If you’re in the mood for a gripping story, Netflix is the place to find one.
The streaming platform is suffering no shortage of drama films with riveting narratives and dynamic characters, from a divorce saga to a coming-of-age classic and more.
Films like Past Lives and Marriage Story are both sure to get the tears flowing, while Phantom Thread has more psychological drama and dry humor.
Watch With Us went through the Netflix library and plucked five of the very best drama films that the streamer has to offer, ranking them by where they fall on IMDb’s ratings chart.
5. ‘His Three Daughters’ (2023)
IMDb rating: 7.1
Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen star as three estranged siblings who are reunited to care for their ailing father in this poignant family drama from director Azazel Jacobs. Coming together in their father’s New York City apartment, where he lives with directionless, stoner stepdaughter Rachel, Katie (Coon) and Christina (Olsen) join her and find themselves rehashing open wounds that never healed, but are forced to finally confront and — hopefully — close them for good.
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His Three Daughters puts discomforting family dynamics into sharp relief while still being a warm, heartfelt experience that will leave you reduced to a puddle of tears. Coon, Lyonne and Olsen play off one another marvelously, showcasing a very specific type of troubled sibling relationship that is at once specific and universal.
Stream His Three Daughters on Netflix.
4. ‘Phantom Thread’ (2017)
IMDb rating: 7.4
Fussy, fickle dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) lives a very particular life in 1950s London, designing highly sought-after gowns for the elite both near and far. Meanwhile, Reynolds cycles through an endless stream of female suitors whom he eventually discards. A perpetual bachelor, Reynolds’ life is interrupted by the chance meeting of a humble waitress, Alma (Vicky Krieps). Fixated on and bewitched by Alma as his next muse, Alma proves to be more strong-willed than most women who catch Reynolds’ eye.
A thorny romantic period drama about a deeply unconventional romance, Day-Lewis and Krieps have remarkable chemistry. As the pair drifts alongside Johnny Greenwood’s stunning, twinkling score, director Paul Thomas Anderson crafts a filmmaking experience that is intoxicating in its progression of tension. But within what feels like an austere atmosphere is an embedded funny-bone, and the film hums happily on a wavelength of sharp, wry comedy.
Stream Phantom Thread on Netflix.
3. ‘Past Lives’ (2023)
IMDb rating: 7.8
After Nora Moon’s family emigrates from South Korea in 1999, Nora (Greta Lee) is separated from her close childhood friend, Hae Sung (Teo Yoo). Years later, the two are reunited as adults but living very different lives, and Nora is married to her husband, Arthur (John Magaro). Nora and Hae Sung are suddenly confronted with the possibilities of the lives that they didn’t lead, and the reality that they are currently faced with.
A semi-autobiographical, time-hopping narrative based partly on director Celine Song’s own life, Past Lives is subtle and poetic, a gentle yet powerful look at love, loss, and missed chances. It examines heartbreak in a way that is real and thus painfully relatable. Past Lives has topped many “Best Films…” lists and was named by Christopher Nolan as a favorite of his. The film was nominated for Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards for good reason.
Stream Past Lives on Netflix.
2. ‘Marriage Story’ (2019)
IMDb rating: 7.9
Marriage Story stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as separating couple Charlie and Nicole Barber. A partly autobiographical film based on director Noah Baumbach’s own fraught divorce, Marriage Story was instantly acclaimed upon its release and was nominated for Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards, with Laura Dern winning for her supporting performance as Nicole’s lawyer, Nora.
Stage director Charlie and actress Nicole endure a bi-coastal divorce, troubled by custody issues involving their young son, Henry (Azhy Robertson). As the process becomes increasingly agitated, both parties are pushed to extremes in their personal and creative lives. Anchored by fantastic performances and rich character writing, Marriage Story is a compelling and unflattering portrait of romantic deterioration.
Stream Marriage Story on Netflix.
1. ‘Stand by Me’ (1986)
IMDb rating: 8.1
This classic adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name follows a group of four Oregon boys who go searching for the body of a missing boy their age. But their simple quest, spurred by their shared macabre curiosity, turns into a pivotal moment in their young lives, as they learn more about one another and where they each really come from.
A staple of coming-of-age cinema, Stand By Me features impressive child performances from Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell and River Phoenix. It has been hailed as a fitting King adaptation, hitting hard on the pains of growing up while being wise beyond the years of its characters. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and many still consider it one of the best films of the ’80s.
Stream Stand by Me on Netflix.
The post 5 Best Drama Movies to Watch on Netflix, Ranked by IMDb Rating (October 2025) appeared first on The Maravi Post.
