One of the newest players to the crowded field of streaming services is Paramount+. Though it hasn’t been around long, it has already made an impact with plenty of original dramas, reality, and comedy shows, as well as a slew of movies with more on the horizon.
Of course, as much as subscribers appreciate new shows and films, they also love having an impressive slate of classics. There are some that stand out as soon as you log into Paramount+ but a handful of fantastic classics that need to be seen can be found by looking a bit deeper into the service.
Face/Off (1997)
When you pay attention to the things that happen in 1997’s Face/Off, you come to understand that it doesn’t make much sense and it’s pretty ridiculous. You might not notice it the first time watching though because you’re likely having too much fun.
The action flick stars John Travolta and Nicolas Cage as an FBI agent and terrorist who undergo surgeries to assume each other’s appearance. Directed by John Woo, it is packed with some of the coolest action scenes of the ’90s, and that allows this flick to stand out even if it might get overlooked on the Paramount+ platform.
Trainspotting (1996)
With the likes of Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald in the cast, along with Danny Boyle in the director’s chair, it’s no wonder Trainspotting was a success in 1996. In fact, many fans still believe that it holds up to this day.
Based on a novel of the same name, Trainspotting tells the story of a group of friends who are addicted to drugs. One attempts to get clean but the allure of the world he knows keeps pulling him back. The film was such a success that a sequel was released over two decades later.
The Naked Gun (1988)
Also known as The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, this 1988 movie is basically Leslie Nielsen at his best. The comedic icon had already become a legend for films like Airplane! and was at the center of this story as Frank Drebin.
The entire premise of The Naked Gun was to be a slapstick parody of popular movies about police officers. It led to two sequels and helped spawn another parody film in a few years from Nielsen, Spy Hard. Some may overlook this movie since it might seem too goofy but it’s hilarious if you give it a chance.
Small Soldiers (1998)
A lot of people were talking about Small Soldiers when it was first released in 1998 due to the cool concept behind the plot. In it, advanced toys are fitted with military microprocessors, giving them high intelligence levels and causing them to fight violently against one another.
That’s a charming enough premise but the movie also features a fun cast of Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Denis Leary, and voice acting from Tommy Lee Jones, and many others. It seems like the popularity of Small Soldiers has waned over the years but it’s still enjoyable to watch.
Kingpin (1996)
One of the most notable and consistently fun genres in cinema is sports comedy. There are almost countless movies covering all sorts of sports but one that is often forgotten about is bowling. However, that wasn’t the case in 1996 when Kingpin hit theaters.
It mostly missed at the box office, barely outgrossing its budget but has since become something of a cult classic. The film centers on a promising Amish bowler (Randy Quaid) who is mentored by an ex-professional bowler (Woody Harrelson). The highlight is Bill Murray’s turn as star bowler Big Ern.
Fresh (1994)
These days, if someone told you that a movie was out starring both Samuel L. Jackson and Giancarlo Esposito, you’d likely run out and watch it immediately. The stars of the MCU and Breaking Bad are two of the most impressive actors working over the past few decades.
However, they were together in 1994 in a film that nobody ever seems to mention. That would be Fresh, which focuses on a young kid who runs drugs for the neighborhood’s biggest criminal and the harsh life that he lives due to that. Esposito plays the gangster villain, while Jackson is the father of the protagonist.
The Italian Job (1969)
When most audiences today think about The Italian Job, they’ll likely consider the 2003 version that starred Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, and Jason Statham. As good as that one is, it’s often hard to top the original, which is the case with the version that arrived in 1969.
That one follows a similar plot where a criminal gang in Italy works together to steal gold bullion from an armored truck. Everything from the action to the soundtrack to the impressive cast led by Michael Caine was a hit, though a lot of subscribers might ignore it since it’s not the modern iteration.
Major League (1989)
As noted, sports comedies are often beloved and one of the most iconic is 1989’s Major League. On the surface, the concept is a lot similar to what Apple TV+’s Emmy hit Ted Lasso has in that an owner of a sports team wants the squad to fail. Here, she puts together the worst group of players possible to do so.
Of course, when the Cleveland baseball players get word of this, they band together and the ragtag group goes on to become a playoff squad. With Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, Tom Berenger, and the hilarious Bob Uecker, it’s hard to have a bad time watching this.
Clue (1985)
If you didn’t already love this film when it originally came out, you might ignore it today. Movies based on real board games can be a mixed bag at best but if there’s one that shines as the greatest, it’s 1985’s Clue and it does so for a handful of reasons.
Clue boasts a tremendous cast led by the always entertaining Tim Curry. What made this work so well was how it mastered the feel of the board game, with the mystery of who committed murder being a fun one to solve. Plus, there are multiple endings to showcase the possibilities you’d get in the real game.
Bound (1996)
Thankfully, there is a lot more LGBTQ+ representation on the big screen these days. It certainly wasn’t as prominent dating back to the ’90s so when a film focused on a lesbian relationship in that era, it should have managed to stand out more but they unfortunately didn’t always.
That’s likely why 1996’s Bound barely made a dent at the box office, though it was critically acclaimed. Directed by The Wachowskis, the tale sees two women (Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly) hatch a plan to steal $2 million of mafia money from the crooked boyfriend of one of the ladies. It got solid reviews at the time but has only become more popular today by those who opt to give it a chance.
