In the mood to binge-watch some classic movies on Netflix Canada?
If you’re into old movies, you’ll find plenty of great ones on Netflix Canada, whether you’re into adventure or romance films.
While some older movies may have giggle-worthy special effects and outdated styles, some old movies are just classics.
I’ve listed movies from various decades in case you’re looking to watch from a specific time period.
Here are some of the best classic and old movies to binge-watch on Netflix Canada, from the 1980s through the early 2000s!
Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!
More things to watch
If you’re looking for more things to watch on streaming services in Canada, check out my other posts on shows and movies:
- Looking for more Netflix? Watch the best Netflix movies (including comedy, horror, and holiday movies), or if you’re into shows instead, watch the best Netflix shows (including Korean dramas and animes).
- Got Crave? Peep out the best movies (including comedies and horrors) or shows on Crave.
- Have Amazon Prime? Watch the best movies (including comedy, horror, and holiday movies) or shows on Prime Video.
- Searching for things to watch on Disney+? Watch the best movies (including comedies and horrors) or shows on Disney+.
- Into specific genres? Check out my horror movie binge list or my list of the best Korean dramas.
Best classic movies on Netflix Canada
Best ’80s movies on Netflix Canada
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Steven Spielberg directs this heartwarming story about a gentle alien who becomes stranded on earth and befriends a young boy in suburban California.
Young Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas both star in this iconic classic movie!
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Indiana Jones franchise (1984, 1989, & 2008)
Indiana Jones is an archaeology professor who travels around in search of ancient artefacts.
The Indiana Jones movies are always fun to watch, and you can watch 3 of the movies on Netflix Canada.
Steven Spielberg directed the first four Indiana Jones movies!
3 films available on Netflix
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Five different high school students from different walks of life get stuck together in a room for detention under their power-hungry principal.
As their detention goes on, they start to get to know each other and see each other differently.
The Breakfast Club is such an iconic 80’s teen movie by John Hughes, and it stars Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Nobody puts baby in a corner.
Dirty Dancing is a classic romance film, and you’ll love it even if you’re not really into dance movies.
While vacationing with her family at a resort, Frances falls in love with a dance instructor, and her father diapproves.
There’s an episode about Dirty Dancing on the Netflix docu-series The Movies That Made Us, and it really makes you appreciate the film so much more.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Robin Williams and Ethan Hawke star in this heartwarming and emotional story about a new English teacher who uses unorthodox methods of teaching at an elite all-boys preparatory school.
With the help of John Keating, a few of the boys learn to break out of their shells and seize the day.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Best ’90s movies on Netflix Canada
The Addams Family franchise (1991 & 1993)
The Addams Family centres around a creepy aristocratic family, and in the first movie, they reconnect with who they think is a missing family member.
In the second movie, a new baby boy is added to the family, and the siblings do everything they can to get rid of him.
The Addams Family movies totally scared me as a kid, but they’re definitely a classic!
You can also watch the Wednesday series on Netflix starring Jenna Ortega, which is based on The Addams Family!
2 films available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Schindler’s List (1993)
A businessman arrives in Krakow at the start of WWII and joins the Nazi party for political reasons.
He staffs his factory with Jewish workers, and when the Nazis start doing terrifying things, he keeps his workers safe.
Schindler’s List is a powerful film by Steven Spielberg based on true events – Oskar Schindler helped to save more than 1,200 Jews during WWII.
Liam Neeson stars as Oskar Schindler, and I honestly never knew he did any popular films before Taken!
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Forrest Gump (1994)
Another 90s classic that’ll never get old is Forrest Gump.
Forrest is a loveable guy with a low IQ, and we see him go through all sorts of life experiences while never forgetting his childhood sweetheart, Jenny.
Forrest Gump is arguably one of the best films of all-time, and it’s one of the best classic movies on Netflix Canada!
Tom Hanks is also in this one.
It’s one of my favourite movies, and I always cry every single time I watch it.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction is an iconic Quentin Tarantino film about the lives of a bunch of criminals and how their lives get intertwined.
It’s a black-comedy crime film, and it’s known as one of the best movies of all-time!
John Travolta, Uma Thurman, and Samuel L. Jackson all star in it.
You might’ve seen people dressing up as Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega for Halloween – you’ll know when you watch the movie!
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Clueless (1995)
Shallow, rich, and popular Cher helps a new student become popular while also falling in love with someone.
Clueless is an classic teen 90’s film and the fashion will always be iconic.
Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, and Brittany Murphy all star in Clueless!
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Happy Gilmore (1996 & 2025)
Happy Gilmore’s lifelong dream has been to become a professional hockey player, but he discovers he may actually have a talent for playing an entirely different sport: golf.
When he finds out his grandmother is about to lose her home, he joins a golf tournament to try to win enough money to buy it for her.
Adam Sandler stars in this hilarious classic comedy, and the sequel just came out this year!
2 films available on Netflix, watch the trailer for the first and second movies
Matilda (1996)
Matilda discovers she has telekinesis powers and starts to use them to fight back against her unappreciative family and her evil principal.
Danny DeVito directs and stars in this Roald Dahl adaptation!
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Titanic (1997)
Titanic is one of the best movies of all-time, and it’s a fictional story set on the real Titanic ship that sunk in 1912.
The Titanic ship was the largest moving object ever built at the time, and it tragically carried over 1,500 people to their death after hitting an iceberg.
The iconic film was directed by James Cameron and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and Kathy Bates.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Will Hunting is a math genius who gets help from a psychiatrist after facing an emotional crisis.
Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Robin Williams all star in Good Will Hunting!
The screenplay was written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, which I find so incredible, especially with how young they were at the time.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Rush Hour franchise (1998-2007)
This hilarious franchise stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as two cops who go on a series of misadventures involving corrupt crime figures in Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
You can watch all three movies of the franchise on Netflix, and there’s actually a fourth movie that came out in recent years!
3 films available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Best early 2000s movies on Netflix Canada
Miss Congeniality (2000)
A female FBI agent goes undercover as a contestant at the Miss United States pageant, but she prides herself in being “one of the boys” and is horrified at the idea of becoming a girly girl.
Sandra Bullock is absolutely adorable and hilarious in Miss Congeniality.
There are two movies, and you can watch the first on Netflix Canada!
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
American Psycho (2000)
Patrick Bateman is a wealthy investment banker with a secret psychopathic side, and his bloodlust gets increasingly violent as he indulges in his dark desires.
American Psycho is a pretty gory one, so shield your eyes from this one if too much blood freaks you out.
It was good the first time watching it, but I think I liked it even better the second time around.
Some big names are in this horror classic, including Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, and Jared Leto!
There’s actually a sequel with Mila Kunis, though it’s more of a comedy horror and isn’t as good.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Marisa is a single mother who works as a maid at a Manhattan hotel.
She tries on a designer coat while cleaning a room, and a rich politician becomes smitten with her thinking she’s a socialite.
Jennifer Lopez stars as the main character in Maid in Manhattan!
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls is iconic to our generation, and it will never not be funny.
After moving from Africa to an American suburb, Cady transitions into becoming a regular high school girl.
Alongside two friends she meets, they try to take down the Plastics, a trio of popular girls who rule the school.
The movie was also filmed in Toronto, which is pretty cool!
It’s one of the best and most iconic comedy movies to watch on Netflix Canada.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Click (2006)
If you’re in for laughs and tears, then you should definitely watch Click.
Adam Sandler plays a workaholic architect who comes across a mysterious remote that lets him rewind and fast-forward parts of his life.
The remote begins to malfunction, and he starts to lose control of his life.
I watched this movie a bazillion times with my family, and I think I even still have the DVD.
1 film available on Netflix, watch the trailer
Best classic movies on Netflix Canada:
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
- Indiana Jones
- The Breakfast Club
- Dirty Dancing
- Dead Poets Society
- The Addams Family
- Schindler’s List
- Forrest Gump
- Pulp Fiction
- Clueless
- Happy Gilmore
- Matilda
- Titanic
- Good Will Hunting
- Rush Hour
- Miss Congeniality
- American Psycho
- Maid in Manhattan
- Mean Girls
- Click
These were some of the best classic movies to watch on Netflix Canada, from the ’80s to the early 2000s!
There are plenty of incredible classic old movies you can watch on Netflix Canada, but these are just some of my personal favourites.
Every time I watch a movie, I rate it on Letterboxd – it’s a great way to keep track of what you’ve watched and what your friends are watching!
Have you seen any of these classic films? What are some of the best old movies on Netflix Canada in your opinion? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
More things to watch
If you’re looking for more things to watch on streaming services in Canada, check out my other posts on shows and movies:
- Looking for more Netflix? Watch the best Netflix movies (including comedy, horror, and holiday movies), or if you’re into shows instead, watch the best Netflix shows (including Korean dramas and animes).
- Got Crave? Peep out the best movies (including comedies and horrors) or shows on Crave.
- Have Amazon Prime? Watch the best movies (including comedy, horror, and holiday movies) or shows on Prime Video.
- Searching for things to watch on Disney+? Watch the best movies (including comedies and horrors) or shows on Disney+.
- Into specific genres? Check out my horror movie binge list or my list of the best Korean dramas.
Be sure to keep up with me on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest if you aren’t already!
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