What NOW's movie collection lacks in sheer numbers, it makes up for with quality.
On its shelves, you'll find outright classic movie series from the LOTR flicks to Back to the Future. There's an education in the last four decades of mainstream cinema right here.
It’s not all about the most obvious of multiplex-botherers, though, as NOW also has its fair share of more contemplative and, dare we say, smart films. And plenty of those were awards contenders too, like the brilliant Barbie.
Get the popcorn ready and claim your spot in the sofa: this is our pick of the best NOW movies on NOW: TV that's well worth watching. Upvote your favourite and suggest your own additions for this list at the bottom.
- These are the best NOW TV shows to watch right now.
Best Movies On NOW
New release movies on NOW
Speak No Evil
James McAvoy is terrifying in Speak No Evil, a thriller in which a young couple meet another — seemingly normal — couple on holiday. But when they reunite with them months later, they realise nothing is quite as it at first appeared. This is thrilling stuff, made all the more impactful for it being rooted in (mostly) believable reality. Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis and Aisling Franciosi also star.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Returning to a classic after 40 years, Tim Burton re-assembled much of the original cast for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which is a weird riot of a movie — just as you’d hope. Michael Keaton stars as chaotic ghost Beetlejuice, who continues to haunt Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder). We get more than just a glimpse at the afterlife this time around, as well as possibly a more coherent story than the original's.
The Wild Robot
One of the best reviewed Dreamworks animated movies ever made, The Wild Robot has been dubbed as one of the best counters to Pixar’s long-standing CGI animation supremacy. A robot called Roz ends up stranded on an island inhabited only by animals — no people. But she (Lupita Nyong'o) makes the most of it, bonding with the local fauna and becoming a quasi-mother to baby goose Brightbill (Kit Connor). Charming stuff.
More of the best NOW movies
Promising Young Woman
Promising Young Woman is a fantastic film that shines a cold light on 'good men' and their actions around women. Carey Mulligan is Cassie, someone scarred by their past who takes men to task for their actions with staggering results. It's an uncomfortable movie, that gets dark at times but an utterly essential watch.
Ex Machina
Alex Garland's Ex Machina is one of the most lauded sci-fi movies of the last decade. It examines what separates an advanced humanoid machine from a "real" person, wrapped up in a stylish and provocative thriller. It also won an Oscar for its visual effects.
Whiplash
JK Simmons and Miles Teller star as mentor and mentee in this quasi-thriller about drumming. Teller is a music student who wants nothing more than to impress his teacher, leading him down a toxic road of aspiration and failure. It's a candidate for the best drumming movie ever.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
One of the few movie series we’re tempted to re-watch every year, this is an epic tale of adventure that stands up in every area. 20 years on, the visual effects still look (mostly) great, and the performances remain iconic. Just set aside 10 hours or so and you’ll be transported to another world.
Back to the Future
Step back into the world of Marty McFly and Doc Brown. NOW currently offers all three of the Back to the Future movies, three classic slices of comedy sci-fi adventure. The original is still the best, but if you grew up with these movies there’s a good chance the second two films hold just as many nostalgic memories.
Oppenheimer
This film has more awards than a Christmas tree has ornaments. It’s a biopic of Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy stars alongside Florence Pugh, while Robert Downey Jr. also makes a star turn. Don’t be turned off by the three-hour runtime. This is a thrilling watch from director Christopher Nolan, one that keeps you hooked through the entire thing.
Battle Royale
Long before Fortnite made the concept of “battle royale” a pop culture touchstone, we had this movie, a violent Japanese satire. A rise in juvenile delinquency leads to the BR act.
This sees a randomly selected school class taken to an empty island each year, to fight to the death until only one contender remains. It feels fresh more than 20 years on. The sequel is also available to stream, but it’s not a patch on the original.
Dune Part Two
The second part of Dune managed a minor miracle in making this sci-fi epic feel as expansive and impressive as the original from 2021. It sees Paul Atreides struggle with his identity as a burgeoning quasi-messianic figure while the natives of Arrakis go to war against the Harkonnen forces.
We don’t get a clean, wrapped-up ending, but you can blame Dune Author frank Herbert for that one.
Edge of Tomorrow: Live. Die. Repeat
Groundhog Day’s concept is turned into a modern action classic in Edge of Tomorrow. Tom Cruise’s William Cage is thrown into the battlefield to take on alien invaders, and finds himself locked in an endless time loop. One day, replayed over and over again. And he has to find the way out, and save humanity in the process.
Blackberry
Remember BlackBerrys? The phones with the keyboard on the front? They were mega-popular back in the pre-iPhone years, the default choice for high-flying execs. BlackBerry manages to turn the rise and fall of that tech giant into a hugely compelling drama. Stars Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton, of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fame
A new take on the novel by Alice Walker, which you may know best from Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie adaptation. This fresh version is based on the broadway musical of the book, and focuses more on the empowerment angle of the story than the tougher stuff of the novel and (to a lesser extent) the Spielberg version. Still, it’s a joyous watch.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Released many years after Fury Road (a whopping nine), Furiosa takes place in the years before tha action epic. We see Furiosa’s upbringing, her kidnapping, her escape and her revenge. It’s an epic of deserts, dust, post-apocalypse vehicles, colour and sound.
Despite great reviews it wasn’t much of a hit, so we may never see the planned third in this latter run of Mad Max movies. But if you loved Fury Road, don’t miss Furiosa.
Wonka
Trailers made us worry Wonka was going to be a disaster. But, in one of 2023’s best cinema surprises, it’s great. Timothée Chalamet takes on the imposing role of Willy Wonka, but this is a story of a younger Wonka, before his days as the mysterious head of a chocolate factory. It's a musical with a real sweet tooth, but what else would you expect from Paul King, director of the first two Paddington movies?
Children of Men
Society has collapsed after the population mysteriously became infertile. When one woman gives birth, Clive Owen’s Theo Faron tries to guide her to safety. This is a film that feels as powerful and prescient as it did back at its release in 2006, and doesn’t waste your time — it clocks in at well under two hours. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.
Smile 2
Forget diminishing returns, Smile 2 is an altogether stronger film than the original, which was a big hit in its own right. Naomi Scott stars as a pop starlet riding high on fame and success, who is tormented by an evil entity that begins to take over her waking reality.
A great central performance, creative cinematography and effective ramping-up of tension make this much more of a strong recommendation than most horror sequels.
Twisters
Old-school blockbuster popcorn entertainment movies aren’t as common in cinemas as they used to be, but Twisters proves they still hold plenty of appeal. Glen Powell stars as a tornado chaser in a sequel to the 1996 original. And you know what? This is the all-round better film, combining guilt-free cinema-worthy action with solid storytelling and at least a few nods to the actual science of tornados.
May December
Julianne Moore plays a woman jailed for starting a relationship with a minor, who she is currently still seeing, years later. Natalie Portman is an actress due to play her in an upcoming film. And the spotlight starts to reveal the cracks in their partnership. May December is loosely based on a real-life story that played out in the late 90s. It's a daring and challenging film from Todd Haynes, director of Far from Heaven, Carol and Dark Waters.
Amy
If you want the best view on the life of Amy Winehouse, start with this documentary by Asia Kapadia rather than the newer Black to Black.
It's a top watch with contributions from the singer's friends and family, and doesn't gloss over some facets of the story like the more recent dramatisation.
Monkey Man
Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man plays out like a Mumbai take on John Wick. He works his way into the city’s dark underbelly in order to get revenge for the murder of his mother.
It was made with just 10% of the budget of John Wick Chapter 4, but still looks great and features some properly wince-inducing violence in its later stages. It’s definitely rated R/18 and isn’t a family-friendly watch. But the adults in the room shouldn’t miss it.
Concrete Utopia
After an earthquake destroys most of South Korea's Seoul, one remaining tower block building becomes the sanctuary for the city's surviving residents. It's a disaster movie. But after the dust settles Concrete Utopia becomes more of a look into human nature, and how fragile a society's goodwill really is.
The Fall Guy
The big story around this film’s release was it didn’t do much business at the box office. But it’s a delight. Ryan Gosling stars as veteran Hollywood stunt man Colt Seavers, who finds himself caught up in a conspiracy after the star of a film his ex is directing disappears.
It uses a lot of practical effects, and is laced with comedy throughout, making it a classic big-screen joyful watch.
Arcadian
Nic Cage is on rare low-key form in Arcadian, a post-apocalypse survival thriller in which a family — a father and his two sons — try to stay alive in an Earth invaded by aliens.
There are creepy aliens, and a caustic blend of sci-fi and horror. Just don’t expect the usual double dose of Cage. The most common criticism of Arcadian is he’s absent for a good chunk of it, so temper expectations before hitting play.
Ferrari
This Michael Mann movie doesn’t centre on the Ferrari team drivers. And it’s not a documentary about the vehicles. Ferrari is roundly about Enzo Ferrari himself.
It’s set primarily during the summer of 1957, a time of personal upheaval for a middle-aged Ferrari, and a crucial juncture for the marque as a racing powerhouse. Mann spent decades trying to get this film made. The race scenes are the real highlight here.
The United States Vs Billie Holiday
There are better biopics but The United States Vs Billie Holiday is all about Andra Day's sublime central performance, which recently won her a Golden Globe. We see Holiday go through the 30s to 50s garnering acclaim for her voice but she becomes a target of the government and spirals out of control.
Barbie
The single most successful movie at the box office of 2023. More than that, it was also one of the most fun watches of the year. Margot Robbie is Barbie. Ryan Gosling is Ken.
They venture out of Barbieland into the real world, which causes a rift that threatens to tear Barbieland apart. It’s a joyful watch from Greta Gerwig - no surprise when her previous films include Lady Bird and Little Women.
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