Netflix is closing out June with two new original movies: Little Brother and Voicemails for Isabelle. As of publication, Little Brother and Voicemails for Isabelle are currently the first and second movies in the top 10, respectively. By this time next week, a third original movie, Enola Holmes 3, might have the No. 1 spot.
As for the Netflix thrillers to watch this week, our top recommendation is a sci-fi military movie starring Alan Ritchson, one of Hollywood’s most prominent action stars. Other movies on the list include a Liam Neeson mystery on an airplane and a survival thriller in the jungle.
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Land of Bad
An action movie made for dads
When I mention the phrase “dad movies,” I’m referring to the style of the film. I don’t mean a movie about fathers. My mind immediately races toward action movies with recognizable movie stars. These dad movies feature masculine elements, which could be anything from racing and cars to firefights and explosions. Top Gun, Gladiator, and Ford v Ferrari are some of my favorite dad movies.
Though it’s not a Netflix Original movie, Land of Bad feels like it was made for subscribers who love dad movies. Sergeant JJ Kinney of the U.S. Air Force is assigned to the Philippines to join a Delta Force team tasked with rescuing a CIA asset. The mission goes haywire, leaving Kinney in a fight for his life against terrorists. Kinney’s only chance of survival is in the hands of Captain Eddie “Reaper” Grimm (Russell Crowe), a drone pilot observing the mission from afar.
There is not an ounce of fat in Land of Bad. As soon as Kinney and the team reach their target, the action never lets up. In fact, it substantially increases as Kinney finds himself in several violent shootouts and precarious situations. It’s a war movie under two hours about a rescue mission gone wrong. That is as good a dad movie template as you’re going to get.
Land of Bad
Release Date
February 16, 2024
Runtime
113 Minutes
Director
William Eubank
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Non-Stop
Liam Neeson finds himself on an action-packed plane
Stop me if you’ve heard this synopsis before. Neeson plays a character with a particular set of skills who must rely on his intelligence and combat abilities to get himself out of a seemingly impossible situation. That’s the plot of 80% of Neeson’s action movies. Jokes aside, Neeson’s films are extremely entertaining, which is why we need to give some more respect to Non-Stop.
Released in 2014, Non-Stop follows Bill Marks, a U.S. Air Marshal on a flight from New York City to London. During the flight, Marks receives a threatening text: transfer $150 million into a bank account, or someone will die every 20 minutes. Marks is forced to comply when his name is on the bank account, making the authorities believe he is the perpetrator. The flight is now a race against time, as Marks must find the mastermind behind the threats before it leads to more carnage.
Non-Stop is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who has a complete handle on how to properly execute mid-budget action movies. His resume includes Unknown, Run All Night, The Shallows, and Carry-On. Ironically, Non-Stop is a perfect movie to watch on a plane because it’s under two hours. Plus, it’s escapism at its finest. What could be better than Liam Neeson taking down the bad guys?
Non-Stop
Release Date
February 26, 2014
Runtime
106 Minutes
Director
Jaume Collet-Serra
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War Machine
Alan Ritchson vs. a machine
In terms of reliability, Ritchson is near the top of the list of action stars working today. Backed by his imposing physique, Ritchson has thrived playing an action hero, most notably as Jack Reacher on Prime Video’s Reacher. While Ritchson is used to kicking the bad guy’s butt, he faces an even taller task in War Machine.
Staff Sergeant 81 (Ritchson) is an elite soldier who trains to become an Army Ranger in honor of his fallen brother (Jai Courtney). During the final exercise, 81 is named the team leader for a simulated mission in the forest. What 81 and his team don’t know is that a machine from another planet disrupts the mission and starts killing soldiers. Forced to flee, 81 must figure out how to destroy the killing machine before it reaches the base and murders more soldiers.
I’m all for pitting Ritchson against a machine instead of another man. We’ve seen him punch, shoot, and kill plenty of human characters. War Machine ups the ante by having him face off against an otherworldly threat. Unsurprisingly, Netflix is already developing a War Machine sequel. Will Ritchson have to face multiple machines now? Either way, I’ll be watching.
War Machine
Release Date
March 6, 2026
Runtime
107 minutes
Director
Patrick Hughes
More movies to check out this weekIf you’re searching for more movies to stream, then you’ve come to the right place. Several new movies are hitting multiple services this week, including Enola Holmes 3 on Netflix and Lee Cronin’s The Mummy on HBO Max. Elsewhere, make sure to check out The Suicide Squad and Superman on HBO Max if you liked Supergirl.
Subscription with ads
Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
Two or four
