The best new movies to watch on streaming mark the perfect viewing options to end 2024 on a memorable note and ring in 2025 with some great new movies. Movies from all types of genres are available on streamers like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Peacock, and Paramount+, with titles that will appeal to audiences of all ages and all tastes.
With the holiday season wrapping up, this week did not see as many new releases as in previous weeks, especially with an end to the Christmas movie releases. However, plenty of notable titles and some older movies are finding new streaming homes this week. The video game adaptations Five Nights of Freddy’s and Borderlands have landed on streamers. Acclaimed actors like Kate Winslet and Amy Adams also have new movies that are already scoring them nominations. Along with some great underseen movies, this week offers plenty of new streaming movies.
10
200% Wolf (2024)
Available December 26 On Hulu
200% Wolf follows Freddy Lupin, whose unexpected transformation into a werewolf and the arrival of a mischievous moon sprite threaten cosmic balance. Freddy embarks on a quest to restore order to prevent a catastrophe involving Earth and the moon. The film combines adventure with elements of fantasy.
- Release Date
-
July 4, 2024
- Runtime
-
98 minutes
- Cast
-
Jennifer Saunders
, Samara Weaving
, Ilai Swindells
, Akmal Saleh
, Peter McCallum
, Sarah Rose Harper
, Elizabeth Nabben
, Michael Bourchier - Director
-
Alexs Stadermann
A new animated movie has hit streaming for the whole family to enjoy together while also being a title that a lot of audiences probably haven’t seen before. 200% Wolf is a fantasy adventure from Australia that follows Freddy Lupin, a heroic poodle who dreams of joining the powerful wolf pack. When he makes a wife to become a wolf himself, it comes true, but also causes more cosmic mayhem than Freddy anticipated.
This is actually the sequel to the animated movie 100% Wolf, but those who missed out on the original can still have a lot of fun with the follow-up. The film is filled with all-ages humor with endearing characters and vibrant animation. However, like many great animated movies for younger audiences, it also has a worthwhile message at its center. It may not be well-known but it’s worth a watch.
9
Amber Alert (2024)
Available December 28 On Hulu
After receiving an Amber Alert on their phones, Jaq and her driver Shane realize they are trailing the car of the suspected kidnapper. What begins as a typical rideshare quickly turns into a tense, high-stakes chase as they race against time to save the abducted child. The film stars Hayden Panettiere and Tyler James Williams.
- Release Date
-
September 27, 2024
- Runtime
-
90 Minutes
- Cast
-
Hayden Panettiere
, Tyler James Williams
, Kevin Dunn
, Saidah Arrika Ekulona
, Ducky Cash - Director
-
Kerry Bellessa
A gripping thriller that may have passed a lot of audiences by has a new streaming home this week. Amber Alert stars Hayden Panettiere as a woman who takes a ride-share from a kind driver, played by Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams. However, while on their commute, the two strangers receive an “amber alert” about an abducted child and think they have spotted the suspect. With the police unable to respond in time, they decide to pursue the suspect and attempt to bring the child home safely.
It is an exciting premise that sets the stage for a pulse-pounding and edge-of-the-seat ride. It can be a lot of fun to take a break from big blockbusters and enjoy a solid thriller that relies on a simple premise to deliver the thrills. It also doesn’t hurt that the movie stars two likable actors in the lead roles.
8
When You Finish Saving The World (2022)
Available December 28 On Prime Video
When You Finish Saving the World is a drama film directed by Jesse Eisenberg and stars Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard. Set in modern-day America, the film explores the strained relationship between a mother who runs a shelter for victims of domestic abuse and her teenage son, who is struggling to find his place in the world through his music and online presence. The story delves into themes of family, identity, and societal roles.
- Release Date
-
January 20, 2023
- Runtime
-
88 minutes
- Director
-
Jesse Eisenberg
With Jesse Eisenberg earning strong reviews for his latest directorial effort, A Real Pain, fans might be interested in checking out the underseen movie that marked Einsenberg’s first time as a director, When You Finish Saving the World. Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard star in the comedy-drama as mother and son who have found themselves drifting apart and struggling to connect as they once did. In response to their conflicted relationship, they seek replacements for each other in other relationships.
While this film might not have been as acclaimed as Eisenberg’s next directorial feature, it was an early sign of his talents and a winning story of family.
Moore and Wolfhard make for an engaging duo with their tense relationship adding comedy and heartbreak to the movie. Eisenberg excels at writing sharp and relatable relationships between layered characters. While this film might not have been as acclaimed as Eisenberg’s next directorial feature, it was an early sign of his talents and a winning story of family.
7
The Arctic Convoy (2024)
Available December 24 On Hulu
In 1942, the leader of a convoy carrying vital military supplies to a Norwegian outpost decides to proceed through treacherous, enemy-infested waters despite the recall of their military escort. Fighting for their lives against German air and naval forces, the 35 civilian merchant ships brave brutal Arctic seas to bring much needed support to soldiers on the front lines.
- Release Date
-
July 26, 2024
- Runtime
-
108 Minutes
- Cast
-
Tobias Santelmann
, Adam Lundgren
, Jakob Fort
, Anders Baasmo
, Fredrik Stenberg Ditlev-Simonsen - Director
-
Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken
A new World War II action thriller is available for streaming this week, looking at a lesser-known aspect of the war. The Norwegian movie The Arctic Convoy follows the merchant vessels that made the harrowing journey in the icy Arctic seas in order to deliver supplies to combat the German forces. However, when they are left without protection, these sailors are forced to put their lives on the line in order to ensure the war is not lost.
The film is an intense reminder of the civilian heroes who contributed to the war efforts in impactful ways but whose stories are not told as often. Setting the movie on these small boats rocking in the middle of the frigid waters adds to the tension of the movie and makes the journey all the more brutal.
6
Borderlands (2024)
Available December 25 On Starz
Based on the video game franchise, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy film that follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, a treasure hunter who returns to her home planet, Pandora, to find a tycoon’s missing daughter. Together with a group of unlikely allies, such as a soldier, a teenaged demolitions expert, a wise-cracking robot, and an eccentric scientist, the group will work together to save the girl – all while learning to deal with each other’s unyielding quirks.
- Release Date
-
August 9, 2024
- Runtime
-
102 Minutes
- Director
-
Eli Roth
Borderlands is a video game adaptation that has become notorious for being one of the worst-reviewed movies of the year and a major flop at the box office. However, that does not mean there aren’t plenty of fans eager to check it out now that it is available for streaming at home. The movie is set on the chaotic planet of Pandora and follows a gang of misfits who team up to locate the daughter of the universe’s most powerful man.
While critics had plenty to say about the filmmaking approach to the adaptation and the storytelling, a lot of the most vocal opponents to the movie were the fans of the video game who lambasted the movie’s lack of respect for accuracy. However, with a fun cast that combines Oscar winners like Jamie Lee Curtis and Cate Blanchett with comedic actors like Kevin Hart and Jack Black, there is still hope for Borderlands to find its audience.
5
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
Available December 24 On Peacock
A sequel to the 2019 Downton Abbey movie, which is itself a continuation of the television show, Downton Abbey: A New Era continues the story of the Crawley family. In the film, the family travel to the South of France to visit a villa gifted long ago to the Dowager Countess Violet (Maggie Smith), while back at home, a film crew wishes to use Downton Abbey to shoot a movie. Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, and Elizabeth McGovern all also reprise their roles from the previous film and television series, with a guest cast that includes Imelda Staunton, Tuppence Middleton, and Hugh Dancy.
- Release Date
-
May 20, 2022
- Runtime
-
125 Minutes
- Cast
-
Maggie Smith
, Dominic West
, Hugh Bonneville
, Elizabeth McGovern
, Hugh Dancy
, Nathalie Baye
, Michelle Dockery
, Jim Carter
, Imelda Staunton
, Penelope Wilton
, Laura Haddock - Director
-
Simon Curtis
While not a new release for the year, Downton Abbey: A New Era marks a movie hitting streaming that a lot of people will be excited about. The second movie to come after the popular series Downton Abbey ended, Downton Abbey: A New Era brings audiences back to this era and reunites them with the Crawley family as well as their loyal staff at Downton Abbey. The new adventure deals with the family traveling to a villa in the South of France as well as welcoming a Hollywood movie crew to film at Downton Abbey.
Downton Abbey: A New Era is also a fun, light-hearted story event for those unfamiliar with the franchise.
With the upcoming Downton Abbey 3 set to bring the franchise to an end, now is the perfect time for fans to get caught up on the latest entry in the story. Fans of the series will love spending more time with these beloved characters inside their charming world, while Downton Abbey: A New Era is also a fun, light-hearted story event for those unfamiliar with the franchise.
4
Five Nights At Freddy’s (2023)
Available December 26 On Peacock
Five Nights at Freddy’s is an adaptation of the popular video game franchise of the same name, directed by Emma Tammi. The film centers around a maintenance worker handling night duties at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a children’s amusement center home to a grizzly tragedy in its history. The animatronics come to life at night, and the worker must survive until daybreak.
- Release Date
-
October 27, 2023
- Runtime
-
109 Minutes
- Cast
-
Josh Hutcherson
, Matthew Lillard
, Elizabeth Lail
, Piper Rubio
, Mary Stuart Masterson
, Kevin Foster
, Jade Kindar-Martin
, Jessica Weiss
, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. - Director
-
Emma Tammi
While Five Nights at Freddy’s was not a critically acclaimed video game adaptation, its reviews were not as scathing as the ones Borderlands received. Moreover, the movie was also a big blockbuster hit for Blumhouse, bringing in the passionate fans of the video game as well as horror fans who enjoy a little comedy with their scares. Josh Hutcherson stars as Mike, a down-on-his-luck security guard who takes a job overseeing the night shift at a closed-down kids’ pizzeria. However, he soon comes to learn the animatronic creatures within are not as harmless as they seem.
The movie about killer robots dressed as bears and ducks wisely chooses not to take itself too seriously, which adds to the fun. There is a strong sense of humor throughout, but that does not take away from the genuine scares that the movie delivers as well. It is a fun blend of what made the video games so popular while also being a solid genre entry.
3
Bird (2024)
Available December 23 On MUBI
Bird follows 12-year-old Bailey, who lives with her single father Bug and brother Hunter in North Kent. As her father pays little attention to her, Bailey, on the brink of adolescence, seeks adventure and connection beyond her challenging home life.
- Release Date
-
November 8, 2024
- Runtime
-
119 Minutes
- Cast
-
Barry Keoghan
, Franz Rogowski
, Rhys Yates
, Jasmine Jobson
, Joanne Matthews
, James Nelson-Joyce
, Frankie Box
, Jason Williamson
, Carlos O’Connell - Director
-
Andrea Arnold
Barry Keoghan has quickly established himself as one of the most engaging actors working right now and it is always exciting to see him pop up in a new project. Bird is the most recent movie to feature the talented star, though he takes an effective supporting role. Bird is the latest project from acclaimed filmmaker Andrea Arnold (Fish Take, American Honey) and follows Bailey, who lives a chaotic and unstable life with her caring yet unreliable father, Bug (Keoghan). With Bug too busy to dedicate time to his daughter, Bailey seeks attention elsewhere.
The movie has been hailed as one of the best independent movies of the year. It makes for a grounded and engrossing coming-of-age story, led by a powerful and natural performance from newcomer Nykiya Adams, playing Bailey. It makes for one of the smaller movies of the year that deserves to be seen.
2
Nightbitch (2024)
Available December 27 On Hulu
A suburban mother struggles with the isolation of stay-at-home life while raising her young son. As she begins to embrace her primal instincts, she experiences strange transformations, leading her to question whether she’s losing her mind or becoming something altogether different—something feral and dangerous.
- Release Date
-
December 6, 2024
- Runtime
-
98 Minutes
- Cast
-
Amy Adams
, Scoot McNairy
, Zoe Chao
, Mary Holland
, Kerry O’Malley - Director
-
Marielle Heller
The premise of Nightbitch set a lot of people up to be skeptical of what this movie really was going to be like. However, it managed to surprise a lot of those skeptics with an unexpectedly entertaining dark comedy. Oscar nominee Amy Adams stars in the movie as a woman who has put her career on pause to become a stay-at-home mother. While she is overwhelmed by the constant demands of her new life of domesticity, she finds some excitement injected into it when she becomes convinced that she is turning into a dog.
Adams has been nominated for Golden Globe and Independent Spirit awards for her role.
The movie is an outlandish and wild satire on motherhood with some clever insight as well as some big laughs. However, it is Adams’ performance that truly elevates things as she imbues the protagonist with a grounded sense that works well with the stranger aspects of the story. Adams has been nominated for Golden Globe and Independent Spirit awards for her role.
1
Lee (2024)
Available December 23 On Hulu
Lee Miller, an iconic war photographer, takes audiences on a gripping journey through the heart of 20th-century conflicts. Her camera becomes a powerful tool for truth, exposing the raw and unfiltered realities of war.
- Release Date
-
September 27, 2024
- Runtime
-
116 Minutes
- Director
-
Ellen Kuras
Kate Winslet stars in another harrowing movie based on a true story, bringing a real-life hero’s amazing story to audiences. Lee stars Winslet as Lee Miller, a former model who abandons that life for a much different and dangerous one as a wartime photographer. The movie follows her incredible work, capturing the horrors of World War II on the frontlines and showing her incredible bravery in the face of such dangers.
Winslet has earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, making for yet another incredible performance in her illustrious career. She is joined by a strong supporting cast that includes Josh O’Connor, Alexander Skarsgård, and Andy Samberg in a rare dramatic role. While there have been many WWII movies over the years, this is one that captures the war from a very different perspective while also highlighting a figure from the era not everyone is likely to be familiar with.