Five ensemble cast blockbusters you must stream

Gripping ensemble thriller Widows starring Viola Davis, Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson opens in cinemas this week — here are five more big-ticket flicks with a big cast that you should watch.

With the gripping ensemble thriller Widows (starring Viola Davis, Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson) opening in cinemas this week, here are five more big-ticket flicks with a big cast.

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Actors John Travolta and Uma Thurman in a scene from Pulp Fiction'.

PULP FICTION (1994), *****

Foxtel Now, Stan

Much imitated and never surpassed, Quentin Tarantino’s sprawling, galling crime compendium remains a pinnacle of pop-culture perfection. A rousing ensemble of varying abilities and credibilities (Travolta, Keitel, Willis, Jackson, Thurman and Walken) are whipped into action courtesy of some electric dialogue, innovative scene settings and breathtaking departures from conventional filmmaking form.

Spotlight is superbly acted by its ensemble cast, which includes Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Brian d’Arcy James, Michael Keaton and John Slattery.

SPOTLIGHT (2016), ****½

Netflix

Superbly acted and scripted, this powerful factual drama tells the true story of The Boston Globe’s 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning expose of systematic molestation of the young by Catholic priests. Many of the Globe’s key findings have since been echoed in disturbingly similar scenarios all over the world, including right here in Australia. Stars Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo.

Jack Nicholson leads a stellar cast in The Departed.

THE DEPARTED (2006), *****

Foxtel Now, Netflix

Jack Nicholson leads a stellar cast with a dangerously deranged performance as a sinister crook with an associate planted high inside the local police force. Meanwhile, the cops have also infiltrated Jack’s operation, and a cracking game of cat-and-mouse begins. Very violent, but very, very good. Co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen. Directed by the great Martin Scorsese.

The Usual Suspects just won’t stop gnawing away at your curiosity.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995), *****

Netflix

After five small-time hoods (Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey and Benicio Del Toro) are wrongfully accused of a recent cash grab, they decide to band together to pull off a few jobs that will really have the cops scratching their heads. Not so much a whodunit as a cunningly complicated who-is-it that just won’t stop gnawing away at your curiosity.

Ocean’s Eleven is a ripping remake.

OCEAN’S ELEVEN (2001), ****

Netflix, Stan

Ripping remake of the Sinatra Rat Pack caper comedy from 1960, with George Clooney and Brad Pitt leading an all-star cast through a highly energised heist scenario designed to hit Las Vegas’ biggest casinos exactly where they hurt. As tight and bright a jolt of jumped-up joshing-around as you’ll ever encounter. Among the many co-stars are Julia Roberts, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle.