Netflix Adds 40 New Shows & Movies Today – Here’s the 5 to Watch

Netflix today (October 1, 2024) has added 40 new TV shows and movies to its streaming lineup. Here are the five to watch, in my humble opinion:

Scarface (1983)
The brilliant Brian De Palma-directed drama stars Al Pacino as Cuban refugee Tony Montana who discovers crime does pay, and exceedingly well, in coke-fueled 1980s Miami. While Scarface may be — okay, is — too violent for some, the film perfectly chronicles the era’s thirst for excess and hedonism through the eyes of Montana. Michelle Pfeiffer is flawless as Montana’s ice-cold, white powder-sniffing moll and the splendid supporting cast also includes Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and F. Murray Abraham. Great movie, and don’t forget to say hello to Tony’s little friend.

Psycho (1960)
Janet Leigh stars in this Alfred Hitchcock master work as a bank employee whose mundane life turns upside down when she decides to steal $40,000 from the bank. Filmmakers have tried to recreate the magic of Hitchcock over the years but there’s only one Psycho and it still chills your inner workings with the best jump scares ever put on screen. Anthony Perkins is awesome as the candy corn munching hotel clerk who befriends (in his own way) Leigh’s Marion.

Bridesmaids (2011)
Since we picked two dark dramas to start, let’s mix in this 2011 comedy starring Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) at the peak of her zany powers as a single woman in her 30s who turns an upcoming wedding into a series of comic misadventures. The flawless supporting cast includes Jon Hamm, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and for fans still nostalgic for 1970s indie films, the great Jill Clayburgh.

The Girl Next Door (2004) 
Emile Hirsch stars as a studious high school senior whose life turns upside down when a beautiful adult industry star (Elisha Cuthbert) moves in next door. This 2004 film is a sweet, underrated comedy that has an occasional dark side in the person of Cuthbert’s pimp, played with evil flourish by Timothy Olyphant. Both Hirsch and Cuthbert are charming and the supporting cast (Olyphant, Paul Dano, Olivia Wilde, James Remar) came ready with some fun over-the-top performances.

Salt (2010)
Directed by Phillip Noyce, Salt is a pulse-pounding espionage thriller thanks to Angelina Jolie’s dynamic performance as CIA officer Evelyn Salt. Accused of being a Russian spy, Salt must evade the good/bad guys while finding evidence of her innocence. The film’s intricate plot twists, heart-pounding action sequences, and Jolie’s captivating portrayal make for an exhilarating cinematic experience, albeit occasionally veering into implausibility.

Honorable mentions go to season one of Yellowjackets; The Birds; Boyz n the Hood; Jarhead; The Karate Kid; and Cinderella Man.

Complete List of New Titles Added Today to Netflix: