From '28 Days Later' to 'Parasite,' the 7 Best Movies Leaving Netflix in February

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Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) and Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) look intently ahead in Zodiac.

Published Jan 27, 2026, 6:39 PM EST

Laura is a born-and-raised Dominican creative with a deep passion for animation and an unhealthy obsession with Studio Ghibli. She has worked as Collider’s Social Media Coordinator since January 2021, where she oversees everything from day-to-day audience engagement to long-term growth strategies across all major social platforms.
Working closely within the entertainment industry has allowed Laura to develop a more critical and informed perspective on the media she consumes, which led to her training as a Features Writer in 2023. Since then, she has been avidly writing whatever she is allowed to put her hands on.

One of the highlights of Laura’s career has been the opportunity to interview several notable creatives behind the shows and films she loves. These include Dandadan Season 1 producer Hiroshi Kamei, voice actors Abby Trott, AJ Beckles, and Aleks Le, as well as Arcane showrunner Christian Linke, co-director Barthélemy Maunoury, and co-executive producer Amanda Overton.

January has a reputation for feeling like the longest month of the year, and honestly, it sort of earns it. The holidays are officially behind us, the festive lights have come down, and winter is still very much doing its thing. Between shorter days, colder nights, and the slow return to routine, it can all feel like a bit of a mood killer. But if there's one thing that makes this time of year more bearable, it's the simple joy of getting home, curling up on the couch, and putting on a movie you know is going to hit just right. There's something especially comforting about watching a certified banger when the outside world feels gray. Whether you're in the mood for a nostalgic favorite, an edge-of-your-seat thriller, or a crowd-pleasing classic, the right movie can make a cold night feel a whole lot warmer. And now that we can finally see the light at the end of the January tunnel, there's no better time to take advantage of what's still available to stream.

To help you make the most of it, we've rounded up the best titles leaving the platform in February. Consider this your last call to catch some must-watch movies before they disappear, because January may drag on, but your watchlist doesn't have to.

1 '28 Days Later' (2002)

Leaving February 1

Cillian Murphy as Jim looking into the distance in 28 Days Later

As a culture, we're currently living through a moment where studios seem far more willing to place their trust in legacy IP than in original ideas. Reboots, remakes, and revivals arrive one after another, often leaving audiences feeling oversaturated and, at times, diminishing the magic of what were once beloved classics. But not all remakes fall into that trap. Every so often, one manages to breathe new life into a familiar story, reigniting the passion of longtime fans while also bringing an entirely new audience along for the ride.

That's exactly what happened with 28 Years Later last year, and now with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. More than two decades after 28 Days Later first reshaped the zombie genre, Danny Boyle's bleak, infected world feels new and unsettling all over again. Rather than relying solely on nostalgia, these new entries expand the mythology in meaningful ways, proving there's still plenty of life left in this franchise. Whether you haven't experienced the original film yet or you're itching to revisit it after watching the newer installments, now is the perfect time to dive back in.

2 'Bones and All' (2022)

Leaving February 1

Timothée Chalamet as Lee looking to the side in Bones and All.

February is, as we all know, the month of love. And what better way to welcome it than with a wild, intense romance that also happens to be a body-horror film? Bones and All, starring Taylor Russell and Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet, tells the story of Maren (Russell), a young woman who is abandoned by her father due to her dietary preferences. Left to fend for herself, Maren sets out on a journey across the country in search of her mother. Along the way, she encounters others like herself, cannibals, or "eaters," including the restless Lee (Chalamet). What begins as a chance meeting soon develops into a sweeping, unconventional romance as the two navigate love, identity, and survival on the fringes of society.

While Bones and All is undeniably steeped in body horror from start to finish, it's also surprisingly tender and deeply emotional. Beneath its unsettling exterior lies a heartfelt coming-of-age story about connection, loneliness, and acceptance. If you're revisiting Chalamet's filmography ahead of the Oscars, this haunting film absolutely deserves a spot on your watchlist.

3 'Licorice Pizza' (2021)

Leaving February 1

Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim as Gary and Alana running down the street in Licorice Pizza.

Talking about the Oscars and falling in love, there's another film you might want to check out ahead of the ceremony. Paul Thomas Anderson, who is nominated for Best Director for One Battle After Another, is also the filmmaker behind the beloved coming-of-age story Licorice Pizza. Set in the San Fernando Valley of the 1970s, the film captures a specific moment in time while exploring youth, ambition, and emotional confusion.

Making his film debut, Cooper Hoffman stars as Gary Valentine, a 15-year-old child actor who is quickly aging out of his most reliable roles. Rather than slow down, Gary dives headfirst into a series of entrepreneurial schemes, recruiting his younger brother and other boys in everything from selling waterbeds to running pinball machines. Along the way, he meets Alana Kane (played by Alana Haim), a 25-year-old woman who feels stuck and directionless. As their relationship unfolds, both Gary and Alana try to understand who they are and where they're going. Their dynamic is messy and unconventional, but deeply human, making Licorice Pizza a nostalgic, funny, and surprisingly tender watch.

4 'Parasite' (2019)

Leaving February 1

Park So-dam and Choi Woo-shik check their cellphones in a scene from Parasite.

The film that made Bong Joon Ho a world-renowned director, Parasite is widely regarded by cinephiles as one of those rare movies that feels nearly perfect. Blending social commentary with dark comedy, thriller elements, and genuinely heartbreaking moments, the film showcases Bong's masterful ability to shift tones without ever losing focus.

Featuring a stacked cast that includes Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Park So-dam, and Choi Woo-shik, Parasite follows the Kim family, who live in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. When the son, Ki-woo, is offered a tutoring job with the wealthy Park family, he sees an opportunity not just for himself, but for his entire family. One by one, the Kims carefully infiltrate the Parks’ household, posing as unrelated, highly qualified professionals. What begins as a clever con slowly transforms into something far more unsettling. As secrets come to light and class divisions become impossible to ignore, Parasite exposes the fragility of wealth, the desperation of poverty, and the invisible barriers separating the two. Every frame feels intentional, every performance finely tuned, and every twist devastatingly effective. It’s a film that lingers long after the credits roll, and that truly changed the global film landscape forever.

5 'The Terminator' (1984)

Leaving February 1

Arnold Schwarzenegger bloodied and upset in The Terminator.

The Terminator is one of those movies that, even if you haven't seen it, you're undeniably aware of its existence. Whether it's because it was directed by one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, starred an action icon at the height of his rise, or went on to spawn one of the most recognizable franchises in cinema history, the point is simple: The Terminator absolutely earns its place on your watchlist.

Directed by James Cameron, the film introduces a grim, futuristic premise that still feels remarkably fresh decades later. Set in a world where artificial intelligence has nearly wiped out humanity, the story follows a relentless cyborg assassin sent back in time to eliminate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), a woman whose future son will become the key to humanity's survival. Standing in its way is Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a soldier also sent from the future, tasked with protecting Sarah at all costs. What elevates The Terminator beyond a standard sci-fi action film is its sense of dread. The Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, itself is less a character than an unstoppable force, turning the movie into a high-stakes chase thriller with a sci-fi twist. With iconic performances, quotable lines, and groundbreaking effects, The Terminator laid the groundwork for an entire genre and remains just as thrilling today as it was upon release.

6 'Spencer' (2021)

Leaving February 1

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in the passenger seat of a car with her sons in the back in Spencer.

Spencer is one of those films that redefines what a biopic can be. Rather than offering a traditional cradle-to-career portrait, director Pablo Larraín takes a bold, intimate approach, crafting a psychological drama that focuses on a single pivotal weekend in the life of Princess Diana. The result is a haunting, emotionally rich film that feels more like a character study than a historical retelling.

Set during a tense Christmas holiday at the royal family's Sandringham estate, Spencer imagines Diana (played by Kristen Stewart) at a breaking point, trapped between public expectations and private life. Stewart delivers a transformative performance as Diana, capturing her vulnerability, restlessness, and quiet defiance with remarkable sensitivity. It's a portrayal that earned widespread acclaim and firmly established her as one of the most daring actors of her generation. Unconventional, unsettling, and deeply human, Spencer stands as a powerful reimagining of a familiar figure and a reminder that sometimes the most revealing stories are the quietest ones.

7 'Zodiac' (2007)

Leaving February 1

Directed by David Fincher, Zodiac takes one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history and turns it into a slow-burning, deeply unsettling obsession thriller. Set in 1970s San Francisco, Zodiac follows the real-life hunt for the Zodiac Killer, a serial murderer who taunted police and the press with coded letters and chilling threats. Rather than centering on the killer himself, the film focuses on the people consumed by the case, particularly cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), and inspector Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), each slowly unraveling under the weight of unanswered questions.

With a stacked cast and Fincher's meticulous direction, the film feels almost procedural, while also serving as a masterclass in performance. The tension doesn't come from jump scares or big reveals, but from the creeping dread of not knowing, and never truly finding out.