The Best Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now (May 22-29, 2026)

The Best Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now (May 22-29, 2026) | PCMag

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Remarkably Bright Creatures (Credit: Netflix)

I constantly browse the thousands of movies on Netflix, checking out what's getting the most views on the streaming service and writing up a set of recommendations. I use a variety of metrics like popularity, ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, and my Letterboxd watchlist to surface four flicks every week. I'm expecting Remarkably Bright Creatures to be one of the best-reviewed Netflix movies of the year, so watch it now so you know what everybody's talking about. Netflix Review

4.5 Outstanding

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Remarkably Bright Creatures It's in second place on the US most-watched list for the week, but everybody's talking about Remarkably Bright Creatures. Sally Field turns in a great performance as a widowed aquarium janitor who forges an unusual friendship with a giant Pacific octopus. The twist is that we get to hear the cephalopod's thoughts, voiced by Alfred Molina, as the duo works with a struggling musician to get his life on track. It's a totally unique movie that really delivers.Director: Olivia NewmanCast: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm MeaneyGenre: DramaRating: PG-13IMDb Rating: 7.8/10My Octopus Teacher If you want to see the obvious inspiration for Remarkably Bright Creatures, then 2020 documentary My Octopus Teacher is it. This hit documentary follows diver and filmmaker Craig Foster over a year as he slowly earns the trust of a wild octopus in a South African kelp forest. The incredible intelligence of these animals comes to the fore as the octopus plays with him, fends off shark attacks, and eventually finds a mate. It's a sweet and lyrical movie that will give you newfound respect for octopi. You May Also Like

Directors: Pippa Ehrlich, James ReedStars: Craig Foster, Tom Braden FosterGenre: DocumentaryRating: TV-GIMDb Rating: 8.1/10Pangolin: Kulu's Journey Another tale of an unusual friendship between humans and animals, Pangolin: Kulu's Journey takes us to Africa, where investment manager Gareth Thomas unexpectedly finds himself responsible for a baby pangolin, the nocturnal anteaters that are threatened by poaching for their meat and scales. With no experience in conservation, the movie follows Thomas as he bonds with the animal and learns how much it'll take to keep it safe.Directors: Pippa EhrlichStars: Gareth Thomas, Raymond Jansen, Nicci WrightGenre: DocumentaryRating: PGIMDb Rating: 7.5/10Okja Probably Bong Joon Ho's most tender movie, 2017's Okja is set in the mountains of Korea, where teenage Mija and her grandfather are raising a genetically engineered pig named Okja for a competition. As the bond between the girl and the beast deepens, she rebels when its corporate owners come to take it away. After hooking up with an animal liberation group with their own secret motives, a daring heist to free Okja takes place. There's a lot of sweetness in between the dystopian sci-fi. Recommended by Our Editors What's New to Watch on Netflix the Week of May 22, 2026 What's New to Watch on HBO Max the Week of May 22, 2026 What's New to Watch on Disney+ and Hulu the Week of May 22, 2026

Directors: Bong Joon HoStars: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Ahn Seo-hyunGenre: Science FictionRating: TV-MAIMDb Rating: 7.3/10Want to see everything that's new on Netflix this month? We've got you covered.

About Our Expert K. Thor Jensen Contributing Writer Experience K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017. Latest By K. Thor Jensen These 6 Last-Minute HP Memorial Day Deals Can Save You Thousands on New PCs You’re Running Out of Time to Get 200+ Of The Best Memorial Day Tech Deals Here Are The 11 Best Laptop and Desktop to Grab Deals Before Memorial Day Is Over You’re Running Out of Time to Save Big Money on the Best Memorial Day Tech Deals I Found The 7 Best Deals From Lenovo's Memorial Day Sale That Are Still Live More from K. Thor Jensen