Though free-to-use streamers have a stigma of low quality attached to them, this idea couldn’t be any farther from the truth.Tubiin particular has built up a significant repertoire of quality films from all corners of the globe, spanning cinema’s brief but expansive history. Everything from classic films from the silent era to more recent blockbusters are all here for you to enjoy. But, seeing as how Tubi’s library is composed of hundreds upon hundreds of unique titles, where should you start?
We’ve found it useful to narrow down Tubi’s collection into a much more digestible format. Here are our picks for a few of the bestmovies you’re able to streamon Tubi right now. You’ll be surprised at what this free streaming service has to offer.
Updated on June 16th, 2024, by Brian Kirchgessner:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
17The Usual Suspects (1995)
The Usual Suspects
One of the most expertly plotted crime thrillers of all time,The Usual Suspectsfollows a bunch of small-time criminals being interrogated by the police after a deadly shoot-out left over a dozen people dead. One of the survivors, Verbal Kint, recounts the events through nonlinear storytelling, where he reveals the truth about five criminals and a ruthless criminal mastermind named Keyser Söze. The question is, did the police really encounter the crime lord himself, or wasone of them inventing a lie to cover their tracks?
A Plot Twist No One Saw Coming
A complex mystery that unfolds at an unnerving pace,The Usual Suspectsleaves audiences guessing until the final frame, which reveals a truth that was hiding in plain sight. Under Bryan Singer’s terrific direction and with Christopher McQuarrie’s clever writing, the movie emerges as a true original crime thriller that still feels fresh. The ensemble cast includes Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, and Kevin Pollak.
16The Imitation Game (2014)
The Imitation Game
The Imitation Gameis set during the Second World War. It follows mathematician Alan Turing being recruited by the newly created British intelligence agency MI6 for a secret operation cracking Nazi codes at Bletchley Park. Along with other geniuses, Turing created an early type of computer that helped decipher coded messages on the Enigma machines. As Turing and his collaborators race against time to break the final German naval code, the secret about his being gay gets out and he is disgraced.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Most Powerful Role
War movies are always expected to nail the perfect balance between bravery and sympathy to speak with the audience, andThe Imitation Gameachieves just that by infusing a human drama intoa historical codebreaking missionthat changed the world forever. Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a powerful and emotionally complex performance as Turing to match with Morten Tyldum’s sublime direction. The movie not only pays tribute to a lonely genius but also to an event that laid the foundation of our digital work.
15The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate
InThe Graduate, Dustin Hoffman plays the role of Benjamin Braddock, a 21-year-old disillusioned college graduate who returns home to his parents' house in suburban California unsure of his plans for the future. He finds himself drawn into an affair with a married woman, Mrs. Robinson. Already in grave trouble, Benjamin’s secret rendezvous is jeopardized when he falls in love with the one woman Mrs. Robinson wanted him about – her very own daughter, Elaine.
A Generation-Defining Romantic Comedy
Directed by Mike Nichols,The Graduateis a classic rom-com that defined a generation. Its fresh soundtrack and pitch-perfect comedic timing are a delightful combination. Hoffman captures the spirit of his young character trying to stay afloat amid changing social tides alongside co-stars Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross, who are absolutely stunning and witty in this offbeat indie. Additionally, the movie also resonated widely because of its exploration of post-college malaise and is still relevant half a century later.
14Lady Bird (2017)
Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut,Lady Bird, instantly put her on the radar of film junkies, as hersemi-autobiographical coming-of-age storyresonated with viewers both young and old. The film tells the story of Christine (who’s nicknamed herself “Lady Bird”), a senior struggling with life in her final year of high school. The plot takes a backseat to character and unfolds as the best kind of slice-of-life comedy, chronicling Christine’s tense relationship with her mother, her friendships, love life, financial struggles, and difficulties in getting accepted to an arts college.
A Modern Coming-Of-Age Classic
Lady Birdis nothing short of a miracle, standing as both one of the best films of the 2010s and one of the most exciting directorial debuts in recent memory. All the performances, particularly Saoirse Ronan as Christine and Laurie Metcalf as her mother, are pitch-perfect. But what makes the film so special is its heart; Gerwig realizes that Christine is growing up and trying to make sense of her life in ways that many people don’t understand, and she empathizes with that. Christine’s mother and all the other paternal figures in her life are painted as well-meaning, even if their life advice doesn’t always prove up to snuff.
13Memories of Murder (2003)
Memories of Murder
Over the last decade, Bong Joon-ho has emerged as one of the planet’s most exciting filmmakers, and 2003’sMemories of Murderisthe work that first got him recognized. Based on the 1996 playCome to See Meby Kim Kwang-rim, the story is loosely inspired by the first notable serial murder case in South Korea, set in the 1980s and following a couple of private detectives investigating a series of rapes and murders in their town. As the bodies pile up, the duo struggle to find the murderer, and as their search proves fruitless, their greatest enemy of all proves to be their obsession with catching him.
A Gripping Police Procedural
Like many of the best breakout features,Memories of Murderdisplays Bong Joon-ho’s voice clearly, namely his social satire, his dexterity with tone, and his love of dark humor. Yet it’s also one of the most haunting, thoughtful works of his career, exploring how man’s arrogance and complacency can often prove his greatest enemy and at worst, let murderers escape scot-free. It also functions as a fantastic feature with David Fincher’s similarly chilling procedural thriller,Zodiac.
12Memento (2000)
Christopher Nolan is one of the most widely recognized filmmakers of the 21st century, and his breakout hit,Memento, remains in his absolute top tier. Nolan’s love of playing with structure was made fully evident here, exploring the trials of an amnesiac man, Leonard (Guy Peace), unable to make new memories after an accident. As he searches for the man he believes to have raped and murdered his wife, the story is told across two different timelines: one, in black-and-white, unfolds chronologically, the second, in color, unfolds in reverse order, and the final scene shows the two timelines uniting.
A Hypnotically Engaging Thriller
Mementoworks almost as a sort of magic trick; its genius lies mainly in the inventive way it tells its story, as the closing twist recontextualizes everything we saw unfold and leaves us desperate to rewatch. It’s also one of the best edited films of the 21st century, placing us directly in Leonard’s perspective, as scenes start with no introduction and force us, like the character, to put the pieces together and identify where in time we are. It’s the rare instance in which the audience is intended to be left in a state of confusion, but in a way that actually serves the story.
11The Apartment (1960)
Billy Wilder’s iconic romantic comedy from the ‘60s is still as timeless as ever. It centers around C.C. “Bud” Baxter, a clerk who lends his apartment to slick-talking executives to use for their extramarital affairs with hopes that being on good terms will advance his career at the insurance firm. However, when he falls for the elevator operator and discovers that she’s also the mistress of his boss, complications arise. Lastly, Bud is forced to choose between ambition and love.
A Delightful Old Hollywood Rom-Com
WithThe Apartment, Wilder createdone of cinema’s most memorable romantic dramas. His Midas touch on the script and the direction, which is all about the corporate drudgery and the longing to escape the hellhole of minimum wage jobs regardless of how soulless it is to climb the ladder of ambition, is laced with as much pathos as with humor. The cast – Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, and more – brighten the premises with their wit and relatability. Every frame pulses with the 9-to-5 work scenario we’re all well aware of, and the movie finds its gleeful and tender moments.
10Raging Bull (1980)
Raging Bull
A boxing movie like only Martin Scorsese could’ve made it,Raging Bullhas rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most emotionally grueling films ever made, feeling less like a triumphant underdog story than a blistering depiction of self-destruction. Based on the true story of former boxer Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro), the plot unfolds over the course of two decades, following his rise in the boxing scene, his tumultuous personal life, and his eventual downfall and descent into obscurity.
A Difficult But Essential Viewing
Raging Bullis first and foremost a glimpse into a mind beset with jealousy and rage, which brought LaMotta great success in the ring but wrecked havoc in his personal life and drove away his wife and brother. Obviously, it’s not an easy viewing experience, but with Scorsese’s sheer filmmaking prowess on display, and a stunning career-best performance from Robert De Niro, it’s hard to look away.
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912 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Menis a searing legal drama directed by the legendary Sidney Lumet. It centers around a stifling jury room, which kind of transforms into a theater of debate when a teenager is accused of murdering his father. What starts as an open-and-shut case soon begins to crack the conscience of the jury members as they question their morals and prejudices. While one juror rallies they reexamine the case to learn the truth, he appears not alone but united.
A Classic for a Reason
The entire film is shot in a courtroom in New York City, which creates a claustrophobic setting. What could have just been a dull movie about people talking in rooms is instead dramatic and electric. Paired with human caveats and powerful performances, the movie’s message about judgment and the consideration of facesremains as crisp todayas it did 65 years ago.
8The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The movie that altered the course for independent cinema,The Texas Chain Saw Massacrebegins with five unsuspecting teens driving to an isolated house for a night of chill and calm. But when they run out of gas on their way to Sally and Franklin’s grandfather’s, the teens decide to stumble on foot to the location, not knowing that they are about to become a butcher’s next cut of meat.
A Gruesome and Influential Horror Story
Directed by Tobe Hooper, the movie becomes a bloody, disgusting, and vivid symphony that forever changed the horror genre for devoted fans. It not only makes us terrified of Leatherface, the chainsaw-wielding killer but also leaves us transfixed by his sheer and bone-chilling violence. Rarely do low-budget horror films achieve cult status, but this one sure deserves a spot asthe scariest movies ever made.
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