This week’s slate of new movies landing across the best streaming services has been confirmed, and the two biggest players around, Netflix and Prime Video, are leading the charge with new flicks over the next seven days.
On Netflix, subscribers can look forward to a new mystery thriller starring Keira Knightley called “The Woman in Cabin 10.” Meanwhile, on Prime Video, you’ll have a choice of a new glossy rom-com or a heartwarming documentary about the late John Candy. Finally, for those wanting to get into the Spooky Season vibe, the latest “The Conjuring” heads to premium video-on-demand.
I’ve combed through all the new movies dropping this week and picked out the most high-profile options below. Remember to also check out our guide to the best new TV shows to stream this week for even more viewing options.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ (PVOD)
“The Conjuring” franchise returns for its fourth, and potentially final, mainline entry. The series continues to explore the investigations of the real-life paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren, and “The Conjuring: Last Rites” focuses on one of the duo’s most disturbing cases. The latest entry in the supernatural horror series does little to switch up the established formula, so expect jumpscares aplenty. Still, its PVOD release is clearly well timed with Spooky Season now upon us.
In 1986, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are called to Pennsylvania to help the Smurl family, who are being terrorized by sinister forces after moving into their new West Pittston home. With the Warrens’ daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) in tow, the paranormal investigators find themselves facing their most haunting case yet, and it could be the one that puts them out of the ghost-hunting game for good. However, considering “The Last Rites” box office success, some form of follow-up seems inevitable.
Buy or rent on Amazon from October 7
‘Freakier Friday’ (PVOD)
Early 2000s nostalgia is becoming increasingly trendy, and “Freakier Friday” is the latest attempt to cash in on audience appetite for fond lookbacks at the start of the new millennium. A sequel to 2003’s body-swap comedy “Freaky Friday,” it reunites original stars Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, but also brings in a new generation with Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons added to the mix. Plus, it features Manny Jacinto of “The Good Place” fame.
In “Freakier Friday,” Anna (Lohan) is set to marry Eric (Jacinto), which means blending their families, namely Anna’s daughter Harper (Butters) and overbearing mother Tess (Curtis), and Eric’s daughter Lily (Hammons). But when the four females all swap bodies, it’s a case of deja vu for Anna and Tess. Plenty of hijjinks follow, alongside a few life lessons. “Freakier Friday” is a derivative sequel, but it has a few funny gags and lots of nods to the original.
Buy or rent on Amazon from October 7
‘Maintenance Required’ (Prime Video)
Prime Video’s new original sounds shockingly similar to numerous beloved romantic comedy movies, specifically 1998’s “You’ve Got Mail” and 1940’s “The Shop Around the Corner.” It centers on Charlie (Madealine Petsch), the owner of an all-female mechanic shop, who is distressed when a corporate competitor opens across the street. Finding solace in an online confidant, she’s unaware that the mysterious man she’s speaking to is actually Beau (Jacob Scipio), the business rival who is threatening her mechanic shop.
It’s clear that “Maintenance Required” isn’t going to be described as a “fresh” rom-com by many critics, but there’s a reason several movies over the years have deployed this narrative structure; it’s particularly effective for both drama and comedy. Here’s hoping that “Maintenance Required” will be a streaming win for star Madeleine Petsch after her most recent big-screen effort, “The Strangers - Chapter 2,” was eviscerated by critics and viewers.
Watch on Prime Video from October 8
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (Peacock)
DreamWorks’ first live-action remake of an animated favorite is a re-imagining of the 2010 fantasy-adventure “How to Train Your Dragon.” Like rival remakes, this new spin on the mythical tale loses some of its charm in the transition, but the heart of the story is largely the same. The longer runtime feels largely unnecessary, but the budding relationship between cowardly Viking Hiccup and dragon Toothless is as heartwarming as ever.
Set in a whimsical fantasy universe, “How to Train Your Dragon” opens with the Vikings of Berk at war with fearsome dragons. When the timid son of the village’s chieftain, Hiccup (Mason Thames), stumbles on a wounded Night Fury, he discovers that these winged monsters might not be so scary after all. Nursing the dragon, whom he names Toothless, back to health, the two team up to fight a new threat that could endanger both dragons and Vikings. And in the process, Hiccup might just prove that dragons can be friends, not foes.
Watch on Peacock from October 10
‘John Candy: I Like Me’ (Prime Video)
John Candy is one of the most beloved and iconic comedic actors of his generation. The star of such classic gems as “Planes, Trains and Automobiles, “Uncle Buck,” “Cool Runnings” and “Spaceballs” to many viewers he was the face of 80s comedy. He tragically passed away in 1994 after suffering a heart attack at age 43, but his legacy hasn’t waned over the past three decades.
“John Candy: I Like Me” comes from filmmaker Colin Hanks (yes, son of Tom Hanks) and aims to celebrate Candy’s remarkable body of work. With input from Candy’s family, and his Hollywood collaborators, including Dan Aykroyd, Mel Brooks, Steven Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and Macaulay Culkin, it’s set to be the definitive insight into the Canadian comedian. It incorporates archive footage and never-before-seen home videos.
Watch on Prime Video from October 10
‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ (Netflix)
Netflix’s latest original movie stars Keira Knightley and is based on a best-selling novel of the same name by author Ruth Ware. It certainly appears that “The Woman in Cabin 10” has enough in its locker to push for the Netflix No. 1 spot, and based on the trailer, this psychological thriller could offer viewers quite the mystery to unravel. Alongside Knightley, the movie also features Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, David Morrissey and David Ajala.
Laura Blacklock (Knightley) is a respected journalist whose current assignment sees her board a luxury yacht for its maiden voyage. Awakened by a strange noise, she is shocked to witness a passenger being thrown overboard in the dead of night. However, when she alerts the ship’s crew, she is informed that all the passengers are present and accounted for. Convinced of what she saw despite nobody on board believing her, Laura begins a search for answers, but doing so puts her own life in danger.
Watch on Netflix from October 10
More from Tom's Guide
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- 5 new to Netflix movies with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes
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