These are the best new streaming movies this week: Beautiful Rebel, Unfrosted, and more

There is a lot to watch on the various streaming services available in 2024 — sometimes, it almost feels like too much. To simplify things for you, we’ve compiled some of the best new streaming movies to watch that are new this week.

Check out our top picks from major streamers like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and will sometimes even bring you an exciting new VOD movie or two. In addition to the latest movies from this week, we also give you other recommendations for shows that have arrived on a new streaming platform in the last 30 days. 

The best new streaming movies this week

This week saw a smaller amount of options, but a nice mix of genres, including one that’s perfect for the whole family. Click on any of the links below to jump directly to the films that catch your eye.

Down the Rabbit Hole – May 1, Netflix

Tochtli leads a charmed and cultured life with access to exotic animals, samurai weaponry, and so much more. This life stands in stark contrast to the reality of his situation: he’s the son of a powerful criminal lord. Not a whole lot is revealed in the trailer if we’re being honest, but if you’re looking for something different this could be it. 

Beautiful Rebel – May 2, Netflix

Beautiful Rebel tells the story of Gianna Nannini, one of the most famous Italian rock stars in history. The film stars Letizia Toni as the famous rock star and has great casting throughout as it takes us through the star’s early life and eventual rise to fame. If you’re a fan of Nannini or just rock in general, this film could be worth the watch. 

Secrets of the Neanderthals – May 2, Netflix

I’ve personally been fascinated by Neanderthals since childhood but in the last few years we’ve learned so much more about them. Once portrayed as brutish beasts the reality is that these early humans had their own culture including art and burial rituals, and there are signs that had their own language as well. So what went wrong for the Neanderthals and why aren’t they here today? That’s what this new documentary series from Netflix aims to explore. I’ve yet to check this one out myself but I know it’s at the top of my playlist this weekend. 

Turtles All the Way Down – May 2, Max 

Turtles All the Way Down is a romantic drama about a 16-year-old girl with major OCD who reunites with an old friend from camp and immediately finds herself falling for him. Of course struggling with a mental health condition can make everything a bit harder, including romance. As someone with my own mental health conditions including anxiety and ADHD, I’m thrilled that there are more films like this hitting the scenes. If this sounds like something you or a love one could relate to, you’ll be able to catch it on Max starting May 2nd. 

Unfrosted – May 3, Netflix

Based loosely on the invention of the Poptart, this film takes a lot of creative liberties here including making a fake Poptart creator named Bob Cabana (played by Seinfeld) but can you expect a completely by-the-books story about a breakfast pastry? I didn’t think so. This fun flick is set back in the 60s during the war between Kellog and Post, the two biggest giants in cereal. If you’re looking for something playful and fun to watch this weekend, you might want to give this one a look. 

What was new and worth watching over the last month 

Looking for more recommendations? Here are other great movies that debuted in the last 30 days or so:

The Holdovers – April 29, Amazon Prime

Set at a boarding school in the 1970s, this Christmas film centers around a boy who is left alone for the holidays after his father’s death, and a sour, bitter teacher who gets stuck watching him over the break. At first, the two don’t see eye to eye in any way, but over time, their relationship changes as they get to know each other. I haven’t seen this one yet, but I’m excited to watch it on April 29 when it hits Amazon Prime, as I’m a big Paul Giamatti fan.

Arthur the King – April 23, VOD

Arthur the King features Mark Wahlberg as Mikael Lindnord, a man who has one final chance to win the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic before he decides to quit for good. Along the way, his team crosses paths with a dog that follows them across the country on their adventure and even helps them stay safe. This film is inspired by a true story, although the real events are a bit more complicated, involving claims that Mikael knew the dog had an owner but took it home anyway due to his concerns about animal abuse. Of course, these kinds of small changes are pretty common in “true story” films, for better or worse.

Anyone but You – April 23, Netflix

While Anyone but You actually came out last year, the romantic comedy is now arriving on Netflix for the first time. In your typical romantic comedy fashion, two people meet and immediately have a natural disdain for one another, but over time this disdain turns into affection. Adding a bit extra to the typical formula, the two would-be lovers must also pretend to be a couple, though both of them have their own reasons for doing it. 

Dune: Part Two – April 16, VOD

There have been multiple attempts to bring Dune to the big screen over the years, but all these efforts have fallen significantly short of the source material — at least until Legendary Films brought us Dune Part 1 in 2021. While other attempts had tried to cram the whole six-book story into a single film, the first movie focused on just half of the first book. The newest film has now hit VOD, bringing us the events of the rest of the book. As for the rest of the books, director Denis Villeneuve says his intention is to focus primarily on Paul Atreides, adapting Dune up until at least the second novel, Dune Messiah.

Rebel Moon: Part Two – April 19, Netflix

Last year, Netflix brought us Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, an interesting space opera with strong parallels to Star Wars. In fact, the film reportedly began its life before Disney bought LucasFilm and had been intended to be pitched to LucasFilm as a spin-off set in the same universe. The story takes place on the edge of the galaxy, where the tyrannical Regent Ballisarius is using his armies to control the planets against their will. A mysterious young woman with past ties to the tyrant soon rises up and starts recruiting warriors from neighboring planets to help bring back freedom to the fringes of the galaxy. A year later, Rebel Moon: Part Two has arrived to tell the rest of the story. Rebel Moon: Part Two arrives on April 19, but if you’ve yet to check out the first film, you can find it now on Netflix.

Migration – April 19, Netflix

A family of ducks has never left their pond, largely thanks to the family’s father, who is deathly afraid of the world outside the pond. After a group of ducks stop by their pond on their way south, the children (and mom) all become inspired by the idea of taking a vacation. After a bit of convincing, the father (played by Kumail Nanjiani) agrees to head south, and the family takes off together. Only one problem: they end up lost along the way and head north… to New York City. This is a fun film with a lot of talented actors and actresses, including Awkwafina, who has quickly become a staple in modern animated films (Raya, Kung Fu Panda 4, etc.).

Late Night with the Devil – April 19, Shudder

Late Night with the Devil is a unique found footage film that feels almost like a real documentary from the trailer, despite its entirely fictional storyline around a night show host named Jack Delroy. With increasing competition in the late-night show business, Delroy decides to pull off a controversial séance on live TV.  As you might have guessed, things take a sudden and horrible turn when they attempt to communicate with the devil using a young girl named Lily. 

Freud’s Last Session – April 20, Netflix 

Freud’s Last Session centers around the end of the famous psychoanalyst’s life just two days before the start of World War II, although the actual premise is a fictional meeting between himself and the well-known writer C.S. Lewis. In the meeting, the two go back and forth on whether God truly exists. Based on this alone, you might think this is a faith-based film, but it’s not necessarily set up as such if that’s not your thing. Ultimately, the film is about taking two individuals with very different views, putting them in a room together, and finding out what happens.

Strange Way of Life – April 19, Netflix

Pedro Pascal stars as Silvia, a man who rides a horse halfway across the country and into the desert to visit his old friend Sherrif Jake (Ethan Hawke). While the Sherrif is happy to see his old friend, there’s another reason for the visit and it’s not just about taking a trip down memory lane. 

The Greatest Hits – April 12, Hulu

After discovering the power to time travel through the use of certain songs, Harriet reconnects with her dead former boyfriend in the past. As she relives the love of her life she also starts to plan out a way to save him. Unfortunately, she soon finds her actions may just jeopardize her present in ways she can’t realize just yet. 

• Years active: April 5, 2024
• Genre: Romantic fanstasy
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Ned Benson
  
• Cast: Lucy Boynton, David Corenswet, Just H. Min

Drive-Away Dolls – April 12, Peacock

Argylle – April 12, Apple TV Plus

An introverted spy novelist is about to finish her fifth book about Agent Aubrey Argylle but finds herself running into some major writer’s block. Shortly after she finds herself on a journey to visit her father but along the way crosses paths with a real life spy. Even worse, he warns her a secret organization is after her, as they believe her stories have inside information about their plans. If you like fast-paced, fun over-the-top films, you’ll love this one. 

Kung Fu Panda 4 – April 9, VOD

Kung Fu Panda 4 represents a major change for the series, as the Furious 5 are nowhere to be seen and all the focus is on Po and his mission to save the world from a new threat. At the same time, a big part of the story is that Po must select a new Dragon Warrior so he can move on and become a spiritual leader. Of course, that’s not an easy transition for everyone’s favorite Kung Fu-loving panda. When the trailers first hit, I wasn’t certain how to feel about this one as it’s a big change, but I have to say it still feels like a KFP movie, even if it’s quite a bit different than the three that came before it.

• Release date: March 8, 2024
• Genre: Family/kids
• Rating: PG 
• Director: Mike Mitchell
• Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis

Musica – April 4, Amazon Prime

Rudy is a man with synesthesia who sees music and the world around him in a very different way than most folks. Every regular sound and motion in the world is seen as rhythmic music to him. Despite his uncertain future and condition, Rudy must balance love, family, and find himself in a world he continually has trouble navigating. 

Wish – April 3, Disney Plus

Wish might have gotten pretty mixed reception while in theaters but it’s found quick success on Disney Plus, with over a million views in just a few days. If you’ve yet to check this one out, Wish is meant to celebrate Disney’s birthday and is filled to the brim with easter eggs as a result. Beyond that, the story is a bit cookie-cutter but nonetheless, it has fun characters and is a great watch for the whole family. Without giving it all away, the movie takes place in a kingdom run by a sorcerer who has the power to grant wishes and is seen as a benevolent and wise ruler, though he has a dark secret. If you’re a fan of classic Disney movies, this film definitely has that old-school vibe, though it doesn’t quite come close to the polish or charm achieved by the golden age Disney movies that it attempts to mimic.