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100 movies on Netflix that everyone needs to watch in their lifetime

netflix 100
netflix 100

Dragan Radovanovic/Business Insider

Netflix has no shortage of titles to choose from. Actually, combining its original content, movies, and TV shows, you could go on an endless binge and never crack the surface.

But narrowing it down to just movies, you can put a good dent in some classics, if you have the right guide.

Well, that’s why we’re here.

We have searched through all of the titles on the streaming giant so you don’t have to, and we put together the 100 movies streaming on Netflix you have to watch in your lifetime. 

Note: Numerous Netflix titles drop off the streaming service monthly so the availability of titles below may change.

1. “13 Going on 30″ (2004)

Jennifer Garner plays a 13-year-old who dreams of being 30. Yeah, we don’t get it either, but it’s one heck of a romantic comedy.

2. “13th” (2016)

This Netflix original documentary from director Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) explores the history of racial inequality in the US, particularly the key moments that have led to a disproportionate prison population in the country (one out of four people in prison around the world, and many of them African-American).

3. “Adventures in Babysitting” (1987)

Elizabeth Shue plays a babysitter who must pack up the kids in the station wagon when she picks up her friend stranded in the big city. What transpires is a fun journey that includes Vincent D’Onofrio as a wanna-be Thor.

4. “Almost Famous” (2000)

Loosely based on writer-director Cameron Crowe’s adventures as a teenager writing for Rolling Stone, “Almost Famous” follows a young man’s journey into 1970s rock and falling in love along the way.

5. “Amadeus” (1984)

The incredible talent of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is showcased in this stunning, Oscar-winning film.

6. “Amelie” (2001)

With an incredible imagination and an interest in helping those around her, Amélie sets off on a unique journey of self-discovery and, perhaps, love.

7. “American Beauty” (1999)

Suburban life is highlighted at its most dysfunctional in this best picture Oscar winner that looks at a father (Kevin Spacey) in a midlife crisis and the drama surrounding the rest of his family.

8. “Armageddon” (1998)

Sure it’s a corny Michael Bay movie, but it’s one of the better corny Michael Bay movies. Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and a whole bunch of oil drillers head out to space to save the world from an oncoming asteroid. 

9. “The Babadook” (2014)

One of the best horror movies in the last five years. A mother and son’s realization that a spirit is among them leads to much deeper meaning.

10. “Barbarella” (1968)

Jane Fonda plays a woman assigned to stop a villain and ends up becoming the epitome of sex for the free-love 1960s.

11. “Barton Fink” (1991)

In the classic from the Coen brothers (“The Big Lebowski,” “No Country for Old Men”), John Turturro plays a New York playwright who travels to Hollywood to write screenplays and quickly realizes he’s in a hellish environment.

12. “Basic Instinct” (1992)

Responsible for the most famous leg-crossing of all time, Sharon Stone plays a seductive temptress who makes Michael Douglas (and the audience) go mad.

13. “Battle Royale” (2000)

Before “The Hunger Games” novels became a YA phenomenon, there was this Japanese movie that looks at a future where young school kids are ordered to take part in a killing tournament that ends when one person is left alive.

14. “Beasts of No Nation” (2015)

Director Cary Fukunaga gives a harsh look at survival by spotlighting a young boy who becomes a child soldier during a civil war in Africa.

15. “Beyond the Lights” (2014)

One of the most underrated movies of 2014. Nate Parker and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are explosive as a couple who try to escape the materialistic world of pop celebrity.

16. “Big Daddy” (1999)

Though Netflix and Adam Sandler are in bed together on his latest films, let’s celebrate this classic that is still available to stream on the service.

17. “The Big Short” (2015)

Director Adam McKay is best known for his outrageous comedy work with Will Ferrell, but here he takes a sobering look at when the housing bubble burst.

18. “Big Trouble in Little China” (1986)

Though not fully appreciated until years later, John Carpenter’s magical comedy thriller starring Kurt Russell is a highlight in the pair’s collaborations. 

19. “Blackfish” (2013)

This powerful documentary cannot be missed. It looks into the abusive captivity of killer whales at SeaWorld.

20. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)

Audrey Hepburn plays a New York socialite in this classic love story.

21. “Bring It On” (2000)

If you need a night with something that’s just fun to watch, you can’t get better than this one. Kirsten Dunst plays the leader of a champion high school cheer squad who learns that all their routines were stolen from an inner-city school.

22. “The Burbs” (1989)

Before Tom Hanks became an Oscar-winning actor, he was stuck in the comedy bubble and this is one of the few that is memorable. With an incredible cast that includes Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, and Corey Feldman, this gem is as strange as living in the suburbs really is.

23. “Bulworth” (1998)

Warren Beatty plays a politician who has given up on the system and starts to talk real with the public. Remind you of a real-life election?

24. “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1987)

Patrick Dempsey plays a nerdy high schooler who pays his way into becoming the most popular guy in school.

25. “Carlos” (2010)

Edgar Ramírez gives a tour-de-force performance as revolutionary Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, who founded a worldwide terrorist organization in the 1970s. 

26. “Cleopatra” (1963)

At one time one of the most expensive movie ever made, in which the biggest star of the era, Elizabeth Taylor, plays the Egyptian queen.

27. “Clerks” (1994)

The Kevin Smith era (like it or not) started with this different kind of independent film that had countless pop-culture references and adolescent humor.

28. “Clueless” (1995)

Alicia Silverstone plays a privileged high schooler to the max in this silly comedy with smart satirical writing.

29. “Coming to America” (1988)

This classic comedy stars Eddie Murphy as an African prince who travels to Queens, New York, to find the woman of his dreams. What ensues is some of the most memorable comedy in movie history.

30. “Dazed and Confused” (1993)

Richard Linklater takes us back to the late 1970s with great classic rock songs and soon-to-be stars like Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey playing Texas high schoolers looking for a good time.

31. “Deliverance” (1972)

Nominated for three Oscars, it’s about a river trip in the South that leads to a story of survival. It’s caused people to be scared whenever they hear a particular banjo riff since its release in 1972.

32. “Django Unchained” (2012)

Quentin Tarantino’s first Western follows a freed former slave as he rescues his wife from a Mississippi landowner. And in typical Tarantino fashion there’s a lot of blood and colorful chatter. 

33. “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” (1996)

The Wayans family has always had a talent for spoofs, and in the mid-1990s Shawn and Marlon wrote and starred in this hilarious sendup of the recent African-American movies of that time.

34. “Eddie Murphy: Delirious” (1983) & “Raw” (1987)

Two of the greatest standup movies of all time. You really can’t name one without the other. Eddie Murphy delivers material (and a fashion sense) that few have been able to pull off in standup. Honestly, spend a night and binge these two movies together.

35. “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”

Steven Spielberg’s classic is one of his most flawless movies. Capturing a friendship between a boy and an alien, it has a timeless quality and is something that you should watch every few years. 

36. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)

Perhaps the greatest collaboration from the minds of director Michel Gondry and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (so far), this unique love story is powerfully told through amazing performances and incredible sleight-of-hand visuals.

37. “Fantasia” (1940)

Walt Disney’s most ambitious animated movie at the time, it consists of eight segments set to pieces of classical music.

38. “The Fast and the Furious” (2001)

Before they parachuted their cars out of airplanes and did jobs for the military across the globe, the characters of the “Fast and Furious” franchise were just street racers looking for a rush. The movie that started it all is fun to look back at now since it’s shocking to see how far a movie about street racing has expanded.

39. “Fatal Attraction” (1987)

If you’re looking for a good thriller, you can’t do better than this classic. There’s really never been a better movie on the repercussions that come with cheating on your spouse.

40. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)

John Hughes locks his place as the teen-movie king with this classic comedy about a sly high schooler (Matthew Broderick) who pulls off the ultimate day off from school.

41. “The Fly” (1958)

This classic horror has to be seen at least once in your life. A scientist’s accident leads to a gruesome discovery that leads to a chilling ending.

42. “Footloose” (1984)

Kevin Bacon plays a city boy who moves to a small town where dancing is forbidden and shakes everything up.

43. “Force Majeure” (2014)

One of the most uncomfortably funny movies you’ll ever see, it follows a family whose ski trip is interrupted by an avalanche. The actions by the father in the moment of the event lead to an awkward rest of the vacation for everyone.

44. “Forrest Gump” (1994)

Tom Hanks solidifies himself as one of the greatest actors of his generation with this look at a man whose life intersects with some of the greatest moments in history while trying to connect with his true love, Jenny.

45. “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996)

Robert Rodriguez’s vampire tale is some grindhouse fun. George Clooney may have to carry Quentin Tarantino in a few scenes, but the fun of the movie is watching Clooney up against vampires. Yes, kids, at one point in his career he was in movies like this.

46. “Frances Ha” (2012)

Greta Gerwig and director Noah Baumbach combine forces to create one of the best movies from the “mumblecore” genre. Gerwig plays a New York nomad who bounces around hoping one of her life aspirations will bear fruit.

47. “Galaxy Quest” (1999)

This comedy that has grown to have a following as large as the fake sci-fi movie it highlights is fun to watch when you need someone to spoof the bizarre themes of all science fiction. 

48. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953)

In this Howard Hawks classic, Marilyn Monroe is the object of affection for numerous suitors. The musical made her an icon.

49. “Gladiator” (2000)

Ridley Scott’s Oscar winner is one of the last epic swords-and-sandals movies Hollywood has made that have been successful.    

50. “Good Will Hunting” (1997)

The movie that made Matt Damon and Ben Affleck stars (and Oscar winners). The story of a genius in the rough section of Boston is a solid film by all and Robin Williams shines.

51. “Grease” (1978)

Spend an evening watching this classic musical and don’t be shy about singing out loud all the songs. Don’t worry, we won’t tell.

52. “Grizzly Man” (2005)

Legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog recounts the footage taken by grizzly bear activist Timothy Treadwell who lived among grizzlies in Alaska until he was killed by them in 2003.

53. “Gomorrah” (2008)

If you like mafia movies you should check out this exceptional story that gives us a peek inside organized crime in Italy.

54. “Heathers” (1988)

One of the best looks at high school life ever put on screen. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater are everyone’s spirit animals in this great dark comedy.

55. “The Hustler” (1961)

This Paul Newman essential stars the legend as a pool shark who ruins everything he touches. Things get even worse when he challenges the great Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason).

56. “The Interview” (2014)

It’s the movie that sparked an international incident. Though there is no definitive proof that this comedy by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg about the attempted assassination of Kim Jong-un sparked the Sony hack, it certainly got a lot of attention.

57. “In the Loop” (2009)

Before there was “Veep” the show’s creator Armando Iannucci made this foul-mouthed political comedy about not-too-bright politicians from Britain and the US who try to stop a war. 

58. “Jaws” (1975)

Steven Spielberg kept us out of the water in the summer of 1975 in this thriller which gave birth to the blockbuster. Hollywood hasn’t looked back since.

59. “Kingpin” (1996)

The most underrated movie by the Farrelly brothers. Woody Harrelson plays a disgraced pro bowler who thinks he’s found a meal ticket in a very talented amateur bowler who is Amish (Randy Quaid). Not to mention that you get some incredible Bill Murray comedy.

60. “Major League” (1989)

Writer/director David S. Ward captures all the great aspects of baseball and adds some outlandish characters to create one of the best movies ever made about the sport.

61. “Mean Girls” (2004)

Think of this as a modern-day “Heathers.” Lindsay Lohan plays the new girl who completely loses her identity to become a part of the cool kids in school and then attempts to tear down the leader (played by Rachel McAdams). 

62. “Melancholia” (2011)

Lars von Trier’s heartbreakingly beautiful look at the end of the world hangs over this dramatic story of the troubled relationship between two sisters played by Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

63. “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)

Wes Anderson’s unique brand of storytelling is perfectly captured in this look at a pair of youngsters in love and how the adults on the small island they live on become frantic trying to find them when they run off together.

64. “Nightcrawler” (2014)

Jake Gyllenhaal gives a haunting performance as a man driven to rule the world of crime journalism. And as an added treat, there’s also the great performance by Riz Ahmed in the movie (who has blown up since with his performance in the HBO hit “The Night Of”).

65. “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson”

Director Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) directs this powerful ESPN “30 for 30″ documentary that recounts the incident in former NBA star Allen Iverson’s youth that almost kept him from continuing his basketball career. What we find in the aftermath is a town that is racially divided.  

66. “Once Upon a Time in The West” (1968)

Legendary director Sergio Leone creates one of the greatest Westerns ever made that features Charles Bronson as a harmonica-playing loner and Henry Fonda in the rare villain role.

67. “Patton” (1970)

This epic biopic about General George S. Patton went on to win seven Oscars, including one for George C. Scott in his portrayal as the driven general. Scott actually did not accept the award (or the nomination) stating that he wasn’t in competition with other actors.

68. “The Princess Bride” (1987)

This fairy tale told through the comedic skill of director Rob Reiner has become a classic love story. And it’s got Andre the Giant in it!

69. “Pulp Fiction” (1994)

Quentin Tarantino’s career-defining movie changed the way we looked at independent film forever and launched a slew of copycats. 

70. “Pumping Iron” (1977)

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger was the biggest action star in the world he was a Mr. Olympia champion starving to gain fame. This documentary shows an Arnold on the cusp of stardom.

71. “Reservoir Dogs” (1992)

Before “Pulp Fiction” Tarantino got the attention of the movie industry with this gritty caper. Instead of the crime being the focus it’s the men behind it.

72. “Rounders” (1998)

Matt Damon and Edward Norton play an incredible duo on-screen as two card hustlers. Norton the lovable loser, Damon the guy who has to get him out of trouble.

73. “Saturday Night Fever” (1977)

The movie that defined the disco era. Look back on when John Travolta was a sex symbol and the Bee Gees were the biggest band in the world.

74. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)

One of the most authentic war movies ever made, Steven Spielberg’s classic is as chilling and emotional as it was when it was released. Tom Hanks is superb as a captain who is in charge of a unique mission behind enemy lines.

75. “Scrooged” (1988)

Bill Murray is nonstop funny in this spoof of “A Christmas Carol.”

76. “Short Term 12″ (2013)

Before Brie Larson became an Oscar-winning actress, she starred in this critically acclaimed, little-seen indie that looks at a twentysomething supervisor at a treatment facility as she tries to get through to troubled youth and deal with her own problems.

77. “Sixteen Candles” (1984)

This John Hughes classic highlights almost every embarrassing moment that can happen in high school, but matched with incredible comedy, it’s a must-watch.

78. “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” (1999)

The kids from South Park got the big-screen treatment in 1999 and made the most of it with their quasi-musical in which the US wages war on Canada. It’s still a fun watch.

79. “Spotlight” (2015)

The best picture Oscar winner of 2016, this look inside the investigative newspaper team that uncovered the child sex abuse going on among Boston priests is a powerhouse of great acting and storytelling.

80. “The Sting” (1973)

Four years after Paul Newman and Robert Redford became one of the most memorable screen duos in history with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” the two do it again with this “perfect con” movie. Winner of seven Oscars, including best picture, it also will forever be known for its use of the Scott Joplin piano ragtime piece “The Entertainer.” 

81. “Sunset Boulevard” (1950)

One of the greatest movies ever to look at the movie industry, Billy Wilder’s 1950s-era pop culture noir is timeless for its story of the struggle in the business and the effects of fame when everyone forgets you. 

82. “Swingers” (1996)

You can thank Jon Favreau for the “you’re so money” and “baby” slang that was thrown around for a while after the release of this comedy. But seriously, the movie is an entertaining look at heartbreak and friendship.

83. “Tangerine” (2015)

Shot with an iPhone, this low-budget comedy that focuses on a transgender sex worker out for answers when she learns that her pimp boyfriend has been cheating on her is incredibly executed and the performances are top-notch.  

84. “There Will Be Blood” (2007)

Daniel Day-Lewis gives one of his most diabolical performances as an oil man who will stop at nothing to thrive in his business. Director Paul Thomas Anderson creates arguably his masterpiece. 

85. “The Thin Blue Line” (1988)

A gem of the documentary genre, Errol Morris’ movie looks at the wrongful conviction of a Texas man. It’s not just visually groundbreaking but got its subject released from prison.

86. “Three Kings” (1999)

George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube play soldiers in search of gold stolen from Kuwait, but who instead find people in desperate need of their help. It’s an early gem from director David O. Russell (“American Hustle”).

87. “Titanic” (1997)

Director James Cameron combines groundbreaking computer graphics of the time with a love story aboard the doomed RMS Titanic to create one of the most successful movies of all time (and the one that would make Leonardo DiCaprio an international superstar).

88. “To Catch a Thief” (1955)

This Alfred Hitchcock classic includes two of his favorites, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, in a thriller involving jewel thieves and the French Riviera. 

89. “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)

Regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, in which Gregory Peck plays the iconic role of Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man against a rape charge, while also teaching his family to treat every person equally.

90. “Top Gun” (1986)

Tom Cruise became a huge star thanks to this action-packed look at a hotshot student at a Navy fighter jet school who is reckless both in the air and on the ground. It’ll take you right back to the glossy ’80s.

91. “Trainspotting” (1996)

Danny Boyle’s incredible look at the Edinburgh drug scene launched the career of Ewan McGregor and includes one of the best soundtracks ever put to a movie.

92. “The Truman Show” (1998)

Jim Carrey plays a man who realizes his whole existence has been a television show.

93. “Upstream Color” (2013)

This indie darling delves into deep questions like who we are and why are we here. It’s basically the best movie you’ve never seen.

94. “Urban Cowboy” (1980)

John Travolta and Debra Winger are two single people who love the cowboy lifestyle in Houston. At a local bar they learn about life and love.

95. “Unforgiven” (1992)

Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning Western follows an aging gunslinger who takes on one last job.

96. “The Usual Suspects” (1995)

It’s the movie with the ending you can’t speak about. It’s also an extremely clever crime movie filled with colorful characters and some great one-liners. What else do you need?

97. “Wet Hot American Summer” (2001)

Starring numerous actors who have gone on to become huge stars, this wacky 1980s-set comedy that looks at the last day of camp has become a cult classic.

98. “Y Tu Mama Tambien” (2001)

Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal play a pair of teens who head on a road trip with an older woman, but come to learn that there’s more in store than getting lucky as they learn about themselves and the realities of life.

99. “Zero Motivation” (2014)

This must-see comedy looks at the extremely boring lives of a group of female Israeli soldiers as they do their required time serving in the military on a remote desert base.

100. “Zootopia” (2016)

Disney’s hit animated movie follows a bunny as she travels to the big city of Zoopotia to be a cop. She ends up investigating a major crime and in the process learns that the fox she’s working with is more than what stereotypes may indicate.

The post 100 movies on Netflix that everyone needs to watch in their lifetime appeared first on Business Insider.