Top 10 Must-Watch Netflix Movies Right Now (May 2025) — Hidden Gems & New Releases to Stream Tonight

If your streaming watch-list is starting to look thin, June and the rest of 2025 are about to fix that. Netflix has stacked its calendar with a blend of buzzy originals, crowd-pleasing sequels and festival favorites that will roll out steadily through the summer and fall. Below is a quick guide to the movies generating the loudest pre-release chatter—and the keywords fans are already searching for. The June 2025 Highlights • Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – Rian Johnson’s third Benoit Blanc caper lands June 13, promising another star-packed whodunit set in Southern Europe. • The Four Seasons – Netflix’s big-budget romantic comedy returns Diane Keaton, Richard Gere and Kathy Bates to the screen on June 20. • Squid Game: The Challenge – while technically a reality spinoff, its two-hour finale drops June 27 and is expected to draw film-size audiences, making it a must-mention for Netflix movie hunters. • Nonnas – From Oscar-winner Taika Waititi, this cross-generational foodie tale premieres June 28 with feel-good, awards-season ambitions. These titles headline a month that also sees stand-up specials from Mike Birbiglia and Sarah Silverman plus military thriller Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds. Summer Blockbusters on Your Couch After June, Netflix pivots to popcorn escapism. July delivers The Old Guard 2, Charlize Theron’s long-awaited return as immortal warrior Andy, while August unleashes Tyler Perry’s Straw, a satire set in the ruthless world of political lobbying. Horror fans circle September 5 for Fear Street: Prom Queen, which caps a new trilogy shot back-to-back in Atlanta. A full month-by-month grid is already live on the streamer’s newsroom hub. Sequels & Franchises to Watch • Happy Gilmore 2 (holiday 2025) – Adam Sandler reprises his cult-classic golfer, leaning into nostalgia and PGA cameos. • The Electric State – Joe & Anthony Russo’s post-apocalyptic road movie starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt closes out Q4 and is tipped to be Netflix’s tent-pole effects spectacle. • Knives Out Universe – Beyond June’s entry, Johnson confirmed a fourth script is in the works, keeping the franchise a top SEO draw for “upcoming Netflix mystery movies.” The company’s own blog groups these projects under “Next on Netflix Movies,” a page that refreshes weekly as new teasers drop. Underground Gems & Awards Play Indie acquisitions are also surging: Revelations (Sundance Audience Award-winner) hits in October; Chaos: The Manson Murders arrives for Halloween true-crime cravings; and The Woman in Cabin 10 adapts Ruth Ware’s bestseller for December prestige positioning. Why 2025 Matters for Netflix Movies With competitors trimming film budgets, Netflix is leaning in: industry estimates peg its 2025 movie spend at $7 billion, up nearly 15 percent year over year. The strategy is clear—own the conversation every month by mixing global blockbusters with niche festival fare, ensuring subscribers never feel the urge to cancel while they wait for “something new.” SEO Takeaway For viewers: bookmark the dates above so “new Netflix movies 2025 release schedule” and “what to watch on Netflix this week” searches send you straight here. For Netflix: the algorithm loves fresh originals—and this calendar is built to feed it.