The best movies on Peacock deliver a mix of both popular franchises and lesser-known films that deserve more appreciation. A relatively new addition to the world of streaming services, Peacock was primarily created as a way for NBCUniversal to make its series and films available without having to use a third party. Since its launch in 2020, there has been a consistent lineup of great movies on Peacock, with more added regularly. The best movies on Peacock now count among the most varied range of any available streaming platform, especially for those who prefer a greater slant toward theatrical blockbusters.
The best Peacock movies cover a wide range of genres, with some movies having hit theaters as recently as 2024. The library of content for Peacock subscribers is extensive, including original films and series alongside Universal’s most successful films and popular NBC shows available on Peacock the next day. From classic and prominent films to hidden gems, Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus subscribers can easily watch some of Hollywood’s greatest movies from the comfort of their homes.
Best Action & Drama Movies On Peacock
Moneyball (2011)
When it comes to the sports movies on Peacock, 2011’s Moneyball stands out as the best of the bunch. Directed by Bennett Miller, Moneyball is an adaptation of the 2003 book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis. What makes both the book and movie so intriguing is that they don’t focus on a player or specific team, but on the sports-changing approach made by coach Billy Beane and analyst Paul DePodesta (who is renamed to Peter Brand in the 2011 movie).
Moneyball is one of the rare sports movies that’s entertaining even to those who have no interest in the specific game covered (in this case, baseball). The semi-fictionalized biographic showcases how Beane and DePodesta’s unique approach flipped the world of baseball on its head, forever changing how coaches and managers tactically approached the game. It’s a truly intriguing narrative, and with a cast that includes the likes of Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, it’s easy to see why the Academy Award-nominated movie Moneyball has become beloved by scores of fans (whether they’re interested in baseball or not).
Downfall (2004)
There are plenty of slick and high-octane easy-watch films among the best drama and action movies on Peacock. 2004’s Downfall, however, isn’t one of them. The 2004 German war drama makes for some incredibly intense and emotionally heavy viewing, which is apt considering it’s perhaps one of the most important WW2 movies ever made. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegal, Downfall takes place during the fall of Berlin at the end of the Second World War.
Downfall focuses on the final weeks of the life of Adolf Hitler, and gives better insight into the insanity of one of history’s most brutal dictators, and his fanatical followers, than perhaps any other movie. The film’s portrayal of Hitler led many historians and critics alike to consider it a must-watch, as it does a fantastic job at showcasing the mindset that led an entire nation to willingly commit some of the worst atrocities in the history of humanity. While definitely not light viewing, few movies on Peacock can claim to be as poignant or as historically important.
Nobody (2021)
Former SNL cast member Bob Odenkirk’s career took an incredibly positive turn after portraying Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The actor, who was originally known for his comedy, then took his considerable talents in drama and thriller shows to the big screen by taking up the titular role in 2021’s Nobody, which is currently available to stream on Peacock. Odenkirk plays Hutch Mansell, AKA Nobody, a former government assassin who becomes unwillingly involved in an escalating series of incredibly violent events when the criminal underworld’s activities disrupt his deeply valued quiet family life.
Directed by Ilya Naishuller, the filmmaker behind Hardcore Henry, critics and audiences alike warmed to Nobody almost instantly. While the action thriller doesn’t rewrite the genre rulebook, it is an incredibly solid entry and one that ticks every single box incredibly well. Few movies on Peacock are as unrelentingly high-octane throughout, and subscribers seeking a new watch that feels spiritually adjacent to the likes of the John Wick franchise will feel right at home.
The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent (2022)
At this point in his career, Nicolas Cage has become something of a cult icon given the vast quantity of movies he’s appeared in, and 2022’s The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent celebrates this in perhaps the most hilarious and appropriate way possible. The action-comedy by director Tom Gormican stars Cage as a semi-fictionalized version of himself. After his career is in something of a slump, “Nick” Cage decides to retire. However, he is offered one last contract by his agent — meeting a billionaire superfan in Majorca named Javi (Pedro Pascal).
Nick reluctantly agrees to help the CIA, and soon finds himself embroiled in a sequence of events that feel straight out of a typical Nicolas Cage action movie
While Nick initially finds Javi annoying, he eventually manages to bond with him and agrees to help him create a movie. However, Nick soon learns after a meeting with two CIA agents that Javi is, in fact, an international arms dealer. What’s more, he’s wanted for kidnapping. Nick reluctantly agrees to help the CIA, and soon finds himself embroiled in a sequence of events that feel straight out of a typical Nicolas Cage action movie — which the completely self-aware The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent pays full homage to through a string of well-placed references and Easter eggs.
Monkey Man (2024)
British actor Dev Patel has come a long way from his roots in the UK teen drama Skins and his big Hollywood break in 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire. 2024 saw Patel return to the big screen for the first time since 2021’s The Green Knight – and not only does Patel star in the gritty action movie Monkey Man, but it also marks his directorial debut. One of the best new action movies on Peacock, Monkey Man has been received incredibly positively by critics, with Patel’s abilities as a director as well as the central star both being noted across multiple reviews.
Gritty and grounded despite having several surreal moments courtesy of a scene involving hallucinogenics, Monkey Man sees Patel starring as Kid, a former child from rural India who grows up to become a jobber in an underground fight club. Driven by revenge for the death of his mother, Kid fails to assassinate Rana, the man responsible, and soon finds himself a wanted criminal. The movie has many themes of social commentary too, including a stark critique of Hindu ultranationalism (something that has garnered no shortage of controversy in India, where Monkey Man was filmed).
Memento (2000)
Widely credited as one of the movies that helped launch Oppenheimer and The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan’s career, Memento is one of the most cerebral films currently on Peacock, one that all subscribers should watch at least once. 2000’s Memento is a mind-boggling movie with a non-linear narrative that focuses on Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man with severe amnesia, as he tries to work out who is behind the death of his wife Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss).
As the story unfolds and Leonard pieces together events, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems, and the Memento ending remains one of the most shocking twists ever seen on the big screen. Memento earned Christopher Nolan one of his earliest Academy Award nominations (for Best Original Screenplay, specifically). It’s a truly unique movie told in such a way that may be confusing at first, but once the plot reaches its conclusion then Peacock users will be more-or-less guaranteed to be satisfied they saw it through.
The Boondock Saints (1999)
Despite poor reviews upon release, underground hit The Boondock Saints became a defining 90s cult classic. The movie stars Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus as fraternal twins who turn to vigilantism in order to protect their predominantly Irish Boston neighborhood.
Boondock Saints was a box office failure when the studio only gave it a bare minimum theatrical release, but the movie found huge success on home video and remains popular over two decades later.
Best Comedy Movies On Peacock
The Fall Guy (2024)
It’s difficult to deny that Ryan Gosling is fast becoming one of the most in-demand actors working in Hollywood as far as audiences are concerned, thanks in no small part to his performances in movies such as Barbie, The Nice Guys, and La La Land. His latest movie, The Fall Guy, is currently available to stream on Peacock, and fans of both the A-list actor and action comedy movies in general are sure to get a kick out of Gosling’s turn as seasoned stuntman Colt Seavers.
Of course, Ryan Gosling isn’t the only reason many Peacock subscribers will find The Fall Guy is one of the best movies on the streaming service. Fellow cast members Emily Blunt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson also give hilariously solid performances, and the unique style of director David Leitch (also responsible for John Wick, Deadpool 2, and Bullet Train) makes every scene memorable. As funny as it is filled with gripping explosive moments, The Fall Guy is one of the most refreshing action-comedy movies of the decade so far, and not one Peacock users will want to miss.
Cocaine Bear (2023)
There are many great comedy movies on Peacock that blur genre boundaries, though few do so quite as memorably as the 2023 horror-comedy Cocaine Bear. Directed by and starring Elizabeth Banks, Cocaine Bear is a (loose) retelling of the true story of “Pablo Eskobear”. The title gives away everything Peacock subscribers need to know about the premise — Cocaine Bear is literally about a bear that ingests a lot of cocaine and then goes on a rampage.
It’s a movie that’s utterly hilarious throughout, and while it does have some tense moments and incredibly grizzly scenes, it definitely falls more into the comedy camp than it does horror. While it received middling reviews from critics, Cocaine Bear is a movie that’s guaranteed to appeal to anyone who finds the premise alone raises a chuckle. It does exactly what it sets out to do, delivering a solid few hours of a bear on cocaine slaughtering its way through various hapless visitors to its forest home.
The Trotsky (2010)
There are many movies that gain much more acclaim and renown years (and even decades) after their initial release thanks to streaming, and such is the case with 2010’s The Trotsky, which has enjoyed a renaissance of popularity as one of the best available comedy movies on Peacock. The Trotsky stars Jay Baruchel, best known for voicing Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon, as Leon Bronstein, a highschooler who believes himself to be the reincarnation of Soviet leader Leon Trotsky.
The Trotsky was a box office flop when it released, grossing far less than its production budget despite being received well by critics. However, the movie has found a fresh audience on Peacock, with many subscribers now citing it as one of the funniest currently available on the platform. This is partially unsurprising though, as the central themes of rebellion, dissatisfaction with the established order, and overbearing authority may resonate much more strongly with viewers in the 2020s.
Best Romance Movies On Peacock
50 First Dates (2004)
There is no shortage of great romcoms on Peacock, and while the streamer is host to many of the best romantic movies of the last decade, it also has its fair share of classics too. Among them is 2004’s 50 First Dates, which stars Adam Sandler alongside Drew Barrymore for an incredibly memorable story of chronic amnesia. It’s a romcom defined by its premise, as it focuses on Sandler’s Henry as he attempts to woo Lucy (Barrymore), a woman suffering from severe short-term memory loss.
This leads Henry to, as the title suggests, go on 50 “first dates” with Lucy, starting their potential relationship from scratch on every single one. 50 First Dates is also a romantic comedy with a surprising amount of heart, with a finale that doesn’t simply culminate in Henry and Lucy sailing off into the sunset together with her condition miraculously cured. Critics may not have warmed to it as well as viewers, but Peacock subscribers seeking an easy-watch romantic comedy with an intriguing premise will find it more than caters.
Knocked Up (2007)
Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow arguably dominated the comedy genre in the mid-late 2000s, and one of the standout romance movies from the pair is 2007’s Knocked Up, which sees Seth Rogen starring opposite Katherine Heigl. Knocked Up puts a few twists on the romantic comedy formula. For starters, Ben (Rogen) and Alison (Heigl) get physical right at the start of the film, as opposed to as part of the finale. It’s here that the story of Knocked Up truly begins, as Alison falls pregnant after their first and only encounter.
This is where the story of Knocked Up truly stands out, as the pair aren’t trying to kindle any kind of romantic connection throughout most of the movie. They’re simply trying to come to terms with the fact that they’re going to be parents, which leads to many relatable situations and obstacles that simply aren’t present in other films of the genre. While they do kindle a spark of amorous feeling by the end, this takes a back-seat to their journey through the pregnancy itself.
Meet Cute (2022)
A Peacock original rom-com, Meet Cute asks what would you do if you could create the perfect romantic partner? The movie follows Sheila (Kaley Cuoco), a woman who meets the shy Gary (Pete Davidson) at a bar. The two have a romantic date on the town, but there’s a twist: Sheila has been using time travel to “fix” Gary’s past wounds and traumas and mold him into her ideal man.
With the likes of Palm Springs and the forever-classic Groundhog Dog, time travel rom-coms are becoming a popular genre, and though Meet Cute will likely never achieve icon status, it poses some interesting questions about pain, healing, and ethics, and how they relate to love. Cuoco and Davidson are both charming actors, and their easy chemistry makes the movie feel like it passes by in no time at all.
Sliding Doors (1998)
A classic “what if?” story, Sliding Doors uses an unconventional narrative to explore the romantic possibilities determined by its lead character’s success or failure in boarding a train. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Helen, a PR officer fired from her job who faces two divergent paths in life. In one universe, she manages to catch a train home and finds new luck in love.
In another, she misses her train and continues to be beset by bad luck. However, it soon becomes clear that all is not as straightforward as it seems. Praised for its complex storytelling and chemistry between its two leads, Sliding Doors is a classic romantic comedy that hits all the right notes.
The Illusionist (2006)
Due to its subject, The Illusionist has drawn a lot of comparisons with Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, which was released the same year. However, while Nolan’s movie is a complex and intellectual puzzle box, The Illusionist has a much more romantic sensibility. Following Edward Norton’s Eisenheim and his ill-fated love affair with a woman deemed far above his social standing.
Both a gripping mystery and a heartfelt romance, The Illusionist was unfairly overlooked by many on release and remains one of the best romance movies on Peacock. Edward Norton and Jessica Biel give incredible performances, as does Paul Giamatti as Chief Inspector Uhl.
Best Family Movies On Peacock
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
The Kung Fu Panda franchise has been a hit for DreamWorks, and the most recent installment, 2024’s Kung Fu Panda 4, is currently available on Peacock for subscribers of all ages to enjoy. While not as much of a critical success as the preceding trilogy, and with several cast members missing (notably the Furious Five), Kung Fu Panda 4 is still an absolute delight for viewers who’ve been itching to return to the world of Po, the titular Kung Fu Panda.
Jack Black reprises his role as Po in Kung Fu Panda 4, and the Dragon Warrior has to face one of his most dangerous challenges yet — a villainous Chameleon who can take the form of Kung Fu masters past and present, including many of Po’s former foes like Tai Lung. Kung Fu Panda 4 also introduces various hilarious characters, like Zhen, the fox thief voiced by Awkwafina, as well as returning favorites like Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, James Hong as Po’s adoptive father Mr. Ping, and Bryan Cranston as Po’s biological father, the panda Li Shan.
Despicable Me (2010)
Illumination Entertainment is, in the 2020s, a well known source of family entertainment, standing proud alongside titans of the genre like Disney and DreamWorks. However, in 2010 this wasn’t the case, but then the studio unleashed a mega-franchise on the world with Despicable Me, the movie that introduced audiences to Steve Carell’s devious mastermind Gru and, perhaps more importantly, the zeitgeist-dominating Minions (which soon had movies of their own).
2010’s Despicable Me is currently on Peacock for subscribers of all ages to enjoy. The all-star cast not only includes Steve Carell, but also Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Julie Andrews, and Will Arnett. Few family movies are as genuinely laugh-out-loud funny as Despicable Me, and it’s guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of almost any viewer, regardless of their age.
Labyrinth (1986)
Jim Henson may be best known as the mastermind behind The Muppets, but he also directed one of the most highly regarded cult hits of the late 1980s — Labyrinth, which now stands as one of the best family movies on Peacock. Released in 1986 to surprisingly weak box office returns, Labyrinth is a musical fantasy starring Top Gun: Maverick’s Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, who must venture into a magical realm to rescue her baby brother Todd.
However, while the young Connelly had a career-launching performance in Labyrinth, the star is, of course, musician David Bowie as the goblin-king Jareth. Labyrinth is filled with all the puppeteering magic Jim Henson is known for, mixed with some incredibly inventive set-pieces and catchy musical numbers. It’s a movie that’s sure to delight young viewers, as well as older ones seeking a nostalgia kick.
Shrek 2 (2004)
When it comes to classic animated movies on Peacock, none surpass 2004’s Shrek 2, which is considered by many to be the best Shrek movie. The first movie in the franchise saw Shrek rescue Princess Fiona, the latter of whom turned into an Ogre when finally acknowledging Shrek as her one true love. They then rode off for their happily-ever-after — which, as quickly becomes apparent in Shrek 2, isn’t so “ever-after” after all. Shrek 2 is one of the few movie sequels that surpassed the original, and introduces several characters who are now franchise staples.
Shrek 2 sees the first appearance of Puss in Boots, played by Antonion Banderas, as well as John Cleese as King Harold, Jule Andrews as Queen Lillian, and Rupert Everett as the nefarious Prince Charming. However, the highlight of Shrek 2 is undoubtedly the villain of the movie, the Fairy Godmother. Voiced by UK comedian Jennifer Saunders, the Fairy Godmother is arguably the best villain in any Shrek movie, and her rendition of “Holding out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler is perhaps now more well known than the original song.
Best Horror Movies On Peacock
Old (2021)
Few directors’ names are as instantly recognizable as M. Night Shyamalan, though not always for the best reasons. While the filmmaker is behind some incredible movies like The Sixth Sense and Signs, he is also behind controversial films like After Earth and The Happening. His 2021 movie Old, however, definitely falls into the camp of solid Shyamalan films, and is more than worth a watch for Peacock subscribers seeking out a disturbing horror with many harrowing scenes — almost none of which involve any gore or violence.
Based on the graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Levy, Old takes place almost entirely on the same stretch of beach. It focuses on several beach-goers who find that, for reasons beyond their understanding, they cannot leave once they arrive. However, the true horror of Old comes when they figure out the other disturbing effects of the isolated patch of shoreline — every living thing present ages at a dramatically increased rate. The consequences of this, especially for two young children present, are the stuff of nightmares, and few horror movies of Peacock will leave as lasting an impact for viewers.
Knock At The Cabin (2023)
Old isn’t the only recent M. Night Shyamalan horror movie currently available on Peaock, as his 2023 hit Knock at the Cabin is also an option for subscribers seeking a cerebral horror with a memorable twist ending of the kind the director is renowned for. Knock at the Cabin may be an apocalyptic horror, but it’s incredibly grounded, focusing instead on a small group of characters in a single location rather than intense effects-heavy scenes that try and show as much of the end of the world as possible. This decision works in the movies’ favor, and many regard it as one of the best releases in 2023.
Knock at the Cabin is based on the 2018 Paul G. Tremblay novel The Cabin at the End of the World. It focuses on couple Eric and Andrew, who are vacationing in a rural cabin with their adoptive daughter, Wen. However, their trip takes a turn for the worst when four individuals arrive and take them hostage, informing them that they must make the worst choice imaginable in order to prevent the end of the world. The cast of Knock at the Cabin has been especially praised for their performances, especially Dave Bautista as Leonard.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Many horror fans enjoy Peacock as a streaming service because it hosts a wealth of classic horror. Among these timeless scary titles is 1999’s The Blair Witch Project, the movie widely credited as birthing the found-footage horror subgenre — and, to this day, remains one of the best examples of how to do it right. To say that The Blair Witch Project was a cultural phenomenon is an understatement, as it became a talking point when it was released thanks to some incredibly smart viral marketing that convinced many viewers it was 100% real.
Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez (who also both wrote the script), The Blair Witch Project isn’t massively complex in terms of its plot. It’s essentially about three young filmmakers who fall afoul of a sinister presence while trying to make a movie in the woods. Where Blair With shines isn’t in its premise, however, but the execution of it. It’s an intense watch, full of plenty of jump-scares that perfectly complement the intense dread that builds throughout. While there have been many found-footage imitators in the years since, none have yet to top the terrifying experience of viewing The Blair Witch Project for the first time.
Abigail (2024)
Peacock manages to host many of the most recent theatrical releases, which is one of the reason the streamer has such a dedicated subscriber base. One of the latest to arrive on the platform is the 2024 horror-comedy Abigail, which features both an incredibly intriguing premise and some truly laugh-out-loud performances from its central cast. Abigail focuses on a group of kidnappers who are hired to capture the daughter of a crime boss in exchange for a $50 million ransom. However, they quickly learn that the reason they were hired is incredibly different and much, much more sinister.
It turns out that Abigail is, in fact, a vampire, and the group were hired for her to hunt for sport. They must then try to survive in the locked-down mansion as the titular killer hunts them down one-by-one. There are some incredibly visceral and gruesome action sequences throughout Abigail, and cast members Alisha Weir, Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, and Giancarlo Esposito all deliver fantastic performances (as does the rest of the ensemble). Abigail currently sits at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes with an 85% audience score, showing that it goes above and beyond the standard usually seen in horror comedy movies.
The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
One of the most subversive horror movies on Peacock is currently 2012’s The Cabin In The Woods, directed by Drew Goddard based on a script co-written with Joss Whedon (the pair had previously worked together on Angel and Buffy The Vampire Slayer). The Cabin In The Woods has become something of a cult hit since it first released over a decade ago, thanks in no small part to its masterful parodying of many of the horror tropes that dominated the genre during the 2000s.
The Cabin In The Woods starts off with a simple premise that slasher movies have used for decades — a group of friends take a vacation in an isolated cabin in the woods. However, the movie then quickly descends into something else entirely, with a plot that manages to successfully make nods to dozens of established horror properties, and that impacts the very fate of the world.
They/Them (2022)
Peacock and Blumhouse Productions come together for They/Them (pronounced “they slash them“), an unforgettable slasher-horror. It follows a group of LGBTQ+ teens at a conversion camp who find themselves stalked by a masked killer. The slasher genre has a disturbing, problematic history of killing off sexually active and minority characters, so it’s refreshing to see a movie like They/Them side with the marginalized leads.
The story itself may be by-the-numbers, but They/Them makes a bold statement about who the real monsters are — and it’s not the killer in the mask.
The House Of The Devil (2009)
Ti West directed two of the most critically acclaimed horror movies of 2022 with X and its prequel Pearl. However, he had shown his immense talent 13 years earlier when he directed the cult-favorite horror movie The House of the Devil. The movie is a typical horror tale about a girl at a house in a remote location who finds herself hunted by a Satanic cult.
However, while this is a story that has been told before, West delivers it in a style that’s both a throwback to 80s horror classic while still maintaining contemporary relevance.
Train To Busan (2016)
While zombie movies had started to fall out of favor by 2016, the South Korean horror movie Train to Busan brought something new to the oversaturated genre, revitalizing interest in the walking dead. What helped this movie achieve success was the focus on a father and his daughter at the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse, and their fight for survival together, as well as the movie’s innovative setting of a speeding train.
The movie won several awards and received almost universal acclaim after its release. It also spawned a franchise, with an animated prequel, a standalone sequel, and an American remake in development.
Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
George Romero changed everything about the zombie genre with his 1968 movie Night of the Living Dead. Before this seminal hit, the zombie genre was mostly rooted in misunderstood Haitian voodoo rituals. However, Romero created a new lore of the dead rising from their graves and feeding on the living with this movie, at a stroke creating the modern zombie genre.
The movie was also groundbreaking for bringing a Black hero to the lead in a horror movie. Sadly for Romero, he failed in his copyrighting of the movie, immediately bringing it into the public domain following release.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
One of the most iconic and unsettling horror movies ever made, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a raw and terrifying peek behind the mask of madness. Filmed on a shoestring, the film takes typical slasher tropes like traveling teenagers, isolated houses, and a power tool-wielding villain to new extremes, pushing boundaries like few films before or since.
The heat of the overbearing Texas sun emanates through the screen, contributing to the film’s tense and suffocating atmosphere. Gunnar Hansen’s Leatherface is one of the scariest antagonists ever conceived, and the movie’s central story of a family of cannibals hunting innocent passersby remains truly terrifying nearly five decades after release.
Freaky (2020)
The 2020 body-swap movie Freaky is one of the best horrors available to stream on Peacock right now. Directed by Christopher Landon, the creative mind behind Happy Death Day, Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton star in Freaky as a serial killer and his would-be victim. However, just as Newton’s Millie is about to be killed by Vaughn’s deranged Blissfield Butcher, the two switch bodies.
What follows is a horror comedy that’s just as hilarious as it is gruesome, with Vaughn’s performance as a teenage girl trapped in the body of a middle-aged man being especially noteworthy.