What’s Streaming This Week (8/24 - 8/31)
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, August 25th, 2025
THE FRIEND - Paramount+ Premium
Synopsis: Based on the bestselling novel, writer and teacher Iris (Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor (Murray) bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life in this story of healing, love, and friendship.
What we like:
Filmmaking duo Scott McGehee and David Siegel are back with this poignant drama, their first film since 2021’s Montana Story. The pair have an underrated filmography with one stone-cold classic: 2001’s The Deep End.
The film won Naomi Watts a Best Performance Award at this year’s Boulder International Film Festival.
A reunion of sorts for Watts and Bill Murray, who memorably co-starred in 2014’s St. Vincent.
What we don’t like:
We’re sorry we missed this in theaters, because we’re not going to be able to catch it on streaming. Frequent readers will remember that we have multiple dogs here at When to Stream headquarters, and our dogs flip out when they see other dogs on our big screen tv. This is one of those movies that they will not tolerate.
Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
THE HOME - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A troubled man starts working at a retirement home and realizes its residents and caretakers harbor sinister secrets. As he investigates the building and its forbidden fourth floor, he starts to uncover connections to his own past and upbringing as a foster child.
What we like:
This horror thriller was written and directed by James DeMonaco, best known for creating The Purge franchise.
Star Pete Davidson described acting in horror as “so embarrassing” because his comedic instincts sometimes clashed with serious scenes.
The eerie setting isn’t CGI or a studio: production shot at the closed Saint Francis Residential Community in Denville, New Jersey.
What we don’t like:
Davidson nearly suffered actual eye damage during the needle-scare sequence prominently featured in the marketing materials. Ironically, the director later admitted using Davidson's real eye wasn’t necessary.
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences. A year later, their past comes back to haunt them and they're forced to confront a horrifying truth: someone knows what they did last summer…and is hell-bent on revenge.
What we like:
It’s a “Legacy Sequel,” not a reboot. The film picks up the story 27 years after 1998’s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, continuing the original storyline rather than restarting it.
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprise their roles as Julie James and Ray Bronson, aiding a new generation of characters in another hook-wielding mystery.
What we don’t like:
We’re disappointed this sequel dropped the jaunty exclamation point in the threatening note the characters receive. The original 1997 note (on the left) had whimsy and beautiful penmanship. The new 2025 note (on the right) lacks personality and urgency. These are the details that are important to us.
IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY - $16.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Rising musician Jeff Buckley had only released one album when he died suddenly in 1997. Now, never-before-seen footage, exclusive voice messages, and accounts from those closest to him offer a portrait of the captivating singer.
What we like:
Directed by Amy Berg (Oscar-nominated for Deliver Us From Evil), this project spanned nearly 15 years. She first sought the rights from Jeff’s mother, Mary Guibert, around 2007 and began production in 2019.
The film was made with full cooperation of Guibert, whose trust was painstakingly earned. Berg chose a documentary format over a biopic, preserving Buckley’s authentic voice through archives, voicemails, and personal footage
Brad Pitt, a longtime fan, executive produced the film and helped fund the digitization and preservation of Buckley's archival material.
What we don’t like:
Buckley’s sudden death in 1997 was a massive loss, to his family, friends, and fans. The documentary culminates with Guibert listening to Jeff’s final voicemail, and it’s absolutely devastating.
SHE RIDES SHOTGUN - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Newly released from prison and marked for death by unrelenting enemies, Nate must now protect his estranged 11-year-old daughter, Polly, at all costs. With scant resources and no one to trust, Nate and Polly form a bond forged under fire as he shows her how to fight and survive — and she teaches him what unconditional love truly means.
What we like:
The film is based on the 2017 crime-thriller novel by Jordan Harper, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski.
Taron Egerton not only stars as Nate McClusky, the ex-con father on the run, but also serves as an executive producer.
Ana Sophia Heger, who plays Polly (Nate’s 11-year-old daughter), delivers a stunning, emotionally raw performance.
What we don’t like:
Despite stellar reviews (currently 86% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), Lionsgate didn’t give the film much of a marketing push, and did not report box-office grosses. Hopefully it’ll find an audience on streaming.
TOGETHER - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: With a move to the countryside already testing the limits of a couple's relationship, a supernatural encounter begins an extreme transformation of their love, their lives, and their flesh.
What we like:
Michael Shanks’s directorial debut turns the idea of being “inseparable” into haunting body horror. After a mysterious cave encounter, Millie and Tim, played by real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, begin to physically fuse, serving as a gruesome, literal metaphor for emotional entanglement and the pitfalls of codependency.
The film premiered in the Midnight section at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, quickly generating buzz for its inventive concept and execution. Neon then acquired U.S. distribution rights for (reportedly) around $17 million.
What we don’t like:
Are the needle drops in the film a little too on the nose? The film features tracks like the Spice Girls’ “2 Become 1,” Golden Suits’ “Another One,” and The Turtles’ “Happy Together.” Alright…we’ll admit it…the Spice Girls song is a good choice.
STANS - Paramount+
Synopsis: A revealing, edgy, and disarmingly personal journey into the world of superfandom, told through the lens of one of the world's most iconic and enduring artists, Eminem, and the fans that worship him.
What we like:
Rather than being a straight biography of Eminem, Stans shifts the lens to the fans who were shaped by his music, those who embody the term “stan,” coined by Eminem's iconic 2000 song and since enshrined in dictionaries.
The documentary spotlights superfans: one holds a Guinness record for the most tattoos of a single artist (Eminem), another is a transgender fan whose identity was shaped by his music.
What we don’t like:
Among its memorable scenes, the doc includes Eminem recounting a frightening moment early in his career when he was mobbed at a mall with his daughter Hailie. The crowd grew larger and more aggressive, chasing the two out to the parking lot.
Wednesday, August 27th, 2025
THUNDERBOLTS* - Disney+
Synopsis: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
What we like:
Director Jake Schreier, best known for the Netflix series Beef and the indie film Robot & Frank, brings an indie sensibility to the Marvel Universe.
Florence Pugh insisted on performing her own BASE jump from the top of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, at 2,722 ft, the world’s second‑tallest building, despite insurance concerns. She continuously emailed Kevin Feige until Marvel relented.
The experimental band Son Lux composed the score at London’s Abbey Road Studios. It’s their follow-up to scoring Everything Everywhere All at Once.
What we don’t like:
The film’s title pivot, from Thunderbolts* to New Avengers, didn’t really do much to goose the box-office. It certainly wasn’t a flop. But with less than $400M globally, it wasn’t able to pull Marvel out of its rut.
Thursday, August 28th, 2025
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB - Netflix
Synopsis: Four septuagenarian friends living in a retirement community form the Thursday Murder Club to solve cold cases for fun. But when a shady property developer is found dead, the four find themselves in the middle of their first live case.
What we like:
What a cast! The ensemble includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie as the four amateur sleuths, with supporting powerhouses such as David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Tom Ellis rounding out the lineup.
Originally set to be directed by Ol Parker (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again), The Thursday Murder Club eventually landed with Chris Columbus (director of Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films), chosen by Steven Spielberg, who also serves as a producer.
What we don’t like:
The reviews have been mixed, but we’re still hopeful it delivers the sort of cozy mystery qualities that gets us in the mood for autumn.
Friday, August 29th, 2025
HELL OF A SUMMER - Hulu
Synopsis: When 24-year-old Jason Hochberg arrives for counsellor weekend at his beloved Camp Pineway, his biggest problem is feeling out of touch with his teenage co-workers. Little does he know; a masked killer has murdered camp owners John and Kathy and is preparing to strike again.
What we like:
In 2019, Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk met on the set of Ghostbusters: Afterlife and quickly realized they shared a similar sense of humor. Eager to write a film, Wolfhard experimented with different ideas until they both settled on a slasher concept.
The film world premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival, where it was named second runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness.
After Thelma, Nickel Boys, and Gladiator II, we’re definitely jumping on the Fred Hechinger bandwagon. Can’t wait to see him in this.
What we don’t like:
We understand you gotta get the stars on the poster, but we wish these fantastic alternate posters, inspired by the 80s slashers Prom Night and Happy Birthday to Me, were more front and center in the film’s campaign:
MY MOTHER’S WEDDING - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Three sisters return to their home for the third wedding of their twice-widowed mother. But the mother and daughters are forced to revisit the past and confront the future, with help from a colorful group of unexpected wedding guests.
What we like:
The film marks the first feature-directed effort by Kristin Scott Thomas, who also co-wrote the script with her husband, John Micklethwait, and stars as the twice-widowed mother Diana.
Scarlett Johansson plays Diana’s daughter Katherine, continuing a unique on-screen pairing: this is the third time Johansson has played her daughter, following 1998’s The Horse Whisperer and 2008’s The Other Boleyn Girl.
Instead of a traditional flashback, the film features hand-painted animated vignettes (black-and-white, pencil-style) by Iranian artist Reza Riahi.
What we don’t like:
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2023 under the title North Star and received middling reviews. It currently sits at a 49 on Metacritic.
RED SONJA - $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: A young girl rises from the ashes of tragedy to become the most feared warrior woman of all time: the She-Devil with a Sword.
What we like:
This reboot has been in development purgatory for years, from Robert Rodriguez's early involvement (with Rose McGowan), to Simon West's adaptation (with Amber Heard rumored), and even a stint with Transparent creator Joey Soloway writing and directing. We’re glad it finally made it to the screen.
Taking over for Brigitte Nielsen in the title role is Matilda Lutz, who was so memorable in Coralie Fargeat debut feature Revenge. Check that one out, it’s on Shudder.
What we don’t like:
The film received only a one-day theatrical release early this month, which is a bummer. We’re ready for the sword-and-sorcery genre to make a comeback in theaters.
VICE IS BROKE - MUBI
Synopsis: An investigation into the once high-flying digital news outlet that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 after boasting a valuation of $5.7 billion in 2017.
What we like:
This documentary is helmed by Eddie Huang, the author, chef, TV personality, and former host of Huang’s World on Viceland.
Huang financed the doc with nearly $380,000 of his own money. He also negotiated the lifting of his NDA with Vice in exchange for unpaid compensation, allowing him to speak candidly about the company.
Rather than simply criticizing Vice, the documentary also pays homage to its anarchic spirit and its role in championing marginalized voices, while dissecting how it ultimately sold out the culture it once stood for.
What we don’t like:
In July, Huang announced that his film had been “shelved” by its distributor Mubi because he publicly backed criticism of the company’s ties to the private equity firm Sequoia Capital. Mubi denied the claim, and the film is on track to premiere on the service this week.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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Here’s what’s coming up this week…