It’s shaping up to be a huge week for movie lovers. Say goodbye to endlessly scrolling for what to watch, as we’ve rounded up all the must-watch films hitting Netflix, Peacock, Starz and more of the best streaming services this week.
The biggest news? After a superpowered summer battle at the box office against the Man of Steel, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is finally available on paid video-on-demand platforms. If you missed this slick and heartfelt superhero flick in theaters, this is your chance to catch up on all the biggest MCU plot points ahead of next year’s “Avengers: Doomsday.”
Meanwhile, Netflix just got the crowd-pleasing reboot “Karate Kid: Legends,” and Tyler Perry’s latest romantic drama “Ruth & Boaz,” a modern retelling of one of the Bible’s most iconic love stories. Over on Peacock, you can check out the divisive sequel “M3GAN 2.0,” which I still argue is every bit the kind of big, dumb fun a summer blockbuster should be. For more action-packed thrills, check out the “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina” on Starz.
So without further ado, let’s dive into the best movies new to streaming to watch this weekend.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (PVOD)
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I thoroughly enjoyed “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” when I saw it in theaters over the summer, and it’s exactly the kind of weird swing for the fences the MCU needs right now to get it out of its post-“End Game” slump. While I expected Pedro Pascal to shine once again as yet another fan-favorite dad, it’s really the infectious chemistry and banter between Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s The Thing that makes you fall in love with this latest iteration of the superpowered found family.
Set in a stylish, alternate 1960s-inspired Earth (think “Fallout” meets “Star Trek”), it wisely skips the origin story and kicks off after the Fantastic Four have been keeping the world safe for four years. Reed Richards (Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) learn they’re expecting their first child right before a cryptic warning sends them and their teammates to the furthest corners of space With the planet-devouring Galactus eyeing Earth as his next snack, they face their toughest challenge yet, but the cosmic chaos turns personal when their child gets pulled into becoming a bargaining chip for humanity’s future.
Buy or rent now on Amazon or Apple
‘Ballerina’ (Starz)
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Most spinoffs feel unnecessary at best and a blatant cash grab at worst, but “Ballerina” is the rare exception that’s strong enough to stand on its own. While it shifts the spotlight from Keanu Reeves’ iconic John Wick to a new lead, fans of the franchise will find its familiar rhythm of revenge and relentless action intact.
Set between the events of “Parabellum” and “John Wick: Chapter 4,” the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), a ballerina-assassin trained by a shadowy faction of the Russian mafia under the watchful eye of The Director (Anjelica Huston). She escapes the brutal academy where she was raised to — what else? — carve a bloody path of retribution through those who’ve wronged her. As she sets out to avenge her father’s murder, she crosses paths with John Wick and lands squarely in the crosshairs of a ruthless group of killers.
Watch it now on Starz
‘M3GAN 2.0’ (Peacock)
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“M3GAN 2.0” didn’t quite capture the viral lightning-in-a-bottle of its 2022 predecessor, but as someone who had a blast watching it in theaters, I say ignore the critics on this one. It’s a campy, fun ride that hits the spot if you’re craving a popcorn thriller with “Terminator” vibes. That being said, horror fans might be disappointed, as it does trade the first movie’s scares for pulpy action mayhem (delivered with a knowing wink to the audience).
Roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams) is thriving after defeating the unsettlingly lifelike android (played by Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) she built for her orphaned niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). But now a new android, AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), is on the loose and leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. To stop her, Gemma and Cady are left with one option: resurrect M3GAN and form an uneasy alliance to stop her rogue successor from unleashing untold AI horrors upon the world. But M3GAN has some demands of her own. Namely, that she wants to be taller this time.
Watch it now on Peacock
‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (Netflix)
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Speaking of drowning out the haters, “Karate Kid: Legends” is another one the critics got wrong. Sure, it’s not capital “C” cinema, but like the original, it’s a feel-good crowd-pleaser that’s sure to capture the hearts of a new generation. Newcomer Ben Wang injects some fresh energy as the latest rising kung fu star to cheer for, Li Fong, who moves from China to New York with his mother (Ming-Na Wen), leaving behind his close friends and beloved kung fu mentor, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan).
Struggling to adjust, Li sparks a budding friendship with native New Yorker Mia (Sadie Stanley) and her father (Joshua Jackson), who runs a neighborhood pizza shop. When the shop threatens to close for good, Li enters a local karate tournament to help save it despite his mother’s disapproval. “Karate Kid: Legends” leans hard into nostalgia, pulling from the best of both the original films and “Cobra Kai” to craft a familiar yet compelling underdog story. Longtime fans will appreciate how it mixes the original timeline with the 2010 remake, as well as appearances from franchise icon Ralph Macchio and a fun cameo from “Cobra Kai’s” William Zabka.
Watch it now on Netflix
‘Ruth & Boaz’ (Netflix)
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Tyler Perry’s Netflix movies tend to be hit or miss for me. The latest from him and producer DeVon Franklin is a modern twist on a timeless biblical love story, and it looks promising enough. The story follows Ruth (Serayah), an Atlanta rapper who walks away from a record deal and moves to rural Tennessee to take care of the elderly widow of her late boyfriend, Naomi (Phylicia Rashad).
She gets a job at a local vineyard to make ends meet, but when she meets the vineyard’s co-owner Bo “Boaz” Astra (Tyler Lepley), a cautious romance begins to bloom. Though Bo is instantly drawn to Ruth, she’s slow to open her heart as old wounds and memories from her past resurface. As she confronts the weight of her past and the promise of new beginnings, she learns that starting over isn’t just about leaving something behind, but about finally finding your people.
Watch it now on Netflix
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