Must-See Movies on Paramount+ Right Now (December 2023)
If you want to see movies to watch on Netflix, or you want movies organized by genre, go here: Netflix Movies to Watch by Genre.
I recently did several posts on Netflix movies to watch in November, organized by genre. I used Rotten Tomatoes to determine which were the best movies available, because I was tired of the frustrating Netflix algorithm that would recommend bad movies and hide the good ones. I wanted to give movie recommendations that were not based on my personal preference but were based on a broad audience of both professional critics and general viewers to determine which were the best, objectively. Although they all received scores of 8/10 or higher on Rotten Tomatoes, but personally, there were some I did not enjoy.
This list contains movies that I have seen and really like, or have on my list of movies I want to see, regardless of the general reception. ParamountPlus provides full alphabetical list of their movies, unlike Netflix which forces you to sift through hundreds of movies. Here are, in my personal opinion, the best movies to watch on ParamountPlus right now in December 2023.
Interstellar
Earth is dying and astronauts explore a wormhole for new habitable planets.
Top Gun (1986)
Maverick’s high-flying antics, romance, and rivalry in elite fighter school.
Top Gun: Maverick
Maverick returns to train a younger group of fighter pilots.
The Truman Show
Jim Carrey stars as Truman, I won’t give much away if you’ve never seen it, but it’s a really great movie.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
A Thanksgiving journey home turns chaotic for mismatched duo – Steve Martin and John Candy – and humorous misadventures ensue with a heartwarming ending.
Collateral
What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
Gilbert (Depp) cares for mentally challenged brother (DiCaprio) amid family struggles, self-discovery. I watched this a long time ago and liked it, it’s one of those simple underrated movies.
Titanic
The well known, timeless classic love story of two people aboard the Titanic.
Mission Impossible movies 1-6
All of the Mission Impossible movies are currently on ParamountPlus. I haven’t seen these but they are on my must-see list. Only the first three are also available on Netflix.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2023)
The newest Mission Impossible movie, which came out this summer, is also on Paramout+. It was an extremely high budget film but didn’t do great in the box office; however, it does have a 9.5/10 score on Rotten Tomatoes (for whatever that’s worth).
Arrival
Jack Reacher
Babylon
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Bad News Bears
A misfit Little League baseball team and their reluctant coach overcome challenges and learns life lessons in this comedy.
Shawshank Redemption
An incarcerated banker forms enduring friendships and finds hope in Shawshank prison.
The Wolf of Wall Street
A stockbroker (DiCaprio) who engages in extravagant excess, corruption, and illegal activities, leading to his downfall and legal consequences. The film, directed by Martin Scorsese, offers a satirical and cautionary tale of the greed and moral bankruptcy prevalent in the financial world during the 1990s.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris (Broderick) skips school and has a fun day with his best friend and girlfriend while the principle seeks to catch him.
Forrest Gump
Forrest (Tom Hanks), a simple man, recounts the events of his life, which are serendipitously intertwined in major historical events.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones races Nazis to find biblical artifact’s power.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones retrieves sacred stones in a perilous Temple adventure.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones seeks the Holy Grail and faces Nazis in a father-son rescue mission.
Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones’ quest for crystal skulls uncovers extraterrestrial secrets, navigating dangers, mysteries, and family revelations.
Gladiator
A gladiator (Crowe) who was a former emperor seeks revenge in the Roman Colosseum, defying corrupt empire’s tyranny.
zOOLANDER
If you are looking for a spoofy crass comedy, this goofy movie is about a dim-witted male model (Ben Stiller) who gets manipulated by the villain (Will Ferrel) into an assassination plot. Hilariously clueless fashion satire ensues, blending comedy and absurdity.
Catch Me If You Can
This movie is based on a true story. Teen prodigy Frank Abagnale Jr. (DiCaprio) cons his way across the world, pursued by determined FBI agent (Tom Hanks). Personally, I recommend it as a really great movie.
aLMOST fAMOUS (REQUIRES sHOWTIME)
This one requires that you have Showtime with Paramount+. It’s about an awkward, sheltered teen journalist who tours with rock band in the 1970’s. He navigates fame, friendship, coming-of-age, and self discovery in this film that blends humor, drama, and heartfelt moments.
aIRPLANE (rEqUIRES sHOWTIME)
This is a hilarious parody as airplane crew battles crisis with absurdly comedic antics and puns.
Dirty Dancing (Requires Showtime)
Shy good girl “Baby” (Jennifer Gray) meets handsome dance instructor (Patrick Swayze) on her family’s summer vacation.
dIRTY rOTTEN sCOUNDRELS (rEQUIRES sHOWTIME)
Con artists engage in humorous rivalry, targeting wealthy women on Riviera.
tHE mAN WHO Shot lIBERTY vALaNCE
roman Holiday
A princess escapes her royal duties and explores Rome incognito, and falls in love with a journalist.
The Quiet Man
An Irish-American boxer returns to Ireland and faces personal and romantic challenges, for which he seeks peaceful resolution.
Good Burger
The Iron Giant
A boy befriends a gigantic alien robot and defends him from government threats.
Charlotte's Web
This heartwarming tale, based on the award winning book, follows a pig named Wilbur and his spider friend Charlotte.
Paw Patrol: the Movie
This is the movie version of a Paw Patrol adventure – cute little pups race around on vehicles saving the day. My kids love this.
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie
This second movie version of Paw Patrol shows how the pups get their super powers.
Madeline
Madeline and her boarding school friends sing songs and embark on charming adventures. They have the short episodes I remember loving as a little girl, plus a couple movies.