What to watch this weekend August 23, 2024: Movie awards contenders

Our top streaming pick this week, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” is Kevin Costner’s spiritual sequel to his seven-time Oscar winner “Dances With Wolves.” The awards chances for “Horizon” look dimmer than “Dances,” though, especially after the passion project flopped in theaters. (But if it does pop, pay attention to J. Michael Muro, who could contend for his sweeping cinematography.)

The film is a Western epic following the arduous journeys of settlers and outlaws as they try to reach the frontier town of Horizon. In addition to Costner, who plays a stoic horse trader named Hayes Ellison, the sprawling cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Abbey Lee, and Luke Wilson, among many others. The release of in-the-can second part has been postponed indefinitely, but now that “Chapter 1” can potentially gin up some interest with its streaming release on Max, maybe “Chapter 2” will get a new date soon.  

Here are some other movies to stream this weekend:

“The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat”: While the title may lead you to believe this is a biopic of Diana Ross & co., it’s actually a tearjerking but uplifting drama following the lives of three friends who are like the Supremes of their hometown. Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Emmy nominee Sanaa Lathan, and Emmy winner Uzo Aduba play those friends. The film is now streaming on Hulu.

“The Killer”: There was a time not long ago when a direct-to-streaming release didn’t necessarily indicate that a movie was a stinker. That time has passed. If resurgent action filmmaking legend John Woo’s English-language remake of his own 1989 Hong Kong classic was any good, it would probably be getting a theatrical release instead of going straight to Peacock, where you can find it now. But if you love action movies, new Woo is mandatory viewing whether it’s good or not. “The Killer” V2 stars Nathalie Emmanuel, Omar Sy, and Woo’s signature doves that fly around during gunfights.

“Inside Out 2”: This year’s presumed Best Animated Feature winner, biggest box office hit so far, and the highest-grossing animated film of all time is now on VOD. Pixar’s sequel to its movie about corporalized emotions introduces a new group of feelings into the mix, led by Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), who displace the old ones, led by Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler). Will the emotions learn to coexist, or will Anxiety take over completely? You can find out at home, for the unusually high VOD price of $24.99 to rent or $29.99 to buy.