Every week over on Polygon, we pull together the most buzzworthy new releases arriving on streaming platforms and VOD, spotlighting the top movies you can enjoy from the comfort of your home.
This time around, get ready for Smile 2, a sequel to Parker Finn’s supernatural fright fest, making its way to VOD following its September cinema release. Prefer sci-fi chills over supernatural? You might want to dive into Alien: Romulus. Directed by Fede Álvarez of Evil Dead fame, this latest entry in the Alien saga lands on Hulu, and it’s joined by the Nick Jonas-led comedy-drama, The Good Half, as well as the historical drama Firebrand featuring Alicia Vikander.
The weekend’s streaming lineup is packed, with the historical thriller Blitz available on Apple TV Plus, The Piano Lesson featuring John David Washington, and an animated treat, Spellbound by Shrek director Vicky Jenson, on Netflix. You’ll also find Blink Twice on MGM Plus and a host of other fresh releases to check out.
Here’s a quick look at this weekend’s new arrivals:
Kicking it off on Netflix, we have The Piano Lesson, a drama running for 2 hours and 5 minutes, directed by Malcolm Washington and starring the likes of Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington. Washington translates August Wilson’s play to the screen, exploring familial tensions in post-Great Depression Pittsburgh centered around a haunted piano with carvings made by an enslaved ancestor.
Another new offering on Netflix is Joy, a biographical drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes, helmed by Ben Taylor. Starring Bill Nighy and Thomasin McKenzie, Joy recounts the groundbreaking journey of in vitro fertilization, from the perspective of the trio who made it happen amidst relentless criticism and obstacles.
For fantasy fans, there’s Spellbound on Netflix, a 1-hour 49-minute musical comedy directed by Vicky Jenson. With Rachel Zegler lending her voice, this animated feature weaves magic and music as a princess must reverse a curse that has turned her parents into monsters.
On Hulu, catch Alien: Romulus, a 1-hour 59-minute sci-fi horror film by Fede Álvarez. This chapter takes place two decades after the original Alien, with siblings on a desperate scavenging mission that turns into a nightmare unlike any other. The movie plays its cards on both elements of spine-tingling horror and action.
Nick Jonas takes the lead in The Good Half, a 1-hour 36-minute comedy-drama directed by Robert Schwartzman, also streaming on Hulu. Here, you’ll follow an estranged writer facing his family’s complexities during a poignant homecoming for a funeral.
Meanwhile, Firebrand emerges on Max as a historical drama lasting for 2 hours and 1 minute, directed by Karim Aïnouz. Alicia Vikander stars as Katherine Parr, tackling danger from her erratic husband, King Henry VIII, portrayed by Jude Law.
The superhero landscape is revisited with Watchmen: Chapter 1, a 1-hour 23-minute animated drama on Apple TV Plus. Directed by Brandon Vietti, it dives into the gritty mystery of a superhero’s murder in an alternate 1985.
And over on MGM Plus, Bread & Roses stands out as a documentary offering, with a 1-hour and 30-minute chronicle capturing the lives of Afghan women resisting Taliban rule. Sahra Mani presents an intimate portrait of courage and struggle.
Flick to Mubi US for Blink Twice, a 1-hour 42-minute psychological thriller directed by Zoë Kravitz. Naomi Ackie stars in this intriguing narrative about a deceptively glamorous beach getaway that soon reveals its undercurrents.
Last but not least, Witches is available on Metrograph, a documentary running for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Under Elizabeth Sankey’s direction, it explores the portrayal of witches in media, analyzing its impacts on perceptions of gender and societal values.
And not to miss, Smile 2 on Paramount Pictures shows Parker Finn’s capacity to elevate horror, with Naomi Scott battling a supernatural adversary in a story hailed as a frighteningly good sequel that surpasses its predecessor.
There you have it, a preview of what’s streaming now so you can plan the ultimate weekend viewing marathon!
