The first No. 1 film of 2025, ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,’ with Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr., is now available on streaming. Plus, a new and powerful drama brings a thrilling story to life with an A-list cast including Michael Keaton, Mila Kunis, and Goodrich. Also releasing this week is ‘Here,’ with Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, which you won’t want to miss.
Nicole Kidman’s steamy thriller ‘Babygirl,’ is also here, and Disney’s most-anticipated ‘Moana 2,’ is also streaming. Is this the perfect double feature? If you love a cinematic adventure, absolutely!
Here’s where to find this week’s streaming movies:
Robert Zemeckis, who is still considered one of the most successful American directors today, has had largely disappointing recent work, even for his longtime fans. From pop-culture milestones like the Back to the Future trilogy and Who Framed Roger Rabbit in the 80s to Forest Gump and Contact in the 90s, his career has always been stellar. Then, he made his mark in the early 2000s with Cast Away and then went on to explore the limits of motion-capture animation.
However, his latest film ‘Here’ has received negative reviews from critics and also flopped at the box office. It stars Tom Hanks, but the specificity of this film makes it a target of criticism. The entire film takes place in one location, and we see lives changing and happening over time. It’s a very experimental approach, but its limits are very obvious, which also limits the emotional impact.
Zemeckis’ technological obsession comes to the fore again, especially when he uses AI deepfake technology to show different eras of his stars’ lives. The film is now available on Netflix, and if you’re a subscriber, it’s well worth a watch. The film is a hit with viewers who connect with its complex and innovative experiments.
Goodrich
Goodrich, Holly Meyers-Shyer’s second feature film, is a low-key but impressive drama starring Michael Keaton in the lead role. In this film, Keaton plays a workaholic father whose life changes when his wife enters a rehab program. Now, he takes care of his children alone, and his dependence on his daughter Grace (Mila Kunis) increases, which makes him try to become a better father than the one his wife never became.
The film is lighthearted, but it also has deep and real moments that can make you think. It offers a great blend of humor and sensitivity, which explains even serious topics with ease. Michael Keaton‘s acting ability adds a new dimension to every film, and here too he is completely immersed in his role, which reminds one of his Mr. Mom moments.
Though Mila Kunis’ character is on screen for a short amount of time, she brings a lot of sincerity to her performance. Meyers-Shyer may not be as accomplished a filmmaker as her older parents, but this film is a good start to her career. If you like Goodrich, be sure to check out her debut film, Home Again, which is currently streaming on Max.
Babygirl
Babygirl is an erotic thriller, but what makes it even more special is its fun silliness. The real highlight of the film is the tension between the two main characters, where both dance with each other as if they are playing a role more than their true nature. It is a beautiful mix of compatibility and incompatibility, which makes it interesting.
The story revolves around a married woman, who is the CEO of a big Amazon-like company, and forms a relationship with her young intern. Yes, the film is hot and sexy, but it is also silly and playful. Apart from that, it touches upon larger issues of communication in relationships, like married couples suppressing their true sexual desires and hiding them for fear of embarrassment.
The film has a deep wisdom, which makes it different from the usual erotic thrillers. It shows whether your wildest desires can coexist even with a happy, traditional family. Nicole Kidman is fearless and sensational in her role, while Harris Dickinson fits the bill perfectly as the no-nonsense intern who has her on his finger.
This film has become one of the most exciting and provocative films of the year. If you want to check it out, Babygirl is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video and other video-on-demand platforms.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Gerard Butler returns as his fan-favorite character Big Nick in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which takes place seven years after the first film. The original Heist movie gained cult status due to its thrilling and genre-breaking style, and we see the same energy and hit sequences in this sequel. This time around, the film feels more like Ocean’s 11 or Miami Vice, with strong action and high tension.
Big Nick’s life takes a major turn. After fleeing at the end of the first film, he is now in pursuit of Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.). We see him holding divorce papers at the start of the film, showing just how complicated his life has become. But Nick soon arrives in Nice, where he teams up with Donnie to commit a major diamond heist. Can Big Nick’s turn as a villain be believed?
The film has all the magic we already know—a great performance from Gerard Butler, the live action/heist sequences, and the tension between Big Nick and Donnie that helps us understand that cops and robbers aren’t so different after all. The film may have a lighter format, but its quality is no less than a big Heat film. It’s a dieted Heat, but it’s just as exciting to watch.
If you have to see this film, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video and other video-on-demand platforms.
Moana 2
After Moana proved to be a massive hit on Disney+ several years after its initial release, Disney made the brilliant decision to turn the film into a feature-length sequel. Previously being developed as a Disney+ streaming series, the film grossed over $1 billion worldwide, and that figure continues to grow. This proves that audiences have a deep connection to the story and its characters.
Moana 2 may not have the songs written by Hamilton‘s renowned creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, but the film still follows the original film brilliantly. The simplicity and entertainment it has within it makes it a great sequel. In terms of its release, the film is a perfect follow-up, retaining the magic of the first film.
At some places in the film, you may feel like the plot of several TV shows has been combined together. A few villains appear and then quickly disappear, but these minor flaws won’t bother kids. The movie is full of harmless and fun adventures, and if your kids are already tired of the original Moana adventures, it will keep them entertained.
If you want to check it out, Moana 2 is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video and other Video-on-Demand platforms.
