Stream it on Netflix now<\/a>“Zero Dark Thirty”: An award-winning political thriller about the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden.
Stream it on Netflix now<\/a>“Ex Machina”: A well-crafted sci-fi thriller from the writer of “28 Days Later” and “Civil War.”
Stream it on Netflix now<\/a>“How to Train Your Dragon 2”: An animated sequel set in a fantasy land inhabited by Vikings and dragons.
Stream it on Netflix now<\/a>“Hell or High Water”: A crime thriller about two bank robbers trying to evade a Texas ranger nearing retirement.
Stream it on Netflix now<\/a><\/p>\n
Netflix has a tradition of kicking off a new month by adding a load of movies to its already sizeable library. While more choice is never a bad thing, it can lead to a mean case of decision paralysis. After all, I can\u2019t be the only one who sometimes spends more time scrolling Netflix trying to pick a movie to watch than actually, you know, streaming films.<\/p>\n
But fear not, I come with a solution to help you avoid wasting precious movie-watching time endlessly scrolling through Netflix\u2019s library. I\u2019ve combed through the streaming service\u2019s February 2026 slate<\/a> and found the five highest-rated movies just added to the platform (based on their Rotten Tomatoes<\/a> scores). Even better, I\u2019ve already each of these movies, so I can personally attest to their quality, so don\u2019t just take Rotten Tomatoes\u2019 word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These are the highest-rated movies that have just arrived on Netflix this month, and in a happy coincidence, they cover multiple genres (though with a general leaning towards thrillers). There should be at least one new to Netflix pick that appeals to you in this roundup.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n \u2018The American President\u2019 (1995)<\/p>\n The American President Official Trailer #1 – Martin Sheen Movie (1995) HD – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n Last month, the entire film industry was shocked by the tragic death of Rob Reiner, and what better way to celebrate the director’s life than by enjoying some of his best movies. One of his perhaps more forgotten efforts in 1995\u2019s \u201cThe American President,\u201d but it deserves to be remembered. This romantic comedy stars Michael Douglas and Annette Bening, and centers on a U.S. President attempting to find love, while also leading the free world.<\/p>\n Douglas plays Andrew Shephard, a popular Democratic president, who is nearing the end of his first term. To ensure his successful reelection, he\u2019s attempting to pass a crime control bill. At the same time, he meets and falls in love with Sydney Ellen Wade (Bening), an environmental lobbyist, who wants Shephard to support an environmental bill. The problem is that the President might only have the political clout left to get one bill passed.<\/p>\n Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%<\/a> ‘Zero Dark Thirty\u2019 (2012)<\/p>\n Jessica Chastain might have won an Oscar for her role in \u201cThe Eyes of Tammy Faye,\u201d but I always argue that the American actress delivered the performance of her career in \u201cZero Dark Thirty.\u201d<\/p>\n This gripping thriller explores the almost decade-long manhunt for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. While much of the drama plays out in boardrooms and military bunkers, its more action-oriented third act is a highlight. But what stands out the most is Chastain\u2019s committed performance as a CIA analyst driven to the point of obsession.<\/p>\n Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (the filmmaker behind \u201cThe Hurt Locker\u201d and Netflix\u2019s \u201cA House of Dynamite”), Chastain\u2019s Maya is a fictional character, but inspired by real people who led the mission to locate and eliminate bin Laden. Set over nearly a decade, Maya refuses to give up the hunt, and the movie culminates in a tense operation to bring bin Laden to justice.<\/p>\n Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%<\/a> You may like<\/p>\n \u2018Ex Machina\u2019 (2014)<\/p>\n Ex Machina | Official Trailer HD | A24 – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n Anybody who caught \u201c28 Years Later: The Bone Temple\u201d<\/a> in theaters over the past few weeks knows that Alex Garland is one of the finest screenwriters working in Hollywood right now. But he\u2019s not just a master at penning a great script; he\u2019s also a fantastic director, too. 2014\u2019s \u201cEx Machina\u201d marked Garland\u2019s directorial debut, and it\u2019s a gripping sci-fi thriller with a twisting narrative that also offers a thoughtful edge, asking some difficult questions about what it means to be human.<\/p>\n Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) is a programmer at tech conglomerate Blue Book, invited to spend a week at the luxurious but isolated home of CEO Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). However, the trip is actually a cover for a different purpose. Nathan wants Caleb to interact with an advanced A.I. system, housed within a humanoid robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander). As Caleb gets to know Ava, he bonds with Nathan\u2019s creation, leading to dark consequences.<\/p>\n Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%<\/a> \u2018How to Train Your Dragon 2\u2019 (2014)<\/p>\n How To Train Your Dragon 2 Official Trailer #1 (2014) – Animation Sequel HD – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHow to Train Your Dragon 2\u201d is a great example of a sequel done right. It takes the family-friendly fantasy of the already-enjoyable first movie and raises the stakes and spectacle. Set in a Viking world where dragons roam the land, it once again centers on young Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and his best pal, Toothless, the last remaining Night Fury dragon. After the events of the first \u201cHow to Train Your Dragon,\u201d Vikings and dragons live in peace, but as you can probably guess, new challenges are on the horizon.<\/p>\n For starters, Hiccup\u2019s father (Gerard Butler), the clan\u2019s chief, wants him to take over the reins as the village leader. And there\u2019s then the small matter of a mysterious new dragon rider who turns out to be Hiccup\u2019s long-lost mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett). Plus, there\u2019s a ruthless dragon hunter, named Drago (Djimon Hounsou), on the scene with plans for world domination. Universal has confirmed it\u2019ll be turning this sequel into a live-action movie (due for a theatrical release in 2027), so now is a great time to watch the animated original.<\/p>\n Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%<\/a> \u2018Hell or High Water\u2019 (2016)<\/p>\n HELL OR HIGH WATER – Official Trailer HD – YouTube Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n Before taking over the television world with the enduringly popular \u201cYellowstone\u201d universe, Taylor Sheridan was busy writing some of the best thriller movies of the 21st century. Yes, Sheridan is one very talented creative. After penning 2015\u2019s excellent \u201cSicario,\u201d Sheridan wrote the western-themed thriller \u201cHell or High Water,\u201d and it\u2019s a movie that quickly grabs your attention and refuses to let go until the final, bittersweet moments.<\/p>\n Toby (Chris Pine) and brother Tanner (Ben Foster) are bank robbers, committing a spree of heists across the state of Texas. While Toby expertly plans the crimes, Tanner is a loose cannon, causing friction between the pair. Believing their robberies are justified after the bank cruelly forecloses on their family ranch, they soon cross paths with a Texas Ranger, Marcus (Bridges), who is just a week from retirement. It\u2019s a gripping \u201ccops vs. robbers\u201d tale.<\/p>\n Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%<\/a> <\/p>\n \n <\/a><\/p>\n Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News<\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. <\/p>\n
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Watch “The American President” on Netflix<\/a> now<\/p>\n
Watch “Zero Dark Thirty” on Netflix<\/a> now<\/p>\n
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Watch “Ex Machina” on Netflix <\/a>now<\/p>\n
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Watch “How to Train Your Dragon 2” on Netflix<\/a> now<\/p>\n
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Watch “Hell or High Water” on Netflix<\/a> now<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766753472_563_r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\")
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