The Best Movies Streaming on Paramount Plus
Since its debut in 2021, Paramount+ has quickly risen to become one of the greatest subscription-based streaming platforms you can currently find online. Combining a range of properties from CBS, Paramount, Nickelodeon, Showtime, and Comedy Central, it boasts a rich library of beloved movies, TV series, and documentaries.
Like all the most noteworthy streaming platforms, Paramount+ also has a ton of exclusive content at its disposal, such as Star Trek: Picard, 1883, and The Good Fight.
Along with those exclusive titles, the platform also has a dense catalog of movies streaming on the service, from newer films like 12 Years a Slave and Hell or High Water to classics like The Iron Giant and Once Upon a Time in the West.
Here are some of the best movies you can find playing on Paramount+ right now.
Updated: February 9.
Drama: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
With the Academy Award season approaching, dedicated movie fans might think about revisiting some of the many previous films to earn the Oscar for Best Picture, such as 2013’s powerful 12 Years a Slave.
Kidnapped from his life as a free Black man in New York, musician Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is sold into slavery in the Antebellum South, experiencing the hardship of life under a cruel, demanding master (Michael Fassbender).
A harrowing depiction of Solomon Northup’s real-life experiences in the pre-Civil War South, 12 Years a Slave underscores the intense pain, suffering, torment, and heartbreak millions of enslaved persons endured in the American slave trade.
Crime: Hell or High Water (2016)
Concluding his tenure on the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy, actor Taylor Sheridan tried his hand at professional writing – a venture that led to his instantaneous success with such projects as Yellowstone, Sicario, 1883, and 2016’s Hell or High Water.
In an effort to pay off their property’s overwhelming debt, two brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) commit a series of bank robberies in West Texas, catching the attention of a dedicated Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges).
Like most of Sheridan’s work, Hell or High Water brings the hard-boiled frontier of the Western genre to modern America, trading in horses and six-shooters for winding car chases and prolonged gun battles.
Romance: William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Movies based on William Shakespeare’s plays have been around virtually since the advent of film itself. As a result, most directors have been able to put their own unique spin on a classic Shakespearean fable, something that can best be seen in 1996’s Romeo + Juliet.
As tensions simmer between two opposing criminal families in modern Los Angeles, two young lovers from both sides of the conflict (Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes) pursue a secretive romantic relationship with one another.
Transposing the premise of Romeo & Juliet to 1990s gangland Los Angeles, Romeo + Juliet makes for a vivid contemporary take on an age-old story, outfitting its narrative with stylish visuals and gripping performances.
Thriller: Zodiac (2007)
Since getting his start in the early 1980s, director David Fincher has gone on to pioneer some of the most disturbing thriller and psychological horror films of the past several decades, as seen with his immaculate 2007 biopic, Zodiac.
In the late 1960s, the San Francisco police and a group of investigative reporters try to decipher the identity of the Zodiac killer–a serial murderer who leaves behind cryptic clues revealing key details about his ongoing crime spree.
Sharing plenty of similarities to Fincher’s work on Se7en and Mindhunter, Zodiac is a sobering depiction of the lengthy investigation behind the real-life Zodiac murders–a criminal case that remains as odd and frightening now as it had been in the 1960s.
Music: Funny Face (1957)
Like most treasured icons of the film industry, Audrey Hepburn starred in a number of universally praised movies over the course of her 40 year career, including Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and 1957’s Funny Face.
After an ordinary photo shoot in a Greenwich Village bookshop goes haywire, a fashion photographer (Fred Astaire) falls in love with one of the shop’s workers (Hepburn), helping her break into the fashion industry as a professional model.
One of the earliest breakthrough performances for Hepburn, Funny Face demonstrates Hepburn’s clear range as an actor, as well as her ability to delight audiences on her own or alongside a veteran co-star (in this case, Fred Astaire).
Mystery: Clue (1985)
It’s not very often that a popular board game is adapted into a full-fledged film. Yet in 1985, Clue set the standard for movies based on pre-existing board games, weaving together a compelling narrative out of its sparse source material.
In 1950s New England, several eccentric individuals reluctantly attend a dinner party held by the man blackmailing them (Lee Ving). When their host winds up mysteriously murdered, the mansion’s butler (Tim Curry) attempts to figure which of the guests killed him.
Relying on a rapid-fire script that mixes screwball-style comedy with some mild scares, Clue has rightfully gained a massive fan following in the decades since its release, thanks in large part to its talented ensemble cast (Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, and Martin Mull).
Intense: Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
The second highest-grossing movie of 2022, Top Gun: Maverick is that rare sequel that actually manages to supersede the quality of the original movie. A vast improvement over the so-so 1986 action drama Top Gun, it’s also among the finest movies in Tom Cruise’s entire career.
As a result of a serious disciplinary infraction, decorated test pilot Maverick (Cruise) is reassigned to instruct the next generation of Top Gun students, including his deceased best friend’s son (Miles Teller).
With far more emotion and improved characterization, Top Gun: Maverick captures and holds audiences’ interests from one scene to the next. With its austere special effects, gripping performances, and constantly-moving action, it’s a fantastic continuation to Cruise’s well-known Top Gun series.
Superhero: The Crow (1994)
One year after his and his fiancee’s (Sofia Shinas) murder, the spirit of a deceased musician (Lee) returns to the mortal realm, seeking revenge against the criminals responsible for his death.
Passing away at the tender age of 28, Brandon Lee’s sudden 1993 death is nothing short of a tragedy, devastating moviegoers the same way the sudden passing of Brandon’s father Bruce Lee had two decades prior.
While the film industry lost a talented star in the making, 1994’s The Crow showcases Lee’s immense capabilities from an acting perspective, with Brandon displaying the same sense of charisma as his late, great father.
Animated: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023)
After a successful run in theaters, the child-friendly superhero film, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, has debuted on Paramount+ this past month. Currently ranking as one of the most popular movies on the streaming service, it’s a fun, light-hearted adventure film that’s bound to gage the interests of younger viewers in the audience.
Acquiring inexplicable superpowers from a downed meteorite, the members of the PAW Patrol use their newfound abilities to combat the villainous Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo) and his dangerous new accomplice (Taraji P. Henson).
Like its original television counterpart, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie might be geared more intrinsically towards children, but even older viewers will find something to love about this 2023 family film. Between its gorgeous visuals, warm humor, and relatable themes, it’s a first-rate superhero movie fit for audiences of every age group.
Elevated Horror: Beau Is Afraid (2023)
If you ever needed proof that A24 is one of the most exciting production studios in the horror genre at the moment, just look at the films of up-and-coming indie director, Ari Aster. In each of his films (Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid), Aster has managed to both terrify and challenge viewers’ conception of psychological horror, specializing in cerebral films the likes of which have never been seen before.
Learning that his wealthy mother (Patti LuPone) has tragically passed away, a middle-aged man (Joaquin Phoenix) embarks on a lengthy odyssey to attend her funeral, interacting with a number of surreal characters along the way.
Though Beau Is Afraid isn’t altogether as accessible as Hereditary or Midsommar (which is certainly saying something), the movie contains enough originality to justify a watch. Whether in the form of its sprawling storyline or Phoenix’s inspired lead performances, it is without a doubt one of the most spellbinding movies released in 2023.
Horror: Scream 2 (1997)
Hoping to put the past behind her and rebuild her life from the ground up, Woodsboro Massacre survivor Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) departs for college. Before very long, however, she and her friends find themselves the target of yet another Ghostface killer.
A recurring characteristic among successful horror films is the inevitable sequels that follow in the original’s wake. Though many of these sequels fail to capture the same favorable response as their predecessor, certain franchises–like Scream–have seen their fair share of remarkable installments over the years.
With Scream 2, director Wes Craven retains the same intelligent and humorous deconstruction of the slasher genre, specifically taking aim at the concept of sequels in general (mocking everything from Halloween to Terminator 2: Judgment Day).
Classic: The African Queen (1951)
It’s difficult to think of two actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood more recognizable than Humphrey Bogart or Katharine Hepburn. Certified icons of the Silver Screen, Bogart and Hepburn’s most well-known collaboration came with 1951’s action romance, The African Queen.
As the world is plunged into chaos of the First World War, a British missionary (Hepburn) reluctantly joins a surly river boat captain (Bogart) as they travel along the perilous rivers of East Africa.
A sprawling adventure film propelled by Hepburn and Bogie’s undeniable chemistry on-screen, The African Queen combines epic action with an infectious sense of romance, influencing everything from Romancing the Stone to The Jungle Cruise in the decades that followed.
Classic Horror: The Exorcist (1973)
Last year marked the return of the long dormant Exorcist franchise with the series’ latest installment, The Exorcist: Believer. Opening to extraordinarily poor reviews, fans of the iconic horror series might be better off looking back at the franchise’s original installment with 1973’s The Exorcist.
Believing that her young daughter (Linda Blair) has been possessed by an otherworldly entity, a concerned mother (Ellen Burstyn) reaches out to two Catholic priests (Jason Miller and Max von Sydow) who prepare an exorcism to dispel the demon.
A frightening adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel, The Exorcist might just be the single greatest movie oriented around the idea of demonic possession, terrifying viewers with its often disturbing sequences.
Award Winning: Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
As she faces a tax audit, an unhappy, middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) is forced to venture into the multiverse to prevent her reality from being destroyed by an evil version of her daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
As we prepare to formally conclude the year 2023, viewers can look forward to seeing which of the past year’s films will wind up garnering a nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Of course, as you catch up on some of the many worthwhile cinematic releases from 2023, one might also think about revisiting some past Oscar winners, starting with 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once. A surreal sci-fi action adventure rooted in family, it’s possibly the most creative film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in quite some time.
Comedy: The Disaster Artist (2017)
In the late 1990s, two aspiring actors struggling to enter the industry (James Franco and Dave Franco) decide to make their own movie. Putting together a patchwork cast, the two unknowingly release a critically panned flop.
Most people are probably familiar with the 2003 indie romantic drama, The Room. Often cited as one of the worst films ever made, The Room has since gained a strong cult reputation for its over-the-top acting, horrendous writing, and nonsensical plot.
Offering a mostly factual account of the movie’s production, 2017’s The Disaster Artist shows the fascinating true story of The Room, as seen from the perspective of the various cast and crew members involved.
Sci-Fi: The Host (2006)
Admittedly, kaiju films belong to an extraordinarily niche genre, typically falling into a formulaic pattern of giant monsters attacking cities. Yet even then, an occasional film bleeds through that reinvents the kaiju narrative, as happens to be the case with 2006’s The Host.
Several years after a deluge of chemicals flood the Han River, the residents of Seoul face off against a mutated creature created by the rampant pollution.
Directed by eventual Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho, The Host unfolds like the 21st century version of Godzilla, replacing fears over nuclear annihilation and fallout with environmental concerns over pollution (as personified by the horrific central creature).
Satire: South Park (Not Suitable For Children) (2023)
This past month, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone released their latest TV special, South Park (Not Suitable For Children). As one might expect, the finished product is a hilarious satire of ongoing social trends, with deft parodies of social media and explicit adult videos.
As the adults of South Park grapple with a recent surge in adult-based premium content, the town’s children become obsessed with a new fashionable energy drink taking the internet by storm.
Like each of their recent Paramount+ special episodes, South Park (Not Suitable For Children) boasts the series’ signature blend of absurdist and satirical humor, poking fun at everything from Logan Paul to fad energy drinks like Prime.
Sports: Nacho Libre (2006)
As with most comedians, you either love Jack Black or are indifferent towards his energetic style of comedy. If you fall into the former category, though, it’s always worth looking back at some of Black’s most well-known films over the past several decades, including his 2006 sports comedy, Nacho Libre.
In an effort to financially support the Mexican orphanage he’s employed at, a kind-hearted deacon (Jack Black) moonlights as a masked luchador, competing against some of the country’s most formidable wrestlers in the ring.
As expected from a Jack Black film, Nacho Libre’s immature, low-brow humor might not appeal to a universal audience. However, those who find themselves chuckling at School of Rock or Kung Fu Panda are bound to find something to enjoy with Nacho Libre.
Teen: Adventureland (2009)
As most university graduates will attest, It’s never easy graduating from college. Having gained a newfound level of independence, most college grads find the prospect of the immediate and long-term future somewhat daunting–a fear that takes center stage in 2009’s Adventureland.
In the late 1980s, recent college graduate James (Jesse Eisenberg) reluctantly accepts a job at a run-down amusement park in his hometown, slowly falling in love with his enigmatic coworker (Kristin Stewart).
Wonderfully acted and competently directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad), Adventureland offers a cathartic and nostalgic look at the final few years of carefree adolescence, focusing on younger adults experiencing their first brush with the adult world ahead of them.
History: Golda (2023)
Currently ranking as one of the most popular films streaming on Paramount+, Golda analyzes the incredible true-life story of Golda Meir, Israel’s fourth prime minister who steered her country through the tumultuous conflict known as the Yom Kippur War.
In the early 1970s, the nation of Israel faces a massive invasion of Egyptian and Syrian troops, forcing the Prime Minister, Golda Meir (Helen Mirren), to stave off a military action that threatens to destroy the entire country.
As one might safely expect, Mirren hits out of the park in her performance as the aged prime minister Golda Meir, capturing Meir’s physical appearance, mannerisms, and speech pattern to a T. Though a bit formulaic in its biographical and historical elements, Mirren’s portrayal alone is enough to account for this movie’s ongoing popularity among Paramount+ viewers.
Biopic: Amistad (1997)
Fresh off his esteemed work on Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg turned his attention to another horrific event in global history with Amistad, a film detailing the horrors endured by enslaved individuals in 19th century America.
In the late 1840s, a tribe of imprisoned Africans overpower their captors while crossing the Atlantic, freeing themselves as they drift towards America. Landing in the U.S., the Africans’ story forces American legal representatives to decide whether they’re murderers, enslaved persons, or freed men illegally taken from their home.
Dissecting the real-life Amistad court case that threatened the stability of Northern and Southern U.S. relations roughly 20 years before the Civil War, Amistad shines a light on the trauma enslaved Africans experienced for centuries in America.
Sexy Thriller: Basic Instinct (1992)
Was there ever a more infamously steamier neo-noir thriller than 1992’s Basic Instinct. A widely talked-about phenomenon when it first hit theaters, Basic Instinct’s enduring popularity is rooted around the appearances of its main stars (especially its female lead).
Investigating the death of an influential rock musician (Bill Cable) in San Francisco, a homicide detective (Michael Douglas) slowly develops feelings for the beguiling lead suspect (Sharon Stone).
An alluring wolf in sheep’s clothing, Stone’s powerhouse portrayal of Catherine Tramell remains as gripping now as it had been 30 years ago. Taking on a variety of guises and manipulating people to her will, Stone’s Catherine makes for one of the most terrifying on-screen psychopaths in cinematic history.
Action: The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
The ‘90s had no shortage of worthwhile action movies, from heist thrillers like Heat and Point Break to more over-the-top shoot ‘em ups like True Lies and Last Action Hero. Falling somewhere into the middle of these two distinct subgenres is the 1996 film, The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Having spent the past eight years trying to uncover her past, an amnesiac school teacher (Geena Davis) hires a struggling private investigator (Samuel L. Jackson) to learn everything he can about her origins.
Though it certainly employs a kitschier premise and presentation, The Long Kiss Goodnight’s indelible action and ensemble cast make this 1996 cult classic well worth seeing. After all, Samuel L. Jackson himself contends it’s one of his personal favorite movies that he ever starred in–an analysis one shouldn’t take lightly.
Family: The Iron Giant (1999)
Before he was recreating the superhero genre with Pixar’s The Incredibles, director Brad Bird got his start with the sensational 1999 family film, The Iron Giant. A glamorous animated movie with plenty of heart and soul, it’s as widely loved now as it had been upon its release over 25 years ago.
Landing in the woods of 1950s New England, a well-mannered giant robot of mysterious origins (Vin Diesel) befriends a young boy (Eli Marienthal) who helps hide him from paranoid government officials.
Paying plenty of nods to ‘50s-era sci-fi films and rampaging killer robot movies, The Iron Giant packs a wallop of a punch in terms of its pure emotion, focusing on a stirring pacifistic message and the importance of believing oneself.
Documentary: Hoop Dreams (1994)
One of the best documentaries of the past three decades, Hoop Dreams focuses on the miraculous transformative experience that comes with sporting activities–a hobby that could literally change someone’s life.
Growing up in the poverty-stricken neighborhoods of Chicago, two young basketball players attempt to hone their skills in the hopes of leaving their troubled hometown behind as professional athletes.
Often ranked among the finest documentaries ever put to the screen, Hoop Dreams illustrates the profound opportunities attached to youth basketball, with certain young athletes using their skills in the sport to get ahead in life (as seen here).
Western: Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
After creating the Spaghetti Western with his masterful Man with No Name trilogy, director Sergio Leone returned to the genre he helped make famous with his 1968 epic, Once Upon a Time in the West.
On the Western frontier, an enigmatic drifter (Charles Bronson), a mischievous outlaw (Jason Robards), and a former courtesan (Claudia Cardinale) compete for control over a valuable tract of land with a railroad tycoon (Gabriele Ferzetti) and a bloodthirsty gunslinger (Henry Fonda).
Quite possibly the best movie ever directed by Leone, Once Upon a Time in the West offers a stylish depiction of how the West was settled, requiring the joint efforts of scheming businessmen, bloodthirsty outlaws, and resourceful average people.
Underrated: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
Making his screenwriting debut with the 1999 cult comedy Being John Malkovich, Charlie Kaufman became one of the most unique voices in 2000s cinema, serving as the creative mind behind such films as Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and 2002’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.
As he achieves breakout success as a well-known game show host, Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell) pursues a career as a C.I.A. agent, carrying out covert assassinations for his shadowy handler (George Clooney).
Adapted from some fascinating–if wholly baseless–claims from game show personality Chuck Barris, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind proves that, more often than not, fact is often far stranger than fiction when it comes to the entertainment industry.
