2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for pop culture, especially when it comes to movies and streaming. Netflix, the world’s biggest streaming platform, has several high-profile projects lined up that aim to surprise audiences, dominate conversations, and keep us glued to our screens from the comfort of our homes.
While Netflix is often praised more for its series than its “films”Netflix Movies”, this upcoming slate suggests a serious effort to raise the bar on the movie side of its catalog.
Important note: this list is not ranked by hype or quality, but organized roughly by release window. These are simply five Netflix movies in 2026 that show the most promise and have us genuinely excited.
Without further delay, here are five Netflix movies to expect in 2026.
1. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Release: March 6, 2026 (select theaters, then Netflix)
The Peaky Blinders universe isn’t done yet.
The Immortal Man serves as a continuation—and likely a final chapter—of the massively popular series, bringing back Cillian Murphy as the iconic Tommy Shelby. Murphy, fresh off his Academy Award win for Oppenheimer, returns to one of the most beloved antiheroes in modern television.
According to Netflix’s official synopsis:
Set in Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of World War II, Tommy Shelby is drawn back from self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of his family and his country at stake, Tommy must confront his legacy—or burn it to the ground.
For fans of the series, this feels less like a spin-off and more like a long-awaited farewell.
2. Enola Holmes 3
Release: Summer 2026
Netflix’s Enola Holmes franchise continues with its third installment, once again starring Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock Holmes’ brilliant younger sister. While clearly aimed at a young adult audience, the series has proven charming enough to win over older viewers as well. Much like our recent look at the Harry Potter HBO series, Netflix is betting big on British literary icons.
Directed by Philip Barantini, Enola Holmes 3 brings back familiar faces including Henry Cavill as Sherlock and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes.
Netflix’s official synopsis reads:
Adventure chases detective Enola Holmes to Malta, where personal and professional dreams collide on a case more tangled and treacherous than any she has faced before.
It’s safe, crowd-pleasing, and exactly the kind of franchise Netflix knows how to deliver successfully.
3. The Whisper Man
Release: Summer 2026
One of the most intriguing titles on Netflix’s 2026 slate is The Whisper Man, a dark thriller based on the bestselling novel by Alex North. Fans of the grounded, gritty atmosphere in Layer Cake should find the dark, corporate-crime roots of this thriller particularly compelling.
The cast alone makes this one worth watching: Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, and more.
Netflix describes the film as:
When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer turns to his estranged father—a retired former police detective—for help, only to uncover a chilling connection to a decades-old serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.”
With its heavy atmosphere and strong dramatic pedigree, this could easily become one of Netflix’s standout thrillers of the year.
4. Narnia
Release: December 2026
Netflix’s new adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia is one of its most ambitious projects to date.
This time, the world of Narnia is being brought to life by Greta Gerwig, the Academy Award–nominated filmmaker behind Lady Bird, Little Women, and the global phenomenon Barbie.
While it’s still unclear which of C.S. Lewis’ books will be adapted first, expectations are understandably high. Gerwig faces a tough challenge, especially considering how well The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was received in the mid-2000s, even if its sequels failed to match that impact.
A holiday release makes this a clear play for families—and potentially a major franchise moment for Netflix.
5. Good Sex
Release: 2026 (TBA)
Directed by Lena Dunham (Girls), Good Sex is a dramedy featuring an impressive ensemble cast led by Academy Award winner Natalie Portman, alongside Mark Ruffalo, Rashida Jones, Meg Ryan, and more.
Netflix’s official synopsis:
After spending a decade in a failed relationship, pragmatic couples’ therapist Ally is turning 40 and reluctantly re-entering the New York dating scene—only to find herself torn between two men, one in his twenties and one in his fifties, forcing her to question whether there’s any formula for good sex.
This one feels positioned as a more adult, conversation-driven film—something Netflix often excels at when it leans into character over spectacle.
The Director’s Perspective: Netflix Movies 2026 Strategy
Looking at this slate from a production standpoint, it’s clear that Netflix is moving away from “quantity” and leaning heavily into “prestige talent.” Bringing in a visionary like Greta Gerwig for Narnia or a disciplined dramatist like Lena Dunham for Good Sex shows a pivot toward auteur-driven content.
For a filmmaker, the most exciting part isn’t just the stories being told, but the visual languages these directors will bring to the streaming giant. 2026 looks less like a library of “content” and more like a curated film festival you can watch from your couch.
Final Thoughts
These five films are just a small sample of what Netflix has planned for 2026, but they represent some of the platform’s most anticipated, ambitious, and conversation-worthy projects.
From franchise finales and literary adaptations to thrillers and adult dramedies, Netflix seems determined to make 2026 a stronger year for movies. At Flicks N Pop, these are the Netflix films we’ll be keeping a close eye on—and we’ll be back with more recommendations very soon.
Netflix is known for its quality in series, but not as much in films. This year, the streaming giant seems to be looking to change that with a strong slate for 2026.