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Are you looking for the best Channel 4 films to watch right now? Look no further; this article has you covered. Channel 4 is a British public-service free-to-air television network with a strong focus on independent film. The channel was established in November of 1982 and has produced some truly great films.
Channel 4 is a free-to-air network and it offers the best films and shows alike of every genre you can think of. However, the free service is geo-blocked, and to watch Channel 4 outside UK, you will need a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN to spoof your location. In addition, the All 4 app supports a wide variety of streaming devices so that you can watch Channel 4 on Firestick outside UK, Windows, Mac, Roku, etc.
Now, let’s get to the list of films on Channel 4.
What are the Best Channel 4 Films to Watch Outside UK in 2023?
What movies can one watch on Channel 4? There are several films available on the channel, and you can choose them, depending on your mood.
From classics such as “Time Bandits” to newer films like “Alita: Battle Angel,” there is something for everyone. This article will discuss the 25 best Channel 4 films outside UK to watch right now. Let’s get started.
Leaving Neverland (2019)
Director: Dan Reed
Writer: Dan Reed
Cast: Michael Jackson (Footage), Joy Robson, Wade Robson
Genre: Documentary, Crime
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Runtime: 4h
Leaving Neverland is a 2019 documentary film about the sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson. The film features interviews with two of Jackson’s accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, as well as their families.
The four-hour-long film caused controversy when it aired on Channel Four in the UK, with many viewers feeling it was one-sided and unfair to Jackson. However, Leaving Neverland remains an essential document of child sexual abuse allegations against a powerful man.
For Sama (2019)
Director: Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
Writer: Waad al-Kateab
Cast: Waad al-Kateab, Hamza Ali Alwani, Sama Alwani
Genre: Documentary, War
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Runtime: 1h 40m
For Sama is a 2019 documentary film about the Syrian Civil War, directed by Waad al-Kateab. The film follows al-Kataeb’s experiences as a citizen journalist in Aleppo, Syria, during the war.
For Sama was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and won a BAFTA award for Best Documentary Film. It is among the best Channel 4 films outside UK to watch right now.
Maurice (1987)
Director: James Ivory
Writer: E.M. Forster (novel), James Ivory, Kit Hesketh-Harvey
Cast: Hugh Grant, James Wilby, Rupert Graves
Genre: Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Runtime: 2h 20m
Maurice is a 1987 British drama film based on the novel of the same name by E.M. Forster. Maurice tells the story of a young man who falls in love with another man in early 20th-century England.
The film was controversial when it was first released, as homosexuality was still illegal in the UK at the time. However, Maurice is now considered a classic of LGBT cinema, and its central love story is as powerful and moving as ever.
The Inbetweeners (2011)
Director: Ben Palmer
Writer: Iain Morris, Damon Beesley
Cast: Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas, James Buckley
Genre: Comedy
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Runtime: 1h 37m
The Inbetweeners is a 2011 British coming-of-age comedy film based on a television series of the same name. The film follows four friends as they go on a lad’s holiday to Crete.
The Inbetweeners was a box office success, grossing over £13 million in the UK. It received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising the film’s humor and performances, but some feel it was too similar to the television series. It is one of the best films on Channel 4 you need to watch.
The Bear (1998)
Director: Hilary Audus
Writer: Raymond Briggs (book), Joanna Harrison, Hilary Audus
Cast: Peter Knapp, Charlotte Church, Philip Sheffield
Genre: Adventure, Animation
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Runtime: 26m
The Bear is a 1998 British animated film based on the book of the same name by Raymond Briggs. The film tells the story of a young girl who befriends a bear cub and must protect him from hunters.
The Bear was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It is one of the best Channel Four films to watch in 2023.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writers:: Laeta Kalogridis, James Cameron
Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Christoph Waltz, Rosa Salazar
Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 2h 2m
Alita: Battle Angel is a 2019 action film based on the manga of the same name. The film is set in the 26th century and follows Alita, a cyborg who is brought back to life by a scientist named Ido.
However, Alita does not remember anything about her past. As she begins to explore the world, she becomes involved in a conflict between two factions. Alita: Battle Angel was praised for its visuals and action sequences but criticized for its convoluted plot.
Rocketman (2019)
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Writer: Lee Hall
Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden
Genre: Biography, Drama, Musical
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 2h 1m
Rocketman is a 2019 biographical musical drama film about the life of English musician Elton John. The film follows John’s rise to fame and his struggles with addiction and depression.
Taron Egerton gives a breakout performance as John, and the film features many of his most popular songs. Rocketman received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success.
Hell in the Pacific (1968)
Director: John Boorman
Writer: Alexander Jacobs, Eric Bercovici
Cast: Lee Marvin, Toshirō Mifune, Takeshi Katō
Genre: Adventure, War
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 1h 43m
Hell in the Pacific is a 1968 film about the Second World War. The film stars Lee Marvin as an American pilot stranded on a deserted island with a Japanese soldier, played by Toshirō Mifune.
The two men slowly come to understand and respect each other but are eventually rescued by the Americans. Hell in the Pacific was ahead of its time in its depiction of race relations and remains an excellent war film.
Deep Impact (1998)
Director: Mimi Leder
Writer: Bruce Joel Rubin, Michael Tolkin
Cast: Elijah Wood, Tea Leoni, Robert Duvall
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Runtime: 2h
Deep Impact is a 1998 American disaster film directed by Mimi Leder. The film stars Tea Leoni and Elijah Wood as journalists discovering that a comet is on a collision course with Earth.
As doomsday approaches, the government races to build a spacecraft that can save a select few from the impending destruction. Deep Impact was a box office success and was praised for its CGI special effects. However, the film’s sentimental tone was criticized by some reviewers.
The Hamburg Cell (2004)
Director: Antonia Bird
Writer: Ronan Bennett, Alice Perman
Cast: Karim Saleh, Agni Scott, Maral Kamel
Genre: Drama, War
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Runtime: 1h 46m
The Hamburg Cell is a 2004 drama film about the group of men who carried out the September 11th attacks. The film follows the group as they plan and execute the attacks and features interviews with family members of the attackers.
The Hamburg Cell is an important film in understanding the motivations behind the September 11th attacks and is essential viewing for anyone interested in current affairs.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Director: Bryan Singer
Writer: Anthony McCarten, Peter Morgan
Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Genre: Drama, Music, Biography
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Runtime: 2h 14m
Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 biographical drama film about the British rock band Queen. The film follows the band’s rise to fame and features Rami Malek as lead singer Freddie Mercury.
It also features their famous performance at Live Aid in 1985. Bohemian Rhapsody was a critical and commercial success, grossing over US$900 million at the box office. It’s received five Academy Award nominations and won four, including Best Actor for Rami Malek.
Tolkien (2019)
Director: Dome Karukoski
Writer: David Gleeson, Stephen Beresford
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Colm Meaney
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 1h 52m
Tolkien is a 2019 biographical drama film about the early life of English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. The film follows Tolkien as a young man in Edwardian England, as he falls in love with his future wife Edith Bratt and discovers the world of Middle-earth.
Tolkien is a well-acted and visually stunning film that offers an insight into the mind of one of the greatest authors of the twentieth century. It is among the best Channel 4 films outside UK to watch in 2023.
Sunday (2002)
Director: Charles McDougall
Writer: Jimmy McGovern
Cast: Ciarán McMenamin, Paul Campbell, Barry Mullan
Genre: Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sunday is a 2002 British drama film directed by Charles McDougall and written by Jimmy McGovern. The film follows the events of Bloody Sunday when British soldiers killed 13 unarmed protesters in Northern Ireland.
This happened after a civil rights march turned violent. The film follows Ciarán McMenamin as one of the protesters, a soldier, and a journalist. Sunday is an important film that captures the Bloody Sunday events in a realistic and harrowing way.
Lapsis (2020)
Director: Noah Hutton
Writer: Noah Hutton
Cast: Dean Imperial, Babe Howard, Madeline Wise
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Runtime: 1h 48m
Lapsis is a 2020 science fiction drama film about a man who takes a job as a cabler in the New York City subway system. He does this to pay for his brother’s medical treatment.
The film follows him as he slowly realizes that a sinister corporation is using the cablers to manipulate time and space. Lapsis is a fascinating and mind-bending film that will leave viewers questioning everything they think they know about reality.
Genova (2008)
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Writer: Laurence Coriat, Michael Winterbottom
Cast: Colin Firth, Hope Davis, Willa Holland
Genre: Drama, Romance, Mystery
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Runtime: 1h 33m
Michael Winterbottom’s Genova is a 2008 drama film starring Colin Firth and Hope Davis. The film follows Joe (Firth), a widower who moves to Genova, Italy, with his two daughters after the death of their mother.
While in Genova, one of the daughters experiences a mysterious illness, and Joe begins a relationship with a local woman (Davis). Genova is a moving, atmospheric film exploring grief, love, and loss.
Time Bandits (1981)
Director: Terry Gilliam
Writer: Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin
Cast: Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, John Cleese
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Runtime: 1h 50m
Time Bandits is a 1981 British fantasy film directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, and John Cleese. The film follows a group of time-traveling thieves who steal a map from the Supreme Being (Connery) and use it to travel through time.
They visit various historical periods and encounter famous figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte (Ian Holm) and Robin Hood (John Cleese). Time Bandits is a delightful, imaginative film that features Gilliam’s trademark dark humor and visual style.
The Firm (1993)
Director: Sydney Pollack
Writer: John Grisham, David Rabe, Robert Towne
Cast: Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman, Jeanne Tripplehorn
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 2h 34m
The Firm is a 1993 film based on the John Grisham novel of the same name. The film follows lawyer Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) as he joins a prestigious law firm, only to discover that it is involved in criminal activity.
He has to decide whether to expose the firm or keep quiet and protect his family. The Firm is a thrilling ride from start to finish, with excellent performances from Cruise and Gene Hackman.
Odd Thomas (2013)
Director: Stephen Sommers
Writer: Dean R. Koontz (novel), Stephen Sommers (screenplay)
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Leonor Varela, Ashley Sommers
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 1h 37m
Odd Thomas is a 2013 fantasy horror comedy film based on the Dean R. Koontz novel of the same name. The film stars Anton Yelchin as Odd Thomas, a young man who can see ghosts and must use his ability to stop a serial killer.
Leonor Varela joins him as Stormy Llewellyn, his best friend and love interest, and Ashley Sommers as Boo Radley, a ghost who helps Odd Thomas in his quest. Odd Thomas is among the best All4 films you can watch on Channel Four in 2023.
Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019)
Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
Writer: Alexandre O. Philippe
Cast: Clarke Wolfe, William Linn, Nicholas Cull
Genre: Documentary, Horror, Sci-Fi
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 1h 35m
Memory: The Origins of Alien is a 2019 documentary film about the making of the 1979 film Alien. The film features interviews with director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O’Bannon, and cast members, Sigourney Weaver and Tom Skerritt.
Memory: The Origins of Alien is a must-watch for any Alien franchise fan, as it offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of one of the most iconic sci-fi films of all time. It is one of the best Channel 4 horror films you need to watch.
Dark Encounter (2019)
Director: Carl Strathie
Writer: Carl Strathie
Cast: Laura Fraser, Mel Raido, Sid Phoenix
Genre: Thriller, Sci-fi, Horror
IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
Runtime: 1h 37m
Dark Encounter is a 2019 British science fiction horror film directed by Carl Strathie and starring Laura Fraser, Mel Raido, and Sid Phoenix.
The film follows a group of friends holding a memorial for a missing Eight-year-old Maisie, but then they start being terrorized by an invisible entity. If you’re looking for a creepy sci-fi horror film to watch in 2023, Dark Encounter is worth checking out.
Sequin in a Blue Room (2019)
Director: Samuel Van Grinsven
Writer: Samuel Van Grinsven, Jory Anast
Cast: Conor Leach, Anthony Brandon Wong, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sequin in a Blue Room is a 2019 Australian film about a teenage boy who becomes obsessed with an anonymous sex-chatting app. The boy is on a quest to track down the man he’s been in contact which leads him to a world of online sex addiction and danger.
Sequin in a Blue Room is a dark and disturbing movie, but it is among the best Channel 4 films outside UK to make your weekend.
Daddy’s Home (2015)
Director: Sean Anders
Writer: Brian Burns, Sean Anders
Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini
Genre: Comedy, Family
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
Runtime: 1h 36m
Daddy’s Home is a 2015 American comedy film about two estranged fathers who have to work together to co-parent their kids. When Brad Whitaker tries to make his step-children’s lives better, their biological father Dusty Mayron comes back to makes things complicated.
This is one movie you need to watch if you are looking for some laughs. It is among the best Channel Four films to watch in 2023.
Local Hero (1983)
Director: Bill Forsyth
Writer: Bill Forsyth
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Fulton Mackay, Peter Riegert
Genre: Drama, Comedy
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 1h 51m
Local Hero is a 1983 Scottish film about an American oil company executive sent to Scotland to buy up a small village to build an oil refinery.
However, the executive begins to fall in love with the village and its people, and he starts to question whether he wants to destroy the community. Things do not go as expected for either the executive or the village.
Franklyn (2008)
Director: Gerald McMorrow
Writer: Richard Stanley, Sean Hogan
Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green, Sam Riley
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Runtime: 1h 38m
Franklyn is a 2008 British science fiction film directed by Gerald McMorrow. The film stars Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green, and Sam Riley.
Franklyn follows the lives of four people in two parallel universes: one in a near-future city and the other in a fantasy world. The film explores themes of love, death, religion, and morality. The movie wasn’t a success but it’s considered an underrated gem of British science fiction.
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008)
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Writer: Paul Mayeda Berges, Gurinder Chadha, Will McRobb
Cast: Karen Taylor, Georgia Groome,, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Runtime: 1h 40m
Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging is a 2008 romantic film featuring a 14-year-old girl creating a diary of becoming a teenager and all the challenges she is passing through.
She documents everything, including the mysterious things she learned about kissing. This is a perfect movie for girls who are in their teenage years and are experiencing the same things as the protagonist. It is among the best teen movies because it is relatable and funny.
What Else is Available to Watch On Channel 4?
You can watch the following:
- Sky Coppers
- Watch Rosie Jones Am I a Retard
- Watch Murder in the Alps
- Watch Britain Most Expensive Houses
- Watch Red Devils v Leopards Betfred Super League
- Watch Sunday Brunch
- Watch Catching a Killer
- Watch Bake Off The Professionals
- Watch The Curse
- Watch The Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick Season 18
- Watch Our Guy in Colombia
- Gregg Wallace: The British Miracle Meat
- Inbetweeners Movie
- The Nightingale
- The Change 2023
- Married at First Sight UK Season 8 Episode 5
- Married at First Sight UK Season 8 Episode 4
- Married at First Sight UK Season 8 Episode 1
- Married at First Sight UK Season 8 Episode 2
- Suspect
- Married at First Sight UK Season 8
- Hunted
- Depp V Heard
- I Am Victoria
- Empire
- Selling Super Houses
- Alone Season 1 Episode 6
- Raised by Wolves
- Exterior Night
- The Unique Boutique
- A Cotswold Farm Shop
- Geordie Hospital Season 2
- Married at First Sight Australia Season 10
- The Fence
- Sunday Brunch 2023 Episode 5
- Inside the Superbrands
- The Kidnap of Angel Lynn
- Scotland vs England Friendly
- Married at First Sight UK Season 8 Episode 3
- Deceit
- Sunday Brunch 2023 Episode 6
- The Light in the Hall Season 1
- Friday Night Dinner
- The Price of Truth
- Millionaire Hoarders
- Air Fryers: Are They Worth It?
- Celebs Go Dating
- Big Boys
- Manhunt
- Silk Road
- 24 Hours in Police Custody
- The Dog Academy
Conclusion
The above list represents 25 of the best Channel 4 films outside UK you can watch in 2023. As you can see from the list, there is a great variety of genres and styles represented.
Whether you’re looking for an action-packed thriller, a heartwarming drama, or a hilarious comedy, there’s something on this list for everyone.
The good thing is that you don’t have to pay anything to watch these films, as they are free on Channel Four. So what are you waiting for? Start watching today and remember if you feel like you’ve seen it all or channel 4 is not working then you can always delete Channel 4 anytime