Peacock doesn’t release a lot of movies throughout the month, but the streamer does occasionally space out its new releases.
One of this week’s arrivals is Plane, an action flick that is actually spinning off into a sequel called Ship sometime in the future. Despite the very plain name, Plane is one of What to Watch’s picks for the three underrated Peacock movies to watch this weekend.
Our other films of choice for the weekend ahead are an intense historical drama starring Jamie Dornan and a very good teen rom-com featuring Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell and Allison Janney.
‘Plane’ (2023)
Plane was a minor hit in 2023, and it may remind you of Vin Diesel’s Pitch Black minus the sci-fi monsters and glow-in-the-dark eyes. Action icon Gerard Butler plays Brodie Torrance, the pilot of an ill-fated plane that makes an emergency landing on an island in the Philippines.
Not all of the passengers survived the landing, which is why Brodie has to turn to Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), a former French Foreign Legion fighter who was only on the plane because he was being taken to Canada on murder charges. When faced with rebels who want to take the survivors hostage, Louis is exactly the man Brodie needs on his side. Even then, the odds of survival are stacked against them.
Plane is streaming on Peacock.
‘Belfast’ (2021)
Writer and director Kenneth Branagh has called Belfast his most personal movie to date. The Oscar-winning movie is loosely based on his own life as a child in the late ‘60s, when the Troubles began in Ireland. In the film, Buddy (Jude Hill) is just a young kid who doesn’t understand why there’s an uprising and violence in the streets.
Billy Clanton (Colin Morgan) tries to force Buddy’s father (Jamie Dornan) into joining the rebellion, and when Pa refuses, Billy turns his attention to Buddy. There are no good options for Buddy and his family as the walls close in around them, but Buddy doesn’t want to lose the only home he’s ever known.
Belfast is streaming on Peacock.
‘The Duff’ (2015)
In her senior year at high school, Bianca (Mae Whitman) discovers that she’s “The Duff ” among her friends. That’s not a compliment, because it means “Designated ugly fat friend.” Bianca is neither fat nor ugly, but the designation sticks because guys are always using her as their gateway to her two hotter friends, Jess (Skyler Samuels) and Casey (Bianca Santos).
Bianca is determined to change her reputation, so she turns to her childhood friend, Wesley (Robbie Amell), to help improve her social standing. Bianca is aiming high to land her crush, Toby (Chris Wylde). But after spending so much time with Wesley, Bianca discovers that she may have some romantic feelings for him as well.
The Duff is streaming on Peacock.
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