Streaming is the right word because the tap never runs dry. The hazy days of mid-July bring us a fresh batch of new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Apple TV and more streaming services.
Rather than leave you endlessly scrolling, I've sorted this weekend's five biggest new releases in order of what's most worth your time, weighing everything from hype and star power to actual watchability.
At the top of the list are the twisty crime thriller "Lucky" starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Will Ferrell's newsroom comedy "The Hawk." Prime Video's action-comedy "Ride or Die," the heartfelt farewell of "Heartstopper Forever," and the home streaming debut of horror hit "Backrooms" round out the options. Whether you're after laughs, action, romance or something more thoughtful, here's my ranked guide to the best new streaming picks this weekend.
1. 'Backrooms' (digital release)
Genre: Sci-fi psychological horror movie
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
What it's about: A furniture store owner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) stumbles upon a portal hidden beneath his showroom that leads to an endless labyrinth of fluorescent-lit, impossible rooms where reality starts to fray at the edges. Alongside his therapist (Renate Reinsve), he uncovers a nightmare that feels like the most cursed IKEA trip ever taken.
Why it's worth your time: "Backrooms" turns an internet creepypasta into one of the year's most unnerving horror movies, pairing jaw-dropping production design with suffocating atmosphere and existential dread that invades your brain like a parasite. After a weeklong delay, its digital release finally brings it to your living room.
Where to stream: Prime Video (with purchase)
2. 'Lucky' (Apple TV)
Genre: Crime thriller limited series
Available now: 2 episodes (one hour)
What it's about: Retired con artist Lucky Armstrong (Anya Taylor-Joy) thought she was one score away from leaving her criminal past behind. Instead, she wakes up in a Vegas hotel room with no money and no partner, with a mob boss, the FBI and plenty of old ghosts closing in fast.
Why it's worth your time: If your ideal binge involves glamorous criminals and impossible odds, you're in luck with "Lucky." It doesn't reinvent the crime-thriller playbook, but it knows how to keep the adrenaline flowing with plenty of twists, betrayals and chase sequences.
Where to stream: Apple TV
3. 'The Hawk' (Netflix)
Genre: Sports comedy series
Available now: 10 episodes (half hour)
What it's about: Will Ferrell stars as Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins, a washed-up former world No. 1 golfer convinced he has one last shot at completing a career Grand Slam. Unfortunately, his comeback runs straight through his skeptical ex-wife (Molly Shannon), his rising-star son (Jimmy Tatro) and a lifetime of bad decisions.
Why it's worth your time: If your favorite version of Will Ferrell is the loud, wildly overconfident man-child who barrels through life on sheer delusion, "The Hawk" is very much in your wheelhouse. It's packed with the kind of immature sports-comedy energy that made "Talladega Nights" a classic.
Where to stream: Netflix
4. 'Ride or Die' (Prime Video)
Genre: Action-comedy series
Available now: 8 episodes (one hour)
What it’s about: Debbie (Octavia Spencer) thought she knew everything about her best friend Judith (Hannah Waddingham). What she didn’t know is that Judith has spent decades moonlighting as an elite international assassin. When a botched mission and a dangerous figure from Judith’s past put a target on both their backs, the pair hits the road for a frantic dash across Europe.
Why it’s worth your time: Because Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham are having a blast. Their chemistry turns this globe-trotting caper into a surprisingly heartfelt story about friendship, reinvention, and what happens when "ride or die" turns literal.
Where to stream: Prime Video
5. 'Heartstopper Forever' (Netflix)
Genre: Coming-of-age romance movie
Runtime: 2 hours
What it's about: Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) are still hopelessly in love, but things get a little more complicated by graduation, university and the prospect of a long-distance relationship. The couple faces the biggest test of their relationship yet, while the rest of the beloved gang navigates their own bittersweet leap into adulthood.
Why it's worth your time: Rather than stretching the story into another season, "Heartstopper" gets the feature-film sendoff it deserves. The bigger cinematic scope matches the characters' emotional growth, giving longtime fans one last heartfelt, hopeful chapter. Break out the tissues!
Where to stream: Netflix
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