Peacock deserves its flowers. The platform may not be mentioned as much in the ongoing streaming conversation — heavy-hitters like Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video seem to have things on lock in that sense. That said, the NBC Universal-owned streamer is jam-packed with must-watch movies of all types. And I think this is something more people should be talking about.
Universal Pictures has a stellar reputation for releasing box office hits and Oscar-winning movies. It’s been doing this for well over a century, and Peacock has a wonderful selection of these releases for your viewing pleasure. And while the viewing window for Stephen Spielberg’s classic blockbuster, Jaws, has closed, there are other titles worth clicking play on.
Christopher Nolan’s visual spectacle Oppenheimer is here, as are action hits like John Wick and Edge of Tomorrow. But I’m just scratching the surface. If you’re interested in planning a Peacock movie night, scroll on to find more worthwhile titles you should dig into.
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Peacock Review: Few Originals, but Cheap Access to Network TV, Movies May Grab You
Edge of Tomorrow takes the time-loop trope and adds some video game logic to it. So, yes, you get to see Tom Cruise die a bunch and respawn as he learns to hold his own in this postapocalyptic world at war. That’s cool and all, but it’s Emily Blunt’s performance that is truly the highlight here. She’s tough, has grit and really is as badass as you’d expect.
Frank Darabont proved his worth with this adaptation of Stephen King’s short story Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. It gave Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman solid material to work with, and the result is an epic drama that is engaging and heartwarming. It was nominated for seven Oscars and, if winner Forrest Gump wasn’t in the running that same year, it would’ve probably brought a bunch home.
“If you build it, he will come.” Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella hears this memorable quote whispered to him on the wind and is driven to build a baseball field on his land. Unbeknownst to him, this move brings famous ghosts from baseball’s past out of the corn field to play. That said, there’s a deeper father-son relationship and themes of grief and forgiveness that make this movie so resonant.
I don’t know about you, but I come from a certain generation and, without question, we all wanted to be Ferris Bueller growing up. Matthew Broderick’s star-turning performance as the titular high school troublemaker brings epic amounts of chemistry and humor to this decade-defining flick. You’ll never hear the Beatles’ song Twist and Shout the same way again.
In 2003, Jack Black’s celebrity status was in its infancy. School of Rock changed that, showing the world the rock-and-roll magnificence of the actor-singer’s talents. Black plays a private school substitute teacher completely out of his depth — that is, until he picks up a guitar and imparts the wisdom of rock and roll to his unsuspecting students.
First-time screenwriters Ben Affleck and Matt Damon famously won the Oscar for writing Good Will Hunting, which is a legendary accomplishment. Add in Damon’s stellar acting chops and the inclusion of comedy icon Robin Williams in the dramatic role as Dr. Sean Maguire and you’ve got a solid drama worth watching over and over. It’s really that good.
Argo is based on the true story of a CIA agent who goes undercover as a Hollywood movie producer in Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis in order to rescue six American diplomats. Ben Affleck stars alongside John Goodman, Bryan Cranston and Alan Arkin, who took home the Oscar for his performance as Lester Siegel. Affleck also directed the riveting drama, which won the Oscar for Best Picture of the Year.
Look, I am not here to argue about the best Harry Potter movie in the franchise. The series is jam-packed with great stuff. However, the third installment, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, really showed the world how great a Harry Potter story could be. Not to mention, it introduced Gary Oldman’s rebellious wizard Sirius Black into the mix. And you really can’t go wrong with putting Oldman in anything.
I’d argue that all of the John Wick movies are worth streaming, but the first installment has that special energy of an original story spreading its wings. And to think, all this could’ve been avoided if they hadn’t messed with Keanu’s dog.
Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning film explores the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer (played to perfection by Cillian Murphy), the physicist who played a pivotal role in developing the atomic bomb. The story unfolds throughout various points of Oppenheimer’s life, offering a well-rounded and thought-provoking look at the man who pushed the world to the brink. The production value, direction and performances by its ensemble cast resulted in an epic cinematic experience. It’s no wonder the movie brought home the Academy Award for Best Picture.
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