3 Best Movies To Watch On Netflix This Weekend (August 1-2)

Netflix‘s best movies to watch this weekend, which is the final one of July, include films that are trending right now, new arrivals on the streaming services, and two major cinematic franchises. On last weekend’s Netflix movie recommendations, I explored films like new Netflix Original movie Elize: Shadows of a Woman, Alan Ritchson’s Ordinary Angels, and the dystopian sci-fi The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Two of those recommendations remain trending on Netflix in the United States, which means they are once again excellent picks for subscribers heading into the weekend. Those include the inspirational drama Ordinary Angels, which is currently the 3rd most-watched movie on Netflix nationwide, and the crime-focused Elize: Shadows of a Woman, which stands just a spot behind it at 4th.

As for our new Netflix movie weekend recommendations, these three films also come in different genres, allowing subscribers to find the one that they gravitate the most toward. One of those is a new comedy with plenty of hilarious situations and a cast of rising stars led by one of the genre’s most popular.

The other two movies on the list include a sci-fi horror from one of the most creative genre franchises in recent years, as well as a fantasy epic that has truly soared to new heights. These recommendations are perfect for viewers who want to sit back and laugh comfortably over the weekend on Netflix, be fully immersed in a fantasy world full of wonder, or stay on the edge of their seat as scares surprise them.

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72 Hours (2026)

Starting us off is 72 Hours, Kevin Hart’s new Netflix original comedy. The movie follows Hart as Joe, a 40-year-old executive who is feeling down in his life. When he suddenly gets added to a group-chat for a bachelor party weekend by mistake, he embarks on a wild 3-day getaway with a bunch of men in their 20s that he has never seen before in his life.

72 Hours is currently the most-watched movie on Netflix in the United States. The new comedy, which released on Netflix on July 24, boasts a talented ensemble, mixing industry veterans with rising stars. Joining Hart are names like Teyana Taylor, Mason Gooding, Marcello Hernández, Michael Mando, Andy Garcia, and many more. For those who enjoy Hart’s brand of humor, this is a must-watch.

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A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

The next movie on our Netflix recommendations is also trending right now. Different from Hart’s 72 Hours, this is not a Netflix Original movie. A Quiet Place: Day One is a prequel to John Krasinski’s hit sci-fi horror franchise where aliens who can’t see, but are super sensitive to sound, take over Earth and usher in a new post-apocalyptic era.

As its name suggests, A Quiet Place: Day One dials back the clock to the first day of the alien invasion. The sci-fi movie features two main stars, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ Joseph Quinn playing Eric, a British law student lost in a chaotic New York City, and Black Panther‘s Lupita Nyong’o as Sam, a woman with cancer who tries to keep her cat alive. A Quiet Place: Day One is currently Netflix’s 5th most-watched movie in the United States.

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Wicked: For Good (2025)

Finally, Wicked: For Good, which was released on Netflix on July 20, serves as the perfect way to say goodbye to the month. Wicked: For Good is the epic finale of the fantasy duology that adapted one of the most iconic musicals of all time. It features emotional performances from major stars like Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, and more.

Wicked: For Good grossed $540.8 million worldwide, with the fantasy musical boasting a near-perfect 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It is an undeniable crowd-pleaser. So, if you have not watched the final chapter of Elphaba’s epic story to defeat the Wizard and bring peace to Oz, then now is the time to do so on Netflix.