Welcome to When To Stream’s Weekly Preview! Every week, we take a closer look at the major film streaming releases scheduled to launch in the next 7 days. As always, release dates are subject to change.

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Here are next week’s highlights:

Monday, November 18th, 2024

WATCHMEN: CHAPTER I - Max

Synopsis: In 1985, the murder of a government-sponsored superhero draws his outlawed colleagues out of retirement and into a mystery that threatens to upend their personal lives and the world itself.

What we like:

• Based on the groundbreaking graphic novel series by writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons, Watchmen: Chapter 1 adapts the gritty, Cold War superhero saga that redefined comics back in the 1980s.

• The voice cast is stacked with talented actors: Matthew Rhys, Katee Sackhoff, Titus Welliver, Troy Baker, Adrienne Barbeau (!), Corey Burton, and Michael Cerveris.

What we don’t like:

• If you want to jump right in to Watchmen: Chapter II, you’ll have to wait a week. It arrives on digital on November 26th.

Tuesday, November 19th, 2024

DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Synopsis: Seventeen year old Tanya's plans for a carefree summer are derailed when her stressed-to-the-limit mom takes off for a wellness retreat and puts Tanya and her three siblings in the charge of a crotchety (and racist) old babysitter. The babysitter’s sudden death leaves the kids short on cash and reluctant to pull mom prematurely out of her much-needed R&R, so Tanya is forced to get a job. Posing as an adult, she gets a gig as the executive assistant at a fashion company and overnight is thrust into the world of adulthood and parenting.

What we like:

• On the podcast The Rewatchables, host Bill Simmons asks the question: Could you remake this movie with an all-black cast? It’s a fun exercise, and here’s a film that does it.

• Guess what? It’s supposed to be pretty charming! Probably not going to be remembered at Oscar time, but a solid comedy.

• The year of June Squibb continues. She plays the titular dead babysitter, and you can catch her kicking butt in Thelma (now available on Hulu).

What we don’t like:

• Sorry, we don’t care for the 1991 original. We know it’s sacred text for some, and we don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, but…not one of our favorites.

SMILE 2 - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Synopsis: About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.

What we like:

• Director Parker Finn delivers a sequel that builds on the mythology of the original, which was a surprise smash hit in the Fall of 2022.

• Finn assembles an impressive cast, led by Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, and Raul Castillo.

• Returning from the first film is Kyle Gallner, who’s having a hell of a year. Have you seen Strange Darling yet? We think it’s one of the year’s best.

What we don’t like:

• This sequel wasn’t quite the word-of-mouth hit the first film was. Still, it’s currently earned $125M globally, nothing to sneeze at. With this sequel’s ‘shock’ ending, a Smile 3 seems inevitable.

Wednesday, November 20th, 2024

THE MERRY GENTLEMEN - Netflix

Synopsis: To save her parents' small-town performing arts venue, a Broadway dancer stages an all-male, Christmas-themed revue — and meets a guy with all the right moves.

What we like:

• Netflix’s quest to drink Hallmark’s milkshake continues with this high-concept holiday trifle. Yes, we should have made that reference last week, when Hot Frosty was previewed. But better late than never.

• Britt Robertson plays the former Broadway dancer here, and her parents’ performing arts venue is named The Rhythm Room, which is not a great name for a venue unless it has strippers.

What we don’t like:

• 2000s teen idol Chad Michael Murray is the love interest, and he looks great. Except! What’s with the Fabio hair? Not flattering.

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

ALIEN: ROMULUS - Hulu

Synopsis: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

What we like:

• Director Fede Alvarez delivers an entertaining (enough) Alien movie that takes place in the Alien timeline between the two most popular (and best) installments in the franchise. 1979’s Alien is set in 2122, Romulus is set in 2142, and 1986’s Aliens is set in 2179.

• Alvarez sought out the special effects crew from Aliens to work on the creatures. Physical sets, practical creatures, and miniatures were used wherever possible to help ground later VFX work.

What we don’t like:

• We won’t spoil it, but we’re not crazy about some of the callbacks to the earlier films, particularly the re-use of an iconic line of dialogue. It’s the sort of fan service that’s pandering and derivative.

BLINK TWICE - MGM+

Synopsis: When tech billionaire Slater King meets cocktail waitress Frida at his fundraising gala, he invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. But despite the epic setting, beautiful people, ever-flowing champagne, and late-night dance parties, Frida can sense that there’s something sinister hiding beneath the island’s lush façade.

What we like:

• Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut (she also co-wrote with E.T. Feigenbaum) features a fantastic cast:  Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, and Alia Shawkat. Amazing!

• Kravitz started writing Blink Twice under the original working title Pussy Island and intended on keeping this title for the film. But a negative reception from the MPA, women, and theaters lead to her changing it. We’re with you Zoë, Pussy Island is a better title.

What we don’t like:

• This was the second summer flop for leading man Channing Tatum. July’s Fly Me To the Moon grossed only $20M domestic, and Blink Twice did just a few million more. Tatum is such a likable actor, we hope he rebounds with his next project.

• Tatum and Kravitz, who began dating while working together on the film, recently split.

Friday, November 22nd, 2024

BLITZ - Apple TV+

Synopsis: In World War II London, nine-year-old George is evacuated to the countryside by his mother, Rita, to escape the bombings. Defiant and determined to return to his family, George embarks on an epic, perilous journey back home as Rita searches for him.

What we like:

• Saoirse Ronan is the bold-faced name, but it’s really young Elliott Heffernan carrying this World War II epic on his small shoulders.

• The terrific supporting cast includes Harris Dickinson, Kathy Burke, Benjamin Clémentine, and making his acting debut, music icon Paul Weller.

• The film received a mixed-reception after it premiered at the London Film Festival, but we’ll eagerly watch anything from director Steve McQueen.

What we don’t like:

• McQueen recently revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer on the eve of shooting Blitz. Great to hear he’s made a full recovery.

BREAD & ROSES - Apple TV+

Synopsis: In the wake of the Taliban's return to power, a group of Kabul women lead a revolutionary fight for their rights—and their lives.

What we like:

• This documentary was produced by Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi, and it’s not something they just acquired and put their name on (which would be fine, of course). The two developed it and wanted to tell the story of the Afghani women featured that wasn’t distilled through a Western lens.

• The director and producer Sahra Mani was hired after Lawrence and Ciarrocchi watched her documentary about an Afghan woman who was sexually abused, 2019’s A Thousand Girls Like Me.

• Human rights activist and Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai came on as an Executive Producer after Apple acquired it out of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

What we don’t like:

• The subject matter is harrowing and enraging, so the doc might be a tough sit. But as you’re catching up on this year’s Best Documentary awards hopefuls, this is one you’ll want to make time for.

FIREBRAND - Hulu

Synopsis: Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, is named regent while the tyrant battles abroad. When the king returns, increasingly ill and paranoid, Katherine finds herself fighting for her own survival.

What we like:

• Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz’s take on Katherine Parr, Queen of England and the wife and widow of Henry VIII.

• Great to see Alicia Vikander back in a leading role.

What we don’t like:

• The critical consensus on this one is not great.

THE GOOD HALF - Hulu

Synopsis: Renn Wheeland returns home to Cleveland for his mother's funeral. Once there, he forges new relationships while healing old ones, before confronting his problems and trying to face his grief.

What we like:

• Robert Schwartzman’s film centers on the story of Renn Wheeland (Joe Jonas), a struggling writer who returns to his hometown of Cleveland after the death of his mother, Connie. As he reunites with his estranged family, including his father, sister, and stepfather, Renn must navigate the complex emotions of grief, family dynamics, and unresolved issues from the past.

• Connie is played by Elizabeth Shue, who we love and wish would do more films.

What we don’t like:

• Nepo Baby Discourse alert! Schwartzman is the son of actress Talia Shire, the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, the cousin of Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola, and the brother of Jason Schwartzman. Sometimes neoptism also involves talent.

JOY - Netflix

Synopsis: Three trailblazers – a young nurse, a visionary scientist and an innovative surgeon – face opposition from the church, state, media and medical establishment in their pursuit of the world's first 'test tube baby', Louise Joy Brown.

What we like:

• The true story of one of the most incredible, and important, medical breakthroughs of the 20th Century. In vitro fertilization has given countless couples an opportunity to build families, and it’s all thanks to science.

• Great cast here, with Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, and Bill Nighy leading the way. Nighy plays a real-life gynecologist named Patrick Steptoe (fantastic name).

What we don’t like:

• Here in the US, the right to IVF is under assault. Anti-science religious fundamentalists have made it clear that abortion is not their only target. We hope the film can help inspire Americans to fight back against these zealots. Scary times in this great country.

THE PIANO LESSON - Netflix

Synopsis: A brother and sister's battle over a prized heirloom piano unleashes haunting truths about how the past is perceived — and who defines a family legacy.

What we like:

• Malcolm Washington (son of Denzel) adapts August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, and assembles much of the cast from the 2022 Broadway production, including John David Washington (Denzel’s son, Malcolm’s brother), Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher and Michael Potts.

• Danielle Deadwyler received raves for her performance, and is widely considered a strong contender for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

• Alexander Desplat provides the score, which is always a plus.

What we don’t like:

• We haven’t seen the film yet, but is there an opportunity to begin the drumbeat for a Samuel L. Jackson awards run? The man hasn’t been Oscar nominated since Pulp Fiction. Yes, he did receive an Honorary Oscar…that’s great! But can’t we get him in the mix again?

SPELLBOUND - Netflix

Synopsis: When a powerful spell turns her parents into giant monsters, a teenage princess must journey into the wild to reverse the curse before it's too late.

What we like:

• A banger of a voice cast on this animated musical: Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman.

• Legendary composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) created the music with his frequent collaborator Glenn Slater. So the songs should be good!

• Vicky Jenson, the co-director of the original Shrek, is at the helm here. Skydance Animation spared no expense.

What we don’t like:

• Zegler recently had to apologize for an anti-Trump social media post. We say speak your truth Rachel!

Happy Streaming Everyone!

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