What to Watch From Netflix's February Lineup

If you feel like there's more movies and TV out there than ever to watch, you're not wrong: between the dozens of films out in theaters every month, the huge recent rise in cable television, and the easiness of streaming all your favorite shows and movies online, we're currently living in a land of pop culture overload. Unfortunately, our friends at Netflix aren't making it any easier on us; each month, the service announces a new slate of available movies and TV on its site, and February's line-up, released on Friday, might just be one of its best yet.

From new seasons of current hit shows to indie movies starring in-demand actors to beloved old TV series that new viewers will finally get a chance to see, the choices made available by Netflix for February are an eclectic but great mix of film and television. Still, it is a long list, and it'd be understandably easy to get overwhelmed by the options and not know where to begin. To help you out, here are my picks for the seven movies and TV shows you won't want to miss on Netflix this coming month:

House of Cards, Season 3

Release Date: February 27

Why You'll Want to See It: It's House of Cards , season 3. What more reason do you need? Newcomers to the Emmy-winning show should start from the beginning, though, because this is one series you'll want to know everything about.

White Bird in a Blizzard

Release Date: February 19

Why You'll Want to See It: Although reviews for the movie itself were mixed, star Shailene Woodley received nothing but praise for her portrayal of a teenage girl discovering her sexuality and searching for her lost mother.

The Brothers Bloom

Release Date: February 1

Why You'll Want to See It: The Brothers Bloom, a caper comedy about con men (Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody) attempting to defraud an heiress (Rachel Weisz), is no Oscar winner, but it's silly, elaborate fun. Plus, a cameo by Joseph Gordon-Levitt doesn't hurt.

M.A.S.H., Seasons 1-5

Release Date: February 1

Why You'll Want to See It: Many young TV fans don't know much about M.A.S.H., and that's a real shame. The '70s TV show is one of the best there ever was, funny, smart, and always entertaining. Hopefully, the inclusion of its first five seasons (out of 11!) on Netflix will help introduce it to new audiences.

Joe

Release Date: February 1

Why You'll Want to See It: This Nicolas Cage drama is unlike most other Nicolas Cage dramas, in the fact that it's actually good. About the friendship between an ex-con and a teenage boy (the fantastic Tye Sheridan), Joe's an unusual, touching film that's most definitely worth checking out.

Mr. Peabody and Sherman

Release Date: February 11

Why You'll Want to See It: Even if the movie wasn't good (but thankfully, it is), the voice cast alone would be enough reason to give it a watch. Modern Family's Ty Burrell and Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Allison Janney, Stanley Tucci... this little animated movie is a comedy gold mine.

Spartacus, The Complete Series

Release Date: February 1

Why You'll Want to See It: Spartacus may not have been the best show ever on TV, but it was fun. About the wild, violent, hugely entertaining life of the famed gladiator, the Starz show is the perfect series to binge-watch over a long weekend.

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