I’m not taking this lightly, but during this difficult time we can all use a little distraction. So, during semi-quarantine, what better job for a film critic than to recommend films that are available in your own home, so here we go. Sticking to Netflix and Amazon Prime, here are some of the best options for movies to stream right now, for families and also for grownups, with links to its IMDb page and to my review, if written. Have fun, and stay safe!
- Hook (1991) – Because it’s a classic and your kids deserve it.
- Corpse Bride (2005) – Laika’s animation and Tim Burton’s mind. REVIEW
- Bolt (2008) – An underrated Disney flick with surprisingly good music. REVIEW
- Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) – The heart-warming sequel you must see. REVIEW
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) – Some of the best animation ever. REVIEW
- Coraline (2009) – Early Laika and quite creepy, so use your judgement. REVIEW
- Next Gen (2018) – For those who liked Big Hero 6 and would like some more. REVIEW
- The Princess and the Frog (2009) – Disney’s oft-forgotten princess. REVIEW
- Mary Poppins Returns (2018) – A success, if not destined to be a classic. REVIEW
- Tarzan (1999) – Some day this will be recognized as a masterpiece. REVIEW
- My Girl (1991) – But only if you want to traumatize your kids for life. REVIEW
- Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017) – Japanese animation at its very finest. REVIEW
- The Breadwinner (2017) – For the older kids, a look at war from the inside. REVIEW
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) – Dick Van Dyke is someone kids need to know about.
- Klaus (2019) – If you’re still willing to get into the holiday spirit. REVIEW
- Room (2015) – An emotional roller coaster with powerful performances. REVIEW
- Solo (2018) – Not the same caliber as others, but it’s still Star Wars. REVIEW
- My Life as a Zucchini (2016) – A quick, French, animated wonder. REVIEW
- The Foreigner (2017) – Jackie Chan like you haven’t seen him. REVIEW
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – One of the best ever. Period. REVIEW
- The Gift (2015) – Psychological thrills done so very, very well. REVIEW
- A Ghost Story (2017) – Yes it’s strange, but it’s worth it. REVIEW
- It Comes at Night (2017) – Do not watch alone or in the dark. REVIEW
- Hostiles (2017) – A gripping, violent Western and also a slow burn. REVIEW
- Goodfellas (1990) – Scorsese’s very best? Decide for yourself.
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – Well, if you’ve seen the other 18. REVIEW
- Tremors (1990) – Well, this movie is kinda perfect and wonderful. REVIEW
- About Time (2013) – A romantic, moving film that made me cry. REVIEW
- Swiss Army Man (2016) – When a dead boy is your best friend. REVIEW
- There Will Be Blood (2007) – IMHO, an all-time Top 20 film. REVIEW
- Good Time (2017) – Before Uncut Gems there was Good Time. REVIEW
- Green Room (2015) – Horror meets rock&roll and gets gory. REVIEW
- Horse Girl (2020) – Alison Brie gives more than meets the eye. REVIEW
- Inception (2010) – Christopher Nolan bends our minds so well. REVIEW
- Groundhog Day (1993) – If you need a little comedy right now.
- As Good as It Gets (1997) – A near-perfect film that’s getting old. REVIEW
- Snowpiercer (2013) – Before Parasite, BJH gave us Snowpiercer. REVIEW
- Sweeney Todd (2007) – If you’re in the mood for a dark musical. REVIEW
- Moon (2009) – Really cool sci-fi that boils it all down to its core. REVIEW
- The Wicker Man (1973) – Paganism that became a cult classic. REVIEW
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – Save Ferris …by watching this. REVIEW
- Outlaw King (2018) – Chris Pine as Robert Bruce, because badass. REVIEW
- Mystic River (2003) – The twists that toppled cinematic norms. REVIEW
- Enemy (2013) – A movie you’ll be thinking about for days after. REVIEW
- Ex Machina (2014) – One of the best sci-fi AI films ever made. REVIEW
- Hell or High Water (2016) – A Neo-Western well constructed. REVIEW
- Slow West (2015) – A modern Western with comedy and heart. REVIEW
- 20th Century Women (2016) – Three great female performances. REVIEW
- Sleeping with Other People (2015) – A best rom-com in years. REVIEW
- The Little Hours (2017) – An odd comedy with real audacity. REVIEW
- The Evil Dead (1981) – Classic horror with an entertaining side.
- The Edge of Seventeen (2016) – Coming-of-age angst done well. REVIEW
- Mississippi Grind (2015) – Ryan Reynolds & Ben Mendelsohn. REVIEW
- Wakefield (2016) – A very unique look at having a breakdown. REVIEW
- A Most Violent Year (2014) – Oscar Isaac & Jessica Chastain. REVIEW
- Sweet Virginia (2017) – A violent slow burn that will reward. REVIEW
- Anna Karenina (2012) – The sweeping Knightley period piece. REVIEW
- The Theory of Everything (2014) – The tale of Stephen Hawking. REVIEW
- The Rover (2014) – Australian Neo-Western/Post-Apocalyptic. REVIEW
- Christine (2016) – An award-worthy performance from Rebecca Hall. REVIEW
- Marriage Story (2019) – One of the best films of 2019. REVIEW
- Moonlight (2016) – The Best Picture winner that almost wasn’t. REVIEW
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – If we’re still all isolating and it’s Christmas.
- Wonder Park (2019) – This one is definitely only for the kids. REVIEW
- Rango (2011) – Johnny Depp as a chameleon is something you need. REVIEW
- Benji (1974) – I remember this from my childhood; need to revisit.
- Explorers (1985) – One of those time capsule films that’s so fun. REVIEW
- The Secret of NIMH (1985) – Based on the spectacular book. REVIEW
- Charlotte’s Web (1973) – The classic book becomes a classic movie.
- Light of My Life (2019) – I thought one of the absolute best that year. REVIEW
- Artic (2018) – A survival story with little dialogue but much intensity. REVIEW
- The Great Escape (1963) – War has never been exposed exactly like this. REVIEW
- A Quiet Place (2018) – The 2nd has been pushed back, but the 1st is here. REVIEW
- Disobedience (2017) – A drama and a love story like very few others. REVIEW
- The Cabin in the Woods (2011) – The most unique horror film out there. REVIEW
- Midsommar (2019) – If you’re ready, this is horror that will affect you. REVIEW
- Honey Boy (2019) – Shia LeBeouf’s honest coming-to-fame story. REVIEW
- The Farewell (2019) – The touching comedy about Chinese tradition. REVIEW
- M:I – Fallout (2018) – Awesome action whether or not you’ve seen the others. REVIEW
- Lady Bird (2017) – Gerwig & Ronan in the year’s most amazing dramody. REVIEW
- Annihilation (2018) – You won’t want to close your eyes after this eeriness. REVIEW
- Captain American: The First Avenger (2011) – One of the best of the franchise. REVIEW
- Warrior (2011) – Joel Edgerton & Yom Hardy duke it out as fighter brothers. REVIEW
- The Birdcage (1996) – Based on the amazing play, it will kill you with comedy. REVIEW
- True Grit (2010) – The Coen Bros. remake that still packs a cool Western punch.
- The Big Sick (2017) – The film that launched Kumail & the story of his marriage. REVIEW
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) – The Thanksgiving classic comedy.
- Mud (2012) – One of McConaughey’s best, a stunning surprise of a drama. REVIEW
- Mid90s (2018) – I loved Jonah Hill’s directorial debut. It’s fresh & solid. REVIEW
- The Handmaiden (2016) – Chan-wook Park does something incredible. REVIEW
- What If (2013) – A delightful rom-com with Daniel Radcliffe & Zoe Kazan. REVIEW
- The Skeleton Twins (2014) – Two comedies who can also act their asses of. REVIEW
- Elvis & Nixon (2016) – The bizarre true story of the meeting of these titans. REVIEW
- Annie Hall (1977) – I know, Woody Allen, but the movie is still good.
- Coherence (2013) – I just recently rewatched this; what a cool mind bend. REVIEW
- High Life (2018) – This is one is for those who like their sci-fi dark & weird. REVIEW
- Over the Top (1987) – Sly Stallone as an arm-wrestler? Where do I sign up? REVIEW
- Manchester by the Sea (2016) – One of the most gut-wrenching dramas. REVIEW
- The Killing of a Sacred Dear (2017) – A highlight from the year of the bonkers. REVIEW
- A Man Called Ove (2015) – One of the best foreign films I have ever watched. REVIEW
- Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) – The Coen Bros. know exactly what they’re doing. REVIEW
- Eighth Grade (2018) – Oh to watch this perfect movie for the first time again. REVIEW
- Love & Mercy (2014) – The Beach Boys under a musical microscope. REVIEW
- Fighting with My Family (2019) – If you ever kinda liked wrestling, here you go. REVIEW