The Best Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now (Oct. 16-23, 2026)
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(Credit: Netflix)
Streamers now often attract top-tier Hollywood talent, and Netflix seems to have developed a particularly close relationship with Ben Affleck. While none of his made-for-Netflix movies have been particularly great, they still do well enough to top the charts when they're released.
Animals
Critics are not enjoying Animals, Ben Affleck's latest thriller for Netflix, but plenty of people are watching it. The thriller follows a Los Angeles politician as he tries to recover his kidnapped son, but most of the conversation about the movie centers on its use of AI tools. Affleck has stated in interviews that he used AI for "lots of things" during production, but the one moment people point to (and laugh about) is a ridiculous physics-defying sequence toward the end of the film that's gone viral on social media.
- Director: Ben Affleck
- Cast: Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson
- Genre: Drama
- Rating: R
- IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Extraction
Co-written by the Russo brothers of Marvel Cinematic Universe fame, Extraction became the most-watched original movie in Netflix history when it premiered in 2020. While it's not a genre-defining masterpiece, it's a propulsive and fun action movie with some solid set pieces. Chris Hemsworth plays mercenary Tyler Rake, hired to rescue the kidnapped son of a Bangladeshi drug lord, but, much like Animals, there are some financial twists and turns involved that complicate things.
- Director: Sam Hargrave
- Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Bryon Lerum, Ryder Lerum
- Genre: Action
- Rating: R
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Havoc
2025's Havoc has a lot of parallels with Animals—a political candidate, a son in trouble, and a race against time—but Gareth Evans is one of the world's top action directors, and the film is a much better bet if you're in the mood for a thrilling ride.