LOS ANGELES, October 6 — What unfolded in the world of streaming entertainment this week is a story of Netflix’s growing cultural influence, highlighted by its remarkable success at recent award ceremonies and the platform’s ability to offer both nostalgic favorites and contemporary hits. The story begins with Netflix’s undeniable presence at the 2026 Academy Awards, where six original films from the streaming giant received eighteen nominations and won seven awards. These accolades underscore Netflix’s growing influence in award-season recognition.
At its heart, Netflix’s strength lies in its blend of original productions and a broad catalog of licensed films from other studios, making it a reliable entertainment destination despite the challenge of choosing what to watch. To aid viewers, a recent guide highlights several enduring classics currently streaming on the platform.
One of the enduring classics available on Netflix is Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster ‘Jaws,’ starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss. The platform also offers the 1980 workplace comedy ‘9 to 5,’ featuring Dolly Parton in her film debut alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as coworkers plotting revenge on their sexist boss, played by Dabney Coleman.
Diverse Offerings for Every Viewer
Netflix’s varied library includes David Lean’s 1962 epic ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and Sofia Coppola’s 2006 stylized historical drama ‘Marie Antoinette,’ starring Kirsten Dunst as the titular queen and featuring a New Wave soundtrack and pastel visual aesthetic. For those seeking more recent additions, the platform offers the 2022 AI-driven horror-comedy ‘M3GAN,’ starring Alison Williams and Violet McGraw, with its sequel ‘M3GAN 2.0’ also available.
The 2024 Oscar-nominated drama ‘I’m Still Here,’ centered on Fernanda Torres’s performance as Eunice Paiva, a Brazilian activist searching for her kidnapped husband during the country’s military dictatorship, is also part of the collection. The article positions these films as representative of Netflix’s ability to offer both nostalgic favorites and contemporary hits, encouraging subscribers to explore the platform’s varied offerings for meaningful viewing experiences.
Completing the diverse selection is the 2019 horror-thriller ‘Ready or Not,’ starring Samara Weaving as a bride forced to survive a deadly wedding-night ritual hosted by her wealthy in-laws. As viewers continue to navigate the vast sea of content available on streaming platforms, Netflix’s carefully curated selection of award-winning originals alongside timeless classics ensures there’s always something worth watching for every mood and preference. As of 2026, Netflix is the most-subscribed video on demand global streaming media service, with 325 million paid memberships in over 190 countries.
By 2022, “Netflix Original” productions accounted for half of its library in the United States and the namesake company had ventured into other categories, such as video game publishing of mobile games through its flagship service. As of 2026, Netflix is the 22nd most-visited website in the world, with 21.18% of its traffic coming from the US, followed by the United Kingdom at 6.01%, Canada at 4.94%, and Brazil at 4.24%.
