Peacock is a relatively new addition to the world of streaming services, but it has acquired several high-qualities movies, including both popular franchises and lesser-known films that deserve more appreciation. The streaming service was primarily created as a way for NBCUniversal to make its series and films available without having to use a third party, which made sense given how many popular films were created by Universal and its subsidiaries. After launching in 2020, Peacock has gradually built a solid subscriber base.
The library of content for Peacock subscribers is extensive, including original films and series alongside Universal’s most successful films and popular NBC shows available on Peacock the next day. With so many options, it can be difficult to know where to start when opening Peacock for a movie night. From classic films to hidden gem recent movies, Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus subscribers can easily watch some of Hollywood’s greatest movies from the comfort of their homes.
25 M3GAN (2023)
Released in January 2023, M3GAN quickly gained popularity beyond the horror genre for its successful integration of humor into a relatively standard horror concept. After her parents’ deaths, Cady (Violet McGraw) is taken to live with her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), who struggles to connect with her. Instead of learning to adjust her life, Gemma introduces Cady to M3GAN (Amie Donald and Jenna Davis), a robotic companion who quickly forms a dangerous bond with the young girl. In its opening weekend, M3GAN earned $30.4 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo), along with an approval rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
24 The Sixth Sense (1999)
A classic example of M. Night Shyamalan’s famous twist endings, The Sixth Sense released in 1999 and has fascinated audiences ever since, as the film’s twist rewards repeat viewings. Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) works with Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a boy who claims to be able to see the dead. On Crowe’s suggestion, Cole tries to help the ghosts complete any unfinished business they might have, which gives him a new perspective on life. The Sixth Sense was nominated for six Academy Awards, among other major nominations, and is regarded as one of the best films of the last century by the American Film Institute.
23 The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil (2019)
With a 97% critical score and 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, South Korean action thriller The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil is one of the best international films available on Peacock. A killer is on the loose, and while most people are happy to believe that the attacks and deaths are unrelated, cop Jung Tae-suk (Kim Mu-yeol) and gangster Jang Dong-soo (Ma Dong-seok) are both convinced it’s the work of a serial killer. The two men team up, and their morals conflict as they play a game of cat and mouse with the killer. The actors’ performances were praised for incorporating odd-couple humor into a thriller story.
22 Bros (2022)
Release in 2022, Bros is the first mainstream LGBTQ+ romcom from a major studio. Unsuccessful at the box office, Bros was a comedy flop that deserved success, but it is undoubtedly a triumph in representation. Bobby Lieber (Billy Eichner) and Aaron Shepard (Luke Macfarlane) attempt to date, but they struggle with their different perspectives on the gay community. In a case of reluctant friendship-to-lovers, they begin to fall for each other through their conversations, both encouraging and challenging each other’s values. Thanks to significant LGBTQ+ representation in the writing and cast, Bros provides a more authentic representation of gay romance than typically seen in Hollywood.
21 Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Based on a true story, Dallas Buyers Club depicts the life of Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey in one of his favorite roles), a Texas man who broke the law in order to get treatments for himself and others trying to survive the AIDS epidemic. In the film, Woodroof attempts to navigate the medical field after his diagnosis, learning that the official processes are responsible for the deterioration of people’s health. While some elements of the film’s production have been criticized, Dallas Buyers Club primarily received praise, earning McConaughey and Jared Leto Academy Awards and Golden Globes, along with the film’s many other award wins.
20 Mamma Mia! (2008)
Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical based on ABBA music, and while it received mixed reviews upon release, its popularity has grown consistently since. In the film, Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) is desperate to have her father at her wedding, prompting to invite her mother Donna’s (Meryl Streep) three lovers to her home without informing them or Donna of the plan. As the Mamma Mia! characters sing catchy songs on a scenic Grecian island, Sophie and Donna learn more about what they want out of life. While the technical aspects of the film gained criticism, the songs are addictive, earning the film an Empire Award for Best Soundtrack.
19 Mo’ Better Blues (1990)
Spike Lee has directed many great movies, and one major example is Mo’ Better Blues, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. Featuring an impressive cast including Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes, Mo’ Better Blues follows the life of fictional jazz player Bleek Gilliam (Washington). He carves out a successful career, but his two-timing romantic escapades and his agent’s gambling problems put everything at risk. While not quite as strong as some of Lee’s other work, Roger Ebert shared that “the film has a beauty, grace and energy all the same.“
18 A League Of Their Own (1992)
Considered one of the best baseball movies ever made, A League of Their Own is inspired by the real-life founding of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The film follows siblings Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) as they take part in the first women’s baseball league, which must struggle to overcome disinterest from the outside and conflict from the inside. A League of Their Own is mandatory viewing for baseball fans, especially for those who have watched the reboot television series. The film earned $132.4 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo) and was preserved in the US National Film Registry in 2012.
17 Scarface (1983)
The original 1932 movie was extremely influential on cinema, and while it is not available to stream for free, its loose remake, 1983’s incredibly violent Scarface is available on Peacock. Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino) arrives in the US looking for a way to make a name for himself. He and his friends end up working for drug lord Frank Lopez, but as their jobs get increasingly dangerous, Tony begins plotting to one day rule Frank’s empire himself. Scarface’s overindulgent violence originally kept it from succeeding, but time has earned it higher approval, with a critical score of 81% and an audience score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
16 Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Bend It Like Beckham has consistently broken cultural barriers, openly discussing cultural differences and discrimination in Britain, and is widely considered one of the best women’s soccer movies ever. In the film, Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) loves soccer, but her family forbids her from playing out of fear that she will face prejudice as a British Indian. She joins a local team anyway, which quickly brings her into conflict with her family as her secrets keep them from understanding each other. Earning $76.6 million at the box office (Box Office Mojo), Bend It Like Beckham is the highest-grossing film about soccer (The Guardian).
15 The Big Lebowski (1998)
A standout comedy film, the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski achieved cult classic status thanks to its whip-smart juxtaposition between The Dude’s (Jeff Bridges) laidback lifestyle and the zany Raymond Chandler-esque world of crime he finds himself caught up in when he’s mistaken for a millionaire with the same name. The dialogue is quirky but quotable, and The Big Lebowski has had a massive cultural impact, including the creation of a religion around the main character called “Dudeism,” which advocates for “taking it easy” and enjoying everyday pleasures in life.
14 Tár (2022)
A critical darling, Tár took 2022 by storm, has been nominated for over 100 awards, and was named the Best Film of 2022 by the National Society of Film Critics. The film follows Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), the chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, as she faces accusations of sexual harassment at the height of her career. Blanchett in particular has been singled out for praise for her complex portrayal of a polarizing character. While Tár has faced criticism for both villainizing a gay woman and forgiving her crimes without serious examination, there’s no question that Tár is a well-made film that prompts discussion.
13 Spoiler Alert (2022)
Based on Michael Ausiello’s memoir Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, Spoiler Alert follows the relationship between Ausiello (Jim Parsons) and Kit Cowan (Ben Aldridge). The film uses Christmas as a way to show time passing as the couple spends 14 years together, falling in love and dealing with relationship struggles before a cancer diagnosis forces them to re-evaluate what’s most important in life. With a critical score of 85% and an audience rating of 97%, Spoiler Alert is a crowdpleaser despite its heavy subject matter. Parsons and Aldridge have great chemistry, and the way they grapple with the characters’ needs and insecurities does justice to the memoir it’s based on.
12 Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Based on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, Pride & Prejudice launched director Joe Wright’s career and is one of Keira Knightley’s best movies. The film follows Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley) as she meets, hates, and soon begins to fall for the iconic Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). Knightley transforms into Elizabeth, making the audience root for her while also shaking their heads at her stubbornness. Throughout the convoluted misunderstandings and conflicts, Elizabeth and Darcy develop a romance for the ages.
11 Shaun Of The Dead (2004) & Hot Fuzz (2007)
Parody films were extremely popular in the 2000s, and few can compete with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, the first two entries in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Cornetto Trilogy. Shaun of the Dead follows Shaun (Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) as they navigate a zombie outbreak with a heavy dose of obliviousness. Hot Fuzz has many great action movie references while poking fun at the genre, and developing a hilarious yet sweet buddy cop bond between police constables Nicholas (Pegg) and Danny (Frost).
10 Shrek (2001)
For a film that was famously a punishment project for animators (via New York Post), Shrek manages to be both cutting and reverent to its source material. The film follows the titular ogre (Mike Myers) as he sets out on a quest to rescue the cursed and imprisoned Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) for the tyrannical Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). While there are a lot of great non-Disney fairytale adaptations out there, Shrek has managed to stand out by mocking their most frustrating tropes and rejecting the idea that goodness and beauty must be connected. Shrek also has the distinction of winning the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
9 Short Term 12 (2013)
Short Term 12 was one of Brie Larson’s first major films, and while it did not receive nominations for the major award ceremonies, it gained widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. Grace Howard (Larson) works at a group home for troubled teenagers, where two residents are struggling with self-harm and abuse, which forces Grace to confront her own traumatic past. As the characters learn to live through their pain, audiences can see a path toward managing their own. The celebrated indie movie also marks Stephanie Beatriz’s film debut.
8 The Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)
There are few franchises that can compete with the Harry Potter series when it comes to cultural impact. The series follows the orphan Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), who escapes his abusive household when he discovers that he is a wizard destined to defeat a great force of evil. The expansive world created through the books and films pulled audiences in, making Hogwarts Houses as widely known as zodiac signs. The eight films’ ratings range from 77% to 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and though none won an Oscar, the franchise as a whole earned a Special Award at the 2011 American Film Institute Awards for its influence on popular culture.
7 The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter boasts a star-studded cast, led b Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage, and is one of the best movies about the Vietnam War. The three main characters live in a Slavic American community where they hunt deer as a way to connect. After they go to Vietnam, however, they suffer from injuries and PTSD that make it difficult to adjust back into civilian life. As a meditation on the impacts of war, The Deer Hunter is an unquestionable success, being labeled by Roger Ebert as “one of the most emotionally shattering films ever made.”
6 Apollo 13 (1995)
Apollo 13 follows the Apollo mission staffed by Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) as it becomes a fight for survival after an onboard explosion. Between the astronauts and the intelligence teams on Earth, they have to think quickly and creatively to keep the trio alive and get them home. Apollo 13 perfectly captures the terrifying real-life scenario the characters are in, making audiences awestruck at how such an impossible task could have been accomplished in real life.