Some of the greatest movies ever are hiding right under your nose on popular streaming platforms.
With a plethora of films accessible at our fingertips, choosing which film to watch in the evenings can result in endless scrolling and indecision, debating between the latest Netflix rom-com or a chilling crime documentary.
But hidden away on most platforms are some gems that have been lauded by film critics for decades – and in some cases, generations.
The top seven films – as voted for by critics on Rotten Tomatoes – are all different in theme and genre, and all available to stream.
From Schindler’s List to Top Gun: Maverick, here’s a breakdown of some of the absolute corkers to watch tonight.
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The Godfather
The Godfather is the number one top-rated film of all time with an impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Mafia drama was met with both critical and commercial acclaim, earning over $200million (£147.5m) at the box office and winning three Oscars, including Best Picture.
The film focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family, the Corleones, and its patriarch, Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando).
The story unfolds as the youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), joins the mafia and becomes increasingly involved in the life of crime he had been reluctant to join.
The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime, Now, and Paramount.
Casablanca
Casablanca is a classic romance movie from 1942 which has stood the test of time and earned a 99% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film follows Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) romance which was filmed and set during World War II.
One night while at his nightclub in Casablanca, Rick discovers his old flame Ilsa is in town with her husband Victor (Paul Henreid), a rebel with the Germans after him.
Rick can help the couple escape – but at what cost?
The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, while Michael Curtiz was selected as Best Director.
The film is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
LA Confidential
With a 100% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, LA Confidential is a 1997 American neo-noir crime thriller from Curtis Hanson.
The movie stars Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce and focuses on a group of 1950s LAPD cops, some of whom are more than a little corrupt and collaborate with tabloid journalists.
While it’s not a true story, the film draws inspiration from a variety of real events that took place in the 1950s, and the title refers to the 1950s scandal magazine Confidential, portrayed in the film as Hush-Hush.
LA Confidential is available to stream on Disney Plus.
Seven Samurai
With a 100% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, Seven Samurai is a 1954 Japanese epic samurai action film directed by Akira Kurosawa.
The film follows a village of farmers who, out of desperation, attempt to hire a samurai who will fight off the bandits who steal their crops.
The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: ‘Arguably Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece, The Seven Samurai is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story, memorable characters, and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made.’
The film is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Top 20 Films of all time
- The Godfather (1972)
- Casablanca (1942)
- L.A. Confidential (1997)
- Seven Samurai (1954)
- Parasite (2019)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
- Chinatown (1974)
- On the Waterfront (1954)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Rear Window (1954)
- The Battle of Algiers (1966)
- Modern Times (1936)
- Finding Nemo (2003)
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Up (2009)
- All About Eve (1950)
- Godzilla Minus One (2023)
- Toy Story (1995)
Parasite
With a 100% ranking, the 2019 Korean movie Parasite was a blockbuster hit, following the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan who ingratiate themselves in the Park’s lives.
The film came from writer-director Bong Joon Ho, and received huge oscar buzz, snagging the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards, as well as five other Oscars.
Parasite is available to stream on Netflix.
Schindler’s List
Schindler’s List is Steven Spielberg’s World War II epic starring Liam Neeson. Despite being released in 1993, the film is entirely in black and white – except for one haunting piece of colour used devastatingly in the film.
Schindler’s List focuses on Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved more than a thousand mostly Polish–Jewish refugees from the Holocaust.
The film shows how Schindler used bribery and his status as a prominent businessman to employ over a thousand people and save them from the concentration camps.
With a 98% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is considered a classic and has been lauded as powerful and brutal.
The film is available to stream on Netflix and Now.
Top Gun: Maverick
Released in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick is the long-awaited sequel to the hit 1986 film, Top Gun
Starring Tom Cruise reprising his role, the film has an A-list cast with Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, and Monica Barbaro all starring.
The movie has a 96% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and follows the Maverick (Cruise) a naval aviator who is forced to confront his past while training a group of younger Top Gun graduates – including the son of his dead best friend – for his most dangerous mission yet.
The movie is available to stream on Channel 4.
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