The 20 best movies on Peacock

American Psycho (2000)

Meet the carefully curated facade of Patrick Bateman — a man who not only slays a morning skincare routine but also, well, slays. Adapted from Bret Easton Ellis' controversial 1991 novel, American Psycho follows Bateman as he leads a double life, hobnobbing with his narcissistic co-workers as a slick N.Y.C. investment banker while moonlighting as a serial killer. This satirical horror brilliantly dissects the soulless '80s capitalist culture, where materialism reigns supreme and vanity is a virtue, while Christian Bale conjures a monumental character study with his mordant and monstrous Bateman. EW's critic writes, "Funny, pungent, and weirdly gripping, American Psycho is a satire that feels like a hallucination" draped in a "tone of rambunctious, light-fingered malevolence." —James Mercadante

Where to watch American Psycho: Peacock

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Mary Harron

Cast: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Chloë Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux, Reese Witherspoon

Related content: American Psycho cast: Where are they now?

Black Christmas (1974)

This slasher classic still holds up as one of the most chilling horror films of all time. A group of sorority sisters' good tidings of comfort and joy are interrupted by repeated profane phone calls, leading to one of them being murdered in the attic. This kicks off a horrifying series of events as they try in vain to get the police to determine the source of the call while they are picked off one by one. There have been two attempts at remaking Black Christmas in the 21st century, but neither has approached the level of paranoia and dread of the '70s original. —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch Black Christmas: Peacock

Director: Bob Clark

Cast: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon

Related content: The 15 best Christmas horror movies

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Ang Lee's deeply empathetic romantic Western is built on a forbidden love that complicates the lives of two men. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are cowboys herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain in 1963 Wyoming, where an unexpected connection is forged. The pair become lovers, but, after their herding comes to an end, they struggle to keep their relationship hidden as they both marry women, raise families, and try to live within society's punishing strictures. Guided by Lee's sensitive direction, Brokeback Mountain is, "that rare thing," as EW's critic puts it, "a big Hollywood weeper with a beautiful ache at its center." —K.J.

Where to watch Brokeback Mountain: Peacock

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Ang Lee

Cast: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Randy Quaid

Related content: Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee remembers the 'God-given' talent of Heath Ledger: 'He was a cowboy'

Clue (1985)

This murder mystery farce is one of the strongest arguments for why the Academy should consider a Best Ensemble category. Packed with committed, hilarious performances from Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, and especially Madeline Kahn, Clue finds each of their characters gathered at a mansion for a dinner party. After a murder takes place, the guests scurry all over the property to determine, well, whodunit. No matter which of the three endings you prefer, Clue is a wicked delight from start to finish. —K.J.

Where to watch Clue: Peacock

Director: Jonathan Lynn

Cast: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren

Related content: Red herrings, skateboards, and Carrie Fisher: An oral history of mystery classic Clue

Django (1966)

Once you've surrendered to its magnificent soundtrack (scored by the brilliant Luis Bacalov), you'll be randomly belting out Rocky Roberts' infectious "Djangooooo." Sergio Corbucci's quintessential spaghetti Western follows its namesake, an ex-Union soldier who roams the arid Mexico and U.S. borderlands, and his fugitive companion, Maria. Together, they tumble into a cutthroat feud between the Ku Klux Klan and Mexican revolutionaries. The film's unapologetic brutality led to bans in several countries and kept it from the U.K. until 1993, a testament to its visceral impact. It's no wonder Quentin Tarantino drew inspiration here for his own revisionist Western, Django Unchained (2012). —J.M.

Where to watch Django: Peacock

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Sergio Corbucci

Cast: Franco Nero, Loredana Nusciak, José Bódalo, Ángel Álvarez, Eduardo Fajardo

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Michael Moore, known for his award-winning documentaries Roger & Me (1989) and Bowling for Columbine (2002), delivered another cinematic juggernaut with this audacious and controversial documentary. Fahrenheit 9/11 — crowned with the Palme d'Or and holding the title of America's highest-grossing documentary — fearlessly scrutinizes the Bush administration's exploitation of post-9/11 paranoia to advance unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq instead of seeking the terrorist attack's true perpetrators. As EW's critic notes, "Fahrenheit 9/11 offers a catharsis for the audience. Dazzlingly assembled, at once reckless and insightful, the movie filters the actions of the Bush administration through a nose-thumbing outrage that might have been irresponsible if Moore's own words weren't girded by images that spoke 1,000 more." —J.M.

Where to watch Fahrenheit 9/11: Peacock

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Michael Moore

Related content: Fahrenheit 9/11 paves the way for documentaries

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

This emotional Chilean drama from Sebastián Lelio follows Marina (Daniela Vega), a transgender woman, in the wake of her boyfriend's sudden death. Marina faces obstacle after obstacle as detectives investigate whether she was involved in his death, while his family treats her with coldness. And still, she perseveres. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2018, A Fantastic Woman is a moving story of grief with a powerful lead performance by Vega. As EW's critic writes, "it’s heartbreaking, illuminating — and yes, fantastic — just to watch her live." —K.J.

Where to watch A Fantastic Woman: Peacock

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Sebastián Lelio

Cast: Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes

Related content: A Fantastic Woman star Daniela Vega is a guiding light through dark times

Half Nelson (2006)

Amid the wellspring of heartwarming student-teacher tales where educators often shepherd their scholars (think 1989's Dead Poets Society or 2017's The Edge of Seventeen), Half Nelson flips the script. Earning his first Oscar nod, Ryan Gosling shines as Dan Dunne, an adored history teacher and girls' basketball coach bottling up a life of vices. When troubled student Drey catches him using drugs, an unexpected bond forms as they navigate their tumultuous lives together. To quote EW's critic, "Half Nelson conspicuously offers no tidy resolution or concluding uplift, which only makes the movie that much more trustworthy, and the unflashy, documentary-style filmmaking more artful." —J.M.

Where to watch Half Nelson: Peacock

EW grade: A (read the review)

Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Denis O'Hare, Starla Benford

Related content: The 15 best Ryan Gosling roles

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Based on the novel of the same name by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk is a lush romantic drama that also depicts the harsh realities of being Black in 1970s New York City. Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James) are a young couple bursting with love for each other, only to be separated when Fonny is falsely accused of rape and convicted. Tish and her family go about the process of trying to prove his innocence, bumping up against systemic bias at every turn. The bittersweet saga is told with sensitivity and grace by Barry Jenkins, in his follow-up to the Best Picture-winning indie Moonlight. Regina King won an Oscar of her own for her standout turn as Tish's mother, Sharon, who goes to great lengths to protect her family. —K.J.

Where to watch If Beale Street Could Talk: Peacock

Director: Barry Jenkins

Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Colman Domingo, Brian Tyree Henry, Teyonah Parris, Michael Beach, Dave Franco, Diego Luna, Pedro Pascal, Ed Skrein

Related content: Barry Jenkins on how If Beale Street Could Talk resonates today

Jennifer's Body (2009)

Misunderstood at the time, Karyn Kusama's horror comedy has aged remarkably well since its release. Amanda Seyfried stars as Needy, a high school student whose popular best friend, Jennifer (a never-better Megan Fox), becomes possessed by a demon. After Jennifer kills multiple male classmates, Needy hopes to put an end to the violence, while also trying to get to the bottom of what exactly happened to her best friend. Though critics largely dismissed Jennifer's Body as disposable in 2009 (and audiences weren't much kinder), it has since earned cult classic status for its feminist themes; what was marketed at the time as a sexy dark comedy for teen boys to ogle at is actually an ahead-of-its-time revenge thriller. —K.J.

Where to watch Jennifer's Body: Peacock

Director: Karyn Kusama

Cast: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris, Adam Brody

Related content: Adam Brody says the negative reaction to Jennifer's Body 'felt s---ty,' film's poster 'missed the mark'

John Wick (2014)

In the first chapter of the John Wick franchise — which has made more than half a billion dollars worldwide — the titular retired hitman (Keanu Reeves) randomly encounters Losef Tarasov, an entitled scuzzball whose father Viggo is a Russian crime boss in New York City. What begins as a wonton attack on Wick becomes an all-out juggernaut of vengeance as the elite assassin reengages with the world he left behind, mostly to murder those responsible for killing his emotional support puppy. Sleek tailored suits with tactical linings and a wide swath of high-powered weaponry are par for the course in this consistently satisfying action film. EW's critic praises the "pulsating daredevil energy" of John Wick, and calls its screenplay "a marvelously rich and stylish feat of pulpy world-building." —Johnny Loftus

Where to watch John Wick: Peacock

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Chad Stahelski

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Dean Winters, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick

Related content: Guns! Swords! Ice baths! How Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski created the action epic John Wick: Chapter 4

Jurassic Park (1993)

Few movies have ever rivaled the level of wonder and magic evoked when Laura Dern's Ellie Sattler witnesses a dinosaur as John Williams' majestic score swells in Jurassic Park. Steven Spielberg's iconic blockbuster about a trio of scientists who investigate an island in which a business magnate has created a theme park of cloned dinosaurs will simply never be topped — no matter how many sequels Hollywood tries to spawn. After all, as Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) quips in the film, "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." The 1993 original is thrilling, fear-inducing, and altogether entertaining thanks in part to the then-innovative visual effects which still hold up today. "In Jurassic Park," EW's critic notes, "the dinosaurs — some benign, some terrifying, all wondrous — tap into the giddiest science-class daydreams you had as a kid." —K.J.

Where to watch Jurassic Park: Peacock

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, B.D. Wong, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight

Related content: Jeff Goldblum on how his Jurassic Park character was ahead of his time

M3GAN (2023)

This campy sci-fi spooker doesn't take itself too seriously, even if the titular doll is a serious threat to those who cross her owner. After robotics expert Gemma (Allison Williams) develops an artificial intelligence-powered doll named M3GAN for her grieving niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), the dangerously smart humanoid starts to exhibit possessive qualities. And God forbid anyone who poses even a minor threat to Cady. EW's critic calls M3GAN "a scampering Blumhouse caper that turns out to be blithely self-aware, negligibly jump-scary, and mostly very fun," and audiences seemed to agree — the film grossed nearly $100 million at the U.S. box office, leading to an announcement of a sequel, M3GAN 2.0, coming in 2025. —K.J.

Where to watch M3GAN: Peacock

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald

Related content: Making M3GAN: How everyone's favorite killer robot was brought to life

Mad Max (1979)

The gonzo world of George Miller's Mad Max, now a five-film franchise, began with this independent Australian thriller. Set in a future where society has become nearly lawless, the film follows Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson), a patrol officer who kills the head of an outlaw motorcycle gang, leading to a chaotic series of events that turns Max into a vigilante. There's a shagginess to the original Mad Max that future installments would smooth out (slightly), but the idiosyncratic world-building is fascinating to see on such a small scale, as is the emergence of Gibson as a star in only his second feature film. —K.J.

Where to watch Mad Max: Peacock

Director: George Miller

Cast: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward

Related content: George Miller provides update on his plans for the future of the Mad Max franchise

Meet the Patels (2014)

Ravi Patel is a thirtysomething Indian American actor who recently parted ways with his white girlfriend, Audrey. Now single (much to the dismay of his family), Ravi feels the pressure to find a wife from his first-gen immigrant parents, who've mastered both the art of traditional matchmaking and ragging on his lack of love life. Struggling to scale the towering walls of cultural expectations while nursing the wounds of a romance gone sour, Ravi embarks on a quest to decipher his heart's desires. Along for the ride is his sister and partner in singlehood, Geeta, who serves as co-pilot in this lighthearted documentary. Sure, it might take some conventional routes via your favorite rom-coms, but Meet the Patels is nonetheless a side-splitting yet profound exploration of love, family, and sheer chaos mixed in a cross-cultural blender. —J.M.

Where to watch Meet the Patels: Peacock

Directors: Geeta V. Patel, Ravi V. Patel

Cast: Ravi V. Patel, Geeta V. Patel, Champa V. Patel, Vasant K. Patel, Audrey Wauchope, Chandar Abboy, Chirag Patel, Renita Abboy, Rali Amin, Sunkrish Bala

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

With a budget just over $100,000, George Romero's indie horror masterpiece transformed the zombie genre, reshaping these once-subjugated creatures into autonomous, flesh-craving fiends while forever etching them into pop culture (and paving the way for future undead favorites like The Walking Dead). Revolving around a group of unlikely survivors holed up in an abandoned farmhouse, this film unravels as they fend off an onslaught of ravenous ghouls storming the area. Night of the Living Dead didn't just make cinematic history; it gnawed its way into the collective consciousness, birthing a thriving franchise with five sequels from 1978 to 2009, which all carry Romero's iconic directorial touch. —J.M.

Where to watch Night of the Living Dead: Peacock

EW grade: A+ (read the review)

Director: George Romero

Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Judith Ridley, Keith Wayne, Kyra Schon

Related content: Night of the Living Dead made our countdown of the 13 scariest movies of all time

Oppenheimer (2023)

Hollywood produces numerous biopics every year, but none compare in this modern era to the seismic event that was Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan's three-hour epic is an engrossing journey through the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), the theoretical physicist who successfully developed the atomic bomb. The film skillfully balances multiple timelines as we follow Oppenheimer's involvement with the Manhattan Project in the 1940s alongside Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) of the Atomic Energy Commission hoping to limit Oppenheimer's political influence in the 1950s. "Though they may seem disparate," EW's critic writes, "the many elements of Oppenheimer refract and reflect each other, like a bunch of atoms creating a chain reaction or a group of scientists building off each other's ideas to forge something new." The film has since grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and earned 13 Oscar nominations. —K.J.

Where to watch Oppenheimer: Peacock

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh

Related content: Christopher Nolan takes us inside creating Oppenheimer's atomic bomb explosion

Other People (2016)

This underrated dramedy centers on David (Jesse Plemons), a writer working in the entertainment industry who comes back to his hometown to care for his mother (Molly Shannon), who is dying of cancer. As David copes with the impending loss of his mother, he is also reeling from a recent breakup with his boyfriend while his father still struggles to accept David's sexuality. Other People deftly balances the heaviness of David's situation with well-observed comedy, with EW's critic calling it "a cancer comedy that makes you both squirm and sniffle." —K.J.

Where to watch Other People: Peacock

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Chris Kelly

Cast: Jesse Plemons, Molly Shannon, Bradley Whitford, Maude Apatow, Madisen Beaty, John Early, Zach Woods, Josie Totah, June Squibb

Related content: Why Other People makes you (and its makers) cry

Short Term 12 (2013)

Penned and helmed by Destin Daniel Cretton (who drew from his own experience working at a teen group facility), Short Term 12 unfolds within the titular foster home for troubled youth. Grace, a supervisor harboring her own hidden wounds, sees herself in Jayden, a newcomer grappling with self-harm, which catalyzes a reckoning with her past. Though anchored by standout performances from then-rising stars like Rami Malek and LaKeith Stanfield, it's Brie Larson's first leading film role as Grace that leaps off the screen, radiating an acting wisdom beyond her years as she embodies raw vulnerability and understated strength. With dialogue as realistic as the characters themselves, this indie gem — which snagged SXSW's Grand Jury and Audience Awards for a Narrative Feature — immerses you so deeply that you'll briefly forget you are merely a spectator. —J.M.

Where to watch Short Term 12: Peacock

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Cast: Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Rami Malek, LaKeith Stanfield, Kevin Hernandez, Melora Walters, Stephanie Beatriz

Related content: After Captain Marvel and Bohemian Rhapsody, it's time to revisit Short Term 12

TÁR (2022)

TÁR is a psychological drama so well written, it convinced some viewers its protagonist was real. The spellbinding film centers on Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), a celebrated conductor and instructor whose life unravels after damning allegations come out regarding her misbehavior with students. Writer-director Todd Field cleverly delves into heavy themes including power dynamics, cancel culture, and generational divide, without ever feeling too heavy-handed. The film earned widespread acclaim from critics (including EW's own), and received six Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress for Blanchett's towering performance. —K.J.

Where to watch TÁR: Peacock

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Todd Field

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Mark Strong

Related content: Cate Blanchett on her ferocious TÁR turn: 'She believes in the power of being the exception'