Best thoughtful Movies & TV Shows

House of the Dragon

The Targaryen dynasty is at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins when King Viserys breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm.

Stars: Emma D'Arcy Matt Smith Olivia Cooke

Zootopia

Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.

Run time: 109m Tagline: Welcome to the urban jungle. Release: 2016-02-11

Stars: Bonnie Hunt Don Lake Ginnifer Goodwin Idris Elba J.K. Simmons Jason Bateman Jenny Slate Nate Torrence Octavia Spencer Tommy Chong

Sentimental Value

Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star.

Run time: 133m Release: 2025-08-20

Stars: Anders Danielsen Lie Andreas Stoltenberg Granerud Catherine Cohen Cory Michael Smith Elle Fanning Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas Jesper Christensen Lena Endre Renate Reinsve Stellan Skarsgård

The Ark

100 years in the future, planetary colonization missions have begun as a necessity to help secure the survival of the human race. The first of these missions on a spacecraft known as Ark One encounters a catastrophic event causing massive destruction and loss of life. With more than a year left to go before reaching their target planet, a lack of life-sustaining supplies and loss of leadership, the remaining crew must become the best versions of themselves to stay on course and survive.

Stars: Christie Burke Pavle Jerinić Reece Ritchie Richard Fleeshman Ryan Adams Shalini Peiris Stacey Read Tiana Upcheva

King & Conqueror

The story of a clash that defined the future of a country and a continent for a thousand years. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. These two former allies with no design on the British throne found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.

Stars: Clémence Poésy Eddie Marsan Elliot Cowan Emily Beecham Geoff Bell James Norton Jean-Marc Barr Juliet Stevenson Luther Ford Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Companion

After being invited to a weekend trip at her new beau's lakeside estate, Iris uncovers a terrible secret.

Run time: 97m Tagline: Find someone made just for you. Release: 2025-01-28

Stars: Harvey Guillén Jaboukie Young-White Jack Quaid Lukas Gage Marc Menchaca Megan Suri Rupert Friend Sophie Thatcher Woody Fu

The Crown

The gripping, decades-spanning inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Ministers who shaped Britain's post-war destiny. The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown.

Stars: Claudia Harrison Dominic West Imelda Staunton Jonathan Pryce Lesley Manville Marcia Warren

Mad Men

Set in 1960-1970 New York, this sexy, stylized and provocative drama follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising.

Stars: Aaron Staton Christina Hendricks Christopher Stanley Elisabeth Moss January Jones Jon Hamm Kevin Rahm Kiernan Shipka Rich Sommer Vincent Kartheiser

Happy Valley

Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working copper. She is also a bereaved mother who looks after her orphaned grandchild.

Stars: Charlie Murphy George Costigan James Norton Mollie Winnard Rhys Connah Rick Warden Sarah Lancashire Shane Zaza Siobhan Finneran Vincent Franklin

A Gentleman in Moscow

Count Alexander Rostov finds himself going from riches to rags following the Russian revolution. A Soviet tribunal banishes him to the attic room of an opulent hotel, where, oblivious to the world outside, he discovers the true value of friendship, family and love.

Stars: Alexa Goodall Ewan McGregor Fehinti Balogun Johnny Harris Marcus Hodson Mary Elizabeth Winstead