Best Films on NOW (November 2026): What to Watch and What It Costs

Last updated: 5 November 2026. NOW’s film line-up changes every week, so always check the film’s page on NOW before you subscribe.

NOW was called NOW TV until a few years ago, and many people still search for it by the old name. The films come from Sky Cinema, which adds three new premieres every week. That makes NOW the best UK streaming service for recent films. Netflix has more films overall, but far fewer big cinema releases.

NOW Cinema at a glance

Best films on NOW right now

These are our own picks, not an official NOW ranking. We chose films that are on Sky Cinema or have been recent premieres, and we kept the list short so it stays accurate. Every film below needs Cinema Membership.

Film	Genre	Why watch it
Kiss of the Spider Woman	Musical drama	Bill Condon’s bold, colourful take on the Broadway musical. The most interesting film of the month.
The Ballad of Wallis Island	British comedy-drama	Funny, warm and a little sad. One of the most charming British films of recent years.
Scream 7	Horror	Ghostface returns and Sidney Prescott faces a new threat.
How to Make a Killing	Dark comedy	Glen Powell plays a man disowned by his rich family who sets out to win back his inheritance.
Mother’s Pride	British comedy	A washed-up musician tries to save the family pub with an ale-brewing competition. Predictable, but pleasant.
One Last Shot	Action	Scott Adkins and Dolph Lundgren in a Navy SEAL manhunt.
The Shawshank Redemption	Prison drama	A classic that still tops many “best film” lists.

How we pick the films

• The film is on Sky Cinema in the UK, not just on a US service.
• It is included with Cinema Membership, not a paid rental.
• It has strong reviews, a major award, or a clear reason to watch.
• We aim for a mix of genres, so there is something for most people.

Catalogues change every week. Before you pay, search for the film on NOW and check that it says it is included in your membership. You can also use our UK streaming availability guide to see where else a film is showing.

Best films on NOW by genre

Best action and thriller films

• One Last Shot: a straightforward action film. If you know the two leads, you already know whether it is for you.
• Cleaner (2025): an action thriller that NOW has been promoting on its Cinema sign-up page.
• The Hunger Games films: the full run is part of Sky’s October horror and thrills programming, and they work as action and sci-fi too.

Best comedy films

• How to Make a Killing: a sharp, fast comedy with Glen Powell.
• Mother’s Pride: a gentle British comedy for a relaxed evening.
• Barbie (2023): a big, funny, clever hit that also won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

Best horror films

• Scream 7: the newest film in a long-running slasher series.
• The Insidious series: supernatural scares, and easy to binge back to back.

Best drama films

• Kiss of the Spider Woman: the one most likely to divide opinion, which is a good reason to watch it.
• The Shawshank Redemption (1994): nominated for seven Oscars, and still a favourite.

Best British films

The Ballad of Wallis Island is the one to find. Tim Key invites an estranged musical duo to his island home, and almost nobody saw it in cinemas. Mother’s Pride is the lighter second choice.

Family films on NOW

Sky Cinema has a dedicated Family channel, so the Cinema Membership always has children’s films. For a wider look at what suits the whole household, see our guide to the best streaming services for families in the UK.

Before pressing play, check the BBFC age rating. It is shown on the film’s page, and you can read the full content advice on the BBFC website.

BBFC rating	What it means
U	Suitable for all ages
PG	Parental guidance. Some scenes may upset very young children
12A / 12	Suitable for 12 and over. Younger children can watch an 12A at cinemas with an adult
15	Suitable for 15 and over
18	Adults only

Award-winning and classic films

Sky Cinema is mostly about what is new, so its older film list is smaller. Barbie and The Shawshank Redemption are the best-known award-linked titles we found. For a deeper back catalogue, look at BFI Player or MUBI instead. Our guide to where to watch classic films in the UK covers them.

Which NOW membership do you need for films?

You need Cinema Membership. NOW’s memberships are separate purchases. Entertainment (£7.99) gives you the Sky entertainment channels and Sky Originals, but no films. Cinema (£9.99) gives you the Sky Cinema channels and no series. Our NOW UK price guide lists every membership.

Option	Price	Contract
Cinema Membership (flexible)	£9.99 a month	None. Cancel any time
Cinema Membership (Saver)	From £6.99 a month	6-month minimum term
Boost add-on	£6 a month	Cancel any time
Ultra Boost add-on	£9 a month	Cancel any time

The Saver price is an advertised starting price and offers change often. Check the current price on NOW before you sign up.

Ads, HD and 4K: do you need Boost?

Standard NOW plays in 720p, on one device, with ads. On a new film, that is the weakest part of the service. Boost and Ultra Boost fix it, but only on compatible devices and selected films. Neither removes ads from live channels.

	Standard	Boost (£6)	Ultra Boost (£9)
Picture	720p	Full HD 1080p	Up to 4K Ultra HD HDR
Sound	Stereo	Dolby Digital 5.1	Dolby Atmos
Screens at once	1	2	3
On-demand ads	Yes	No	No
Minimum speed	–	12Mbps	30Mbps

For most people, Boost is the sensible choice. Our guide on whether NOW Boost is worth the extra goes into more detail. If you want 4K, make sure your connection can cope. Our guide to internet speed for streaming in the UK explains what you need.

Where your money goes: Cinema + Boost

Is NOW Cinema Membership worth it?

It is worth it if you want recent films. Films reportedly reach Sky Cinema four to six months after cinemas, well ahead of most rivals. Our guide to how long films take to reach streaming in the UK compares the windows. It is not worth it if you mainly watch series, or want a deep back catalogue.

Three premieres a week means some are weak. Sky is filling a schedule, not curating, so use the picks above rather than browsing blind.

The cheapest way to use it

Take it in bursts. A month when two or three films you want have landed costs far less than holding it all year. The figures below use the flexible £9.99 price and the Saver price of £6.99 for six months, then £9.99.

The cost per film falls quickly the more you watch:

Films watched in a month	Cost per film (at £9.99)
1	£9.99
2	£5.00
4	£2.50
8	£1.25

If you plan to leave after one month, pay the full £9.99. The cheaper Saver price locks you in for six months. If you are comparing options, see Netflix vs NOW and Netflix vs Prime Video.

NOW Cinema vs Netflix for films

	NOW Cinema	Netflix
Best for	Recent cinema releases	Browsing a big library
New films	3 premieres a week	Mostly its own films
Series included	No	Yes
Standard picture	720p (Boost for HD)	Depends on plan

Think of Netflix as a library and Sky Cinema as a cinema listing. If you want series too, see the best series on NOW UK.

New films and films leaving NOW

Sky publishes its premieres a few weeks ahead, and NOW and Sky both list them. NOW does not publish one full list of films that are leaving, so the safest check is the film’s own page. Watch what you want early, because Sky Cinema films rotate off more often than Netflix originals.

How to check a film is on NOW

1. Open the NOW website or app and search for the film.
2. Open its page and check that it says it is included with Cinema Membership.
3. Look for any rental or purchase price. That means it is not included.
4. Look for the HD or 4K and 5.1 or Atmos symbols if you have Boost.

How to cancel NOW Cinema Membership

• Sign in on the NOW website and go to Membership & Payment. You cannot cancel in the app.
• Flexible: you keep access until the end of the period you have paid for.
• Saver: cancellation takes effect at the end of the minimum term.
• If you cancel your last monthly membership, NOW also cancels Boost or Ultra Boost.

Our guide to cancelling NOW walks through it step by step.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best films on NOW right now?

Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Scream 7, How to Make a Killing and Mother’s Pride are our top picks this month.

Which NOW membership do I need to watch films?

Cinema Membership. Entertainment does not include films.

How much does NOW Cinema Membership cost?

£9.99 a month on the flexible plan. A Saver plan starts from £6.99 a month with a six-month minimum term.

Is Sky Cinema included with NOW?

Yes. Cinema Membership gives you the Sky Cinema channels and on-demand films without a Sky subscription.

Can I watch NOW films without ads?

Yes, with Boost (£6) or Ultra Boost (£9). Live channels and NOW trailers still show ads.

Are films on NOW in 4K?

Only with Ultra Boost, and only on selected films and devices. Our 4K streaming guide explains what else you need.

Is NOW TV the same as NOW?

Yes. NOW TV was renamed NOW. The website is still nowtv.com.

How soon do films reach NOW after cinemas?

Reportedly four to six months, though NOW does not publish a fixed window.

Can I cancel Cinema Membership at any time?

Yes on the flexible plan. On a Saver plan, cancellation takes effect at the end of the six-month term.

The short version

NOW Cinema is the best UK streaming service for recent films, with three new premieres a week. You need Cinema Membership at £9.99 a month, and Boost at £6 is worth adding for a better picture. Take it for a month when several films you want have arrived, and start with Kiss of the Spider Woman or The Ballad of Wallis Island. For the service itself, read our complete guide to NOW and Sky UK.

Prices and features are from NOW’s official UK pages, checked 5 November 2026. They can change. Ratings for individual films are not included because they change; check the BBFC and the review site you trust.