What’s Streaming This Week (5/4 - 5/11)
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.
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Here are next week’s highlights:
Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: Eccentric lottery winner Charles lives alone on a remote island but dreams of hiring his favourite musician, Herb McGwyer, to play an exclusive, private gig. Unbeknownst to Herb, Charles has also hired Herb’s ex-bandmate and ex-girlfriend, Nell, with her new husband in tow, to perform the old favourites. As tempers flare and old tensions resurface, the stormy weather traps them all on the island and Charles desperately looks for a way to salvage his dream gig.
What we like:
Based on the BAFTA-nominated short film "The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island" (2007). Both films are written by stars Tom Basden and Tim Key, and directed by James Griffiths.
The film features original folk songs written by Basden, who also stars as Herb McGwyer.
After world premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it has received mostly positive reviews.
What we don’t like:
Our beloved Focus Features was not able to pull in much of an audience for this charmer. It’s grossed only about $1.5M at the domestic box-office. Hopefully it’ll find its audience on PVOD, or in about a month or so, on Peacock.
BOB TREVINO LIKES IT - $12.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Lily Trevino unexpectedly befriends an online stranger who shares her self-centered father’s name. This new Bob Trevino’s support could transform her life.
What we like:
Writer-director Tracie Laymon drew inspiration from her own life for the film. While attempting to reconnect with her estranged father on Facebook, she mistakenly friended a stranger with the same name. This unexpected connection blossomed into a meaningful, years-long friendship, forming the emotional core of the movie.
The film made a significant impact at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, securing both the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. Its acclaim continued with accolades from various other festivals, including the Hamptons, Denver, and Valladolid International Film Festivals.
The film's score was composed by Jacques Brautbar, a founding member of the band Phantom Planet.
What we don’t like:
We’re going to start sounding like a broken record here, but despite good reviews and festival prizes, pretty much no one went to see this in theaters. It grossed about $500K in the US.
THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA - $14.99 Sale / $6.99 Rental
Synopsis: 1984; Michael Larson, an unemployed ice-cream truck driver from Ohio, steps onto the game show "Press Your Luck" harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak is threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.
What we like:
Director Samir Oliveros discovered a VHS tape of the game show Press Your Luck at a Goodwill store during the pandemic. Intrigued by the show's visual appeal, he researched further and uncovered Larson's story, which he felt was ripe for cinematic adaptation.
The production team meticulously recreated the Press Your Luck set, programming the original five light patterns that Larson memorized. Actor Paul Walter Hauser even learned those patterns to enhance the authenticity of his performance.
The film has a stellar supporting cast, including including Walton Goggins, Shamier Anderson, David Strathairn, Maisie Williams, Patti Harrison, Haley Bennett, and Johnny Knoxville.
What we don’t like:
Well…we’re 3-for-3 so far. Despite pretty good reviews and a fascinating story, IFC Films had no luck getting audiences to theaters. It grossed about $433K at the domestic box-office.
A NICE INDIAN BOY - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: When Naveen brings his fiancé Jay home to meet his traditional Indian family, they must contend with accepting his white-orphan-artist boyfriend and helping them plan the Indian wedding of their dreams.
What we like:
The film is an adaptation of Madhuri Shekar’s stage play, brought to the screen by writer Eric Randall. Randall's screenplay was recognized in the 2021 Black List, highlighting Hollywood's most admired unproduced scripts.
Director Roshan Sethi and lead actor Karan Soni are partners in real life.
Jonathan Groff, who just got a Tony nomination for playing Bobby Darin on Broadway, performs the iconic Bollywood song "Tujhe Dekha To" from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
What we don’t like:
Despite great reviews and appealing leads, the fil……WAIT A MINUTE. No no no. This one is an indie success story. Micro distributor Blue Fox Entertainment has pushed this film past the $700K box-office mark, which is fantastic.
SNEAKS - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: Ty, a misguided, one-of-a-kind designer sneaker, doesn’t know life outside the comforts of his velvet-lined shoebox. After his sister is stolen by a shady collector, Ty must venture into New York City to find and rescue her. In his adventure, Ty meets a ragtag group of footwear friends from all walks of life who help him find the courage to step outside of his shoebox and find his sole-mate.
What we like:
This animated sports comedy features an impressive voice cast, including Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Swae Lee, Chloe Bailey, Macy Gray, Ella Mai, Mustard, Roddy Ricch, Quavo, Young Miko, Amirah Hall, Kiana Ledé, Bobbito Garcia, Sam Jay, Sky Brown, Rayssa Leal, Rico Rodriguez, Keith David, and Laurence Fishburne.
The film's soundtrack is a fusion of jazz and hip-hop, with Terrace Martin composing the score, and record producer/DJ Mustard producing original songs.
NBA star Chris Paul appears as himself (presumably in animated form).
What we don’t like:
This feels a bit like Pixar’s Cars, but Shoes. Anthropomorphizing inanimate objects is not our favorite genre, but it is great to see an animated film geared toward African-American kids. We need more of those.
WARFARE - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: A platoon of Navy SEALs embarks on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
What we like:
This drama is co-directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and acclaimed filmmaker Alex Garland, and is based on Mendoza's real-life experiences during a harrowing 2006 mission in Ramadi, Iraq.
To accurately portray Navy SEALs, the cast underwent a rigorous three-and-a-half-week boot camp. Actors, including Kit Connor, Will Poulter, and Michael Gandolfini, participated in military-style training, head-shaving rituals, and even got matching tattoos to build camaraderie and authenticity.
What we don’t like:
The film unfolds in real time, capturing the intensity and chaos of combat without traditional exposition. The approach immerses viewers in the soldiers' experiences, emphasizing the raw and unfiltered nature of warfare. It sounds harrowing…so if you’re looking to de-escalate your stress level, this might not be your best bet.
Thursday, May 8th, 2025
HEART EYES - Netflix
Synopsis: When the "Heart Eyes Killer" strikes Seattle, a pair of co-workers pulling overtime on Valentine's Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive couple-hunting killer. Now, they must spend the most romantic night of the year running for their lives.
What we like:
Josh Ruben’s romantic comedy slasher film started slow in theaters, but then became the Valentine’s Day date night movie of choice, jumping an impressive 33% over its opening night the prior week. It’s earned a respectable $30.4M at the domestic box-office.
Millenial icon Devon Sawa has a supporting role in the film, playing detective Zeke Hobbs. He still looks great!
What we don’t like:
We hear there’s a mid-credits reveal at the end of the film that’s a very important plot point, so don’t skip the credits.
Friday May 9th, 2025
THE DAMNED - Hulu
Synopsis: A 19th-century widow is tasked with making an impossible choice when, during an especially cruel winter, a ship sinks off the coast of her impoverished Icelandic fishing village. Any attempt to rescue survivors risks further depleting the starving villagers’ supplies.
What we like:
This folk horror chiller comes from director Thordur Palsson, who makes his feature directorial debut.
Australian actress Odessa Young leads the cast ably. She’s also featured in another Vertical Entertainment release, Justin Kurzel’s The Order (also on Hulu).
What we don’t like:
Despite having the first weekend of the new year all to itself as the sole new release, the film didn’t do much business at the box-office, earning less than $1M. Still, reviews were decent, and it should do well on streaming.
LOVE HURTS - Peacock
Synopsis: A realtor is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. With his crime-lord brother also on his trail, he must confront his past and the history he never fully buried.
What we like:
Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan gets to front his very own big studio action film, and that’s a sentence we couldn’t imagine writing five years ago. How can you not love this guy?
The film’s supporting cast includes fellow Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose, and future Oscar-winner (we hope!) Marshawn Lynch. Seriously, Lynch should already have an Oscar for his role in Bottoms.
A Goonies reunion! Sean Astin has a small role in the film, and he and Quan co-starred in that beloved 80s kids adventure.
What we don’t like:
It gives us no pleasure to report that Love Hurts is supposed to be pretty terrible. Such a shame, because Quan deserves better. Let’s hope this isn’t his one shot as a lead actor.
NONNAS - Netflix
Synopsis: After losing his beloved mother, a man risks everything to honor her by opening an Italian restaurant with actual nonnas — grandmothers — as the chefs.
What we like:
Directed by Stephen Chbosky (Wonder, The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and written by Liz Maccie, the film is inspired by the true story of Joe Scaravella, who opened a Staten Island restaurant staffed entirely by grandmothers from around the world.
The film features an outstanding ensemble of actors, including Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Linda Cardellini, Drea de Matteo, Joe Manganiello, Michael Rispoli, and Campbell Scott.
What we don’t like:
The film has one of the worst marketing campaigns of the year:
ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO - $16.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: An exploration of the seminal and transformative 18 months that one of music’s most famous couples — John Lennon and Yoko Ono — spent living in Greenwich Village, New York City, in the early 1970s.
What we like:
This documentary centers around the "One to One" benefit concerts held on August 30, 1972, at Madison Square Garden. These performances were Lennon's only full-length solo concerts after the Beatles' breakup, aimed at supporting the Willowbrook State School for children with disabilities.
To authentically portray Lennon and Ono's life in New York, the filmmakers meticulously reconstructed their Greenwich Village apartment. This immersive set, combined with archival audio recordings and vintage television clips, offers viewers a vivid glimpse into their daily experiences.
What we don’t like:
It’s been 6 months since the last documentary about John Lennon and Yoko One, which is frankly quite surprising. We usually get a Beatles/Lennon doc at least every 3 months.
QUEEN OF THE RING - $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: In a time when pro wrestling for women was illegal all over the country, a small town single mother embraces the danger to change culture as she dominates America's most masculine sport to become the first million dollar female athlete in history.
What we like:
This biographical sports drama chronicles the life of trailblazing female wrestler Mildred Burke, who went from single mother to a wrestling icon.
Star Emily Bett Rickards underwent intense physical training, including working with professional wrestlers to accurately portray Burke.
To ensure realism in the wrestling scenes, real-life wrestlers Kamille and Toni Storm were cast as Burke's opponents, June Byers and Clara Mortensen.
What we don’t like:
Nepo baby discourse alert! Director Ash Avildsen is the son of Rocky and Karate Kid director John G. Avildsen. The kid’s got sports movies in his DNA.
SHARP CORNER - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A dedicated family man becomes obsessed with saving the lives of the car accident victims on the sharp corner in front of his house – an obsession that could cost him everything.
What we like:
The film is adapted from a short story by Canadian author Russell Wangersky, originally part of his 2012 collection Whirl Away. Director Jason Buxton initially envisioned adapting multiple stories from the collection into a single film, akin to Magnolia.
Buxton won Best Atlantic Canadian Feature and Best Atlantic Canadian Director at the Atlantic International Film Festival.
What we don’t like:
Despite stellar reviews out of the Toronto Film Festival, the film is receiving only a perfunctory theatrical release on the same day it goes to digital and VOD.
SUMMER OF 69 - Hulu
Synopsis: In an effort to land the guy she's been pining after since grade school, Abby hires a local stripper named Santa Monica to teach her everything she needs to know about confidence and sex.
What we like:
Known for her roles in Brittany Runs a Marathon and Workaholics, Jillian Bell steps behind the camera to make her directorial debut with this coming-of-age comedy.
Bell has pulled in some of her funny friends to lend support. The cast includes Chloe Fineman, Charlie Day, Alex Moffat, Ian Karmel, Nicole Byer, and Paula Pell.
What we don’t like:
Despite positive reviews out of the SXSW Festival in the Spring, the buzz on this titles has been muted. It doesn’t help that Hulu just put out a poster and trailer last week. Doesn’t give the film much time to build momentum.
THE UGLY STEPSISTER - Shudder, $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira battles to compete with her incredibly beautiful stepsister, and she will go to any length to catch the prince’s eye.
What we like:
Norwegian filmmaker Emilie Blichfeldt makes her feature debut, which is inspired by the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella and her own struggles with body image.
Set in an 18th-century kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira undergoes extreme measures, including grotesque cosmetic surgeries and dangerous diet practices, to conform to societal expectations.
The film won Best Feature at the 2025 Boston Underground Film Festival.
What we don’t like:
For fans of body horror, this is your time to feast. If you’re squeamish about things like tooth breakage (one of our least favorite things to see), be warned. And you can imagine what the stepmother does to her daughter to make her foot fit that slipper.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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Wick is money, actually…