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Now that we’re already three months into 2026, I’ve seen my fair share of new movies on the big screen, and while it’s been a mixed bag so far, there’s one I’d recommend to anyone looking for some thrilling entertainment. “Cold Storage,” starring Joe Keery from “Stranger Things,” Georgina Campbell from “Barbarian,” and Liam Neeson, is a vibrant sci-fi thriller that’s surprisingly funny. Even though it’s one of this year’s smaller releases, it still comes highly recommended.
“Cold Storage” hit theaters in mid-February and has just become available to stream in the U.S. on services like Amazon. The fast digital release likely comes down to its opening weekend landing opposite “Wuthering Heights” and “Crime 101,” with the thriller earning only $3 million worldwide. But a low box office doesn’t mean it’s a movie to skip entirely. In fact, I’d argue that “Cold Storage” is the perfect streaming movie.
This entertaining flick fully embraces creature chaos, slimy effects, and unapologetic fun. It’s also designed to help you shut your brain off rather than dig too deeply, which is exactly why I enjoyed it so much. So if you’re looking for something to stream this week, here’s why “Cold Storage” should be on your list.
What is ‘Cold Storage’ about?
“Cold Storage” begins decades earlier when a military experiment involving a dangerous fungus goes wrong. The organism, originally sent into space for study, is secretly locked away in a secure underground vault beneath a facility in Kansas. For years, the government keeps the area sealed and repurposes the site as a commercial self-storage business.
Years later, two employees working the night shift at the storage facility, Travis “Teacake” Meacham (Joe Keery) and Naomi Williams (Georgina Campbell), unknowingly trigger a chain of events that releases the long-contained fungus. The organism spreads rapidly through humans and animals, transforming its hosts and causing violent outbreaks inside the building.
As chaos spreads through the facility, the pair contact Robert Quinn (Liam Neeson), a retired bioterror operative who once helped contain the organism. Together, they attempt to stop the infection from escaping the building.
‘Cold Storage’ serves up a healthy dose of goo‑soaked fun
Watching a movie packed with green slime, exploding guts, and pulsating vines while munching on some popcorn might not be for everyone, but “Cold Storage” is the very definition of a popcorn flick. From the screenwriter of “Jurassic Park” and the producer of “Zombieland,” this movie clearly takes inspiration from both in its visuals and humor.
There’s a certain vibrancy, with Teacake and Naomi wearing orange work uniforms, exploring red-lit rooms, and discovering a sickly green fungus, all of which elevates the experience. Pair that with some unhinged humor, and you have a chaotic, goo-filled thrill ride that’s as funny as it is messy.
A lot of the movie’s charm comes from Keery and Campbell. Their easy back-and-forth makes you root for them, and it genuinely feels like two people who are bored at their jobs but can’t resist poking around the strange stuff beneath them. Neeson adds a more serious counterbalance when it comes to containing the fungus in some action-packed scenes, but without Keery and Campbell, the humor wouldn’t stick. The tone swings might not suit everyone, but for me, it keeps “Cold Storage” lively and thrilling.
One of the strongest aspects of “Cold Storage” has to be the camera work. The movie uses bodycam‑style shots through infected brains and found‑footage elements at times, which helps keep the visuals dynamic and unpredictable even when the story isn’t breaking new ground. There’s also a standout shot that follows a cockroach carrying the fungus through pipes to the surface, adding to the already impressive visual flair. Movies that take visual risks like this usually pay off in sheer entertainment value.
If there’s any downside (because it’s not a masterpiece, after all), it’s that the practical effects feel a little underused and the script takes its time to ramp up. Plus, there are definitely moments where you have to throw logic out the window. But amid all the goo and chaos, this is a genuinely fun sci‑fi thriller worth streaming, especially for genre fans. It might take a minute to get rolling, but if you just sit back and go with it, it’s totally worth it. Sometimes, it’s nice to watch a movie that’s easy to follow and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Buy/rent "Cold Storage" on Amazon
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