The first quarter of 2024 is done and dusted, and let’s be real here for a second: The theatrical film releases haven’t been anything special this year–except for Dune: Part Two (C-I-N-E-M-A) and The Beekeeper (Jason Statham’s Citizen Kane). In reality, straight-to-streaming movies offered far more than the likes of Argylle, Madame Web, and the Mean Girls reboot. With that in mind, let’s take a look back at all the streaming films that should be added to everyone’s watchlist by now.
Ricky Stanicky | Prime Video
Forget John Cena the action star–he’s a comedy prodigy. Ricky Stanicky sees Cena star as lewd impersonator Rock-Hard Ron, who is hired by a group of friends to pose as their imaginary lifelong best friend, Ricky Stanicky. As it so happens, Ricky has been the cover for all their lies and chicanery since childhood, but people are starting to wonder if he ever really existed. What follows is an R-rated, laugh-until-the-ribs-hurt affair that never holds back on the crude jokes or outlandishness of the premise. Give Cena all the Oscars and knight him for this generational performance.
Orion and the Dark | Netflix
How many people had Charlie Kaufman writing a children’s movie on their 2024 bingo card? The animated Orion and the Dark tells the story of 11-year-old Orion who lives with perpetual fear of everything in his life. However, this changes when the supernatural manifestation of his anxieties, Dark, visits him one evening and they embark on a journey to allow Orion to face his fears and learn to let them go. Orion and the Dark lights up as a spellbinding and powerful film that encourages everyone to embrace the unknown rather than fear it. The stellar voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, and Angela Bassett.
Road House | Prime Video
Remaking a beloved cult classic is risky business, but Doug Liman’s Road House manages to respect the spirit of the original while also upping the ridiculousness of it. In this version, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Elwood Dalton, a former UFC fighter turned bouncer for a venue called–drum roll, please–The Road House. The clientele of this place makes Gotham City look like the Vatican, so Dalton needs to slug it out and get everyone back in line. The undisputed highlight of the Road House remake, though, is Conor McGregor who portrays the villainous Knox. McGregor is not a good actor by any means, but his character falls squarely in the so-bad-it’s-good category that he makes the entire movie that much better whenever he’s strutting on screen.
Damsel | Netflix
Netflix’s queen, Millie Bobby Brown, proves she’s no damsel in distress in the dark fantasy Damsel. Brown stars as a young girl named Elodie who accepts a marriage proposal from a prince to help her people. There’s no happily ever after here, though, as Elodie is used as a sacrifice to pay back an old debt. Chucked into a dragon’s lair, Elodie needs to survive the fiery beast and find a way out. Looking just as good as any major Hollywood blockbuster and possessing the same excitement factor, Damsel isn’t short on action or adventure here. Plus, it more than solidifies Brown’s status as a bona fide movie star.
Upgraded | Prime Video
This Cinderella-inspired film sees Ana (Camilla Mendes) meeting a wealthy man named William (Archie Renaux) after having her flight upgraded to first class. As they start to get to know each other, Ana leads William to believe she is an art director when she’s only an intern. This results in a series of events where Ana’s colleagues try to sabotage her while she tries to keep the secret of who she really is from William. As far as rom-coms go, Upgraded charms as a sweet and breezy watch that leaves everyone believing in the power of love.
Self Reliance | Hulu
Jake Johnson’s directorial debut Self Reliance blends comedy and thrills to maximum effect. It also flips a script on the often-told human hunting trope. In this film, actor Tommy Walcott (Johnson) is invited to participate in a dark web series where he will be hunted down for 30 days. If he survives, he wins $1 million. At first, Tommy hesitates, wondering if others around him might be in danger too, but when he’s told he can only be killed when he’s alone, Tommy believes he’s figured out the perfect game plan. Hilarity unfolds as Tommy tries to surround himself with people at all times to stay alive, putting himself in awkward and side-splitting situations.
Little Wing | Paramount+
Inspired by true events, the coming-of-age drama Little Wing hits right in the feels. After her parents divorce, Kaitlyn (Brooklyn Prince) finds out that her mother needs to sell the family home because of financial difficulties. However, Kaitlyn’s best friend tells her about a sought-out racing pigeon nearby, so they steal the bird and sell it. The owner of the bird, Jaan Vari (Brian Cox), tracks down Kaitlyn, but he doesn’t turn her in to the authorities as they work together to recover the bird. Like always, Cox commands the screen with his typical gravitas and presence, as Little Wing turns into a heart-melting story about how there’s no place like home.
Scoop | Netflix
Based on true events, Scoop retells the explosive story of how a tenacious newsroom secured an interview with Prince Andrew focused on his controversial and much-debated relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The film is less about Prince Andrew and more about the people who achieved what seemed like the impossible at the time, but it’s a gripping drama that keeps everyone’s eyes glued to the screen. It’s the kind of based-on-a-true-story film that has everyone Googling for more information on the topic as soon as the credits roll. Scoop stars Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, and Keeley Hawes.
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