Need a weekend watch? Here’s 5 great movies on TV – including “thrilling ride” British action film

If you’re looking for something good to watch this weekend, then terrestrial certainly has you covered.

The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have everything from a “thrilling” British action flick to a brilliant dystopian nightmare, as well as a historical epic.

Here, Digital Spy has rounded up five of the best to keep an eye out for.

Ambulance

Director Michael Bay’s 2022 heist movie stars Road House’s Jake Gyllenhaal and Aquaman’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as adoptive brothers who hijack an ambulance after a bank robbery goes wrong, taking two hostages in the process.

Universal

Ambulance attracted a mixed critical consensus, sitting at a 67% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, though was more popular with audiences with an 87% score. The Times noted that while it is “not Citizen Kane”, it is “‘the’ Michael Bay movie” – meaning viewers are in for a fun ride.

Alongside the main two stars, the movie features performances from 3 Body Problem’s Eiza González and Tell Me Lies’ Jackson White.

Airing Saturday on Channel 4 at 10.10pm. Available on Channel 4 afterwards.

Universal

Back to the Future Part II

The follow-up to the sci-fi classic sees Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) travel from the 1980s to 2015.

However, when enemy Biff Tannen (Thomas F Wilson) gets his hands on the DeLorean and alters history to create a dystopia where he is rich and powerful, the duo must then travel back to 1955 to make things right.

While not initially the most highly-regarded movie in the franchise (it sits at 64% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), its reputation has improved over time.

Airing Saturday on BBC One at 3.45pm. Available on BBC iPlayer afterwards.

Sony Pictures

Spectre

Daniel Craig’s fourth James Bond outing sees him finally go head-to-head with a classic enemy as he investigates the mysterious and sinister organisation SPECTRE.

Also starring Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz, Blue is the Warmest Colour’s Léa Seydoux and Marvel’s Dave Bautista, Spectre was described as a “thrilling ride” by Solzy at the Movies, while New York Magazine suggested it will leave you “shaken, not stirred”.

The sequel wasn’t as highly-rated as its predecessor Skyfall (which sits at 92% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes compared to Spectre’s 63%), though Craig’s penultimate adventure as 007 is still worth a watch.

Airing Saturday on ITV1 at 8.30pm. Available on ITVX afterwards.

Universal

Gladiator

Regarded as a modern classic, this 2000 Ridley Scott epic features Russell Crowe as former Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius as he is forced into slavery, working his way up to become a gladiator to enact revenge on Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of the late Emperor, for his betrayal and murder of his own father.

As well as cementing itself with iconic lines such as: “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius…”, Gladiator was a box office and awards hit, winning five Oscars including Best Actor for Crowe, and was called a “great visual spectacle and first-rate entertainment” by Cinegarage.

A sequel starring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington was released last year, which attracted a lower Rotten Tomatoes score of 70% as compared to the first’s 80%.

Airing Saturday on BBC One at 10.20pm. Available on BBC iPlayer afterwards.

Universal

Children of Men

This 2006 dystopian movie is set in a future UK where human infertility has led to societal collapse, as a civil servant called Theo Faron (Clive Owen) helps a refugee called Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) – who holds an important secret.

Based on the 1992 PD James novel The Children of Men, the Alfonso Cuarón film has come to be regarded as a modern classic, and holds an impressive 92% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

It also packs an impressive wider cast, including Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Pam Ferris, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Charlie Hunnam.

Airing Sunday on BBC Two at 10pm. Available on BBC iPlayer afterwards.

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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.