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.
You can also read up on Now’s free upgrade to its UI.
The Wild Robot
Pixar may be the studio best known for its tear-jerking animations, but The Wild Robot from DreamWorks will leave you spellbound.
Roz, voiced by Lupita Nyong, is a service robot that becomes stranded on an uninhabited island. To adapt to her surroundings, she begins to bond with nature and takes an orphaned baby goose under her wing.
Wonka
While Gene Wilder’s performance as Willy Wonka is irreplaceable, Timothée Chalamet puts his own charming spin on a younger version of the chocolatier in this 2023 hit.
Created by Paddington writer Paul King and Ghosts alumni Simon Farnaby, Wonka features a stellar cast, a myriad of bizarre sweets and plenty of charm that fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be familiar with. It follows the origin story of Mr Wonka as he sets out to fulfil his dream of owning a chocolate shop.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Ferrari
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.
Sky
Barbie
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.
Warner Bros Discovery
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.
Dune: Part Two
Now has Denis Villeneuve’s epic Dune: Part Two, which features plenty more action and drama than it’s predecessor.
The sci-fi tale is set on the desert planet Arrakis and follows its messiah, Paul Atreides, who joins forces with the Chani and the Fremen to seek revenge against those who conspired against his family.
Along the way, he must contend with prophetic visions that depict a terrible fate for the future if he doesn’t act.
Warner Bros. Discovery / Legendary
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.
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire on Now
While a Godzilla and Kong team-up isn’t exactly the most high-brown cinema, this MonsterVerse flick is the perfect popcorn film, filled with action and plenty of hilarious moments… just take the ‘science’ with a pinch of salt.
When a terrifying threat emerges in the Hollow Earth, King Kong must unite with his former enemy, Godzilla, to protect the planet and ensure the survival of the human race.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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 Fall Guy
Don’t dismiss The Fall Guy because of its poor box office performance. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt shine in this comedy-action flick, which is a love letter to every stunt performer in the film industry.
Colt Seavers quit his role as a stunt double after a life-changing accident. However, when a famous actor disappears mysteriously, he’s pulled back into the work. However, there’s more to this story than he initially thought.
Universal Pictures
Back to the Future
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.
Universal
Baby Driver
With incredible choreography, wild villains and a killer soundtrack, Baby Driver has everything you could want from a heist movie.
Orphan Baby is a ridiculously talented getaway driver and operates under the crime boss, Doc. He hopes that his shift will soon be done, and to ride off into the sunset with his girlfriend, waitress Deborah. However, he’ll have to get through one last mission with some unpredictable and dangerous teammates.
Oppenheimer
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.
Universal Pictures
The Color Purple
Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie is reimagined in this musical by Blitz Bazawule, adapted from the 2005 Broadway show.
Follow the life of Celie (Fantasia Barrino), and her journey to self-love and overcoming trauma. After being torn away from her sister, she endures life with an abusive husband. However, new connections see her build her confidence.
With cathartic original music, this film will stay with you – but be warned, it’s not an easy watch.
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.