Stan is a fantastic hub for diverse cinema. It offers a huge range of films, from big-budget blockbusters to compelling independent features. It’s especially known for its brilliant Australian originals and a strong collection of critically acclaimed dramas. But figuring out what to watch next can sometimes be a little challenging.
To help you navigate this extensive library, we’ve put together a curated list of the 20 best movies on Stan currently available. Our selection highlights award-winning films, hidden gems, and local productions that truly shine. You’ll find something for every taste, helping you pick the right film for your next movie night.
What are the best movies on Stan?
Finding the perfect movie on Stan can feel overwhelming with so many great options available. To simplify your choice, our ranking methodology is straightforward that it primarily focuses on movies that have been recently released to streaming, as well as their trending status and enduring appeal. This approach helps highlight movies that have received critical recognition and industry acclaim, ensuring you’re watching content that stands out.
Each of the 20 movies featured in our list comes with essential details to help you decide. We include its genre, the director, its main cast, and a concise synopsis. We aim to give you a complete picture, making it easy to discover your next favourite.
Sons
Drama •Mystery •Thriller •Crime
Overview
Eva, an idealistic prison officer, is faced with the dilemma of her life when a young man from her past gets transferred to the prison where she works. Without revealing her secret, Eva asks to be moved to the young man’s ward – the toughest and most violent in the prison. Here begins an unsettling psychological thriller, where Eva’s sense of justice puts both her morality and future at stake.
Director
Gustav Möller
Duration
100 minutes
The Substance
Drama •Horror •Sci-fi
Overview
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
Director
Coralie Fargeat
Cast
Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Gore Abrams, Hugo Diego Garcia
Duration
141 minutes
The King’s Speech
Drama •History
Overview
The King’s Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George (‘Bertie’) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war.
Director
Tom Hooper
Cast
Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall
Duration
118 minutes
City of Lies
Crime •Mystery •Drama •Thriller
Overview
Los Angeles Police Department detective Russell Poole has spent years trying to solve his biggest case — the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur — but after two decades, the investigation remains open. Jack Jackson, a reporter desperate to save his reputation and career, is determined to find out why. In search of the truth, the two team up and unravel a growing web of institutional corruption and lies.
Director
Brad Furman
Cast
Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, Toby Huss, Dayton Callie, Neil Brown Jr.
Duration
111 minutes
Mulholland Drive
Thriller •Drama •Mystery
Overview
Blonde Betty Elms has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia. Meanwhile, as the two set off to solve the second woman’s identity, filmmaker Adam Kesher runs into ominous trouble while casting his latest project.
Director
David Lynch
Cast
Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Robert Forster
Duration
146 minutes
Patriot Games
Thriller •Action •Mystery •Adventure •Drama •Crime
Overview
When CIA Analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets Jack and his family as revenge.
Director
Phillip Noyce
Cast
Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Thora Birch, Sean Bean, Patrick Bergin
Duration
117 minutes
The Castle
Comedy •Drama
Overview
A Melbourne family is very happy living near the Melbourne airport. However, they are forced to leave their beloved home (by the Government and airport authorities) to make way for more runways. ‘The Castle’ is the story of how they fight to remain in their home.
Director
Rob Sitch
Cast
Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Anthony Simcoe, Sophie Lee
Duration
85 minutes
Super 8
Sci-fi •Thriller •Mystery •Drama •Documentary •Comedy •Action •Adventure
Overview
In 1979 Ohio, several youngsters are making a zombie movie with a Super-8 camera. In the midst of filming, the friends witness a horrifying train derailment and are lucky to escape with their lives. They soon discover that the catastrophe was no accident, as a series of unexplained events and disappearances soon follows. Deputy Jackson Lamb, the father of one of the kids, searches for the terrifying truth behind the crash.
Director
J.J. Abrams
Cast
Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Riley Griffiths, Kyle Chandler, Noah Emmerich
Duration
107 minutes
Dune
Sci-fi •Adventure •Action •Drama
Overview
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Cast
Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård
Duration
149 minutes
The Farewell
Comedy •Drama
Overview
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family’s decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
Director
Lulu Wang
Cast
Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Jiang Yongbo
Duration
96 minutes
The Batman
Action •Adventure •Crime •Drama •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler.
Director
Matt Reeves
Cast
Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro
Duration
169 minutes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Action •Adventure •Sci-fi •Mystery •Thriller •War •Drama
Overview
64 years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he mentors Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12.
Director
Francis Lawrence
Cast
Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Peter Dinklage
Duration
157 minutes
Interstellar
Sci-fi •Drama
Overview
The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
Director
Christopher Nolan
Cast
Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow
Duration
169 minutes
Perfect Days
Drama
Overview
Hirayama is content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.
Director
Wim Wenders
Cast
Koji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano, Aoi Yamada, Yumi Asou
Duration
124 minutes
Teen Spirit
Drama •Music •Musical
Overview
A shy teenager living on the Isle of Wight dreams of pop stardom. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a singing competition that will test her integrity, talent, and ambition.
Director
Max Minghella
Cast
Elle Fanning, Zlatko Burić, Rebecca Hall, Agnieszka Grochowska, Millie Brady
Duration
93 minutes
Twilight
Romance •Fantasy •Drama
Overview
When Bella Swan moves to a small town in the Pacific Northwest, she falls in love with Edward Cullen, a mysterious classmate who reveals himself to be a 108-year-old vampire. Despite Edward’s repeated cautions, Bella can’t stay away from him, a fatal move that endangers her own life.
Director
Catherine Hardwicke
Cast
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene
Duration
117 minutes
The Imitation Game
Drama •Thriller •War •Mystery
Overview
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.
Director
Morten Tyldum
Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech
Duration
114 minutes
Death Wish
Action •Thriller •Crime •Drama •Adventure •Mystery
Overview
A mild-mannered father is transformed into a killing machine after his family is torn apart by a violent act.
Director
Eli Roth
Cast
Bruce Willis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Dean Norris, Elisabeth Shue, Camila Morrone
Duration
103 minutes
Not Without My Daughter
Drama •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
An American woman, trapped in Islamic Iran by her brutish husband, must find a way to escape with her daughter as well.
Director
Brian Gilbert
Cast
Sally Field, Alfred Molina, Sheila Rosenthal, Roshan Seth, Sarah Badel
Duration
116 minutes
A Time to Kill
Drama •Thriller •Crime •Mystery
Overview
A young lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter, sparking a rebirth of the KKK.
Director
Joel Schumacher
Cast
Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd
Duration
149 minutes
Frequently asked questions
Stan really shines with its diverse range of content, but you’ll particularly notice a strong collection of Australian original films and series, which is fantastic for local content lovers. They also have a solid library of critically acclaimed international dramas and a knack for including interesting, lesser-known films that might become your new favourites.
Stan is pretty active when it comes to adding new movies. They regularly refresh their catalogue, bringing in fresh films throughout the month. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on their “New Releases” section directly in the app or website to stay on top of the latest additions.
Absolutely! “Hidden gems” are those movies that might not get as much buzz as blockbusters but are truly excellent. Stan has a good track record of acquiring these smaller, high-quality films that often offer unique storytelling and performances. You might just discover something brilliant you wouldn’t have found elsewhere.
Yes, Stan is well-known for its commitment to Australian content. You’ll find a significant number of Australian original movies and a strong selection of classic and contemporary Australian cinema. If you’re keen to support local talent and stories, Stan is definitely a great place to look.
Ranking by the number of awards a film has won is a great way to identify films that have received significant recognition from critics and industry bodies. It often points to movies with outstanding direction, writing, performances, or overall artistic merit. It gives you a strong indicator of a film’s quality and impact.
Stan offers a broad array of genres to suit various tastes. While this article focuses on critically acclaimed dramas, Australian originals, and hidden gems, you’ll also find action, comedy, thrillers, family films, and more. Their library is quite comprehensive, so you’re likely to find something you enjoy.
For those who appreciate thoughtful, well-crafted cinema, Stan is an excellent choice. Their focus on critically acclaimed dramas and a growing collection of international and independent films makes it a strong contender for serious film watchers looking for quality over just quantity.
Streaming rights can change, so while our list is accurate at the time of publishing, a movie might occasionally move to another service or leave Stan’s library. We recommend checking Stan directly for the most up-to-date availability. If it’s gone, chances are there’s another great film waiting for you!
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