This weekend (Feb. 7–8, 2026) brings a compact slate of new and newly streamed movies across major services: a twisty PVOD thriller, a Valentine’s-friendly rom‑com on Prime Video, a nostalgic Netflix pick, a controversial political dramedy on Hulu and the latest Planet of the Apes chapter. Between Winter Olympics coverage and Sunday’s Super Bowl, these five titles offer something for date nights, franchise fans and viewers hunting for buzzy conversation starters. Availability ranges from paid video‑on‑demand to subscription services, so platforms and prices vary depending on where you watch.
Key takeaways
- “The Housemaid” (2025) is available now on PVOD via Prime Video and Apple TV; it adapts Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel and stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.
- Prime Video’s rom‑com “Relationship Goals” features Kelly Rowland and Clifford “Method Man” Smith and is timed ahead of Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) for date‑night viewers.
- Hulu added “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” the fourth film in the recent reboot cycle, which jumps roughly three centuries past Caesar’s era and is billed as the first entry in a new trilogy.
- “Ella McCay,” now on Hulu, grossed under $5 million against a reported $35 million budget and sits at about 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, marking it as a notable box‑office underperformer.
- Netflix still streams 2011’s “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” a widely recommended rom‑com starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone — a reliable pick for light, crowd‑pleasing entertainment.
Background
Streaming calendars in early February often blend awards hopefuls, franchise sequels and holiday‑adjacent fare aimed at Valentine’s Day. With major live events like the Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl dominating television conversation, streaming services lean on curated weekend lists and PVOD releases to capture viewers who skip linear broadcasts. Studios are also experimenting with hybrid windows: some titles still go theatrical first, others debut day‑and‑date or move quickly to PVOD to recover costs.
The rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise has been a tentpole for studios trying to extend recognizable IP into multi‑film arcs; the new film’s placement three centuries after Caesar is meant to link the recent reboots back toward the original series. Meanwhile, mid‑budget dramedies and rom‑coms remain staples for streamers because they cost less to produce and can find sustained audiences on subscription platforms long after a short theatrical run.
Main event
The Housemaid (PVOD): Paul Feig’s take on Freida McFadden’s novel centers on Millie (Sydney Sweeney), a newly hired live‑in housekeeper for a wealthy couple played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. The film leans into suburban thriller tropes—seduction, manipulation and hidden histories—while presenting a throughline about power dynamics in domestic spaces. Available for purchase or rental on Prime Video and Apple TV, the movie is structured to reward viewers who enjoy twist‑driven, camp‑tinged suspense.
Relationship Goals (Prime Video): Prime Video’s rom‑com follows an ambitious morning‑show producer (Kelly Rowland) who competes for a coveted hosting role against an ex (Clifford “Method Man” Smith) who claims he’s reformed after reading a best‑selling relationship book. The forced proximity premise nudges long‑buried feelings back to the surface as both characters weigh career ambition against personal life. Streaming now on Prime Video, it’s been positioned as early Valentine’s fare.
Ella McCay (Hulu): Emma Mackey headlines this political comedy‑drama as a 34‑year‑old who becomes governor amid the fallout of the 2008 Great Recession. The film charts her attempts to navigate intrusive media, a prickly spouse (Jack Lowden) and a family coping with an estranged father (Woody Harrelson). Critics were largely unfavorable—Rotten Tomatoes lists it near 23%—and the movie underperformed commercially, but some viewers have found its mix of satire and heart unexpectedly watchable.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Hulu): The newest Apes entry advances the timeline three centuries past Caesar and introduces Noa (Owen Teague), a young chimp whose rite of passage collides with a human survivor, Mae (Freya Allan). The film sets up ideological and territorial conflicts that complicate hopes for peace between species and is promoted as the opening chapter of a new trilogy intended to bridge recent reboots with the franchise’s origins. It’s streaming now on Hulu for subscribers.
Crazy, Stupid, Love (Netflix): This 2011 romantic comedy remains a durable pick for Netflix subscribers. Steve Carell plays Cal Weaver, a father reentering the dating scene after his marriage collapses; Ryan Gosling’s scene‑stealing Jacob becomes an unlikely tutor in modern pickup craft while Emma Stone provides the film’s emotional anchor. Its intertwined storylines and a memorable third act make it a dependable choice for date nights or light weekend viewing.
Analysis & implications
PVOD releases like The Housemaid reflect studios’ efforts to extract revenue faster from mid‑sized titles that may not justify long theatrical windows. For viewers, PVOD means immediate access but at an extra cost; for rights holders, it’s a path to recoup production budgets more directly than subscription licensing alone. The mixed‑tone marketing—teaser trailers emphasizing both thrills and dark humor—aims to broaden the audience beyond traditional thriller fans.
Rom‑coms timed around Valentine’s Day, including Relationship Goals and the perennial Netflix favorite Crazy, Stupid, Love, show how streamers curate seasonal programming to capture shared‑viewing moments. These films are inexpensive promotional bets: a modest production and a clear demographic make them easy to package for playlists, social media promos and targeted email pushes in the days before Feb. 14.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes signals studio faith in franchise longevity. Positioning the film as part of a new trilogy is a strategic move to seed long‑range storytelling and merchandising opportunities. Its placement on Hulu shortly after theatrical windows helps the film reach a large subscriber base quickly, but it also raises questions about how theatrical grosses will translate into streaming engagement metrics.
Ella McCay’s performance—commercially and critically—underscores a recurring industry tension: telling politically‑tinged stories can produce polarized responses that dampen box‑office returns but sometimes cultivate a niche streaming audience. Studios and streamers may reexamine marketing angles and post‑theatrical plans for such titles to maximize long‑tail viewership.
Comparison & data
| Title | Platform | Release Year | Notable figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Housemaid | PVOD (Prime Video / Apple TV) | 2025 | Adapted from Freida McFadden novel |
| Relationship Goals | Prime Video (streaming) | 2026 | Stars Kelly Rowland, Clifford “Method Man” Smith |
| Ella McCay | Hulu (streaming) | 2025 | Box office <$5M on $35M budget; ~23% RT |
| Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | Hulu (streaming) | 2024/2025* | Fourth film in reboot; set ~300 years after Caesar |
| Crazy, Stupid, Love | Netflix (streaming) | 2011 | Stars Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone |
Context: the table summarizes platform and headline facts to help readers pick by mood, budget and franchise interest. Release year for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is listed as the most recent theatrical window; check local listings for exact regional dates.
Reactions & quotes
Industry and audience reactions vary: critics called Ella McCay a puzzling box‑office misstep, while some viewers appreciated its earnest elements despite the critical consensus. Marketing materials for the Apes film emphasize its trilogy‑building ambition, and rom‑com promotions are leaning into Valentine’s timing.
“first in a new trilogy”
20th Century Studios (press materials)
That wording is part of the film’s public marketing to frame it as the start of another multi‑film arc meant to connect modern reboots to the franchise’s earlier mythology.
“a sneakily feminist bent”
Tom’s Guide review summary
Early commentary bookmarked Paul Feig’s Housemaid entry as a thriller that tries to balance genre beats with a perspective on gender and domestic labor, an angle emphasized in reviewer notes.
“mixed critical reception but potential streaming audience”
Aggregated critic and audience response
That encapsulates Ella McCay’s trajectory: poor box‑office and critic scores, yet a chance to find viewers after moving to a subscription platform.
Unconfirmed
- No studio has publicly confirmed additional sequels to “The Housemaid” beyond marketing language; any sequel talk remains speculative.
- Reports of exact streaming‑viewership numbers for these titles on launch weekends have not been publicly released and remain internal to platforms.
Bottom line
This weekend’s streaming highlights span mood and method: PVOD thriller thrills (The Housemaid), seasonal rom‑coms aim to capitalize on Valentine’s energy (Relationship Goals, Crazy, Stupid, Love), a franchise entry looks to extend long‑term mythology (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and a polarizing political dramedy (Ella McCay) gets a second life on Hulu. Your pick should hinge on whether you want a low‑cost subscription watch, an event PVOD rental, or a franchise installment to discuss with friends.
For practical viewing: check platform availability and rental fees before you press play, and if you’re assembling a Valentine’s lineup, balance a heavier thriller with a lighter rom‑com to keep the evening varied. Streaming windows and marketing pushes will continue to shape what’s easy to find this month, so consider these five films a concise guide for weekend viewing.
Sources
- Tom’s Guide — media report summarizing streaming availability and reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes (search/results) — critics aggregator referenced for Ella McCay rating
- Box Office Mojo (search) — box office search and reporting