What’s Streaming This Week (12/15 - 12/22)
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.
One note: We provide links to Amazon pre-orders (when available) and do receive a very small commission for any purchases made from this website. If you’d like to support our work, and you’re looking to buy through Amazon, we’d appreciate it if you’d click through.
Here are next week’s highlights:
Tuesday, December 17th, 2024
BLINK - Disney+
Synopsis: The Pelletier family sets out on an epic journey to see the beauty of the world when three of their four children are diagnosed with an incurable eye condition.
What we like:
Co-director (with Edmund Stenson) Daniel Roher’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning 2022 documentary Navalny.
This travelogue tearjerker is sure to inspire wanderlust in its audience, and you can’t help admiring these parents for giving their children such a life-affirming experience.
What we don’t like:
As inspiring as this film is sure to be…it also sounds devastating. We may not have the stomach to put ourselves through it. Our issue…not the doc’s.
CUCKOO - Hulu
Synopsis: After reluctantly moving to the German Alps with her father and his new family, Gretchen discovers that their new town hides sinister secrets, as she's plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her.
What we like:
German filmmaker Tilman Singer’s second film gives Euphoria actress Hunter Schafer a chance to lead a feature. And she nails it.
Another bonkers performance from Dan Stevens, who lives up to the title and gives the film a nice deranged energy. He’s becoming the British Nicolas Cage, and we’re here for it.
What we don’t like:
With the success of NEON’s Longlegs, Cuckoo’s box-office seemed comparatively disappointing. Still, we think it’ll gain an audience on streaming and should play well as counter-programming during the holiday season.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: While working as a coal merchant to support his family, Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers truths of his own; forcing him to confront his past and the complicit silence of a small Irish town controlled by the Catholic Church.
What we like:
Cillian Murphy’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning role in Oppenheimer is a small, sensitive drama that focuses on the infamous Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. And it’s supposed to be terrific.
The film was co-produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production company Artist’s Equity.
The film was adapted from the 2021 novel of the same name by Claire Keegan, which was an Oprah’s Book Club selection.
What we don’t like:
The title doesn’t really grab you, or tell you anything about what the movie is about. It brings to mind this classic tweet:
Friday, December 20th, 2024
JUROR #2 - Max
Synopsis: While serving as a juror in a high profile murder trial, family man Justin Kemp finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma…one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict—or free—the accused killer.
What we like:
Clint Eastwood (reportedly) delivers his final film, and it’s a banger legal thriller that features terrific performances from Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette.
Last week we lamented the demise of quality airport novel thrillers, with Conclave nicely scratching that itch. Juror #2 makes us long for the Grisham-style legal dramas of the 90s. Big stars…juicy plots…lively filmmaking. We’d love two or three of these a year.
What we don’t like:
The embarrassing theatrical roll-out was baffling. And the film’s success on VOD (it’s been hovering around the top of the iTunes chart since its release) proves the audience was there. Seeing the film’s ‘Max Original’ labeling makes it feel like you’re eating a filet mignon out of a paper bag.
THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT - Netflix
Synopsis: During World War II, the US Army's only all-Black, all-women battalion takes on an impossible mission: sorting through a three-year backlog of 17 million pieces of mail that hadn't been delivered to American soldiers and finish within six months.
What we like:
Tyler Perry uses his Netflix clout to tell the important story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, whose work was critical in maintaining troop morale.
The film features a star-studded cast, lead by Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams, the first African American woman to command an overseas battalion. And Oprah’s in it! She plays Mary McLeod Bethune, a key advocate for Black women's involvement in the war effort.
What we don’t like:
Well…Perry’s track record as a director can generously be called spotty. One thing’s for sure, his movies are rarely boring. So we’re excited to check this one out.
Saturday, December 21st, 2024
BETWEEN THE TEMPLES - Netflix
Synopsis: A grief-stricken cantor in a crisis of faith finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher re-enters his life as his new adult Bat Mitzvah student. The two forlorn souls develop a special connection.
What we like:
Nathan Silver’s touching comedy-drama premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it earned glowing praise from critics.
National treasure Carol Kane was awarded the Best Supporting Actress prize from the New York Film Critics Circle earlier this month. She’s likely a long shot to snag an Oscar nomination, but we’re thrilled she got some recognition.
What a year for Jason Schwartzman, huh? He’s in this, Megalopolis, Queer, and The Last Showgirl.
What we don’t like:
The film failed to pull much box-office during its late summer theatrical run, earning about $2M. Still, we think it’s the sort of gem that should find its audience on Netflix.
THE FORGE - Netflix
Synopsis: 19 year old Isaiah Wright lives for basketball and video games. A year out of high school, he has no job, no plans, and no idea how to be a man. At odds with his single mother Cynthia, Isaiah is given an ultimatum – to step up or move out. Feeling the pull from his friends and the push from his mom, Isaiah is hired by Moore Fitness, unaware of how the owner will personally impact his life. With the prayers of his mother and unexpected guidance from his new mentor, Isaiah is forced to deal with his past, sacrifice his selfishness and discover how God might have a greater purpose for his life.
What we like:
Sony Affirm, a division of Sony Pictures that focuses on faith-based films, delivered one of the most under-reported box-office success stories of the year. This $5M film grossed $40M worldwide. Impressive.
Also impressive is the rare ‘A+’ CinemaScore the film received from theatergoers. It is director/producer Alex Kendricks' fifth time getting that score, with his previous films Show Me the Father, Courageous, War Room and Overcomer also awarded A+ CinemaScores. The man knows what his audience wants.
What we don’t like:
Shame on us, but we’ll never not giggle when we type the title Overcomer. Sure…we’re going to hell for thinking it sounds like porn…we just can’t help ourselves.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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