3 Must-Watch Peacock Movies to Stream This Weekend: Red Eye, Dark Waters, Hot Tub Time Machine

That fresh lineup of movies hitting Peacock in just under a week has got me thinking about what’s still available to stream right here in Austin, Texas, especially as we settle into another typical Austin spring weekend with the sun climbing over the Capitol dome and the first hints of heat starting to rise off South Congress Avenue. With the announcement that fans need to hold tight because the streamer is getting a fresh lineup of movies in just under a week, there are still a few days to enjoy a handful of Peacock’s most entertaining movies before they head into a company vault, making this the perfect moment to highlight some standout options for a local movie marathon.

This week’s picks from Watch With Us include a tense thriller, a real-life legal drama and a comedy with a slightly sci-fi premise, each offering something different for viewers looking to make the most of their streaming time. Starting with the thriller, the late Wes Craven helmed Red Eye, a film that helped propel Rachel McAdams forward as a leading actress. Lisa is a hotel manager who finds herself increasingly attracted to Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy), a charming man she met at the airport before they were seated together on the plane. Lisa’s dreams of rom-com happiness are quickly thwarted when Jackson reveals his true agenda during their red-eye flight. He intends to force Lisa to help him assassinate a government official. And if she refuses, her father, Joe Reisert (Brian Cox), will be murdered. Lisa’s a resourceful woman and fights back, but Jackson seems to have thought of every contingency. Red Eye is streaming on Peacock.

Shifting to the real-life legal drama, if you’ve ever seen Erin Brockovich, you’ll recognize a lot of the themes in Dark Waters, which is also based on a true story about a class action lawsuit against one of the most powerful companies in America. In this case, it’s DuPont that stands accused by residents of Parkersburg, West Virginia, of dumping a chemical that caused cancer in the town’s residents and deformed livestock. Attorney Rob Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) is brought into the case by a farmer, Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp), and Tennant’s findings are critical to the case against DuPont. But unlike some other biopic legal dramas, DuPont drags out the case for years, leaving Rob’s marriage to Sarah Barlage Bilott (Anne Hathaway) in a very vulnerable state. DuPont’s legal strategy appears to be designed to avoid the company being taken to task for its actions. But as long as Rob can stand up in court, he’s not going to let that happen. Dark Waters is streaming on Peacock.

Finally, for the comedy with a slightly sci-fi premise, it seems like films with on-the-nose titles like Hot Tub Time Machine are rarities among modern theatrical movies. In this case, the high concept helped sell the film and made it a hit. John Cusack stars as Adam Yates, a recently dumped middle-aged guy who reunites with his childhood friends, Lou Dorchen (Rob Corddry) and Nick Webber-Agnew (Craig Robinson), for a vacation at their favorite winter resort so they can forget their unhappy lives. Even Adam’s nephew, Jacob Yates (Clark Duke), comes along for the trip. One ill-advised hot tub accident later, the four men wake up in 1986. Aside from Jacob, the guys are back in their childhood bodies and ready to make up for lost time. But if they don’t maintain the shape of their personal history, they run the risk of entirely erasing the future they came from. Hot Tub Time Machine is streaming on Peacock.

Given my background in entertainment journalism and years covering Austin’s vibrant film scene, if this trend of rotating streaming libraries impacts you in the Austin area, here are the three types of local professionals you need to know about. First, appear for Independent Film Curators who specialize in creating themed movie nights at local venues like the Alamo Drafthouse or Violet Crown Cinema; they should have deep knowledge of film history, understand licensing requirements for public screenings, and be able to source rare or hard-to-find titles that complement what’s available on streaming platforms. Second, consider Media Literacy Educators found through institutions like the University of Texas Radio-Television-Film department or Austin Public Library’s digital literacy programs; they should offer workshops on critically analyzing streaming content, understanding algorithmic recommendations, and navigating the shifting landscape of media ownership and distribution. Third, seek out Local Events Programmers who function with organizations such as the Austin Film Society or South by Southwest; they should demonstrate expertise in community engagement, have a track record of creating accessible cultural events, and understand how to leverage both digital platforms and physical spaces to build audience experiences around film.

Ready to identify trusted professionals? Browse our complete directory of top-rated entertainment experts in the austin area today.