As the end of the year rapidly approaches, you are likely reading many top ten movie lists that feature a majority of movies that are just being released into theaters ( American Hustle, Inside Llewyn Davis, Wolf of Wall Street) or that won't even make it into wide release until January 2014 (primarily, Her). But we're here to remind you that there were 11 other months in 2013, and many of the year's best films came out then, and many of them are available for streaming or rental on a streaming service. If you're not planning on hitting a multiplex this weekend, here's a rundown of what you can watch from the comfort of your own sofa.
It's amazing that a movie can still take the conceit of two diametrically opposed cop partners - one crazy, one uptight - and make it work this well. Melissa McCarthy is the former, Sandra Bullock the latter, and this summer comedy was a very deserving box office hit. (Available to rent on Amazon and iTunes)
The World's End: Vulture movie critic David Edelstein called this film - the third partnering of Edgar Wright, Nick Frost, and Simon Pegg after Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz - "the year's most entertaining sci-fi comedy romp." That's a very specific category, of course, but suffice it to say that it's also one of the year's funniest, getting an equal amount of laughs from verbal and slapstick physical humor. (Available to rent on Amazon and iTunes)
The Conjuring: Of this summer's hit haunted house movie, Vulture's Bilge Ebiri wrote, " The Conjuring succeeds because of all that anticipation of dread things to come. The damned thing works you so well that you may even consider leaving halfway through, for fear you'll have a heart attack." (Available to rent on Amazon and iTunes)
Fast and Furious 6: Every year has a great, dumb, fun movie. And this is 2013's. The impossibly long runway, the London Tube fight between Michelle Rodriguez and Gina Carano, that moment when Vin Diesel catches Michelle Rodriguez in mid-air after leaping out of his car - so ridiculous and so good. (Available to rent on Amazon and iTunes)
This is what it is like today to be a 20-something, artsy urban dweller. So, watch this Noah Baumbach-directed black and white gem if you're interested in that. (Available to stream on Netflix, to rent on Amazon and iTunes)
Spring Breakers: Just read James Franco's monologue. It might be the movie monologue of the year. Then watch Spring Breakers and look at all his sheeyit. Don't be 'spicious. (Available to stream on Amazon Prime)
Much Ado About Nothing: David Edelstein's fourth best movie of 2013. In his top ten roundup, he wrote, "Just before postproduction for The Avengers, Joss Whedon gathered a bunch of friends (TV actors, mostly) and shot a Shakespeare movie in twelve days in his own rambling L.A. house. His casual approach works amazingly well-this might be the best Shakespeare comedy on film." (Available to rent on Amazon and iTunes)
Whether you're an animal lover or not, it's hard not to be moved by this tale of of killer whales who are captured in the wild, forced to perform at theme parks like Sea World, and then lash out at their human handlers. (Available to stream on Netflix)
The Gatekeepers: Six members of Israel's security agency, Shin Bet, get on camera to talk about war and peace. It's precedent-breaking and compelling. (Available to rent on Amazon, to purchase on iTunes)
A Band Called Death: Three black musician brothers in Detroit form the title group and proceed to make punk music before the invention of punk music. The trio's story is kickass and heartbreaking. (Available to stream on Netflix)
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