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, May 26th, 2026
DESERT WARRIOR – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Sharlto Copley & Sir Ben Kingsley
Synopsis: Defying a ruthless emperor, a princess flees into the Arabian desert, hunted by mercenaries. Forged into a warrior and aided by a legendary bandit, she unites warring tribes for a last stand that will change history.
What we like:
- One of the most ambitious film projects ever produced in Saudi Arabia, with a reported budget of about $150 million, making it the country’s most expensive movie production to date.
- The movie stars a cast that were hopefully very well compensated, including Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Sharlto Copley. Mackie plays the rogue warrior Hanzala, while Kingsley portrays the Persian emperor Kisra.
- Much of the production was shot in Saudi Arabia’s massive NEOM desert region, part of the country’s broader “Vision 2030” effort to build a global entertainment industry. Saudi crew members were also trained during production as part of the initiative.
What we don’t like:
- Hoo boy…could this be the biggest box-office money loser in cinema history? The film failed to crack the $1M mark globally, which…wow. Can Saudi Arabia afford to lose that kind of money???
- Director Rupert Wyatt, best known for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, reportedly left the project during post-production because of creative disagreements, then later returned to finish his preferred cut of the film.
FUZE – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Sam Worthington, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Synopsis: Set in contemporary London, Fuze unfolds after an unexploded World War II bomb is unearthed at a busy construction site, forcing a massive citywide evacuation. Amid the escalating tension and chaos, a daring criminal operation is set in motion—one that uses the evacuation as cover for a meticulously planned heist. As authorities race against time to contain the crisis, alliances blur and moral boundaries are crossed, the film deftly propels audiences through a series of calculated twists delivering a wildly entertaining ride.
What we like:
- The film combines two thriller sub-genres at once: a bomb-disposal race-against-time movie and a heist film. It was filmed on location in central London, giving it a tactile sense of place. No green-screen overload on this one, and we love that.
- It was directed by David Mackenzie, who helmed the terrific Best Picture Oscar nominee Hell or High Water.
- The film world premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival and got decent reviews. It currently sits at 72% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
What we don’t like:
- Despite its strong cast and solid reviews, the movie underperformed commercially, earning only around $3 million worldwide during its theatrical run.
OVER YOUR DEAD BODY – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Samara Weaving, Jason Segel, Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, Paul Guilfoyle
Synopsis: A dysfunctional married couple retreats to a secluded cabin to repair their relationship, but each secretly plots to murder the other.
What we like:
- An English-language remake of the Norwegian dark comedy-thriller The Trip (2021). The original version was directed by Tommy Wirkola, who was initially attached to direct this remake too before leaving the project.
- Filmmaking duties were handled by Jorma Taccone, one-third of comedy group The Lonely Island. The film’s tonal mix of slapstick humor and graphic violence feels very Lonely Island-coded.
- The film was shot in Finland, with principal photography taking place around Tampere and Ylöjärvi. The isolated lakeside cabin setting is a real Finnish location, not a studio-built set.
What we don’t like:
- Critics were sharply divided on the tone. Some praised the movie’s willingness to go completely absurd, while others thought the comedy and horror elements clashed badly. Rotten Tomatoes scores settled in the high-60% range.
TWO PROSECUTORS – $13.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Cast: Aleksandr Kuznetsov, Aleksandr Filippenko, Anatoliy Beliy, Andris Keišs, Vytautas Kaniušonis, Valentin Novopolskij, Dmitrij Denisiuk
Synopsis: In 1937, amidst Stalin’s Great Terror, a newly appointed prosecutor for the USSR is made aware of alleged corruption in the Secret Police, and takes it upon himself to investigate.
What we like:
- The film was directed by acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, who is best known for politically charged films like Donbass and In the Fog. Two Prosecutors continues his fascination with authoritarian systems and historical memory.
- It is based on a novella by Soviet physicist and Gulag survivor Georgy Demidov, whose writings were suppressed for decades in the USSR. Demidov spent around 14 years in Stalinist labor camps, and many elements in the story were inspired by real experiences.
- The movie premiered in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prestigious François Chalais Prize, an award given to films dealing with journalism, human rights, or political conscience.
What we don’t like:
- Loznitsa is not exactly a marquee arthouse filmmaker here in the US, so Janus Films struggled to attract much of an audience in theaters. It earned only $115K at the domestic box-office. Still, it’s well worth checking out and should be hitting The Criterion Channel later in the summer.
Also coming Tuesday:
Thursday, May 28th, 2026
SCREAM 7 – Paramount+
Cast: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Tim Simons and Mark Consuelos
Synopsis: When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
What we like:
- This is the first film in the series directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and Scream 4 (2011).
- There’s still a lot of life in this IP. The film opened to $63.6 million, topping Scream VI as the largest for the franchise, though below Scream 2 and Scream 3 when adjusted for ticket price inflation.
- Neve Campbell was reportedly paid $7 million to return to her most famous role, the biggest salary of her career.
What we don’t like:
- In November 2023, Melissa Barrera was dropped from her lead role in Scream 7, which was a result of social media posts she had made which described Gaza as a “concentration camp” and the Israeli government’s actions in the Gaza war as “genocide and ethnic cleansing”. It sure seems like the actress, whose star was on the rise, has been sidelined for her candor. Her next project: A killer whale thriller with John Travolta.
Friday, May 29th, 2026
DEAD MAN’S WIRE – Netflix
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo, Myha’la, Cary Elwes, John Robinson, and Al Pacino
Synopsis: Set in 1977 and based on a true story, Tony Kiritsis, a former real estate developer puts a dead man’s switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology.
What we like:
- It’s great to have the legendary Gus Van Sant directing another feature film. This is his first since 2018’s Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot.
- The film had its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and received great reviews. It currently sits at 91% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Speaking of legends, the score was composed by Danny Elfman.
What we don’t like:
- This was the first release from upstart distributor Row K Entertainment, and despite a semi-wide release (~1,100 theaters), the film tapped out at $2.2M. With a production budget reported around $15M, that’s not great. We’re intensely rooting for these new indie distributors (1-2 Special, Black Bear, Row K). They deliver mid-budget films at a time we desperately need them. If you’re able, support them in theaters or on VOD.
THE MOMENT – HBO Max
Cast: Charli xcx, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, Alexander Skarsgård
Synopsis: A rising pop star navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut.
What we like:
- This mocumentary stars Charli xcx, portraying a fictionalized, exaggerated version of herself as a pop star wrestling with the pressures of fame and creative control.
- The movie marks the feature film directorial debut of Aidan Zamiri, who previously worked with Charli xcx on several of her music videos.
- The film features cameos by real-life celebrities we’ve heard of (Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott, Julia Fox) and people we’ve never heard of (Shygirl, Mel Ottenberg, A.G. Cook).
What we don’t like:
- Full disclosure: Our music taste (and consumption) is stuck in amber somewhere back in 2003. We are not the target audience here. And hearing that Alexander Skarsgård plays a Gen X Coldplay-enthusiast director who tries to give Charli advice to tone down her ‘brat-ness’? Well…let’s just say we see ourselves in that character. Now if we only looked like Alexander Skarsgård….
PROPELLER ONE-WAY NIGHT COACH – Apple TV
Cast: Clark Shotwell, Kelly Eviston-Quinnett, Ella Bleu Travolta, and Olga Hoffmann
Synopsis: In the golden age of aviation, a young airplane enthusiast, Jeff, and his mother set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime. Between airline meals, charming flight attendants, unexpected stopovers, larger-than-life passengers and a thrilling glimpse at first class, the journey unfolds in moments both magical and unexpected, charting the course for the boy’s future.
What we like:
- The film marks the directorial debut of John Travolta after nearly 50 years as an actor. He didn’t just direct it…he also wrote, narrated, produced, and partly financed the movie himself.
- It’s based on a real children’s novella that Travolta wrote back in 1997, inspired by his lifelong obsession with aviation.
- The film premiered in the Cannes Premiere section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where Travolta was unexpectedly awarded an Honorary Palme d’Or during the screening event.
What we don’t like:
- At around 61 minutes, to call this a feature film is a bit of a stretch. The story contains surprisingly little conventional conflict. According to early reviews, much of the “drama” involves airplane meals, cockpit visits, weather delays, and a child’s excitement about first class seating.
Also new on Friday:
Sunday, May 31st, 2026
IRON LUNG – TBD Sale / TBD Rental (YouTube Exclusive)
Cast: Markiplier, Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, Elle LaMont, Mick Lauer, Seán McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye), Isaac McKee and Alanah Pearce
Synopsis: The stars are gone. The planets have disappeared. Only individuals aboard space stations or starships were left to give the end a name — The Quiet Rapture. After decades of decay and crumbling infrastructure, the Consolidation of Iron has made a discovery on a barren moon designated AT-5. An ocean of blood. Hoping to discover desperately needed resources they immediately launch an expedition. A submarine is crafted and a convict is welded inside. Due to the pressure and depth of the ocean the forward viewport has been encased in metal. If successful, they will earn their freedom. If not, another will follow. This will be the 13th expedition.
What we like:
- This indie sensation was written, directed, edited, produced, and starred in by YouTuber Markiplier, who also self distributed the film.
- It’s based on the 2022 indie horror game Iron Lung, but the movie greatly expanded the game’s lore and backstory. The original game mostly consisted of a lone submarine journey, while the film added political conflict, larger mythology, and psychological character drama.
- One of the movie’s most fascinating stories was its release strategy. Initially planned for only a handful of independent theaters, the film exploded into a release on more than 4,000 screens after fans organized campaigns asking local cinemas to book it.
- Despite a modest budget of around $3–4 million, the movie became a major box office hit, grossing more than $50 million worldwide.
What we don’t like:
- Markiplier is limiting the sale of his film, offering it only on the YouTube Movies retail site. It’s his right, and he certainly owes a great deal of his success to the platform. But it does seem a bit restrictive.
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