We are now inundated with video streaming services, as the world continues its technological shift with regards to ways to put content in front of our faces. We’ve moved from video cassette tape, to DVD, to Blu-ray and now to streaming. It’s convenient, offers up huge catalogues of content and best of all, allows us to spend all day in bed if we wish.
But while many places and publications will recommend the best TV shows and movies to watch on the likes of Netflix and Stan, SBS On Demand has some infectious content of its own for your viewing pleasure. The publically-funded Australian TV network offers a number of TV shows and movies to watch completely free of charge, and the selection on offer is on constant rotation, so there’s always something new to find.
Content is specially curated too, so some decent thought has gone into what you’re presented with, so we suspect you’ll easily be able to find a new favourite (just make sure you sign up for a free account first).
There’s over 7,000 hours worth of content to choose from, but we’ve picked out some of the best movies that caught our eye, to take a little bit of stress away from this global situation.
Mississippi Grind
Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds star in this 2015 drama that sees Ben's character Gerry become the victim of a gambling addiction. He comes across Ryan's Curtis, and considers him to be a good luck charm. The two set off on a trip to New Orleans , with Ben hoping to turn his fortunes around.
IMDB: 6.4/10
Out Of The Furnace
Christian Bale and Casey Affleck star in this crime drama that sees Bale's character Russell going in search for his brother Rodney, after the latter returns from war in Iraq and becomes indebted to a local crime boss.
IMDB: 6.8/10
Like Crazy
This 2016 Italian film follows the lives of two women who are both admitted to a mental institution and form an unlikely friendship. They manage to escape together, and go on a journey of a lifetime.
IMDB: 7.2/10
The Salesman
This Iranian-French film took home the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film following its release in 2016. A story within a story, it follows a married couple who perform Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman on stage. The wife is assaulted in their apartment, and so the husband goes in search of the perpetrator. But it ends up causing just as much strife between the pair.
IMDB: 7.8/10
Tell No One
This 2006 French film based on the novel of the same name set doctor Alex Beck become embroiled in a reopened case that attempts to find the killer who murdered his wife. However, new evidence points to him being the culprit, and he even starts to receive emails from his wife. A must-see movie.
IMDB: 7.5/10
Dogman
This 2018 Italian crime drama film, inspired by true events, follows a humble dog groomer (played by Marcello Fonte) in a small suburb of Rome, who finds himself having to deal with the town's local bully and former boxer. Fonte won the award for Best Actor at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for his performance.
IMDB: 7.2/10
Run Lola Run
This 1998 German movie stars Franka Potente (Blow, The Bourne Identity) as Lola, a woman who must get together 100,000 Deutschmarks in twenty minutes to save her boyfriend's life, but there are three potential outcomes.
IMDB: 7.6/10
Machete
Machete is the first film in a spin-off franchise that follows the titular character, first featured in the Spy Kids films and then as a movie trailer within Quentin Tarantino's 'Grindhouse' double-feature, that sees Danny Trejo cast as the eponymous Machete. The ex-Federale goes in pursuit of revenge over his former boss, after he betrays him.
IMDB: 6.6/10
Molly's Game
Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut sees Jessica Chastain assume the role of Molly Bloom, a real-life target of the FBI, following her involvement with a high-stakes poker game.
IMDB: 7.4/10
Burning
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of 2018, this South Korean psychological mystery drama follows a deliveryman, Jongsu, who is introduced to a friend, Ben, his childhood friend, Jun, met on a trip to Africa. The film then follows what happens after Ben tells Jongsu about his unusual hobby.
IMDB: 7.5/10
Margin Call
This 2011 drama features an all-star cast and focuses on how a Wall Street investment bank deals with the 2007-08 financial crisis, over a 24-hour period.
IMDB: 7.1/10
The Way Of The Dragon
SBS has added a few Bruce Lee movie's to its library recently, but it's The Way Of The Dragon that we've picked out. The only movie that Bruce Lee directed himself, this action-comedy also features legendary hard man Chuck Norris in his movie debut.
IMDB: 7.3/10
All Quiet On The Western Front
Based on the 1928 novel of the same name, this movie adaptation follows a young soldier as he's sent off to fight in WWI. It goes on to examine the mental stress he faces and the dissociation with regular life when he returns home.
IMDB: 7.1/10
