A fun bit of historic TV trivia is that the original NBC peacock logo was first implemented in 1956 to highlight the network’s new color programming. Even though the logo has gone through numerous iterations since then, the network has stuck with the colorful bird, in one form or another, for going on six decades now. It’s fitting, then, that Peacock is known most for its TV programming, highlighted by shows like The Office, Parks and Rec, and the self-mocking (and hilarious) 30 Rock. If you are on Peacock for the shows, however, don’t overlook that the platform is also home to a number of great movies spanning cinema history, including everything from great comedy to excellent sports movies.
Peacock streaming offers both free (registered) and paid accounts. As a result, some Peacock movies are available without a paid subscription, and others only for subscribers. This roundup culls titles from both groups. To be sure you can access all of these classics, you’ll have to fork over a subscription fee. Happy streaming and keep reading to find the best movies on Peacock right now.
Bernie (2012)
99m
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Stars
Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey
Directed by
Richard Linklater
Bernie was a bit of a zag for director Richard Linklater, as it involves way more murder than the rest of his filmography. Jack Black stars as Bernie Tiede in this true story. Everybody loves Bernie, the man who charms all the little old ladies in his Carthage, Texas, hometown, even as he endures constant abuse from his crabby benefactor Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine). A man can only take so much, though, and before too long, Bernie loosens his pent-up rage against the woman, sending shockwaves through the small town. What carries the film is its chorus of real-life town residents who give the plot an undeniable local color through a series of talking-head interviews interspersed between the action.
The Farm (2019)
80m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Nora Yessayan, Alec Gaylord, Ken Volok
Directed by
Hans Stjernswärd
Ever wonder what it’s like to be the livestock on a farm? Well, the horror flick The Farm offers an answer. And it’s pretty horrific. After taking a wrong turn on the highway, a young couple decides to stop at a roadside diner for food and relaxation. Their fun trip soon becomes a fight for survival when masked kidnappers imprison them on a farm where humans are the main course. The movie is filled with shocking and disturbing scenes, but if you’re in the mood for pure, unadulterated horror, The Farm is here to deliver.
Burning (2018)
148m
Genre
Mystery, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jun Jong-seo
Directed by
Lee Chang-dong
A Korean drama from 2018 that earns every bit of its 150-minute runtime, Burning tells the story of a young man who becomes transfixed by the disappearance of a woman he’s recently formed a bond with. As he becomes increasingly convinced that something terrible happened to her, we get an examination of both this young man and the way the world around him seems to blur and change. Featuring a riveting supporting performance from Steven Yeun as a wealthy and mysterious possible criminal, Burning is riveting in ways that most movies only aspire to be.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
96m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Judith O'Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman
Directed by
George A. Romero
The movie that launched an entire genre, Night of the Living Dead tells the story of five strangers who come together at a farmhouse in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Their struggle to survive may feel small and quaint by modern standards, but the human drama that plays out between them remains as compelling as any in a modern zombie flick. The movie’s chilling ending, which is a stark reminder of the racism that has been a part of America for decades and still exists today, also makes it feel like the kind of small, independent drama that might hit theaters today.
The Act of Killing (2012)
159m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin
Directed by
Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn
A documentary that tells the story of the men who committed mass atrocities in Indonesia, The Act of Killing is a complex, moving portrait of what it means to commit mass murder and be celebrated for your heroism. The movie uncovers a story most people likely don’t know, but more than that, it’s an examination of how removed some men can be from their own humanity and the way we create enemies in order to justify awful acts. The Act of Killing is a must-see for any film fan, and it’s one of the great works of documentary filmmaking of the 21st century.
Point Break (1991)
122m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars
Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey
Directed by
Kathryn Bigelow
One of the great action movies ever made, and perhaps the best ever made about male machismo, Point Break tells the story of an FBI agent who goes undercover with a gang of surfer bank robbers. As absurd as that may sound, Point Break winds up being hugely satisfying in part because it leans so hard into the cheese. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze make for the perfect pair, and there’s a number of bravura action sequences that give the movie real heft. Kathryn Bigelow is a smart, muscular director, and Point Break ranks up there with her very best work.
Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)
97m
Genre
Mystery, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford
Directed by
Randall Zisk
Perhaps one of the most delightful shows of the 21st century is back for one more lap. Mr. Monk’s Last Case is really for all the Monk superfans out there, but it’ll be a bundle of fun for anyone who just happens to stumble across it as well. When Adrian Monk comes out of retirement to help solve his step-daughter’s fiance’s murder, plenty of shenanigans ensue. Tony Shalhoub slides right back into the character that defined his career, and the rest of the original ensemble is back as well for what turns out to be a delightful and worthwhile trip down memory lane for every Monk superfan.
Oppenheimer (2023)
181m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon
Directed by
Christopher Nolan
Another one of 2023’s best and most successful movies, Oppenheimer tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the inventor of the atomic bomb. Because it’s directed by Christopher Nolan, though, the movie takes a nonlinear approach to Oppenheimer’s story, weaving together the creation of the bomb with the inquiry into his ties to the Communist party. Cillian Murphy grounds the entire thing with his central work as Oppenheimer, and he’s surrounded by one of the best supporting casts ever assembled, including a standout performance from Robert Downey Jr.
The Godfather (1972)
175m
Genre
Drama, Crime
Stars
Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
Directed by
Francis Ford Coppola
Widely considered to be one of the best movies ever made, The Godfather tells the story of a mafia crime family, and more specifically of one of the sons of that family and his journey from the outskirts of the family business to the center. Featuring all-time great performances from a cast that includes Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Diane Keaton, among others, the movie’s chronicling of one man’s slow descent into darkness has become iconic in the decades since its release. Francis Ford Coppola is one of the great directors in cinema history, and The Godfather might be his greatest achievement.
What movies are coming to Peacock in May?
May 1
- 10 Things I Hate About You
- 27 Dresses
- The 40 Year Old Virgin
- 2046
- A Bride for Christmas
- A Royal Corgi Christmas
- Angels & Demons
- As Luck Would Have It
- Beijing Bicycle
- Boo! A Madea Halloween
- Boogie
- The Boss
- Bruce Lee, the Legend
- The Cabin in the Woods
- The Chronicles of Riddick
- Couples Retreat
- Cowboys & Aliens
- The Da Vinci Code
- Doom
- Dragon: Bruce Lee Story
- Enemy at the Gates
- Five Star Christmas
- Fletch
- Fletch Lives
- Get Out
- The Hurt Locker
- Identity Thief
- Inferno*
- The Irresistible Blueberry Farm
- The Joy Luck Club
- Jurassic Park
- Jurassic Park III
- Kindergarten Cop
- King Kong
- Knight and Day
- The Last Airbender
- Life of Pi
- Life of the Party
- Lift
- The Little Rascals
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park
- Love on Safari
- Love Takes Flight
- Love Under the Stars
- Luv
- Mad Max
- Madea Goes to Jail
- Madea’s Big Happy Family
- Marry Me in Yosemite
- Mei Ren Yu (Mermaid)
- Memoirs of a Geisha
- Merry & Bright
- Midway to Love
- The Mummy Returns
- The Mummy (‘99)
- Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths
- No Time to Die
- Pitch Black
- Prospect
- Queen of Spain
- Return to Christmas Creek
- Riddick
- Rise: Blood Hunter
- Rome in Love
- Ruby Herring Mysteries: Her Last Breath
- Ruby Herring Mysteries: Prediction Murder
- Ruby Herring Mysteries: Silent Witness
- The Rundown
- The Scorpion King
- This Beautiful Fantastic
- Shrek Forever After
- Shrek the Third
- Snitch
- Spy Kids
- Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
- Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
- Spy Kids 4
- Step Brothers
- Tammy
- This is 40
- Three Extremes II
- Three… Extremes
- Tortilla Soup
- Uncle Buck
- Valkyrie
- War (2007)
- Warrior (2011)
- Why Did I Get Married?
- Why Did I Get Married Too
- Wonder Woman (2017)
May 2
- Saturday Church
May 10
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
May 24
- Knock at the Cabin
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