11 Best New Movies on Netflix: February 2021’s Freshest Films to Watch

International travel may be limited at the moment, but you can still spend an evening jet setting with Julia Roberts in Eat Pray Love. The 2010 adaptation of the bestselling memoir stars Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of the book), a newly divorced woman who embarks on a global journey of self-discovery. Along the way, Liz discovers the power of prayer and falls for a series of different men — but more importantly, she falls back in love with herself.

Where to stream Eat Pray Love

If you didn’t catch Tenet during its short-lived time in theaters, Netflix has a gift for you this month. On February 1, Christopher Nolan’s Inception hits the platform in all its mind-bending, star-studded glory. Like his recent Warner Bros. flick, Nolan’s Inception requires a full commitment from viewers (and even then, you’ll probably be confused), so make sure to put your phone in a different room before queueing up the sci-fi drama.

Where to stream Inception

Conceived, filmed, and edited entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic, Malcolm & Marie  stars Zendaya and John David Washington as a young couple who lays their emotional trauma on the table after a movie premiere. The film reunites Zendaya with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, who produced the film with the Emmy-winning star in mind. True to form, Levinson has turned out another hyper-personal project, this time about the way small occurrences can have far-reaching consequences.

Where to stream Malcolm & Marie

There’s no shortage of great documentaries coming to Netflix in February, and chief among them is Strip Down, Rise Up, a feature about a group of women who take up pole dancing in an effort to reclaim their bodies. As the women dive deeper into the sport — because, yes, pole dancing is a sport — they become more in touch with their bodies, their sexuality, and their emotions, and they soon come to reflect on what truly led them to the class.

Where to stream Strip Down, Rise Up

Long before Ana de Armas was dramatically breaking up with Ben Affleck, she appeared opposite Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, and Bradley Cooper in War Dogs. The 2016 dramedy tells the semi-true story of Efraim Diveroli (Hill) and David Packouz (Teller), two arms dealers who win a $300 million U.S. Army contract to supply weapons to the Afghan National Army. Despite its star-studded cast, War Dogs was only a moderate success with critics, but viewers should definitely give it another shot now that it will be streaming on Netflix.

Where to stream War Dogs

Netflix continues its string of international hits with Red Dot, the service’s first-ever Swedish film. The tried-and-true psychological thriller centers on a young couple that travels to a remote part of Sweden for a hike, only to find themselves fleeing into the wilderness when confronted by an unknown shooter. In order to survive, the two must put their relationship drama aside and confront the most sinister enemy of all: their own secrets.

Where to stream Red Dot

Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) and Lara Jean Covey’s (Lana Condor) epic love story comes to an end in To All the Boys: Always and Forever, the final film in the Netflix trilogy. As Peter and Lara Jean embark upon their senior year, they participate in all the usual milestones: college admissions, prom, graduation, and a class trip to New York City. However, the couple’s carefully-laid plans begin to go awry when Lara Jean questions what she really wants — both in their relationship, and for herself — as the two prepare for adulthood.

Where to stream To All the Boys: Always and Forever

Bear Grylls returns to the harsh, interactive wilderness in Animals on the Loose: A You vs. Wild Movie. This time around, Grylls must step in to help when a protective fence enclosing a South African animal sanctuary unexpectedly loses power, unleashing a mass of animals on the unsuspecting public. Will Grylls — and viewers at home — be able to corral the freed animals, or will the stampede overtake the famed adventurer? You get to decide in this interactive special!

Where to stream Animals on the Loose: A You vs. Wild Movie

Gone Girl star Rosamund Pike flexes her comedy chops in I Care A Lot, a thriller about a scammer who turns a profit by cheating the elderly out of their assets. Just as Marla Grayson (Pike) has finally perfected the scam, she meets her match in Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest), an elderly gangster with a Rolodex of violent connections. I Care A Lot also stars Peter Dinklage, Eiza González, Chris Messina, and Isaiah Whitlock Jr., among others, making it one of the most star-studded releases of the month.

Where to stream I Care A Lot

In recent years, Netflix has established itself as a power player in the world of sports documentaries, and this month, the service hopes to continue its streak with Pelé. Unlike other documentaries about the iconic footballer (as in, soccer), Pelé tracks the player across a 12-year period, from 1958 to 1970, that saw him ascend from superstar to Brazilian savior. With never before seen archival footage and interviews with Pelé and his former teammates, Pelé is a must-see for sports fans around the globe.

Where to stream Pelé

Hollywood is no match for the combined powers of Kathryn Hahn and Steve Zahn (alternatively, Hahn and Zahn is a great title for a magic show). Captain Fantastic sees the two star opposite Viggo Mortensen and Frank Langella in a dramedy about a family that is forced to reintegrate into society after living in isolation for decades. Despite their early struggle to assimilate, the Cash clan eventually comes to learn the true meaning of family and the importance of having a community to lean on in times of crisis.

Where to stream Captain Fantastic