What’s Streaming This Week (5/18 - 5/25)
Welcome to When To Stream’s Weekly Preview! Every week, we take a closer look at the major film streaming releases scheduled to launch in the next 7 days. As always, release dates are subject to change.
One note: We provide links to Amazon pre-orders (when available) and do receive a very small commission for any purchases made from this website. If you’d like to support our work, and you’re looking to buy through Amazon, we’d appreciate it if you’d click through.
Here are next week’s highlights:
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
DIANE WARREN: RELENTLESS - $12.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: An intimate look at the life, career and process of one of the most accomplished songwriters of all time, Diane Warren.
What we like:
Warren has been nominated for an Academy Award 15 times without a competitive win, earning her the self-deprecating title of “one of the biggest losers of all time.” She insists that each nomination brings her joy and validation.
Warren's first major hit was DeBarge’s “Rhythm of the Night” in 1985. Despite its success, she was under a contract that paid her just $200 a week with no publishing rights. She fought to break free from that deal, eventually choosing to self-publish her music—a bold move that led to her catalog being valued at nearly half a billion dollars.
What we don’t like:
Warren had a deep bond with her cat, Mouse. The documentary captures the emotional moment of Mouse's passing, which Warren described as one of the most painful days of her life, second only to her father's death.
THE LEGEND OF OCHI - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home.
What we like:
In an era dominated by digital effects, The Legend of Ochi takes a refreshing approach by bringing its titular creatures to life through practical means. The baby Ochi was an animatronic puppet operated by seven puppeteers, while adult Ochi were portrayed by performers in full-body suits.
Director Isaiah Saxon personally created over 200 matte paintings to craft the film's dreamlike landscapes.
What we don’t like:
The release of the film was delayed when Saxon’s home was destroyed in this year’s California wildfires.
THE TROUBLE WITH JESSICA - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A couple facing serious financial trouble finally finds a buyer for their stylish London home. At their final dinner party, they are thrown into an outrageous and darkly comic situation with the shocking behavior of an uninvited guest.
What we like:
A talented cast of actors, including Shirley Henderson, Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Indira Varma and Olivia Williams, lead this dark comedy.
Instead of constructing sets, the production utilized an actual house in London to film the movie. Director Matthew Winn aimed to make the film feel cinematic despite the limitations, drawing inspiration from films like Buried, which created suspense within a single location.
The film won the Special Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Dinard Festival of British Cinema in September 2023.
What we don’t like:
Despite decent reviews, the film didn’t get much of a theatrical release here in the US.
VERMIGLIO - The Criterion Channel
Synopsis: Set in the small, mountainous village of Vermiglio during the waning days of WWII, a series of dramatic, consequential events unfold after the arrival of a taciturn Sicilian soldier, who hides out in town after deserting the army. While there, the soldier develops a romance with a provincial family’s eldest daughter.
What we like:
Director Maura Delpero’s family drama has been hailed for its authentic portrayal of rural life in the Italian Alps during wartime.
The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, which is considered second place next to the main award, the Golden Lion, which was given to Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door.
What we don’t like:
The film was the Italian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.
WOLFS - $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Hired to cover up a high-profile crime, a fixer soon finds his night spiralling out of control when he's forced to work with an unexpected counterpart.
What we like:
Two Michael Claytons for the price of one? That’s the pitch in this George Clooney/Brad Pitt action comedy. Inspired by real life Hollywood fixer Paul Barresi, the actors play fixers who prefer to work alone, but find themselves forced to work together after being hired for the same job.
Yes, yes…Pitt and Clooney were fantastic together in the Ocean’s trilogy. But can anything in Wolfs top the last time the two actors shared the screen:
What we don’t like:
In August 2024, six weeks before its release, Apple announced its decision to pivot from a wide release to a limited release on the same date. The New York Times noted that Sony, who had agreed to distribute the film and split the marketing costs with Apple, was set to begin a national marketing campaign during the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, Zack Van Amburg, who oversees Apple's entertainment programming, canceled those plans, as Apple executives hoped "to not risk a public disappointment should the movie not succeed at the box office".
Friday, May 23rd, 2025
CHEECH & CHONG’S LAST MOVIE - $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A wild take on genre convention, Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie offers a true-life tale told through animation and archival madness, all underscored by a classic road trip comedy. The result is an unlikely story of friendship, fame, turmoil, and ultimately - redemption.
What we like:
This documentary is framed around a present-day road trip, with Cheech and Chong traveling through the desert to a place called “The Joint.” It serves as a narrative device, allowing them to reflect on their early days, rise to fame, and eventual split in the 1980s.
The film doesn't shy away from exploring the duo's creative disagreements, particularly over film direction. Chong claims he directed their old films, which Marin disputes, leading to candid discussions about their professional split.
The film highlights how Cheech & Chong embraced their diverse backgrounds—Cheech of Mexican descent and Chong of Chinese, Scottish, and Irish heritage—to push comedy boundaries.
What we don’t like:
These baby boomers just don’t know how to quit! Despite the title, Cheech and Chong hint that this may not be their last project together.
FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN - Netflix
Synopsis: As students at Shadyside High are preparing for the 1988 prom, the "It Girls" are fighting to get support to be voted Prom Queen. As an unusual nominee emerges in the race, some of the other candidates begin to vanish without a trace.
What we like:
Unlike previous Fear Street films, which were loosely inspired by R.L. Stine's works, Prom Queen is a direct adaptation of his 1992 novel The Prom Queen. This marks the first time the film series has closely followed one of Stine's specific stories.
Director Matt Palmer aimed to recreate the essence of 1980s slasher movies. Drawing inspiration from films like Happy Birthday to Me, Sleepaway Camp, and Pieces, Palmer described the movie as a "lost slasher classic," as if it had been locked away since 1988 and only recently discovered.
What we don’t like:
The Netflix ‘digital blood splatter’ aesthetic, which always irritates the crap out of us. But good news! This one uses practical effects and real-time blood sprays to achieve authentic horror visuals. Our complaining is working!
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH - Apple TV+
Synopsis: A treasure-hunting mastermind assembles a team for a life-changing adventure. But to outwit and outrun threats at every turn, he'll need someone even smarter than he is: his estranged sister.
What we like:
Prolific filmmaker Guy Ritchie has assembled a talented cast for this adventure, including John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza Gonzalez, Domhnall Gleeson, Carmen Ejogo and Stanley Tucci.
The production spanned multiple countries, including Egypt, Thailand, Austria, and the United Kingdom. Notably, scenes were shot at iconic sites like the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Austrian National Library in Vienna, so we’re very relieved it wasn’t all shot in front of a green screen in Atlanta.
What we don’t like:
No reviews or early buzz makes us very nervous. Why didn’t they put this in theaters first?
We admit we’re more excited for the other Stanley Tucci project coming this week, Tucci in Italy, hitting Disney+ on Monday!
THE LAST SHOWGIRL - Hulu
Synopsis: When the glittering Las Vegas revue she has headlined for decades announces it will soon close, a glamorous showgirl must reconcile with the decisions she’s made and the community she has built as she plans her next act.
What we like:
Pamela Anderson’s comeback vehicle got some nice awards buzz and decent arthouse box-office, grossing about $4.8M.
Writer Kate Gersten adapted the screenplay from her own unproduced play Body of Work (developed at Roundabout Theatre), which she had been inspired to write in conjunction with her visits to the Las Vegas show Jubilee! before it closed in 2016.
What we don’t like:
Nepo Baby Discourse alert! Director Gia Coppola is the granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola, the niece of Sofia Coppola, the cousin of Nicolas Cage and Jason Schwartzman.
MICKEY 17 - HBO Max
Synopsis: From the Academy Award-winning writer/director of "Parasite," Bong Joon Ho, comes his next groundbreaking cinematic experience, Mickey 17. The unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job... to die, for a living.
What we like:
Bong Joon-ho’s follow up to his Oscar-winning triumph Parasite features a killer cast: Robert Pattinson, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, Steven Yeun and Naomi Ackie.
The story is adapted from Edward Ashton's 2022 novel "Mickey7”, and reviews have been mostly positive. It currently sits at a 72 on Metacritic.
What we don’t like:
It’s clear Warner Bros had very little confidence in the commercial prospects for the film. It was originally scheduled to be released on March 29, 2024, but was taken off the schedule due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. It was rescheduled for January 31, 2025, but was pushed back to April 18, 2025 to take advantage of Easter weekend, and finally to March 7, 2025, swapping the latter date with Warner Bros own Sinners.
THE SURRENDER - Shudder
Synopsis: When the family patriarch dies, a grieving mother and daughter risk their lives to perform a brutal resurrection ritual and bring him back from the dead.
What we like:
Julia Max's feature directorial debut, which draws heavily from her personal experience with a death doula during her stepfather's passing.
The film world premiered at this year’s SXSW Festival and was quickly snapped up by Shudder. The reviews have been good!
What we don’t like:
The resurrection ritual in the film incorporates a chant based on an actual Sumerian incantation. An occult consultant ensured the ritual's authenticity, so if you’re superstitious or skittish about inviting spirits in to your home, you may want to mute that part. The rest of us will live dangerously.
Saturday, May 24th, 2025
FLIGHT RISK - Starz
Synopsis: A U.S. Marshal escorts a government witness to trial after he's accused of getting involved with a mob boss, only to discover that the pilot who is transporting them is also a hitman sent to assassinate the informant. After they subdue him, they're forced to fly together after discovering that there are others attempting to eliminate them.
What we like:
We love a tense plane thriller. We’re kind of shocked this doesn’t star Liam Neeson.
Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace are appealing actors who we hope quickly move on to better things.
What we don’t like:
Sorry…we’re just not on board with any Mel Gibson movies. We can separate the art from the artist, but when it’s this kind of junky cash in….nah. Also, it’s apparently terrible.
THE WILD ROBOT - Netflix
Synopsis: After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island's animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
What we like:
Director Chris Sanders brings to life the 2016 novel of the same name by Peter Brown, and it’s a visual and storytelling triumph.
The voice cast is superb: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames.
The film uses a hand-painted aesthetic, inspired by classic Disney animated films and the works of Hayao Miyazaki.
What we don’t like:
The rightly celebrated Flow took the awards wind out of The Wild Robot’s sails. This Dreamworks Animation production was once the clear frontrunner for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, but lost the big prize to the indie underdog (or undercat?).
Happy Streaming Everyone!!
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Just world premiered at Cannes…