Culture Crash: The Newest Offerings Out to Stream Now

Having multiple streaming services can be a juggling act. It’s hard to keep on top of the latest and greatest new offerings on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and more. Here are some recommendations now streaming on various apps to ensure you at least catch something on the platforms this month.

Netflix has the latest movie from the director of the biggest movie of 2022: Joseph Kosinski, director of Top Gun: Maverick. His even newer movie is called Spiderhead, and it stars Miles Teller, Chris Hemsworth, and Jurnee Smollett. The movie is about a pharmaceutical company testing its new drugs on prisoners who are given special housing as payments. As the drugs get weirder and weirder, the prisoners realize just how deep the conspiracy runs. At turns dramatic and campy, Spiderhead is a breezy watch perfect for a summer day. It’s now streaming on Netflix.

Hulu has a new movie starring Emma Thompson, called Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, now available on its service. It tells the story of a retired schoolteacher and widow who hires a young sex worker to gain some experiences she never got when she was younger. Despite its raunchier plot, the movie is ultimately mostly talking and focuses on the difficulties of aging, accepting your own body, and moving on.

Finally, HBO Max is now streaming The Card Counter. The latest from visionary writer/director Paul Schrader, The Card Counter was originally released in theaters and has finally made its way to the small screen. The film is a very R-rated affair starring Oscar Isaac as a gambler haunted by his past in the military. I don’t want to say too much, but this is a thought provoking drama/thriller with a lot to say… what else would you expect from the guy who wrote Taxi Driver?

Despite years of a pandemic, declining theater revenue, and more, the movie business is still booming in America, so long as you know where to look. Spiderhead, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, and The Card Counter all offer different forms of entertainment for grown ups, and they’re worth seeking out.