This week’s 7 finest new movies to watch online cover a wide range of topics. From a popular art-house independent from earlier this year that’s finally getting a moment on a major streaming service to Netflix’s next flashy new blockbuster (this one starring Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth), plus a trio of intriguing documentaries, there’s no need to go to the movies this week.
The most well-known figure on this list is Jennifer Lopez, the legendary musician/actor/dancer whose career and Super Bowl halftime show are being featured on Netflix (oh, and did you know Netflix is producing a Squid Game reality program?). Hemsworth is the second biggest star on the list, and his performance in Spiderhead is said to elevate the film via pure charm.
Looking for a good laugh? Don’t miss Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening in this real story of a couple who outwitted the state lottery. In addition, there is a new Father of the Bride featuring a Latino cast.
Let’s go through the seven movies you should see this week, as well as the nine new movies and series to watch from last weekend, which include Ms. Marvel and the return of Peaky Blinders.
The Worst Person on the Planet (Hulu)
There aren’t many films that completely captivated me in cinemas like Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World. And now, after a limited release, this buzzy indie treasure is making its way to Hulu, where it may reach a bigger audience. However, unlike last week’s blockbuster internet release (Everything Everywhere At Once), this video features a considerably simpler (but nonetheless emotionally evocative) plot. The film depicts four years in the life of Julie (Renate Reinsve), who is concerned about the type of person she is becoming as she grows older (hence the title).
Reinsve, who is now breaking out as a result of this part, is completely engrossing in her portrayal, and the film needed her to be. Julie’s relationship with prominent cartoonist Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie) is one of those complex situations in which she’s 29 and he’s 43, and their demands don’t really line up. In The Worst Person, Aksel isn’t the only man Julie encounters, but the specifics of how she interacts with Eivind (Herbert Nordrum) are something I wouldn’t dare to reveal. The Worst Person in the World is more than worth the price of admission, and it’s absolutely worth a month ($12.99) of ad-free Hulu to watch it without commercial interruption.
Stream it now on Hulu (opens in new tab).
If you live in the United States, you can also watch The Old Man online on Hulu.
At halftime (Netflix)
Jenny from the block has gone global, but her tale remains a mystery. Netflix is finally getting a look behind the scenes with Jennifer Lopez, as one of the greatest names in pop culture tells her story. Not only does Lopez allow Netflix cameras into her stadium rehearsals, but the documentary also follows Ben Affleck around to see how he feels about her life.
Lopez reveals topics you might not have expected to hear, such as her battle with poor self-esteem. The documentary portrays the celebrity as a woman who demands better standards, especially her recent Super Bowl halftime show performance (from which the film takes its title). In an already-viral moment from the film, Lopez declares that sharing a Super Bowl halftime show (which she did with Shakira in 2020) is “the dumbest idea in the world.”
Starting today, you may watch it on Netflix (opens in a new tab) (Tuesday, June 14)
The Bride’s Father (2022) (HBO Max)
While some may be unaware that the 1991 Steve Martin-led The Father of the Bride wasn’t the first incarnation of the picture (it recreated a 1950 original starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor), few would have predicted a third installment. But, then again, we couldn’t have predicted that this HBO Max film would cast the right person to replace Martin.
Andy Garcia plays Billy, who is in charge of a couple of fires in this new Father of the Bride. The first and most pressing issue is that his daughter Sofia (Adria Arjona) is getting married to Adam (Diego Boneta), and their imminent nuptials are causing him stress. Sofia is not just more autonomous than her father imagined possible, as she suggested to Adam, but there is also the possibility of a cultural clash. Is it possible for Sofia’s Cuban-American family to get along with Adam’s Mexican family? Probably.
The main problem for Billy is that his marriage to wife Ingrid (Gloria Estefan) is far from over. Can his marriage endure long enough to see the wedding through? We believe they will be stronger as a result.
Starting Thursday, it will be available on HBO Max (opens in a separate tab) (June 16)
Marge and Jerry Go Big (Paramount Plus)
A lot of real crime films are dark and sad. This is not the case with this picture, which was inspired by the life of retiree Jerry Selbee (played by Bryan Cranston), who may have discovered the secret to winning millions and using it for the benefit of their town. Finally, a project in which Bryan Cranston uses his expertise for the benefit of all, rather than just becoming a drug cook.
Jerry is set to retire, but the thought bores him to tears. As a result, he discovers a flaw in Massachusetts’ lottery mechanism. Not only does he enlist the support of his wife Marge (Annette Bening), but the two go above and beyond just spending the income for their retirement and then assisting others.
Unfortunately, Jerry’s great plan encounters a glitch. Unpleasant teenagers have found out how to rig the system, posing a threat to everybody.
Starting Friday, you may watch it on Paramount Plus(opens in new tab) (June 17)
Watergate: High Crimes in the Oval Office (Paramount Plus)
We get a new look at the tale exactly 50 years (to the day) after a break-in at the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate buildings sparked a scandal that rocked a country and dethroned President Richard Nixon. This documentary employs real news video to demonstrate how the people interpreted the event at the time.
Of course, High Crimes at the White House focuses not just on the burglary, but also on the cover-up. This documentary seeks to provide one final exposed picture of the Watergate affair, from Nixon’s psychotic recordings to issues about how tapes were manipulated.
Starting Friday (June 17), you may watch it on Paramount Plus(opens in new tab) (also broadcasting at 9 p.m. ET on CBS that day)
Spiderman (Netflix)
Netflix movies and New Yorker short stories don’t seem like natural bedfellows. But when Netflix adds in Chris Hemsworth, we’re hooked. As a result, we turn our attention to Spiderhead, a sci-fi adaptation of George Saunders’ Escape from Spiderhead.
Hemsworth co-stars with Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) and Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country) as two of the test subjects he (the show’s scientist) is testing on. According to critics, Hemsworth is the greatest part of the picture, playing the wicked Steve Abnesti, who is totally compelling and entertaining.
Starting Friday, you may watch it on Netflix (opens in a separate tab) (June 17)
Civil (Netflix)
Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney, takes on a wide spectrum of issues, and Netflix’s largest documentary this week allows filmmaker Nadia Hallgren (Becoming) to highlight his efforts. Crump not only worked on the civil cases of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, but he has also defended Black farmers and other people who have been taken advantage of by the system.
Crump feels that one of the best ways to safeguard Black lives is to make the system pay a bigger price for wronging them, as seen by the trailer. Or, to put it another way, as he says in the trailer, “They will stop killing Black people if you can make them pay higher prices. It will be a hindrance.” Civil observes Crump at work and reveals his personal background, from birth through maturity.