Another work week behind us means we have another weekend to look forward to. But with so many new movies hitting the top streaming services, deciding what to watch can become just another item on a never-ending checklist.
So here at Tom’s Guide, we’re highlighting this week’s biggest new releases so you don’t have to worry so much about what to watch next. Leading the pack is Despicable Me 4, which (whether you love or hate the Minions) is a good distraction for kids in the final weeks of the summer holidays. Meanwhile, Apple TV Plus has a new heist comedy, The Instigators, which sees Matt Damon teaming up with a different Affleck than he’s usually associated with. Peacock also has The Bikeriders, an oily period drama all about the thrill of riding a supersized pig.
Documentary film fans also have plenty to look forward to this weekend, from Netflix’s Inside the Mind of a Dog series about our furry friends to Hulu’s Food, Inc. 2, the sequel to 2009’s big expose about the corrupted world of industrial agriculture.
So without further ado, let’s dive into the best new movies available on streaming. For more recommendations on what to watch, check out our roundup of the best new TV shows available to stream this week.
“Despicable Me 4” (PVOD)
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If your little ones can’t wait to see the latest adventure of Gru and his minions, I have good news. Despicable Me 4 hit video-on-demand services this week after grossing $760 million at the box office, making it the third highest-grossing film of the year.
Former supervillain Gru (voice: Steve Carell) has just welcomed a new baby with his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) when his old rival Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) escapes from prison and forces the family into a witness protection program. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned when the new neighbor’s teenage daughter Poppy (Joey King) recognizes Gru. The aspiring villain threatens to blow his cover if he doesn’t help her pull off one last heist.
Buy or rent now on Amazon
“The Instigators” (Apple TV Plus)
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From the director of “Roud House” and “The Bourne Identity” comes a new action comedy that reunites Matt Damon and Casey Affleck for the first time since “Oppenheimer.” To finance his son’s treatment, down-on-his-luck father Rory (Damon) reluctantly teams up with an ex-con (Affleck) to steal the ill-gotten gains of a corrupt mayor (Ron Perlman).
That’s the plan, at least, but when the robbery goes awry, the unlikely pair find themselves in the crosshairs of police, bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Along for the ride is Rory’s therapist Donna Rivera (Hong Chau), who gets caught up in their chaotic escape through the city, and a strong straight man who’s supposed to balance out Damon and Affleck’s Boston accents.
Watch now on Apple TV Plus
“Food, Inc. 2” (Hulu)
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In 2009, Food, Inc. pioneered a new genre of documentary filmmaking, examining the dark side of industrial food production. Rather than simply repeating the same ideas, Food, Inc. 2, by Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo, examines how the food industry has changed over the past decade and a half – for better or for worse – and outlines alternatives to the food produced by large corporations.
But getting people to be more conscious of the food on their plates and where it comes from is only one piece of the puzzle. To find long-term solutions, the documentary explains, reforms must start at the forefront of the food transition.
Watch now on Hulu
“Inside a Dog’s Head” (Netflix)
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Following the success of 2022’s Inside the Mind of a Cat, Netflix is looking to put a smile on the dog-loving crowd with its latest documentary, Inside the Mind of a Dog, which answers all your burning questions about dogs, like how dogs evolved such a good sense of smell and why small dogs are so annoying (I say this as the owner of an elderly Chihuahua-terrier mix).
Narrated by Rob Lowe, this documentary traces the history of human-dog relationships through time and offers at-home tips for dog owners everywhere to better understand their pets and respond to their needs. And of course, there are more good guys and girls than you can shake a stick at (just throw it!!)
Watch now on Netflix
“The Bikers” (Peacock)
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Loosely inspired by the exploits of the real-life Outlaws Motorcycle Club, The Bikeriders offers a snapshot of 20th-century American biker culture with an all-star cast befitting its massive fleet of choppers.
Set over several decades, the film begins in the ’60s with the first meeting of Kathy (Jodie Comer) and Benny (Austin Butler), a member of the Chicago motorcycle club the Vandals. Leaving her old life behind for this new, sleazy world, Kathy quickly becomes ensnared in the Vandals’ mantra of carefree camaraderie (and begins a romance with Benny). Tensions rise as the newest generation of members begin causing mischief and bringing down the peaceful status quo. But not while the crew’s respected founder, Johnny (Tom Hardy), has something to say about it.
Watch now on peacock
