5 best movies on BBC, ITV and more this weekend including Tom Hardy’s “excellent” crime drama

It’s the weekend, and we’ve got some movie recommendations for you! If you’d prefer to stay in and watch from home instead of going to the theater for new releases like California Schemin’ or You, Me & Tuscany, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve looked through a lot of movies and picked out five we think you’ll enjoy. They include everything from a highly-rated crime drama with Tom Hardy to a beloved classic directed by Steven Spielberg.

I’m so excited because there are some great movies on BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 this weekend! The best part is, you don’t need any extra subscriptions – just regular TV! Let’s jump right in and I’ll share my top five picks for the next few days.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Okay, so this movie from 2017 basically brings back the old Jumanji series, and it’s a direct sequel to the original one with Robin Williams – you know, the awesome one from 1995. Sadly, none of the original cast are back, but honestly, the new crew – Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart – totally fill their shoes. They’re hilarious and really carry the movie!

Critics generally liked the reboot, giving it a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, came out two years later, and another new movie is scheduled for release this December. But for now, this is all there is.

I’m so excited! Channel 4 is showing Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle this Saturday, April 11th, at 7:45pm. And if you miss it, or just want more Jumanji, Jumanji: The Next Level is on Film4 Sunday, April 12th, at 4:25pm. Definitely setting a reminder for both!

Legend

I was really excited to see this 2015 movie because it’s got some serious talent behind it! Brian Helgeland, who’s won an Academy Award, wrote and directed it, and it’s all about the true story of the infamous Kray twins, two really tough gangsters from London’s East End.

Tom Hardy plays both twins in this film, which follows their journey to power and their subsequent decline in the late 1960s. The movie also features a strong supporting cast, including David Thewlis, Paul Anderson, Emily Browning, and Christopher Eccleston.

While Hardy received most of the accolades for his exceptional acting, the crime drama Legend was generally well-received by both critics and audiences, with one IMDb user even calling it “excellent.”

Legend airs on Saturday 11 April at 11.50pm on BBC One.

Rear Window

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film, a cornerstone of the mystery thriller genre, centers around photographer L.B. Jefferies (James Stewart). Confined to a wheelchair, Jefferies becomes convinced his neighbor has committed a murder, and the story unfolds primarily within the limited setting of his apartment.

Jeff Jeffries, with help from his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) and his practical nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter), spends his time spying on his neighbors. As you’d expect from Alfred Hitchcock, the film is carefully crafted and full of surprising turns.

When it first came out, Rear Window received widespread praise and four Academy Award nominations. Over time, its reputation has only increased, and it’s now considered one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best movies and a true classic.

Rear Window airs on Sunday 12 April at 2.10pm on BBC Two.

Jurassic Park

Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking action-adventure movie, released in 1993, was remarkably innovative for its time. It’s amazing to think he also directed the critically praised Schindler’s List in the very same year!

The movie Jurassic Park, based on Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel, is set on Isla Nublar island. There, a rich entrepreneur (played by Richard Attenborough) and his team have successfully created dinosaurs through genetic engineering.

Predictably, things fall apart when the animals escape and start causing trouble. A group of people, including Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Samuel L. Jackson, are forced to flee and fight for survival.

Jurassic Park airs on Sunday 12 April at 2.10pm on ITV1.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Sergio Leone’s 1966 film is the last in the Dollars Trilogy. The first two films in the series, A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More, came out in 1964 and 1965, respectively.

Similar to the earlier movies, this film features Clint Eastwood as the mysterious, solitary gunslinger known as the Man with No Name. In this installment, he teams up with a Mexican outlaw to hunt for gold.

Sergio Leone’s film is celebrated for its grand scope and unforgettable music by Ennio Morricone. It’s widely considered one of the best and most important Westerns ever made, and its famous standoff scene has been copied and referenced in countless movies and shows since.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly airs on Sunday 12 April at 10pm on BBC Two.

The latest issue of Living Legends is now available! This special 100-page, full-color magazine celebrates the incredible life and work of Sir David Attenborough. You can find it at newsstands or order it online.

2026-04-11 09:20