If you’re hunting for a good movie night, BBC iPlayer is the place to be. With BBC iPlayer films, you can binge-watch top-notch dramas and movies long before they air on TV. Whether you missed them at the cinema or on TV, BBC iPlayer Canada has got you covered.
From heartwarming romances to gripping historical dramas, there’s something for everyone. Here are the best BBC iPlayer movies you shouldn’t miss. Get ready to hit play and enjoy these cinematic gems!
Aftersun (2022)
Plot: Aftersun is a touching coming-of-age drama that follows 11-year-old Sophie on a holiday with her divorced young father, Callum. This vacation becomes a formative experience for Sophie, captured through the lens of the video footage she takes during the trip.
The film is interwoven with scenes of grown-up Sophie reflecting on these moments, now living with her wife and young child. This reflective storytelling provides a poignant exploration of memory, family bonds, and the fleeting nature of childhood.
- Duration: 101 minutes
- Certificate: 12
- What the Critics Say: Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian praises Aftersun for capturing mood and moment, saying, “Wells’s movie ripples and shimmers like a swimming pool of mystery; the way Wells captures mood and moment, never labouring the point or forcing the pace, reminded me of the young Lucrecia Martel.”
Ali & Ava (2021)
Plot: Ali & Ava is a tender romance that tells the story of Ava, a devoted mother and grandmother, and Ali, a charismatic man estranged from his wife but still living with her for the sake of their family. One day, Ali offers Ava a lift home from the school where she works as a teaching assistant.
They quickly discover a shared love of music and a deep connection that sparks a romance. The film beautifully captures their blossoming relationship over the span of a month, showcasing their individual struggles and the joy they find in each other’s company.
- Duration: 95 minutes
- Certificate: 15
- What the Critics Say: Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian highlights the film’s tremendous human warmth, writing, “There’s a tremendous human warmth to this love story from writer-director Clio Barnard, a social-realist tale that you might compare to Ken Loach’s Ae Fond Kiss.”
Small Axe (2020)
Plot: Directed by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen, Small Axe is a groundbreaking anthology series that delves into race relations in London during the 1970s. The series consists of five distinct films: Education, Lovers Rock, Alex Wheatle, Mangrove, and Red, White and Blue.
Each film tells a unique story based on real events, highlighting the experiences of the Caribbean community in West London. Education follows the struggles of a 12-year-old boy with undiagnosed dyslexia. Lovers Rock captures the vibrant atmosphere of a house party.
Alex Wheatle chronicles the life of a celebrated writer. Mangrove depicts a historic protest. Red, White and Blue stars John Boyega as a young man joining the police force to combat racial injustice from within.
- Duration: 63-127 minutes
- Certificate: 15
- What the Critics Say: Variety describes Small Axe as a historic achievement, stating, “In any year… Small Axe would be a historic achievement. But in 2020, amid a worldwide reckoning on racial injustice while a pandemic has wreaked havoc on the entertainment industry — blurring the lines between film and TV — this five-part series is an auspicious game-changer.”
The Eichmann Show (2015)
Plot: The Eichmann Show is a gripping docu-drama that revolves around the capture and subsequent trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the key architects of the Holocaust, in 1961. The film also showcases the intense efforts of TV producer Milton Fruchtman and director Leo Hurwitz to televise the trial.
Their goal was to expose Eichmann’s heinous crimes to the world. The film effectively combines real footage from the original trial with dramatized scenes, lending it an authentic feel and ensuring the gravity of the historical events is conveyed with impact.
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Certificate: 15
- What the Critics Say: Den of Geek praises the bold effect of interweaving archive footage with the dramatization, stating, “Here, the interweaving of archive footage took bold effect. It had to. The testimonies are difficult, terrifying, and almost beyond comprehension. Recreating them would seem too jarring, and they were smartly left as they were presented at the time, leaving the witnesses to speak and letting the audience listen.”
Effie Gray (2014)
Plot: Effie Gray tells the compelling story of a Victorian love triangle that scandalized society. The film focuses on John Ruskin, a renowned art critic, and his young bride, Effie Gray. Trapped in a loveless and unconsummated marriage with Ruskin, Effie feels isolated and disheartened.
She eventually falls in love with the young, rebellious painter John Everett Millais. This affair causes a significant stir in the rigid Victorian social circles and leads to dramatic consequences for all involved.
- Duration: 99 minutes
- Certificate: 12A
- What the Critics Say: Variety notes the film’s well-behaved historical biopic style, stating, “There’s presumably more heated drama behind the screen than there is upon it in Effie Gray, a literate, lovingly mounted, and exceedingly well-behaved historical biopic.”
The Mother (2003)
Plot: The Mother is a daring family drama that delves into complex emotions and relationships. The film follows a recently bereaved woman who, in her grief, starts an affair with her daughter’s boyfriend, played by a pre-Bond Daniel Craig.
Directed by Roger Michell and written by Hanif Kureishi, the film explores themes of love, loss, and the search for connection in unexpected places. The provocative storyline and powerful performances make this a unique and thought-provoking film on BBC iPlayer Canada.
- Duration: 105 minutes
- Certificate: 15
- What the Critics Say: The Guardian critiques the pairing of Anne Reid and Daniel Craig, noting, “Anne Reid and Daniel Craig are two first-rate performers who submit to their pairing with professionalism and dedication. They deserved a better film than this.”
Bill (2015)
Plot: Bill is a lighthearted comedy that offers a fictional take on the “lost years” of young William Shakespeare. The film imagines Shakespeare as a struggling lute player who inadvertently becomes entangled in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.
Shakespeare’s journey from a hopeless dreamer to a famed playwright unfolds through a series of comedic mishaps and adventures. The film’s humor and engaging portrayal of Elizabethan England make it enjoyable for all ages on BBC iPlayer Canada.
- Duration: 88 minutes
- Certificate: PG
- What the Critics Say: The Telegraph compares the film’s tone to Horrible Histories, stating, “The tone is almost identical to the Horrible Histories television series, albeit very slightly fruitier, with jokes that should play just as well to intelligent children and immature adults.”
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead (2018)
Plot: Happy New Year, Colin Burstead is a comedy-drama that centers on a dysfunctional family reunion. Colin Burstead hires a country manor for a New Year’s celebration, hoping for a joyful gathering.
However, when his estranged brother David unexpectedly arrives, long-buried tensions and rivalries resurface, turning the celebration into a battleground of petty jealousies and long-running feuds. The film offers a sharp and humorous look at family dynamics, making it a relatable and engaging watch on BBC iPlayer Canada.
- Duration: 89 minutes
- Certificate: 15
- What the Critics Say: Empire highlights the film’s resonance with petty jealousies and feuds, noting, “It is all horribly resonant: the petty jealousies sting, while the long-running feuds, manifested in barely repressed hatred, are painful.”
Wrap Up!
BBC iPlayer films offer a diverse range of genres and stories. From coming-of-age dramas to historical biopics, there’s something for everyone. Whether you are in the UK or enjoying BBC iPlayer Canada, these films are a must-watch. Don’t miss out on these top picks and explore the vast library of BBC iPlayer movies today!