JuicyTalk
The Roku Channel isn’t mentioned enough when people discuss great streaming services. The app is completely free to use, so everything you watch will have ads, yet the library is far better than you might expect. It’s worth seeing a few ads to get free access to some great movies in 2026.
The list of stellar films available on Roku right now includes one of the best sports movies ever made, some LGBTQ+ classics, one of the most realistic looks at love, and an incredible animated picture, just to name a few. Together, they show just how essential the Roku library actually is.
Before Midnight (2013)
Like the Roku Channel itself, the Before trilogy should get more love than it does. It’s in the conversation for the best trilogy ever, since all three entries were met with widespread acclaim.
In 1995, Before Sunrise depicted the meeting between Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) as they fall for each other on vacation. In 2004, Before Sunset revealed what happened after they found each other again nearly a decade later. Before Midnight picks up with them as an actual couple.
Hawke and Delpy are again phenomenal, carrying the film with just their chemistry. Richard Linklater wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay with the actors, which capped the story in a beautiful way. Before Midnight holds a whopping 98% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Bull Durham (1988)
When discussing the best baseball movies ever made, it’s hard to top Bull Durham. Since the MLB season is on the horizon, there’s no better time to give this film a watch and it works for non-sports fans as well.
Bull Durham focuses on a veteran journeyman catcher named Crash Davis who is brought to the Durham Bulls to help mentor a talented but immature pitcher named Nuke LaLoosh. Both men also get caught up in the romantic web of baseball fan Annie Savoy, who dates Nuke but falls for Crash.
Baseball fans appreciate the intricacies of the game that are showcased, while non-fans can fall for the characters, comedy, and romance. Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins all deliver great performances as well.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
In the case of a lot of slasher franchises, the first movie is often arguably the best. That’s the case for Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Friday the 13th. With The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, there’s no debate. It’s the consensus best.
Released in 1974, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre came before the genre really got going in the late ’70s and into the ’80s. It stood out because of how real it felt, with everything coming across as grimy and dirty. It helped that it was advertised as based on a true story.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre introduced the world to Leatherface, one of the most iconic slasher villains. He’s brutal in everything he does, while the film holds nothing back in showcasing the violence. The film is a true horror masterpiece.
Aftersun (2022)
The most recent film included on this list is also one of the most devastating. Aftersun flew under the radar when it was released, yet it did score an Academy Award nomination as Paul Mescal was up for Best Actor.
Aftersun tells the story of a young Sophie Patterson as she goes on holiday with her 30-year-old dad Calum to Turkey. While there, the two bond more than ever, yet the audience also gets to see just how much Calum is struggling with depression and anxiety.
Witnessing this through the eyes of Sophie is emotionally heavy, yet the film gets taken to the next level in its final scene. It’s one of the heartbreaking and creative scenes ever put to the screen, which is saying something. There’s a reason Charlotte Wells won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)
Every once in a while, a movie gets released and receives poor reviews, only to become a cult classic that gets looked back on more fondly in the future. It happened with Fight Club, Jennifer’s Body, and But I’m a Cheerleader.
This teen romantic comedy centers on Megan Bloomfield, a cheerleader whose family believes she’s gay and sends her to a conversion therapy camp. While there, Megan bonds with the other people at camp and comes to understand and accept her sexuality.
While it’s true that some characters are stereotypically written, But I’m a Cheerleader has become a favorite among the LGTBQ+ audience. Natasha Lyonne is great as the lead actor, while Clea DuVall, Melanie Lynskey, and a hilarious turn by RuPaul round out a strong supporting cast.
Coraline (2009)
One of the best animated films of the 2000s is Coraline, which comes from Henry Selick. It’s a perfect movie to enjoy alongside his other acclaimed projects, The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach.
Coraline leans more into the horror genre than those other films and that works in its favor. The stop-motion animation style is ideal to deliver something that feels both creepy and unsettling, while the visual style itself is breathtaking.
Coraline follows the titular girl as she discovers an alternate universe where life is seemingly perfect, yet something much darker and more sinister lies beneath. The voice cast is fantastic, the scares are legitimately off-putting, and it has only grown in popularity over the years.
Short Term 12 (2013)
You won’t find many indie movies made for less than $500,000 that feature as many notable names in the cast as Short Term 12. Brie Larson, Kaitlyn Dever, LaKeith Stanfield, Rami Malek, and Stephanie Beatriz are just some of the talented stars featured in the film.
It’s also written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who helmed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as well as the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This heavily emotional film has a 98% Rotten Tomatoes rating for a reason.
Short Term 12 mainly follows Larson’s Grace Howard, the supervisor of a group home for troubled teens. While everyone there has a story that will grab you, it’s the relationship she forges with Dever’s Jayden Cole that becomes the heart of the film.
Memento (2000)
Whenever Christopher Nolan releases a movie these days, audiences flock to it. That’s the effect of The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Oppenheimer, and more being so successful. However, Memento came out way before any of those.
It’s only Nolan’s second feature film, yet it showed why he’d go on to become such a masterful director. Some of his biggest trademarks, like playing around with the concept of time, were evident and it made Memento into a cult classic made on a relatively small budget.
Memento follows Leonard Shelby, a man with short-term memory loss who also can’t form new long-term memories. He spends the movie using Polaroids and writing clues on his body to find the person who murdered his wife.
The Pianist (2002)
One of the most critically acclaimed films of 2002 was The Pianist and it can be watched on Roku for free. The heavy drama is based on the autobiography of the same name, which follows Władysław Szpilman’s experiences during the Holocaust.
The movie depicts those experiences in gruesome fashion, holding nothing back from the harrowing situation. The Pianist was a critical darling, winning the Oscars for Best Actor (Adrian Brody), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director.
It is not an easy movie to watch, as you’ll have to sit through some emotionally draining things. However, the end result is one of the best movies of the 2000s, so it’s worth it in the end.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Director Ridley Scott has been behind some great movies throughout his career and Thelma & Louise remains one of the best. The movie follows the titular friends as they embark on a road trip.
We just sit back and watch as these wild events unfold, all leading to the cops coming after the ladies, which culminates in one of cinema’s most iconic and memorable endings. It helps that Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon are spectacular together.
Thelma & Louise also features appearances by Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, and a young Brad Pitt. This landmark feminist picture was also selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
