The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In September 2024
Another new month brings with it a fresh slate of movies to choose from on Netflix, and September 2024 is sporting quite the lineup. While there are several great movies coming later in the month, we’re going to observe what the streamer has added thus far, which includes one of the best independent comedy-dramas in recent memory, an anime update of Whiplash that embraces the power of music, an epic 1990s Western starring Brad Pitt and what might just be the most classic baseball movie ever made. Yeah, there’s a daunting number of great options to choose from this month. So where should you start?
Hopefully I can help. This article contains what I believe to be the ten best movies added to Netflix thus far in September 2024, accompanied by a plot synopsis for each and the reasons I think they’re great and why you should watch them. Then at the bottom of the article, you can find a full list of every single movie that will hit Netflix between now and the end of the month. Your new favorite flick could very well be hiding in this collection, so let’s find your next movie night movie together.
The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In September 2024
Note: this list covers all releases leading up to Sept. 7, 2024.
I Used to Be Funny (2024)
I was about to write “Rachel Sennott is on the verge of blowing up,” but then I realized…she already has. Between Shiva Baby in 2020, Bodies Bodies Bodies in 2022, Bottoms in 2023 and now I Used to Be Funny in 2024 (and not to mention Jason Reitman’s new movie Saturday Night later this year), Sennott has made a name for herself by delivering fantastic, vulnerable performances tinged with comedic genius in quality genre films. And I Used to Be Funny (from director Ally Pinkie) is Sennott’s best performance yet. As the character Sam, Sennott embodies the trauma that results from PTSD in not the hyperbolized way usually enforced by Hollywood, but in a frighteningly real and familiar manner. Sam is a comedian/nanny working in Toronto who is hired to care for a resistant teen named Brooke (Olga Petsa), whose mother is in the hospital. But after a series of traumatic events involving Brooke’s father, the teenager disappears and Sam must search for her. Sam’s journey to save Brooke mirrors Sam’s own recovery, meaning her quest to save Brooke is just as much a journey to save herself. This refreshing take on mental recovery should put Sennott on everybody’s Oscar radar.
After you the film, be sure to check out this great breakdown of I Used to Be Funny.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
As a kid who grew up in the 1990s, Sonic the Hedgehog combines two of my childhood staples: a fantastically funny performance Jim Carrey and the high octane energy of a Sonic video game. Throw in Ben Schwartz, one of the funniest guys out there right now, as the voice of Sonic to boot, and I was sold on this adaptation back when it was announced in the late 2010s. This box office smash (the film earned $319 million worldwide) traces the origin of Sonic, a super fast blue hedgehog from another world who hides on Earth from enemies seeking his powers. After accidentally causing a power outage, Sonic teams up with a local sheriff named Tom (James Marsden) to avoid capture from Doctor Eggman, who wishes to harness Sonic’s speed for his nefarious plans. In friendly family movie fashion, Sonic and Tom’s adventure together teaches them about friendship and the value of finding a home, but not in an excruciating way that’s cringe-worthy to watch. If you haven’t seen Sonic the Hedgehog yet, don’t be deterred by the video game connections—this is a super fun movie.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Amy Heckerling has had one of the most fascinating and underrated careers, directing comedy classics that tread off the beaten path like Clueless, European Vacation and Look Who’s Talking, while still giving us genuinely great films late in her career like Vamps. Her movies—which are filled with witty dialogue stuffed with quotable quotes; which feature strong female protagonists and empathetic portrayals of struggling teenagers; which are rife with rich social commentary and high quality satire—were routinely box office hits that a lasting impression and situated Heckerling as an auteur of comedy. And it all started with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, a coming-of-age comedy that follows a group of high school students as they navigate relationships and work in Southern California. Our two main characters are Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who experiences the up-and-down throes of teenage romance, and Jeff (Sean Penn), a laid-back surfer with little to no interest in school. This film’s authentic portrayal of teenage life blends everyday realism with sharp humor, capturing the energy of 1980s youth culture. Throw in memorable performances from Penn and Jason Leigh, as well as Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Robert Romanus and Brian Backer, and you’ve got a comedy that still holds up after 40-plus years.
The Expendables (2010)
When it comes to 1980s super macho action nostalgia, nobody does it better than Sylvester Stallone. And he’s not shy about it, as he directed the incredibly nostalgic homage to action films of the 1980s and 1990s, stuffed to the brim with explosive spectacles of action that rely on stunts and practical effects rather than CGI, with exaggerated violence that mirrors the absolute machismo of its colorful cast of characters, with a cast of “has-been” action stars who play their self-aware parts perfectly and deliver silly one-liners better than anyone in the business. Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren make up the main cast of the first film, and throughout the entire Expendables Trilogy (yes, all three are available on Netflix this month), you’ll find plenty of other classic actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The first film (also the best film of the series) follows a group of elite mercenaries, led by Barney Ross (Stallone), who are hired to overthrow a ruthless dictator in a small South American country. With each highly skilled soldier armed with their own set of combat abilities, they work together to uncover deep politics conspiracies and overcome oppressive dictatorship.
Blue Giant (2023)
If you’re a fan of Whiplash, then you definitely need to check out Blue Giant. Where Whiplash found Andrew, an ambitious young jazz drummer, pushing his mind and body to the limit to become an elite musician, Blue Giant replicates that same narrative in anime form, allowing director Yuzuru Tachikawa to accelerate such an already manic journey to cartoonish proportions by infusing such a struggle with rapid cuts, aggressive energy and larger-than-life characters that all come to embody the nature of unchecked ambition. Based on a popular manga series that currently owns four parts, Blue Giant tells the tale of Day after attending a live performance. Inspired by the music, he picks up a saxophone and begins to practice obsessively, aiming to become the greatest jazz musician in the world. Fun, energetic and utterly chaotic, this is a great film for anyone who loves music movies or anime in general.
Field of Dreams (1989)
I’m ashamed to admit that, as a gigantic fan of baseball who also considers himself a cinephile, I hadn’t watched Field of Dreams until very recently. From director Phil Alden Robinson, who also directed Sneakers and The Sum of All Fears, this timeless classic starring Kevin Costner serves as one of the most well-known and well-done examples of magical realism, with Robinson blending the film’s fantastical elements with the mundane realities of life on an Iowan farm to heighten the movie’s exploration of hope, faith and the power of dreams for everyday Americans. For those who don’t know already, the film follows farmer Ray, who builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield after voices in his head tell him to do so—an act that drives his family and friends to question his sanity. As he builds the field, long-deceased baseball players start to appear, played by heavyweights like Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster. If, like me, you just never got around to seeing this movie, change that this month. Field of Dreams is a classic for good reason.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
As far as remakes go, Western remakes are always a tricky bag. Because the genre is so steeped in a period of terrestrial change, with the old ways of the West dying out in favor of big cities and big ideas, the genre’s heyday back between the 1930s-1950s is an immediate reaction to such transition. In real time, filmmakers and actors were reacting to a changing physical and cultural landscape. So what does a modern remake know of such an aesthetic? Well, sometimes Western remakes pull it off—and that includes 3:10 to Yuma. In this Neo-Western, struggling rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) takes on a dangerous job escorting notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to a train on its way to a courthouse where he will stand trial. As they trek across the desert, the two characters develop an uneasy respect for one another, even though Wade’s gang is determined stop Dan to rescue its leader. As the clock ticks down towards the train’s departure, Dan faces moral dilemmas and the mounting tension of this life-or-death situation. Gritty, introspective, intense and complex, this homage to classic Westerns provides a update that modern audiences will appreciate.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Director Edward Zwick is obsessed with exploring history and social issues through highly dramatic stories, with films like Glory, Courage Under Fire, The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond populating his filmography. But his most epic and audacious attempt at surveying monumental change in the United States of America had to be Legends of the Fall, which, set up in the early 20th century, follows the lives of three brothers, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), Tristan (Brad Pitt) and Samuel (Henry Thomas), as they grow up under the guidance of their father, Colonel William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins), on a remote ranch in Montana. As the family experiences love, loss and betrayal in keeping its ranch afloat, the brothers’ relationships become increasingly strained, especially after World War I changes the course of their lives. Each member of the family takes on a different path, propelling the film’s exploration of brotherhood and masculinity in the midst of a changing American landscape. The epic romances and friendships, the melodramatic intensity, the lush cinematography and sweeping score—it’s all a recipe for a classic 1990s epic that will push your emotions to the limit.
Magic Mike (2012)
In my opinion, Steven Soderbergh makes some of the most satisfying, effortlessly entertaining films imaginable. From the Ocean’s Trilogy to Out of Sight to Sex, Lies, and Videotape to Eric Brokovich, Soderbergh’s stories are both highly stylized in the way we expect big Hollywood spectacles to be, yet down-to-earth in their depictions of average Americans through almost documentary-like aesthetic. Take a film like Magic Mike, which contrasts the glitzy, saturated lighting of a strip club with the more muted, naturalistic tones of everyday life. Magic Mike centers around Mike Lane (Channing Tatum), a skilled male stripper who dreams of starting his own business outside of the world of exotic dancing. As Mike navigates the nightlife scene, he mentors a young newcomer dubbed “The Kid” (Alex Pettyfer), introducing him to the world of high-energy performances and fast cash. However, Mike’s lifestyle begins to take its toll, leading him to question what he really wants from life—especially after he meets the potential woman of his dreams. The movie also features awesome performances from the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez and Kevin Nash, as well as Cody Horn and Olivia Munn, making for a wildly entertaining film that seamlessly balances spectacle with realism.
300 (2006)
Zack Snyder has remained a major part of the cinematic zeitgeist year after year, from his debut Dawn of the Dead back in 2004 to his Watchmen adaptation in 2009 to his superhero movies of the mid-2010s to his Netflix outings like Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon—despite, as far as I can tell, remaining one of the public’s most disliked working filmmakers. Personally, I do not understand the hate, as his movies evoke a style and flavor simply unmatched by anyone else working today. And as much as I like the Dawn of the Dead remake, I can’t deny that Snyder didn’t truly find his signature aesthetic until his follow-up film, 300. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, this epic tale tells the story of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they fight against a vast Persian army led by King Xerxes. Set during the Battle of Thermopylae, the Spartans use their superior training and bold tactics to hold off the invading forces at a narrow mountain pass. Though heavily outnumbered, the Spartans fight on and push this gargantuan army to the limit. This hyperrealistic, CGI-heavy depiction of exaggerated, iconic heroism hasn’t aged one bit in my opinion, and if you haven’t seen it yet, ignore the haters and give this eye-popping action film a go.
Every New Movie on Netflix in September 2024
September 1: 300 (2006); 3:10 to Yuma (2007); 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007); Along Came Polly (2004); Aloha(2015); Blue Giant (2023); Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005); Dragnet (1987); Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Field of Dreams (1989); Jaws (1975); Jaws 2 (1978); Jaws 3 (1983); Legends of the Fall (1994); Magic Mike(2012); Midnight Run (1988); Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009); Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015); Sonic the Hedgehog (2020); Stand by Me (1986); The Expendables (2010); The Expendables 2 (2012); The Expendables 3 (2014); Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
September 3: Untold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer (2024)
September 5: Apollo 13: Survival (2024); I Used to Be Funny (2024)
September 6: Disco, Ibiza, Locomía (2024); Rebel Ridge (2024)
September 7: Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
September 10: Ahir Shah: Ends (2024)
September 11: Boxer (2024); Outlaw (2024); Technoboys (2024)
September 13: Officer Black Belt (2024); Sector 36 (2024); Uglies (2024)
September 16: 30 for 30: Catholics vs. Convicts (2016); 30 for 30: Pony Excess (2010); 30 for 30: Rand University (2014); 30 for 30: The U (2009); 30 for 30: The U Part 2 (2014); Grave of the Fireflies (1989); Entourage (2015)
September 20: His Three Daughters (2024)
September 24: Dear Sa-Chan (2024)
September 25: Divorce (2024); Jailbreak: Love on the Run (2024)
September 26: A True Gentleman (2024); Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell (2024); My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
September 27: Lisabi: The Uprising (2024); Rez Ball (2024); Will & Harper (2024)
