It often seems that Netflix is unmatched when it comes to streaming. In fact, other services also have a lot to offer. We’ve rounded up some of the best streaming platforms here, and one of the top picks in the UK is Now (formerly Now TV).
The Cinema membership offers just what it sounds like – the best movies Sky Cinema has to offer – and we’ve done our best to pick our favourites here.
In case you didn’t know, the Now Cinema membership costs £9.99 per month, and it’s worth pointing out that it’s separate from the TV membership, so you only get access to the films, which means it is pretty expensive if you want access to both. However, if you’re still interested check out our top picks of shows on Now. New customers can often get bundles on the two memberships.
There are more than a thousand films included in the Sky Cinema membership right now, so ranking our top picks obviously meant missing out on some favourites. It’s also worth remembering that one of the best things about the membership is that it offers far more of the biggest recent blockbusters than Netflix or Amazon do, so it’s arguably the best streaming service for watching new movies.
Ferrari
Sky
Directed by Michael Mann, this film follows the personal and professional crisis of Enzo Ferrari. The supercar company is facing bankruptcy and its motor racing team is preparing for the dangerous cross-country Mille Miglia race, which could save the business.
Alongside all this, Enzo Ferrari is still grieving the loss of his son, Dino, with his wife Laura, while also struggling over whether to officially acknowledge his second son, the child of his girlfriend, Linda Lardi.
Barbie
Warner Bros. Discovery
Greta Gerwig made a box office smash with Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Whilst bizarre and silly, it’s also a great example of what it means to be a woman in modern society.
Barbie is living her dream life – she’s popular, has parties every night, and has tons of friends. However, one day her optimism starts to fail her, and she has to go searching for answers in the real world. What she finds changes her life forever.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Watch Puss in Boots: The Last Wish on Now
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was a true surprise when it was released, as many fans were expecting a traditional Shrek-style affair. However, this film was filled with glorious animation, gripping drama and arguably one of the scariest villains we’ve seen in a DreamWorks film.
Over the years, Puss has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Now, a bounty is out on his head – and he may have finally met his match. His only chance at survival is to search for the mythical wishing star.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
Paramount
Watch Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt, and this time he’s going up against a villain that has more control than he’s ever seen before.
You’ll most likely be watching Mission Impossible 7 for its death-defying stunts, which this time involve the actor driving a motorcycle off of a cliff, and parachuting down. It’s truly thrilling to watch.
Across the Spider-Verse
Sony
Watch Across the Spider-Verse on Now
Now has both entries in the Spider-Verse series, but Across the Spider-Verse truly blows things wide open. With an unpredictable villain, stunning visuals and more spider-people than ever before, this is one of the best animated superhero movies, period.
Miles Morales teams up with Gwen Stacey to save his world from the Spot. However, things become complicated when his mission clashes with someone else’s.
Inception
Every big blockbuster that Christopher Nolan produces is mind-boggling, and Inception is the top dog when it comes to this genre. Structured as a series of dreams within dreams, this movie creates worlds where even the impossible is within reach.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, a professional thief who works by entering people’s dreams to steal important information. In order to pull off the ultimate heist, he must plant an idea in someone else’s mind by going deep into their subconscious.
However, he has a big Achilles heel: the memory of his late wife, who often enters his mind unexpectedly.
The Dark Knight
Warner Bros.
2008’s The Dark Knight is widely considered one of the best Batman films ever made, largely thanks to Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker.
Christian Bale stars as Batman as he begins to put a stop to organised crime. However, his efforts are thwarted when the mob hires the Joker, who will go to extreme lengths to try and kill Bruce Wayne.
The Lego Movie
Warner Bros. Discovery
If you want fun for all the family, The Lego Movie is one of the best choices on Now at the moment, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
Emmet is just an ordinary builder who is living his normal, awesome life. However, his entire world is turned upside down when he has to save the planet from an evil tyrant, along with a whole bunch of other Lego heroes.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Watch The Wolf of Wall Street on Now
The second DiCaprio movie on this list (the man stars in too many good films) follows the scandalous and corrupted career of Jordan Belfort, who makes millions through a fraud scheme. However, when he takes his hedonism too far, the consequences of his actions catch up with him.
The Holiday
Sony
The Holiday is like a cup of mulled wine – cosy, warm and full of Christmas cheer. Two women on different sides of the planet agree to a house swap. On their travels, they find love and affection in unexpected places.
Back to the Future
Universal
Watch Back to the Future on Now
Back to the Future is one of the most beloved sci-fi films of all time. During an altercation, Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time and meets his parents when they were younger. Marty must work with his friend Doc to ensure that he saves not only his own life, but the lives of those he loves.
Fences
Hollywood heavyweights Denzel Washington and Viola Davies star in this film adaptation of the Tony-award-winning Broadway show, Fences, set in 1950s’ America – in which Washington also starred. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a baseball player but was deemed too old to do so when the league finally started admitting black athletes. His bitterness over a missed opportunity leads to tension within his own family.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Universal
Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Now
The Mario movie is one of the most successful film adaptations of a video game, and for good reason. With a star-studded cast including Chris Pratt, Jack Black, Charlie Day and Anya Taylor-Joy, this film is a fitting tribute to the colourful world of the Mushroom Kingdom… and we promise, Mario’s voice isn’t as bad as we expected.
Oppenheimer
Universal Pictures
Now doesn’t just have Barbie, it also has Oppenheimer – so you can relive the summer cinematic double-bill right from the comfort of your sofa. Starring Cillian Murphy, this film follows the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ as he developed the project, and the irreversible impact his work had on the world.
M3GAN
Despite being officially classed as a horror, the silliness of M3GAN makes it an iconic flick even for non-fans of the genre. This lifelike doll was created to be a playmate and protector of her child companion. However, when caretaker Gemma decides to pair her with her orphaned 8-year-old niece, the consequences are beyond her imagination.
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor's Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She's also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she's written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.