Yes, it’s that time again, the weekend, and time to review the best new movies and television shows added online this week, to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. And there are some exciting new adds this week, so let’s get started.
HULU
Hulu has an amazing add with Small Things Like These, the 2024 drama starring Cillian Murphy(!). Based on Claire Keegan’s 2021 novella of the same name, this takes place in 1985 Ireland, where Bill Furlong(Murphy!), lives in a small town, and delivers coal and fuel for a living. Providing for his wife(Eileen Walsh) and 5 daughters, Bill carries on, until one day he sees a young woman dragged, screaming, by her mother(we think) into the convent nearby. Bill is profoundly disturbed, in a country haunted by the history of the “Magdalene Laundries,” where convents confined (unmarried) pregnant woman, and then adopted their babies away(without their consent, often for monetary gain. And, when he discovers a girl locked the convent coal shed, bruised and bloody, he is terribly shaken. But he is also seen by Sister Mary (Emily Watson), who runs the convent, and the girl’s school his daughters attend. And Sister Mary makes clear the threat he and his family face, if he reports what he’s seen. Michelle Fairley, Clare Dunne and Louis Kirwan also star, and Tim Mielants directs. And this movie was nominated for numerous awards, and went on to win Best Supporting Performance for Emily Watson at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival , and Best Script for Enda Walsh, Best Lead Actor – Film for Murphy, and Best Film at the 2025 Irish Film and Television Awards. And it gets a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Odie Henderson of the Boston Globe said it “is a master class in quiet acting, one that’s hard to shake once the credits roll.” And I’m watching. Hulu also offers Lake George, a 2024 comedy thriller. Here, down-and-out ex-con Don (Shea Whigham) is pushed by Armen (Glenn Fleshler) to kill Armen‘s ex-girlfriend, Phyllis (Carrie Coon). When Don resists, Armen’s gun in his face convinces him to change his mind. But when Don kidnaps Phyllis, she talks him out of doing the job he never wanted to do. Instead, she suggests stealing from Armen, himself, and she knows where his stash of money is. And so they head off in search of his gold, never realizing they might get caught , as Don dreams of heading for Lake George, and retiring in a cabin there. Max Casella, Glenn Fleshler and Ashley Fink also star, and Jeffrey Reiner directed, along with writing the script, here. and this movie and Todd Jorgenson of Cinemalogue said “strong performances elevate this contemporary neo-noir thriller about greed, betrayal, and revenge above its genre conventions.” So I’m tuning in. Hulu has also added Magpie, a 2024 British thriller. Daisy Ridley(!) stars, here, as Annette, a woman unhappily married, and stifled in her suburban home by her selfish husband, Ben (Shazad Latif), an author with no concern for his wife, or her problems. As he shirks household responsibilities, Annette is tied more and more are home, isolated from friends and family . But when their daughter, Tillie, gets a role in a movie, and Ben is enrapt with the female lead of the show, Annette becomes enraged, and loses any fear about appearances. Hiba Ahmed, Matilda Lutz, Pippa Bennett-Warner and Alistair Petrie also star, and Sam Yates directed. And this movie gets an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Jeannette Catsoulis of the New York Times called it a “lean, mean revenge thriller that knows exactly what it’s about, Magpie has little originality but an invigorating clarity of purpose.” So I’m watching. And, finally, Hulu has added Another You, a 2025 Turkish comedy/fantasy film. This revolves around Mümtaz(Giray Altinok), a lonely 40ish man, who by chance, meets a woman- Derya(Ezgi Mola). And the couple really hit it off , lost in conversation, until, minutes later, they are both killed in an accident. But, no worry, because they’re both reborn the next day, as different people, meeting in that life, too. The only trouble is, they always die at the end of one day, eternally latched in this cycle. But can they escape, when they’re born into their own identities? Nevra Serezli, Hüseyin Avni Danyal and Deniz Cengiz also star, and Ömer Faruk Sorak directs. And this movie gets an impressive 7.1/10 on IMDb, and Isilay Guzel Yilmaz of Ortakultuk calls it “a movie that you can watch with pleasure and fun.” So I’m tuning in.
NETFLIX
Netflix has a cool(forgive the pun) add this week, with North of North, a 2025 Canadian comedy series. This tells of Siaja(Anna Lambe), a modern Inuk woman, as she puts it, living in Nunavut’s Ice Cove, in the Arctic Circle. Married young, Siaja is fed up with her self-centered husband, Ting(Kelly William), and moves out, going to live with her mom, Neevee (Maika Harper), with her 6 year-old daughter Bun ( Keira Cooper), in tow. But the disapproval of the villagers follows her everywhere, with her lack of a job and money causing huge problems, too. So she goes to the town planner in search of a job, managing to get a lower position than she applied for. But problems continue to rain down, as her long lost father returns to town, with unexpected consequences. But Siaja manages to survive, and even thrive, in the face of adversity. Jay Ryano, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Bailey Poching also star, and there are 8 episodes available now. and this series gets a stunning 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 7.9/10 on IMDb. And Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times says “big feelings, turbulence and life-changing dilemmas abound, but most of all the show wants to make its people, and you, happy.” And I am so tuning in. Netflix also offers The Gardener, a 2025 Spanish thriller series. This revolves around Elmer(Álvaro Rico), a quiet gardener , living with his mom, La China Jurado(Cecilia Suárez), and working at their garden center. But as La China tells it(she narrates our story) , her son lost the ability to feel emotions, after a childhood car accident. So what better way to use him, than as a hitman, bolstering their sagging business? But then Elmer is assigned to kill Violeta(Catalina Sopelana), a young teacher, who finally enables Elmer to feel love. Which will threaten his mother’s control over him, and their entire criminal enterprise. Emma Suárez, María Vázquez and Francis Lorenzo also star, and there are 6 episodes available now. And this series gets a 6.1/10 on IMDb, and Mary Kassel of Screen Rant says “despite its issues, The Gardener is enough fun to buoy the audience through the narrative, and the central performances from Rico and Suárez help anchor the emotional core of the story.” So its on my list. Netflix also offers Meet the Khumalos, a 2025 South African comedy. here, while on vacation at KwaZulu- Natal, the Khumalos find that their new neighbors next door are none other than the Sitholes, old acquaintances. But Grace Khumalo( Khanyi Mbau ), especially, hates Bongi Sithole(Ayanda Borotho), her old best friend. And during the pair’s feuding, new trouble brews, when Grace’s son Sphe(Khosi Ngema) and Bongi’s daughter Sizwe(Jesse Suntele) fall in love. But can their young love survive their mothers’ feuding? Khacal Mbau, Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe, Connie Chiume and Bonga Dlamini also star, while Jayan Moodley directs. And this movie gets a 5.8/10 on IMDb, and Ruchika Bhat of DMT Talkies calls it ” a perfect for a summer family watch..” adding “at the end of the day, if you’re looking for a fun, vibrant, and humorous movie that is culturally unique, I’d recommend Meet The Khumalos.” And I agree , I’m watching. Netflix has also added How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a 2024 Thai drama. This begins with gamer M(Putthipong Assaratanakul) and the rest of his family finding out that the matriarch, and M’s grandma, Menju( Usha “Taew” Seamkhum), has advanced cancer. As the family struggles to care for her, M pushes his way into being her caregiver, not out of virtue, but because he hopes to inherit her house. But as he cares for her , and accompanies her to chemo appointments, and family visits, he finds his respect for her grows, and the pair bond. But M also learns his grandma wants her own burial place, and expensive thing for the family, and he connives to find the money. But will there be time? Tontawan “Tui” Tantivejakul, Pongsatorn “Phuak” Jongwilas and Sarinrat Thomas also star, and Pat Boonnitipat directs. and this movie was nominated for lots of awards last year, it was Thailand’s nomination at the Oscars, and went on to win Best Film at the Cambodia International Film Festival, among others. And it gets an incredible 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 8/10 on IMDb. And Alissa Simon of Variety said “with an engaging cast led by dimpled actor and pop singer Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul and 78-year-old Usha “Taew” Seamkhum, it renders universal the central message of cherishing those we love while there is still time.” And I’m watching. And, finally, Netflix has added Friendly Rivalry, a 2025 K-drama thriller series. This takes place at the elite Chaehwa Girl’s High School, where Woo Seul-gi(Chung Soo-Bin) manages to be admitted, despite her being an orphan with a working class background. While trying to make the grades, and fit in, Seul-gi develops a rivalry that turns into a complicated friendship with Yoo Jae-i(Lee Hyeri), who comes from a more privileged background. But Jae-i faces severe backlash for her friendship with Seul-gi, even from her own father. But together, the two girls manage weather the storms at the high pressure school, and try to survive their enemies. Yoo Tae-jun, Kang Hye-won and Oh Woo-ri also star, and there are 16 episodes available now. And this series gets an astounding 8.1/10 on IMDb, and Prachi Senapati of Sportskeeda calls it “a good watch overall. The characters are well-built, and so is the plot.” So I’m tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon has a big add with G20, a 2024 action/thriller. Viola Davis(!) stars, here, as President Danielle Sutton, arriving in Cape Town, with her family, for the G20 summit. But their hotel has been infiltrated by right wing terrorists, led by Rutledge (Antony Starr). Having taken over the hotel, and all the G20 members hostage, Rutledge plans to plunge the stock market(sound familiar?) through AI videos of the leaders. But President Sutton and her bodyguard Manny (Ramón Rodríguez) evade capture, and plan a comeuppance for the terrorists, themselves. Marsai Martin, Antony Star and Anthony Anderson also star and Patricia Riggen directed. And though this movie gets but a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, Kate Erbland of IndieWire said it “has two major points in its favor, right out of the gate: a super-fun premise for an action film and a star both so good and so classy that it never feels as if she’s punching below her weight class.” And I’m watching. Amazon has also added Speak No Evil, a 2024 thriller. In this remake of the 2022 Danish thriller of the same name, we find Ben and Louise Dalton, played by Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis respectively, holidaying in Italy with their daughter Agnes, when they meet a charming British couple, Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi). And when they’re invited to their home, the pair accept, and head to their secluded Devon estate. But as the weekend progresses , their hosts seem more and more strange, and their treatment of their guests descends into the horrific. But can the family escape the clutches of the pair? Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough and Kris Hitchen also star, while James Watkins directed. And this movie gets an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Peter Travers of ABC News said “this English-language horror remake can’t touch the 2022 Danish original, but it gets in its scarefest licks thanks to a smiling devil of a lead performance from James McAvoy that will creep you out big time and fry your never to a frazzle.” You decide. You know its too scary for me! And, finally, Amazon has added Her Majesty, a 2025 Spanish drama series. Here, when King Alfonso XIV(Pablo Derqui) finds himself in trouble, when his financial misdeeds threaten a scandal, and while he escapes and feigns his death, his only choice for a successor is his rebellious daughter, Princess Pilar(Anna Castillo). But she doesn’t want to be queen yet, and is forced into the role by the rest of the government. Her only guide is her new attaché, Guillermo, who will coach her in the etiquette and customs necessary in the contemporary royal world. But will it be enough? Ernesto Alterio, Lucía Díez and Belén Ponce de León also star, and there are 7 episodes available now. And this series gets a 6.6/10 on IMDb, and Margaret Lyons of the New York Times calls it “glamorous and salty fun, ” adding, it “has the makings of a pop fairy tale or princess fantasy, but it is a lot saltier, more cynical and more fun than that.” So I’m tuning in.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 