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- Licorice Pizza — Paul Thomas Anderson’s nostalgic gem now on Netflix
- 28 Years Later — A high-stakes sequel that revisits the rage virus
- Bone Lake — An erotic thriller that turns creepy at a vacation house
- Becky — A fierce teen protagonist faces a violent home invasion
- Stone Cold Fox — Kiernan Shipka headlines a gritty action thriller
Netflix kicked off the new year by adding a batch of well-reviewed films to its catalog. The selection spans coming-of-age drama, tense horror, and lean action thrillers. Below are five standout titles, ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes scores and chosen to match a range of tastes.
Licorice Pizza — Paul Thomas Anderson’s nostalgic gem now on Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90 percent
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Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza is a warm, awkward, and funny look at youth and longing in 1973. The film follows Gary Valentine, a high-school teenager, and Alana Kane, a young woman a decade older. Their relationship walks a line between friendship and something more.
Cast and credits
- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
- Stars: Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim
- Genre: Coming-of-age, dramedy
Why it matters: The film blends sharp dialogue with a tender portrait of two people at different stages in life. It’s a crowd-pleaser for viewers who favor character over spectacle.
Where to stream: Available now on Netflix.
28 Years Later — A high-stakes sequel that revisits the rage virus
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89 percent
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland return to the world they reshaped with 28 Days Later. In 28 Years Later, the island is still scarred by the rage virus. A father-son journey exposes new threats among both the infected and the people who survived beside them.
Notable details
- Director: Danny Boyle
- Lead: Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Genre: Horror, post-apocalyptic
Context: The sequel’s theatrical run has renewed interest in the franchise. This film is a tense, character-driven continuation for fans of smart horror.
Where to stream: Streaming on Netflix.
Bone Lake — An erotic thriller that turns creepy at a vacation house
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83 percent
Bone Lake mixes erotic tension with unsettling horror. A couple renting a scenic lakeside home finds their booking double-scheduled. The arrival of another pair triggers seduction, jealousy, and darker impulses.
Quick facts
- Stars: Maddie Hasson, Marco Pigossi, Alex Roe, Andra Nechita
- Genre: Erotic thriller, horror
- Netflix availability: Streaming from January 15
What to expect: Intense atmosphere and moral unease. The film leans on slow-burn tension before revealing its more frightening moments.
Becky — A fierce teen protagonist faces a violent home invasion
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72 percent
Becky puts a 13-year-old at the center of a brutal hostage situation. The film flips the script on predictable victim roles. While Kevin James plays a rare screen villain, it’s Lulu Wilson’s Becky who drives the action.
Cast and style
- Stars: Lulu Wilson, Kevin James, Joel McHale, Amanda Brugel
- Tone: Action-packed, suspenseful
Why watch: Becky channels classic action beats with a fearless young lead who refuses to be underestimated.
Where to stream: Available on Netflix.
Stone Cold Fox — Kiernan Shipka headlines a gritty action thriller
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60 percent
Stone Cold Fox follows Fox, a runaway who becomes romantically linked to a small-time drug dealer. When her sister disappears, Fox leaves alliances behind to rescue her. The story pushes the lead into dangerous territory.
Key information
- Star: Kiernan Shipka
- Supporting cast: Krysten Ritter, Bluesy Burke
- Genre: Action, thriller
What stands out: Shipka’s performance anchors a raw, determined revenge plot. The film balances personal stakes with tense action sequences.
Where to stream: Streaming now on Netflix.
