The streaming platform Peacock has carved itself out a niche spot in the streaming world with its offering of NBC shows like The Office and live TV offerings, including sports. However, Peacock also has plenty of hidden gems and cult classics hidden within its vast library. This includes horror, musicals, dramas, comedies, etc., all from different eras. If you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, though, it can be a bit hard to find that next gem for your movie night in.
These ten films differ drastically, but all have either gained a cult fandom or have been hidden away and not given the proper accolades they deserve. So dig in, see what suits your tastes, but we can guarantee all these movies offer an exciting viewing experience you won’t forget.
10 Welcome to Me (2014)
A young woman. Alice Klieg (Kristen Wiig), living a sheltered life under a borderline-personality diagnosis, finds solace in watching re-runs of Oprah and playing TV Bingo. However, her life sees a drastic change when she ends up winning $86 million. Alice then uses this money to fulfill her dream of having her very own show on TV, but as her ideas grow more outrageous and money starts to run out, she starts to conflict with family and friends.
Kristen Wiig at Her Best
There is no denying that Kristen Wiig is one of the best comedic actors today. The SNL alumni carved out an impressive career, from Bridesmaids to Ghostbusters, but Welcome to Me has often gone overlooked. It has a dark sense of humor as Alice’s eccentricity plays out in every way, from a horrible cooking show to a week-long special where she offers spade and neutering of pets.
The movie is wonderfully bizarre and suited to Wiig’s ability to play offbeat characters. The best part is it has some heartwarming moments that will also endear you to the oddball.
9 Millennium Actress (2001)
Retired actress, Chiyoko Fujiwara, is approached by a documentary crew to discuss her life and career on the screen. Chiyo relates her birth during a tumultuous time in Japan, her falling in love with a dissident, and how the romance she lost shaped her career and beliefs. During these stories, the documentary crew finds themselves transported into each scene, acting as observers and commentators on the events as they unfold.
A Beautiful Celebration of Art and the Human Experience
You really don’t have to be an anime fan to appreciate the profoundly beautiful celebration of life and cinema that is Millennium Actress. While focusing on the career of a fictional actress, the Satoshi Kon movie touches on many universal themes of love, longing, and aging with such grace and beauty it is difficult not to find oneself entirely absorbed. Millennium Actress is also a visual treat, capturing various movie styles in its approach to telling a story by jumping through the many roles of Chiyoko.
8 The Frighteners (1996)
Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox), is a paranormal conman who uses his ability to speak with the dead to set up scams where he exorcises spirits he has befriended. However, when a demonic spirit enters his town, appearing as the grim reaper, and starts taking the lives of both the living and the dead, Frank realizes he may be the only one able to stop the killer. Teaming up with the recently widowed Lucy, Frank delves into the dark history of the town to find the identity of the mysterious grim reaper.
Peter Jackson’s Underrated Horror-Comedy
Peter Jackson may now be a household name for his work on The Lord of the Rings, but before the New Zealand director worked primarily in horror. As such, The Frighteners captures the directors’ transitionary period from low-budget b-movies to a more Hollywood-friendly style, combining elements of both. While a flop at the box office, the movie has since found a cult following, showing the signs of Jackson’s comedic wit from his horror days and the beginnings of his more polished style.
Putting aside the films’ ties to the famous director. The Frighteners offer a complimentary balance of humor and horror. This is also backed by a strong cast, including Michael J. Fox in the lead, along with the inclusion of some genre favorites like Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace, and John Astin. The ghost effects are impressive and still hold up under the scrutiny of time.
7 Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979)
High school student Riff Randell loves the band The Ramones and dreams of seeing them live. So, when word comes that they are coming to her town, she will do anything to snag a ticket. However, as her high school and parents condemned the evil of rock music, her chances of getting a ticket begin to fade. When she gets a chance to rebel by having The Ramones perform at her school, Riff and her friends are ready for a rock ‘n’ roll revolt!
Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll High School?
A musical with the seminal punk band The Ramones, may not offer the widest appeal to your casual moviegoer, but for those that love the genre and the music, this one is a real treat. Rock ‘n’ Roll High School boasts the kind of college comedy you would expect of the era, kind of crass and immature, but the characters are exciting young hopefuls with a love for music that audiences will find relatable. A cult-classic worth checking out and singing along to.
6 Faults (2014)
Ansel Roth is a once famous cult expert whose career has dwindled down to small appearances at niche events. When he is approached by a desperate couple to deprogram their daughter, Claire, he is reluctant, but financial hardship sees him deciding to take the job. As he spends more time with Claire, he starts to believe that the cult she belongs to may actually have some of the powers they claim. The deprogramming becomes a back and forth, with Ansel slowly losing his grip on reality.
Join the Cult. The Benefits are Great
Faultsis a wonderfully constructed drama that unfolds over the course of one single, tense evening. The climax offers an unexpected twist, and the movie thrives despite being shot in a small space under a restricted budget.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Lance Reddick do a wonderful job of playing off of each other as they constantly clash during the deprogramming of Claire. Faults largely flew under the radar on its release, and is a true hidden gem for those looking for a well-constructed and intense drama.
5 Doppelganger (1993)
Holly Gooding, (Drew Barrymore) is on the run after being implicated in her mother’s murder. She finds herself in Los Angeles, where seeking a new place leads her to an unlikely friendship and an eventual romance with struggling writer Patrick Highsmith (George Newbern). However, Holly is haunted by the image of a Doppelganger chasing her, and as Patrick becomes involved with the phenomenon, he learns more about who Holly really is.
A Gripping Thriller Starring Drew Barrymore
Marking one of Drew Barrymore’s first major roles as an adult, Doppelganger was a box office dud. The reason for this may be in how the movie struggled with identity; not quite a horror movie, not quite an erotic thriller, not quite a mystery drama, but rather a mix of the three. Still, if one approaches the movie with an open mind and not expecting certain genre tropes, it is a rather wild ride that also is an early showcase of the profound talent of Drew Barrymore.
The story offers plenty of twists and turns, and those that don’t need constant horror will be rather surprised by the latter part of the movie as things get downright bizarre. The movie is certainly worth another look despite it remaining in relative obscurity; seeing a bit of a cult following but not enough to truly call it a cult film.
4 They Live (1988)
Nada (Roddy Piper), is a drifter who struggles to find purpose in his life while moving from town to town in search of work. When Nada travels to Los Angeles, he becomes entangled in a grander conspiracy when he finds sunglasses that allow him to see subliminal messaging and an alien species which has put itself in a position of power. With the help of Frank (Keith David), a fellow worker, Nada joins a resistance movement and becomes involved in overthrowing the alien overlords.
A Timeless Cult Classic
They Live is one of those movies that is always going to remain relevant in a capitalist society, and the main reason why it has remained a beloved cult classic. A scathing commentary on advertising and its effect on people. At the same time, the movie is far from high brown and much more geared towards horror and dark-comedy fans.
Roddy Piper is wonderfully over-the-top and delivers many great one-liners, the alien designs are iconic, and the message of “Obey” and “Consume” seen on billboards of LA have emerged into the public lexicon when speaking out against the global elite and their heavy-handed messaging. John Carpenter created an ideal cult-classic worthy of revisiting or checking out for the first time.
3 Let the Right One in (2008)
Taking place in Blackeberg, a suburb of Stockholm, during the early 1980s, Let the Right One In follows a young, bullied boy, named Oskar whose life changes when he gets a new neighbor, Eli. After saving him from bullies, Oskar becomes obsessed with neighbor Eli but instantly notices something off about the young girl. When Oskar learns that Eli is a vampire who has to kill to survive, he becomes conflicted but still finds himself desperately wanting to connect with her.
Coming of Age with a Killer Vampire
This dark, brooding Swedish movie certainly made its mark on cinema on release and re-ignited interest in the vampire genre in the 2000s. This was done by combining coming-of-age elements with vampire lore in an inventive way that blended heartbreaking drama with horror. Consider the movie a precursor to A24, in the sense it offered a highly polished horror experience that would absolutely gel with fans of the production company today.
Still, the movie has become a slight relic for younger horror fans, making it a hidden gem worth uncovering for those who missed out on the hype on its initial release. The movie was remade, almost shot for shot, but there is an undeniable charm to the original from performances to setting that makes it the superior experience.
2 Turbo Kid (2015)
Known simply as “The Kid,” a young comic-book-obsessed youth wanders a post-apocalyptic wasteland, doing his best to get by. Things change when he meets a charismatic cyborg named Apple, and he begins a friendship with her. When Apple is kidnapped by a ruthless gang led by the leader known as Zeus, The Kid must formulate a plan to get her back. With the help of a stranger, he wages a bloody roar against Zeus and his minions.
The Most Adorably Violent Post-Apocalyptic Film You Will Find
A huge hit on the festival circuit, Turbo Kidgained some notoriety for its unique blend of heartwarming coming-of-age movie set in the apocalypse combined with over the top gore. Still, with time, the movie has become a bit buried, and did not really go far beyond its early cult success.
This is a shame, because the movie is wholly original and one of the coolest amalgamations of genres ever committed to film. If you don’t like gore, skip this one, but it is pretty cartoonish and the heartwarming story in the middle of it will make it appeal to a broader audience than just horror fans.
1 Dave Made a Maze (2017)
Bored while his girlfriend is away for the weekend, Dave (Nick Thune) decides to craft, making a small maze. However, once Dave starts, he does not finish, and somehow manages to make a massive labyrinth that defies the tiny space of his apartment. When his partner returns and learns that he is trapped, she reaches out to Dave’s friends to help investigate and get him out. However, the labyrinth is filled with perils, including a massive minotaur, making it a dangerous journey.
A Very Crafty Fantasy Adventure
Dave Made a Maze is one of those movies you may have only heard of by word-of-mouth. It is a small indie gem with little money behind it. However, Dave Made a Maze is exemplary of what a little ingenuity on a budget can do. The craft-inspired set designs are glorious in their execution, and one really does get the sensation that they are trapped in a maze made by hand.
The fantasy movie does have light comedic elements, and a sprinkling of tame horror, making it easy to enjoy with the family. Comedian Nick Thune stars in the movie, and brings his particular persona into the role, making it a must-watch for fans of the stand-up comedian.
