If you don’t want to head to the cinema to watch new releases such as The Dog Stars or One Night Only but still want to view some glorious films, then the Bank Holiday weekend provides ample opportunity.
With an extra day to relax in the comfort of your own living room, there are plenty of great works airing across terrestrial channels over the next three days, and you don’t need a streaming service to watch them!
Ranging from a beloved British family film to an Academy-Award winning historical epic from the Golden Age of Hollywood, we have eight incredible picks for you to feast your eyes on!
Paddington 2
StudioCanal
This widely-lauded sequel sees the adorable bear (voiced again by Ben Whishaw) falsely imprisoned after being framed for a burglary, with the nefarious Phoenix Buchanan (played by a BAFTA-nominated Hugh Grant) causing all sorts of mischief.
Directed and co-written by Paul King, the 2017 film boasts a stacked cast including Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters and Peter Capaldi. It was acclaimed by critics, and held a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes until May 2021.
Paddington 2 airs on Saturday at 7.10pm on BBC One.
Black Panther
Marvel Studios
This 2018 work was the first superhero film to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and it also became the first MCU entry to win an Oscar after taking home three trophies on the night.
It stars the late Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the king of Wakanda and the man behind the titular superhero. With support from his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), they attempt to quell the threat of Killmonger (Michael B Jordan).
Black Panther airs on Saturday at 8pm on Channel 4.
Man of Steel
DC Studios
Another superhero offering here, only this time from the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Zack Snyder directs from a screenplay by David S Goyer, while Christopher Nolan has a story and producing credit.
It serves as an origin story for Superman, with Henry Cavill making his debut as the iconic character. As he assumes the role of Clark Kent on Earth, he battles General Zod (Michael Shannon) to keep the planet safe.
(If you fancy a different Superman, then Superman Returns – which marked Brandon Routh’s one and only outing as Clark Kent – is on Monday night at 10.20pm on ITV1.)
Man of Steel airs on Saturday at 9.30pm on ITV1.
Ben-Hur
Getty Images
William Wyler’s religious epic is notable for its iconic chariot race sequence, and for also winning a joint-record 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role (for Charlton Heston).
An adaptation of Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the 1959 film follows a prince who is enslaved by the Romans after being falsely accused of a crime. As he regains his freedom, his thirst for revenge grows.
Ben-Hur airs on Sunday at 12pm on BBC Two.
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Silver Screen Collection//Getty Images
Another epic from the 1950s, David Lean’s adaptation of Pierre Boulle’s 1952 novel of the same name is regarded as one of the finest war films of all time, with the epic picking up seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The plot follows a group of British soldiers, who are being held as prisoners of war in occupied Burma. They are forced to build a bridge for their Japanese captors, but are unaware that allied forces are preparing an operation to destroy it.
The Bridge on the River Kwai airs on Sunday at 3.30pm on Channel 4.
Jurassic World
Universal
Colin Trevorrow’s 2015 action adventure serves as a reboot for the long-dormant Jurassic Park franchise, with the film being set on the same fictional island – Isla Nublar – as Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1993 blockbuster.
This time around, dinosaurs are very much accepted in society, with a theme park full of cloned creatures being a huge success. Predictably, chaos soon abounds, and Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady is tasked with saving the day.
Jurassic World airs on Sunday at 4.30pm on ITV1.
The Italian Job
Silver Screen Collection//Getty Images
This comedy caper from 1969 is widely regarded as one of the most iconic films in the history of British cinema, with one fan on IMDb calling it a “classic” as they praised the vehicular stunts involving the Minis.
At the centre of the action is Michael Caine’s Charlie Croker, a charismatic and quick-witted thief who leads a gang of criminals as they attempt to steal a cache of gold bullion that is being transported through the Italian city of Turin.
The Italian Job airs on Sunday at 5.25pm on BBC Two.
The Godfather
Silver Screen Collection//Getty Images
Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name is considered by some to be the definitive gangster drama, with the plot following the Corleone crime family as patriarch Vito (Marlon Brando) relinquishes control.
Featuring Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall in supporting roles, the film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and was followed by two sequels (both of which are airing this week too!).
The Godfather airs on Sunday at 10pm on BBC Two. Part II and Part III air on the same channel on Monday and Tuesday, at 10.30pm and 11.05pm respectively.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.