12 new movies, shows, and documentaries to watch this week on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more

As the first half of 2021 comes to an end, we enter July with a massive and versatile collection of digital releases that promise to supplement your stay-at-home experience. Science fiction meets comedy and drama as Chris Pratt time travels to fight aliens in The Tomorrow War. Furthermore, crime thrillers are on the menu with Taapsee Pannu-led Haseen Dilruba, and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Cold Case set for release as well. Here’s the complete lowdown of every digital premiere you need to look out for in the coming days. 

1. America: The Motion Picture (June 30)

A reimagined version of the American Revolution forms the crux of this animated comedy, as a chainsaw swinging George Washington assembles his team of unlikely misfits to face off against Benedict Arnold and King James. His uncanny ensemble is joined by beer fanatic Sam Adams, exalted scientist Thomas Edison, renowned equestrian Paul Revere, and an extremely cranky Geronimo. The war is upon them, but their inability to work in sync might pose a significant challenge.

Streaming on Netflix

2. Cold Case (June 30) 

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Aditi Balan star in this Malayalam murder mystery that entangles the supernatural. The story weaves around a mutilated human skull, discovered from a lake, that opens up the pandora's box for a cold-blooded homicide. A relentless cop (Prithviraj) is thrown into the middle of the investigation, and he cautiously unravels every possible secret behind this case. Things take an unexpected turn when black magic and paranormal occurrences plague his existence. 

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

3. Somos. (June 30)

This six-episode show recreates the lives of the common folk from a small town called Allende as an unexpected threat looms over their lives. Owing to its war against Mexican drug cartels, the American Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) plans an operation that engulfs this small settlement, permanently affecting its residents as they experience immense losses to life and property. The narrative is inspired by real-life investigative articles by Pulitzer Prize holder journalist, Ginger Thompson, that blamed the US for inciting a massacre in Mexico.

Streaming on Netflix

4. Prime Time (June 30)

New Year's Eve in 1999 spells an unfortunate evening for a TV studio as it gets hijacked by a young man with a gun. The offender is 20-year-old Sebastian, who takes two hostages and demands to broadcast a secret message via live television. However, his attempts to do so are continuously impeded by the police and the egocentric company chairman. While the authorities try to decipher a means to handle the crisis, Sebastian connects with his hostages in an unusual shift of circumstances.

Streaming on Netflix

5. Audible (July 1)

Overcoming adversity is the name of the game for the students of Maryland School for the Deaf as they prepare to take on the hearing world in the coming years. This truly profound documentary tells the story of athlete Amaree McKenstry and his friends, who are amidst the process of healing from the loss of a friend while trying to protect their football team's winning streak. These students may be deprived of hearing, but their ability to take every challenge on the chin is what defines them.

Streaming on Netflix

6. Samantar Season 2 (July 1)

After his relentless quest to find the elusive Sudarshan Chakrapani, Kumar Mahajan may finally have the answers he's been seeking, or so he thinks. After all, the mysterious man shares the same fate as him but has already lived the life Kumar is living. Things do take a turn for the better as Kumar finally has the power to control and change his destiny. However, fate one-ups him again when an ambiguous woman enters his life, triggering another downfall.

Streaming on MX Player

7. Young Royals (July 1)

Prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding), like all kids his age, dreams of curating a life as per his wishes, but the only issue is that he belongs to a highly coveted royal family. When he finally enrols into the reputable boarding school Hillerska, Wilhelm allows himself to explore, reinvent, and grow. Regrettably, his time away from royal obligations is cruelly short-lived when he becomes next in line for the throne. What eventually stands in front of him is a crippling choice between independence and responsibility.

Streaming on Netflix

8. Haseen Dillruba (July 2)

When the brutal death of a man rocks the foundations of a small town, his enigmatic wife becomes the prime suspect for his murder. The interrogation that follows sees the revelation of toxic details from their rushed arranged marriage that involved constant arguments and the involvement of another man. Despite information piling up against her, the police have no conclusive evidence of her guilt. Now, it is up to her to find bits of innocence from this murk of accusations. The film stars Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, and Harshvardhan Rane, among others.

Streaming on Netflix

9. Fear Street Part 1: 1994 (July 2)

Based on RL Stine's famous book series, Fear Street takes you to the creepy town of Shadyside, where danger is brewing. Set in the year 1994, a group of friends chance upon an ancient evil that they conclude is responsible for a string of brutal murders. On further probing, they realise that this dark power has tormented their town for over 300 years, and its next target may be them. The following two parts of this trilogy will be set in 1978 and 1966 respectively.

Streaming on Netflix

10. The 8th Night (July 2)

The awakening of a deadly and ancient entity wreaks havoc across the land as this Korean thriller gets underway. The evil power has to go through seven victims to attain a form, and it begins to do so in a gruesome fashion. The only thing that stands in its way is a group of trained guardians who team up to vanquish it within the deadline of eight days. 

Streaming on Netflix

11. Mortel Season 2 (July 2)

The voodoo-powered French high school drama returns for a second outing with raised stakes. Sofiane, Victor, and Luisa have finally managed to subdue the red-eyed god, Obé, and Sofiane's brother Reda returns from the dead.  The trio, instead of celebrating, smell something fishy, and their instincts, unfortunately, are bang on when Reda gets possessed by Obé. What follows is a super-powered battle for survival as the three must save their loved ones and protect their friendship in the process. 

Streaming on Netflix

12. The Tomorrow War (July 2) 

Chris Pratt sheds his Star-Lord avatar to play a high school teacher who ends up becoming a time-travelling soldier to save humanity's fate. It all starts when warriors from the future travel to 2021 in search of recruits. They reveal that humanity is fighting a losing battle against an alien species in 2051, and the only way to ensure a tomorrow is to fight back. A former military man turned teacher, Dan Forester (Pratt), can't bear the thought of his young daughter living in such a world and signs up. The film also features Yvonne Strahovski, JK Simmons, and more.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

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