Gone by February: Eight great movies leaving Neon this month

While there are constant arrivals of fresh movies and TV shows on Neon, there’s also a regular churn of content dropping off the Kiwi owned and curated streaming service.

So although you might think a film or programme will be available to watch on there in perpetuity, the truth is licencing deals mean they are usually only there for a few months – or years – at a time.

In order to assist those keen to get the most out of their subscription, and to help with your viewing priorities, Stuff to Watch has come up with a list of nine superb movies that won’t be around come February 1 – so catch them while you can.

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About Time (2013)

At times, this does feel like a Richard Curtis’ (Love Actually, Notting Hill) greatest hits collection, with the Wellington-born screenwriter once again focusing on life’s ceremonies and rites, showcasing the ubiquitous best man’s speech, very English weather (even Andi McDowell’s Four Weddings character couldn’t ignore the significant rainstorm on show here), Anglo-American differences and eccentric characters.

And yet, there’s something more intimate, more truthful about this tale of time travel, table-tennis and tough-decisions.

Domhnall Gleeson, Bill Nighy, Rachel McAdams, and Lindsay Duncan star.

All the President’s Men (1976)

Just two years after it forced him to resign from the Presidency, Richard Nixon had to relive it all again via Alan J. Pakula’s top-notch dramatisation. But rather than focusing on Tricky-Dick, this is all about crusading journos Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein – played here with charismatic gusto by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman – and their dogged determination to uncover the truth.

“A spellbinding detective story,” wrote The New York Times’ Vincent Canby.

The Bodyguard (1992)

Although better known for its songs, Mick Jackson’s movie is also a cracking romantic thriller, as Kevin Costner’s former secret serviceman struggles to keep award-winning actress and musical superstar Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) safe from a persistent stalker.

Nominated for two Oscars and seven Golden Raspberrys, this is less A Star is Born and more like the US equivalent of a James Bond film. Released at a time when 007’s stocks were at an all-time low, Costner’s emotionless (but with a past that haunts him) besuited action man was the perfect squared-jawed stand-in particular battling the Hollywood villain du jour.

Bullitt (1968)

A thrilling crime-drama that includes one of the best car chases ever committed to celluloid. Steve McQueen plays San Francisco police detective Frank Bullitt, who becomes obsessed with finding the underworld kingpin who killed the witness that had been placed under his protection.

Based on Robert L. Fish’s 1963 novel Mute Witness, the movie’s cast also includes Robert Vaughn, Robert Duvall and Jacqueline Bissett.

“Slick, stylish and ineffably cool, this was perhaps McQueen’s defining role. Also mention goes to the uncreditied star of the film; San Francisco,” wrote Empire magazine’s Clark Collis.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

To mnay (especially those of a certain age), nobody puts this movie in a corner. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, this drama with a toe-tapping soundtrack focuses on a teen who falls in love with a holiday camp’s dance instructor.

“Smart and funny, touching and unabashedly sensual,” wrote Los Angeles Times’ Sheila Benson.

Forever Young (1992)

Steve Miner’s sci-fi-infused romance was the one of the few real attempts to cash in on Mel Gibson’s undoubted popularity amongst female cinemagoers in the early ‘90s.

Viewed 30 years on, it’s remarkable how eerily similar this story is to Marvel’s Captain America. With its time-travel conceit, star-crossed lovers and magpie-ing from movies past, especially those of Steven Spielberg (this essentially feels like a cross between Starman, Always, Back to the Future and E.T., with hints of Somewhere in Time and The Rocketeer), it’s perhaps no surprise to discover it was an early credit for one J.J. Abrams (then better known as Jeffrey).

Elijah Wood, Jamie Lee Curtis and George Wendt also feature.

Grumpy Old Men (1993)

A chance for cinema’s Odd Couple to reunite, 25 years after their original comedy classic, this sees Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon constantly insulting one another, trading blows and playing practical jokes as two bitter rivals for the affections of Ariel (Anne-Margret).

Anyone who rates Home Alone amongst their favourite films really should give this a try – it’s even funnier and more delightful to see septuagenarians get up to increasingly inventive pranking. After all, why should it just be the kids who have all the fun?

RocknRolla (2008)

Crazily named criminals, a driving rock soundtrack and visually inventive editing and camerawork leave no doubt that this tale of London moneylender and fast-moving property magician Lenny Cole’s (Tom Wilkinson) attempts to stave off the foreign invaders is a Guy Ritchie production.

Whether it’s torture by crayfish, daggy dance moves, a discussion about the correct slapping etiquette, a culture-loving ticket tout king, or an amusingly edited sex scene, the delights are in the details.

The impressively assembled ensemble also includes Gerard Butler, Thandiwe Newton, Mark Strong, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy and Jeremy Piven.