As a movie enthusiast, there is nothing like the joy of discovering a hidden gem or immersing yourself in a captivating story. With the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, we now have access to a vast library of movies at our fingertips.
In Malaysia, Netflix has become popular for movie lovers, offering various genres and options. So, grab your popcorn, get comfortable, and prepare for an unforgettable movie-watching experience! Here are the 20 best movies to watch on Netflix in Malaysia.
What are Some Popular Movie Genres Available on Netflix in Malaysia?
Netflix offers various movie genres to cater to different tastes and preferences. Let’s look at some of the most popular genres available on Netflix in Malaysia here:
- Action
Action movies are perfect for those who love thrilling and adrenaline-pumping experiences. Netflix has diverse action movies, from explosive blockbusters to heart-pounding martial arts films. - Comedy
In need of a good laugh? Netflix has got you covered with its collection of comedy movies. Whether you enjoy witty comedies, romantic comedies, or slapstick humour, there’s something for everyone. - Drama
The drama genre is a great choice if you are in the mood for thought-provoking and emotionally engaging movies. Netflix offers a plethora of compelling dramas, ranging from intense character studies to heart-wrenching stories. - Sci-Fi
For those who love exploring the realms of the unknown, Netflix’s sci-fi movie collection is a treasure trove. Unleash your imagination and embark on thrilling adventures that will transport you to futuristic worlds and challenge your perception of reality. - Romance
If you are a hopeless romantic, Netflix has an extensive selection of romantic movies to set your heart aflutter. There is no shortage of romantic movies, from timeless classics to modern love stories.
Are There Any Tips for a Great Movie-Watching Experience on Netflix?
Before diving into the list of must-watch movies on Netflix, let’s discuss some tips to enhance your experience.
- Audio enhancement
Invest in quality headphones or a soundbar to elevate the audio quality and immerse yourself fully in the movie’s world. - Cosy environment
Create a comfortable movie-watching setting by dimming the lights, grabbing blankets, and finding a cosy spot to enhance relaxation and minimise distractions. - Snack Time
Don’t forget to grab some snacks! Whether it is classic popcorn, your favourite candy, or a bowl of ice cream, having delicious treats will enhance the overall enjoyment of the movie-watching experience.
Discover hidden gems by diving into this compilation of must-watch movies on Netflix:
- Best Netflix Original Movies in Malaysia
- Best Horror Movies on Netflix of All Time in Malaysia
- Best Psychological Thrillers on Netflix in Malaysia
- Best Anime Shows on Netflix Malaysia
20 Best Movies To Watch on Netflix in Malaysia 2023
1. Fight Club (1999)
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Jared Leto
Release Date: 13th January 2000
Running Time: 2 hours 19 minutes
IMDb Score: 8.8/10
Synopsis: Edward Norton, portraying a depressed man plagued by insomnia, encounters the peculiar soap salesman Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt. After the destruction of his perfect apartment, Norton’s character finds refuge in Durden’s squalid house. Together, they establish an underground club with stringent rules, engaging in fights with discontented men seeking an escape from their monotonous lives. The alliance faces strain with the introduction of Marla, played by Helena Bonham Carter, a fellow support group intruder who captures Tyler’s interest.
2. Spirited Away (2001)
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Akiko Tomihira, Akio Nakamura, Bob Bergen, Bunta Sugawara
Release Date: 7th November 2002
Running Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
IMDb Score: 8.6/10
Synopsis: Renowned Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki brings to life an animated feature where 10-year-old Chihiro, along with her parents, discovers what appears to be an abandoned amusement park. The enchantment takes a dark turn when her parents are transformed into giant pigs. Chihiro then encounters the enigmatic Haku, who reveals that the park serves as a retreat for supernatural beings seeking respite from the earthly realm. To liberate herself and her parents, Chihiro must navigate a surreal world and undertake labor within the mystical park.
3. Your Name (2016)
Directed by: Makoto Shinkai
Starring: Kamiki Ryunosuke, Mone Kamishiraishi, Masami Nagasawa, Etsuko Ichihara
Release Date: 8th December 2016
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes
IMDb Score: 8.4/10
Synopsis: Upon realising they are swapping bodies, two teenagers forge a profound and magical connection. As their extraordinary link deepens, complications arise when the boy and girl make the daring decision to meet in person, adding a new layer of complexity to their unique and enchanting experience.
4. Virunga (2014)
Directed by: Orlando von Einsiedel
Starring: Mélanie Gouby, Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo, Emmanuel de Merode, André Bauma
Release Date: 17th April 2014
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
IMDb Score: 8.2/10
Synopsis: A documentary film follows a group of brave individuals who risk their lives to safeguard the last mountain gorillas.
5. A Silent Voice (2016)
Directed by: Naoko Yamada
Starring: Saori Hayami, Miyu Irino, Aoi Yuuki, Yuuki Kaneko
Release Date: 20th April 2017
Running Time: 2 hours 9 minutes
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
Synopsis: A grade-schooler with a hearing impairment faces bullying, prompting a school transfer. In later years, the former bully, haunted by remorse, seeks redemption by making amends for his past behaviour.
6. Gone Girl (2014)
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, Emily Ratajkowski, Carrie Coon
Release Date: 2nd October 2014
Running Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
Synopsis: In the town of Carthage, Missouri, Nick Dunne (played by Ben Affleck), a former New York-based writer, and his sophisticated wife Amy (played by Rosamund Pike) project an idyllic image of marital bliss to the outside world. However, their seemingly perfect marriage takes a dark turn when Amy goes missing on their fifth anniversary. Nick finds himself at the center of suspicion as the police investigation and media scrutiny unravel the facade of their happy union, intriguing revelations about the true identities of Nick and Amy.
7. The Revenant (2015)
Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson
Release Date: 16th December 2015
Running Time: 2 hours 36 minutes
IMDb Score: 8/10
Synopsis: In 1823, while navigating unexplored wilderness, frontiersman Hugh Glass (portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio) faces near-fatal injuries after a vicious bear attack. Betrayed by a fellow team member (Tom Hardy) who kills his son (Forrest Goodluck) and abandons him, Glass relies on his survival instincts to make his way back to civilisation. Overwhelmed by grief and motivated by a thirst for revenge, the renowned fur trapper journeys through the snowy landscape, determined to confront the man who betrayed him.
8. Society of the Snow (2023)
Directed by: J. A. Bayona
Starring: Enzo Vogrincic, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Felipe Gonzalez Otaño
Release Date: 24th December 2023
Running Time: 2 hours 24 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.9/10
Synopsis: Based on the true events of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, the film depicts a harrowing tale of a Uruguayan flight that crashes in the desolate heart of the Andes. Stranded in the remote wilderness, the survivors are left with no choice but to rely on each other for survival. The narrative unfolds as a story of tragedy, resilience, mortality, and the desperate measures, including cannibalism, that the survivors resort to in their fight for life.
9. The Remains of the Day (1993)
Directed by: James Ivory
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Christopher Reeve
Release Date: 1st January 1993
Running Time: 2 hours 14 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.8/10
Synopsis: Set in the 1930s, James Stevens (played by Anthony Hopkins) dutifully serves as an English butler to the foolish Lord Darlington (James Fox). Stevens’ unwavering dedication is evident as he sacrifices visiting his dying father to fulfill his service, even turning a blind eye to Darlington’s Nazi sympathies and increasing anti-Semitism. Two decades after his employer’s demise, Stevens endeavors to reestablish a connection with Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), Darlington’s former head housekeeper. In this reflective journey, Stevens grapples with remorse over his loyalty to a master whose actions he once chose to ignore.
10. Ex Machina (2014)
Directed by: Alex Garland
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Sonoya Mizuno
Release Date: 21st January 2015
Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
Synopsis: Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), an employee at a large Internet company, secures a coveted opportunity to spend a week at the private estate of Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), the company’s brilliant CEO. Upon arrival, Caleb discovers that he has been selected for a Turing test, evaluating the consciousness of Ava (Alicia Vikander), an aesthetically designed robot. As the test progresses, it becomes apparent that Ava possesses a level of self-awareness and cunning that exceeds the expectations of both Caleb and Nathan.
11. Ordinary People (1980)
Directed by: Robert Redford
Starring: Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth McGovern, Judd Hirsch
Release Date: 19th September 1980
Running Time: 2 hours 4 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
Synopsis: Haunted by the guilt stemming from his older brother Buck’s death in a sailing accident, Conrad Jarrett (Timothy Hutton), an isolated teenager, makes a suicide attempt. After an extended stay in a psychiatric hospital, Conrad returns home, grappling with his mental anguish. His journey involves re-establishing connections with his emotionally distant mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), who is cold and angry, and his wounded father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland). With the guidance of his psychiatrist, Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch), Conrad strives to navigate the complexities of his troubled family dynamics.
12. The Bleeding Edge (2018)
Directed by: Kirby Dick
Starring: Robert Bridges, Angie Firmalino, Rita Redberg
Release Date: 21st April 2018
Running Time: 1 hour 40 minute
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Synopsis: Kirby Dick, a filmmaker, investigates the medical device industry, which is valued at $400 billion. He delves into the profit-driven mentality that leads to the hasty introduction of implanted devices into the market without thorough clinical trials.
13. A Sun (2019)
Directed by: Chung Mong-hong
Starring: Greg Han, Wu Jian-He, Liu Kuan-ting, Chen Yi-Wen, Wen Chen-ling
Release Date: 1st November 2019
Running Time: 2 hour 36 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Synopsis: A distressed family splinters due to unrealised expectations, unwavering pride, and unforeseen tragedy.
14. Train to Busan (2016)
Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho
Starring: Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Yeon Sang-ho, Jung Yu-mi
Release Date: July 2016
Running Time: 1 hour 58 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Synopsis: Gong Yoo portrays a man who, along with his estranged daughter and fellow passengers, finds themselves confined on a high-speed train amidst a zombie outbreak in South Korea.
15. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Asia Kate Dillon
Release Date: 16th May 2019
Running Time: 2 hours 11 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
Synopsis: Having eliminated a member of the High Table, the enigmatic global assassin’s guild, John Wick faces the consequences of being cut off from the organisation’s protective services. With a staggering $14 million bounty placed on his head, Wick is thrust into a perilous situation, navigating the streets of New York as he becomes the hunted target of the world’s most merciless killers.
16. Blue Jay (2016)
Directed by: Alexandre Lehmann
Starring: Mark Duplass, Sarah Paulson, Clu Gulager
Release Date: 12th September 2016
Running Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Synopsis: Jim and Amanda, once high school sweethearts, reconnect after more than two decades when they unexpectedly encounter each other in a grocery store in their hometown of Crestline, California. Jim is back to sell his late mother’s house after her recent passing, while Amanda is visiting her pregnant sister. Their conversation evolves from coffee to beer and jellybeans, leading them to Jim’s mother’s house, where every detail becomes a nostalgic catalyst, propelling them back into the memories of their shared past.
17. The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
Directed by: Rob Burnett
Starring: Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez, Megan Ferguson
Release Date: 2016
Running Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Synopsis: Paul Rudd portrays a writer who decides to retire following a personal tragedy. He takes on the role of a caregiver for a disabled teenager. As they embark on a spontaneous road trip, their resilience is put to the test, and they gradually grasp the significance of hope and the bonds of friendship.
18. Don’t Look Up (2021)
Directed by: Adam McKay
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Cate Blanchett
Release Date: 10th December 2021
Running Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
Synopsis: Two astronomers at the bottom of the hierarchy find themselves compelled to undertake an extensive media tour. Their mission is to alert humanity about an impending comet that poses a catastrophic threat to the existence of planet Earth.
19. Air Mata Di Ujung Sajadah (2023)
Directed by: Key Mangunsong
Starring: Citra Kirana, Titi Kamal, Fedi Nuril, Faqih Alaydurs
Release Date: 7th September 2023
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
IMDb Score: 7.1/10
Synopsis: Aqilla believed her son had passed away at birth for many years, until an unexpected revelation prompts her to embark on a journey to meet the couple who has been raising her child.
20. Easy A (2010)
Directed by: Will Gluck
Starring: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Stanley Tucci
Release Date: 18th November 2010
Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
IMDb Score: 7/10
Synopsis: Encouraged by her lively best friend to share the mundane events of her weekend, Olive (played by Emma Stone), a well-behaved teenager, opts to add some excitement by fabricating a story about losing her virginity. However, when a gossipmonger (Amanda Bynes) eavesdrops on the conversation and broadcasts the false information across the school, Olive becomes unexpectedly infamous, albeit for the wrong reasons.
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Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
