From animated romps to pulse-pounding thrillers, there’s something on the streamer for everyone.

The 15 best movies on full display on Peacock

From animated romps to pulse-pounding thrillers, there's something on the streamer for everyone.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and James Mercadante

on January 12, 2026 11:09 a.m. ET

An undead man in 'Night of the Living Dead'; Daniel Kaluuya as Otis 'OJ' Haywood Jr. in 'Nope'; Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár in 'Tár'. Credit:

Pictorial Parade/Getty; Universal Pictures; Focus Features

In case its branding mascot and rainbow palette weren't a dead giveaway, Peacock is the streaming service owned and operated by NBCUniversal, which means it has access to a trove of titles that draw from Universal Studios' deep well of content.

But what does that mean for you? Well, alongside its TV series and live sports offerings, Peacock features classic movies such as *Night of the Living Dead *(1968) and *Black Christmas* (1974) alongside contemporary favorites like *Nope* (2022) and *Tár* (2022). As with any streamer, its wealth of options can feel overwhelming, so allow EW to point you in the right direction.

Here are the 15 best movies on Peacock.

Black Christmas (1974)

Olivia Hussey as Jess Bradford in 'Black Christmas'. Everett Collection

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

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025)

Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Leo Woodall as Roxster McDuff in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'.

Jay Maidment/Universal

Bridget Jones is back for one last hurrah, with this decidedly more poignant, Emmy-nominated final installment in the franchise. Renée Zellweger reprises her role as the titular plucky TV producer, who is now the mother of two children and mourning the unexpected death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Finally ready to start dating again, she enters into a romance with a younger man (Leo Woodall) while also finding herself drawn to one of her son's teachers (Chiwetel Ejiofor). *Mad About the Boy* is much more mature compared to its predecessors, though it retains much of the series' cheeky humor, and Zellweger's performance remains a highlight. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy*: Peacock

**Director:** Michael Morris

**Cast:** Renée Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant

Emma. (2020)

Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma Woodhouse in 'Emma.'. Focus Features

Jane Austen's Regency era social commentaries continue to find new life centuries later through movie and television adaptations. While some filmmakers remain as faithful as possible to her text, others adopt a more modern approach, utilizing the conventions of contemporary trends. Autumn de Wilde falls into the latter camp, giving her version of the tale of clever matchmaker Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor-Joy) a self-aware irony. EW's critic praises de Wilde's "sweet alchemy of bringing together something old and something new — as serenely breezy to the end as her beloved heroine." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Emma.*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Autumn de Wilde

**Cast:** Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O'Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth

The Fall Guy (2024)

Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers in 'The Fall Guy'.

Eric Laciste/Universal Pictures

If there was any film to single-handedly advocate for a stunts category to be added to the Oscars, it's this well-choreographed action comedy. (Heck, they even mention that egregious Academy oversight in the film! Good news: The Oscars will include stunts starting in 2028.) Ryan Gosling stars as Colt, a stunt performer who suffers an injury at work, leading to him breaking up with his girlfriend, Jody (Emily Blunt). A year and a half later, Jody is directing her first film, and the producer (Hannah Waddingham) hires Colt to work on it, only to task him with tracking down the missing lead actor (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Packed with stunt-heavy set pieces and powered by Gosling's winning charm, *The Fall Guy* "offers a potent blend of action and romance, as refreshing as one of its touted 'spicy margaritas,'" writes EW's critic. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Fall Guy*: Peacock

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** David Leitch

**Cast:** Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (voice: Jay Baruchel) riding Toothless in 'How to Train Your Dragon'.

DreamWorks Animation

This beloved DreamWorks film brilliantly combines eye-popping animation, a soaring score, and lovable characters that make many kid viewers long for a pet dragon of their own. The film centers on a Viking teen named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) who defies his clan's dragon-hunting ways by befriending one, the adorable Toothless. *How to Train Your Dragon*'s success at the box office and with fans launched a franchise with a sequel, threequel, three animated series, and a handful of shorts. Its 2025 live-action remake — featuring Gerard Butler reprising his role as Hiccup’s dad, Stoick — is also available to stream on Peacock, as are the animated second and third feature-length installments. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *How to Train Your Dragon*: Peacock

**EW grade:** A–

**Directors:** Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois

**Cast:** Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill

M3GAN (2022)

Amie Donald as M3GAN in 'M3GAN'. Universal Pictures

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. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *M3GAN*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Gerard Johnstone

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

Memento (2001)

Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby in 'Memento'.

Everett Collection

*Memento* was Christopher Nolan's first mainstream foray into noodling with notions of time. Guy Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, a man who suffers from amnesia following the murder of his wife. Seeking justice, Leonard tries to make sense of his life while his failing short-term memory prompts him to tattoo important information on his body and take photographs with a Polaroid camera.**** The film cleverly uses both chronological and non-linear editing interchangeably, putting the viewer in the protagonist's mind as we try to put together an elaborate puzzle. "*Memento* has a spooky repetitive urgency that takes on the clarity of a dream," writes EW's critic. "It’s like an Oliver Sacks case study played as malevolent film noir." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Memento*: Peacock

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Christopher Nolan

**Cast:** Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano

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Misery (1990)

Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 'Misery'.

Columbia Pictures/Everett

For a variety of reasons, some horror movies just don't age particularly well. But this adaptation of Stephen King's novel has somehow gotten more relevant in this era of stan culture and parasocial relationships with the artists they love.

The film centers on popular novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who crashes his car in a blizzard and is taken in by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), a local nurse who happens to be his "number-one fan." After Annie comes to find out that Paul is putting an end to his beloved *Misery* novels, she lashes out, forcing him to write a new one while under her care, and Paul soon discovers just how dangerous Annie really is — by way of a sledgehammer. Bates' go-for-broke performance proved so effective that the typically horror-phobic Academy even awarded her an Oscar for it. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Misery*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Rob Reiner

**Cast:** James Caan, Kathy Bates

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)

Lesley Manville as Ada Harris in 'Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris'. Liam Daniel/Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection

Comedies aimed at older audiences can sometimes feel cheap and condescending these days. Not so with this unabashedly sweet dramedy about a London cleaner named Ada Harris (Lesley Manville). A widow, she receives a pension that gives her the means to travel to Paris in the hope of purchasing a Dior dress, though she struggles to fit in with the snobbish world of haute couture upon her arrival. Manville gives a lovely, multifaceted performance (which earned her a Golden Globe nomination) as a woman pursuing her desires, even with the odds stacked against her. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris*: Peacock

**Director:** Anthony Fabian

**Cast:** Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Karl Hardman as Harry Cooper, Marilyn Eastman as Helen Cooper, and Kyra Schon as Karen Cooper in 'Night of the Living Dead'.

Film Publicity Archive/United Archives via Getty

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. *—James Mercadante*

Where to watch *Night of the Living Dead*: Peacock

**Director:** George Romero

**Cast:** Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Judith Ridley

Nope (2022)

Daniel Kaluuya as Otis 'OJ' Haywood Jr. in 'Nope'. Universal

Jordan Peele's brand of sharp, socially minded horror is filtered through a sci-fi lens in his gripping third feature. *Nope* follows the Haywood siblings — O.J. (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) — who own a ranch in Hollywood that is one day visited by a mysterious entity from the sky. A series of twists and turns unfold from there, but suffice it to say, Peele's mind for both spectacle and substance is on full display. As EW's critic observes, "it's clear he's absorbed a lifetime of *Close Encounters* lore, and much darker visitations too." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Nope*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Jordan Peele

**Cast:** Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun

Point Break (1991)

Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah and Patrick Swayze as Bodhi in 'Point Break'. Everett Collection

*Point Break* is an early-'90s film through and through, a cops and robbers crime drama with some of the hottest actors of the era that's also a lot about surfing. Keanu Reeves stars as the brilliantly named Johnny Utah, a detective tasked with going undercover to bust a group of surf-loving bank robbers. But, as Johnny immerses himself in that particular subculture, he finds himself curiously drawn to it, particularly because of the group's charismatic leader, Bodhi (Patrick Swayze).**** Critics were mixed at the time (EW's own gave it a C+), but, as time has passed, we've come to appreciate its earnest sensibilities and director Kathryn Bigelow's thoughtful examination of male friendships, while still delivering as traditional popcorn entertainment. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Point Break*: Peacock

**Director:** Kathryn Bigelow

**Cast:** Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty

The Shining (1980)

Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in 'The Shining'. Warner Brothers/Getty

Regardless of Stephen King's personal feelings on this adaptation of his 1977 novel, it's still one of the most terrifying, memorable horror movies ever made. Jack Nicholson is Jack Torrance, a writer who suffers a mental breakdown while working as a temporary caretaker for the swanky Overlook Hotel. Meanwhile, his young son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), experiences violent premonitions, brought about by ghosts that haunt the establishment. Packed with traumatizing sequences aplenty and highly debated symbology, *The Shining* is arguably Stanley Kubrick's most fascinating movie to dissect, which is saying something in a filmography that also includes *2001: A Space Odyssey* (1968), *A Clockwork Orange* (1971), and *Eyes Wide Shut* (1999). —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Shining*: Peacock

**Director:** Stanley Kubrick

**Cast:** Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers

Shrek (2001)

Princess Fiona (voice: Cameron Diaz) and Shrek (voice: Mike Myers) in 'Shrek'.

DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett

Once upon a time, in a swamp far, far away, Mike Myers graced us by voicing DreamWorks' misanthropic ogre. He was living the dream, basking in the solitude of his boggy sanctuary, until a horde of storybook creatures — a talking donkey, three little pigs, seven dwarves, and more — decide to crash the party after being ousted from the kingdom by Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). To reclaim his peace and quiet, Shrek must rescue a certain red-haired princess, all for the sake of Farquaad's romantic fantasies. A fairy tale that brims with unexpected friendships, laugh-out-loud moments, and enough layers to rival an onion, *Shrek* is an animated delight you just can't ogre-look. —*J.M.***** Where to watch *Shrek*: Peacock******EW grade:** A–******Directors:** Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson******Cast:** Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow**

Tár (2022)

Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár in 'Tár'. Focus Features

*Tár* is a psychological drama so well written that 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 skillfully explores complex themes, from power dynamics to cancel culture and the generational divide, without ever feeling 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

**Director:** Todd Field

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

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Source: “EW Movie”