Summary

• The best movies on Peacock cover a variety of genres, from action-packed dramas to heartfelt comedies.
• Peacock offers acclaimed classics like The Night of the Living Dead and modern hits like Nope for any horror fan.
• From Harry Potter to Madagascar, Peacock provides a vast selection of family-friendly films.

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 2023. 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.

For more movie streaming recommendations, be sure to check out the best movies on Paramount+ and the best movies on Netflix.

Best Drama Movies On Peacock

Oppenheimer (2023)

February 16th is a date all Peacock subscribers should mark in their calendar, as Christopher Nolan's 2023 epic Oppenheimer arrives on the platform. With an all-star cast led by Robert Downey Jr. and Cilian Murphy in the lead role, Oppenheimer is the epic biopic detailing the titular scientist's creation of the atomic bomb. The movie has already won multiple accolades, including 5 Golden Globes, one of which went to Christopher Nolan for Best Director, with Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. winning best actor and best supporting actor respectively.

With plenty of dramatic moments, some surprisingly steamy scenes, and a cast that performs impeccably throughout, it's doubtless that Oppenheimer will instantly be a key reason many new subscribers will consider Peacock.

Watch on Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Based on David Mamet's 1984 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name and boasts one of the most stacked casts ever assembled. Glengarry Glen Ross proves that a movie doesn't need a huge budget and massive explosions in order to be dramatic, and is instead built around breakneck dialogue and powerhouse performances.

The movie follows the fortunes of a team of real estate salesmen put under immense pressure after they are informed that they have one week to outsell their coworkers, or else they will be fired. What follows is a cutthroat corporate fight to the death, replete with gloriously inventive profanity and more backstabbing than the average Game of Thrones episode, all resulting in one of the '90s best movies.

Watch On Peacock

Face/Off (1997)

John Woo is a legend among action movie directors, and the 1990s were a peak era for the genre, so when the two come together in 1997's Face/Off — which also stars John Travolta as Sean Archer/Castor Troy alongside Nicolas Cage as Sean Archer/Castor Troy — Peacock subscribers seeking an easy high-octane watch know they're going to be satisfied. Face/Off's premise is already bombastic, and it's as much a body-swap movie as it is a crime thriller. When the movie starts, Travolta plays FBI agent Archer, who successfully apprehends Cage's maniac crime lord, Castor Troy.

However, when it emerges that Troy has planted a bomb that only he and his incarcerated brother know the location of, Archer undergoes a surgical procedure and does the unthinkable — he has his and Troy's faces swapped (leading to Cage then playing Archer in Troy's body). However, things take a turn for the worse when Troy awakens, faceless, and decides to adopt Archer's identity and life. Face/Off is peak 1990s action cinema and, for those who enjoy the genre and era, more than delivers.

Watch on Peacock

Scarface (1983)

When it comes to crime dramas, director Brian De Palma's 1983 movie Scarface is only beaten in notoriety by The Godfather, and even then it's a close race. Starring Al Pacino as Cuban refugee Tony Montana, Scarface details the rise and fall of the titular gangster and his vast narcotics empire. Not only is Scarface one of the most well-known gangster movies, but it's also one of the most quotable, with lines like "say hello to my little friend" enshrined in cinema history thanks both to De Palma's skillful directing and Al Pacino's frenetic delivery.

Surprisingly, despite the movie's impressive legacy, Scarface didn't perform incredibly well during the awards season when it was released, with its highest accolades being three Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Original Score. Despite this though, Scarface is now widely considered a classic, and its lack of contemporary appreciation has been more than overcome by its found-status as a staple of the gangster movie subgenre in the decades since its 1983 release.

Watch on Peacock

Best Comedy Movies On Peacock

Paul (2011)

The duo of Nick Frost and Simon Pegg rose to prominence thanks to Edgar Wright's Cornetto trilogy of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End. However, these three movies were far from the only time the pair collaborated, and in 2011 they brought Seth Rogen (literally) along for the ride in the surreal Sci-Fi comedy Paul. Pegg and Frost star as Graeme and Clive, two British extraterrestrial enthusiasts who travel to the U.S. to attend Comic-Con. Along the way, the pair visit some UFO hotspots — and end up picking up an actual Alien, the titular Paul, played by Seth Rogen.

With great CGI effects used to bring Paul to life and many hilarious nods to classic sci-fi franchises, Paul is almost guaranteed to delight Peacock subscribers seeking a fun, easy watch.

While Paul wasn't a smash success during awards season, it did manage to win Best Comedy at the 2011 National Movie Awards. What's more, Pegg, Frost, and Rogen are supported by the likes of Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver. With great CGI effects used to bring Paul to life and many hilarious nods to classic sci-fi franchises, Paul is almost guaranteed to delight Peacock subscribers seeking a fun, easy watch.

Bruce Almighty (2003)

2003's Bruce Almighty may not be the most highly regarded of Jim Carrey's movies, but this doesn't mean it's not absolutely hilarious, and is buoyed in no small part by the presence of Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, and — of course — Morgan Freeman as God. The premise of the movie is relatively simple but instantly creates intrigue: what would happen if a regular man was given the power (and responsibilities) of God himself. Jim Carrey's Bruce is that man, and finds after a conversation with the Creator that he has the chance to be God for a whole week.

What follows is utter hilarity, with Bruce first enjoying his newfound omnipotence, but then quickly realizing being responsible for the whole of creation isn't all it's cracked up to be. As expected, Bruce learns several important life-lessons along the way, most notably, to enjoy the simple things and be happy about his position in life even if he's not on top.

Watch on Peacock

Bridesmaids (2011)

When it comes to ensemble female-led comedies, few can top 2011's Bridesmaids. Directed by Paul Faig and written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig (who also stars), Bridesmaids follows a group of women in their 30s who must support their mutual friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) in the run up to her wedding. As can be expected from a raunchy comedy, everything that possibly could go wrong does, including a case of food poisoning while trying on wedding dresses that leads the bride-to-be to have an accident in the middle of the street (among other hilarious moments).

The cast of Bridesmaids is stacked with recognizable names

The cast of Bridesmaids is stacked with recognizable names alongside Wiig and Rudolph, who're supported by Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Rebel Wilson, and Ellie Kemper to name a few, with appearances from the likes of Terry Crews and Jon Hamm to boot. Bridesmaids was awarded Movie of the Year by the American Film Institute, and also was nominated for two Academy Awards.

Watch on Peacock

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Written by and starring Ben Stiller, Tropic Thunder is one of the funniest movies about making movies ever made. The all-star cast plays a string of fictional actors who are all hired to star in the fictional action movie "Tropic Thunder" (from which the comedy on Peacock draws its name). However, while the cast are filming on location in Vietnam, they are kidnapped by a heroin-producing gang who attempt to ransom them off.

Tropic Thunder is stacked throughout with celebrity cameos playing fictionalized versions of themselves, including Tobey Maguire, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Love-Hewitt. However, it's the central cast of Stiller as washed-up action star Tugg Speedman, Jack Black as comedian Jeff Portnoy, and Robert Downey Jr. as Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus who steal the show (especially Downey Jr., whose character controversially dons Blackface).

Watch on Peacock

Happy Gilmore (1996)

Few comedians held as much cultural dominance in the 1990s as Adam Sandler, and classics like the outrageous 1996 sports-comedy Happy Gilmore are a key reason why. Since Happy Gilmore 2 was confirmed in 2024, almost three decades after the original's release, now is the perfect time for Peacock subscribers to revisit the original. Gilmore stars as the titular Happy Gilmore, a disgraced Ice Hockey player who finds that, despite his temperament being incredibly ill-suited for the sport, his powerful swing makes him incredible at Golf.

Ice Hockey and Golf are almost at polar opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the communities surrounding the sport, and this makes for many absolutely hilarious moments throughout Happy Gilmore. Sandler is on top form too, and the movie represents the apex of his earlier career. Adam Sandler isn't alone in the cast though, and co-stars Julie Bowen and Carl Weathers deliver equally hilarious performances.

Watch on Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

Hearts Beat Loud (2018)

Starring Nick Offerman of Parks and Recreation and The Last Of Us fame, the 2018 musical comedy Hearts Beat Loud focuses on a record store owner and father who overcomes the loss of his wife by aiming for viral music success with his daughter. Understandably with such a premise, Hearts Beat Loud delivers just as strongly on the emotional moments as it does the humor, with Brett Haley and Marc Basch's script being incredibly heartfelt throughout. For Peacock subscribers seeking a grounded comedy with an incredibly current premise and wholesome message, Hearts Beat Loud is guaranteed to deliver.

Watch On Peacock

Best Romance Movies On Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

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 Nolan's Eisenheim and his ill-fated love affair with a woman deemed far above his social standing. Both a gripping mystery and heartfelt romance, The Illusionist was unfairly overlooked by many on release and remains one of the best romance movies on Peacock.

Watch On Peacock

Best Family Movies On Peacock

Madagascar (2005)

The CGI movies of the 2000s were how DreamWorks cemented themselves as Disney's #1 rival when it came to animated family entertainment, and 2005's Madagascar is arguably how the studio proved that 2001's Shrek wasn't a one-hit-wonder. The hilarious family movie focuses on four animals who escape from a New York Zoo and find themselves, through a series of mishaps, stranded on the titular island. Unused to life in the wild, the four friends must adapt to survive, though this is easier said than done.

Aside from the hilarious script, the all-star cast of Madagascar are a key reason for the movies success. Ben Stiller as the narcissistic African lion Alex, David Schwimmer's hypochondriac giraffe Melman, Jada Pinkett Smith's outgoing hippo Gloria, and Chris Rock's adventurous zebra Marty are all incredibly endearing characters. Madagascar spawned multiple sequels, spinoffs, and TV shows, and when it comes to family movies on Peacock that viewers of all ages can enjoy, subscribers need look no further.

Watch on Peacock

The Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)

Few franchises have had as much of a cultural impact as Harry Potter, and all 8 movies are available for Peacock subscribers. The story follows the titular Harry Potter, a young boy living with his abusive aunt and uncle who discovers, much to his surprise, that he's a wizard. Harry then enrolls at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, where he also learns that he's the arch nemesis of Lord Voldemort — the most powerful dark wizard who ever lived. Few movies are as action-packed as Harry Potter, and they are all but guaranteed to delight Peacock subscribers of all ages.

The Lorax (2012)

Dr. Seuss is one of the most celebrated children's authors in American history, so it's no surprise that the animated 2012 adaptation of The Lorax was an absolute delight for viewers of all ages. The movie has strong themes of environmentalism, with the titular Lorax (voiced by the inimitable Danny DeVito) speaking — as readers familiar with the original tale know — for the trees. Throw in some incredibly vibrant visuals, co-stars Ed Helms, Zac Efron, and popstar Taylor Swift, and The Lorax stands out among the family movies on currently on Peacock.

Watch On Peacock

Shrek (2001)

For a film that was famously a punishment project for animators (via New York Post), Shrek somehow manages to both lampoon and honor its fairytale source material. The movie, much like the rest of the Shrek franchise, follows the titular ogre (Mike Myers) as he sets out on a quest to rescue the cursed and imprisoned Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) for the tyrannical Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow).

While there are a lot of great non-Disney fairytale adaptations, Shrek has managed to stand out by mocking their most frustrating tropes and rejecting the idea that goodness and beauty must be connected. Other than being one of the best movies on Peacock, Shrek also has the distinction of winning the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Watch On Peacock

Best Horror Movies On Peacock

Let The Right One In (2008)

Not all horror movies have to focus on scares. There are many great films that take traditional horror elements such as the supernatural, gore, and other troubling themes, then weave them together into a surprisingly heartwarming tale — as is the case with 2008's Let The Right One In. The movie follows Oskar, a 12-year-old boy in Stockholm who is the target of relentless bullying. Oskar's fortunes take a turn, however, when he meets Eli, a young girl who he takes an instant liking to and who eventually returns the sentiment in kind.

All is not as it seems with Eli though, as Oskar quickly learns that she is a vampire. This leads to many typical scenes viewers may expect from a vampire movie, although none are portrayed in the same way. Eli helps Oskar overcome his bullying problem, and it's the relationship between the two that forms the core of the horror movie on Peacock.

Watch On Peacock

Nope (2022)

Jordan Peele has established himself as one of the most prominent directors in the horror genre, and 2022's Nope is now available on Peacock so subscribers can find out why. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, who previously worked with Peele in 2017's Get Out, Nope flips the classic alien invasion sci-fi premise on its head to create one of the most terrifying movies of the last five years. Kaluuya is joined in the cast by Keke Palmer and The Walking Dead star Steven Yuen. The American Film Institute named Nope as one of their films of the year for 2022.

Watch on Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil (2010)

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is far from the scariest horror movie on Peacock, but it sure is one of the funniest — and smartest, as it has a lot to stay about the genre. The titular main character (Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk) are a couple of good-natured hillbilly friends who want to enjoy a simple fishing trip together when a group of teenagers mistakenly perceive them as deranged killers. From there, the misunderstandings and the bodies continue to pile up with hilarious results. By flipping the "backwoods hillbilly killer" horror trope on its head, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil delivers a lot of laughs — and a surprisingly poignant message.

Watch On Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

Donnie Darko (2001)

A 21st-century indie classic, Richard Kelly came out swinging with his directorial debut. Donnie Darko is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller that centers around the eponymous teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal) who, upon avoiding a bizarre accident while sleep-walking, begins to see visions of a man in a rabbit costume, who manipulates Donnie into committing a series of increasingly violent acts. The movie gained a cult following, and Donnie Darko's ending and timeline are still being analyzed and debated to this day. Cinephiles looking for films that inspire discussion will get a lot out of Donnie Darko.

Watch On Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

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.

Watch On Peacock

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.

Watch on Peacock

American Psycho (2000)

Although Bret Easton Ellis' original shocking novel was widely considered unfilmable (largely due to its gruesome contents), Mary Harron's American Psycho is an important reminder that some challenges are simply a matter of imagination. Like the book, the movie follows yuppie Patrick Bateman as he juggles his Wall Street banking job with his murderous predilections. Bleakly funny and a damning indictment on consumerism and the superficial nature of the American corporate system, American Psycho might lack some of the novel's shock value, but it is nevertheless a surprisingly successful adaptation and one of the best horror movies on Peacock.

Watch On Peacock