As the cold days and nights draw in, it’s never a better time to curl up with a hot beverage and a good movie. And with new flicks being added to streaming the whole time, there’s a wealth of choice available.
From a “masterpiece” dystopian thriller starring Michael Caine to a multiple Oscar-winning feel-good film with Dev Patel, a whole range of genres are covered across Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video and more.
We’ve rounded up five of the best, plus a few more you should keep a tab on.
Universal
Best movie new to Netflix this week
Halloween (2018): Jamie Lee Curtis returns as her iconic character Laurie Strode in this reboot of the classic slasher franchise.
The 2018 film follows directly on from the 1978 original, ignoring the numerous sequels over the years, as we follow Laurie, now suffering from PTSD. When killer Michael Myers escapes from a bus transfer, the pair must face off once again decades after their first encounter.
The movie from David Gordon Green was well-received by critics, earning a 79% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, and was called “an absolute treat” by Radio Times.
Also new to Netflix this week: Ouija: Origin of Evil, Greenfingers, The Meg
20th Century Studios
Best movie new to Prime Video this week
Slumdog Millionaire: Released back in 2008, Danny Boyle’s timespanning epic was a huge hit, winning eight Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, as well as earning a near-perfect 92% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, the story is based on Vikas Swarup book Q & A and focuses on Jamal Malik, who is accused of cheating on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? after answering each question correctly, before revealing how his life story has given him the answers.
Also new to Prime Video this week: The Notebook, Gosford Park, Scarface, Catch Me If You Can, Slither, Unsane, Censor, Seven
Moviestore/Shutterstock
Best movie new to BBC iPlayer this week
Children of Men: Director Alfonso Cuarón’s film is set in 2027, the then-distant future of 2006, where human civilisation is on the brink of collapse due to human infertility, and a civil servant must protect the planet’s last hope for a future.
Described as a “dystopian masterpiece of misery” by the Seattle Times, Children of Men is now widely regarded as a modern classic.
Michael Caine is among the star-studded cast, which also features Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Charlie Hunnam.
Also new to BBC iPlayer this week: Priscilla, The Silence of the Lambs, Selma, Yesterday, The Dead Don’t Die, Retreat
David Lee/20th Century Fox/Fox Searchlight/Kobal/Shutterstock
Best movie new to ITVX this week
Little Miss Sunshine: If it’s lighter fare you’re looking for, then you can’t go wrong with this indie gem starring Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear and an Oscar-winning Alan Arkin as a drug-taking grandpa.
The movie focuses on a dysfunctional family’s road trip to get their youngest member to a child beauty pageant. However, the cracks quickly show, with the movie exploring themes such as mental health and self-acceptance among its varied members.
Herald Sun suggested it might be the “most unlikely (and effective) feelgood movie you might ever see”.
Also new to ITVX this week: Tomorrow Never Dies, The Addams Family (1991), Rocky Balboa, The Gentlemen (2019)
Film4
Best movie new to Channel 4 this week
Shaun of the Dead: Channel 4 has added two of the best entries of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s Cornetto Trilogy, and where better to start where it all began.
Shaun of the Dead focuses on the titular down-on-his-luck character who has just been dumped by his girlfriend when a zombie apocalypse strikes. Together with his ex alongside friends and family, they battle through the streets of London to get to the last safe place to wait it out and let everything blow over – local pub The Winchester.
Alongside Pegg and Frost, the comedy features Dylan Moran, Lucy Davis, Kate Ashfield, Penelope Wilton and Bill Nighy.
Also new to Channel 4 this week: Saint Maud, Our Kind of Traitor, 127 Hours, Hot Fuzz
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.