Our pick of the best films on free to view telly tonight and the rest of this week - with added trailer fun.

MONDAY, MARCH 2

Crimson Tide (1995), at 11pm on Channel 5

Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean) produces, Tony Scott (Top Gun) directs and Hans Zimmer (Nolan’s Dark Knight movies) does the score and already you know it’s going to be a top-notch, edge of your seat action flick. And that’s before you get to the A-list stars – Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. On a US nuclear sub, a young officer stages a mutiny to stop his captain from prematurely releasing the weapons.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3

Emma (1996) at 9pm on BBC Four

Gwyneth Paltrow is Jane Austen’s titular heroine who is too busy meddling in other people’s love lives to fall in love herself in this period romance.

Superbad (2007) at 9pm on 5*

Marking the moment when teen movies stepped out of the shadow of American Pie, Superbad made stars of Michael Cera and Jonah Hill. It tells the story of two gorky teens determined to make it to the cool party but there’s plenty holding them back, not least their nerdy pal whose got a fake ID under the moniker McLovin. Being a Judd Apatow-produced movie, it’s got a squidgy centre as well as some lovable juvenile gags.

Cemetery Junction (2010) at 11.45pm on BBC One

Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood career may have been bumpy but this British rom-com in which he reunited with The Office and Extras buddy Stephen Merchant is a high point. It’s a coming of age movie set in 1970s reading with a suitably great soundtrack and impressive performances from Christian Cooke, Tom Hughes, Jack Doolan and Felicity Jones.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

Iron Man (2008) at 8pm on E4

Kickstarting Marvel and star Robert Downey Jnr’s career revivals, director Jon Favreau’s comic book movie is about a millionaire arms genius who becomes a superhero.

Adventureland (2009) at 9pm on BBC Three

Superbad director Greg Mottola returns to rom-com territory with the story of a graduate who reluctantly ends up working at a local amusement park. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Ryan Reynolds.


MORE MOVIE AND TV NEWS


THURSDAY, MARCH 5

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954) at 10.35am on More4

Kirk Douglas and James Mason tackle a deep sea monster in the Disney adaptation of Jules Verne’s sci-fi novel.

Men in Black 3 (2012)

In the third instalment of the sci-fi comedy, Agent J is forced to go back to the sixties to fight an alien planning to murder his now-retired partner – played by Tommy Lee Jones in the present and Josh Brolin in the past.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6

East is East (1999) at 9pm on More4

Jimi Mistry stars in this funny and charming 1970s-set culture clash comedy.

The Rock (1996) at 9pm on 5*

Even those who hate both Nicolas Cage and Michael Bay movies will struggle to dislike the former starring in the latter’s big, explosive blockbuster about a FBI scientist and an ex-spy (Sean Connery) who is the only con to have escaped Alcatraz who team up to foil a terror attack.

Gladiator (2000) at 10.40pm on ITV

Ridley Scott’s epic about a Roman general seeking revenge against a new emperor was an Oscar winner and starred Russell Crowe and Jaoquin Phoenix.

District 9 (2009) at 10.50pm on Film4

Director Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi drama is set nearly three decades after aliens landing in South Africa, with them living in horrid conditions in a refugee camp called District 9 and the humans trying to evict them.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

The Hunt For Red October (1990) at 3pm on Film4

Alec Baldwin was the first to take on Tom Clancy’s action hero Jack Ryan in a cold war thriller about a high-tech Russian submarine helmed by Sean Connery that’s heading for the US.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

21 Jump Street (2012) at 9pm on Channel 5

The late-80s cult American TV show that starred a young Johnny Depp is reborn as a big-budget action comedy starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. They are two underachieving cops sent back to their old high school to crack a drugs ring.