Top 3 New Netflix Movies to Check Out This Weekend (April 10-12)
This weekend, Netflix unleashed a wave of terrifying creatures — from ravenous lions to flesh-rending sharks, and perhaps most startling of all, Arnold Schwarzenegger in a comedy.
Leading the binge-watch lineup at Watch With Us is Thrash, a gripping action thriller starring Phoebe Dynevor as she battles sharks amid a perilous storm.
It’s equally perilous on land, as Idris Elba confronts a frenzied lion that threatens his two daughters. I’m putting my money on Idris in that showdown.
Meanwhile, Kindergarten Cop offers a different kind of thrill, featuring the iconic Austrian bodybuilder delivering the unforgettable line, “It’s not a tum-mah!”
‘Thrash’ (2026)
Jaws transformed blockbuster filmmaking, yet it also inspired a plethora of shark attack knockoffs. Some are better than others, and one standout is the new Netflix original Thrash. Produced by Adam McKay, the film features Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa, a pregnant woman caught off guard in a tranquil South Carolina coastal town when a Category 5 hurricane strikes. As the levees collapse, water engulfs the town — trapping Lisa in her car. To worsen matters, several bull sharks seize the opportunity and swim into town looking for a meal, with Lisa topping their menu.
Similar to the surprisingly good alligator film Crawl, Thrash pairs A-list actors with a B-movie tale, resulting in an immensely entertaining flick not meant to be taken too seriously. It makes nods towards climate change (questioning the hurricane’s intensity), but generally, Thrash is a fun, animals-attack! film that delivers just what you expect — suspenseful action scenes, gruesome demises, and wet actors dueling CGI sharks. Logic may take a backseat, but the enjoyment is undeniable.
Thrash is currently streaming on Netflix.
‘Beast’ (2022)
I’d watch Idris Elba in nearly anything, including Beast, a so-so man vs. nature thriller boosted by Elba’s magnetic presence. He plays Dr. Nate Samuels, a recent widower taking his two daughters to a South African wildlife reserve to bond and heal. Joined by his old friend Martin (Sharlto Copley), their serene getaway quickly spirals into chaos when a rogue lion begins attacking the locals. Stranded in the wilderness with the ferocious beast, they must rely on each other to survive the night — or risk losing everything.
There’s not much depth in Beast — once they’re trapped with the raging lion, viewers are treated to a series of foreseeable scenarios where they must escape the animal’s onslaught. Yet, Elba shines as a father grappling with personal loss while battling a feral beast equally driven by grief. The film hints at a deeper metaphor between man and beast but leans more into its action sequences, which are thrilling enough. While Beast may fade from memory, it entertains while it lasts, and there are definitely worse options to watch.
Beast is currently streaming on Netflix.
‘Kindergarten Cop’ (1990)
While there are no literal beasts in the 1990 comedy Kindergarten Cop, one might argue that lead star Arnold Schwarzenegger embodies a sort of imposing presence. He portrays John Kimble, a weary LAPD detective tasked with locating Rachel (Penelope Ann Miller), who has gone into hiding with her son to escape the vicious drug lord Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson). Believing Rachel’s son is in a kindergarten class in Astoria, Oregon, Kimble goes undercover as a teacher, but to make the ruse believable, he must holster his weapon, soften his demeanor, and maybe even learn to embrace joy and laughter.
Kindergarten Cop is a peculiar blend of late ’80s action films, featuring shootouts, drug activities, and a sprinkle of early ’90s family-friendly comedies like Mrs. Doubtfire. The result is a film that overall succeeds, with Schwarzenegger humorously subverting his tough-guy persona, while character actress Pamela Reed delivers witty lines as Kimble’s partner, Detective Phoebe O’ Hara. However, if you think this film is kid-friendly, be cautious — the movie opens and closes with scenes that may unsettle even adult viewers.
