Top 15 Greatest Movies Currently Available on Netflix Streaming

I sometimes hear people complain that there are no good movies available on Netflix streaming.  I think we may be using different services, because my instant queue is full (the cap is 500).  To help out in finding good movies to watch I have constructed a list of what I believe to be the 15 greatest movies available for streaming on Netflix.  These are not my 15 favorites, but what I actually consider to be the best.  Since this is still my opinion, I only included films that I have seen.  I provided with each film its IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes Rating, as well as its ranking on the latest Sight and Sound polls as a means of evidence for each film's quality. 


15. Irreversible (2002)

Starting the list off with a touch of controversy.  The film is infamous for its rape scene but its not tasteless (which is kind of weird to say).  I can't really say that this movie is for everyone, but for those who can handle it and understand its message, it's a must watch. 

IMDb: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 56%
S&S Critics: 447
S&S: Directors: N/A

14. Let the Right One In (2008)

If you hate Twilight (which you should) and actually like vampire lore, then it is pretty hard to top this film.  I beautifully shot film with a love story we care about; this is vampire romance done well.  This film is violent too, but I found the sound effects to be more unsetteling than the images.

IMDb: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
S&S Critics: 546
S&S: Directors: N/A

13. Paths of Glory (1957)

I placed this film's ending as my second favorite in my last list and one of the reasons the ending is so effective is due to the quality of the rest of the narrative.  Kubrick made this film 11 years before 2001 but Paths of Glory is evidence that he was a genius since his early years. 

IMDb: 8.5 
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
S&S Critics: 377
S&S: Directors: 107

12. Hour of the Wolf (1968)

 Some may find this movie "weird" while interesting people will recognize it as surrealist and awesome.  The 1960s marked Bergman's transition to modernist narratives and this is one of his greatest efforts.  If you like strong images and story that is not too simple, then you will enjoy this.

IMDb:7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
S&S Critics: 447
S&S: Directors: 44

11. Ran (1985)

This was the last grand film directed by Akira Kurosawa and it's clear that he went all out with it.  It is a loose adaption of Shakespeare's King Leer and set in feudal Japan.  Epic and tragic, this is one of the finest examples of Japanese cinema as done by one of the country's greatest auteurs.    

IMDb: 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
S&S Critics: 377
S&S: Directors: 132

10. Mulholland Drive (2001)

Often hailed as David Lynch's greatest film (I personally prefer Eraserhead), Mulholland Drive is an exceptional example of neo-noir.  I would describe the story to you, but I'm not too sure what happened myself. 

IMDb: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
S&S Critics: 28
S&S: Directors: 75

9. Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Much of this film will probably seem familiar to viewers.  It has many classic lines of dialogue as well as a narrative technique that influenced American Beauty.  Sunset Blvd. is one of the best examples of film-noir from Hollywood's golden period.

IMDb: 8.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
S&S Critics: 63
S&S: Directors: 67

8. In the Mood For Love (2000)

In the Mood For Love is probably the best film to ever come out of Hong Kong.  Set in the 1960s, here is a complex portrait of life and relationships between people.  I almost included this film on my list of favorite soundtracks and I did use one of the songs in my second short film. 

IMDb: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
S&S Critics: 24
S&S: Directors: 67

7. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

If anyone is ever curious about what German Expressionism is then look no further than The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.  The screenshot alone should be enough to explain that this film is highly stylized.  It's considered to be a first for a certain narrative strategy, but you will have to watch it to find out what it is for yourself. 

IMDb: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
S&S Critics: 235
S&S: Directors: 322

6. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

The Searchers is often hailed as the greatest western ever made but I really think Once Upon a Time in the West is the better film.  One of the main reasons being that Once Upon a Time is actually entertaining.  It is slow paced, but has great story telling with an excellent climax.

IMDb: 8.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
S&S Critics: 78
S&S: Directors: 44


5. Metropolis (1927)

As I read Brave New World over the summer I thought to myself, "wow, this book must have really influenced Metropolis."  Then I looked at the dates.  It was the other way around.  Metropolis has been monumentally influential on science fiction, with benchmarks such as being the first film to feature a robot.

IMDb: 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
S&S Critics: 36
S&S: Directors: 132

4. Battleship Potemkin (1925)

50% of all film classes at least make mention of The Odessa Steps Sequence.  Some find that other than that scene, the film is rather boring.  I disagree, and find that Battleship in its entirety is thrilling and seeing the whole film only makes The Odessa Steps Sequence more effective.

IMDb: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
S&S Critics: 11
S&S: Directors: 75

3. 8 1/2 (1963)

It's nice that this film has been on Netflix for a while because that hopefully means it won't be leaving any time soon.  I say this because anyone who watches it will probably want to watch it a second time.  About 30 minutes into the film and you will understand why.

IMDb: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
S&S Critics: 10
S&S: Directors: 4

2. Apocalypse Now (1979)

To me, this is to war films as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is to horror films.  Both create a world of absolute chaos, completely free of reason.  Apocalypse Now may feature my favorite screenplay of any film.  Both the written and improvised dialogue is hypnotic. 

IMDb: 8.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
S&S Critics: 14
S&S: Directors: 6

1. Bicycle Thieves (1948)

This is probably the quintessential example of Italian neorealism, which may be the most influential movement in the history of cinema.  The film's plot is simple, but the emotions it conveys and the ideas it represents are anything but.  Watch this movie.

IMDb: 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
S&S Critics: 33
S&S: Directors: 10