We are now inundated with streaming services, as the world continues its technological shift with regard 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.
While many places and publications will recommend the best TV shows and movies to watch on the likes of Netflix, Stan and relative newcomer, Binge, SBS On Demand movies have some infectious content of their own for your viewing pleasure. The semi-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 is 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.
RELATED: Find something great to watch via the DMARGE streaming guide.
Here are our picks for the best SBS On Demand movies.
2001: A Space Odyssey
1/15Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: 1968
“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that”. Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 sci-fi magnum opus 2001: A Space Odyssey, simply put, is one of (if not the) greatest film of all time. Even in 2023, the special effects stand up, as does the strange and gripping story of space exploration, malevolent AI, and the nature of human existence.
If you’ve never seen 2001: A Space Odyssey before, you should get on SBS On Demand and watch it ASAP.
All Quiet on the Western Front
2/15Director: Delbert Mann
Starring: Richard Thomas, Ernest Borgnine
Genre: Drama, War
Released: 1979
Based on the classic 1928 novel of the same name, this 1979 movie adaptation follows a young German soldier, Paul, as he’s sent off to fight in WWI. It primarily follows Paul’s experiences of the war, and how he deals with the majority of his school friends being wounded or killed along the way.
Originally produced for television, All Quiet on the Western Front is now one of the best SBS On Demand movies for fans of the war genre. Netflix has just released their own film adaptation of this classic, but this one still holds up… and is free to watch. Just saying.
Another Round
3/15Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: 2020
Everyone’s favourite Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen stars in Another Round , a black comedy-drama which follows a group of four teachers at a gymnasium in Copenhagen. Following a night of celebrating, the foursome decides they are going to start drinking during their working day to see how it affects their productivity, as well as their social lives away from the gym. Naturally, things go downhill pretty quickly.
If anything, Another Round is a perfect analysis of the prototypical male midlife crisis and one of the best movies on SBS On Demand right now.
Beyond the Wasteland
4/15Director: Eddie Beyrouthy
Starring: Betrand Cadart, Jim ‘The TANK’ Dorsey
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2022
Beyond the Wasteland is a documentary that explores and celebrates the mad fans of Mad Max, the Australian action classic that made Mel Gibson a star, George Miller a sought after director, and has amassed a cult following all over the world.
Directed by Eddie Beyrouthy, and featuring interviews with cast from the 1979 Mad Max film as well as fans from the US, Japan, France and more, Beyond the Wasteland also delves into the impact Mad Max has had on pop and car culture.
Blinded by the Light
5/15Director: Gurinder Chadha
Starring: Viveik Kalra, Nell Williams
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: 2019
Blinded by the Light is a British comedy-drama released in 2019, that is based on the true story of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor and his love of American rockstar Bruce Springsteen. Manzoor is a British journalist and documentary maker who is a regular contributor to the British newspaper The Guardian, and who presents documentaries on BBC Radio 4. His memoir Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll inspired the movie.
Blinded by the Light focuses on a teenager named Javed, who, whilst growing up in working-class England in 1987, is subject to racial and economic turmoil. After becoming exposed to the works of Bruce Springsteen, he embarks on a journey to follow his dreams of becoming a journalist, writing stories about Springsteen to help him get a foot in the industry.
Blinded by the Light was well-received by critics, with Anthony Ray Bench of Film Threat saying, it is “a feel-good movie that tackles a bunch of tough topics, from politics, race, family traditions, social frustrations and romance, without ever feeling preachy or overly cheesy.”
The Father
6/15Director: Florian Zeller
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Coleman
Genre: Drama
Released: 2021
Directed by French playwright Florian Zeller and adapted from his 2012 play of the same name, The Father is a psychological drama starring Anthony Hopkins in the eponymous role as a retiree with dementia struggling to come to grips with the nature of reality.
The Father has received widespread critical acclaim, with 83-year-old Hopkins netting himself (only) his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance, making him the oldest Best Actor winner ever. An unflinching yet gripping portrayal of the confusion of dementia, it’s a complex and finely wrought film that’s a must-watch on SBS On Demand.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
7/15Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Julian Dennison, Sam Neill
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
Released: 2016
A New Zealand set and made comedy adventure, Hunt for the Wilderpeople stars Julian Dennison as a rebellious kid and Sam Neill as his grumpy foster uncle, a mismatched pair who become the target of a manhunt when they go missing in the wild.
The film that introduced director Taika Waititi to Hollywood, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a charming and energetic comedy that has a strong emotional core and fantastic performances.
Infernal Affairs
8/15Director: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak
Starring: Andy Lau, Tony Leung
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Released: 2002
Infernal Affairs stars Andy Lau as a police officer who is working for the triad. Tony Leung co-stars as a cop who, after 10 years of undercover work in the triad, wants out. After a cocaine deal goes bust, both sides know that they have a mole within their ranks.
A thrilling crime drama that is high on style and backed with depth and intelligence, Infernal Affairs takes a close look at the blurry line between cop and criminal, and the duality of man. Martin Scorsese would go on to remake the film into The Departed and win an Oscar in the process.
The Lives of Others
9/15Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring: Ulrich Muhe, Martina Gedeck
Genre: /strong> Drama, Thriller
Released: 2006
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck makes his directorial debut with this 2006 German drama film. It follows the Stasi, East Germany’s secret police force, and how they monitor East Berlin residents during the Cold War. The Lives of Others specifically focuses on one Stasi officer who begins to feel sympathetic towards a couple he is spying on, and the conflicting struggles he deals with.
The Lives of Others was met with critical acclaim when it was released, making it easily one of the best movies on SBS On Demand right now. Legendary film critic Roger Ebert described it as “a powerful but quiet film, constructed of hidden thoughts and secret desires.”
Margin Call
10/15Director: J.C. Chandoe
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany
Genre: Drama
Released: 2011
This financial thriller Margin Call features an all-star cast – including Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Iron, Zachary Quinto and Demi Moore – and focuses on a group of employees at a Wall Street investment bank, and how they dealt with the initial stages of the 2007-08 financial crisis.
Margin Call received plenty of praise, with The New Yorker film critic David Denby saying it was “easily the best Wall Street movie ever made.” And, when you consider some Wall Street movies can be a little confusing, it makes Margin Call one of the best SBS On Demand movies for those who enjoy watching bankers suffer.
Parasite
11/15Director: /strong> Boon Joon-ho
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Released: 2019
Funny, biting and dark in equal measure, Parasite is a South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho that follows a poor family who weasels their way into the life of a wealthy family – with deadly consequences.
You’re probably heard of Parasite as it’s one of the most acclaimed films in recent memory, having cleaned up four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film, becoming the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture. In short? It’s worth the hype, and one of SBS On Demand’s real gems.
Rumble in the Bronx
12/15Director: Stanley Tong
Starring: Jackie Chan
Genre: Action, Crime
Released: 1996
Rumble in the Bronx is the 1996 martial arts movie that catapulted legendary actor Jackie Chan into the US mainstream.
Chan’s character, Ma Hon Keung, visits New York for his Uncle Bill’s wedding, but after Keung thwarts a motorcycle gang, he immediately finds himself in a grudge match. As you’d expect, Rumble in the Bronx is full of expertly crafted fight scenes, and Chan and some of his co-stars actually suffered injuries and broken limbs while filming.
Much praise was heaped upon the fight scenes and stunts and the fact Chan was finally getting the recognition he deserved for being one of the, if not the best at what he does.
If you’ve never seen Rumble in the Bronx, then it’s an absolute must-watch. If you have seen it before, then we know you’ll have a good time watching it again.
Tell No One
13/15Director: Guillaume Canet
Starring: Francois Cluzet, Marie-Josee Croze
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: 2007
This 2007 French film based on the novel of the same name sees Dr Alexandre Beck becomeing embroiled in a reopened case that attempts to find the killer who murdered his wife. However, after being implicated in the murder of his friend, Charlotte, and with his allegedly dead wife sending him emails, the entire case takes a major twist.
British actor Michael Caine claims Tell No One was the best film he saw in 2007, which we reckon is enough alone to warrant it as being one the best SBS On Demand movies. Not a lot of people know that.
The Way
14/15Director: Emilio Estevez
Starring: Martin Sheen, Deborah Kara Unger
Genre: Drama
Released: 2010
The Way stars Martin Sheen as Tom Avery, an American doctor who is startled when informed his son died while walking the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route that stretches over 800 km from the edge of France and across the Spanish coastline. Tom continues his son’s pilgrimage, mourning his loss while spreading his son’s ashes along the way.
Directed by Emilio Estevez (the son of Martin Sheen), The Way is a moving film about grief that holds much spiritual and religious experience, while also featuring an older Martin Sheen in one of his best performances.
The Way Of The Dragon
15/15Director: Bruce Lee
Starring: Burce Lee, Chuck Norris
Genre: Action. Comedy
Released: 1974
SBS On Demand has added a few Bruce Lee movies 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 and the last one released during his lifetime, this action-comedy also features legendary hard man Chuck Norris in his movie debut.
The Way of the Dragon follows Bruce Lee’s character Tang Lung, who travels from Hong Kong to Rome to help a family protect their Chinese restaurant from an onslaught of Mafia gangsters.
It’s always hard to choose the best Bruce Lee film, and others will likely have their own opinions, but for us, this is the best Bruce Lee movie on SBS On Demand.
