New movies to see this weekend: Watch DC's 'Blue Beetle,' embrace dog movie 'Strays'

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY

Updated August 17, 2023 at 12:47 PM·5 min read

Blue Beetle might have a chance at being in the Justice League one day, but it's safe to say the foul-mouthed dogs of "Strays" will never be Pet Avengers.

This animal-filled weekend, "Cobra Kai" star Xolo Maridueña makes his debut as DC's first Latino movie superhero in a family-friendly new adventure, while Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx voice canine best friends – who use enough four-letter words to make Superman blush – on a mission of revenge in a R-rated comedy.

Here's a guide to new movies that will satisfy every cinematic taste, plus some noteworthy theatrical films making their streaming and on-demand debuts this weekend:

'Blue Beetle' review: Xolo Mariduena's dazzling Latino superhero brings new life to DC

If you're in need of a fresh new superhero: 'Blue Beetle'

Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) is chosen by a mysterious alien scarab to be its human host in DC's "Blue Beetle."

The DC movie universe gets a nice infusion of Latin culture with this adventure, which centers on recent college grad Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña). He comes into contact with an alien scarab that gives him superpowers, though the snazzy bug also makes him a target for a villainous CEO (Susan Sarandon). Fortunately, Jaime's family has his back, and George Lopez turns in a dynamite performance as the new hero's inventive Uncle Rudy.

Where to watch: In theaters

If you ever wonder what your dog is thinking: 'Strays'

The dog pack of Bug (from left, voiced by Jamie Foxx), Reggie (Will Ferrell), Maggie (Isla Fisher) and Hunter (Randall Park) run across some magic mushrooms during their quest for furry vengeance in the comedy "Strays."

An idealistic Border Terrier named Reggie (voiced by Ferrell) lives for the love of his owner Doug (Will Forte) but just gets hurt in return. When he's abandoned in the big city, Reggie makes friends with a pack of pooches, including a street-smart Boston Terrier (Jamie Foxx), and goes on a quest of self-discovery and furry vengeance in this raunchy and sometimes touching comedy about finding your family and making the most of a ruff life.

Where to watch: In theaters

'Strays' review: Will Ferrell's hilarious dog movie puts raunchy spin on 'Homeward Bound'

If you're a big fan of ancient Chinese tales: 'The Monkey King'

In the animated action comedy "The Monkey King," Jimmy O. Yang voices the title character, a dude who has a magical fighting stick and battles demons, dragons, gods and also his sizable ego.

In this rockin' and action-packed animated comedy for kids of all ages, Monkey King (voiced by Jimmy O. Yang) has a problem fitting in but finds his calling battling demons. Armed with a magical fighting stick and a huge ego, the warrior sets off on a journey to become immortal, goes to heaven and hell with his human sidekick Lin (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and makes an enemy of the eccentric but dangerous Dragon King (Bowen Yang)

Where to watch: Netflix

If you dig a modern spin on the 'Frankenstein' story: 'birth/rebirth'

A 6-year-old girl (A.J. Lister) returns from death not the same kid in the modern "Frankenstein" tale "birth/rebirth."

When her 6-year-old daughter dies of a sudden bacterial infection and goes missing from the morgue, nurse Celie (Judy Reyes) finds the kid has become an experiment for an emotionally chilly pathologist (Marin Ireland) obsessed with reanimation. The pair quickly learn that bringing the dead back isn't as easy as it sounds, and Celie goes to terrifying extremes for her little girl in a deeply unsettling and sinister story full of moral quandaries.

Where to watch: In theaters

If you want to see a Tiffany Haddish career highlight: 'Landscape With Invisible Hand'

Tiffany Haddish and Asante Blackk star as a mother and son navigating the weird situation of living with an alien in the sci-fi satire "Landscape With Invisible Hand."

While Haddish also stars in the new Wesley Snipes male stripper movie "Back on the Strip," she gives one of her strongest performances in this sci-fi comedy imagining a future where aliens have landed, promising to help our world but instead creating economic chaos. Asante Blackk stars as a teen whose mom (Haddish) is forced to invite one of these odd extraterrestrials to live with them in a clever look at art, social media and humanity.

Where to watch: In theaters

If you want to see a modern reimagining of 'The Shining': 'Bad Things'

Gayle Rankin stars as a woman who inherits a hotel and finds a holiday with friends descending into madness in the horror movie "Bad Things."

With a gender-flipped main character and milk flowing down the walls rather than blood, director Stewart Thorndike offers an intriguing queer update on the Stanley Kubrick horror classic. Gayle Rankin ("Glow") rages with a chainsaw rather than an ax as a woman who inherits a suburban hotel, looks to spend a few nights there with her girlfriend and their pals, but winds up on a descent into madness full of ghosts and mother issues.

Where to watch: Shudder, AMC+

If you could use a two-fisted take on the teen comedy: 'Miguel Wants to Fight'

Tyler Dean Flores stars as a Bruce Lee-loving teen who dreams of getting into his first brawl with his best friends in the coming-of-age comedy "Miguel Wants to Fight."

Miguel (Tyler Dean Flores) is surrounded by fisticuffs – from his boxing trainer dad to the brawls that often break out in his tough neighborhood – though he himself has never actually been in a fight. When he gets the sudden news that his family has to move, Miguel enlists his best friends to help him finally get punchy in a coming-of-age comedy that's much more about finding one's self than socking a classmate in the face.

Where to watch: Hulu

Also on streaming:

Water guy Wade (voiced by Mamoudou Athie, center left) digs the fiery personality of Ember (Leah Lewis) though not everybody in Element City does in Pixar's animated "Elemental."

Pixar's animated romantic comedy/immigrant tale "Elemental," about a fiery woman (voiced by Leah Lewis) falling for an emotional water dude (Mamoudou Athie), is now available to buy on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon and Google Play.
The R-rated comedy "No Hard Feelings," starring Jennifer Lawrence as an Uber driver needing money (and a car) who's hired to "date" a college-bound nerd, is available to buy on Apple TV and other on-demand platforms.
The horror film "The Pope's Exorcist," featuring Russell Crowe as a real-life figure from Vatican history, is now streaming on Netflix.
The documentary "Every Body," which centers on three activists who work toward giving the intersex community a more powerful voice, premieres Friday on Peacock.