Paramount+ Has Some Incredible Movies You're Missing Out On
If you're anything like us, you're probably a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of streaming services currently available on the market. How do you choose which to subscribe to and which to pass on, with so many options at your fingertips? It likely comes down to a few factors, like what exactly you want to watch, the size of the library, and the monthly cost.
If you're looking to watch a lot of movies all on the same platform, consider Paramount+, formerly known as CBS All Access, is an excellent option to consider. The streaming service's film library is varied and growing larger with each day that passes. Whether you're looking to indulge yourself in older classic films or you want to marathon a number of "Star Trek" movies over the weekend, Paramount+ has a good selection of films and TV shows to add to your list. We scoured their library and picked out five excellent movie options to get you started.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," the third film of the popular franchise starring Harrison Ford as Henry Jones Jr., a professor of archaeology and heroic adventurer, is a perfect blend of comedy and action, arguably making it the most rewatchable of the movies. The 1989 film finds Indy embarking on an adventure to find the legendary Holy Grail after his father, a medieval scholar played to perfection by the late Sean Connery, has gone missing in pursuit of it.
The father-son relationship at the heart of "The Last Crusade" adds a new dynamic to the action franchise, revealing its charismatic hero's backstory and how he actually came to be the Indiana Jones we know and love. Featuring a narrative that's slightly more accessible than that of the other films, the movie is ultimately carried by the chemistry and rapport of its two leading men, and it's a shame we never got to see them put their comedy routine on display again. Thankfully, we can just re-watch this movie over and over again and never grow tired of it.
Better Luck Tomorrow
Justin Lin might be best known for his work on the uber-popular Fast & Furious film series, but before the director sunk his teeth into the adrenaline-fueled action franchise that will outlive us all, he directed "Better Luck Tomorrow." The 2002 film, which Lin also co-wrote, follows a group of Asian American teens as they engage in petty crime and begin selling answer keys to tests to their fellow students.
The cast of the film includes several familiar faces, including John Cho and Jason Tobin, the latter of whom currently stars in the Cinemax action drama "Warrior," which is also executive produced by Lin. However, the real reason to check out "Better Luck Tomorrow" is Sung Kang, whose character, Han, goes on to become a recurring character in the "Fast & Furious" franchise beginning with the third film, "Tokyo Drift." Basically, you can look at "Better Luck Tomorrow" as the character's origin story, so if you're a fan of Lin and you're a fan of the franchise, this is a must-see movie.
The Faculty
The '90s were an excellent time for teen movies as well as horror films, and "The Faculty," which essentially combined the two genres into one movie, might be one of the most underrated releases of the era. Starring Elijah Wood, Josh Hartnett, Jordana Brewster, and several more familiar faces, the sci-fi horror film, which was written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Robert Rodriguez, is set at a small high school in Ohio that becomes infected and overrun by a parasitic alien queen (Laura Harris).
A teen-centric homage to classic sci-fi films like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," the movie is memorable for the way it merges smart comedy and camp with the thrills and fear of an alien invasion to tell a story about isolation and the pressure of fitting in during high school. "The Faculty" knows exactly what it is, and that's a fun movie that deserves to be revisited.
Clue
If comedy is what you're looking for, "Clue" is the only answer. The cult film, which is based on the popular murder mystery board game of the same name, is a black comedy that has grown in popularity since its initial release, which featured movie theaters receiving one of three possible endings for the film. The gimmick makes sense given the movie's origins but it probably works a lot better in the world of streaming than it did back in the '80s.
With a star-studded cast that includes Tim Curry, Michael McKean, Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn, and Eileen Brennan, among others, the 1985 film is memorable for its campiness and over-the-top slapstick. Part of the fun, at least for first-timers, is trying to figure out who committed the murder at the heart of the film, while subsequent viewings are spent trying to find the clues. The truth is that "Clue" is just an exceptionally silly movie that keeps growing on you the more times you watch it.
Almost Famous
Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical film "Almost Famous," about a teenage journalist for "Rolling Stone" in the 1970s, is both a coming-of-age film and an ode to rock music that expertly captures the essence and feel of the era. The film stars Patrick Fugit as William Miller, a Crowe stand-in who follows the fictional rock band Stillwater, led by Billy Crudup's Russell Hammond, around the country while also trying to land his first cover story.
Easily one of the best movies of the 2000s, "Almost Famous" was nominated for four Academy Awards, with Crowe eventually winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. While the writing was sharp and the music memorable, the film also featured a star-studded and exceptionally talented cast, which included a breathtaking Kate Hudson as Penny Lane, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose portrayal of real-life journalist and critic Lester Bangs remains a high point of the film.