Special Report

Best Movies to Stream This Week

While some states have announced plans to begin rolling back restrictions on brick-and-mortar businesses, the majority of Americans are still being asked to spend as much time as possible at home. Fortunately, streaming providers are releasing both new and old content daily to help ease the struggle of finding at-home entertainment.

Of course, with so many movies being made available, there is bound to be plenty of mediocre content. Yet numerous gems can be found among the more middling fare to help make one’s extended time at home as enjoyable as possible.

To aid readers in deciding what to watch, 24/7 Tempo has identified the 25 best movies to stream this week. Each of these films is new to the most popular streaming platforms as of the past two weeks and is highly ranked based on critic and audience ratings from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.

Each of the major streaming platforms has been adding new content recently, and the best movies to stream this week are spread across Netflix, HBO Now, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Amazon Video. Genres vary greatly — such as dramas, comedies, children’s films, and more — as do the films’ original release years, which range from the 1960s to contemporary films released as recently as this year.

Each film on this list is generally held in high regard by critics and audiences, and some titles even rank among the 50 best movies you’ve never seen.

Click here to see the best movies to stream this week.

To determine the best movies to stream this week, 24/7 Tempo identified all of the movies newly available on streaming platforms Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Video, HBO Now, and Apple TV Plus from April 6 through April 20 based on data from streaming data site JustWatch. We then created an index based on each film’s Rotten Tomatoes average critic rating, Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating, and Internet Movie Database average user rating.

We averaged the user ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb and weighted by the number of votes for each. The combined user rating was then averaged with the Rotten Tomatoes critic rating.

Courtesy of Lionsgate

25. The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
> Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe
> Runtime: 118 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 10, 2020

Matthew McConaughey stars in this 2011 thriller about a lawyer who struggles with revelations about a disreputable client of his. The movie was enjoyed by 84% of critics and 82% of audience members on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Courtesy of Rogue

24. Catfish (2010)
> Starring: Nev Schulman, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost
> Runtime: 87 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 16, 2020

This movie about a man’s online relationship has received generally positive reviews from both critics and audience members, with Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus stating “its timely premise and tightly wound mystery make for a gripping documentary.” In addition to now being available on Netflix, the movie can be viewed via the HBO Now Amazon Channel.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

23. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
> Starring: Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn
> Runtime: 108 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 19, 2020

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” directed by Stanley Kramer and written by William Rose, is about a family whose liberal bona fides are tested when their daughter announces she is engaged to an African American man (Sidney Poitier). Released during the civil rights era, the movie was a hit even in the South, where several states still banned interracial marriage. The movie, now on Amazon Prime Video, was the ninth pairing of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Heburn who played the parents, and it was Tracy’s final film. He died shortly after the movie was finished. The movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and Hepburn won for Best Actress.

Courtesy of Focus Features

22. Emma (2020)
> Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth
> Runtime: 124 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 18, 2020

“Emma,” based on the novel by Jane Austen, was originally released this past March and is now available for rent on Amazon Video. The movie, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Witch,” “Thoroughbreds”), has an 86% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes with Detroit News’ Adam Graham writing that “it takes a while for ‘Emma.’ to find its groove but once it gets there it’s a delight.”

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Courtesy of American International Pictures

21. Cooley High (1978)
> Starring: Glynn Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Garrett Morris
> Runtime: 107 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 17, 2020

“Cooley High” is a comedy-drama that examines inner-city high school life on Chicago’s North Side in the 1960s through the experiences of an aspiring movie screenwriter and a high school basketball star. The film stars Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and enjoys an 83% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 89% among audience.

Courtesy of Roadside Attractions

20. Lady Macbeth (2017)
> Starring: Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis, Paul Hilton
> Runtime: 89 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 10, 2020

Florence Pugh plays a woman sold into a loveless marriage in 19th century England. Her torrid love affair with a worker on her estate leads to violent consequences. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes lavished praise on Pugh, calling her performance “mesmerizing — and unforgiving.”

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

19. Despicable Me (2010)
> Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand
> Runtime: 95 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 16, 2020

“Despicable Me” is the enchanting story of a supervillain (voiced by Steve Carell) who plots to steal the Moon, only to be beguiled by three orphan girls. Now showing on Netflix, the film became a runaway animated hit, grossing more than $543 million worldwide, and launched a franchise. “Despicable Me” has an 81% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and holds an 82% approval score among audiences.

Courtesy of Distrib Films

18. The Heiresses (2019)
> Starring: Ana Brun, Margarita Irun, Ana Ivanova
> Runtime: 98 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: HBO Now on April 18, 2020

Critics favorite “The Heiresses,” now available on HBO, is about heiresses from two wealthy families in Paraguay who face financial ruin. One is imprisoned for fraud while the other provides a driving service for rich older women, forcing her to see the world from a different perspective. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes awarded the film that was written and directed by Marcelo Martinessi a 97% Freshness score.

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

17. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
> Starring: Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa
> Runtime: 91 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 17, 2020

Directed by Dan O’Bannon — best known for writing “Alien” — “The Return of the Living Dead” pits a group of punk rockers against hordes of the undead. The horror-comedy currently has a 92% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and would likely appeal to fans of zombie films.

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Courtesy of Roadside Attractions

16. Super Size Me (2004)
> Starring: Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Chemeeka Walker
> Runtime: 100 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 17, 2020

This subversive and amusing documentary is about the bad effects of overindulging in fast food. Filmmaker and star Morgan Spurlock’s diatribe, made on a budget of $65,000, grossed more than $20 million. The film, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary, Features, can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. It has a 92% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 72% of audiences liked the movie.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

15. Empire of the Sun (1987)
> Starring: Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson
> Runtime: 153 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 10, 2020

Steven Spielberg’s story about an English boy learning to survive during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during WWII can be streamed on Hulu. The film stars Christian Bale as the youth in one of his first movie roles. “Empire of the Sun,” based on J.G. Ballard’s autobiographical novel, has a score of 75% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes but enjoys greater appeal among audiences, with a 90% score.

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Courtesy of STX Entertainment

14. The Gentlemen (2020)
> Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery
> Runtime: 113 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 16, 2020

Filmmaker Guy Ritchie’s latest offering is now available to rent on Amazon Video. With a cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant, the movie has been hailed as a return to form for Ritchie. It has high ratings from users on both IMDb (8.0 out of 10) and Rotten Tomatoes (84% positive).

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

13. Black Book (2007)
> Starring: Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman
> Runtime: 145 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 18, 2020

“Black Book” tells the story of a Jewish singer who gains access to the Gestapo headquarters in Nazi-occupied Netherlands. Directed by Paul Verhoeven (“Robocop,” “Starship Troopers”), the movie runs for 2 hours and 25 minutes. This length hasn’t dissuaded viewers, with 87% giving the film positive review on Rotten Tomatoes.

Courtesy of MGM/UA Entertainment Company

12. The Secret of NIMH (1982)
> Starring: Elizabeth Hartman, Derek Jacobi, Dom DeLuise
> Runtime: 82 min
> Rating: G
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 17, 2020

Produced by a number of animators who left Walt Disney studio in the early 1980s, “The Secret of NIMH” is a children’s film that deals with somewhat mature themes. It tells the story of a widowed rat who teams with a group of highly intelligent ex-lab rats in order to protect her home and children. The movie currently has a 96% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Courtesy of Roadside Attractions

11. ’71 (2014)
> Starring: Jack O’Connell, Sam Reid, Sean Harris
> Runtime: 99 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 10, 2020

Jack O’Connell plays a British soldier separated from his unit while patrolling the streets of sectarian-torn Belfast during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The soldier must survive the night amid the chaos. Critics Consensus of “71” on Rotten Tomatoes says, “Powerfully directed and acted, ’71’ stays true to its fact-based origins while remaining as gripping as any solidly crafted action thriller.” The thriller is now on Amazon Prime Video.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

10. Zombieland (2009)
> Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson
> Runtime: 88 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 16, 2020

The well-trod film subgenre is infused with humor in “Zombieland.” The film, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, stars Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Woody Harrelson. The three, who are among the last remaining humans, are trying to cross an America overrun by the undead. Lisa Rosman of Us Weekly liked the gorefest’s “quick pace and witty writing,” adding “it’s a nonstop, snarky ride.”

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Courtesy of Abramorama

9. Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019)
> Starring: Carl Lumbly, Miles Davis, Reginald Petty
> Runtime: 115 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 13, 2020

Director Stanley Nelson’s acclaimed documentary of the innovative trumpet player and bandleader as told through photos and archival footage can be streamed on Amazon Video. Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes hails “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” saying the film “burnishes the legacy of a brilliant artist.”

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

8. District 9 (2009)
> Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope
> Runtime: 112 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 16, 2020

After a star ship appears over South Africa, the alien race within is housed in District 9, a restricted area where they are mistreated and malnourished. The Peter Jackson-directed futuristic science fiction thriller now on Amazon Prime Video holds a 90% Freshness score among Rotten Tomatoes critics and an 82% score among audiences.

Courtesy of United Artists

7. Hair (1979)
> Starring: John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D’Angelo
> Runtime: 121 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 19, 2020

Milos Forman’s exuberant Age of Aquarius musical is about a young man from Oklahoma who has been drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. On his way to join the Army, he becomes involved with a community of hippies in New York City. The film is fondly remembered for its dance scenes that were choreographed by Twyla Tharp and for its songs sung by Ellen Foley, Ronnie Dyson, and Melba Moore, among other artists. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 86% rating and audiences gave it an 88% rating.

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Courtesy of Amazon Studios

6. Les Misérables (2019)
> Starring: Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, Djebril Zonga
> Runtime: 104 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 10, 2020

Director Ladj Ly’s debut feature “Les Misérables,” a gritty portrayal of the Parisian underworld, won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019. It was also nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. It is solely available for streaming on Amazon Prime at this time.

Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company

5. The Secret of Roan Inish (1995)
> Starring: Jeni Courtney, Eileen Colgan, Mick Lally
> Runtime: 103 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 20, 2020

Critics hailed the direction of the John Sayles’ helmed story about a young girl staying with her grandparents in Donegal, Ireland, who believes a wild child on the island of Roan Inish is her long-lost little brother. Now available on Amazon Prime Video, “The Secret of Roan Inish” has a 95% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 87% like the family film.

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Courtesy of United Artists Pictures

4. Richard III (1995)
> Starring: Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Christopher Bowen
> Runtime: 110 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 20, 2020

An all-star British-American cast is topped off by Ian McKellen in the title role of Shakespeare’s murderous 15th-century monarch as reimagined in 1930s England as fascism looms. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave “Richard III” a 94% Freshness score, and 85% of audiences liked director Richard Loncraine’s depiction of one of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. “Richard III” can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.

Courtesy of A24

3. The Lighthouse (2019)
> Starring: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Valeriia Karaman
> Runtime: 109 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 16, 2020

This mysterious film about two lighthouse keepers isolated on an island in New England won over 90% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes thanks in large part to the lead performances by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Originally released in 2019, the movie is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and can be rented or purchased on Amazon Video.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

2. A Star Is Born (2018)
> Starring: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
> Runtime: 136 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 16, 2020

The Oscar-winning musical drama starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper is now available on Amazon Video. The two charming leads help make the movie a success, with a 90% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It can also be streamed on HBO Now.

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Courtesy of United Artists

1. The Train (1965)
> Starring: Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau
> Runtime: 133 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 16, 2020

“The Train” is a WWII thriller about a French railway worker-turned Resistance fighter who has to stop the Germans from removing priceless works of art from Paris ahead of the Allies liberation of the French capital. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave “The Train” a Freshness score of 92%, and 89% of audiences enjoyed the movie. The movie, which can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, reunited director John Frankenheimer with Burt Lancaster after they had collaborated on the films “Birdman of Alcatraz” and the Cold War nailbiter “Seven Days in May.”

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