We're six months in, but where are we at? Join Mashable as we look back at all the viral moments, movies, memes, dating trends, hyped up tech, scientific discoveries, and more that have delighted and amazed us so far in 2024.
What are the best new movies on Netflix? With the streaming service offering a wide array of comedies, action movies, thrillers, and more, it can be difficult to choose what to watch. Sure, Netflix aims to promote their latest releases to grab your attention. But just because it's new doesn't mean it's worth your time.
Fret not. We've done the hard part for you. Below, you'll find the very best Netflix original films of 2024, now streaming. Whether you want something heartwarming, mind-bending, pulse-racing, funny-bone-tickling, or gut-wrenching, we've got you covered with the top tier of Netflix's new dramas, docs, true crime, animated movies, action-adventures, and more.
Charlie Kaufman, the brilliant but twisted mind behind movies like Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and I'm Thinking of Ending Things, tried his hand at family-friendly in 2024 with Orion and the Dark.
When Adam Sandler teams up with Netflix, the results are often willfully stupid comedies like Hubie Halloween, The Do-Over, and the infamously repugnant Western The Ridiculous 6. But the Sandman's been on a roll recently, with the sweet coming-of-age comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, which starred his real-life daughters; the charming animated musical Leo; and this bizarre and bittersweet sci-fi drama about a sad astronaut and a giant space spider voiced by Paul Dano.
She's a damsel. She's in distress. She can handle this. Have a nice day. Millie Bobby Brown gives one of her strongest performances to date in Damsel, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's film about a princess named Elodie, who's yeeted into a dragon's lair by her extremely fresh prince husband (Nick Robinson) on their wedding day. But what seems like quite a flippant premise actually ends up being a kick-ass survival film.
Netflix's true crime section is so vast that it can be difficult to pluck the treasures from the trash. For every Amanda Knox, there's a bunch of unsavory options. Thankfully, Amanda Knox producer Stephen Robert Morse teamed with Class Action Park director Seth Porges for this curious bank robber bio-doc, How to Rob a Bank.
Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya's film The Kitchen is more than a sci-fi drama set in near-future London; it's a sharp commentary on privatization and oppression, police brutality, and the power of community resistance. It's also Kaluuya's directorial debut, and a hell of a watch.
Kristy Puchko is the Film Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she's an established film critic and entertainment reporter, who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers, and had her work published on RogerEbert.com, Vanity Fair, and The Guardian. A member of the Critics Choice Association and GALECA as well as a Top Critic on Rotten Tomatoes, Kristy's primary focus is movies. However, she's also been known to gush over television, podcasts, and board games. You can follow her on Twitter.
Scroll no more! To help, we've rounded up the best movies and TV shows to stream this week, including new arrivals, nostalgia-filled favorites, book-to-screen adaptations and more. For the week of July 29 to August 4, 2024, there are several streaming releases and live events worthy of a watch, including the first full week of The Paris Olympics.
Wes Ball, whose past projects include the Maze Runner trilogy, directs the latest film in the Planet of the Apes franchise. In Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the apes have completely taken over and live in harmony, while humans hide in the shadows. When a new leader takes over and wants to end the human threat forever, an unlikely alliance forms between one human (The Witcher's Freya Allan) and a primate. The movie premieres on Hulu on August 2.
Elizabeth Taylor passed over a decade ago, but now viewers can hear the Hollywood icon's story in her own words. Newly recovered interviews of Taylor have given unprecedented insight into the star's life and are being shared in HBO's latest documentary. Describing the complexity of her life and the struggles she faced through her legendary career, Taylor's tapes provide viewers with a new side of the Cleopatra actress. Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes premieres on Max on August 3.
Prime Video's take on Batman is already hitting the headlines with Minnie Driver voicing a gender-swapped Penguin. The new animated series, Batman: Caped Crusader, centers around Bruce Wayne's quest for justice and the unexpected ramifications. Rated TV-14, this take on the DC hero is geared toward an older audience. All episodes of the show will be available to stream on August 1 via Prime Video.
ABC News Studio is releasing a second season of the docuseries, Betrayal, based on a popular true crime podcast. This season follows Ashley Lytton, a mother of three who accidentally discovers a sinister secret about her husband, Jason. The series follows the devastating series of events as Ashley and her family grapple with untangling a web of lies and truths. Betrayal: A Father's Secret premieres on Hulu on July 30.
Fry, Bender, Leela and the rest of the Planet Express gang are back for season 12 of Futurama. This is the second season debuting on Hulu since the revival of the beloved series. We don't know exactly what is in store for the crew of the interplanetary delivery service, but we imagine they will travel to new worlds and find themselves on hilarious adventures. New episodes of Futurama will drop on Mondays.
Fans of Project Runway will want to check out Dress My Tour. Eleven fashion designers will compete to see their dreams of creating a look for the world's biggest stars come true. Each week, Kate Upton will host as incredibly talented artists including JoJo Siwa, Ty Dolla $ign, Paula Abdul and Toni Braxton have fashion collections designed for their upcoming tours. But it's not just the prestige these designers are after: They can also win $100,000. All episodes of the first season of Dress My Tour dropped to Hulu on July 23.
Based on the 1981 film, Time Bandits is a new show coming to Apple TV+ created for television with the help of Taika Waititi. Starring Lisa Kudrow, Time Bandits follows Kevin (Kal-El Tuck) an 11-year-old history buff who accidentally goes back in time. Kevin must work with unlikely allies (a group of time-traveling thieves led by Kudrow's character) to get back to save his family and home. Rated PG, this is a series the whole family can enjoy. Time Bandits premiered on Apple TV+ on July 24.
Michael Keaton directs Knox Goes Away, an action-packed thriller starring Keaton, James Marsden, Al Pacino and Marcia Gay Harden. In the film, a professional hitman (Keaton) develops a rapid form of dementia with only weeks to live. When his son (Marsden) needs help clearing his name, the contract killer, who is losing his grasp of reality, must solve a case before the police do and before his time runs out. Knox Goes Away premiered on Max on July 26.
Acrobatics, death-defying stunts and incredible showmanship make Cirque du Soleil performances a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. The iconic Las Vegas show, O, complete with a giant pool built into the stage for high diving feats, was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net documents this challenging time with the owners even declaring bankruptcy at one point. After 400 days, the performers and crew are given the all-clear to start practicing again and must adjust to a new normal. The documentary premiered on Prime Video on July 25.
Simone Biles shocked the world when she left the 2020 Tokoyo Olympics. In Netflix's new series, Simone Biles Rising, Biles gets candid about this time in her life and the impact the events had on her mental health. The two-part series documents the steps Biles has taken since that day and how she moved on to a path of success for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Simone Biles Rising premiered on Netflix on July 17.
A young girl disappears on Thanksgiving day in the 1960s. Maddie Schwartz (Natalie Portman) becomes fixated on the death and tries her hand at investigative journalism. Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram) struggles to provide for herself and her family while working in Black Baltimore politics. While vastly different, their lives appear related, but Schwartz's investigation puts everyone in danger. Lady in the Lake premiered on Apple TV+ on July 19.
Looking for an action-packed film filled with hilarious scenes? Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman are back for a second My Spy film, where they find themselves in Italy on a school trip. However, when the Vatican is under attack, the mission changes. Along with the iconic pair, other big stars like Ken Jeong, Kristen Schaal, Anna Faris and Craig Robinson appear in the movie. My Spy The Eternal City premiered on Prime Video on July 18.
Anthony Hopkins and Game of Thrones' Iwan Rheon star in Peaock's series Those About to Die. Set in the early Roman Empire, this show leads viewers into the gruesome sports where beasts battled soldiers to entertain the masses. The bloody, gladiatorial competitions are happening as the politics and dynasties begin to explode. Those About to Die premiered on Peacock on July 18.
Kristen Stewart, Ed Harris and Katy O'Brian star in the A24 film Love Lies Bleeding. Lou (Stewart) is a reclusive gym owner who falls for a new bodybuilder in town, Jackie (O'Brian). As Jackie begins to work for the family's gun range, she learns Lou Sr. (Harris) is actually at the center of a criminal enterprise. Love Lies Bleeding premiered on Max on July 19.
Brandy and Paolo Montalban reprised their iconic Cinderella and Prince Charming roles in Disney+'s original movie, Descendents: The Rose of Red. In the fourth franchise of the Descendents series, Red, the daughter of the infamous Queen of Hearts, is invited to Auradon Prep. Red is excited about the experience, but her mother takes over campus in a coup on her first day. To save the school, Red and Cinderella's daughter must go back in time to stop Red's mom from becoming a villain. The family-friendly film premiered on Friday, July 12.
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