The 30 Best Movies On Peacock (July 2024)

The best movies on Peacock deliver a mix of both popular franchises and lesser-known films that deserve more appreciation. A relatively new addition to the world of streaming services, Peacock was primarily created as a way for NBCUniversal to make its series and films available without having to use a third party. Since its launch in 2020 there has been a consistent lineup of great movies on Peacock, with more added regularly. The best movies on Peacock now count among the most varied range of any available streaming platform, especially for those who prefer a greater slant toward theatrical blockbusters.

The best Peacock movies cover a wide range of genres, with some movies having hit theaters as recently as 2024. The library of content for Peacock subscribers is extensive, including original films and series alongside Universal’s most successful films and popular NBC shows available on Peacock the next day. From classic and prominent films to hidden gems, Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus subscribers can easily watch some of Hollywood’s greatest movies from the comfort of their homes.

Best Action & Drama Movies On Peacock

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent (2022)

At this point in his career, Nicolas Cage has become something of a cult icon given the vast quantity of movies he’s appeared in, and 2022’s The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent celebrates this in perhaps the most hilarious and appropriate way possible. The action-comedy by director Tom Gormican stars Cage as a semi-fictionalized version of himself. After his career is in something of a slump, “Nick” Cage decides to retire. However, he is offered one last contract by his agent — meeting a billionaire superfan in Majorca named Javi (Pedro Pascal).

While Nick initially finds Javi annoying, he eventually manages to bond with him and agrees to help him create a movie. However, Nick soon learns after a meeting with two CIA agents that Javi is, in fact, an international arms dealer. What’s more, he’s wanted for kidnapping. Nick reluctantly agrees to help the CIA, and soon finds himself embroiled in a sequence of events that feel straight out of a typical Nicolas Cage action movie — which the completely self-aware The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent pays full homage to through a string of well-placed references and Easter eggs.

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The Fifth Element (1997)

The 1997 action sci-fi The Fifth Element from director Luc Besson is perhaps a textbook example of a cult hit, and Peacock subscribers who aren’t familiar with the bombastic, visually spellbinding movie are in for a wild ride. Set in the 23rd century, The Fifth Element sees an ancient evil arrive in space as foretold by a prophecy in the early 20th century. As part of this prophecy, industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman) uses cloning technology to recreate the occupant of an antique sarcophagus — a woman named Leeloo (Mila Jovovich).

Leeloo, aware that Zorg is working for the ancient evil, promptly escapes, and lands in the flying cab of taxi driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis). From there, Korben is reluctantly dragged into helping Leeloo hold back the ancient evil, a difficult task since she has no knowledge of the English language or the bizarre future of the 23rd century. Weird and wacky throughout, there’s almost no scene in The Fifth Element that isn’t utterly bizarre and yet, somehow, completely works to form a coherent story and believable world.

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Men In Black (1997)

1997’s Men in Black deftly blends action, comedy, and sci-fi to create a truly unique movie that still stands as a highlight of the careers of both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. While it spawned several sequels, none compared to Barry Sonnenfeld’s original, and the many memorable scenes such as Will Smith’s J helping deliver an alien baby, or the emergence of the extraterrestrial “Bug” that serves as the protagonist, still hold up almost 30 years after its release.

Men In Black focuses on former NYPD police officer James Edwards. One night, Edwards apprehends a criminal who shows superhuman abilities and strange traits, such as internal eyelids that blink vertically. While his superiors mock him, Edwards is quickly debriefed by a mysterious man in a black suit — Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K. Before long, James Edwards learns that aliens, such as the man he apprehended, have existed on earth for decades, and is promptly recruited by K into the organization that keeps them under wraps — the titular Men in Black.

Jaws (1975)

There are almost no movies currently on Peacock that are as instantly recognizable as 1975’s Jaws, the movie that popularized both shark films and helped launch the career of legendary director Steven Spielberg. An undisputed classic that still holds up almost 50 years since it was released, Jaws is based on the novel of the same name by Peter Benchley. The plot is incredibly simple — the community of Amity Island is plagued by a giant shark. However, it’s not the premise but the execution of it in which Jaws truly shines, and it’s clear why the movie so effectively captured the cultural zeitgeist for decades.

Not only is the animatronic shark in Jaws still truly terrifying, but the score has become synonymous with shark movies. Not only that, but cast members Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss all give career-defining performances. Few movies with a premise as shallow as Jaws manage to be anywhere near as enjoyable, and at no point does the 1975 movie feel tacky, cheap, or a film not to be taken seriously. With three Academy Awards behind it (as well as a best picture nomination), Jaws still stands as one of the greatest movies ever made in the eyes of many critics and viewers alike.

Monkey Man (2024)

British actor Dev Patel has come a long way from his roots in the UK teen drama Skins and his big Hollywood break in 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire. 2024 saw Patel return to the big screen for the first time since 2021’s The Green Knight – and not only does Patel star in the gritty action movie Monkey Man, but it also marks his directorial debut. One of the best new action movies on Peacock, Monkey Man has been received incredibly positively by critics, with Patel’s abilities as a director as well as the central star both being noted across multiple reviews.

Gritty and grounded despite having several surreal moments courtesy of a scene involving hallucinogenics, Monkey Man sees Patel starring as Kid, a former child from rural India who grows up to become a jobber in an underground fight club. Driven by revenge for the death of his mother, Kid fails to assassinate Rana, the man responsible, and soon finds himself a wanted criminal. The movie has many themes of social commentary too, including a stark critique of Hindu ultranationalism (something that has garnered no shortage of controversy in India, where Monkey Man was filmed).

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Memento (2000)

Widely credited as one of the movies that helped launch Oppenheimer and The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan’s career, Memento is one of the most cerebral films currently on Peacock, one that all subscribers should watch at least once. 2000’s Memento is a mind-boggling movie with a non-linear narrative that focuses on Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man with severe amnesia, as he tries to work out who is behind the death of his wife Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss).

As the story unfolds and Leonard pieces together events, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems, and the Memento ending remains one of the most shocking twists ever seen on the big screen. Memento earned Christopher Nolan one of his earliest Academy Award nominations (for Best Original Screenplay, specifically). It’s a truly unique movie told in such a way that may be confusing at first, but once the plot reaches its conclusion then Peacock users will be more-or-less guaranteed to be satisfied they saw it through.

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The Boondock Saints (1999)

Despite poor reviews upon release, underground hit The Boondock Saints became a defining 90s cult classic. The movie stars Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus as fraternal twins who turn to vigilantism in order to protect their predominantly Irish Boston neighborhood. Boondock Saints was a box office failure when the studio only gave it a bare minimum theatrical release, but the movie found huge success on home video and remains popular over two decades later.

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Best Comedy Movies On Peacock

Office Space (1999)

Peacock is the home of many quirky and cult comedies, and one that truly stands out is the 1999 corporate satire Office Space. Written and directed by Mike Judge, the creative mind behind King of the Hill and Beavis and Butthead, Office Space stars the likes of Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, and John C. McGinley as employees of Texas software company Initech. Office Space has always been something of a cult hit, though it gained a surge in popularity in recent years thanks to memes focusing on Gary Cole’s Bill Lumbergh.

Lumbergh is perhaps a perfect satire of the micromanaging corporate dictator, and it speaks volumes for the masterful nature of the movie’s observations on the white-collar world of cubicles and watercoolers that Office Space feels just as relevant in the 2020s as it did in 1999. Funny yet subtle throughout, Office Space is definitely one of the more cerebral comedies on Peacock, and anyone who’s worked in a large office and been a part of corporate bureaucracy is sure to find it instantly relatable.

The Trotsky (2010)

There are many movies that gain much more acclaim and renown years (and even decades) after their initial release thanks to streaming, and such is the case with 2010’s The Trotsky, which has enjoyed a renaissance of popularity as one of the best available comedy movies on Peacock. The Trotsky stars Jay Baruchel, best known for voicing Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon, as Leon Bronstein, a highschooler who believes himself to be the reincarnation of Soviet leader Leon Trotsky.

The Trotsky was a box office flop when it released, grossing far less than its production budget despite being received well by critics. However, the movie has found a fresh audience on Peacock, with many subscribers now citing it as one of the funniest currently available on the platform. This is partially unsurprising though, as the central themes of rebellion, dissatisfaction with the established order, and overbearing authority may resonate much more strongly with viewers in the 2020s.

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Hearts Beat Loud (2018)

Starring Nick Offerman of Parks and Recreation and The Last Of Us fame, the 2018 musical comedy Hearts Beat Loud focuses on a record store owner and father who overcomes the loss of his wife by aiming for viral music success with his daughter. Understandably with such a premise, Hearts Beat Loud delivers just as strongly on the emotional moments as it does the humor, with Brett Haley and Marc Basch’s script being incredibly heartfelt throughout. For Peacock subscribers seeking a grounded comedy with an incredibly current premise and wholesome message, Hearts Beat Loud is guaranteed to deliver.

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Best Romance Movies On Peacock

Meet Cute (2022)

A Peacock original rom-com, Meet Cute asks what would you do if you could create the perfect romantic partner? The movie follows Sheila (Kaley Cuoco), a woman who meets the shy Gary (Pete Davidson) at a bar. The two have a romantic date on the town, but there’s a twist: Sheila has been using time travel to “fix” Gary’s past wounds and traumas and mold him into her ideal man.

With the likes of Palm Springs and the forever-classic Groundhog Dog, time travel rom-coms are becoming a popular genre, and though Meet Cute will likely never achieve icon status, it poses some interesting questions about pain, healing, and ethics, and how they relate to love. Cuoco and Davidson are both charming actors, and their easy chemistry makes the movie feel like it passes by in no time at all.

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Sliding Doors (1998)

A classic “what if?” story, Sliding Doors uses an unconventional narrative to explore the romantic possibilities determined by its lead character’s success or failure in boarding a train. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Helen, a PR officer fired from her job who faces two divergent paths in life. In one universe, she manages to catch a train home and finds new luck in love.

In another, she misses her train and continues to be beset by bad luck. However, it soon becomes clear that all is not as straightforward as it seems. Praised for its complex storytelling and chemistry between its two leads, Sliding Doors is a classic romantic comedy that hits all the right notes.

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The Illusionist (2006)

Due to its subject, The Illusionist has drawn a lot of comparisons with Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, which was released the same year. However, while Nolan’s movie is a complex and intellectual puzzle box, The Illusionist has a much more romantic sensibility. Following Edward Norton’s Eisenheim and his ill-fated love affair with a woman deemed far above his social standing.

Both a gripping mystery and a heartfelt romance, The Illusionist was unfairly overlooked by many on release and remains one of the best romance movies on Peacock. Edward Norton and Jessica Biel give incredible performances, as does Paul Giamatti as Chief Inspector Uhl.

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Best Family Movies On Peacock

Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

The Kung Fu Panda franchise has been a hit for DreamWorks, and the most recent installment, 2024’s Kung Fu Panda 4, is currently available on Peacock for subscribers of all ages to enjoy. While not as much of a critical success as the preceding trilogy, and with several cast members missing (notably the Furious Five), Kung Fu Panda 4 is still an absolute delight for viewers who’ve been itching to return to the world of Po, the titular Kung Fu Panda.

Jack Black reprises his role as Po in Kung Fu Panda 4, and the Dragon Warrior has to face one of his most dangerous challenges yet — a villainous Chameleon who can take the form of Kung Fu masters past and present, including many of Po’s former foes like Tai Lung. Kung Fu Panda 4 also introduces various hilarious characters, like Zhen, the fox thief voiced by Awkwafina, as well as returning favorites like Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, James Hong as Po’s adoptive father Mr. Ping, and Bryan Cranston as Po’s biological father, the panda Li Shan.

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Despicable Me (2010)

Illumination Entertainment is, in the 2020s, a well known source of family entertainment, standing proud alongside titans of the genre like Disney and DreamWorks. However, in 2010 this wasn’t the case, but then the studio unleashed a mega-franchise on the world with Despicable Me, the movie that introduced audiences to Steve Carell’s devious mastermind Gru and, perhaps more importantly, the zeitgeist-dominating Minions (which soon had movies of their own).

2010’s Despicable Me is currently on Peacock for subscribers of all ages to enjoy. The all-star cast not only includes Steve Carell, but also Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Julie Andrews, and Will Arnett. Few family movies are as genuinely laugh-out-loud funny as Despicable Me, and it’s guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of almost any viewer, regardless of their age.

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Labyrinth (1986)

Jim Henson may be best known as the mastermind behind The Muppets, but he also directed one of the most highly regarded cult hits of the late 1980s — Labyrinth, which now stands as one of the best family movies on Peacock. Released in 1986 to surprisingly weak box office returns, Labyrinth is a musical fantasy starring Top Gun: Maverick’s Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, who must venture into a magical realm to rescue her baby brother Todd.

However, while the young Connelly had a career-launching performance in Labyrinth, the star is, of course, musician David Bowie as the goblin-king Jareth. Labyrinth is filled with all the puppeteering magic Jim Henson is known for, mixed with some incredibly inventive set-pieces and catchy musical numbers. It’s a movie that’s sure to delight young viewers, as well as older ones seeking a nostalgia kick.

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Shrek 2 (2004)

When it comes to classic animated movies on Peacock, none surpass 2004’s Shrek 2, which is considered by many to be the best Shrek movie. The first movie in the franchise saw Shrek rescue Princess Fiona, the latter of whom turned into an Ogre when finally acknowledging Shrek as her one true love. They then rode off for their happily-ever-after — which, as quickly becomes apparent in Shrek 2, isn’t so “ever-after” after all. Shrek 2 is one of the few movie sequels that surpassed the original, and introduces several characters who are now franchise staples.

Shrek 2 sees the first appearance of Puss in Boots, played by Antonion Banderas, as well as John Cleese as King Harold, Jule Andrews as Queen Lillian, and Rupert Everett as the nefarious Prince Charming. However, the highlight of Shrek 2 is undoubtedly the villain of the movie, the Fairy Godmother. Voiced by UK comedian Jennifer Saunders, the Fairy Godmother is arguably the best villain in any Shrek movie, and her rendition of “Holding out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler is perhaps now more well known than the original song.

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Migration (2023)

Illumination may not be the powerhouse name in family-friendly animation that Disney or DreamWorks can claim to be, but they have a number of hits under their belt all the same, and in 2023 they once again captured the hearts of viewers young and old with Migration. This family movie on Peacock follows a family of mallard ducks who decide to turn their yearly migration into an unforgettable vacation, heading from New England to Jamaica, with a stop in NYC along the way.

Like many animated movies, the charming humor is a big factor in the appeal of Migration, although the cast is noteworthy too. The Big Sick star Kumail Nanjiani plays the father of the family, Max Mallard, with comedic powerhouse Elizabeth Banks (most recently seen in Cocaine Bear) as wife Pam. Danny DeVito also appears as Uncle Dan, and Keegan-Michael Key and Awkwafina also have roles as a scarlet macaw and New York pigeon, respectively. While Migration may not reinvent the wheel, it ticks all the boxes necessary to make for a great family movie night courtesy of Peacock.

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Trolls Band Together (2023)

Few modern musical family movies hit all the right notes quite like the Trolls franchise, and the third movie in the trilogy, 2023’s Trolls Band Together, is now available for Peacock subscribers. Following on from the events of Trolls and Trolls World Tour, Trolls Band Together sees Anna Kendrick return as Poppy alongside Justin Timberlake as Branch. They are joined in the third movie by the likes of Amy Schumer, Zooey Deschanel, RuPaul, and Eric Andre, as well as rappers Anderson .Paak and Kid Cudi.

Like the previous movies in the franchise, the plot of Trolls Band Together is tangible but takes a backseat to the many musical numbers and psychedelic visuals. The narrative of Trolls 3 is all about family, with both Poppy and Branch’s long-lost siblings playing a part as the pair try and achieve “Perfect Family Harmony” to shatter a diamond prison that’s holding one of their fellow Troll’s hostage.

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The Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)

Few franchises have had as much of a cultural impact as Harry Potter, and all 8 movies are available for Peacock subscribers. The story follows the titular Harry Potter, a young boy living with his abusive aunt and uncle who discovers, much to his surprise, that he’s a wizard. Harry then enrolls at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, where he also learns that he’s the arch nemesis of Lord Voldemort — the most powerful dark wizard who ever lived. Few movies are as action-packed as Harry Potter, and they are all but guaranteed to delight Peacock subscribers of all ages.

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The Lorax (2012)

Dr. Seuss is one of the most celebrated children’s authors in American history, so it’s no surprise that the animated 2012 adaptation of The Lorax was an absolute delight for viewers of all ages. The movie has strong themes of environmentalism, with the titular Lorax (voiced by the inimitable Danny DeVito) speaking — as readers familiar with the original tale know — for the trees. Throw in some incredibly vibrant visuals, co-stars Ed Helms, Zac Efron, and popstar Taylor Swift, and The Lorax stands out among the family movies on currently on Peacock.

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Best Horror Movies On Peacock

Terrifier 2 (2022)

2022’s Terrifier 2, from director Damien Leone, wasn’t an instant hit, but it quickly gained cult status due to the absolutely shocking levels of gore, violence, and nausea-inducing scenes. A sequel to 2016’s Terrifier (which is also available on Peacock), Terrifier 2 once again focuses on Art the Clown, the psychotic, silent, and supernatural killer who’s become an instant fan-favorite among slasher genre aficionados. While the original Terrifier and anthology movies featuring Art the Clown like All Hallows Eve had a gritty, low-budget feel, Terrifier 2 upped the ante significantly with a larger budget and even better special effects.

Whether it’s the controversial Terrifier 2 bedroom scene or Sienna’s nightmare at the Clown Cafe, almost every moment in Damien Leone’s 2022 movie feels like a masterclass in modern slasher horror — one that, at the same time, pays homage to the gory movies of yesteryear like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Friday the 13th franchise.Terrifier 3 is due for release in 2024, and horror movie fans who are also Peacock subscribers have the perfect opportunity to jump on the Art the Clown bandwagon.

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The Cabin In The Woods (2012)

One of the most subversive horror movies on Peacock is currently 2012’s The Cabin In The Woods, directed by Drew Goddard based on a script co-written with Joss Whedon (the pair had previously worked together on Angel and Buffy The Vampire Slayer). The Cabin In The Woods has become something of a cult hit since it first released over a decade ago, thanks in no small part to its masterful parodying of many of the horror tropes that dominated the genre during the 2000s.

The Cabin In The Woods starts off with a simple premise that slasher movies have used for decades — a group of friends take a vacation in an isolated cabin in the woods. However, the movie then quickly descends into something else entirely, with a plot that manages to successfully make nods to dozens of established horror properties, and that impacts the very fate of the world.

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Night Swim (2024)

Haunted houses are a common trope in horror movies, but director Bryce McGuires 2024 movie Night Swim makes the concept even more acute by focusing on a haunted swimming pool. While the premise might seem slightly absurd at first, the supernatural goings on in Night Swim make for an absolutely chilling movie that dispels any questions viewers may initially have like “well why don’t they just decide not to go in the pool”. As in all horror movies, it’s not that simple, and the haunted pool has a pull that makes the characters unable to resist taking a deadly swim.

Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon give solid performances as Ray and Eve Waller, the new owners of the home where the cursed pool is located. Night Swim doesn’t do much to reinvent the wheel when it comes to supernatural horror, but it handles the foundations incredibly well, and there are some truly terrifying jump-scares and disturbing visuals throughout — with the focus on the pool itself making for more than a few unique moments.

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They/Them (2022)

Peacock and Blumhouse Productions come together for They/Them (pronounced “they slash them“), an unforgettable slasher-horror. It follows a group of LGBTQ+ teens at a conversion camp who find themselves stalked by a masked killer. The slasher genre has a disturbing, problematic history of killing off sexually active and minority characters, so it’s refreshing to see a movie like They/Them side with the marginalized leads. The story itself may be by-the-numbers, but They/Them makes a bold statement about who the real monsters are — and it’s not the killer in the mask.

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The House Of The Devil (2009)

Ti West directed two of the most critically acclaimed horror movies of 2022 with X and its prequel Pearl. However, he had shown his immense talent 13 years earlier when he directed the cult-favorite horror movie The House of the Devil. The movie is a typical horror tale about a girl at a house in a remote location who finds herself hunted by a Satanic cult. However, while this is a story that has been told before, West delivers it in a style that’s both a throwback to 80s horror classic while still maintaining contemporary relevance.

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Every Ti West Horror Movie Ranked From Worst To Best (Including X)

Ti West is fast becoming a master of the horror genre with slasher hits such as The House of the Devil and X, but which of his movies ranks best?

Train To Busan (2016)

While zombie movies had started to fall out of favor by 2016, the South Korean horror movie Train to Busan brought something new to the oversaturated genre, revitalizing interest in the walking dead. What helped this movie achieve success was the focus on a father and his daughter at the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse, and their fight for survival together, as well as the movie’s innovative setting of a speeding train. The movie won several awards and received almost universal acclaim after its release. It also spawned a franchise, with an animated prequel, a standalone sequel, and an American remake in development.

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Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

George Romero changed everything about the zombie genre with his 1968 movie Night of the Living Dead. Before this seminal hit, the zombie genre was mostly rooted in misunderstood Haitian voodoo rituals. However, Romero created a new lore of the dead rising from their graves and feeding on the living with this movie, at a stroke creating the modern zombie genre. The movie was also groundbreaking for bringing a Black hero to the lead in a horror movie. Sadly for Romero, he failed in his copyrighting of the movie, immediately bringing it into the public domain following release.

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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

One of the most iconic and unsettling horror movies ever made, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a raw and terrifying peek behind the mask of madness. Filmed on a shoestring, the film takes typical slasher tropes like traveling teenagers, isolated houses, and a power tool-wielding villain to new extremes, pushing boundaries like few films before or since.

The heat of the overbearing Texas sun emanates through the screen, contributing to the film’s tense and suffocating atmosphere. Gunnar Hansen’s Leatherface is one of the scariest antagonists ever conceived, and the movie’s central story of a family of cannibals hunting innocent passersby remains truly terrifying nearly five decades after release.

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Freaky (2020)

The 2020 body-swap movie Freaky is one of the best horrors available to stream on Peacock right now. Directed by Christopher Landon, the creative mind behind Happy Death Day, Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton star in Freaky as a serial killer and his would-be victim. However, just as Newton’s Millie is about to be killed by Vaughn’s deranged Blissfield Butcher, the two switch bodies. What follows is a horror comedy that’s just as hilarious as it is gruesome, with Vaughn’s performance as a teenage girl trapped in the body of a middle-aged man being especially noteworthy.

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