The Best Movies on Paramount+ Right Now (September 2024)

Paramount+ offers its subscribers a plethora of quality content. Its predecessors (ahem, Netflix) set high standards, but Paramount+ shines its own spotlight from the top of its star-studded mountain. From classic films to banger TV shows like 1883 and Star Trek: Discovery, there’s no shortage of entertainment to explore. Here, we give you our top list of the best movies on Paramount+.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Disney+ or the best shows on Paramount+.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Paramount+

Editor’s note: This article was updated September 2024 to include Doctor Sleep.

‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, adapted from the great Stephen King’s novel, is considered by many to be one of the greatest horror movies of all time. Almost 40 years after its release, a sequel in the form of Doctor Sleep arrived on screens, itself an adaptation of a novel by King. Once the psychic child in the 1980 classic, Dan Torrance is now all grown up and portrayed by Ewan McGregor, with his supernatural abilities ready to signal tragedy all over again. Sure, Doctor Sleep doesn’t quite live up to the sheer genius of its predecessor, but it would have taken a miracle for that to be achieved. Instead, it is a well-crafted trip through terror, helmed by a modern-day gothic genius in Mike Flanagan. For lovers of The Shining or even those who have yet to see it, Doctor Sleep is a fun, nightmare-inducing flick well worth your time. – Jake Hodges

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‘If’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 49% | IMDb: 6.5/10

Anyone who grew up watching Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends on Cartoon Network will likely get a kick out of IF. Writer and director John Krasinski (The Office) creates a world where imaginary friends are real, and a young girl and her neighbor, played by Cailey Fleming and Ryan Reynolds, respectively, help them find new kids to befriend once their original kids grow too old to believe. It’s a pretty simple premise with a lot of whimsical characters lending their voices to the imaginary friends, including Steve Carell (Despicable Me 4), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Solo: A Star Wars Story), and even Louis Gossett Jr. (Watchmen) in his final role. IF is a fun film that the whole family can enjoy.

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‘Mean Girls’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 5.7/10

Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., Mean Girls adapts the eponymous stage musical, which is based on the iconic 2004 film. All three were written by Tina Fey, who also reprises her role from the original movie in the new musical. Mean Girls follows new kid Cady Heron (Angourie Rice), who finds instant popularity — until she gets on the wrong side of queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp). The musical’s cast also includes Auliʻi Cravalho and Christopher Briney. While Mean Girls received mixed reviews from critics, the musical was a box-office success. The plot remains largely unchanged from the original, but the production as a whole has been updated for a new generation of fans. The music and choreography are engaging and inventive, bringing the Broadway show to the big screen in a way that few movie musicals have managed to pull off. Whether you prefer the musical or the original depends entirely on personal taste, but taken on its own terms, the new Mean Girls is an entertaining comedy with great performances, catchy songs, and plenty of bite.

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‘Talk to Me’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.1/10

Released by A24 in the US, Talk to Me is an Australian supernatural horror film that follows a group of teens who find a mysterious embalmed hand that allows them to contact spirits. The feature directorial debuts of YouTubers Danny and Michael Philippou (better known as RackaRacka), the film is based on a concept by Daley Pearson and was written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman. The movie stars Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Miranda Otto, and Zoe Terakes. Talk to Me premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival in 2022, receiving favorable reviews from critics. The film has been praised for everything from its story and direction to the practical effects, sound design, and, of course, the performances of its talented cast. The movie was a huge box office success, becoming A24’s highest-grossing horror film and their second-highest-grossing movie overall. Well-written and expertly put together, Talk to Me is surprisingly old-school and thoroughly creepy. The use of practical effects is exemplary, and the film feels like the perfect blend of modern elevated horror and classic ghost stories. A sequel and a prequel are currently in the works.

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‘The Lost City’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 6.1/10

Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock), an author of romantic adventure novels, finds herself in deep trouble when billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) kidnaps her with the hopes of finding one of the treasures in her books. Coming to her rescue are none other than her bumbling cover model, Alan Caprison (Channing Tatum), and a hired hunter, Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt).

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‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 52% | IMDb: 6.0/10

The live-action Transformers franchise gives fans a new installment that brings in characters from the beloved 90s spin-off cartoon Beast Wars. ​​Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a standalone prequel directed by Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) that continues the story of the Autobots that takes place between Bumblebee and the original Transformers film that kicked off the franchise’s fifteen-year run. It’s an action-packed, star-studded affair that’s arguably the biggest and most ambitious story so far, pitting Optimus and his crew against the world-eater Unicron. It even features familiar voices from top actors like Peter Dinklage (Destiny), Ron Perlman (Pacific Rim), and Michelle Yeoh (Star Trek: Discovery).

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‘Zoey 102’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 56% | IMDb: 4.9/10

Directed by Nancy Hower, Zoey 102 is an adorably charming follow-up film that serves as a sequel to the hit Nickelodeon teen series Zoey 101. Beautifully reuniting many original cast members, Zoey 102 stars Jamie Lynn Spears reprising the titular role, as well as returning stars Sean Flynn, Christopher Massey, and Erin Sanders, among others. While the original program generally focused on Zoey and her friends’ high school shenanigans at boarding school, Zoey 102 has evolved with the actors, centering on Zoey’s adult situations surrounding weddings, careers, and romantic relationships. – Yael Tygiel

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‘Mission Impossible 6: Fallout’ (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Director Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation) continues his run on the Mission: Impossible franchise with the sixth installment in the series. Mission: Impossible – Fallout continues the story of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his rag-tag crew three years after they took down their toughest foe to date, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), as they deal with the aftermath of the power vacuum they created. This film has all the amazing action set-pieces and wild stunts that audiences expect from the series, but now that the stories are more serialized, the stakes are even higher, and the characters are able to grow and change as they deal with the impossible odds they are constantly forced to face. This is one of the best installments in the franchise, and it sets the stage for the end of the series. – Tauri Miller

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‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 7.2/10

After decades of studios trying to adapt the popular tabletop roleplaying game into a film and failing time and again, nerdy dice rollers are finally rewarded with a critical hit. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an epic and hilarious translation of the experience of playing a ragtag group of adventurers who stumble their way through saving the world. The film is led by Chris Pine (Star Trek Beyond) as a cunning bard, Michelle Rodriguez (Fast X) as a no-nonsense barbarian, Justice Smith (Pokémon: Detective Pikachu) as an insecure sorcerer, and Sophia Lillis (It) as a rebellious half-demon druid, bringing them all together to rescue a young girl and stop a kingdom from being consumed by darkness. The adventure is great for long-time fans and general audiences alike and is a great introduction to the world of D&D.

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‘Scream’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 6.3/10

This soft reboot or “requel” of the Scream franchise takes us back to Woodsboro 25 years after the original Ghostface murders, where a deadly copycat is terrorizing a new generation of teens. Despite bringing back original cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, the story focuses on Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega), who seem to be at the center of the murders. They gather a group of Tara’s friends, including the twin niece and nephew of Randy Meeks, to try to crack the mystery of who has picked up the knife to become the new Ghostface. Scream keeps the satirical roots of the original franchise films while updating the tropes and expectations for a modern audience, creating a slasher that new and original fans alike can enjoy. – Tauri Miller

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‘Scream VI’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 6.5/10

The sixth chapter of the Scream movie franchise, Scream VI follows survivors Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) to New York City in hopes of a fresh start. Set a year after the events of the fifth installment, Scream VI continues the tradition of Ghostface killings, reuniting Woodsboro citizens like Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and the Meeks-Martin twins (Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding). Brimming with slasher excitement and dripping with gore, Scream VI is a playful addition to the series that retains tension and opens the door to future adventures. – Yael Tygiel

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’80 For Brady’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 58% | IMDb: 5.8/10

Inspired by a true story, 80 For Brady is a charming comedy about four friends determined to see football legend Tom Brady at the 2017 Super Bowl. Starring four of the greatest comedians of a generation — frequent collaborators Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, along with Oscar winners Rita Moreno and Sally Field — 80 For Brady is a wild and hilarious adventure for audiences of all ages. With dozens of athletic cameos, as well as a slew of unexpected faces like chef Guy Fieri and modern icon Billy Porter, 80 For Brady leans into the ridiculousness without detracting a single moment from its moving message. – Yael Tygiel

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‘Teen Wolf: The Movie’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 32% | IMDb: 5.5/10

Reuniting the cast of Jeff Davis’ beloved Teen Wolf series, Teen Wolf: The Movie sees Tyler Posey’s Scott McCall gathering his allies in Beacon Hills to defeat a terrifying new evil that has emerged. Featuring familiar creatures like Banshees and Hellhounds, as well as the beloved faces of Tyler Hoechlin (Superman and Lois) and Colton Haynes, Teen Wolf: The Movie is an action-packed adventure. With shapeshifters of the night by his side, these friends fight against a new and deadly evil, making McCall the Alpha he seeks to be. – Yael Tygiel

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‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes: 66% | IMDb: 7.1/10

Before Adam McKay became an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, he made arguably one of the funniest films of the 2000s with his directorial debut, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. At this point, Anchorman has been quoted to death, and yes, this is a shaggy film that often feels like a bunch of sketches connected by a loose narrative. And yet, Anchorman remains hilarious, despite how much it has inundated our culture, largely thanks to the fantastic cast news team cast that includes Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner. This team together is absolutely brilliant, a collection of odd weirdos that might take their pants off during a news broadcast, or bring a grenade to your standard news team back-alley brawl. Anchorman is still absurdly strange and laugh-out-loud funny, no matter how many times you’ve seen these scenes or heard these lines. — Ross Bonaime

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‘Top Gun’ (1986)

Rotten Tomatoes: 57% | IMDb: 6.9/10

Lieutenant Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise), callsign Maverick, attends TOPGUN and garners attention for his skill in flying. Complicating matters are his feelings for instructor Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) and his competitive rivalry with fellow pilot Lieutenant Tom Kazansky (Val Kilmer).

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‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 8.2/10

Returning to the skies after thirty years, Tom Cruise stars in Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the hit 1986 film Top Gun. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Top Gun: Maverick sees Capt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Cruise) confronting his past, haunted while attempting to lead the new graduates in their elite training. Like the original film, Top Gun: Maverick is bursting with young talent, including Miles Teller (Fantastic Four), Monica Barbaro (UnReal), Jay Ellis, and Glen Powell. With the same adrenaline, excitement, breathtaking sky-bound stunts, and just a taste of cheesy romance, Top Gun: Maverick is an ideal follow-up that both builds on the original and pays direct homage. – Yael Tygiel

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‘Smile’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 6.5/10

One of the strongest and most surprising horror movies of 2022, Smile stars Sosie Bacon as an overworked psychiatrist named Rose Cotter. After she witnesses a strange and disturbing incident involving one of her patients and a maniacal smile, she starts experiencing horrifying unexplained occurrences. To overcome this chilling new reality, Rose must confront her past. A critical and commercial success, Smile is an excellent addition to the genre. – Taylor Gates

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‘A Quiet Place’ (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) struggle to survive and keep their children safe as they live in a world of silence. Aliens, who hunt and massacre by their sense of sound, prowl what’s left of Earth.

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‘Bumblebee’ (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 6.7/10

Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) is a teenage girl who discovers B-127 after he lands on Earth having fled the war on his home planet. Charlie must help B-127, better known as Bumblebee, destroy the evil Decepticons who have come after him while averting capture from U.S. government forces.

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‘Instant Family’ (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Pete (Wahlberg) and Ellie Wagner (Rose Byrne) are a childless couple until they’re hit with the sudden urge to foster after browsing a foster care website. They take in not one but three children, and as a family, the five learn just how complicated family-ing can be.

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