'Masterpiece' period drama now streaming on Netflix that's 'one of the most beautiful'

A 'masterpiece' period drama has been added to Netflix for customers in the UK to watch. Period drama TV shows and films have long been a popular genre, from the mega-popularity of Downton Abbey to the breakout success of Bridgerton. In terms of movies, some of the most popular period dramas are Pride & Prejudice and Young Victoria. And there has been one recently added to Netflix that both fans and critics adored when it first came out.

The film, which was released in 2019, has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% and a stellar line-up of huge Hollywood stars. Little Woman, which stars massive names like Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Emma Watson and Timothee Chalamet, was added to Netflix earlier this week. It landed on the streaming service on August 26, along with a slew of new titles, including the second season of With Love, Meghan.

Little Women is an adaptation of the classic novel of the same name, which was originally released in 1868. The film follows the March sisters, who each enter womanhood, go through many ups and downs in life, and endeavour to make important decisions that can affect their future.

Fans praised the film as "beautiful" and a "masterpiece". One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer wrote, "A masterpiece. I'm a man, and at first, I thought this would be a cheesy Victorian-era movie that my sisters would show me. I watch and forget. I've never cried so much from a movie. This movie, to me personally, touches my soul. The characters are written so well and remind me of my own family."

Another shared: "One of the most beautiful films of the year, heartwarming and moving."

A third wrote: "Every time I watch this movie, it fills me with joy and then rips that all out to make me bawl some minutes later. It really makes me think about life and how we need to praise our happiest days. I love the portrayal of each sister's personality, the differences, but also the likenesses."

Another said: "A very sweet and faithful adaptation of the classic novel. The characters are all so likeable and unique with their strong, memorable personalities always clashing or complementing each other. The cast all knock it out of the park with their performances, especially Saoirse Ronan as Jo, Florence Pugh as Amy, and Timothee Chalamet as Theodore."

Little Women was added to Netflix this week along with movies like Complicit (2013), The Thursday Murder Club (2025) and The Northman (2022).