The Best Movies to Stream This Week

If you’re looking for a new (or newish) movie to watch this weekend, but you’ll only accept the highest quality entertainment, read on. Your streaming choices include Taylor’s version of the Eras Tour concert documentary on Disney+, sweet-natured romantic comedy Irish Wish on Netflix, and, most importantly, Netflix’s Chicken Nugget, the most important film in cinema history.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)

Singer Taylor Swift, the most important person in the universe, is bringing her traveling musical roadshow to streaming with “Taylor’s version” of the Eras tour. This cut of the concert film features four songs from the main stage that were not shown in the theatrical version of the Eras Tour, and a collection of four post-credit acoustic performance. That’s more Taylor Swift than any of us deserve.

Where to stream: Disney+

Irish Wish

Netflix is dropping an old-fashioned romantic comedy, Irish Wish, just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day. Lindsay Lohan plays Maddie Kelly, a shy, lonely book editor and perpetual bridesmaid pining for her best friend’s fiancé. At her friend’s destination wedding in Ireland, Maddie makes a wish that magically comes true, and wakes up in an alternative reality where she’s the one set to walk down the aisle. As you might guess, Maddie soon learns the true meaning of the old adage “be careful what you wish for.” 

Where to stream: Netflix

Frida

This documentary explores the life and work of iconic artist Frida Kahlo using her own words taken from journals, letters, interviews, and other primary source material, all illustrated with animations inspired by Kahlo’s art. First-time director Carla Gutiérrez had access to material never presented to the public before, and uses it to create a film that aims to go deeper than an art history lesson or just-the-facts biography. 

Where to stream: Prime

Dream Scenario (2023)

The great Nicolas Cage stars in this surreal comedy that takes a darkly satirical look at fame in the always-connected age. Paul Matthews (Cage, playing against type) is a boring, schlubby college professor who secretly longs for academic notoriety. He gets famous, but instead of people talking about his research, everyone in the world suddenly starts dreaming about Matthews.

Where to stream: Max

American Fiction (2023)

In this biting satire, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a fed up African-American literary novelist, writes the most offensive, stereotypically “Black” novel he can imagine as a protest. When My Pafology, by Stagg R. Leigh, hits shelves it becomes a runaway best-seller, forcing Monk to adopt the character of Leigh in public. First-time director Cord Jefferson turns in a hilarious and fearless comedy, featuring a standout performance from Jeffrey Wright.

Where to stream: MGM+

Chicken Nugget

In this straight-from-Korea Netflix comedy, a father accidentally transforms his daughter into a chicken nugget. I didn’t make that up; that’s really what happens in Chicken Nugget. I haven’t seen it yet, but I feel confident proclaiming Chicken Nugget the greatest movie ever made.

Where to stream: Netflix

The Lionheart

In 2011, two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon died in a one of the worst accidents in racing history. The Lionheart details his career and death, but also his legacy, both personal and professional. Wheldon left behind a wife and two children, and she’s helping the sons walk in their father’s footsteps in the racing world, despite his tragic death.

Where to stream: Max

Justice USA

Justice, USA takes a look at the criminal justice system in Nashville through the eyes of inmates, lawyers, administrators, and legislators. Over its six episodes, this powerful documentary brings viewers from inside men’s, women’s, and juvenile jails, to the halls of power where the laws are made to examine how justice works in America, circa 2024.

Where to stream: Max

Last week’s picks

Ricky Stanicky 

Wrestler-turned-movie-star John Cena is always funnier than you think he’ll be, and Ricky Stanicky gives Cena the chance to sink his teeth into a hammy role as the title character. In this Amazon-produced comedy from director Peter Farrelly, Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, and Jermaine Fowler play Dean, JT, and Wes, lifelong pals who and have been pretending to have a friend to use as an alibi or scapegoat since they were kids—if they want a night out with the guys, they just say they’re visiting Ricky Stanicky in the hospital. When their partners become suspicious and demand to meet Stanicky, the trio hire “Rock Hard” Rod (John Cena), a washed-up actor who specializes in x-rated celebrity impersonations, to portray Ricky. Things quickly spiral out of control as Ricky refuses to drop the role and inserts himself into every aspect of their lives. 

Where to stream: Prime

Damsel

Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown plays Elodie in Damsel, a fantasy movie that turns fairytale tropes upside-down. After her betrothal to a prince, Elodie learns that her fate isn’t to live happily ever after, but to be sacrificed to a dragon. To survive (and bring down the evil royal family who cast her into the dragon cave) Elodie will have to face the fire-breathing beast herself. No knight in shining armor is coming to save the day.

Where to stream: Netflix

Poor Things (2023)

Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things is a dizzying mash-up of horror, romance, science-fiction, and comedy. Emma Stone turns in a fascinating, utterly all-in performance as Bella Baxter, a young woman who has the brain of a baby implanted in her head by a mad doctor (played by Willem Dafoe). Set in a steampunk/fairytale version of Victorian Europe, Poor Things is endlessly visually fascinating, intellectually stimulating, and funny as shit. It’s a must-watch (catch it before the March 10 Oscar ceremony, where it is nominated for 11 awards).

Where to stream: Hulu

The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping

This unsettling documentary details the scary world of the “troubled teen” industry, where children are kidnapped and forced to live in horrendous conditions in often abusive institutions, all with the blessing of their parents. Through interviews with traumatized survivors, The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping digs up copious dirt on The Academy at Ivy Ridge in Ogdensburg, NJ, a “disciplinary boarding school” that was rocked with accusations of abuse and torture before being shuttered in 2009. 

Where to stream: Netflix

Dune (2021)

With the sequel in theaters, it’s the perfect time to rewatch 2021’s Dune. Director Denis Villeneuve hit a home run with this adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science fiction novel. He managed to craft the difficult, complex source material into a film that both audiences and critics loved—even those audience and critics that are like, “I’m not into science fiction.” Dune features standout performances from Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson, who manage to be as interesting as the bigger-than-huge visuals.

Where to stream: Hulu

Oppenheimer (2023)

Christopher Nolan’s expansive biopic examines the many sides of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the literally earth-shattering destruction he helped unleash on the world, and the ways in which each influences the other. Oppenheimer is nominated for 13 Oscars, more than any other film this year, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Acting nomination for Cillian Murphy, so check it out before the ceremonies if you missed it in theaters.

Where to stream: Peacock

Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda

Award-winning comedian Hannah Gadsby hosts some of Earth’s funniest genderqueer comics at London’s Alexandra Palace Theatre in Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda. The program includes sets from ALOK, Chloe Petts, DeAnne Smith, Ashley Ward, Jes Tom, Mx. Dahlia Belle, and Krishna Istha. Reading all the negative comments on the YouTube trailer made this into a must-see for me; if these jerks are being triggered, Netflix must be doing something right. 

Where to stream: Netflix

A Revolution on Canvas

Part political thriller and part arts documentary, A Revolution on Canvas examines the controversy and upheaval surrounding the painting of Iranian modern artist Nicky Nodjoumi. After moving to Iran to help overthrow the Shah in 1980, Nodjoumi quickly ruffled the feathers of the new regime with his solo exhibition “Report on the Revolution.” He was forced to flee, and over 100 of his paintings went missing. A Revolution on Canvas details the artist and his family’s attempt to get the paintings back, or at least learn what became of them.

Where to stream: Max

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Josie and the Pussycats totally tanked when it came out in 2001, meeting critical and box office indifference, but instead of being forgotten, Josie hung around the edges of cinematic universe until people gradually noticed that it’s actually a really good little movie. It’s not the dumb, teen-sploitation you’d expect; instead it hides a sharpened satirical knife behind its bubbly facade. It features a soundtrack full of excellent songs, great performances from Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Parker Posey, and Rachael Leigh Cook, and now that so much time has passed, a pleasing sheen of nostalgia.

Where to stream: Peacock

Wonka (2023)

Timothée Chalamet plays the title character in this prequel/re-imagining of Roald Dahl’s famous chocolate maker. Pulling off the oh-how-totally-delightful tone without becoming syrupy and mawkish is no easy feat, but Wonka manages to hit the mark thanks to its talented cast, great writing, catchy songs, and lavish production design. In other words, against all odds, Wonka is pretty good.

Where to stream: Max

Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) (2014)

In Birdman, Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, an actor who had been household-name famous for his portrayal of movie superhero Birdman. But that was years ago, and now, the specter of Birdman literally haunts him as he tries to make a comeback by starring in a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver story. Seemingly (but not actually) shot in one take, Birdman is a frantic, fascinating portrait of an artist tortured by irrelevance and descending into madness. It’s not like any other movie you’ve ever seen, I promise. (And it’s still a wonder that a movie this weird managed to win the Best Picture Oscar.)

Where to stream: Hulu

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Tom Hanks stars as the most reassuring man in television history, Mr. Rogers, the kid’s TV show host who rose to fame by taking children seriously. Using filmic techniques made famous on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, director Marielle Heller tells Rogers’ story through the eyes of Lloyd Vogel, a jaded, emotionally damaged writer assigned to pen a puff piece on Rogers. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is about the conflict between cynicism and sincerity, and in the face of Mr. Rogers’ “cardigan sweaters and light piano jazz” worldview, cynicism doesn’t stand a chance.

Where to stream: Hulu