540 Best TV-MA Movies to Watch (Page 19)

Put the kids to bed before you go through this list of great titles to stream. These are the very best movies and shows with a TV-MA ratings, intended for mature audiences only.

Read also:

After the ending of the show Suburra: Blood on Rome, it had seemed like there was nowhere else for the franchise to go, with plenty of the main cast dead. But after three years, the world of Suburra is back on Netflix in Suburræterna, and despite the chaos that reigns in Rome, there are still opportunistic survivors circling over remaining scraps of control. One survivor is Spadino Anacleti, who, after he had left for a more tolerant Berlin, is now forced to return home, with no other suitable heir for the family. While new viewers might be lost with the names referencing previous characters, fans of the franchise would enjoy the way Suburræterna unfolds, as the Suburra story, inspired by the real life Mafia Capitale, takes on a life of its own.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Actor: Carlotta Antonelli, Federica Sabatini, Federigo Ceci, Filippo Nigro, Giacomo Ferrara, Giorgia Spinelli, Marlon Joubert, Paola Sotgiu

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

273. Stax: Soulsville USA, 2024

Stax’s existence may have been short-lived, but its impact continues to be felt in every R&B record produced to this day. That’s one of the points this four-part documentary from HBO successfully makes so that by the end, you’re convinced Stax should be just as recognizable and appreciated as Motown, Atlantic, and other influential record labels. For the most part, the series resembles the typical documentary in that it’s propelled by animated talking heads and complementary archival footage, but the performances of Stax stars, including and most especially Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes, inject the documentary with an energy and electricity that pushes you to move and groove. The old-school editing feels thoughtful, too, while the additional animation adds a delightfully nostalgic touch. The documentary itself may not be as revolutionary as the events it captures, but it is just as enlightening, electrifying, and enjoyable.

Genre: Documentary

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

274. Starstruck, 2022

New Zealand comic Rose Matafeo directs, writes, and stars in this charming series about a regular woman who unwittingly spends the night with a film star. What was supposed to be a one-night stand hilariously evolves into something quite serious, with both leads learning to navigate the messy contours of modern love (think Notting Hill but with the roles reversed).

With only six episodes per season, each running at less than 30 minutes, this British romantic comedy series is a sweet and easy gulp; you'll find yourself alternating between sobs and chuckles throughout the inevitable binge.

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Actor: Emma Sidi, Nikesh Patel, Rose Matafeo

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

275. Rocks, 2019

It’s rare now to hear the phrase “girl power” without being immediately suspicious of its intentions, reduced as it were to cheesy adspeak and empty platitudes. But in the case of Rocks—a movie helmed by a predominantly female crew and co-written by the teenage cast themselves—the slogan fits. There is power in this type of girlhood: open, collaborative, and supportive, and that’s just what happens off-screen.

On-screen, what unfolds is even more complex and beautiful. As Rocks struggles to take care of her younger brother all on her own, as she’s forced to grow up and face ethical dilemmas normally reserved for adults, she is backed unwaveringly by her friends Sumaya, Agnes, Yawa, Khadijah, and Sabina. It's their specific bond, unsentimental but deeply considerate and loyal, that keeps the film as solid and grounded as the title suggests.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Afi Okaidja, Anastasia Dymitrow, Aneta Piotrowska, Bukky Bakray, Curtis Walker, D’angelou Osei Kissiedu, D'angelou Osei Kissiedu, Kaine Zajaz, Kate Isitt, Kosar Ali, Layo-Christina Akinlude, Mohammad Amiri, Ruby Stokes, Sarah Niles, Shaneigha-Monik Greyson, Sharon D. Clarke, Shola Adewusi, Tawheda Begum, Tina Chiang, Umit Ulgen

Director: Sarah Gavron

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

276. Robbie Williams, 2023

With a long and chaotic 30 years in the industry, it’s hard to encapsulate Robbie Williams’ whole musical career in a documentary. There are plenty of songs to tackle, plenty of scandals to explain, and Netflix tries to portray it all through its latest four part docuseries. Given its lengthy subject matter, it’s impossible to tackle everything, of course, so it mainly focuses on the artists’ mindset and mental health as Robbie Williams himself looks back at previous footage of himself. There’s some comfort in the fact that the singer now feels more settled in himself, something comforting in the idea that depression can be handled and overcome, but it makes this docuseries a fairly vulnerable one for the artist, and it’s an intriguing behind the scenes look for his fans.

Genre: Documentary

Actor: Robbie Williams

Director: Joe Perlman

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

277. Queenmaker, 2023

	
Full of twists and turns, Queenmaker is a corporate turned political K-drama where a corporate fixer plays campaign chess against her former employers and retail conglomerate the Eunsung Group. Centered on her and the earnest human rights lawyer she’s trying to get elected, the show has Do-hee mentoring Kyung-sook in the art of PR, this time for the good. Even as the show reuses the genre’s classic tropes, the series’ plot points are entertaining, with each new twist naturally occurring as each side tries to dig dirt on the other and use it for political clout. It’s one of the most intriguing K-dramas we’ve seen this year.Genre: Drama
Actor: Hyun Bong-sik, Jin Kyung, Kim Hee-ae, Kim Sae-byuk, Lee Kyung-young, Moon So-ri, Ok Ja-yeon, Ryu Soo-young, Seo Yi-sook
Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

278. Platonic, 2023

It’s one of the oldest problems in the history of mankind: can men and women be friends? Romantic comedies, since their inception, have tried to answer this question in various quirky ways, and almost always, the answer is a resounding no. The two leads must end up together because the chemistry is too strong, and besides, love can only end in romance. Right? Platonic is one of a handful of shows that knows there’s no straightforward answer to that question. It’s thoughtful and nuanced as it subverts rom-com expectations and refuses to rush into a template happy ending. Even more impressive is the fact that it gives us a hefty dose of reality while still being light-hearted, funny, and charming. Whether that’s thanks to the easy chemistry between Sylvia and Will (played by longtime collaborators Rose Bryne and Seth Rogen) or to the refreshing experience of having a familiar dilemma be treated with newfound profundity, there’s no doubt that Platonic puts a fresh new spin on the genre.

Genre: Comedy

Actor: Carla Gallo, Luke Macfarlane, Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen, Tre Hale

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

279. Penelope, 2024

	
If you’ve seen one too many true crime documentaries, you might shake your head at the things sixteen-year-old Penelope does upon running away from her high school camp. You might (rightly) ask, why is she camping in the middle of nowhere all alone? Why is she trusting all these different strangers who, for all she knows, could be a serial killer or a trafficker? And why approach that bear? Why sleep in that clearing? But the sooner you let go of those worries and accept that Penelope is more of a fable about growing up and finding yourself than it is a literal survival tale, the better. Which isn’t to say it fails as the latter—Penelope is surprisingly watchable as she learns the ways of the wilderness. In fact, one near-silent episode is dedicated to just Penelope learning the ropes, literally, and it’s one of the season’s best. As long as you don’t get stuck in the details of Penelope’s journey and take aside your cynicism for just a while, you’ll find something touching and humanizing in this short but sweet series.Genre: Drama
Actor: Austin Abrams, Krisha Fairchild, Megan Stott, Rhenzy Feliz
Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

280. Outer Banks, 2020

In the land of 2 jobs or 2 houses, it’s hard to buy these obnoxious kids as the poor kids, the neglected who do whatever they want. There’s just a little too much confidence and social capital in there to exude neglected. The show trudges and sludges through our heroes’ thrilling adventures, which helps sell the island’s secluded atmosphere, and in a roundabout way helps us root for the Pogues for actually making things happen here. A lot of the engagement for this story, however, starts largely linear and basic—the poor good guys vs the boring, rich, corrupt bad guys—but the intricacies reveal themselves, though they take some time to start simmering.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Adina Porter, Austin North, Charles Esten, Chase Stokes, Drew Starkey, Jonas Pate, Jonathan Daviss, Josh Pate, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Rudy Pankow, Shannon Burke

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

281. Mo, 2022

Mo is the semi-autobiographical tale of creator and star Mo Amer, whose tricky bouts with immigration, interfaith relationships, and growing up Arab-American all figure in the show. It's a bittersweet series that brings the Palestinian and immigrant experience to the forefront—a tricky act that's dealt with deft ease here. The series may be rife with social, cultural, and political issues, but there's a big and heartfelt message at the center of it, and Amer tells it with genuine warmth and humor without ever being too self-serious and preachy, making Mo a breezy but meaningful watch.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Mo Amer, Teresa Ruiz

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

282. Lenox Hill, 2020

This docuseries is a straightforward account of what actually happens in emergency rooms and about people who dedicate their lives to this extremely demanding work. Set in a New York hospital that has struggled in the past to compete with bigger establishments, it follows two brain surgeons, an OBGYN, and an ER physician. If you like ER, Grey’s Anatomy, or anything similar, and want to know how it actually works - this is a great show. Hint: reality is light years away from how ERs are usually depicted. Lenox Hill a tough watch that might not be for everyone — there are people diagnosed with horrible things and pretty much every single scene is highly emotional.

Genre: Documentary

Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

283. Interior Chinatown, 2024

	
When adapting a novel, television showrunners have to transform the text into video, so sometimes, things get cut, lines get shortened, and sometimes what you and the author imagine from the book doesn’t match up on screen. Luckily, for Interior Chinatown, that’s not the case– the novel is already in a screenplay format, and the mini-series is being handled by the very same guy who wrote it, Charles Wu. The satire novel was pretty experimental, so it’s no surprise that the series holds the same playful energy as the book, but this time, playing with stylistic expectations (see: every time the faux leads enters a room) and genre expectations to create a meta levelling up quest for a background character to finally shine through. And with a stacked cast (Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, and Chloe Bennet), the humorous plot cleverly challenges the ways Hollywood has excluded and stereotyped Asian Americans, and the way this plays out in real life.Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Actor: Archie Kao, Chloe Bennet, Diana Lin, Jimmy O. Yang, Lisa Gilroy, Ronny Chieng, Sullivan Jones
Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

284. If I Hadn’t Met You, 2018

The family dynamics at the heart of this show are given plenty of room to breathe, with many tender moments baked into the frequent little conflicts. Then, it’s terribly heartbreaking when it needs to be, ripping apart what you latch onto. Pablo Derqui is incredible in his nuance between his public face and his private face, embodying all the strands of a torn up heart. The mysterious woman he later meets is dodgy in a way that bleeds through her kind eyes and mannerisms. This series has strong performances all around in scenes that get time to shine, and a pace that answers enough questions that lead to new ones, leaving you wanting a bit more.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Abel Folk, Andrea Ros, Berta Garcia, David Vert, Eli Iranzo, Javier Beltrán, Joel Bramona, Mercedes Sampietro, Miquel Garcia Borda, Montse Guallar, Muguet Franc, Oscar Jarque, Pablo Derqui, Paula Malia, Sergi Lopez

Rating: N/A, TV-MA

Read also:

285. House of Ninjas, 2024

	
From the fantasy-powered folktales to superhero-like depictions, ninjas have captivated the world, but seem to be a relic of the past, with modern day warfare and weaponry turning them obsolete. House of Ninjas imagines a world where ninjas still exist, centering a clan stuck between wanting to abandon the old ways but also having skills that seem wasted in contemporary life. Because of this, the show at first seems boring– the family is severely demotivated, with some members acting out through petty theft, and with out-of-place jazzy musical tracks that undercut the action of the first few episodes. However, House of Ninjas gets better as the Tawara clan gets its act together, revealing the hidden heart each of them has for each other, one that’s been hidden because of the grief that struck the family. The show may be less action-packed than expected, but House of Ninjas comes across as an off-kilter family drama with just enough heart to work.Genre: Action & Adventure
Actor: Aju Makita, Kengo Kora, Kento Kaku, Tae Kimura, Yosuke Eguchi
Rating: TV-MA

Read also:

1 … 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 … 36

272. Suburræterna, 2023

273. Stax: Soulsville USA, 2024

274. Starstruck, 2022

275. Rocks, 2019

277. Queenmaker, 2023

278. Platonic, 2023

279. Penelope, 2024

280. Outer Banks, 2020

281. Mo, 2022

282. Lenox Hill, 2020

283. Interior Chinatown, 2024

284. If I Hadn’t Met You, 2018

285. House of Ninjas, 2024

540 Best TV-MA Movies to Watch (Page 19)

271. Sugar, 2024

276. Robbie Williams, 2023