The Best Movies Streaming on Paramount Plus
Since its debut in 2021, Paramount+ has quickly risen to become one of the greatest subscription-based streaming platforms you can currently find online. Combining a range of properties from CBS, Paramount, Nickelodeon, Showtime, and Comedy Central, it boasts a rich library of beloved movies, TV series, and documentaries.
Like all the most noteworthy streaming platforms, Paramount+ also has a ton of exclusive content at its disposal, such as Star Trek: Picard, 1883, and The Good Fight.
Along with those exclusive titles, the platform also has a dense catalog of movies streaming on the service, from newer films like Good Burger 2 and Devotion to classics like Wall Street and McLintock!
Here are some of the best movies you can find playing on Paramount+ right now.
Updated: December 7.
Comedy: Good Burger 2 (2023)
Twenty-six long years after the release of the fan-favorite Nickelodeon film Good Burger, the comedic team of Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell return with the brand-new Paramount+ exclusive movie, Good Burger 2.
Reeling from his latest failed business venture, the down-on-his-luck inventor Dexter (Thompson) returns to work at the Good Burger fast food restaurant, rejoining his best friend Ed (Mitchell).
A sequel most people never imagined would see the light of day, Good Burger 2 will more closely endear itself to fans of the original movie–especially nostalgic audience members who watched the film as a child. Retaining the same wacky tone as the initial Good Burger, Good Burger 2 serves up a rollicking good time.
Drama: Aftersun (2022)
One of the finest directorial debuts in recent memory, Charlotte Wells’ draws on a somewhat autobiographical reconstruction of her childhood with 2022’s Aftersun. The results pave the way for another stirring addition to A24’s already impressive lineup of films.
Looking back at her childhood, 31-year-old Sophie (Celia Rowlson-Hall) remembers a meaningful vacation she took with her father (Paul Mescal) to Turkey when she was 11-years-old.
Aftersun is a film about memory, focusing on how our individual impressions of the past differ from reality. Looking back at childhood with rose-tinted glasses, Frankie Corio’s lead character comes to terms with the kind of a man she remembered her father as, as well as the man he truly was.
Crime: Wall Street (1987)
Few films sum up the ruthlessness of the corporate world to such a degree as Wall Street. A certified classic from the 1980s, director Oliver Stone probes into the coldest aspects of yuppie culture here.
Working as a junior stockbroker on Wall Street, the idealistic Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) becomes the protege of notorious businessman Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), learning all the tricks of the trade from his greedy mentor.
With Douglas shining bright as the ambitious corporate raider Gordon Gekko, Wall Street might be described as The Wolf of Wall Street of its day and age. Meditating on the unscrupulous, dog-eat-dog mentality of corporate hierarchy, Wall Street analyzes the moral implications financial success might have on a person simply looking to get ahead in life.
Action: Four Brothers (2005)
Currently trending as one of the most-watched movies on Paramount+, Four Brothers remains most worth seeing for its stellar cast alone. Containing Tarantino-levels of language and violence, it’s a hard-boiled action epic rocketed forward by a killer soundtrack.
Grieving the recent murder of their adopted mother (Fionnula Flanagan), four surrogate brothers (Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin, and Garrett Hedlund) band together to avenge her death.
Yes, Four Brothers has its share of problems, but the movie nevertheless thrives at delivering a healthy dose of action that most viewers will be thrilled by. For a genre film starring Mark Wahlberg, what else could you hope to see?
Horror: The Gift (2000)
Not to be confused with the 2015 Hitchcockian thriller of the same name, 2000’s The Gift is a star-studded supernatural horror film hinging on a kitschier premise. Despite the prevalent weaknesses in the plot and story, the movie has since garnered a surprisingly positive response from viewers on Paramount+ this past week.
In a small town in Georgia, a professional psychic (Cate Blanchett) uses her powers to investigate the murder of a missing young woman (Kaite Holmes).
An engrossing whodunit with a somewhat underwhelming payoff, The Gift uses its A-list cast to maximum effect, tailoring a generally enjoyable mystery around its massive ensemble (Blanchett, Keanu Reeves, Giovanni Ribisi, Greg Kinnear, and Hilary Swank).
Dark Comedy: The Curse (2023)
A creative collaboration between Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder, and Benny Safdie? What more could audiences ever hope to ask for? An original and audacious dark comedy series, The Curse’s unique sense of humor makes for a startlingly creative show to binge over the holidays.
While dealing with their own marital problems, the hosts (Stone and Fielder) of a new home improvement reality series are cursed by a young girl (Hikmah Warsame) they accidentally offend on their show.
Like Fielder’s previous work on Nathan For You and The Rehearsal, The Curse makes endless use of its odd premise, delivering a healthy dose of off-beat humor in its various episodes. A bold creative venture for Stone, Fielder, and Safdie, it’s a series that’s able to get under your skin through its subversive comedy, unfolding like a cross between The Office and a Jordan Peele movie.
Teen: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Struggling to make friends in high school, a lonely freshman (Logan Lerman) finds companionship in a group of high-spirited seniors who invite him into their social circle.
Like any decade, the 2010s has its fair share of well-known teen films, many of them living up to the wondrous heights of The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles in their emotionally evocative portrayal of adolescence.
Though it has a handful of comedic moments, the bulk of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is settled on the philosophical side of high school life, from the pressure one feels to blend in to the unease one might feel growing up. As melancholic as its treatment of high school is, Perks nevertheless captures the lighter side of adolescence as well, such as first loves, tight-knit friend groups, and the ability to share trauma with those closest to you.
Biopic: The Big Short (2015)
In the late 2000s, the world faced the most dire financial crash since the Great Depression–a perfect storm of economic circumstances that led to the Great Recession. Documenting the earliest stages of the Recession is the illuminating biographical drama, The Big Short.
In the mid 2000s, a group of financial experts realize the precarious state of the U.S. housing market, betting against the system as the American economy spirals out of control.
Explaining the various simultaneous factors that eventually led to the Recession in the first place, The Big Short presents its subject matter in a frank, easy-to-understand way. With a cast that includes Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, it’s a supremely entertaining comedy drama that even those completely unfamiliar with financial concepts will understand and enjoy.
Documentary: JFK: What the Doctors Saw (2023)
The J.F.K. assassination remains one of the most widely-discussed incidents of the 20th century. A shocking moment in American politics, theories and conspiracies continue to abound about the truth of Kennedy’s murder–a topic that forms the backbone of Paramount’s new documentary, JFK: What the Doctors Saw.
Driving through Dallas on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy suffered multiple fatal gunshot wounds while passing large crowds of Texan spectators. Arriving to Parkland Hospital, several doctors and hospital staff observed Kennedy’s physical condition, expressing vocal evidence that conflicted with the U.S. government’s account of the incident.
While viewers should take JFK: What the Doctors Saw with a grain of salt, the documentary imparts some stunning first-hand testimony of the parties involved in the assassination, mainly the doctors who oversaw J.F.K.’s fatal injuries on that fateful day 60 years ago.
Romance: What Women Want (2000)
Performing incredibly well on Paramount+’s most-watched movies list this month is the 2000 fantasy romantic comedy, What Women Want. A cozy romcom infused with elements of magical realism, it’s an entertaining enough film for fans and enthusiasts of the genre.
After a near death experience, a sexist advertising executive (Mel Gibson) suddenly gains the ability to read women’s minds, his newfound powers helping him fix the estranged relationships he has with the women in his life.
While most of the movie fails to properly executive its otherwise promising central concept, What Women Want still delivers consistent laughs and some genuinely moving moments, focusing on a flawed individual’s ability to change for the better.
Classic Comedy: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Sensing a promising financial scam, two rival conmen (Michael Caine and Steve Martin) attempt to swindle a wealthy heiress (Glenne Headly) vacationing on the French Riviera.
From the 1970s onwards, Steve Martin managed to become the hottest comedian of his era, lighting up the stage with his electric stand-up routine and making a name for himself with his repeated appearances on SNL.
Transitioning into a successful career in film, Martin went on to star in a number of movies from the late ‘70s into the ‘80s, one of his most standout efforts coming with 1988’s comedy caper film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Maintaining exquisite chemistry with his co-star Michael Caine, Martin and Caine propel the film forward with their blend of outlandish energy and dry-witted sarcasm.
Holiday: Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
The reigning monarch of Thanksgiving-themed movies, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a holiday classic that deserves to be seen every November. A hilarious buddy comedy intermingled with an epic road movie, it’s one of the finest films to feature either John Candy or Steve Martin in action.
Determined to get home in time for Thanksgiving, an anxious advertising executive (Martin) and a well-intentioned yet annoying shower rod salesman (Candy) journey from New York to suburban Chicago, encountering constant delays in their travels together.
One of the most popular comedies of all time, Planes, Trains and Automobiles makes clever use of its two main leads. Polar opposites in almost every way imaginable, Martin and Candy’s characters nevertheless learn the true meaning of the holidays in their shared time together, delivering a warm message about friendship and charity.
Fantasy: Beowulf (2007)
Despite being one of the oldest and most important works of literature in history, the Old English epic poem Beowulf has only seen a modest handful of cinematic adaptations over the years, 2007’s animated fantasy film, Beowulf, being a notable example.
In sixth century Denmark, the renowned Geatish warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone) sets out in search of the legendary Grendel (Crispin Glover), an elusive monster terrorizing the kingdom of Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins).
Though it deviates significantly from its source material, Beowulf’s gritty realism adheres closely to the foreboding atmosphere of the original story, featuring first-rate animation, action, and vocal performances from Winston, Glover, Hopkins, and Angelina Jolie, among others.
Family: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023)
After a successful run in theaters, the child-friendly superhero film, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, has debuted on Paramount+ this past month. Currently ranking as one of the most popular movies on the streaming service, it’s a fun, light-hearted adventure film that’s bound to gage the interests of younger viewers in the audience.
Acquiring inexplicable superpowers from a downed meteorite, the members of the PAW Patrol use their newfound abilities to combat the villainous Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo) and his dangerous new accomplice (Taraji P. Henson).
Like its original television counterpart, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie might be geared more intrinsically towards children, but even older viewers will find something to love about this 2023 family film. Between its gorgeous visuals, warm humor, and relatable themes, it’s a first-rate superhero movie fit for audiences of every age group.
Musical: Chicago (2002)
There’s no shortage of stylish films based off of successful Broadway musicals, from macabre horror musicals like The Phantom of the Opera to more melancholic productions like Rent. Following in the footsteps of West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, the dark comedy crime musical Chicago found its way into a film adaptation in 2002.
Hoping to stave off their execution dates as long as possible, two imprisoned murderers (Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones) compete for the attention of national audiences in 1920s Chicago.
Like Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!, Chicago is a dense and vivid musical production, chock full of dark comedy and an exaggerated portrayal of ‘20s Chicago. The first musical to win the Oscar for Best Picture since 1968’s Oliver!, it’s a film that effectively reels you in with its large-scale musical numbers and rich performances (whether Zellweger, Zeta-Jones, or Richard Gere’s).
Animated: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
One of the best family-friendly movies to arrive in theaters this past year, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is also easily the finest adaptation of the TMNT series we’ve seen to date, perfectly encapsulating the wacky adventures of the heroes in the half shell.
Hoping to make a favorable impression for themselves in the eyes of New York City’s residents, the inexperienced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emerge from the sewers, battling an unhinged criminal (Ice Cube) and his vicious gang of mutants.
Taking artistic inspiration from the pop art visuals of Sony’s Spider-Verse series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is propelled forward by its indelible blend of picturesque animation, impressive vocal performances, and laugh-out-loud humor.
Satire: South Park: Joining the Panderverse (2023)
It’s been around eight months since we’ve last seen the raunchy characters of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s expansive animated universe in South Park. Fortunately, the series has since returned with a brand-new Paramount+ special, South Park: Joining the Panderverse.
Awakened from repeated nightmare in which the characters of South Park appear as racially-diverse women, Cartman’s dreams eventually become a reality when he wakes up in this strange alternative version of reality.
In typical South Park fashion, Joining the Panderverse offers a fierce satirization of the cultural politics characterizing American society today, the special taking specific aim at Disney’s recent projects and more critical anti-woke lobbyists.
Black & White: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
There are so many fantastic noir films, it’s almost impossible to know where to start. As worthwhile as certain movies like The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, and Double Indemnity are, a compelling argument can be made in favor of Sunset Boulevard as the definitive entry in the genre.
In desperate need of work, a struggling screenwriter (William Holden) develops a script for a delusional silent film star (Gloria Swanson) hoping to make her grand comeback.
Quite possibly the greatest film penned or directed by Billy Wilder, Sunset Boulevard’s unconventional nature continues to defy preconceived assumptions around the traditional noir narrative. With its otherworldly voiceover, macabre treatment of Hollywood, and Gloria Swanson’s chilling performance, it’s one of the most unforgettable films out of the 1950s.
Sci-Fi: The Truman Show (1998)
Throughout the 1990s, Jim Carrey rose from a marginally well-known cast member on In Living Color to one of the breakout comedians of the decade. With more outright comedic movies like Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura, and The Mask under his belt, Carrey tried to dial into a more dramatic performance with 1998’s The Truman Show, garnering his most favorable response yet from fans and critics alike.
Taking notice of several bizarre incidents in his personal life, an ordinary man (Carrey) begins to suspect that he’s actually the star of a reality TV show that’s been documenting his entire life.
Winning a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his lead role here, The Truman Show proves Carrey’s inherent versatility as an actor, as well as his effortless ability to elicit a more straight-laced performance.
Early Exposure: Citizen Ruth (1996)
This past month, the talented director Alexander Payne released his most recent film, the impeccable ‘70s-themed comedy drama, The Holdovers. Hailed as a return to form for Payne, viewers might want to think about reviewing some of Payne’s previous movies before seeing The Holdovers, be it Election, Nebraska, The Descendants, or 1996’s Citizen Ruth.
After she’s arrested for drug abuse, an opportunistic addict (Laura Dern) learns that she’s pregnant. As she grapples over whether to keep the baby or not, she finds herself in the middle of a ferocious political debate between conservative Evangelicals and women’s rights activists.
Payne’s feature-length debut, Citizen Ruth analyzes a hot-button issue in the American socio-political spectrum–a topic as controversial now as it had been in 1996. Regardless of your individual stance on the movie’s central subject, Citizen Ruth served as a strong first outing for Payne, illustrating the inherent talent he possessed from his initial start in Hollywood onwards.
Classic: Roman Holiday (1953)
While on the subject of romantic comedies, it’s almost impossible to think of a ‘50s-era romcom more lovable than Roman Holiday. A defining film in the development of the romantic comedy as fans know it today, it’s as enjoyable to watch now as it had been upon its original release seven decades ago.
Vacationing in Rome on her own, a traveling princess (Audrey Hepburn) is joined by an American reporter (Gregory Peck) secretly hoping for the inside scoop of a lifetime. As they make their way through the city, it soon becomes clear that their increasingly romantic feelings for each other might outweigh the importance of his news story.
A charming masterpiece from Hollywood’s Golden Age, Roman Holiday is an almost perfect movie through and through, thanks especially to the performances of Hepburn and Peck and the evocative screenplay by John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo.
Thriller: The Machinist (2004)
Suffering from a serious case of insomnia, an industrial machine worker (Christian Bale) begins to question his sanity, his dreams slowly starting to blend with the real world around him.
Most people tend to remember The Machinist for Christian Bale’s awe-inspiring physical transformation. Shedding a total of 62 pounds, Bale weighed in at a gaunt 120 pounds for his role in the film, drawing widespread attention from media outlets for his rather unhealthy metamorphosis.
As commendable as Bale’s commitment to the film is, The Machinist also benefits from strong creative direction, achieving a palpable air of suspense unseen in most other films of its kind. A magnificent psychological thriller with a loyal following of fans, it’s guaranteed to make you cringe in more than a few places.
Sports: Southpaw (2015)
In essence, one might describe Southpaw just as much as a drama than as a sports movie alone. Regardless, the finished film provides a rousing underdog story punctuated by heartbreak and more upbeat moments, detailing one athlete’s rise, fall from grace, and his slow ascension back to the top.
In the wake of his wife’s (Rachel McAdams) sudden death, a world-class boxer (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles to keep his life together. As his performance begins declining in the ring, he also starts to doubt his ability to take care of his young daughter (Oona Laurence).
Though melodramatic at times, Southpaw makes ample use of its talented cast, most especially Gyllenhaal’s stoic central character. A former world champion fallen on imminently hard times, Gyllenhaal’s journey back to the top of the boxing world forms the crux of this inspired 2015 sports drama.
War: Devotion (2022)
One of the best, most underrated films of 2022, Devotion tells the evocative true-story of Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner, two heroes of the Korean War. Overshadowed by the summer blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick (released the same year), it’s every bit as good as Tom Cruise’s latest mainstream action movie, perhaps even more so.
In the early 1950s, a pair of Navy pilots from vastly different backgrounds (Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell) become two of the most decorated pilots in the U.S. military, forming a close friendship with one another through their combat missions together.
Paying careful homage to Brown and Hudner’s real-life experiences in the Korean War, Devotion offers a blessedly fresh take on the war genre, filled with action, suspense, and a judicious representation of the bond amongst soldiers in combat.
Western: McLintock! (1963)
A Western adaptation of Shakespeare starring John Wayne, McLintock! also marks one of the Duke’s rare attempts at a comedy film. Though wrapped around a traditional Western vehicle, McLintock!’s sillier nature sets it apart from most of Wayne’s other Westerns.
In the frontier town of McLintock, a wealthy, powerful rancher (Wayne) uses his influence to keep the peace between the various locals of the community and a group of Indigenous Americans nearby.
With the Duke maintaining graceful comedic and romantic chemistry with a scene-stealing Maureen O’Hara, McLintock! loosely adapts Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, adjusting to a Western locale. Light-hearted and often funny, it also features one of Wayne’s most unique performances.
Underrated: Wonder Boys (2000)
The name Michael Chabon might be familiar to some bookworms in the audience. An award-winning writer of several universally praised novels, Chabon’s 1995 book, Wonder Boys, later served as the inspiration for a feature-length movie in 2000.
As he contends with a severe case of writers’ block, an English professor in Pittsburgh (Michael Douglas) partakes in numerous misadventures around his college campus, from tracking down a coat allegedly worn by Marilyn Monroe to navigating his ailing marriage.
Though a major failure at the box office, Wonder Boys’ superior narrative speaks for itself. A faithful adaptation of Chabon’s original book, Wonder Boys provides a stunning look into the creative process itself, as well as the potential stiflement some artists feel on a creative endeavor.
Richard Chachowski is an entertainment and travel writer who has written for such publications as Wealth of Geeks, Looper, Screen Rant, Fangoria, and Sportskeeda, among many others. He received his BA from The College of New Jersey and has been a professional writer since 2020. His geeky areas of interest include Star Wars, travel writing, horror, video games, comic books, literature, and animation.
Richard has been an avid consumer of movies, television, books, and pop culture since he was four-years-old. Raised on a diverse mix of Clint Eastwood Westerns, Star Wars, sci-fi and horror films, Alan Moore comics, and Stephen King novels, he eventually turned his various passions into a creative outlet, writing about film, television, literature, comics, and gaming for his high school and college newspapers. A traveling enthusiast, Richard has also managed to create a career out of journeying abroad, venturing to such awe-inspiring places as the Sonoran Desert of Mexico, the rainforests of Costa Rica, and the scenic coastline of Haiti. Upon graduating from TCNJ, Richard set his sights on a career in journalism, writing extensively about the art of traveling and the entertainment medium for various online publications. When he’s not busy making his way through The Criterion Collection, he can be found either reading or planning a trip somewhere (preferably someplace with a scenic hiking trail).