Jim Henson documentary, Boy Kills World and all new films to stream

Greetings, Polygon readers! Each week we round up the most notable new releases on streaming and VOD, highlighting the biggest and best new movies you can watch at home.

It’s a good week for horror, with the surprisingly good omen Prequel on Hulu and a terrifying stop-motion film (…titled Stop motion function) on Shudder. But if you’re not a horror fan, Disney Plus’ Jim Henson documentary is sure to be a heartwarming treat. Or you can opt for Chris Pine’s quirky poolside mystery comedy.

Here’s everything new to see this weekend!

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New on Netflix

A part of you

Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

Image: Netflix

Genre: Coming-of-age drama
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Director: Sigge Eklund
Pour: Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ryding, Zara Larsson

This Swedish coming-of-age film is about teenager Agnes, who is very jealous of her sister, who seems to have everything in the world. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, Agnes has the chance to reinvent herself – but at a very high price.

New to Disney Plus

Jim Henson: Idea generator

Where to watch: Available to stream on Disney Plus

Image: Disney

Genre: documentary
Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes
Director: Ron Howard
Pour: Jennifer Connelly, Rita Moreno, Frank Oz, Brian Henson

The new documentary by Ron Howard (The Beatles: Eight days a week, Apollo13) centers on puppeteer, animator and filmmaker Jim Henson – the creator of Kermit the Frog and the Muppets. It features many interviews with Henson’s family and frequent collaborators, including Frank Oz.

New on Hulu

The Promised Land

Where to watch: Available to stream on Hulu

Image: Magnolia Pictures/Everett Collection

Genre: Epic historical drama
Duration: 2h 7m
Director: Nikolay Arcel
Pour: Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin, Simon Bennebjerg

A hidden gem among the best new releases of 2024, The Promised Land is a historical drama that is carried by the great lead performance of the ever-reliable Mads Mikkelsen. He plays a retired Danish officer from the German army who tries to establish a farm in an area that is considered uninhabitable – but a powerful local politician has other plans.

The first omen

Where to watch: Available to stream on Hulu

Image: 20th Century Entertainment

Genre: Horror
Duration: 1h 59m
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
Pour: Nell Tiger Free, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson

A prequel to the 1976 film omen, The first omen is actually surprisingly scary and good.

From our list of the best horror films of the year:

The first omen is impressively creepy, with dread seeping through every frame of the Catholic conspiracy. Ralph Ineson uses his excellent voice to great effect here as a priest excommunicated after finding out the secrets of the church, but it’s Free who ultimately stands out, as her character slowly goes into a tailspin as the plot becomes more and more convoluted and confusing.

New to Shudder

Stop motion function

Where to watch: Available to stream on Shudder and AMC Plus

Image: IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

Genre: Horror
Duration: 1h 33m
Director: Robert Morgan
Pour: Aisling Franciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York

This horror film follows an animator who takes over her ailing mother’s stop-motion film, using fox carcasses to create the terrifying creature at the center of the film, among other frankly disturbing stop-motion creations.

New to Starz

silent Night

Where to watch: Available to stream on Starz

Photo: Carlos Latapi/Lionsgate

Genre: Action thriller
Duration: 1 hour 44 minutes
Director: John Woo
Pour: Joel Kinnaman, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Catherine Sandino Moreno

It’s a Christmas movie! And also an action thriller about a man with limited vocal cords who seeks to avenge the death of his son, who was killed by a gang in a drive-by shooting on Christmas Eve. It’s also John Woo’s first Hollywood film in 20 years – we spoke to him about it.

New to rent

Boy kills world

Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon, Appleand Vudu

Image: Roadside Attractions/Everett Collection

Genre: Dystopian action comedy
Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes
Director: Moritz Mohr
Pour: Bill Skarsgard, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery

In a grim dystopian future, a young man who loves video games is sent on a mission to overthrow the city’s totalitarian ruler. From our review:

The film is, for the most part, only intended for a certain group of video game movie fans: it’s a checklist of references to retro beat-’em-up films and meta-comedy cliches that some viewers will inevitably find broad, over-the-top, and off-putting, while others will find playful and engaging.

The feeling that the time to do something is over

Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon, Appleand Vudu

Image: Magnolia Pictures/Everett Collection

Genre: comedy
Duration: 1 hour 28 minutes
Director: Joanna Arrow
Pour: Joanna Arrow, Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti

50 Shades of Grey takes a banal turn. A listless young woman drifts through life and looks for a more fulfilling sexual relationship when her on-off BDSM relationship no longer appeals to her.

Pole man

Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon, Appleand Vudu

Image: Vertical Entertainment/Everett Collection

Genre: Comedy with mystery elements
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Director: Chris Pine
Pour: Chris Pine, Annette Bening, DeWanda Wise

Chris Pine directs this film and also plays a pool cleaner inspired by Erin Brockovich who starts pestering the city council about improvements. Danny Devito and Annette Bening play the couple who own the apartment complex where Pine’s character works, and they provide him with a parental relationship.