From 'The Iron Claw' to 'The Idea of You,' here are 10 movies you need to stream right now
Sure, you could surprise your mom with a trip to the movie theater to see some smart apes or Ryan Gosling. But if she’d rather spend Mother’s Day hanging at home – and she loves movies, too – there are plenty of options to make the holiday entertaining.
Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Peacock, Max, Apple TV+, Paramount+ and others boast all sorts of streaming films for fans with various tastes, from comedy and horror to an Anne Hathaway double feature. There are recent theatrical releases like Zac Efron’s buzzy pro wrestling drama, a restored 1970 Beatles movie available for the first time in decades, plus a slew of original flicks such as Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tarts movie, a new film adaptation of a John Green book and a return to the film world for Brooke Shields, in a Netflix flick perfect for moms of all stripes.
Here are 10 notable new movies you can stream right now:
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‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Roger (David Alan Grier, right) brings Aren (Justice Smith) into a secret organization of Black members who make white people’s lives comfortable in the comedy “The American Society of Magical Negroes.”
Yarn sculptor Aren (Justice Smith) is recruited by wise mentor Roger (David Alan Grier) into a secret organization of Black agents whose mission is to keep white people comfortable, and Aren’s first assignment turns messy when love gets in the way of the job. It’s a satirical take on the “magical negro” trope that makes some points about race and culture before losing its way (and any sort of bite) when the film turns into a predictable rom-com.
Where to watch: Peacock.
‘Eileen’
Rebecca (Anne Hathaway, left) and Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) enjoy a night out on the town in the stylish, 1960s-set thriller “Eileen.”
Like “Carol” painted with some noir-ish shades, the 1960s-set thriller casts Thomasin McKenzie as the title character, a mousy secretary at a Boston boys prison who lives at home with an abusive dad (Shea Whigham) drinking himself to death. Eileen gets a pick-me-up at work with the arrival of sophisticated psychologist Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), who pulls the fragile younger woman into unfortunate circumstances.
Where to watch: Hulu.
‘The Idea of You’
A 40-year-old mom (Anne Hathaway, right) and a younger pop star (Nicholas Galitzine) find unexpected love in “The Idea of You.”
There’s a bit of a “Notting Hill” vibe to this rom-com starring Hathaway as 40-year-old divorced mom Solène, who reluctantly takes her teen daughter to Coachella and inadvertently meets – and sparks a spicy romance with – Hayes (Nicholas Galitzine), lead singer of a popular boy band. It’s a lot more serious and emotionally wrought than you might expect, but Hathaway nails her character’s layered nuance as Solène’s relationship goes viral.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
‘Infested’
Théo Christine (center) stars as a resident of an apartment building invaded by venomous spiders in the French horror movie “Infested.”
Get ready, arachnophobiacs: This deeply unnerving French creature feature has the Stephen King seal of horror approval. Kaleb, a sneaker-dealing collector of exotic animals, brings home an eight-legged new pet. What he doesn’t realize is he’s just bought a venomous super-spider, which gets loose in his decrepit apartment building and spawns an army of quickly reproducing (and increasingly sizable) critters that do gnarly things to the neighbors.
Where to watch: Shudder.
‘The Iron Claw’
Bill Mercer (Michael Harney, second from right) interviews the wrestling trio of Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), David (Harris Dickinson) and Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron) in “The Iron Claw.”
A very ripped (and amazing) Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson play members of the Von Erich pro wrestling dynasty in this gripping 1980s-set biopic. Raised by their ex-wrestler father (Holt McCallany), the Von Erichs find success in the ring while navigating a series of tragic losses outside it in director Sean Durkin’s touching story of Americana mixed with sibling rivalry, parental pressure and brutal despair.
Where to watch: Max.
‘Let It Be’
The 1970 Beatles movie “Let It Be” was restored by Peter Jackson and now is available to stream on Disney+.
For Beatles fans or music lovers in general who’ve just never seen it, Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s restored 1970 documentary is a fascinating, candid look at the Fab Four recording the “Let It Be” album, bickering, goofing off and also creating timeless gems. Not as exhaustive or drama-filled as Peter Jackson’s “Get Back” docuseries – which pulled from Lindsay-Hogg’s wealth of footage – it’s still a groovy watch of musical geniuses at work.
Where to watch: Disney+.
‘Mother of the Bride’
Brooke Shields (right) stars as a mom who ventures to Thailand for the wedding of her daughter (Miranda Cosgrove) in the romantic comedy “Mother of the Bride.”
It’s nice to see Brooke Shields still relevant, and as a lead in a rom-com no less. (“Suddenly Susan” hive, rise up!) But this cheeseball affair is only for Shields completists: The actress plays a famous geneticist whose daughter (Miranda Cosgrove) drops the bomb that she’s suddenly getting married, and then the protective mom finds out at the destination wedding in Thailand that the father of the groom is her college ex (Benjamin Bratt).
Where to watch: Netflix.
‘Prom Dates’
Julia Lester (left) and Antonia Gentry play best friends who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom and have to scramble to find the dates at the 11th hour in the Hulu teen comedy “Prom Dates.”
What could easily be just another R-rated “one crazy night” teen comedy gets a boost from its lively main characters. Jess (Antonia Gentry) and Hannah (Julia Lester) made a pact to have the perfect senior prom at 13, but on the eve of the big night, Jess dumps her cheating beau and Hannah comes out as a lesbian. When they have to scramble to find the perfect dates, assorted shenanigans and, of course, personal growth ensue.
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+.
‘Turtles All the Way Down’
Aza (Isabela Merced, left) wrestles with her mental health and a changing relationship with best friend Daisy (Cree) in the young adult drama “Turtles All the Way Down.”
Adaptations of John Green’s young adult novels (including “The Fault in Our Stars”) have been a mixed bag, but this one’s the best if just for its effectiveness in capturing mental health struggles. Aza (Isabela Merced) dreams of going to college, has ride-or-die pal Daisy (Cree) in her corner and reconnects with camp friend Davis (Felix Mallard), though her crippling OCD – and fear of germs and infection – is a constant threat to foil each one.
Where to watch: Max.
‘Unfrosted’
Donna Stankowski (Melissa McCarthy, far left), Bob Cabana (Jerry Seinfeld) and Edsel Kellogg III (Jim Gaffigan) take cover before an explosive taste test in “Unfrosted,” a comedy about the origin of Pop-Tarts directed by Seinfeld.
Jerry Seinfeld’s delightfully ridiculous directorial debut explores the origins of Pop-Tarts with an extremely silly not-so-true story and tons of gags and cameos. The comedian and Melissa McCarthy play Kellogg’s employees tasked in 1963 with creating a toaster pastry before their competitors, a processed food spin on the space race that also involves a milk mafia, disgruntled breakfast cereal mascots and a heap of nostalgia.
Where to watch: Netflix.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From ‘The Iron Claw’ to ‘The Idea of You,’ here are 10 movies you need to stream right now