This Week on Netflix: Jessica Chastain’s ‘Heartland’ and Horror Hit ‘Smile’ Lead 5 Must‑Watch Picks

During the week of November 9, Netflix is rolling out a cluster of notable movies and shows, and US tech/entertainment sites have already highlighted “five best picks to stream right now.” Their list is led by Heartland, a new Netflix Original crime drama starring Oscar‑winner Jessica Chastain, the holiday movie The Gospel of Christmas from filmmaker‑multihyphenate Tyler Perry, and the streaming debut of the 2022 horror hit Smile.

Heartland follows a woman drawn into crime and long‑buried secrets surrounding her family’s ranch in America’s agricultural “heartland,” with Chastain’s performance positioned as the main draw for film fans. The Gospel of Christmas marks Perry’s fourth Netflix project this year and blends family drama with gospel music in a feel‑good seasonal story, making it one of the streamer’s first major holiday offerings of 2026.

Horror audiences, meanwhile, are being steered toward Smile. The article notes that while you could queue up Insidious on Netflix, Smile is the more compelling choice if you’re after slow‑burn tension built around a sinister “smiling curse.” With these titles landing alongside a broader slate of November additions, Netflix is clearly shifting into year‑end, high‑engagement mode, giving subscribers a mix of awards‑caliber drama, festive comfort viewing, and late‑night scares all in the same week.