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 this week’s highlights:
Monday, December 8th, 2025
PREDATORS – Paramount+
Synopsis: “To Catch a Predator” was a popular television show designed to hunt down child predators and lure them to a film set, where they would be interviewed and eventually arrested. An exploration of the scintillating rise and staggering fall of the show and the world it helped create.
What we like:
- This documentary digs into not just the surface drama of sting-operations, but the deeper cultural and ethical consequences of turning real-life crimes and confrontations into entertainment.
- It uses a mix of archival footage, interviews with former “decoys” (the people who posed as minors on the original show), law-enforcement officers, and others involved (plus raw/unseen material) to reflect on how much of “justice” was real and how much was performance.
- The film just picked up a Best True Crime Documentary nomination from the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards.
What we don’t like:
- This Entertainment Weekly story about a decoy’s experience with a target that took his own life is disturbing.
Tuesday, December 9th, 2025
THE CARPENTER’S SON – $16.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Noah Jupe, Isla Johnston and FKA Twigs
Synopsis: A remote village in Roman-era Egypt explodes into spiritual warfare when a carpenter, his wife and their child are targeted by supernatural forces.
What we like:
- Rather than retelling the usual “Jesus as savior” narrative, this film reimagines early Jesus’s youth, a time for which canonical scriptures give almost no details, as a dark, psychologically and supernaturally charged coming-of-age horror story.
- It’s hard to believe, but this is only Nicolas Cage’s second film release of the year. The prolific actor usually cranks out at least 4 or 5 a year. We’re hoping he’s getting some much needed rest.
What we don’t like:
- Reception has been mixed-to-negative among critics: as of now, the Tomato-meter on Rotten Tomatoes sits around 32 %.
CHAINSAW MAN – THE MOVIE: REZE ARC – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Kikunosuke Toya, Reina Ueda, Fairouz Ai, Tomori Kusunoki, Shogo Sakata
Synopsis: In a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into Denji’s world, and he faces his deadliest battle yet, fueled by love in a world where survival knows no rules.
What we like:
- As of late 2025, Reze Arc had grossed roughly $174.5 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing Japanese films ever.
- The soundtrack and sound design carry over from the anime series, including a score by Kensuke Ushio.
What we don’t like:
- The film has some creative team changes from to the anime series. Though much of the core team returned, Tatsuya Yoshihara replaces the anime series’ original director (we put this in the ‘What we don’t like’ section, but it’s probably fine).
CHRISTY – $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Jess Gabor, Merritt Wever, Ethan Embry, Katy O’Brian, Chad L. Coleman
Synopsis: Christy Martin never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim. But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.
What we like:
- Sydney Sweeney goes for Oscar gold in this real-life boxing story. Her physical transformation is impressive, and it’s nice to see her stretch as an actress.
- The first release for US distributor Black Bear Pictures, a production company behind quality films like Train Dreams, Sing Sing, and Relay. We’re always rooting for indie distributors with good taste.
- The film features Katy O’Brian in a supporting role. It sure seems like she would have made a terrific Christy Martin.
What we don’t like:
- Actress Ruby Rose blasted star Sydney Sweeney on social media after the film flopped at the box-office:
DIE MY LOVE – $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte
Synopsis: Grace, a writer and young mother, is slowly slipping into madness. Locked away in an old house in and around Montana, we see her acting increasingly agitated and erratic, leaving her companion, Jackson, increasingly worried and helpless.
What we like:
- It all began with director Martin Scorsese, who runs a private book club, who recommended that Jennifer Lawrence read the novel Die, My Love, telling her that she would be perfect for the role of the mother. Deeply moved by the book and serving as a producer on the film adaptation, Lawrence set out to find the right director for the project, ultimately landing on acclaimed Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay.
- The film uses a 4:3 aspect ratio, which gives the visuals a claustrophobic, portrait-like feel, and also reinforce the sense of isolation, emotional intensity, and psychological pressure that the characters experience.
What we don’t like:
- After receiving a 9 minute standing ovation after its premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, MUBI snapped up the rights to the film for a reported $24M. The film has grossed almost $9M worldwide, which isn’t great. But honestly…good for MUBI for taking a chance on this challenging film.
KEEPER – $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Rossif Sutherland, Tess Degenstein, Birkett Turton, Erin Boyes, Claire Friesen, Logan Pierce
Synopsis: Liz and Malcolm escape for a romantic anniversary weekend at a secluded cabin. When Malcolm suddenly returns to the city, Liz finds herself isolated and in the presence of an unspeakable evil that reveals the cabin’s horrifying secrets.
What we like:
- The latest psychological horror film from NEON’s in-house auteur Osgood Perkins, who follows up his 2024 hit Longlegs and 2025 Stephen King adaptation The Monkey with this cabin-in-the-woods chiller.
- Tatiana Maslany, so memorable in her Emmy-winning role in the series Orphan Black, gets a meaty lead film role to show off her talent.
What we don’t like:
- We love NEON. The distributor has fantastic taste, and these genre horror thrillers hopefully help support their less commercial foreign and art films. But the marketing campaign for Keeper was so abstract and a little baffling. Instead of pulling us in, it put us off. The D+ CinemaScore the film received doesn’t indicate much audience satisfaction either.
KÖLN 75 – $12.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Mala Emde, John Magaro, Michael Chernus, Shirin Lilly Eissa, Enno Trebs, Leo Meier, Leon Blohm, Ulrich Tukur, Jördis Triebel, Susanne Wolff, Daniel Betts, Alexander Scheer
Synopsis: The true story of Vera Brandes, teenage patron saint of the 1970s Cologne music scene, who risked everything to organize the greatest solo concert in music history: Keith Jarrett’s legendary Köln Concert.
What we like:
- This German charmer world premiered at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, and then went on to be nominated for several awards at the German Film Awards (Lola), including Best Fiction Film, Best Actress (Mala Emde), Best Supporting Actor (Alexander Scheer), and Best Editing.
- John Magaro, one of our favorite actors, has a supporting role in the film. He plays jazz musician Keith Jarrett.
What we don’t like:
- Some critics note that the film sometimes feels more like a vibe piece, more a tribute to jazz, youth, and energy, than a fully fleshed-out historical narrative. Still, we’re intrigued and can’t wait to check it out.
LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Loïse Charpentier, Victoria Grobois, Yumi Fujimori, Cathy Cerda, Marc Arnaud, Laetitia Coryn, Haylee Issembourg, Isaac Schoumsky, François Raison
Synopsis: The world is a perplexing, peaceful mystery to Amélie until a miraculous encounter with chocolate ignites her wild sense of curiosity. As she develops a deep attachment to her family’s housekeeper, Nishio-san, Amélie discovers the wonders of nature as well as the emotional truths hidden beneath the surface of her family’s idyllic life as foreigners in post-war Japan.
What we like:
- This animated film had its world premiere in the Special Screenings section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Camera d’Or.
- The film won the Audience Award at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
- The animation style is very distinctive. Rather than using hyper-realism, the visuals lean on flat hues, broad shapes, and a pictorial / painterly aesthetic that evokes dreamy memory and childlike wonder.
What we don’t like:
- Do we think this has a shot at a Best Animated Feature nomination at this year’s Oscars? It might just be too under the radar. But we’re keeping our fingers crossed.
ROOFMAN – Paramount+, MGM+
Cast: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, Peter Dinklage, Uzo Aduba, Juno Temple, LaKeith Stanfield, Melonie Diaz, Tony Revolori, and Jimmy O. Yang
Synopsis: Based on an unbelievable true story, Roofman follows Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former Army Ranger and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, earning him the nickname: Roofman. After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys “R” Us for six months, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his undeniable charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.
What we like:
- Director Derek Cianfrance is back with his first feature film since the 2016 disappointment The Light Between Oceans. The filmmaker did receive a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination in 2020 for Sound of Metal, which had a story credit on.
- Channing Tatum continues to prove himself as an appealing lead, and his co-star Kirsten Dunst just picked up a Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance.
What we don’t like:
- We’re not going to pretend this was a breakout hit, but many box-office pundits wrote this off as a flop. On an $18M budget, the film earned $33M worldwide. That’s not great, but certainly not a bomb. It’s also performed very well on digital. Lay off the Roofman!
A SAVAGE ART: THE LIFE & CARTOONS OF PAT OLIPHANT – $14.99 Sale / TBA Rental
Cast: Pat Oliphant, Tom Udall, Susan Conway, Adam Zyglis, Anne Tielnas, and Tom Gibson
Synopsis: Patrick Oliphant was a giant slayer, bravely taking on presidents, popes and the American corporate class with his mighty pen. An Australian transplant, Oliphant became America’s most renowned and feared political cartoonist for five decades. With his biting wit and masterful drawing skills, Oliphant attacked individual and institutional corruption, collusion, greed, hypocrisy and arrogance, no matter the size or status of his targets.
What we like:
- This documentary covers decades of political and cultural change through the eyes of someone who regularly responded to them in cartoons. For anyone interested in media history, politics, or art, the film shows how political cartooning adjusted through changing times.
- The film is the directorial debut of Bill Banowsky, a filmmaker and entrepreneur who in 2001 co-founded Magnolia Pictures.
What we don’t like:
- The documentary reflects on how political cartooning, once a powerful pillar of journalism and public critique, has declined as newspapers shrink and media consolidation increases. It’s a timely examination of what’s lost as the traditional editorial-cartoonist voice fades.
December 10th, 2025
MERV – Prime Video
Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton
Synopsis: When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway—only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog’s broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.
What we like:
- The pup playing Merv, real name Gus, was reportedly chosen from a nationwide search. According to the director, they auditioned many dogs, from show-dogs to local pets, before finding Gus, whose expressive face and temperament worked on camera. He seems like a very good boy.
- The film is directed by Jessica Swale, who is an Olivier Award-winning playwright.
What we don’t like:
- Though it’s set around winter/holiday-time, filming took place in summer 2024 in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production dressed up parts of the city for a holiday look, complete with fake snow and Christmas decorations, to mimic a wintery/cozy setting despite the warm weather. Guess what, filmmakers? It never works! You can’t fake cozy!
Friday, December 12th, 2025
F1 THE MOVIE – Apple TV
Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem, Sarah Niles, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen
Synopsis: Racing legend Sonny Hayes is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling Formula 1 team—and mentor a young hotshot driver—while chasing one more chance at glory.
What we like:
- After the disaster of 2024’s Apple Studios caper Wolfs, it’s nice to see Brad Pitt fronting a big ‘ol theatrical hit again. The film grossed $631M worldwide, making it the actor’s highest grossing film ever (unadjusted for inflation).
- Apple created custom cameras to mount on the cars, which were operated by a remote control designed by Panavision. Each car had 15 mounts and could carry up to four cameras at a time. To minimize weight, the cameras were only 10cm by 10cm, a quarter of the size of those used in Top Gun: Maverick.
What we don’t like:
- The thrill of F1 was in the theatrical experience, where the you could feel the racing sequences in your bones. It’ll be hard to replicate that, no matter how sophisticated your home theater is. And the story…isn’t going to make up the difference.
INFLUENCERS – Shudder
Cast: Cassandra Naud, Georgina Campbell, Lisa Delamar, Jonathan Whitesell, Veronica Long, and Dylan Playfair
Synopsis: In Southern France, a young woman’s chilling fascination with murder and identity theft sends her life into a whirlwind of chaos.
What we like:
- A sequel to the 2022 film Influencer, the thriller about social-media obsession and identity, with the original lead (Cassandra Naud) returning.
- Shudder has smartly licensed the first Influencer film to Netflix, where it is now available to stream. A great way to get more viewers interested in the sequel.
What we don’t like:
- According to some critics, the film apparently “takes some tumbles in the third act”, with the pacing and resolution feeling weaker compared to the build-up.
THE MASTERMIND – MUBI, $19.99 Sale Only
Cast: Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, John Magaro, Hope Davis and Bill Camp
Synopsis: In a sedate corner of Massachusetts circa 1970, an unemployed carpenter turned amateur art thief plans his first big heist. When things go haywire, his life unravels.
What we like:
- While it’s a heist film in premise, it’s a Kelly Reichardt heist film, so it doesn’t follow typical flashy heist-film tropes. Instead, it uses the robbery as a backdrop to explore character, morality, and societal tension in America’s turbulent early 1970s.
- Josh O’Connor fans have a streaming double feature to feast on, with this and the Knives Out sequel arriving on the same day.
What we don’t like:
- Some reviews argue the film is too slow and “moody”, especially for a heist story. The robbery itself is fairly understated, and much of the run-time goes into aftermath, character tension, and quiet moments. For viewers expecting a traditional thriller or action heist, it may feel slow or anticlimactic. But it’s a Kelly Reichardt film, which is something to celebrate and savor!
MODI – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Riccardo Scamarcio, Stephen Graham, Sally Phillips, Antonia Desplat, and Al Pacino
Synopsis: A 72-hour whirlwind in the life of bohemian artist Amedeo Modigliani, known as Modi to his friends, follows a chaotic series of events through the streets of war torn Paris in 1916. On the run from the police, his desire to end his career and leave the city is dismissed by fellow artists Maurice Utrillo, Chaim Soutine and Modi’s muse, Beatrice Hastings. Modi seeks advice from his art dealer and friend, Leopold Zborowski — however, after a night of hallucinations, the chaos in Modi’s mind reaches a crescendo when faced with an American collector, Maurice Gangnat, who has the power to change his life.
What we like:
- Johnny Depp’s first directorial effort in 25 years, and the first in which he does not also have an acting role. His last feature was 1997’s The Brave, in which he co-starred with Marlon Brando. A beloved classic, right?!
- The film features Al Pacino, who is a national treasure, and also Stephen Graham, who recently won a slew of Emmys for the Netflix limited series Adolescence.
What we don’t like:
- Look…Johnny Depp’s transition from globally beloved superstar to disgraced media figure could be studied in universities. It’s a fascinating fall from grace. However you may feel about him, this movie looks relatively intriguing, so if you’re interested in the subject matter, it’s probably worth checking out.
SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES – HBO Max
Cast: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer
Synopsis: Spinal Tap, England’s loudest and most punctual band, reunite following a 15-year hiatus for one final concert.
What we like:
- We love everyone involved in this lega-sequel (legacy sequel)! Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer are all icons, and certainly not just for Spinal Tap. Rob Reiner has more stone-cold classics in his filmography than 99% of directors.
- A tidbit about this film that makes us want to see it: Apparently John Michael Higgins’ character wears a jumpsuit with ballet slippers, which is a nod to famous fitness guru Jack Lalaine. Put John Michael Higgins on the poster!
What we don’t like:
- Forgive us, we don’t remember who said it, but someone compared these legacy sequels to Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. Not the movie, but the concept. Hollywood is basically digging up the audiences’ beloved dead pets, and it’s always a mess. Let’s just remember 1984’s Spinal Tap with fondness, and if this sequel delivers even a few laughs…that’s better than nothing.
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY – Netflix
Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church
Synopsis: When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
What we like:
- Rian Johnson assembles another stellar cast for his third Knives Out film. We love to see how his combination of seasoned actors and fresh faces play off one another.
- While the earlier films had lighter, more playful mystery vibes, Wake Up Dead Man brings a darker, more introspective edge: delving into faith, corruption, guilt, redemption, and power dynamics in a religious community.
- Josh O’Connor is getting rave reviews for his performance. He plays Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer-turned-priest who is sent to the parish, and he’s apparently really the co-lead with Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. No complaints from us…the more Josh O’Connor, the better.
What we don’t like:
- We’re trying to keep our expectations in check. We absolutely loved the first Knives Out film, which holds up beautifully as a re-watch. But we loathed Glass Onion. Maybe it was Covid-tainted, but the setting, the performances, the mystery, the resolution…they all fell flat for us. Keeping our fingers crossed this third one delivers.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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You will love “Wake up Deadman” saw it in theaters and was blown away by it! A true return to form after Glass Onion.
That’s great to hear! Really looking forward to it.