Blog
5 top new movies to stream this week on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu and more (Aug. 12-18)
The summer rolls on and if the outdoor heat has you wanting to stay indoors where it’s cooler, the best streaming services are offering plenty of new movies to keep you busy.
After sitting out last week, Netflix is back with a bang this week. The world’s biggest streaming service is launching not one, but two, new originals this week, and they’re very different. One is an animated canine comedy very much for grown-ups, while the other is a somber crime thriller that sees a woman pushed to the brink over one very long night.
Meanwhile, HBO Max has a fantasy adventure from A24, and Hulu has a horror that has really caught my eye. So, these are the top new movies landing across streaming platforms this week, and don’t forget to check out our guide to the top new TV shows this week, either.
‘Eddington’ (PVOD)
Watch On
“Hereditary” and “Midsommar” director Ari Aster returns with “Eddington,” a neo-Western black comedy that is proving to be just as divisive as his previous movie “Beau is Afraid” (which I enjoyed).
Perhaps “Eddington’s” biggest draw is the all-star cast, which includes Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler and Emma Stone. Aster’s committed fanbase won’t need convincing to give this one a watch, but those who found “Beau’s” warped adventure more confusing than compelling might feel a similar sense of frustration with “Eddington.”
The movie takes place in the eponymous town of Eddington, New Mexico, and centers on a standoff between the sheriff (Phoenix) and the incumbent mayor (Pascal), running for reelection. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the two disagree over safety protocols, and as you would expect from an Ari Aster movie, the situation rapidly escalates further.
Buy or rent on Amazon from August 12
‘Fixed’ (Netflix)
Watch On
Netflix’s new animated comedy features a pack of cartoon canines, but this is certainly not a family-friendly flick. “Fixed” is an animated movie for older viewers, packed with crude humor, sexual innuendo and, based on the trailer, many sightings of animal genitalia.
It looks like a farcical comedy, and it’s the first adult animated movie from Sony Pictures Animation. The idea seems very silly on paper, but Sony has recruited a solid voice cast including Adam DeVine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn and Fred Armisen, giving the wacky concept some credibility.
“Fixed” focuses on a terrier named Bull (DeVine), who is shocked to discover he’s set to be neutered in just 24 hours. Faced with this life-altering event on the horizon, he sets out on a final madcap adventure with his best friends before waving goodbye to his testicles.
Yes, that’s the actual premise of the movie. I’m not sure how to feel about this one, but I’m pretty confident it won’t be a Netflix movie to watch with your parents or with young kids.
Watch on Netflix from August 13
‘It Feeds’ (Hulu)
Watch On
I’ll confess that “It Feeds” wasn’t on my radar prior to being added to Hulu’s release calendar for this week, but after doing a little research, I’m surely intrigued by this horror-thriller, and it’s most definitely going straight into my weekly watchlist.
For starters, not only does its dark premise sound spooky in all the right ways, but it also holds an impressive 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. 2025 has already been an excellent year for horror movies, and “It Feeds” looks like another winner for the genre.
Cynthia (Ashley Greene) is a clairvoyant therapist with a young daughter, Jordan (Ellie O’Brien). Battling personal demons of her own, she’s sucked into a sinister nightmare when a young girl bursts into her home practice and begs for help. The girl believes that an evil entity is feeding on her, and it’s up to Cynthia to unravel the mystery and find a way to stop the malevolent presence before time runs out.
Watch on Hulu from August 15
‘The Legend of Ochi’ (HBO Max)
Watch On
By most accounts, “The Legend of Ochi” is a delightful adventure movie full of whimsy and wonder. But while it features an adorable creature, it’s not necessarily a family movie, as it incorporates darker themes and gets pretty emotionally heavy at certain moments. Meanwhile, critics have praised the movie for the design of the titular creatures, which have been brought to life using old-school puppetry rather than CGI effects.
Set in a secluded village in the mountains of Ukraine, Yuri (Helena Zengel) is instructed to never go out after dark for fear of encountering vicious creatures known as the Ochi. But when she discovers an injured young Ochi left behind by its own kind, she sets off on an adventure to reunite the lost creature with its family. Learning a few life lessons on the way.
Watch on HBO Max from August 15
‘Night Always Comes’ (Netflix)
Watch On
I’ve been particularly unimpressed with Netflix’s original movie slate this summer, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that “Night Always Comes” is going to be the high-quality hit that the streaming service needs right now. There are reasons to be optimistic. For starters, it stars Oscar-nominee and “Fantastic Four” alumna Vanessa Kirby, and it comes from director Benjamin Caron, a Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning filmmaker.
In “Night Always Comes”, Kirby plays a desperate woman who has just a single night to raise $25,000 to avoid her family being evicted from their home. As the night progresses, she becomes increasingly desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to secure her family’s future.
The movie also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Zack Gottsagen and Randall Park. The fact that it hasn’t been screened at any film festivals in the lead-up to release — a common method of generating early buzz — is a tad concerning, but I’m staying hopeful it’ll be a high-quality thriller.
Watch on Netflix from August 15
