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.
Another note: We provide links to digital retail partners (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 any of our digital retailers, we’d appreciate it if you’d click through.
Here are this week’s highlights:
Tuesday, October 13th, 2026
BUDDY – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt
Synopsis: In 1999, a group of amnesiac children live in the episodic world of It’s Buddy!, a children’s television show hosted by the tyrannical Buddy, a bright orange, humanoid unicorn with a purple heart on his chest who lives in his wacky clubhouse. When the children begin to defy their captor after one of the kids disappears, Buddy grinds his teeth and sends them on a perilous journey to the mythical Diamond City. Meanwhile, in the real world, traumatized suburban mother Grace is drawn into Buddy’s abomination.
What we like:
- Casper Kelly makes his feature directorial debut! Kelly, best known for the surreal Adult Swim sensation Too Many Cooks, brings the same ability to take something familiar and make it deeply unsettling.
- The film’s fake children’s-show world is terrific. The candy-colored sets, exaggerated performances, songs and relentlessly positive atmosphere convincingly recreate the strange aesthetic of ’90s children’s television.
- The film was a huge box-office success for distributor Saban Films (who co-distributed with Roadside Attractions). The film pulled in an opening weekend of $5.36 million and went on to clear $26 million, making it the highest-grossing film in Saban’s 12-year history.
What we don’t like:
- The tonal shifts may not work for everyone. The film jumps between absurd comedy, bloody horror, suburban family drama and surrealism. That unpredictability is part of its appeal, but it can also make the movie feel uneven. Also, the violence against children could make some uncomfortable. That’s obviously intentional, but some viewers may find the juxtaposition of innocent-looking kids and graphic violence more unpleasant than entertaining (we find it very entertaining!).
THE FIX – TBD Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Zachary Levi, Liam Neeson, Annet Mahendru, Grant Harvey, Augusto Aguilera, Elnaaz Norouzi
Synopsis: THE FIX follows a group of war-torn CIA operators mentored by “Larry” (Liam Neeson) and led by “Tucker” (Zachary Levi) who, after their mission in Afghanistan goes tragically wrong, enter the heart of Tehran to earn redemption by pulling off a daring rescue.
What we like:
- Cultural punching bags Zachary Levi and Liam Neeson team up for this action thriller, which was originally titled Hotel Tehran. Probably a good marketing decision not to invoke our country’s current war with Iran.
- Guy Moshe directs the film and co-wrote it with Mark Bacci and Ron Hutchinson. He also served as one of its producers and co-editor.
- Production information lists Georgia (the country) and Mississippi as filming locations, allowing the filmmakers to create their version of Tehran without shooting in Iran.
What we don’t like:
- Generic title alert! Like we said…we get that Hotel Tehran wasn’t gonna work. But it’s preferable to this wet noodle of a title. Just zero imagination. It’s no wonder the film grossed only $1.1M in the US.
- The running time is 142 minutes????
HANGING BY A WIRE – TBD Sale / TBD Rental
Director: Mohammed Ali Naqvi
Synopsis: On a Tuesday morning in August 2023, a group of kids set off for school, climbing into a makeshift cable car for the journey across a mountain pass in northwest Pakistan. What happened next would make headlines around the world. Suddenly, 900 feet above the ground, two cables snapped, putting the teenagers in mortal danger.
What we like:
- From acclaimed Pakistani filmmaker Mohammed Ali Naqvi, who previously worked on documentaries including Among the Believers, Insha’Allah Democracy and The Accused: Damned or Devoted?, as well as Netflix’s Turning Point.
- The filmmakers deliberately approached it like a thriller. Naqvi has described the movie as a survival story designed to unfold largely in the present tense, with decisions and rescues happening against an escalating clock.
- Critics have responded very positively. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists an 87% Fresh critics score, with reviewers particularly praising the film’s suspenseful editing and ability to maintain tension even though viewers know the basic outcome of the rescue.
What we don’t like:
- Reviewers point out that the film sidesteps broader infrastructure audits, such as how other similar makeshift cable systems across the region are or aren’t being retrofitted to prevent a recurrence. Quite frankly…they look terrifying.
HOPE – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender
Synopsis: A mysterious discovery is made on the outskirts of the remote harbor town of Hope Harbor near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). What begins as a local emergency soon spirals into a deeper, more terrifying mystery—forcing police officer Bum-seok and the town’s residents to confront the unknown.
What we like:
- This ambitious South Korean sci-fi thriller from director Na Hong-jin world premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Na Hong-jin previously directed The Chaser, The Yellow Sea, and The Wailing, making Hope his first feature in roughly a decade.
- While Na is known primarily for crime thrillers and horror, Hope is an epic mixture of science fiction, horror, action, mystery, thriller, and dark comedy.
- The budget has been widely reported at close to 100 billion won (roughly $74 million), making it one of the most expensive Korean films ever produced.
- The cinematographer is Hong Kyung-pyo, who previously shot Parasite, Burning, and Na’s The Wailing. Quite the resume!
What we don’t like:
- The critical reaction has been fairly positive but not unanimous. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Hope at 78% Fresh from 171 critics, with particular praise for its production design, visual ambition and energetic action, while some reviewers have found its sprawling story excessive. And many complain about the sub-par creature effects.
PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest, Joey King, Maisie Williams, Lee Pace, and Xolo Maridueña
Synopsis: Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, Practical Magic 2 returns to a world steeped in moonlit mischief and powerful ancestral magic, as the Owens sisters must confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel their family once and for all in a must-see cinematic event of fun, magic and mayhem.
What we like:
- This sequel reunites Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as Sally and Gillian Owens nearly 28 years after the original. It’s based on Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel The Book of Magic, the fourth and final book in the author’s Owens-family series.
- Susanne Bier, whose credits include the miniseries The Night Manager and the Sandra Bullock Netflix film Bird Box, takes over directing duties from original director Griffin Dunne.
- One of the most recognizable elements of the original movie, the Owens sisters’ distinctive house, had been dismantled after the first production. For the sequel, the filmmakers recreated it from the ground up, including apple trees and detailed interiors.
What we don’t like:
- Evan Rachel Wood, who played one of the young daughters in the original, expressed disappointment over not being asked back, even for a small cameo or a single line. Some viewers criticized the movie’s timeline logic, questioning how actors in their 60s portray characters whose children are only fresh out of college.
RUNNER – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Alan Ritchson, Owen Wilson, Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Adriana Barraza, Sullivan Stapleton, Peta Sergeant, and Geraldine Hakewill
Synopsis: A former soldier is thrown into a brutal race against time when a critical medical delivery makes him and his unlikely partner the targets of a ruthless cartel. As the mission spirals into a deadly manhunt, every detour, delay, and bullet pushes them closer to failure. With betrayal closing in from every side, they must survive the chase and deliver their cargo to save the life of a little girl.
What we like:
- This action comedy was written by Miles Hubley and Tommy White, and was included on the 2023 Black List, the influential annual survey of highly regarded unproduced screenplays.
- The film co-stars likable actors Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson, who deliver a nice throwback buddy action-comedy vibe.
- Unlike most Angel Studios releases that are savaged (or outright dismissed) by critics, this one got some decent reviews. It currently sits at 77% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences liked it too, giving it an A- Cinemascore.
What we don’t like:
- Speculation and reporting revealed that Angel Studios and the filmmakers worked to tone down language and gore from an earlier cut to secure a PG-13 rating to broaden its box office reach, leading some critics to call the action sanitized or choppy. Some traditional Angel Studios fans felt the film was too violent and lacked explicit Christian messaging.
THE SUN NEVER SETS – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Cory Michael Smith, Debby Ryan, Anna Konkle, Lamorne Morris, Karley Sciortino
Synopsis: Wendy (Fanning) finds her life upended when her boyfriend Jack (Johnson)—older, divorced, and with children—asks for space to reassess their relationship. During their separation, Wendy reconnects with her ex, Chuck (Smith), sparking an emotionally charged love triangle that forces all three to confront the realities of love, timing, and personal growth.
What we like:
- This drama marks Joe Swanberg’s return to feature filmmaking after nearly a decade. Swanberg, one of the key figures associated with the American mumblecore movement, hadn’t directed a feature since 2015’s Digging for Fire.
- The filmmakers shot in Alaska, and the wilderness and long summer daylight provide a distinctive backdrop for a story about people trying to figure out their relationships.
- It co-stars three incredibly talented and charismatic actors: Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson and Cory Michael Smith. All three also serve as producers.
What we don’t like:
- Despite some strong reviews (it currently sits at 79% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), the Independent Film Company wasn’t able to drum up much business at the arthouse box-office. It grossed only $279K domestically.
Wednesday, October 14th, 2026
LOVE OF YOUR LIFE – Prime Video
Cast: Margaret Qualley, Aaron Pierre, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Basso, Catherine Keener, Tamara Lawrance, Corey Johnson
Synopsis: Directed by Rachel Morrison, Love of Your Life follows Maya (Margaret Qualley), whose chance encounter with Charlie (Gabriel Basso) sets in motion a sweeping romance and a future beyond anything she had imagined. When that future is suddenly upended, Maya is sent hurtling toward an unexpected new life—one that will force her to reckon with who she is, what she wants, and how to love again.
What we like:
- This romantic drama is helmed by Rachel Morrison, who built her resume as an acclaimed cinematographer, becoming the first woman nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, for Mudbound. Love of Your Life is her second feature as a director, following the terrific 2024 boxing drama The Fire Inside.
- The screenplay was written by Julia Cox, who sold her spec script to Amazon MGM for approximately $2 million.
- The super attractive (and talented) cast includes Margaret Qualley, Aaron Pierre, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Basso and (our favorite) Catherine Keener.
What we don’t like:
- The narrative hinges on a sudden plot twist where someone dies from COVID-19 in March 2020. Reviewers criticized the twist as jarring and awkwardly integrated into an otherwise glossy, globe-trotting romance.
Friday, October 16th, 2026
THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD – HBO Max
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, Noah Jupe
Synopsis: Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.
What we like:
- The latest from filmmaker Michael Sarnoski, who both wrote and directed the film. He’s best known for the acclaimed Nicolas Cage drama Pig and the entertaining prequel A Quiet Place: Day One.
- Rather than presenting Robin as the cheerful, idealistic outlaw who steals from the rich, the film depicts an aging, morally complicated man confronting the violence and consequences of his past.
- The film has a killer supporting cast, including Jodie Comer, Noah Jupe, Murray Bartlet, and Bill Skarsgård playing a version of Little John.
What we don’t like:
- It can be tough seeing our heroes age, as it just reminds us of our own mortality. But this film really hit hard. Take a look at this side by side comparison, and behold the ravages of time:
MASTERPLAN – Prime Video
Cast: Stanley Tucci, Simona Tabasco, Victor Belmondo
Synopsis: When a legendary thief sets his sights on the Mona Lisa, he recruits two young strangers to help him — Chiara, a sharp Italian cybercrime expert, and Jay, a swaggering French explosives specialist — before revealing they are long-lost siblings… and oh yes by the way, he is their father. Thrown into a chaotic reunion they never asked for, this new family must learn to work together — and try not to kill each other — if they want any chance at pulling off the heist of the century.
What we like:
- This comedic heist thriller is top-lined by the always charming Stanley Tucci, who stars as Roger, a legendary thief who assembles an unusual team for the seemingly impossible robbery.
- Thomas Vincent directs and co-writes. Vincent previously directed episodes of Reacher and the feature Role Play. He co-wrote Masterplan with BAFTA-winning screenwriter David Wolstencroft, known for Spooks.
- Victor Belmondo, grandson of legendary French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, has a co-starring role in the film.
What we don’t like:
- As the 2025 Louvre heist showed us, there’s no masterplan necessary to steal art from the famed French institution. All you need is a ladder!
NIGHT NURSE – AMC+
Cast: Cemre Paksoy, Bruce McKenzie, Eleonore Hendricks, Colleen Rose Trundy, and Mimi Rogers
Synopsis: As a series of perverse scam calls unsettles an idyllic retirement community, a starry-eyed nurse becomes entangled with her mysterious patient.
What we like:
- Not a remake of the classic 1931 Barbara Stanwyck film of the same name! This Night Nurse tells a completely new story centered on a home-care nurse who uncovers disturbing secrets while working overnight shifts.
- The screenplay was inspired by a real scam. Writer-director Georgia Bernstein said the idea originated after her grandmother nearly became the victim of a phone scam targeting seniors, which led Bernstein to explore manipulation and coercion via a thriller setting.
- Former Mrs. Tom Cruise Mimi Rogers has a supporting role in the film. We love her!
What we don’t like:
- Audience reactions were divided. Some viewers praised its unsettling atmosphere and unconventional story, while others found its slow-burn pacing and ambiguous tone challenging, making it one of the more polarizing thrillers of the season.
ROSE OF NEVADA – MUBI
Cast: George MacKay, Callum Turner, Francis Magee, Edward Rowe, Rosalind Eleazar, Mary Woodvine
Synopsis: A mysterious boat returns to a village 30 years after vanishing. Two men join its crew hoping for better fortune. After one voyage, they find themselves transported back in time, mistaken for the original crew.
What we like:
- Mark Jenkin’s eerie Cornish time-travel mystery follows his acclaimed first two features: 2019’s Bait and 2022’s Enys Men. Bait won Jenkin the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, helping establish his reputation as one of Britain’s most distinctive independent filmmakers.
- Jenkin’s distinctive analog filmmaking style is a major part of the movie’s look. Rose of Nevada was photographed on 16mm, continuing the approach he developed on Bait and Enys Men.
- The film is almost like a Cornish ghost story disguised as a time-travel movie. The supernatural boat, the vanished fishermen, the economically dying village and the characters confronting an alternate version of their own lives all make the film feel less like conventional science fiction and more like a modern maritime legend.
- Newly-wed Mr. Dua Lipa (aka Callum Turner) co-stars!
What we don’t like:
- Some viewers and critics noted that the film’s refusal to neatly explain its time-loop logic or mechanics can be frustrating or polarizing, making it an acquired taste compared to straightforward narratives. Get over it, people! We’re in a new golden age of time-warp films (see also: Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie)!
SACRIFICE – Netflix
Cast: Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Vincent Cassel, Sam Richardson, John Malkovich, and Salma Hayek
Synopsis: At an elite fundraising gala, celebrities and socialites find themselves in danger when armed activists storm the venue in pursuit of a legendary relic that could unlock supernatural powers.
What we like:
- This darkly comic, apocalyptic thriller is directed by Romain Gavras, who co-wrote it with Will Arbery. Arbery’s play Heroes of the Fourth Turning was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Arbery was the recipient of the 2020 Whiting Award for Drama.
- Romain Gavras is the son of acclaimed Greek-French director Costa-Gavras (Z, Missing). Romain previously directed 2022’s Athena, which was praised for its intense action and striking cinematography. Sacrifice is his first English-language feature film.
- The cast mixes Hollywood stars, including Chris Evans and Anya Taylor-Joy, Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, John Malkovich, and comedian Sam Richardson, with pop stars Charli XCX and Swedish musician and rapper Yung Lean.
What we don’t like:
- Critics weren’t too kind after its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Some reviewers praised the bold visuals, dark humor, and Evans’s performance, but others felt that the story lost focus as it shifted from celebrity satire into a more surreal, apocalyptic thriller. It’s currently only 36% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
TENZING – Apple TV
Cast: Genden Phuntsok, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Caitríona Balfe
Synopsis: A determined man embarks on a high-stakes quest—and defies seemingly impossible odds—to fulfill his dream of being the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
What we like:
- This biographical adventure drama is about Tenzing Norgay, the Himalayan mountaineer who reached the summit of Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary in 1953. Rather than telling the story primarily through Hillary’s perspective, the film puts Tenzing’s life, cultural identity, and achievements at the center.
- Director Jennifer Peedom previously made mountain-focused films including 2015’s Sherpa and 2017’s Mountain. Luke Davies, who was Oscar-nominated for his adapted screenplay for the 2016 drama Lion, wrote the script and co-developed the story with Peedom.
- After its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the film received a great response from critics. It currently sits at 96% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
What we don’t like:
- Online commenters have debated the promotional billing order in the film’s marketing materials. Critics of the layout noted that placing prominent white actors (like Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe) ahead of lead actor Genden Phuntsok could undermine the film’s premise of centering Tenzing Norgay’s perspective, while defenders argued it reflects standard Hollywood marketing to pull in a broader audience.
Also Streaming Friday:
NORM: THE TALE OF NORM MACDONALD
Happy Streaming Everyone!
*We are a digital retail affiliate, 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 any of our digital partners, we’d appreciate it if you’d click through.