{"id":18339,"date":"2026-02-07T14:05:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T14:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/5-new-movies-streaming-weekend\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T14:05:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T14:05:36","slug":"5-new-movies-streaming-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/5-new-movies-streaming-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"5 new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>This weekend (Feb. 7\u20138, 2026) brings a compact slate of new and newly streamed movies across major services: a twisty PVOD thriller, a Valentine\u2019s-friendly rom\u2011com 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\u2019s Super Bowl, these five titles offer something for date nights, franchise fans and viewers hunting for buzzy conversation starters. Availability ranges from paid video\u2011on\u2011demand to subscription services, so platforms and prices vary depending on where you watch.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;The Housemaid&#8221; (2025) is available now on PVOD via Prime Video and Apple TV; it adapts Freida McFadden\u2019s bestselling novel and stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.<\/li>\n<li>Prime Video\u2019s rom\u2011com &#8220;Relationship Goals&#8221; features Kelly Rowland and Clifford \u201cMethod Man\u201d Smith and is timed ahead of Valentine\u2019s Day (Feb. 14) for date\u2011night viewers.<\/li>\n<li>Hulu added &#8220;Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,&#8221; the fourth film in the recent reboot cycle, which jumps roughly three centuries past Caesar\u2019s era and is billed as the first entry in a new trilogy.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Ella McCay,&#8221; 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\u2011office underperformer.<\/li>\n<li>Netflix still streams 2011\u2019s &#8220;Crazy, Stupid, Love,&#8221; a widely recommended rom\u2011com starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone \u2014 a reliable pick for light, crowd\u2011pleasing entertainment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Streaming calendars in early February often blend awards hopefuls, franchise sequels and holiday\u2011adjacent fare aimed at Valentine\u2019s 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\u2011and\u2011date or move quickly to PVOD to recover costs.<\/p>\n<p>The rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise has been a tentpole for studios trying to extend recognizable IP into multi\u2011film arcs; the new film\u2019s placement three centuries after Caesar is meant to link the recent reboots back toward the original series. Meanwhile, mid\u2011budget dramedies and rom\u2011coms remain staples for streamers because they cost less to produce and can find sustained audiences on subscription platforms long after a short theatrical run.<\/p>\n<h2>Main event<\/h2>\n<p>The Housemaid (PVOD): Paul Feig\u2019s take on Freida McFadden\u2019s novel centers on Millie (Sydney Sweeney), a newly hired live\u2011in housekeeper for a wealthy couple played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. The film leans into suburban thriller tropes\u2014seduction, manipulation and hidden histories\u2014while 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\u2011driven, camp\u2011tinged suspense.<\/p>\n<p>Relationship Goals (Prime Video): Prime Video\u2019s rom\u2011com follows an ambitious morning\u2011show producer (Kelly Rowland) who competes for a coveted hosting role against an ex (Clifford \u201cMethod Man\u201d Smith) who claims he\u2019s reformed after reading a best\u2011selling relationship book. The forced proximity premise nudges long\u2011buried feelings back to the surface as both characters weigh career ambition against personal life. Streaming now on Prime Video, it\u2019s been positioned as early Valentine\u2019s fare.<\/p>\n<p>Ella McCay (Hulu): Emma Mackey headlines this political comedy\u2011drama as a 34\u2011year\u2011old 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\u2014Rotten Tomatoes lists it near 23%\u2014and the movie underperformed commercially, but some viewers have found its mix of satire and heart unexpectedly watchable.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s origins. It\u2019s streaming now on Hulu for subscribers.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s scene\u2011stealing Jacob becomes an unlikely tutor in modern pickup craft while Emma Stone provides the film\u2019s emotional anchor. Its intertwined storylines and a memorable third act make it a dependable choice for date nights or light weekend viewing.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; implications<\/h2>\n<p>PVOD releases like The Housemaid reflect studios\u2019 efforts to extract revenue faster from mid\u2011sized titles that may not justify long theatrical windows. For viewers, PVOD means immediate access but at an extra cost; for rights holders, it\u2019s a path to recoup production budgets more directly than subscription licensing alone. The mixed\u2011tone marketing\u2014teaser trailers emphasizing both thrills and dark humor\u2014aims to broaden the audience beyond traditional thriller fans.<\/p>\n<p>Rom\u2011coms timed around Valentine\u2019s Day, including Relationship Goals and the perennial Netflix favorite Crazy, Stupid, Love, show how streamers curate seasonal programming to capture shared\u2011viewing 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2011range 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.<\/p>\n<p>Ella McCay\u2019s performance\u2014commercially and critically\u2014underscores a recurring industry tension: telling politically\u2011tinged stories can produce polarized responses that dampen box\u2011office returns but sometimes cultivate a niche streaming audience. Studios and streamers may reexamine marketing angles and post\u2011theatrical plans for such titles to maximize long\u2011tail viewership.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Title<\/th>\n<th>Platform<\/th>\n<th>Release Year<\/th>\n<th>Notable figures<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>The Housemaid<\/td>\n<td>PVOD (Prime Video \/ Apple TV)<\/td>\n<td>2025<\/td>\n<td>Adapted from Freida McFadden novel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Relationship Goals<\/td>\n<td>Prime Video (streaming)<\/td>\n<td>2026<\/td>\n<td>Stars Kelly Rowland, Clifford &#8220;Method Man&#8221; Smith<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ella McCay<\/td>\n<td>Hulu (streaming)<\/td>\n<td>2025<\/td>\n<td>Box office &lt;$5M on $35M budget; ~23% RT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes<\/td>\n<td>Hulu (streaming)<\/td>\n<td>2024\/2025*<\/td>\n<td>Fourth film in reboot; set ~300 years after Caesar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Crazy, Stupid, Love<\/td>\n<td>Netflix (streaming)<\/td>\n<td>2011<\/td>\n<td>Stars Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Industry and audience reactions vary: critics called Ella McCay a puzzling box\u2011office misstep, while some viewers appreciated its earnest elements despite the critical consensus. Marketing materials for the Apes film emphasize its trilogy\u2011building ambition, and rom\u2011com promotions are leaning into Valentine\u2019s timing.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;first in a new trilogy&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>20th Century Studios (press materials)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That wording is part of the film&#8217;s public marketing to frame it as the start of another multi\u2011film arc meant to connect modern reboots to the franchise\u2019s earlier mythology.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;a sneakily feminist bent&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Tom&#8217;s Guide review summary<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Early commentary bookmarked Paul Feig\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;mixed critical reception but potential streaming audience&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Aggregated critic and audience response<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That encapsulates Ella McCay\u2019s trajectory: poor box\u2011office and critic scores, yet a chance to find viewers after moving to a subscription platform.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: PVOD, streaming windows and Rotten Tomatoes<\/summary>\n<p>PVOD (premium video\u2011on\u2011demand) lets viewers rent or buy films digitally at higher prices than standard rentals, often used for films that skip long theatrical windows. Streaming windows refer to the period a title is exclusive to a platform; these can be negotiated as part of distribution deals. Rotten Tomatoes aggregates critic reviews into a percentage &#8216;fresh&#8217; score, which is a quick snapshot of critical consensus but does not reflect audience scores or long\u2011tail streaming performance.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>No studio has publicly confirmed additional sequels to &#8220;The Housemaid&#8221; beyond marketing language; any sequel talk remains speculative.<\/li>\n<li>Reports of exact streaming\u2011viewership numbers for these titles on launch weekends have not been publicly released and remain internal to platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>This weekend\u2019s streaming highlights span mood and method: PVOD thriller thrills (The Housemaid), seasonal rom\u2011coms aim to capitalize on Valentine\u2019s energy (Relationship Goals, Crazy, Stupid, Love), a franchise entry looks to extend long\u2011term 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\u2011cost subscription watch, an event PVOD rental, or a franchise installment to discuss with friends.<\/p>\n<p>For practical viewing: check platform availability and rental fees before you press play, and if you\u2019re assembling a Valentine\u2019s lineup, balance a heavier thriller with a lighter rom\u2011com to keep the evening varied. Streaming windows and marketing pushes will continue to shape what\u2019s easy to find this month, so consider these five films a concise guide for weekend viewing.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/entertainment\/streaming\/5-best-new-movies-to-stream-this-weekend-feb-7-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tom&#8217;s Guide<\/a> \u2014 media report summarizing streaming availability and reviews<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rottentomatoes.com\/search?search=Ella%20McCay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rotten Tomatoes (search\/results)<\/a> \u2014 critics aggregator referenced for Ella McCay rating<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boxofficemojo.com\/search\/?q=Ella%20McCay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Box Office Mojo (search)<\/a> \u2014 box office search and reporting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This weekend (Feb. 7\u20138, 2026) brings a compact slate of new and newly streamed movies across major services: a twisty PVOD thriller, a Valentine\u2019s-friendly rom\u2011com 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\u2019s Super Bowl, these &#8230; <a title=\"5 new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/5-new-movies-streaming-weekend\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 5 new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"5 new movies to stream this weekend \u2014 Tom's Guide","rank_math_description":"Five streaming picks for Feb. 7\u20138, 2026: a PVOD thriller, a Valentine\u2019s rom\u2011com, a new Planet of the Apes, a controversial dramedy and a Netflix favorite\u2014where to watch them now.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"streaming,PVOD,Planet of the Apes,romcom,The Housemaid","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18339"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18339\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}