What’s Streaming This Week (8/10 - 8/17)
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:
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025
EDDINGTON - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.
What we like:
A neo-Western black comedy with elements of noir and thriller, described by director Ari Aster himself as a “Western with cell phones instead of guns.”
The film has a terrific cast, including Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, and Clifton Collins Jr.
The cinematography is by Darius Khondji, one of greats in the field. The man has lensed Seven, Delicatessen, Panic Room, Amour, The Lost City of Z, Midnight in Paris, Uncut Gems, Okja, and Mickey 17, among many others. His only Oscar nominations are for 1996’s Evita, and 2022’s Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths.
What we don’t like:
With a budget of about $25 million, it has grossed only $10.8 million worldwide to-date. We’re hoping it cleans up on PVOD, because we want A24 to keep bankrolling Ari Aster projects.
MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE - $12.99 Sale / $5.99 Rental
Synopsis: In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, Marlee explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer.
What we like:
Directed by Shoshannah Stern, making her feature debut as a filmmaker, this documentary uniquely centers American Sign Language (ASL), doing away with voiceovers and fully immersing viewers in a Deaf visual and emotional experience.
The film spotlights two pivotal Oscar moments: Matlin’s 1987 Best Actress win for Children of a Lesser God (making her the youngest and first deaf performer to win) and the 2022 Best Picture win of CODA, which eased her sense of being “alone” in Oscar history.
What we don’t like:
The documentary tackles painful aspects of Matlin’s life, including abuse at the hands of then-boyfriend William Hurt. It’s tough to hear about an actor whose work you admire also being an abuser. Hurt apologized publicly before his death in 2022.
SHARP CORNER - Hulu
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 received only a perfunctory theatrical release on the same day it went to digital and VOD.
Wednesday, August 13th, 2025
FIXED - Netflix
Synopsis: After learning he's getting neutered, a dog has 24 hours to squeeze in one last balls-to-the-wall adventure with the boys.
What we like:
Genndy Tartakovsky’s R-rated, hand-drawn adult animated comedy finds the director stepping outside his earlier, more child-friendly or dramatic works like Hotel Transylvania, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Samurai Jack.
This film holds several "firsts" for Sony Pictures Animation: It’s the first traditionally-animated feature (as opposed to CGI), and it’s the first R-rated film from the studio.
What we don’t like:
Sony Pictures Animation is probably still licking their wounds, watching their previous Netflix sale, KPOP DEMON HUNTER, become a genuine global phenomenon. It’s unlikely this one will reach those heights, but the studio could’ve had a theatrical cash-cow on their hands.
Friday, August 15th, 2025
DESCENDENT - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: After a traumatic brain injury triggers terrifying visions of extraterrestrials and a newfound talent for drawing, a father-to-be begins to question his reality and becomes obsessed with the need to protect his family from an unseen threat.
What we like:
The film marks the first feature-length directorial effort from Peter Cilella, who also penned the screenplay.
The film premiered at South by Southwest this year, it currently holds a solid 88% Fresh from 16 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
What we don’t like:
We’re at it again: We don’t like the title. It’s generic…it tells us nothing about the film…it’s just blah. Get us excited, filmmakers! You work your butt off to make a good movie, and then the title puts us to sleep.
IT FEEDS - Hulu
Synopsis: A clairvoyant therapist confronts her own personal demons while trying to save a young girl who believes a malevolent entity is feeding on her.
What we like:
Directed, written, and produced by Canadian filmmaker Chad Archibald, best known for 2015’s Bite and 2017’s The Heretics.
The film earned awards for Best Actress (Ashley Greene) and Best Creature at Panic Fest 2025.
Pretty great reviews for this one. It currently sits at 88% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
What we don’t like:
Sadly, this is not the long-awaited sequel to It Follows. It Feeds would have been a great title for the It Follows sequel.
THE LEGEND OF OCHI - HBO Max
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.
NIGHT ALWAYS COMES - Netflix
Synopsis: Facing eviction in a city her family can no longer afford, a woman plunges into a desperate and increasingly dangerous all-night search to raise $25,000.
What we like:
The film marks a reunion between star Vanessa Kirby and director Benjamin Caron, who worked together on the Netflix series The Crown.
Kirby is supported by a strong ensemble including Jennifer Jason Leigh (as her mother), Zack Gottsagen (as her brother), plus Stephan James, Julia Fox, Randall Park, Michael Kelly, and Eli Roth.
What we don’t like:
Is this release date the equivalent of a Netflix dump? Though the streamer was able to lift Kirby to her first Oscar nomination for 2020’s Pieces of a Woman, this one doesn’t seem to getting the same push. No festival premieres, no reviews to-date. Let’s hope it’s quiet launch doesn’t mean it’s a dud.
SMURFS - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: When Papa Smurf is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.
What we like:
This is the first fully animated Smurfs feature since 2017, marking a reboot of the franchise after several live-action/CGI hybrids.
The film features a stacked ensemble, including John Goodman (Papa Smurf), James Corden, Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Amy Sedaris, and Kurt Russell.
RIHANNA IS SMURFETTE.
What we don’t like:
We love Rihanna. We’re waiting for the new Rihanna album just like everyone else. But the sweaty marketing campaign for this Smurfs movie built around ‘RIHANNA IS SMURFETTE’ is kind of hilarious. We get that it’s probably the only hook the film has…but c’mon guys. Was anybody clamoring for this? Did anyone read the news and say ‘FINALLY!! RIHANNA IS SMURFETTE!!!’?
That said…JOHN GOODMAN IS PAPA SMURF!!!!
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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Here’s what’s coming up this week…