Netflix top 10 movies — here's the 3 worth watching right now

Bruce Willis and Mary Louise Parker in Red
(Image credit: Alamy)

Whenever I have no clue what to watch on Netflix, I make a beeline for the top 10 most-watched movies list. It's a given that not all of them will be winners, but it's a great tool for cutting through the noise nonetheless. 

With that in mind, we're here to help you figure out what to watch by narrowing down the three best movies to watch in the Netflix Top 10 movies list. This list includes a riveting war thriller starring Liam Hemsworth, a horror movie that's good for a laugh, and a breezy romcom. 

This article is based on the Netflix top 10 list of most-watched movies in the U.S. as of 12 p.m. ET on Friday, August 3. For even more recommendations on what to watch across the best streaming services, check out everything new on Netflix this month.

'Red' (2010)

Red (2010) Official Trailer - Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman Action Movie HD - YouTube Red (2010) Official Trailer - Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman Action Movie HD - YouTube
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Sadly, Bruce Willis is retired from making movies as he's been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. But over the course of his decades-long career, he headlined some classic action movies, including "Red." Willis heads a killer cast including Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich and Richard Dreyfuss. Retired CIA agent Frank Moses is living quietly in the suburbs when a squad of assassins attacks him. After taking them out, he kidnaps his love interest to keep her safe and reunites with his old team. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that reaches high up into the government. To survive, they take on a near-impossible mission — breaking into CIA headquarters. - KW

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'Tarot' (2024)

TAROT – Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube TAROT – Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube
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"Tarot" isn't a good horror movie, but it is a good one to laugh at. It's exactly the kind of trashy teen horror that's fun to watch together with friends and pick it apart to shreds. 

Like many forgettable horror movies, “Tarot” sees a group of friends messing around with forces beyond their understanding, only to suffer the deadly consequences. This time around it's all because of a cursed deck of tarot cards that unleashes an unspeakable evil upon the world. The friends must uncover the deck's mysterious past if they have any hope of finding a way to break the curse.

Watch it now on Netflix

'Minions' (2015)

Minions | Official Trailer (HD) | Illumination - YouTube Minions | Official Trailer (HD) | Illumination - YouTube
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If you're looking for something a little lighter than haunted animatronics, demonic nuns and the dark side of Big Pharma, the kid-friendly animated comedy Minions also lands on Netflix this weekend. This Despicable Me spin-off tells the backstory behind the army of gibberish-speaking, pill-shaped yellow peons of Gru and how they came to work for their supervillain master. 

As it turns out, the Minions have been up to mischief for millennia, serving under some of the most evil monarchs, warlords, and apex predators throughout history. And they suck at it. Driven to isolation in the Arctic after pissing off one too many powerful villains, the Minions grow despondent and depressed without a master to serve. Decades later, a scouting party sets off to find a new bad guy to serve in a quest that causes mayhem across the Big Apple.

Watch it now on Netflix

Netflix top 10 movies right now

  1. "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (2016)
  2. "Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie" (2024)
  3. "Trolls Band Together" (2023)
  4. "Jack Reacher" (2012)
  5. "Tarot" (2024)
  6. "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" (2003)
  7. "Red" (2010)
  8. "White Chicks" (2004)
  9. "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" (2012)
  10. "Minions" (2015)

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Alyse Stanley
News Editor

Alyse Stanley is a news editor at Tom’s Guide overseeing weekend coverage and writing about the latest in tech, gaming and entertainment. Prior to joining Tom’s Guide, Alyse worked as an editor for the Washington Post’s sunsetted video game section, Launcher. She previously led Gizmodo’s weekend news desk, where she covered breaking tech news — everything from the latest spec rumors and gadget launches to social media policy and cybersecurity threats.  She has also written game reviews and features as a freelance reporter for outlets like Polygon, Unwinnable, and Rock, Paper, Shotgun. She’s a big fan of horror movies, cartoons, and miniature painting.

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