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 no big titles added this week, except for(I guess) F*** Marry Kill, the 2024 comedy thriller. This finds Eva(Lucy Hale), newly 30 and broken-up , deciding to start dating again, despite the serial killer, the Swipe Right Killer, haunting Boulder, Colorado, while using dating apps as his hunting ground. So while her besties, Kelly and Robin, try to convince her not to use apps, Eva is a true crime fanatic, and the temptation of solving her first crime is too much. So she proceeds, and finds three potential men, while categorizing them as marriage material, murderer, or lover. But she might find she’s gotten in over her head, while driving the local police crazy with her constant clues. Virginia Gardner, Brooke Nevin, Samer Salem and Bethany Brown also star, and Laura Murphy directed. And it gets a 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, and though its not a great mystery, Jasneet Singh of Collider said “even though F Marry Kill doesn’t quite live up to its potential, it doesn’t mean it needs to be buried six-feet-under — it is more suited to a steamy, giggling one-night-stand.” You decide. Luckily, Hulu has also added California King, a 2025 comedy. Here, Perry (Travis Bennett) is stuck in his job in a mattress store, still dreaming about his high school crush, Lynette (Victoria Justice), without a plan on how to approach her. Unfortunately, his best friend(and co-worker) Wyatt (Jimmy Tatro) comes up with the hare-brained plan to kidnap Lynette‘s brother, and then rescuing him , as everyone loves a hero, and Perry goes along with it. But things go wrong from the start, and when they lose their hostage, they really panic. And then, they find that a local hood, Zane(Joel McHale!) has stepped in to make their faux kidnapping a real one, with the police still convinced the real kidnapper is Perry. Briana Price, Christa Atkins and Melanie Haynes also star, while Eli Stern directs. And yes, this movie get just a 5.2/10 on IMDb, but Anne Campbell of Film Gate “a well-made indie crime-comedy that has a stellar set-up but gets a little muddled and off the rails in the middle…. The pay-off is fun though, and Perry is a well written character from beginning to end.” So I’m watching. Hulu has also added Underdogs, a 2025 Nat Geo animal docuseries. Ryan Reynolds(!) narrates, here, and tells the story of animals that may not be as cute or glamorous as the ones that are often covered. One episode tells of sloths, with their perpetually runny nose, and slow movements, who are actually pretty fascinating, while another tells of the ‘superpowers‘ of species like the mantis shrimp, which moves so fast it can actually vaporize the water around it. And another episode tells of ‘con artists,‘ like the macaques who might have put together a master team to steal luscious goods from tourists. It’s all funny, darling, and maybe even scandalous, with some of the mating habits covered in the episode Sexy Beasts. And Green Day(!) even wrote a special song for the opening credits! And this series gets a stunning 8.2/10 on IMDb, and Jennifer Oullette of Ars Technica says the “delightfully irreverent Underdogs isn’t your parents’ nature docuseries.” And I’m so tuning in. And, finally, Hulu has added Survive, a 2024 adventure thriller. This finds a family of 4 sailing in peaceful waters off the coast of Puerto Rico, when one night what appear to be twin comets appear in the sky, and a furious storm follows, leaving everyone exhausted. But when they awake the next morning, the ocean water is gone, and leaving the family stranded on dry land, with no idea what happened the night before. The father, Tom(Andreas Pietschmann), suspects that Earth‘s magnetic pole might have flipped, and a stranded submariner reached by vhs radio, seem to agree. But there’s little time to think, because while creatures attack their boat, they realize the ocean water is coming back. And so the family sets out to reach the stranded submarine before it does, but an ominous stranger with a gun might thwart their ambitions for survival. Émilie Dequenne, Lisa Delamar, Lucas Ebel and Arben Bajraktaraj also star, and Frédéric Jardin directed. And this movie gets a respectable 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Terry Sherwood of Film Threat said “despite its flaws, the film offers a visually stunning, albeit flawed, ride that will resonate with viewers who enjoy the genre’s penchant along with fast-paced storytelling.” So its on my list.
NETFLIX
Netflix has only major add this week, with Season 3(!) of the K-drama series Squid Game added. And since I’ve already reviewed it and don’t want to give any spoilers away, I’ll simply add that it gets an 8/10 on IMDb, and leave the link, here. Netflix has also added Son of a Critch, the 2023-25 Canadian comedy series. Based on the memoir from Mark Critch, this tells of his sometimes awkward childhood in 1980’s St. Johns ,Newfoundland, going to Catholic school, and not fitting in. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays Mark, starting with his first day of junior high and dreading bullying , which does indeed occur. But what he didn’t foresee is that one of his bullies will be a red-haired girl, Fox (Sophia Powers), who gradually becomes a friend, along with Ritchie Perez (Mark Ezekiel Rivera). And so, Mark slowly adjusts to the weird life of junior high, even though he might prefer adult company, like his roomie( and grandfather), Patrick or Pop(Malcolm McDowell!). And maybe , slowly, the embarrassment of his family, including his father Mike (Mark Critch), who does a nostalgic local radio show might wear off, and the tween just might survive adolescence. Claire Rankin, Colton Gobbo, and Nora McLellan also star, and there are 3 seasons now available, with 13 episodes each. And this series has been nominated for loads of awards in Canada, and gets a stunning 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. And Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times said he’s “reminded… of other narrated-from-the-future, semi-autobiographical period pieces like “The Kids Are Alright,” “Moone Boy” and “Everybody Hates Chris” — which you can consider very much a recommendation.” So I’m tuning in. Netflix also offers A King Like Me, a 2024 documentary. this tells of the efforts by black New Orleans citizens like Terrence Rice and the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, to bring back the legendary Zulu Parade, a Mardi Gras tradition since 1909. After weathering the storms of Hurricane Katrina and COVID-19, the club hangs tough, but bringing back the Zulu Parade will take special effort and tons of energy. But the parade also is also highly controversial, and stigmatized, since the black participant takes place with wearing black face, which is, of course, highly controversial. And so Director Mathew Henderson gives us an intimate look at how complex culture is, and how varied views on racism can be. And how they can be overcome. And this movie was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the2024 Nashville Film Festival, and it gets a 6.8/10 on IMDb. And Bill Arceneaux of the Big Easy Magazine said its “perfectly realized. One of the best New Orleans movies ever and, perhaps, one of the best films of the year. A brilliantly captured and composed story.” And I am so tuning in. Netflix has added Pintu-Pintu Surga, a 2025 Indonesian drama. This tells the story of Latifah(Susan Sameh), adrift and shaken, after the death of her husband, having to care for her child with special needs, and also, his educational foundation. Luckily, an old flame, Arman(Arya Saloka), reenters her life, coming in to head the foundation, and helping with her child. But when old feelings start to reemerge, Latifah is tempted, but Arman is already married, with a child of his own. And when he proposes for Latifah to be his second wife, she and his first wife, Widya(Agla Artalidia) , are both shocked. But will Latifah stick to her principles and refuse, or accept a position that offers both financial and emotional security? Arya Saloka, Vonny Anggraini and Zahara Haddad also star, and Adis Kayl Yurahmah directed. And this movie gets an astounding 8.6/10 on IMDb, and so, though I could find no online reviews, as yet, I’m watching. And, finally, Netflix has Private Banker, a 2025 Japanese drama series. This follows banker Koichi Anno(Toshiaki Karasawa), devoted to protecting the finances of his very rich clients. But he also resolves any difficulties, or mysteries, his customers want settled. so when of them wants to save their favorite sweet shop, Anno steps in, and finds corruption and swindling, there. And when a client’s son is pushed down the stairs , resulting in severe injuries, Anno investigates there as well. And Anno’s subsequent investigations turn up Ponzi schemes, succession battles, and scandalous affairs-definitely not the usual dry banking activities. Instead, there’s intrigue, drama , and comedy, to be found. Anna Tsuchiya, Megumi and Shûhei Uesugi also star, and there are 9 episodes available now. And this series gets a 6.2/10 on IMDb, and Bee Dolores of MSN says it “brings a fresh perspective to financial dramas, proving that banking stories can be just as thrilling as crime or political series. Its mix of suspense and realism has set a new benchmark.” So I’m tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon‘s big in-house title added this week is Countdown, a 2025 action thriller series. This follows the investigation that ensues when a Homeland Security officer is killed, with a special team, led by FBI Agent Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane). Working with detectives like L.A. cop Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles, and DEA agent Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), the team soon finds that what they thought was a local crime is actually part of an international crime conspiracy. And, you guessed it, car chases and gun fire ensue. Violett Beane, Elliot Knight and Uli Latukefu also star, and there are 13 episodes available now. But despite the fact that it gets a 7/10 on IMDb, it gets only a 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, mainly due to this series’ predictability. And Nick Schager of The Daily Beast says “clunky, simplistic, unbelievable, and inert, it’s a show that manages the impressive feat of being generic in absolutely every respect.” So I won’t bother. Luckily, Amazon has also added Nosferatu, Robert Eggers’ 2024 remake of the 1922 horror classic. This finds Ellen Hutter(Lily-Rose Depp), a lonely young woman already targeted by Nosferatu, Count Orlok(Bill Skarsgård). And when her husband, Thomas Hutter(Nicholas Hoult), who knows nothing of his wife’s past, is asked to sell Orlok’s house, he seizes the chance, ignoring his wife’s protestations. So he leaves her with the Harding family, never realizing the fatal choice he is making, even when he signs Orlok’s papers, annulling his marriage. And so blood begins to flow, with doom awaiting all who meet the Count. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, and Willem Dafoe also star, and Robert Eggers(The Witch, The Lighthouse) co-wrote the script, with Henrik Galeen, and , of course, Bram Stoker. And Nosferatu was nominated for 4 Oscars last year, and won Best Cinematography for Jarin Blaschke at the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards, San Diego Film Critics Society Awards and at the St. Louis Film Critics Association, where it also won Best Horror Film. And it gets a impressive 7.2/10 on IMDb, and Wesley Morris of the New York Times called it ” a shrewd approach to Bram Stoker’s..novel” adding “Eggers has now made a Dracula movie that’s more than an exercise, more than an assertion of talent. There’s a vision at work.” But you know it’s too scary for me. And, finally, Amazon has Following, a 2024 K-drama thriller. Here, the successful realtor Jung-tae(Byun Yo-han) has a rather creepy hobby of using his realty key to open the doors of stranger’s houses, and peek into their lives. But when he meets the Insta star, So-ra(Shin Hae-sun) in the neighborhood, and starts following her, he is fascinated. And so he finds himself entering her house, too, only to find her bloodied body there. And, of course, finding himself the number one suspect of the police. Yoon Byung-hee, Lee El and Lee Se-rang also star, and Kim Se-hwi directed, along with writing the script. And it gets a 6.5/10 on IMDb, and reviewer Seongyong Cho calls it “a darkly amusing thriller about one creepy dude suddenly finding himself framed for what he did not commit just like many Hitchcockian heroes.” And I love a mystery, so I’m watching.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 