What to watch on Netflix: your guide to the new TV shows and movies
Update: Get your pulse-racing with the arrival of Spanish crime drama Money Heist and prepare for some intense emotions with the low-budget drama about addiction and family, 6 Balloons.
There's nothing better after a long day at work than getting cosy and putting on Netflix. The eternal problem though is, what should you watch?
With quite literally thousands of shows and movies to choose from, you can become exhausted from endlessly browsing before you've even hit play.
But fear not, we're here to help you out. We've collected together a list of the top TV shows and movies that have been recently added to the service. It's your quick fix solution to all of that movie streaming fatigue.
Be sure to keep checking in if you want to avoid relying on Netflix's algorithms to show you what's hot and what's not on the streaming service.
New movies on Netflix this week
6 Balloons: Now be warned, this movie has been described as 'harrowing' by many online reviews, so if you're looking for an easy watch on a Sunday afternoon opt for Guardians of the Galaxy in the list below instead.
If you're still here, then 6 Balloons follows the story of a brother and sister, played by Dave Franco and Abbi Jacobson, over the course of a day.
It's an intense and upsetting look at drug addiction, relationships and families and how they can come so close to breaking point.
Recently added movies on Netflix
American Psycho: It's a timely addition to the Netflix library, as this cult-classic examination of violence, misogyny, narcissism and consumerism hits the streaming service.
Holding a mirror up to 80s Wall Street culture that resonates just as well with today's moral vapidity, American Psycho was a daring adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis's starkly terrifying novel. Christian Bale perfectly captures the nihilistic Patrick Bateman – all surface, no feeling as he literally tears his yuppie peers apart limb by limb. It's not an easy watch, but there's a dark humour to the film that gives you just enough breathing space between the bloodlust.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Want a fun superhero movie to watch? You can’t do better than the first Guardians of the Galaxy. It turned Chris Pratt from a funny TV character actor into an A-list movie star, and has greater of a sci-fi influence than other Marvel films.
There’s more than a hint of Star Wars-flavoured magic to this 2-hour blockbuster. It’s a great way to show off a high-end TV’s skills.
Guardians of the Galaxy is also very funny, and Pratt doesn’t hog all the best lines. Dave Bautista’s Drax is hilarious and Vin Diesel makes a surprise appearance as a talking tree. Who can only say “groot”. Trust us, it makes more sense in context.
Prisoners: Long before Denis Villeneuve started wow-ing us all with the unnerving crime action Sicario, sensational sci-fi movie Arrival and beautiful Blade Runner sequel, he directed Prisoners.
It's a heart-stopping crime thriller with a brilliant cast, including Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. The story is about a child abduction, so be warned if that kind of content is a bit too close to home for you.
It may not be his best movie, but it's a crime thriller mystery packed with twists, turns and some exceptional performances from its stars.
Villainess: This South Korean action movie follows the story of Sook-hee, an ex- assassin with a thirst for revenge when two men from the past pay her a surprise visit.
As you'd probably expect, it's not one for the faint-hearted, as Sook-hee leaves a trail of gore, violence and plenty of bodies on her quest.
It's been applauded for its heart-pounding action choreography, unconventional narrative structure and has even been described as Kill Bill meets La Femme Nikita.
The Witch: Some were disappointed when they went to see The Witch at the cinema in 2015. Trailers sold it as a straight-up horror film. But it’s a quieter, more meditative film that relies on the slow development of a creepy mood rather than cheap jump scares.
The son of a farming family in 1600s New England disappears. Folk tales of a witch who lives in the woods beyond their property lead the parents to think their daughter may be to blame.
Part slow horror, part an exploration of the behaviour around witch trials of centuries past, The Witch is a fantastic watch. Just don’t hit the play button, popcorn in hand, expecting B-movie thrills.
Annihilation: Netflix’s exclusive movies haven’t had the best run of late. The critics did not like Mute or Bright. But they absolutely love Annihilation. This sci-fi film has been called one of the best in a decade.
Natalie Portman is Lena, a scientist and ex-solider who investigates the Shimmer, an expanding wall of light that has appeared in the US’s deep south. It’s an intelligent and disturbing film we kinda wish we could have seen at the cinema.
Annihilation was directed by Alex Garland, writer/director of 2014’s Ex Machina. The man knows his sci-fi.
Deadpool: An antidote to the superhero movies that take themselves far too seriously, Deadpool is packed with humour and flat-out silliness. It leans heavily on Ryan Reynold’s great comic timing, and his ability to deliver a sassy line like few others.
Whether you find Deadpool deliciously irreverent or downright obnoxious depends on your sense of humour. But it digs right into the jokes within the first 30 seconds.
The Jungle Book (2016): When anyone dares to touch a classic text, looks of horror start to appear on people’s faces. However, the 2016 version of The Jungle Book actually stacks up reasonably well next to Disney’s all-time-classic version.
Hand-drawn animation is traded for more realistic CGI, and there’s far less music than the Disney version. However, there’s real appeal here for adults and kids alike. The beautifully rendered computer imagery gives the story an epic sensibility missing from the 1967 version.
A Silent Voice (UK): Every story seems to get more charming when passed through the filter of Japanese animation. A Silent Voice is the tale of a young man called Shoya Ishida who tries to reconnect with a deaf girl he bullied in his school years.
Unlike the body-swapping Your Name there’s no grand high concept here, but there is real charm. And, as is often the case, the Japanese aesthetics help to avoid the cloying sentimentality that might arise if this story was made by the US studio system. Don’t miss this if you like grown-up animated movies.
Forgotten: One of Netflix’s early Original 2018 movies, Forgotten is a South Korean thriller. Lead character Jin-seok’s brother is kidnapped. He returns after 19 days with no memory of his abduction. He starts behaving oddly, leading Jin-seok to look into what happened.
This is a classic twisty-turny thriller we won’t spoil by giving any more away. You will need to watch it with subs as there’s no English dub. But we’d recommend that anyway.
Mute: This relatively high-profile Netflix exclusive has not had the best critical reception. Mute has been panned by almost all reviewers, but we think there are a few flashes of director Duncan Jones’s brilliance that break through.
Set in a near-future Berlin, it stars Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux. Skarsgård plays a mute bartender, searching a seedy futuristic underworld to discover what has happened to his missing girlfriend.
Downfall (UK): One of those “what do you mean you haven’t seen it?” films, Downfall is a critically acclaimed 2004 drama based on the last few days of Hitler’s life.
It’s no jolly ride, but Bruno Ganz’s portrayal of a broken and desperate HItler is spellbinding. It’s gripping stuff. And once you’re done you can be the one saying, “what do you mean you haven’t seen Downfall?”
New TV shows on Netflix this week
Money Heist: Don't let the creepy photo above fool you, this isn't a horror flick but instead it's a fast-paced crime drama from Spain.
It follows the story of eight thieves who have taken hostages inside the Royal Mint of Spain. Orchestrated by a mysterious man known only as El Profesor (The Professor), the goal is to print 2.4 billion euros - the biggest heist in history.
The problem is they'll need 11 whole days to do that and have the hostages and police to contend with.
Recently added TV shows on Netflix
Aquarius: Season two of Aquarius has come to Netflix. It’s also the last series of the show, after NBC axed it in 2016.
The main appeal: David Duchovny. He plays a police detective investigating cult leader Charles Manson. Yes, that Charles Manson.
The show didn’t receive rave reviews. However, there was a lift in quality in the second season. It’s worth a watch if you’re a Duchovny fan or are fascinated by the chilling Manson story.
Jessica Jones (Season 2): Netflix's Marvel march continues with the return of ass-kicking private eye Jessica Jones – fittingly making her comeback coinciding with International Women's Day.
Last seen in the divisive The Defenders spin-off show, here's hoping Jessica Jones returns to that first series' strengths, offering a more physiologically-driven narrative than the smackdown-focussed Daredevil, Luke Cage and god-awful Iron Fist.
Derren Brown: The Push: Derren is back with another dose of his mind-altering trickery, The Push. In the show, Brown tries to see if social pressure and a carefully manufactured scenario can cause someone to commit murder.
It plays out as a captivating 68-minute examination of the mind that, like most of Derren Brown’s output, will have you rapt, worried and wondering if you’d do the same.
Altered Carbon: Netflix's latest big-ticket TV extravaganza, Altered Carbon is a big-budget production worthy of Hollywood. A sci-fi spectacular, this dystopian cyberpunk series is based on the lauded Richard K. Morgan novel of the same name.
Consciousness has become a commodity to be uploaded. Bodies are replaceable, industrially built "sleeves". There are obvious shades of Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell to this murder mystery. But it's rare to see the cyberpunk genre expanded to an ongoing series, so it'll be interesting to see if the tropes of the genre hold out over an extended run.
Need more Netflix recommendations? Try these in-depth run downs of the best of the best Netflix content:
Is Netflix better than Amazon Prime Video? Watch our comparison video below.
