September 2025’s Best Streaming Titles: Slow Horses, Your Name, Donnie Darko, E.T., Goodfellas

Matt Damon stars in this thriller based on Robert Ludlum’s 1980 novel about a man who awakens with no memory but soon finds himself the target of the American intelligence community. Luckily, he possesses a set of deadly skills that will come in very handy. Also starring Run Lola Run’s Franka Potente, The Bourne Identity helped kick off the Bourne franchise, which delivered some of the best action/thriller films of the 2000s.

Alfonso Cuarón’s gripping dystopic movie (adapted from the P. D. James novel) is set in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction because of global infertility. It boasts some solid performances, particularly from Clive Owen as a former activist tasked with escorting a young refugee who may hold the key to saving humanity. It also boasts some bravura filmmaking in the form of some brilliant single-shot sequences, including a thrilling car chase.

Starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, and Charles Bronson, The Great Escape is a fictional retelling of an actual escape by British prisoners from a German POW camp 1944. When Allied POWs are transferred to a brutal new camp, they immediately begin making elaborate plans for escape. The Great Escape was a critical and commercial success when it was released in 1963, and has inspired numerous tributes and homages.

When Eleanor Shellstrop ends up in the Good Place after dying, that seems like it should be a good thing. Except Eleanor was a terrible person when she walked the Earth, so why is she in paradise? Thus begins a wild — and wildly hilarious — trip through the afterlife courtesy of the folks who brought you The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The Good Place stars Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, and Ted Danson as the Good Place’s friendly architect.

Apple’s acclaimed spy series returns for another season of mayhem and conspiracies that puts its disgraced agents through the wringer. This time around, the Horses’ resident nerd gets a suspiciously hot new girlfriend, which may or may not be related to a series of bizarre events occurring around the city of London. Slow Horses stars Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, and Jonathan Pryce.

I didn’t really know what to expect the first time I watched Evil Dead 2, but I don’t think I was expecting it to be as over-the-top funny as it is. The legendary Bruce Campbell — in his most iconic role — is Ash Williams, who just wanted a romantic weekend with his girlfriend in a remote cabin, only to find himself facing off against unimaginable evil with nothing but a shotgun, a chainsaw, and a perfect blend of gore and slapstick comedy (read my review).

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.

In an alternate history where Japan is divided between the USA and the Soviet Union, childhood friends Hiroki and Takuya grieve the loss of their friend Sayuri. As they grow older, though, they discover the truth about their friend’s disappearance — which might be linked to a mysterious tower and otherworldly phenomena. Makoto Shinkai’s debut feature is a sci-fi tale about nostalgia, young love, and parallel universes that blends melodrama with stunning artwork and animation (read my review).

Set nine years after the events of the acclaimed TV series, Veronica Mars finds Kristen Bell’s redoubtable sleuth returning to Neptune, California in order to try and clear her former boyfriend of murder charges — and uncovering a web of corruption beneath the town’s idyllic facade. Veronica Mars successfully translated everything that we loved about the series (e.g., colorful characters, witty humor, intriguing mysteries) to the movie format without losing a step.

After it was released in 2016, Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name took Japan by storm. The fantastical story about two teens who swap bodies, and must work together to solve a tragedy that transcends time, quickly became one of the highest grossing Japanese films of all time. Being a Makoto Shinkai film, Your Name is filled with dazzling visuals that go along with its charming and melodramatic storyline (read my review).

When I first saw Donnie Darko after months of anticipation, it felt like writer/director Richard Kelly had somehow tapped directly into my sub-conscious with his fantastical film about a troubled young man who begins to see apocalyptic visions. I found it utterly fascinating and compelling (read my review). Weaving together sci-fi, fantasy, horror, high school angst and melodrama, some wonderfully dark humor, and a killer soundtrack, Donnie Darko is one of the great indie films of all time.

One of the most acclaimed comedies of 2007, Juno walks a potentially problematic line with its story of a 16-year-old high school student who suddenly discovers that she’s pregnant. But it does so with skill, grace, and of course, plenty of laughs as Juno and her family adapt to this new normal. Juno stars Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, and Jason Bateman.

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.

George Clooney gives the performance of a lifetime as Ulysses Everett McGill, a fast-talking convict who escapes from chain gang with a couple of dim-witted fellas (John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson, also great) in search of a treasure. But their search takes them all over Great Depression-era Mississippi, where they land in one hilarious, outlandish scrape after another. As well-known for its gorgeous cinematography as its award-winning soundtrack, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is one of the Coen Brothers’ most beloved films (read my review).

In this time twisty sci-fi actioner, Tom Cruise plays a disgraced soldier who’s quickly killed while trying to defend Earth from mysterious alien invaders — only to discover that he now relives the same day over and over again. Not only does this allow him to become a super-soldier Groundhog Day-style, but it might also be the key to defeating the aliens once and for all. In the hands of a lesser cast and crew, Edge of Tomorrow’s premise could be ridiculous and boring, but that is most certainly not the case here (read my review).

It’s hard to think of a film that’s more universally beloved than Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Inspired by Spielberg’s own imaginary childhood friend, and originally released in 1982, E.T.‘s story of a tiny alien and the young boy who befriends him was an instant hit with critics and audiences alike. It soon became the highest grossing film of all time, a record it held until 1993’s Jurassic Park.

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.

A modern adaptation of Michael Bond’s stories about a marmalade-loving bear who travels from “darkest Peru” to live with the Brown family in England might seem a bit odd. But the truth is, Paddington is an absolute delight of movie. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, and Ben Whishaw as Paddington’s voice, it’s full of good-natured, big-hearted fun as the lovable bear gets into all sorts of adventures while trying to avoid capture by an unhinged taxidermist (Nicole Kidman). The film received widespread critical acclaim, winning “Best Feature” at the British Academy Children’s Awards.

The second season of Netflix’s hit Addams Family spin-off wraps up with a second batch of episodes. The first batch part of season two ended on a cliffhanger with Wednesday injured and a vicious monster on the loose, among other things. Jenna Ortega reprises her role as Wednesday Addams and is joined by a star-studded cast that includes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Billie Piper, Steve Buscemi, Fred Armisen, Christopher Lloyd, and Joanna Lumley.

Alice in Borderland’s second season seemed to wrap things up pretty neatly for Arisu and his friends. Indeed, I even wrote that a second season seemed unlikely. Looks like I spoke too quickly. Having survived the games, Arisu and Usagi are now married and living a relatively peaceful life. But the couple are still haunted by their experiences, and when Usagi is drawn back into the Borderland, Arisu must follow her and rejoin its sadistic games.

One of the very best sci-fi films in recent years, Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival is a thought-provoking film unlike any alien invasion film you’ve seen. When strange alien ships appear around the globe, the military asks a linguist (Amy Adams) to help decipher the alien’s strange language. But as she begins to understand it, the language starts affecting her in mysterious ways. Arrival’s slow pace may frustrate some, but Villeneuve’s direction is masterful, the cinematography is gorgeous, the concepts are fascinating, and Jóhann Jóhannsson’s soundtrack is incredible (read my review).

Guillermo del Toro directed the second film in the Blade series, which finds Wesley Snipes’ vampire hunter teaming up with vampire royalty to fight a menace that threatens both vampire and human society. Blade 2 is a vast improvement over the first Blade movie, thanks to del Toro’s direction and visuals, a hint of body horror, and Donnie Yen’s martial arts choreography. The film also stars Kris Kristofferson, Ron Perlman, and Norman Reedus.

It’s always a risk when talking about The Crow; the tragic on-set death of Brandon Lee has become so interwoven with the movie’s mythos that enjoying it can seem disrespectful. But the fact is that The Crow remains a singular movie of the ’90s, as stylized and goth-y as can be, with intense action and a brooding soundtrack featuring a host of alt-rock superstars (read my review). Lee is absolutely perfect as the titular character, a musician brought back to life to avenge the death of his fiancé, which only adds to the movie’s poignancy.

The premise — actors from a classic sci-fi TV series are kidnapped by aliens who believe the show to be real — makes it sound like Galaxy Quest does nothing but poke fun at all things Star Trek. Which it does, and brilliantly so, but all of its jokes come from a place of love. As a result, it’s the best kind of parody, one that recognizes the inherent silliness of Star Trek while also capturing what makes Star Trek so great in the first place. By Grabthar’s Hammer, indeed.

Shortly after a U.S. senator is assassinated at Seattle’s Space Needle, witnesses to the killing start turning up dead. When one of the remaining witnesses turns to an investigative reporter (Warren Beatty) for help, he’s initially skeptical of her claims — until she ends up dead, as well. Driven to solve her murder, he investigates the mysterious Parallax Corporation, suspecting that a larger conspiracy might be at work. Released just two years after the Watergate scandal blew up Richard Nixon’s presidency, Alan J. Pakula’s The Parallax View is one of the all-time great paranoid thrillers.

I know I seemed a bit harsh on J. J. Abrams in my review of The Rise of Skywalker, but if you want an example of where his nostalgia-driven approach to filmmaking does work, then check out Super 8. An obvious love letter to classic Spielberg films — it was even produced by Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment — Super 8 is nevertheless a fun sci-fi action romp as a group of teenage filmmakers find themselves caught between an alien life form and the military trying to capture it.

Although it was initially dismissed upon its release in 1963, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds has since become one of his most famous films, as well as one of the greatest horror films of all time. The Birds’ story of birds rising up and terrorizing California individuals was partly inspired by a real-life event in 1961, when residents of Capitola, California were suddenly attacked by crazed seabirds.

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.

Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut is a stylish and bloody film about a group of thieves trying to find the mole in their midst after a heist goes wrong. Reservoir Dogs features all of the usual Tarantino-isms — whip-smart (and profane) dialog, pop culture references, non-linear storylines — and has been called the “greatest independent film of all time” by some.

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).

After a group of American scientists stationed in Antarctica uncover evidence of an alien life form, they find their lives endangered when it begins absorbing and emulating them. Directed by John Carpenter and boasting stomach-churning creature effects, The Thing was derided by critics and experienced only middling success at the box office. In subsequent years, though, it’s been reassessed as one of the greatest and most influential sci-fi and horror films of all time.

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.

Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s The City of Lost Children is a bizarre and visually stunning fairy tale set in a seaside town filled with dream-obsessed mad scientists, cyborg cultists, circus strongmen, and trained fleas — and that just barely scratches the surface of this beguiling film. Featuring costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier and music by Angelo Badalamenti, The City of Lost Children is a truly unique film and a classic of steampunk cinema.

Neil Gaiman’s darkly fantastical storytelling and Henry Selick’s stop-motion animation are a match made in movie heaven. Coraline’s titular heroine dreams of a nicer, more magical home — which is exactly what she gets when she discovers a portal to another world. Of course, given that this is Neil Gaiman we’re talking about, things soon get dark and weird, and Selick’s clever visuals are a perfect tool for conveying that (read my review).

Starring the voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is a fanciful fairy tale about a young man who accidentally finds himself married to, well, a corpse. It’s certainly macabre and spooky, but what else would you expect from a Tim Burton film?

There are certain movies that, if I ever come across them playing on the TV, I will stop everything I’m doing and watch them. Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element is one such movie, with its sci-fi tale about a great evil that can only be stopped by a young woman. Packed to the gills with stunning visuals and set design, as well as an intriguing mythology all its own and a manic sense of energy, The Fifth Element is a blast to watch.

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.

This is one of those movies that I’ll pull up every now and then just because it’s so solidly made and entertaining (read my review). Based on the best-selling Tom Clancy novel about an experimental Russian submarine, and starring Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery, The Hunt for Red October is classic Cold War action/intrigue that is eminently watchable. (But what else would you expect from director John McTiernan?)

In this dark fantasy film by Guillermo del Toro, a young girl in 1940s-era Spain encounters a mystical creature who promises her immortality in exchange for completing several tasks. Is this really happening, or is it just her imaginative way of coping with the violence and brutality surrounding her? Filled with gorgeous visuals, imaginative creatures, and fantastical effects, Pan’s Labyrinth is arguably Del Toro’s finest movie to date (read my review).

Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) lives in a lovely little town, he has a lovely wife, and his life seems perfect and idyllic in every way. But unbeknownst to Truman, he’s actually the star of the world’s most popular reality TV show, and has been ever since birth. But a series of events soon arouse Truman’s suspicions that his world isn’t all that he thought it was, and he begins rebelling against his existence even as the show’s producers try to rein him in (read my review).