This week’s slate of top new movies across streaming services has a little something for everybody. Netflix, Hulu and Peacock have new arrivals worth watching. These new streaming picks cover several popular genres. There’s an action-thriller, a comedy-drama, a fantasy musical, and much more.
I suspect the most popular new streaming movie this week will be the Netflix debut of the “Peaky Blinders” movie, aka “The Immortal Man.” It sees Cillian Murphy step back into one of his most iconic characters, Tommy Shelby, and fans of the TV show will no doubt flock to stream it on release day. Meanwhile, “Wicked: For Good” flies over to Peacock, and Hulu drops the latest movie from Bradley Cooper, largely set in the world of NYC standup comedy.
I’ve combed through this week’s new streaming movies and picked out the most noteworthy arrivals to help you spend more time watching and less time scrolling through platform libraries. Also don’t forget to check out our guide to the top new TV shows this week for plenty of picks and the top Prime Video shows to binge this week.
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‘By Design’ (PVOD)
It’s a quieter week for new releases on premium streaming. But there’s a trio of fresh arrivals you can buy or rent: The acclaimed “All That’s Left of You,” “Magellan” from director Lav Diaz and “By Design.” I’m spotlighting the latter here purely because this drama, written and directed by Amanda Kramer, has a truly bonkers premise that actually made me laugh out loud when I read it.
Starring Juliette Lewis, “By Design” centers on Camille, who finds herself entranced by a beautiful chair when shopping in a furniture store. Somehow, she magically swaps bodies with this elegant chair and finds that the people around her like her more as an inanimate object rather than as a person. Described as a “surreal, deadpan” comedy, this out-of-the-box idea isn’t pure farce; the movie uses its creative plot to make a larger point. Exploring how often we value unfeeling objects above the real living people in our lives.
Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) from March 17
‘Is This Thing On?’ (Hulu)
If you watched the 98th Academy Awards over the weekend, you will have seen Channing Tatum playfully roast Will Arnett about his newest movie, “Is This Thing On?” This well-liked comedy-drama is directed by Bradley Cooper, and at one point was expected to be an awards player. That didn’t quite pan out, and ultimately it was locked out of the Oscars, but it’s worth giving a shot now that it’s arrived on Hulu, as it’s by no means a forgettable misfire.
Arnett plays Alex, a middle-aged man, facing a divorce from his longtime partner, Tess (Laura Dern). These two are trying to figure out how to live apart, while also co-parenting their two sons. In this turbulent family dynamic, Alex finds a new purpose in the New York comedy scene, finding he has a knack for stand-up. Meanwhile, Tess explores the dreams she gave up to start a family, and decides to reignite her passion for coaching Olympic volleyball.
Watch on Hulu from March 20
‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ (Netflix)
“Peaky Blinders” may have wrapped up in 2022, but this uber-popular historical crime drama franchise won’t go away. There’s a spin-off series in development, and now a new feature putting a (flat) cap on Tommy Shelby’s story. And I don’t think any fans are complaining about more “Peaky Blinders” either. I’ll admit I’ve never seen an episode of the show, but having spoken to a few dedicated watchers who saw the movie during its all-too-brief theatrical window this month, I’m confident fans will love this continuation.
Set during World War II, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) returns from his self-imposed exile to face what is being pitched as his “most destructive reckoning yet.” With his family’s future at stake, Shelby is forced to confront his own legacy, or burn everything to the ground. As noted, “Peaky Blinders” fans who watched “The Immortal Man” on the big screen are already raving about this one, scoring it 89% on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch on Netflix from March 20
‘Wicked: For Good’ (Peacock)
“Wicked: For Good” is a confusifying one. It’s unquestionably a major success, grossing more than $500 million globally, but there is perhaps an element of disappointment as it failed to leave the same cultural impression as its predecessor. Maybe that was always going to be the case, as theater kids will tell you, “Wicked’s” second act is definitely the weaker of the two. Still, “For Good” is unfortunately a messier movie in terms of narrative, pacing and tone. Still, it’s once again led by excellent leading performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and the iconic title track is done justice in this adaptation.
Set in the wake of the first “Wicked,” Elphaba (Erivo) has become the Wicked Witch of the West feared across the land of Oz, and is fighting back against the sinister Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). Caught in the middle is Glinda the Good (Grande), torn between loyalty to her best friend, Elphaba, and the seductive pull of power and status by allying with the two-faced Wizard. “Wicked: For Good” has its flaws, but when it all works, it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Watch on Peacock from March 20
‘King Ivory’ (Hulu)
If you judged a movie on its looks alone, you might decide that “King Ivory” is an easy skip. Not to get too off-topic, but the poster is one of the worst examples of “Photoshop face” I’ve seen in quite a while. However, this action-thriller has its merits according to several critics. It’s unlikely to feature on many “best of the year” lists, but if you’re craving some explosive action this week, “King Ivory” is ready on Hulu to deliver a jolt to your adrenaline levels.
This action-thriller, from writer/director John Swab, explores the modern fentanyl epidemic (street name King Ivory). From civilians to criminals, addicts to law enforcement, the movie displays the devastating impact of this illegal substance. At the movie’s core is Tulsa drug cop, Layne West (James Badge Dale), whose battle against drug criminals gets very personal when his son, Jack (Jasper Jones), becomes hooked on the very dangerous substance.
Watch on Hulu from March 20
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