Tech
4 genuinely good Netflix movies to watch this week (November 24
It’s Thanksgiving week, which means it’s a perfect time to watch some movies on Netflix. There’s nothing better than sitting back and putting on a good flick after a hectic day, whether you’ve been entertaining guests or eating too much food. The tricky part is deciding what to watch.
That’s why I’ve pulled together these four films, all streaming on Netflix and all genuinely great. Two are intense, two are lighthearted—choose based on your mood!
4
Whiplash
Do you have to suffer to be great? That’s one of the questions at the heart of Whiplash, a film directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, a jazz drummer who has great ambitions. He attends a prestigious music school and is mentored by Terence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons), an abusive man who puts Andrew under immense pressure in the pursuit of perfection. The two have a curious relationship, with Andrew pushing himself to his limits in order to impress Terence.
The film won many awards after its release in 2014, including plenty for Simmons’ impressive performance, and it perhaps remains Chazelle’s best film. Whiplash is tightly paced, intense, and rightfully puts the music at the forefront. However, it’s really all about the central dynamic between the student and teacher; it’s a triumph in that regard, and one that you’ll want to discuss with anyone else who has seen the film. You’ll probably feel like you need a breather after watching it, though!
3
Wonka
I have to admit, I was hesitant when I heard about Wonka. Although it’s directed by Paul King, who did great work on two Paddington movies, and features some fantastic actors like Olivia Colman, I didn’t know if a prequel to the 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was necessary. Besides, Gene Wilder perfected the role of the titular chocolatier. While 2023’s Wonka perhaps doesn’t quite reach those high standards, it’s still great fun.
The story revolves around Willy Wonka, here played with charm by Timothée Chalamet, as he arrives in a new city with dreams of opening a chocolate shop. However, he faces adversity in the form of a confectionary cartel who refuses to let anyone encroach on their turf. With some colorful production design, decent songs, and plenty of sweetness, Wonka is a perfect holiday watch (and is one of the many new movies on Netflix this month).
2
Zodiac
Zodiac is a film directed by David Fincher and is based on the real-life unsolved case of the Zodiac Killer, which was the pseudonym of a serial killer in the late 1960s. The film revolves around the press and police who became embroiled in the mystery, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal as a political cartoonist, Mark Ruffalo as a law enforcement officer, and Robert Downey Jr. as a journalist. The central trio put in some brilliant performances.
Zodiac is a long film, but it grips you from the get-go with its great character work and tense atmosphere. It works as both a procedural and a thriller—this isn’t an action-packed epic, but it’s all the better for it, and some scenes are likely to stick with you long after you’ve finished watching. Time is given to the details, with an excellent screenplay and impressive cinematography, and it feels authentic to the era in which it is set. If you’ve never seen Zodiac, correct that this week.
1
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Wallace and Gromit are an iconic duo—the former is a cheery, hapless inventor, and the latter is his intelligent, mute canine buddy. Together they’ve been to the moon, stopped an evil penguin (or chicken, depending on who you ask), and eaten lots of cheese. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit was their first feature-length outing, which sees the pair working as pest control agents, protecting the town’s vegetables from ravenous rabbits. When a beast destroys gardens before the important Giant Vegetable Competition, Wallace and Gromit are on the case.
This film is perfect for family movie night and is one that adults and children can appreciate equally. Rendered lovingly in claymation (nothing beats the hand-made feel that creators Aardman are known for), The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is funny and delightful, with a suitably quirky plot that stays true to the characters’ roots. Featuring the voice talent of Peter Sallis as Wallace, Ralph Fiennes as hunter Lord Victor Quartermaine, and Helena Bonham Carter as the wealthy Lady Tottington, you’re bound to be grinning from beginning to end.
Do you have guests visiting for the holidays? If so, make sure you prepare your Netflix account accordingly—that includes locking your profile and creating a separate one for visitors.
- Subscription with ads
-
Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
-
Two or four
Stream all of these great movies, along with plenty more original and licensed programming, with a Netflix subscription.
