The 15 new movies you'll want to stream this summer, from 'Atlas' to 'Beverly Hills Cop 4'

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
Updated ·6 min read
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All the coolest summer films – and hot starry vehicles – aren't just at the movie theaters. It's about to get very real on your streaming services.

Nicole Kidman might say heartbreak feels good in a place with a big screen, but it's on Netflix where you'll find her and Zac Efron in a movie this June. The streamer also boasts a Jennifer Lopez sci-fi thriller, a killer Glen Powell comedy, a Mark Wahlberg/Halle Berry spy flick, and Eddie Murphy's latest "Beverly Hills Cop" installment in the coming months. Meanwhile, Apple TV+ offers a team-up with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck and a movie featuring recent Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone, and things aren't too shabby over at Prime Video with action movies starring A-list ex-wrestlers Dave Bautista and John Cena.

Here's an exclusive peek at 15 movies to stream from your couch this summer:

'Atlas' (May 24)

Jennifer Lopez plays a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst on a mission to capture a renegade AI in the sci-fi action film "Atlas."
Jennifer Lopez plays a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst on a mission to capture a renegade AI in the sci-fi action film "Atlas."

Data analyst Atlas Shepherd (Lopez) has spent her life trying to take down a rogue robot (Simu Liu) bent on replacing humans with machines. When a mission to capture him goes haywire, her only way to survive and save mankind is to pilot a mech suit and reluctantly trust an onboard AI.

Where to watch: Netflix

'Jim Henson Idea Man' (May 31)

Jim Henson (right) with Kermit is seen alongside fellow puppeteer Frank Oz with Fozzie Bear in director Ron Howard's documentary "Jim Henson: Idea Man."
Jim Henson (right) with Kermit is seen alongside fellow puppeteer Frank Oz with Fozzie Bear in director Ron Howard's documentary "Jim Henson: Idea Man."

Director Ron Howard's documentary chronicles the life and work of beloved filmmaker Jim Henson. Featuring archival footage and interviews with Rita Moreno, Jennifer Connelly and others, the movie follows Henson from his early days as a puppeteer to becoming the icon behind "Sesame Street" and the Muppets.

Where to watch: Disney+

'Hit Man' (June 7)

Glen Powell plays a fake hitman who falls for a woman (Adria Arjona) wanting to off her husband in the crime comedy "Hit Man."
Glen Powell plays a fake hitman who falls for a woman (Adria Arjona) wanting to off her husband in the crime comedy "Hit Man."

Based on a true story, Richard Linklater's crime comedy stars Glen Powell as a nerdy philosophy professor who moonlights as an undercover fake hitman for the police. He tries to help and ends up falling for a woman (Adria Arjona) wanting her ex dead, and their romance turns hazardous for both of them.

Where to watch: Netflix

'BRATS' (June 13)

Director Andrew McCarthy reconnects with fellow actor Demi Moore in the documentary "BRATS," about the group of 1980s movie stars that comprised the "Brat Pack."
Director Andrew McCarthy reconnects with fellow actor Demi Moore in the documentary "BRATS," about the group of 1980s movie stars that comprised the "Brat Pack."

This documentary is a must-see for anyone who grew up with the "Brat Pack" movies of the 1980s. Director Andrew McCarthy reunites with fellow actors and friends including Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy and Jon Cryer to tell their story, and sits down with the guy who actually coined the "Brat Pick" nickname back in the day.

Where to watch: Hulu

'Ultraman: Rising' (June 14)

Baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman and finds out he has to raise the offspring of his greatest foe in "Ultraman: Rising."
Baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman and finds out he has to raise the offspring of his greatest foe in "Ultraman: Rising."

Fun fact: Like Godzilla, Ultraman has been a pop-culture staple in Japan for decades. The latest incarnation comes to the U.S. via an animated adventure featuring a baseball superstar/superhero who defends Earth but is also tasked with raising the monstrous baby offspring of his greatest nemesis.

Where to watch: Netflix

'Trigger Warning' (June 21)

Jessica Alba plays a special forces operative who returns to her hometown when her dad suddenly dies and vows to find the truth of what happened in the action thriller "Trigger Warning."
Jessica Alba plays a special forces operative who returns to her hometown when her dad suddenly dies and vows to find the truth of what happened in the action thriller "Trigger Warning."

The action thriller casts Jessica Alba as a highly trained special forces operative on duty overseas when she gets the news of her father's unexpected death. The commando, who's really handy with a knife, returns to her hometown, runs afoul of a violent gang, inherits her dad's bar and seeks the truth of what happened to him.

Where to watch: Netflix

'A Family Affair' (June 28)

Nicole Kidman stars as a middle-aged mother who falls for her daughter's movie-star boss (Zac Efron) in the romantic comedy "A Family Affair."
Nicole Kidman stars as a middle-aged mother who falls for her daughter's movie-star boss (Zac Efron) in the romantic comedy "A Family Affair."

Kidman and Efron were lovers in 2012's "The Paperboy" and they're rekindling that onscreen flame in this romantic comedy. Joey King stars as the assistant to a movie star (Efron) and unhappily discovers that her mother (Kidman) has a secret romance going on with her boss.

Where to watch: Netflix

'Fancy Dance' (June 28)

Jax (Lily Gladstone, left) and her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) hit the road to find Roki's missing mom and bring her back to their Oklahoma reservation in the drama "Fancy Dance."
Jax (Lily Gladstone, left) and her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) hit the road to find Roki's missing mom and bring her back to their Oklahoma reservation in the drama "Fancy Dance."

"Killers of the Flower Moon" breakout Gladstone stars in this drama as Jax, a woman who's long taken care of her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. When Jax loses custody of her niece to the state, the two go on the lam to find Roki's missing mon.

Where to watch: Apple TV+

'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' (July 3)

Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy, from left) returns to LA, where he reconnects with old friend John Taggart (John Ashton) and meets new face Captain Grant (Kevin Bacon) in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."
Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy, from left) returns to LA, where he reconnects with old friend John Taggart (John Ashton) and meets new face Captain Grant (Kevin Bacon) in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."

Axel Foley is back, y'all! Murphy's Detroit detective returns to Beverly Hills when his daughter (Taylour Paige) is threatened, teaming up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his old cop friends (John Ashton and Judge Reinhold) to expose corruption and conspiracy in the police department.

Where to watch: Netflix

'Descendants: The Rise of Red' (July 12)

Red (Kylie Cantrall, left), the rebellious offspring of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), travels back in time with Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter to stop her mom from being a villain in Disney's “Descendants: The Rise of Red."
Red (Kylie Cantrall, left), the rebellious offspring of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), travels back in time with Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter to stop her mom from being a villain in Disney's “Descendants: The Rise of Red."

The new installment of Disney's "Descendants" franchise features Red (Kylie Cantrall), the rebellious offspring of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora). The crimson-haired young punk partners with her roommate, Cinderella's strait-laced daughter Chloe (Malia Baker), on a time-travel mission to stop Red's mom from going down a villainous path.

Where to watch: Disney+

'My Spy the Eternal City' (July 18)

Teenage Sophie (Chloe Coleman) convinces father figure/superspy JJ (Dave Bautista) to chaperone her school choir trip to Italy, where they both get embroiled in an international terrorist plot in the family comedy sequel "My Spy: The Eternal City."
Teenage Sophie (Chloe Coleman) convinces father figure/superspy JJ (Dave Bautista) to chaperone her school choir trip to Italy, where they both get embroiled in an international terrorist plot in the family comedy sequel "My Spy: The Eternal City."

The sequel to the 2020 family spy comedy returns Chloe Coleman as the now-teenage Sophie and Bautista as CIA agent/father figure JJ. Their new adventure takes them to Italy, where JJ is chaperoning Sophie's school choir trip and they become embroiled in a terrorist plot to assassinate JJ's boss (Ken Jeong).

Where to watch: Prime Video

'The Instigators' (Aug. 9)

An ex-con (Casey Affleck, left) and a desperate father (Matt Damon) try to pull off the high-stakes robbery of a corrupt politician and find themselves pursued by cops and crooks alike when it goes awry in heist film "The Instigators."
An ex-con (Casey Affleck, left) and a desperate father (Matt Damon) try to pull off the high-stakes robbery of a corrupt politician and find themselves pursued by cops and crooks alike when it goes awry in heist film "The Instigators."

In Doug Liman's heist film, desperate father Rory (Matt Damon) and ex-con Cobby (Casey Affleck) are paired up on a job to rob a corrupt politician. The situation goes sideways, the duo is pursued by cops, crooks and politicians alike, and even Rory's therapist (Hong Chau) lends a hand as they try to escape capture.

Where to watch: Apple TV+

'Jackpot!' (Aug. 15)

Awkwafina plays a new Los Angeles resident who has a winning lottery ticket but to become a billionaire, she has to team with a lottery protection agent (John Cena) and avoid being killed in the futuristic action comedy "Jackpot!"
Awkwafina plays a new Los Angeles resident who has a winning lottery ticket but to become a billionaire, she has to team with a lottery protection agent (John Cena) and avoid being killed in the futuristic action comedy "Jackpot!"

Paul Feig's action comedy envisions a near-future Los Angeles where lottery winners have to survive until sundown or their killer can claim billions. Awkwafina plays a new LA resident who mistakenly obtains a "lucky" ticket and Cena is the amateur protection agent helping her out in exchange for a piece of her prize.

Where to watch: Prime Video

'The Union' (Aug. 16)

Sparks fly again for a New Jersey construction worker (Mark Wahlberg) when he's recruited by his long-lost high school sweetheart (Halle Berry), now a spy, for a dangerous intelligence mission in the action comedy "The Union."
Sparks fly again for a New Jersey construction worker (Mark Wahlberg) when he's recruited by his long-lost high school sweetheart (Halle Berry), now a spy, for a dangerous intelligence mission in the action comedy "The Union."

Mark Wahlberg stars in the action comedy as a New Jersey construction worker who hasn't seen his high school sweetheart (Halle Berry) in forever. Catching up isn't in her plans, as she's now a spy who recruits him for a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe with sparks of both the explosive and romantic sort.

Where to watch: Netflix

'The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat' (Aug. 23)

Sanaa Lathan (far left), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Uzo Aduba play a trio of friends who've navigated decades of troubles together but have that bond tested in the drama "The Supremes at Earl's All You Can Eat."
Sanaa Lathan (far left), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Uzo Aduba play a trio of friends who've navigated decades of troubles together but have that bond tested in the drama "The Supremes at Earl's All You Can Eat."

This adaptation of Edward Kelsey Moore's 2013 novel stars Sanaa Lathan, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Uzo Aduba as a trio of best friends. They've weathered four decades of ups and downs since coming together as high school pals in the 1960s, but now heartbreak, illness and other challenges test those close bonds.

Where to watch: Hulu

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to watch this summer: New movies perfect for streaming at home