Paramount Plus is home to many impressive movies. Between hilarious comedies to hard-hitting science-fiction films and even big-budget superhero movies, fans are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a good movie to watch on Paramount Plus.

Paramount Plus may be one of the smaller streaming services out there when compared to companies like Netflix, but it still has plenty of options for its subscribers. Among the most iconic movies on Paramount Plus are Shutter Island and Interstellar, top-tier franchises like Indiana Jones, and recent releases like Top Gun: Maverick at their fingertips. Here's a list of some of the best movies to watch on Paramount Plus.

Updated on January 16, 2024 by Katie Doll: Paramount Plus's extensive library gets bigger every single month. From classics to new releases, there's something for everyone. This list is regularly updated to reflect the diverse range of movies Paramount Plus provides.

30 Bad Santa Puts Christmas In A Different Light

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%

There are plenty of holiday movies out there that fill people with joy. Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and The Polar Express all serve a heartfelt, warm message about the true meaning of Christmas. Bad Santa takes a different approach, giving into the greedy consumerism of the gift-giving holiday.

Posed as a black comedy crime film, Bad Santa received overwhelmingly positive reviews and commercial success for its alternative take on holiday classics. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, a con man and his partner take advantage of the holiday mayhem by posing as Santa Claus and his little helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. They befriend a troubled kid, who makes it harder for them to accomplish their mission.

29 Twas The Night Before Spongemas Is A Kid-Friendly Holiday Special For Families

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Unrated

Spongebob Squarepants has never failed to impress with its holiday and winter episodes. Remember that time Squidward actually turned into a nice guy to spread the holiday cheer? That's the magic of Christmas. In the newest holiday special, streaming separately from the nearly 14-season series as its own movie, Spongebob takes a look back at all the ups and downs of past Christmases.

The 22-minute special is short but gets straight to the point. The special is a compilation of past holiday and winter episodes that have gained a memorable reputation over the years with fans. A few featured in Twas the Night Before Spongemas include "Spongebob's Road to Christmas," "Christmas Who?" "Snowball Effect," and "Krabs à la Mode."

28 The Godfather Part I And Part II Will Always Age Well

Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93.5%

To this day, The Godfather films are among the greatest films of all time. Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel of the same name is a quintessential beacon of the gangster genre, which in turn catapulted HBO's acclaimed series The Sopranos. Without The Godfather trilogy, the film industry would be significantly different.

The first two installments are available to stream on Paramount Plus. The films follow the organized crime Corleone family, particularly the rise of the youngest son as the eventual mafia boss. The second film, the most praised out of all three, follows an unconventional timeline that jumps between the present and the past to juxtapose two family members' descent into organized crime.

27 The Wolf Of Wall Street Is An Extravagant Story Of A Man's Success And Downfall

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have a long history of collaboration, their most recent being Killers of the Flower Moon. One of the films that stands out in their shared filmography is The Wolf of Wall Street, which became a phenomenon of sorts in the financial and film industries. The movie also made Margot Robbie a household name at just 22 years old.

Based on the unbelievable true story, The Wolf of Wall Street follows Jordan Belfort, a New York City stockbroker during his time of committing fraud and corruption under his firm, Stratton Oakmont. The movie itself is widely acclaimed among fans and critics, but received controversy for its extreme profanity, with a record-breaking 500+ usage of the f-word. Also starring in the film are Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, and Kyle Chandler.

26 Titanic's Love Story Remains Unbeatable

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Everyone knows what Titanic is, whether it's the ship that sank in 1912 or the James Cameron romance film. The latter has become just as popular as the tragic event in history, paying homage to the victims of the tragedy with an intoxicating love story of the ages.

Titanic is a monumental film in the entertainment industry, being the most expensive film ever made at the time and using lavish, large-scale models and computers to replicate the Titanic sinking. The story itself is what made Titanic such a success, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as a love-struck couple on the ship, despite their class differences.

25 Pet Sematary Makes A Horror Show Out Of Stephen King's Novel

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 56%

The 2019 film Pet Sematary, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, was a successful attempt at giving the story another chance at redemption after the original 1989 adaptation and its sequel failed to impress. While not a perfect adaptation, the 2019 film (which will be getting a prequel this month) is an unsettling homage to King's work as one of the most prolific horror writers around.

Pet Sematary doesn't fail to execute the strange quality of the 1983 novel. When the Creeds move to a creepy house in rustic Maine, they find their home comes with a burial ground for pets. After their beloved cat Church gets killed by a car, the cat comes back to life as an aggressive shell of who he once was, leading to even more disasters among the family.

24 Everything Everywhere All At Once Tackles An Indie Multiverse

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Everything Everywhere All At Once was a game-changer during its respective awards season. The film mixes numerous genres with a multiversal concept at its core, which in recent years has been most associated with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But unlike a typical superhero genre, Everything Everywhere All At Once explores a troubled mother-daughter relationship in an immigrant narrative.

The A24 film captivated audiences and critics alike. Fans raved about the film so much that it developed a cult following and a large Academy Award advocacy. Eventually, it paid off fully. The film won seven Academy Awards out of 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

23 Clueless Puts A Modern Spin On A Jane Austen Novel

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

Clueless has become a class teen comedy over the years, but many people might not realize that the film is a modern take on Jane Austen's novel Emma. Although based in and released in the 1990s, modern teens won't be surprised to find how accurate Clueless is to real life, imitating teenage mannerisms while also making fun of over-the-top teen movies of the time.

The movie takes place in Beverly Hills where the now iconic character Cher Horowitz is a popular and rich high school student. For her own selfish benefit, Cher decides to perform good deeds for "clueless" people, including playing matchmaker between two teachers and giving a makeover to a new student.

22 Forrest Gump Celebrates The Life Of An Extraordinary Man

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71%

Forrest Gump is the ride of a lifetime, mixing all sorts of real-life events into an epic tale of one man's extraordinary journey. What comes of it is a charming film about the little moments of life, and how a heart of gold can get someone to make anything a possibility.

Forrest Gump is a seemingly ordinary man who tells the story of his life to strangers at a bus stop. His colorful life ranges from his childhood as a boy with leg braces and a low IQ, to playing college football and meeting the President, enlisting in the army during the Vietnam War, and becoming a father to a young boy.

21 Aftersun Hones In On Father-Daughter Relationships

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

After his remarkable performance in the miniseries Normal People, there was no doubt that Paul Mescal would be one of the up-and-coming actors to look out for. In his lead debut in a feature film, Mescal was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, portraying a young single father trying to bond with his daughter on vacation.

Albeit a devastating piece on a father and daughter drifting apart, Aftersun serves as a reminder that people's perceptions of their loved ones are rarely ever true. The visually stunning film takes a look at the memories of the father and daughter on their last real vacation together and empathizes with both parties as they struggle to connect.

20 The Spongebob Squarepants Movie Has No Age Limit

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%

No matter what age you are, nobody's too old for Spongebob Squarepants. As part of their Nickelodeon collection, Paramount Plus has everything Spongebob-related, from the original beloved kids' series to the new spinoffs. Those who want a cinematic experience should check out The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, which is included with a Showtime add-on.

The first of many Spongebob feature films, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie has something for everyone — laughs, a fast-food war, musical moments, and surprisingly emotional scenes that induce tears. Along with his best friend Patrick, Spongebob is on a mission to restore Bikini Bottom after Plankton stole King Neptune's crown to get the Krabby Patty secret formula. The hero's journey of a goofy-goober takes viewers on a ride they've never had before.

19 Arrival Focuses More on the Philosophy Than the Horror

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Alien invasion movies thrive on the unknown. They either encapsulate people's fear of it or embrace an alternative where alien diplomacy becomes a reality. Arrival manages to do both, all while sitting on a message of the harshness of time.

Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker, Arrival faces an extraterrestrial invasion that stumps even the highest of intellectuals. The only one who manages to break bread with the creatures is Dr. Louise Banks, a linguistics professor who slowly learns the alien's language while dealing with her own personal battles.

18 A Quiet Place's Silence Speaks Louder Than Words

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

John Krasinski is best known for his role as Jim Halpert, the everyman sales representative on The Office. But what catapulted him beyond that role was not only his role in A Quiet Place but the fact that he directed and co-wrote the horror film. A Quiet Place is an accomplishment of the horror post-apocalyptic genre, rarely using dialogue to convey the emotions of its characters and normalizing sign language in a blockbuster feature.

Krasinski and Emily Blunt portray parents trying to survive with their children in a world where extraterrestrial creatures attack at the slightest sound. The creative challenge of staying silent and the struggle to keep a family together is a riveting, yet heartwarming thriller.

17 Bridget Jones's Diary Is Another Jane Austen Twist

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

There was a time when being a 32-year-old British single woman was worrying. Why does everyone think Bridget Jones thinks she's incapable of love? Why is she so worried about her weight? This 2001 film is very much of its time, and its themes are definitely outdated. But Bridget Jones's Diary is still a pop culture classic, thanks to the endearing charm of Jones and putting a twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Bridget Jones is depicted as an imperfect woman who fantasizes about her boss and has a seemingly boring life. After New Year's, she begins writing in a diary about all the things she wants and starts to take action to turn her life around.

16 Babylon Takes Hollywood Back To The 1920s

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%

Babylon was a polarizing film upon its release, despite its anticipated premiere and ensemble cast. After La La Land and First Man, fans had high expectations for the next Damien Chazelle film. No matter what the critics said, Babylon had people talking, and it's worth a watch to see what all the fuss was about.

Set in the late 1920s, Babylon follows multiple characters during the transition from silent to sound films in Hollywood. Among the most recognizable actors in the film are Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, and Samara Weaving. It's a glittery, mind-bending spectacle that hypnotizes viewers to watch until the credits roll.

15 Bumblebee Bonds A Transformer And A Young Woman

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

The Transformers movies make up one of the most popular franchises in history and continue to produce more action-packed films to this day. But what fans may not have expected from a Transformers movie was a heartfelt bond between a human and a machine, and it's all owed to Hailee Steinfeld's grounded performance in the 2018 film Bumblebee.

Bumblebee is a prequel to the original 2007 film, set in the 1980s as an 18-year-old Charlie finds a broken Autobot in a junkyard. She names it Bumblebee and discovers that Bumblebee's purpose is much greater on Earth than ever thought possible.

14 Scream I, IV, And VI Never Tire Out The Same Villain

Average Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%

When people think of horror franchises, Scream is likely one of the first to come to mind. It's a classic slasher murder mystery that is filled with twists and turns that keep each installment a fresh adventure to sit down for, even if it isn't Halloween. The first, fourth, and sixth Scream movies are currently streaming on Paramount+, meaning viewers can watch Ghostface wreak havoc on humanity throughout generations.

Different sets of actors have rotated out of the films to appeal to newer generations, with some actors making regular appearances throughout the series. The most iconic faces of the Scream franchise are Courteney Cox, Neve Campbell, and David Arquette, with Jenna Ortega starring in the fifth and sixth films.

13 The Whale Showcases Brendan Fraser's Comeback Era

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%

Cited as the jumping-off point of Brendan Fraser's renaissance era, The Whale brings out the best of Fraser's acting abilities, which ultimately awarded him the Academy Award. It follows a reclusive English teacher who lives with morbid obesity issues and is attempting to reconnect with his daughter before his death.

All the hype surrounded Fraser's jaw-dropping performance during its release, but it's also hard to forget the outstanding performances of the other actors as well. Playing his rebellious and smart-mouthed daughter is Sadie Sink, who previously was best known as Max from Stranger Things. The other is Hong Chau as Liz, who was also nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.

12 Mean Girls Never Fails As A Classic Comedy

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

Mean Girls ignited so many iconic pop culture moments that it's difficult to name them all from the top of one's head. It's considered one of the best high school films of all time, being a smart and funny take on the horrors of being the new girl in a public school with only homeschool experience in the main character's pocket.

Mean Girls follows Lindsay Lohan as Cady, a transfer to a public high school after years of homeschooling in Africa. She has difficulty fitting in and navigating the bullies and cliques, one in particular being the "Plastics." The movie is based on Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees and Wannabees, and screenwriter Tina Fey's own experience in high school.

11 The Lost City Brings An Unlikely Duo On A Treasure Hunt

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%

Action comedy films will never go out of style. In the 2022 movie The Lost City, Sandra Bullock, and Channing Tatum bring back the eclectic, quirky pairing that must work together despite their personal struggles to escape a harrowing experience. The film has a classic screwball comedy essence to it in the hopes of reviving a lost genre.

The Lost City brings together a romance novelist (Bullock) and her cover model (Tatum) as they embark on a book tour to promote her latest book. Things go awry when she's kidnapped by a billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) looking for a treasure that he thinks only the novelist can find.