Picture this: you find an intriguing movie on Netflix and add it to your watchlist. One week later, you return only to discover that the film you saved has vanished from the platform. This is a frequent hassle that many viewers, including myself, encounter.
Recently, a number of popular films have left Netflix, including an entire series of young adult dystopian films as well as the initial seven installments of the beloved racing franchise. Fortunately, many of these films have found new homes on other streaming platforms, some even available for free.
The First Seven Fast & Furious Movies
The Family Has Moved On
I unabashedly adore the Fast & Furious series. I’ll be the first to recognize that these films take liberties with realism in both action and plot. My preference isn’t for them to be cinematic masterpieces like Citizen Kane, but I find it hard to accept that Ludacris and Tyrese would drive a modified Pontiac Fiero into outer space.
That being said, some of the most iconic entries of the Fast & Furious saga are among the first seven films, all of which are no longer available on Netflix. While Fast & Furious 6 and Furious 7 must be rented at the moment, the first five films are now streaming on Peacock, the same service that’s launching a Fast & Furious television series. Perhaps it’s time to revisit Tokyo Drift in honor of Christopher Nolan.
The first five Fast & Furious films are now offered on Peacock. You will need to rent Fast & Furious 6 and Furious 7 for the time being.
Boyhood
Richard Linklater’s Most Innovative Work
Boyhood might not be my top pick from Richard Linklater, as that honor goes to Dazed and Confused with the Before series trailing close behind. However, I genuinely consider Boyhood his most innovative achievement. This film, which left Netflix in October, chronicles the life of Mason Evans Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) from the ages of six to eighteen over a period of twelve years.
Linklater filmed this project across 12 years, capturing significant moments of Mason’s transition from childhood to young adulthood. This artistic endeavor is a remarkable milestone in filmmaking. Although the film secured only one Academy Award for Patricia Arquette as Best Supporting Actress, I believe Linklater deserved the Best Director award as well.
Boyhood is available for streaming on AMC+. You can also watch it for free on Tubi.
The Five Hunger Games Movies
To the Arena We Go
It’s been about 14 years since Katniss Everdeen took a stand in the 2012 film The Hunger Games. This young adult dystopian narrative centers around the Hunger Games—a brutal competition where each district in Panem sends a boy and a girl to fight to the death. Katniss (played by Jennifer Lawrence) emerges as a pivotal figure in the story and a beacon of hope for the revolution.
The Hunger Games saga is one of my favorites in the young adult genre. It features intense violence, which makes it unsuitable for younger viewers, while also presenting compelling criticisms of capitalism and social disparity. With the upcoming film Sunrise on the Reaping set to debut around Thanksgiving, it’s an ideal time to catch up on the first four Hunger Games movies as well as the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
The Hunger Games movies are now accessible on Hulu. You can watch them for free on Tubi.
The Warriors
Come Out to Play
As someone well-acquainted with New York City, I find the premise of The Warriors to be ingenious. In the 1970s, gangs from across the city gather for a meeting in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Among them are the Warriors from Coney Island. When the summit’s host, Cyrus (played by Roger Hill), is murdered, the Warriors are wrongfully accused.
This sets off a thrilling pursuit as the Warriors must navigate 27 miles from the Bronx to Brooklyn to escape their predicament. The film stylishly captures the essence of New York grit, and I count myself among its loyal fans. Lin-Manuel Miranda is also a fan, as he is adapting the film into a Broadway musical with Eisa Davis premiering in 2027.
The Warriors is currently available on MGM+. You can also stream it for free on Tubi.
13 Going on 30
A Charming Romantic Comedy
13 Going on 30 can be viewed as a female-oriented take on Big, Penny Marshall’s 1988 hit featuring Tom Hanks. I’m completely fine with that perspective because the narrative about children aspiring to be adults deserved a female lead. Jennifer Garner takes on this role in 13 Going on 30.
After a lackluster celebration for her 13th birthday, Jenna Rink (Garner) wishes to become 30. Thanks to a sprinkle of magic dust, her wish is fulfilled, and she transforms into a 30-year-old fashion magazine editor living on Fifth Avenue. Ironically, the most unbelievable aspect of the story is that a magazine editor could afford such an apartment. Garner shines as the optimistic protagonist with a big heart. Prepare for the Razzles and enjoy the spirited “Thriller” dance.
13 Going on 30 is now streaming on Paramount+.
More Shows and Movies to Consider
If you’re looking for additional content on streaming platforms, mark your calendar for November 6 when The Uprising, a historical action film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Andrew Garfield, becomes available on Peacock. In terms of new series, Dexter: Resurrection season 2 is now streaming on Paramount+, and The Gilded Age season 4 is airing on HBO Max.
