Your pre-Oscars streaming binge starts here

In Bugonia, two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnap a powerful CEO because they are convinced she is an alien planning to destroy humanity. Emma Stone plays the executive with a cool, unreadable edge that keeps the audience constantly guessing whether the men are delusional or onto something stranger. Directed by Stone’s long-time collaborator, Yorgos Lanthimos, the film skewers paranoia, internet rabbit holes, and corporate power with bone-dry humour and signature Lanthimosean absurdity. It is tense, bizarre, and often very funny in the most uncomfortable way possible.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another centres on a former radical activist whose past resurfaces when his daughter becomes entangled in a political movement that spirals out of control. As protests intensify and loyalties fracture, the story shifts between family drama and large-scale unrest. Leonardo DiCaprio leads a powerhouse ensemble that includes Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro in a film that feels urgent and sprawling at once. Hilarious, heart-wrenching and thoughtful at once, this movie is part political thriller, part generational showdown, and one that is fully committed to going big.

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners follows twin brothers who return to their Mississippi hometown hoping to start over, only to confront a supernatural presence rooted in the town’s violent past. The film blends Southern gothic horror with blues culture and generational trauma, building towards a tense reckoning between history and the present. Michael B Jordan plays both brothers, and yes, it is deeply satisfying to watch him spar with himself on screen. You get double the charisma, double the intensity, and absolutely no complaints.

Based on Denis Johnson’s novella by the same name, Train Dreams follows a solitary logger in the early-20th-century American West as he navigates industrial expansion, personal loss, and a rapidly changing landscape. The story unfolds in quiet, episodic moments that capture both the vastness of the frontier and the intimacy of one man’s grief. It is restrained, visually stunning, and anchored in atmosphere. This is the kind of film you put on when you want something immersive and unexpectedly moving.

F1 follows a veteran Formula One driver who returns to the sport to mentor a rising star while chasing one last championship run. Shot during real race weekends, the film throws you straight into the cockpit, capturing the speed, danger, and razor-thin margins that define the sport. Beyond the track, it explores ego, rivalry, and the politics inside a racing team. With the new F1 season about to kick off, this is the perfect pre-grid ritual for the F1 girlies and the group chats.

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein revisits Mary Shelley’s classic tale of a scientist who creates life and recoils from the consequences. The film focuses on Victor Frankenstein’s obsession and the Creature’s anguish as rejection turns into tragedy. It leans fully into gothic romance, lavish sets, and transformative makeup, making the monster both terrifying and heartbreakingly human. And if you are still recovering from Jacob Elordi’s brooding energy in period drama mode, here is your next fix.

Sentimental Value is a Norwegian drama about two siblings forced to reunite with their father after their mother’s death, only to confront long-buried resentments tied to family legacy and inheritance. As they sort through belongings and memories, what comes forth are unresolved conflicts and intimate conversations. The performances are precise and emotionally charged without tipping into melodrama. It is the kind of film that thrives on silence, subtext, and one-liners that land harder than a full speech.

Weapons unfolds over a tense stretch of time as multiple characters become entangled in a volatile situation involving fear, suspicion, and escalating stakes after 17 children from the same class mysteriously disappear on the same night. The story moves quickly, revealing how small decisions trigger larger consequences. Anchored by a standout supporting performance, the film builds dread through tight pacing and sharp exchanges rather than spectacle. It is lean, intense, and designed to keep you slightly on edge the entire time.

KPop Demon Hunters follows a globally famous girl group who secretly fight demons threatening their city while maintaining their pop idol personas. By day they rehearse, perform, and dominate the charts. By night they battle supernatural forces feeding on chaos and fame. The animation is slick, the action sequences are dynamic, and the soundtrack—a genuine chart topper. It is high-energy, stylish, and basically proof that saving the world pairs well with a stadium tour.

Pixar’s Elio centres on a lonely boy who is accidentally transported to an intergalactic council and mistaken for Earth’s official ambassador. Suddenly responsible for representing humanity, he must navigate alien politics while learning to believe in himself. The film mixes colourful world building with heartfelt coming-of-age themes and plenty of humour. It is bright, imaginative, and a strong reminder that sometimes the most unqualified person in the room is exactly who the universe picks.

Jurassic World Rebirth returns to a world where dinosaurs and humans coexist uneasily after years of global fallout. When a new scientific breakthrough threatens to upset that fragile balance, a team of experts sets out to prevent another catastrophe. The film leans hard into spectacle, delivering massive creature sequences and high-stake chases. Jonathan Bailey steps into the chaos with composed intelligence and, yes, those internet-approved glasses. Dinosaurs, tension, and a little academic chic.