It’s set to be a huge week for new movies across the best streaming services, with Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more offering subscribers new flicks to enjoy.
Meanwhile, on premium video-on-demand platforms, two of the biggest movies of the summer, “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” and “F1: The Movie,” make the move from the big screen to at-home streaming.
It’s also a jam-packed week for family-friendly animated movies, with not one, not two, but three new options, including Pixar’s latest original effort, “Elio,” which sees a young boy rub shoulders with a colorful crew of aliens, and also fan-favorite sequel “The Bad Guys 2.”
If you’re looking for something new to watch this week, I’ve picked out the biggest newcomers across streaming services. And be sure to check out the top new TV shows this week if you’re in the mood for some binge-watching.
‘Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning’ (PVOD)
After a surprisingly lengthy theatrical run, by modern standards at least, “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” makes its streaming bow this week, and the action blockbuster is sure to be just as thrilling watched from the comfort of your own home as it was in the cinema.
Unfortunately, “The Final Reckoning” has to pay for the narrative sins of its somewhat messy predecessor, but it offers some of the franchise’s best set-piece moments, which is quite a feat considering the pedigree of the “Mission: Impossible” series.
Following on from “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning” (fun fact: this movie was originally entitled “Dead Reckoning - Part 2"), superspy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is still racing against time to shut down a rogue AI known as the Entity. Assembling his IMF squad, including Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, “The Final Reckoning” offers a global-trotting action romp. If it’s truly the final “Mission: Impossible” movie, it’s a largely fitting conclusion for the iconic action series.
Buy on Amazon from August 19
‘Elio’ (PVOD)
Pixar’s “Elio” was a box-office disappointment for Disney’s crown jewel animation studio, but the House of Mouse will be hoping it can find a second life over on streaming. However, I suspect that many viewers will be patiently waiting for its Disney Plus drop in a few weeks, but if you’re eager to join Elio on his intergalactic adventures right now, you can watch on premium streaming platforms starting this week.
The movie centers on the eponymous Elio, a bright-eyed young boy with big dreams of going to space. He doesn’t have to wait until he’s older to fulfill this wish to explore the stars, either. One day, while at summer camp, he’s unexpectedly beamed up by aliens and taken to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization for all the beings of the galaxy to share their knowledge. The wrinkle is that his new alien pals believe he’s an ambassador for Earth and desperately need his help.
Buy or rent on Amazon from August 19
‘The Bad Guys 2’ (PVOD)
If you’re looking for a family-friendly movie with a little more attitude, “The Bad Guys 2” could be the perfect pick for you and your little ones. It focuses on a group of reformed villains, led by the wily Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), and is a colorful heist caper starring a very motley crew.
"The Bad Guys 2" has proved to be not only a hit with critics over the summer (scoring a very strong 87% on Rotten Tomatoes) but it’s also gone down a treat with viewers, holding an even more impressive 95% audience score on RT.
“The Bad Guys 2” sees the entire crew return, including Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina). These former crooks are trying to be good and live honest lives, but they’re drawn back into the criminal world to help with a high-stakes heist by a new team, The Bad Girls.
Buy or rent on Amazon from August 19
‘The Map That Leads to You’ (Prime Video)
I did a double-take when poring over the streaming release schedule when I saw “The Map That Leads to You” because the name is very similar to another teen romance drama, “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things,” which landed on Prime Video back in 2021. Unfortunately, this new streaming movie lacks the time-travel twist of Prime’s previous map-themed original, and instead looks like a pretty bog-standard drama about doe-eyed young lovers and their complicated affair.
Heather (Madelyn Cline) is heading off on a European adventure after her graduation. With her two best friends (Sofia Wylie and Madison Thompson) in tow, it’s set to be a dream summer before Heather returns to her “real” life, which has been perfectly planned out. Of course, life doesn’t always follow a script, and when she meets Jack (KJ Apa), she starts to reconsider her future and the path laid out before her.
Watch on Prime Video from August 20
‘Eenie Meanie’ (Hulu)
Samara Weaving leading a heist-thriller movie, sign me up! That’s the quick elevator pitch for “Eenie Meanie,” and it’s quite a compelling one. It’s a good thing the core premise has plenty of potential, because the name is hardly going to attract many viewers on its own. Seriously, at first, I assumed this was some form of educational movie for pre-schoolers.
Rather, it’s the feature film debut of writer/director Shawn Simmons, and sees Weaving play Edie (nicknamed Eenie Meanie), a getaway driver, who's dragged into a dangerous job by a former employer, with the life of her unreliable and troubled ex-boyfriend (Karl Glusman) at stake. Taking clear cues from “Baby Driver,” this high-speed thriller looks like it could be a bit of a sleeper hit.
Watch on Hulu from August 22
‘F1: The Movie’ (PVOD)
Cynics could accuse “F1: The Movie” of being little more than a 155-minute commercial for the popular motorsport competition. I’ll acknowledge the level of product placement is high, this sports drama from “Top Gun Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski is a breakneck ride with some of the best vehicular sequences captured on film since … well, since “Top Gun Maverick.
Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a wandering driver, who is recruited to a struggling Formula 1 team desperate for an experienced motorist to work with their hotshot rookie, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Battling his personal demons and friction within the team, Sonny needs all his expertise behind the wheel to come out on top.
Outside of the car, “F1: The Movie” follows the standard sports movie formula very closely, but the conventional narrative beats melt into the background when the characters get behind the wheel and Kosinski gets to show this masterful ability to construct high-speed racing drama.
Buy or rent on Amazon from August 22
‘Night of the Zoopocalypse’ (Peacock)
As noted, it’s a big week for animated family movies, and Peacock subscribers can look forward to streaming “Night of the Zoopocalypse” over the weekend.
There looks to be a direct-to-DVD quality about this one, with fairly generic animation and a predictable story focused on a group of anthropomorphic animals living in a zoo, but it should at least provide suitable entertainment for young viewers.
In “Night of the Zoopocalypse,” a meteor crashes into Colepepper Zoo, which sees several of the animals transform into slobbering mutants, and to save the day, and restore the zoo to its usual harmony, Gracie (Gabbi Kosmidis), a young wolf, must team up with Dan (David Harbour), a gruff mountain lion.
It’s a little out of season, with Halloween more than two months away, but “Night of the Zoopocaylpse” should serve as a solid summer time filler.
Watch on Peacock from August 22
‘On Swift Horses’ (Netflix)
“On Swift Horses” is a romantic drama that sells itself on its impressive cast list of rising stars, including Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva and Sasha Celle. It received mixed reviews during its limited theatrical run in the spring. But I expect it’ll enjoy a fresh wave of interest now that it’s heading to the world’s biggest streaming service.
Muriel (Edgar-Jones) and Lee (Poulter) are a married couple moving to California after the latter returns home from the Korean War. But their attempt to find peace and stability is rocked when Lee’s younger brother, Julius (Elordi), shows up and upends their plans.
What follows is a knotty tale of love, drama and unexpected passion. Some critics accused the movie of being a little emotionally messy, but the cast's performances received plenty of praise, especially Elordi's.
Watch on Netflix from August 23
More from Tom's Guide
- 6 top new shows to stream this week
- Netflix top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching
- 5 best psychological thriller movies on Prime Video
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