5 Best Netflix Movies Released in the First Half of 2026, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
If you're looking for a quality movie to watch this evening without wasting time searching, this list is for you.
The first half of 2026 has been busy for Netflix. With so many new releases, it's easy to miss the best ones, so we've recalled the five best Netflix flicks released from January to June of this year.
This list includes dark thrillers, touching dramas, and even a spinoff of a cult series.
5. 'Thrash', 2026
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 45%
A devastating hurricane turns life into hell for the residents of a quiet coastal town. The storm washed away houses and carried away cars, killing hundreds. But the rampage of the elements is only the beginning.
The stormy waters conceal an even more unpleasant surprise – a school of bloodthirsty sharks, eager to feast on humans in their natural habitat.
Movies about humans fighting primal predators never go out of style – all it takes is a good monster design and a worthy actor.
4. 'Apex', 2026
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
Sasha, an extreme athlete, is grieving the death of her boyfriend, who died in a tragic accident while climbing a dangerous mountain in Norway.
She decides to scatter his ashes in the Australian wilderness, where she meets a cheerful hiker named Ben. However, this pleasant man hides a terrible secret – he enjoys hunting people, and Sasha becomes his new target.
The thriller has rocketed to the top of the Netflix charts thanks to a scene in which Taron Egerton's character dances to a Chemical Brothers track. While the movie's quality doesn't live up to the hype surrounding its most famous scene, it will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
3. 'The Rip', 2026
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
A Florida drug enforcement task force is reeling: one of its officers was murdered by an unknown assailant, and $20 million was discovered in the home of a local drug lord.
Lieutenant Dane and Sergeant J.D. Byrne are faced with a difficult choice when the gangsters offer them a hefty sum to let them take the dirty money.
Joe Carnahan's thriller is Netflix's attempt to enter the territory of the cult classic, Heat. While not everyone appreciated the experiment, the movie has one undeniable quality – Juan Miguel Azpiroz's cinematography transforms the banal plot into a modern-day Greek tragedy.
2. 'Remarkably Bright Creatures', 2026
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
Widow Tova Sullivan works as a cleaner at a small aquarium. One night, she encounters an unusual yet charming creature: a giant octopus named Marcellus who dreams of escaping to the open sea.
Their tender friendship is threatened when Cameron, a young man searching for his missing father, arrives in town and takes a job at the aquarium.
Olivia Newman's magical drama explores the struggle to cope with loss. Unfortunately, it has been overshadowed by other Netflix premieres – the performances of Sally Field and Lewis Pullman deserve far more attention.
1. 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man', 2026
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
It's the 1940s, Birmingham is rocked by Nazi bombs, but an equally terrifying threat roams its dilapidated streets: psychopathic gangster Duke Shelby, heir to the great gentleman criminal, Tommy.
In an attempt to bring his son to his senses and save the city from German spies, the longtime leader of the Peaky Blinders returns from self-imposed exile.
Steven Knight took a different approach with the script for The Immortal Man, disregarding the events of the original series. Yes, Tommy Shelby is once again at the center of the story, but a significant portion of the running time is dedicated to his rebellious son.
