17 Best Movies on STARZ Right Now

You may not think of STARZ as your go-to streaming service, but it has plenty of good movies and TV, and best of all, it’s ad-free.

When Harry Met Sally…

Definitely the best romantic comedy of the last 50 years or so. Rob Reiner’s masterpiece features a wry Billy Crystal and a never-cuter Meg Ryan as neurotic young adults who keep blowing up their love lives. It’s sweet and funny and unforgettable.

Minority Report

One of the best sci-fi movies of the last 25 years features Tom Cruise on the run after psychics in the “pre-crime” division predict he will commit a murder. Spielberg has stepped away from action movies in recent years, but this movie shows why he’s one of the best ever to do it. It’s a chase and a mystery and sci-fi parable. As futuristic film noir goes, this one would pair well on a double bill with “Blade Runner.”

Sleepless in Seattle

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan team up for this sweet romantic comedy about a widower trying to navigate the dating world while raising his young son. A chance call to a radio station means Meg Ryan’s character starts to fall in love, even though they’re on other sides of the continent. It’s a crowd-pleasing favorite.

Gladiator

“Are you not entertained?” Russell Crowe leads this Best Picture Oscar winner with ferocity as a Roman general enslaved and sent to fight for the crowd’s entertainment. Joaquin Phoenix plays a deliciously weasely emperor with a lust for blood. Great action, emotion, and cinematography help this classic stand the test of time.

The Bourne Identity

It’s the action movie so intense, it forced the James Bond franchise to reboot. Matt Damon plays a mysterious spy trying to recover lost memories. It’s a heck of a ride.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Be honest: what’s the last time you watched this Spielberg classic? It still works! Elliott is a lonely kid from a broken home who discovers a friendly alien living in his backyard. John Williams’ soaring score and Spielberg’s light touch with child actors make this a truly magical journey.

Casino

Scorsese strikes again! The master director teams up with old pals Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci for this story of a mob-run Vegas casino. It’s not quite “Goodfellas,” but then again, what is? You’ll still get that classic gangster swagger and paranoia that make it a worthy watch.

Shaun of the Dead

Can a zombie movie make you laugh and cry… and cry laughing? “Shaun of the Dead” is the breakout film for ace director Edgar Wright. It’s a carefully constructed masterpiece that blends comedy with just enough horror to keep things interesting. Quentin Tarantino just named it the 9th best film of the 21st century so far. Seriously!

Charlie Wilson’s War

Aaron Sorkin and Mike Nichols deliver the true story of a drunken congressman who somehow helps Afghan freedom fighters destroy the invading Soviet army. (All well and good until you remember that the power vacuum let some maniac named Osama bin Laden get a foothold.)

The cast features Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Ned Beatty, Emily Blunt, John Slattery, and an electric Philip Seymour Hoffman. Just watch this. (Adult language warning!)

Hot Fuzz

Another Edger Wright triumph skewers the action cop movie by setting the story in a sleepy English town. A by-the-book cop is sent to a tiny village where the inept police force struggles to solve a rash of murders. It’s hysterically funny, sharply edited, and incredibly satisfying with great performances from dozens of actors. See if you can spot Cate Blanchett – she’s in one scene and you’ll never know it was her.

World War Z

People hate this movie and I don’t know why. Of course, it’s unrealistic. Maybe the zombie action is weak compared to other flicks, maybe that end-of-movie product placement is hysterical. But we still get a really clever twist when Brad Pitt and his pals discover a possible way to avoid getting bit.

It’s not top-tier zombie action, but it’s fun.

Bruce Almighty

Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, and Steve Carrell star in this crowd-pleasing comedy (remember those)? Carrey’s character is granted the power of God, only to learn that power has its own problems. It’s silly and sweet – the kind of movie we don’t see much anymore.

Fruitvale Station

Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler have been teaming up for some of the best movies in the last several years, but this was their first collaboration. It’s the true story of a young man killed by police in San Francisco. This well-acted story has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s a strong reminder of one of America’s most persistent struggles.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

This was probably the last truly good Marvel movie. Coming off the heels of “Avengers: Endgame,” this Spider-sequel rewards fans of the franchise for the last 25 years. Seeking to fight the public spread of his secret identity, Peter Parker visits Doctor Strange and gets himself into the deepest trouble he’s ever seen. For a comic book movie, it packs a surprising emotional punch, and it provides closure to storylines previously thought abandoned. Bravo.

Looper

This wild time travel story features Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young Bruce Willis! In 2074, the mob assassinates people by sending hit men back in time. But what happens when the hit man is supposed to kill a younger version of himself?

“Looper” has fallen out of the public conversation, but it’s time to bring it back. Watch it with a friend!

Apollo 13

Thirty years ago, Ron Howard gave us the true story of 3 doomed astronauts who defied the odds to make it home alive. It’s a throwback to when movie heroes solved problems with their brains. With Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, and many more, this movie is a top-to-bottom joy.

BASEketball

Okay, so much of this movie hasn’t aged well, but it’s still funny. “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone star as friends who create a backyard game that sweeps the nation. It is often very, very dumb. But you can still find plenty of gems, like when sports broadcasting legend Al Michaels shouts at Bob Costas, “You’re excited? Feel these nipples!”