Summary
Streaming services give movies a second chance at finding their audience, as seen with movies like Dredd becoming a Netflix hit years after bombing in theaters.
The best new movies to watch on streaming platforms include Evil Dead Rise, Elemental, Extraction 2, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, and more.
2023 has been a great year for cinema so far, as seen by the best new movies to watch on streaming. It must be noted that the 2023 box office hasn’t been great, as several big-budget films have bombed against higher projections and hopes. However, many circumstances can explain those flops, such as bad marketing or strong competition. Nevertheless, thanks to streaming services, new movies are given a second chance at finding their audiences.
It’s now much easier to find and watch the very best movies with streaming services, and some of the films were even made exclusively for streaming platforms. Movies new and old often benefit from being available on streaming services, such as Dredd becoming a Netflix hit 11 years after it was a box office bomb. However, not all 2023 streaming hits were theatrical bombs, as some of the best movies of 2023 are now available to stream too. Here are the best new movies to watch on streaming right now across different platforms.
10 Evil Dead Rise
Available on Max
Cast: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies | Runtime: 97 minutes
Our Evil Dead Rise Review Rating: 3 stars
Evil Dead Rise follows the 2013 reboot of the franchise and over 40 years after the original The Evil Dead. The 2023 release is the first time since 1992’s Army of Darkness that the franchise has significantly switched up the formula, as the demon possession story happens in a city apartment building instead of a cabin in the woods, and it works brilliantly. Evil Dead Rise is arguably the scariest movie in the franchise, and it marks a return to the series’ tongue-in-cheek humor. While the horror flick made $146 million, Evil Dead Rise was originally a Max exclusive, and putting it in theaters was an afterthought.
9 Elemental
Available on Disney+
Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen | Runtime: 109 minutes
Our Elemental Review Rating: 3 stars
Elemental is the newest Pixar movie and something of a return to form for the studio. The animated movie is a romantic comedy, with two different elements who are two polar opposites and are told they shouldn’t be together, only to fall in love. Pixar achieved what the studio does best with Elemental, as it’s full of creative world-building, it pulls on audiences’ heartstrings, and the visuals are jaw-dropping. While the movie underperformed at the box office, Elemental’s streaming success has been strong, as the movie reportedly had 26.4 million views in its first 5 days – which is more than The Little Mermaid – which speaks to the movie’s quality.
Available on Netflix
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa | Runtime: 122 Minutes
Our Extraction 2 Review Rating: 3 Stars
Extraction 2 might have been made for Netflix, but the Chris Hemsworth-led action sequel is a visual spectacle. The movie follows Tyler Rake (Hemsworth), a black ops mercenary, who is hired to rescue the family of a crime lord from a Georgian prison. Once the action starts, it doesn’t stop, and the movie’s showstopping moment arrives early on. The actual prison extraction sequence is an intense 24-minute one-shot. While the sequence might be made up of different shots cleverly stitched together, the ambition is undeniable as the sequence moves between the prison grounds, a heavily armored truck, and the most intense movie train scene in years.
7 You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah
Available on Netflix
Cast: Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler | Runtime: 103 minutes
Our You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah Review Rating: 3.5 stars
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is yet another collaboration between Netflix and Adam Sandler, and it is already their best. The You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah cast includes members of Sandler’s family, and the film is clearly a passion project of his. The coming-of-age comedy follows Stacy (Sunny Sandler) who falls out with her best friend when they fall for the same boy in school, and Adam Sandler plays her father. The movie has a lot of heart, and Adam Sandler once again surprises audiences with a grounded and dramatic performance.
6 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Available on Prime Video
Cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant | Runtime: 134 minutes
Our Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Review Rating: 3.5 stars
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a surprisingly great fantasy movie based on the tabletop role-playing game. The movie is full of fan service but is also easy to understand for newcomers, and the perfect balance of comedy, action, and world-building makes it one of the most well-crafted fantasy movies since the Harry Potter franchise. Unfortunately, Dungeons & Dragons bombed at the box office, making just $208 million worldwide. As a result, Dungeons & Dragons 2 might not happen. However, now the movie is available to stream on Prime Video, the film could find its audience through streaming, which could help the sequel’s chances.
5 Asteroid City
Available on Peacock
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton | Runtime: 105 minutes
The Asteroid City cast is stacked, as other A-list actors including Margot Robbie, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Edward Norton, and so many others have important roles in the movie. While the cast is impressive, Asteroid City also marks Wes Anderson’s first foray into science fiction, and the filmmaker’s obsessively symmetrical and quirky film style works weirdly well within the concept. However, at the heart of the sci-fi-comedy is an emotional narrative about a dysfunctional family, and all of the bemusing sci-fi novelties in the film are just trimmings for this very engaging and moving story.
4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Available on Paramount+
Cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph | Runtime: 99 minutes
Our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review Rating: 3.5 stars
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is another 2023 release that was even better than most expected, many thanks to the effort and care that was put into the project. Actual teenagers were cast as the titular turtles, which gives the movie a way more authentic feel. The animation is unique, and the hand-drawn style is refreshing to see in a CGI-filled 2020s movie landscape. Instead of announcing it weeks in advance, Paramount shocked subscribers by revealing that Mutant Mayhem is now streaming on Paramount+. The movie underperformed at the box office, which might explain the surprise Paramount+ release, but the bold move could attract more viewers.
3 John Wick: Chapter 4
Available on Starz
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Rina Sawayama | Runtime: 169 minutes
OurJohn Wick: Chapter 4 Review Rating: 4 stars
John Wick: Chapter 4 is arguably the best John Wick movie yet, and while it’s simply more of the same thing; Wick creatively kills countless enemies, the fourquel takes the action to a whole other level. Between the epic top-down sequence through the French house, the comedy violence of the 222 steps, and the intense final duel, John Wick: Chapter 4 is a masterclass in action directing. Ultimately, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the epic conclusion to the incredibly influential action franchise, but it also might not be, as John Wick 5 is being talked about, and the fourquel’s ending leaves John’s fate up to the audience to decide.
2 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
Available on Disney+
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper | Runtime: 150 minutes
Our Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review Rating: 4.5 stars
At this point, it’s easy to know what to expect from a Guardians of the Galaxy movie; a cool soundtrack, goofy comedy, creative sci-fi elements, and, of course, a lot of heart. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is overflowing with all of those elements, especially with the cute talking animals. The movie is about Rocket’s upbringing and getting revenge on the man who experimented on him, and it’s an absolute emotional rollercoaster. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is another well-crafted conclusion to a beloved series, and it actually feels like a proper goodbye and a final farewell.
1 Air
Available on Prime Video
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans | Runtime: 112 minutes
Our Air Review Rating: 4.5 stars
There has been a strange and very specific trend in 2023, which is developing movies about brands and products. Tetris, Flamin’ Hot, and Blackberry are all about the birth of their titular game, chips, and phone, and Air is no different. Air is about Nike’s desperate attempt to sign Michael Jordan for a shoe deal and the creation of the Air Jordans. However, the 2023 movie is also a spectacular depiction of a group of ordinary people who overcome the impossible with sheer ambition. The movie’s presentation – the design of the ’80s setting, and the Oscar-caliber performances – is what makes Air one of the best new movies to watch on streaming.
