Peaco*ck is a TV service, but it also has a great catalog of movies to stream, too (2024)

GenreComedy, Crime, Drama

StarsJack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey

Directed byRichard Linklater

Berniewas a bit of a zag for director Richard Linklater, as it involves way more murder than the rest of his filmography. Jack Black stars as Bernie Tiede in this true story. Everybody loves Bernie, the man who charms all the little old ladies in his Carthage, Texas, hometown, even as he endures constant abuse from his crabby benefactor Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine). A man can only take so much, though, and before too long, Bernie loosens his pent-up rage against the woman, sending shockwaves through the small town. What carries the film is its chorus of real-life town residents who give the plot an undeniable local color through a series of talking-head interviews interspersed between the action.

GenreHorror

StarsNora Yessayan, Alec Gaylord, Ken Volok

Directed byHans Stjernswärd

Ever wonder what it’s like to be the livestock on a farm? Well, the horror flick The Farm offers an answer. And it’s pretty horrific. After taking a wrong turn on the highway, a young couple decides to stop at a roadside diner for food and relaxation. Their fun trip soon becomes a fight for survival when masked kidnappers imprison them on a farm where humans are the main course. The movie is filled with shocking and disturbing scenes, but if you’re in the mood for pure, unadulterated horror, The Farm is here to deliver.

GenreMystery, Drama, Thriller

StarsYoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jun Jong-seo

Directed byLee Chang-dong

A Korean drama from 2018 that earns every bit of its 150-minute runtime, Burning tells the story of a young man who becomes transfixed by the disappearance of a woman he’s recently formed a bond with. As he becomes increasingly convinced that something terrible happened to her, we get an examination of both this young man and the way the world around him seems to blur and change. Featuring a riveting supporting performance from Steven Yeun as a wealthy and mysterious possible criminal, Burning is riveting in ways that most movies only aspire to be.

GenreHorror

StarsJudith O'Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman

Directed byGeorge A. Romero

The movie that launched an entire genre, Night of the Living Dead tells the story of five strangers who come together at a farmhouse in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Their struggle to survive may feel small and quaint by modern standards, but the human drama that plays out between them remains as compelling as any in a modern zombie flick. The movie’s chilling ending, which is a stark reminder of the racism that has been a part of America for decades and still exists today, also makes it feel like the kind of small, independent drama that might hit theaters today.

GenreDocumentary

StarsAnwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin

Directed byJoshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn

A documentary that tells the story of the men who committed mass atrocities in Indonesia, The Act of Killingis a complex, moving portrait of what it means to commit mass murder and be celebrated for your heroism. The movie uncovers a story most people likely don’t know, but more than that, it’s an examination of how removed some men can be from their own humanity and the way we create enemies in order to justify awful acts. The Act of Killing is a must-see for any film fan, and it’s one of the great works of documentary filmmaking of the 21st century.

GenreAction, Thriller, Crime

StarsPatrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey

Directed byKathryn Bigelow

One of the great action movies ever made, and perhaps the best ever made about male machismo,Point Breaktells the story of an FBI agent who goes undercover with a gang of surfer bank robbers. As absurd as that may sound,Point Breakwinds up being hugely satisfying in part because it leans so hard into the cheese. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze make for the perfect pair, and there’s a number of bravura action sequences that give the movie real heft. Kathryn Bigelow is a smart, muscular director, andPoint Breakranks up there with her very best work.

GenreMystery, Comedy, Crime

StarsTony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford

Directed byRandall Zisk

Perhaps one of the most delightful shows of the 21st century is back for one more lap.Mr. Monk’s Last Caseis really for all theMonksuperfans out there, but it’ll be a bundle of fun for anyone who just happens to stumble across it as well. When Adrian Monk comes out of retirement to help solve his step-daughter’s fiance’s murder, plenty of shenanigans ensue. Tony Shalhoub slides right back into the character that defined his career, and the rest of the original ensemble is back as well for what turns out to be a delightful and worthwhile trip down memory lane for everyMonksuperfan.

GenreDrama, History

StarsCillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon

Directed byChristopher Nolan

Another one of 2023’s best and most successful movies, Oppenheimertells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the inventor of the atomic bomb. Because it’s directed by Christopher Nolan, though, the movie takes a nonlinear approach to Oppenheimer’s story, weaving together the creation of the bomb with the inquiry into his ties to the Communist party. Cillian Murphy grounds the entire thing with his central work as Oppenheimer, and he’s surrounded by one of the best supporting casts ever assembled, including a standout performance from Robert Downey Jr.

GenreDrama, Crime

StarsMarlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan

Directed byFrancis Ford Coppola

Widely considered to be one of the best movies ever made, The Godfathertells the story of a mafia crime family, and more specifically of one of the sons of that family and his journey from the outskirts of the family business to the center. Featuring all-time great performances from a cast that includes Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Diane Keaton, among others, the movie’s chronicling of one man’s slow descent into darkness has become iconic in the decades since its release. Francis Ford Coppola is one of the great directors in cinema history, andThe Godfathermight be his greatest achievement.