This week it's the turn of less popular platforms like Peacock and Apple TV Plus to shine while giants like Netflix and Max take a week off
The biggest new release this week was family favorite Despicable Me 4, which made the leap from movie theaters to home viewing services If you need a distraction for the little ones during the last few weeks of summer vacation, this is a good time to make the switch Peacock's "The Bikeriders" and Apple TV Plus's "The Instigators" are not the only other notable films debuting this week
If you're interested in streaming this week's new releases, all the new releases coming to streaming services are listed below Also, be sure to check out our guide to the best new shows of the week, including the final season of Netflix's "Umbrella Academy" And be sure to watch the best action movies of the past 15 years on Tubi for free
Love 'em or hate 'em, the minions are back with Despicable Me 4 Although it has "4" in the title, this is actually the sixth installment in the franchise and follows the now well-established blueprint of the series Those who have seen the previous "Despicable Me" films will know the gist, and those who haven't should expect goofy humor, colorful characters, and plenty of little yellow irritants Older audiences may find Despicable Me 4 a bit unforgivable, but there's a reason why kids are so enthusiastic about this franchise
In Despicable Me 4, supervillain-turned-superdad Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is tormented by the newest addition to the family, Gru Jr And as if an unruly toddler wasn't enough, his former school rival Maxime Le Mar (Will Ferrell) has escaped from prison and has vowed revenge on Gru for a certain incident in his past To escape this vengeful villain, Gru and his family must enter the witness protection program and assume new identities in their new town
Buy or rent on Amazon starting August 6
"One Fast Move" is an interesting mix of ideas It is primarily an adrenaline-fueled motorsport adventure, but it is not afraid to look beyond burning rubber to real human emotions and the scars left by troubled youth This fusion of ideas propels this Prime Video original to the top of the podium The film's protagonist is Wes Neal (KJ Apa), a talented but self-destructive motorcycle racer Desperate for a life on the highway, he seeks out his estranged father, former racing champion Dean Miller (Eric Dane), and recruits him as a coach
Determined to go pro at any cost, Wes's reunion with his father is not an easy one Not only does Dean push him to his physical and emotional limits, but the pressure to meet his extreme expectations reawakens old wounds While pursuing his dream of becoming a professional racer, Wes falls in love with a local waitress (Maia Lefico) and receives sage advice from his father's mentor Abel (Edward James Olmos) Soon Wes must risk everything he loves for glory on the circuit
Watch on Prime Video starting August 8
Big week for motorcycle fans Inspired by photographer Danny Lyon's book about the exploits of a real-life outlaw motorcycle club, "The Biker Riders" is an oily period piece about an era in American history that is still revered today Starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, and Michael Shannon, it has a cast worthy of all the great bikes, and by the time the credits roll, you'll be eager to buy a Harley of your own
The opening takes place in the 1960s Kathy Bauer (Comer) is not your typical biker girl, but when she meets Benny (Butler), a member of the Vandals, a Chicago-based motorcycle club, she leaves her old world behind and enters a new one dominated by engine exhaust, leather jackets, and cheerful cookouts She steps into it Johnny (Hardy), the club's leader and founder, wants things to go on as before, but over the decades, new members challenge the peaceful status quo and threaten the Vandals' way of life
Airing August 9 on Peacock
"The Instigators" co-stars Matt Damon and another Affleck brother, Casey But don't worry about Matt and Ben's long-standing friendship, as the two will be seen together in the upcoming "The Instigators," which will air on Apple TV Plus on August 8 What's more, this Apple TV Plus original film is directed by the director of "The Bourne Identity," "Mr & Mrs Smith," "Edge of Tomorrow," and this year's well-received remake of "Road House" starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and has a pretty solid Doug Liman, who has an action filmography, will direct Meanwhile, Liman also directed the 2008 sci-fi flop "Jumper," but no one is perfect
Rory (Damon) and Coby (Affleck) are in a tight spot One is a desperate father, the other an ex-con, and the two become unlikely partners in stealing a politician's ill-gotten wealth, but when the job goes wrong, the two are forced to flee On the run from police, bureaucrats, and vengeful crime bosses, the two have a lot on their shoulders But at least they should be able to convince Laurie's therapist (Hong Chau) to help them keep their cool On paper, it sounds like the perfect element of a thrilling action-comedy, but early reviews have been less than favorable (only 39% on Rotten Tomatoes), which is very disappointing
Watch on Apple TV Plus starting August 9
"Force of Nature": Dry 2 sounds like the kind of fake movie title you'd see in an animated comedy or an episode of "Anthrage," but don't be fooled by the extremely generic name This is not some silly disaster movie trying to capitalize on the "Twisters" hype (I admit that was my first assumption when I read the title), but an Australian mystery thriller based on the novel of the same name by author Jane Harper, and an often-overlooked AMC Plus may turn out to be a surprising gem of a service
Federal agent Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) returns in Dry 2 After receiving a tip from a woman named Alice Russell (Anna Torv) about a massive money laundering scheme, the informant suddenly disappears the next day while on a company hike Suspecting that he is involved in the fraud, Faulk and his partner, Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie), head for the mountains to find answers In addition, Faulk has a tragic family connection to the area, so personal interests come into play
Watch on AMC Plus starting August 9
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