With movie theaters nationwide closed until the end of July, the summer movie season has shifted entirely online However, social distance doesn't mean we can't enjoy them That's why we should be thankful that streaming services continue to provide us with new content And this July 4th weekend brings three great movies: the film "Hamilton" on Disney Plus, the war drama "The Outpost" on Premium Video on Demand, and the wacky romantic comedy "Desperados" on Netflix

Both "Hamilton" and "The Outpost" were slated for theatrical release The former was essentially a broadcast of a performance taken from a Broadway show Disney bought it and planned to release it in the fall of 2021 However, in this time of pandemic, the Mouse House gave us the gift of an early release on Disney Plus As for "Outpost," it was to be one of the first films to be released in reopened theaters However, due to a spike in coronavirus cases in many states, major chains like AMC and Regal postponed the reopening

Now, movie theaters could reopen in late July--depending on pandemic measures in the coming weeks Already, major films like "Mulan" and "Tenet" have postponed their release until August In the meantime, streaming is still available Here's what you need to know about the three major films opening this weekend

If you're going through Hamilton FOMO like we are, this is your chance to finally see the musical everyone has been talking about for the past few years The hit Broadway play will be staged at Disney Plus in time for Independence Day, allowing many to participate in the hip-hop-infused story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton

The film "Hamilton" is not an adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical, but a stitched-together broadcast of several performances filmed in 2016 While it is impossible to truly recreate the experience of seeing "Hamilton" live on Broadway, the film does have its own unique points Director Thomas Cale uses a variety of camera angles to capture extremely up-close and personal moments And for new fans like myself, the film offers a high definition look at the lighting, costumes, and production design excellence Best seat in the house

The arrival of the film Hamilton is as timely and necessary to the cultural landscape as the 2015 Broadway show Miranda's choice of hip-hop as the musical's main genre, the use of actors of color in prominent figures like Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, and the spotlight on the important role of immigrants in nation building at the dawn of time At a time when the country is so divided and leadership so lacking, "Hamilton" is the entertaining inspiration we need right now

Watch "Hamilton" on Disney Plus

War movies may seem like a twofer, as they have existed since the beginning of filmmaking However, "The Outpost" is a highly acclaimed, unflinching and intense portrayal of the actual 2009 battle of Kamdesh, Afghanistan The film is based on Jake Tapper's nonfiction book, Combat Outpost Keating It was there, dangerously close to Taliban forces, that US soldiers were drawn into a deadly and disastrous battle

Later in the film, once the fighting begins, it is, as director Rod Lurie puts it, "an extraordinary show of mayhem and violence" It has an almost documentary feel that echoes the nonstop grisly sequences in war films like Black Hawk Down Outpost" is neither moving nor uplifting, but rather depicts the bloody and brutal price paid by the young soldiers

"Outpost" is available for on-demand rental on Vudu, iTunes, Amazon, and other digital outlets

If you're looking for a lighter film this weekend, this romantic comedy is perfect Nasim Pedrad, formerly of "Saturday Night Live," thought he should appear in more films That wish has come true Because she is starring as Wesley, a young woman who thinks she has met the man of her dreams However, when he ghosts her, she sends him a vicious long email Later, Wesley learns that the man is in a Mexican hospital for multiple injuries Oops She's bad

Wesley enlists the help of her two best friends (Anna Camp and Sarah Burns) and together they fly to Mexico While there, she runs into a bad blind date (Ramone Morris) and gets into a prank involving goats, dolphins, and a Mexican prison

Look, sometimes you just want to watch a couple of hours of silly, wacky hijinks

Watch "Desperado" on Netflix