We’re already halfway through August and summer is coming to an end, which means it’s the perfect time to curl up on the couch and watch the latest movies on the best streaming services.
We at Tom’s Guide are here to help you figure out what to watch by filtering down the best new movies available for streaming. Leading the pack this week is the strongest entry in Ti West’s horror trilogy, Pearl, which is now available on Netflix, as well as disaster thriller Twisters, which made waves this summer and is now available on paid video-on-demand services. Speaking of this year’s biggest movies, Max is getting Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Sydney Sweeney-starring horror film Immaculate just landed on Hulu, and there’s a new family-friendly film on Netflix that’s as deliciously comforting as a jelly sandwich.
So let’s dive into the best new movies that just came out on your favorite streaming services. For more recommendations on what to watch, check out our roundup of the best new TV shows to stream this week.
“Pearl” (Netflix)
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Although it’s technically the middle chapter of Ti West’s trilogy, you don’t have to have seen the first part, “X,” to enjoy “Pearl.” Set during the 1918 influenza pandemic, Pearl (Mia Goth) feels trapped in her humble farm life with her ailing father (Matthew Sunderland) and overprotective mother Ruth (Tandi Wright). Her husband is serving in World War I, but rather than counting down the days until his return, Pearl is determined to leave it all behind to become a Hollywood movie star.
As Pearl’s life gets worse and her chances for fame dwindle, she doesn’t handle rejection well. And I mean, all. This disturbing psychological horror film owes much of its success to Goth’s exceptional lead performance, culminating in a gripping monologue that truly showcases her remarkable talent.
Watch now on Netflix
“Twisters” (PVOD)
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One of the summer’s most impressive blockbusters finally made its streaming debut this week. In Twisters, a standalone sequel to the 1996 hit Twister, Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Kate, an Oklahoma meteorologist who moves to New York City after a devastating encounter with a tornado that claims the lives of her fellow storm chasers.
Five years later, Kate is working at the National Weather Service in New York when her former storm-chasing partner, Javi (Anthony Ramos), shows up and convinces her to return home and help his storm-chasing company during a tornado outbreak. Also on the team is popular storm chaser Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), who knows a lot more about meteorology than his charismatic online image suggests. Together, they set out to develop a groundbreaking formula for preventing tornadoes.
Buy or rent now on Amazon
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (Max)
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It’s time to round up your war boys (and girls!) for a thrilling origin story and experience Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga on Max. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the young Furiosa, who lives in the still-thriving oasis known as the Greenplace of Many Mothers before it became the wasteland we saw in Mad Max: Fury Road.
After being dragged from her home by the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), she is given to Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) as a peace offering and rises through the ranks of the Citadel. There she befriends her chauffeur partner Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke) and the two begin planning their escape when Dementus bursts into her life again.
Watch now on Max
“Immaculate” (Hulu)
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While it’s too early to tell if we’re looking at a new scream queen, “Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney is off to a solid start with “Immaculate,” a film about American nun Cecilia (Sweeney) who, after surviving a near-death experience as a child, goes to a remote convent in the Italian countryside.
As she settles into her new surroundings, strange things start to happen, and things get even stranger when she mysteriously becomes pregnant. Instead of sharing her confusion, everyone else at the monastery celebrates it as a miracle. What starts as a spiritual journey quickly turns into a nightmare she can’t escape from when the monastery’s crazy plans for her come to light.
Watch now on Hulu
“Paddington” (Prime Video)
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While you wait for Paddington in Peru to hit theaters, you can watch Paddington Bear’s First Adventure on Prime Video. Based on the cult character created by English author Michael Bond, the original Paddington follows the eponymous bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) on his journey to England after an earthquake destroys his home in the Peruvian rainforest.
There he is taken in by Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins) and named after London’s Paddington station. With their help, he sets out to find the explorer responsible for the iconic red hat he wears, while also evading a vengeful taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) who wants to put him on display at the Natural History Museum.
Watch now on Prime Video
“Daughters” (Netflix)
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If you’re looking for a new, critically acclaimed documentary to watch on Netflix, this one should be at the top of your list. From filmmaker Natalie Rae and social activist Angela Patton, “Daughters” follows four girls on the “Date with Dad” program, which aims to bring incarcerated fathers and their young daughters together.
The film was shot over the course of eight years and ultimately culminates in a father-daughter dance where the fathers swap their orange jumpsuits for evening gowns. This documentary is a moving and emotional portrayal of a less-than-traditional family constellation that also sheds light on some of the biggest issues facing American society.
Watch now on Netflix
“Jackpot!” (Prime Video)
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Director Paul Feig, known for his work on Bridesmaids and The Big Lebowski, returns with his latest comedy, Jackpot! The story follows an unlikely duo, Awkwafina and John Cena, as they battle their way through a high-stakes adventure.
Katie (Awkwafina), a recent move from Los Angeles, is holding a lottery win. But under new rules reminiscent of “The Purge,” the winner must survive until sundown to claim their multimillion-dollar prize. This puts her in the crosshairs of bounty hunters and greedy opportunists who want to steal her winnings in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Enter amateur jackpot protector Noel (Cena), to whom she offers a share of the prize pool so she can stay alive long enough to claim the prize.
Watch now on Prime Video
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