Starz has plenty of great original programming, but that’s not the only thing that the service has to offer. You may not know it, but Starz has a surprisingly deep library of movies from master directors that span a wide variety of genres. Starz’s library may not be as great as Max’s, but the service has everything from horror to comedy to Westerns, and there’s plenty more where the entries below came from.
The movies on this list span a wide variety of eras. Some were released just a few years ago, while others are part of the long history of cinema. Regardless of when they were released, each film on this list is proof that Starz has plenty of movies well worth watching. Here are the best movies on Startz to add to your watch list.
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Night of the Living Dead (1968)
89%
7.8/10
96m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman
Directed by
George A. Romero
Watch on Starz
Night of the Living Dead is the zombie movie upon which all zombie movies are based, and a great horror movie. The film follows a group of strangers who wind up secluded in a farmhouse after the population begins transforming into the undead. From there, the movie is a simple tale of survival, but it’s grippingly told by director George Romero. Although plenty of zombie movies have ripped off Night of the Living Dead in the years since its release, few have managed to top what the original has to offer.
Beyond the Lights (2014)
116m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver
Directed by
Gina Prince-Bythewood
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One of the great love stories ever told in the world of music, Beyond the Lights tells the story of a pop star who has been groomed for success by her mother, but finds that her stardom is overwhelming her. When she attempts to commit suicide, she finds herself saved by the police officer who was assigned to protect her, and the two form an intimate romance that everyone around them opposes. These plot beats may sound fairly broad, but director Gina Prince Bythewood infuses them with genuine life and emotion. It’s a remarkable, old-fashioned film that will nonetheless leave you swooning.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)
107m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates
Directed by
Kelly Fremon Craig
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A amazing adaptation of a brilliant novel, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is a quintessential coming-of-age story. The film follows Margaret, a young girl on the verge of puberty facing a fairly normal panoply of challenges. While the individual dramas here are quite small and ordinary, part of what makes the movie feel so perfectly shaped is the way it turns those dramas into bigger questions about identity and finding purpose in a world where who we are seems to be in constant flux.
The Father (2020)
96m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss
Directed by
Florian Zeller
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One of the most heartbreaking movies of the past decade, The Father tells the story of a man suffering from dementia from his perspective, as time slips and he seems to be utterly unsure of when and where he is at all times. Anthony Hopkins delivers a riveting central performance, and he’s supported by the movie’s ingenious structure, which plants us firmly inside the head of someone who is often confused about who he’s speaking to and where he is. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s endlessly rewarding.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
157m
Genre
Drama, Science Fiction, Action
Stars
Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage
Directed by
Francis Lawrence
Watch on Starz
You might not think that a prequel to The Hunger Games would be all that interesting, but The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes proves to be exactly that. The film tells the origin story of Corialanus Snow, who begins to amass power as the Hunger Games are still taking shape. Tom Blythe and Rachel Zegler make for a great pairing, and Songbirds and Snakes manages to get a lot out of its admittedly expansive runtime. The games are not the point here, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to sink your teeth into.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
170m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Crime
Stars
Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård
Directed by
Chad Stahelski
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The John Wick saga has become one of the more surprising action franchises of the past decade, and Chapter 4 is may be the most impressive of the bunch. The movie follows its titular character as he finds the price on his head continuing to rise and realizes that he needs to take his fight against the High Table global. While the plot is serviceable, John Wick: Chapter 4 really excels because of its willingness to combine impressive set pieces with real-world locations, and also make sure that its main character doesn’t come out unscathed. On a pure adrenaline level, there aren’t many movies more satisfying.
Nightcrawler (2014)
118m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, Rene Russo
Directed by
Dan Gilroy
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One of Jake Gyllenhaal’s finest performances comes in Nightcrawler, where he plays a motivated, strange cameraman who learns that there’s money to be made in capturing footage of grisly crimes and selling them to local news stations. As he goes to more and more extreme lengths to one-up his competition, Nightcrawler serves as a careful reminder about the nature of American ambition and all the ways it can go awry when taken to its extremes.
Nope (2022)
130m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
Stars
Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea
Directed by
Jordan Peele
Watch on Starz
Jordan Peele is one of the best directors working today, and Nope might be his most fascinating project to date. The film tells the story of a brother and sister living on a California horse ranch who discover something sinister in the sky above their home. As they attempt to film it, they discover just how dangerous it might be. Although Nope is ostensibly a blockbuster in the mold of Jaws, it’s also a movie with plenty on its mind. It also doesn’t hurt to have Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer leading your cast, proving what grade-A movie stars they both are.
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
127m
Genre
Drama, Romance
Stars
Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn
Directed by
Joe Wright
Watch on Starz
Joe Wright’s adaptation of the Jane Austen novel is a pretty faithful adaptation and one that gets at the spirit of its source material. Telling the story of the Bennett sisters and specifically of Elizabeth Bennett and her romance with Mr. Darcy, Pride & Prejudice is filled with wit and joy and anchored by brilliant central performances from Kiera Knightley and Matthew McFadyen. This version of the story is endlessly romantic, but it’s also a movie in which every scene feels delectable and precise.
