Special Report
Best Movies You Can Stream at Home This Week
Published:
With nine states beginning to reopen their economy this week, and others set to do so at the end of April, Americans are beginning to emerge from their homes after sheltering in place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Even so, many millions of other Americans are continuing to stay at home and stream movies, an activity that has become more popular than ever. Overall, streaming has increased by 26% in recent weeks, according to streaming data company Conviva. Industry leaders such as Netflix have also gained millions of new subscribers since the pandemic began.
With so much demand for movies, it’s essential that streaming platforms continue to provide new content. And while much of this new content might be mediocre, there certainly are gems to be found that can help make make staying at home as enjoyable as it can be.
To assist readers in deciding which films deserve consideration, 24/7 Tempo has identified the 25 best movies to stream this week. Each of these films is newly available 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 content, and the best movies to stream this week can be found on Netflix, HBO Now, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Amazon Video. Genres vary greatly — including dramas, comedies, children’s films, documentaries, and more — as do the films’ original release years, which range from the 1930s to contemporary films released as recently as this year.
Many of the movies on this list are 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 13 through April 27 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.
25. Penguins (2019)
> Starring: N/A
> Runtime: 76 min
> Rating: G
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 22, 2020
This Disney feature documentary follows a young penguin named Steve who sets out along with millions of other male penguins to find a mate. Narrated by Ed Helms, the film has garnered excellent reviews and has a 92% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It can now be rented on Amazon Video or streamed on Disney+ in 4K resolution.
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24. Seabiscuit (2003)
> Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Elizabeth Banks
> Runtime: 140 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 23, 2020
A retelling of the famed Depression-era racehorse, “Seabiscuit” stars Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, and Elizabeth Banks. Unlike its 1949 predecessor that starred Shirley Temple, the latter-day version attempts to tell a factual account of Seabiscuit’s story. The film, now available on Amazon Video, has a 78% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 76% rating among audiences.
23. Boy Meets Girl (2015)
> Starring: Michael Welch, Michelle Hendley, Alexandra Turshen
> Runtime: 95 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 27, 2020
“Boy Meets Girl” is a romcom about a transgender woman in Kentucky that has received positive reviews from 87% of critics and 80% of users on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics describe the movie, which is now available on Amazon Prime Video, as sensitive, fun, and quirky.
22. Out in the Dark (2013)
> Starring: Nicholas Jacob, Michael Aloni, Jameel Khoury
> Runtime: 96 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 22, 2020
The 2013 drama “Out in the Dark” tells the story of two gay men on opposite sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict who fall in love. Though reviewed by fewer people than some of the films on our list, “Out in the Dark” has impressed online users who have seen it, garnering positive reviews from 82% of audience members on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 7.5 out of 10 on IMDb.
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21. The Party (1968)
> Starring: Peter Sellers, Claudine Longet, Natalia Borisova
> Runtime: 99 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 20, 2020
Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers, who collaborated on the successful Pink Panther movie series in the 1960s, collaborated again in this comedy about an accident-prone actor who gets invited to a Hollywood party. Critic Sean Axmaker of Stream on Demand called the romp an “elaborately choreographed dance of physical comedy.” “The Party,” now on Amazon Prime, has a Rotten Tomatoes Freshness score of 82% and audience score of 88%.
20. 10 Rillington Place (1971)
> Starring: Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, John Hurt
> Runtime: 111 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 24, 2020
The 1971 film “10 Rillington Place” explores the real-life crimes of notorious British serial killer John Christie. Generally well regarded, “10 Rillington Place” has a 7.6/10 rating on IMDb, and a positive rating among 85% of viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. The true crime film is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
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19. 49th Parallel (1942)
> Starring: Leslie Howard, Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey
> Runtime: 123 min
> Rating: .
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 27, 2020
“The 49th Parallel,” a wartime movie directed by Michael Powell, is about German sailors stranded on Canadian soil after their U-boat is torpedoed. After their attempts to turn Canadian sentiment against the British Empire fail, they try to cross into the still-neutral United States across the 49th parallel — the latitude representing much of the border of Canada and the U.S. The cast includes Leslie Howard, Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Glynis Johns, and Eric Portman, and the movie can now be streamed on Amazon Prime
18. Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)
> Starring: Freddie Bartholomew, Dolores Costello, C. Aubrey Smith
> Runtime: 102 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 25, 2020
This film from 1936 tells the story of a young boy from Brooklyn who goes to live with his British grandfather after becoming the heir to his fortune. The movie — based on a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett — was a huge hit upon its original release and has since been given a modern high definition master.
17. Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)
> Starring: Martin Sheen
> Runtime: 92 min
> Rating: PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 24, 2020
The documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” is structured as a murder mystery investigating the “death” of General Motors’ EV1 — a short-lived electric vehicle that debuted in 1996. The 2006 film may seem outdated with the burgeoning popularity of Teslas and other electric vehicles, but it serves as an examination of greed in America’s corporate culture and is certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
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16. Heidi (2015)
> Starring: Anuk Steffen, Anna Schinz, Lilian Naef
> Runtime: 111 min
> Rating: G
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 23, 2020
The positive, uplifting tale of “Heidi” was originally a novel and has been adapted into films and TV series over a dozen times in the past century. The critically acclaimed 2015 version, which is available on Amazon Video, is considered the biggest blockbuster hit in the history of Swiss cinema.
15. Bad Education (2020)
> Starring: Hugh Jackman, Ray Romano, Welker White
> Runtime: 103 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: HBO Now on April 26, 2020
Based on a true story, this HBO film stars Hugh Jackman and Allison Janey as a pair of Long Island school administrators who steal millions from a high school. The movie had its television premiere on April 25 and is now available for streaming on all HBO platforms. So far, it has received near universal praise by critics, who gave “Bad Education” a 93% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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14. Kenny (2008)
> Starring: Shane Jacobson, Travis Golland, Chris Davis
> Runtime: 99 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 23, 2020
This Australian mockumentary follows a porta-john plumber as he travels to the Pumper and Cleaner Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite its frequently crude humor, the movie has garnered a perfect 100% Freshness rating from critics, who found it both funny and touching.
13. Circus of Books (2020)
> Starring: Karen Mason, Barry Mason, Rachel Mason
> Runtime: 92 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 23, 2020
This Netflix documentary examines the story of a heterosexual married couple who run a popular LGBT pornography shop in Los Angeles. The movie won awards for Best Documentary Feature at both the Camden International Film Festival and the Sidewalk Film Festival. It has a perfect rating from the 34 critics who have reviewed it thus far on Rotten Tomatoes.
12. Osama (2003)
> Starring: Marina Golbahari, Zubaida Sahar, Khwaja Nader
> Runtime: 83 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 24, 2020
The Afghan film “Osama,” inspired by a true story, is the harrowing tale of a 12-year-old girl who must quickly come of age after the Taliban come to power. She is forced to pretend to be a man so she can work and support her mother and grandmother after the girl’s father and brother die. It won a Golden Globe in 2004 as the best foreign language film of that year.
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11. 99 River Street (1953)
> Starring: John Payne, Evelyn Keyes, Brad Dexter
> Runtime: 83 min
> Rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 27, 2020
“99 River Street” enjoys a 100% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes for its absorbing and brutally violent story of a boxer battling racketeers. The film noir, now on Amazon Prime, resonated with critic Matt Brunson of Creative Loafing, who said, “Has any other cinematic genre offered as many buried treasures as film noir? Here’s another unpolished gem to add to the stack.”
10. The Band’s Visit (2008)
> Starring: Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz, Saleh Bakri
> Runtime: 87 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 24, 2020
This engaging comedy-drama, which touches on our common humanity, tells the story of a Egyptian police force musical ensemble that goes to perform at an Arab arts center in Israel but gets lost enroute and ends up in the wrong town. The film, now on Amazon Prime, was hailed by the Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes as “both a clever, subtle slice-of-life comedy, and poignant cross-cultural exploration.”
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9. 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.
8. 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.
7. Promare (2019)
> Starring: John Eric Bentley, Steve Blum, Johnny Yong Bosch
> Runtime: 111 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 21, 2020
The feature-length anime “Promare” was enjoyed by critics and viewers alike — both giving it over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. The 2019 film is celebrated for its unique visual style. The film follows futuristic mechanical fire fighting services as they fight off flame-wielding mutants in a post-apocalyptic future.
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6. 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.
5. Quiz Show (1994)
> Starring: Ralph Fiennes, John Turturro, Rob Morrow
> Runtime: 133 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 23, 2020
Robert Redford directed this film about class and privilege as reflected through the game-show scandals of the 1950s. The film, now available on Amazon Prime, is powered by a strong cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, John Turturro, and Paul Scofield. It was nominated for four Academy Awards and holds a 96% Freshness rating among critics and an 87% score among audiences.
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4. Beastie Boys Story (2020)
> Starring: Adam Horovitz, Mike D, Beastie Boys
> Runtime: 119 min
> Rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Apple TV Plus on April 24, 2020
The newly released documentary of the New York City hip-hop group — who exploded into fame in the late 1980s — is now on Apple TV Plus. The movie was directed by Spike Jonze and has received critical acclaim among critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, with scores of 93% and 92%, respectively. Critic Danny Leigh of the Financial Times called the film a “discreetly sage documentary.”
3. Django Unchained (2012)
> Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
> Runtime: 165 min
> Rating: R
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 25, 2020
Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed “Django Unchained,” a revenge film about a freed slave, Django (Jamie Foxx), who is teaming up with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to try to rescue his wife from a plantation. The film won two Academy Awards — Waltz for Best Supporting Actor and Tarantino for Best Original Screenplay.
2. No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005)
> Starring: Bob Dylan, B.J. Rolfzen, Dick Kangas
> Runtime: 208 min
> Rating: G
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 25, 2020
Martin Scorsese, who helped create pop music history by editing the groundbreaking rock documentary “Woodstock,” revisited the genre with “No Direction Home: Bob Dylan,” now on Netflix. The documentary, about the folk music icon’s turbulent and creative years in the early and mid-60s, holds an 88% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 95% of audiences liked the film.
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1. The Artist (2012)
> Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman
> Runtime: 100 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 25, 2020
The black-and-white, mostly silent film “The Artist” became one of the most celebrated and well-reviewed films of the last decade, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor in a lead role. It tells the story of a 1920s silent film actor who is worried about the advent of sound in movies and of a young extra who hopes to become a star.
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