13 Best R-Rated Movies on Netflix Right Now

Netflix has established itself as a serious contender during award seasons with some of the best R-rated movies available to stream on the platform. The massive streaming service also still keeps its competitors close by housing non-Netflix Original rated-R movies right beside its original content. Films often get slapped with R ratings for varying degrees of violence, language, sexual content, and more.

There are R-rated movies that get it right with well-produced and timed violence and language. Films like Netflix’s latest attempt at The Texas Chainsaw Massacre throw so much violence at a wall, hoping it sticks, but it doesn’t. The selection of R-rated movies on Netflix often changes, and this year brings with it some award-winning instant classics like All Quiet on the Western Front, eerie horror masterpieces like It Follows, and divisive thrillers like The Killer. Whether you’re looking for raw, real dialogue or a horror movie with a tasteful level of violence, these films hit the mark with critics and audiences, elevating them to the top of the stream list.

13 ‘The Lovebirds’ (2020)

Directed by Michael Showalter

A Netflix original rom-com, The Lovebirds pairs Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a dissolving couple that accidentally steps into a murder mystery they must solve to clear their names. Hitting the middle of the road with critics and receiving a less favorable tone with streamers, this R-rated comedy is worth the stream for its star power.

With a quick one-hour and twenty-six-minute runtime, the Michael Showalter-directed film packs a lot of comedic conspiracy into its brief screentime. The realistic growth of Leilani (Rae) and Jibran (Nanjiani)’s relationship brings heart along with the humor. Audience members come for the leads and stay for their chemistry, making The Lovebirds a worthy watch next time you sit down with your partner.

Directed by Sam Hargrave

In the high-octane action-thriller Extraction, Chris Hemsworth plays the skilled mercenary Tyler Rake, who is for hire in the seedy underground black market. His latest mission turns out to be his toughest one, as he’s tasked with rescuing the son of a powerful crime lord. As he rescues the young Ovi Mahajan (Rudhraksh Jaiswal), Tyler must use all of his talents to stay alive.

With striking visuals to go with its meticulously choreographed fight scenes, Extraction is a must-see for fans of the genre. There’s also some notable character development there, as Tyler’s dark past and how it influences his mission is explored. While, unlike the best action movies, the film doesn’t do much to change the old formulas or elevate the genre, there’s no denying that it’s a fun one to see at least once.

11 ‘It Follows’ (2015)

Directed by David Robert Mitchell

An Indie horror flick that deserves more than an under-the-radar following, It Follows steps outside the genre with a wild premise and tension-building scares. A date with an out-of-towner goes awry after the pair sleep together and Jay (Maika Monroe) finds herself the target of a supernatural entity that is slowly following her. If it reaches Jay, she’s dead. An infamous Oscar snub, It Follows is one of the best R-rated horror films that doesn’t need gore and violence to satisfy its audience.

Drawing from slow burn and imagine-your-own-horror from films like The Blair Witch Project and others, It Follows carefully picks and chooses the most unsettling moments to scare viewers right out of their seats. The movie is a foundational film for Monroe, one of the genre’s modern-day final girls. While it was no box-office blockbuster, It Follows curated a passionate fanbase who rallied around the premise enough to earn it an upcoming sequel, They Follow.

10 ‘The Killer’ (2023)

Directed by David Fincher

Michael Fassbender stars as the titular unnamed assassin in director David Fincher‘s latest thriller, The Killer. Based on the eponymous graphic novel series by Alexis “Matz” Nolent, the film follows the protagonist’s quest for revenge after he misses the shot on an important assignment.

The Killer is an exercise in restraint, with Fassbender perfectly cast as the methodical, sociopathic protagonist who takes things one step at a time to reach his goal. While critics have praised the director’s latest, it has been more divisive among fans precisely for its slow-burn approach and character-driven narrative. For fans of David Fincher’s movies and directorial style, though, the 2023 film is a must-see.

9 ‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)

Directed by Adam McKay

An incredibly divisive and debated film when it first premiered, director Adam McKay‘s Don’t Look Up is a satirical disaster movie that follows the plight of two astronomers – Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) and Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) – who discover that a comet is heading straight towards the earth. As they try to convince the government and the media to take the appropriate measures, they find a surprising amount of resistance to the apocalyptic event.

Don’t Look Up’s biting satire about media, politics, and the power of the internet, fortunately (or unfortunately) coincided with the pandemic, which only highlighted its message. Some critics found it too heavy-handed, but fans think that its over-the-top story is what gives it its charm. Either way, the movie manages to touch on sensitive topics and poke fun at them with dry humor and amazing performances from its all-star cast.

8 ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984)

Directed by Martin Brest

This iconic franchise set the bar high for the buddy cop genre. Beverly Hills Cop stars Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, a rebellious Detroit cop who travels to Beverly Hills under the guise of a vacation, while he works to track down those responsible in a murder investigation from back home. Axel is a fish out of water as he navigates the cultural and procedural landscape of his new surroundings.

Beverly Hills Cop is still one of the best R-rated police comedies, earning a fourth installment titled Axel F forty years later. Murphy’s energy is infectious, his comedic chops rising to the occasion to carry a formulaic film that owns its genre without falling victim to clichés. Instead of doom-scrolling for a modern action comedy title, Beverly Hills Cops is an automatic must.

7 ‘Bo Burnham: Inside’ (2021)

Directed by Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham: Inside is a must-see comedy special that perfectly captures the absurdity, horror, and comical experience of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded, created, and performed by Bo Burnham during the pandemic, the film is both hilarious and hard-hitting, as it highlights the universal struggle of coping with lockdowns and an uncertain world.

The special shows Burnham at his best, with biting social commentary delivered through unique, creative, and often musical performances all seamlessly weaved together to create an entertaining and profound viewing experience. It’s a great choice for beginners to the genre, as it’s bound to resonate with anyone who recognizes the anxiety, existential dread, and sadness that came with a generation-defining period.

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6 ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ (2020)

Directed by Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin‘s critically acclaimed second directorial feature falls in line with the classic Sorkin film founded on historical context. The Trial of the Chicago 7 is the story of seven individuals on trial for various charges surrounding the uprising outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

With a star-studded cast of Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and more, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a Netflix original drama that delves into activism and free speech. The film would earn six nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Sorkin, but would take none home. Nonetheless, this historic cinema film deserves a watch by any fan of Sorkin’s work and those new to his writing.

5 ‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)

Directed by Adrian Lyne

Gone are the days of browsing video store aisles for classic movies; however, Netflix understood the assignment by adding this six-time Oscar nominee to its current collection. Fatal Attraction stars Michael Douglas as Dan Gallagher, a happily married, on-the-rise lawyer whose lapse in judgment leads him to a one-night stand with a book editor named Alex (Glenn Close). When Dan tries to return to his normal life, Alex becomes dangerously obsessive, stalking Dan and his family, and thrusting them all into paranoia and madness.

Fatal Attraction satisfies the need for an addictive, erotic thriller, streaming like a TV series binge session, as audiences can’t tear their eyes away from what plays out onscreen. Close earned a Best Actress nomination while the film earned a nod for Best Picture among its other accolades. In the age of streaming originals, returning to the foundational films that set the bar for today’s features is a must.

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3 ‘Hit Man’ (2024)

Directed by Richard Linklater

The era of Glen Powell has arrived, and it’s all over Netflix. He stars as the seemingly ordinary professor, Gary Johnson whose out-of-office-hours activity involves posing as a fake hitman for the New Orleans Police Department, delivering them the individuals who attempt to pay for a hit on their enemies. A chameleon, Gary embodies a cast of personas to charm his way into business without ever actually killing anyone; however, what he doesn’t anticipate is when his character, Ron, stumbles into a steamy romance with Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman who sought his services.

From the mind of director and co-writer Richard Linklater, Hit Man is one of the best R-rated comedic crime thrillers in Netflix’s current catalog, and its slate of original features. Powell continues to prove his multi-genre versatility while providing the perfect popcorn and edge-of-your-seat entertainment.

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2 ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

A cinematic sensation, Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of those films that doesn’t come around often. The only thing Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) wants to get through is her business’s tax audit; however, the universe has other plans for her as she’s thrust into a chaotic mission to save her very existence only by confronting her past decisions through the multiverse of lives she could have lived if she’d chosen differently in crucial moments.

Everything Everywhere All at Once is an unconventional break-up movie, encouraging audiences to part with reality and explore the possibilities of what could’ve been. The A24 masterpiece swept the Oscars, taking home seven of its eleven nominations, including Best Actress for Yeoh and Best Picture. It’s a film you won’t be able to explain to anyone, but one that instills a wholehearted understanding within each viewer, making it one of the best R-rated movies on Netflix right now.

1 ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)

Directed by Edward Berger

Directed by Edward Berger and based on the eponymous 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front is an award-winning German epic anti-war film set on the frontlines of World War I. It follows 17-year-old Paul Bäumer’s (Felix Kammerer) heartbreaking journey after he excitedly enlists in the Imperial German Army alongside his friends, only to find that war isn’t what the propagandists say it is.

With nine Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best International Feature and seven wins during the BAFTAs, it’s safe to say that All Quiet on the Western Front has cemented itself as one of the best unflinching war films ever made. Its realistic and harrowing depiction of war, as well as its spectacular set pieces, help set it apart from others in its genre. It’s a movie that will leave audiences feeling dread, fear, or even emptiness, and is disturbing and unsettling in an unforgettable way.

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