The daily dilemma of what to watch is one that plagues us all. Thankfully, Netflix is constantly rolling out new content on a near-daily basis, bringing about hot new releases to stream right now from the comfort of your own living room.
Each month, T3 will be rounding up what's trending, what's got critics talking and crucially, what films are worth your time. These films are specifically aimed at those in the UK with a Netflix account, though a lot can be found in other regions – mainly any Netflix Originals.
Of course, you can always opt for a VPN to unblock your favourite streaming platforms and start enjoying content from Netflix around the globe. Okay, with that out the way, let's dive in on the best movies to watch on Netflix in January 2022. For a more up to date update, check out the best new films to stream on Netflix and the best new films to stream on Disney Plus.
Don't Look Up
The Big Short and Vice director Adam McKay is back with his latest flick, Don't Look Up, which sees Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) as they try to warn humanity about a comet that is set to destroy all of human civilisation.
This satirical sci-fi film is one of the biggest releases to ever hit the streaming service, setting a new record for the most viewing hours in a single week, so word of mouth has clearly been strong. It's really unsurprising with a star-studded supporting cast, including Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Timothée Chalamet, Tyler Perry, Mark Rylance, and more. There's even a cameo from Ariana Grande!
The Power of the Dog
Hot off the heels of its victory at the Golden Globes, The Power of the Dog is based on the 1967 novel by Thomas Savage and sees Benedict Cumberbatch on fine form as the cruel but complicated rancher, Phil, who forms a new bond with the son of his brother's new wife (played by Kirsten Dunst).
While a difficult film to watch in parts, the performances from the main cast are sublime, while the setting of 1925 Montana feels incredibly lifelike. Jesse Plemons once again puts in a respectable performance too, yet is simply outshone by his co-stars – Kodi Smit-McPhee's tormented Peter, for one. It's not a film for everyone. It's a film to be applauded, though, and one that is likely to continue its awards run with a deafening Oscar buzz surrounding it. Well worth sticking with, regardless of the slow start.
The Gentlemen
After a few misses, Guy Ritchie returned with the hilarious and hard to turn away The Gentlemen. Back to the days of Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, we follow Matthew McConaughey's Mickey, a marijuana kingpin who is trying to get out of the game. Naturally, it's never that easy and chaos ensues.
There's so much to like here, such as Hugh Grant's wonderfully camp Fletcher or Charlie Hunnam's fed-up Raymond. There's a specific chase scene starring the latter that gave me one of the biggest laughs in cinema for ages. Let's hope Ritchie sticks to this style.
Bonus movie: Greed
With the satirical flick Greed just being added to Netflix over the last few days, I've cheated a little bit here by including it as my bonus recommendation. Here, we follow the story of British billionaire Sir Richard McCreadie (Steve Coogan), who attempts to salvage his reputation by throwing an extravagant birthday party in Greece - lion and all.
What's so great about Greed is that it's quintessentially British humour through and through, while also featuring a solid supporting cast of Isla Fisher, David Mitchell, Sophie Cookson, Asa Butterfield, Shirley Henderson, as well as a host of other big-name celebrity cameos. Most importantly, it has a powerful message about the prevalent exploitation of the fashion industry and how the rich abuse it.
Looking for the best Netflix series to watch this weekend? Check out our top picks for the streaming service. Alternatively, if you're curious what movies to watch on Disney Plus throughout January, we've got you covered for that too.
