Trying to watch games during the World Cup meant having to access all of the streaming sites at silly o’clock. At some point my tired eyes got confused and, rather than putting on the football, I ended up browsing the film section on ITVX and found that it might have the best selection of free films on any (legal) streaming site. So, of the hundreds available, here’s a random selection that stood out.

Bad Boys

The original, not the many sequels. Before Michael Bay became synonymous with increasingly loud explosions and robots punching each other for two and a half hours, he made this wonderfully entertaining action comedy. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have effortless chemistry and spend almost as much time arguing as they do chasing criminals. Yes, it’s loud, ridiculous and occasionally daft, but it knows exactly what it is. If you’re after a film to switch your brain off for a couple of hours, this is still one of the best examples of the genre.

Godzilla (2014)

Of the many Godzilla films available, this is the American version from 2014 starring Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Cranston. With time, this feels like a superior Godzilla film and certainly better than all of the subsequent “Godzilla vs” nonsense that came after. It was made in an era of blockbuster filmmaking that favoured a more mature and grounded approach (you can thank The Dark Knight for that), meaning this take on the classic monster movie focuses more on the humans than the monster. It works in conjunction with some wonderful visuals. There’s a great sense of scale and power created, in part, by not always showing the complete monster, instead revealing the dramatic consequences of its presence. CGI has weight, heft and impact, something that is increasingly rare these days.

She’s the Man

On one hand, this is a daft but enjoyable teen film. Focused on characters swapping roles to win the hearts of possible partners, the whole premise is silly, stupid fun with some risible scenes of Americans trying to play football (soccer) in college. It constantly tiptoes the line between absurdity and incredulity. We see beyond the daft costumes and disguises and the improbable situations the characters find themselves in. But this is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and highlights just how silly his comedy plays were and how often they relied on convenient contrivances. Having said that, this is a superior adaptation because it leans into the absurdity to become an utterly daft, silly film that you’ll want to watch more than once.

Parasite

This twisting, enthralling Korean thriller is a modern masterpiece. It made headlines when it became the first foreign-language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but deserved every award going. It’s impeccably plotted and shot. Every frame contains multitudes of meaning, but not in a pretentious way. There’s as much to enjoy as there is to analyse. The joy of it being available on streaming is that you can watch it repeatedly to uncover its layers of meaning.

Winter’s Bone

Despite Jennifer Lawrence being nominated for an Oscar for her work in this, Winter’s Bone remains an underappreciated gem. This tale of a missing person quickly evolves into a tense and engaging drama about the desperate situations people find themselves in, often through the actions of others. It’s a stark, brutal but beautiful film that also offers a timely reminder of the America we rarely see on screen.

Austin Powers

Did you know that Austin Powers 4 has just been announced? No? You know why? Because we seem to have reached a collective understanding to move on from Austin Powers. But at the time of release these films were huge. Watching them again in 2026 was interesting as the film is very much not made for a modern audience but, at the same time, is still pretty funny and full of memorable moments. Overall, it’s good, nostalgic fun that doesn’t really hold up, but is as quote-worthy as ever.

Amélie

This charming French tale of one woman’s attempt to live her life through imagination, complicated plans and love is a bit of a cult classic. What makes it so special isn’t really the story but the way it’s told. Every frame bursts with colour, quirky details and visual invention, turning everyday Paris into somewhere that feels almost magical. It’s funny, warm and quietly romantic without ever becoming sentimental. If you’ve always assumed foreign-language films are hard work, Amélie is probably the perfect place to start. It’s whimsical without ever becoming childish and leaves you seeing the world just a little differently.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

If you’ve never seen it, you’ll love it. If you’ve seen it, just seeing the name here will make you want to revisit it immediately. A timeless piece of fun that everyone should watch at least once to find escapist joy in the simple premise: if you had one day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do? The wonderful thing about Ferris, though, is that it’s grounded in a childlike sense of wonder. His “day off” mixes ordinary pleasures, such as watching a baseball game, with the excitement of pretending to be older, like eating in a fancy restaurant. Endlessly rewatchable and a classic that has been referenced for decades, do yourself a favour and watch, phone away, for 90 minutes.