July 2024’s Best Streaming Titles: Taxi Driver, Aliens, Babe, Lost, Jurassic Park

1996’s Bottle Rocket may have been Wes Anderson’s first film, but even then, his aesthetic was pretty well-established in this story about a group of hapless would-be thieves whose plans all go awry. Bottle Rocket was also the acting debut for Luke and Owen Wilson, who would become regular members of Anderson’s retinue.

In this pitch-black comedy by Stanley Kubrick, America is faced with the threat of nuclear combat when an American general decides to preemptively attack the Soviet Union in order to protect Americans’ precious bodily fluids. Meanwhile, the President confers with his frantic — and increasingly ineffectual — staff in the Pentagon War Room. Starring Peter Sellers in three roles, George C. Scott, James Earl Jones, and Slim Pickens as Major T. J. “King” Kong, Dr. Strangelove is widely considered one of the greatest comedy films of all time.

The third film in Sergio Leone’s “Dollars” trilogy, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly finds three gunslingers — Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach — racing against time and each other to find a hidden cache of Confederate gold in the midst of the Civil War. Leone’s film was notable for its striking cinematography and stylized violence, as well as Ennio Morricone’s iconic theme. Although critics initially dismissed it upon its release in 1966, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly is now considered one of the greatest films of all time, and the definitive spaghetti Western (read my review).

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator was one of 2000’s biggest and most successful films, thanks to an epic plot, incredible special effects, and thrilling action sequences (read my review). Russell Crowe stars as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a disgraced Roman general who is enslaved and forced to compete in Rome’s brutal gladiatorial exhibitions. Gladiator also stars Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed (in his final film appearance), Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, and Joaquin Phoenix as the corrupt Roman emperor.

In this delightful film by Frank Capra, a young man (Jimmy Stewart) is sent to Washington D.C. to take up a newly vacant seat on the U.S. Senate. Initially seen as an easily manipulated country bumpkin, his idealism soon starts making waves in Congress. Upon release, the film’s portrayal of the U.S. Congress as corrupt and ineffective was deemed anti-American. These days, however, we know Congress is ineffective, and Capra’s film might just make you yearn for more elected leaders with idealism and moral courage.

Martin Scorsese’s dark tale about a mentally unstable cab driver who slowly succumbs to insanity as he drives through New York City’s slimy underbelly is one of the all-time great films, thanks to an iconic performance by Robert De Niro, Scorsese’s assured direction, and Bernard Herrmann’s harrowing soundtrack (his final composition before he died).

“Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family.” And so begins Danny Boyle’s riotous Trainspotting, which follows the lives of several drug addicts slumming around Edinburgh, Scotland. Filled with solid performances by the likes of Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle, a bleaker-than-bleak sense of humor, Boyle’s trademark visuals, and an awesome soundtrack (e.g., Iggy Pop, Brian Eno, Underworld), Trainspotting isn’t the easiest film to watch, but its energy and verve are undeniable.

Rashida Jones stars in this Apple original about a widow grieving the deaths of her husband and son, who disappeared in a mysterious plane crash. When a domestic robot named Sunny is given to her as a gift, though, she begins to question what really happened to her family and the truth of her husband’s job at an electronics company. Adapted from Colin O’Sullivan’s Dark Manual.

Based on Terry Gilliam’s madcap 1981 fantasy film of the same name, this Apple original series follows a young history nerd who gets the history lesson of a lifetime when he falls in with a group of time traveling thieves led by Lisa Kudrow. The series was created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, which is probably reason enough to give it a spin; if anyone can recapture Gilliam’s unique spark, it’s probably those two.

Ridley Scott’s original Alien was as much a horror movie as it was a sci-fi flick. But with Aliens, director James Cameron decided to throw in lots of action, as well. Set nearly 60 years after the original film, Aliens finds Ellen Ripley returning to the moon where the xenomorphs were first encountered in order to investigate why the human colony there has gone silent. Joining her are a colorful bunch of Colonial Marines, and they’ll need all of the firepower they can muster to deal with what awaits them.

Given his work with Keegan-Michael Key on the beloved sketch show Key & Peele, it would only make sense to expect Jordan Peele’s directorial debut to be a work of comedy. Instead, he delivered one of the most acclaimed horror films in recent memory. After a young Black man meets his white girlfriend’s upper-class family, he begins to notice strange behavior and soon finds himself caught up in a nefarious conspiracy. Get Out was a commercial and critical success, winning a “Best Original Screenplay” Oscar for Peele.

A western movie starring Jackie Chan could’ve gone wrong in all kinds of ways. But thanks to his chemistry with co-star Owen Wilson, this buddy action comedy is quite the enjoyable ride, as Chan plays a Chinese imperial guard who travels to the United States to help retrieve a princess after she’s kidnapped by a traitor. Not surprisingly, there’s plenty of culture clash comedy in Shanghai Noon, but when mixed with Chan’s inimitable stunt work and choreography, it makes for a fun little romp.

Colter Stevens has been tasked with preventing a terrorist bombing. To do so, he must relive the last eight minutes before the bombing over and over again. But what begins as a military simulation is slowly revealed to be something much stranger and more disturbing. Directed by Duncan Jones (Mute, Moon) and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farmiga, Source Code is a sci-fi thriller with some interesting twists and philosophical ideas.

Kids on Fire School of Ministry is a summer camp where Christian kids go to learn how to better proselytize others into their faith. With numerous interviews and footage, Jesus Camp explores the controversy surrounding the camp’s teachings in a surprisingly even-handed manner (read my review). I saw this documentary with some friends many years ago, and it led to a really interesting discussion concerning our own upbringing in the evangelical Christian church, and the ways in which our adult faith has evolved and now differs from the faith of our childhood.

Baa-ram-ewe! Baa-ram-ewe! The Citizen Kane of talking pig pictures, as one critic called it, will start streaming as soon as the new month rolls around. I plan on watching it with my kids, and all the while, I’ll try to wrap my mind around the fact that the man responsible for this charming little film is the same deranged genius who gave us Mad Max.

Chinatown may be overshadowed by the crimes committed by its director, Roman Polanski. Which is a shame, because Chinatown is considered one of the greatest movies, and certainly one of the greatest noir movies, of all time. A private investigator (Jack Nicholson) finds himself in a political conspiracy involving California water rights in the ’30s, only to discover an even deeper and more disturbing mystery.

With its story about a young boy who can see dead people, The Sixth Sense is the movie that put writer/director M. Night Shyamalan on the map. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the movie features Haley Joel Osment in one of the best child actor performances of all time, and a solid supporting cast that includes Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, and Olivia Williams. And of course, one heckuva twist ending that blew audiences’ minds back in 1999 — and is still pretty effective even after multiple viewings (read my review).

In the pantheon of DC characters, few are as weird and seemingly pointless as Kite Man, a supervillain whose only power is that he’s really good at flying… with the help of a giant kite. But the character’s become something of a cult favorite, and has appeared in several animated series, including Harley Quinn. And now, he’s branching out into his own series, where he runs a bar frequented by Gotham City’s lowlifes. And, presumably, keeps up with his kite-flying.

In this classic time travel movie, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) accidentally ends up in the year 1955 courtesy of a souped up, plutonium-powered DeLorean. His shock upon arriving in the past is compounded when he meets his parents as teenagers, his future mother falls for him, and he squares off against the school bully. Since its 1985 release, Back to the Future has become a pop culture phenomena, inspiring video games, a theme park ride, and even a stage musical.

When Oceanic Flight 815 crashes on a remote island, the survivors think it’s only a matter of time until their rescued. Until they begin experiencing the island’s strange and ominous phenomena. Employing an elaborate (and convoluted) mythology, a large cast of characters, and an intricate narrative filled with flashbacks, Lost was must-see viewing when it debuted on ABC back in 2004, and its many mysteries inspired countless theories and water cooler discussions during the course of its six seasons.

Along with Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland is proof that the best zombie movies are those that blend their undead gore with comedy. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin as a ragtag group of survivors of the zombie apocalypse — oh, and Bill Murray in an inspired cameo — Zombieland is proof that you can find plenty to laugh about while watching the end of civilization.

With 2017’s Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Studio Ponoc established themselves as a potential successor to the legendary Studio Ghibli. Their latest film, The Imaginary, is based on A.F. Harrold’s 2014 novel and chronicles the adventures of an imaginary friend and the young girl who created him. The film was released in Japanese theaters last December, and has since garnered considerable critical acclaim.

Although Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy could be considered the gold standard of live action Batman adaptations, Tim Burton’s take on the Caped Crusader is not without its merits. It’s gaudy, gothic, and hyper-stylized; boasts some scenery chewing of the finest sort courtesy of Jack Nicholson’s Joker; and has a funky Prince soundtrack to boot.

Based on the ’60s-era TV show of the same name, The Fugitive follows a man (Harrison Ford) who is wrongly accused of killing his wife, and goes on the run to prove his innocence. The film was a critical and commercial success, thanks to strong performances by Ford and Tommy Lee Jones as the U.S. Marshal trying to bring him in, some impressive action sequences, and a suspenseful plot. Trivia: The Fugitive was the first American film screened in China in decades.

Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic is based on the true story of Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta), a mob associate who eventually became an FBI informant. The film follows Hill’s introduction to the mob life, and his rise and fall in the gang through the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. The film was nominated for multiple Oscars, eventually winning “Best Supporting Actor” for Joe Pesci’s performance as the unhinged Tommy DeVito.

Scientists figure out a way to clone extinct dinosaurs, and the first thing they do? Why, create an amusement park on a remote island, of course. What can go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out, and it’s up to some paleontologists and Jeff Goldblum’s chaos mathematician to find a way to survive when life, uh, finds a way. Jurassic Park is a summer blockbuster in the best way possible.

This entertaining documentary chronicles the efforts of a video game aficionado striving to achieve the highest score ever on Donkey Kong. What seems like a rather straightforward task, however, is quickly complicated by jealousy, hypocrisy, and secret rivalries.

It’s no Blazing Saddles or Spaceballs, but I have a certain fondness for Mel Brooks’ send-up of everyone’s favorite forest outlaw. Casting Cary Elwes as Robin Hood was a stroke of genius (and not just because he can speak with an English accent), and the rest of the cast — which includes Richard Lewis, Dave Chappelle, Dom DeLuise, and Patrick Stewart(!) — is game for the non-stop parade of sight gags and juvenile humor.

One of the all-time great sci-fi action movies, The Terminator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role he was born to play: an unstoppable killing machine from the future. His mission? Killing the mother of the child who will grow up to lead humanity in the war against the machines. With its ground-breaking special effects and intense storyline, The Terminator has influenced countless films, and has even been added to the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot as the Amazonian princess, Wonder Woman remains my favorite DC movie (read my review). Set during World War I, the film finds Diana of Themyscira venturing into the broader world in order to slay a great evil and stop “the war to end all wars.” The film is filled with the expected superhero hijinks and effects-filled battles, but it’s also filled with heart thanks to the performances of Gadot and her co-star Chris Pine, who plays her unlikely love interest.