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Best Movies You Can Stream in Under 90 Minutes

Best Movies You Can Stream in Under 90 Minutes

Choosing which movie to watch on any given night can be a daunting task. With so many films across so many platforms the options seem nearly endless. And when the amount of time one has to watch a movie is limited, the selection process becomes even more difficult.

Movie fans don’t always have time for a three hour epic. To aid movie fans looking for something to watch in a crunch, 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the best movies you can watch in under 90 minutes that are available on streaming platforms right now. The ranking of these movies is based on user and critic ratings on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and Rotten Tomatoes. Streaming availability has been determined using data from JustWatch.

Movies of certain genres are more likely to be shorter than others. Documentaries, animated films, and horror flicks can more often be expected to wrap up around 90 minutes or less, and examples of each are included on this list. Westerns are among the longest films. Here are the best classic Westerns available to stream from home.

And while many critically acclaimed, award-winning movies tend to clock in at over two hours, there are many examples of prestigious films that get to their final destination a little more quickly. Among the best movies that are less than 90 minutes long are works by highly respected directors, including Charles Burnett, Stanley Kubrick, and Fritz Lang.

 

To determine the best movies you can stream in under 90 minutes, 24/7 Tempo created an index based on each film’s Rotten Tomatoes average critic rating, Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating, and Internet Movie Database average user rating. To be considered, each film needed to have at least 5,000 user ratings on IMDb, and at least 10 Rotten Tomatoes critic reviews, and have a runtime of 90 minutes or less, according to IMDb.

We averaged the user ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb and weighted by the number of votes for each. The combined user rating was then averaged with the Rotten Tomatoes critic rating. Editorial discretion was then applied to include films that we felt deserved inclusion based on other metrics such as cult status or reputation.

Each film was available for streaming on at least one platform as of June 29, 2020, based on data from website JustWatch.

Source: Courtesy of IFC Films

25. Frances Ha (2012)
> Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver
> Directed by: Noah Baumbach
> Runtime: 86 min
> Available on: Netflix, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Criterion Channel, Microsoft Store, Sling TV

Greta Gerwig’s joyous performance lifts this modern-day romantic fable of a New Yorker pursuing her rapidly fading dream of becoming a dancer. The Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes calls Gerwig’s star turn “endearing.” The 86-minute movie directed by Noah Baumbach has a Freshness rating of 92%.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

24. Office Space (1999)
> Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman
> Directed by: Mike Judge
> Runtime: 89 min
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Microsoft Store

Emmy Award-winning Mike Judge (“King of the Hill”) wrote and directed this biting comedy about three office workers who rebel against their boss. Rita Kempley of The Washington Post called the 89-minute film an “often hilarious sendup of cubicle culture.” The movie also benefits from the appearance of Jennifer Aniston. “Office Space” enjoys a 93% audience approval score among Rotten Tomatoes users.

Source: baona / Getty Images

23. Zombieland (2009)
> Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson
> Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
> Runtime: 88 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Amazon Video, fuboTV

The well-trod subgenre is infused with humor in “Zombieland.” The film, which has a 90% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, stars Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Woody Harrelson. The three, who are in the movie among the last remaining humans, are trying to cross an America overrun by the undead. Lisa Rosman of Us Weekly liked the gorefest’s “quick pace and witty writing,” adding “it’s a nonstop, snarky ride.”

Source: Courtesy of Bryanston Distributing

22. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
> Starring: Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger
> Directed by: Tobe Hooper
> Runtime: 83 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Shudder, Vudu, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Tubi TV

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” which features the nightmarish Leatherface murdering a group of teenage victims, is 83 minutes of terror. Reportedly made for only $140,000, the movie was a tremendous success, appealing to both fans of lurid cinema and high art, judging by its inclusion in New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

21. The Simpsons Movie (2007)
> Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright
> Directed by: David Silverman
> Runtime: 87 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Disney Plus, DIRECTV, Amazon Video, FandangoNOW, FXNow, Apple iTunes, Redbox

The feature film version of the classic television series has an 88% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where it’s praised in part for its “polished writing that hearkens back to the show’s glory days.” The Golden Globe-nominated movie finds America’s favorite dysfunctional family on the run after Homer pollutes Springfield’s water supply.

Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr

20. Fruitvale Station (2013)
> Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer
> Directed by: Ryan Coogler
> Runtime: 85 min
> Available on: Vudu, Microsoft Store, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, YouTube, Google Play Movies

Ryan Coogler directed and wrote this film that was honored at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. The film tells the true story of Oscar Grant III, a resident of San Francisco played by Michael B. Jordan, who makes a New Year’s resolution to be a better person and is slain by transit officers at the Fruitvale subway stop on New Year’s Day in 2009. Kate Muir of the Times (UK) said Coogler’s directorial debut “recreates Grant’s final day with affection, refusing to cast him as either saint or sinner.” The film has a 94% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics.

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

19. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
> Starring: Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara
> Directed by: Christopher Guest
> Runtime: 84 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, VUDU Free, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW

Christopher Guest wrote, directed, and starred in this deadpan comedy about marginally talented performers of a musical production company in Missouri. Time Out said, “The comedy has the slow burn of a richly nuanced and non-judgmental character study.” The film, with a runtime of 84 minutes, holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 91% from critics and audiences alike.

Source: Courtesy of Embassy Pictures

18. The Producers (1967)
> Starring: Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn
> Directed by: Mel Brooks
> Runtime: 88 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Amazon Video

“The Producers” is Mel Brooks’ zany 88-minute take on show business, weaving a tale of two producers who concoct a scheme to get rich by producing a Broadway flop bankrolled by bilking rich widows out of their money. Their surefire disaster is a musical based on the Third Reich titled “Springtime for Hitler.” The film stars Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder and holds a 90% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and an 85% approval score from audiences. “The Producers” was Brooks’ directorial debut and started his run of cinematic success in the 1970s and ’80s.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

17. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
> Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray
> Directed by: Wes Anderson
> Runtime: 87 min
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, DIRECTV, Redbox, Disney Plus

From director Wes Anderson (“The Royal Tenenbaums” of 2001, “Moonrise Kingdom” of 2012), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a visually stunning adventure-comedy that offers something for both adults and younger audiences. The animated flick features voice talent from Hollywood royalty, including George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Bill Murray, and was nominated for two Oscars.

Source: Courtesy of Milestone Films

16. Killer of Sheep (1978)
> Starring: Henry G. Sanders, Kaycee Moore, Charles Bracy
> Directed by: Charles Burnett
> Runtime: 80 min
> Available on: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Microsoft Store, Redbox, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Hoopla, Apple iTunes, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, VUDU Free

Charles Burnett’s “Killer of Sheep” is a downbeat examination of the life of a slaughterhouse worker who finds his job repugnant but must keep working to support his family living in the Los Angeles Watts neighborhood. Still a student at UCLA, Burnett made the film for only $10,000, and it was eventually added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 1990. The movie has received near-universal praise from critics, earning a 97% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Jeff Shannon of the Seattle Times called the movie “as timeless as the human condition.”

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Productions

15. Old Yeller (1957)
> Starring: Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk
> Directed by: Robert Stevenson
> Runtime: 83 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, YouTube, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Disney Plus, DIRECTV

An early live-action tearjerker from Disney, “Old Yeller” was based on the Newbery Honor-winning children’s book of the same name by Fred Gipson. In the film, a teenage boy (Tommy Kirk) is helping to manage his family’s farm on the Texas frontier in the mid-19th century when a dog shows up uninvited. The yellow Labrador eventually wins over the family. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes were won over, too, giving the coming-of-age family film — clocking in at 83 minutes — a 100% Freshness rating, and 79% of audiences liked the movie.

Source: Courtesy of Paramount

14. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
> Starring: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates
> Directed by: Don Siegel
> Runtime: 80 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, Apple iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Pluto TV, Popcornflix, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Redbox

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” directed by Don Siegel, was a veiled commentary on the paranoia of a communist takeover of the United States in the 1950s. Kevin McCarthy stars as a doctor in California who begins to notice changes in those around him following the appearance of organic pods around town. The 80-minute film, successfully remade in 1978, was called by Critics Consensus “an efficient, chilling blend of sci-fi and horror.” It has a 98% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics

Source: Courtesy of Warner Independent Pictures

13. Before Sunset (2004)
> Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff
> Directed by: Richard Linklater
> Runtime: 80 min
> Available on: Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Apple iTunes, Redbox

Years after the whirlwind romance depicted in “Before Sunrise,” Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) reunited for another romantic encounter. “Before Sunset” ranks among IMDb’s top rated 250 movies of all time. The film also has a 95% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes who fell in love with the 80-minute movie’s gentle tone. It was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Source: Courtesy of Off White Productions Inc.

12. Paris Is Burning (1990)
> Starring: Brooke Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey
> Directed by: Jennie Livingston
> Runtime: 71 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes

First released in 1990, “Paris Is Burning” documents New York City’s 1980s drag scene, including interviews with numerous participants. In addition to its exceptional rating of 8.2 out of 10 on IMDb, the movie has a Freshness rating of 98% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2016, it was added to the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” important.

Source: Gyro / iStock via Getty Images

11. Blackfish (2013)
> Starring: Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg
> Directed by: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
> Runtime: 83 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Hoopla, Amazon Video, FlixFling, Hulu, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Magnolia Selects, Netflix

This documentary explores the dark side of keeping orcas, or killer whales, in captivity. Though not an easy watch — critics describe it as both “troubling” and “heartbreaking” — it’s undoubtedly fascinating and important, scoring winning reviews from 98% of professional reviewers and 90% of audience members.

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

10. The Big Heat (1953)
> Starring: Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn Brando
> Directed by: Fritz Lang
> Runtime: 89 min
> Available on: Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Criterion Channel, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Crackle, DIRECTV

“The Big Heat,” Fritz Lang’s tautly directed film, is about a policeman (Glenn Ford) conducting an investigation into the death of a corrupt cop that leads him into conflict with organized crime. Dan Druker of the Chicago Reader called the movie “brutal, atmospheric, and exciting.” The 89-minute thriller has a perfect Freshness rating among 29 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 90% approval score among audiences. The movie is noteworthy for an early-career appearance by Lee Marvin as a gangland enforcer.

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

9. High Noon (1952)
> Starring: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell
> Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
> Runtime: 85 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, DIRECTV, Starz, Microsoft Store

Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly top the cast of Fred Zinnemann’s classic about a lone lawman who stands up to a gang of outlaws despite his new bride’s pleas — based on her worldview — to avoid the confrontation. Cooper’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Marshal Will Kane was ranked as the fifth-greatest cinematic hero by the American Film Institute in 1998. Critic Willliam Brogdon of Variety said Zinnemann “carefully and deliberately makes the most of the mood cast by the threat of impending violence.” Little wonder that the 85-minute film holds a 96% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics and an 89% approval rating from audiences.

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

8. Airplane! (1980)
> Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen
> Directed by: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
> Runtime: 88 min
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW

“Airplane!” is a goofy sendup of disaster films directed by Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker that contains numerous memorable quotes and sight gags. The film’s humor is accentuated by the inspired casting of macho actors like Robert Stack and Lloyd Bridges as well as basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in comedic roles. Richard Schickel of Time magazine called the 88-minute laughfest “a splendidly tacky, totally tasteless, completely insignificant flight.” Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a Freshness rating of 97%, and audiences gave it an 89% approval score.

Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures

7. When We Were Kings (1996)
> Starring: Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King
> Directed by: Leon Gast
> Runtime: 88 min
> Available on: DIRECTV, Max Go, Cinemax Amazon Channel

“When We Were Kings” is an absorbing film from Leon Gast about the 1974 heavyweight championship boxing fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman that took place in Zaire, famously dubbed, “The Rumble in the Jungle.” David Ansen of Newsweek said, “Both a tribute to Ali and an evocation of a bygone era, it’s about the transformative moment when black America, flexing its newborn pride, encountered black Africa.” The 88-minute film has a 98% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics and a 94% score from audiences.

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

6. The Killing (1956)
> Starring: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards
> Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
> Runtime: 84 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Apple iTunes

Stanley Kubrick wrote and directed this story about a criminal (Sterling Hayden) who gets together a gang to rob a racetrack. Among the more recognizable crime-film actors in this movie are Ted de Corsia, Elisha Cook Jr., and Joe Sawyer. This early effort of Kubrick, who would go on to be one of cinema’s greatest directors, runs for just 84 minutes. It has a 98% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics, equaling the highest rating of any Kubrick film on Rotten Tomatoes, and it holds an 8.0 out of 10 rating among IMDb users.

Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr

5. Stand by Me (1986)
> Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman
> Directed by: Rob Reiner
> Runtime: 89 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Amazon Video

Rob Reiner’s Oscar-nominated film about a group of young boys traveling together in search of a dead body (while not a horror film, the movie is based on a novel by Stephen King) has a 91% Freshness rating from critics and a 94% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Widely described as “nostalgic,” the classic coming-of-age tale features impressive performances from child actors River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, and Wil Wheaton.

Source: Courtesy of Island Alive

4. Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
> Starring: Edward Asner, Pat Benatar, Jerry Brown
> Directed by: Godfrey Reggio
> Runtime: 86 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Pluto TV, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Hoopla

This unconventional documentary that explores the relationship between nature and humanity — named for the Hopi word meaning “life out of balance” — matches absorbing visuals with an exceptional score by Philip Glass to create a cinematic experience that impressed 90% of critics and 91% of audience members on Rotten Tomatoes. Though the movie’s abnormal construction may not appeal to all viewers, those with more adventurous tastes may find it extremely rewarding.

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

3. The Lion King (1994)
> Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones
> Directed by: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
> Runtime: 88 min
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Eros Now, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, FandangoNOW, Disney Plus

“The Lion King” was a major success hit for Disney and the second highest grossing movie of 1994 behind only “Forrest Gump.” The 88-minute film, about a young lion who is heir to the throne of the animal kingdom, has become a family classic because of its moving storyline and exceptional music, for which it won two Oscars. The movie has a 93% approval rating among critics and audiences alike on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.5 rating out of 10 among more than 900,000 IMDb users.

Other popular animated films from Disney that clock in at under 90 minutes and are available to stream include “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

2. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
> Starring: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest
> Directed by: Rob Reiner
> Runtime: 82 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Amazon Video, FandangoNOW, Redbox

“This Is Spinal Tap” is Rob Reiner’s mockumentary about a British heavy metal group’s attempt to resurrect their career. Geoff Andrew of Time Out said, “Reiner’s brilliantly inventive script and smart visuals avoid all the obvious pitfalls, making this one of the funniest ever films about the music business.” The sharply directed and highly quotable film, running just 82 minutes, holds a 95% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 92% rating among audiences.

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

1. Paths of Glory (1957)
> Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou
> Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
> Runtime: 88 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW

“Paths of Glory,” directed by Stanley Kubrick, is in the pantheon of anti-war films. Kirk Douglas plays an officer in the French army during WWI who confronts a mutiny among his troops, while his superiors seek glory regardless of the carnage. The classic is one of the shorter films Kubrick ever made at 88 minutes. It has a 95% rating among critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes and holds an 8.4 out of 10 rating among more than 170,000 IMDb users.

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