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

Cobra Kai fans, rejoice! The original Karate Kid series is heading to Netflix, meaning you can watch the entire Valley saga from start-to-finish. The original film centers on Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), a kid from New Jersey who stumbles on karate when he becomes the enemy of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). He trains with eccentric handyman Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), whose mundane tasks transform him into an all-around pro. Long after the release of The Karate Kid, fans speculated that Daniel was actually the villain of the film, inspiring Cobra Kai, an entirely new sequel series also on Netflix.

Where to watch The Karate Kid

Sure, it’s only July. But Christmas is coming early this year, thanks to Netflix. Love Actually is a layered rom-com with a star-studded ensemble, and it’s the perfect snowy treat for sweltering summer days. It’s impossible to list off all of the romances packed into Love Actually, but here’s a bit of what you’ll get: a Prime Minister falls in love with his secretary, there’s plenty of office drama, and, of course, a tangled love triangle. The all-star cast includes Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, and a handful of others.

Where to watch Love Actually

Get ready for a scary movie marathon, because Netflix is rolling out three new chilling releases this summer, each one dropping weekly on Fridays starting July 2. The Fear Street film trilogy, which is based on the book series by horror author R.L. Stein, follows a group of teenagers who have been haunted by an evil force for hundreds of years. The first film takes place in 1994, with the second jumping back to 1978 and the third traveling all the way to 1666.

Where to watch Fear Street Part 1: 1994

Where to watch Fear Street Part 2: 1978

Where to watch Fear Street Part 3: 1666 

Netflix is delivering the action movie of the summer with Gunpowder Milkshake, a new film all about a crew of assassins and the group of fearless women ready to take them down. Watch as mother-daughter duo Sam (Karen Gillan) and Scarlet (Lena Headey) reunite to help save the life of an eight-year-old girl — and knock out plenty of bad guys along the way. The all-star cast also includes Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino, and Paul Giamatti.

Where to watch Gunpowder Milkshake 

Southern Italy may seem like a dream vacation spot full of sunny beaches and limoncello, but the tides have shifted course with A Classic Horror Story. This Italian Netflix Original film follows a handful of strangers who become stranded in the woods in Southern Italy — think The Godfather meets Midsommar. In the thriller, they must battle to the death to make it out alive. The gruesome flick stars Matilda Lutz, Peppino Mazzotta, Will Merrick, and Alida Baldari Calabria.

Where to watch A Classic Horror Story

Twilighters, get ready for a Twilight movie marathon. Every film in The Twilight Saga lands on Netflix this July, meaning it’s time to catch up with Edward, Bella, and Jacob. It’s been over a decade since the first film released, and since then, stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have gone on to become mega-stars. Want to see their breakthrough roles? Head on over to Twilight on Netflix. The series follows a romance between Edward, a vampire, and Bella, a normal girl, as well as the other creatures (like werewolves) that haunt them.

Where to watch Twilight

Deep is a Thai sci-fi film headed to Netflix this month, and it promises loads of suspense. The teen movie follows four insomniac med students who are lured into a neuroscience experiment that spirals out of control. They’ll need to find away to escape the experiment before their lives are put in grave danger. Get plenty of sleep before you watch Deep!

Where to watch Deep

Were you a fan of HBO’s hit mini-series Chernobyl? Chernobyl 1986, a dramatized film recounting the Chernobyl disaster, might just be the film for you. The Russian disaster movie recounts the events following the Ukrainian reactor meltdown, specifically following a firefighter who heroically saves folks from the tragedy at the power plant. The film is directed by Danila Kozlovsky, who also stars in the lead role. Chernobyl 1986 may not be the lightest film to watch, but it’s certainly a necessary history lesson.

Where to watch Chernobyl 1986

Blood Red Sky is about to take the horror genre to new heights. The Peter Thorwarth film takes place on a terrifying flight during which a group of terrorists attempts to take over the plane, threatening the worst outcome for the passengers and crew onboard if they don’t get what they want. Desperate to protect her young son, a woman with a mysterious sickness has to reveal the horrifying secret she’s been keeping in order to save her child and the rest of the flight.

Where to watch Blood Red Sky 

No, Django Unchained wasn’t the film that finally won Leonardo DiCaprio his Academy Award. But it was close! Quentin Tarantino’s wild film spins the traditional Spaghetti Western into a tale about a freed slave, Django (Jamie Foxx) in the pre-Civil War Deep South. Though Django is freed, there’s still one task left to tackle: his wife, Broomhilda von Shaft (Kerry Washington), has been captured and must be freed from the cruel Calvin J. Candie (DiCaprio). Django enlists the assistance of Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), who trains him to battle the most violent forces in the South.

Where to watch Django Unchained

Netflix is betting big on rom-coms. The streamer is rolling out its latest this month with Resort to Love, a summer escape starring Christina Milian as pop star Erica, who finds herself in the awkward position of performing at her ex’s wedding when she accepts a gig at a luxury resort. Erica tries to hide her past relationship from her ex’s fiancée, but she can’t help catching feelings again for Jason (Jay Pharaoh), even though he’s set to get married in a matter of days.

Where to watch Resort to Love