The Greatest Films 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 Past Lives and The Last Voyage of the Demeter to classics like Clerks and Witness.
Here are some of the best movies you can find playing on Paramount+ right now.
Updated: February 21.
Romance: Past Lives (2023)
One of the most lauded films of 2023, Past Lives has earned numerous accolades over the past year, including Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Film. A harrowing study of love and life, the film revolves around how time affects us all with each passing year.
Having developed a close attachment to one another while they were both children, two childhood friends (Greta Lee and Teo Yoo) ponder the nature of their relationship over the next 24 years.
With its minimalist storyline but relatable subject matter, Past Lives shows how our lives change gradually over time, the individuals we choose to spend our lives with coming and going depending on our personal situations and changing circumstances.
Horror: The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
Currently ranking as one of the most popular movies on Paramount+ this week, The Last Voyage of the Demeter offers a fresh take on an age-old story. Reorienting Bram Stoker’s Dracula from an entirely new perspective, the film provides a biting adaptation of Stoker’s classic vampire story.
In the late 1890s, the crew of the merchant ship Demeter begin to suspect something nefarious is lurking onboard their vessel. As they sail from Bulgaria to London, the paranoid crew begin to slowly fall victim to a blood-thirsty vampire known as Dracula (Javier Botet).
Adapting the infamous “Captain’s Log” chapter of Dracula into a full-fledged film, The Last Voyage of the Demeter’s limited setting and claustrophobic atmosphere yields some positive results, terrifying audiences with its creative interpretation of the winged Transylvanian count.
Comedy: Clerks (1994)
Along with Reservoir Dogs, Easy Rider, and the early films of Jim Jarmusch, it’s hard to think of an indie movie more influential than 1994’s Clerks. The debut effort of director Kevin Smith, Smith forever proved that aspiring filmmakers don’t need a massive budget to create an entertaining movie.
While dealing with ongoing problems in his romantic life, an anxiety-riddled retail cashier in New Jersey (Brian O’Hallorann) experiences an average day of work at the convenience store he’s employed at.
Working with a miniscule budget at his disposal and primarily relying on friends and family members for his cast, Smith’s hard work and dedication to Clerks ultimately paid off, ushering in a comedy that set the standard for indie movies well into the next decade.
Sci-Fi: Super 8 (2011)
Before audiences fell in love with Netflix’s Stranger Things, the closest thing viewers had to an endearing love letter to ‘80s pop culture was J.J. Abrams’ breathtaking 2011 film, Super 8. A sci-fi horror homage to John Carpenter and Steven Spielberg, it’s also quite possibly the best movie has Abrams made yet.
In the late 1970s, a group of pre-teen best friends shooting their amateur film happen to see a disastrous train derailment that sends a massive alien creature rampaging through their town.
With meticulous homages to E.T., The Goonies, and Stand by Me, Super 8 feels like a long lost Stephen King novel or vintage Spielberg film. With its impressive CGI, period setting, and harrowing central narrative, the finished film never fails to leave audience members on the edge of their seat.
Thriller: Witness (1985)
While Harrison Ford will always remain tied to his iconic roles in Star Wars and the Indiana Jones franchise, it’s also important to note the number of other movies Ford has starred in over the years, such as 1985’s extraordinary drama, Witness.
Having witnessed the murder of an undercover police officer during a visit to Philadelphia, a young Amish boy (Lukas Haas) and his mother (Kelly McGillis) have a police detective (Ford) assigned to protect them.
A far cry from the light-hearted, adventurous atmosphere of Ford’s earlier work, Witness instead provides a grounded and realistic neo-noir thriller, made all the more palpable by Ford’s even-handed performance here.
Action: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
After wrapping up its theatrical release a few short weeks ago, the latest installment in the hit Mission: Impossible series (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One) has officially arrived to Paramount+.
Facing off against their most dangerous adversary yet, I.M.F. agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team attempt to prevent an artificial intelligence weapons system from falling into the wrong hands.
In contrast to most big-budget franchise films, Mission: Impossible seems to be only growing better with time, releasing increasingly sensational espionage thrillers that make use of strong acting, ensemble casts, and breathtaking action sequences.
Classic: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
In desperate need of money, a struggling screenwriter (William Holden) reluctantly accepts a job with a faded silent film star who harbors delusional hopes of making her grand comeback (Gloria Swanson).
The ‘40s and ‘50s remains best known for its countless noir movies, from classic detective stories like The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon to more cerebral crime thrillers like Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard.
In the case of the latter, director Billy Wilder presents a stunning look at the ghosts of Silent Hollywood, incorporating numerous stars from the film industry’s bygone days in a self-referential critique of fame, fortune, and the entertainment medium in general.
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.
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.
Classic Comedy: Trading Places (1983)
In the first half of the 1980s, few comedians were as in-demand as Eddie Murphy. Making himself a household name based on his prominent appearance in Saturday Night Live, Murphy soon found a successful career for himself in mainstream film, as seen with 1983’s Trading Places.
As part of a friendly wager between two millionaire brothers (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche), a street-smart hustler (Murphy) and a mild-mannered businessman (Dan Akyroyd) trade places, occupying one another’s former lifestyles and professional occupations.
Along with 48 Hrs., Trading Places proved Murphy’s inherent acting abilities, as well as his clear proficiency in starring alongside notable industry talents (in this case, Dan Akyroyd). A hilarious buddy crime film, it’s among the best movies in Murphy’s filmography to date.
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).
Historical: The Help (2011)
One of the most successful books of the late 2000s, Kathryn Stockett’s powerful novel, The Help, eventually found its way onto film, providing the basis for the 2011 historical drama of the same name.
In the early 1960s, an aspiring young writer (Emma Stone) attempts to better understand the daily plight of two Black maids (Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer) employed at her friend’s (Bryce Dallas Howard) household.
An evocative study of racism and classism in the 1960s Southern U.S., The Help accurately depicts the unfair treatment of African Americans during the height of the Jim Crow Era–a period characterized by its systemic prejudice and societal cruelty.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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 eller Kung Fu Panda are bound to find something to enjoy with Nacho Libre.
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.
Teen: Risky Business (1983)
To this day, it’s impossible to hear Bob Seger’s classic “Old Time Rock and Time” without imagining Tom Cruise dancing around in his underwear. A masterful teen drama with both a heart and a soul, Risky Business remains one of the most iconic movies of the 1980s.
With his parents away on vacation, a rowdy high school senior (Cruise) uses his newfound sense of freedom to hire an alluring call girl (Rebecca De Mornay).
Among the earliest films to solidify Cruise’s place as a leading man in Hollywood, Risky Business also offered a sharp rebuke to the traditional values associated with John Hughes’ films of the same era.
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.
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.
Crime: Collateral (2004)
Like most universally recognizable actors, it’s not very often that Tom Cruise figures into a movie’s plot as an antagonistic character. Yet in 2004’s Collateral, the Mission: Impossible star is able to appear convincingly terrifying as a cold-blooded hitman searching for his next victim.
In desperate need of some financial help, a Los Angeles cab driver (Jamie Foxx) reluctantly accepts a job ferrying a mysterious client (Cruise) around the city, slowly coming to learn the passenger’s true occupation as an unscrupulous contract killer.
Maintaining some inspired chemistry with Jamie Foxx (who excels as a hapless everyman thrust into an extraordinary situation), Cruise’s icy-cool killer-for-hire makes Collateral a fast-paced crime thriller audiences won’t ever grow tired of.
Drama: The Butler (2013)
Accepting a position at the White House as a butler in 1957, Cecil Gaines (Forest Whittaker) spends the next 34 years working closely with the U.S. President, working opposite everyone from Dwight Eisenhower (Robin Williams) to Ronald Reagan (Alan Rickman).
Everyone knows the old saying: “It takes a village to raise a child.” Along those same lines, it takes a vast assortment of individuals to oversee a nation, from domestic dignitaries and sitting presidents to Secret Service agents and humble butlers.
Cecil Gaines was one such individual. A dedicated presence in the White House for over 30 years, Gaines worked through several presidential administrations during his tenure, witnessing the rise of American heroes like Dwight Eisenhower and J.F.K. to controversial figures like Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.
War: We Were Soldiers (2002)
In late 1965, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army (Mel Gibson) prepares his troops for the Battle of Ia Drang–the first formal engagement between Vietnamese and American troops in the Vietnam War.
To this day, the Vietnam War continues to fascinate modern audiences, thrilling viewers with its depiction of morally ambiguous characters and horrific scenes of warfare between the U.S. and North Vietnamese armies.
While not as well-known a film as Apocalypse Now eller Platoon, We Were Soldiers nevertheless underscores the chilling reality of the Vietnam War from multiple soldiers’ perspective, dramatizing the first in what turned out to be an unending series of pyrrhic victories for the U.S.
Western: Urban Cowboy (1980)
Moving away from his childhood home in Texas for an oil refinery position in Pasadena, a young man (John Travolta) slowly begins to fall in love with a fiercely independent young woman (Debra Winger) at his local bar.
With 1977’s Saturday Night Fever, sitcom actor John Travolta managed to break away from his humble beginnings on Welcome Back, Kotter, enjoying renewed popularity as a legitimate leading man.
In the years that followed Saturday Night Fever’s release, Travolta became an instant sensation in the mainstream film industry, leading to his appearances in Grease, Blow Out, and the 1980 neo-Western, Urban Cowboy (one of Travolta’s best and most underrated films).
Underrated: Swingers (1996)
Decades before he was constructing the groundwork for the MCU or redefining the Star Wars universe, Jon Favreau was hard at work trying to eke out a name for himself as a comedy actor, appearing in such projects as Seinfeld, Friends, and 1996’s Swingers.
Heartbroken over the end of his relationship to his longtime girlfriend, a struggling comedian in Los Angeles (Favreau) has his best friends (Vince Vaughn and Ron Livingstone) try to cheer him up any way they can.
With both Favreau and Vaughn making their breakthrough here, Swingers can be seen as an all-too-often overlooked comedy gem from the mid ‘90s, helping each man ride towards career stardom in the years ahead.
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