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One of 2026's most talked-about movies finally hit streaming last week. Obsession, Curry Barker's innovative horror movie, is now on Peacock. This week, there are three new original movies premiering on Netflix, Paramount+, and Apple TV. One is a Kevin Hart comedy, while the other features a beloved animated character.
My top selection of the week is set in the world of pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. The other two previously played in theaters over the past nine months. All five movies will be available to stream in the U.S.
72 Hours
Kevin Hart and a lot of debauchery
If you're a fan of Kevin Hart, Netflix is the place to be for his content. Earlier this year, Hart headlined The Roast of Kevin Hart, where numerous comedians gathered to joke about the titular figure. Now, Hart has a new movie in July, 72 Hours, that channels the spirit of the spicy comedies we loved in the 2000s.
Joe (Hart) is a 40-year-old man in need of some excitement in his mundane life. When he's accidentally added to a bachelor party group chat, Joe seizes the opportunity and heads to Miami to link up with the group of twentysomethings (Marcello Hernández, Mason Gooding, Ben Marshall, and Kam Patterson). It's not Vegas, but Miami gets wild, and the 72 Hours trailer teases a lot of rowdiness. It's going to be a wild ride.
72 Hours streams on Netflix on July 24.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender
The lovable Nickelodeon character gets another adventure
What a year it's been for Aang and the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. Last month, Netflix released the second season of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. This week, the animated Aang returns in the Paramount+ movie, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. Avatar Aang (Eric Nam) is the last of his kind after ending the Hundred Year War, or so he believes.
Aang learns about the existence of another airbender, Tagah (Dave Bautista). To save Tagah and the rest of his culture, Aang and his friends must find a powerful relic before it gets into the hands of The Denied, a group that threatens the airbenders. Fans of the Nickelodeon series will love returning to this universe, but new fans can easily jump into the adventure, too.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender streams on July 25 on Paramount+.
Mortal Kombat II
Finish him again!
In 2021, HBO resurrected the Mortal Kombat franchise with a reboot. Despite the video game's popularity, Mortal Kombat felt constrained in scope due to budget constraints. For Mortal Kombat II, the stakes were raised, and the sequel opened up the universe to include more realms besides Earthrealm and Outworld.
More importantly, Mortal Kombat II finally gave us a fan-favorite character, Johnny Cage (Karl Urban). The sequel is all about the tournament, as Earthrealm recruits Johnny Cage to help defend their existence. Fans will notice a flurry of noteworthy characters, including Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), and Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford). If you love the action of the video games, then you should thoroughly enjoy Mortal Kombat II.
Mortal Kombat II streams on HBO Max on July 24.
Masters of the Universe
Prime Video has the power!
He-Man holds a special place in the hearts of a certain generation, particularly those who grew up with the character in the 1980s and 1990s. Mattel's iconic media franchise is best known for its toys and the animated Masters of the Universe series. After the poorly received 1987 live-action movie, Amazon MGM Studios revived the franchise this year with its adaptation of Masters of the Universe.
After the villainous Skeletor (Jared Leto) attacks the planet Eternia, a young Prince Adam (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) is secretly sent to Earth with the Sword of Power. Fifteen years later, Adam (now played by Nicholas Galitzine) finds the lost sword and reunites with his friend Teela (Camila Mendes) as they prepare to face Skeletor. Adam must now embrace his destiny as He-Man to save his home. Masters of the Universe will likely be remembered for its failure at the box office. Financials aside, the movie itself is a successful adaptation that combines fast-paced action with a heartfelt message about empowerment and empathy.
Masters of the Universe streams on Prime Video on July 22.
The Dink
The case for pickleball
There is a real rivalry between tennis and pickleball. I've noticed many tennis courts transforming into pickleball courts in my community. The Dink might be a fictional comedy, but it certainly captures the spirit of what's happening in America with tennis and pickleball.
Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) is a former tennis pro now coaching children at his father Chuck's (Ed Harris) country club. Chuck hates pickleball, so Dusty, wanting to earn his father's approval, supports the cause. After suffering an injury to his arm, Dusty is forced to play pickleball as part of his rehab. Much to his surprise, he takes a liking to the sport, putting him in an awkward situation in the battle for the club's future. Let the games begin.
The Dink streams on Apple TV on July 24.
What else is on tap for streaming?
Since we're already looking ahead to this week, we might as look ever further ahead and get excited about The Last House, a new movie coming to Netflix in August. As for right now, my mind is on The Odyssey, so consider revisiting some of Christopher Nolan's best movies, including The Dark Knight and Inception.
