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, December 23rd, 2024

BIRD - MUBI

Synopsis: 12-year-old Bailey lives with her single dad Bug and brother Hunter in a squat in North Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time for his kids, and Bailey, who is approaching puberty, seeks attention and adventure elsewhere.

What we like:

• Director Andrea Arnold delivers another gritty drama, this time with some fantastical elements. The film world premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.

• Co-star Barry Keoghan dropped out of Gladiator II to make this film instead. The man’s got taste.

• Cinematographer Robbie Ryan is a frequent Yorgos Lanthimos collaborator, and was Oscar nominated for his work on The Favourite and Poor Things.

What we don’t like:

• We were hoping MUBI might have some box-office momentum after the success of The Substance, but alas, this Bird failed to soar in theaters (don’t worry, we hate ourselves for writing that). The film earned less than $150K at the US box office.

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024

THE ARCTIC CONVOY - Hulu

Synopsis: In 1942, a convoy of 35 civilian ships, carrying vital supplies from Iceland to the Soviet Union, faces deadly challenges in the Arctic. Despite Allied naval escort, catastrophic intelligence errors expose the convoy to relentless German air and naval attacks. In the brutal conditions, inexperienced civilian sailors fight for survival, with only 12 ships making it to their destination.

What we like:

• This Norwegian import tells the story of the perilous voyage of a freighter delivering supplies to Allies on the eastern front during World War II.

• The film comes from the producers Norway’s recent hit disaster films The Wave and The Quake.

What we don’t like:

• It feels a bit like we’re scraping the bottom of the (ice) barrel in terms of WWII stories here. Still, Norway deserves to showcase their heroes, and it’s always incredibly satisfying to see Nazis defeated!

GLADIATOR II - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Synopsis: Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

What we like:

• Paul Mescal slips in to the sandals of Russell Crowe and acquits himself well, even if the film doesn’t give him much of a character to inhabit.

• Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and even Denzel Washington are all bringing ‘Roman House of Gucci’ to their roles, and we are grateful. Gladiator movies need camp.

• Sharks in the Colosseum? Hell yes! Ridley Scott should add sharks to all of his movies going forward. The man loves to tinker, let’s add them to some of his director cuts.

What we don’t like:

• We have definitely hit peak CGI monkeys at the movies. They’re here in Gladiator II. They’re in Wicked. They’re in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (of course). They’re in Mufasa: The Lion King. They’re in Better Man. All of these film are on the visual effects Oscar short list. Can you imagine if they all get nominated? An all-CGI monkey category.

THE ORDER - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Sale

Synopsis: An alarming surge in violent bombings and bank robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads a weathered FBI agent into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a charismatic domestic terrorist plotting to overthrow the US government.

What we like:

• Justin Kurzel’s crime thriller is based on the 1989 non-fiction book "The Silent Brotherhood" by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt, which chronicles the FBI's pursuit of a domestic terrorist group in the 1980s.

• The film has a terrific cast, including Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, and Marc Maron.

• We were huge fans of Kurzel last film, the underrated Nitram, so we’re excited to check this one out.

What we don’t like:

• Not to slight Vertical Entertainment, who do what they can with their resources, but we wish this had been picked up by a bigger distributor. It deserved a heftier theatrical and awards push.

WEREWOLVES - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Synopsis: A year after a supermoon’s light activated a dormant gene, transforming humans into bloodthirsty werewolves and causing nearly a billion deaths, the nightmare resurfaces as the supermoon rises again. Two scientists attempt to stop the mutation but fail, leaving those exposed to the moonlight to once again become feral werewolves. Chaos engulfs the streets as the scientists struggle to reach one of their family homes, now under siege by the savage creatures.

What we like:

• What a premise! We love a good werewolf movie, and the plot here has us super intrigued.

• The production emphasized practical effects to bring the werewolves to life, aiming to deliver a more authentic horror experience. Good choice.

• Always good to see Lou Diamond Phillips, who has a supporting role.

What we don’t like:

• Unfortunately, reviews have been mostly negative, which is a bummer. Film Threat called it the best werewolf movie since The Howling, so that’s encouraging.

• It’s too much to hope that everyone in the film pronounces ‘werewolves’ the way Marsha Brady pronounces ‘werewolves:’

Y2K - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Synopsis: Two high school nobodies make the decision to crash the last major celebration before the new millennium on New Year's Eve 1999. The night becomes even crazier than they could have ever dreamed when the clock strikes midnight.

What we like:

• SNL alum Kyle Mooney makes his feature directorial debut with this 90s nostalgia thriller, which features an intriguing cast, including Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, Fred Durst, and Alicia Silverstone.

• The late 90s soundtrack will hit the sweet spot for anyone who lived through the era: Praise You - Fatboy Slim, Candy - Mandy Moore, 93 til Infinity - Souls Of Mischief, Freak on a Leash - Korn, 6 Underground - Sneaker Pimps, Back at One - Brian McKnight, Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit, Faith - Fred Durst, and Closing Time - Semisonic.

What we don’t like:

• Reviews were kinda rough, with many noting the film’s struggle to balance its horror and comedy elements.

Wednesday, December 25th, 2024

BORDERLANDS - Starz

Synopsis: Returning to her home planet, an infamous bounty hunter forms an unexpected alliance with a team of unlikely heroes. Together, they battle monsters and dangerous bandits to protect a young girl who holds the key to unimaginable power.

What we like:

• An adaptation of the popular video game series of the same name, Eli Roth’s Borderlands boasts a star-studded cast, including Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Jack Black as Claptrap, and Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Tannis.

• Visually, the film manages to capture the gritty, wild-west aesthetic of Pandora with its detailed landscapes and chaotic energy.

What we don’t like:

• Hoo boy, this one looked like a stinker from the get-go, and audiences stayed away in droves. It feels both rushed and overstuffed, with none of the characters fully fleshed out. What a waste of talent.

Friday, December 27th, 2024

NIGHTBITCH - Hulu

Synopsis: A woman, thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler in the suburbs, slowly embraces the feral power deeply rooted in motherhood, as she becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre and undeniable signs that she may be turning into a dog.

What we like:

• Marielle Heller, one of our favorite directors, wrote and directed this black comedy, which is based on the Rachel Yoder 2021 novel of the same name.

• Amy Adams is getting awards buzz for her portrayal of a stay-at-home mother who begins to believe she's transforming into a dog, which has gotten lead performance nominations from both the Golden Globes and the Indie Spirit Awards.

• A stellar cast here, with Scoot McNairy, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Ella Thomas, Archana Rajan, and Jessica Harper all in supporting roles.

What we don’t like:

• Searchlight Pictures gave the film a half-hearted theatrical release. After a limited roll-out on December 6th, the studio failed to report box-office grosses. Its quick pivot to Hulu doesn’t indicated it ever had much commercial confidence in the film.

THE RETURN - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Synopsis: After twenty years away, Odysseus washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king has finally returned home, but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan war.

What we like:

• It’s an English Patient reunion! Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche co-star for the first time since that Oscar-winning triumph, and it's in another handsomely mounted period piece.

• Filmmaker Uberto Pasolini has quite the background. He is an Italian count and the nephew of legendary director Luchino Visconti. He conceived the idea for The Full Monty and produced the film, garnering an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. He was married to Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman. Interesting guy.

• The film has received pretty strong reviews, with many critics citing the strong performances of Fiennes and Binoche.

What we don’t like:

• Whether it was the generic title, or the lack of interest in an ancient epic poem (it’s based on the concluding chapters of Homer's "The Odyssey"), audiences just didn’t show up to see this in theaters. It looks amazing, we hope it finds an audience now that it’s hitting digital.

Happy Streaming Everyone!

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