Riz Ahmed’s ‘best film’ that fans have hailed as a ‘masterpiece’ is currently available on BBC iPlayer – but not for much longer.

This highly praised indie drama was initially launched in 2019 and stars the Saturday Night Live host – and lead of Prime Video’s James Bond-inspired comedy series Bait – as Ruben Stone, a hardcore metal drummer and former addict who begins to lose his hearing.

When his girlfriend Lou (portrayed by House of the Dragon’s Olivia Cooke) admits him into a rehabilitation centre for the deaf, Ruben forms a bond with the community’s leader Joe (Paul Raci) and finds himself torn between dwelling in the past or building a better future.

Following his uproarious breakout role in British comedy Four Lions and his outstanding supporting performance in Nightcrawler alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Sound of Metal is regarded as Ahmed’s finest performance to date and the film that established him as a credible leading actor.

It’s presently accessible for free on BBC iPlayer, but is set to be removed from the platform on Tuesday, reports the Mirror.

The film is also available to stream on Prime Video, however, as subscriptions are priced at £8.99 a month, film enthusiasts who aren’t Amazon subscribers should seize the chance to experience one of the best films of the past decade without parting with a penny as soon as possible.

One 10/10 IMDb review said: “Rizwan Ahmed is one of the best actors working right now and his performance in this film is gut wrenching, believable, and absolutely stunning to watch as you can do nothing but become engrossed in his acting and ability to make you feel exactly what his character is feeling. It’s hard to believe that there was ever anyone else in mind for his role!”

Someone else declared: “One of the best movies I’ve seen. My husband has hearing loss and this movie made him weep.

“It also helped me to understand what he was experiencing. The script is extraordinary as is the acting. I hope they do well at the awards, they deserve it.”

Another fan labelled Sound of Metal a “perfect film”, stating it “rocked me to my core”.

“I’m struggling to gather the words to adequately express how profoundly this film moved me,” they added. “It’s such a specific story, brilliantly captured and conveyed, yet it’s one shared by every human that’s lived.”

An additional 10/10 write-up described the film as “mesmerising”, and claimed: “Riz Ahmed delivers the best performance of his career in this emotional and powerful film about a man who has to come to terms with a change in his life.

“It’s captivating, it’s realistic, it grabs you and never lets you go. If I was on the Academy, this definitely would’ve had my vote for Best Picture.”

For viewers seeking a gripping and impactful drama led by an outstanding performance from one of Britain’s finest actors, BBC iPlayer has the perfect option available for the next two days.

Sound of Metal is available on BBC iPlayer until Tuesday, 7th April.