Admin July 3, 2024
‘Beverly Hills Cop 4’: Eddie Murphy is back with a badge in ‘Axel F’
Detroit detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) chases bad guys in the Motor City via snowplow in Netflix’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.”
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Once you’re done watching the fireworks outside, it’s time to go inside to peep at Eddie Murphy, Celine Dion and Po the Kung Fu Panda.
Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Peacock, Max, Apple TV+ and others are soaking in the summer streaming options for film lovers of all tastes this month, from A-list romantic comedies to Stone Age survivalist horror. (Not kidding about that one!) There are recent theatrical releases, like a movie with Jack Black’s animated martial arts bear and a Jason Statham action flick where he kicks butt for the sake of old people, but also original films such as a Jessica Alba thriller and a Native American drama headlined by Lily Gladstone.
Here are 10 notable new movies you can stream right now:
‘Back to Black’
Lovers of music biopics – and those with an interest in the infamous 27 Club – will dig this life story of British soul powerhouse Amy Winehouse, who died from alcohol poisoning in 2011. Marisa Abela wears that signature beehive and sings hits like “Rehab” and “Valerie” in a movie that explores Winehouse’s rise to stardom, addiction struggles and toxic relationship with husband Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O’Connell).
Where to watch: Peacock
‘The Beekeeper’
Prepare yourself for some serious bee puns – and a whole lot of stoic machismo – in this satisfyingly bonkers action movie starring Jason Statham as a former top-secret government operative living a peaceful existence making honey. When a friend is scammed by a crew of high-end cybercriminals targeting the old and the innocent, our hero goes ballistic taking down the baddies and the rich tech bro (Josh Hutcherson) in charge.
Where to watch: Prime Video
‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’
Like a big ol’ retro hug, the fourth “Cop” movie brings Eddie Murphy’s delightful trouble-magnet detective Axel Foley back for a new case. This time around, the Detroit cop revisits SoCal to help out when conspiracy and corruption threaten his estranged defense attorney daughter (Taylour Paige), leading to Axel teaming with her ex (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and causing a whole lot of property damage.
Where to watch: Netflix
‘The Devil’s Bath’
If you need something even more bleak than world tumult and election news, there’s this well-crafted historical horror film set in 18th-century Austria. Anja Plaschg plays a young woman with a new husband and spiffy home who, thanks to domestic turmoil and a mother-in-law from hell, struggles to adjust and ventures down a bad path of dark thoughts and even worse actions in a psychologically freaky tale.
Where to watch: Shudder
‘A Family Affair’
Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron actually make a decently sizzling couple in this enjoyably cute and breezy rom-com. Joey King stars as a personal assistant with big Hollywood dreams working for a self-centered, A-list superhero movie star (Efron). She quits because he’s the worst boss ever but finds him back in her life in an exasperating new way when he starts dating her middle-aged mom (Kidman).
Where to watch: Netflix
‘Fancy Dance’
Lily Gladstone nicely follows her Oscar-nominated performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon” with this gripping family drama. Jax (Gladstone) has long been a second mom to her teenage niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) on their Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Roki is taken out of her care by the state and they go on the lam in search of Jax’s missing sister, leaving bad decisions and lots of feelings in their wake.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’
They battled in the last Monsterverse movie. Now the big G-man and the king of the apes are a formidable (and ginormous) tag team in the latest action adventure. The new film takes them to the depths of Hollow Earth, where our two heroic leads partner up to tussle with the fearsome simian Skar King and the chilling kaiju Shimo to keep them from wiping out humanity.
Where to watch: Max
‘I Am: Celine Dion’
Whether a fan of the “Titanic” singer or not, get ready to have a much deeper respect for Celine Dion after watching Irene Taylor’s empathetic documentary. The film covers Dion’s battle with her debilitating neurological disorder stiff person syndrome, including the loss of her iconic voice and crippling seizures, and viewers will be as impressed by her undeniable strength as her Grammy-winning belt.
Where to watch: Prime Video
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’
Packing cool moves and a hearty “Skadoosh!,” furry rotund warrior Po (voiced by Jack Black) has a new task in his latest animated comedy adventure: When he’s tapped to become a spiritual leader, Po needs to train his successor. Easier said than done for the roly-poly panda, who befriends a thieving fox (Awkwafina) and faces a shape-shifting villainess (Viola Davis) who magically steals other martial arts masters’ abilities.
Where to watch: Peacock
‘Trigger Warning’
Sure, it’s strange for an action movie called “Trigger Warning” to center on a heroine who’s really great with a knife. But if you’re yearning for a “Walking Tall”-type B-movie, this’ll tick some two-fisted boxes: Jessica Alba is a soldier called home to her mining hometown from the Middle East when her father suddenly dies, courtesy of a fishy cave-in. She deals with local goons and dangerous gunrunners to find his killer.
Where to watch: Netflix
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