5 excellent new movies to watch this week across Netflix, Prime Video, and more (October 12-18)

If you like original direct-to-streaming movies, then this week's list is for you. Four of the five movies on this list are streaming releases. Prime Video occupies two spots on the list: a crime caper starring Stanley Tucci and a romantic drama starring Margaret Qualley.

Netflix's selection this week features Chris Evans in a role that allows him to show a different side of himself. Apple TV has a tense climbing biopic with a famous star from Marvel movies. However, my top pick is a gritty adaptation of a legendary folk hero. Stream all five movies in the U.S.

5 Masterplan

A family affair

I don't know what it is, but I'm always smiling whenever I see Stanley Tucci. He has that distinct voice and quirky personality that comes through in every performance, with my favorite being his culinary wizardry on Instagram. Tucci feels like he's playing a heightened version of himself in Masterplan, a crime comedy set in Europe.

Roger (Tucci) is a master thief who wants to pull off the impossible: steal the Mona Lisa. He can't do it alone, so he recruits Italian tech mastermind Chiara (Simona Tabasco) and French explosive specialist Jay (Victor Belmondo). Despite being from different backgrounds, Chiara and Jay learn that they are siblings and their father is Roger. Expect many laughs and family dysfunction in this thrilling comedy.​​​​​​​

Masterplan streams on Prime Video on Oct. 16.

4 ​​​​​​​Tenzing

The impossible climb becomes a reality

Tom Hiddleston is a history savant. While most know him for playing Loki in the MCU, I learned that Hiddleston is passionate about world history and historic landmarks, like the Pompeii disaster. Hiddleston tackles a much more optimistic topic in Tenzing, a biographical drama about a seminal moment in human history.

In 1953, Himalayan climber Tenzing Norgay (Genden Phuntsok) and New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary (Hiddleston) became the first climbers to summit Mount Everest. Yet the perilous journey proves to be extremely dangerous. The trailer teases exhilarating climbing sequences that emphasize just how difficult this ordeal became. Humans are awesome, so expect a thrilling story about perseverance and determination.

Tenzing streams on Apple TV on Oct. 16.

3 ​​​​​​​Sacrifice

A hostage situation gone wrong

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In Sacrifice, one of Netflix's new releases in October, Chris Evans plays Mike Tyler, an action star looking to make a Hollywood comeback. I don't think it's exactly art mirroring life, but I do think there's some truth in Evans trying to reestablish himself as a star outside of Marvel. Evans certainly has the talent to do it; he just needs to pick the right projects.

Mike Tyler decides to attend an environmental gala hosted by billionaire Ben Bracken (Vincent Cassel) and his wife, Gloria (Salma Hayek-Pinault). It's the type of event you roll your eyes at the pretentiousness of the guests in the room. Cult leader Joan (Anya Taylor-Joy) also can't stand these people, so she and her followers hijack the event and take three guests hostage, one of them being Mike. The goal is to sacrifice three people in a neighboring volcano to prevent a catastrophic event. Get ready for some satire!

Sacrifice streams on Netflix on Oct. 16.

2 Love of Your Life

Love takes miles

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Love of Your Life gives off major gut-punch vibes. It's a romantic drama that teases love, heartbreak, and grief. Frankly, I'm fine with a little despair when it involves depicting a love story onscreen. It adds a sense of realism to the topic. Plus, casting Margaret Qualley in the lead role is an excellent choice.

Maya (Qualley) is introduced as someone looking for meaning in her life. She drops everything in search of purpose, and when she's on her last leg, she meets Charlie (Gabriel Basso). The two embark on a whirlwind romance, and then a drastic event shakes things up. Enter Felix, played by Lanterns star Aaron Pierre, who might be another potential suitor for Maya. I'm ready for some emotional undertones and melodramatic relationships.

Love of Your Life streams on Prime Video on Oct. 14.

1 ​​​​​​​The Death of Robin Hood

Not so merry

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If any filmmaker is going to explore grief and trauma through the eyes of a conflicted character, it's Michael Sarnoski. I enjoyed Sarnoski's last two directorial efforts, Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One, especially the latter, which injected new life into the famous horror franchise. This year, Sarnoski returned to those same themes in The Death of Robin Hood.

Most depictions of Robin Hood feature a swashbuckling protagonist with style and charm. Hugh Jackman's Robin Hood is the complete opposite. Sarnoski's movie depicts Robin as a remorseful outlaw who lives in exile, spending most of his days contemplating the sins of his past. After suffering an injury, Robin seeks care from Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer), a healer who forces the outlaw to confront his demons. I'm not surprised the movie flopped at the box office because it's a darker take on Robin Hood. That being said, it's extremely effective and worthy of your time, especially if you enjoy Sarnoski's previous work.

The Death of Robin Hood streams on HBO Max on Oct. 16.

More movies to check out

Have you ever heard of the Razzies? Think of them like the Oscars, but for bad movies. I'm not the biggest fan of the organization, and I do believe the Razzies unfairly humiliated several movies and performances, including Sandra Bullock and Sylvester Stallone. Let me know in the comments what you think about the Razzies and whether they should exist.