Summer is officially cooking, and so is the streaming lineup. As temperatures climb and the temptation to spend an entire afternoon parked in front of the AC becomes increasingly irresistible, this week's new movie arrivals on the best streaming services offer plenty of reasons to stay glued to the couch a little longer. Whether you're in the mood for jump scares, nostalgia or fantasy, this weekend's slate has something ready to turn up the heat (on the screen only).
Leading the pack is "Michael," the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic that's finally making its streaming debut after a blockbuster theatrical run. Action fans can dive back into the arena with "Mortal Kombat II," while horror devotees have two very different options waiting for them in "They Will Kill You" and the gothic stop-motion fantasy "I Am Frankelda."
So before you spend 20 minutes scrolling and another 20 debating whether to rewatch something you've already seen, we've rounded up the most notable new movie releases worth your attention. For even more recommendations on what to watch, check out our round-up of all the best movies and shows on streaming this weekend.
'Michael' (digital)
Like a greatest-hits album brought to life on screen, the Michael Jackson biopic made a big splash in theaters after years of anticipation. Jaafar Jackson makes his film debut as his famous uncle, charting Michael's rise from Jackson 5 prodigy to a global superstar whose fame seemed to operate on a different plane from everyone else's. Loaded with recreations of iconic performances and some of the most recognizable songs ever recorded, it's a slick crowd-pleaser that stays far away from the controversies that marked the King of Pop's later life.
Buy or rent "Michael" on Prime Video now
'Mortal Kombat II'
If you've ever watched a Mortal Kombat game and thought, "What if this had even more blood," this movie sequel has you covered. It throws washed-up action star Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) into the middle of Earthrealm's fight for survival as Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) and a growing roster of warriors prepare for a winner-take-all showdown against the tyrannical Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford). The plot mostly serves as an excuse to hurl ninjas, monsters, and demigods at one another, but that's A-OK for an action spectacle.
Buy or rent "Mortal Kombat II" on Prime Video now
'I Am Frankelda' (Netflix)
If Guillermo del Toro’s sketchbook came to life and started singing, it might look something like this lush stop-motion fantasy. It follows a 19th-century Mexican writer named Frankelda whose macabre stories are dismissed by everyone around her… right up until she discovers the nightmare kingdom she’s been imagining is actually real. She embarks on a sprawling adventure involving ghosts, monsters, a cursed prince and the fate of multiple realities. It’s gorgeous, weird and packed with the kind of handcrafted visual imagination that’s getting increasingly rare.
Watch "Frankelda" on Netflix now
'They Will Kill You' (HBO Max)
Zazie Beetz goes full action-horror heroine in this gleefully unhinged splatterfest that traps its heroine inside a Manhattan high-rise run by a satanic cult. What starts as a housekeeping gig quickly becomes a nightlong fight for survival, with Beetz hacking, slashing and wisecracking her way through wave after wave of cloaked killers. Director Kirill Sokolov piles on the gore, dark humor and increasingly absurd set pieces with reckless abandon. As Tom's Guide senior writer Alix Blackburn said in her "They Will Kill You" review, the film is "an absolutely bonkers movie that woke up and chose violence."
Watch "They Will Kill You" on HBO Max now
'Let's Love' (digital)
The entertainment industry loves a reunion almost as much as it loves a comeback, and this British comedy serves up both. Martin Freeman, Josh Hutcherson, Malin Akerman, Jess Weixler and Craig Roberts star as the cast and creatives behind a cult-hit movie who reconvene in Wales a decade later for a fan convention meant to revive their careers. When the event implodes thanks to a booking snafu, they pivot to brainstorming a sequel instead, dredging up old grudges, unresolved crushes and career anxieties along the way.
Buy or rent "Let's Love" on Prime Video now
