Need a new movie to watch? Stream these 15 at home for free with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video.
George Clooney reflects on fame and the ‘Jay Kelly’ what-if story
George Clooney reflects on fame, failure, and a life lesson from his dad about chasing forever through movies.
- One of these movies is what you should watch tonight.
- This weekend’s choices include theatrical releases arriving on streaming like Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” on Paramount+.
- There are original new movies, too, including George Clooney’s Netflix dramedy “Jay Kelly” and the Michelle Pfeiffer holiday movie “Oh. What. Fun.”
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Ho ho ho! Streaming Santa is getting the gift-giving started early this December.
A heaping bag full of new movies are hitting your favorite platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon’s Prime Video to entertain all sorts of film fans, whether you like holiday flicks or horror tales. Catch up theatrical releases finally arriving home, such as Tom Cruise’s latest “Mission: Impossible” adventure and Daniel Day-Lewis’ post-retirement jam, and also tuck into the original streaming fare, too, like a George Clooney Hollywood dramedy as well as a Michelle Pfeiffer Christmas comedy.
Here are 15 new and notable movies you can stream right now:
‘Anemone’
Daniel Day-Lewis is back, baby! The three-time Oscar winner comes out of retirement to star in his son Ronan Day-Lewis’ directorial debut. It’s no “Gangs of New York” or “There Will Be Blood,” but Daddy Day-Lewis gives a searing performance in the psychological drama as an Irish soldier finally coming to grips with his violent past.
Where to watch: Peacock
‘Bride Hard’
“Pitch Perfect” hive, rise up. Rebel Wilson stars in the action comedy as an international secret agent invited to her best childhood friend’s wedding. Anna Camp is the bride-to-be surprised by her old pal’s skills, and the women team up for heroic shenanigans when the big event is crashed by a bunch of bad guys.
Where to watch: Hulu
‘Caught Stealing’
Darren Aronofsky doing a semi-crime comedy? It sort of works, mostly thanks to Austin Butler getting bashed and brutalized every five minutes. The “Elvis” actor stars as a New York City bartender and ex-baseball star looking after his neighbor’s cat when he and his paramedic girlfriend (Zoë Kravitz) run afoul of violent gangsters.
Where to watch: Netflix
‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw’
In the latest animated comedy based on Jeff Kinney’s mega-popular kids book series, middle schooler Greg (voiced by Aaron D. Harris) continues to be a walking magnet for chaos and disaster. His dad (Chris Diamantopoulos) wants to send him to military school, until a camping trip leads to important father-son bonding.
Where to watch: Disney+
‘The Family McMullen’
Thirty years after the indie hit “The Brothers McMullen,” Edward Burns returns to write, produce and reprise his role as Barry McMullen in the dramedy sequel. Barry’s joined by his 20-something kids, brother Patrick (Michael McGlone) and widowed sister-in-law Molly (Connie Britton) for a family reunion and welcome romances.
Where to watch: HBO Max
‘It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley’
Just know Jeff Buckley as that guy who sang “Hallelujah”? You owe to yourself to dig into this rock doc that explores the triumphs and tragedies of Buckley, the talented, introverted musician with a haunting voice who only released one solo studio album – 1994’s instant classic “Grace” – before his death at age 30.
Where to watch: HBO Max
‘Jay Kelly’
As close as we might ever get to “George Clooney: The Movie.” The A-lister juggles charm and vulnerability as a movie legend realizing in the twilight of his career that he’s always put work ahead of loved ones. Noah Baumbach’s dramedy lets Clooney cook in a meta character study full of humor and self-reflection.
Where to watch: Netflix
‘Jingle Bell Heist’
Sophia (Olivia Holt) is an American retail worker living in London who can’t afford her mom’s cancer surgery. Nick (Connor Swindells) is a divorced repairman struggling to provide for his kid. They team up to rob a posh department store at Christmas – and might even find some holiday love – in the seasonal romantic comedy.
Where to watch: Netflix
‘Left-Handed Girl’
A 5-year-old Taiwanese girl (Nina Ye) and her older sister (Shih-Yuan Ma) move from the countryside back to Taipei when their mom (Janel Tsai) opens up a noodle stand in a bustling night street market. Their return brings financial and personal struggles in a touching slice-of-life drama exploring family dynamics and cultural expectations.
Where to watch: Netflix
‘Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning’
Bringing closure to a three-decade story arc, the eighth “Mission” sends Tom Cruise’s superspy Ethan Hunt on a globetrotting trek, from Arctic seas to South African skies, to keep a villainous AI from causing a global apocalypse. Thrill to Cruise running (of course) but also spelunking a sunken submarine and pulling off some aerial derring-do.
Where to watch: Paramount+
‘My Secret Santa’
In the holiday rom-com, a single mother (Alexandra Breckenridge) hatches a scheme to dress up as an old man and get a job at an upscale ski resort to snag her daughter discount snowboard lessons. The plan goes awry, however, when this “Santa” becomes a viral hit and the mom gets flirty with the hotel manager (Ryan Eggold).
Where to watch: Netflix
‘Oh. What. Fun.’
While the holiday comedy covers a lot of familiar Christmas-movie territory, Michelle Pfeiffer’s reason enough to watch. She plays a Texas mom who goes out of her way to bring all the yuletide cheer to her family, but when they accidentally leave her behind for an important outing, she snaps and heads out for a cathartic road trip.
Where to watch: Prime Video
‘Paul Anka: His Way’
Even if he was just a 1950s teen idol, Paul Anka would deserve a deep-dive documentary. Anka also became an iconic songwriter, too, and the movie digs into his greatest hit for Frank Sinatra, “My Way,” plus co-writing credits on posthumous Michael Jackson songs and his collaborations with Celine Dion and Drake.
Where to watch: HBO Max
‘Train Dreams’
Set in the early 19th century, the absorbing and thoughtful period drama stars Joel Edgerton as a logger working on building the railroad in the Pacific Northwest whose job keeps him away for long periods from his wife (Felicity Jones). Tragedies and a changing America test his mettle as he struggles to keep living his life and moving forward.
Where to watch: Netflix
‘The Ugly Stepsister’
In this clever mix of “Cinderella” and “The Substance,” Elvira (Lea Myren) goes to extreme lengths to marry the charming poet prince of her kingdom. But the “beautification” process to beat out the competition involves old-school rhinoplasty and the use of tapeworms (eww) in a stomach-churning body horror twist on a familiar fairy tale.
Where to watch: Hulu
