New to Streaming: Dolly Parton, Nickel Boys, Her Private Hell, I Only Rest in the Storm, Failed State, and More

      Every week, we showcase notable titles that have recently become available on streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week's picks below and explore previous collections here.

      **The Christophers (Steven Soderbergh)**

      Steven Soderbergh continues to unleash his creativity with the light yet enjoyable dramedy The Christophers. The film revolves around an aging artist (Ian McKellen) and his new “assistant” (Michaela Coel) as they engage in deep discussions about artistic worth, a life devoted to creativity, and the sacrifices that come with it, among other topics. While it may not reach the recent highs of the highly entertaining Black Bag, Ed Solomon's script and the standout performances are the film's highlights, making it equally effective as a stage production. – Jordan R.

      **Where to Stream:** Hulu

      **Failed State (Christopher Jason Bell, Mitch Blummer)**

      This indie treasure is a captivating slice-of-life character study featuring an outstanding performance by Dale A. Smith, following his experiences as a messenger in NYC. With a loose script that emphasizes the authentic character at its core, this film delivers a moving and gripping portrayal of our current fractured economy. – Jordan R.

      **Where to Stream:** MeansTV

      **Dolly Parton**

      For those wishing to revisit the infectious charm of Dolly Parton, several of her films have recently been added to select streaming services following her passing. You can find 9 to 5 on Prime Video and Hulu, Straight Talk on Prime Video, The Beverly Hillbillies on Prime Video, Steel Magnolias on Paramount+, and Rhinestone, Joyful Noise, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on various VOD platforms.

      **Her Private Hell (Nicolas Winding Refn)**

      A decade after Nicolas Winding Refn’s last theatrical release, Her Private Hell premiered at Cannes to mixed to negative reactions, evoking a sense of déjà vu. While some responses (including ours) are well-articulated, many others feel routine, particularly for a director still capable of attracting stars and funding while remaining in his own lane. Even as he strives to innovate and surprise, the elements remain consistent: beautiful actors convey tension against an ethereal score (usually by Cliff Martinez, here by Pino Donaggio), underpinning a sense of dread. For those who support him, there appears some deeper concept regarding the aestheticization of anger, particularly as it relates to genre conventions. Continue reading Nick Newman’s interview.

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **I Only Rest In The Storm (Pedro Pinho)**

      A remarkable surprise. From the beginning, Pinho creates a temporal framework reminiscent of the works of Abdellatif Kechiche and Miguel Gomes, filmmakers who see every scene as an opportunity to stage affective relationships among diverse people, where outsiders remain on the periphery. The film's striking cast—Sérgio Coragem, Jonathan Guilherme, and Cleo Diára, who won the best actress prize at Un Certain Regard—keeps your gaze locked. Its unabashed portrayal of sex captivated me, especially marked by the year's most surprising threesome, alongside a candid examination of colonialism's lingering effects, enhanced by Carpotxa and Mazulu’s enchanting soundtrack. Previously unfamiliar with Pinho, I'm now a fan after 217 minutes. – Nirris N. (top 10 films of 2025)

      **Where to Stream:** Letterboxd Video Store

      **Nickel Boys (RaMell Ross)**

      RaMell Ross—film professor at Brown University and the writer-director of the stunning impressionist depiction of rural Alabama life in Hale County This Morning, This Evening—made waves with his second film and fiction debut Nickel Boys. This adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel is a heartfelt and mesmerizing film that quickly evokes a mood of dread tied to America’s dark history concerning abusive juvenile centers for Black boys. Uniquely filmed from a first-person perspective, it follows Elwood Curtis, a young man wrongfully confined at the Nickel Academy, as he forms a life-altering friendship while confronting the horrors of Nickel, where unmarked graves of rule-breaking children linger in the memories of the living. Alternating between Elwood’s time at Nickel and his adult life researching its wrongs, Ross immerses us in a journey filled with beauty and trauma. – Luke H.

      **Where to Stream:** MUBI

      **Also New to Streaming**

      **Hulu**

      - Desert Warrior

      - Kino Film Collection

      - Gerhard Richter Painting

      - Unmaking of a College

      **Netflix**

      - I Swear

      **PBS**

      - Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World

      **VOD**

      - The Deb

      - Esta Isla

      - Hadestown: The Musical

      - Motor City

      - Olmo

      - Reading Lolita in Tehran