If you’re spending some time in this Bank Holiday weekend, then what better way to pass the time than with a good movie. Thankfully, streamers such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer have plenty of new additions.
Among the highlights this week are a “striking” crime drama starring Jodie Comer and Austin Butler, as well as an underrated comedy classic with Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein. Plus there’s a brilliant hard-hitting drama with Cillian Murphy.
Digital Spy has rounded-up five of the best from the big streamers, plus a few more gems to catch if you get a chance.
Enda Bowe/Lionsgate
Best movie new to Netflix this week
Small Things Like These: Fresh off his Oscar win for Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy starred in this Irish drama, which drew huge acclaim with a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In it, he plays devoted father Bill Furlong who starts to uncover horrific secrets hidden by the convent in his town of New Ross. The powerful film, which is based on the 2021 book by Claire Keegan, explores Ireland’s dark history of Magdalene laundries – asylums run by Roman Catholic orders – and was called a “necessary” watch by The Times of India.
Also new to Netflix this week: Say Anything, I Saw the TV Glow, The Hunt (2020), Unwelcome
Universal
Best movie new to Prime Video this week
The Bikeriders: This 2023 crime film focuses on the aftermath of a chance encounter between a woman called Kathy, and Benny – a new member of a motorbike gang. As the gang transforms and descends into further violence, however, Benny is forced to choose between his loyalty to the club and Kathy.
Featuring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, The Bikeriders was called “a striking memory piece” by The Hollywood Reporter. Jeff Nichols directs and adapts the film from a photo book by Danny Lyon.
Also new to Prime Video this week: There Will Be Blood, John Wick, The Smashing Machine, The Hunt for Red October, Game Night, Rocketman, Spider-Man (2002), Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy
eOne
Best movie new to BBC iPlayer this week
Booksmart: If you’re looking for something funny and sharp, then this 2019 gem should do just the trick. Directed by Olivia Wilde, the movie focuses on two high school overachievers who realise that they may have missed out on the fun of their teenage years. As such, they decide to spend the eve of their graduation on a big night out, ending up on a wild adventure that descends into hilarious chaos.
Featuring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein as central duo Amy and Molly, there are also appearances from Lisa Kudrow, Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis, and a scene-stealing turn from Billie Lourd too.
Also new to BBC iPlayer this week: Don’t Look Now, The Untouchables, The Woman in Black
Universal
Best movie new to ITVX this week
Shaun of the Dead: Another great comedy, this British classic put Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on the movie map back in 2004, and was labelled “an ingenious twist on a familiar genre” by Stream on Demand.
Pegg plays the titular character, a loser who is down on his luck in his personal life when the zombie apocalypse strikes. Alongside best friend Ed as well as ex girlfriend Liz among others, he fights off the hordes to get to the only safe space he can think of – local pub The Winchester.
Also new to ITVX this week: Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Living Daylights
Ross Ferguson / Lionsgate UK
Best movie new to Channel 4 this week
Living: This acclaimed recent drama is a remake of Akira Kurosawa movie Ikiru, and features Bill Nighy in the central role of a bureaucrat who finds out he has a terminal illness, and decides to experience life with what time he has left.
Nighy earned an Oscar nomination for his performance, while Living itself landed a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, with the site’s audience consensus saying it “will leave you reflecting on the things you appreciate in your own life”. Aimee Lou Wood and Tom Burke feature in supporting roles.
Also new to Channel 4 this week: Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, The Devil Wears Prada, Titane, This is England
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.