Our essential picks

When the possibilities feel endless, begin with a smaller shelf. Our essential picks bring together the movies and television personally selected for Films Rx, giving you somewhere to start without another search through an unfamiliar catalog. The ratings describe our enthusiasm, not a universal rule about what you ought to enjoy. Read them as an invitation, then follow your own curiosity. You might want a film for tonight, a series for the next few evenings, or a handful of titles to keep in mind for later. Open a detail page to read the available synopsis and check any listed viewing options before deciding. There is no prescribed route through this collection and no obligation to complete it. Start with a familiar genre or take a chance on something outside your routine. The point is to spend less time deciding and more time with stories you choose deliberately. Return whenever you would like a fresh starting point for your next watch.