Scarlett Johansson's 108-Minute R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller Is Getting Removed From Netflix

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Scarlett Johansson at the premiere of ‘Paper Tiger’ as part of the 70th BFI London Film Festival at the Royal Festival Hall.

Published Oct 24, 2026, 2:05 PM EDT

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As one of the most sought-after actors in the industry, Scarlett Johansson has starred in some of Hollywood's biggest franchises, but one of her most divisive R-rated films is being removed from Netflix soon. While Johansson's recent work in franchises like the MCU or the Jurassic World series may be what viewers associate with her today, her resume ranges far and wide, having done comedies, drama, and everything in between. As an actor, Johansson has appeared in some provocative films, including the 2014 thriller Under the Skin, which takes a very different approach to the sci-fi genre over its 108-minute runtime.

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the unsettling film sees Johansson as an extraterrestrial who disguises herself as a human woman in order to target unsuspecting men. While the premise sounds like a familiar alien-invasion style story, Under the Skin isn't a conventional sci-fi film so much as it's an intense psychological thriller. The R-rated film sees Johansson's character luring men who fall for her advances to their end, and at the same time, allows the character to explore their human form. A provocative premise with a tremendous performance from Johansson, Under the Skin found critical acclaim, but didn't land in the same way with audiences.

Although the film was able to find its footing after making its rounds on the festival circuit throughout 2013, Under the Skin didn't become a massive commercial success during its theatrical run. Regardless, seeing such a great movie leave Netflix in the coming weeks is a tough blow.

Under The Skin Is Leaving Netflix This November

Laura (Scarlett Johansson) sitting on a bus looking behind her in Under the Skin

While Under the Skin has been available to rent on other services, the film has primarily been available to Netflix subscribers in recent years. Unfortunately, Glazer's film will be leaving the streaming service next month, which leaves limited time to watch or re-watch it before it's gone. With Johansson playing an intense role that earned her a fair amount of critical praise, Under the Skin is well worth the watch prior to its Netflix departure. Based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Michel Faber, Under the Skin is intense, but nuanced in the way it delivers its message.

With high critical praise when it was released, Under the Skin still sits with an 84% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. While the audience score, which is at 55%, is a bit lower, the critical success of the film should be enough of a vouch for new viewers to give it a try. Under the Skin's dark themes and intense message may mean more to viewers in today's society than it did in the somewhat more optimistic year of its release. Though the movie will be leaving Netflix this November, there are still other ways viewers can find Under the Skin if they miss their window to watch on the platform.

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Glazer's Under The Skin Sees Johansson In One Of Her Most Unconventional Roles

Scarlett Johansson as Female in Under The Skin

One of the most compelling reasons viewers should take the opportunity to watch Under the Skin while it's still available on Netflix is to see Johansson's performance in the thriller. While the actress is most widely known for her MCU appearances, Johansson has always been a well-respected performer who can embody even the strangest of roles with staggering authenticity. Under the Skin sees her take on a character whose understanding of human behavior develops in a strange, negative way, which adds an intense layer to the performance and helps anchor the story before it grows too far beyond its scope.

Johansson's physical presence in Under the Skin matters more than it would in a typical role, and her understanding of how to move in her own body is on full display, which has gotten the film some flack since its release. While the film is often classified as a thriller, Under the Skin is unconventional in every way possible, and though that unconventional nature may make it a challenging watch, Johansson's performance is worth diving into. Experimental and intriguing, catching Under the Skin before it leaves Netflix in November should be a must for fans of the actress and her more unconventional work.