This week’s slate of top new movies across streaming services might not be the most packed of 2026, but it does include the movie that pretty much the entire Tom’s Guide staff considers to be the best new release of the year.
I’m, of course, talking about “Project Hail Mary,” which makes its long-awaited demand on at-home streaming today (May 12). But if Ryan Gosling saving the world alongside an alien named Rocky somehow isn’t for you, there are also new arrivals on Netflix, Peacock and AMC+.
Don’t waste your time scrolling through streaming service libraries this week looking for new arrivals. I’ve done the hard work for you and picked out the newcomers worthy of your attention. Plus, don’t forget to check out our guide to the top new TV shows this week, too.
|
Title |
Genre |
Streaming location |
Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
“Project Hail Mary’ |
Sci-fi |
PVOD |
May 12 |
|
“You, Me & Tuscany” |
Rom-com |
PVOD |
May 12 |
|
“Goat” |
Sports comedy |
Netflix |
May 14 |
|
“The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist” |
Documentary |
Peacock |
May 15 |
|
“Zodiac Killer Project” |
Documentary |
AMC+ |
May 15 |
‘Project Hail Mary’ (PVOD)
One of 2026’s biggest movies, and my personal pick for the best new release of the year to date, finally hits streaming this week. “Project Hail Mary” was definitely made for the big screen, but I’m still uber excited to be able to rewatch this one whenever I please. It’s a soaring sci-fi anchored by Ryan Gosling at his most likeable best. However, he’s totally upstaged by the universe’s best bro, Rocky, an alien brought to life through puppetry.
Ryland Grace (Gosling) awakes on a spaceship with no memory of his identity or his mission on board the interstellar craft. As his memory returns, he realizes he’s humanity’s last hope, sent into deep space to find a solution to a global crisis threatening all life on earth. “Project Hail Mary” is one of the most entertaining blockbusters of the 21st century and is adapted from the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, author of “The Martian.”
Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) from May 12
‘You, Me & Tuscany’ (PVOD)
If you don’t mind your romantic comedies being highly predictable, you might fall under the charms of “You, Me & Tuscany.” This rom-com follows the well-worn path of an American traveling to a picturesque European country and falling in love with both the setting and a hunky bachelor. Halle Bailey makes for a likeable lead, and there’s no denying that the stunning Tuscany region is the perfect place to set a sun-soaked romantic comedy.
Anna (Bailey) makes the impulsive decision to travel to Tuscany, Italy, with plans to stay at the family villa of a man she’s only just met, Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor). Once there, she spins a pretty big white lie to Matteo’s family and pretends the two are engaged. As she becomes attached to the Italian countryside, she also develops an attraction to Matteo’s handsome cousin, Michael (Regé-Jean Page). Naturally, drama, romance, and good food follow.
Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) from May 12
‘Goat’ (Netflix)
If “Zootopia 2” has you craving more animated family comedies set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, then “Goat” is the movie for you. It’s a sports comedy that sees humanoid animals compete in a sport called Roarball, basically basketball but with full-contact. The Sony Pictures Animation flick packs a strong voice cast, including “Stranger Things’” Caleb McLaughlin, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, Patton Oswalt, Jelly Roll, and basketball player Stephen Curry.
Will (McLaughlin) is a small goat that dreams of being just like his hero, a panther named Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), who plays for the Vineland Thorns. However, the sport of Roarball is dominated by the fastest and most ferocious animal in the kingdom. After being given a surprising shot at the big leagues and despite being mocked by teammates, including Jett, Will steps onto the court to prove that animals of all sizes can ball.
Watch on Netflix from May 14
‘The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist’ (Peacock)
This new Peacock movie is clearly taking some cues in the naming department from Stanley Kubrick’s classic, “Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” That classic 1964 satirical comedy focused on fears around nuclear destruction, and this documentary also explores a world-leading advancement and the complications it could create. If you have any fears around the rise of A.I., then this new documentary looks like a must-watch.
From filmmaker Daniel Roher (and co-director Charlie Tyrell), “The AI Doc” explores Roher’s fears ahead of becoming a father. He investigates the conflict between existential dread and the futuristic promises of artificial intelligence. Speaking to experts in the field, he attempts to understand the world his child will inherit, balancing his fears with a sense of “apocaloptimism” (a combination of apocalypse and optimism). Nope, I’d never heard the term, either.
Watch on Peacock from May 15
‘Zodiac Killer Project’ (AMC+)
“Zodiac Killer Project” feels like a movie almost tailor-made for me. I’ve long harbored an uneasy feeling towards the true crime genre, as each new docuseries attempts to present the most salacious or distressing story possible, and turn real-life tragedy into streaming library fodder. “Zodiac Killer Project” explores and deconstructs our true crime obsession.
Filmmaker Charlie Shackleton once tried to make a documentary about the Zodiac Killer, and out of the ashes of that failed attempt comes a new doc that delves into the inner workings of the genre and considers if we’ve hit a saturation point (in my opinion, we most certainly have). Scoring 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics call it “a revelatory rumination on filmmaking and the overindulgence of the true crime genre.”
Watch on AMC+ from May 15
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