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The best Netflix movies of 2024, according to critics

31 December 2024 at 01:27
left: glen powell in hit man, wearing glasses; center: aaron pierre in rebel ridge; right: anna kendrick in woman of the hour
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Matt Lankes/Netflix; Netflix

  • Insider compiled 2024's top Netflix original movies based on critics' rankings from Rotten Tomatoes.
  • The list includes titles with an 80% or higher score and at least 20 reviews.
  • The top films included "Daughters," "Will & Harper," and "Hit Man."

This year's top Netflix original movies span genre and form, ranging from action flicks to documentaries to all-ages animated films.

You might remember "Hit Man," which helped cement Glen Powell's star status on the heels of "Anyone But You" and before the summer blockbuster "Twisters." Perhaps you caught the Academy Award-nominated "Society of the Snow" after it premiered on Netflix in January. Or maybe you were tuned for Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, "Woman of the Hour."

There are 21 Netflix films this year that boasted aggregated critic score on Rotten Tomatoes of over 80% β€” provided they had at least 20 reviews. Here's the full list, from lowest to highest score.

Note: All scores were current on the date of publication. In the event of a tied score, the movie with more reviews was ranked higher.

21. 'Ultraman: Rising'
ultraman, in giant form, cradling a pink baby kaiju in his hands while kneeling in the sea. behind him, the moon hangs in a crescent, with stars twinkling in the background
"Ultraman: Rising."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

Netflix synopsis: "For decades, his dad was Ultraman, maintaining balance between humans and kaiju-kind. Now it's Kenji's turn β€” and it's the hardest job he's ever had."

20. 'The Beautiful Game'
a team full of players with badges on their jackets that read "homeless world cup" standing outside. next to a man in the front is an older man, wearing glasses and a green jacket in "The beautiful game"
"The Beautiful Game."

Alfredo Falvo/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Netflix synopsis: "This heartwarming tale of football, friendship, and triumph against the odds stars Bill Nighy as the caring manager of England's Homeless World Cup team."

19. 'The Piano Lesson'
a young girl sits at a beautiful upright piano, touching the keys. she's wearing a green dress and has her hair pulled into pigtails
Skylar Smith as Maretha in "The Piano Lesson"

Brian Douglas/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Netflix synopsis: "A fight over an heirloom piano stirs up ghosts of the past in this Denzel Washington-produced adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play."

18. 'Martha'
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart gets candid in the new Netflix documentary "Martha."

Courtesy of Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Netflix synopsis: "From homemaker to lawbreaker, discover the story of America's original influencer and her comeback from the scandal that almost cost her everything."

17. 'Society of the Snow'
The survivors of Flight 571 in Netflix's "Society of the Snow."
The survivors of Flight 571 in Netflix's "Society of the Snow."

Quim Vives/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Netflix synopsis: "Nominated for a Golden Globe, this touching film about the 1972 airplane crash in the Andes 'hypnotizes with its spectacularity,' praises El Mundo."

16. 'The Shadow Strays'
a young woman in all-black clothes standing in the snow, a gas mask hanging off her neck. she's holding a katana in one hand, with a building visible behind her
Hana Pitrashata Malasan as Umbra in "The Shadow Strays."

Ewet/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Skilled in the art of killing, a young assassin defies her mentor to save a boy from a ruthless crime syndicate β€” and she'll destroy anyone in her path."

15. 'Joy'
An image showing three medical staff in a hospital. On the left, an older man wears a blue surgical outfit with a blue hair net; he's wearing thick-rimmed glasses. In the middle, a younger woman has a white surgical outfit with a blue hairnet on and small earrings. On the right, a middle-aged man has a blue surgical outfit on and a blue hairnet, he's holding a newborn baby with dark hair in a white blanket.
Bill Nighy as Patrick Steptoe, Thomasin McKenzie as Jean Purdy, and James Norton as Robert Edwards in Netflix's "Joy."

Kerry Brown/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Born in 1978, Louise Joy Brown was the world's first IVF baby. But who were the scientists that made her birth possible? This drama tells their story."

14. 'The Kitchen'
a man and a boy, both wearing dark jackets and light wash jeans, run along a paved road. the man is looking behind him, suggesting that they're running away from something
"The Kitchen."

Hugues Lawson-Body/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "London, 2044. The gap between the rich and the poor is stretched to its limits. The Kitchen is one of the only social housing estates left."

13. 'The Imaginary'
two children wearing loose t=shirts and with short hair sit on the back of a flying creature in the imaginary, grinning widely as their hair flies back
"The Imaginary."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Amanda and her imaginary friend Rudger go on thrilling make-believe adventures. but when Rudger finds himself alone, he faces a mysterious threat."

12. 'Woman of the Hour'
woman of the hour
Tony Hale and Anna Kendrick in "Woman of the Hour."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "An aspiring Hollywood star matches with a sadistic serial killer on a dating game show in Anna Kendrick's 'tremendous directorial debut' (Screen Daily)."

11. 'Orion and the Dark'
Orion and the Dark
"Orion and the Dark."

DreamWorks Animation

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Netflix synopsis: "Sean Charmatz's directorial debut about a boy who befriends the Dark is a 'marvelously told tale' that 'has fun with fear' (San Francisco Chronicle)."

10. 'Rez Ball'
a young man doges around two other basketball players as he dribbles the ball around the court. he has an intent expression on his face, and the player next to him, seen from the back, has his hair worn in a long braid.
Kauchani Bratt as Jimmy in "Rez Ball."

Lewis Jacobs/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Netflix synopsis: "They play fast, shoot fast and never stop. A high school basketball team defies the odds in this LeBron James-produced drama inspired by true events."

9. 'Hit Man'
Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in "Hit Man."
Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in "Hit Man."

Matt Lankes / Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Netflix synopsis: "A mild-mannered professor poses as a fake hit man in this comedy that's 'a blast of pure pleasure and one of the year's best films' (The Washington Post)."

8. 'Black Barbie'
Black Barbie dolls
"Black Barbie."

Courtesy of Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Netflix synopsis: "From Shondaland comes this 'must see' (RogerEbert.com), 'magnificent' and 'simply spectacular' (Black Girl Nerds) documentary on the first Black Barbie."

7. 'Rebel Ridge'
Aaron Pierre standing in front of cops
Aaron Pierre in "Rebel Ridge."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Netflix synopsis: "A former Marine with a mysterious background uses his unique skills to pursue justice when small-town cops seize the cash he needs for his cousin's bail."

6. 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin'
two video game characters from world of warcraft. on the left is a woman with brown hair and dark clothing. on the right its mats steen's character ibelin, a broad man with long golden hair wearing armor
"The Remarkable Life of Ibelin."

World of Warcraft and Blizzard Entertainment/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

Netflix synopsis: "When the parents of a beloved World of Warcraft player announced his death, his guild members reached out ot them β€” and revealed his hidden life."

5. 'The Greatest Night in Pop'
Huey Lewis, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson in the greatest night in pop, hovering around a piece of sheet music, which jackson is holding in his hand
"The Greatest Night in Pop."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Netflix synopsis: "Music stars met their idols, egos were tested, the clock was ticking β€” and history was made. A documentary on the night 'We Are the World' was recorded."

4. 'His Three Daughters'
natasha lyonne, elizabeth olsen, and carrie coon in his three daughters. they're sitting together on a couch in a nicely decorated living room, glad in casual wear, and lyonne is curled up with her head in olsen's lap
Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, and Carrie Coon in "His Three Daughters."

Sam Levy/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Netflix synopsis: "A trio of estranged sisters reunite at their dying father's New York City apartment in this 'bitingly funny and disarmingly honest' drama (The Atlantic)."

3. 'Will & Harper'
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in "Will & Harper"
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in "Will & Harper."

Courtesy of Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%

Netflix synopsis: "When Will Ferrell's good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self."

2. 'Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhaka Sherpa'
Two women in mountain queen, dressing in traditional brightly colored garmens including a purple shirt with blue sleeves and orange cuffs and collar, and a striped skirt that ties around the waist
"Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Netflix synopsis: "Bone-chilling winds. Dwindling oxygen. Avalanches. Lhakpa Sherpa makes a perilous, record-breaking summit of Mount Everest in this gripping documentary."

1. 'Daughters'
two girls wearing white stand closely together. the girl in front wear her hair straight, and the girl in the back has her hair in braids and is smiling
"Daughters."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Netflix synopsis: 'This Sundance prize-winning documentary about a group of girls reuniting with their dads is 'an admirable, ennobling picture,' says Vulture."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Martha Stewart told us the 3 recipes she thinks everyone should learn how to make for the holidays

21 December 2024 at 06:42
martha stewart
Martha Stewart spoke to Business Insider about her favorite holiday recipes.

Robin Marchant/Getty Images for NYCWFF

  • Martha Stewart shared the three holiday recipes she thinks everyone should make.Β 
  • Stewart said her eggnog recipe, which she makes every year, is one of the bestΒ "you'll ever taste."Β 
  • She also recommends whipping up her homemade cheese straws.Β 

If you're searching for inspiration for your holiday menu, look no further β€” Martha Stewart is here to help.

We asked the queen of hosting to share the recipes she thinks everyone should learn how to make for the holidays.

Whether you're planning a holiday menu or just want to bring an impressive dish to your next party, Stewart's recipes will have you covered.

Martha Stewart thinks everyone should whip up her eggnog during the holidays

Stewart told Business Insider that her eggnog recipe, which she makes every year for her annual holiday party, is "one of the best eggnogs you'll ever taste."

@marthastewart

Serve my classic eggnog for an intimate gathering or double the recipe for a crowd! Full recipe at the link in bio. _________ My Original Eggnog Recipe: 12 large eggs, separated 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar 1 1/2 quarts heavy cream 1 quart whole milk 3 cups bourbon 1/2 cup dark rum 2 cups cognac Freshly grated nutmeg

♬ original sound - Martha Stewart

The recipe, which can be found on Stewart's official website, packs a boozy punch with three types of liquor β€”Β bourbon, cognac, and dark rum.

If you want something sweet, Stewart recommends making her sugar cookies

"My sugar cookies are a really, really good cookie," Stewart said. "Make them in the shapes of Christmas trees and little glass balls and decorate them."

Stewart's website features a variety of sugar cookie recipes. You can findΒ cinnamon sugar cookiesΒ andΒ gingered sugar cookies, as well as aΒ classic sugar cookie recipe "for decorating and cutting into any shape you desire."

You'll also find a recipe for royal icing on Stewart's website to help with the decorating.

Stewart loves making homemade cheese straws for her holiday parties

"I'm having a party for everyone who works on my farm, and I'm definitely going to have my cheese straws," Stewart said. "I love making my puff-pastry cheese straws during the holidays."

"They're nice with a glass of wine, and when people come by, it's nice to have those instead of store-bought crackers," she added.

Stewart recommends using all-butter puff pastry "for the best flavor and texture" with her cheese straws recipe.

Martha Stewart in December 2023
Stewart also shared her holiday hosting tips with Business Insider.

Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

We also asked Stewart to share her tips for bringing a gift to holiday parties, and she revealed that she always picks something that's personal or homemade.

"I oftentimes take a cake or cookies that I've made," she told BI. "I often take a panettone, or something that's especially delicious, something I found."

But Stewart never gifts scented candles.

"I hate scented candles, so I would never give anybody a scented candle, I just don't like them," Stewart said.

"I know they're so popular," she added. "But some houses have a different scented candle burning in each room, and it's so annoying."

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried Ina Garten's and Martha Stewart's latke recipes, and Garten's buttery potato pancakes won me over

20 December 2024 at 08:55
Ina Garten's latkes.
Ina Garten's latkes are fried in butter.

Coren Feldman

  • I made both Ina Garten's and Martha Stewart's latke recipes to see which one I liked better.
  • I preferred Garten's recipe β€” the simple ingredients and butter gave them a lighter flavor.
  • Stewart's recipe with oil results in a more classic latke, but they were harder to flip.

Ina Garten and Martha Stewart are both known for their delicious recipes. But whose latkes are the tastiest?

As someone who has grown up celebrating Hanukkah, I've eaten my fair share of the holiday's traditional fried potato pancakes. I was curious to see how two of my favorite celebrity chefs have made latkes their own.

You can read Ina Garten's full latke recipe here and Martha Stewart's full recipe here.

I taste-tested both recipes. Here's how they turned out.

I began with Ina Garten's recipe, which calls for relatively simple ingredients.
The ingredients for Ina Garten's latkes: potatoes, an egg, butter, salt, and pepper.
The ingredients for Ina Garten's recipe.

Coren Feldman

The recipe lists potatoes, an egg, flour, salt, and pepper. I was surprised to find that the recipe called for frying the latkes in clarified butter instead of oil. Eating foods fried in oil is part of Hanukkah tradition, so I was a bit skeptical about this change.

I began by peeling and grating the potatoes, then squeezing out the excess liquid.
Talia Lakritz grates potatoes while making latkes.
Grating potatoes.

Coren Feldman

I managed to cut myself almost immediately. Grate with caution.

I mixed in the egg, flour, salt, and pepper.
Mixing Ina Garten's latke ingredients.
Mixing Ina Garten's latke ingredients.

Coren Feldman

The resulting batter had the consistency of oatmeal.

I then started on the clarified butter for frying.
Melting butter for Ina Garten's latkes.
Melting butter for Ina Garten's latkes.

Coren Feldman

The recipe includes instructions for how to make clarified butter. You can also just buy ghee at a grocery store and skip this step.

Making clarified butter involves melting butter, waiting for milk solids to settle, and skimming them off the top.
Clarifying butter.
Clarifying butter.

Coren Feldman

It reminded me of skimming the fat off the top of chicken soup. It was easy, but took extra time waiting for the solids to settle.

With the butter all clarified, it was time to fry.
Frying Ina Garten's latkes.
Frying Ina Garten's latkes.

Coren Feldman

Garten's recipe instructs using a tablespoon of the potato mixture for each latke.

The small pancakes finished cooking in minutes, and they were easy to flip.
Ina Garten's latkes.
Ina Garten's latkes are fried in butter.

Coren Feldman

I also loved that frying the latkes in butter didn't make my entire apartment and person smell like oil. It's a strong scent that tends to linger. These just smelled mildly like melted butter, which was amazing.

The finished products came out perfectly crispy even though they weren't fried in oil.
latke taste test
The finished latkes.

Courtesy of Coren Feldman

Because there weren't any other added ingredients to the batter, the potato flavor shone through and the buttery crust was delicious.

Paired with some applesauce β€” my latke topping of choice β€” Garten's recipe became the one to beat for me.
Ina Garten's latke topped with applesauce.
Ina Garten's latke topped with applesauce.

Coren Feldman

It didn't have the oily taste of a traditional latke, but I actually preferred the milder taste of butter.

Next, I started on Martha Stewart's latke recipe, which called for some extra ingredients.
Ingredients for Martha Stewart's latkes.
Ingredients for Martha Stewart's latkes.

Coren Feldman

Stewart's recipe involved twice the amount of potatoes and eggs that were in Garten's, as well as additions like grated onion and beer.

I grated the potatoes and squeezed them out with a kitchen towel.
Squeezing out potato liquid as part of a latke taste test.
Squeezing out potato liquid.

Coren Feldman

Stewart's recipe says to reserve this potato juice, let the milky starch sink to the bottom, and pour off the liquid β€” similar to the clarified butter I made for Garten's recipe.

I then added the eggs, a grated onion, and a quarter cup of beer.
Martha Stewart's latke recipe included beer and grated onion.
Martha Stewart's latke recipe included beer and grated onion.

Coren Feldman

Grated onions are standard in latke recipes β€” beer, not as much. I was curious to see how it would affect the flavor and texture.

After mixing everything, I scooped half a cup of batter at a time into a pan of hot oil as the recipe instructed.
Frying Martha Stewart's latkes.
Frying Martha Stewart's latkes.

Coren Feldman

The larger latkes took much longer to fry than Garten's, and they were a little more unruly to flip. I'm still trying to get a resulting oil splash out of my favorite jeans.

As that classic oily Hanukkah smell filled the kitchen, I became nostalgic for the latkes of my youth.
Martha Stewart's latkes.
Martha Stewart's latkes.

Coren Feldman

I could already tell that these latkes were going to be the more traditional of the two.

Stewart's recipe tasted like the standard latke you can get at any Hanukkah party.
Tasting Martha Stewart's latkes.
Tasting Martha Stewart's latkes.

Coren Feldman

I couldn't taste the beer, but the grated onion and the crispy, oily goodness created a sharper flavor that screamed Hanukkah to me.

Personally, I preferred Garten's take on the potato pancake, but Stewart's recipe is great if you're looking for a classic latke.
latke taste test
Martha Stewart's latkes are on the left, Ina Gargen's on the right.

Courtesy of Coren Feldman

Even though they're not fried in oil β€” which is kind of the point of eating them on this holiday β€” I enjoyed Garten's latkes more because they were easier and faster to make, and they had a mild, buttery flavor that I loved. But Stewart's recipe is perfect for traditionalists.

Read the original article on Business Insider

9 of the best celebrity-chef stuffing recipes to try this Thanksgiving

23 November 2024 at 06:40
guy fieri pepperoni stuffing
Guy Fieri.

Steve Jennings/Getty Images; Chelsea Davis/Insider

  • Stuffing is a must-have Thanksgiving dish in many households.
  • Celebrity chefs like Martha Stewart and Guy FieriΒ have their own recipes for stuffing.
  • Ina Garten and Rachael Ray both add apples to their stuffing recipes.

Whether you're team in-the-bird or team oven, stuffing is one of the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes and everyone has their preferred recipe.

Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, the dish is a staple on many Americans' Thanksgiving tables. A 2021 survey conducted by Ipsos found that about 76% of respondents reported serving stuffing or dressing at their Thanksgiving meals, more than dinner rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce, or green-bean casserole.

Many celebrity chefs have given the classic dish their own unique spins. For example, Guy Fieri adds pepperoni to his stuffing, while Ina Garten and Rachael Ray both add apples to their stuffing recipes.

Here are nine celebrity-chef stuffing recipes to consider making this Thanksgiving.

Martha Stewart's recipe for classic stuffing is made to be cooked inside your Thanksgiving turkey.
martha stewart stuffing
Martha Stewart.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

The recipe calls for all the typical ingredients, including onions, celery, sage, and two loaves of stale white bread. However, Martha Stewart also recommends adding optional ingredients like toasted pecans and dried cherries to elevate the stuffing.

Ina Garten's recipe for sausage-and-herb stuffing also includes apples and dried cranberries for added flavor.
ina garten stuffing
Ina Garten.

Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images; Food Network/YouTube

For her recipe, Ina Garten recommends toasting your bread first before moving on to sautΓ©ing the onions, celery, apples, parsley, salt, and pepper. After sautΓ©ing the sausage in the same pan, mix all the ingredients together with chicken stock and the dried cranberries before baking it in the oven.

Emeril Lagasse's recipe for stuffing involves relatively few steps but quite a few ingredients.
emeril stuffing
Emeril Lagasse.

John Lamparski/Getty Images; Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

The chef's Thanksgiving favorite recipe uses mild fresh Italian sausage, diced onion, diced celery, garlic, apples, chestnuts, fresh goat cheese, and a beaten egg before it's baked or stuffed inside the turkey.

Rachael Ray makes her apple, celery, and onion stuffing every year on Thanksgiving.
rachael ray stuffing
Rachael Ray.

John Lamparski/Getty Images; Rachael Ray Show/YouTube

The recipe is pretty traditional, except for the inclusion of McIntosh or Empire apples. The stuffing is baked in the oven and calls for seasoned cubed stuffing rather than homemade bread cubes, which many celebrity chefs recommend.

Guy Fieri's pepperoni stuffing is a unique take on the classic Thanksgiving side dish.
guy fieri pepperoni stuffing
Guy Fieri.

Steve Jennings/Getty Images; Chelsea Davis/Insider

The recipe calls for sliced pepperoni, yellow onions, red bell pepper, pepperoncini peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes. To amp up this Italian-inspired recipe, Fieri also opts to use dried-out focaccia bread rather than white bread.

When Business Insider's Chelsea Davis made the stuffing for her Thanksgiving dinner, she said it "tasted like a loaded pizza."

"Fixer Upper" star Joanna Gaines' recipe for homemade Thanksgiving stuffing uses French bread and mushrooms.
joanna gaines stuffing
Joanna Gaines.

Rob Kim/Getty Images; Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

The recipe doesn't include meat, although it does use chicken broth and poultry seasoning to give it more flavor. Gaines also adds interesting ingredients like heavy cream and mushrooms to her stuffing.

The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's recipe calls for three different types of bread, including homemade cornbread.
ree drummond pioneer woman stuffing
Ree Drummond.

Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images; Paige Bennett/Insider

Drummond's dressing recipe β€” yes, it's technically called dressing if it's not in the bird β€” uses cornbread, an Italian bread like a ciabatta loaf, and French bread. The recipe doesn't use sausage, although it does include other classic ingredients like celery, parsley, and onions.

To make Bobby Flay's dressing, you'll need hot Italian sausage and cubed country bread, plus other ingredients.
bobby flay stuffing
Bobby Flay.

Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images; Food Network

The recipe also uses unsalted butter, red onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and fresh sage to add a lot of flavor. Despite Flay mostly being known for his burgers, the recipe has received mostly positive reviews on the Food Network's website, with one user calling it "a staple every year" at their Thanksgiving dinner.

Paula Deen's stuffing recipe calls for homemade cornbread and a large amount of butter.
paula deen stuffing
Paula Deen.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images; Paige Bennett/Insider

To make Deen's Southern cornbread stuffing recipe, you'll need a stick of butter, chopped celery, chopped onion, chicken stock, plus the ingredients needed to make the cornbread. The recipe also calls for saltine crackers, which Business Insider's Paige Bennett thought was a miss.Β 

"When I took a bite, I noted the interior was far too soggy β€” there was definitely too much broth, and the crackers turned mushy after absorbing the liquid," she wrote.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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