Films and Series You Can’t Miss This February
- Sense and Sensibility – Back to 1995, Kate Winslet shines as Marianne Dashwood, the romantic heroine of Sense and Sensibility, in Ang Lee’s acclaimed adaptation from Emma Thompson’s screenplay (and yes, Thompson plays her sister Elinor, too). Innocent and full of hope, Marianne faces her first heartbreaks and finds comfort with the steadfast Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman), who eventually sweeps her off her feet. This role, her first in a period piece—a genre where Kate Winslet truly excels—earned her a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. As a fun fact for the true Jane Austen devotees, a new adaptation from Georgia Oakley is on the horizon (with a French release date set for September 23).
- The French Dispatch – Wes Anderson at his best. With a script co-written by Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Hugo Guinness, and Roman Coppola, The French Dispatch is set inside the newsroom of an American magazine based in a fictional French town in the 20th century, weaving together a series of eccentric stories from the magazine’s final issue. As ever, Anderson lines up an all-star cast: Frances McDormand, Elisabeth Moss, Tilda Swinton, Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Bill Murray, along with Timothée Chalamet and Lyna Khoudri. Expect visual feasts, deadpan humor, and Anderson’s trademark quirkiness.
- Mamma Mia! – Diaries from the past, a gathering of old flames, and the utterly immortal tunes of ABBA: all the ingredients of the stage phenomenon come alive in this irresistibly fun film, led by Meryl Streep as Donna. Streep insisted on singing every song live on set to intensify her performance—a choice that pays off in her unforgettable duet with Pierce Brosnan, belting out “The Winner Takes It All” against a dreamy sunset-cliff backdrop. Goosebumps guaranteed.
- Thelma – Among February’s delightful surprises is the addition of Thelma, from Danish-Norwegian director Joachim Trier (also behind the beautiful The Worst Person in the World and Louder Than Bombs). Released in 2017, Thelma follows a lonely young woman from a devout family who moves to Oslo for college. There, she falls for her classmate Anja, only to discover that proximity to Anja triggers inexplicable physical reactions. This film is as strange as it is precious, drawing you deep into Trier’s poetic imagination.
- Samuel – Written, directed, and voiced by Émilie Tronche, this animated series has tugged at the heartstrings of millions. Through the intimate journal entries of 10-year-old Samuel as he stands on the threshold of middle school, Tronche delicately captures his first steps into love, the joy and pain he experiences, and the endless questions swirling around life and growing up. Each of the twenty-odd chapters is a heartwarming, relatable ride.
The Period Dramas Shaping 2026
February isn’t just about new releases—it’s about time travel, too. This month, Netflix is serving up some truly memorable period pieces: from Shakespearean tragedy and the true story of a prophet venerated as a female Christ, to a forbidden romance tangled in the wilds of Yorkshire—2026 will be a stellar year for historical films.
What’s New in the World of Netflix Series?
- Bridgerton – After following the love stories of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), the blazing passion of Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), and the sweet resolution of Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), it’s time for fresh romantic intrigue. This new season focuses on Benedict Bridgerton, pansexual artist and second son of the famous family, portrayed by Luke Thompson.
“Seeing his brothers happily married isn’t enough to convince him; Benedict still hesitates to settle down. But everything changes at a masquerade ball, when he locks eyes with the mysterious Woman in Silver,”
reveals the synopsis.
Supervised by Jess Brownell and Shonda Rhimes, this eight-episode season draws inspiration from Julia Quinn’s third volume in the Bridgerton series, An Offer From a Gentleman. The story features Benedict’s encounter with Sophie Baek, the illegitimate daughter of an earl, forced to serve under an unkind stepmother. At Lady Bridgerton’s annual masked ball, the two share a fairytale moment—before Sophie disappears without a trace. Determined, Benedict vows to find her at any cost. - Samuel (see above)—In case you missed it, this charming animated series is one you won’t want to overlook.
- Formula 1: Drive to Survive – A phenomenon in Netflix’s catalogue (28 million hours viewed after one week, and a top 10 hit in over 50 countries!), Formula 1: Drive to Survive puts fans right in the front row for the drama of the F1 world. With solid storytelling peppered with authentic Formula 1 codes and lingo, never-before-seen interviews, and just the right amount of suspense (watch out for those plot twists—your couch might never let you go), the immersive editing makes it the perfect program for racing buffs. Produced by Oscar winners James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin, this is your chance to spot motorsport legends and get behind-the-scenes like never before.
Even More to Explore
- The 20 greatest romantic comedies of all time
- 4 films that tackle artificial intelligence—must-sees for sci-fi fans
- The best French comedies from the last 25 years
So grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to binge your way through the very best of Netflix in February 2026. Because if you blink, you just might miss the next show everyone’s talking about!
