You know that feeling when you scroll through five streaming services and still can’t pick a movie? This guide cuts through the noise by pulling together ratings from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and the latest Oscar winners — all updated for 2026. Whether you want a certified classic, a brand-new hit, or something great on Netflix tonight, you’ll find a concrete answer here.

4 related posts

Rotten Tomatoes streaming list: Updated for 2026 ·
Highest rated on IMDb: The Shawshank Redemption (9.3/10) ·
Most Oscars won by a single film: 11 (Ben-Hur, Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) ·
IMDb Top 250: 250 films

Quick snapshot

1IMDb Top 250
  • The Shawshank Redemption rated 9.3 — IMDb list
  • The Godfather at #2 — IMDb list
  • The Dark Knight at #3 — IMDb list
  • Includes 250 films from all eras — IMDb list
2Rotten Tomatoes Streaming (2026)
3Oscar Winners & Record Holders
  • Ben‑Hur, Titanic, and LOTR: Return of the King each won 11 Oscars — Rotten Tomatoes Editorial
  • The Godfather won 3 Oscars — Rotten Tomatoes Editorial
  • Parasite won 4 Oscars in 2020 — Rotten Tomatoes Editorial
4Must‑See Classics (Empire Readers)
  • The Godfather voted #1 — Empire readers poll
  • Star Wars, Parasite, and The Dark Knight in top 10 — Empire readers poll
  • 100 films ranked by fans — Empire readers poll

Five facts pulled from the major sources, one pattern: no single list agrees on everything, but the same handful of titles keeps appearing.

Label Value
Number of lists referenced 4 major sources
Oldest film on any list Casablanca (1942) – IMDb Top 250
Most recent film in top 10 Parasite (2019) – Empire list
Highest Tomatometer score on streaming list 100% for multiple films (e.g., The Godfather, Parasite)
Total Oscars won by top 3 films combined 33 Oscars

What are the top 10 movies to watch?

Criteria for the top 10 list

Rotten Tomatoes’ editorial team publishes an annual Best New Movies ranking that updates throughout 2026. The current #1 is Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, followed by All That’s Left of You at #2 and A Poet at #3. The list also includes Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma among its top entries.

  • Paul McCartney: Man on the Run – Rotten Tomatoes Editorial
  • All That’s Left of You – Rotten Tomatoes Editorial
  • A Poet – Rotten Tomatoes Editorial

The takeaway: if you’re looking for the absolute newest titles, this list is the most trustworthy because it’s curated by professional critics, not an algorithm.

Why this matters

A critic-curated list like Rotten Tomatoes’ avoids the recency bias of user ratings, giving you films that actually hold up — not just what’s trending.

Movies that appear on multiple authoritative lists

The Godfather consistently appears near the top of both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes all-time rankings. According to IMDb’s curated streaming guide, films that cross over between critic and audience lists (like The Dark Knight and Parasite) are the safest bets for a guaranteed good watch.

The implication: cross-reference at least two lists before committing. If a movie appears on both IMDb’s top 250 and Rotten Tomatoes’ 90%+ Tomatometer list, it’s unlikely to disappoint.

What are the top 5 movies right now?

How ‘right now’ is defined (streaming popularity, release date)

“Right now” changes fast. Services like Rotten Tomatoes’ streaming browse page let you filter Netflix movies by popularity and Tomatometer score, giving a near real-time snapshot of what people are watching and loving.

Current top 5 on streaming platforms

Business Insider named The Big Lebowski and Creed among the 10 best movies coming to Netflix in June 2026. Netflix’s own Tudum page adds Bee Movie, The Chronicles of Riddick, Cinderella Man, and Creed II and III to the June 1 lineup. So for June 2026, the top 5 on Netflix are:

  1. The Big Lebowski (Business Insider pick)
  2. Creed (Business Insider pick)
  3. Bee Movie (Netflix Tudum)
  4. The Chronicles of Riddick (Netflix Tudum)
  5. Cinderella Man (Netflix Tudum)

What this means: the “top 5 right now” is always a moving target. The best strategy is to check the latest from Rotten Tomatoes or Netflix Tudum on the day you plan to watch.

What are the top 20 must-see movies?

Classics vs modern films in must-see lists

IMDb’s 2026 Netflix list includes both classics like Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew and newer titles like Enola Holmes 3, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, and Here Comes the Flood. This blend shows that must-see lists aren’t limited to old films — they mix eras.

Genre diversity across the top 20

A well-rounded must-see list includes sci-fi, drama, comedy, and action. For example, Odeon’s curated list of 90 best films includes Back to the Future, Aliens, and Blade Runner. To get your top 20, you can combine the Rotten Tomatoes 2026 new releases with the most-streamed classics on Netflix.

Related reading: Matrix Movies in Order: Watch Guide — a perfect starting point for sci-fi fans building their must-see list.

The paradox

Must-see lists are subjective, but they converge on a small core of titles. If a film appears on three different authoritative lists, it’s earned its spot.

Which 3 movies got 17 Oscars?

The three films with the most Oscars

This is a common misquote. Ben-Hur (1959), Titanic (1997), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) each won 11 Academy Awards — not 17 combined. The confusion likely comes from adding up their individual tallies. No film in history has won more than 11 Oscars, as consistently documented by Rotten Tomatoes’ Oscars coverage and PBS News.

  • Ben-Hur – 11 Oscars (including Best Picture)
  • Titanic – 11 Oscars (including Best Picture)
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – 11 Oscars (including Best Picture)

The catch: the phrase “got 17 Oscars” appears to be a combined total or a misremembered fact. The three films together hold 33 Oscars.

What are the best movies to watch on Netflix?

Netflix original critically acclaimed films

Netflix continues to invest in original content. Netflix Tudum’s 2026 release hub confirms movies like The Irishman, Roma, and Marriage Story remain available, alongside new originals. The IMDb guide to best Netflix movies in March 2026 required a Rotten Tomatoes score of 89% or higher, ensuring quality.

High‑rated licensed movies currently on Netflix

Licensed hits arriving in June 2026 include The Big Lebowski, Creed, and Father of the Bride (per Netflix Tudum). The Rotten Tomatoes Netflix browse page lets you sort all available titles by popularity, so you can always find what’s highest rated right now.

Related reading: Movie Showtimes Near Me: What’s Playing in Irish Cinemas Today — for when you want to leave the couch.

What to watch

For Netflix, the safest picks are originals with Tomatometer scores above 90% (like Roma) or licensed classics that have stood the test of time (The Big Lebowski). Avoid the bottom of the browse page.

Confirmed facts

  • The Shawshank Redemption is #1 on IMDb — IMDb list
  • Ben‑Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King each won 11 Oscars — Rotten Tomatoes Editorial
  • Rotten Tomatoes updates its streaming list regularly — Rotten Tomatoes Editorial

What’s unclear

  • Which movies are currently the most streamed on Netflix?
  • What defines a ‘must‑see’ movie across different audiences?
  • Exact composition of the ‘top 5 right now’ varies by source

What people are saying

“The Godfather is the best movie of all time, according to our readers.”

— Empire readers, Best Movies of All Time poll

“The Shawshank Redemption holds the highest rating on IMDb with 9.3/10.”

— IMDb users, global rating database

“Our 2026 Best New Movies list is updated regularly to reflect the freshest releases.”

— Rotten Tomatoes editors, 2026 guide

For the curious viewer, the choice is clear: use a mix of critic scores (Rotten Tomatoes), audience ratings (IMDb), and platform-specific lists (Netflix Tudum) to find your next great watch. The lists overlap enough to guide you, but diverge enough to keep discovery alive.

Additional sources

imdb.com, latimes.com, youtube.com, imdb.com

Related coverage: all-time classics and top picks fördjupar bilden av Best Movies to Watch: Top 10 Now & All-Time Classics.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best movie of all time?

There is no single answer, but IMDb users rank The Shawshank Redemption #1 with a 9.3 rating. Rotten Tomatoes’ all-time list also places The Godfather and Parasite at the top.

What movie has the most Oscars?

Three films hold the record with 11 Oscars each: Ben-Hur (1959), Titanic (1997), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

How are top movie lists ranked?

IMDb uses user ratings, Rotten Tomatoes uses critic Tomatometer scores, and Empire uses reader polls. Each methodology produces a slightly different top 10.

What is the best movie to watch on a date?

Romantic comedies like When Harry Met Sally or crowd-pleasers like The Big Lebowski are safe bets. Check Rotten Tomatoes’ streaming list for current availability.

What are the best movies to watch with family?

Classics like Back to the Future and The Incredibles top many lists. Netflix currently offers Bee Movie and Father of the Bride for family night.

Are the top movies the same on every streaming platform?

No. Each platform licenses a different catalog. Rotten Tomatoes’ browse page lets you filter by affiliate, so you can see the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon separately.

What movie should I watch if I want to see a comedy?

Rotten Tomatoes’ 2026 list includes Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (a satirical comedy), while Netflix adds Bee Movie and The Big Lebowski in June 2026.