Best new streaming movies this week (Feb 19

The best new streaming movies this week 

This week saw a wide range of new streaming movies, including a few kid-friendly selections. Click on any of the links below to jump directly to the films that catch your eye. 

Lisa isn’t exactly a popular girl at her high school, in part due to her fascination with the macabre. After a freak accident, Lisa ends up reanimating the corpse of a Victorian man, though he’s far from complete. Together, they set out to take revenge on her classmates by using their body parts to help build her perfect man.

While the plot is certainly on the darker side, this is actually a dark horror comedy. In other words, the violence is often over the top, and there’s always a humorous edge to the action. Just be sure to watch this one only with older teens and adults, as it’s not suitable for younger audiences.

• Release date: February 9, 2024
• Genre: Horror/comedy
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Zelda Williams
• Cast: Kathryn Newton, Liza Soberano, Cole Sprouse, Jenna Davis

Arthur Curry is back as the reluctant King of Atlantis, now juggling between his duties as a ruler and his responsibilities as a superhero. Soon, Black Manta returns, hoping to catch the new King off-guard and succeed where he failed before. This leads Arthur to seek an alliance with the most unlikely of sources: his brother. The two must set aside their differences and work together to save their people and the world.

The Code 8 series takes place in a world where people with superpowers are discriminated against. Many of those with superpowers turn to a life of crime, including Connor. Connor is a young man who turns to a group of criminals to earn enough money to help his sick mother. In part two, he has left this life behind, but fate once again leads him back to the criminal underworld.

• Release date: February 28, 2024
• Genre: Sci-Fi action
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Jeff Chan
• Cast: Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell, Natalie Liconti, Sarena Parmar

Jakub Procházka not only has the honor of becoming the Czech Republic’s first astronaut, he’s also sent on a risky solo mission to the edge of the solar system. While there he finds himself retreating inward and trying to piece together his life while in deep isolation. Soon after he discovers he’s not alone onboard after all. He discovers an ancient spider-like creature that soon becomes his unexpected companion and counselor, helping him confront is past and see his life for what it really is. While the movie is set in space, it’s really more of a personal journey story around a man who believes his motivations are in the right place, but soon learns he’s be neglecting what really matters. 

I’ve yet to watch this one fully, but I did give preview the first 30 minutes or so and plan to watch the rest this weekend. One thing I can say even from my short time is that Adam Sandler’s performance is top notch here, once again proving he can be just as dramatic as funny when the film calls for it. 

Joaquin Phoenix takes on the role of Napoleon Bonaparte in this new film that dives deep into the lives of the famous military leader that was driven by a combination of ambition and personal ensecurity. The film follows his rise to power from fairly modest origins, including his relationship with his wife, which was often rocky at even the best of times. If you’re a fan of historical dramas, Napoleon does a good job of touting the line between accuracy and artistic license while still providing a film that is both entertaining and holds mostly true to Bonaparte’s complicated legacy. 

I’m a huge fan of the Megaman movie so when I first learned about this one, I was a bit excited. Then I realized this was more of a B-movie designed to kick off a new Megamind TV series than a true sequel. That means no Will Ferell or any of the other great talent that made the first film shine. Nonetheless if you have kids and they ignored the first film, this could be worth watching as a family. The storyline follows Megamind (now voiced by Keith Ferguson) as he takes on the role of Metro City’s defender. All is going well until his former evil teammates (who were never mentioned in the film) show up. Now Megamind has to fake being evil while he hatches a plan to stop them. 

• Release date: March 1, 2024
• Genre: Kids/family
• Rating: TV-G
• Director: Eric Fogel
• Cast: Kieth Ferguson, Laura Post, Josh Brener, Maya Aoki Tuttle

All eight films in the Harry Potter franchise are now making their way to Peacock on March 1. Previously the only way to watch the films was to either buy them on a VOD service or stream them through Max. Relive the magic as you watch the story of the Boy Who Lived for either the first or the hundredth time. 

• Release date: 1997 – 2007
• Genre: Fantasy
• Rating: PG
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton

What was new and worth watching over the last month 

Looking for more recommendations? Here are other great movies that debuted in the last 30 days or so:

After retiring from the Danish military after twenty-five years, Captain Ludvig Kahlen sets out to build a successful homestead on the barren Jutland moorland. After obtaining the proper permissions from the Royal Danish Courts, he makes his way to his new prospective home only to come into conflict with a local magistrate and landowner who has his own plans for the moorland. He does everything he can to discourage Kahlen from establishing his property including burning his land, limiting his access to workers, and more. Thankfully for Kahlen, he still has plenty of fight left within him.

While The Promised Land isn’t out on streaming services just yet, you can get it on VOD starting on February 23rd. 

Mea Harper is a criminal defense attorney who is on the rise within her firm but it’s all put into jeopardy when she takes on a new client, Zyair Malloy. He is accused of murdering his girlfriend but proclaims his innocence. As she dives deeper into the case she begins to question where her loyalties lie as she falls for him. Everyone around her warns that he’s not what he seems, but she finds herself finding it harder and harder to resist him. If you’re into suspense thrillers with a hefty dose of drama this is worth the watch.

Suspect plenty of twists and turns with this one! You can watch it starting February 23 on Netflix. 

• Release date: February 23, 2024
• Genre: Drama/Thrillers
• Rating: R
• Director: Tyler Perry
• Cast: Kelly Rowland, Trevante Rhodes, Sean Sagar

We’ve seen plenty of movies that shine the light directly on Elvis, but this film takes a different approach. Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla takes a deeper look back at Priscilla’s life and romance with Elvis, which began when she was just fourteen years old. The film is told from her point of view and is based on her memoir “Elvis and Me”. If you’re a fan of Elvis or just fascinated with the King’s legacy and life, this is worth a watch. it’s also nice to get a unique perspective in what feels like a story that’s been told many times before just from the perspective of the King himself.

• Release date: October 27, 2023
• Genre: Musical/Romance
• Rating: R
• Director: Sofia Coppola
• Cast: Jacob Elordi, Cailee Spaeny, Kamilla Kowal

Adam is a lonely screenwriter living in London but all that changes when he meets Harry. As the two begin to spark a relationship Adam finds himself drawn back toward his own troubled past. This leads him to revisit his childhood home, only to find his parents are alive as they were decades before their tragic passing. Billed as a romantic fantasy mystery film, All of Us Strangers is a unique film that helps explore some fairly deep concepts including grief and loss, new love, fantasy, and the enduring power of old memories. 

Although I’ve yet to check this one out myself, the film has been universally praised for its strong performances and beautiful cinematography. While the film arrived late last year at theaters you can now buy it on popular video-on-demand services like the one linked below. 

• Release date: December 22, 2023
• Genre: Romantic fantasy
• Rating: R
• Director: Andrew Haigh
• Cast: Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott, Claire Foy

Despite being twenty years old, the legacy of Mean Girls refuses to die. Not only has the movie had an enduring place in our culture, but it also successfully translated into a popular musical back in 2017. Going full circle the musical finally made its way to the big screen earlier this year. The latest iteration tells the familiar story of a new student named Cady Heron who soon learns about the strict social hierarchy in her school and ultimately ends up becoming the target of one particularly ruthless cliche called The Plastics, led by the equally cruel Regina George. With the help of some new friends, Cady hopes to take revenge on Regina and expose the group’s true nature as mean girls. 

While the core story remains the same as the original film, the biggest change is the move to a musical format and deeper exploration of characters that were less significant in the 2004 classic. You can now watch it through Video on Demand services including Amazon (linked below). 

• Release date: January 12, 2024
• Genre: Musical/Comedy
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Arturo Perez Jr. 
• Cast: Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken may have been a box office failure for Dreamworks, but don’t let that turn you off. Poor timing and an unclear title with the word “teenager” in it didn’t help this film gain any popularity but the story isn’t half bad.  The movie stars Ruby, a teenager who lives in the human world but is actually a sea creature that can transform into a powerful Kraken. Even better, it takes a fun stab at Disney with its villain twist, which we’ll leave you to discover on your own. 

Although Ruby Gillman has been out for a while now, the movie is finally arriving on Netflix. If you’ve yet to watch this one with your kids, I highly recommend it. 

Two gay best friends attempt to form a fight club of sorts in their high school, hoping to gain traction, meet girls, and hopefully lose their virginity in the process. Things quickly devolve into chaos and violence. Raunchy, dramatic, and funny, this could be the perfect late-night comedy for the weekend.  Just be aware it fully deserves its R rating, so maybe keep this one to just the adults in your family. Although it originally arrived in theaters last summer, you can now stream it on Amazon Prime. 

• Release date: August 25, 2023
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: R
• Director: Emma Seligman
• Cast: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz

Lia owns a struggling tea shop and is trying her best to navigate it all, to mixed results. As part of a cultural tradition connected to an upcoming family wedding, she is told her fortune and quested with a mission to go on five dates to not only find her soul mate but also save her business. Her father and mother get involved with the process to hilarious results, each picking one person for one of the potential five dates.

The first date is a playboy, the second a mama’s boy, the third a lover boy, and the list goes on culminating with her ex-boyfriend as one of the options. Are one of these men really the key to finding her success? Lia hopes to find out while also following her heart to find what it is she really wants from life. 

• Release date: Feb 13, 2024
• Genre: Romance/Comedy
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Shawn Seet
• Cast: Shuang Hu, Yoson An, Jon Prasida

Gina Rodriguez, of Not Dead Yet fame, stars in this hilarious romantic comedy centering on a sportswriter who’s a master at the hookup game. She helps her guy friends score dates and plays the field herself. But when the charming war reporter Nick Russell arrives, her world turns upside down. Unsure about navigating real love, she enlists her friends to help her win Nick’s heart. After all her scheming, the two start to connect but her own friends realize that the two may not have much in common. Is Nick really the man of her dreams, or was what she was looking for in front of her the whole time? That’s the general gist of the story here, without giving too much away. This rom-com will have you laughing and cheering till the end, with plenty of star power to boot.

• Release date: Feb 14, 2024
• Genre: Romantic comedy
• Rating: NR
• Director: Trish Sie
• Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Tom Ellis

Based loosely on a true story, this hilarious underdog tale follows Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen. After a humbling career setback, he’s offered a lifeline: the chance to coach the American Samoa national football team, infamously known as one of the worst in the world. Rongen arrives to find a ragtag team with more enthusiasm than skill, but as he digs deeper, he discovers a hidden spirit waiting to be unleashed. This fun, feel-good sports movie delivers laughs and cheers, proving that with heart and a little bit of crazy, anything is possible – even in soccer!

• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• Genre: Sports docu-comedy
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Taika Waititi
• Cast: Taika Waititi, Michael Fassbender, Kaimana

Oppenheimer became a pretty controversial success, telling the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who is often considered the father of the atomic bomb. The film focuses on his leadership of the Manhattan Project during World War II with a focus on the major scientific breakthroughs, as well as the moral implications of creating such a weapon. The film moves fairly fast and is a fascinating watch but be aware it also came under fire for not doing enough to show the suffering and harm the bomb caused to the Japanese people, instead shifting the focus to a more limited, American perspective. 

• Release date: July 21, 2023
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: R
• Director: Christoper Nolan
• Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. 

Coinciding with her new music album, this musical film follows Jennifer Lopez on her journey through love, heartbreak, and personal growth. She reflects on past successes and failures, ultimately exploring how they led her to her current husband, Ben Affleck. While not a typical documentary, it plays more like a traditional film with Lopez starring as herself.

This unique take on filmmaking is a must-watch for Lopez fans. “This Is Me… Now: A Love Story” premieres Friday, February 16th, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. There are also plenty of major stars here beyond Lopez, including Sofia Vergara and Ben Affleck. 

• Release date: Feb 16, 2024
• Genre: Musical
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Dave Meyers
• Cast: Sofia Vergara, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez

Color of Purple receives a major new adaptation for the first time since the 1985 classic starring Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. With a fresh cast, this version retells the familiar story based on Alice Walker’s novel of the same name. Celie, a young African American woman living in the early 1900s, faces racial strife and everyday challenges. After leaving home on less-than-ideal terms, she sets out to find herself and her place in the world. This inspiring story celebrates the human spirit and our ability to overcome adversity and while it’s hard to beat the original cast, there’s plenty of great talent and performance here as well. 

• Release date: October 27, 2023
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Blitz Bazawule
• Cast: Taraji Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a US holiday that’s about celebrating family, despite the fact the tradition is rooted in some pretty shady history. This new film takes things in a very different direction. What started as an ordinary Black Friday shopping event in Plymouth, Massachusetts turns deadly when a masked killer emerges and begins terrorizing the town with acts taht are clearly themed around Thanksgiving. What’s less clear is what motives drive the killer and why. This is definitely not your typical feel good Thanksgiving movie, but that’s part of its charm. There’s also quite a few talented individuals here, including Patrick Dempsey, who feels a bit out of place to me but in a good way. 

• Release date: November 17, 2023
• Genre: Horror/Slasher
• Rating: R
• Director: Eli Roth
• Cast: Addison Rae, Nell Verlaque, Patrick Dempsey

The Marvels has finally made its way to Disney Plus and while it hasn’t done as well with critics it is still absolutely worth the watch for fans of the first and Marvel fans in general. Just be aware there are quite a few changes to the formula for this film, though many of them actually work pretty well. 

This time, the action takes place as the Kree empire collapses and its remnants prepare for war. After her powers become connected to two other women, Captain Marvel will need to team up with these two new heroes to take on the greatest threat to humanity in years. 

• Release date: November 10, 2023
• Genre: Superhero/Action
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Nia DaCosta
• Cast: Brie Larson, Park Seo-Joon, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton

Ana is an overworked and underpaid auction house assistant at a New York City auction house, though she has much bigger dreams that include opening her own art gallery. For now, she’s stuck in a frustrating dead-end job, but everything changes when she is upgraded to a first-class ticket for a work trip. Soon after she meets a man named Will and instantly falls for him. The twist is that he thinks she’s her boss. As you might guess, this sets off a whirlwind romance that could come undone at any moment. 

While Upgraded story sounds a bit cliche it could be the perfect movie for your next date night. 

• Release date: Feb 9, 2024
• Genre: Romance/Comedy
• Rating: R
• Director: Carlson Young
• Cast: Camila Mendes, Archie Renaux, Marisa Tomei, Rachel Matthews

Cat Person – Feb 9, Hulu

Based on the anti-romance short story that went viral back in 2007, Cat Person is told from the point of view of Margot. After beginning a texting relationship with an older man, the two meet in person, and after a brief hook up she soon realizes reality doesn’t meet up with the expectations she builds in her head. Even worse, the man may be much more dangerous than she realized and it all started with a simple lie meant to disarm her: that he had cats. 

Cat Person is a powerful movie that highlights the dark side of dating in today’s world. Combined with strong performances and great pacing, this one is absolutely worth watching. 

• Release date: Oct 6, 2023
• Genre: Psychological/Thriller
• Rating: R
• Director: Susanna Fogel
• Cast: Emilia Jones, Nicholas Braun, Geraldine Viswanathan

This coming-of-age film centers around a young woman named Doris and is based on director Laura Chin’s own life experience from the early 2000s. Doris might just be a teen but her life is far from easy, as she and her mother must constantly care for her brother Max, who is suffering from brain cancer and in an unresponsive state. She finds herself torn between her familial responsibilities and her desire to be an ordinary teenager.

This film has a lot of great talent including Laura Linney, Woody Harrelson, and Nico Parker. If you enjoy coming-of-age dramas this could be the perfect weekend watch.

• Genre: Drama
• Rating: R
• Director: Laura Chinn
• Cast: Nico Parker, Woody Harrelson, Ella Anderson, Baby Ariel

Set on the merchant ship Demeter, the crew’s voyage from Carpathia to London starts out as you’d expect but soon takes a turn for the supernatural when a body is found onboard covered in blood. Soon it is revealed that the vampire Dracula has made his way onto the ship and is stalking the crew at night. The crew must attempt to find Dracula and stop him before he manages to take out the entire crew. 

With a somewhat campy plotline, you can’t expect this one to have the most serious or provoking storyline but if you like vampire horror flicks, the story is a pretty interesting take on the typical Dracula formula. 

• Release date: Aug 29, 2023
• Genre: Horror/Supernatural
• Rating: R
• Director: André Øvredal
• Cast: Aisling Franciosi, Corey Hawkins, Liam Cunningham

Orion is a boy with an overactive imagination and an extreme fear of the dark. One night the dark comes to visit him, taking on a talking form. The Dark wants to help the boy overcome his anxieties by taking him on an adventure around the world to see what it is dark does and why there’s no real reason to fear him. 

While I’ve yet to check this one out, we’ll definitely be doing so this weekend for a few reasons. First, this is by the same studio that brought classics like How to Train Your Dragon to life. Second, I happen to have an imaginative kiddo of my own with this same fear, so this could be the perfect film for us. I really like the idea that this film doesn’t just look fun and entertaining, but might also help kids with legitimate nighttime anxiety. 

• Release date: February 2, 2024
• Genre: Comedy/Family
• Rating: TV-Y7
• Director: Sean Charmatz
• Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Chelsea Peretti

If you’re looking for something fun and raunchy, Dicks the Musical is now on Max. The plot follows two twin businessmen who were separated at birth. The two men create a  plan to reunite their divorced parents.

This is definitely not for families, but if you’re looking for something funny and a bit dirty, look no further. There are also some big names in here including Nathan Lane, Josh Sharp, and Megan Thee Stallion. 

• Release date: October 6, 2023
• Genre: Comedy/Musical
• Rating: R
• Director: Larry Charles
• Cast: Joshua Sharp, Aaron Jackson, Nathan Lane