What’s Streaming This Week (2/1 – 2/8)

THE DUTCHMAN – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Cast: Kate Mara, André Holland, Zazie Beetz, Aldis Hodge, Stephen McKinley Henderson

Synopsis: A successful black businessman, haunted by his crumbling marriage and identity crisis, is drawn into a psychological game of cat and mouse with a mysterious white woman he encounters on a New York subway.

What we like:

• A film adaptation of the 1964 stage play Dutchman by acclaimed playwright Amiri Baraka. The play was a provocative and influential piece of theater during the Civil Rights era.
• Like the play, the film engages with race, identity, power dynamics, and psychological tension, but in a way updated for a modern audience, blending social commentary with thriller elements.
• The film’s score was composed by Daniel Hart, who is a frequent collaborator of David Lowery, having created the scores for Pete’s Dragon, The Green Knight, The Old Man & the Gun, and the upcoming Mother Mary.

What we don’t like:

• One of the first releases of 2026, the film failed to connect with critics and audiences. It currently sits at 58% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and distributor Inaugural Entertainment didn’t even report box-office numbers.

HAMNET – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Cast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn

Synopsis: The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

What we like:

• A film with impeccable pedigree: It’s adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 historical novel by the author and Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (who also directs). The film’s producers include Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes.
• The film won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, and then went on to win Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Best Actress – Drama (Buckley) at the 2026 Golden Globes.
• Last week, Hamnet earned 9 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting (Nina Gold), Best Costume Design (Malgosia Turzanska), Best Production Design (Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton), and Best Original Score (Max Richter).

What we don’t like:

• Despite its stellar reviews, festival acclaim, and high-profile awards, Focus Features was never really able to get this cooking at the box-office. It currently sits at about $20M domestically, which is about half what Focus’ other holiday release, the Kate Hudson – Hugh Jackman musical drama Song Sung Blue, earned in the US. The good news: It’ll continue to play in theaters up until the Oscars, which should add to its total.

THE HOUSEMAID – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins

Synopsis: Millie is a struggling woman who is relieved to get a fresh start as a housemaid to Nina and Andrew, an upscale, wealthy couple. She soon learns that the family’s secrets are far more dangerous than her own.

What we like:

• A big, fat hit over the holiday season. It’s earned over $177M domestically and just passed $300M worldwide. We’re not sure who needed this more…Lionsgate (who hasn’t had a $100M grosser since the last Hunger Games movie in 2023), or Sydney Sweeney, who also hasn’t had a hit since her 2023 romcom Anyone But You.
• Paul Feig, best known for comedies like Bridesmaids and Spy, directed this much darker psychological thriller. It’s nice to see him get a theatrical success as well.
• We’re big fans of Elizabeth Perkins, who has a supporting role in the film.

What we don’t like:

• We can’t forget that this is also a huge win for Amanda Seyfried. But it’s bittersweet, because the supremely talented actress just put in career-best work in The Testament of Ann Lee, and it was ignored by Oscar voters. It’s also flopping in theaters. If only 10% of the audience who went to The Housemaid gave Ann Lee a shot…well…it’s just not happening. Booooo!

RELATIONSHIP GOALS – Prime Video

Cast: Kelly Rowland, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Robin Thede, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, Matt Walsh

Synopsis: When brilliant TV producer Leah Caldwell (Kelly Rowland) is about to make history as the first woman to run New York’s top morning show, her ex Jarrett Roy (Clifford “Method Man” Smith) swoops in to compete for the same position. He claims he’s a changed man, transformed by the wisdom of the New York Times bestselling book ‘Relationship Goals.’ As her tight-knit circle of friends dive into the same life-changing book, they all begin to rediscover their aim in love. Yet Leah, laser-focused on breaking through the glass ceiling, isn’t ready to believe in finding love—even as her undeniable chemistry with her ex threatens to reignite old flames.

What we like:

• This Amazon original is adapted from Pastor Michael Todd’s New York Times bestselling relationship guide Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex, and the author serves as an executive producer on the film.
• In addition to appealing leads Kelly Rowland (from Destiny’s Child) and Cliff “Method Man” Smith, the film’s supporting cast boasts some talented performers: Robin Thede, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, and Matt Walsh.

What we don’t like:

• Although set in New York City’s media world, the film was shot entirely in Toronto, Canada, which was dressed up to stand in for NYC’s bustling business districts. Just let Toronto be Toronto!

ELLA MCCAY – Hulu

Cast: Emma Mackey, Woody Harrelson, Kumail Nanjiani, Spike Fearn, Ayo Edebiri, Jack Lowden, Rebecca Hall, Julie Kavner, Becky Ann Baker, Joey Brooks, Albert Brooks, and Jamie Lee Curtis

Synopsis: An idealistic young politician juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take over the job of her mentor, the state’s longtime incumbent governor.

What we like:

• James L. Brooks is back in the director’s chair for the first time since his 2010 mega-flop How Do You Know. And no matter how sub-par his last few movies have been, we’ll always be happy to have him back. The man who made Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News gets a lifetime pass.
• Emma Mackey gets to lead a studio film after terrific performances in Emily and Hot Milk.
• This is Julie Kavner’s first role outside of The Simpsons (she’s the voice of Marge/Patty/Selma) since the 2006 Adam Sandler comedy Click. She is a national treasure and it’s great to see her on screen!

What we don’t like:

• Will we ever be able to remember Emma Mackey’s name anymore? It’s just too close to Ella McCay, and that’s the name we will remember. Prove us wrong Emma Mackey!

BOYS GO TO JUPITER – HBO Max

Cast: Jack Corbett, Tavi Gevinson, Elsie Fisher, Janeane Garofalo, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Miya Folick, Julio Torres, Joe Pera, Sarah Sherman, Cole Escola, Eva Victor, Chris Fleming, River L. Ramirez, Max Wittert & Demi Adejuyigbe

Synopsis: It’s the day after Christmas in suburban Florida, and Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett) and his friends drift through the sun-bleached limbo between holidays by slacking, shoplifting, and beatboxing. In between sneaking into pools and zoning out on the beach, Billy hustles for tips on the food-on-demand app Grubster, determined to make exactly $5,000 before New Year’s Eve. As he zigzags across town on his hoverboard delivering fast food to a cast of oddball locals, a routine drop-off at the Dolphin Groves Juice Company leads to an unexpected reunion with Rozebud (Miya Folick), his childhood crush, and a mysterious alien creature named Donut that’s stowed away in his backpack. The surprise encounter sets off a surreal chain of events that puts Billy in the crosshairs of Dr. Dolphin (Janeane Garofalo), a ruthless juice mogul who will stop at nothing to reclaim her extraterrestrial property.

What we like:

• The animated comedy is the first feature-length film written, directed, and produced by Julian Glander, known for his distinctive animation style and indie art projects.
• Unlike typical Hollywood animation, the look leans into a lo-fi, quirky 3D aesthetic that critics compare to indie games and surreal art, often hovering between Playmobil-like simplicity and dreamy fantasy.
• The voice cast is full of eclectic performers, including Jack Corbett, Janeane Garofalo, Tavi Gevinson, Elsie Fisher, Cole Escola, Joe Pera, Julio Torres, Miya Folick, and Sarah Sherman.

What we don’t like:

• Although the film had critical acclaim (currently 93% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and festival buzz, indie distributor Cartuna wasn’t quite able to get this to breakout at arthouse theaters. It grossed $200K domestically. We’re very happy it’s coming to HBO Max, as it’ll likely get a much bigger sampling on a major streaming platform.

LA GRAZIA – MUBI

Cast: Toni Servillo, Anna Ferzetti, Orlando Cinque, Massimo Venturiello, Milvia Marigliano, Giuseppe Gaiani, Giovanna Guida, Alessia Giuliani, Roberto Zibetti, Vasco Mirandola, Linda Messerklinger, Rufin Doh Zeyenouin

Synopsis: President Mariano De Santis’ term is coming to an end. Disparagingly nicknamed ‘Cemento armato’ (reinforced concrete) for his intractable nature and overly careful approach to politics, he has grown lonely in the echoing halls of the presidential palace, mourning the loss of his wife and listening to hip-hop. Before returning to civilian life, De Santis must make a series of bold decisions – a pair of presidential pardons and a groundbreaking policy bill – that will cement his legacy.

What we like:

• Written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino, one of Italy’s most acclaimed filmmakers. He’s best known stateside for The Great Beauty, which won the Best Foreign Language Film (as it was called then) Oscar in 2013.
• Legendary Italian actor Toni Servillo stars as President Mariano De Santis. Servillo picked up the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival for his performance.

What we don’t like:

• It’s been a rough go at the arthouse box-office for MUBI. After picking up a number of high-profile festival titles in 2025 (Die My Love, The History of Sound, The Mastermind), none have broken out they way 2024’s The Substance did. La Grazia didn’t break the trend. The film has earned only $130K in the US to date.

OBEX – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Cast: Albert Birney, Callie Hernandez and Frank Mosley

Synopsis: Conor Marsh lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy, until one day he begins playing OBEX, a new, state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs and Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home.

What we like:

• Multi-talented filmmaker Albert Birney doesn’t just direct OBEX, he’s also the lead actor, co-wrote the script, and co-edited the film
• The film world premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the NEXT Innovator Award (it lost to Zodiac Killer Project).

What we don’t like:

• It’s really tough for a black & white indie film, with no recognizable stars, to make any sort of a theatrical traction. Which is a shame. This one’s giving us Eraserhead vibes, and we’re excited to check it out.

QUEEN OF CHESS – Netflix

Cast: Garry Kasparov, Judit Polgár

Synopsis: A Hungarian girl dreams of conquering international men’s chess. After a 15-year battle against world champion Garry Kasparov, Judit Polgár revolutionizes the sport’s patriarchal culture to become one of the greatest chess prodigies in history and the greatest woman chess player of all time.

What we like:

• Rory Kennedy’s documentary about Judit Polgár, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player of all time, just world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received some solid reviews.
• Polgár became the youngest grandmaster in history at age 15, breaking a longstanding record previously held by the legendary Bobby Fischer.

What we don’t like:

• Rory Kennedy is an Academy Award–nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker, but can we just take a moment to reflect on the incredible tragedies she’s had to endure? A (partial) list:
  • Her father (Robert F. Kennedy) was assassinated 6 months before she was born.
  • In December 1997, she tried to resuscitate her brother Michael after a skiing accident in Aspen, Colorado, which was fatal.
  • Her wedding was originally scheduled for July 17, 1999, in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, but was postponed after the plane piloted by her cousin John F. Kennedy Jr. and passengers Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (his wife) and her sister, Lauren Bessette crashed en route to the event. The tent erected for the wedding instead became a site for prayers during the search for her family members.
  • Her brother, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is the current US Secretary of Health and Human Services.

SPLITSVILLE – Hulu

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin

Synopsis: Ashley asks for a divorce, watching as the good-natured Carey runs to his friends, Julie and Paul, for support. He’s shocked to discover that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.

What we like:

• Directed by Michael Angelo Covino, and co-written by Covino and Kyle Marvin, this well-reviewed comedy is the duo’s follow-up to their 2019 comedy The Climb. That film made a splash at Sundance, and then got lost in the COVID-era shuffle.
• Covino and Marvin also co-star, along with Hit Man breakout Adria Arjona and Dakota Johnson, who is also one of the film’s producers.
• The film is nominated for 2 Film Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Screenplay (Covino, Marvin) and Best Editing (Sara Shaw).

What we don’t like:

• No spoilers here, but some people feel the final act wraps up too quickly and ties up loose ends in ways that aren’t entirely satisfying or consistent with what came before.

VIOLENT ENDS – AMC+

Cast: Billy Magnussen, James Badge Dale, Alexandra Shipp, Ray McKinnon

Synopsis: Lucas Frost, an honest man brought up in a crime family whose only legacy is violence, tries to make his own life with his fiancée, Emma. He is suddenly pulled back into the family business he so despises when his cousin, Eli, perpetrates an armed robbery on a local scrap yard and an innocent life is caught in the crossfire.

What we like:

• This scrappy $2M indie thriller sports a bunch of hugely talented actors, including Billy Magnussen, James Badge Dale, Kate Burton, and national treasure Ray McKinnon.
• The film was shot around Arkansas and near Fayetteville, giving it an authentic rural Southern backdrop that adds to its gritty atmosphere.

What we don’t like:

• The film received mixed reviews from critics (it’s currently at 53 on Metacritic), but Independent Film Company did give it a theatrical release. Not many takers, though. It grossed only $185K in its limited run.

Happy Streaming Everyone!