987); The Whale (2022); This Is 40 (2012); Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself(2009); Wedding Crashers (2005); Whiplash (2014); Woody Woodpecker (2017); You, Me and Dupree (2006)