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:
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
LATE SHIFT – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Leonie Benesch
Synopsis: Dedicated nurse Floria navigates the relentless pace of her hospital’s understaffed surgical ward with humanity and warmth. As her overnight shift intensifies, she is pushed to the brink in a race against time.
What we like:
- For fans of The Pitt who are looking for more hospital-induced stress now that the second season is over, the timing couldn’t be better. This Swiss drama from writer/director Petra Volpe got great reviews when it world premiered at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival.
- The film stars Leonie Benesch, who was terrific in the 2023 drama The Teacher’s Lounge, and also made a great impression in the 2024 Munich Olympics drama September 5.
- The film was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, making the December shortlist. It was not ultimately nominated.
What we don’t like:
- We wish it was heartening to see that the US health care system isn’t the only one struggling…but it’s not. It’s incredibly depressing to know that even the Swiss..THE SWISS…have problems with their system. What chance do we have if an ultra-organized, ultra-precise country like Switzerland can’t get it right? We’re doomed.
PROTECTOR – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Isabel Myers, D.B. Sweeney and Matthew Modine
Synopsis: Nikki (Milla Jovovich), a veteran war hero, thought she’d left her violent past behind for a peaceful life with her daughter, Chloe – until Chloe is kidnapped by a human trafficking ring that forces Nikki into the city’s criminal underworld on a relentless pursuit. As she tears through a ruthless crime syndicate using her military training, Nikki draws the attention of both the police and the military, shooting her to the top of the most wanted list. In this high-stakes race against time, Nikki must use the violent skills she thought she left behind to save her daughter.
What we like:
- Milla Jovovich’s daughter is Taken! We’re not gonna say she was kidnapped. We’re not gonna say she was trafficked. She was Taken, dammit! Seriously…this is Taken.
- The film premiered last September at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in something called the ‘Midnight Passion” section. We’re assuming that’s South Korea’s version of the American ‘Midnight Madness’ film festival programming, but they just don’t have the guts to go full crazy. USA! USA!
- D.B. Sweeney has a supporting role in the film, and we’ll be yelling ‘Toe Pick!’ every time he’s on screen:
What we don’t like:
- Upstart distributor Magenta Light Studios wasn’t able to drum up Taken-like grosses for this one. It earned only $744k at the domestic box-office. Critics were not kind, as the film currently sits at only 21% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
TOW – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Rose Byrne, Dominic Sessa, Demi Lovato, Ariana DeBose, Octavia Spencer, Simon Rex, Elsie Fisher
Synopsis: Based on a true story, TOW follows Amanda Ogle (Byrne), a woman living in her aging Toyota Camry on the streets of Seattle. When her car — her only lifeline — is stolen and impounded, Amanda is thrust into a relentless legal battle against an indifferent system. What begins as a fight to reclaim her car evolves into a deeply human story of resilience, dignity, and the power of one woman’s voice in the face of systemic failure.
What we like:
- Rose Byrne’s follow-up to her Oscar-nominated role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, this drama is based on the real-life story of Amanda Ogle, a homeless Seattle woman, who fought her way out of “tow-company hell” to reclaim the car that had held her life together after receiving a tow bill for $21,634.
- The film has an absolutely stellar supporting cast, including Dominic Sessa, Demi Lovato, Ariana DeBose, Octavia Spencer, Simon Rex, and Elsie Fisher.
- The film received generally positive reviews after it world premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, and it currently sits at 78% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
What we don’t like:
- Despite the positive reviews, the film failed to drum up much business at the box-office, earning only $287k domestically. Was it the generic title? Were audiences put off by the Rosie the Riveter styling of Byrne? We hope it finds an audience on streaming.
Also Streaming Tuesday:
Friday, April 24th, 2026
APEX – Netflix
Cast: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana
Synopsis: A grieving woman seeks solace in the wilderness only to become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a serial killer.
What we like:
- It’s Furiosa vs. Elton John, as Charlize Theron takes on Taron Egerton in this survival thriller. The concept is simple, and it’s only 96 minutes long. Sounds encouraging.
- The film is directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who has directed some entertaining man versus nature thrillers, including Everest (man vs mountain), Beast (man vs lion), and Adrift (man vs ocean).
- Theron learned to rock climb for Apex and shot the vast majority of climbing scenes without a stunt double. Legendary climber Beth Rodden, who’s known for extreme first ascents, including Yosemite crack Meltdown, taught Theron to climb ahead of filming.
What we don’t like:
- Netflix has reduced their original film output in 2026, and we wish the decrease in quantity would result in an increase in quality. We watched Thrash last week, and woof…it was a tough sit. Here’s hoping Apex can deliver some high-quality thrills.
DOLLY – Shudder
Cast: Fabianne Therese, Seann William Scott, Ethan Suplee, Russ Tiller, Kate Cobb, Michalina Scorzelli, and Max the Impaler
Synopsis: Macy fights for survival after being abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise her as their child.
What we like:
- The “villain” isn’t a doll… but acts like one. Even though the title suggests a toy, the antagonist is actually a human-like figure wearing a porcelain doll mask.
- This is not PG-13 M3GAN or Child’s Play. Director Rod Blackhurst was inspired by classic grindhouse horror and employs The Texas Chainsaw Massacre-type brutality, with a dash of New French Extremity. YES!
- The creepy “Dolly” figure is portrayed by Max the Impaler, a professional wrestler.
What we don’t like:
- We’re very excited to check this one out, but will it be able to out-creep the ultimate walking doll of the 21st century? We’re talking, of course, about the Alabama walking Chucky, which still haunts our dreams:
MARTY SUPREME – HBO Max
Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Fran Drescher, Odessa A’zion, Penn Jillette, Kevin O’Leary and Abel Ferrara
Synopsis: Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.
What we like:
- Directed by Josh Safdie, best known for collaborating with his brother Benny on intense character pieces like Uncut Gems and Good Time, this film marks his first solo directorial effort in years and blends sports, comedy, and drama in a uniquely chaotic style.
- Jennifer Venditti was nominated in this year’s inaugural Best Casting Oscar category, and it’s easy to see why: It stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler, the Creator, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher in eccentric supporting roles.
- In addition to the Best Casting nomination, the film received 8 additional Oscar nods: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Chalamet), Best Original Screenplay (Safdie, Ronald Bronstein), Best Cinematography (Darius Khondji), Best Production Design (Jack Fisk, Adam Willis), Best Editing (Safdie, Bronstein), and Best Costume Design (Miyako Bellizzi). Sadly, it went home from the ceremony empty-handed.
What we don’t like:
- Marty Supreme failed to get a Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar nomination, which seems criminal considering Chalamet’s make-up prompted Gwyneth Paltrow to give some unsolicited advice (via People):
NO OTHER CHOICE – Hulu
Cast: Lee Byung Hun, Son Yejin, Park Hee Soon, Lee Sung Min, Yeom Hye Ran, Cha Seung Won, Choi So Yul, Kim Woo Seung, Kim Hyeongmook, Oh Dal Soo, Lee Suk Hyeong
Synopsis: Devoted family man and veteran paper mill manager You Man-su spirals after being laid off and discarded by a ruthless job market. Humiliated by failed interviews and mocked by corporate gatekeepers, he resolves to claw back dignity by any means necessary — a decision that sends him down a path of violence where there’s no turning back.
What we like:
- Master filmmaker Park Chan-wook adapts the 1997 novel The Ax by Donald E. Westlake, which has already inspired one film, Costa Gravas’ 2005 film The Axe.
- The film stars Lee Byung-hun (who was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Drama), internationally recognized for appearances in projects ranging from I Saw the Devil to the global Netflix hit Squid Game.
- The film became an absolute arthouse blockbuster for NEON, currently earning $10M at the US box-office. It has significantly outgrossed the distributor’s other Oscar-nominated 2025 releases, with It Was Just An Accident, Sentimental Value, The Secret Agent, and Sirât all trailing. Speaking of Oscars…
What we don’t like:
- What will it take for Park Chan-wook to get some love from the Academy?? This felt like the perfect chance to at least get him a nomination. The Academy tastes always lean extremely European, but this snub hurt. Maybe next time.
SOUND OF FALLING – MUBI, $14.99 – Sale Only
Cast: Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Laeni Geiseler, Susanne Wuest, Luise Heyer, and Lea Drinda
Synopsis: Over the course of a century, as four girls from different time periods experience their youth on a German farm, their lives become intertwined until time seems to dissolve.
What we like:
- This German drama co-written (with Louise Peter) and directed by Mascha Schilinski was a minor sensation when it world premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the Jury Prize.
- The film is structured non-linearly, shifting between the four different time periods, but all set on the same farmstead in the Altmark region, where gestures, conversations, and situations recur over time.
- The film was selected as the German entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, making the December shortlist, but it was not nominated.
What we don’t like:
- We get it…a 2.5 hour German period drama was never going to blockbuster numbers at the box-office, but it’s depressing to see how much this fascinating film was ignored by audiences. It didn’t even crack $100k. We love that MUBI is supporting these challenging titles, but their films all seem to disappear very quickly
Also Streaming Friday:
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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