Theaters are still closed, but new streaming movies are coming to entertain you and your family during socially distanced times.
This weekend, actor Dave Franco unleashes his chilling directing debut; a young-adult rom-com sequel arrives on Netflix; Rosamund Pike plays a scientific pioneer in a new biopic; a bunch of real-life singing fisherman get the cinematic treatment; and Orlando Bloom is a tortured soul in a British drama with religious overtones.
If that’s not enough to get you online and watching movies, the smartphone-friendly streaming service Quibi has unveiled its most star-filled project yet: Kevin Hart stars as a fictionalized version of himself in “Die Hart,” an action comedy airing new chapters daily that finds the comedian going to Action Star School and taking lessons from a nutty instructor (John Travolta).
Ranked: Every horror movie of 2020 (including Dave Franco’s ‘The Rental’)
Missing movie theaters? Fill up the car and head to these drive-ins
Here’s a rundown of new movies hitting streaming this weekend, for every cinematic taste:
You might want to rethink that Airbnb reservation for when things get back to normal. In Franco’s deeply freaky thriller, two partners (Dan Stevens and Sheila Vand) at a startup head off to celebrate their launch at a weekend getaway with their significant others (Alison Brie and Jeremy Allen White). An oddball house host, hidden cameras in the showers, unearthed secrets and a mysterious figure all factor into an entertaining and twisty vacation from hell.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play
Marie Curie seems like a pretty decent choice to get her own biopic, though this one’s pretty dry unless you’re really into radium and polonium. The drama digs into the game-changing advancements of Curie (Pike) and husband Pierre (Sam Riley), as well as her later work caring for soldiers during World War I. A bolder filmmaking choice, however, is how the film sets Curie’s story aside for tangential episodes about how her discoveries factored into future events like the development of the atomic bomb and Chernobyl.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Clocking in at a hefty two hours and 12 minutes, this is the “Avengers: Endgame” of young-adult rom-coms, with seemingly as many characters but more dance video-game throwdowns. An ultra-cheesy bit of teen-movie comfort food, the sequel follows Elle (Joey King) in her senior year of high school navigating a long-distance relationship with boyfriend Noah (Jacob Elordi), best friendship with pal Lee (Joel Courtney) and the arrival of an attractive new classmate (Taylor Perez).
Where to watch: Netflix
A familiar underdog narrative is afoot, but at least it sounds peppy in this musical dramedy based on a true story. A young London music executive (Daniel Mays) is pranked by his co-workers into signing a group of singing fisherman from Cornwall, a situation complicated when the city slicker falls for the daughter (Tuppence Middleton) of the group’s gruff leader (James Purefoy). But it turns out these shanty-loving dudes are appealing enough to score a hit record – and win your heart, to boot.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now
British actress Romola Garai goes behind the camera to direct her first feature, a devilish horror flick that’ll get under your skin. An ex-soldier (Alec Secareanu) is recruited by a nun (Imelda Staunton) to help a young woman (Carla Juri) with the upkeep of her decrepit house. Her elderly mother lives upstairs and is scary as all get out, though the truth of what’s exactly going on is revealed during a slow-burn chiller that really sneaks up on you.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango Now
Josh Hartnett headlines this drama based on real events as a Canadian investigative journalist who travels to Bangkok to interview an imprisoned drug addict (Antoine Olivier Pilon). Jailed as part of a heroin bust, the junkie holds the truth about the corruption that the reporter wants to expose but also puts his family’s life in danger. At over two hours, the engaging film wears out its welcome a smidge but does give comedian Jim Gaffigan a chance to really break type as a shady Vancouver drug dealer.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now
Bloom’s a busy man this streaming summer, popping up in “The Outpost” and now in this moody film playing construction worker Malky, whose latest job is demolishing a church. When he sees a man from his traumatic past at a local pub, hard feelings and repressed emotions are triggered in a big way, leading Malky down a vengeful path. The story’s about as subtle as Malky’s sledgehammer, but Bloom’s a standout and the film deftly explores themes of sex abuse in the church amid a host of religious symbolism.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now
This excruciatingly bad horror film isn’t a comedy, but you’ll giggle just the same. A construction site to develop real estate property over an old summer campground unearths a mystical place where a witch covered in chains does eternal battle with a creepy evil demon ghost woman, with psychic-kid nonsense thrown in for some reason. Even worse, the flick wastes some familiar faces, including Judd Hirsch, Lori Petty and Corbin Bernsen, who plays the town’s knower of all things kooky.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Fandango Now