If you like high-profile movies heading to streaming, then you’re going to like the list this week. On Apple TV, a popular Mattel toy brand has been turned into a movie. Hulu has two releases this week: one is a documentary about an iconic band, and the other is an intriguing horror movie.
The final two movies have some serious star power. The first is Ben Affleck’s next directorial effort, which heads to Netflix. The second, and my top pick of the week, hails from the legend himself, Steven Spielberg. All five movies can be streamed in the U.S.
5
Matchbox The Movie
The cars shine in this action movie
Ever since the success of Barbie, Mattel Films has been all-in on the movie-making business. Earlier this year, Mattel released Masters of the Universe, which garnered mixed reviews and flopped at the box office. Mattel is hoping for more success with Matchbox The Movie, which will bypass theaters and head right to streaming.
John Cena stars as Sean Walker, a CIA agent who reunites with the “Matchbox gang,” his group of childhood friends, played by Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, and Teyonah Parris. Their reunion is cut short when the group is drugged and kidnapped by international criminals looking for a nuclear warhead. The CIA now believes Sean has the weapon, meaning the only way to clear his name is to find the warhead with the help of his friends. At the very least, I’m expecting excellent action scenes with Extraction director Sam Hargrave at the helm.
Matchbox: The Movie streams on Oct. 9 on Apple TV.
4
Hokum
Underrated horror with a Severance star
It’s October, and many people, including myself, are likely looking for horror movies. While Netflix always has some great horror options, Hulu has bolstered the genre with some spooky titles. One of the streamer’s new movies this month is Hokum, Damien McCarthy’s version of a haunted house tale.
Adam Scott stars as Ohm Bauman, an American novelist hoping to find some inspiration in his travels to an Irish hotel where he plans to spread the ashes of his deceased parents. Ohm learns that the hotel has a honeymoon suite that is supposedly haunted by a witch. Upon further investigation, it might be, as supernatural occurrences start happening. If you’re a fan of atmospheric horror, then Hokum might be worth checking out.
Hokum streams on Oct. 10 on Hulu.
3
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger
The Gallagher brothers reunite
Oasis might have played a pivotal role in shaping your musical tastes. Onstage, Liam and Noel Gallagher made magic. Offstage, they got along like oil and water, and their constant fighting led to their breakup in 2009. They say time heals all wounds, and in 2024, Oasis announced they would be reuniting to play concerts in 2025.
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger chronicles the historic reunion and how the Gallagher brothers put aside their differences to get the band back together. Hopefully, Oasis will stay together for years to come so I can get to a concert.
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger streams on Oct. 9 on Hulu and Disney+.
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger
- Release Date
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September 9, 2026
- Runtime
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123 minutes
- Director
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Dylan Southern, Will Lovelace
2
Animals
A father’s fight to get his son back
Netflix is living up to its reputation as the “King of Thrillers.” This year, Netflix released several pulse-pounding original thrillers, including The Rip, War Machine, Apex, and The Whisper Man. As thrilling as those movies were, I’m hoping Animals becomes the best of the bunch.
In Animals, Affleck, who also co-wrote and directed the movie, plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles politician running for mayor. Kimball’s life takes a turn for the worse when his son is kidnapped and held for ransom. Now, Affleck must work with his wife (Washington) to raise the money to pay the kidnappers for his son. That seems like a fairly cut-and-dried thriller. However, the trailer teases that Mark and his wife have a few dirty little secrets that could tarnish their images. Animals feels like a movie worth staying in on a Friday night for.
Animals streams on Oct. 9 on Netflix.
1
Disclosure Day
Spielberg’s return to sci-fi
If Spielberg makes a sci-fi movie, I pay attention. This is the master behind Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Minority Report. Clearly, he knows how to make compelling stories within this genre. In June, Spielberg released his latest sci-fi adventure in theaters, Disclosure Day.
Aliens exist in the world of Disclosure Day, but a government contractor known as Wardex Corporation has been hiding that information from the public. Cybersecurity whistleblower Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) steals important information from Wardex that would prove the existence of aliens. Meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) agrees to help Daniel, and the two quickly realize they might have previously had an interaction. Is Disclosure Day one of Spielberg’s best movies? No, I don’t think so. Is it still an entertaining conspiracy thriller? Absolutely.
Disclosure Day streams on Oct 9 on Peacock.
What else should I watch on streaming?
One new show that could become a breakout hit is East of Eden, an adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel. I’m fully expecting Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, and Mike Faist to be contenders at the 2027 Emmys. If you’re looking for an addictive show, try The OA and The Last Dance.
