Dylan Efron Says Girlfriend Courtney King Thought Their First Date Went 'Awful' Tereza ShkurtajFebruary 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM 0 Dylan Efron and Courtney King. Dylan Efron/ Instagram On Feb. 4, 2026, Dylan Efron joined Danielle Fishel's Teen Beat podcast During the episode, the 34yearold reality TV star opened up about his relationship with Courtney King Efron detailed their rocky first date nearly a decade ago Dylan Efron recently opened up about the start of his relationship with high school sweetheart and longtime girlfriend, Courtney King. On the Feb.

- - Dylan Efron Says Girlfriend Courtney King Thought Their First Date Went 'Awful'

Tereza ShkurtajFebruary 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM

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Dylan Efron and Courtney King.

Dylan Efron/ Instagram

On Feb. 4, 2026, Dylan Efron joined Danielle Fishel's Teen Beat podcast

During the episode, the 34-year-old reality TV star opened up about his relationship with Courtney King

Efron detailed their rocky first date nearly a decade ago

Dylan Efron recently opened up about the start of his relationship with high school sweetheart and longtime girlfriend, Courtney King.

On the Feb. 4 episode of the Teen Beat podcast, the 34-year-old, who competed on season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, revealed how he asked King out nearly 10 years ago.

"It happened super organically, but I remember, like, we both remember locking eyes in the math hall," Efron told host Danielle Fishel. "That was like the first time we saw each other."

Dylan Efron and Courtney King.

Dave Benett/Getty

Efron explained that although King already knew who he was at school, that hallway moment marked their first real connection.

"She says she knew who I was and, like, I was the older kid. So she always knew who I was, but that was the first time that we locked eyes and were like, 'hey,'" he recalled.

Soon after, Efron reached out to King on Myspace and suggested a tennis date — one that didn't go exactly as planned.

"We played tennis, and she didn't know me. I'm pretty quirky, again, once you get to know me," he said, admitting that he left in the middle of their date to grab a drink without asking if she wanted one.

"I was like, 'Oh, I'm thirsty. I'm gonna go with Jamba Juice.' And then I left," he remembered, leaving King to think the date had been a disaster.

"She was like, 'Oh, that went awful,'" Efron said, laughing at the memory. "But, like, I thought the date went great. So I had no idea."

Dylan Efron and Courtney King.

Dylan Efron/ Instagram

Despite the awkward start, the couple recovered and began building a relationship that has lasted for years.

The Traitors star, who is Zac Efron's younger brother, has pursued a career in Hollywood, while King has chosen to maintain a lower profile. The pair have been dating since at least 2016 and have a shared passion for travel and adventure.

When it comes to marriage, Dylan says he and King are taking things one step at a time.

During a March 2025 appearance on The Viall Files, he shared that "she knows the answer" about whether marriage is in their future and made it clear that they are "working on it."

"Courtney's so down to earth," he told hosts Natalie Joy and Nick Viall. "She's not going to put a deadline on me."

Dylan also shared he's excited for what's next. "I am now in that stage, I am looking at that next chapter. I want kids," he said, inspired by his little brother and sister and hoping to start a family of his own someday.

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Keep up with Oscarnominated Netflix films like &34;KPop Demon Hunters&34; and &34;The Perfect Neighbor.&34; The 29 best Netflix original movies Keep up with Oscarnominated Netflix films like &34;KPop Demon Hunters&34; and &34;The Perfect Neighbor.&34; By Ilana Gordon, :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles. EW's editorial guidelines and James Mercadante on February 4, 2026 8:09 a.m.

Keep up with Oscar-nominated Netflix films like "KPop Demon Hunters" and "The Perfect Neighbor."

The 29 best Netflix original movies

Keep up with Oscar-nominated Netflix films like "KPop Demon Hunters" and "The Perfect Neighbor."

By Ilana Gordon,

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and James Mercadante

on February 4, 2026 8:09 a.m. ET

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro'; Matías Recalt as Roberto Canessa and Augustín Pardella as Fernando 'Nando' Parrado in 'Society of the Snow'; John Boyega as Fontaine, Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, and Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles in 'They Cloned Tyrone'. Credit:

Jason McDonald/Netflix; Netflix; Parrish Lewis/Netflix

What a difference a decade makes. Known for partnering with the best directors, writers, and talent, Netflix dropped the company's first original film (*Beasts of No Nation*) in 2015. As of the 2025 Academy Awards, the streamer has 26 Oscars. It was nominated for an additional 18 awards for the 2026 ceremony.

Original and exclusive Netflix titles make up 50 percent of the platform's available offerings in the United States, but don't let that overwhelm you. In the interest of streamlining your experience, EW took the liberty of selecting the 29 best Netflix original movies for your viewing pleasure.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Felix Kammerer as Paul Bäumer in 'All Quiet on the Western Front'.

Based on the 1929 literary novel — which was later adapted into an Oscar-winning movie in 1930, a made-for-TV movie in 1979, and finally, a film released theatrically and on Netflix in 2022 — this German language World War I movie remains one of the starkest examples of anti-war sentiment in cinematic history. *All Quiet *follows Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), a young German recruit, over the course of the 18 months he spends serving in Northern France on the frontlines of the war's Western Front.

Director Edward Berger's film focuses on Paul's transformation; the longer the conflict rages on, the further the young man drifts from a youthful, patriotic enlistee, to a battle-hardened soldier, traumatized by what he's seen and those he's lost. —*Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *All Quiet on the Western Front*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Edward Berger

**Cast: **Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Tim Blake Nelson as Buster Scruggs in 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'.

Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Coen brothers got tired of limiting themselves to one narrative in their projects, so for their Netflix film, *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs*, they decided to mix it up and tell multiple stories. Set up as a six-part Western anthology, the film focuses thematically on the American frontier, and tells the stories of a cheerful cowboy, an unlucky would-be bank robber, a traveling promoter whose business is going downhill, a grizzled prospector, a woman headed West in search of a husband, and a group of passengers in a stagecoach.

While the Coens mess around with genre in each chapter and the cast differs from story to story, the six narratives are given a sense of consistency courtesy of the unique Coen voice, which the pair previously deployed on projects like *True Grit* and *No Country for Old Men*. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Directors: **Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

**Cast: **Tyne Daly, James Franco, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Heck, Grainger Hines

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Idris Elba as Commandant in 'Beasts of No Nation'. Red Crown Prods/Participant Media/Come What May Prods/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Another war film, the powerful drama *Beasts of No Nation* follows a brutal civil dispute in Africa as told through the eyes of a child soldier. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Abraham Attah and Idris Elba, the film is a harrowing, confronting look at humanity in the face of the devastation of war. After its release on Netflix, it was a huge success on the platform, receiving more than three million views in North American in just 10 days. However, despite its critical and relative commercial success, the movie didn't receive any Oscar nominations. *Beasts of No Nation *may not be filled with A-list Hollywood stars, but it is one of Netflix's greatest films to date. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Beasts of No Nation*: Netflix

**Director: **Cary Joji Fukunaga

**Cast: **Idris Elba, Kurt Egyiawan, Jude Akuwudike, Emmanuel "King King" Nii Adom Quaye, Abraham Attah

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Delroy Lindo as Paul in 'Da 5 Bloods'.

David Lee/Netflix

Wars and wounds collide in Spike Lee's 2020 film *Da 5 Bloods*, a meditation on race, generational trauma, and American intervention. Toggling between the past and present, the film follows four Black war veterans as they return to Vietnam, intent on recovering a locker of gold bars and the body of their fallen friend and squad leader, Stormin' Norman (Chadwick Boseman), both of which were lost during a napalm strike.

Guided in their quest by Tiên, the ex-girlfriend of one of the former soldiers, and forced to confront landmines — both real and emotional — the remainder of the squad must reconcile the horrors of their past with the difficulties of their present if they hope to escape Vietnam for a better future. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Da 5 Bloods*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Spike Lee

**Cast: **Chadwick Boseman, Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr.

Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Eddie Murphy as Rudy in 'Dolomite Is My Name'. François Duhamel/Netflix

Los Angeles in the 1970s is a terrible place to live if you're struggling, and aspiring show business professional Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) can't seem to break in. After years of working a dead-end job as a record store manager and grinding for stage time, Rudy creates a character inspired (or stolen, depending on how literal you want to get) by an unhoused man who wanders into his store. Armed with a new name, new vocabulary, and new wardrobe, Rudy as Dolemite starts taking over the comedy scene — but he's not content to stop there. Based on the true story of Rudy Ray Moore, a comedian, filmmaker, and godfather of rap, *Dolemite Is My Name* is a period biopic that perfectly balances jokes and heart. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Dolemite Is My Name*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Craig Brewer

**Cast: **Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Mike Epps

The Harder They Fall (2021)

Regina King as Trudy Smith, Idris Elba as Rufus Buck, and LaKeith Stanfield as Cherokee Bill in 'The Harder They Fall'.

David Lee/Netflix

The traditional Western movie gets a shot of adrenaline and style in *The Harder They Fall*, one of the few cowboy films in which all the main cast are played by Black actors. Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) is a former enslaved man turned cowboy hero whose tragic, Batman-esque origin story has led him down a path of vigilantism. Love uses his outlaw status to rob worse outlaws, and the biggest offender working is Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), supported by his loyal crew, including Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield). When Love was a child, Buck murdered his parents in front of him, and all these years later, Love is still desperate for revenge. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Harder They Fall*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Jeymes Samuel

**Cast: **Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo

Hustle (2022)

Juancho Hernangómez as Bo Cruz and Anthony Edwards as Kermit Wilts in 'Hustle'. Scott Yamano/Netflix

"Guys in their 50s don't have dreams," says Adam Sandler's character, Stanley Sugerman, in the sports film *Hustle*. "They have nightmares and eczema." Sugerman is unwilling to admit it, but he hasn't given up on his fantasy of becoming an NBA coach, even though he's spent his life on the road working as an international scout for the Philadelphia 76ers.

But when Stanley's mentor dies, precipitating a changeup in the 76ers' front office, Stanley finds himself demoted back to talent scout. During a trip to Spain, he discovers Bo Cruz (former Toronto Raptors player Juancho Hernangómez), an unknown baller with an undeniable gift. But if Stanley is going to convince the league to take Bo seriously, both he and the budding athlete will need to put in some serious work. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Hustle*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Jeremiah Zagar

**Cast: **Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangómez, Ben Foster, Kenny Smith

The Irishman (2019)

Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa and Robert De Niro as Frank Sheeran in 'The Irishman'. Netflix

You'd probably expect any film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring the legendary trifecta of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci to be nothing short of exceptional — and Netflix's *The Irishman* does not disappoint. The 2019 film is based on *I Heard You Paint Houses*, the 2004 memoir of Frank Sheeran, who found himself embroiled with a Philadelphia-based Italian mob. This is essential viewing for film fans of all kinds, but especially if your favorites include the likes of *The Godfather,* *Goodfellas, *or *Taxi Driver*.

As EW's critic puts it, it's "kind of caps-lock Scorsese — the greatest hits of his career revisited once more, with feeling." Make sure to set aside plenty of time, as this epic effort from De Niro and Scorsese clocks in at three-and-a-half hours. —*Meg Walters*

Where to watch *The Irishman*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Martin Scorsese

**Cast: **Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin

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KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

Zoey (voice: Ji-young Yoo), Rumi (voice: Arden Cho), and Mira (voice: May Hong) in 'KPop Demon Hunters'.

Netflix continues to earn K-Pop cred by introducing audiences to a new genre favorite: *KPop Demon Hunters*. Already the platform's most-watched movie *ever*, this sci-fi musical follows a group called Huntr/x, which is made up of three performers who also happen to be talented demon slayers. Their most powerful weapon is their voices, which they use to create a magical barrier that prevents demons from entering the human world and feasting on the souls inside.

Huntr/x's path toward demon eradication gets complicated when a demon boy band comes on the scene and starts attracting a fan base of their own. Add in incredible music numbers and some plot twists, and you have a golden opportunity to spend an evening falling in love with Netflix's most upbeat original movie. Think South Korean *Buffy*, but with more bangers. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *KPop Demon Hunters*: Netflix

**Directors: **Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

**Cast:** Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim

The Lost Daughter (2021)

Dakota Johnson as Nina and Olivia Colman as Leda in 'The Lost Daughter'.

Yannis Drakoulidis/Netflix

Complicated women take center stage in the stripped down plot of *The Lost Daughter*, a shimmering adaptation of author Elena Ferrante's 2006 novel. Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley bless us with their performances of protagonist Leda Caruso at different points in her life. The current version of Leda (played by Coleman) is an academic on a solo holiday in Greece, where she meets a young mother named Nina (Dakota Johnson) struggling to handle her active 3-year-old. Leda and Nina bond over the difficulties of motherhood, their interactions informed by the flashbacks of Leda's past history with her own two daughters.

Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut — which she also wrote — *The Lost Daughter *is a brilliant psychological drama that feeds on the fire stoked by our perceived failures as parents, and the shame that parents. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Lost Daughter*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A

**Director: **Maggie Gyllenhaal

**Cast: **Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard

Mank (2020)

Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz in 'Mank'. Netflix

*Mank *tells the story of the making of Orson Welles' famous 1941 classic, *Citizen Kane*. Directed by David Fincher, the movie stars Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz, or 'Mank', the "scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter," as he struggles to complete the screenplay of *Citizen Kane* on time. Written by Fincher's late father, the film was shot in black-and-white and aimed to recreate some of the cinematographic style of Welles' work. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and while the movie only took home two awards, it still won more than *Citizen Kane*.

As EW's critic notes in her review of the film, *Mank* might not be for everyone, but it is the ultimate film for lovers of old Hollywood: "part love letter, part cautionary tale, and still somehow a mystery." —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Mank*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **David Fincher

**Cast: **Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Tom Burke, Lily Collins, Charles Dance

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

Chadwick Boseman as Levee (left) and Viola Davis as Ma Rainey (center) in 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'. David Lee/Netflix

Chadwick Boseman could hardly have chosen a better vehicle to demonstrate his limitless talent than *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*, the film which ended up serving as the celebrated actor's final onscreen performance. Paired opposite the film's other star — Viola Davis, who disappears into the role of the titular Ma Rainey, a famous blues singer and force of nature — the two conjure up what EW's critic describes as an "acting masterclass" of a performance.

Adapted from August Wilson's 1984 play, the film tells the story of Ma and her group of Black bandmates as they attempt to record in a Chicago studio during the 1920s. What should be a straightforward day of music grinds to a halt as the artists struggle to deal with personality clashes, an ambitious trumpeter named Levee (Boseman), and the band's mercurial frontwoman. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **George C. Wolfe

**Cast: **Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, Michael Potts

Maestro (2023)

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro'.

Jason McDonald/Netflix

Bradley Cooper — first demonstrating his moviemaking prowess with 2018's acclaimed *A Star Is Born* remake starring Lady Gaga — is now two-for-two with another Academy Award-nominated film. For *Maestro*, Cooper puts his six years of preparation on display, donning the black tux (and controversial prosthetic nose) of American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, a figure that has captivated him since childhood. This biopic centers on the complex relationship between Bernstein and his wife, the Costa Rican-Chilean actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan), while also exploring his clandestine affairs with men.

Featuring dynamic performances, dreamlike symbolic imagery, and a six-minute dialogue-free conducting scene, *Maestro* is essentially catnip for film lovers and pundits alike, as EW's critic claims that it "deserves the same level of respect from viewers as one of Bernstein's public performances of the music of Mahler." —*James Mercadante*

Where to watch *Maestro*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Bradley Cooper

**Cast:** Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman

Marriage Story (2019)

Scarlett Johansson as Nicole Barber and Adam Driver as Charlie Barber in 'Marriage Story'. Wilson Webb/Netflix

*Marriage Story* was a smash hit from Netflix that garnered six Oscar nominations and one win (for Laura Dern in the Best Supporting Actress category). Directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Dern, the film follows a married couple going through an increasingly thorny divorce. While it's not always an easy watch, *Marriage Story *offers an unflinching, heart-wrenching look at how the practicalities and legalities of divorce can tear apart the people involved.

"They've lost their voices; they've lost a sense of who they are," Baumback tells EW. "They're trying to figure out what they believe anymore. And that's a dangerous place, I think, for a couple to find themselves." —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Marriage Story*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Noah Baumbach

**Cast: **Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta,

Mudbound (2017)

Mary J. Blige as Florence Jackson in 'Mudbound'. Netflix

Two families are mired in poverty, each with a son who fought bravely in World War II only to return to the Mississippi Delta with nothing but PTSD to show for their troubles. But the only difference between the Jacksons and McAllans is the color of their skin. Dee Rees' *Mudbound* follows the two families as they fight their wars both abroad and within the home, and discover that trauma bonds deeper than blood.

Jason Mitchell is exceptional as Ronsel Jackson, bringing emotional honesty to a war hero who, because he is Black, is treated like anything but. Also featuring an all-star ensemble that includes Mary J. Blige, Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, and Garrett Hedlund, EW's critic writes that "*Mudbound* is never preachy, reductive, or undercut by its own good intentions. Just the opposite. It's a deeply felt American tale told with heart and humanity." —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Mudbound*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Dee Rees

**Cast: **Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige

Okja (2017)

Okja and Ahn Seo-hyun as Mija in 'Okja'. Netflix

Two years before Bong Joon Ho wowed the world with *Parasite, *the South Korean director partnered with Netflix to make *Okja*. A pig-centered movie that leans decidedly more towards *Animal Farm* than *Babe*, the movie follows Mija, a South Korean teen who bonds with Okja, the "super pig" she's helped raise — only to have Okja taken from her after he is crowned the winner of an agrochemical company's competition for best pig. With Okja headed for the slaughterhouse, Mija travels from South Korea to New York City on a mission to save her friend and to help expose the inhumane practices of the Mirando Corporation and its leader, Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton). A mixture of science, fantasy, action, and adventure, *Okja *is one of those movies you have to see to believe. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Okja*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Bong Joon Ho

**Cast: **Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Ahn Seo-hyun, Byun Hee-bong, Steven Yeun

The Perfect Neighbor (2025)

Ajike Owens' family in 'The Perfect Neighbor'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Florida is known for employing a stand-your-ground law, a legal policy that provides residents the option of employing lethal force rather than retreating as a means of self-defense. The law has proven controversial in the past, but in 2023, it was tested when 35-year-old Ajike Owens was shot through a locked door while waiting to speak with her neighbor.

*The Perfect Neighbor* gives an unvarnished accounting of the events leading up to and following Owens' murder using body cam footage collected during the police's prior visits to the killer's house. What emerges is a documentary free from editorializing — the story is told by Ajike, her neighbors, the police investigating the conflicts, and the killer herself. The events in the film are hard to stomach, but the systemic issues the documentary highlights make *The Perfect Neighbor* a must-watch. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Perfect Neighbor*: Netflix

**Director:** Geeta Gandbhir

The Power of the Dog (2022)

Kodi Smit-McPhee as Peter Gordon and Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank in 'The Power of the Dog'.

Kirsty Griffin/Netflix

Directed by Jane Campion, *The Power of the Dog* is a 1920s Western based on the book of the same name by Thomas Savage that follows Phil, a gruff cowboy, and his brother's new family who have recently moved onto the ranch. The film picked up a staggering 12 Oscar nominations and won Best Director, with Campion becoming the third female director ever to win the award.

The four central actors each give remarkable performances and Benedict Cumberbatch is deeply complex and arresting as Phil. "He's really beautiful and also a little scary, and he's charismatic," Campion explained to EW. Unlike old-school Westerns, *The Power of the Dog* is a dark, twisted, slow burn of a film that hinges on emotion, manipulation, secrets, and desire. —*M.W.*

Where to watch *The Power of the Dog*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Jane Campion

**Cast: **Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie

Private Life (2018)

Paul Giamatti as Richard Grimes and Kathryn Hahn as Rachel Biegler in 'Private Life'. Jojo Whilden/Netflix

Creating a baby can suck the life out of even the most stable of relationships — especially when the process doesn't go as planned. Richard and Rachel (Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn) are middle-aged artists living in New York City and struggling with infertility. As they submerge themselves in the process, juggling IVF procedures, adoption interviews, and researching other options, the couple's marriage becomes increasingly strained.

Their lives are further complicated when the couple's college-aged niece Sadie (Kayli Carter) comes to stay with them and offers to assist with their conception issues. A nuanced, grounded look at living with infertility, *Private Life *brilliantly depicts the emotional journey that is struggling to conceive without pandering or offering convenient solutions. Hahn and Giamatti are brilliantly matched. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Private Life*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Tamara Jenkins

**Cast: **Paul Giamatti, Kathryn Hahn, Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon, John Carroll Lynch

Roma (2018)

Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo, Marco Graf as Pepe, and Marina de Tavira as Sra. Sofía in 'Roma'. Carlos Somonte/Netflix

*Roma* was arguably Netflix's first big original movie that really caught the attention of critics and film buffs alike. It was the first Netflix film to receive a Best Picture nod at the Oscars and ultimately won the award for Best Foreign Language Film. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón (*Gravity*, *Children of Men*) and starring a cast of relatively unknown Mexican actors, the black-and-white film follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a housekeeper for an upper-class family in the 1970s where Cuarón himself grew up.

Like life, *Roma *is a complex, sprawling film that is light on the plot and heavy on the atmosphere. With plenty of long, wide shots, it sends its viewers diving headfirst into Cuarón's version of 1970s Mexico City and ultimately, packs a weighty, emotional punch. —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Roma*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A

**Director: **Alfonso Cuarón

**Cast: **Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Jorge Antonio Guerrero

Society of the Snow (2023)

Enzo Vogrincic as Numa Turcatti, Matías Recalt as Roberto Canessa, and Augustín Pardella as Fernando 'Nando' Parrado in 'Society of the Snow'.

With many retellings often fixating on the gruesome chain of events from the 1972 Andes flight disaster, Pablo Vierci's 2009 book *La Sociedad de la Nieve* — a narrative more attuned to philosophical rumination — lingered with director J.A. Bayona. Thirteen years after making *The Impossible*, Bayona set his lens upon this tragedy, where 16 passengers were marooned in the icy embrace of an Andean glacier after a Uruguayan plane accident.

Nominated for Oscars in the Best International Feature Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling categories, *Society of the Snow *is not a story for the faint of heart, as it presents the unforgiving, stomach-turning brutality of the natural world juxtaposed with the exquisite resilience illustrated by the survivors. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Society of the Snow*: Netflix

**Director: **J.A. Bayona

**Cast: **Enzo Vogrincic, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Felipe González Otaño, Luciano Chatton

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles, and John Boyega as Fontaine in 'They Cloned Tyrone'. Parrish Lewis/Netflix

Dropping on the exact weekend as the dual box-office behemoth *Barbenheimer*, *They Cloned Tyrone* never received the flowers it truly deserved. A *Get Out*-esque sci-fi conspiracy caper steeped in the grainy stylings of a 1970s Blaxploitation cinema, Juel Taylor's directorial debut finds an unlikely trio — neighborhood drug dealer Fontaine (John Boyega), Nancy Drew-like sex worker Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris), and smooth-talking pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx) — as they probe mysterious occurrences in their community, which leads them to an underground lab where Black people are the test subjects of government experiments.

Nailing the quick-witted, spitfire dialogue, all three leads demand attention with an electric chemistry and camaraderie. While embracing familiar tropes, *They Cloned Tyrone *weaves an original story that stands out as a diamond in the thick of many Netflix duds. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *They Cloned Tyrone*: Netflix

**Director:** Juel Taylor

**Cast:** John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, Kiefer Sutherland, David Alan Grier

Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)

Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson in 'Tick, Tick... Boom!'.

Macall Polay/Netflix

A movie musical directed by *Hamilton's* Lin-Manuel Miranda, *Tick, Tick… Boom!* is based on the stage show of the same name by Jonathan Larson, the composer of *Rent*. Starring Andrew Garfield in the leading role, the film loosely follows Larson's own life as a struggling songwriter as he turns 30 in 1990s New York City. Told in a series of flashbacks that come to life on screen during a performance of the stage version of *Tick, Tick…Boom!*, the biopic of sorts takes you on a painfully relatable journey of friendship, heartbreak, and being an artist. With numerous Broadway cameos and Easter eggs, it's the perfect, heartfelt ode to musical theater, and the remarkable Jonathan Larson is at the center of it all. —*M.W.*

Where to watch *Tick, Tick… Boom!*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Lin-Manuel Miranda

**Cast: **Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Jordan Fisher, Robin de Jesus

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Alex Sharp as Rennie Davis, Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin, John Carroll Lynch as David Dellinger, and Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman in 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'.

Nico Tavernise/Netflix

A 2020 Netflix original based (loosely) on a true story, *The Trial of the Chicago 7* details the story of seven men who find themselves on trial after a large protest against the Vietnam War during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, *The Trial of the Chicago 7* bears his recognizable fast-paced, verbose style and features an almost impossibly starry ensemble cast. As Sorkin tells EW, *The Trial of the Chicago 7* took 12 years to make after he first thought of bringing the famous court case to life on screen. Nevertheless, it still came at a remarkably appropriate political moment.

"It's funny, I've been asked, did the script change at all to mirror the times?" he says. "And no, it didn't; the times changed to mirror the script." While this film may recount the story of a war and a group of protestors from over 50 years ago, it's surprisingly relevant to modern audiences. —*M.W.*

Where to watch *The Trial of the Chicago 7*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Aaron Sorkin

**Cast: **Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance

The Two Popes (2019)

Anthony Hopkins as Cardinal Ratzinger and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in 'The Two Popes'. Peter Mountain/Netflix

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles mines heart and humor from the holiest places in his biographical drama, *The Two Popes*. In the wake of the real-life Vatican Leaks scandal, Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) hopes to abdicate the papacy but finds he must first convince his former rival, Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), not to pursue an early retirement so he might assume the role instead.

Adapted from New Zealand writer Anthony McCarten's play by the same name — which is inspired by the 2013 papal transition — the film tracks the German Benedict and the Argentinian Bergoglio (soon to be Pope Francis) as the two wax philosophic on everything from God and their own perceived failings to soccer and the Swedish pop band ABBA. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The Two Popes*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Fernando Meirelles

**Cast: **Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'.

Courtesy of Netflix

In the third installment of the *Knives Out* franchise, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) travels to upstate New York to solve a murder disguised as a miracle. After the controversial leader of an ill-attended parish is killed during services, Detective Blanc is brought in to determine which of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks' co-workers and loyal followers orchestrated his demise.

Writer-director Rian Johnson works his misdirection magic, and *Wake Up Dead Man* is just as satisfying as *Knives Out* (2019) and *Glass Onion* (2022). Josh O'Connor joins the cast as a young priest who is transferred to the church after punching a former parishioner, and Glenn Close is a lovely addition in her role as Martha, a longtime congregant and Wicks' chief confidant. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery*: Netflix

**Director: **Rian Johnson

**Cast:** Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis

The White Tiger (2021)

Adarsh Gourav as Balram and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Pinky in 'The White Tiger'.

Singh Tejinder/Netflix

An Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama, *The White Tiger'*s title refers to a special kind of person; a once in a generation thinker. The movie tells the story of Balram (Adrarsh Gourav), a successful entrepreneur whose career belies his impoverished beginnings. Adapted from a 2008 novel and nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, the Ramin Bahrani-directed film elevates the story from the classic tale of rags-to-riches by grounding itself in the moral and ethical sacrifices Balram must make to rise above the paralyzing circumstances into which he was born. Also starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Pinky — the American-raised wife of Balram's employer — *The White Tiger *handles heavy themes of class, caste, and what one owes family with a light touch. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *The White Tiger*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Ramin Bahrani

**Cast: **Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao

Will & Harper (2024)

Harper Steele and Will Ferrell in 'Will & Harper'.

Courtesy of Netflix

*Saturday Night Live* launched Will Ferrell's comedy career and turned castmates and co-writers into lifelong pals. Ferrell's nearly 30-year friendship with one of the show's former head writers changed one day when he received an email stating that said writer was transitioning to live as a woman.

*Will & Harper* follows Ferrell and comedy writer Harper Steele as the two embark on a road trip across America to better understand their new dynamic and explore this next phase in their friendship. A buddy comedy unlike any you've seen before, *Will & Harper* is an ongoing conversation about show business, platonic relationships, and living one's authentic life in modern America. Since leaving *SNL*, Ferrell has taken on dramatic roles, but never has he been more human and honest than in this prescient and funny documentary. *—I.G*

Where to watch *Will & Harper*: Netflix

**Director: **Josh Greenbaum

**Cast: **Will Ferrell, Harper Steele

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)

Idina Menza as Bree Friedman, Samantha Lorraine as Lydia Rodriguez Katz, Adam Sandler as Danny Friedman, Sunny Sandler as Stacy Friedman, and Sadie Sandler as Ronnie Friedman in 'You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah'. Netflix

Adam Sandler brings his family to work in *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah*, a Netflix original comedy starring him and his two real-life daughters. A film about the joys — and horrors — of middle school, becoming a woman, and throwing a kickass party, *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah *is a Gen Z take on a coming-of-age story. If you need more convincing, EW named *Bat Mitzvah *as one of Adam Sandler's 11 best movies and the film is currently Sandler's top-rated project on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nepo babies get a bad rap, but Sunny and Sadie Sandler prove their father's talent is genetic, and with Sandler once again teaming up with his *Uncut Gems* costar Idina Menzel, *Bat Mitzvah* is a family reunion in more ways than one. —*I.G.***

Where to watch *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah*: Netflix**

**Director: **Sammi Cohen**

**Cast: **Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Movie"

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Source: Movie

Published: February 07, 2026 at 01:38PM on Source: MANUEL MAG

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As the streamer corners the market on murder content, here are the serious series worth your time. The 13 best serial killer shows streaming on Netflix As the streamer corners the market on murder content, here are the serious series worth your time. By Declan Gallagher and Kevin Jacobsen on February 4, 2026 8:26 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/bestserialkillershowsnetflix032724c94ee7e8656d4f5babedae8fb3eb3a91.jpg) Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford on 'Mindhunter'; Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg on 'You'; Richard Ramirez in 'Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer'.

As the streamer corners the market on murder content, here are the serious series worth your time.

The 13 best serial killer shows streaming on Netflix

As the streamer corners the market on murder content, here are the serious series worth your time.

By Declan Gallagher

and Kevin Jacobsen

on February 4, 2026 8:26 a.m. ET

Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford on 'Mindhunter'; Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg on 'You'; Richard Ramirez in 'Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer'. Credit:

Patrick Harbron/Netflix; Netflix (2)

For some reason, we feel an inextricable pull to understand the impulses of dangerous people, and Netflix has profiled just about every shade of serial killer content you could imagine. But how do you weed out the notable installments from the bunk?

EW has compiled a must-watch list of Netflix serial killer shows, including gripping documentaries and a handful of well-articulated narratives. Here are the 13 best streaming options.

The Chestnut Man (2021–present)

Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Mark Hess and Danica Ćurčič as Naia Thulin on 'The Chestnut Man'.

Nikolaj Thaning Rentzmann/Netflix

In the great tradition of nihilistic Danish mystery novels comes this delightfully spooky, occasionally transcendent twist on the successful formula. A woman is found brutally murdered on a playground with a bizarre totem constructed of chestnuts left next to her body. Solving the case, which is almost immediately tied to the missing child of a prominent politician, falls to detective Naia Thulin (Danica Ćurčič) and her partner, Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). Cue ruminative looks from rain-dotted windows and some properly toe-curling violence. *—Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *The Chestnut Man*: Netflix

**Cast:** Danica Ćurčič, David Dencik, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Iben Dorner

The Confession Killer (2019)

Joyce Lemons (mother of victim Debbie Sue Williamson, in photograph) in 'The Confession Killer'.

Netflix/Courtesy Everett

One of Netflix's twistiest serial killer shows is this fascinating (though exhausting) five-part docuseries about Henry Lee Lucas, who confessed to hundreds of murders that he may or may not have committed. Lucas was tied to few or none of the crimes through physical evidence but was able to parrot sufficient details of the attacks to convince investigators and victims' families that he was to blame. At times you may worry *The Confession Killer* is attempting to exonerate Lucas or make him into some sort of folk victim, but, in fact, the show turns the mirror rather successfully on the audience. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Confession Killer*: Netflix

Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021)

Richard Cottingham (left, with head down), a.k.a. the Torso Killer in 'Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer'.

Joe Berlinger has made a career out of Netflix serial killer content, having helmed both *The Ted Bundy Tapes* and *Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile* (2019), the narrative twist on Bundy's crimes. *The Times Square Killer*, the second installment in the *Crime Scene* documentary series, finds Berlinger telling the story of New York City's "Torso Killer," who carved a bloody swatch across midtown Manhattan in the 1970s.

There's a satisfying balance struck here between the facts of a little-known murder spree and respectful portraits of the victims, many of whom came from underserved communities and were only discovered to be missing when their family members took charge of the investigation. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer*: Netflix

Dirty John (2018–2020)

Eric Bana as John Meehan and Connie Britton as Debra Newell in season 1 of 'Dirty John'. Jordin Althaus/Bravo

This positively gripping anthology series based its first season (the only one worth your time) on the Wondery podcast of the same name. Connie Britton stars as a successful designer who falls for John Meehan (Eric Bana), a man who claims to be a doctor but harbors dark secrets. What follows is compulsively watchable television, with nice twists on the genre's typical trappings that keep viewers on their toes despite its nominally based-on-true-events status. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Dirty John*: Netflix

**Cast: **Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Juno Temple, Julia Garner

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (2025)

Shannan Gilbert in 'Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer'.

Courtesy of Netflix

This three-part documentary series is a satisfying deep dive for those familiar with the Long Island Serial Killer case and those learning about it for the first time. Directed by Liz Garbus, *Gone Girls* centers on the Gilgo Four, a group of four women whose bodies were found on Gilgo Beach, contextualizing their lives with a grace and sensitivity not often seen in other true-crime series. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer*: Netflix

A Killer Paradox (2024)

Choi Woo-shik as Lee Tang and Lee Hee-jun as Song Chon in 'A Killer Paradox'.

Song Kyoung Sub/Netflix

This surprisingly white-knuckle South Korean thriller, based on an animated web series, follows Lee Tang (Choi Woo-shik), a convenience store worker who accidentally murders a serial killer in a holdup gone wrong. As a hard-nosed detective (Son Suk-ku) continues his search for the deceased slasher, Tang finds he has quite a knack for knocking off bad guys.

While the plot never truly acquits itself of comparisons to *Dexter* and *I Saw the Devil*, it's still a well-constructed, devious little thriller that benefits from sharp writing and a willingness to wade into tricky territory. It's the sort of show you could see really beginning to fly in its second season, if it's allowed one. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *A Killer Paradox*: Netflix

**Cast:** Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-joon, Hyun Bong-sik

The 17 best true crime shows on Hulu for your inner sleuth

The 15 best murder mysteries to solve on Netflix

Mindhunter (2017–2019)

Holt McCallany as Bill Tench and Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford on 'Mindhunter'.

Patrick Harbron/Netflix

David Fincher's eerily credible procedural follows FBI agents Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) and Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), who develop the modern method of profiling serial killers by conducting interviews with some of the most fearsome criminals in the annals of history, including Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) and Dennis Rader (Sonny Valicenti). *Mindhunter* is, in many ways, the perfect distillation of Fincher's detailed approach to cinema and his fixation on the minds of murderers. It plays as a welcome follow-up to his 2007 masterpiece, *Zodiac*, while offering its own singular approach to the genre. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Mindhunter*: Netflix

**Cast:** Holt McCallany, Jonathan Groff, Anna Torv, Cameron Britton, Hannah Gross

Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)

Richard Ramirez (left) in 'Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer'.

This straightforward, horrifying docuseries gives an admirable just-the-facts recitation of Richard Ramirez, surely one of the most fearsome serial killers in history. It's one of Netflix's most blunt offerings, and there's little enhancement or drama here, as it's entirely unneeded, as Ramirez's crimes read like a depraved horror novel. His more or less accidental ability to elude police (until he couldn't) was so incredible that, if not for the fact that it actually happened, it would defy credulity. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer*: Netflix

The Ripper (2020)

Peter Sutcliffe in 'The Ripper'.

Looking across the Atlantic, this four-part docuseries examines the crimes of Peter Sutcliffe, a.k.a. "The Yorkshire Ripper," who murdered 13 women between 1975 and 1980 in England. It's an exhaustive, well-told account of Sutcliffe's terror reign, which isn't particularly well-known Stateside. This series also thoughtfully examines how the police response might've been different if his victims were men. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Ripper*: Netflix

The Sinner (2017–2021)

Jessica Biel as as Cora Tannetti on 'The Sinner'. Brownie Harris/USA

*The Sinner* is another reliable anthology thriller, with the first stellar season based on German mystery novelist Petra Hammesfahr's novel about homicide detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman). All four seasons concern Ambrose as he attempts to solve murders that are more complicated than they initially appear, and each is nicely old-fashioned, with Pullman making for a grounding guide through all this mayhem.

As the series goes on, it adopts the pleasantly antiquated feel of something like *Prime Suspect*, where we follow a single detective on an understated journey without the noise of multiple side characters or killing-of-the-week distractions. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Sinner*: Netflix

**Cast: **Bill Pullman, Jessica Biel, Christopher Abbott, Carrie Coon, Tracy Letts

Slasher (2016–2023)

Eric McCormack as Basil Garvey and Thom Allison as Georges in season 5 of 'Slasher'.

Cole Burston/Shudder

As with any slasher series — or, in this case, anthology — some installments are better than others. Across its five seasons (three are on Netflix), *Slasher* has covered tried-and-true genre territory and delved (at times less successfully) into more experimental fare. Season 1, one of the best, follows a series of vicious present-day copycat murders after an '80s Halloween massacre. Then there's season 3, which feels like one of those particularly cruel straight-to-video cheapies.

*Slasher* is more straight-faced and restrained than the similarly structured* **American Horror Story**,* calling back to the genre's heyday with a bit more realism and genuine reverence. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Slasher*: Netflix

**Cast:** Paula Brancati, Christopher Jacot, Katie McGrath, Brandon Jay McLaren, David Cronenberg

The Watcher (2022–present)

Naomi Watts as Nora Brannock and Bobby Cannavale as Dean Brannock on 'The Watcher'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Of course, being a Ryan Murphy creation, this fictionalized account of a bizarre case in upstate New York is one very full sink. It stars Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale as a testy married couple battling with independent kids, a whacked-out realtor (Jennifer Coolidge), nosy neighbors (Mia Farrow), and spooky notes from someone who really, really wants them to leave their new estate.

One of the joys of a Murphy production is watching all of the spinning plates and wondering which will topple first, but this one actually keeps most of them airborne throughout the season finale. No one does the blend of crime and soap quite like Murphy, and his ability to goad some of our generation's best actors into increasingly wide-eyed theatrics remains unparalleled. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Watcher*: Netflix

**Cast: **Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Isabel Gravitt, Mia Farrow, Jennifer Coolidge

You (2018–2025)

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg on 'You'. Netflix

A blessedly perverse spin on both CW shows and classic psycho-thrillers, *You* confidently and effortlessly reinvents itself throughout four seasons (with a fifth/final one on the way). It follows bookstore employee and serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), who develops an obsession with Guinevere (Elizabeth Lail) and wiggles his way into her friend group.

*You* is wonderfully knowing and often surprising, never content to milk one narrative thread for too long. As the later seasons segue into a sort of twisted serial killer version of *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*, the show finds its satirical feet. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *You*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Cast: **Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Jenna Ortega, Victoria Pedretti, Dylan Arnold

- TV Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW TV"

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Source: TV

Published: February 07, 2026 at 01:38PM on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle