Netflix is the ultimate place for entertainment, but scrolling through the endless icons of 90’s sitcoms, low-budget horror, and Shrek sequels can lead to indecision paralysis. Cut down the scrolling time with Film With No Filter’s guide to the best movies on Netflix UK currently. We have compiled a list of UK Netflix’s must-watch films from the online streaming site.
What To Watch On Netflix UK Right Now (May 2023)
A Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Celine Sciamma took the Cannes Film Festival by storm with her simmering historical romance A Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Critic Mark Kermode hailed it as ‘a note perfect film’, proof that Sciamma is one of the best contemporary filmmakers, and the film lives up to the praise. The French flick is an intellectual sizzle that studies women, the female gaze, and what can happen when two people choose to love. Filmed in digital but keeping all the luscious feeling of a painting, A Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a real treat for a quiet night in.
Arrival
If the thought of mysterious 50ft extraterrestrial objects all over the planet intrigues you, then Arrival is just the mystery thriller to watch on Netflix UK. Starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner as the investigation team communicating with these celestial strangers, the film is just as much about connection as it is about fear. Denis Villeneuve has gone on to direct Bladerunner 2046 and Dune, but Arrival remains one of his best achievements. The story will keep you guessing whether these creatures are friends or foes.
Knives Out
Since Netflix’s release of Glass Onion, many of us have revisited the original Knives Out. Rian Johnson has created nothing short of a whodunnit masterpiece. Knives Out is a cozy crime caper, complete with the Clue mansion. Daniel Craig debuts his Foghorn Leghorn accent, and his long coat in the movie. His Detective Benoit Blanc sets the mood for this campy but classic murder mystery. There are plenty of easter eggs for fans of the genre, but the story stands up on its own as a truly engrossing puzzle.
Roma

Tied with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in having the most Oscar nominations for a non-English film, Roma was not short of accolades. This was even before it won the Best Foreign Language award of 2019. Having directed Gravity and the blistering Y Tu Mama Tambien, Alfonso Cuaron turned his eye to his childhood. Set during the Mexico City turmoil of the 70s, Roma stars first-time actress Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo, a live-in nanny for four rowdy kids. In the heart of Roma is a stunning family drama about class and work with comedy knitted throughout.
The Irishman
If the 4-hour runtime isn’t too intimidating, The Irishman is Scorcese at his Scorsese-est. For lovers of gangster classics like Goodfellas or Mean Streets, the film is a welcome return to what Scorsese does best. Based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, the epic follows Rober De Niro as World War II Vet Frank Sheeran as he joins Philadelphia’s underworld, getting involved with the likes of Jimmy Hoffa and mobster Russell Buffalino.
RRR

This bombastic Telugu language flick will likely be the most jaw-dropping movie on Netflix. RRR is relentless with its ambitious action and story. Fans of Rajamouli’s previous work in the Bahubali duology will get even more delights from RRR. The gasps-per-minute are unreachable for most cult movies in the West. If the MCU films are not quite cutting it nowadays, director and screenwriter S. S. Rajamouli has tigers to fight and physics laws to ignore. Netflix UK currently has the Hindi dub available.
Creep & Creep 2
So the ‘ten movies’ in the title was a fib, but for good reason. The two Creep movies are some of the best horror offerings on Netflix. Mark Duplass and co-writer Patrick Brice star in this chilling found footage thriller and show off their skills as filmmakers and actors. The first installment follows failing videographer Aaron (played by Brice). Cash-desperation leads him to reply to a Craigslist post from Josef (Duplass), a man with an inoperable brain tumour who wants to make a film about himself for his daughter. However, Josef may not be entirely telling the truth. True to its name, Creep will have you stare at the screen with suspicion. Creep 2 is arguably an even better watch, but no spoilers!
Boiling Point
Since the success of The Bear and The Menu, the media has become enamoured with the tightrope walk-on dental floss that seems to be running a kitchen. From this wave of grilling entertainment comes Boiling Point. The talented Stephen Graham stars as Head Chef Andy Jones, a Gordon Ramsey type trying to keep his restaurant and staff from collapsing during the busiest day of the year. It is closer to The Bear than The Menu, in that Ralph Fiennes is not trying to feed guests sin tortillas. Like The Bear, it is situated in a realistically stressful restaurant. There are rowdy customers, cutting critics, unbalanced chequebooks, and a tower of plates to wash. Boiling Point is the perfect film for those with an appetite for stressful films. There is also an excellent TV show, which dropped in 2023.
Uncut Gems

A jewellery business to run, a gambling addiction to feed, a divorce, a girlfriend, and loan sharks – Howie (Adam Sandler) has every conceivable problem in Uncut Gems. This thriller will have you squirming in your seat. Although Sandler resembles his Punch Drunk Love character – squirrelly, tense, and untethered, there is no mistaking that this is thoroughly a Safdie brothers affair. Matching the energy they brought to Good Time, this movie is a cringe-inducing exercise in endurance. There is nothing the viewer can do but watch Howie’s actions, leading him further into a terrifying trap of his own making. That may not sound like a fun time, but Uncut Gems’s comedy and tempo keep the movie light enough to appreciate. It’s also one of Sandler’s best. Be brave!
Velvet Goldmine
Before Todd Haynes made the shimmering romance Carol, he directed queer rock musical Velvet Goldmine after the disappearance of glam rockstar Brian Slade. The film is swimming in androgyny and spandex bodysuits thanks to Sandy Powell’s costume design work, which borrows from the 70s. Powell lost Best Costume Design to herself for Shakespeare in Love and admits that the wrong film won that year. Taking inspiration from David Bowie’s glam rock era in the UK, the film is a delight for fans of spectacle.
What will you be watching next on Netflix UK?
If ten isn’t enough, here are some of the previous lists of films to watch.