One of the Greatest Sci-Fi Hidden Gems of the Century Is Streaming for Free

4 days ago 15

Jodie Whitaker looking solemn in Attack the Block

Published Feb 7, 2026, 3:40 PM EST

Rahul Malhotra is a Weekend News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.

He has been writing for Collider for over two years, and has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinema.

Swing and a miss > measured victory. Also, #JusticeForHan. (He/Him).

Some movies are destined for cult status, and it's instantly obvious. Everybody who saw Dredd in theaters knew that it would eventually find its audience. It was the same in the 1990s, when the Coen Brothers delivered The Big Lebowski. In Great Britain, some of the greatest cult classics of the 21st century were directed by Edgar Wright, and it's no surprise that his creative stamp could be felt in every scene of a movie that swept audiences off their feet in 2011. The movie in question flopped at the box office, but launched the careers of many involved in it. As expected, it has since emerged as a cult favorite, and is now more accessible than ever, as it's streaming for free in the United States. Audiences need to check it out, especially since it grossed just $1 million in its domestic theatrical run and played in a maximum of just 66 theaters.

Directed by Joe Cornish in his debut, Attack the Block opened to excellent reviews for its inventive take on the sci-fi genre, its humorous tone, and John Boyega's star-making central performance. The film followed a group of youths in London, who find themselves in the middle of an alien invasion. Boyega went on to play an important role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and has since delivered acclaimed performances in films such as Detroit and They Cloned Tyrone. Attack the Block also featured Jodie Whittaker, who'd go on to star in Doctor Who and Broadchurch, and Nick Frost, who was best known for his work with Wright and will soon debut as Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter series on HBO.

Here's Where You Can Watch 'Attack the Block'

Attack the Block grossed just $6 million worldwide against a reported budget of $12 million, but it earned positive reviews right out the gate. It now holds a "Certified Fresh" 91% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics' consensus reads, "Effortlessly mixing scares, laughs, and social commentary, Attack the Block is a thrilling, briskly-paced sci-fi yarn with a distinctly British flavor." Cornish co-wrote The Adventures of Tintin for Steven Spielberg, and worked on the screenplay of the first Ant-Man film when Wright was slated to direct. His sophomore feature was the urban fantasy film The Kid Who Would Be King, which, like Attack the Block, flopped despite earning positive reviews.

You can watch Attack the Block on Pluto TV. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.