Club Benefits
It's a holiday weekend, and that means you've got plenty of time to catch up on your watchlist. Not that the best streaming services are making it easy, with plenty of great new movies to check out this three-day weekend.
Leading the pack this week is "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" debuting on paid video-on-demand services, which should be a real treat for any kiddos or Mario fans out there. For something a little more high-stakes, the long-awaited "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" just landed on Peacock, or you can check out the screenlife mystery thriller "Missing" on Prime Video. Netflix just got a satirical romcom starring Sacha Baron Cohen) and Rosamund Pike called "Ladies Man" if you need a few laughs. Or you can check out "The Bride!" on HBO Max for a gothic romance with plenty of style.
So without further ado, let's dive into the best new movies on streaming this weekend.
'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ (PVOD)
"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" lands on premium streaming this week after nearly cracking $1 billion at the box office. Following the massive success of the 2023 hit, this sequel doubles down on the colorful chaos with a kaleidoscope of dazzling visuals, fan-favorite characters, and an even flimsier plot than the first. But there's plenty to keep kids and longtime fans entertained.
Now fully at home in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day) and Yoshi (Donald Glover) soon rocket into outer space to follow Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) as they embark on an intergalactic mission. There's a new princess in town, Rosalina (Brie Larson), but she doesn't need saving; instead, she manages to hold her own against the scheming Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), who's out to destroy the universe. Jack Black is also back as the gleefully over-the-top villain Bowser, though there's no earworm to accompany him this time, which feels like a missed opportunity.
Buy or rent "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" on Amazon now
‘The Bride!’ (HBO Max)
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s "The Bride!" reimagines "Bride of Frankenstein" as a punk rock gothic romance that, while compelling and undoubtedly stylish, occasionally loses itself in its own surrealism. Set in 1930s Chicago, it follows a murdered woman brought back to life named Ida (Jessie Buckley) to be the mate of a lonely Frankenstein's monster (Christian Bale). Like a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde on an accidental crime spree, the pair hit the road, leaving a trail of chaos in their wake as law enforcement closes in on the deranged power couple.
This isn’t a traditional creature feature aimed at shock or gore for its own sake. While it does include moments of violent chaos and some grisly imagery, it's more focused on exploring themes of agency, identity, and feminine rage, punctuated by touches of humor and atmospheric musical numbers.
Watch "The Bride!" on HBO Max now
‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ (Peacock)
Presented as director Quentin Tarantino intended, "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" unites his two martial arts masterpieces — 2003’s "Kill Bill: Volume 1" and 2004’s "Kill Bill: Volume 2" — into a seamless, 253-minute epic, complete with bonus sequences that didn't make the original films. There's also an animated sequence thrown into the mix, adding an extra layer to the already sprawling revenge epic.
If you've yet to see either installment, this is the perfect excuse to see what all the fuss is about. Uma Thurman stars as a character simply known as "The Bride," a former assassin left for dead after being betrayed by her mentor and lover (David Carradine) on her wedding day. To get her vengeance, she must first hunt down the four remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad before taking down Bill himself.
Watch "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" on Peacock now
'Ladies First' (Netflix)
"Wicked Little Letters" director Thea Sharrock is back with a satirical romcom about a ladies' man who finds himself suddenly transported to an alternate reality where gender roles are flipped. Damien (Sacha Baron Cohen) is, as the trailer bluntly puts it, “an asshole,” while Alex (Rosamund Pike) works under him. He gets a serious wake-up call when a head injury sees him waking up in a bizarro world where he's no longer at the top of the pecking order.
Struggling to adapt, Damien is forced to confront his own behavior and assumptions as he experiences firsthand what it’s like to live like the women he's put down all his life. Based on the trailer, it's definitely giving me "What Women Want" vibes, though somehow even more cringe. Maybe the humor isn't as lazy and predictable as the trailer makes it seem, but I'm not holding my breath.
Watch "Ladies First" on Netflix now
'Missing' (Prime Video)
I was a huge fan of 2018's "Searching," and I didn't think its sequel "Missing" could possibly top it. I'm happy to say I was wrong. While it shares the same style and themes, this follow-up tells a completely standalone story. As in its predecessor, every moment unfolds digitally through computer screens, phone displays, and video calls. It’s a clever storytelling device that pulls you deeper into the mystery as you follow Storm Reid’s determined June trying to track down her missing mother.
After June’s mother, Grace (Nia Long), vanishes during a trip to Colombia with her new boyfriend, the 18-year-old takes matters into her own hands to track her down when international bureaucracy gets in the way. She turns into an online investigator, digging through emails, social media accounts, and digital breadcrumbs for answers. But the more she uncovers, the more tangled and suspicious the mystery becomes.
Watch "Missing" on Prime Video now
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