February 2026’s Best Streaming Titles: The Big Lebowski, The Muppet Show, In the Mood for Love, When Harry Met Sally, Oldboy

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore star in this romantic comedy about a man who falls for a woman with amnesia, and strives to win her heart despite her memory issues. 50 First Dates also stars Rob Schneider, Dan Aykroyd, Maya Rudolph, and Sean Astin in a hilarious turn as a steroid-abusing bodybuilder. The film was a commercial success in 2004 and spawned remakes in India, Japan, Iran, and Mexico.

Dr. Buckaroo Banzai is many things: physicist, neurosurgeon, test pilot, rock star. He’ll need all of those talents, as well as his brave comrades in the Hong Kong Cavaliers, to save Earth from the evil Red Lectroids, who’ve been trapped in the 8th dimension by the Black Lectroids of Planet 10. If any part of that description sounds like the best movie ever, then you’ve probably already watched this multiple times. If you haven’t, then you’re in for a treat: Buckaroo Banzai is cult cinema par excellence.

Make yourself a White Russian and get ready to spend some time with the Dude… I’ll admit, the first time I watched The Big Lebowski, I kind of hated it. It seemed so directionless and pointless. But then I realized that it’s more about the characters and their interactions then any standard plot (though one does exist). The movie boasts a number of classic scenes, from the discussion about the importance of rugs to a discussion about nihilism. Oh, and the trippiest bowling dream sequence in cinema history.

Featuring cinema’s most infamous wood chipper scene, the Coen brothers’ Fargo is yet another twisted moral tale told with a sense of humor as black as the film’s wintry setting is white. When a hapless car salesman (played to perfection by William H. Macy) contracts with a couple of goons to hold his wife for ransom, he sets in a motion a twisted tragicomedy of errors that pulls in one of the Coens’ noblest and purest heroes, police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand).

On its surface, RoboCop seems like a pretty straightforward action/sci-fi movie: dedicated cop gets gunned down by vicious thugs and is reborn as an unstoppable cybernetic enforcer. But this being a Paul Verhoeven movie, it’s no surprise that RoboCop also packs a darkly satirical edge that skewers corporate greed.

Sherlock Holmes has been endlessly reinvented over the years, so why not give Guy Ritchie a turn? Ritchie brings his noted visual style to the world’s most famous detective, with Robert Downey Jr. starring as Holmes and Jude Law as his right-hand man, Doctor Watson. Together, the inimitable duo must defeat an aristocratic killer whose experiments in blending science and the occult appear to have brought him back from the dead.

Although the first season of Cross had its issues — mainly, too many twists and revelations in its final act — but it was nevertheless a very promising start. Aldis Hodge reprises his role as Detective Alex Cross, who specializes in digging into the deepest and darkest recesses of the human psyche. This time around, Cross must protect a billionaire (Matthew Lillard) who’s been receiving death threats. The second season also stars Alona Tal and Isaiah Mustafa.

Priyanka Chopra stars in this Amazon Prime original as a former pirate who fled her crew for a peaceful life and a new family. But her new life is threatened when her former captain, played by Karl Urban, comes looking for revenge. I’m always up for some swashbuckling, though this film — which also stars Ismael Cruz Córdova and Temuera Morrison — looks to be a good deal bloodier than, say, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Godzilla and Kong show up in the second season of Apple’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. However, the arrival of a new creature called Titan X from another world means that they might no longer be at the top of the food chain. Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, and Anna Sawai return for season two, along with Takehiro Hira, Amber Midthunder, and The Expanse’s Dominique Tipper.

Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the Muppets gang are back with an all-new TV special filmed at the Muppet Theatre where it all began. Joining them will be special guests Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen.

When two neighbors in a bustling apartment complex discover that their spouses are having an affair, they’re initially at a loss. But as they spend more time together and try to understand their spouses’ infidelity, they begin to fall in love, as well, challenging their own notions of love and fidelity. Perfectly capturing the look of ’60s-era Hong Kong, and featuring amazing performances by Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking films you’re ever likely to see (read my review).

2014’s Paddington was an absolute delight of a film, following a young marmalade-loving bear’s adventures in London, and his unlikely adoption by a family there. And dare I say that Paddington 2 is an even bigger delight, filled with heart and laughs as our titular ursine hero is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and sent to jail — where his upbeat spirit begins changing his fellow inmates for the better. Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Hugh Grant’s scene-stealing performance as a washed up actor whose ego far exceeds his talent.

Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz star as a pair of bounty hunters who travel through the pre-Civil War South to track down outlaws and find Foxx’s wife. Which inevitably brings them into conflict with Calvin J. Candie, a vicious and vile slaveowner. Django Unchained has the usual blend of clever dialog and ultra-violence one expects from a Quentin Tarantino movie, but with the added bonus of watching Foxx and Waltz take out plantations and slaveowners. The movie also stars Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, and Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie.

In this supernatural comedy classic from 1984, Bill Murray leads a group of intrepid paranormal investigators who quickly find themselves in over their heads when an ancient god of destruction threatens New York with eternal doom. Ghostbusters also stars Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, and Rick Moranis.

Sing (Stephen Chow) has one dream in life: to become a member of the feared Axe Gang. But when he encounters a group of reclusive and unlikely martial artists, he’s slowly begins to realize that he could be something more. But not without plenty of hijinks — this is a Stephen Chow movie, after all. Coming on the heels of Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle went even further into CGI-fuelled leaps of martial arts slapstick. While Shaolin Soccer is the better film overall, Kung Fu Hustle still has plenty of hilarious delights all its own.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star as a suburban couple whose marriage is on the rocks. But given that they’re rival assassins tasked with killing each other, it’s going to take more than just a few sessions of couple’s therapy. Directed by Doug Liman, Mr. & Mrs. Smith was one of 2005’s highest grossing films thanks to its blend of action, humor, romance, and of course, Pitt and Jolie’s star power.

One of the all-time great romantic comedies, When Harry Met Sally follows its titular couple over the course of several years as they grow up, get careers, fall in and out of love, and make terrible mistakes. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan give classic performances as the two leads, a pair of unlikely friends in a “will they or won’t they” relationship. The film also stars Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby, and was written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner.

When a low-ranking programmer is offered a weeklong visit with his company’s reclusive and brilliant founder, it seems like a dream come true. Shortly upon arriving, however, he discovers the true reason for his visit: to test an artificially intelligent robot. Starring Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander, and written and directed by Alex Garland (Annihilation, Devs), Ex Machina is one of the most acclaimed sci-fi films of the ’00s.

Based on Cressida Cowell’s popular children’s books, How to Train Your Dragon is set in a world where Vikings live under constant threat of dragon attack. But when the chieftain’s young son befriends the most fearsome dragon of all, he discovers the truth about dragonkind — a truth that he must use to save both his village and his newfound friend from a common enemy. A massive success when it was released in 2010, How to Train Your Dragon was followed by two sequels and inspired multiple TV series and video games.

When it comes to over-the-top, special effects-filled, big screen spectacle, it doesn’t get much better than Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day. Yes, Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum taking on an alien invasion may require you to suspend your disbelief higher and longer than you’d like to, especially if you’re concerned about, say, the science of the movie’s events. But if you do, you’re in for a whole lot of explosion-filled, world-saving, alien-busting fun.

The Von Erich clan dominated the Texas wrestling scene throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, but the close-knit family is seemingly hounded by a curse — and their father’s demanding nature only makes things worse. Written and directed by Sean Durkin and starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Holt McCallany, and Lily James, The Iron Claw received widespread acclaim from critics, and more importantly, from folks within the wrestling community.

This seemed like the most unlikely adaptation, but it’s actually quite a delightful little cult comedy, due in large part to the film’s casting. Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston are perfect as Gomez and Morticia Addams, but it’s Christina Ricci’s deadpan portrayal of Wednesday Addams that steals the show. Behind the scenes, the film was quite a difficult production, hampered by illness, technical issues, and studio gaffes. But you’d never notice that from the film’s manic energy.

When a young princess (Audrey Hepburn) escapes her strict routine in order to explore Rome, she crosses paths with an American journalist (Gregory Peck) who sees her as the scoop of a lifetime. But as the two spend time together, sparks inevitably fly, leading them to a fateful decision. When people think of “classic” Hollywood movies, William Wyler’s Roman Holiday is at the top of the list, and for good reason. Easily one of the most charming movies ever made (read my review), it’s an utter delight, with Hepburn and Peck delivering wonderful performances and joyous chemistry against a gorgeous Rome backdrop.

Featuring Will Ferrell in the part he was born to play, Anchorman takes us back to the halcyon days of the ’70s, when well-coiffed newscasters ruled the airwaves and told us what we needed to know. Chief among these men is Ron Burgundy, whose reign is threatened when a woman becomes his co-anchor.

In this stylish 1998 thriller from director Tony Scott, a lawyer (Will Smith) finds himself in the middle of a political conspiracy involving the murder of a U.S. congressman. His only hope is a paranoid communications specialist (Gene Hackman, in a role reminiscent of his acclaimed performance in The Conversation). Enemy of the State has been criticized for both its depiction of the NSA and for influencing Americans to be more accepting of government surveillance.

This classic Adam Sandler comedy from 1996 stars Sandler as a wannabe hockey player who discovers a secret talent at playing golf — which comes in handy when he needs to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure. Needless to say, Happy Gilmore’s unorthodox playing raises the ire of professional golfers, most notably Shooter McGavin (played with slimy glee by Christopher McDonald). Happy Gilmore also stars Carl Weathers as Happy’s one-handed coach and The Price Is Right’s Bob Barker in a truly glorious cameo.

In this wonderfully executed heist movie by Spike Lee, an unorthodox hostage negotiator (Denzel Washington) finds himself squaring off against an equally unorthodox thief (Clive Owen) in a bank robbery where nothing is what it seems. The film’s star-studded cast also includes Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Coming after the brilliance that was Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown seemed pretty reserved, even underwhelming. Tarantino’s adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch is arguably his most understated film, but it features the absolutely dynamite pairing of Robert Forster as a world weary bail bondsman and blaxploitation queen Pam Grier as the titular stewardess who sets out to double-cross a violent gun runner.

Derek Zoolander used to be the world’s top model, but when he’s replaced by younger, cooler model, he hits rock bottom — and lands in the middle of a conspiracy to assassinate a foreign leader who threatens the fashion industry’s reliance on child labor. Written and directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars as the titular supermodel, this satire of the fashion industry features cameos from numerous fashion legends including Tyson Beckford, Tom Ford, Fabio, Tommy Hilfiger, Heidi Klum, and Karl Lagerfeld.

James Cameron is best known for the Terminator and Avatar movies, but of all his movies, I’ve probably watched The Abyss the most. This movie about deep sea workers who find themselves trapped at the bottom of the ocean between the military and an amazing discovery is filled with groundbreaking special effects, amazing attention to detail, intense disaster sequences, and some excellent performances from an ensemble cast. It’s also infamous for its grueling production, which found cast and crew coming to blows and suffering mental breakdowns from the stress.

Originally, Rick Moranis was supposed to star in this slapstick comedy as the titular pet detective. Other names bandied about for the role included Judd Nelson, Alan Rickman, and even Whoopi Goldberg. But then the film’s producer noticed Jim Carrey’s performance in In Living Color, and the rest is history. When Miami Dolphins’ beloved mascot is kidnapped, it’s up to Ace Ventura to track the cetacean down — only to find himself caught up in a bizarre murder mystery.

In this melancholy and meditative sci-fi film by South Korean filmmaker Kogonada, a family grapples with the potential death of their robot Yang, who has become like a son and brother to them. As the father (Colin Farrell) seeks a fix for Yang, he discovers secrets from the robot’s past that reveal a much more complicated existence. Thanks to its deft handling of heady themes like the relationship between humans and technology, After Yang was widely acclaimed upon its release — read my review — and has been called one of the best sci-fi films of the 21st century.

An incredibly gut-wrenching depiction of how racism and hatred corrupts, American History X stars Edward Norton as a former neo-Nazi who, upon leaving jail, attempts to prevent his younger brother from making the same mistakes he did. Director Tony Kaye disowned American History X due to studio tinkering but there’s no denying the film’s power, especially Norton’s performance.

One of the greatest action movies of all time, period (read my review). Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, a sardonic detective from New York who’s visiting his estranged wife in Los Angeles for a Christmas party at her office. And then, wouldn’t you know it, a bunch of terrorists break up the party and hold everyone hostage. It’s up to McClane to take on the terrorists — who are led by Alan Rickman at his most suave — armed with little more than some one-liners. Suffice to say, the terrorists don’t stand a chance.

My wife loves a good heist movie, and this 2003 remake starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, and more is one of her favorites. And it’s easy to see why: the movie is by turns fast-paced, engaging, and suspenseful, the cast looks like they’re having the time of their lives, and it has some awesome car chases. What more could you ask for from a heist movie?

All Dewey Finn wants to be is a rock star. Unfortunately, his antics have left him without a band and soon, without a place to live. But when he impersonates his roommate to land a teaching gig at a prestigious prep school, he discovers that the school is home to musical prodigies. Suddenly, his dreams of stardom seem more attainable than ever… so long as no one finds out that he’s not actually a teacher. Directed by Richard Linklater and starring Jack Black in one of his best roles, School of Rock is a deeply satisfying comedy about the power of rock n’ roll.

Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott, True Romance is a perfect example of style over substance. Filled with Tarantino’s trademark pop culture-saturated dialog (e.g., kung fu movies, Elvis, blaxploitation) and bravura performances from the likes of Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, and Gary Oldman, True Romance also happens to features one of my favorite movie scenes of all time.

One night, Oh Dae-su was abducted and held hostage in a single room, only to be suddenly released with no explanation 15 years later. Determined to find his abductors, who also framed him for his wife’s murder, and get revenge, Dae-su embarks on a violent journey through the Korean underworld. However, the secrets that he’ll uncover may undo him forever. The second part in Park Chan-wook’s “Vengeance” trilogy is a stylish, and oh-so-bloody, revenge thriller with Shakespearean levels of drama and intrigue, and it’s driven by Choi Min-sik’s raw performance (read my review).