There are 15 classic movies you need to watch before you die, and they’re all available on Stan.

Logging in to Stan is like taking a stroll through time to visit my local Video Ezy in 2003. 

While they have some of the best new global and local shows, Stan also have the most impressive back catalogue of iconic movies.

Stan is brimming with classics: movies like The Princess Bride, Practical Magic and my personal sick-day go-to, Double Jeopardy.  

Curling up for a good movie day is honestly the best way to spend your time, if you ask me, whether you're laying on the couch or burrowing yourself into a quilt cocoon in bed. Me? I like to mix the two together, and cocoon myself on the couch by bringing my blanket and pillows with me. There’s something much chicer about this experience — elevated, if you will.

When I'm in my little couch cocoon, I don't waste any time deciding what to watch. No, no, I'm already reaching for the remote and making my way to Stan.

What do I watch when I get there? I'm glad you asked, because I have a running list of go-to movies and I'm ready to talk about it.

Maybe you're a cinephile from way back, looking to revisit your favourites, or maybe you're looking to finally tick off your list of the iconic movies. Either way, here are the most iconic movies to watch on Stan right now.

Double Jeopardy 

Double Jeopardy.

Double Jeopardy stars Ashley Judd as Libby Parsons, a woman charged with murder when her husband mysteriously disappears. Tommy Lee Jones stars as Travis Lehman, her parole officer.

When Libby is stuck in prison, trying to connect with her son on the outside, she discovers her dead husband is not-so-dead. Drama! She's fuming, she's trying to convince anyone who will listen that she's innocent, she's making dramatic phone calls to lawyers. She wants her son, damn it!

But then, one of her prison pals tells her all about the double jeopardy defence, that prevents a person from being tried twice on the same (or similar) charges. 

What she actually says, is the iconic line "you can walk right up to him in Times Square, put a gun to his head and pull the f*****g trigger, and there's nothing anybody can do about it."

She spilled that tea. What happens next? Chaos ensues. 

Almost Famous

Almost Famous.

Has any rock 'n' roll film ever lived up to Almost Famous? Not in my mind. 

Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale that takes us back to the golden age of rock. 

The story follows William Miller (played by Patrick Fugit), a precocious 15-year-old who lands the opportunity of a lifetime - writing a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine about the up-and-coming band Stillwater.

As William hits the road with the group, he's swept up in the intoxicating world of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. He befriends the band's free-spirited "band-aid" Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) and navigates the complexities of life on tour. Through it all, he struggles to maintain his integrity as a journalist while forging his own identity.

Billy Crudup stars as lead guitarist Russell Hammond, and honestly it's the best anyone has ever looked on film. Ever. 

The cast also includes Frances McDormand, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Lee, Jimmy Fallon, Zooey Deschanel, Michael Angarano, and Anna Paquin.

Empire Records

Empire Records. 

This is the movie that inspired me to dress like Liv Tyler. I didn't look anywhere near as good, but oh boy did I try. 

In Empire Records, a group of eccentric record store employees face a day filled with chaos, personal crises, and the looming threat of a corporate takeover. Set to a soundtrack that screams '90s nostalgia.

When Lucas (Rory Cochrane), the well-meaning but reckless employee, loses $9,000 of the store's money in a gambling spree, the crew must scramble to save their beloved store from becoming just another bland chain outlet.

As they navigate love triangles, a washed-up pop star named Rex Manning, and a surprise robbery, the gang learns that friendship and music are the most important. Of course! 

Empire Records stars Anthony LaPaglia, Maxwell Caulfield, Debi Mazar, Rory Cochrane, Johnny Whitworth, Robin Tunney, Renée Zellweger, and, of course, Liv Tyler.

A Knight's Tale

A Knight's Tale.

If you ask me, A Knight's Tale is one of Heath Ledger's best movies. This film broke box office records… in my house. 

In this mediaeval comedy, Heath stars as peasant William Thatcher. Wishing to better his social standing and attain eternal glory, he adopts the false identity of his deceased master.

Under his master's name, William successfully competes in jousts with the help of his crew Roland (Mark Addy), Wat (Alan Tudyk), and Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany). But it’s not all smooth sailing to victory.

No mediaeval tale could be complete without a villain, which is played to perfection by Rufus Sewell as Count Adhemar. Honestly, this movie made me cast him as a forever villain and I can’t see him on screen and think he’s going to turn out as a nice guy. 

I’m yet to be proven wrong.

Win A Date With Tad Hamilton

Win A Date With Tad Hamilton.

If you haven't seen this movie, you might think I'm playing it a little fast and loose with my use of the word "classic." But this truly is such a fun 2000s flick. 

Rosalee Futch (Kate Bosworth) works at the local supermarket with her friends, Pete (Topher Grace) and Cathy (Ginnifer Goodwin). Her dreams come true when she wins a date with her idol, Hollywood hunk Tad Hamilton (played by Josh Duhamuel). 

But things take an interesting turn when Tad decides to move to her small town so they can date for real, much to the dismay of her pining best friend Pete.

The vibes in this one are immaculate, with supporting roles played by stars like Nathan Lane and Sean Hayes. And Kathryn Hahn has one of her best roles (in my opinion) as the local bartender, Angelica.

Top Gun

Top Gun.

In 2022, Miles Teller and Glen Powell brought the Top Gun magic back to our screens in Top Gun: Maverick. But they never forgot who the main star was, Mr Tom Cruise himself. And the OG is still the best.

Top Gun follows the exploits of Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise), a cocky but talented US Navy fighter pilot. His best friend Nick "Goose" Bradshaw is played by Anthony Edwards, while Meg Ryan stars as Goose’s wife, Carole Bradshaw. 

Sent to the elite "Top Gun" flight school, Maverick engages in a rivalry with the cool and collected Iceman (Val Kilmer) while romancing civilian instructor Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). 

With a killer soundtrack and the most over-quoted lines in history, like "I feel the need... the need for speed!", it's a quintessential 80s action flick that launched Tom Cruise to superstardom.

The Talented Mr Ripley 

The Talented Mr Ripley.

Charming con artist Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is hired to retrieve the spoiled playboy Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) from Italy. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes matters into his own hands — by becoming Dickie himself.

Donning Dickie's designer clothes, Ripley impresses Dickie's friends, forges his checks, and even gets cosy with his girl Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). But when Dickie's wealthy father cuts off Ripley's funds, he takes drastic action — murdering Dickie and assuming his identity for good. Big yikes energy. 

The Talented Mr. Ripley is a deliciously dark tale of one man's obsession with the high life, and the lengths he'll go to get it. Set against a backdrop of absolutely GORGEOUS Italian scenery, this movie combines hot people, murder, and sensational fashion in a way White Lotus has been trying to emulate for years.

Training Day

Training Day.

A thriller with an iconic cast, Training Day centres on Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke), an ambitious LAPD police officer assigned to work with Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), a highly decorated narcotics officer. Alonzo is tasked with evaluating Jake's performance to determine if he is fit for the elite narcotics unit.

The day begins with routine procedures, but quickly spirals as Jake is exposed to Alonzo's ruthless and corrupt methods of policing. 

As the stakes escalate, and Alonzo gets caught up in a dangerous web involving a Mexican drug cartel, Jake is forced to make a difficult moral decision as he grapples with the corruption around him.

Denzel's Oscar-winning performance in particular is still held up as one of his greatest, perfectly pulling off the sinister detective.

Speed

Speed.

Two people in a high-stakes situation have never had as much chemistry as Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed.

LAPD officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) is going about his day, when a mad bomber from his past reappears with a nightmarish new plan.

The bomber (played by Dennis Hopper) has rigged a city bus with explosives that will detonate if the bus drops below 50 mph. The catch, aside from the whole bomb on a bus thing, is that the driver and people on board have absolutely no idea. 

It’s up to Jack to catch the bus, make his way on board, and figure out a way to safely rescue everyone before the bomb detonates. With the help of a resourceful passenger named Annie (Sandra Bullock), Jack must navigate the chaotic streets of Los Angeles, all while keeping the bus moving at breakneck speeds. 

Filled with explosive action, clever twists, and unexpected romance, Speed is a quintessential 90s thrill ride that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

Practical Magic 

Practical Magic.

One of the most iconic '90s movies, Practical Magic follows the witchy women of the Owens family who live on an idyllic property in a small seaside town in Massachusetts. If you asked me to describe my dream home or dream town, it would be this one. 

Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) are destined to be heartbroken, with a curse placed upon their romantic lives by their ancestor. 

When Gillian's abusive boyfriend Jimmy (Goran Visnjic) dies accidentally, the sisters use magic to try to bring him back to life. However, Jimmy's evil spirit ends up possessing Gillian's body. Sally and Gillian must use their witchcraft to destroy Jimmy's spirit before it kills them.

Along the way, the sisters rekindle their powerful bond and learn to embrace their magical heritage (and margarita Mondays).

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride.

In a world where true love is just a few sword fights and a giant rat away, The Princess Bride serves up a delightful mix of romance, adventure, and absurdity. 

The swashbuckling story begins with a grandfather reading a novel to his sick grandson. 

He tells the tale of Westley (Cart Elwes), a farm boy turned dashing pirate, who is on a quest to rescue his one true love, Buttercup (Robin Wright), from the clutches of the not-so-evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon)

Along the way, Westley faces off against a motley crew of characters, including a giant who rhymes, a vengeful swordsman with a penchant for dramatic monologues, and a miracle worker who doesn’t believe in miracles.  

It's such a quote-worthy movie, with many “inconceivable” moments to enjoy. 

Coyote Ugly

Coyote Ugly.

If you didn't see Coyote Ugly as a child and immediately envision your future as a member of the dancing bar crew, did you even have fun?

Aspiring songwriter Violet Sanford (played by Piper Perabo) trades her quiet New Jersey life for the chaotic streets of New York City as she attempts to become a professional songwriter, only to find herself serving drinks at a bar. 

The bar, aptly named Coyote Ugly, is run by a wildly cool woman named Lil (Maria Bello) and staffed by a crew of "Coyotes" who dance along the bar, when they're not busy throwing bottles around, of course.

The First Wives Club

First Wives Club.

Three college besties, Annie (Diane Keaton), Brenda (Bette Midler) and Elise (Goldie Hawn), reunite after the tragic death of their friend, Cynthia (Stockard Channing). 

The women come to the realisation that Cynthia's ex-husband played a major part in her suicide. Each of them has been left by their husbands for younger women, leading to feelings of betrayal and resentment. The trio decides to seek revenge on their ex-husbands, who they believe have taken advantage of their support throughout their marriages.

As they come together, they realise they share more than just their marital woes; they also share a determination to reclaim their power and support other women. 

Add one incredible rendition of You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore, featuring dancing down New York City streets, and you’ve got the ultimate 90s movie.

Moulin Rouge 

Moulin Rouge.

Our thanks to local legend Baz Luhrman for this one. The iconic director brought the magic of the Moulin Rouge to the big screen, with the help of Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Richard Roxborough, John Leguizamo and more. 

In the musical movie, a broke poet named Christian (McGregor) falls head over heels for Satine (Kidman), a glamorous courtesan with a flair for drama and a penchant for singing. Christian tries to woo her with his poetry, but she’s too busy entertaining the advances of a jealous Duke (Roxburgh) in order to save the Moulin Rouge.

With some seriously incredible covers and original songs, plus a cameo from our girl Kylie Minogue, this movie is a musical classic.

Sister Act 

Sister Act.

You can't beat Sister Act if you’re looking for a good time. 

Deloris Van Cartier, a sassy lounge singer played by Whoopi Goldberg, witnesses a mob murder and finds herself in witness protection—hiding out in a convent, disguised as Sister Mary Clarence. 

Initially clashing with the strict Mother Superior, Deloris soon transforms the convent's lackluster choir into a vibrant, soulful group, blending gospel and Motown. 

As the nuns embrace their newfound musical talents, trouble looms when the mob comes looking for Deloris. You don't get much more classic than this!

All of these movies can be streamed on Stan.