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, July 21st, 2026
BLUE HERON – The Criterion Channel (8p ET)
Cast: Eylul Guven, Iringó Réti, Ádám Tompa, Edik Beddoes, Amy Zimmer, Liam Serg, and Preston Drabble
Synopsis: In the late 1990s, a family of six settles into their new home on Vancouver Island, as internal dynamics are slowly revealed through the experiences of the youngest child, Sasha. Their fresh start is interrupted by the increasingly dangerous behavior of Jeremy, the family’s oldest child.
What we like:
- This acclaimed Canadian drama world premiered at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival in August 2025, competing in the Cineasti del Presente section. It received the Swatch First Feature Award.
- Writer-director Sophy Romvari has described the film as a semi-autobiographical work which draws heavily from her memories of growing up in a Hungarian immigrant family on Vancouver Island.
- After Locarno, Blue Heron screened at numerous major festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, and was later named to TIFF’s annual Canada’s Top Ten list for 2025.
What we don’t like:
- Despite fantastic reviews from critics (it currently sits at 98% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), the film failed to crack $1M at the arthouse box-office. But it’s definitely worth catching up with now that it’s hitting the Criterion Channel.
DISCLOSURE DAY – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo
Synopsis: If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? Now the truth belongs to seven billion people in an original event film created and directed by Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by David Koepp, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo.
What we like:
- After revisiting established franchises and making historical dramas, Spielberg returns to an original science-fiction story centered on humanity’s first undeniable proof of extraterrestrial life. The story was conceived by Spielberg, with the screenplay written by David Koepp, one of his most frequent collaborators (Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).
- Spielberg once again collaborated with legendary composer John Williams, continuing one of cinema’s longest-running and most celebrated director-composer partnerships.
- Without spoiling specifics, the film concludes with a bold, ambiguous moment that has generated extensive discussion among fans about what happens next and what it means for humanity.
What we don’t like:
- The film sparked intense backlash from conservative and Christian commentators who condemned it as an “assault on Christianity” for its depiction of a former nun losing her faith and alien technology overpowering a crucifix.
SCARY MOVIE – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall
Synopsis: Twenty-six years after outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer, the Core Four are back in the killer’s crosshairs and no horror movie IP is safe.
What we like:
- The Scary Movie core four, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall, reunite for the first time in more than two decades.
- Its targets include contemporary horror trends such as reboots, legacy sequels, “final chapters,” and prestige-style horror, alongside specific films including Sinners, Weapons, and Get Out.
- The first trailer generated more than 410 million views in its first seven days, making it Paramount’s second-biggest trailer debut ever.
What we don’t like:
- When the first trailer for the reboot dropped, it immediately went viral and sparked an online movement among some Gen Z viewers. Many younger viewers took to social media to complain that the jokes were outdated, offensive, and “cringe”. With a C+ Cinemascore, it sounds like Gen Z wasn’t the only generation cringing.
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU – $29.99 Sale / $24.99 Rental
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, and Jonny Coyne
Synopsis: The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.
What we like:
- After three seasons as a Disney+ series, the titular duo made the jump to the big screen for their first feature-film adventure. Jon Favreau, who helped create The Mandalorian tv series, directs and also co-wrote the movie with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor.
- The film was filmed for IMAX and was specifically designed to take advantage of the larger theatrical format, giving Mando and Grogu a much bigger cinematic canvas than the television series.
- Ludwig Göransson, whose work on The Mandalorian became instantly iconic, composed the film’s score. It’s incredible that he’s been able to follow in John Williams’ massive footsteps and thrive. What a daunting assignment!
What we don’t like:
- Even with the IMAX bells and whistles, many critics argued that the film suffered from a “televisual” feel, lacking the galaxy-altering stakes, visual scope, and pacing that fans expect from a big-screen Star Wars movie. Despite being one of the most recognizable brands in entertainment, the film became one of the lowest-grossing entries in the franchise.
Also streaming Tuesday:
GREGG ALLMAN: THE MUSIC OF MY SOUL
Friday, July 24th, 2026
72 HOURS – Netflix
Cast: Kevin Hart, Marcello Hernandez, Mason Gooding, Teyana Taylor, Ben Marshall, Zach Cherry, Kam Patterson
Synopsis: A forty-year-old executive hopes to save his flailing career by joining a group of twenty-somethings on a wild three-day bachelor party after he’s inadvertently added to their group text.
What we like:
- This comedy reunites Kevin Hart with director Tim Story. The pair previously worked together on films including Think Like a Man and Ride Along.
- The film is written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, who are best known for their work on the Harold & Kumar films and the Cobra Kai television series.
- As with most Netflix films, it’s stacked with a talented supporting cast, including Marcello Hernández, Mason Gooding, Teyana Taylor, Zach Cherry, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Andy Garcia.
What we don’t like:
- When Netflix dropped the trailer and promotions for 72 Hours just weeks after The Roast of Kevin Hart, some fans online questioned whether they wanted to support another Kevin Hart project. The backlash from the live roast left a sour taste for viewers who criticized the comedian lineup and a George Floyd joke that was pretty tasteless.
CHUM – AMC+
Cast: Alice Eve, Eric Michael Cole, Elle Haymond, Sarah Siadat, Johnny Gaffney, Lisa Yaro, Jim Klock
Synopsis: A dream destination wedding in Malta explodes into chaos when a bloodthirsty shark attacks and a sinister fisherman with a hidden agenda turns the celebration into a deadly trap. Forced between open water and a relentless human predator, the wedding party must fight for survival as secrets surface and loyalties shatter. As the newlyweds are pushed to their limits, they’re forced to confront the cracks in their relationship to determine who lives, who dies and who stays married.
What we like:
- It’s summer, so it’s time for the parade of deadly shark thrillers. No complaints from us! Last year, IFC brought us the satisfying Dangerous Animals. Let’s hope this one (which didn’t get a theatrical release) hits the sweet spot as well.
- Much like Dangerous Animals, this one combines two survival-horror subgenres at once: a shark attack film and a human-slasher thriller. Instead of the shark being the only danger, the characters are also hunted by a psychopathic fisherman.
- The film was shot on location in Malta…and jet fuel prices are through the roof…so if you want a little virtual trip to Malta…
What we don’t like:
- So Chum is a terrific title for a shark film, no complaints here. But as 30 Rock obsessives, we can’t help but be reminded of the Michael Sheen bit about the English version of Friends:
THE DINK – Apple TV
Cast: Jake Johnson, Ben Stiller, Chloe Fineman, Christine Taylor, Patton Oswalt, Martin Kove, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Andy Roddick, and John McEnroe
Synopsis: A washed-up tennis pro who, in trying to save a club in crisis and win his father’s respect, is forced to break a solemn vow and do the one thing he swore he’d never do: play pickleball.
What we like:
- We’re incredibly excited to see this pickleball comedy for a few reasons, but reason #1: Josh Greenbaum, who directed The Dink, also directed the hilarious comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.
- Move over Brooklyn Decker…former US Open champion Andy Roddick (Decker’s husband) appears in the film. John McEnroe too!
- Ben Stiller is involved both in front of and behind the camera. He is one of the film’s producers and also appears in the cast as Dr. Stone.
What we don’t like:
- Keeping our fingers crossed there’s no age-gap discourse kicked up. The film pairs Jake Johnson (48) with Mary Steenburgen (73), two incredibly likable performers, in an unusual romantic-comedy setup. Their characters, Dusty and Candace, become pickleball partners, with the sport helping spark an unexpected relationship.
MORTAL KOMBAT II – HBO Max
Cast: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, with Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada
Synopsis: The fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
What we like:
- Fans spent years wondering when Johnny Cage would appear after being teased at the end of the 2021 film. In Mortal Kombat II, he’s one of the main characters and is played by Karl Urban, best known for The Boys and The Lord of the Rings films.
- Besides Johnny Cage, the film introduces fan favorites including Kitana, Jade, Shao Kahn, Baraka, Sindel, and Quan Chi, greatly expanding the roster compared with the first movie.
- One of the biggest complaints about the 2021 movie was that it never showed the famous tournament. The sequel finally centers on the official Mortal Kombat competition.
What we don’t like:
- Hopes for a third Mortal Kombat film are fading, as the sequel only grossed $125M worldwide on a reported $80M budget. Not a disaster, but maybe not an automatic green-light for Mortal Kombat III.
NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE – Hulu
Cast: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol, Jared Raab
Synopsis: When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008.
What we like:
- This well-reviewed Canadian comedy is a continuation of a 2000s web series and later TV show created by Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol.
- A lot of scenes in the film involve real people who don’t realize they’re in a movie, similar to Borat. The filmmakers mix hidden-camera footage with scripted scenes.
- The film had its Canadian premiere in the Midnight Madness program at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was the winner of the People’s Choice Award, Midnight Madness.
What we don’t like:
- If there was any justice in this world, this would have matched the breakout business of Borat. But there is no justice, so the filmmakers will have to be content with being a cult classic, which this film is likely to become. It’s hilarious, don’t miss it.
PRESSURE – Peacock
Cast: Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, Chris Messina, Damian Lewis
Synopsis: In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, Pressure follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice—launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.
What we like:
- The Focus Features drama is adapted from playwright and screenwriter David Haig’s acclaimed 2014 stage play of the same name. Haig also co-wrote the screenplay with director Anthony Maras.
- If you’re going to adapt a play that threatens to be a little stagey on film, you’d better have terrific actors. No problem here, with Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, Chris Messina, and Damian Lewis all making the dialogue crackle.
- The music was composed by Volker Bertelmann (also known as Hauschka), who won an Academy Award for his score for All Quiet on the Western Front.
What we don’t like:
- Sure, sure…the film was released to coincide with the anniversary of the D-Day invasion. But it also came out during Pride Month, and Dwight D. Eisenhower was no friend of the gays. HOWEVER! It does give us the opportunity to share some of the hilarious memes that popped up after a photo of the former president surfaced:
SACCHARINE – Shudder
Cast: Midori Francis, Madeleine Madden, Danielle Macdonald, Robert Taylor and Showko Showfukutei
Synopsis: After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana finds herself haunted by the ghost of the person she’s eating.
What we like:
- The film was written and directed by Natalie Erika James, whose acclaimed debut horror film Relic earned praise for blending supernatural scares with emotional themes. Saccharine continues her interest in horror as a metaphor for personal trauma and social pressures.
- While the film features gruesome supernatural elements, many critics have noted that it is fundamentally about body image, self-worth, diet culture, and the pressure to change oneself in pursuit of acceptance.
- It had its world premiere in the Midnight section of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where viewers described the film as particularly visceral and difficult to watch due to its graphic medical imagery, body-horror sequences, and examination of eating disorders and self-destructive behavior.
What we don’t like:
- We’ll continue to bang the drum: We love that the Independent Film Company gives many of these Shudder titles a proper (not perfunctory) theatrical release. Sadly…this one struggled to get any butts in seats. It grossed only $115K domestically.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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