Netflix is better known for its selection of newer titles than tried-and-true classics. That's why it's all the more striking when the popular streaming service adds old-school favorites to its roster.
Among its thousands of streaming options, Netflix has the entireJames Bondcollection (through April 20), dating back to 1962'sDr. No, alongside Oscar-nominated greats likeField of Dreams(1989) andErin Brockovich(2000) and cult favorites likeNight of the Living Dead(1968). Many of these titles still entertain and move audiences even decades after their release. Ahead, we're singling out 10 of the best classic movies on Netflix for when you're in the mood for a nostalgic watch.
Casino(1995)
Martin Scorsese is the master of the crime epic, and this wildly entertaining drama, loosely based on the real-life exploits of '70s-era Mob-owned casinos, is one of the prime examples of why.
The Chicago Mafia enlists gambling handicapper Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro) to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas, where he doubles profits and allows the Mob to covertly skim cash off the top. Sam must deal with erratic Mob enforcer Nicky (Joe Pesci) and his own con artist wife, Ginger (Sharon Stone), who still has a personal relationship with her boyfriend/pimp. Scorsese does what he knows best here, delving into the inner workings of a corrupt organization full of egos and power-hungry antiheroes. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watchCasino: Netflix
Director:Martin Scorsese
Cast:Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, James Woods, Don Rickles
Erin Brockovich(2000)
What could have been your standardJulia Robertsvehicle is, in the hands of director Steven Soderbergh, one of the most compelling legal dramas of the modern era. Roberts stars as real-life activist Erin Brockovich, chronicling her journey from unemployed single mother to paralegal presenting evidence for a major class action lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Brockovich's force of personality makes her the perfect hero for those ordinary citizens affected by the gas company's contamination cover-up, and Roberts makes a meal of her character's take-no-prisoners attitude.
The actress deservedly won an Oscar for her work;as EW's critic writes, "Roberts, in her most forceful dramatic performance, allows us to take in every moment through fresh, impassioned eyes."—K.J.
Where to watchErin Brockovich: Netflix
Director:Steven Soderbergh
Cast:Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart
Field of Dreams(1989)
This beloved sports drama unapologetically wears its heart on its sleeve, and we wouldn't have it any other way. In one of his most memorable roles,Kevin Costnerstars as Ray Kinsella, a farmer who hears a mysterious voice urging him, "If you build it, he will come." Ray resolves to build a baseball field on his corn farm, where the ghosts of various players appear, helping him go down an unconventional path of resolving his relationship with his deceased, baseball-loving father. Be sure to have tissues handy. —K.J.
Where to watchField of Dreams: Netflix
Director:Phil Alden Robinson
Cast:Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster
Glory(1988)
Edward Zwick's Civil War-era drama stars Matthew Broderick as Col. Robert Gould Shaw, who takes command of the United States' first all-African-American regiment, which includesDenzel Washington's escaped enslaved man, Trip, and Morgan Freeman's gravedigger, John Rawlins.
Zwick's film is notable for diving headfirst into thorny issues rarely addressed in mainstream efforts, even while it suffers a bit for staging the action from Broderick's perspective. (Roger Ebert asked in his review, "Why does the top billing in this movie go to a white actor?") There are a great many things Zwick gets right, though, chief among them the deadly serious bond and camaraderie that comes in the face of battle, no matter one's background. On a staging level, the film is immense. Sprawling, fearsome scenes of battle unfurl with a nightmarish, exhaustively detailed authenticity. —Declan Gallagher
Where to watchGlory: Netflix
Director:Edward Zwick
Cast:Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman
Goldfinger(1964)
The third entry in the long-running James Bond film series remains one of the franchise's best.Goldfingerfinds Bond (Sean Connery) investigating the titular gold-smuggling business magnate and his scheme to break into the Bullion Depository at Fort Knox. Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) proves to be a strong match for Bond, who tries to outwit the gold-loving mastermind even when all hope seems lost.
EW's critic ranksGoldfingerasthe No. 1 James Bond film, raving, "Goldfingeris festooned with indelible flourishes: the bowler-hatted henchman Oddjob (Sakata), a shapely corpse covered in 24-karat paint, the first appearance of Bond's Aston Martin DB5 (with ejector seat), and, of course, a lethal lady called Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman)....What's not to love?" —K.J.
Where to watchGoldfinger: Netflix through April 20
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Director:Guy Hamilton
Cast:Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Fröbe, Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet
Grave of the Fireflies(1988)
Far from your traditionally kid-friendly animated adventure, this sobering hand-drawn drama explores the horrors of war with bracing imagery. The film centers on a pair of young siblings, Seita and Setsuko, as they try to survive the chaos of the Pacific War in Kobe, Japan. EW's critic ranksGrave of the Firefliesasone of the best Studio Ghibli films of all time, calling it a "legendary tear-jerker" that depicts a world in which "the fires of war are still burning hot enough to consume life, love, and family." It's a tough watch, but devastatingly effective as an antiwar statement. —K.J.
Where to watchGrave of the Fireflies: Netflix
Director:Isao Takahata
Cast:Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi
Mrs. Doubtfire(1993)
Mrs. Doubtfiretells the story of a divorced man who would rather pretend to be an older female housekeeper to see his kids than go to therapy. All joking aside, this Chris Columbus classic excels as a vehicle for Robin Williams' one-of-a-kind comic timing and vocal dexterity as his Daniel Hillard attempts to reintegrate with his family by way of heavy makeup and a silly voice. But the high-concept premise gives way to an earnest examination of divorce and how it impacts the lives of all involved, for better and for worse. Plus, the film features one of Sally Field's top-tier line deliveries when her character Miranda realizes Daniel was, in fact,Mrs. Doubtfire"the whole time." —K.J.
Where to watchMrs. Doubtfire: Netflix
Director:Chris Columbus
Cast:Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Robert Prosky
Night of the Living Dead(1968)
We haveNight of the Living Deadto thank for our modern idea of zombies and the many tropes attached to the subgenre. Legendary directorGeorge Romerowas inspired by the 1954 novelI Am Legendfor this independent horror classic, which centers the action on a farmhouse overrun by ravenous, undead "ghouls." The film's allusions to the Vietnam War, then a current event, just make it all the more resonant. —K.J.
Where to watchNight of the Living Dead: Netflix
EW grade:A+
Director:George Romero
Cast:Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Judith Ridley
She's Gotta Have It(1986)
Spike Leeestablished with this feature directorial debut that he was going to be one of his generation's signature voices. Shot in striking black and white,She's Gotta Have Itcenters on Nora Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a Brooklyn artist who has relationships with three men, each of whom wants her to commit exclusively to them. But Nora is a free spirit who enjoys her liberation; of course, problems arise when the three men meet and decide to be more proactive about the situation. The depiction of the messy complications of polyamorous love was refreshing at the time and remains so today. Lee also adapted the story into a TV series for Netflix in the late-2010s. —K.J.
Where to watchShe's Gotta Have It: Netflix
Director:Spike Lee
Cast:Tracy Camilla Johns, Spike Lee, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell
Wild Things(1999)
This wild crime thriller may start with a shocking allegation, but, as the film soon proves, nothing is quite as it seems. Denise Richards plays wealthy high schooler Kelly Van Ryan, who accuses her guidance counselor, Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon), of raping her; her case is then reinforced when outcast Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell) comes forward with her own allegation against Sam. Numerous twists and turns unfold from there, to the point that even the end credits contain revelations. While lurid and silly to some, there's an odd appeal toWild Thingsthat is simply irresistible. —K.J.
Where to watchWild Things: Netflix
Director:John McNaughton
Cast:Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Theresa Russell, Denise Richards
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