EPIX is Now MGM+: What to Watch on the Sling Freeview Jan. 15-22

EPIX is roaring into 2023 with a new name: MGM+.

Despite the name change, MGM+ viewers can expect the same blend of premium movie titles, daring original series, and in-depth documentaries that EPIX was known for. In honor of the occasion, Sling TV is offering all subscribers to Orange, Blue, and Orange + Blue a free preview of MGM+ from Sunday, Jan. 15 through Sunday, Jan. 22.

To help point you in the right direction, here’s a list of 10 must-see movies and shows to watch during the freeview. To start watching the MGM+ free preview on Sling, use the link at the bottom of this page to subscribe to Sling Orange + Blue.

Top Gun: Maverick

https://www.youtube.com/embed/giXco2jaZ_4

Tom Cruise really wanted audiences to experience the long-planned sequel to his breakout hit on the big screen. The Audience listened. Despite pressure to release Top Gun: Maverick on a streaming service during the pandemic, Cruise held firm about a theatrical release and was rewarded with the biggest hit of his already impressive career ($1.2 billion and counting). Whether or not you saw it in the theater, Top Gun: Maverick is required viewing on MGM+. Not only does it feature some of the most breathtaking footage ever shot with fighter jets, its propulsive plot, fun supporting cast, and emotional story beats place it among the greatest sequels ever made.

Godfather of Harlem

Crime dramas aren’t exactly in short supply these days, but Godfather of Harlem stands out due to its powerful performances and novel setting. Forest Whitaker is outstanding as real life drug kingpin Bumpy Johnson, and its setting in 1960s Harlem allows his character to interact with other historic figures like Malcolm X and Cassius Clay. Season 3 premieres Sunday, Jan. 15.

Paws of Fury: Legend of Hank

MGM+ has a ton of kids content, including the 2022 action comedy Paws of Fury: Legend of Hank. Although Kung Fu Panda is an obvious point of comparison, Paws of Fury is actually based on the Mel Brooks comedy classic Blazing Saddles (all five writers of Blazing Saddles, including Richard Pryor, are credited on the screenplay). Michael Cera, Michelle Yeoh, and Samuel L. Jackson voice the characters.

NFL Icons

Produced by NFL Films, this docuseries spotlights players, coaches, and broadcasters (or in the case of John Madden and Tony Dungy, all three) who have become NFL legends. Featuring narration courtesy of Rich Eisen and NFL Films’ typically artful filmmaking style, Walter Payton, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, and Cris Carter are among those profiled in each hour-long episode.

Smile

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BcDK7lkzzsU

Sometimes a horror movie comes along with such an undeniable premise, it brings in audiences beyond the core fans of scary movies. Smile – which grossed $216 million against a budget of $17 million – was one of those movies. A lot of that had to do with the movie’s clever marketing, but with an 80 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics liked it as well.

War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds may have started as a novel, but H.G. Wells could never have predicted how widespread (and malleable) his book would become. What’s clever about the newest adaptation – which just finished its third season – is the way it subverts your expectations. The first season focuses on the initial invasion but the story eventually becomes interplanetary in the ways suggested by its title. Gabriel Byrne leads a strong international cast.

Licorice Pizza

Although dramas like There Will Be Blood remain his calling card, Paul Thomas Anderson is underrated as a comedy director. For evidence, look no further than PTA’s Academy Award nominated Licorice Pizza. While certainly bitter-sweet in its tone, the movie has an episodic structure that allows for Sean Penn and especially Bradley Cooper to steal the scenes in which they appear. Newcomers Alana Haim (of the great band HAIM) and Cooper Hoffman (son of frequent PTA collaborator Philip Seymour Hoffman) bring a loose energy that’s perfect for the story.

My Life as Rolling Stone

MGM+ has always done a great job with their music documentaries and this four-part docuseries on The Rolling Stones might be its best. That’s due in part to its unique structure; in addition to telling the story of the band, each episode focuses on a specific member. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the late, great Charlie Watts are profiled, and the series does a great job of illustrating what makes each of them an important and distinct part of a greater whole.

Rogue Heroes

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gkU-roWDu0E

This six-episode limited series from Steven Knight (creator of Peaky Blinders) was originally produced by BBC One, and it's reportedly one of the most expensive shows ever made for UK television. Based on the book by Ben Macintyre, the show tells the unbelievable true story of the British Army Special Air Services in the western desert campaign of World War II. Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) and Dominic West (The Wire) are the most recognizable faces among the ensemble.

Jackass Forever

And finally, if you need a good laugh, you’ll certainly get them with the latest movie from the long-running stunt comics in the Jackass crew. Seeing these once-youthful idiots in middle-age might be jarring for viewers of a certain age, but the movie is surprisingly emotional when it addresses the mental and physical anguish of growing older. But don’t get it twisted; J4Eva is still loaded with perverse pranks, many of which are performed by a new generation of baby jackasses.

For more great MGM+ content, check out our MGM+ ribbon on the home page of the Sling TV app!

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