Drama on The Roku Channel: what is worth streaming right now (free with ads)

222 drama titles on The Roku Channel (free with ads) at our last check, ranked by quality and fame, each with scare, gore and violence tags.

1. 1The Pianist (2002)Bleak · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA gifted pianist navigates the bleak, war-torn ruins of Warsaw, fighting for survival and dignity.Peacock · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
2. 2It's a Wonderful Life (1946)Heartwarming · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA selfless man's Christmas Eve crisis reveals how one life profoundly shapes an entire community.Prime Video · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
3. 3Grimm (2011) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · measured · TV-14A Portland detective’s grim lineage pulls him into a darkly comic and pulpy world of supernatural crime.Prime Video · Peacock · The Roku Channel
4. 4Donnie Darko (2001)Melancholy · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA troubled teenager's visions of a giant rabbit lead to surreal crimes and a suspenseful, dreamlike mystery.Prime Video · Hulu · Kanopy
5. 5The Hunt (2012)Bleak · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA teacher's fragile new happiness shatters when an innocent lie unleashes a gritty, bleak small-town witch hunt.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
6. 6Outlander (2014) · seriesRomantic · date night · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA 1940s nurse is swept to 1743 Scotland, igniting a passionate, dangerous romance across centuries.Netflix · Starz · The Roku Channel
7. 7Before Sunrise (1995)Romantic · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · RTwo strangers wander through Vienna, sharing intimate conversations and exploring life's possibilities during one fleeting night.The Roku Channel · Tubi
8. 8Incendies (2010)Bleak · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RTwin siblings unravel their mother's past in a bleak, measured search for tangled roots and enduring love.The Roku Channel
9. 9Ex Machina (2015)Suspenseful · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · measured · RA young programmer uncovers unsettling truths while testing the sentience of a reclusive CEO's AI creation.Hulu · The Roku Channel
10. 10Boys Over Flowers (2009) · seriesBig broad humor · romantic · date night · emotionally heavyA whimsical, heartwarming drama unfolds as a spirited girl navigates the broad humor of high school romance.Netflix · Prime Video · The Roku Channel
11. 11Metropolis (1927)Epic · late-night trip · strong violence · emotionally heavy · NRA bleak, surreal, and epic drama unfolds in a futuristic city sharply divided by class.Kanopy · The Roku Channel · Pluto TV
12. 12Raging Bull (1980)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RA boxer's inner demons and explosive rage destroy his life as he fights his way to the top.Prime Video · MGM+ · Hoopla
13. 13El Señor de los Cielos (2013) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-14A relentless, gritty crime drama chronicles a drug trafficker's high-octane rise to power in the 1990s.Hulu · Peacock · The Roku Channel
14. 14Mr. Nobody (2009)Surreal · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · measured · RA man's life unfolds in multiple realities, a dreamlike journey through love, loss, and profound choices.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
15. 15Dexter: Resurrection (2025) · seriesDark satire · suspenseful · full attention · strong violence · TV-MAA measured, gritty search for a lost son in New York City becomes a darkly comic, suspenseful chase.Prime Video · Paramount+ · The Roku Channel
16. 16White Collar (2009) · seriesDry wit · pulpy · comfort watch · brisk · TV-PGA charming con artist and an FBI agent form an unlikely alliance, catching criminals with witty banter and brisk capers.Hulu · The Roku Channel
17. 17Apocalypto (2006)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · extreme gore · RA man's relentless fight for family unfolds with gritty, suspenseful action in a bleak, epic world.Prime Video · Hulu · Peacock
18. 18The Whale (2022)Bleak · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA reclusive teacher's earnest quest for redemption unfolds with intimate melancholy, a bleak and measured journey.The Roku Channel
19. 19Ghost Whisperer (2005) · seriesMelancholy · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-PGA newlywed helps restless spirits find peace, navigating heartfelt messages and intense, confusing conflicts.Prime Video · The Roku Channel
20. 20Ip Man (2008)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA brisk, gritty, and epic true story unfolds as a martial arts master defends his people during wartime.Hulu · Peacock · Kanopy
21. 21American Psycho (2000)Properly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA wealthy executive's meticulously crafted facade cracks as his gratuitous fantasies escalate into bleak, satirical horror.Prime Video · Hulu · Peacock
22. 22Platoon (1986)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RA naive recruit confronts the horrors of Vietnam, facing moral decay amidst the gritty, bleak landscape of war.MGM+ · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
23. 23Before Sunset (2004)Intimate · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · RTwo souls reconnect in Paris, their intimate, melancholic reunion stirring earnest desires and past romance.The Roku Channel · Tubi
24. 24Castle (2009) · seriesDry wit · cozy · comfort watch · measured · TV-14A charming crime novelist brings his whimsical humor to solving murders with a measured, witty detective.Prime Video · Hulu · The Roku Channel
25. 25Moon (2009)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · a slow burn · RA solitary astronaut's three-year mission unravels into a bleak, suspenseful mystery on the lunar surface.The Roku Channel · Pluto TV · YouTube (free)
26. 26Midnight Sun (2018)Melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A sun-allergic teenager finds first love, navigating tender summer nights and the shadow of a rare disease.Prime Video · Hulu · Starz
27. 27The Gold Rush (1925)Big broad humor · whimsical · comfort watch · measured · NRA lonely prospector braves the Alaskan wilderness, finding broad humor and heartwarming whimsy in his quest for love.Prime Video · Max · Criterion
28. 28Annie Hall (1977)Dry wit · romantic · date night · measured · PGA neurotic comedian and a free-spirited singer navigate the witty, melancholic, and absurd landscape of modern romance.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
29. 29Fear the Walking Dead (2015) · seriesProperly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAWitness the relentless, bleak, and suspenseful beginning of the end in a transforming Los Angeles.Netflix · Prime Video · AMC+
30. 30Training Day (2001)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RA rookie cop's first day becomes a relentless, gritty descent into a corrupt detective's pulpy underworld.MGM+ · The Roku Channel
31. 31Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020) · seriesWholesome humor · suspenseful · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · TV-14A TV producer uncovers a secret supernatural world while a former deity searches centuries for his lost love.Netflix · Prime Video · The Roku Channel
32. 32Hotel Rwanda (2004)Properly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A hotel manager risks everything, offering refuge and hope amidst the bleak, unfolding horror of genocide.Hoopla · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
33. 33Moonlight (2016)Intimate · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA young man navigates intimate, gritty chapters of life, earnestly seeking himself amidst love's ecstasy and pain.Netflix · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
34. 34The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)Properly scary · no gore · emotionally heavy · measured · NRA somnambulist commits unspeakable acts, blurring the line between nightmare and a chilling, surreal reality.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
35. 35Boyhood (2014)Intimate · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · measured · RAn intimate, earnest drama watches a boy's life unfold, capturing twelve years of melancholy and nostalgic growth.AMC+ · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
36. 36Shoplifters (2018)Gritty · emotionally devastating · measured · RA gritty, intimate drama where a found family's shoplifting ways lead to heartbreakingly bleak revelations.Netflix · Prime Video · Kanopy
37. 37Captain Tsubasa (2018) · seriesWholesome humor · earnest · family watch · brisk · TV-GAn earnest, briskly-paced animation follows a young boy's wholesome, feel-good obsession with soccer.Netflix · Prime Video · Crunchyroll
38. 38Dexter: New Blood (2021) · seriesDark satire · suspenseful · full attention · strong violence · TV-MAA decade later, a familiar darkness resurfaces in a snowy town, bringing gritty, darkly comic suspense.Paramount+ · Prime Video · The Roku Channel
39. 39Thelma & Louise (1991)Gritty · date night · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RTwo friends on a weekend getaway find liberation and resilience as their adventure turns into a life on the run.Prime Video · Hulu · The Roku Channel
40. 40The Graduate (1967)Dry wit · melancholy · full attention · emotionally heavy · PGA young man's melancholy affair with an older woman becomes a witty, dark satire of suburban ennui.Kanopy · The Roku Channel · Plex
41. 41Taboo (2017) · seriesDark satire · gritty · late-night trip · strong violence · TV-MAA mysterious adventurer returns to 1814 London, seeking vengeance with stolen diamonds and dark humor.Peacock · The Roku Channel · Pluto TV
42. 42Manhattan (1979)Dry wit · melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · RA witty writer navigates messy relationships and finds melancholy romance in the city of dreams.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
43. 43Doctor Who (2005) · seriesWholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · emotionally heavy · TV-PGA two-hearted alien travels all of time and space, saving planets with whimsy, suspense, and heart.AMC+ · Kanopy · Hoopla
44. 44Godfather of Harlem (2019) · seriesGritty · late-night trip · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA crime boss reclaims his Harlem empire from the Italian mob in this gritty, measured drama.Hulu · MGM+ · The Roku Channel
45. 45Heartland (2007) · seriesWholesome humor · earnest · family watch · measured · TV-PGA heartwarming family drama unfolds as a kind family struggles to save their ranch and rescue abused horses.Netflix · Hulu · Peacock
46. 46How to Get Away with Murder (2014) · seriesSuspenseful · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · TV-14A brilliant, mysterious professor and her ambitious law students become entangled in a relentless, pulpy murder plot.Hulu · The Roku Channel · Tubi
47. 47Pride and Prejudice (1995) · seriesDry wit · romantic · date night · measured · TV-14Witty young women navigate societal expectations and unexpected romance in early 19th-century England.Hulu · Peacock · The Roku Channel
48. 48Lord of War (2005)Gritty · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RAn arms dealer navigates deadly war zones, outwitting rivals and dictators with darkly comic grit.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
49. 49Monk (2002) · seriesDry wit · cozy · comfort watch · emotionally heavy · TV-14A brilliant detective with OCD solves quirky crimes with a wholesome, measured, and witty charm.Prime Video · The Roku Channel
50. 50The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023) · seriesProperly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAWashing ashore in France, a lone survivor navigates a bleak, walker-infested landscape protecting a messianic boy.Netflix · AMC+ · Prime Video
51. 51Line of Duty (2012) · seriesSuspenseful · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAAn anti-corruption unit relentlessly investigates police misconduct, creating a gritty and tense procedural drama.Prime Video · Peacock · Hoopla
52. 52Mississippi Burning (1988)Gritty · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RTwo FBI agents clash while investigating a civil rights murder in a small, fear-filled Southern town.MGM+ · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
53. 53I Am Sam (2001)Heartwarming · comfort watch · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A neurodivergent father fights to retain custody of his beloved daughter, teaching his lawyer about love.The Roku Channel · Plex · Tubi
54. 54The Name of the Rose (1986)Suspenseful · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RA medieval monk and his novice uncover a shadowy conspiracy and grisly murders within a secluded monastery.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
55. 55Let the Right One In (2008)Mildly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA bullied boy finds chilling intimacy and melancholy friendship with a mysterious, unaging child.Prime Video · Peacock · Kanopy
56. 56Match Point (2005)Suspenseful · emotionally heavy · measured · RA former tennis pro's ambition and lust for a forbidden affair lead to tragic, suspenseful consequences.Prime Video · Paramount+ · Kanopy
57. 57Broadchurch (2013) · seriesSuspenseful · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · TV-MAA small town's dark secrets unravel as a child's murder exposes simmering grief and suspicion.Netflix · Peacock · Hoopla
58. 58Happiness (2021) · seriesTense · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-14A deadly virus seals off an apartment building, forcing residents to confront class conflict and mounting dread.Netflix · The Roku Channel
59. 59Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)Dry wit · whimsical · comfort watch · measured · PG-13A defiant city kid and his cantankerous foster uncle forge an unlikely bond while on the run in the New Zealand bush.Prime Video · Peacock · The Roku Channel
60. 60The Illusionist (2006)Romantic · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A determined illusionist conjures romance and suspicion, challenging a crown prince with every trick.AMC+ · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
61. 61Dexter: Original Sin (2024) · seriesDark satire · gritty · full attention · strong violence · TV-MAA young man in 1990s Miami learns to channel his dark urges into a darkly-comic, measured hunt for justice.Paramount+ · Prime Video · The Roku Channel
62. 62End of Watch (2012)Gritty · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RTwo young officers face relentless, intimate dread after crossing a cartel, leading to a tragic end.Kanopy · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
63. 63Merlin (2008) · seriesWhimsical · comfort watch · measured · TV-PGA young wizard and a future king forge an unlikely bond, shaping destiny with magic and courage.Prime Video · The Roku Channel · Pluto TV
64. 64Detachment (2011)Bleak · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · NRA substitute teacher navigates the bleak, gritty realities of a public school, seeking connection amid melancholy.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
65. 65Surviving Escobar - Alias JJ (2017) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAPablo Escobar's top hitman navigates the bleak, tense world of prison, struggling for survival and respect.The Roku Channel
66. 66Ip Man 2 (2010)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA kung fu master defends his art and family against powerful rivals in gritty, post-war Hong Kong.Prime Video · Hulu · Peacock
67. 67Billions (2016) · seriesGritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA savvy US Attorney and a brilliant hedge fund kingpins' intimate, suspenseful battle unfolds with gritty, pulpy stakes.Paramount+ · Prime Video · The Roku Channel
68. 68Elementary (2012) · seriesGritty · late-night trip · measured · TV-14An eccentric detective and his sober companion solve impossible cases in a gritty, suspenseful Manhattan.Prime Video · Hulu · The Roku Channel
69. 69Uncut Gems (2019)Gritty · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA charismatic jeweler's relentless pursuit of a big score becomes a gritty, high-stakes gamble.The Roku Channel
70. 70Power (2014) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA New York drug kingpin lives a dangerous double life, desperately trying to protect his family and escape the underworld.Hulu · Starz · Prime Video
71. 71Doctor Who (1963) · seriesWholesome humor · whimsical · comfort watch · measured · TV-PGA whimsical Time Lord travels the universe in a blue box, earnestly saving civilizations with measured grace.The Roku Channel · Tubi
72. 72A Discovery of Witches (2018) · seriesRomantic · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-MAA forbidden romance between a witch and a vampire ignites an atmospheric, suspenseful quest through a magical world.Netflix · AMC+ · Hoopla
73. 73The Magnificent Seven (1960)Epic · full attention · strong violence · measured · NRSeven gritty gunfighters defend a Mexican village, battling injustice with epic, pulpy, feel-good action.MGM+ · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
74. 74Black Sails (2014) · seriesGritty · late-night trip · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAPirate captains fight for survival on New Providence Island in an epic, gritty, and suspenseful adventure.Starz · Prime Video · The Roku Channel
75. 75Farscape (1999) · seriesEpic · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-14An astronaut hurtles across galaxies, landing in the middle of a relentless, gritty alien war.Prime Video · Peacock · The Roku Channel
76. 76CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) · seriesGritty · late-night trip · strong violence · graphic gore · TV-14Las Vegas forensic investigators scour crime scenes, collecting irrefutable evidence to solve pulpy, suspenseful mysteries.Hulu · Paramount+ · The Roku Channel
77. 77Halt and Catch Fire (2014) · seriesGritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-14An earnest, intimate drama unfolds as a visionary trio takes gritty risks during the nostalgic rise of the PC era.AMC+ · The Roku Channel
78. 78100 días para enamorarnos (2020) · seriesWholesome humor · romantic · date night · emotionally heavyTwo couples navigate a 100-day trial to rekindle their love, leading to heartwarming and melancholic discoveries.Peacock · The Roku Channel
79. 79Bewitched (1964) · seriesWholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · measured · TV-GA suburban witch navigates wholesome magical mishaps while her husband tries to keep her powers a secret.Hulu · The Roku Channel · Tubi
80. 80The Fall (2013) · seriesGritty · late-night trip · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA detective hunts a serial killer in Belfast, where every lead tightens the grim, atmospheric suspense.Prime Video · Peacock · AMC+
81. 81Bowling for Columbine (2002)Dry wit · satirical · full attention · strong violence · RAn earnest, gritty documentary explores American fear and gun culture with dark, satirical wit.The Roku Channel · Tubi
82. 82After We Collided (2020)Melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · RA young woman navigates a complicated romance, facing an intimate dilemma that could change everything.Netflix · Prime Video · The Roku Channel
83. 83My Sister's Keeper (2009)Melancholy · date night · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13An intimate family drama unfolds with measured melancholy as desperate parents make an unorthodox choice.Kanopy · The Roku Channel · Plex
84. 84Crash (2005)Gritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RIntertwined lives in Los Angeles collide with gritty tension, revealing melancholy truths in a measured drama.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
85. 85Doom at Your Service (2021) · seriesWholesome humor · melancholy · date night · emotionally heavyA whimsical romance blossoms between a dying woman and a supernatural being, finding feel-good love in melancholy circumstances.Netflix · The Roku Channel · Tubi
86. 86H2O: Just Add Water (2006) · seriesWholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · measured · TV-PGThree teenage friends navigate everyday drama while secretly transforming into mermaids with every splash.Netflix · Prime Video · Hoopla
87. 87The Heirs (2013) · seriesRomantic · date night · emotionally heavy · measuredA chance encounter in LA sparks a heartwarming romance between two teens from very different worlds.Netflix · The Roku Channel · Tubi
88. 88Everything, Everything (2017)Romantic · date night · measured · PG-13A sheltered girl with a rare illness finds first love with the charming boy next door.MGM+ · The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
89. 89Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)Intimate · date night · emotionally devastating · measured · NC-17An intimate romance unfolds with earnest melancholy as a young woman discovers desire and self-acceptance.AMC+ · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
90. 90Stuck in Love (2013)Dry wit · heartwarming · date night · emotionally heavy · RA year of witty, melancholy romance unfolds as a family grapples with love's messy, heartwarming complexities.Prime Video · Peacock · Kanopy
91. 91Midnight Express (1978)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RAn American's desperate fight for freedom unfolds in a brutal foreign prison, relentlessly bleak and suspenseful.The Roku Channel
92. 92Knight Rider (1982) · seriesPulpy · comfort watch · brisk · TV-PGA lone crimefighter and his indestructible, talking car deliver justice with brisk, pulpy action and campy charm.The Roku Channel · Tubi
93. 93Burning (2018)Suspenseful · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · NRA young man's obsession with a mysterious couple unravels into a bleak, atmospheric descent into the unknown.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
94. 94El Chema (2016) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAA wily drug smuggler's relentless, epic journey transforms him into an infamous cartel leader.Peacock · The Roku Channel
95. 95Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · NRA kung fu master battles prejudice and protects his family's future in 1960s San Francisco.Prime Video · Hulu · Peacock
96. 96Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)Dry wit · intimate · date night · emotionally heavy · PG-13Romantic entanglements and witty banter unfold with melancholy intimacy between two Thanksgiving dinners.Criterion · MGM+ · Hoopla
97. 97Pearl (2022)Mildly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RA farm girl's desperate yearning for stardom turns increasingly bloody under her mother's watchful eye.Prime Video · Hulu · Max
98. 98The Remains of the Day (1993)Melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA head butler's intimate world of decorum and duty faces melancholy challenges from love and war.Prime Video · The Roku Channel · Tubi
99. 99Into the Badlands (2015) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-14A ruthless warrior guides a boy through a feudal land, facing relentless action and pulpy, gritty adventure.AMC+ · Hoopla · The Roku Channel
100. 100The Master (2012)Bleak · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA troubled veteran finds a new purpose within a charismatic leader's mysterious post-war movement.Kanopy · Hoopla · The Roku Channel

Showing 100 of 222. The rest, with where each one streams, are in the app.

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