2024’s sexiest film, 2008’s biggest mind-melter, the grottiest Aussie film from the ’90s, and the most quotable fantasy flick of the ’80s are available for your viewing pleasure right now on free New Zealand streaming services.
Challengers
A love triangle rom-com with the editing and pulse-pounding Reznor/Ross soundtrack to suit a thriller? Yes: the sexiest movie of 2024 belongs on this list. Zendaya slays as a tennis prodigy caught between the desires of two men (Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist) in this insanely energetic sports drama. It’ll have you whipping your head back and forth to catch the action. – ELIZA JANSSEN
Streaming free on TVNZ+ from 1 October
Synecdoche, New York
Masterful mind-melting screenwriter Charlie Kaufmann made his directorial feature debut with this surreal one-of-a-kind film powered by existential dread and a babushka dolls narrative. The late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers a juggernaut performance as a theatre director determined to pick his flailing career back up with a biographical stage play so epic, it threatens to swallow him whole. Every moment of his life that crumbles to the project ends up in the play, which causes more of his life to fall apart, which then gets added to the play, chipping away at him even more, until the end—which can never be forgotten. – LIAM MAGUREN
Streaming free on Whakaata Māori / Māori+
Bad Boy Bubby
Rolf de Heer’s chaotic and controversial breakthrough film stars Nicholas Hope as Bubby, a 35-year-old man kept confined in their tiny apartment since birth by his abusive mother. Let loose on the outside world at last, Bubby tries to make his way as best he can, with hilarious and shocking consequences. Notorious from the second it was released, Bad Boy Bubby is by turns riotously funny, deeply disturbing, insightful, sardonic, surreal and confronting. Move this to the very top of your viewing list. – TRAVIS JOHNSON
Streaming free on Brollie
Howards End
Few filmmaking teams created better literary adaptations than James Ivory, Ismail Merchant, and Ruth Prawar Jhabvala. Howards End, based on the classic novel by E.M. Forster is one of their finest, featuring wonderful performances by Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anthony Hopkins. – LILLIAN CRAWFORD
Streaming free on Tubi
The Princess Bride
Chances are you either don’t know much about The Princess Bride, or you’re already reciting large chunks of the script as you read this. Well, there’s a reason that it has such a devoted following. From the Rodents of Unusual Size to the Cliffs of Insanity, The Princess Bride is an inconceivably charming and fun take on the fairytale adventure. And just look at the cast! Peter Cook is a funny priest, Mandy Patinkin is avenging the murder of his father, Peter Falk is your grandad. The perfect sick day movie. – AMELIA BERRY
Streaming free on ThreeNow
