The Best Drama Movies on Netflix Right Now

The beauty of Netflix is that the streaming service has a wealth of genre options at your disposal. If you want to get your action fix on, you are free to do so. If you’re in the mood for a comedy, thriller, or straight-up horror movie, they’ve got those as well. But sometimes it’s hard to beat a genuinely great drama, and boy does Netflix have a wealth of options in this particular genre. To help whittle down your choices, we’ve gone ahead and curated a list of the very best dramas on Netflix right now, which run the gamut from period pieces to relationship dramas to little-seen gems. There are movies from big, well-known filmmakers on this list, and there are also films from up-and-comers that are absolutely worth checking out.

So peruse through our list of the best drama movies on Netflix below, and get to watchin’. But beware; some of these may require a tissue or seven.

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Rebecca

Director: Ben Wheatley

Writer: Jane Goldman, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse, based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier

Cast: Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristin Scott Thomas, Keeley Hawes, Ann Dowd, Sam Riley

It may seem sacrilegious to remake an Alfred Hitchcock classic (particularly one that took home Best Picture), but Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of the beloved Daphne du Maurier novel certainly takes the tormented romance in a different direction. While Hitchcock’s version was hauntingly restrained, Wheatley captures perpetual anxiety within an exaggerated melodrama. Wheatley is known best for his endeavors in the horror genre, so seeing him do a gothic romance is an interesting change of pace. There aren’t a lot of actresses who could have lived up to Joan Fontaine, but Lily James was up to the challenge. Kristin Scott Thomas gives a standout performance as the scheming, embittered Mrs. Danvers. — Liam Gaughan

The King

Director: David Michod

Writer: David Michod and Joel Edgerton, based on the plays by William Shakespeare

Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, Robert Pattinson, Sean Harris, Lily-Rose Depp, Ben Mendelsohn

David Michod may not be a household name yet, but the Australian writer-director has already crafted a diverse filmography that includes satirical biopics (War Machine), crime thrillers (Animal Kingdom), and stirring post-apocalyptic neo-westerns (The Rover). Leave it to a filmmaker this versatile to make one of the most gripping, violent Shakespearean epics of the past decade. The King explores the coming-of-age tale of the young Prince Hal (Timothee Chalamet) as he’s exposed to the realities of combat. Hal inherits the English throne after his father, King Henry IV (Ben Mendeslohn), suddenly passes away. Chalamet does a remarkable job making the beloved text feel vibrant again, and Joel Edgerton gives a performance as Halstaff worthy of Orson Welles. — Liam Gaughan

The Power of the Dog

Director/Writer: Jane Campion

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee

A mesmerizing work from one of cinema’s greatest directors, Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog is a film that you have likely heard a lot of praise about. I am here to tell you that not only does it deserve it and all the awards it has gotten, it is worth experiencing for itself as it defies all expectations. A slow-burn of a Western, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the menacing Phil Burbank. A cowboy with a mean streak, he becomes bitter when his brother George (Jesse Plemons) marries Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst). Masking his fears of abandonment, Phil begins to torment Rose and her young son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The various dynamics between the characters are all fully realized because of the uniformly outstanding performances, creating a family drama that is small in scope though vast in ambition. It is a film where you best go in knowing as little as possible as it sneaks up with you with both its beauty and quiet dread that could not be more perfectly executed. — Chase Hutchinson

tick, tick…BOOM!

Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Writer: Steven Levenson, Jonathan Larson

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Vanessa Hudgens, Robin de Jesús , Michaela Jaé (MJ) Rodriguez, Judith Light

The biographical musical drama tick, tick…BOOM! tells the beautiful and heartbreaking true story of Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield), a young, ambitious composer, playwright, and lyricist (who would later write the legendary rock musical Rent), who’s riddled with insecurity and the insurmountable odds against him to make it as an artist in New York City. When he’s not feverishly jotting down lyrics or cold-calling other artists, he’s waiting tables at the Moondance Diner, balancing his work life with his romantic life, and dealing with the harsh reality of the AIDS crisis. Garfield soars in the lead role and carries an excellent ensemble cast through stellar musical numbers you won’t want to miss. — Emily Bernard

Passing

Director/Writer: Rebecca Hall

Cast: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, Gbenga Akinnagbe

Based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, Passing, as its title suggests, chronicles the inequality and varying degrees of racism African Americans in the 1920s faced based on the tone of their skin. Shot in black and white, this historical drama follows the fragile relationship between two high school friends who, because of their light skin, are able to “pass” as white. Clare (Ruth Negga) married John (Alexander Skarsgård) a wealthy white man from Chicago who loathes African Americans and is oblivious to the fact that his wife is one. Irene (Tessa Thompson) married a black doctor and lives in Harlem, and lives in constant fear of being “outed” as black when in white-only establishments. Irene and Clare’s reunion years later sparks conversation and reflection, as well as the questioning of identity. Negga and Thompson give honest, BAFTA-nominated performances in the film. — Emily Bernard

The Lost Daughter

Director/Writer: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Cast: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Ed Harris, Dagmara Dominczyk, Paul Mescal

Motherhood takes a toll. That’s the core message in The Lost Daughter, the eerie, psychological drama based on Elena Ferrante’s novel of the same name. In Gyllenhaal’s impressive directorial debut, we meet Leda (Olivia Colman), a woman taking a solo beach vacation who witnesses Nina (Dakota Johnson) struggling to adjust to life as a young mother. During Leda’s interactions with Nina, and observations of the other people on the beach, she’s forced to reexamine the traumatic experiences she had raising her two daughters, and questions the decisions that led her to this point in her life. Gyllenhaal won Best Director, Screenplay, and Feature at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. — Emily Bernard

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Director: George C. Wolfe

Writer: Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Cast: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, Jeremy Shamos, Dusan Brown

When it comes to the blues, no one can beat Ma Rainey. Based on August Wilson’s 1982 play of the same name, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom takes place in 1927 Chicago and follows the groundbreaking blues singer Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) during a high-stakes recording succession with her band, which includes the equally-stubborn Levee (Chadwick Boseman) and veteran musician Toledo (Glynn Turman). Egos are tested and tensions are raised when Ma shows up late to the session and insists on certain demands. A turbulent afternoon breeds important conversations about race, gender, and the power of art. Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. — Emily Bernard

The Unforgivable

Director: Nora Fingscheidt

Writer: Peter Craig, Hillary Seitz, Courtenay Miles

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jon Bernthal, Aisling Franciosi

What happens when you do something that’s unforgivable? The aptly titled crime drama The Unforgivable, which is based on Sally Wainwright’s British miniseries Unforgiven, follows Ruth Slater (Sandra Bullock) who, after serving two decades in jail for murdering a sheriff who tried to evict her and her little sister from their home, is ready to re-enter society and build a new life. The truth behind her actions as well as her burning desire to reunite with her sister, however, haunts and hinder her from fulfilling that goal. Against her better judgment, she returns to the site of the murder and meets the new family living in the home, creating new enemies along the way. The Unforgivable features a career-best performance by Bullock. — Emily Bernard

The Guilty

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Writer: Nic Pizzolatto

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Christina Vidal, Adrian Martinez, Riley Keough (voice), Ethan Hawke (voice), Peter Sarsgaard (voice), Paul Dano (voice)

Hello, operator? A remake of the 2018 Danish film Den Skyldige, The Guilty focuses on Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal), a demoted police officer stuck fielding calls on the night shift of a 9-1-1 call center. When one particular call comes through from a kidnapped woman, Joe is forced to confront his checkered past, which is perhaps not as innocent as we’re led to believe. In this crime thriller, which practically doubles as a one-man show, Gyllenhaal embodies the real-time anxieties, unpredictabilities, and life-and-death scenarios that 9-1-1 operators must deal with on a daily basis. — Emily Bernard

The Master

Director/Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, and Rami Malek

Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson is a bit of a master when it comes to crafting dramas, but his films are oftentimes more challenging than your average Oscar bait. His 2012 film The Master may be the most obtuse of the bunch, but over its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime the film is constantly engrossing and downright vexing. Loosely inspired by the story of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, the movie is a two-headed monster of sorts: Joaquin Phoenix plays an instinct-driven, alcoholic, and PTSD-riddled WWII veteran who comes into contact with the charismatic Lancaster Dodd (a brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman), who is leading a nascent philosophical movement called “The Cause.” The film largely revolves around the push and pull between these two men as PTA conjures a fascinating chronicle of human behavior and relationships. You get out of The Master what you put into it, so go in with an open mind, and be prepared to ponder the ending of this one for quite some time. – Adam Chitwood

Rush

Director: Ron Howard

Writer: Peter Morgan

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, and Pierfrancesco Favino

Once upon a time, the creator of The Crown teamed up with legendary director Ron Howard and two Marvel stars to make an exciting, racing drama – and nobody saw it. 2013’s Rush is a criminally underrated film, and it features one of Chris Hemsworth’s best dramatic performances as daring Formula One driver James Hunt. The film chronicles Hunt’s rivalry with Austrian driver Nikki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl), with each actor getting pretty even screentime as Howard crafts a story of two very different men who were driven to be the best at what they do. The 1970s aesthetic is tangibly conjured by cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, and the racing scenes are wildly exciting. – Adam Chitwood

Mank

Director: David Fincher

Writer: Jack Fincher

Cast: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey, Tuppence Middleton, Charles Dance, and Tom Burke

Acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher’s first Netflix movie is catnip for cinephiles, as it charts the true-history behind the inspiration and writing of the screenplay for Citizen Kane. Mank follows Hollywood screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) through his trials and tribulations as a charming and in-demand script doctor, but also a few years later as he develops and writes the first draft of what would become Citizen Kane. Mank chronicles the true-life inspirations for the characters and story of Kane, with Oldman delivering a towering performance as a beleaguered man who sees a shot at greatness and takes it. The execution is tremendous, as Fincher crafts a lush black-and-white feature that’s made to look (and sound) like it was released in 1941. Amanda Seyfried shines as actress Marion Davies and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross deliver a lush throwback score that underlines the entire affair. – Adam Chitwood

The Florida Project

Director: Sean Baker

Writers: Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch

Cast: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe, and Caleb Landry Jones

The Florida Project is brilliant and human and it will absolutely break your heart. The film follows a six-year-old girl named Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) who lives in a motel in Kissimmee, Florida, just around the corner from DisneyWorld. In Moonee’s eyes, her days are filled with adventure as she makes the best out of living week-to-week in a motel with her single mother. But through the eyes of Bobby (Willem Dafoe), the motel’s manager, we see the abject poverty surrounding its tenants, and the loops they continue getting stuck in without any promise of upward mobility. Like Boyhood this story feels at once individualistic and universal, and Sean Baker’s docudrama-like filmmaking makes the events feel all too real. This is an essential watch. – Adam Chitwood

Wildlife

Director: Paul Dano

Writers: Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ed Oxenbould, and Bill Camp

The 2018 directorial debut of actor Paul Dano is a handsomely crafted and emotionally overwhelming chronicle of a marriage falling apart, all seen through the eyes of the couple’s young boy. Based on the book of the same name by Richard Ford, Wildlife takes place in 1960 and follows a couple (Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal) and their teenage son as they move to Montana. Shortly after arriving, the father loses his job and is forced to take the only work he can – going off and fighting wildfires, leaving his wife and son behind to fend for themselves. Mulligan gives a quietly devastating performance as a single mother doing her best, and Gyllenhaal brings a seething intensity to the role of a man trying to hide his shame. Dano directs the whole thing with the care and confidence of a veteran auteur (his handle on shot composition is truly stunning), and the screenplay by Dano and Kazan is assured and poetic. This is a deeply emotional and mature family drama that proves Dano is the real-deal behind the camera, and it’s also lowkey one of the best films of the last few years. – Adam Chitwood

Da 5 Bloods

Director: Spike Lee

Writers: Spike Lee, Kevin Wilmott, Danny Bilson, and Paul De Meo

Cast: Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Norm Lewis, Jonathan Majors, and Chadwick Boseman

For his follow-up film after winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for BlacKkKlansman, legendary filmmaker Spike Lee decided to tackle the Vietnam War with Da 5 Bloods. The story is fairly straightforward, but the film is anything but. It follows four Vietnam War veterans who travel back to Vietnam to find the remains of their fallen squad leader—as well as a pile of gold they left behind. But they soon find that the wounds they carry run deep, and Lee uses the film to examine issues of family, race, and American Exceptionalism in striking, graphic ways. It’s absolutely thrilling and Delroy Lindo gives a genuinely Oscar-worthy lead performance. – Adam Chitwood

Private Life

Director/Writer: Tamara Jenkins

Cast: Kathryn Hahn, Paul Giamatti, Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon, John Carroll Lynch, Desmin Borges, and Denis O’Hare

Tamara Jenkins’ new movie, Private Life, is a deft balancing act that plunges viewers into the frustration, anxiety, and hardship of a couple struggling to conceive, and yet it never loses sight of the humanity and even moments of odd comedy in their struggle. Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti play Rachel and Richard Biegler, a couple in their late 40s who are desperately trying to get pregnant, but despite putting themselves through the fertility grinder, are no closer to having a child. When they learn that their only chance is an egg donor, they decide they want it to be someone they know, and land upon their wayward niece (not blood-related) Sadie (Kayli Carter), a well-meaning if slightly flighty young woman in her mid-20s to be their donor. When she agrees, it ends up creating new, unforeseen complications, but never anything so outlandish that it breaks the movie’s powerful credibility.

Private Life is remarkable for a multitude of reasons, but it demands to be seen for Hahn’s remarkable performance. She has to play so many different levels and yet it’s not simply a case of “most acting” but fine-tuning her outrage and her heartache based on the scene. Sometimes she gets to lash out, but other times she has to bury her pain so that it doesn’t make other people uncomfortable. It’s easily one of the best performances of 2018. – Matt Goldberg

There Will Be Blood

Director/Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. Connor

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the best filmmakers in history and Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the best actors in history, and the duo’s first ever collaboration resulted in one of the best films ever made. There Will Be Blood is a drama set at the turn of the 20th century that follows a ruthless oilman named Daniel Plainview, played by Day-Lewis in an Oscar-winning performance. The film chronicles Daniel’s unending thirst for power at the sake of everything—including his young son H.W. and a neighborly preacher played by Paul Dano. This is a thematically rich, deep character-driven drama so you kind of have to be in the right mood for it. But if you are, then you’re in for a treat. – Adam Chitwood

Marriage Story

Director/Writer: Noah Baumbach

Cast: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta

You should prepare yourself for some emotional heavy lifting, but Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story is far from a grind. Instead, it’s a mature, bittersweet, and powerful look at the end of marriage from both sides. Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (Adam Driver) were not only married, but also worked together in an acting company where she starred and he directed, but their differing priorities have split them apart. With reconciliation impossible, they try to navigate the minefield of divorce only to slip into outright hostility in the custody battle over their son. Anchored by excellent performances from the entire cast, Marriage Story may put you through the ringer, but you’ll feel grateful for the experience and the time spent with these characters. – Matt Goldberg

The Social Network

Director: David Fincher

Writer: Aaron Sorkin

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Rooney Mara, and Rashida Jones

The Social Network is a masterpiece. It also happens to be one of the most rewatchable movies ever made. Rarely has a director and screenwriter pairing been so better matched, with David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin elevating each other’s best instincts and dampening each other’s worst. This cool, incisive drama is far more than a “Facebook” movie, as it uses the dramatic “origin story” of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg to tell a much larger story about what happens when the people running the world’s largest companies are barely out of college. There’s an almost mythic quality to the rise and fall of Zuckerberg here—the “was it worth it in the end?” philosophical questions. But this movie also just absolutely slaps/rules/slays so hard. The Oscar-winning score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is an all-timer, the performances are phenomenal, the script is perfect, and the direction is absolutely masterful. Watch this movie! – Adam Chitwood

The Irishman

Director: Martin Scorsese

Writer: Steven Zaillian

Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci

Don’t be daunted by the 3.5-hour runtime on The Irishman. Martin Scorsese’s epic about the life of Teamster and hitman Frank Sheeran flies by as it morphs from entertaining mob story to a powerful mediation on life, age, and regret. Sheeran (Robert De Niro) tells us his life story of being friends with mobster Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) and how these friendships converged into deadly consequences with Frank stuck in the middle. The movie discards the glamour of films like Goodfellas and Casino and instead focuses on the slow decay of a man who has always seen himself as a good soldier when really all he has to offer is violence and selfishness. Far from “just another mob movie” from Scorsese, The Irishman is a powerful look at your twilight years and reflecting on the choices you’ve made in life. It’s among Scorsese’s best. – Matt Goldberg

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