The Netflix drama film library is healthier than ever in January 2026.
From heartrending biopics to real-world underdog tales, affecting household dramedies and compelling character research, Netflix is streaming among the finest drama films you’ll be able to watch proper now.
This month, Watch With Us is highlighting our high picks on the platform and rating them based mostly on IMDb rankings — and you may watch them and fee them your self, too.
Our favorites embrace the affecting and humorous Ben Stiller movie The Meyerowitz Tales, the award-winning Whiplash and extra.
Netflix has modified quite a bit through the years, however one factor stays the identical — the streamer has a number of hit films price streaming. Thank You! You might have efficiently subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a legitimate e mail. Subscribe By signing up, I conform to the Phrases and Privateness Coverage and to obtain emails […]
5. ‘Soul on Fireplace’ (2025)
Based mostly on the lifetime of St. Louis burn survivor John O’Leary, Soul on Fireplace stars Joel Courtney as O’Leary, who survives a horrific accident as a younger youngster and is left with scarring masking his total physique. Nonetheless, via perseverance and an unwavering dedication to dwelling life to its fullest, O’Leary beats the percentages and exhibits everybody what is absolutely potential in life via devotion to religion, household, neighborhood and his beloved metropolis of St. Louis.
Soul on Fireplace incorporates a supporting solid that features John Corbett, Willian H. Macy and Stéphanie Szostak. Followers of heartwarming and inspirational tales ought to look no additional than this terrific movie, which critics praised for its spectacular directorial craft, shifting performances and a core message about kindness and connection that we’d do properly to recollect.
4. ‘The Meyerowitz Tales (New and Chosen)’ (2017)
The estranged Meyerowitz household comes collectively to have fun the work of their artist father, Harold (Dustin Hoffman), who’s gone his prime. The household is made up of struggling, unemployed Danny (Adam Sandler), who strikes in together with his father following the separation from his spouse; Danny’s reserved sister, Jean (Elizabeth Marvel) and their half-brother, Matthew (Ben Stiller), a profitable financier additionally going via divorce. Because the Meyerowitz’s spend time collectively, relationships are examined, outdated wounds are reopened, and the siblings should confront uncomfortable truths they’ve left unstated for too lengthy.
Humorous and mild, but additionally sharp, clever and biting, The Meyerowitz Tales (New and Chosen) captures the eccentricities of a dysfunctional household in addition to the person desires, failures and neuroses of stunted grownup kids. When you love shifting character dramas, The Meyerowitz Tales is for you, that includes a revelatory efficiency from Sandler, who additional cements himself as a dramatic performing tour de pressure.
3. ‘Erin Brockovich’ (2000)
Based mostly on the true story of the eponymous girl, Erin Brockovich follows the authorized case that the unemployed single mom of three (performed by Julia Roberts) leveled towards the Pacific Gasoline and Electrical Firm for contaminating the consuming water of the residents of Hinkley, California. Following a automotive accident that results in a misplaced lawsuit, Erin goes to work for her lawyer, Ed Masry (Albert Finney). There, she by chance stumbles upon a bombshell cover-up that’s been inflicting individuals to get sick and die in a neighborhood city.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Erin Brockovich was a important and field workplace success when it debuted again in 2000, netting a variety of Academy Award nominations — together with Greatest Image — and profitable one, Greatest Actress, for Roberts. Anchored by Roberts’ good and career-defining efficiency, Erin Brockovich is a humorous and sobering authorized drama that shines a light-weight on company corruption.
2. ‘Ford v Ferrari’ (2019)
Within the Sixties, a decided group of American and English engineers and car designers teamed as much as take down Enzo Ferrari on the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966. Employed by Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) and Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal), American former race automotive driver and automotive designer Caroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and hot-tempered English racer Ken Miles (Christian Bale) lead a group set on growing a automotive that may lastly defeat Ferrari.
Ford v Ferrari is a sturdy sports activities biographical drama that options terrific chemistry between Damon and Bale, in an underdog story that retains you hooked till the very finish. Thus, you don’t should be a racing fan to get one thing out of James Mangold’s movie — Ford v. Ferrari deftly weaves affecting drama, gripping racing set items and a captivating depiction of the way in which company interference stymies success.
1. ‘Whiplash’ (2014)
Gifted younger jazz drummer Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is doggedly formidable and decided to rise to the highest at his elite music conservatory. Overheard training by high teacher Terrence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), Andrew is taken below Fletcher’s wing— and subsequently endures his terrifying instructing strategies. In the end, Fletcher’s ruthlessness and Andrew’s obsession with being the most effective create an ideal storm that threatens to value Andrew his personal humanity.
The breakout directing effort of Damien Chazelle was met with on the spot field workplace and awards success, and out of 5 Academy Award nominations it took dwelling three for Greatest Sound Mixing, Greatest Movie Enhancing and Greatest Supporting Actor for Simmons. Whereas a personality drama on the floor, Whiplash typically performs out like a riveting psychological thriller: stunning, clever and moored by a stellar cat-and-mouse interaction between Teller and Simmons.
