What’s Streaming This Week (7/13 - 7/20)
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 this week’s highlights:
Monday, July 14th, 2025
APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS - Netflix
Synopsis: When does a democracy end and a theocracy begin? In Apocalypse in the Tropics, Petra Costa investigates the increasingly powerful grip Christian evangelical leaders hold over politics in Brazil. She gains extraordinary access to the country’s top political leaders, including President Lula and former president Bolsonaro, as well as to Brazil’s most famous televangelist: a magnetic pastor who aspires to play puppet master to the far-right leader.
What we like:
Petra Costa, Oscar-nominated for her 2019 film The Edge of Democracy, directs this documentary, which world premiered out of competition at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
Costa secured rare, intimate interviews with key figures, including former President Jair Bolsonaro, current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and fiery televangelist Silas Malafaia.
The film was the winner of the 2024 David Carr Award for Truth in Filmmaking at the Montclair Film Festival
Brad Pitt (through his Plan B production company) is an Executive Producer on the film.
What we don’t like:
After seeing a preview in Rio de Janeiro, Malafaia stormed out of the screening, vocally opposing the film .
Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - $29.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
What we like:
Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the original animated trilogy, returned to helm this live‑action version. It’s his first foray into live action filmmaking.
Mason Thames stars as Hiccup, with Nico Parker as Astrid, and Gerard Butler reprising his beloved voice role of Stoick.
Bill Pope (DP on The Matrix and Spider‑Man 2) served as cinematographer.
What we don’t like:
We’ll add our voices to the chorus of people who just don’t need these live-action remakes of animated films. Though we always chuckle when people ask ‘Why do these even get made????!!!’ The answer, as always, is $$$. As long as they continue to make hundreds of millions of dollars, Hollywood will keep cranking them out.
M3GAN 2.0 - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: After the underlying tech for M3GAN is stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia, M3GAN's creator Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal.
What we like:
Child performer Amie Donald, who physically embodies M3GAN, had a major growth spurt (nearly eight inches) between films. The production team had to redesign masks, body suits, and prosthetics to accommodate her new height and facial structure.
In-story, the upgraded M3GAN "asks for her new body to be taller," reflecting Amie’s actual growth. The shift in scale accentuates her evolution, from creepy doll to action-ready android, and supports the film's Terminator-esque tone.
What we don’t like:
Hoo boy, this was a major franchise implosion. Producer Jason Blum has acknowledged the mistakes made in this sequel, and it's hard to see a path forward for more M3GAN movies. Just a complete misread of what the audience wanted. We’ll still be checking it out, but probably when it hits Peacock.
Thursday, July 17th, 2025
THE AMATEUR - Hulu
Synopsis: After his life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder takes matters into his own hands when his supervisors refuse to take action.
What we like:
The journey to adapt Robert Littell's 1981 novel into this film spanned nearly two decades. Initially announced in 2006 with Hugh Jackman attached, the project underwent numerous changes before culminating in the 2025 release with Rami Malek in the lead role.
The film was shot across various international locations, including London, Paris, Marseille, Istanbul, and Washington, D.C. We’re always happy when an action thriller wasn’t shot in front of a blue-screen in a parking lot in Atlanta.
Marthe Keller, who co-starred in the 1981 film adaptation of The Amateur, makes a brief appearance in the 2025 film as a florist in Paris.
What we don’t like:
The film’s screenplay involved contributions from ten writers, including notable names like Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, Contagion) and Patrick Ness (A Monster Calls). Ultimately, Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli received official credit, but it’s never a great sign with that many cooks in the kitchen.
Friday, July 18th, 2025
BRIDE HARD - $19.99 Sale / $14.99 Rental
Synopsis: Sam is a secret agent whose toughest mission to date is pleasing her bride-to-be best friend at a lavish destination wedding. When a team of mercenaries crashes the party and takes the guests hostage, Sam is thrown into a fight unlike any before — one where she can’t risk blowing her cover or ruining the big day. As she takes on the bad guys in a high-stakes battle disguised as a fairy-tale affair, she realizes the real threat might be closer than she thinks.
What we like:
Directed by Simon West, who has helmed some entertaining action spectacles, including 1997’s Con Air and 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Plus, he directed the bonkers 1999 John Travolta thriller The General’s Daughter.
The film has a stellar ensemble, with star Rebel Wilson supported by Justin Hartley, Anna Chlumsky, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Stephen Dorff.
What we don’t like:
The movie was panned by many critics calling it “cringingly stupid” and “easy to break up with,” though audiences gave a moderate “B–” CinemaScore.
FINALLY DAWN - $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A young Roman woman during the 1950s is on the verge of becoming engaged to a man. She goes to Cinecittà to do an audition as an extra and is thrust into this almost infinite night during which she discovers herself.
What we like:
Director Saverio Costanzo’s film straddles the genres of romantic melodrama, meta-cinema, and surreal absurdity. Costanzo just finished creating, directing, and co-writing the HBO adaptation of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend novels.
The film is stacked with talent. Its cast includes Lily James, Willem Dafoe, Joe Keery and Rachel Sennott. The cinematography is by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, best known for his collaborations with Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Memoria) and Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Challengers).
What we don’t like:
Despite all the talent, reviews ranged from lukewarm to appreciative. The film currently sits at a 58 on Metacritic.
I LOVE YOU FOREVER - HBO Max
Synopsis: A subversive romantic comedy gone wrong that follows a young woman into and out of an emotionally abusive relationship.
What we like:
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Cazzie David (Larry David’s daughter) and her co‑writer/director Elisa Kalani.
Shot entirely on location in southeast Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Hamtramck, and Birmingham, the film features local landmarks like the University of Michigan and the Michigan Theater.
The film earned pretty good reviews out of its world premiere at the 2024 SXSW Festival.
What we don’t like:
Nepo baby discourse alert! Do we think that Larry David, creator and star of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, had any part in getting his daughter’s small indie film on HBO Max? Maybe! And you know what…good for him if he did. If we had Larry David’s industry clout (and a daughter), we’d probably do the same.
Saturday, February 19th, 2025
THE ASSESSMENT - Hulu
Synopsis: In a climate change-ravaged world, a utopian society optimizes life, including parenthood assessments. A successful couple faces scrutiny by an evaluator over seven days to determine their fitness for childbearing.
What we like:
The directorial debut of Fleur Fortuné, who’s assembled a great cast, including Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olson, Himesh Patel, and Minnie Driver.
The film received mostly positive reviews after its premiere at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival.
Alicia Vikander received a Best Lead Performance nomination at the 2024 British Independent Film Awards, but lost to Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths. The film also snagged nominations in Best Production Design (it lost), and Best Debut Screenplay (it won).
What we don’t like:
Despite giving it a shot in theaters, the film earned less than $300K at the domestic box-office for Magnolia Pictures.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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Won the Audience Award at last year’s Toronto Film Festival…