10 Best Movies to Watch on Streaming Right Now (August 2024)

Summary

• The best new movies to watch on streaming include strong releases from 2023 and 2024 across various platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
• Many streaming original films rival big-budget Hollywood blockbusters, offering a fresh range of genres for subscribers to enjoy weekly.
• The best streaming movies of 2023 are finding new audiences, even if they didn’t perform well at the box office, bringing fresh releases for all platforms.

The best new movies to watch on streaming this week include some of the biggest blockbuster movies of the year, the latest originals from the top streamers, and some smaller movies audiences might have missed in theaters. Halfway through the year, some of the best movies of 2024 are now available to stream on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Peacock, and Paramount+ – including many that have only recently left theaters, like The Bikerider as well as some streaming exclusives like The Union.

There are some new additions from some beloved franchises, like the Ghostbusters, Mad Max, and Planet of the Apes series. There are also some great movies featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, including the likes of Matt Damon, John Cena, Zendaya, and Kristen Stewart. The streaming world is open with options, but these are the best new movies to check out right now.

11 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) – Max

Anya Taylor-Joy Is A Warrior In The Mad Max Prequel

George Miller continues to prove himself one of the most visionary action directors of all time while also proving that his Mad Max franchise can still provide thrills decades after it started. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is the first spinoff entry in the Mad Max franchise, following the character of Furiosa, introduced in Mad Max: Fury Road as played by Charlize Theron. This prequel movie finds Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role as the young girl who was taken from her home and raised as a child by a reckless and sadistic warlord (Chris Hemsworth).

Mad Max: Fury Road is regarded by many as one of the best action movies of the 21st century and Furiosa does justice to those looking for the same kind of relentless, wild, and chaotic action sequences. Miller stages incredible sequences, such as the opening act, which feels like an extended chase scene, and the amazing convoy ambush. Taylor-Joy commands the screen in the warrior role while Hemsworth gives one of the best performances of his career, having a lot of fun with the villain role.

10 The Union (2024) – Netflix

Mark Wahlberg And Halle Berry Team For A Spy Adventure

Mark Wahlberg has built a solid relationship with Netflix over the past several years, with thrillers like Spenser Confidential and comedies like Me Time. His latest collaboration with the streamer comes with The Union, which has the added thrill of partnering Wahlberg with another A-lister, Halle Berry. In the movie, Wahlberg plays a mild-mannered guy who reconnects with his old high school sweetheart (Berry) only to discover that she is an international spy who needs his help to save the day.

With Wahlberg usually playing the confident action hero, it is fun to see him more as the man out of his element while also playing into his comedic skills which he has proven time and time again. Perhaps even more exciting is seeing Berry back in an action role, showing off the amazing star power that has been too absent from mainstream movies in recent years.

9 Jackpot (2024) – Prime Video

John Cena And Awkwafina Fight Off An Angry Mob

John Cena has proven himself as one of the best and most popular comedic actors working today. Jackpot! is the latest example of that which also combines his incredible action movie persona into one hugely entertaining package. From Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy), Jackpot! is set in the near future and stars Awkwafina as a woman who wins the lottery, instantly making her a target as the rules dictate that anyone who kills her before she claims the winnings can get the money instead. Cena plays the bodyguard who is out to save her.

The premise sets the movie up to be a comedic version of The Purge, with the city descending into chaos as the heroes go on the run from a band of colorful characters seeking to get rich quickly. This includes Simu Liu (Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as the main villain. With Feig mixing the wild action with some terrific and silly comedy, Jackpot! is a fun bit of mindless entertainment.

8 The Bikeriders (2024) – Peacock

Austin Butler And Tom Hardy Lead A ’60s Biker Gang

Austin Butler is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after young stars in Hollywood thanks to his breakout roles in Elvis and Dune: Part 2. He also has a compelling and unique screen presence that is reminiscent of another popular star, Tom Hardy. Just one of the reasons The Bikeriders is such an exciting movie is that audiences get to see these two stars sharing the screen for the first time. From filmmaker Jeff Nichols, The Bikeriders is based on the book by Danny Lyon and is set in the 1960s, following a biker gang from that era.

Butler stars in the movie as Benny, a young member of the biker gang who falls for a local girl named Kathy (Jodie Comer). As their romance intensifies, Benny is faced with his club, at the hands of their leader Johnny (Hardy), going down a violent path. Along with Butler, Hardy, and Comer, Nicholas amassed an amazing ensemble that also includes Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Boyd Holdbrook, and Norman Reedus. It is a gritty and thrilling look at the biker culture of the time, elevated by the strong cast and Nichols’ engrossing authentic feel.

7 The Instigators (2024) – Apple TV+

Matt Damon And Casey Affleck Play Criminals On The Run

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are known to be close friends in real life and have collaborated on screen a number of times. They have appeared in everything from the fun Ocean’s Eleven movies to the little-seen indie Gerry to the Best Picture winner Oppenheimer. Their latest movie together brings the two Bostonian actors back home for a fun and wild crime caper. The Instigators stars Damon as a down-on-his-luck war veteran who joins a reckless career criminal (Affleck) for a heist.

However, when the job goes wrong, the two men are forced to go on the run from cops and criminals who are on their trail. To add to the mayhem of the situation, Damon decides to take his psychiatrist (Oscar nominee Hong Chau) as their “hostage.” The film aims to be quite different from the slick and suave Ocean’s movies, going for a heist movie with inept criminals and one problem after another. Damon and Affleck have great chemistry as the bickering would-be outlaws and they are joined by a talented cast.

6 Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes (2024) – Hulu

A New Saga In The Long-Running Franchise Begins

The Planet of the Apes franchise has been around since 1968 and 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes proves it is still an exciting and versatile story. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes continues the story created by the Planet of the Apes prequels, which focused on Caesar leading the apes to become the dominant species on the planet. However, this is the start of a new saga in that story, set generations after Caesar’s time and taking a look at the world he helped create.

The movie focuses on a young ape named Noa who lives in a small community of apes who are attacked by a more powerful tribe, under the command of a ruthless ruler. Noa sets out on a journey to rescue his people while also encountering a human who reveals secrets about the existence of her people. The movie is an exciting summer blockbuster but also a thoughtful adventure movie that grows on the story of this franchise in interesting and exciting ways.

5 Challengers (2024) – MGM+

Zendaya Leads The Sexy Tennis Drama

With the Summer Olympics being a fixation for many audiences right now, some fans might also be interested in checking out one of the best sports movies of 2024, now on streaming. Challengers takes audiences into the world of professional tennis, focusing on the character of Tashi (Zendaya), a talented player whose career is ended by an injury that leads her to a career in coaching. As she helps to turn her husband, Art (Mike Faist), into a champion, things are complicated when he is challenged by his former best friend, Patrick (Josh O’Connor), who also has history with Tashi.

From director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All), Challengers is an intense drama with a sexy vibe and some outstanding performances from the three leads. Zendaya, in particular, continues to cement herself as a true movie star with a complex and commanding performance. While the on-court action is exciting, it is the dynamic between the characters and the tension that grows between these people who share an intimate past that gives the movie its life.

4 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) – Netflix

New And Old Ghostbusters Take On A New Threat

The latest entry in one of the most beloved comedy franchises of all time is now available for streaming. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the follow-up to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the nostalgic legacy sequel that brought the franchise back to its roots as a direct sequel to the original movies. That movie introduced the family of the late Egon Spengler to form a new team of Ghostbusters with a new ensemble that includes Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard. However, the ending of the movie also brought back the original stars, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson.

Frozen Empire now sees the new and old cast teaming up back in the original setting of New York City to take on a new supernatural threat. When an ancient artifact unleashes a terrible evil back into the world, it is up to the Ghostbusters to prevent the second ice age from happening. There are some other familiar faces to join in on the adventure besides the original heroes. There are also fun cast additions, such as Patton Oswalt and Kumail Nanjiani, to add to the comedic energy of the movie.

The Ghostbusters franchise has been a favorite among fans for decades and there are many who are thrilled to see it still going while carrying the spirit of the original with it. However, while Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire does certainly lean into some of the nostalgia of the franchise, it is also attempting to establish its own path which makes for an exciting and funny paranormal adventure.

3 Abigail (2024) – Peacock

A Gang Of Criminals Kidnap The Wrong Little Girl

2024 has proven to be a great horror movie year so far and one of the best genre entries is now available on streaming. Abigail is an energetic, wild, and bloody good time from the directing team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who were behind Ready or Not and Scream VI).

The movie follows a colorful group of criminals who kidnap a young ballerina who is said to be the daughter of a powerful underworld figure. When locked down inside an old mansion that serves as their safe house, the group learns she is no ordinary girl.

The strong sense of humor is fun but never takes away from the horror elements.

Like some of the other movies by these filmmakers, Abigail takes well-worn elements of certain horror movies and has a lot of fun playing around with them. It feels like something fresh despite a setup that is quite familiar. The strong sense of humor is fun but never takes away from the horror elements. It also features a terrific ensemble to elevate these characters, including Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, and Kathryn Newton.

2 Love Lies Bleeding (2024) – Prime

Kristen Stewart And Katy O’Brien Begin A Fiery And Violent Romance

Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brien make for an electric onscreen team in the intense and gritty crime thriller Love Lies Bleeding. Set in the 1980s, the movie follows Lou (Stewart), a gym manager who meets and falls for a female bodybuilder named Jackie (O’Brien), who is on her way to a competition in Las Vegas.

While the two form a fast and passionate relationship, violence soon erupts, threatening their newfound happiness. Love Lies Bleeding is a violent odyssey, perfect for fans of movies like True Romance and Natural Born Killers, which examine the intersection of true deep love and brutal violence.

While it may share similarities to those movies, Love Lies Bleeding is its own story with complex and engrossing characters that make the harrowing events of the movie even more impactful. The film is another stunning piece of work from English filmmaker Rose Glass, who gained attention with her thriller Saint Maud in 2019 and continues to cement herself as an exciting new talent.

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