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How crazy is it that this week already marks the last week of the month? Not that January 2021 hasn’t felt like a decade in and of itself, so we will be honest in our relief that it is almost over. So as we sit back and reflect on the insanity that was January 2021, why not pop on a few movies to help you reset for the month to come? Whether you use Amazon Video, iTunes, Vudu or your cable’s service, the best movies streaming now are here and ready to assist in the decompressing process. But where should you start with this week’s batch of new releases? Worry not, we here at Decider are here to help you figure out what to watch.
There may not be a ton of blockbuster options new on VOD this weekend, but we are sure to find some quality entertainment in sleeper hits featuring Hollywood’s greatest. First up is Dennis Quaid and Sean Patrick Flanery in the redemptive martial arts film Born a Champion. Next, you can check out Caged: the mystery thriller about an affluent African American psychiatrist (Edi Gathegi) who, while fighting to overturn his guilty conviction of murdering his wife, is tormented by an abusive prison guard (Melora Hardin) to the breaking point. And while the majority of the films released in 2020 came out first available to rent, sci-fi thriller Synchronic — starring Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan — decided not to conform but is now available to rent on demand.
So what are the best movies to watch right now? Check out the other great thrillers, documentaries and dramas you can buy or rent this weekend.
Born a Champion
Dennis Quaid and Sean Patrick Flanery star in Born a Champion, an action- and emotion-packed martial arts film about greatness and redemption. After a gory jiu jitsu match in Dubai, a young Mickey Kelley (Flanery) falls to fighting superstar Blaine. Years later, an online video reveals that Blaine cheated during that infamous battle, spurring fans around the world to call for a rematch. It has been a long time since this aging underdog has entered the ring, so it’s going to take a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears to get back into fighting shape, enact revenge against his foe and ultimately claim his prize. Will he do it? Find out in Born a Champion.
Where to stream Born a Champion
Synchronic
Synchronic, the sci-fi psychological thriller that stole the minds of many last year, is finally available to rent on demand. Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan play Steve and Dennis: New Orleans paramedics and longtime best friends. When the two are sent on calls related a series of bizarre accidents, they chalk it up to a mysterious new drug that is always found on the scene. But after Dennis’ oldest daughter disappears, the two stumble upon a terrifying truth about the psychedelic that will challenge everything they know about reality — and even time itself. Trippy to the core, this highly-acclaimed film has been worth the rental wait.
To Buy:
Stockton on my Mind
A Woman’s Work: The NFL’s Cheerleader Problem
To Rent:
Born a Champion
The Night
Caged
Haymaker
Savage State
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Synchronic
$0.99 iTunes Movie Rental
Antebellum
Janelle Monáe stars in Antebellum, a disturbing horror film that merges the issues of the present with the terrors of the past. It centers on successful author Veronica Henley (Monáe) whose fulfilled life is suddenly disrupted when she is ripped from her reality and brought back to the Antebellum south. Trapped working on a plantation as a slave for a ruthless owner (played by Eric Lange), Veronica must overcome her past, present and future before it is too late. If you are looking for a lighthearted, easy film to watch, Antebellum is definitely not your friend!
