Once the work week ends, we look forward to the next weekend. But with so many new movies arriving on the best streaming services, figuring out what to watch can become just another item on a never-ending checklist.
So, to help you decide what to watch next, Tom’s Guide is rounding up this week’s hottest new movies. Topping the list is Despicable Me, which (love Minions or hate them) is a timely distraction for kids as they enter the final weeks of summer. Meanwhile, Apple TV Plus has a new heist comedy, The Instigators, which sees Matt Damon team up with a different-than-usual Affleck. Peacock also has The Bikeriders, a thrilling period drama about riding giant pigs.
Documentary fans have plenty to look forward to this weekend, from Netflix’s “Inside the Mind of a Dog,” which follows our furry friends, to Hulu’s “Food, Inc. 2,” a 2009 expose on the corrupt world of corporate agriculture.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the best new movies available to stream, and for even more recommendations, be sure to check out our roundup of the best new TV shows available to stream this week.
“Despicable Me 4” (PVOD)
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If your kids are itching to see the latest adventures of Gru and his minions, we have good news for you: Despicable Me, which hits video-on-demand services this week after making an impressive $760 million at the box office, is the third-highest-grossing movie so far this year.
Gru (voice of Steve Carell), a former supervillain, has just welcomed a new child into his life with his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig), but when his old rival Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) escapes from prison, the family is forced into the witness protection program. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned when their new neighbor’s teenage daughter, Poppy (Joey King), recognizes Gru. The aspiring supervillain threatens to reveal his true identity if he doesn’t pull off one last heist.
Buy or rent now on Amazon
“Instigators” (Apple TV Plus)
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From the director of “The Loud House” and “The Bourne Identity” comes a new action comedy reuniting Matt Damon and Casey Affleck for their first film together since “Oppenheimer.” To pay for his son’s medical bills, down-on-his-luck father Rory (Damon) reluctantly teams up with an ex-con (Affleck) to steal the ill-gotten gains of a corrupt mayor (Ron Perlman).
At least that’s the plan, but when the heist goes awry, the unlikely duo finds themselves targeted by police, bureaucrats, and a vengeful crime boss. Caught on their chaotic getaway through the city, they’re accompanied by Rory’s therapist, Donna Rivera (Hong Chau), who provides a tough straight person to offset Damon and Affleck’s Boston-accented delivery.
Watch now on Apple TV Plus
“Food, Inc. 2” (Hulu)
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In 2009, “Food, Inc.” pioneered a bold new genre of documentary, shedding light on the corrupt underside of industrialized food production. “Food, Inc. 2,” directed by Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo, doesn’t just repeat the same ideas, but evaluates how the food industry has changed (for better and for worse) over the past 15 years and outlines alternatives to the foods produced by big corporations.
But getting people to be more mindful of the food they put on their plates and where it comes from is only one piece of the puzzle – for a long-term solution, food change must start at the top, the documentary explains.
Watch it now on Hulu
Inside a Dog’s Mind (Netflix)
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Following the success of 2022’s Inside the Mind of a Cat, Netflix is treating dog-loving fans to their latest documentary, Inside the Mind of a Dog, which answers all your dog-related questions, from how dogs developed their superior sense of smell to why small dogs are so messy (speaking as the owner of an elderly Chihuahua-terrier mix).
Narrated by Rob Lowe, this documentary chronicles the history of the human-dog relationship and offers at-home tips to help dog owners around the world better understand their pets and cater to their needs. And of course, there are too many good guys to count (throw them already!!)
Watch now on Netflix
“Biker Riders” (Peacock)
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Loosely inspired by the exploits of the real-life Outlaws Motorcycle Club, “The Bikers” is a well-oiled snapshot of 20th-century American biker culture, featuring an all-star cast worthy of a fleet of powerful choppers.
Spanning decades, the film begins with the first meeting of Cathy (Jodie Comer) and Benny (Austin Butler), two members of the Chicago-based motorcycle club The Vandals in the ’60s. Cathy leaves her old life behind for this new, oily world and soon finds herself embroiled in the Vandals’ easy-going camaraderie (and a budding romance with Benny). Tensions rise when a new generation of members start to get up to no good and threaten to upset the peaceful status quo — but not before the team’s revered founder, Johnny (Tom Hardy), has a say in it.
Watch now on Peacock
“Night School” (Netflix)
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Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish star in this buddy comedy that’s hilarious. Teddy Walker (Hart) is a high school dropout who has built a pretty successful life for himself despite that, until a series of unfortunate events causes his life to fall apart.
Desperate for work, Teddy’s friend Marvin (Ben Schwartz) offers him a job at his finance company, but only if he gets his GED. Enter unconventional night school teacher Carrie (Tiffany Haddish), who makes it her mission to help Teddy graduate — and learn something about himself in the process.
Watch now on Netflix
“The Emoji Movie” (Netflix)
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The Emoji Secret is at the bottom of the list of animated movies I would recommend to others, but the kids in my life watch it endlessly, so it’s at least worth shouting about for its arrival on Netflix this week.
Just as the name suggests, the film follows anthropomorphized emojis who live inside our smartphones. Each emoji has a specific role to play, but one of them (voiced by TJ Miller) discovers he can display multiple facial expressions. Determined to become “normal” like the other emojis, he enlists the help of his friends to travel through other apps and discover a danger that threatens the very existence of their world.
Watch now on Netflix
