Draft Day – Picture: Lionsgate
Every month, Netflix releases an assortment of new licensed and big new Netflix Original movies, but there are often dozens, and not every single one is worthy of your time. Who is going to help you break down which movies are the most important? That’s where we step in, of course!
If you want to dive into the full list of the new releases coming up on Netflix in the US throughout April 2025, we’ll keep you posted with any new titles on our full preview. We’ve also done a brand new list this month, covering the biggest new Netflix Originals if you’re short on time.
As always, we’re going to split this article into two sections. First, we’ll cover the Netflix Originals. These are coming to the streamer globally, and we have not seen them yet, so we’ll consider them the most anticipated. Be warned, though – we’ve only managed to pick two out this month, made more complicated by the fact that only one major US movie is even dropping! Then, we’ll move on to licensed titles. These are specifically scheduled to arrive on Netflix in the United States, although they may be streaming elsewhere, too.
Most Anticipated New Netflix Movies Coming in April
Havoc
Releasing on Netflix Globally: April 25th
Picture: Netflix
Could it be any other movie at the top of our most anticipated list? We’ve been anxiously awaiting this new Gareth Evans movie for what seems like a decade at this point, but after numerous delays and plenty of additional filming and post-production magic, the end result is finally going to be hitting our screens towards the end of April.
In case you haven’t been tracking this movie, Tom Hardy will play Walker, a hardened police officer who becomes engulfed in a criminal underworld and has to go through great lengths to rescue a target, who happens to be a politician’s estranged son. It’s a Gareth Evans joint, so that you can expect several things, not least lots and lots of guns and brutal action. We’ve seen some early clips of this, and it looks incredibly intense and brilliantly choreographed, so we can’t wait to see the end result.
Bullet Train Explosion
Releasing on Netflix Globally: April 23rd
Serving as a remake (Netflix sometimes refers to it as a reboot too) of the 1975 Japanese film that would be the inspiration for Speed, we come onto Bullet Train Explosion. Directed by Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla), the new movie is heavy on the VFX, albeit with filming taking place in co-operation with companies that operate the iconic bullet trains. The plot revolves around an urgent call that’s placed stating that a bomb has been planted on a high-speed train that’s headed for the populous center of Tokyo. The person who rang in the bomb? He’s demanding 100 billion yen, and should the train go below 100 kmph, the bomb will explode. It looks like an intense affair, and the visuals look mostly OK (some of the train derailings in the trailer look overkill), so we’ll see how this shapes out.
Best New Licensed Movies Coming to Netflix in April 2025
Draft Day (2014)
Coming to Netflix: April 1st
Love him or loathe him, you cannot deny that Kevin Costner’s career has stood the test of time. It has spanned well over 40 years, and arguably, his best works have come in the past decade, especially with Yellowstone. One of his often overlooked recent successes is Draft Day, the 2014 movie from Lionsgate where he starred alongside Jennifer Garner, Chadwick Boseman, and Frank Langella.
In this film, Costner plays Sonny Weaver Jr., the struggling Cleveland Browns general manager, under pressure to build a winning team after he trades for the number one pick of the Draft. It often feels like watching one of the Netflix sports documentaries in that it’s intense and feels like the real deal—solid performances across the board here.
Alpha (2018)
Coming to Netflix: April 1st
Picture: Columbia Pictures
Narrated by the legendary Morgan Freeman himself, this prehistoric action drama from seven years ago has aged remarkably well and is set during a time that Hollywood often neglects in its storytelling. It comes from director Albert Hughes, best known for working alongside his twin brother on titles like Menace II Society and The Book of Eli. The plot centers on an inexperienced hunter who gets separated from his tribe during hunting and must survive at all costs in an unforgiving landscape.
At its core, it’s a straightforward survival movie, but its execution is mighty effective. Furthermore, it’s got some stunning visuals, even if there are definite hiccups in its pacing and some of the performances. Also, a quick note: As this is a Sony Pictures movie, don’t add it to your list unless you’re on Netflix’s premium tier. As with all other movies from the distributor, it will be blocked on the ad-tier.
American Sniper (2014)
Coming to Netflix: April 21st
Picture Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Netflix excluded this biopic, headlined by Bradley Cooper, from its official rundown for the month of April, but it is definitely still on the roster. Set during the 2000s following the 9/11 attacks, it follows Chris Kyle, who signs up as a U.S. Navy SEAL and eventually becomes one of the most lethal snipers in the entire U.S. Army and the country’s history. The plot then deals with Kyle’s struggles and eventual murder following the end of his active tours of duty. Clint Eastwood is the director behind the film, and we wouldn’t have wanted anyone else. It’s an incredibly tight and honest retelling of the life of Chris Kyle and is well worth a watch.
UnBroken (2023)
Coming to Netflix: April 23rd
Netflix in the United States and Canada will soon be the streaming home of the recently released documentary UnBroken, directed by Beth Lane. The film recounts the remarkable story of Lane’s family, who managed to escape Nazi Germany during World War II thanks entirely to the kindness of strangers.
Through interviews with her relatives and by retracing her family’s journey, UnBroken offers an intimate and moving portrait of survival. The documentary has received widespread acclaim during its year-long run at film and documentary festivals.
The Addams Family (1991)
Coming to Netflix: April 9th
Picture: MGM
Do you know a Wednesday fan? How are they doing? They’re likely desperate for any crumbs of information for season 2 of the show, which has yet to get an official release date from Netflix. Well, we can’t help with their troubles, but we can help soften the blow of the drought of information right now with the news that The Addams Family has charted a return to Netflix US, having left back in January 2024. The movie has many ties to the series, not least having a few shared actors and plenty of familiar characters, so there’s never a better time to revisit. It’s quirky and a rightful cult classic.
The Place Beyond The Pines (2012)
Coming to Netflix: April 1st
Picture Credits: Focus Features
Our final pick of the day is The Place Beyond The Pines, which is led by Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, and the late Ray Liotta. Each of them puts in sublime performances with the plot revolving around a motorbike stunt rider who turns to a life of crime, hoping it leads to a happier and more prosperous life for him and his young family. Of course, being inexperienced, he soon lands himself on the radar of a police officer and the plot escalates from there.
IndieWire’s Eric Kohn was incredibly high on the film when it was released, writing, ” The movie succeeds both as a high-stakes crime thriller as well as a far quieter and empathetic study of angry, solitary men proves that Cianfrance has a penchant for bold storytelling and an eye for performances to carry it through.”
