Netflix certainly has a robust library of movies to watch at any given time, but they’re not there forever. Sure Netflix originals like Enola Holmes or Set It Up are always available to rewatch over and over again, but their library titles depend on licensing details for their longevity. Some seem to stay on the streaming service forever, while others depart almost as soon as they arrive.
With this in mind, we’ve singled out the best movies due to leave Netflix in June for you to prioritize while you’re watching Netflix this month. Whether you’ve seen them before or this is your first time, we can guarantee each of these seven films is well worth checking out before it’s gone.
20th Century Women
Leaving on: June 27th
Director/Writer: Mike Mills
Cast: Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, and Billy Crudup
This one's a bit of an underrated gem, which makes it all the more important to prioritize. 2016's 20th Century Women was the follow-up film from Beginners filmmaker Mike Mills and is based in part on his childhood. Set in 1970s Southern California, the film is told from the perspective of a young boy who lives in a boarding house run by his single mother, and is surrounded by women. The film is a tapestry of stories of sorts, with standout performances from Annette Bening and Greta Gerwig. It almost has an Almost Famous-like vibe to it, with a killer soundtrack and deeply human characters.
Back to the Future Trilogy
Leaving on: June 30th
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson, and Crispin Glover
One of the best cinematic trilogies ever made, Back to the Future, is due to depart Netflix at the end of the month, but if it follows past patterns it'll likely be back within a few months. Regardless, there's never a bad time to mainline these three movies, and while the first film is a bona fide masterpiece, Back to the Future Part II and Part III have their charms and are underrated in their own ways. Part II offers an eye-popping, wish-fulfillment version of the future, while Part III is Robert Zemeckis having an absolute blast making a full-blown Western. If a rainy Saturday or Sunday hits, put these three movies on in straight succession for a jolt of joy.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Leaving on: June 30th
Directors/Writers: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, Benjamin Bratt, and Neil Patrick Harris
Before filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller upended convention with wildly entertaining films like The LEGO Movie and the Jump Street films, they wrote and directed the 2009 animated feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs—and it is delightful. The film is absolutely in the same vein of Lord and Miller’s other films; a mix of goofy humor, gloriously intricate jokes, inventive visuals, and most importantly genuine compassion. Bill Hader voices a wannabe scientist named Flint who lives in a tiny town called Swallow Falls, which is thrown into peril when one of Flint’s wild inventions starts turning water into food, at which point it literally starts raining all sorts of delicious—and gigantic—treats. It’s a great film for all ages really, and a terrifically science-positive story. If you haven't seen it, prioritize it ASAP.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Leaving on: June 30th
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Steven Zaillian
Cast: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright, and Christopher Plummer
Hollywood took a big swing at adapting the beloved Swedish book The Girl with the Dragon in 2011, and while director David Fincher’s adaptation may not have been the huge box office hit Sony Pictures was hoping for, it remains a taught and incredibly compelling thriller made on a big budget. Rooney Mara stars as the titular tattooed girl, an adept hacker and sexual assault survivor named Lisbeth Salander who is enlisted to help a disgraced journalist (Daniel Craig) track down a killer of women. Fincher’s attention to detail serves the icy Swedish setting well, and the film does a tremendous job of immersing you in a world that further wraps you up in the mystery at hand. Handsomely crafted and terrifically well-acted, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is somewhat underrated.
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Leaving on: June 30th
Directors: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Writer: Dan Fogelman
Cast: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, and Marisa Tomei
If it's a romcom you're looking for, Crazy, Stupid, Love. might hit the spot. The film hails from This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman and toes the line between comedy and drama as it follows a recently separated man (Steve Carell) who seeks the help of a suave charmer (Ryan Gosling) as he tries to hit the dating scene. Tonally the movie varies wildly, and not all of its shifts work, but it's charming enough and the cast is spectacular.
Training Day
Leaving on: June 30th
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writer: David Ayer
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Denzel Washington, Scott Glenn, Cliff Curtis, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eva Mendes
The film that won Denzel Washington his first Best Actor Oscar also still holds up pretty well as a nail-biting crime thriller. Training Day follows an LAPD officer named Jake (Ethan Hawke) on his first day as part of an evaluation by an esteemed narcotics officer named Alonzo (Denzel Washington), but as the day goes on Jake discovers that not only is Alonzo corrupt, but the entire day is a set-up for which he could take the fall. Washington give a phenomenal performance as an antagonist who is both charming and terrifying at the same time, while Hawke hods his own opposite the veteran actor. The third act is still a bit incredulous, but the film is worth watching for Washington’s performance alone