This week is full of new releases on streaming services. There are plenty of original films making their first appearances, as well as popular theatrical releases making the leap from the big screen to streaming at home.

Perhaps the most notable film of the week is “The Joker: Folie à Deux,” now available on PVOD. This comic sequel was not particularly well received in theaters, but now that it is available for streaming, there is a chance that it will be shown again. Other top releases this week included Netflix's new time-travel slasher, “The Substance,” which is finally available for streaming, and Max's coming-of-age drama, which was the talk of the film festival circuit.

If you want a full rundown of new films worth streaming this week, you've come to the right place. And don't forget to check out our companion guide to the best new shows you can stream this week.

Sir Ian McKellen stars in this thriller set in the 1930s. In The Critic, the veteran British actor plays Jimmy Erskine, London's most respected and powerful theater critic. But when the tabloid he writes for comes under a new leader named David Brook (Mark Strong), Jimmy makes an ambitious power play and persuades a struggling actress (Gemma Arterton) to get involved in a blackmail scheme with deadly consequences.

The period piece is pleasantly twisty, but its flimsy characters do not quite match the ambition of the storytelling. However, McKellen's lead performance is strong, and his knack for wry twists is unmatched. The Critic may not have been a critical darling when it made its theatrical debut, but its streaming release this week may bring in some new fans. Alfred Enoch from “Harry Potter” plays Jimmy's assistant and lover.

Buy or Rent Now on Apple TV

One of the biggest flops in movie history, “The Joker”: For a Do: From a sequel that was sure to captivate audiences to a critically trashed and largely rejected by audiences (a record box office bomb) to a disastrous sequel, this controversial follow-up to 2019's “The Joker” sees Joaquin Phoenix return to Arthur Fleck's clown makeup, this time taking on someone else, Harleen “Lee” Knizel (Lady Gaga).

Fleck, imprisoned at Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial for his violent actions in the previous film, “The Joker,” meets Lee, and the two develop a romance. But the violent dynamic sparked by Fleck's crimes continues to swell, and as the trial approaches, all of Gotham teeters on the edge of chaos. There's a lot going on in “The Joker,” a mix of psychological thriller, courtroom drama, and jukebox musical: but sadly, director Todd Phillips can't quite pull it all together, resulting in a bog-standard ending.

Buy or Rent Now on Amazon

When I first heard about “Piece by Piece,” I genuinely thought it was a parody film that would never actually be released, but no, this is a real music biopic focusing on musician Pharrell Williams No, this is a real music biopic focusing on musician Pharrell Williams. Music biopics have become increasingly popular in recent years. This animated film tells Pharrell's unique story by combining original music, documentary filmmaking techniques, and a famous Danish toy assembly. Piece by Piece may be the most unexpected collaboration of the year, but reviews have been quite positive, and the soundtrack is sure to be a toe-tapper. Buy or rent on Amazon

The premise of “Time Cut” may be a bit familiar to viewers of Prime Video's “The Perfect Murder. “ Both films are slashers in which a girl travels back in time to stop the murder of her family, but whereas Amazon's “2023” focused on time slips to the 1980s, this new Netflix film is about nostalgia in the early 2000s.

Starring Madison Bailey (perhaps best known to many Netflix subscribers for her key role in “The Outer Banks”), a high school senior travels back in time to 2003. Determined to prevent her sister from falling victim to this tragic fate, the protagonist sets out to uncover the identity of the culprit and change the past. This Netflix original film is full of time travel shenanigans and will be released just in time for the Halloween movie night marathon.

Watch on Netflix starting October 30

Aiming to be “the definitive documentary on Martha Stewart,” “Martha” is a Netflix film that gives viewers a deep insight into “America's greatest self-employed icon.” Starting as a teenage model, Martha” follows her journey from her beginnings as a teenage model, to working as a stockbroker on Wall Street, to her eventual reign as the nation's favorite tastemaker, and includes interviews with the people who knew her best, as well as with the woman herself. It's an inspiring look at her working-class upbringing and how she became the first influencer in history. And it also showcases her (brief) life in prison. However, Martha Stewart herself was not that impressed with the final product, giving a rather scathing assessment in a recent interview with The New York Times.

Watch it on Netflix starting October 30

“Grue the Phantom Thief 4” is a film that needs no introduction. The latest installment of the animated sequel starring the world-conquering Minions was released in July, and while it fell just short of winning the billion-dollar club, it was still an economic smash and a must-see summer vacation movie in every household. This week's Peacock debut comes at the perfect time for parents looking for a colorful distraction to keep their little ones entertained for at least a little while before the holiday season.

In Despicable Me 4, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), a former supervillain and now an agent of the Anti-Villain League, returns with his wife Lucy Wilde (Kirsten Wiig) and his young family. This time Gru is up against an old rival, Maxime Le Mar (Will Ferrell), who is eager to settle a past score. Meanwhile, the family must adjust to the birth of Gru Jr. and the superpowers of the minions, and all hell breaks loose as expected.

Watch on Peacock starting October 31

One of the best dark thrillers of the year, “The Substance,” makes its streaming debut this week: my advice: don't research this movie or watch the trailer above. Watch it knowing as little as possible, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Substance is one of my favorite films of 2024, in large part because of its unpredictability. But if you need a little more information before committing, here is a plot synopsis.

“The Substance” centers on Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a fading movie star struggling to accept that her time in the spotlight is coming to an end. Elizabeth is given the chance to try an experimental drug that can transform her into her younger self for seven days, and it seems like a miraculous curse that will solve all her problems. But things spiral out of control when she recklessly disregards the strict rules governing the drug's use. The Substance also stars Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid.

Available on MUBI October 31

It's only a matter of time before someone makes a Donald Trump biopic, with “The Apprentice,” a drama about the controversial former president's early career. set in the 1970s and 1980s, the drama, Roy Cohn explores his relationship with a lawyer (Jeremy Strong) and also covers his first marriage to Ivana (Maria Bakalova) In its two-hour running time, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of what makes Trump tick.

Sebastian Stan gives a transformative performance as Trump. There are moments when Stan brilliantly nails Trump's unique mannerisms, which are almost eerie. Strong's supporting cast is equally impressive, with Roy Cohn perhaps the film's most interesting character. However, “The Apprentice” struggles to find its audience. It's not sharp enough to please those who don't like Trump, but it's certainly not a film that will be supported. Instead, the film exists in a neutral middle ground, an odd place given Trump's polarizing personality.

Available for purchase or rental on Apple TV beginning November 1

“Janet Planet” opens this week at the Max following its festival premiere in early September. The reviews at the Telluride Film Festival have been generally positive, and the coming-of-age drama currently holds a high score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you're looking for something quality this week, head over to Max to see Janet. [Set in the summer of 1991 in rural Massachusetts, Lacey (Zoe Ziegler) spends her days with her free-spirited mother Janet (Julianne Nicholson). Annie Baker's directorial debut, “Janet Planet” delves deeply into the complex relationship between mother and daughter. It looks certain to be one of the year's most popular hits.

Watch it on Max starting November 1