Stream Dream

By Peyton Schultze 

Pixar’s Onward is just one of the must-watch films to tune into over select streaming services while you’re stuck at home (via WDW News Today).

Bored at home and looking to binge watch an entire collection of movies? With Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video shining bright as the streaming saviors for those stuck at home in quarantine, there’s plenty of time to sit back, relax, and watch a movie you may have seen before. Or a movie that you’ve seen a hundred times, but never stop getting a kick out of it. Or a movie that you never had a chance to finish, but now have all the time in the world right now. Whatever the case may be, the global pandemic has at least allowed many around the world to be exposed to a vast collection of material on these streaming services, both good and bad. With that in mind, here are some movie recommendations to stream while you’re in quarantine right now.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (Netflix)

The spectacular Spielberg action film remains as fun and enjoyable as ever, even around 40 years after its release (via FilmGrab).

Each of the Indiana Jones films has its own sprinkle of nostalgia and pure movie magic, but Raiders of the Lost Ark still holds up as one of the most fun movies of all-time. With massive boulders, lost artifacts, epic fight sequences, and plenty of memorable scenes with Harrison Ford shining bright as one of the most famous movie characters ever, the film starts off from the opening gun and never looks back. If you’re looking for some kind of energy jolt to recover your sense of adventure right now, look no further than the Steven Spielberg classic.

The Naked Gun (Netflix)

If you’re looking for a hilarious film to kick back and watch, The Naked Gun is an excellent choice (via UMass Lowell Connector).

Leslie Nielsen’s comedic chops never really came into the limelight until Airplane!, but they really start to take off in The Naked Gun. The entire series is available on Netflix, but the original one is one of the funniest pictures over the last several decades. From the mind of director David Zucker, the film takes off and is able to land nearly every gag, making it one of the most watchable films to stream while stuck at home during this time.

Inglorious Basterds (Netflix)

Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 World War II adventure is a cinematic masterpiece in storytelling (via Common Sense Media).

Other Tarantino classics like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs are likely to receive more acclaim, but Inglorious Basterds is as fun of watch as anything on Netflix. With plenty of spectacular dialogue and one of the best movie villains in the past 20 years, the Nazi-killing epic also happens to be one of the most unique films, taking on an alternative history that would have had potential to change the course of life forever. The Allies might have saved the day in real life, but movies save the world in this timeline from the mind of the famous director.

Parasite (Hulu)

February’s Best Picture winner is a true stunner in one of the most suspenseful films in recent memory (via National Review).

You’ve probably already heard plenty of the hype about February’s Best Picture winner, but Hulu is now presenting the opportunity to witness this immediate classic for yourself. Bong Joon-ho’s shining achievement is one of the most advanced examples of storytelling in the past 5 years, displaying a poor family’s mischievous scheme in an attempt to swindle money and comfort from a wealthy family in South Korea. The film takes some radical twists as it nears its end, and there is no film available right now that will start to stir more paranoia about your own basement at home.

Spider-Man (Hulu)

Tobey Maguire’s original outing as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is just as enjoyable today as it was upon its release close to 20 years ago (via Letterboxd.com).

Maybe you’ve grown up with the Andrew Garfield or Tom Holland versions of Marvel’s most famous character, but there’s no denying the fun in Tobey Maguire’s first appearance as Peter Parker. With a fast-moving pace throughout, 2002’s Spider-Man is surprisingly funny, full of young and rising actors, and has plenty of upbeat action that keep viewers locked in on the battle between Spidey and the Green Goblin. The first installment of the franchise may eventually have been overshadowed by Spider-Man 2 and the current films in the MCU slate, but the original film is certainly worth another watch 18 years after its release.

Onward (Disney+)

Its’ theatrical release was cut short due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that Pixar’s newest film isn’t a true delight for viewers (via USA Today).

Onward slipped quietly under the radar due to the ongoing global pandemic, but its’ Disney+ release should be a treat for all Disney/Pixar fans in need of something new. With great vocal assists from Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, the film is a hilarious adventure film with medieval ties as two brothers attempt to bring back their father from the dead. Many magical twists and turns happen along the way, especially once it comes to an emotional crash in the film’s final moments. It may not end up being the most recognizable Pixar film in the long run due to its short release, but this is a very quality movie worth a watch during quarantine.

Mary Poppins (Disney+)

Disney’s throwback classic remains one of their sparkling gems in their vast collection of films (via It’s All Frosting).

There are very few films that make you walk away in an instantly better mood, but Disney’s Mary Poppins certainly follows along with that trend. Led by Julie Andrews’ enlightening performance as Mary Poppins, the film follows the Banks family and their evolving nature in coming closer together as a family through some difficult times. And from “Jolly Holiday” to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, the film makes a strong argument for having the best musical soundtrack for any film in the history of the studio. If you want an uplifting film that will make your heart soar into the sky like a kite, then 1964’s Mary Poppins may be your go-to film.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Disney+)

Roger Rabbit’s Toontown trek remains one of the most advanced technological cases of film making in recent history (via Film).

The blend of cartoon and reality is just one of the pure marvels of the infamous 1988 caper, which makes Who Framed Roger Rabbit a great option to tune into over quarantine. With a mix of instantly recognizable characters, several memorable lines, and some major twists in the plot, the classic Robert Zemeckis film could be an ideal film to watch another time after a possibly-long hiatus. It’s not the perfect movie, with plenty of controversial topics to say the least, but it is an enjoyable movie that could kill some time on any given day right now.

The Great Escape (Amazon Prime Video)

The three-hour Steve McQueen WWII classic is one for the ages and holds up in the present-day (via Bike Bound).

The film may be most known for perhaps the greatest high-speed motorcycle chase in film history, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the movie isn’t as entertaining as any movie from the ‘60s. With the ever-so-slick Steve McQueen in the title role, the film tells the story of a miraculous, attempted escape by a group of Americans and British from a Nazi concentration camp back during the days of World War II before Normandy. Its lengthy runtime can be a little bit of a drag at around three hours, but few films available right now will have you on the edge of your seat and your sense of patriotism at an all-time high.

Goldfinger (Amazon Prime Video)

Goldfinger is the ultimate James Bond film of the Sean Connery-era (via Amazon.com).

While there’s plenty of good James Bond options available on Amazon Prime, Goldfinger is the Bond film that still be talked about fifty years from now. With Sean Connery returning once again as 007, the film has plenty of fast-paced action and witty one-liners from the toned British agent. There’s been other memorable Bond films since then, especially in the Daniel Craig-era of films, but Goldfinger is a keepsake film worth watching again and again if given the time.