The Biggest New Releases This Week (Aug. 18–24): From ‘Honey Don’t!’ to ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2

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Aug 22

‘Eenie Meanie’ **Credit 20th Century Studios | Hulu**

From big-screen thrillers to streaming premieres and returning TV favorites, this week’s lineup offers suspense, spectacle, and plenty of star power.

As summer winds down, the release calendar shows no signs of slowing. August brings a stacked lineup of thrillers, true-story dramas, and even franchise finales that are already generating buzz. This week’s new releases include Ethan Coen’s darkly comic detective story Honey Don’t!, Ron Howard’s survival epic Eden, and Riz Ahmed’s tense corporate thriller Relay. There’s also a highly anticipated streaming return with Peacemaker Season 2, plus fresh documentaries, horror sequels, and VOD premieres.

Here’s a breakdown of the biggest new movies and shows hitting theaters, streaming platforms, and on-demand this week.

Honey Don’t!

In this quirky crime thriller from Ethan Coen, Margaret Qualley stars as a swaggering private eye whose investigations into a string of mysterious deaths lead her into the orbit of a dangerous church. Chris Evans sheds his superhero persona to play a corrupt, charismatic preacher, while Aubrey Plaza and Charlie Day round out the eccentric ensemble. With Coen’s trademark mix of dry humor and noir grit, Honey Don’t! feels like a sly, stylish throwback to 1970s pulp cinema while offering plenty of modern edge.

Relay

Riz Ahmed headlines this taut corporate thriller as a fixer who arranges covert payoffs for corrupt companies. His carefully structured world unravels when he crosses paths with a determined whistleblower, played by Lily James, who refuses to be silenced. Directed with sharp tension and moral urgency, Relay examines the lengths institutions will go to bury their secrets — and the human cost for those caught in the middle.

Eden

Ron Howard turns his lens on a survival story with an all-star cast featuring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney, and Daniel Brühl. Inspired by real events, the film follows a group of people who abandon modern society to build their own utopian community on a remote island. Their dream quickly spirals into chaos, paranoia, and violence, revealing just how fragile civilization can be. With its ensemble cast and psychological edge, Eden is shaping up to be one of the year’s most harrowing thrillers.

Trust

Sophie Turner takes the lead in this intimate psychological thriller about a movie star who retreats to a remote cabin to escape scandal. What begins as a sanctuary quickly becomes a nightmare as she realizes that one of the few people she trusted may have darker motives. Billy Campbell and Katey Sagal co-star in this tense, claustrophobic story that questions how well we can ever really know the people closest to us.

Hell House LLC: Lineage

The cult found-footage horror series reaches its fifth and reportedly final chapter with Lineage. The story follows a woman who, after a near-death experience, begins to have terrifying visions linking her to the infamous Hell House murders. Returning to its eerie, lo-fi roots, the film promises one last descent into the haunted halls that made the franchise a streaming horror favorite.

K-Pop Demon Hunters (Singalong Theatrical Event)

One of Netflix’s biggest animated surprises, K-Pop Demon Hunters follows a chart-topping girl group who balance their lives as international idols with moonlighting as demon fighters. Already a smash hit on streaming, the film is hitting theaters in a special singalong edition, giving fans a chance to experience the infectious soundtrack and action-packed visuals on the big screen.

Peacemaker – Season 2

James Gunn’s outrageous DC spinoff returns, with John Cena reprising his role as the helmeted antihero who blurs the line between heroics and chaos. After the first season’s critical success and cult following, Peacemaker Season 2 promises to raise the stakes with wilder missions, raunchier humor, and deeper dives into the character’s psyche. With Gunn now steering the larger DC Universe, the new season is expected to play a pivotal role in the franchise’s future.

The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix, Aug. 28)

Based on Richard Osman’s bestselling novel, this ensemble mystery stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie as a group of retirees who spend their time solving cold-case murders — until they find themselves at the center of a very real crime. Directed by Chris Columbus and featuring Naomi Ackie and David Tennant, the film balances cozy British humor with sharp whodunit thrills.

Eenie Meanie (Hulu, Aug. 22)

Samara Weaving leads this action comedy as a reformed teenage getaway driver pulled back into the underworld when her ex-boyfriend’s life is on the line. With Steve Zahn, Randall Park, and Andy Garcia adding comic flair, Eenie Meaniedelivers high-octane chases, unexpected laughs, and a surprisingly heartfelt look at redemption.

The Truth About Jussie Smollett? (Netflix, Aug. 22)

This explosive documentary revisits the controversial 2019 case that made global headlines. Featuring new interviews with Smollett himself, along with police officers, legal experts, and journalists, the film examines conflicting narratives and claims of new evidence. Whether seen as a true-crime exposé or a cultural autopsy, the doc is guaranteed to spark heated debate.

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Naomi Osaka: The Second Set (Tubi, Aug. 24)

This intimate documentary follows tennis superstar Naomi Osaka as she makes her return to the court after putting her career on hold to become a mother. Offering a vulnerable portrait of resilience, identity, and mental health in professional sports, the film builds on her previous Netflix documentary to show a new chapter in her personal and professional life.

F1: The Movie (Apple Tv+ Aug. 22)

Brad Pitt stars in “F1” as Sonny Hayes, a former F1 prodigy who returns to the sport after suffering severe injuries in a crash 30 years earlier. His former F1 teammate, played by Javier Bardem, now owns APXGP, an underdog F1 team. He recruits Sonny to help save the team by the end of the current season. Sonny’s teammate, the young and talented rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), becomes his fiercest rival on the grid as they collaborate and clash while striving to bring victory to APXGP.

VOD Highlights

The Bad Guys 2 – Aug. 19
Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning – Aug. 19
The Rooster – Aug. 22
We’re Not Safe Here – Aug. 22
Lilly Lives Alone – Aug. 22
Oldhead – Aug. 22

From Ethan Coen’s offbeat detective romp Honey Don’t! to Ron Howard’s survivalist Eden and the return of Peacemaker, this week’s lineup is stacked with heavy hitters. Whether you’re looking for laughs, scares, or edge-of-your-seat suspense, there’s something new for every kind of viewer — both in theaters and at home.