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While all eyes are on streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime for movie updates, the BBC iPlayer service continues to host a limited but diverse selection of films.
We will go through some of the best movies on BBC iPlayer from among the BBC iPlayer films you can watch right now. We have added the best movies on BBC iPlayer and their Director, Writer, Cast, and IMDB ratings.
We are also adding the movie’s plot, which can help you get a comprehensive summary of the movie. However, if you are wondering how to watch BBC iPlayer in US, Ireland, or anywhere else you must use a VPN for that!
A list like this can help you not get lost in the wide variety of shows offered by the platforms and help you to make your time well spent. It is to be noted that this list is not comprehensive, but we have tried our best to make it useful to you.
Twelve Monkeys (1995)
Director: Terry Gilliam
Writer: David Webb Peoples, Chris Marker, Janet Peoples
Cast: Joseph Melito, Bruce Willis, Jon Seda
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Terry Gilliam’s 1995 American science fiction film 12 Monkeys was inspired by Chris Marker’s 1962 short film La Jetée. The plot is that, In 1996, a terrorist group known as The Army of the Twelve Monkeys unleashes a lethal virus.
In 2035, the prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis) is forced to return to 1996 to help scientists research a cure for humanity. But he got imprisoned in a mental institution, where he met the insane Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt). He tries to flee but fails and gets imprisoned in a cell. Then one day, suddenly, he vanishes from the cell.
If you are a fan of science fiction movies, you might also love these sci-fi movies too!
Phantom Thread (2017)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Vicky Krieps, Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
Phantom Thread is an American historical drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which was released in 2017. The story is that Reynolds Woodcock and his sister Cyril are renowned dressmakers who dress royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, and debutantes in 1950s London.
Women come and go in Woodcock’s life, providing inspiration and companionship to the confirmed bachelor. Alma, a young and strong-willed woman who becomes his muse and lover, soon disrupts his carefully crafted existence.
It is one of the best BBC movies to watch!
Small Axe (2020)
Director: Steve McQueen
Writer: Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Steve McQueen
Cast: Naomi Ackie, Khali Best, Gary Beadle
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Steve McQueen created and directed the British anthology film series Small Axe. This film series sheds light on the history of a specific community in Britain, namely the West Indian community in the 1960s and 1970s.
The focus on detail is completely engaging, bringing known aspects to life and lesser-known details that make this history real rather than just a vague awareness of the hardships and discrimination endured.
In addition to the hardships, the films highlight the vibrancy and uniqueness of that community, providing a positive and educational message.
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Director: Barry Jenkins
Writer: Barry Jenkins, James Baldwin
Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
If Beale Street Could Talk is a 2018 American romantic drama movie directed and authored by Barry Jenkins based on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel. Tish, a daughter, and soon-to-be wife-to-be, vividly recalls the passion, respect, and trust that have bound her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, known as Fonny, in early 1970s Harlem.
Friends since childhood, the devoted couple fantasize about a future together, but their dreams are dashed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.
The Babadook (2014)
Director: Jennifer Kent
Writer: Jennifer Kent
Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
The Babadook, Jennifer Kent’s directorial debut, is a 2014 Australian psychological horror film written and directed by her. The Babadook is the story of Sam, a young boy who believes he sees a monster in his house after having disturbing visions.
The incidents happen as the children’s book “Mister Babadook” manifests in their home, sending the single mother Amelia and her child Sam into a deep well of paranoia. It is one of the best BBC movies to watch on BBC iPlayer. You can also access BBC iPlayer in Ireland to enjoy these movies. For the horror genre fans, here’s a list of the best horror movies of all time.
Ali (2001)
Director: Michael Mann
Writer: Stephen J Rivele, Gregory Allen Howard
Cast: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Michael Mann co-wrote, produced, and directed Ali, an American biographical sports drama film released in 2001.
From 1964 to 1974, the film follows boxer Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith, as he captures the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, converts to Islam, criticizes the Vietnam War, and is banned from boxing, returns to fight Joe Frazier in 1971, and finally reclaims the title from George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle fight in 1974.
It also mentions the great social and political upheaval that occurred in the United States following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Foxtrot (2017)
Director: Samuel Maoz
Writer: Samuel Maoz
Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Sarah Adler, Yonaton Shiray
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Foxtrot is a 2017 drama film written and directed by Samuel Maoz and co-produced internationally. It stars Lior Ashkenazi and Sarah Adler as a couple who learn their son, an IDF soldier, has been killed in action.
When something tragically goes wrong at their son’s military post, a troubled family finds themselves immersed in even more sorrow, and they struggle to cope with the news that has hit them. Foxtrot is one of the best movies on BBC iPlayer, which you should watch.
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Director: John Singleton
Writer: John Singleton
Cast: Lloyd Avery II, Hudhail Al-Amir, Angela Bassett
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood drama film written and directed by John Singleton in his feature directorial debut. The story is that Tre has been sent to live with his father, a furious guy, in the rough South Central Los Angeles.
Tre’s friends do not have the same kind of support, despite his hard-nosed father instilling proper values and respect in him and his devout girlfriend Brandi teaching him about faith.
They become entangled in the neighbourhood’s thriving drug and gang culture, with increasingly tragic consequences. For more thriller movies, check out this list of the best thriller movies.
I Am Greta (2020)
Director: Nathan Grossman
Writer: Hanna Lejonqvist, Per K. Kirkegaard, Olof Berglind
Cast: Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Niclas Svenningsen
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
I Am Greta is a 2020 internationally co-produced documentary film directed by Nathan Grossman that follows Greta Thunberg, a climate change activist. Greta Thunberg, 15, begins her school strike against climate change.
She skips school to demonstrate to politicians that if they don’t care about her future, why should she? It’s a documentary about taking action to prevent climate change before it’s too late. She has become a poster girl for the fight against climate change.
The Mole Agent (2020)
Director: Maite Alberdi
Writer: Maite Alberdi
Cast: Sergio Chamy, Romulo Aitken, Marta Olivares,
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
The Mole Agent is a documentary film directed by Maite Alberdi that was released in 2020 by an international co-production. A Chilean man and recent widower, Sergio responded to a classified ad for an unusual job at a private investigation service.
It’s unusual because it’s looking for men between the ages of eighty and ninety who are technologically savvy and self-sufficient. “The Mole Agent” is an honest look at old age and a community filled with people like Sergio.
My Feral Heart (2016)
Director: Jane Gull
Writer: Duncan Paveling
Cast: Steven Brandon, Shana Swash, Sarah Ioannou
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
My Feral Heart is a 2016 British independent film directed by Jane Gull and written by Duncan Paveling. It tells the story of Luke, a young man with Down syndrome, who is forced to live in a nursing home after his mother dies.
He meets a young woman who gives him hope and purpose after sneaking out of the house and exploring the countryside. My Feral Heart is one of the best movies on BBC iPlayer, which you should watch.
Sully (2016)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: Todd Komarnicki, Chesley Sullenberger, Jeffrey Zaslow
Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Valerie Mahaffey
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
Sully is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Todd Komarnicki, based on Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow’s 2009 autobiography Highest Duty. It tells the story of Captain Chesley, a commercial pilot.
He attempts an emergency landing in New York’s Hudson River on January 15, 2009, after US Airways Flight 1549 collides with a flock of geese. Surprisingly, all 155 passengers and crew members survived the terrifying ordeal, and the public and the media hailed Sullenberger as a national hero.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Director: George A. Romero
Writer: John A. Russo, George A. Romero
Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
George A. Romero wrote, directed, photographed, and edited the 1968 American horror film Night of the Living Dead. It stars Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea. The plot revolves around seven people trapped in a rural farmhouse in western Pennsylvania being attacked by an enlarging horde of cannibalistic, undead ghouls.
The radiation from a crashed satellite causes the recently deceased to rise from their graves and seek out the living to eat. It is undoubtedly one of the best horror thrillers of all time!
Stan & Ollie (2018)
Director: Jon S. Baird
Writer: Jeff Pope, ‘A.J.’ Marriot
Cast: Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, Shirley Henderson
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Stan & Ollie is a 2018 comedy-drama film of a biographical nature written and directed by Jon S. Baird. The film is based on the later years of the lives of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Laurel and Hardy face an uncertain future as their golden era of Hollywood films fades.
In 1953, the duo, weakened by age, set out to reconnect with their adoring fans by touring various halls in the United Kingdom.
The shows are a huge success, but Stan and Ollie can’t seem to get away from the past, as long-buried tensions and Hardy’s failing health threaten their precious partnership. For more comedy movies, check out our list of the best comedy movies of all time!
Election (1999)
Director: Alexander Payne
Writer: Tom Perrotta, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Alexander Payne directed the 1999 American Black comedy film, which is based on Tom Perrotta’s 1998 novel. The plot is centred on a student body election and satirizes politics and high school life.
Matthew Broderick plays Jim McAllister, a popular high school social studies teacher, and Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, an overachieving student whom he despises.
McAllister sabotages Tracy’s candidacy for student government president by endorsing a rival candidate and tampering with the ballot count.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Director: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Writer: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Cast: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film directed, edited, and written by Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick.
It’s a fictional story about three student filmmakers, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams, and Heather Donahue, who hiked into the Black Hills, Maryland, near Burkittsville in 1994 to create a documentary about the Blair Witch, which is a local legend.
Despite the fact that the three disappear, their equipment and footage are discovered a year later. The film shown to the viewer is said to be “recovered footage.” Myrick and Sánchez created a fictional legend of the Blair Witch in 1993.
Game Night (2018)
Director: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Writer: Mark Perez
Cast: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
Game Night is an American action humour film penned and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
The plot is that Max and Annie’s weekly game night is boosted when Max’s brother Brooks throws a murder mystery party complete with dummy thugs and federal agents.
So it’s all part of the game when Brooks is kidnapped. As the competitors begin to investigate the case, they discover that neither the game nor Brooks are what they appear to be.
The friends quickly find themselves in over their heads throughout one chaotic night as each twist leads to another unexpected turn. For more action movies, check out our list of the best action movies of all time!
The Wrong Trousers (1993)
Director: Nick Park
Writer: Nick Park, Bob Baker, Brian Sibley
Cast: Peter Sallis (Voice)
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
The Wrong Trousers is a British stop-motion animated short film directed by Nick Park in 1993 that stars his characters Wallace and Gromit. Wallace gives Gromit a new invention for walkies called “Techno-Trousers” for his birthday, then discovers he doesn’t have enough money to pay off his bills and debts.
Wallace rents out his spare bedroom to a penguin, who befriends him and chases Gromit away. The penguin is intrigued by Wallace’s techno pants. On the other hand, Gromit discovers that the penguin is a wanted criminal and tries to help. Check out more animated movies from our list of the best animated movies of all time!
Whitney: Can I Be Me? (2017)
Director: Nick Broomfield, Rudi Dolezal
Writer: Nick Broomfield, Marc Hoeferlin
Cast: Whitney Houston, Michael Baker, Wayne Lindsey
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Whitney: Can I Be Me is a 2017 British-American documentary film written, co-produced, and directed by Nick Broomfield and Rudi Dolezal.
The documentary investigates Whitney Houston’s history and emotional connections with her family and friends, beginning with her death on February 11, 2012.
The film incorporates archive footage from Houston’s 1999 World Tour and testimonies from Houston’s family, friends, and musicians who collaborated with her.
The documentary focuses on her relationships with her mother, father, husband, daughter, and former best friend, Robyn Crawford. The film also discusses Houston’s drug history, including allegations of an overdose in the 1990s.
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead (2018)
Director: Ben Wheatley
Writer: Ben Wheatley
Cast: Marvin Maskell, Sura Dohnke, Neil Maskell,
IMDB Rating: 6.4/10
Ben Wheatley directed Happy New Year Colin Burstead, which is a 2018 British drama-comedy film. Neil Maskell plays the title character along with Joe Cole, Sam Riley, Doon Mackichan, Hayley Squires, and Charles Dance.
Colin hires an opulent country manor for his extended family’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to the plot. Unfortunately for Colin, the arrival of his estranged brother David has jeopardized his position of power within the family.
Morvern Callar (2002), dir. Lynne Ramsay
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Writer: Lynne Ramsay, Liana Dognini, Alan Warner
Cast: Samantha Morton, Kathleen McDermott, Paul Popplewell
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Morvern Callar is a 2002 British psychological drama film directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Samantha Morton in the title role. Ramsay and Liana Dognini co-wrote the screenplay based on Alan Warner’s 1995 novel of the same name. When Morvern Callar’s partner commits suicide, she makes up several scenarios to explain it.
After a few days, she cuts up the body and buries it. She then comes upon a novel he finished before committing suicide and offers it to a number of publishing houses as her own work. Morvern spends her first paycheck on a trip to Spain along with her best friend Lana, which pans out to be an emotional roller coaster.
For more psychological thrillers, check out this list of the best psychological thriller movies!
Wrapping Up
Some of the best movies on BBC player that you’ll fall in love with have already been mentioned above. The BBC iPlayer has a huge selection of exciting shows from various genres, and we hope that we’ve compiled a list that you’ll enjoy.
This list will help you create a watch list and keep you from getting lost in the shuffle of shows. These are some of the best BBC movies to watch from BBC iPlayer -films that will undoubtedly leave an impression on you after watching them.