By Vlad Zakh · March 13, 2026
Drama feel goodthought provoking
Academic competitions are surprisingly gripping, and a spelling bee can be as tense as any sport. Spellbound and Akeelah and the Bee follow spelling bee contenders, Bad Words has a bitter adult exploiting a loophole to enter a national bee, and Wordplay follows competitive crossword solvers. Quiz Show and Slumdog Millionaire bring the game-show drama.
01 A documentary explores the passionate community of competitive crossword puzzle solvers.
Directed by Patrick Creadon · 1h 34m · Rated NR
Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, Sundance Now, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store
Stream: Sundance Now, AMC+
02 A bitter adult exploits a loophole to enter a national spelling bee against children.
Directed by Jason Bateman · 1h 29m · Rated R
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube
Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fetch TV
Rent: Amazon Video
03 A rigged 1950s television quiz show scandal exposes the corruption behind America's biggest new medium.
Directed by Robert Redford · 2h 13m · Rated PG-13
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Stream: Disney Plus, Hollywood Suite, Hollywood Suite Amazon Channel · Rent: Apple TV Store · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Stream: Disney Plus · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
04 A rags-to-riches structure told through game-show trivia.
Directed by Danny Boyle · 2h 01m · Rated R
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store
Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, BFI Player · Buy: Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store
Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Foxtel Now, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fetch TV
05 A gifted young speller from a struggling neighbourhood is coached towards a national competition.
Directed by Doug Atchison · 1h 53m · Rated PG
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube
Stream: Starz Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, CosmoGo, Amazon Video
Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video
Rent: Amazon Video
06 Eight kids compete in the National Spelling Bee, each carrying wildly different family expectations.
Directed by Jeffrey Blitz · 1h 37m
Nominated for 1 Oscar17 wins & 19 nominations
Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Buy: Apple TV Store
Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.
