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Must-see films: The best movies on Peacock this May

Peacock is a TV service, but it also has a great catalog of movies to stream, too

By
Jack Black in Bernie.
Freestyle Releasing

A fun bit of historic TV trivia is that the original NBC peacock logo was first implemented in 1956 to highlight the network’s new color programming. Even though the logo has gone through numerous iterations since then, the network has stuck with the colorful bird, in one form or another, for going on six decades now. It’s fitting, then, that Peacock is known most for its TV programming, highlighted by shows like The Office, Parks and Rec, and the self-mocking (and hilarious) 30 Rock. If you are on Peacock for the shows, however, don’t overlook that the platform is also home to a number of great movies spanning cinema history, including everything from great comedy to excellent sports movies.

Below, I’ve picked out some of the best movies available on the service. I was surprised to see just how many greats there are to choose from, and I’m confident that whatever you like to watch, you’ll find something good below.

Recommended Videos

Bernie (2012)

Bernie
75%
6.8/10
r
99m
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Stars
Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey
Directed by
Richard Linklater
Watch on Peacock
Bernie was a bit of a zag for director Richard Linklater, as it involves way more murder than the rest of his filmography. Jack Black stars as Bernie Tiede in this true story. Everybody loves Bernie, the man who charms all the little old ladies in his Carthage, Texas, hometown, even as he endures constant abuse from his crabby benefactor Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine). A man can only take so much, though, and before too long, Bernie loosens his pent-up rage against the woman, sending shockwaves through the small town. What carries the film is its chorus of real-life town residents who give the plot an undeniable local color through a series of talking-head interviews interspersed between the action.
Related

The Farm (2019)

The Farm
3.7/10
80m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Nora Yessayan, Alec Gaylord, Ken Volok
Directed by
Hans Stjernswärd
Watch on Peacock
Ever wonder what it’s like to be the livestock on a farm? Well, the horror flick The Farm offers an answer. And it’s pretty horrific. After taking a wrong turn on the highway, a young couple decides to stop at a roadside diner for food and relaxation. Their fun trip soon becomes a fight for survival when masked kidnappers imprison them on a farm where humans are the main course. The movie is filled with shocking and disturbing scenes, but if you’re in the mood for pure, unadulterated horror, The Farm is here to deliver.

Burning (2018)

Burning
148m
Genre
Mystery, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jun Jong-seo
Directed by
Lee Chang-dong
Watch on Peacock
A Korean drama from 2018 that earns every bit of its 150-minute runtime, Burning tells the story of a young man who becomes transfixed by the disappearance of a woman he’s recently formed a bond with. As he becomes increasingly convinced that something terrible happened to her, we get an examination of both this young man and the way the world around him seems to blur and change. Featuring a riveting supporting performance from Steven Yeun as a wealthy and mysterious possible criminal, Burning is riveting in ways that most movies only aspire to be.
Burning Trailer #1 (2018) | Movieclips Indie

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Night of the Living Dead
96m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Judith O'Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman
Directed by
George A. Romero
Watch on Peacock
The movie that launched an entire genre, Night of the Living Dead tells the story of five strangers who come together at a farmhouse in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Their struggle to survive may feel small and quaint by modern standards, but the human drama that plays out between them remains as compelling as any in a modern zombie flick. The movie’s chilling ending, which is a stark reminder of the racism that has been a part of America for decades and still exists today, also makes it feel like the kind of small, independent drama that might hit theaters today.
Night of the Living Dead (1968) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

The Act of Killing (2012)

The Act of Killing
159m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin
Directed by
Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn
Watch on Peacock
A documentary that tells the story of the men who committed mass atrocities in Indonesia, The Act of Killing is a complex, moving portrait of what it means to commit mass murder and be celebrated for your heroism. The movie uncovers a story most people likely don’t know, but more than that, it’s an examination of how removed some men can be from their own humanity and the way we create enemies in order to justify awful acts. The Act of Killing is a must-see for any film fan, and it’s one of the great works of documentary filmmaking of the 21st century.

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie
97m
Genre
Mystery, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford
Directed by
Randall Zisk
Watch on Peacock
Perhaps one of the most delightful shows of the 21st century is back for one more lap. Mr. Monk’s Last Case is really for all the Monk superfans out there, but it’ll be a bundle of fun for anyone who just happens to stumble across it as well. When Adrian Monk comes out of retirement to help solve his step-daughter’s fiance’s murder, plenty of shenanigans ensue. Tony Shalhoub slides right back into the character that defined his career, and the rest of the original ensemble is back as well for what turns out to be a delightful and worthwhile trip down memory lane for every Monk superfan.
MR MONK: The Movie (Last Case) Official Trailer (2023)

Half Nelson (2006)

Half Nelson
107m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie
Directed by
Ryan Fleck
Watch on Peacock
The movie that proved that Ryan Gosling was much more than just a pretty face, Half Nelson stars Gosling as a middle school teacher with a heroin problem who develops a close relationship with one of his students. Gosling delivers a stunningly human performance here that showcases everything he’s uniquely skilled at as an actor who generates empathy. The small-scale movie is sharply written, and it avoids all the cliches that these kinds of movies can sometimes fall into.
HALF NELSON trailer

Nosferatu (2024)

Nosferatu
133m
Genre
Horror, Fantasy
Stars
Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård
Directed by
Robert Eggers
Watch on Peacock
One of the surprise horror hits of 2024, Nosferatu is a very classical retelling of this foundational vampire story. The film follows a young, married woman as she is haunted by visions of the titular vampire. When her husband is called away to meet him, the two of them find themselves haunted by him as they slowly move toward one another. Featuring a wonderful ensemble cast that includes a star-making central performance from Lily Rose-Depp as well as some stunning cinematography, Nosferatu is equal parts unsettling and strangely alluring
NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25

Wicked (2024)

Wicked
162m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Stars
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum
Directed by
Jon M. Chu
Watch on Peacock
One of the biggest hits of 2024, Wicked is adapted from the hugely popular stage musical of the same name. The film follows Elphaba and Glinda, the two witches at the center of The Wizard of Oz, in the years before they became those witches. Featuring a slew of great songs, two great central moments, and a couple of moments that might genuinely leave you in tears, Wicked is the kind of large-scale, sentimental filmmaking that we rarely get anymore. Not every decision is perfect, but enough of them are.
Wicked - Official Trailer

What movies are coming to Peacock in May?

May 1

  • 47 Ronin
  • 99 Homes
  • The Amazing Spider-Man
  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2
  • Backtrace
  • Belly
  • Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
  • Billy Madison
  • Bleeding Steel
  • Blended
  • Braven
  • Bridesmaids
  • Buffaloed
  • Carol
  • The Change-Up
  • Chinese Zodiac
  • The Courier
  • Despicable Me 3
  • The Expendables
  • The Expendables 2
  • The Expendables 3
  • Georgia Rule
  • Get Out
  • Glass
  • Grown Ups
  • Grown Ups 2
  • Happily N’ever After 2: Show White
  • Here Comes The Boom
  • The Hunt
  • Jet Li’s Fearless
  • Judge Dredd
  • Kindergarten Cop
  • King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
  • Knocked Up
  • The Last Stand
  • Legally Blonde
  • Legally Blonde 2: Red, White And Blonde
  • Letters From Iwo Jima
  • Life of Pi
  • Man Up
  • Memoirs of a Geisha
  • Minions*
  • My Cousin Vinny
  • Neighbors
  • Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
  • The Notebook
  • Now You See Me
  • Now You See Me 2
  • Paul Blart Mall Cop
  • Paul Blart Mall Cop 2
  • Pixels
  • Public Enemies
  • Requiem For a Dream
  • Rough Night
  • The Rundown
  • Saving Private Ryan
  • Schindler’s List
  • The Secret of Roan Inish
  • Seventh Son
  • Snitch
  • Snow Falling on Cedars
  • Split
  • The Town
  • Tyler Perry’s Boo 2: A Madea Halloween*
  • Warcraft
  • The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi
  • The Wedding Singer
  • Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
  • Zookeeper

May 2

  • Black Bag – Premiere (Peacock Exclusive)

May 4

  • The Silent Twins

May 9

  • Love Hurts – Premiere (Peacock Exclusive)

May 11

  • Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris

May 15

  • The Boss Baby: Family Business
  • John Wick
  • John Wick: Chapter 2
  • John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
  • John Wick: Chapter 4
  • Trolls Band Together
  • Trolls Band Together: Sing-Along

May 18

  • Nope

May 29

  • Lisa Frankenstein
Movie images and data from:
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Joe Allen
Joe Allen
Contributor
Joe Allen is a freelance culture writer based in upstate New York. His work has been published in The Washington Post, The…

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