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 few adds of note this week, but they do have two new horror movies, the first of which is In a Violent Nature, a 2024 Canadian horror pic. This begins in the woods of Ontario, where a group of teens unwittingly resurrect a murderer, by removing a locket from a burned out old fire station. Soon, Johnny(Ry Barrett), the murderer , gropes his way out of his grave, and begins to prowl the forest. though he kills many bystanders, he is in search of that locket, which one of the teens, Troy(Liam Leone), pocketed. And as he zeroes in on the teens at their camp ground, and lurks outside their forest cabins, the killing begins. But can anyone survive? Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley and Charlotte Creaghan also star, while Chris Nash directs. and this movie gets a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Stephen Romei of The Australian said “it is so ruthlessly, mercilessly, casually, relentlessly, violent that it will deter lots of viewers, which is understandable but unfortunate for the director because I think he is making a point about the slasher movie genre.” But it’s far too gory for me. You decide. Hulu also offers Azrael , a 2024 dark horror flick. This takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where Azrael( Samara Weaving) and her lover Kenan(Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) have been ousted by their cult for speaking, a cardinal sin. But they recapture the pair, and separate them, and prepare to sacrifice Azrael to the Burned Ones, beings left after the apocalypse, maimed and hungry. But Azrael escapes, and so begins a desperate run through the forest around them, seeking Kenan, and refuge. Sebastian Bull, Eero Milonoff, and Vincent Willestrand also star, and E.L. Katz directed. And this though this movie gets only a 5.4/10 on IMDb, it also gets a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. And Randy Myers of the San Jose Mercury News said “E.L. Katz’s virtually dialogue-less horror film is watchable but would have benefited from more context and expository narrative resources.” You decide. I’m definitely not watching. Luckily, Hulu also offers Secrets of the Penguins, a 2025 Nat Geo documentary series. Narrated by Blake Lively, this voyages to the Antarctic to visit the Emperor penguins living there, in all their glory. The filmmakers actually spent an entire winter there, filming this three-parter, that studies penguin behavior, their familial bonds, and other fascinating activities. And James Cameron served as executive producer on this beautiful series that gets a 7.1/10 on IMDb, and John Anderson of the Wall Street Journal calls it a “gentle, gloriously photographed three-parter with earnest-breathless narration by actress Blake Lively and a theme that likely made National Geographic’s overseers at Disney quite content.” And I’m so watching. And, finally, Hulu has Chutney Sambar, a 2025 Disney Hindi dramedy series. This tells begins with the eldest son, Karthik(Chandran), sent by his dying father , to find his illegitimate son and bring him home to him, before he dies. So Karthik sets off with his brother-in-law, and find the orphan Sachu Babu(Yogi Babu), working as a cook of the best Sambar, in his food cart. But when they kidnap the reluctant Sachu, and bring him home, they find he doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the family. and the pandemonium follows can only be hilarious. But the family might even be happier, as a result. Vani Bhojan, Nithin Sathya and Elango Kumaravei also star, and there is 1 episode available now, with 5 more to come. And this series gets an outstanding 8/10 on IMDb, and Riya Singh of the Midgard Times calls it “a great family show and you mustn’t miss it. It’s an absolute treat to watch the beauty of Ooty and the people living in it. The lush green beauty will mesmerize you. With great dialogue, acting, and plot the series is here to win hearts.” And i agree. I’m tuning in.
NETFLIX
Netflix has few big titles this week, but they have added Bullet Train Explosion, a 2025 Japanese thriller. Inspired by 1975’s Irwin Allen pic, The Bullet Train(which then inspired Speed), this takes place on the the Shinkansen (or bullet) train, heading from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo. A credible bomb threat is called into the Japan Railway Company, threatening that the train will explode, killing everyone on board, if the train goes less than 100km/h. Unless they pay 10 billion yen ransom, which Japan will not do. And so its left to the conductor, Kazuya Takaichi(Tsuyoshi Kusanagi), the train driver, Ninomiya Matsumoto(Chika Matsumoto), and assistant conductor Keiji Fujii (Kanata Hosoda), to save the day, and the passengers. Non, Jun Kaname, Machiko Ono and Hana Toyoshima also star, while Shinji Higuchi directs. And it gets a 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com says “what makes Bullet Train Explosion so charming is that its creators don’t try to reinvent their chosen genre with this oversized, defiantly corny throwback.” So I’m tuning in. Netflix also offers The Sea Beyond, a 2024 Italian drama series. This takes place in a teen detention center outside Naples, where Filippo(Nicolas Maupas), who is from a rich family, and the new guy, Carmine(Massimiliano Caiazzo), from a criminal family, try to survive. But while Carmine wants to be a hairdresser, and Filippo dreams of being a pianist, other detainees want only to be top dog in the criminal world, like Ciro (Giacomo Giorgio). And he will do anything to rule the prison center, having the other prisoners bow before his cruel rule. Valentina Romani, Serena De Ferrari and Raiz also star, and there are 12 episodes available now. And this series has won multiple awards over it’s 4 year run, including Best Actor in an Italian Series for Giacomo Giorgio at the 2023 Kineo Awards, and Series of the Year at the 2023 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists. And it gets an impressive 7.3/10 on IMDb, and Mark Glass of We Are Movie Geeks said “strong performances abound among the inmates and several others running the facility, or related to the kids. No one skimped on production values either.” So I’m watching. Netflix has also added Aku Jati, Aku Asperger, a 2024 Indonesian romantic comedy. The story here revolves around Jati(Jefri Nichol), a teen with Asperger‘s Syndrome, whose happily predictable world is turned upside down when his older brother, Daru(Pradikta Wicaksono), breaks up with his long time girlfriend. Anxious for things to return to their comfortable routine, Jati seeks a new girlfriend for his brother, and goes on a search for the perfect girl. Hangini, Livy Renata and Carissa Perusset also star, while Fajar Bustomi directs. And it gets an astounding 8.2/10 on IMDb, and Neerja Choudhuri of the Midgard Times calls it a “charming and heartfelt romantic comedy that centers on Jati, a teenager on the autism spectrum, as he grapples with the disruption of his brother’s breakup.” And I am so tuning in. Netflix also offers Reversi, a 2024 Malaysian sci-fi drama. This considers the dilemma of Akid(Beto Kusyairy), a police negotiator, haunted by the deaths of his wife, Sarah(Shiqin Kamal) and their son, in a car accident. But Akid is also a time traveler, an ability he inherited from his late father, and seeks not only to go back in time, but to change the events completely , so as to save his beloved family. But will his reckless efforts lead to happiness or tragedy? Vanida Imran, Hasnul Rahmat and Azhan Rani also star, and Adrian Teh directs. And this movie was nominated for 4 awards, including Best Film, at the 2024 Kuala Lumpur Film Critics Awards. And it gets a rousing 7.3/10 on IMDb, and Anjali Sharma of the Midgard Times says “if you’re interested in a quiet, aching story about love, loss, and letting go, Reversi offers something rare—a time travel movie that isn’t really about time at all.” And I’m watching. And, finally, Netflix has added Heavenly Ever After, a 2025 K-drama romantasy limited series. Here, 86 year-old Lee Hae-sook(Kim Hye-ja) dies and reaches the Heaven Admission Counseling Office, where she decides to keep her older look, fondly remembering her late husband’s compliment, saying she was prettiest at 80. But then she meets her beloved husband, Ko Nak-Joon(Son Suk-ku), as his younger self, and they are both shocked with the other’s appearance. As Hae-sook regrets her hasty choice, the couple quarrel , and wonder if they can again find the perfect romance they once had. Han Ji-min, Lee Jung-eun, Cheon Ho-jin and Ryu Deok-hwan also star, and there are 3 episodes available now, with 9 more to come. And this series gets an outstanding 7.8/10 on IMDb, and Maddy Casale of the Decider says to stream it, calling it a “truly original concept that is an absolute success thanks to the clever writing and skilled acting of all involved. By watching this series, you’re bound for a viewing experience so emotionally rich and fulfilling you honestly just might feel like you’re in Heaven on Earth.” And I agree, I’m definitely tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon has a big add this week with Etoile, a 2025 drama series. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladin(The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel!, Bunheads!), this is another tale of the dance world, this time about two great but embattled ballet companies, who decide to switch their talented stars, as a PR stunt. Jack (Luke Kirby), Executive Director of the New York based Metropolitan Ballet Theater and Geneviève (Charlotte Gainsbourg!) of Paris’ Le Ballet National decide to give the swap a go, at the urging of the unethical billionaire, Crispin Shamblee. But the star dancers bristle at the idea of transferring for a year, and soon, discord erupts at both companies. But can this outrageous publicity stunt actually bring much needed innovation and ticket sales to the dance troupes? Ivan du Pontavice, Taïs Vinolo, Gideon Glick and Lou de Laâge also star, and there are 8 episodes available now. And this series gets a sensational 7.2/10 on IMDb, and Kaiya Shunyata of RogerEbert.com says the “magnetic Étoile Is guaranteed to be your Spring TV obsession” adding, where it “truly excels is when there’s a palpable tension that ripples between the bodies of the pairings on screen.” So I’m watching. Amazon has also added Conclave, the 2024 award-winning drama. This begins with the death of the pope, with Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) called to organize the conclave of cardinals to appoint the new one. But, as he investigates, the Cardinal finds inconsistencies in accounts of the last days of the Pope, especially those involving a certain Cardinal Tremblay(John Lithgow!). And could all these big egos, good and bad, derail Lawrence’s hope to elect a truly good leader for the Catholic Church? Stanley Tucci(!), Sergio Castellitto, Lucian Msamati and Isabella Rossellini(!) also star, and Edward Berger directed. And this movie won many awards last year, winning 4 BAFTAs, including Best Editing for Nick Emerson, Best Adapted Screenplay for Peter Straughan, Outstanding British Film of the Year, and Best Film. And it gets a electrifying 7.4/10 on IMDb, and a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. And Nell Minnow of RogerEbert.com said “it challenges us to challenge ourselves and is wildly entertaining, one of the year’s standout films.” And I’m watching. And, finally, Amazon has added Gladiator II, the 2024 historical epic. This sequel to Gladiator tells the story of Numidian Lucius Verus(Paul Mescal), who as a boy was an admirer of Maximus (Russell Crowe), in the original movie. Now, after his African homeland of Numidia was conquered by the Romans, slave owner and gladiator handler Macrinus (Denzel Washington) insists Verus must fight in the Colosseum against all manner of fighter, human and animal, while seeking to avenge the death of his wife. Meanwhile, the empire struggles under the twin rule of Geta(Joseph Quinn), and Caracalla(Fred Hechinger),who use the gladiator spectacles to keep the the people contented and peaceful. Connie Nielsen, May Calamawy, Derek Jacobi(!) and Pedro Pascal (!) also star, and Ridley Scott directed. and it gets a 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Manohla Dargis of the New York Times said “fast, brutal and absorbing, the shocker opener sets the template for the rest of the movie, which plays — and often feels — like one long, inventively diverse, elaborately imaginative fight.” So it’s on my list.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 