This week, blockbusters and Oscar nominees will be available on Netflix, Max, Hulu, and other major streaming services, along with several other films
"Wonka" is surely the star of the week, having grossed over $500 million worldwide at the box office and marking Timothée Chalamet's new career as a movie star
But that's not the only film to watch this week, as A24's "Past Lives" was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture and will appear on Paramount Plus this week along with Showtime You won't want to miss this Oscar-caliber film
Some of these titles are newly available on digital release and can be purchased at premium prices, while for others, you just need the appropriate streaming subscription And while you're here, don't forget to check out the best of the new TV shows and new Netflix shows to watch from streamers this week
Here are the top new movies streaming this week Also, be sure to check out our review of the Apple Vision Pro
You can't tell from the trailer, but this Willy Wonka actually has musical origins In fact, there is a scene in the trailer where Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) begs Lofty (Hugh Grant), an Oompa-Loompa, not to start singing
Nevertheless, "Wonka" is a great movie to watch with the family over popcorn In particular, Chalamet's performance as the young chocolatier has been praised by critics, even if the script doesn't always work for him
Buy or Rent Now on Amazon
Sometimes all you need is an action movie with a simple premise Jason Statham stars as retired beekeeper Eloise Parker's beekeeper Adam Clay in The Beekeeper After a phishing scam ruins her life and drives her to suicide, Clay is bent on revenge to take down the criminal organization behind the scam Oh, and did I mention he is a former Special Forces operative who has retired from a mysterious organization called the Beekeepers?
You already know if you want to see Jason Statham beating people up for 105 minutes or not If so, this movie is definitely worth seeing
Buy or rent on Apple TV
"Short Comings," the feature directorial debut of beloved actor Randall Park, had me laughing more than once in its 120-second trailer alone Starring Justin H Ming as Ben, an aspiring filmmaker in a relationship with Miko (Ally Maki), their relationship falls apart due to a combination of factors, including Miko going to New York for an internship and Ben not being a respectful partner This forces Ben to improve himself and meet other people
If you're looking for a quirky comedy of self-discovery sprinkled with drama, this Sundance 2023 is a must-see on Netflix this week
Stream it on Netflix now
This romance drama from debut director Celine Song has received rave reviews since its debut at Sundance last year, and it was no surprise that it was nominated for Best Picture at the 2024 Academy Awards In fact, the real surprise was Greta Lee's loss of the Best Actress award
"The Last Life" is semi-autobiographical, the story of Nora (Lee) and Hye-sung (Teo Yoo), two childhood sweethearts There was only one problem She is already married to Arthur, and despite his jokes, he is not the "evil American white husband" that Nora and viewers hate This heartbreaking film is one of the best films of the year, let alone the week
Streaming on Paramount Plus with Showtime beginning in February 2
Whereas "Wonka" avoided musical-ness in its trailer, "Dicks: The Musical" steers, nay, plunges, into musicals Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson play Craig and Trevor in this adaptation of the off-Broadway musical "F****** Identical Twins," which is basically Lindsay Lohan instead of two relatively gentle teenagers, This is what would have happened if she had played a pair of misogynistic salesmen in "The Parent Trap"
Oh, and Megan Seastallion sings a musical number You can't help but love it
Streaming on Max from February 2
"Freelance" may be one of the lowest rated films in Rotten Tomatoes history The film, in which John Cena plays a retired Special Forces operative (a recurring theme this week) who steps away from his job as a lawyer to protect journalist Claire Wellington (Alison Brie) on a mission in the fictional country of Pardonia, received a whopping 6% "fresh" from critics!
However, the film was not released in the United States
But it earned a (relatively) impressive 77% "fresh" from audiences, who praised it as an entertaining action film, and since it's free for Hulu subscribers, it's a great time to see who's right about "Freelance"
Available on Hulu starting February 2
Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is a typical schoolboy, well He is a typical schoolboy who is afraid of everything from clowns to the dark But one night, Dirk (Paul Walter Hauser) comes to visit Orion and tries to convince him that there is nothing to fear
If musicals aren't your thing, but you're looking for a family movie night this week, you'll love "Orion and the Underworld," a fun animated adventure with light humor for kids and Werner Herzog as narrator for adults
Available on Netflix beginning February 2
This Sundance Award-winning documentary tells the powerful stories of four black trans women and their powerful stories as sex workers Set in New York City and Atlanta, the film sheds light on the stories of these women who have been pushed to the margins of society Plus, it's really well done
The murder of lead actress Coco Da Doll after the film's release made "Kokomo City" more relevant and visionary than ever See it now while it is available for streaming
Available February 2 on Paramount Plus and Showtime
Based on the 2003 novel, "The Tiger's Apprentice" stars Brandon Soo Hoo as Tom Lee, a Chinese-American boy whose grandmother was the guardian of the phoenix eggs He will play the role When Mr Fu (Henry Golding) comes into his life and reveals that he is not only a tiger but also a former apprentice of Tom's grandmother, Tom is suddenly thrust into his grandmother's old role
If you need something a little more adult but family-friendly, this animated adaptation is a great option and one of several offerings from Paramount Plus this week Furthermore, this film doesn't even need Showtime
Available February 2 on Paramount Plus
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