February may not be the most desirable month of the year for new movies, but there have been a lot of great films released in the second month of the year.
Some February movies have taken their place among the greatest films ever made.
To close out the month, Watch With Us has narrowed things down to the five best movies ever released in February.
Even among this small group of films, some movies have withstood the test of time.
5. ‘Donnie Brasco’ (1997)
There were a lot of great true crime movies in the ’90s, but Donnie Brasco has been overshadowed by most of them. This film is based on the account of FBI Agent Joseph D. Pistone (Johnny Depp), the man who adopted the Donnie Brasco alias to gain the confidence of mob associate Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero (Al Pacino).
Pistone is so good at playing the role of Donnie that he quickly moves up in the crime family. He also genuinely befriends Lefty and starts acting more and more like a mobster. As Donnie’s persona bleeds into his real life, Pistone is forced to face the possibility that his investigation may get Lefty killed, and that’s not something he’s willing to do.
Donnie Brasco is available for rent and purchase on Prime Video.
4. ‘Dark City’ (1998)
Just over a year before The Matrix blew everyone’s minds, the similarly themed Dark City beat the Wachowskis to the punch. At the time of its release, there was nothing quite like Dark City, and film critic Roger Ebert was so impressed that he recorded a DVD commentary for it. The story follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), a man stripped of his identity who finds himself framed for murder in a city he can barely recognize.
Jennifer Connelly plays John’s wife, Emma Murdoch, but John isn’t sure who he can trust. He’s the only one who seems to realize that it’s always night in the city, and enigmatic strangers have the ability to bend reality around them while reshaping the city and its inhabitants. Somehow, John is immune to the strangers’ powers, and that makes him dangerous to them.
Dark City is streaming on Tubi.
3. ‘Get Out’ (2017)
Next year will be the 10th anniversary of Get Out, which was the last time that anyone thought of Jordan Peele as strictly a comedic talent. For his directorial debut, Peele wrote a horror story that deeply resonated with audiences and led to his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Daniel Kaluuya stars as Chris Washington, a Black man who is in a relationship with Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), a young white woman who comes from a wealthy family. There’s something very unsettling about the way Rose’s family warmly receives Chris that disturbs him, but he can’t quite put his finger on what it is. When Chris is told by a guest to “get out,” he doesn’t recognize those words as a warning. By the time Chris realizes just how much danger he’s in, it’s already too late.
Get Out is streaming on HBO Max.
2. ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs is the only Best Picture winner on this list, and it really is that good. This film redefined thrillers for the ’90s and featured one of the most terrifying screen villains ever: Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Both Hopkins and his costar, Jodie Foster, won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively.
Foster plays Clarice Starling, a young FBI agent who reluctantly approaches Lecter for help analyzing an elusive serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), who holds his victims captive. But there’s always a price for Lecter’s favors, and he’s a master manipulator who can get into anyone’s head. Let’s just say there’s a reason he’s called “Hannibal the cannibal,” and it’s always a mistake to underestimate what he can do, even when trapped behind bars.
The Silence of the Lambs will stream on Prime Video on March 1.
1. ‘Groundhog Day’ (1993)
Groundhog Day may not be a Best Picture winner, but it’s the ultimate February film and the best movie ever released in the second month of the year. Don’t believe us? The film’s 96 percent Rotten Tomatoes score backs up that claim. Given the premise of the film, it’s also the longest February ever, as Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself reliving Groundhog Day over and over again for what seems like an eternity.
It’s both a blessing and a curse for Phil, who gets to indulge his every whim before he realizes that there is no escape. Even when he comes to have romantic feelings for his producer, Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell), she’s doomed to forget his feelings for her every time the day resets. That may sound tragic, but this is an incredibly life-affirming film that makes the world feel like a better place.
Groundhog Day is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.
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