What’s Streaming This Week (3/16 - 3/23)
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:
Monday, March 17th, 2025
ANORA - Hulu
Synopsis: A young sex worker from Brooklyn gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out to get the marriage annulled.
What we like:
What’s not to love about this indie success story? Sean Baker’s triumph at the Oscars was well-deserved, as the filmmaker took home a record 4 trophies. Only Walt Disney was able to achieve that, and he did it with multiple films.
Mikey Madison’s star-making performance netted her the Best Actress Oscar, which was widely expected to go to Demi Moore. We were rooting for Moore, but have no complaints about Madison’s win. She’s amazing.
The film got a nice bump at the box-office after its big wins. Last week, it earned an additional $2.6M and is approaching $20M total in the US.
What we don’t like:
Sean Baker’s speech pleading with studios to extend their theatrical windows somehow prompted some online vitriol in our direction. Here’s the thing: We don’t set theatrical windows! We report them! We’re not cheerleaders for shortened windows and love the theatrical experience.
Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
BATMAN NINJA VS. YAKUZA LEAGUE - $19.99 Sale Only
Synopsis: The Batman family has returned to the present to discover that Japan has disappeared, and a giant island - Hinomoto - is now in the sky over Gotham City. At the top sit the Yakuza, a group of superpowered individuals who reign without honor or humanity and look suspiciously like the Justice League. Now, it’s up to Batman and his allies to save Gotham!
What we like:
This sequel to 2018’s well-received Batman Ninja features much of the same voice cast as the first.
The film’s animation, which is by Kamikaze Douga and YamatoWorks, looks vibrant and exciting. Fans of the genre should eat it up.
What we don’t like:
We’re sure Batman Ninja is a formidable foe for the Yakuza, but it’s unlikely this adventure will be as entertaining as their appearance on The Simpsons:
EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS - Hulu
Synopsis: Utilizing his paintings to find freedom from his past, a Black artist on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.
What we like:
This well reviewed drama didn’t make much waves in theaters, but will hopefully find an audiences now that its more widely available on Hulu.
The film was nominated for 6 NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Independent Motion Picture, Outstanding Writing (Titus Kaphar), Outstanding Supporting Actress (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), and Outstanding Actor (André Holland).
What we don’t like:
We need to address that Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture category at the NAACP Image Awards. Holland and his co-nominees, Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), John David Washington (The Piano Lesson), and Kingsley Ben-Adir (Bob Marley: One Love) all lost to….Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys: Ride or Die. That’s a choice!
LAST BREATH - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: A true story about seasoned deep-sea divers who battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface.
What we like:
A feature film remake of the 2019 same-named documentary that Alex Parkinson co-directed with Richard da Costa, which follows a group of deep-sea divers who race to rescue a stranded teammate after an accident.
The film received mostly positive reviews and features a terrific cast, including Woody Harrelson, Cliff Curtis, and Finn Cole.
We’ll shout out our beloved Focus Features again. The division of Universal continues to churn out a steady stream of quality, mid-budget films. Yes, their theatrical windows are short, but at least they’re providing theaters a variety of good stuff.
What we don’t like:
Between sharing a title with the documentary that inspired it, and the similarly titled 2024 shark thriller The Last Breath, maybe a different title would have helped the film stand out a bit more.
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: Inspired by a true story, a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran—thanks to the presence of her dead best friend from the Army—is at odds with her estranged Vietnam Veteran grandfather and her VA counselor.
What we like:
Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ poignant comedy-drama world premiered at the 2024 SXSW Festival, where it went on to win the Audience Award.
The film also won the Best Narrative Feature Award at the 2024 Woodstock Film Festival.
What we don’t like:
With the current US administration cutting services for veterans, this story is more timely and necessary than ever.
THE OUTRUN - Netflix
Synopsis: Fresh out of rehab, Rona returns to the Orkney Islands—a place both wild and beautiful, right off the Scottish coast. Now 29 and after more than a decade of living life on the edge in London, where she both found and lost love, Rona attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. As she reconnects with the dramatic landscape where she grew up, memories of her traumatic childhood merge with more recent challenging events that have set her on the path to recovery.
What we like:
Saiorse Ronan delivers another powerhouse performance, here playing Rona, who returns to her native Orkney after years of battling alcoholism in London, seeking solace and healing in her rural island home. She grapples with her personal demons while rediscovering herself through Orkney's stark landscapes and mystical folklore.
The film, directed and co-written by Nora Fingscheidt, is based on the 2016 memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
What we don’t like:
While the praise for Ronan’s performance was widespread, the enthusiasm for the film was more muted. Arthouse audiences failed to show up in theaters, with the film earning less than $1M at the domestic box-office.
Although Ronan did nab a Gotham Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Performance, her awards momentum ran out and she did not receive an Oscar nomination.
Wednesday, March 19th, 2025
NEVER LET GO - Starz
Synopsis: As an evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond.
What we like:
Halle Berry stars as a mother fiercely protective of her twin sons as they confront supernatural forces in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s great to have Berry back in a lead role in a studio film, even if that studio is Lionsgate (we kid!).
We’re always curious to see what French filmmaker Alexandre Aja delivers. We skipped his last film, which was a Netflix thriller called Oxygen, but loved his 2019 alligators-in-a-flood thriller Crawl. That movie rocked, and we’re so happy a sequel is coming.
What we don’t like:
We don’t mean to drag Lionsgate. At least they’re putting films in to theaters at a time when many studios are cutting back. But what a terrible streak they had at the box-office. Borderlands, The Crow, 1992, The Killer’s Game, and Never Let Go has to be one of the all-time worst run of bombs.
Thursday, March 20th, 2025
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA - Netflix
Synopsis: Big Nick is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie, who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world's largest diamond exchange.
What we like:
For moviegoers who relish the arrival of ‘Dump-uary’ (the affectionate name for genre titles studios dump in January without much expectation), this sequel was music to our ears. We start to feel overwhelmed by all the Oscar catch-up, which often involves heavy themes and serious subject matter. Sometimes you just need Big Nick.
A sequel to the 2018 original, which took place in Los Angeles but was filmed in Atlanta, this one takes our thieves overseas. Pantera was shot in the UK and the Canary Islands.
What we don’t like:
The film has a running time of 144 minutes! These thieves are robbing us of our time. We’re looking forward to catching up with this one in the comfort of our home.
O’DESSA - Hulu
Synopsis: A farm girl is on an epic quest to recover a cherished family heirloom. Her journey leads her to a strange and dangerous city where she meets her one true love – but in order to save his soul, she must put the power of destiny and song to the ultimate test.
What we like:
The premise sounds amazing. And it’s an original rock opera?? The cast is stellar: Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Regina Hall, Murray Bartlett. Also someone named Pokey LaFarge. Fantastic!
Director Geremy Jasper, who burst on the scene with 2017’s Patty Cake$, was inspired by the towering concept-album trappings of David Bowie (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) and Pink Floyd (The Wall), and began developing the story over 20 years ago.
What we don’t like:
This looks like such a labor of love, and we’re afraid it’s likely to be completely lost on Hulu. Reviews were mixed out of this year’s SXSW Festival, but it’s a shame this Searchlight release isn’t at least getting a perfunctory theatrical rollout. Will it be for everyone? Certainly not. But if it can find an audience, we wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being a cult hit down the road.
TYLER PERRY’S DUPLICITY - Prime Video
Synopsis: High-powered attorney Marley faces her most personal case yet when she is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the murder of her best friend Fela’s husband. With the help of her boyfriend – a former cop turned private investigator – Marley’s search for what really happened leads her down a treacherous maze of deception and betrayal.
What we like:
Fresh off his Oscar-nominated (it’s true!) war drama The Six Triple Eight, Tyler Perry is back in the director’s chair for this potboiler.
An attractive cast featuring Kat Graham, Meagan Tandy, Tyler Lepley, and RonReaco Lee all make this generically titled thriller look like great fun to sit through. We’ll see.
What we don’t like:
No Madea in this one, which is a shame. Good news though: Tyler Perry's Madea's Destination Wedding is in post-production and will hopefully be in theaters later this year.
Friday, March 21st, 2025
ARMAND - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Armand, a 6-year-old boy, is accused of crossing boundaries against his best friend at elementary school. While no one knows what actually happened between the two boys, the incident triggers a series of events, forcing parents and school staff into a captivating battle of redemption where madness, desire and obsession arise.
What we like:
The feature directorial debut of Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel world premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Caméra d'Or for Best First Feature Film.
The film was selected as Norway's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards and was shortlisted, but ultimately not nominated.
Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve had a dynamite 2024, with standout performances in A Different Man, the Apple TV+ series Presumed Innocent, and this drama, which earned her a Best European Actress nomination at the European Film Awards.
What we don’t like:
Nepo-baby discourse alert! Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel is the grandson of master filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and legendary actress Liv Ullmann. Some incredible lineage!
BLOODY AXE WOUND - Shudder, AMC+
Synopsis: Abbie Bladecut is a teenager torn between the macabre traditions of her family’s bloody trade and the tender stirrings of her first crush. In the small town of Clover Falls, Abbie’s father Roger has built an infamous legacy by capturing real-life killings on tape and selling them to eager customers, but as Abbie delves deeper into the grisly family business, she begins to wonder if it’s time to take the family tradition in a new direction.
What we like:
This slasher from writer/director Matthew John Lawrence is more of a coming-of-age horror comedy. It has some decent kills and practical effects, which we always appreciate. And since we always complain about generic titles, it’s only fair to call out a clever one. The crass double entendre here is commendable.
A reunion of sorts for co-leads Sari Arambulo (Abbie) and Eddie Leavy (Glenn), who were costars on the comedy series A.P. Bio.
What we don’t like:
The reviews for this one have been pretty dismal. Still, horror fans might want to check it out. It’s an intriguing premise, even if the execution is less than stellar.
CLEANER - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: When a group of radical activists take over an energy company's annual gala, seizing 300 hostages, an ex-soldier turned window cleaner suspended 50 stories up on the outside of the building must save those trapped inside, including her younger brother.
What we like:
Daisy Ridley gets her very own ‘Die Hard on a ____’ movie, this time with a plot that seems very similar to Die Hard. But in this one, instead of ending up dangling from the outside of a skyscraper, she starts there.
Martin Campbell is the director here, and while he’s had his share of stinkers, the man who directed The Mask of Zorro, GoldenEye, and especially Casino Royale, will always give us some optimism.
What we don’t like:
Unfortunately, reviews have been so-so for this action thriller. Still, with an appealing lead and a capable director, we’re willing to give it a shot.
MCVEIGH - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A haunting psychological thriller based on one of America's most infamous figures. After the Waco siege, a chilling plan brews in the mind of army veteran Timothy McVeigh. What follows are the harrowing real-life events of the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history.
What we like:
Games of Thrones actor Alfie Allen takes on the role of Timothy McVeigh, the perpetrator of the 1995 Oklahoma City terrorist attack.
In addition to Allen, the film’s talented cast includes Ashley Benson, Brett Gelman, Anthony Carrigan, and Tracy Letts.
The film world premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, where it received solid reviews.
What we don’t like:
With so much right-wing extremism in the news these days, we’re not sure how much of an appetite we have to sit through this one. It’s certainly important to tell these stories, and expose how destructive ideological zealotry can be. But man…it’s just a lot right now. We don’t really feel like marinating in it.
RIFF RAFF - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A retired hitman's life is turned upside down when his ex-wife and son arrive unannounced during the holidays because they are on the run from his former mob associates.
What we like:
With a multiple Emmy-winning run on TV’s The White Lotus under her belt, Jennifer Coolidge finally gets to top-line her own film. Well-deserved for the woman who brought us unforgettable supporting performances in American Pie, Legally Blonde, and Best in Show.
The film’s cast is absolutely stacked with talent. In addition to Coolidge, it features Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson, and Bill Murray.
Screenwriter John Pollono previously wrote the script for the underrated 2017 Boston Marathon bombing film Stronger.
What we don’t like:
Director Dito Montiel has had a rough run since his 2006 breakout film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. This one’s unlikely to break his cold streak, as reviews were middling and box-office was anemic.
SING SING - Max
Synopsis: Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.
What we like:
The film was nominated for three Oscars: Best Actor (Colman Domingo), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song.
Professional actors Domingo and Paul Raci co-star alongside many real-life formerly incarcerated men who were themselves alumni of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, including Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin and Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez.
What we don’t like:
Maclin was in the running for a Supporting Actor nomination, but didn’t make the cut. It’s too bad, as he goes toe-to-toe with Domingo and nearly steals the film. One consolation: He was nominated in the Screenplay category with Kwedar, Clint Bentley, and John "Divine G" Whitfield, who Colman portrays in the film.
WICKED - Peacock
Synopsis: In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda at Shiz University, and the two's unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
What we like:
John M. Chu’s first installment in the two-part adaptation of the hit Broadway musical has become a bona fide sensation in theaters, recently crossing $470M at the domestic box-office.
The film received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Erivo), and Best Supporting Actress (Grande). It ended up winning two: Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
What we don’t like:
Look, we may be sliding into ‘Old Man Yells at Cloud’, but the singing-along in theaters just drives us crazy. We’re grateful Universal released a Sing-Along version of the film in theaters on Christmas (and they’ll have a sing-along version on Peacock), but at that point, the toothpaste was out of the tube. Bad audience behavior is such a bummer these days. We love the theatrical experience, but it’s getting harder and harder to ignore the cell phones, poor projection, and people acting like they’re in their living rooms.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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