If you’re going to host a film night with Netflix, it has over 7,000 movies for you to watch. Some are obviously better than others, which is why I’ve put on my streaming cap to recommend a few for the week, using metrics like popularity, ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, and personal preference. When a new movie debuts at #1 on the list, it’s worth paying attention to, and Tyler Perry’s latest comedy hits the jackpot. Check out our thoughts on Joe’s College Road Trip and some similar (and not so similar) movies to watch if you’ve already seen it.
Joe’s College Road Trip
It must be fun to be Tyler Perry. Make whatever movie you want, put on a wig to play Madea in it, and make a ton of money. The man just has a knack for success. His latest, Joe’s College Road Trip, debuted at #1 on Netflix in its first week of release, and people seem to be having fun. Perry plays Joe Simmons (Madea’s brother), who encounters all kinds of shenanigans while driving his grandson to college. Is it a modern masterpiece? No, but it’s a perfect popcorn comedy for a cold February night.
Bad Trip
Sticking with the theme, Bad Trip is one of my picks for most underrated comedy movie of the last decade or so. Eric Andre stars as a hapless car wash worker who follows his high school crush from Los Angeles to New York City. What makes this one a cut above is the guerrilla filmmaking style (as you’d expect from Andre). The absurd situations the cast get into are made even more surreal because bystanders have no idea that a movie is happening, injecting real chaos and danger into the proceedings.
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Bones And All
Need a little more horror and/or homoeroticism in your road trip movies? 2022’s Bones And All has you covered. Directed by Luca Guadagnino of Challengers fame, it stars Taylor Russell as a teenage cannibal abandoned by her father after she turns 18. On her way to Minnesota, she befriends a fellow “eater,” and the pair traverse the country while falling in love. There’s no movie quite like this, and if you’ve got the stomach for it, Bones And All is equal parts deeply romantic and totally unnerving.
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Directors: Luca Guadagnino
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Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell, Mark Rylance
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Genre: Horror
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Rating: R
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IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Once Upon A Star
America’s not the only place with roads to trip on. Thai drama Once Upon A Star didn’t get a lot of attention when it hit Netflix in 2023, but it’s a real gem. The members of a traveling theater troupe go from town to town performing live Thai dubbing of popular movies. But with the introduction of synchronized sound, they can see the end of their livelihood. This is a dreamy, sentimental look at a fascinating moment in cultural history with some lovely scenery and evocative performances.
Recommended by Our Editors
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Director: Nonzee Nimibutr
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Cast: Sukollawat Kanarot, Nuengthida Sophon, Jirayu La-ongmanee
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Genre: Drama
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Rating: TV-14
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IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Want to see everything that’s new on Netflix this month? We’ve got you covered.
About Our Expert
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
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