38 Best New Movies You Can Watch Right Now
In the era of blockbusters , we had to wait almost six months to be able to watch a movie released in theaters at home. Now, not so much: That window has shrunk to an average of 30 days , if it exists at all—remember the recent surprise success of Five Night’s at Freddy’s , which debuted with over $75 million in ticket sales , even though you might have seen it. to Peacock the same day .
And that’s not all the difference. While low-budget direct-to-video movies have long been a reality, most streaming services these days tend to produce mostly expensive movies starring big stars and keep them out of theaters almost entirely.
With that in mind, here are some of the best movies released in 2023 (with a special focus on recent theatrical releases) that are already streaming “for free” (that is, with a subscription to one of the leading streaming services rather than paying a one-time digital rental ).
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
The Spidey sequel continues to remind us that superhero movies can be diverse, innovative, and fun—even amid the stagnation that reigns elsewhere in the Marvel Universe. Miles Morales is back and reunited with Gwen Stacy for a beautifully animated trip into the multiverse.
Where to watch: Netflix
Asteroid city
Wes Anderson, at his best as Wes Anderson, turns his special sensibilities to the 1950s (where his heart and visual style have always resided), where we are privy to the play’s development in a retro-futuristic world.
Where to stream: Peacock
Infinity pool
Writer-director Brandon Cronenberg (David’s son) brings a palpable fury and an unerring sense of style to this blend of sci-fi and horror, even as it crosses genre classifications like his famous father’s best work. A couple on vacation in a foreign country leave their resort and break the law, only to discover that for a price they can pass on the punishment to their clones.
Where to watch: Hulu
Ghosts in Venice
Kenneth Branagh’s third adaptation of Poirot is the best of them all: an atmospheric and completely creepy tale of murder in a crumbling Venetian palazzo on Halloween. Tina Fey joins the cast as Agatha Christie’s leading lady Ariadne Oliver, while recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh plays the medium who starts it all.
Where to watch: Hulu
Creed III
The third Creed film and the directorial debut of star Michael B. Jordan proves that this branch of the Rocky version is completely self-contained; we’re completely free of Stallone, and Donnie Creed does just fine on his own.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Evil Dead: Rise
In the true spirit of the Evil Dead franchise, Rise is a gritty, bloody thrill ride that moves the action from cabins in the woods to a crumbling high-rise building. Here, an entire family falls under the curse of the Necronomicon.
Where to stream: Max
How to blow up a pipeline
Turning a work of non-fiction into an action film, How to Bomb a Pipeline tells the story of eight people who blow up an oil pipeline in two different locations. The film, like the book, argues that property damage is not the worst thing in the face of environmental disaster, but the level of commitment required to take such an action carries deeply personal consequences.
Where to watch: Hulu
Elemental
Elemental may be Pixar’s most purely romantic film, but it ‘s also one of its most visually inventive (which is, of course, saying a lot). Given the level of detail, it benefits from multiple viewings, and the sweet story that brings an immigrant narrative into a world where the four elements are embodied in different cultures easily loses its meaning each time.
Where to watch: Disney+.
Knock on the cabin
Based on the novel by Paul Tremblay , M. Night Shyamalan’s latest book offers a terrifyingly effective, win-win scenario: a couple (Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge) are on a relaxing vacation at the titular cabin when a group of very uptight weirdos, led by Dave Bautista, walk up to the door and explain that the family must sacrifice one of their own if the world is to survive.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
It may be the worst showing of any Marvel film this year, but the film is still a goofy thrill ride through a submicroscopic universe. Michelle Pfeiffer is always great anyway.
Where to watch: Disney+.
Rye Lane
Dom (David Johnson) and Yas (Vivian Opara) go through a breakup in this romantic comedy set in South London. It’s both a much-needed update to Before Sunrise and something completely new.
Where to watch: Hulu
Scream VI
Six films later, the Scream series is still going strong as the reliable slasher series moves to New York and manages to escape the curse of another horror franchise that was once headed to the Big Apple (looking at you, Jason conquers Manhattan ). . While Neve Campbell is missing, Ghostface’s next generation of hunters (and prey) prove they’re more than capable of knowingly making a joke and dying bloody.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Shazam: Fury of the Gods
Another DC box office flop that plays very well at home. While the Shazam sequel doesn’t have quite the same spirit as its predecessor, it does offer plenty of silly fun and a trio of supervillains consisting of Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Max
Theater camp
At Theater Camp , a theme of summer camp and theater kids, a mockumentary in the style of Christopher Guest, a group of aspiring actors put on a performance in honor of the camp’s comatose founder, played by Amy Sedaris. In a difficult year, movies (and in general) are a lot of fun.
Where to watch: Hulu
Linoleum
A surprising, quirky sci-fi film starring Jim Gaffigan as a recently unemployed science education show host who finds new purpose when a rocket crashes in his backyard. He decides to rebuild it, and as things get weirder and weirder, his family (and we as viewers) wonder if he’s having a breakdown.
Where to watch: Hulu
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
I wasn’t expecting much from a comedic twist on the beloved RPG, but this film, helmed by Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez, delivers an impressive blend of action and thrills without ever taking itself too seriously. D&D fans will pick out plenty of references, but others won’t go unnoticed.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Paramount+.
Movie “Super Mario Brothers”
It’s not an instant classic, and it doesn’t offer many surprises, but overall it does what it says on the tin: it’s a big, colorful, gorgeously animated movie that ‘s definitely about the Mario Bros. Chris Pratt may not be our country’s favorite actor. Chris, but he does a great job as Nintendo’s Italian-American plumber.
Where to stream: Peacock
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
A bright spot among Marvel’s increasingly flimsy efforts, James Gunn’s trilogy ends the landing by turning the spotlight on talking Rocket Raccoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper. The animal-filled story evokes genuine human emotion and provides some closure for the main team.
Where to watch: Disney+.
Quick X
Considering that the end of Fast and the Furious is already in sight – only two (?) films, as well as several spin-offs – this film does not break any new ground. However, Jason Momoa’s Dante Reyes features a compelling family villain. If you think we’re spinning to Force 11-3, well…
Where to stream: Peacock
Mermaid
None of Disney’s live-action remakes have been able to top the animated original, but this new version of The Little Mermaid is probably the best of them all. Halle Bailey is delightful as Ariel, and the film has plenty of action and heart (and a wickedly funny performance from Melissa McCarthy as the sea witch Ursula) to fill the significantly extended running time.
Where to watch: Disney+.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
It’s not the worst Transformers movie, but it’s also a huge step up from 2018’s Bumblebee, which rebooted the series into something much more charming and less crazy. However, the film still has some of the same old spark, at least before it turns into a traditionally dark battle of giant CGI robots in the final act.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Flash
Whether it would work best as a sincere superhero epic or a complete train wreck has been a matter of debate since its release this summer (I fell asleep). Either way, it’s still a key moment for fans of DC films, and Michael Keaton returns as Batman for what will likely be the last time.
Where to stream: Max
Enis Men
Set in 1973 on the island of Cornwall, Anice Men plays with folk horror aesthetics without feeling stylized. Mary Woodvine plays a wildlife volunteer who searches the island for a rare flower, an investigation that takes her on an increasingly surreal and harrowing journey.
Where to watch: Hulu
Insidious: Red Door
Another sequel that may not be the best in the series, the final(?) installment of the Insidious saga boasts more than a couple of truly creepy moments and overall provides a satisfying conclusion to the entire demonic story. We’ve already established that time moves differently in Further, and this knowledge sets the stage for some clever callbacks.
Where to watch: Netflix
Nun II
In this sequel (a spin-off of The Conjuring franchise), an improvement over the first, that film’s heroine, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), goes forth and hunts the demonic nun who appears from time to time in these films. Small but fun.
Where to stream: Max
Cocaine Bear
Remember when everyone was crazy about Cocaine Bear? Me neither. But trust me: As director, Elizabeth Banks does everything she needs to do in this horror-comedy based on the true (that is, not true at all) story of a bear who eats a bunch of cocaine. riot. The place really sells itself.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Haunted Mansion
Lakeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson and Jamie Lee Curtis star in this latest adaptation of the Disney attraction. It’s cute, with a quality somewhere between the not-so-good Eddie Murphy version of the early aughts and the pretty good pandemic-era version of The Muppets.
Where to watch: Disney+.
When evil lurks
In the world of this Argentine horror treasure, demonic possession is common and contagious. It is extremely effective with its extremely gross gory effects, humanizing its protagonists so that when the hammer falls it becomes that much harder to take. Not for the squeamish.
Where to watch: Shudder
Air
A film directed by and starring Ben Affleck about the business deal that gave birth to Air Jordans doesn’t necessarily sound exciting, but Affleck’s confident direction and impressive cast (Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, etc.) d.) make a film. It could be argued that Michael Jordan’s deal with Nike solidified sneaker culture in this country and has set the bar for every celebrity endorsement deal since. Do I think this is worth immortalizing in a film?
Where to watch: Prime Video
One thousand and one
Set over 11 years, the film follows convicted criminal Ines de la Paz (the amazing Teyana Taylor) as she kidnaps her son from a foster home as soon as she gets out of prison and then struggles to create a life for them , which she had never experienced herself. . One of the best little-known films of the year.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Murderer
Michael Fassbender stars in David Fincher’s latest film, which is somehow also a Netflix original (though it received a limited theatrical release). Fassbender plays a professional killer embroiled in a manhunt whose story lacks some of the gravitas of Fincher’s other films in favor of something more action-packed (but still quite icy and cerebral, with, well, killer use of voice-over narration). .
Where to watch: Netflix
Rustin
Another movie coming to Netflix first. Colman Domingo plays a strange civil rights leader in the lead-up to the 1963 March on Washington. There are rumors that he might get an Oscar nomination for his performance and the movie is pretty good too.
Where to watch: Netflix
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
While it doesn’t really add anything new to the franchise, the second sequel to one of the biggest indie films of all time has that old friendly charm as it updates us on the lives of Toula Portokalos and her extended family.
Where to stream: Peacock
Quiz Lady
Awkwafina and Sandra Oh star as two sisters in a screwball road trip comedy in the tradition of ’90s gems like Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion . One is tightly wound, the other is a complete mess. They are forced to work together to pay off their mother’s gambling debts. The problem becomes more complicated when a loan shark kidnaps the dog and holds it hostage in exchange for money. It’s a good thing Awkwafina’s character is a quiz-savvy student who drowned her childhood sorrows by binge-watching a Jeopardy- style game show with a big cash prize. (I won’t spoil the family, there are many episodes from funny people I know, including the one that broke my heart.)
Where to watch: Hulu
Nyad
Annette Benning plays real-life swimmer Diana Nyad in this biopic dramatizing her attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida without the protection of a shark cage. The performances of Benning and her co-star Jodie Foster (who plays her swim coach) are already causing Oscar buzz.
Where to watch: Netflix
John Wick: Chapter 4
Keanu Reeves once again stars in our most reliable and most brutal action franchise. What more needs to be said?
Where to watch: Starz
Airplane
Look, sometimes you just want to watch a Gerard Butler movie involving a plane crash and hostile rebels. Butler plays a pilot who teams up with escaped prisoner Mike Colter in hopes of escaping hostile territory. A fairly effective low-cost action film that isn’t as lazy as its title.
Where to watch: Starz
They cloned Tyrone
John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx team up in this superb blend of comedy, sci-fi, crime thriller and blaxploitation satire as the trio stumble upon a plot to control black people through a cloning experiment. It is often hilariously funny, but also poignant in its social commentary.
Where to watch: Netflix