This past weekend,Liam Neeson’s reboot ofThe Naked Gunand the hotly anticipated animated sequelThe Bad Guys 2joined the theatrical circuit, facing big-name competition from the likes of thePedro Pascal-ledFantastic Four: First Steps, theGareth Edwards-helmedJurassic World Rebirth,James Gunn’sSuperman, and more. Back at home,Happy Gilmore 2is continuing to top the Netflix movie charts, but what else is worth a watch this week? If you would prefer to stay in and enjoy a movie from the comfort of your couch,here are the three titles you should watch on Netflix.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the bestshowsandmovies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
1’Thirteen' (2003)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 6.8/10
DirectorCatherine Hardwickeis certainly best known for the teen vampire sensationTwilight, but one of her most highly-rated efforts is now available to watch on Netflix. The movie, her directorial debut, isThirteen, a coming-of-age drama followingEvan Rachel Wood’s Tracy Freeland. On the cusp of adulthood, Tracy does everything by the book. However, after befriending Evie (Nikki Reed), the school’s popular girl, her world is opened up to the chaos of sex, drugs, and crime.
A coming-of-age tale that pulls none of its punches,Thirteenis one of the newest additions to Netflix’s catalog. Raw and honest in itsdepiction of teenage girlhood, the movie was ahead of its time and is now seen as an important, groundbreaking early noughties project. Earning an Academy Award nomination despite backlash from conservative critics that now seems farcical,Thirteenis a forgotten gem you need to discover this week.
2’Rebel Ridge' (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 6.8/10
One of Netflix’s most surprising hits of 2024,Rebel Ridgefollows ex-marine and hand-to-hand combat specialist Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre), who becomes embroiled in a battle with the local law enforcement after they seize his cousin’s bail money. What begins as a battle with police chief Sandy Burne (Don Johnson) quickly spirals into a fight against injustice itself as ahistory of corruptionis uncovered.
Police corruption is an ever-growing topic in modern filmmaking, withRebel Ridgeone of the standout examples of it done right. Thrilling from start to finish, the movie features a standout central performance from Pierre, who shines in arguably his greatest role to date in a burgeoning career. Nominated for a Primetime Emmy and a winner of a Critics' Choice Award, there’s no better time than now to make up for not watchingRebel Ridgewhen it first debuted.
3’The Penguin Lessons' (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% | IMDb: 7.1/10
When the summer sun is shining, there is nothing better than a feel-good family film to take advantage of those extra UV-induced endorphins. A movie that debuted at last year’sToronto International Film Festival,The Penguin Lessonsstars Academy Award nomineeSteve Cooganas Tom, a Brit who works as an English teacher and rugby coach at a school in Argentina. On the brink of political revolution, the unease surrounding their environment is given a lifeline by the unlikely arrival of an orphaned penguin.
Packed with moments sure to make you smile and cry,The Penguin Lessonsis an underrated gem from the past 12 months. Equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting, the movie allows Coogan, famed for his comedy work, to also showcase his dramatic chops in one of his best performances to date. Based on the true accounts written in authorTom Michell’s memoir of the same name, this is not to be missed.
