Femme, Find Me Falling, and more

We’re back with this week’s round-up of the latest movies you need to catch up on. We have a diverse list, and we’re particularly excited about a drama starring Kristen Stewart in it.

The best new streaming movies this week

Click on the links you find interesting. Or peruse at your leisure!

• Release date: July 19. 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Stelana Kliris
• Cast: Harry Connick Jr., Agni Scott, Ali Fumiko Whitney, Clarence Smith, Athina Roditou, Antonis Katsaris, Andreas Phylactou

Set against the stunning backdrop of Cyprus, this romantic drama follows John Allman, a famous but burnt-out rockstar seeking solitude. He purchases a cliffside house, hoping for peace, but instead discovers it’s a notorious suicide spot. As John grapples with this morbid revelation, he reconnects with Sia, a local doctor and former flame.

The film interweaves themes of second chances, family dynamics, and the healing power of music, all while John tries to prevent more tragedies at his new home. The story promises a unique blend of romance, personal redemption, and unexpectedly dark undertones in a picturesque Mediterranean setting.

• Release date: March 22, 2024
• Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Gil Kenan
• Cast: Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Dan Aykroyd, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt

This latest installment in the beloved franchise sees the Spengler family relocating to New York City. They join forces with the original Ghostbusters team to face a chilling new threat. An ancient evil entity named Garraka, capable of freezing the entire world, has been unleashed.

The film promises a mix of nostalgia and fresh energy as the multi-generational team races against time to prevent a new Ice Age. Expect a blend of spooky comedy, state-of-the-art special effects, and callbacks to the original films.

• Release date: June 13, 2024
• Genre: Documentary
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Daniela Völker
• Cast: Hans-Jürgen Höss, Kai Höss, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, Maya Lasker-Wallfisch

This documentary tells the story of Rudolf Höss, infamous commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, from the perspective of his descendants. The film centers on Hans Jürgen Hoss, Rudolf’s son, now in his late 80s, as he reflects on his childhood spent living next to the concentration camp.

Interwoven with Hans’ story is that of his own son, Kai, a pastor grappling with his family’s notorious history. The documentary also features Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, an Auschwitz survivor, and her daughter Maya, exploring how trauma is passed down through generations on both sides. Through intimate interviews and archival footage, the film examines guilt, denial, and the ongoing impact of the Holocaust on subsequent generations, raising profound questions about how we confront and process historical atrocities.

• Release date: March 8, 2024
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
• Rating: R
• Director: Rose Glass
• Cast: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Orion Carrington

This neo-noir thriller takes place in a gritty New Mexico town in the year 1989 and revolves around Lou, who is a gym manager involved in an endless cycle of violence and small-town boredom. However, her life turns dramatically when Jackie, a bodybuilder heading to Las Vegas for a contest comes into her life. The two quickly become heavily attracted to each other — this blossoms into an affair based on mutual goals, steeped in desire.

This film promises a gritty, visceral exploration of passion, power, and what one can do to escape circumstances.

• Release date: December 1, 2023
• Genre: Thriller
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Sam H. Freeman
• Cast: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, George MacKay, Antonia Clarke, Moe Bar-El, Nima Taleghani, John Leader, Aaron Heffernan

This psychological thriller tells the story of Jules, a talented drag performer whose life is ruined by a brutal homophobic assault. Preston, his attacker, meanwhile struggles with the fact that he himself is gay. Seizing this opportunity, Jules initiates a sexual relationship with Preston, initially motivated by revenge.

However, as their intimacy deepens, the lines between vengeance, attraction, and understanding begin to blur. The film explores complex themes of identity, masculinity, and the cyclical nature of violence, all while maintaining a taut, suspenseful atmosphere.

What was new and worth watching over the last month

Here’s a quick roundup of our previous lists, if you missed them. Also, if you’re in the mood for something else this weekend, we have a list of streaming shows to cater to that.

• Release date: July 12, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Marco Petry
• Cast: Janina Uhse, Dennis Mojen, Stephan Luca, Taneshia Abt, Edin Hasanović, Axel Stein, Anna Maria Mühe

Jan, a humble bicycle shop owner starts dating Pia, a wealthy pet photographer. Jan is invited to Pia’s game night with her rich friends. Among the well-off people, Jan feels inferior and cannot comfortably fit in as they play bizarre and awkward games.

Dares and challenges escalate with each subsequent round during this unforgettable night. To protect his relationship with Pia and navigate through an upper-class game night while remaining true to himself, Jan must learn how to survive among this ruling class. This romantic comedy explores class divides and relationship drama through the lens of an increasingly chaotic game night gone wrong.

• Release date: July 18, 2024
• Genre: Action, Comedy
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Peter Segal
• Cast: Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, Kristen Schaal, Ken Jeong, Anna Faris, Craig Robinson, Flula Borg

JJ looks forward to living quietly after retiring from CIA work. He’s taken Sophie under his care. JJ is well-equipped for Sophie’s school choir trip to Italy, I mean, he’s overqualified, isn’t he? He does have a background in international affairs. But he soon finds himself in over his head dealing with teenage drama and crushes.

Meanwhile, he stumbles onto a nefarious plot involving hidden nukes that he must foil. Sophie gets pulled into the action, complicating her equations with her peers. As JJ races to stop the villains from blowing up the Vatican, he must also navigate the treacherous waters of teenage relationships and emotions.

• Release date: May 15, 2024
• Genre: Documentary
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Laurent Bouzereau
• Cast: Faye Dunaway, Sharon Stone, Mickey Rourke, James Gray

This intimate documentary explores the life and career of legendary actress Faye Dunaway. Known for her iconic roles in films like Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network, we reflect on her meteoric rise to fame in the 1960s and 70s. The film covers her most memorable performances while also delving into her reputation as a difficult diva.

Fellow actors like Sharon Stone and Mickey Rourke share anecdotes about working with the famously intense star. The documentary doesn’t shy away from career missteps like Mommie Dearest, allowing Dunaway to offer her perspective on the film’s legacy. At 83, Dunaway looks back on her life with honesty and humor, grappling with both her triumphs and regrets in Hollywood.

• Release date: March 11, 2023
• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Brittany Snow
• Cast: Courtney Eaton, Thomas Mann, Francesca Reale, Gina Rodriguez, Joel McHale, Dave Bautista, Kid Cudi

Riley, a young woman who just got out of rehab for her eating and sex addiction problems, struggles with staying healthy in New York City. During her first night of freedom, she meets Ethan, who has also been recently released from prison. Despite her therapist’s advice to avoid relationships for a year, Riley and Ethan feel an intense bond between them.

As Ethan falls deeper in love, Riley grapples with her own insecurities and self-destructive behaviors. The film explores themes of addiction, co-dependency, and learning to love oneself through Riley and Ethan’s complicated relationship. With support from quirky side characters, Riley must confront her demons and figure out how to truly connect with others.

• Release date: April 12, 2024
• Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• Director: Benjamin Brewer
• Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins, Sadie Soverall, Samantha Coughlan, Joel Gillman, Joe Dixon

In a post-apocalyptic world, Paul lives on an isolated farm with his teenage twin sons, Joseph and Thomas. They’ve adapted to a life of constant vigilance, barricading themselves inside each night to protect against mysterious and terrifying creatures that roam in the darkness. When Thomas gets stranded outside after dark, Paul ventures out to save him, setting off a chain of horrifying events.

The family soon discovers the true nature of the monstrous beings hunting them — nightmarish hybrids that are part primate, part alien, with an ever-evolving and increasingly grotesque design. As they fight for survival, Joseph must step up to protect his family while uncovering the secrets of this new world.

• Release date: July 12, 2024
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Thabang Moleya
• Cast: Lawrence Maleka, Kwanele Mthethwa, Sandile Mahlangu

Ace Ngubeni is a smooth-talking professional lobola negotiator in South Africa, posing as a fake family member to help clients with traditional marriage negotiations. His skills are put to the ultimate test when he takes on a new client, Duke, who wants to marry Zandi. The catch? Ace and Zandi have met before, and they have a complicated romantic history.

As Ace finds himself falling for Zandi again while trying to negotiate on Duke’s behalf, hilarious complications ensue. The film offers a comedic look at modern romance colliding with cultural traditions, as Ace must navigate tricky family dynamics, his own conflicted feelings, and the intricacies of lobola negotiations.

• Release date: July 5, 2024
• Genre: Romance
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Marcos Carnevale
• Cast: Nicolás Furtado, Nancy Dupláa, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Diego Alonso, Cecilia Roth, Balthazar Murillo

In this endearing Argentinean love story, Nicolas Furtado plays Goyo, a museum guide whose world is turned upside down by the arrival of Eva. But Goyo has Asperger’s syndrome — one facet of a character that Furtado plays brilliantly.

In spite of their big age gap and his syndrome, Goyo quickly develops feelings for Eva, her open-mindedness and enthusiasm naturally appealing to him. This movie balances comedy, pathos, and a gentle depiction of neurodiversity to talk about love, connection, and being true to yourself.

• Release date: December 15, 2023
• Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama
• Rating: PG
• Director: Yoshiyuki Momose
• Cast: Kokoro Terada, Rio Suzuki, Sakura Ando, Riisa Naka, Takayuki Yamada, Atsuko Takahata, Issey Ogata

In this visually stunning Japanese anime, a young girl finds solace in Rudger’s company, an imaginary friend she created after her father died. As their relationship strengthens, Mr. Bunting arrives, who devours the essence of such creatures to sustain his immortality. When he tears them apart, Rudger must travel through a parallel world to find Amanda and protect her against Bunting’s wicked intentions.

Yoshiyuki Momose, renowned for directing some Ghibli classics creates a touching story. Beautiful and artistic, which Ghibli is known for, this movie dives into human resilience and why it’s important to keep childhood magic alive.

• Release date: July 10, 2024
• Genre: Documentary
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Jess Jacklin
• Cast: David Putrino

Jess Jacklin’s inspiring documentary follows the formation and journey of the world’s first all-quadriplegic esports team, the Quad Gods. United by their shared love of gaming and their determination to overcome physical limitations, the eight resilient teammates navigate the challenges of training, competing, and supporting one another in a world that often overlooks and underestimates them.

Through intimate interviews, honest moments, and exciting gameplay footage, we witness vivid pictures of each team member’s unique story, from the daily obstacles they face to the triumphs they achieve both on and off the screen. Quad Gods is a testament to the power of technology to level the playing field and a powerful reminder that greatness knows no physical bounds.

• Release date: April 11, 2024
• Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
• Rating: R
• Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
• Cast: Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan, Lesley Manville, Juliet Cowan, Bronson Webb, Ansu Kabia

Named after her foot-tapping classic, Back to Black takes us through Amy Winehouse’s tumultuous life as one of Britain’s most talented but troubled soul singers. The films intertwine Amy’s rapid rise to stardom, her on-off boyfriend as well as drug addiction along with other demons that haunted the late artiste personally. Winehouse is presented by Abela as being fragile yet strong, who suffers deeply.

A seamless blend of live performances, private moments, and stylized visuals by Taylor-Johnson gives an insight into the price of genius — destruction caused by fame, and yearning for love and approval throughout one’s lifetime. Back To Black serves as an eery homage to the singular artist whose work still captivates audiences long after.

• Release date: May 17, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Comedy
• Rating: PG
• Director: John Krasinski
• Cast: Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr.

In this enchanting blend of live-action and animation, 12-year-old Bea grapples with her father’s hospitalization and her own fading belief in the power of imagination. An encounter with the eccentric Cal introduces Bea to a secret world with forgotten childhood imaginary friends, like the lovable Blue and quick-witted Blossom.

Bea joins the agency’s quest to reunite these make-believe companions with their now-adult creators, helping stressed-out grown-ups rediscover their inner child. Along the way, Bea must also confront her own fears and doubts, ultimately learning that the magic of imagination knows no age limits. Krasinski’s heartwarming fantasy celebrates the power of creativity and the unbreakable bonds forged in childhood.

• Release date: July 11, 2024
• Genre: Drama, Thriller
• Rating: R
• Director: Tyler Perry
• Cast: Meagan Good, Debbi Morgan, Cory Hardrict, Richard Lawson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Taylor Polidore, Art Newkirk

This emotionally charged drama from Tyler Perry follows the life of Ava, a successful bank professional whose world falls apart when her husband unceremoniously walks away from a marriage that once seemed to hold so much potential. Ava fights for her relationship with him.

With painful secrets exposed, Ava now has to gather the personal strength needed to confront the past and start rebuilding a new life. Through his poignant script, Perry explores complex relationships, coming to terms with emotional scars and accepting opportunities for redemption.