What to watch on Netflix this week: our geeks pick three movies

Deciding what to watch on Netflix can feel more time-consuming than the movie itself. The platform’s endless scroll offers variety, but not always clarity, especially if you’re trying to avoid half-watching something forgettable. To narrow things down, here are three Netflix movies worth your time this week, spanning prestige drama, seasonal entertainment, and a reliable mystery franchise. Each offers a distinct viewing experience without demanding a long commitment to a series.

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein finally arrives after years of anticipation, bringing a familiar story back into focus rather than reinventing it. Based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, the film frames its narrative through dual recollections, with Victor Frankenstein and the Creature separately recounting their experiences to a ship’s crew bound for the Arctic. Oscar Isaac plays Frankenstein as an obsessive but conflicted figure, while Jacob Elordi’s Creature is given space to exist as more than a symbol. Visually, the film leans into gothic restraint rather than spectacle, and while the story follows well-worn ground, the performances and careful pacing make it feel purposeful instead of redundant. It’s a serious, deliberate adaptation that rewards attention, particularly for viewers already familiar with the source material.

If you’re looking for something lighter, Jingle Bell Heist offers an alternative to traditional holiday romances without discarding the seasonal setting altogether. The film follows two financially desperate strangers, played by Olivia Holt and Connor Swindells, who agree to work together on a department store robbery in London just before Christmas. The premise could easily slide into cliché, but the script keeps things grounded, allowing character motivation to drive the story rather than forced sentimentality. Directed by Michael Fimognari, whose background as a cinematographer is evident in the film’s clean visual style, it’s an efficient and approachable watch that works whether you’re in the holiday spirit or not.

Rounding out the list is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third entry in Rian Johnson’s ongoing series. Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, this time investigating a murder connected to a small-town church, alongside a young priest portrayed by Josh O’Connor. The film sticks to the franchise’s established rhythm: sharp dialogue, an ensemble cast, and a mystery structured to reward attention rather than shock. While it doesn’t radically change the formula, it doesn’t need to. The pleasure comes from watching the pieces fall into place, supported by a cast that includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, and Kerry Washington.

With plenty more arriving on Netflix later in the month, these three films offer a manageable and varied starting point for the week ahead.