Best Movies on Peacock Right Now (September 2023)

Run Time: 19 hr 38 min | Genre: Fantasy | Director: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, David Yates

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes

Yes indeed, one of the best and most successful film franchises around is available to stream in its entirety on Peacock. Whether it’s your first or hundredth time through the Harry Potter movies, they offer a whimsical, emotional magical adventure and also stand as some pretty incredible films in their own right. Thanks to the source material, this is a franchise that grows up with its characters, and the movies start to tackle more adult themes as they wear on. This is essential viewing for any adolescents out there. — Adam Chitwood

Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Genre: Comedy, Romance | Director: Wes Anderson

Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright

Auteur Wes Anderson (The French Dispatch) writes and directs another ensemble feature starring a number of his talented actor friends from his other projects, including Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, and Jeff Goldblum. Asteroid City is a comedy set in the 1950s that tells the story of a stargazer convention that gets a visit from extraterrestrials, causing the whole city to go under lockdown and all the visitors to be trapped in the tiny desert town. As to be expected of an Anderson film, the story is told metatextuality, presenting itself as a television presentation of a play about the events that led to the play itself — a format that gives the audience a view into the storytelling process while paying homage to the myriad of UFO and extraterrestrial lore that has built up in the US for decades.

Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Genre: Adventure, Comedy | Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc

Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the first feature film adaptation of the property since the early ‘90s, and the studio brought out every big name they could to fill out the voice cast for this momentous occasion. Featuring the talents of Chris Pratt (The Lego Movie) as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) as Princess Peach, Charlie Day (The Lego Movie) as Luigi, and the musically talented Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda) as Bowser (you’re sure to have “Peaches” stuck in your head for days), the film takes audiences through the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. Long-time fans of the games will be feasting on easter eggs from a myriad of Nintendo properties from the first frame to the last while taking in the visual aesthetic that perfectly captures the feeling of playing the games.

Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Genre: Drama, Thriller | Director: Vasilis Katsoupis

Cast: Willem Dafoe, Gene Bervoets, Eliza Stuyck

Director Vasilis Katsoupis makes his feature film debut with a masterfully barebones film that places all emphasis on enhancing the performance of the lead, played by Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse). Katsoupis couldn’t have chosen a better actor to shepherd the audience through a full-length film that is essentially a one-man play. Dafoe embodies the character of Nemo, a professional art thief that gets trapped in a penthouse when his job goes awry, which forces him to fight to survive for weeks with nothing but the art and interior design elements of the apartment. The story is an introspection into the impact of art while also being a grizzly depiction of madness and perseverance.

Run Time: 1 hr 47 min | Director: Bill Holderman

Cast: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen

Reuniting some incredibly talented and undeniably hilarious icons – Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda (80 for Brady), Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) – Book Club: The Next Chapter follows the squad of mature best friends on a journey to Italy. Like the original film, also directed by Bill Holderman, who once again co-wrote the screenplay with Erin Simms, Book Club: The Next Chapter explores the bonds of friendship, as well as the importance of life experiences. On this new adventure, the book club finds even more passion, along with hilarious hijinks, set against the gorgeous scenery of Europe. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 33 min | Director: Chris McKay

Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Brandon Scott Jones, Shohreh Aghdashloo

Renfield delightfully blends over-the-top campy humor with classic vampire lore in a modern tale of Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and his henchman, the titular Renfield (Nicholas Hoult). Directed by Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie), Renfield is a horror comedy based on a concept created by Robert Kirkman (Fear the Walking Dead). In addition to bursting with blood and gore, Hoult absolutely shines in Renfield, with a role that requires incredible physical action and quippy dialogue — especially when facing a legend like Cage or going head-to-head with Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) and Brandon Scott Jones (Ghosts). – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Director: Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén

Set in the glorious Shrek universe, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the long-awaited sequel to the 2011 Shrek 2 spin-off, Puss in Boots. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as the swashbuckling furball, lending his voice to a beautiful animated adventure. Also returning to her thieving feline ways is Kitty Softpaws, voiced once again by Salma Hayek. Co-directors Joel Crawford (The Croods: A New Age) and Januel Mercado cleverly navigate the story through an amusing screenplay written by Tom Wheeler (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) while uniquely utilizing a variety of animation styles to craft an unexpectedly rich viewing experience. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Director: A.V. Rockwell

Cast: Teyana Taylor, William Catlett, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, Josiah Cross

Written and directed by A.V. Rockwell, A Thousand and One earned film festival awards with a raw story of a mother and son unapologetically fighting for their family. Teyana Taylor (White Men Can’t Jump) captivates as Inez, a woman determined to maintain custody of her son by kidnapping him. A devastatingly authentic look at both the incarceration and foster care systems, A Thousand and One unravels Inez’s son’s upbringing, played by Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, and Josiah Cross, across his childhood and teenage years. It’s a touching and powerful tale. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 44 min | Director: Nida Manzoor

Cast: Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya, Nimra Bucha

Nida Manzoor brilliantly writes and directs the uproarious action comedy Polite Society. Polite Society stars Priya Kansara as Ria Khan, a teenage martial artist-in-training who is determined to save her older sister Lena, played by Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy), from the clutches of her impending nuptials. Wrapped in exquisite colorful costuming and dazzling stunts that evoke Scott Pilgrim-esque excitement, Polite Society embraces sisterly love with a charming story at its core. Also featuring Nimra Bucha (Ms. Marvel) in a playfully wicked role, Polite Society is wonderful entertainment for ambitious young women. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 55 min | Genre: Biographical Sports Drama | Director: Chris Robinson

Cast: Mookie Cook, Caleb McLaughlin, Algee Smith, Dermot Mulroney

Based on the book by Lebron James and Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars explores James’ (Mookie Cook) childhood throughout elementary and high school, focusing particularly on the relationships between him and his friends Sian (Khalil Everage), Willie (Avery Wills), and Dru (Caleb McLaughlin) and their love of basketball. The movie is unique in that its focus isn’t on James alone — his community and relationships are prioritized, elevating it beyond your average sports biopic. Shooting Stars threads in important commentary on race and class but always approaches its subjects with humor and heart. It’s a slam dunk in every way. – Taylor Gates

Run Time: 2 hr 4 min | Director: Autumn de Wilde

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth

We all love Clueless, but Autumn de Wilde’s 2020 adaptation of the beloved Jane Austen novel actually sticks to the Regency-era setting, and it’s not less accessible in the slightest. Anya Taylor-Joy has never been more charismatic, and her hilariously heartbreaking performance is worthy of Austen’s beloved text (and Alicia Silverstone, for that matter). The rising British star Johnny Flynn is perfectly cast alongside Taylor-Joy and even contributed the original song “Queen Bee” to the soundtrack. It’s a visually splendid achievement, particularly for a directorial debut, and earned Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup & Hairstyling. -Liam Gaughan

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Tina Gordon

Cast: Chloe Bailey, Anjelika Washington, Quavo, Drew ‘Druski’ Desbordes

Praise This easily comes across as the Pitch Perfect of church choir, but the film is so much more. Director Tina Gordon shines a light on Atlanta’s competitive gospel choirs in a cinematical musical event starring an abundance of Grammy Award-winning artists, as well as Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish) and Anjelika Washington (Stargirl). Praise This focuses not only on music and spirituality but also on the power of ambition, family, and gratitude. Co-written by Gordon, alongside Brandon Broussard and Hudson Obayuwana, Praise This is beautifully relatable to people of all faiths and talents. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Genre: Comedy Adventure | Director: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon

Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews

A sequel to the beloved first movie, Shrek 2 proves itself to be just as memorable (and meme-able) as its predecessor, endlessly funny and surprisingly heartwarming with its message of self-acceptance. Immediately following the events of Shrek, the newly married couple of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are invited to a royal ball by Fiona’s parents, the King and Queen of Far Far Away. What ensues is the hilarious and somewhat painful first meeting between Shrek and his new in-laws, as well as the sudden appearance of the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), who is dead-set on having her son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), be the one to marry Fiona instead. Fun, fanciful, and filled with an iconic soundtrack, Shrek 2 is one of those movies that is sure to leave you laughing. – Olivia Fitzpatrick

Run Time: 1 hr 30 min | Genre: Animated Comedy | Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow

The first-ever winner of the Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Shrek has become one of our generation’s most culturally influential animated films. Parodying fairytale stories, Shrek follows Shrek (Mike Myers), an ogre, who finds his swamp overrun by fairy tale creatures who have been banished by the corrupt Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow), who’s aspiring to be king. Shrek makes a deal with Farquaad to regain control of his swamp in return for rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), whom Farquaad intends to marry. With the help of Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek embarks on his quest but soon falls in love with the princess, who is hiding a secret that will change his life forever. While its sequel might have more iconic moments, the first installment in the Shrek series remains one of the most rewatchable films. With incredible voice acting and jokes that have you spitting your drink, this animated feature continues to withstand the test of time. – Arianne Binette

Run Time: 1 hr 58 min | Genre: Action Horror | Director: Sang-ho Yeung

Cast: Gong Yoo, Yu-mi Jung, Ma Dong-seok, Su-an Kim

Train to Busan makes a country-wide zombie outbreak even more terrifying by focusing on how the outbreak would spread in an enclosed space. In this case, a train on its way to the South Korean city of Busan. The passengers on the train almost avoid exposure as chaos erupts at the station, but an infected person jumps onto the train right before it leaves Seoul. The outbreak is spreading through the train station, the city, and the rest of the country at a rapid pace – forcing the train to become a refuge just as it becomes a danger. Between the fast-moving, ravenous zombies and the tight spaces these characters find themselves in, Train to Busan keeps the tension and stakes high throughout. It’s a truly unique zombie movie that is well worth your time. — Brynna Arens

Run Time: 1 hr 36 min | Genre: Drama | Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Cast: Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Rami Malek, LaKeith Stanfield

Brie Larson’s performance in Short Term 12 was more than enough reason to see this indie in 2013, before she was a literal superhero and Oscar-winning actress. Made years before Room or Captain Marvel, the film follows a supervisor at a group home for troubled kids, but she’s dealing with her own baggage as well, which comes to the surface when a new arrival (played by Kaitlyn Dever in a tremendous supporting role) comes to stay. A film that could have easily descended into mawkishness instead comes off as bracingly honest thanks to the excellent cast (who are all now super famous) and writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton’s perfect sense of humor and pathos in a film that will make you a Brie Larson fan for life. – Matt Goldberg