The protagonist from The Boy and the Heron angrily staring at something off-screen." width="1000" height="600" />The protagonist from The Boy and the Heron angrily staring at something off-screen." width="1000" height="600" />
After last week’s big additions to our list of the best movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and other services, things have balanced out with a lean update this week. Five new films hit the streamers last week, but this week only has two. Fortunately, one is pretty exciting.
This week, Max adds Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Boy and The Heron, while Netflix adds Jeremy Saulnier’s crime thriller Rebel Ridge.
Hayao Miyazaki’s (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away) The Boy and The Heron takes place at the height of World War II, as teenage Mahito is haunted by his mother’s tragic death. When he relocates from Tokyo to the rural home of his new stepmother, Natsuko, he’s troubled to find she bears a striking resemblance to his real mother. Struggling to adjust, Mahito notices this new world growing continually stranger, predicated by the persistent appearance of a gray heron who dubs Mahito the “long-awaited one.”
The directorial debut of M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter, Ishana, The Watchers stars Dakota Fanning as Mina, a 28-year-old artist who becomes stranded in an untouched forest in western Ireland. When she finally finds shelter, her horror is just beginning, as she is unknowingly trapped alongside three strangers who are watched by mysterious creatures every night.
Following up the massive success of his Mad Max revival, George Miller is back with his signature panache in Furiosa, a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road. Young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) is snatched away from the Green Place of Many Mothers, falling into the hands of the Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). When they eventually encounter the Citadel after traveling through the Wasteland, Dementus and Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) quickly enter into a war for dominance. Caught in the middle, Furiosa must endure and struggle to find a way to get home.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s Michael Keaton directs and stars in Knox Goes Away as hitman John Knox, attempting to make demands after a dementia diagnosis. With the help of his friend, Xavier (Al Pacino), Knox races against the police and his own deteriorating mind to save his estranged son (James Marsden) from one of his biggest mistakes while he still can.
Kristen Stewart and Twisters actress Katy O’Brian star in the steamy romantic thriller Love Lies Bleeding, which follows reclusive gym manager, Lou (Stewart), who falls hard for bodybuilder Jackie (O’Brian) when she stops in town on the way to a major show in Las Vegas. When Lou follows Jackie, though, violence tags along her as both women are dragged into the web of Lou’s criminal family.
Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, Rebel Ridge stars Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who confronts the corruption of small town justice when local law enforcement seizes the bag of cash he needs to post his cousin’s bail. Terry finds an unlikely ally in Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb), a kind court clerk who provides legal advice. Caught up against the system — even a small town one — Terry is forced to take matters into his own hands.
From Lee Daniels (The Butler), this Netflix original stars Andra Day as Ebony Jackson, a struggling single mother who moves her family into a new home for a fresh start. But almost immediately, strange things start happening inside the home, drawing the attention of Child Protective Services. Now, Ebony is in a battle with the state as much as she is with the demons in her home.
You don’t see a lot of R-rated high school comedies these days, but Netflix’s Incoming is almost like an ode to the simpler days of Superbad and Project X. The concept is pretty simple and endlessly familiar: Four incoming freshmen must face the ultimate challenge — their first high school party. Expect the usual sex-and-drugs hijinks, updated for the Gen-Z generation. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
They Shot the Piano Player" />
Jeff Goldblum stars in this stylized animated movie as Jeff Harris, a New York music journalist writing a book about bossa nova in 2010. But his research soon gets sidetracked when he becomes consumed with discovering the truth about Francisco Tenório Júnior, a young Brazilian samba-jazz pianist who suddenly disappeared in Buenos Aires on March 18, 1976.
One of the summer’s last blockbusters, this Netflix Original stars Flight Risk‘s Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry as a pair of odd-couple intelligence operatives. Mike (Wahlberg) is living a happy live in suburban New Jersey, working construction, when his long-lost high school sweetheart, Roxanne (Berry), suddenly shows up to recruit him on a dangerous intelligence mission. Convinced Mike is the right man for the job, Roxanne throws him into the world of spies, while also rekindling a bit of that romance.
Ryan Gosling stars as stunt man Colt Seavers in the ridiculous meta comedy The Fall Guy. After a nearly career-ending accident, Seavers finds himself the star of his own narrative as he has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy, and win back the love of his life (Emily Blunt) while still getting blown up at his day job.
John Woo’s remake of his own 1989 film stars Game of Thrones actress Nathalie Emmanuel as Zee, an infamous assassin known in the Parisian underworld as the Queen of the Dead. After refusing to kill a blinded young woman (Diana Silvers) in a Paris nightclub, however, the compassionate decision threatens to unravel her reputation and alliances, all while attracting the attention of police investigator, Sey (Omar Sy). Soon, she finds herself plunged into a sinister criminal conspiracy that forces her to confront her past.
Already, one of the best movies of the summer, The Bikeriders, is available to stream at home. In Beatnik-era Chicago, headstrong Kathy (Jodie Comer) is drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), a new member of the motorcycle club the Vandals. Led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy), the Vandals are evolving much like the country around it, devolving into a home of violence and crime. Benny is suddenly caught in the middle, forced to choose between Kathy and the club.
Fresh off the success of Poor Things, director Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe for Kinds of Kindness, a triptych fable. In one story, a man without a choice attempts to take control of his own life; in another, a policeman finds his wife, returned after being missing at sea, a different person; and finally, a woman seeks to find someone with a special ability who is destined to become a spiritual leader.
Lifelong friends Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), Barbara Jean (Aliens vs. Predator‘s Sanaa Lathan), and Clarice (Uzo Aduba) have dubbed themselves “The Supremes.” Over decades of weathering storms together, they share an unbreakable bond that has endured through marriage and children, love and loss, and sickness and health. But their most challenging times still lie ahead.
English archaeologist Arthur (Knives Out 3‘s Josh O’Connor) understands that everyone has their own Chimera, something they’ve always wanted, but can never find. To Arthur, that is Beniamina (Carol Duarte). Fresh out of jail, Arthur rejoins his band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods and archaeological wonders, and searches all corners of the Earth for treasures. This Italian film was selected to compete for the coveted Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and received universal praise when it debuted in U.S. theaters earlier this year.
Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney) is an American nun offered a new role at an illustrious convent in the Italian countryside. Soon after she arrives at this idyllic new posting, however, she discovers that the convent harbors more than one dark and horrifying secret.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes picks up several generations after Caesar’s reign over apes and humans. Apes are now the dominant species, having forced humans into living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader expands his empire, a new ape hero embarks on a harrowing journey of discovery that will force him to make choices that define the future for both apes and humans.
The third film in the Quiet Place saga, A Quiet Place: Day One, goes all the way back to the beginning. This prequel to the first two films follows Sam (Lupita Nyong’o), a woman who just happens to be on a day trip to New York City when bloodthirsty alien creatures with ultrasonic hearing invade the planet.
John Krasinski wrote, directed, and stars (sort of) in this family-friendly fantasy about a little girl who discovers she can see everyone’s imaginary friends. Bea (Cailey Fleming) is not one to take this newfound responsibility lightly, and with the help of Cal (Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Ryan Reynolds), she embarks on a journey to reconnect all the forgotten imaginary friends with their kids — some of whom are now grown-up.
Deep in the Serbian wilderness, an American-led fracking crew squares off with government-assigned environmental advisers. But when they’re finally approved to drill, they encounter something much worse: a parasitic monster entombed deep in the frozen rock. Releasing the once-dormant monster into the camp, the crew must fight to survive and avoid giving the monster the perfect host.
After a global environmental collapse, humanity has been forced to shed 20% of its population practically overnight. When a father (Peter Gallagher) informs his family of his plan to enlist in the government’s euthanasia plan, family dinner goes off the rails with escalating consequences.
Awkwafina and John Cena star in Jackpot! The comedy is set in a near future in which a Grand Lottery has been newly established in California. But there’s a wrinkle: If you can kill the winner before sundown, you can legally claim their multibillion dollar jackpot. So when Katie Kim (Awkwafina) mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket shortly after moving to Los Angeles, she reluctantly teams up with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy (Cena) to fend off the hordes of jackpot hunters until sundown. Unfortunately, Noel’s chief rival, Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), is also desperately seeking to collect Katie’s prize.
Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict star in this steamy Amazon Original thriller from Tyler Perry. When her husband, Dallas (Hardrict), abandons their marriage, Ava (Good) refuses to relent. But the more she presses and examines the marriage, the more she discovers Dallas’ bad behavior has long sabotaged their ability to connect.
Madame Web‘s Emma Roberts stars in this rom-com as Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a Florida girl who has always dreamed of going to space. So when a doctored application gets her into NASA’s ultracompetitive astronaut training program, she’s determined to make the cut. Unfortunately, she’s in way over her head and it will take everything she can muster to make it to space before her cover is blown.
The hot new romantic comedy on the streamers, The Idea of You stars Anne Hathaway (Eileen) as Solène, a 40-year-old single mother chaperoning her teenage daughter’s trip to Coachella. But when she meets 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the leader singer of the planet’s hottest boy band, an unexpected and very real semi-intergenerational relationship emerges.
Rudy (Rudy Mancuso) is continually plagued by the music in his head and the uncertainty of his future. As a Brazilian man in Newark, New Jersey, he’s trying to balance love, family, and culture — sometimes more successfully than others. Camila Mendes and JB Smoove also star in this Amazon Original.
Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, and BU alum Hong Chau all reunite in Boston for The Instigators, a hyperlocal heist movie that should appeal to more than just New Englanders. Rory (Damon) and Cobby (Affleck) are old friends who make an unlikely team when they decide to team up to rob a corrupt politician of ill-gained earnings. Unfortunately, everything goes wrong pretty much from the jump, forcing them to go on the run from the police, corrupt bureaucrats, and vengeful crime bosses. Their only lifeline is Rory’s therapist (Chau), whom they rope in to help them get away.
Lily Gladstone stars in this Apple TV+ original as Jax, who has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) since her sister’s disappearance. Scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma, every spare minute of Jax’s time goes into finding her sister and fighting Roki’s grandfather, Frank (Eileen‘s Shea Whigham), for custody. When Jax finds a lead, she and Roki hit the road to scour the backcountry and still make it back in time for Roki’s upcoming powwow. But what starts as a search soon grows much deeper.
Born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905, Trudy Ederle (Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘s Daisey Ridley) became one of the most decorated woman swimmers of her time. Through the steadfast support of her sister and trainers, Ederle fought against the patriarchy to win Olympic gold on her way to the ultimate feat: Becoming the first woman to swim the 21-mile gauntlet of the English Channel.
Jim Henson is history’s most renowned and beloved puppeteer, and this Ron Howard-directed documentary delves deep into the mind of the creative visionary. From Henson’s early days of puppeteering on local TV to Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond, Jim Henson Idea Man uses Henson’s personal archives for an insightful look into the mind of a complex, deeply imaginative man.
Frank Marshall directs this Disney+ original documentary about the legendary band and their iconic sound. From humble family beginnings to superstardom, The Beach Boys uses never-before-seen archival footage and new interviews with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, and other music business luminaries to tell the story of this band that continues to captivate listeners to this day. God only knows why you’d pass up watching this entertaining docuseries about one of America’s greatest bands.
Who knew a great movie could be made out of tennis games and complicated love triangles? Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is not only one of 2024’s best movies, but it’s also one of the most purely enjoyable experiences out there. Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis wunderkind who know coaches her pro husband Art’s career, which has hit a lull. When an old rival of Art’s, and an old flame of Tashi’s, sweeps back into their lives, will he change their game both on and off the court? Challengers is sexy without being graphic and sporty without being needing to know too much about tennis to follow along. It also gives Zendaya, and co-stars Mike Faist and Josh O’ Connor, a chance to showcase their impressive acting and irresistible charisma.
Nick Perry is a freelance writer who bounced from Hollywood to Silicon Beach to pajama pants. His work has been featured on Digital Trends, Good Morning America, Entrepreneur, Mashable, and more media outlets.
Jason is a writer, editor, and pop culture enthusiast whose love for cinema, television, and cheap comic books has led him to work in the entertainment industry. A proud graduate of both Whitman College (Adam West's alma mater!) and Syracuse University, he has worked at Marvel Entertainment, DC Comics, Warner Bros., and Screen Rant. At Digital Trends, he covers all things film and television, from ranking Alfred Hitchcock's best films to examining the everlasting neuroses of Larry David. When he's not obsessing over the latest Marvel Studios trailer, you can find him either working or surfing the web looking for the perfect fudge brownie recipe.
The best romance movies on Netflix right now
The good news for romance lovers is that Netflix has no shortage in that movie category. Granted, there are a lot more rom-coms on Netflix than romantic dramas, which makes it tricky if you're looking for films that explore the more serious side of a relationship. But it's important to have the option to laugh at love's ridiculous moments as well.
This month, the new romantic additions to Netflix include Save the Last Dance, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Adjustment Bureau, and Eat Pray Love. These films are very different from each other, but they've earned their place on our roundup of the best romance movies on Netflix.
Best streaming devices for 2024: Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and more
When it comes to how people access their favorite video streaming services for their movie-, TV-, and sports-viewing pleasure, there are basically two types of folks: those who use whatever is built into their TV, and those who prefer something a little more dedicated to the task.
Sure, there are some excellent TVs out there that do it well — some with their own operating systems like LG's webOS or Samsung's Tizen, and others that incorporate a more well-known OS such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Google TV.
The best kids movies on Netflix right now
Summer is winding down, but you may still need to lean on our list of the best kids movies on Netflix right now for another few weeks. Fortunately, we've got you covered with regular updates of Netflix's extensive collection of kid-friendly movies.
This month is a bit slower than others, but we've still got a Dr. Seuss double dip that the kids will enjoy, as Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax join the platform.
Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.
