The best movies on Netflix UK in December 2022

Looking for a good movie? Here we bring you a list of the best movies on Netflix UK right now, from action and adventure to thrillers and documentaries. There are so many good movies on Netflix, but sometimes it can be too much There’s a lot to choose from and it’s really hard to find, so we’ve sifted through the many to come up with a definitive list of movies we think you’ll enjoy.

If you’re looking for TV shows to watch on Netflix UK, check out our article on the best TV shows on Netflix. Our tips on how to navigate Netflix will help too.

This list is updated every month, but the movies on Netflix change every day. This may mean that one or two of these films will no longer be available to watch by the time you read this article, and there may be new good films coming out.

Then let’s get down to business. Here are the best movies to watch on Netflix in the UK right now.

Tick, tick… Boom!

Tick, tick… Boom! is the biographical story of Jonathan Larson (creator of Rent), an aspiring New York music creator who wonders if he is on the right career path while trying to manage his personal relationships. If that’s not enough for you, it stars Andrew Garfield and is directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Spirited Away

There are a ton of Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix right now, and one of my favorites is Spirited Away, which has won numerous awards, including number sixteen on the “Best Movies of the 21st Century” list. The film follows a young Chihiro who must save her parents from being turned into beasts forever.

Beasts without a nation

The first Netflix original movie boasts Idris Elba’s cast, but as great as he is, he’s not the real star here. That honor goes to Abraham Attah, a teenager from Ghana who is making his debut here as a boy drafted to serve as a child soldier in a brutal civil war. Unsurprisingly, this is pretty unsettling stuff, but it’s undeniably powerful and hard to forget.

under the shadow

Set in Tehran during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, this Persian film is the rarest thing: a horror film that feels truly new. This is partly due to the relatively new monster (ghost genie), partly due to the setting, and partly to Narges Rashidi’s brilliant central performance. He also manages to deftly intimidate without spilling a single drop of blood.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of the Fire Saga

This film is like a marmite and whether you like it will depend on whether you like Eurovision or not. Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams play an Icelandic singing duo who dream of making their Eurovision win a reality. With cameos from real contestants, Graham Norton commentary and catchy songs, this is the Eurotrash we’ve always wanted.

Marriage history

Get ready for an emotional interrogation with Marriage Story as over the course of a few hours we see a gradual process of divorce unfold that gets more toxic and ugly as time goes on. It shows the complexity of how relationships fall apart and how the legal elements of separation conflict with the couple’s emotions. It’s not the easiest watch, but it’s certainly instructive and quite heartbreaking.

Annihilation

This smart sci-fi film from director Alex Garland (also the excellent Ex Machina) was shown in theaters in the US but went straight to Netflix here in the UK. Don’t take this as a bad sign, though: it’s not that Annihilation is bad, it’s just that Paramount was worried that its mix of trippy visuals, dark horror, and free-flowing storytelling wouldn’t do well at the box office. It’s not an easy watch, but trust us, it’s worth it.

Anima

Anima is something else: this 15-minute short film is essentially an extended music video. However, this is an extended music video starring Thom Yorke for three songs from his album Anima directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Turn up the volume and immerse yourself in a surreal dystopian dance that’s the perfect warm-up for a more serious movie.

Monty Python Life of Brian

This Monty Python classic retells the story of Jesus of Nazareth from the point of view of Brian, who is not the Messiah but just a very naughty boy. As silly as it is satirical, the film pokes fun at both religious and historical figures in a peculiar, surreal way that only the best of Monty Python can pull off.

Devil of all time

Featuring an all-star cast including Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Sebastian Stan, The Devil of All Time tells the story of a South American village that is plagued by several troubled characters. It explores the concept of how faith can be twisted to justify malicious behavior and follows a young man who does everything he can to keep himself and his family safe.

big short

The Big Short covers the corruption and dirty work that took place on Wall Street during the housing collapse in 2007 and 2008. Featuring Christian Bale, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, this movie perfectly shows how the downfall of many ordinary people has resulted in huge financial gains for some of the darkest people in finance.

Fyre: The Greatest Party Never Happened

This original Netflix documentary explores the horrendous production issues and post-production arrests that plagued the Fyre festival, dubbed here as the greatest party ever. From co-founder Ja Rule to a pilot who trained on Microsoft Flight Simulator, this is a show of incompetence.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

This western anthology from the Coen brothers tells six separate, unrelated stories about the old West. Don’t look for character connections – there aren’t any – instead, follow the ebb and flow of the theme as the directors explore mortality, goodness, and the futility of existence in these vastly different, utterly memorable stories.

Dumplings

Dumplin’ brings a new twist to the traditional All-American beauty pageant by demonstrating how we should be celebrating all body shapes and sizes rather than the “perfect look” that has been perpetuated for so long. Throw in Jennifer Aniston and a Dolly Parton soundtrack and you have the perfect movie for a cozy evening.

The night is following us

If you liked the Indonesian martial arts epic The Raid but thought it could be a little more violent, then Night Comes for Us might be for you. The Raid star Iko Uwais is back – albeit in a supporting role this time – and the martial arts action is just as impressive, but now backed up with enough gore to make The Evil Dead blush.