Missing the movies? Here's where to find 21 new releases on demand now
We're well aware that watching movies at home isn't the same as going to the cinema. But streaming movies from the convenience of your couch is proving increasingly popular. Just take a look at how big platforms like Netflix, Amazon and, to add to the mix, Disney+ have become in Ireland. And more new releases are heading to on demand than ever as it's a viable way to get films out there at a time like this.
Various movie titles that were either just in cinema or about to be released have now become available online. Last month, we shared various new releases on demand.
Since then another batch are live, so here are our picks.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The final chapter of the Skywalker saga definitely divided audiences. Given its Rotten Tomatoes score is 52% (at the time of writing), it's pretty safe to say it split people right down the middle. It proved to be one of the lesser top grossing box office intakes of the series, meaning not many people saw it in cinemas. Still, you may want to check out how it all ended for Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren - even just for curiosity's sake - by checking it out on demand.
Buy from €13.99/Rent from €3.99 from Amazon, Microsoft Store, Google Play, Sky Store or iTunes. Available on Disney+ from May 4th.
Le Mans '66 (aka Ford v Ferrari)
We're not going to lie, this is probably one of the few entries here that well and truly demands to be seen on the big screen. But you know, it's that good that even watching it at home is going to be an experience. The sports drama stars Matt Damon (who's in Ireland at the mo, don't you know) and Christian Bale, and depicts the titular, iconic race, aka the Ford GT of 1966. It's got everything - great acting, an incisive script, and exhilaration. Blast it from the speakers if you can.
Buy from €13.99/Rent from €4.99 from Amazon, Microsoft Store, Google Play, Sky Store or iTunes.
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
"An explosion of neon and glitter, jam-packed with kick ass action that truly is fantabulous" - that's how we would describe (and did describe) 'Birds of Prey'. Now broken up with Joker, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) is striking out on her own. But soon she's got bigger problems than a boyfriend to contend with as Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) is out for her head. Meanwhile, a Gotham police detective (Rosie Perez), a singer and vigilante (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), and an assassin(Mary Elizabeth Winstead) also seek emancipation.
Buy from €16.99 now from Amazon, Sky Store, Microsoft Store, Google Play or iTunes.
Calm With Horses
This intriguing, intense and atmospheric Irish crime is led by a trio of phenomenal performances in Cosmo Jarvis, Niamh Algar and Barry Keoghan. Jarvis plays a former boxer who now serves as the enforcer for the Devers family, but his baby mama (Algar) begs him to abandon them and instead be with her and their five year old son. If you can imagine 'On the Waterfront' set in Galway, you're somewhere on the right track.
Buy from €11.99/Rent from €4.99 from Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Sky Store, Virgin Media, Talk Talk, BT TV, Curzon Home Cinema, BFI Player, Rakuten TV and Volta.
The Gentlemen
The latest from Guy Ritchie, 'The Gentlemen', follows American expat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever, it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail. The all-star ensemble includes Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant.
Buy for €13.99/Rent for €4.99 from Amazon or iTunes.
Sonic the Hedgehog
We've said it before and we'll say it again - Jim Carrey has well and truly made a comeback in 'Sonic the Hedgehog', and we are here for it. In the family feature, he plays Dr. Robotnik, who's after the titular blue hedgehog's mystical powers. Sonic asks local sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) to protect him. Plot-wise it's pretty by-the-numbers but Carrey makes it work, and you have to hand it to the CGI department for totally redesigning Sonic.
Buy for €13.99/Rent from €3.99 from Amazon, Sky Store, Microsoft Store, Google Play and iTunes.
Jojo Rabbit
This World War II satire sees Hitler feature as the imaginary friend of lonely German boy. He aspires to be a great Nazi, that is until his mother (Scarlett Johansson) and a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) hiding in their attic, force him to open his eyes. Taika Waititi's latest is certainly risk taking and quite unlike any other film you've ever seen before. The writer-director and star of the film earned an Oscar for his screenplay.
Buy from €11.99 now from Amazon, Sky Store, or Google Play.
Just Mercy
If you haven't seen this powerful, emotional drama yet, based on a true story, make it a priority. Michael B. Jordan plays civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson as he dedicates his career to defending prisoners on death row. His greatest challenge yet proves to be representing Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who is sentenced to death after being wrongfully convicted for the murder of a white woman in Alabama. Truly beautiful.
Buy for €11.99/Rent for €5.99 from Amazon, Sky Store, Microsoft Store or iTunes.
Trolls World Tour
The follow-up to 2016 animated feature 'Trolls' has proven to be a major on demand hit, setting home viewing records. Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake are back in the fold as Poppy and Branch. The pop trolls go on a quest to save the world from rock'n'roll Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom), meeting other trolls along the way from the worlds of country, techno, funk and classical. The colour and the music will have you giddy and grinning in no time, even if you're not a kid.
Rent for €17.99 from Amazon, Sky Store, Microsoft Store, iTunes, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, BT TV Store, or TalkTalk TV.
Spies in Disguise
Trust us when we say this animated family feature ends up being a lot more fun than you'd expect. Will Smith voices Lance Stirling, "the world's most awesome spy". 'Spider-Man' star Tom Holland voices Walter Beckett, a young, geeky inventor, and Stirling's colleague. They partner up when Stirling, forced to go into hiding, tries out Walter's new invention, which turns him into a pigeon. Chaos, hilarity and suave spy stuff follow.
Buy from €11.99/Rent from €4.99 from Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Sky Store or Microsoft Store.
The Rhythm Section
Another one in our list of Irish interest is 'The Rhythm Section', which was partly filmed in Dublin. Blake Lively leads the spy thriller, playing Stephanie Patrick, who is trying to uncover the truth behind a plane crash that killed her family. Jude Law and Sterling K. Brown also star. This one is a very new entry on our list as the film was only in cinemas last February. Check out where to find the home premiere on demand below.
Buy from €11.99/Rent from €3.99 from Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Sky Store or Microsoft Store.
Richard Jewell
Clint Eastwood finds another ordinary hero à la 'Sully' or 'The 19:17 to Paris' in Richard Jewell. The titular real life figure managed to save thousands when he discovered a bomb at a concert during the 1996 Summer Olympics. He went from being praised by the media to being vilified by them when he became the prime suspect for planting the bomb. Lead Paul Walter Hauser gives a great performance, as do Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates and Jon Hamm.
Buy from €11.99/Rent for €5.99 from Amazon, Sky Store, Microsoft Store, Google Play or iTunes.
Ordinary Love
Last December two great movies hit cinemas that were unfortunately looked over among the Christmas blockbusters. But you can rectify that neglect by checking them out now. The first is 'Ordinary Love', starring our own Liam Neeson, as well as Lesley Manville. They play a long-married couple who are forced to ask big questions when Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer. Yup, this one's a tearjerker.
Buy from €11.99/Rent from €4.99 from Amazon, Microsoft Store, Sky Store or iTunes.
Honey Boy
'Honey Boy' is the second feature that ended up being largely ignored by the Irish market, in spite of its acclaim internationally. Then again, it's always tough to sell risk-taking films that verge on arthouse. Shia LeBeouf wrote and stars in this film that's based on his childhood and experience as a young actor, as well as his relationship with his father (in an interesting move, he opts to play the dad in the movie). It's raw, honest and intriguingly self-aware.
Buy from €11.99/Rent from €3.99 from Amazon, Microsoft Store, Google Play, Sky Store or iTunes.
Misbehaviour
Based on the real-life events of the 1970 Miss World competition, comedy-drama ‘Misbehaviour’ explores the very different perspectives of the women involved with the contest, including its contestants, organisers and those protesting against it. It's an extraordinary story and packs a great cast between Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessie Buckley (our Irish star on the rise), Keeley Hawes, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Manville, Rhys Ifans and Greg Kinnear.
Buy from €11.99 from Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Sky Store or Microsoft Store.
Sea Fever
When a sea trawler’s crew gets tangled up in the tentacles of an unknown entity, they are unable to signal for help. Soon they realize that the sea monster has released a parasite on to the boat and they must fight for their survival within a self-imposed quarantine. The film creates a great sense of ambience feeling something like 'Alien' if it were set on a boat, in a good way. Irish mythology is effectively used and it winds up being a great blast of sci-fi horror on a budget.
Buy from €11.99/Rent from €4.99 on Amazon, Sky Store, iTunes, Virgin Movies, Google Play, Microsoft Store, Rakuten and Volta.
Extraction
A mercenary named Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is tasked with rescuing the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. Several other players are after the kid as well. The fact that the director, Sam Hargrave, has worked in the stunts and fight choreography departments of such franchises as 'Hunger Games' and 'The Avengers' shows - the action is top notch. It's one of Netflix's better action movies of late, after poor efforts 'Spenser Confidential' and '6 Underground.'
'Extraction' is on Netflix now.
The Willoughbys
The Willoughby children are convinced life would be better without their parents. Thus, they hatch a plan to send them away. Reveling in their newfound freedom, a Nanny (Maya Rudolph) soon arrives at their door - and this isn't any nanny. This strange and surprising movie is no Disney outing, but you quickly grow to love its distinct, quirky personality. It's just a very sweet story about the love and loyalty between siblings that will have you beaming.
'The Willoughbys' is on Netflix now.
Jumanji: The Next Level
'Jumaji: Welcome to the Jungle', the reboot/sequel to the Robin Williams '90s movie, proved to be a hit. So it got another sequel with just as great a sense of fun, adventure - and humour - as what preceded it. The gang returns to the video game, only this time their avatars of Dr. Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), Professor Sheldon (Jack Black), Franklin (Kevin Hart) and Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan) are all mixed up. Spencer’s grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his friend Milo (Danny Glover) join in.
Buy from €13.99/Rent from €3.99 from Amazon, Microsoft Store, Google Play, Sky Store or iTunes.
Playing With Fire
'Playing With Fire' is probably one more so for kids than anyone else with its reliance on slackstick and toilet humour. Still, it's always nice to check out something new, right? Plus John Cena headlines it, and he's proven to have a real knack for comedy. The former pro wrestler plays the leader of a team of firefighters who take on their most daunting task yet: taking care of three trouble-making kids at their headquarters.
Buy from €13.99/Rent from €3.99 from Amazon, Microsoft Store, Google Play, Sky Store or iTunes.
Like a Boss
In the mood for a chick flick? 'Like a Boss' offers just that. BFFs Mia (Rose Byrne) and Mel (Tiffany Haddish) run a promising, but under-resourced, cosmetics company together. Enter beauty entrepreneur, Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) who makes a too-good-to-be-true partnership offer. Divided over how to proceed, Mia and Mel's clash over the future of their business, placing their friendship and the company in jeopardy.
Buy from €11.99/Rent from €3.99 from Amazon, Microsoft Store, Google Play, Sky Store or iTunes.
Check out our previous recommendations for new movies on demand here.
Deirdre Molumby
3 years ago