It's another weekend to look forward to But in this age of endless streaming options, the same nagging question looms: what to watch?
Thankfully, the best streaming services just got a new shipment of hit movies, including some of the summer's hottest blockbusters just released in theaters Topping the list this week are "The Boy and the Hare" and "Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga" on Video on Demand Meanwhile, Netflix has "A Family Affair," a new romantic comedy with a stellar cast including Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, and Joey King; Apple TV Plus has Lily Gladstone, last year's leading Oscar contender for Best Actress, in the touching return in the road trip "Fancy Dance" And on Hulu, the stirring thriller "Somewhere Quiet" joins the library
So if you're looking for something to watch this weekend, here are some new movies available for streaming For more recommendations, be sure to check out our list of the best new shows of the week
I saw "A Boy and His Hero" in theaters and it is definitely one of the stranger films by Hayao Miyazaki Don't get me wrong, it remains a visual delight and I can understand why the famed animator won his second Oscar But my advice: once you throw yourself into the Alice in Wonderland-esque wild ride, the journey will be much more enjoyable
Inspired in part by Miyazaki's own life, "The Boy and the Hare" follows 11-year-old Majo Maki, who moves to the countryside with his father and new stepmother after his mother dies in a hospital fire Still feeling lost and struggling to adjust to his new life, he crosses paths with a strange gray heron The heron leads Mahito into a dreamlike world of magic, giant sea creatures, and man-eating parrots
Buy it on Amazon or Apple and watch it now
Now is the time to gather your warriors (and war girls) and witness "Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga" from the comfort of your own home The "Fury Road" prequel barely made back its $168 million budget (Rotten Tomatoes' critics score stands at 90%), despite generally positive reviews in its first month or so of release But a streaming debut may be just the kicker this high-octane origin story needs to find an audience
Anya Taylor-Joy stars as a young Furiosa, who lives in an oasis known as "Mother Green," before it became the wasteland we saw in Fury Road But one day, while out foraging for food, her world is violently uprooted when raiders led by General Dementas (Chris Hemsworth) take her captive
Still reeling from the death of his own family, Dementas adopts the unwilling Furiosa as his daughter, but after a bloody battle with the War Boys led by Immortan Joe (Lacey Hulme), he hands her over as a peace offer Furiosa rises in the Citadel and bonds with her partner, Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), and when Dementas reappears before Furiosa, the two begin planning their escape
Now streaming on Amazon or for purchase on Apple
This breezy rom-com may be just the escape we need right now after last week's frankly depressing presidential debate In "Family Affair," Joey King, best known for his role as Gypsy Rose in "The Act," plays Zara Ford, the personal assistant to Hollywood megastar Chris Cole (Zac Efron) When his ego finally reaches its limits, she quits and unwittingly crosses paths with his widowed mother Brooke (Nicole Kidman)
The chemistry between the two is immediately apparent, and Efron shows off his comedic talents in a scene where the laughably self-absorbed movie star tries to take his shot Brooke seems incredulous at first, but eventually succumbs to his charms, and the two begin a clandestine affair that drives Zara up the wall
Watch it now on Netflix
"Somewhere Quiet" was not on my radar before, but after watching the trailer, it seems to share enough DNA with films like "Invisible Man," "The Barbarians" and "Strangers" to have my interest greatly piqued
After being held captive for a brutal six months, Meg (Jennifer Kim) manages to escape and returns home at the beginning of the film Naturally, she struggles to adjust to everyday life after such an ordeal So her husband Scott (Kentucky Audrey) brings her to his parents' beach house in an attempt to ease her ruffled nerves Since it is off-season, he promises that no one will disturb them during their stay
That quickly goes out the window when it is revealed that his cousin Madeline (Marin Ireland) is staying at another house nearby; the two clash, but Meg is more concerned about the hallucinations and other mental problems that are manifesting as after-effects of her trauma What is even more worrisome is that Scott seems unfazed by all the strange happenings Everything begins to fray both Meg's sanity and her trust in her husband, leaving viewers constantly guessing who to believe
Watch it now on Hulu
Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone ("The Flower Moon Killer") stars in Native American filmmaker Erica Tremblay's directorial debut for Apple TV Plus And people are already raving about it; "Fancy Dance" currently has a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes
Gladstone gives another fine performance as Jax, a young woman who takes on the care of her niece Loki (Isabelle Deloy-Olson) after her sister goes missing Local police officers insist that the reservation where the girls live is outside their jurisdiction, and Jax is left to work almost single-handedly to uncover the truth behind her sister's disappearance
She is inexplicably stretched thin by the investigation, managing the family's meager funds, and preparing for her niece's powwow With the estranged father threatening to take custody of Loki, the two track down Loki's mother in time for the powwow
Watch Now on Apple TV Plus
Critics are already praising Prime Video's new original documentary about superstar Celine Dion (currently holding a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (it currently holds a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) Directed by Eileen Taylor, the film follows the Canadian performer's remarkable career, which spans more than four decades, from her humble beginnings in a small town outside Montreal to her smash hit "My Heart Will Go On" in Titanic
Even if you are not familiar with Dion's work, this documentary is truly a tear-jerker, documenting Dion's struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome, which has caused her chronic pain and impaired her mobility since her diagnosis in 2022 Nonetheless, the film describes how she strived to get back on stage
Watch Now on Prime Video
Orlando Bloom returns in this new action thriller that has so far struggled to find an audience since its February release He stars as Cash, a man trying to leave his criminal ways behind in order to live a decent life with his recently orphaned niece Savannah (Chapel Oaks) in a quiet Odim County town
Nevertheless, he finds himself drawn back into the orbit of a kingpin named Big Cat (Andie MacDowell) But when things take a turn for the worse, Cash fights back, protecting his family and the town
Watch Now on Hulu
Comments