6 New Movies This Week: ‘Beast,’ ‘Look Both Ways,’ and More!

Wondering what the new movies this week are? In total, there are 6 new films coming out in theater and on streaming – horror, comedies, and even anime fill out this week’s releases.

Movie fans can look forward to Idris Elba in Beast, Lili Reinhart in the drama Look Both Ways, the horror film Orphan: First Kill, and more!

Here’s the rundown of new movies this week that are coming out in theaters, as well as those releasing on the major streaming platforms.

New Movies This Week August 15 – August 21, 2022

Beast  (2022)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Friday, August 19, 2022.

Summary: In Beast, a father (Idris Elba) and his two teenage daughters (Iyana Halley, Leah Sava Jeffries) are in the African Savanah to go on a photo safari. Instead of a fun outing, they encounter a rouge lion determined to show that there is only room for one apex predator.

What to Watch For: The film is by award-winning filmmaker Baltasar Kormakur (Everest, Adrift).

Word on the Street: Iyana Halley is best known for her roles as the adult version of Annie on This is Us and Taylor Howard on the ABC comedy Abbott Elementary.

My Take: Come on, Idris Elba is taking on a lion. It just doesn’t get better than that.

Look Both Ways   (2022)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: Premiering on Netflix on Wednesday, August 17, 2022.

Summary: Look Both Ways is about Natalie (Lili Reinhart), a young woman who, on the eve of her college graduation, discovers she might be pregnant. We follow Natalie’s story as she takes two different paths: she is pregnant and stays in Austin to have the baby, or she isn’t pregnant and moves to LA to pursue her dream job.

What to Watch For: Lili Reinhart has played Betty Cooper on the hit CW TV show Riverdale since 2017.

Word on the Street: The film is directed by Wanuri Kahiu, whose last film, Rafiki (2018), was a massive hit with film festivals and film critics alike.

My Take: I loved Rafiki, and I am a big fan of Lili Reinhart, so I won’t miss this film.

Orphan: First Kill   (2022)

Rating: R

Release Date: Premiering on Paramount+ and in select theatres on Friday, August 19, 2022.

Summary: Orphan: First Kill is about Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), who has escaped from a psychiatric facility in Estonia. Esther finds her way to America and cons her way into impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. We know what the family doesn’t; she isn’t their daughter and isn’t well.

What to Watch For: This is a prequel to the 2009 cult classic Orphan, with Isabelle Fuhrman reprising her role as Esther.

Word on the Street: Isabelle Fuhrman has been digitally de-aged to reprise her role, and the film is fixing a much-debated plot hole from the first film.

My Take: This is one of the most anticipated horror films of the summer.

Spin Me Round   (2022)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, August 19, 2022.

Summary: In Spin Me Round, Amber (Alison Brie) is a manager of a chain Italian restaurant who dreams of a better life. When Amber is selected to travel to Italia and take an immersive cooking course, she thinks her life has turned a corner. Boy, was she wrong.

What to Watch For: The cast includes Lil Rel Howery (who seems to be in every film released in 2022), Aubrey Plaza, Tricia Helfer, Debby Ryan, Molly Shannon, Fred Armisen, Alessandro Nivola, and Zach Woods.

Word on the Street: The film was co-written by lead actress Alison Brie.

My Take: Brie and director/co-writer Jeff Baena also brought us the 2020 mystery drama Horse Girl.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero  (2022)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Thursday, August 18, 2022.

Summary: Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero takes place in a time when Magenta has revived the Red Ribbon Army with the help of a boy genius named Dr. Hedo. It’s up to Goku, Piccolo, and their friends to take on the Red Ribbon Army and defeat their plan to take over the world.

What to Watch For: This is only the fifth feature film in the franchise that spans over 38 years.

Word on the Street: The film is opening in more than 2,500 U.S. theatres, making it the most ambitious opening of the Dragon Ball series. 

My Take: When given a choice, I always go with the subtitles versus the dubbed English version. Both versions will be available with this release.

The Legend of Molly Johnson    (2021)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, August 19, 2022.

Summary: The Legend of Molly Johnson is about Molly (Leah Purcell), a woman in the Australian bush struggling to raise her children and run the family farm while her husband is away. Molly is one tough woman, especially when you threaten her family and her way of life.

What to Watch For: The film was written and directed by lead actress Leah Purcell.

Word on the Street: The film won two awards at the 2021 Australian Screen Industry Network Awards program and was nominated for Best Film at the 2021 Sydney Film Festival.

My Take: I am always up for seeing a western.

What New Movies This Week Are You Planning to Watch?

And that’s your new releases for the week of August 15 – August 21, 2022!

In our comment section below, let us know what new movies this week you are excited to see!