This week’s selection of top new movies across the best streaming services is another busy one with plenty of options on popular platforms including Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock and more.
Thriller fans are spoilt for choice with several worthwhile picks, including “A Private Life,” which sees Jodie Foster deliver a powerhouse performance entirely in French, and a new shark survival movie on Prime Video (we’re fully in shark movie season right now). But those looking for lighter watches should consider “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” on Peacock.
There’s plenty of new movies to talk about this week, so I’ve rounded up the most noteworthy arrivals across platforms down below. Plus, here’s a guide to the top new TV shows this week, if you want to binge-watch.
‘Supergirl’ (PVOD)
The second feature film in James Gunn’s DC Extended Universe didn’t manage to capture the attention of comic book fans like “Superman." In fact, “Supergirl” proved to be anything but super at the box office, grossing an underwhelming $124 million against a production budget reportedly north of $170 million. Ouch! Just a month after release, it’s swapping the big screen for streaming, where it’ll hope to find a larger audience.
Based on the fan-favorite “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” comic book, Milly Alcock plays the eponymous heroine, also known as Kara Zor-El. Unlike her cousin, Clark Kent, she hasn’t taken to being a world-saving hero. Supergirl spends her days wandering between planets and visiting dive bars. But she’s forced to adopt the hero lifestyle when a ruthless villain emerges. She teams up with a young survivor (Eve Ridley) to dish out some justice.
Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) starting July 28
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (Hulu)
20 years after the original strutted the catwalk, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” brings viewers back to the world of Runway magazine, luxurious designer fashion and the iconic, almost impossible-to-please editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). This long-requested follow-up is your classic legacy sequel, reuniting the original cast (including Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci), and making more than a few nods to how much time has passed since the first “Devil Wears Prada."
With the magazine business no longer in its heyday, the frosty editor-in-chief of fashion mag Runway, Miranda Priestly (Streep), is reluctantly forced to turn to her former assistant, Andy Sachs (Hathaway) for help. As the pair navigate the evolving world of print publishing, they face competition from an old colleague, Emily Charlton (Blunt). Meanwhile, Miranda’s right-hand man, Nigel (Stanley Tucci), offers his wisdom.
Watch on Hulu starting July 29
‘The Devil’s Mouth’ (Prime Video)
Another week, another shark movie hits streaming. The toothy thrillers served up so far this summer haven’t been of the highest quality, so here’s hoping that “The Devil’s Mouth” can buck the trend and deliver some genuine scares. While the casting of Kathryn Newton and Lana Condor offers hope it could be a cut above the low-quality shark movies already released this summer, it also comes from Jeff Wadlow, the director behind “Fantasy Island,” Kick-Ass 2,” and “Imaginary,” and those movies stink!
In “The Devil’s Mouth,” a group of five college friends signs up for a guided tour through an underwater cave system from which the movie takes its title. They plan to have one last big adventure before entering the “real world.” But what was supposed to be an unforgettable trip becomes memorable for a sinister reason when they're trapped in the submerged caves and discover there’s a bull shark swimming in the dark waters.
Watch on Prime Video starting July 29
‘A Private Life’ (Netflix)
My colleague, Malcolm McMillan, claims this mystery thriller is “worth watching for Jodie Foster’s performance alone,” and was impressed that she portrays an American in Paris while speaking entirely in French.
I knew Foster was talented, but giving an awards-nominated performance in a second language is truly commendable. Her acclaimed work in “A Private Life” saw Foster become the first American to be nominated for a Lumière Award for Best Actress. So long as you can handle subtitles, then this thriller should be on your Netflix watchlist this week.
Dr. Lilian Steiner (Foster) is an American psychiatrist working and living in the French capital. She’s devastated to learn that a client has taken her own life. But after a visit from the client's widow, Simon (Mathieu Amalric), and daughter, Valérie (Luàna Bajrami), alongside the discovery that some of her files have been stolen, Lilian suspects foul play. Launching an investigation of her own, she becomes convinced this is a murder case.
Watch on Netflix starting July 29
‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ (Peacock)
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a pure sugar-rush explosion of iconic characters, colorful animation and big action-packed moments. In all the chaos, it neglects to spin much of a story (perhaps that's appropriate for a Mario movie). However, younger viewers will delight in the playful nature of Mario and pals’ latest adventure. Though I expect the majority of older watchers will find it very much a one-and-done watching experience.
Inspired by the popular “Super Mario Galaxy” video game on the Nintendo Wii, this sequel to the 2023 movie sees Mario (voiced again by Chris Pratt) take to the cosmos to assist Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), who has been taken prisoner by Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie). Along for the ride are Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Luigi (Charlie Day) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key). However, it's Jack Black’s Bowser who again steals the show.
Watch on Peacock starting July 30
‘The Drama’ (HBO Max)
“The Odyssey” hype is flowing with no signs of slowing down, which makes now a great time to watch “The Drama.” This darkly funny romantic comedy stars two of “The Odyssey’s” cast members, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, and ranks as one of my favorite films of the year to date. It’s not your typical feel-good rom-com, instead trading in awkward humor, but it’s sharply written, and Pattinson and Zendaya both bring their A-game.
Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are a happy couple preparing for their impending wedding. All seems perfect until an “unexpected revelation” days before they’re due to say “I do.” This sends their relationship into a tailspin, as they are forced to confront whether they truly know each other, and if their romance is built to last. I’ll say no more, because watching this spoiler-free enhances the viewing experience.
Watch on HBO Max starting July 31
‘Over Your Dead Body’ (AMC+)
“Over Your Dead Body” is in something of a similar mold to “The Drama”; it’s also a dark comedy about two people in a relationship that is anything but blissful. To add further intrigue, this movie also incorporates action-thriller elements, delivering a strong package of complementary genres. It’s also an American remake of a Norwegian movie called “The Trip,” but unlike some remakes, this one wasn’t branded a lazy, pointless cash-in.
Dan (Jason Segel) and Lisa (Samara Weaving) are a once-happy couple, heading towards an acrimonious split. Traveling to a remote cabin for the weekend, this getaway isn’t going to fix the cracks in their relationship, as they both harbor secret plans to murder the other. These plans are thrown into chaos when their weekend is crashed by strangers, forcing Dan and Lisa to pivot on the fly and maybe even team up to survive the trip.
Watch on AMC+ starting July 31
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow Tom's Guide Entertainment on TikTok and Instagram. Finally, you can visit our dedicated Tom's Guide Savings Squad hub for expert help on getting the best products for less.
More from Tom's Guide
