Not every moment of clarity comes in silence, as some start with pressing Play on these quality titles from Searchlight Pictures, only on Disney+
Long holidays usually mean an opportunity to binge on talked-about titles you might have missed, or to rewatch your comfort shows. For this upcoming break in particular, intended as a period to reflect and reconnect, Disney+ presents several poignant heavy-hitters from Searchlight Pictures that leave us with heart-warming and soul-stirring life lessons, streaming on Disney+.
When was the last time you found beauty in an unfamiliar situation? Or how about going the extra mile to study your family relationships and appreciate your heritage? These are some of the profound themes explored in this special watchlist from Disney+ that’s worth your while, especially this upcoming holiday break.
‘A Real Pain,’ starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin Now Available
A Real Pain tackles the universal themes of cultural heritage, acceptance and family relationships. Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. Everything was going smoothly until old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. It’s a riveting watch with remarkable performances that tug at heartstrings.
Going by awards alone, A Real Pain is one for the books. The film was nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Jesse Eisenberg, Best Screenplay and won the Best Performance by a male actor in a supporting role for Kieran Culkin. Kieran also took home an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. Additionally, the film won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was named one of AFI’s Top 10 Movies of 2024.
‘The Roses,’ starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman Now Available
Benedict Cumberbatch (Theo) and Olivia Colman (Ivy) star in The Roses, featuring a hilariously harrowing story of love, ambition, and spectacular dysfunction.
Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. Beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, however, a storm is brewing, as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off. The Roses is a reimagining of the 1989 classic film The War of the Roses, based on the novel by Warren Adler. Director Jay Roach brings sharp comedic instincts and a distinctly British edge to this modern portrait of a family in freefall, which has critics calling the film “hilarious” and “laugh-out-loud funny.”
‘Rental Family,’ starring Brendan Fraser Now Available
A heartfelt story of empathy and human connection shines in Rental Family.
Set in modern-day Tokyo, the powerful movie follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection. Following its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Rental Family went on to win numerous festival audience awards, including the Chicago, Woodstock, Middleburg, Hawaii and Heartland Film Festivals.
‘In the Blink of an Eye,’ starring Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones, Daveed Diggs, Jorge Vargas, and Tanaya Beatty Now Available
Director Andrew Stanton crafts an interwoven triptych that contemplates the essence of humanity throughout time in In the Blink of an Eye.
There’s a story in the distant past, featuring a Neanderthal family (Jorge Vargas, Tanaya Beatty), displaced from their home, struggling to survive. In the present day, Claire (Rashida Jones), a driven post-graduate anthropologist studying ancient proto-human remains, begins a tentative relationship with a fellow student, Greg (Daveed Diggs). Then, two centuries later, aboard a spaceship bound for a distant planet, Coakley (Kate McKinnon) and a sentient onboard computer confront a mysterious disease threatening the ship’s oxygen-producing plants. Three storylines, spanning thousands of years, intersect and reflect on hope, connection, and the circle of life. The overarching theme? Our desire to connect with each other and the world that sustains us.
‘Is This Thing On?’ starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern Now Available
Directed by Academy Award®–nominated filmmaker Bradley Cooper, the film follows Alex (Will Arnett), who turns to late-night comedy clubs as an unlikely form of therapy while navigating a faltering marriage. As he seeks purpose in the New York comedy scene, his wife Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family, forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.
To prepare for the role, Arnett spent roughly six weeks writing and performing stand-up material in real clubs nearly every night. Arnett also co-wrote the film with Cooper and Mark Chappell, from a story by Arnett, Chappell, and John Bishop, whose life inspired the character of Alex.
‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ starring Amanda Seyfried Streaming March 31
From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold, The Testament of Ann Lee stars Amanda Seyfried as the inspirational leader of the Shakers, who bravely channels her energy into manifesting gender and social equality.
Fastvold describes Lee as a “wild feminist religious leader” whose story had been completely overlooked by history. Ann Lee’s story is interwoven with reimagined Shaker hymns, powerfully motivating and narrating her epic journey to create a better society. The film also stars Thomasin Mckenzie, Lewis Pullman, and Stacy Martin.
If you’re looking for something new and insightful to watch this holiday break, look no further than these acclaimed movies, which are all available now on Disney+. Subscribe today and follow Disney+ Philippines on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and TikTok.