As someone who watches a ton of movies and TV shows, there are certain projects that I watch on a regular basis. Even though I can recite much of the dialogue and point out what will happen next, I never grow tired of it. In a way, I’m addicted to these miniseries and films. You could call them my healthy obsessions.
As I’m perusing the movies on Netflix U.S., I notice that some of the addictive movies I frequently return to are now available to stream. My favorite on the list is one of my two favorite superhero movies of all time. Other movies that made the cut are a 1980s teen classic, a charming rom-com, an action-packed thriller, and a heartwarming culinary comedy.
Non-stop action from start to finish
Credit: Jasin Boland/Netflix
Chris Hemsworth has built a successful acting career thanks to his time as Thor. Don’t get me wrong, Hemsworth has been a fantastic Thor. However, I now look forward more to the stuff Hemsworth does outside of Marvel. Extraction proved to me that Hemsworth could lead an action franchise without having to wield Mjölnir.
Tyler Rake (Hemsworth), a former special forces soldier turned mercenary, is hired to recover the kidnapped son of an Indian drug lord. After the mission takes an unexpected turn, Tyler elects to protect the son and get him to safety instead of cutting him loose. The ensuing action is arguably some of the best in any Netflix original movie. Extraction feels like a video game. As Tyler reaches each checkpoint, the stakes increase, and so too does the violence. You could study the 12-minute one-shot action sequence and still learn something new every time.
Extraction
Release Date
April 24, 2020
Runtime
117 minutes
Director
Sam Hargrave
4
Chef
Prepare to be hungry
They say not to watch the Food Network on an empty stomach because you’ll quickly grow hungry. Unfortunately, I’ve made that mistake countless times, firmly knowing that I’ll never learn my lesson. The same sentiment can be applied to Chef, Jon Favreau’s beloved dramedy that revolves around the power of food.
After flaming out at a prestigious Los Angeles restaurant, chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) gets back to basics by opening a food truck. Joined by his friend (John Leguizamo) and son (Emjay Anthony), Carl falls in love with cooking again as he travels from city to city, creating dishes inspired by the local cuisine. It’s a cliché saying, but food truly is love, and Chef showcases why many become infatuated with cooking. I could watch the Cubano scene on repeat, though I’d rather be eating one instead.
Chef
Release Date
May 30, 2014
Runtime
114 minutes
Director
Jon Favreau
3
Pretty Woman
Bow down to the Queen of Rom-Coms
When I’m feeling down and need something to cheer me up, I tend to throw on something lighthearted to improve my spirits. It’s usually a rom-com because I need some romance mixed in with a few laughs to put a smile on my face. Luckily for Netflix subscribers, rom-com queen Julia Roberts and her best movie in the genre, Pretty Woman, are now streaming.
Wealthy executive Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) hires escort Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) to spend the night with him in his Beverly Hills hotel. The next day, Edward hires Vivian for the week and witnesses her fairy tale transformation into the woman of his dreams. There’s certainly a love story inside Pretty Woman, but it’s more of a narrative about self-discovery and realizing one’s self-worth. It’s comfort food in the form of a movie, and the happy ending never gets old.
Pretty Woman
Release Date
March 23, 1990
Runtime
119 minutes
Director
Garry Marshall
2
The Breakfast Club
Don’t you forget about me
John Hughes is the master of the coming-of-age movie. His teen movies from the 1980s remain one of the most impressive runs for a filmmaker. Most writers and directors would kill to have any one of the following movies by Hughes on their resume: Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. My favorite of the bunch, The Breakfast Club, happens to be on Netflix.
In a Chicago suburb, five high school students from different backgrounds must attend Saturday detention. The group includes Brian (Anthony Michael Hall), the nerd; Andrew (Emilio Estevez), the athlete; Allison (Ally Sheedy), the basket case; Claire (Molly Ringwald), the princess; and Bender (Judd Nelson), the criminal. The quintet enters as strangers, but as the day progresses, the group realizes they’re not so different after all. These conversations about anxiety and pressure never feel dated, which is why the film’s messages about teenage life speak to every generation.
1
Spider-Man 2
Changed the trajectory of comic book adaptations
I go back and forth between The Dark Knight and Spider-Man 2 when debating the greatest superhero movie ever. Some days, I side with Nolan, while other days, I support Raimi. How about rewatching Spider-Man 2 on Netflix and then deciding for yourself?
Two years after the events of Spider-Man, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is trying to balance his personal life with his responsibilities as Spider-Man. With the latter, a new threat emerges in Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), who transforms into the villainous Doctor Octopus after a fusion experiment goes wrong and kills his wife. To make matters worse, stress and doubt lead to Peter’s powers weakening. Should Peter’s obligations as Spider-Man in New York City outweigh his desire for a normal life? It’s true that great power comes with great responsibility, and Raimi wholly understands the mythology of Spider-Man. After watching several of Marvel’s most recent misfires, it’s a joy to return to Raimi’s fantastic Spider-Man sequel.
Spider-Man 2
Release Date
June 30, 2004
Runtime
127 minutes
Director
Sam Raimi
What else should you watch on Netflix?
Luckily for subscribers, Netflix has a vast library of movies and shows to stream at the click of a button. If thrillers are in your wheelhouse, then try streaming Inside Man and Savages. If you want to finish a Netflix miniseries during a plane ride, then give Anatomy of a Scandal and Death by Lightning a shot.
Subscription with ads
Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
Two or four
