Paramount Plus is not going to skimp on new movies this month because of a shorter month The streaming service is adding a sizable collection of new movies to its library in February 2024, and that includes a handful of critically acclaimed

This month, the streaming service's movie catalog is full of new arrivals worthy of our roundup of the best Paramount Plus films But if you ask me, going through the full list of newly added films is a pretty daunting task That's why we've done all that hard work for you and selected the best new films you can see right now

From 2024 Oscar contenders to previous Best Picture winners, every new Paramount Plus film below is worthy of your attention What's more, each film has earned an impressive score of 90% or higher on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to their quality So let's dive into the list

One of the most acclaimed films of 2023, and my personal #2 pick in the year-end rankings, "The Last Life" is a stirring romantic drama about the rocky relationship between two childhood friends, Nora Moon (Greta Lee) and Hye-sung (Teo Yoo) The two grew up together in Korea and were inseparable, but became estranged when Nora's family moved to Canada, and when they reunite in New York 20 years later, they reflect on their journey, what it meant to each other, and the choices they made along the way

Writer/director Celine Song's semi-autobiographical feature debut, "Past Lives" feels like reading the pages of someone's diary Each scene is impactful and each character feels genuinely authentic Both of the leads are excellent, but Greta Lee stands out in particular The entire film is a master class in gentle, honest filmmaking, but the melancholic ending is a true cinematic achievement

Genre: Love Drama Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96 Streaming on Paramount Plus (with Showtime)

Based on the real-life experiences of professional violinist Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture at the 86th Academy Awards and is one of the most tragic American slavery film adaptations It is one of the most harrowing films about slavery in the United States Not to mention the powerful performances of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, and most memorably Lupita Nyongo, and Steve McQueen's skillful direction

"12 Years a Slave" begins with Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free man working as a musician in New York City However, he is tricked by two white men into taking a job in Washington, which is a front to sell him into slavery, and he faces over a decade of inhumane treatment Despite being subjected to unimaginable cruelty, poor living conditions, and hard labor, Solomon finds the courage not to give in to despair and never loses hope that he will one day be free again

Genre: Historical Drama Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95 Streaming on Paramount Plus

A 21st century western set in Texas, Hell or High Water combines the best elements of the genre with the tension of a modern thriller In addition, it features a cast of well-crafted (and very flawed) characters It is a potent mixture, and the film builds to a memorable finale

In Hell or High Water, two brothers, Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster), are struggling to pay off a debt inherited from the death of their mother When the Texas Midland Bank threatens to foreclose on their mortgage and threatens to lose their ranch, the brothers decide to commit a daring bank robbery to save their home and take revenge on the financial institution that crippled them But in their path is a veteran ranger (Jeff Bridges) who is looking for one last big win before retirement

Genre Thriller Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97 Streaming on Paramount Plus

A Hollywood classic that has been around for nearly 75 years, "Sunset Boulevard" is a masterpiece beyond your wildest dreams Directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, it is regularly ranked as one of the greatest films in American cinema history, and its selection in 1989 as the first film to be preserved in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry is No wonder

In this dark comedy-drama, failed screenwriter Joe Gillis (Holden) thinks he has finally found his ticket when he meets Norma Desmond (Swanson), a fading silent film star Norma lives alone in a luxurious mansion, but is dissatisfied with her retirement She wants to return to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and asks Joe to create the perfect script for her comeback But as Joe becomes more and more entangled in Norma's life, the situation becomes increasingly disturbing, and Norma's sanity is called into question

Genre Drama Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98 Streaming on Paramount Plus

Writer/director Brad Bird made the thrilling and surprisingly emotional animated film The Iron Giant before making two of the best Pixar films ever, The Incredibles and Ratatouille! This old-fashioned sci-fi film featured the voices of Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston (at the height of "Friends"), Vin Diesel, and Christopher McDonald Despite being labeled a box-office bomb when it was first released, the film has enjoyed a strong following over the years

Based on a novel by famed poet Ted Hughes (husband of Sylvia Plath), this charming adventure centers on the relationship between a young boy, Hogarth Hughes (Marienthal), and a 50-foot tall robot (Diesel) who crash-lands on Earth from space Hogarth discovers the mecha's true friendly nature, but a US government agent (McDonald) is ordered to destroy the giant robot The bond between Hogarth and the Iron Giant is the heart of the film, but the impressive animation is also a highlight

Genre Science fiction film Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96 Streaming on Paramount Plus