What’s Streaming This Week (5/3 – 5/10)

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 retailer pre-orders (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, May 5th, 2026

A GREAT AWAKENING – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Cast: Jonathan Blair, John Paul Sneed

Synopsis: In the tense years leading up to the fight for independence, one spiritual movement reshaped hearts, unified communities, and helped forge the identity of a nation.

What we like:

• The film comes from faith-based studio Sight & Sound Films, known for producing religious and historical content, making one of their biggest narrative film projects so far.
• Instead of big Hollywood stars, the film casts relatively lesser-known actors to portray famous figures like Franklin, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton.
• Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of “A+” on an A+ to F scale. Not too surprising, as these faith-based film audiences are usually pretty generous with their praise.

What we don’t like:

• The film ignited debate over its portrayal of Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield, with critics accusing it of promoting Christian nationalist narratives. Historians challenge its central claim linking the First Great Awakening to the American Revolution, pointing to disputed sources and long-standing scholarly disagreement. Supporters frame it as a neglected spiritual history, while detractors warn it serves contemporary political messaging.

LORNE – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Cast: Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock

Synopsis: From Morgan Neville, Academy Award-winning filmmaker of 20 Feet from Stardom and Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, comes Lorne, an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers including Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock and many more.

What we like:

• From filmmaker Morgan Neville, who won an Oscar for his 2014 documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, and whose filmography also includes Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal, and Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.
• Because of all the classic SNL sketches and comedians involved, the film plays almost like a comedy, with some reviewers even saying it’s funnier than many scripted comedies.
• For SNL die-hards, this is a must-see…even if we just went through the whole ‘SNL at 50’ cavalcade of programming last year.

What we don’t like:

• Some critics noted the film feels like a retrospective of SNL itself, using the show’s history and sketches to explain Michaels’ legacy rather than fully dissecting his personality. Even after decades in the spotlight, Michaels comes across as enigmatic and hard to read, with many collaborators admitting they still don’t fully understand him.

PALESTINE ’36 – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Cast: Jeremy Irons, Liam Cunningham, Hiam Abbass, Kamel Al Basha, Yasmine Al Massri, Jalal Altawil, Robert Aramayo, Saleh Bakri, Yafa Bakri, Karim Daoud Anaya, Wardi Eilabouni, Ward Helou, Billy Howle, Dhafer L’Abidine

Synopsis: In 1936, as the British Empire tightens its grip on Palestine, Yusuf is caught between his village home and his work in Jerusalem. Amidst an anti-colonial revolt, and Jewish refugees fleeing persecution from Europe, all sides converge in a decisive moment for the entire region. 

What we like:

• Set during the 1936–1939 Arab revolt against British colonial rule in Palestine, director Annemarie Jacir intentionally draws parallels between the 1930s and modern-day conflicts, showing how historical tensions still shape today’s realities.
• The film world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it reportedly received a 20-minute standing ovation (that seems like a very long time to be clapping).
• It was selected as Palestine’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards and made the December shortlist. It was not ultimately nominated.

What we don’t like:

• Filming was delayed by the 2023 Gaza war, and production had to stop and restart multiple times. Despite safety and logistical challenges, the filmmakers insisted on shooting on location to preserve authenticity.

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, Varun Saranga, Daniel Beirne

Synopsis: Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace (Samara Weaving) discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.

What we like:

• Unlike many sequels, this one starts right where the original ends, with Grace still dealing with the aftermath of surviving the deadly Le Domas family game.
• For 90s kids, the supporting cast is stacked with formative actors: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy!), Shawn Hatosy (The Faculty!), Elijah Wood (also The Faculty!), and Néstor Carbonell (Suddenly Susan!).
• Living legend David Cronenberg has a supporting role in the film, his first acting gig in six years.

What we don’t like:

• This sequel was steamrolled at the box-office by Project Hail Mary, which dominated on opening weekend. Still…on a reported $14M production budget, the film has pulled in $42M worldwide so far. That’s a nice little return on investment.

Also coming Tuesday:

ANDRE IS AN IDIOT

Thursday, May 7th, 2026

Friday, May 8th, 2026

FANTASY LIFE – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Cast: Amanda Peet, Matthew Shear, Alessandro Nivola, Judd Hirsch, Bob Balaban, Andrea Martin, Zosia Mamet, Jessica Harper, Holland Taylor and Sheng Wang

Synopsis: An actress (Amanda Peet) falls for the anxious law school dropout (Matthew Shear) babysitting her kids in this smart, New York-set romantic comedy.

What we like:

• This charming indie was written and directed by Matthew Shear, his first time directing a feature film after years of acting in such films as Mistress America, The Meyerowitz Stories, and Between the Temples. Shear also co-stars.
• The film world premiered at the 2025 SXSW Festival, where the Jury awarded star Amanda Peet the Narrative Feature Competition Special Jury Award for Performance.
• While not exactly an arthouse blockbuster, indie distributor Greenwich Entertainment did find some success with the film. To date, it has earned $600K domestically.

What we don’t like:

• In a just world, Amanda Peet would get some year-end awards attention for her performance. But let’s be realistic…she’s more likely to pick up an Indie Spirit Award nomination (no shame in that). Here’s hoping it happens.

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION – HBO Max

Cast: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, and Roman Griffin Davis

Synopsis: In the aftermath of a comet strike that decimated most of the earth, Greenland 2: Migration follows the Garrity family (Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, and Roman Griffin Davis) as they’re forced to leave the safety of their bunker in Greenland to traverse a shattered world in search of a new home.

What we like:

• Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin reprise their roles as John and Allison Garrity, while Roman Griffin Davis (the kid from JoJo Rabbit!) replaces the original child actor as their teenage son Nathan.
• This marks the fourth collaboration between director Ric Roman Waugh and Gerard Butler, who worked together on 2019’s Angel Has Fallen , 2020’s Greenland and the upcoming Night Has Fallen.

What we don’t like:

• In an upset, this sequel was only the second worst thing to happen to Greenland this year:

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES – Netflix

Cast: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D’Elia

Synopsis: A widow (Sally Field) who works at a local aquarium finds joy again when she forms an unlikely bond with a giant Pacific octopus and a wayward young man who comes to town in search of family. Together, they uncover a mystery that will lead them to a life-changing discovery and restore their sense of wonder.

What we like:

• The film is adapted from the popular 2022 book by Shelby Van Pelt, which became a hit for its unusual premise and heartfelt storytelling.
• A giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus plays a key role in the story, and is voiced by Alfred Molina. Yes, Doctor Octopus is playing an octopus!
• The film features our favorite character actress: Beth Grant. You might not recognize the name, but she’s been giving memorable performances for decades. The woman who falls off the bus in Speed? That’s Beth Grant. The ‘1 minute to Wapner’ scene in Rain Man? That’s Beth Grant. Carla Jean’s dying mother in No Country For Old Men? That’s Beth Grant. Behold her genius:

What we don’t like:

• Beth Grant does not have an Oscar yet. Shameful.

WE BURY THE DEAD – Hulu

Cast: Daisy Ridley, Brenton Thwaites, Mark Coles Smith

Synopsis: When her husband goes missing in the aftermath of a catastrophic military experiment, Ava joins a “body retrieval unit” in the hopes of finding him alive. But her search takes a chilling turn when the corpses she’s burying start showing signs of life.

We we like:

• Australian director Zak Hilditch’s zombie survival thriller had its US premiere at last year’s SXSW Festival, where it garnered decent reviews. It’s currently 86% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
• Instead of the usual U.S. or European apocalypse, the movie is set on post-disaster Tasmania, giving it a distinctive landscape and atmosphere compared with most zombie films.
• The film earned $3 million in its opening weekend, where it played on 1,117 screens. It was the biggest opening weekend gross in Vertical Entertainment history.

What we don’t like:

• We’re rooting for Daisy Ridley, but she seems to be stuck in a loop of B-level action movies. Some are entertaining, many are forgettable. We’d love to see her take on a supporting role in a more prestigious project, something that could really showcase her talent. Easier said than done, of course.

WHISTLE – Shudder

Cast: Dafne Keen, Nick Frost, Sophie Nelisse, Michelle Fairley, Ali Skovbye

Synopsis: A group of misfit high school students stumble upon an ancient Aztec death whistle. They find that when they blow the whistle, the terrifying sound it emits will invoke their future deaths to hunt them down. As the body count rises, the friends investigate the origins of the deadly artifact in a desperate effort to stop the horrifying chain of events that they have set in motion.

What we like:

• This supernatural horror thriller plays on the idea that your death is already encoded in your future, and the whistle accelerates that fate, making death take physical form to come after its victims. Very Final Destination-coded.
• Director Corin Hardy has noted influences from classic horror films like The Ring, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and It Follows, blending supernatural dread with teen horror elements. 
• Everyone’s favorite beard from Heated Rivalry, Sophie Nélisse, is one of the leads.

What we don’t like:

• It’s not as if the ‘death comes for you’-trope can’t be expanded on or explored, but the Final Destination franchise and It Follows have set a very high bar for the genre. Final Destination…but with a whistle, is kind of reminding us of this:

Also streaming Friday:

COUPLES WEEKEND

NO PLACE TO BE SINGLE

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.