What’s Streaming This Week (6/1 - 6/8)
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, June 3rd, 2025
PRESENCE - Hulu
Synopsis: A couple and their children move into a seemingly normal suburban home. When strange events occur, they begin to believe there is something else in the house with them. The presence is about to disrupt their lives in unimaginable ways.
What we like:
Director Steven Soderbergh gives his unique spin on the haunted house genre, with the entire movie presented from the perspective of the unseen entity inhabiting the house, offering audiences an immersive experience into the family's escalating tension and fear.
The screenplay was written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Panic Room, Spider-Man), who previously collaborated with Soderbergh on the entertaining COVID-era thriller Kimi. Koepp also wrote the screenplay for the director’s Black Bag.
What we don’t like:
NEON waited a year after the film’s Sundance Film Festival world premiere to release this in theaters. It’s a slower burn than Longlegs or The Monkey, so it was always going to be a tougher sell. But a January release does feel like a bit of a dump.
SINNERS - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
What we like:
Ryan Coogler’s triumphant mega-hit defies traditional genre classifications. While it features vampires, Coogler emphasizes that the film is about much more, describing it as a "genre-bending, genre-fluid" experience that intertwines horror elements with themes of African American art, Jim Crow-era history, and vampire folklore .
Michael B. Jordan burnishes his A-list bona fides by taking on the challenging task of portraying twin brothers in the film. He’s electric.
Although set in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the town initially lacked access to the film due to the absence of local theaters. A community petition led to a special screening organized by Warner Bros., turning the local auditorium into a makeshift cinema. The event was attended by Coogler, cast members, and local musicians.
What we don’t like:
Even after the film’s fantastic opening weekend, some of the Hollywood trades qualified the success with ‘But it has a long way to go to be profitable’ grousing. Many outlets rightly called them on their bullshit. With nearly $350M in worldwide box-office so far, there’s no doubt this film is a smash success.
Friday, June 6th, 2025
THE ALTO KNIGHTS - HBO Max
Synopsis: Two of New York's most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, vie for control of the city's streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever.
What we like:
Robert DeNiro gets to play opposite himself, tackling duel roles in this Barry Levinson-directed mob drama. You know who set the bar high for playing opposite themselves? Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap. It may not be Raging Bull or Taxi Driver, but little Lohan really knocked it out of the park.
Some big name talents involved in the making of the film. In addition to Levinson, Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas) wrote the screenplay, Dante Spinotti (Heat, L.A. Confidential) did the cinematography, and Jeffrey Kurland (Erin Brokovich, Dunkirk) did the costumes. This movie has some craft!
What we don’t like:
Unfortunately, reviews have been pretty dismal, and the film tanked in theaters. Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav reportedly championed the film, so it seems his instincts are as sharp as ever.
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND - Peacock
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 town, 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 now that it’s coming to Peacock.
EMMANUELLE - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Emmanuelle, a quality controller for a luxury hotel brand, arrives in Hong Kong to evaluate a hotel run by Margot, having been tasked with finding a good reason to sack her. Searching for a lost pleasure, she has numeral sensual experiences inside the hotel, and crosses path with Kei, a mysterious client who she becomes infatuated with.
What we like:
Audrey Diwan's reinterprets the 1974 erotic classic through a feminist lens, focusing on female autonomy and desire in a post-#MeToo context. The protagonist, originally a diplomat's wife, is now a luxury hotel quality inspector, emphasizing her independence and professional stature.
The film was shot in Hong Kong, notably at Chungking Mansions, a location famously featured in Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express.
What we don’t like:
The film received mixed reviews, with some praising its modern take on eroticism and others critiquing it for lacking the sensuality of the original.
HURRY UP TOMORROW - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: A musician plagued by insomnia is pulled into an odyssey with a stranger who begins to unravel the very core of his existence.
What we like:
Trey Edward Shults’ psychological thriller marks the feature film debut of Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd.
The film draws inspiration from a real-life incident in 2022 when Tesfaye lost his voice during a concert due to psychological stress.
Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan co-star, and they’re always interesting actors we’re excited to see. However…
What we don’t like:
…hoo boy was this a misfire. We were hoping this could be The Weeknd’s Purple Rain, but it ended up being his Under the Cherry Moon. We salute all involved for taking a big swing.
MAGIC FARM - MUBI, $14.99 Digital - Sale Only
Synopsis: When a misguided American documentary crew in search of their next viral segment ends up in the wrong town in rural Argentina, chaos ensues. As they collaborate with locals to fake a new music trend, unexpected relationships form and an unfolding health crisis becomes apparent.
What we like:
Amalia Ulman’s surreal comedy uses unconventional cinematography, including the fisheye lenses and cameras mounted on animals like dogs and horses, to provide unique perspectives.
The cast features Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff, Simon Rex, and Ulman herself, blending scripted scenes with improvisation.
What we don’t like:
Despite all the talent involved, the film received mixed reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival. We’re still anxious to check it out.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH - AMC+
Synopsis: When a mentally ill young man thinks he witnesses an abduction and the police refuse to believe him, he reluctantly turns to his next door neighbor – a bitter, retired security guard – to help him find the missing woman.
What we like:
Director Duncan Skiles’ follows up his 2018 debut The Clovehitch Killer with this crime thriller.
Jack Quaid tests his leading man skills again, this time teaming up with The Walking Dead’s Jeffrey Dean Morgan and kick-ass character actress Malin Akerman.
What we don’t like:
IMDB lists 30 executive producers and producers for the film, which seems like a lot. The more, the merrier!
PARTHENOPE - HBO Max
Synopsis: Parthenope, born in the sea near Naples in 1950, is beautiful, enigmatic, and intelligent. She is shamelessly courted by many. However, beauty comes at a cost.
What we like:
Paolo Sorrentino’s coming-of-age drama world premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where is was in competition for the Palme d’Or. It lost to Anora.
The film’s cinematographer, Dario D’Antonio, did pick up an award at the festival. He won the CST (French: Commission Supérieure Technique de l’Image et du Son) Award for Best Artist-Technician.
What we don’t like:
Critics were not enthralled with the film, with The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw likening it to a long-form advertisement for an expensive cologne.
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS - Hulu
Synopsis: This anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge; a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession; and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent — the ultimate killer of killers.
What we like:
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (with Micho Robert Rutare), the film expands the franchise's timeline by placing its action before the original 1987 Predator film, continuing the historical setting approach first done in 2022's Prey (also directed by Trachtenberg).
The voice cast includes Michael Biehn, who adds another top tier sci-fi franchise to his resume. He was, of course, an integral part of The Terminator and Aliens.
What we don’t like:
Anthologies are notoriously tricky, so we’re keeping our expectations in check. No reviews yet, keeping our fingers crossed this will be great.
STRAW - Netflix
Synopsis: A single mother navigates a series of unfortunate events, leading her down an unforeseen path where she becomes embroiled in a situation she never envisioned, finding herself at the center of suspicion in an indifferent world.
What we like:
The prolific (the understatement of the year) Tyler Perry is back with another film he wrote, directed and produced. The man is unstoppable.
Filmed in just four days, lead Taraji P. Henson shot concurrently with her Peacock limited series, Fight Night. A Tyler Perry movie shot in four days? Checks out!
It has an intriguing supporting cast: Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Glynn Turman, Sinbad (!), and Rockmond Dunbar.
What we don’t like:
Perry has a proud history of including his main character’s name in the titles of his films (Good Deeds, A Fall From Grace, Madea), so we’re a little disappointed Henson’s character’s name isn’t Straw.
THE SURFER - $14.99 Sale / $9.99 Rental
Synopsis: A man returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son. When he is humiliated by a group of locals, the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising and pushes him to his breaking point.
What we like:
Director Lorcan Finnegan’s psychological thriller gives Nicolas Cage another meaty role to chew on, and he delivers.
The film world premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a six-minute standing ovation.
What we don’t like:
Cage attempted to surf for the role but faced difficulties due to adverse weather, shark sightings, and his own limited surfing experience. The film was shot in Yallingup, Western Australia, and you couldn’t pay us to get on a board in those shark infested waters.
Saturday, June 7th, 2025
BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN - Netflix
Synopsis: The individual journeys of the four members of the band, as they move through the music scene of the 1960s, playing small clubs throughout Britain and performing some of the biggest hits of the era, until their meeting in the summer of 1968 for a rehearsal that changes their lives forever.
What we like:
The first officially authorized documentary about the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin, Bernard MacMahon’s film offers an intimate look into the band's formation and meteoric rise.
The filmmakers embarked on an extensive five-year global search, uncovering rare and previously unseen footage, including performances from the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, Fillmore West, and Texas Pop Festival.
The film was a huge hit for distributor Sony Pictures Classics, earning over $10.4M at the domestic box-office.
What we don’t like:
The impressive box-office was fueled by a terrific IMAX-focused campaign. Fans of the band were treated to an immersive concert-like experience in theaters, which might not translate as well to the small screen.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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Just in time for Halloween…