The best streaming services have confirmed their lineups for this week, and new blockbuster movies are coming to Netflix, Max, Hulu, and more. You'll certainly have no shortage of movies to watch, but the hardest part will be deciding which new movie to watch first, but that's where we can help.
While the biggest streamers of the moment are offering their subscribers new content, the biggest release of the week is undoubtedly the premium streaming release of Pixar's Inside Out 2. The colorful sequel is on track to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and sees the return of the eccentric group of humanoid emotions that live inside Riley's head.
If you're looking for something to watch as part of your existing subscription, Netflix has a new coming-of-age comedy, Max offers a straight-to-theatre Western epic, and Hulu has a charming indie flick. Here are all the best new movies you can watch this week, and be sure to check out our roundup of the best new TV series, too.
Inside Out 2 (PVOD)
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Pixar's lull has been completely mitigated by last year's one-two punch of “Elementals” and the runaway success of “Inside Out 2.” After raking in a whopping $1.6 billion at the global box office to date (and still having some juice left in the tank), the film is now making its home debut, and parents everywhere are likely eager to have this colorful animated film available on demand to keep their kids safe. But in classic Pixar fashion, there's plenty to please slightly older viewers, too.
Set two years after 2015's Inside Out, this sequel once again focuses on the cluster of emotions that live in the brain of a young girl named Riley. Now a teenager, Riley experiences new emotions for the first time, including anxiety, embarrassment, envy, and, as we know it, boredom. These unpredictable emotions disrupt the established order in Riley's mind headquarters and could lead her down a dangerous path if joy, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust can't find a way to work together with these new feelings.
Buy on Amazon from August 20
“Stressful Positions” (Hulu)
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Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, before a very limited theatrical release in the spring, “Stress Positions” feels a bit out of place in 2024. The film is set during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a particularly difficult time in modern human history, when we were confined to our homes and the idea of social contact with anyone was practically anxiety-provoking. While it’s a time many would like to forget, first-time director Theda Hammel has taken inspiration from this horrific situation to create an uplifting comedy with just the right amount of drama.
Terry Goon (John Early) is trying to maintain a strict quarantine at his ex-husband's Brooklyn home. At the same time, he's also caring for his 19-year-old nephew, a Moroccan model named Bahlul (Qaher Harhash), who is recovering from a broken leg suffered in an electric scooter accident. However, Terry's goal of keeping the apartment quarantined proves surprisingly difficult, as Bahlul's arrival causes nearly everyone Terry knows to show up to catch a glimpse of him.
Watch on Hulu from August 21
“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” (Max)
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Kevin Costner's ambitious “Horizon: An American Saga” failed from the startThe already-filmed “Chapter 2” movie was pulled from its August release last month after “Chapter 1” was a total box office flop. The future of the Western franchise appears to be in a precarious position. For that reason, the debut of “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” on Max could prove pivotal. If the film finally manages to make some sales now that it’s available on a popular streaming service, “Chapter 2” could be pushed forward, and perhaps even the planned third and fourth installments will get the green light.
Costner's imprint is all over this film. The movie icon not only stars in “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” he also directs and co-writes the screenplay. Not to mention, he reportedly invested a significant amount of his own money into the project. Also starring Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi and Jena Malone, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” is set in the Old West during the tumultuous American Civil War and runs 181 minutes. Just remember, this is just the first chapter, but the full story may never be told.
Watch on Max from August 23
“Incoming” (Netflix)
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Every generation has its favorite high school comedy, from “American Pie” in the ’90s to “Superbad” in the ’00s (or “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” for those who were in school before the internet), and directors Dave and John Chernin are quick to say that they hope “Incoming” becomes that must-see movie for today’s high school-aged generation. But don’t worry, even working people like me might want to check out this feel-good coming-of-age comedy, because its trailer promises big laughs and all-too-relatable moments of awkwardness.
As you might expect from a high school comedy, the stakes are pretty low, but for the teens in the film, everything seems like a matter of life and death at their age. “Incoming” follows four freshmen as they try to navigate the transition to high school without losing their dignity and social status. But to do so, they’ll have to survive their biggest challenge yet, their very first high school party. While the cast is mostly made up of fresh-faced actors you may never have met before, Kaitlin Olson and Bobby Cannavale add a dose of recognizable star power.
Watch on Netflix from August 23
“The Killer” (Peacock)
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Don’t confuse this Peacock Original with the David Fincher thriller of the same name that arrived on Netflix last year (and made my list of my favorite movies of 2023), this is instead an English-language remake of the 1989 action classic of the same name. This version of “The Killer” comes from director John Woo and updates the story, including moving the action from Hong Kong to Paris, among other changes.
The details may have been tweaked a bit, but the gist remains the same. “The Killer” follows an elite assassin named Zee (Nathalie Emmanuel), known in the Parisian underworld as the Queen of the Dead. But when Zee refuses to kill a blind young woman in a nightclub, her compassionate choice has dire consequences. With allies turning against her and a police investigator (Omar Sy) circling around, Zee finds herself on a collision course with her past actions. Expect the kind of thrilling action typical of Woo’d and a story full of twists and turns.
Watch on Peacock from August 23