The Best Drama Movies on Netflix to Stream Now

If you’re in the mood for drama, Netflix has you covered

Netflix has made a name for itself when it comes to drama movies.

Over the past few years, many of their original films have become critically acclaimed — and some have even earned Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards. On top of that, the platform is also home to numerous excellent dramatic offerings from other studios around the world. From relationship dramas to biopics based on real people, there's never a shortage of films to fit your mood.

But with the number of dramatic offerings on the streaming service, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out exactly what to watch. That's why we've compiled some of the best drama flicks available to view on the platform right now. Between newer releases like May December and Nyad and award-winning films like Marriage Story and Roma, you'll find the perfect movie to stream in no time.

Ahead, the best drama movies on Netflix to watch now.

Aftersun

As a blissfully unaware 11-year-old, Sophie (Frankie Corio, with Celia Rowlson Hall playing the older version) makes core memories basking in the Turkish sun with her lively and kind father, Calum (Paul Mescal) — who represses his inner struggles from her. Two decades later, Sophie revisits their last holiday through her miniDV recordings and an adult perspective, finding the nuances she once overlooked in her youth.

Watch Aftersun on Netflix on June 21

Ali

Michael Mann's 2001 sports biopic chronicles a decade in the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali (Will Smith), capturing the multifaceted journey of one of the most influential athletes ever — who not only achieved heavyweight champion status but also boldly refused to serve in the Vietnam War. Nominated for two Oscars, Ali also stars Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles and more.

Watch Ali on Netflix

Carol

Set in 1950s Manhattan, this 2015 romantic drama centers on the sapphic relationship between a shy but ambitious twentysomething photographer (Rooney Mara) and an older woman (Cate Blanchett) amid a divorce from her husband (Kyle Chandler). This critically acclaimed film also stars Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy and Cory Michael Smith, among others.

Watch Carol on Netflix on June 17

King Richard

In his Oscar-winning role, Will Smith dons the many track jackets of Richard Williams, the dedicated dad and coach of pro athletes Serena (Demi Singleton) and Venus Williams (Saniyya Sidney). Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, this 2021 biographical sports drama chronicles the sisters' climb to tennis stardom while under the iron-willed guidance of their father.

Watch King Richard on Netflix

Dark Waters

Based on Nathaniel Rich’s New York Times Magazine article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare,” this 2019 legal drama follows corporate defense attorney Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) as he takes on the powerful chemical company DuPont de Nemours, Inc., in an environmental lawsuit after they unleashed unregulated chemicals upon a town. Directed by Todd Haynes, Dark Waters also stars Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham and Bill Pullman.

Watch Dark Waters on Netflix

The Peanut Butter Falcon

Fleeing his assisted living facility to chase his wrestling dreams, a young man with Down syndrome named Zak (Zack Gottsagen) befriends Tyler (Shia Labeouf) — an outlaw fisherman — and embarks on a road trip to the Salt Water Redneck's wrestling school in North Carolina. However, when Zak's caretaker (Dakota Johnson) catches up with them, she joins their adventure.

Watch The Peanut Butter Falcon on Netflix

When You Finish Saving the World

In Jesse Eisenberg's 2022 directorial debut — based on his 2020 Audible Original drama — Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard portray a mother and son struggling to connect while coming across that craved attachment in others. As the guitar-slinging Ziggy (Wolfhard) aims to impress his politically active crush, Lila (Alisha Boe), the straitlaced Evelyn (Moore) befriends teen Kyle (Billy Bryk), whom she meets at the domestic abuse survivor shelter she runs.

Watch When You Finish Saving the World on Netflix

The Theory of Everything

Best Actor Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne embodies theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the adaptation of his ex-wife's 2007 memoir, Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. Set in the University of Cambridge in the 1960s, this biographical romantic drama chronicles their love story, alongside Hawking's diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and his groundbreaking achievements in theoretical physics and quantum mechanics.

Watch The Theory of Everything on Netflix

Out of Africa

Winning seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, Sydney Pollack's 1985 romantic drama centers on Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), a Danish baroness whose aristocratic husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), invests their wealth in a coffee plantation in 20th-century Kenya. Joining him in Africa, Karen discovers Bror's infidelity and finds solace — and love — in the arms of bohemian hunter Denys (Robert Redford), while redefining her own aspirations and desires.

Watch Out of Africa on Netflix

Yesterday

Longing for stardom, singer-songwriter Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) flirts with the idea of abandoning his musical aspirations altogether, despite the support from his lifelong friend, Ellie (Lily James). Yet, a bus accident during a worldwide blackout alters Jack's reality entirely: He alone remembers the Beatles in a world where they've been erased from collective memory. Seizing the opportunity, Jack introduces the legendary band's timeless hits to an oblivious audience, skyrocketing himself into the fame he's long desired.

Watch Yesterday on Netflix

Waves

A tear-jerking, operatic exploration of grief and loss, Waves paints a vivid portrait of a Black Floridian family — led by a high-and-mighty, emotionally reserved father (Sterling K. Brown) — swaying on the edge of a breakdown following a devastating tragedy. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, this 2019 domestic drama features a cast of both lauded actors and new talents, including Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Lucas Hedges, Alexa Demie and Renée Elise Goldsberry.

Watch Waves on Netflix

May December

In Todd Haynes' 2023 drama, Julianne Moore takes on the role of a controversial woman, Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who's loosely based on the real-life Mary Kay Letourneau. Married with three children to the man (Charles Melton) she first met as a 13-year-old boy, Gracie's relationship — which led to her incarceration 20 years prior — faces new challenges when actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.

Watch May December on Netflix

Nyad

Athlete Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) once embarked on an epic 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida but had to surrender to the harsh winds. Now, 32 years later at age 60, Diana rekindles her dream of conquering this aquatic marathon, determined to face the open waters with the support of both her coach (Jodie Foster) and a team of sailors and without the protection of a shark cage.

Watch Nyad on Netflix

Harriet

Directed by Kasi Lemmons, this 2019 biographical drama chronicles the remarkable journey of a legendary American figure — abolitionist Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo) — from her escaping slavery to leading countless enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn and Janelle Monáe also star.

Watch Harriet on Netflix

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

In Wes Anderson's second Roald Dahl adaptation following Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) — with three additional short films also released in September 2023 — the wealthy and cunning Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch) acquires an eye-opening skill from a guru to master the art of seeing without using his eyes, all to gain an unfair advantage in gambling. This star-studded short features performances by Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley and Richard Ayoade

Watch The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar on Netflix

Boy Erased

In the 2018 adaptation of Garrard Conley's memoir, Boy Erased, we follow Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges), whose revelation of his gay identity puts him at odds with his Baptist parents (Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe). Coerced into a conversion therapy program, Jared clashes with its hostile leader (Joel Edgerton), igniting a transformative journey of self-acceptance.

Watch Boy Erased on Netflix

Miss Juneteenth

Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, this critically acclaimed 2020 drama centers around Turquoise (Nicole Beharie), a single mother and former beauty queen. She dedicates herself to preparing her headstrong teenage daughter (Alexis Chikaeze) for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant, hoping to shield her from the challenges in life that Turquoise faced herself.

Watch Miss Juneteenth on Netflix

Hacksaw Ridge

Mel Gibson's 2016 war biopic chronicles pacifist combat medic Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) serving during World War II. Doss' steadfast refusal to carry arms due to religious beliefs sparks challenges and admiration as he fearlessly saves lives on the battlefield, ultimately earning him the Congressional Medal of Honor. Hacksaw Ridge also features a supporting cast including Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey and more.

Watch Hacksaw Ridge on Netflix

Missing

From the minds that brought you screen-life thriller Searching (2018) comes the 2023 standalone sequel about a teen named June (Storm Reid), whose mother (Nia Long) goes missing on a trip to Colombia with her boyfriend. Putting her tech-savvy skills to use, June is determined to find her mom's location, but eventually uncovers some shocking truths about her family along the way.

Watch Missing on Netflix

A Man Called Otto

From A Christmas Carol to Pixar's Up, there are already a handful of beloved stories about a grumpy older man, but A Man Called Otto offers another take on the trope with a whole lot of heart. In this remake of the Swedish film A Man Called Ove — based on Swedish author Fredrik Backman's best-selling novel of the same name — Tom Hanks steps into the shoes of widower Otto Anderson, a grief-stricken man who has plans to end his life but forms a friendship with his new neighbors who reintroduce him to the world's many colors.

Watch A Man Called Otto on Netflix

Fanfic

This Polish LGBTQ drama is an excellent title to grow your watchlist. Fanfic follows two teens (Alin Szewczyk and Jan Cieciara) who develop a profound connection as they confront the obstacles of high school and their gender identities.

Watch Fanfic on Netflix

Hunger

Fans of culinary thrillers like 2022's The Menu will eat this one right up. Directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri, this suspenseful 2023 Thai drama follows a noodle shop cook (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying) who's invited by the renowned Chef Paul (Nopachai Chaiyanam) to train under him and serve silver-spooned patrons — and gets a taste of the expert's high-handed leadership.

Watch Hunger on Netflix

White Noise

Directed by Noah Baumbach, this 2022 satirical drama centers on a family uprooted from their suburban home after a train accident sets noxious chemicals loose nearby. Inspired by the airborne toxic event from Don DeLillo's 1985 novel of the same name (and resembling what transpired in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023), White Noise features a stellar cast including Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle and more.

Watch White Noise on Netflix

RRR

With jaw-dropping action scenes and multiple musical sequences, the award-winning Tollywood adventure drama is one you don't want to miss. Dubbed in several languages — with Telegu being the original — RRR follows two Indian revolutionaries (Ram Charan and N. T. Rama Rao Jr.) who join forces to combat British colonial rule.

Watch RRR on Netflix

The Wonder

Set during the aftermath of the Great Famine, 2022's The Wonder stars Florence Pugh as English nurse Elizabeth "Lib" Wright, who's sent to a countryside village in Ireland to examine a young fasting girl (Kíla Lord Cassidy). Although the 11-year-old claims she has survived without food for months, Lib is determined to uncover the reason behind this marvel.

Watch The Wonder on Netflix

Luckiest Girl Alive

Adapted from Jessica Knoll's best-selling novel of the same name, this 2022 mystery thriller follows a N.Y.C. writer whose storybook life is upended when a true-crime documentarian forces her to rehash her dark past. This film features an ensemble cast, including Mila Kunis, Chiara Aurelia, Finn Wittrock, Connie Britton and more.

Watch Luckiest Girl Alive on Netflix

Passing

In her directorial debut, Rebecca Hall's critically acclaimed drama — filmed entirely in black-and-white — centers on two mixed-race childhood friends who reunite as adults during the 1920s; one who is "passing" as a White woman and the other who identifies as Black. Starring Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland and Alexander Skarsgård, Passing explores race, gender and sexuality in the early 20th century.

Watch Passing on Netflix

The Good Nurse

Based on a chilling true story, The Good Nurse chronicles overburdened ICU nurse Amy Loughren as she discovers that her colleague Charlie Cullen has a dark past. When a patient's unexpected death casts him in a suspicious light, she helps uncover that Charlie has been guilty of murdering dozens of patients. Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne star in the crime thriller.

Watch The Good Nurse on Netflix

Hustle

Stanley Sugerman finds himself in a tough spot after being fired as a professional basketball scout. But after discovering an incredible street ball player during a trip to Spain, he takes the opportunity to prove that they both have what it takes to make it to the NBA. Adam Sandler stars alongside Queen Latifah and Juancho Hernangómez.

Watch Hustle on Netflix

The Swimmers

Based on a true story, sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini (played by real-life siblings Nathalie and Manal Issa) must flee Syria after their home is destroyed during the Civil War. They soon embark on an arduous journey to Greece to seek asylum. After surviving the voyage and heroically saving all those aboard their boat, they turn their attention toward their once-thriving swimming careers. Less than a year after arriving on the shores of Greece, they find themselves competing at the Rio Olympics.

Watch The Swimmers on Netflix

Emily the Criminal

Aubrey Plaza stars as Emily, a college grad drowning in student debt and unable to find a job thanks to a minor criminal record. When she's offered a position as a "dummy shopper," she signs on, even if it means she'll be shopping using stolen credit cards. It isn't long before she teams up with her middleman Youcef (Theo Rossi) to take things to the next level — but their risky move ends up having deadly consequences.

Watch Emily the Criminal on Netflix

All Quiet on the Western Front

Based on the 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front picks up as war begins in Germany in 1914. The four-time Oscar-winning film follows 17-year-old Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) and his classmates, who quickly enlist in the army, motivated by dreams of heroism and glory. But as Paul heads to the Western Front, his perception of war is drastically changed by the bleak reality of war.

Watch All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix

The Power of the Dog

When intimidating rancher Phil Burbank and his brother George meet widowed proprietress Rose, their lives are changed forever. After George marries Rose and brings her back to the ranch with her teenage son, Phil begins to torment the new family. One day, Phil's mockery of the young boy unexpectedly turns into mentorship — but it's unclear if his kind gesture is part of a larger scheme. Benedict Cumberbatch stars alongside Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Watch The Power of the Dog on Netflix

Rebecca

Based on Daphne du Maurier's gothic novel, Rebecca follows a newly married young woman as she moves into her husband's overwhelming estate on the coast of England. There, she finds herself living in the ever-present shadow of his late wife — and dealing with his obsessive housekeeper. Lily James and Armie Hammer star in this psychological thriller.

Watch Rebecca on Netflix

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

In 1927 Chicago, groundbreaking blues singer Ma Rainey is in the middle of a high-stakes recording session with her band. When Ma Rainey shows up late with a list of demands, tensions rise between the singer, her trumpet player Levee and veteran musician Toledo. Based on August Wilson's 1982 play of the same name, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom stars Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman (in his last film performance before he died in August 2020) and Glynn Turman.

Watch Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on Netflix

Mank

Mank transports viewers back to Hollywood in the 1930s, following the trials and tribulations of acclaimed screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. The David Fincher-directed film tells the true story of how Mankiewicz developed the first draft of what would become Citizen Kane and the real-life inspiration behind its characters. Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins star.

Watch Mank on Netflix

Tick, Tick… Boom!

Based on playwright Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical, Tick, Tick… Boom! is a coming-of-age story about an aspiring theater composer in N.Y.C. On the verge of his 30th birthday, Jonathan feels his time is running out to create something revolutionary. As he has second thoughts about his career, he must also navigate the complexities of both love and friendship. Andrew Garfield stars as Jonathan in Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut alongside Alexandra Shipp and Vanessa Hudgens.

Watch Tick, Tick… Boom! on Netflix

Phantom Thread

In 1950s London, celebrated dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) is at the center of the fashion scene, dressing everyone from the royal family to movie stars. Despite having many women in his life, Woodcock can't commit — that is, until he meets Alma (Vicky Krieps), a headstrong young woman who becomes both his muse and his lover. Over time, their relationship becomes increasingly more intense — until unusual occurrences occur.

Watch Phantom Thread on Netflix

Marriage Story

Marriage Story takes an emotional look at divorce as a stage director and his actress wife navigate the bittersweet unraveling of their relationship. They are pushed to their emotional limits as they struggle through their exhausting split and subsequent hostile custody battle. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver star alongside Laura Dern.

Watch Marriage Story on Netflix

The Two Popes

Inspired by true events, The Two Popes looks behind the walls of the Vatican as Pope Benedict XVI and the future Pope Francis come face-to-face. The pair must work together to begin a new era for the Catholic Church. The film earned both Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins Oscar nominations in 2020.

Watch The Two Popes on Netflix

The Guilty

The Guilty, a remake of the 2018 Danish film Den Skyldige, follows a troubled police detective relegated to fielding 911 calls on the night shift. When a call comes through from a kidnapped woman, he must scramble to save her — and confront his troubled past. Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke and Riley Keough star in the crime thriller.

Watch The Guilty on Netflix

The Irishman

The Irishman chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history — the disappearance of legendary union leader Jimmy Hoffa. Told from the perspective of a hustler and top hitman Frank Sheeran, the film spans his life as he rises from bodyguard to confidante. Featuring an all-star cast led by Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, it reveals the inner workings and hidden corridors of organized crime.

Watch The Irishman on Netflix

The Lost Daughter

Maggie Gyllenhaal's 2021 directorial debut stars Olivia Colman as Leda, a middle-aged divorcée who becomes an empty nester and decides to take a holiday by the sea. Ending up in a small coastal town in Greece, her initially peaceful trip takes a disconcerting turn when a young family staying at a nearby villa unearths painful memories. Looking back on the difficult choices she made as a mother and the consequences her family faced, she must confront her troubled past.

Watch The Lost Daughter on Netflix

The Half of It

High schooler Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) is an introverted, straight-A student who needs extra money. She agrees to help the school jock (Daniel Diemer) write love letters for the girl he's in love with — but along the way, Ellie ends up falling for her too.

Watch The Half of It on Netflix

The King

Prince Hal (Timothée Chalamet), the heir to the English throne, wants nothing to do with royal life and is living among commoners when his tyrannical father dies. He must return to the life he so desperately attempted to escape, where he is reluctantly crowned King Henry V. In his new role as king, he is left to deal with the chaos his father left behind.

Watch The King on Netflix

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

When single mother Liz meets Ted Bundy, she falls head over heels. But when he becomes linked to multiple murders, she can't bring herself to believe the truth. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile chronicles the life of the notorious serial killer through the eyes of his longtime girlfriend, who struggles to come to terms with who Ted really is during his nationally televised trial. Zac Efron and Lily Collins star.

Watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile on Netflix

The Devil All the Time

Adapted from Donald Ray Pollock's novel, The Devil All the Time follows a cast of sinister characters intertwined in a complicated web. Taking place from the end of World War II until the 1960s, everything leads back to Arvin Eugene Russell. Following the death of both of his parents, Arvin finds himself devoted to doing whatever it takes to protect his loved ones. Tom Holland stars with Bill Skarsgård, Robert Pattinson and Riley Keough.

Watch The Devil All the Time on Netflix

Roma

Best Foreign Language Film winner Roma chronicles a year in the life of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a domestic worker in Mexico City in the early-1970s. She is one of two employees of an upper-middle-class couple, Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) and Sofía (Marina de Tavira), hired to help raise their four children. Things get complicated when the problems in Antonio and Sofía's marriage become apparent, and a pregnant Cleo is abandoned by her boyfriend. Set amid the political turmoil of the time, Cleo must find a way to persevere through the complications of love.

Watch Roma on Netflix

The Unforgivable

After being released from prison following a two-decade sentence for a murder conviction, Ruth Slater (Sandra Bullock) hopes for a fresh start. But when faced with judgment everywhere she turns, she has only one chance at redemption and must reconnect with her estranged younger sister Katie — although it proves to be more of a challenge than she anticipated.

Watch The Unforgivable on Netflix

Okja

Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun), a young girl living in the mountains of South Korea, spent 10 years raising Okja, a genetically modified "super-pig." However, when Okja is taken by the Mirando Corporation, a greedy international conglomerate, Mija follows them to New York on a rescue mission to save Okja from the fate that awaits her.

Watch Okja on Netflix

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