Back in Action has been trashed – but there's a key factor that explains which films are unexpected streaming hits.

Netflix is kicking 2025 off in decidedly low-key fashion. By its standards, the streamer's lineup of film originals in January is surprisingly slight. There are still a few Netflix-exclusive movies worth recommending this month,

This month’s selection of movies includes an underseen rock opera, one of the best movies of the 2000s, a paranoid thriller about American misdeeds abroad, and a nice pre-Oscars catch-up on one of Timothée Chalamet’s best performances.

The last month or so has been big for surprise additions to Netflix’s streaming roster. A few weeks ago, the streaming service added a bunch of big Warner Bros. releases to the lineup without announcing them in the monthly newsletters.

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the week: family movie night. But what should you watch? A feel-good, kid-friendly animation or a heartwarming coming-of-age tale? I'll admit, I have wasted hours of my time trying to decide on a movie that caters to a multi-generational audience—one that spans from kindergarteners to boomers,