Even though summer doesn’t technically end for another few weeks, it feels like the season is already coming to a close and movie-lovers are acting accordingly.
Thankfully, this weekend’s new streaming offerings include an autumnal thriller, a romance involving chronic illness and a botched real estate deal. In other words, the summer of Spider-Man is definitely over.
At the top of Watch With Us’ bingewatch-worthy list is Netflix‘s The Whisper Man, a spooky serial killer thriller starring Robert De Niro and Adam Scott.
Other new movies worth watching include Prime Video’s The Last Sunrise, Shudder’s gnarly horror flick Penny Lane Is Dead and Hulu’s historical epic, Desert Warrior, starring two MCU actors from Avengers: Doomsday and Wonder Man.
‘The Whisper Man’ (2026) — Netflix
Pete Willis (Robert De Niro) is a detective nearing the end of his career. His biggest achievement was capturing The Whisper Man, a serial killer who preyed on children 30 years ago. When his estranged son, Tom (Adam Scott), tells him his 8-year-old grandson, Jake (Acston Luca Porto), is missing, he initially thinks it’s the work of a random kidnapper. But as the seasoned detective starts investigating, he begins to believe it’s the work of The Whisper Man. But how is that possible when the killer is still locked away in prison?
That’s the unbeatable premise of The Whisper Man, an old-school thriller that Hollywood used to churn out in the 1990s and early 2000s. Directed by James Ashcroft, the film is set in autumnal New Jersey and gives off pleasingly cozy murder mystery vibes. But make no mistake — this is a grisly thriller involving the death of children, and it gets progressively creepier as the story progresses. Along with Scott and De Niro, the entire cast gives pitch-perfect performances, especially Hamish Linklater as a true-crime aficionado and Michael Keaton as — well, I can’t tell you. You’ll have to watch The Whisper Man to find out, but trust me, you won’t regret it.
‘The Last Sunrise’ (2026) — Prime Video
Most college students would kill for what Oriah “Ry” Pera (Maia Reficco) has: a loving mother, Isolde (Eva Longoria), a school she likes and a summer vacation at a ritzy Mallorca resort. But Ry isn’t like most students — she has a chronic illness that will most likely cut her life short just as it’s about to begin. Her spirits perk up when she meets Julián (Fernando Lindez), a hunky local fisherman who immediately falls for her. But how long can their love last when Ry’s life seemingly has a fast expiration date?
Soapy and melodramatic, The Last Sunrise is also entertaining and irresistible. The movie contains an Idiot Plot, where all of the characters’ problems would be solved with a couple of quick conversations, but why would anyone want that when there’s an escapist love story to savor? Reficco and Lindez look hot and give their characters just enough depth to make you care about them. Longoria is also effective as an overprotective mother with a secret that could doom Ry and Julián’s romance for good. The Last Sunrise is pretty basic, but it’s the perfect movie to watch for one last summer season thrill.
‘Penny Lane Is Dead’ (2026) — Shudder
If someone plays a prank in a movie, especially a horror movie, they usually wind up dead. And that’s exactly what happens in Penny Lane Is Dead, a new “Ozpolitation” terror flick that’s the cinematic equivalent of a pressure cooker. Set in 1986, three friends get together to party one last time before they split up. But their party is interrupted by frenemy Kat (Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn), her criminal ex-bf Angus (Ben O’Toole) and several of his shady friends. Soon, their peaceful get-together turns into a bloody fight for survival, and not everyone will live to see the light of day.
Equal parts brutal and wickedly funny, Penny Lane Is Dead is one of 2026’s surprising delights. The movie pays homage to home-invasion classics like Last House on the Left while still carving out its own identity as a shocking thriller that isn’t for the faint of heart.
‘Desert Warrior’ (2025) — Hulu
In seventh-century Arabia, the ruthless Emperor Kisra (Ben Kingsley) wants one thing — Princess Hind (Aiysha Hart). Hind doesn’t want to be his concubine, so she flees with her father into the Arabian desert. Without resources or allies, they’re sure to die quickly, so they hire Hanzala (Anthony Mackie) to help them. When tragedy strikes, Hind doesn’t just want to flee — she wants to take Kisra down for good. Hanzala has no choice but to join her uprising, resulting in all-out war for the Arabian kingdom.
Desert Warrior’s production history is as intriguing as the story it’s telling. Shot in 2021 and 2022, the film remained in limbo for three years before receiving a quiet release earlier this year. With a $150 million budget, it’s the most expensive movie made in Saudi Arabia. It’s also one of the worst flops in film history, grossing only $740,000. Ouch!
The movie itself is OK. Most of the budget is on screen, and there are some striking images of the desert that recall Lawrence of Arabia. Desert Warrior could’ve benefited from a more focused script and a better cast (Mackie looks uncomfortable in most of his scenes), but what’s there is enough to keep you satisfied for most of its 126-minute runtime.
