Harper Hall
What to Watch in April: 10 Best Movies Coming to Netflix
April is shaping up to be an amazing month for movie lovers on Netflix.
Whether you are in the mood for heart-pounding action, spine-chilling horror, or a tearjerker romance, there is something on this list for everyone.
From classic spy thrillers to modern horror revivals, these films cover a wide range of genres and moods.
Grab your popcorn and get ready, because your watchlist is about to get a serious upgrade.
1. Atonement (2007)
Some movies stay with you long after the credits roll, and Atonement is exactly that kind of film.
Based on Ian McEwan’s celebrated novel, it tells the story of a young girl whose single, devastating lie tears apart two lovers during World War II.
The performances are raw, the visuals are breathtaking, and the story is layered with guilt and longing.
Keira Knightley and James McAvoy deliver unforgettable performances that feel completely real.
The film won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama, and it is easy to see why.
If you appreciate beautifully crafted storytelling with emotional depth, this one belongs at the top of your list.
2. Kindergarten Cop (1990)
Imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger, action hero extraordinaire, being outsmarted by a room full of five-year-olds.
That is exactly the hilarious premise behind Kindergarten Cop, and it works brilliantly.
Schwarzenegger plays Detective John Kimble, a no-nonsense cop who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher to track down a dangerous criminal.
The contrast between his tough-guy persona and the chaos of little kids is comedy gold.
Kids who love silly humor and adults who enjoy 90s nostalgia will both have a great time watching this one.
Fun fact: the film was shot on location in Astoria, Oregon, giving it a warm, small-town charm that adds to its appeal.
3. Mission: Impossible (1996)
Before there were six sequels, there was the original Mission: Impossible, and it still holds up as one of the slickest spy thrillers ever made.
Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, a secret agent framed for the murder of his entire team, forced to uncover the real traitor before time runs out.
The iconic scene where Ethan hangs inches above the floor to avoid triggering an alarm is one of the most nail-biting moments in movie history.
Brian De Palma directed this with razor-sharp tension and clever twists that keep you guessing until the very end.
A must-watch for any action fan.
4. Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Director John Woo brought his signature style to the Mission: Impossible franchise with this flashy, adrenaline-soaked sequel.
Slow-motion doves, dramatic standoffs, and motorcycle stunts cranked up to eleven — this film is pure cinematic spectacle.
Ethan Hunt is tasked with stopping a rogue agent from releasing a deadly engineered virus on the world.
The action choreography is unlike anything else in the series, leaning heavily into Woo’s love of operatic, over-the-top thrills.
Some fans prefer the grounded tone of later entries, but there is something undeniably fun about watching this movie go completely all-in on style.
It aged like a cool leather jacket.
5. Mission: Impossible III (2006)
J.J. Abrams stepped behind the camera for this third installment, and the result is the most emotionally grounded entry in the franchise up to that point.
Ethan Hunt is no longer just a spy — he is a man with real personal stakes, including a fiancee who becomes a target of the terrifying villain Owen Davian.
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Davian with chilling menace, making him one of the most memorable antagonists in the entire series.
The film balances explosive action with genuine heart, reminding audiences that behind every mission is a human being with something to lose.
Absolutely worth revisiting this April.
6. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Ghost Protocol took the franchise to jaw-dropping new heights — literally.
The Burj Khalifa sequence, where Ethan Hunt scales the outside of the world’s tallest building using only a pair of sticky gloves, is one of the greatest stunt achievements in modern cinema.
Tom Cruise actually did it himself, which makes it even more mind-blowing.
Director Brad Bird, best known for animated films like The Incredibles, brought fresh energy and incredible pacing to this entry.
The whole IMF team gets decommissioned and must operate completely off the grid, raising the tension at every turn.
Ghost Protocol is widely considered the best in the series, and it absolutely earns that title.
7. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
Rogue Nation introduced audiences to the Syndicate, a shadowy mirror organization to the IMF, and the result is one of the franchise’s most polished and satisfying entries.
Rebecca Ferguson burst onto the scene as Ilsa Faust, a mysterious operative whose loyalties are never quite clear, and she immediately became a fan favorite.
The opening scene — Ethan hanging off a massive cargo plane mid-takeoff — sets the tone perfectly: this movie will not slow down for a second.
Christopher McQuarrie’s sharp direction keeps the plot twisty without becoming confusing, which is no small feat for a spy thriller.
Clever, stylish, and endlessly rewatchable.
8. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Long before social media made things go viral, Smokey and the Bandit became a cultural phenomenon purely on charm, speed, and Burt Reynolds’ unforgettable grin.
The film follows the Bandit, hired to bootleg 400 cases of Coors beer from Texas to Georgia in under 28 hours, all while outrunning a persistent sheriff nicknamed Smokey.
It is pure, unfiltered fun — the kind of road movie that makes you want to roll the windows down and hit the highway.
The chemistry between Reynolds and Sally Field is electric, and the car chases are genuinely thrilling even by today’s standards.
A timeless slice of 70s Americana.
9. Scream (2022)
Twenty-five years after the original slasher classic, Scream returned with a vengeance — and a sharp sense of self-awareness.
The 2022 reboot, sometimes called a “requel” by the characters themselves, blends brutal horror with clever commentary on legacy sequels and toxic fandom.
New characters arrive in Woodsboro, only to find that the town’s bloody history is far from over.
Veteran cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette return alongside fresh faces, creating a satisfying bridge between old and new.
The kills are inventive, the mystery is genuinely surprising, and the script keeps you laughing between screams.
Horror fans will absolutely love this one.
10. A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
Silence has never been scarier than in A Quiet Place Part II, the gripping follow-up to John Krasinski’s 2018 breakout hit.
Picking up immediately after the events of the first film, the Abbott family ventures beyond the safety of their home to search for other survivors — and quickly discovers that the monsters are not the only threat out there.
Emily Blunt is phenomenal, and Millicent Simmonds gives a standout performance as the resourceful Regan.
The film expands the world in exciting ways without losing the suffocating tension that made the original so effective.
If you have not seen Part I yet, watch it first — you will not regret it.
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