New OTT releases this week: From heist comedies to classic Hollywood action

Emotionally engaging and entertaining cinematic experiences await you this week, with streaming platforms offering a blend of action, suspense, drama, and romance.

Here is this week’s rundown of the latest releases:

A still from ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’
[Source photo: Amazon Prime Video]

The 2023 American spy action film directed by Christopher McQuarrie who is no stranger to the franchise, having directed Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) and Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) offers the perfect escape for the weekend. 

Ethan Hunt, together with the skilled operatives of the IMF, embarks on a mission to locate a new weapon that poses an existential threat to humanity should it fall into the wrong hands. As the potential to shape the course of the future and the destiny of the world hangs in the balance, the chase begins. In the face of his toughest adversary, Ethan is compelled to confront his belief that the mission itself transcends all other priorities, even surpassing the significance of the lives of those he holds dearest.

One of the last true movie stars of Hollywood comes back to the screen, with a lot of shapeshifting and deception that the Mission: Impossible franchise is synonymous with. 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

[Source photo: Amazon Prime Video]

This Italian-language heist series has every ingredient that makes for a great heist drama. The fast cuts, killer soundtrack, and vibrant visuals boast an effortlessly stylish presentation. Everybody Loves Diamonds takes the heist genre and flips it on its head.

Breaking the fourth wall to give the audience an insight into the minds of one of the characters during crucial moments is just one of the ways in which this series has tried to distinguish itself from your typical heist drama.

The narrative traces the exploits of a group of modestly sized Italian criminals who employ their cunning to outmaneuver high-level security measures and abscond with a fortune in precious gemstones from the prestigious Antwerp Diamond Centre.

Starring: Kim Rossi Stuart, Anna Foglietta, Gianmarco Tognazzi

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

[Photo source: Disney + Hotstar]

Based on writer Arnab Ray’s book Sultan of Delhi: Ascension, this series is written by Suparn Verma and directed by Milan Luthria. 

This series delves into the compelling life story of Arjun Bhatia, who survived the tumultuous events of the 1947 Partition in India, a time of great upheaval and division. Against this backdrop, it traces his extraordinary journey as he gradually climbs the ranks to become a prominent figure within the clandestine and shadowy world of Delhi’s underworld.

The story is rich, peppered with elements of drama, romance, action, and the lasting bonds of friendship, rendering it a captivating viewing experience.

Starring: Tahir Raj Bhasin, Mouni Roy

Where to watch: Disney + Hotstar

[Source photo: Zee5]

Sangeeth Sobhan has been making a name for himself in the entertainment industry by consistently embracing a wide range of characters, showcasing his exceptional talent through memorable performances. His journey has been one of versatility and dedication, where he’s continually pushed the boundaries of his craft to leave a lasting impression on audiences.

His newest release Prema Vimanam has the audiences buzzing with excitement. The touching story revolves around the aspirations of two less privileged children and the blossoming romance between two young souls, all intricately linked by the hand of destiny.

Starring: Devansh Nama, Anirudh Nama, Sangeeth Shoban, Saanve Meghana , Anasuya Bharadwaj, Vennela Kishore

Where to watch: Zee5

A still from ‘The Burial’
[Photo source: Amazon Prime Video]

This American legal drama is helmed by Maggie Betts and draws inspiration from real events, taking loose cues from the legal battles of attorney Willie E. Gary and his client, Jeremiah Joseph O’Keefe, in their lawsuit against the Loewen funeral company. This captivating legal drama finds its roots in the factual account chronicled by Jonathan Harr in his 1999 New Yorker article, which shares the same title as the movie.

In 1995, Willie E. Gary, an unorthodox and successful personal injury attorney, lends his legal prowess to support Jeremiah Joseph O’Keefe, a financially struggling funeral home proprietor, in a lawsuit against the Loewen Group, a major funeral home corporation, due to a contractual disagreement. 

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollett, Alan Ruck, Mamoudou Athie, Pamela Reed, Bill Camp

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

[Photo source: Netflix]

This is an enlightening and captivating documentary series that delves into the story of a groundbreaking product that ultimately faced downfall as a result of marketing missteps and a lack of rigorous clinical testing.

Netflix has been notoriously churning out documentaries that keep you hooked to the screen, with their interesting and taboo subjects, covering some of the most wanted criminals to the most prominent businessmen.  

This docuseries offers a glimpse into the journey of a determined electronic cigarette startup known as Juul, from its humble beginnings to becoming a multibillion-dollar enterprise, and the consequences that followed. This series will delve into the inception of these electronic cigarettes, their meteoric rise in the market, and the subsequent challenges.

Starring: Allen Gladstone

Where to watch: Netflix

A still from ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’
[Photo source: Netflix]

Helmed by Mike Flanagan, a consistently reliable show creator for Netflix who skillfully brought one horror series after another to life since 2018’s The Haunting Of Hill House, this new Netflix series comes after much anticipation. 

In his latest creation, he weaves the narratives of Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic story into a compelling plot about a family that established a pharmaceutical empire under somewhat questionable circumstances. At the center of this narrative is a patriarch who tragically witnesses the untimely deaths of all his children within a mere two weeks.

Even with the threat of an ensemble cast, the storytelling remains uncompromised as this series takes you across the familial ties that bind. 

Starring: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan

Where to watch: Netflix

[Photo source: Aha]

This critically acclaimed film that received multiple accolades at the Indo-French International Festival 2023 is now available on streaming. 

Taking place in a lively Telangana village, Matti Katha narrates the tale of four college friends while also exploring the problem of land encroachment in their community. An unforeseen event disrupts their lives, prompting a sequence of choices that will permanently change their fates.

This is a heartwarming story of the decisions that shape our lives, and an ode to friendship. 

Starring: Ajey Ved, Maya, Kanakavva, Dayanand Reddy, Sudhakar Reddy, Balveer Singh, Akshay Sai, Raju Aluri, Ruchita, Bathula Teja

Where to watch: Aha