The Best Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now (Aug. 28-Sept. 4, 2026)
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By: K. Thor Jensen, Contributing Writer
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A visit to the Netflix top movies charts always packs some surprises. The #1 movie might be a new release, like this week’s Don’t Say Good Luck, or a weird throwback (like how White Chicks was being watched obsessively a few months ago). By monitoring streams and social media conversation, I pick out the movies you need to know about.
Top Movie Picks: High School Musicals
Don’t Say Good Luck
I wonder how Sunny Sandler feels about her acting career, given that she features almost exclusively in movies produced by her famous parents? It’s a tough position to be in, and I can’t say I wouldn’t take advantage of a little nepotism myself. Her latest feature, Don’t Say Good Luck, is topping charts globally, so she’s doing something right. It tells the story of a young woman preparing for a starring role in her high school musical while also dealing with her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
- Director: Julia Hart
- Cast: Sunny Sandler, Melanie Lynskey, Max Greenfield
- Genre: Drama
- Rating: PG-13
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
The Prom
For something a little more lighthearted but still scratching that teenage high school musical itch, The Prom is a great way to spend a few hours. Adapted from a Broadway musical, it takes place in rural Indiana where a high school principal cancels the Senior Prom to prevent a lesbian couple from attending. A group of washed-up actors take up the cause, and hijinks and high-energy song and dance numbers ensue.
- Director: Ryan Murphy
- Stars: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman
- Genre: Musical
- Rating: PG-13
- IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
Work It
Any high schooler knows that the prom is a rite of passage, and Work It captures that experience perfectly. This feel-good musical comedy follows two best friends who are determined to bring their small town’s outdated prom tradition into the modern age.
