21 Jump Street, Howards End, Independence Day, Ransom, The House by the Cemetery: films on TV today

We never saw the original youthful TV series 21 Jump Street in the late 1980s and early 90s, but the belated action-comedy movie spin-offs are irresistible. With a third confirmed, this is the first. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs tag-team Phil Lord and Chris Miller direct Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as the jock/nerd friends who on graduation from police academy are assigned by boss Ice Cube to an undercover job at a high school — there to sniff out a new and dangerous drug. Passing, miraculously, as students, their chemistry is strong and their antics provide endless, simple-minded fun, such as taking the drug itself while on the running track. Johnny Depp, made famous by the TV show, gives a sporting cameo.

Howards End ★★★★★
10.10am-1.05pm More4

Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson headline Merchant Ivory's finely tuned adaptation of EM Forster's novel where class divisions are the obstacle to love.

Independence Day ★★★★
9.00-11.45pm Film4

Awesome sci-fi epic in which Will Smith earned his superstar status as the cocky pilot who takes on all-powerful alien invaders.

Ransom ★★★
9.00-11.35pm ITV4

Nobody tells Mel Gibson what to do — even if his child is being held hostage. The bold premise of this Ron Howard thriller means you can't look away.

The House by the Cemetery ★★★
10.55pm-12.40am Horror Channel

What better way to see out the "season of good will to all men" than with a good old-fashioned zombie movie. This one is from 1981.

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