This week’s top new movies across the best streaming services has a real horror flavor with a trio of critically acclaimed genre films set to be available to watch at home, where you can hide behind the sofa without fear of judgement. But it’s not just horror fans with options to watch.
Over on Netflix, the platform is wrapping up its fan-favorite romantic drama “Heartstopper” with a feature-length finale. While HBO Max has a fashion-forward documentary from a director with a passionate cult following. And turning back to horror, fans of scary movies are completely spoiled for choice with “Backrooms", "Obsession” and “Exit 8” all in the mix.
There are plenty of options to consider, and to save you time having to scroll through every platform’s library, I’ve rounded up the most noteworthy new movies across streaming services down below. Also, here’s a guide to the top new TV shows you can watch this week.
‘Backrooms’ (PVOD)
“Backrooms” was reportedly heading to premium streaming last week, but was pushed back at the eleventh hour. Maybe that was to give its extended cut edition a little extra time in theaters. Whatever the reason, it looks like Kane Parsons’ popular horror, rooted in the popular internet “creepypasta,” is now finally ready to head to streaming. If you skipped this one in theaters, you can enjoy the unnerving liminal space horror at home.
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the troubled owner of a furniture showroom. When he discovers a mysterious portal in the store’s basement, he is transported to an endless series of rooms that connect in seemingly impossible ways. Heavy on the atmosphere and effectively utilizing the found footage style, “Backrooms” has grossed almost $370 million worldwide, making it one of 2026’s most popular horror flicks and likely the start of a new franchise.
Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) starting July 14
‘The Breadwinner’ (PVOD)
From a box office breakout hit to a movie that failed to recoup its budget on the big screen, “The Breadwinner” is something of an ironic name, all things considered. It’s a comedy film written by and starring American stand-up comic Nate Bargatze, and I won’t sugarcoat this one: it was not well-received by critics. It holds a pretty woeful 20% on Rotten Tomatoes. So this movie is perhaps only worth checking out if you’re a dedicated fan of Bargatze’s work. Viewers did, in turn, rate it a strong 86% on RT
Bargatze plays Nate Wilcox, the top employee at a car dealership, who has to swap being a working dad for stay-at-home parenting when his wife (Mandy Moore) gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that takes her on an international business trip. Nate soon finds out that being the head of the household is much tougher than he ever imagined. Critics weren’t sold on this movie’s “old school” approach to comedy and family values.
Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) starting July 14
‘Cold Storage' (MGM+)
“Cold Storage” definitely has a bit of “Stranger Things” about it, and not just because it stars Joe Keery, who played Steven Harrington on Netflix’s sci-fi series. This throwback sci-fi horror-comedy explores a secretive military experiment literally leaking out of containment, and a ragtag group of unlikely heroes who have to save the day. Alongside Keery, it also stars Georgina Campbell, Lesley Manville, Sosie Bacon and Liam Neeson.
Set in the mid-2000s, two employees at a remote self-storage warehouse are the center of an extraterrestrial outbreak when a deadly fungus escapes from one of the units. This rapidly mutating threat takes control of human hosts, and if it escapes the facility, it could spell disaster for the entire human population. With long-buried government secrets coming to light, “Cold Storage” is an entertaining popcorn flick with light horror.
Watch on MGM+ starting July 15
‘Marc by Sofia’ (HBO Max)
Documentary fans will want to head over to HBO Max this week, as the streaming service debuts an insight into one of the world’s most iconic fashion designers. “Marc by Sofia” does what it says on the tin; this is a documentary on Marc Jacobs and comes from filmmaker Sofia Coppola, daughter of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, and director of modern classics like “Lost in Translation” and “The Virgin Suicides."
As long-time friends, there’s an intimacy to “Marc by Sofia,” with the fashion designer extraordinaire giving Coppola full access to his work and life story. It’s otherwise presented as a fairly standard documentary, with the usual collection of talking head interviews and archival footage, but viewers with an interest in designer fashion will likely find it worthwhile.
Watch on HBO Max starting July 16
‘Exit 8’ (Shudder)
“Backrooms” and “Obsession” (which we’ll talk about soon) sucked up all the horror attention back in the spring, but “Exit 8” was another acclaimed chiller that genre fans won’t want to miss. It’s based on the video game of the same name, and turns a gaming experience that can be enjoyed in barely an hour into a full feature. It scored an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its atmosphere and clean cinematic presentation.
“Exit 8” takes the foundation of its indie source material — being trapped in a looping series of subway tunnels — and expands on it, giving a video game lacking a traditional story a full-fleshed narrative and proper characters. The movie follows a nameless protagonist (Kazunari Ninomiya) who becomes stuck in a looping nightmare and must identify a series of anomalies to escape this unsettling purgatory.
Watch on Shudder starting July 17
‘Heartstopper Forever’ (Netflix)
In place of a fourth season, Netflix’s “Heartstopper” is opting for a feature-length conclusion. This drama will wrap up the romance between Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke). It’ll be a fond farewell for the show’s dedicated fanbase, and I’ll give Netflix some kudos here for allowing the series to wrap up properly, rather than unceremoniously canceling it after the third season saw a significant drop in viewership. We need this more.
“Heartstopper Forever” opens with Nick and Charlie blissfully in love, but a happy couple doesn’t make for compelling watching, so naturally, some hurdles are around the corner. Nick is getting ready for university, while Charlie is taking on new responsibilities himself. Can their love survive these tests as they both get ready for the next chapter of their lives?
Watch on Netflix starting July 17
‘Obsession’ (Peacock)
I’ve written about and recommended “Obsession” many times already, and I rewatched this movie over the weekend. Did a second watch change my stance that this is one of the best original horror movies in years? Not at all. If anything, re-experiencing the chaos of this supernatural horror only strengthened my appreciation for Curry Baker’s hit movie. And that performance from Inde Navarrette? I demand an Oscar nomination.
Bear (Michael Johnston) is a timid record-store worker, infatuated with his colleague and friend, Nikki (Navarrette). After obtaining a “One Wish Willow” from a trinket shop, he makes a wish for Nikki to love him “more than anyone in the world.” Turns out this cheap novelty item is the real deal, and his wish comes true. But getting what he wants comes with dark consequences. This movie is every bit as good as its sterling reputation.
Watch on Peacock starting July 17
Title | Genre | Streaming location | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
"Backrooms" | Horror | PVOD | July 14 |
"The Breadwinner" | Comedy | PVOD | July 14 |
"Cold Storage" | Sci-fi horror | MGM+ | July 15 |
"Marc by Sofia" | Documentary | HBO Max | July 16 |
"Exit 8" | Horror | Shudder | July 17 |
"Heartstopper Forever" | Romantic drama | Netflix | July 17 |
"Obsession" | Horror | Peacock | July 17 |
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