With so many titles to choose from, Netflix Instant's library can be overwhelming. So we bring you this biweekly column as a tool to cut through the clutter by highlighting some now streaming titles that pair well with the latest theatrical releases.
Looking to Tammy, Snowpiercer and Deliver Us From Evil for inspiration, we've pulled together a selection of road trip comedies, dystopian sci-fi, and haunting horror.
Snowpiercer
In a world covered by ice, the last of mankind lives together--though not in harmony--on a train called Snowpiercer. But rebellion brews, raging against a class system that has some feast while others starve. Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, and Ed Harris star; Bong Joon-ho directs. Read our review here.
Set in a dystopian world, Snowpiercer gives audiences a chance to escape their own world, while reflecting on its similarities to the film's nightmarish one. For more sci-fi dystopias, check out this trio of titles that offer suspense, political commentary, zombies, and a sexy world-altering fembot.
Metropolis Restored (1927) This silent film still has sizzle nearly 90 years since its initial release. Set in 2026, this iconic science fiction feature focuses on the class divide between the absurdly wealthy and the poor, forced to live and work underground. When a human-looking robot goes wild, a revolution starts that could bring this metropolis to total ruin. Brigitte Helm and Alfred Abel star; Fritz Lang directs.
Gattaca (1997) Imagine if your genetics cemented your place in society. This is the case in the harrowing world of this original sci-fi thriller. Ethan Hawke stars as Vincent, an In-Valid at the very bottom of a cruel caste system. But he won't let eugenics and prejudice get in the way of his dreams to travel through space. Uma Thurman and Jude Law co-star; Andrew Niccol directs.
World War Z (2013) Brad Pitt fronts this zombie apocalypse epic based on Max Brooks' novel of the same name. He plays Gerry Lane, a U.N. employee whose job puts him in a unique position to see this dangerous zombie pandemic as it spreads around the globe. Mireille Enos co-stars; Marc Foster directs. An Unrated version is also streaming.
Tammy
Melissa McCarthy stars as the titular anti-hero who loses her job and husband before deciding to hit the road with her hard-cursing, booze-swilling grandmother. Susan Sarandon, Dan Aykroyd and Mark Duplass co-star; Ben Falcone directs. Read our review here.
With the Fourth of July upon us, many will be setting out on road trips to celebrate with friends and family, or enjoy some spectacular fireworks. But if you want the joys of a roadtrip without the hassle, you can just marathon these on-the-road comedies.
Tommy Boy (1995) Chris Farley stars as the eponymous screw-up of this buddy comedy. Tommy is a well-intentioned but reckless party animal. But when his dad's business is as risk, he must man up and save the company. Helping him on this seemingly impossible task is a snarky business associate played by (who else?) David Spade. Peter Segal directs.
The Muppet Movie (1979) For something more family friendly, revisit this beloved Muppet classic. A sort of origin story for Kermit the Frog and company, this charming road movie details how they all came together, uniting in the quest to make it big in Hollywood. Life's like a movie, write your own ending…James Frawley directs.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) Steve Martin and John Candy star in this outrageous comedy as an odd couple stuck together as they scramble to make it home for Thanksgiving. Martin plays an uptight family man, while Candy portrays a friendly but aggravating new acquaintance he just can't shake. Laila Robins, Michael McKean and Dylan Baker co-star; John Hughes directs.
Deliver Us From Evil
Based on the real investigations of NY police officer Ralph Sarchie, this horror thriller stars Eric Bana as a cop forced to confront the horrifying truth that the devil is real. Teaming up with an unconventional priest, he sets out to save New York one exorcism at a time. Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn and Chris Coy co-star; Scott Derrickson directs. Read our review here.
For more supernatural tales that will make your blood run cold in the summer heat, check out this trio of titles. Be it demons, evil spirits or the devil himself, these movies offer some serious scares and shocking conclusions.
Insidious Chapter 2 (2013) Picking up moments after the last film left off, this sequel has the Lambert family pushing to move on after their dance with the dark side and possession. But even though they left their home behind, something seems to have followed them. The nightmare is not over. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne star; James Wan directs.
Rosemary's Baby (1968) Mia Farrow stars as Rosemary, a happily married woman who desperately wants a baby. But living in a strange apartment building in New York City, Rosemary begins to experience horrifying phenomena, and pregnancy brings on a whole new series of devilish concerns. Ralph Bellamy, John Cassavetes and Ruth Gordon co-star; Roman Polanski directs.
Odd Thomas (2013) This under-seen horror-fantasy is based on a Dean R. Koontz novel, and stars Anton Yelchin as the titular hero. Odd is a short-order cook in a small California desert town, but he has an incredible ability that allows him to see the spirits of the dead and harbingers of doom. When some next-level evil is game to rain down, it's up to Odd to save his neighbors. Addison Timlin and Willem Dafoe co-stars; Stephen Sommers directs.
