Now Stream This: 'Atomic Blonde', 'Tangerine', 'Springsteen On Broadway', 'Pyewacket' And More

(Welcome to Now Stream This, a column dedicated to the best movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and every other streaming service out there.) 

We're in the holiday season, which means you probably have some days off coming up. I suppose in theory you might want to spend Christmas and beyond with your families. Or you could ignore all of that and stream some movies. That's where Now Stream This comes in. I've put together an eclectic mix of titles that you can stream right now, including a few unexpected Christmas movies to keep your days merry and bright. You'll find a film shot on an iPhone, Charlize Theron kicking ass, the Boss rocking out, stray cats, Charles Dickens, a killer Santa, and more.

These are the best movies streaming right now. Let's get streaming!

The Best Movies Streaming Right Now

1. Tangerine

Now Streaming on Hulu

Release Date: 2015Genre: Indie Christmas MovieDirector: Sean BakerCast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan, Alla Tumanian, James Ransone

Believe it or not, Tangerine, aka "the movie Sean Baker shot on iPhones", is a secret Christmas movie. The story takes place entirely on Christmas Eve in Hollywood – but don't expect your typical holiday tale. Tangerine follows two transgender sex workers, Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), on a quest to track down Sin-Dee's pimp and boyfriend Chester (James Ransone) after learning he cheated on Sin-Dee while she was in jail. There's a lot more to the story, but that's the basic set-up Baker uses to follow these characters around during one strange Hollywood Christmas Eve. Funny, surprising, and ultimately touching, Tangerine is wholly unique. Baker's work here never feels exploitative, and he's able to create some incredible cinematography using iPhones. The two leads – who had never really acted before – are both wonderful, and incredibly honest and real in their performances. It all builds to a remarkable, tender final scene that lingers with you long after the credits have rolled.

For fans of: The Florida ProjectStarletA Fantastic Woman, donuts.

2. Springsteen on Broadway

Now Streaming on Netflix

Release Date: 2018Genre: Broadway ShowDirector: Thom ZimnyCast: The Boss

If you were unable to score an expensive, constantly sold-out ticket to Bruce Springsteen's Broadway show, you're in luck. The entire performance was filmed, and is now available on Netflix. And it's astounding. For two-and-a-half hours, Springsteen offers up a killer show and confirms himself as our greatest living storyteller. The Boss takes us through his life, from early Asbury Park days to superstardom, blending stories and songs in perfect harmony. Emotional and raw, Springsteen on Broadway is a peek into Springsteen's mind – how it ticks, how it works, and how he uses it to pull the rug out from under us. It's also funny as hell – Springsteen has a knack for comedy. Even if you're somehow not a Springsteen fan (do people like that exist?), I promise you'll find something to enjoy here.

For fans of: Stop Making SenseThe Last Waltz, dancing in the dark.

3. Atomic Blonde

Now Streaming on MAX GO

Release Date: 2017Genre: Action ExtravaganzaDirector: David LeitchCast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella, Toby Jones

Listen, few things in life are more enjoyable than watching Charlize Theron beat the shit out of people. Is that high-art? Not really. But god damn is it fun to watch. In Atomic Blonde, Theron is a sexy spy who heads to Berlin only days before the Berlin Wall comes down. There, she gets caught up in a story involving double agents, and more. I'll be honest: the plot doesn't really make much sense, and the script, by Kurt Johnstad, takes some lazy shortcuts to get where it needs to. But almost none of that matters, because Theron is so damn good, and the direction from John Wick director David Leitch is action-packed. Leitch is one of the best action filmmakers working today, and the set-pieces he stages here put most modern action movies to shame. A lengthy, brutal fight that has Theron battling people up and down stairs has to be seen to be believed. In short, this movie kicks ass.

For fans of: John WickThe Long Kiss GoodnightLa Femme Nikita, lots and lots of punching.

4. King Cohen

Now Streaming on Shudder

Release Date: 2018Genre: DocumentaryDirector: Steve MitchellCast: Larry CohenLarry Cohen may not be a household name to general movie goers, but genre fans are well-versed in his remarkable career. A writer, producer and director, Cohen has spent his career doing exactly what he wanted to do. He's the man behind Maniac CopQ: The Winged Serpent, the It's Alive series, several blaxploitation flicks, The Stuff and more. King Cohen tracks Cohen's wild career, from his early days working in television to breaking into the film world. Famous faces pop-up to sing his praises – including J.J. Abrams, Martin Scorsese, and more. An amusing, charming doc, King Cohen will give you a newfound appreciation for Cohen's work, and for his no-nonsense way of making movies. Cohen himself is also on hand, of course, giving colorful accounts of his history – accounts some of the other interview subjects directly contradict.For fans of: Best Worst MovieJodorowsky's Dune, Martin Scorsese speaking thoughtfully about Q: The Winged Serpent.

5. Pyewacket

Now Streaming on Hulu

Release Date: 2018Genre: HorrorDirector: Adam MacDonaldCast: Laurie Holden and Nicole Muñoz

A wonderful under-the-radar surprise, Pyewacket is a creepy little indie horror film featuring a career-making performance from Nicole Muñoz. Muñoz plays Leah, a teen obsessed with the occult, and a somewhat adversarial relationship with her mother (Laurie Holden). After a particularly nasty argument, Leah runs out to the woods to summon a demon to kill her mother. She soon regrets her decision, and hopes that the ritual she performed didn't actually work. Bad news: it did. Soon, incredibly creepy stuff begins to happen – shadowy figures, haunting hallucinations, mysterious noises, and more. The premise is rather simple, but writer-director Adam MacDonald does wonderful work building atmosphere and conjuring up some legitimate scares. Muñoz is the real stand-out here, though, turning in an assured, strong performance. Put her in more movies, please.

For fans of: Lady BirdThe Craft, bad titles for great movies.

6. Kedi

Now Streaming on Kanopy

Release Date: 2017Genre: DocumentaryDirector: Ceyda TorunCast: A bunch of kitties!

On the surface, Kedi may look like a feature-length YouTube cat video. But that's not what this is. This beautifully shot documentary follows some of the thousands of cats who live on the streets of Istanbul. But these cats aren't ignored, or shooed away. Instead, the people of Istanbul care about them, and often even take care of them. Ceyda Torun's doc radiates empathy, telling stories of several people who interact with the cats. One of the most emotional segments involves a man recovering from a nervous breakdown who goes out of his way to bring hundreds of strays food. This film is like a warm blanket to wrap yourself up in. Even if you're not really a cat person (sorry, I like dogs more), Kedi is worth experiencing.

For fans of: Cats! Not the Broadway musical, but actual cats.

7. A Most Wanted Man

Now Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Release Date: 2014Genre: Spy ThrillerDirector: Anton CorbijnCast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Daniel Brühl and Nina Hoss

Holy heck, look at that cast! A Most Wanted Man features one of the final performances of the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman, and watching him work here – playing a very weary, disheveled German spy – does not disappoint. Based on the novel by John le Carré (Tinker Tailor Solider Spy), A Most Wanted Man follows both U.S. and Germany agencies as they try to ascertain the identity of a half-Chechen, half-Russian immigrant who might be completely harmless, or who might in fact be a radical extremist. Tense, cerebral and loaded with great performances, A Most Wanted Man is just waiting for modern audiences to discover it.

For fans of: The Constant GardnerTinker Tailor Solider SpyThe Little Drummer Girl, haunting endings.

8. The Man Who Invented Christmas

Now Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Release Date: 2017Genre: Biopic (sort of)Director: Bharat NalluriCast: Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce

Mostly light and charming, The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the tale of how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) came up with A Christmas Carol. As the movie tells us, Christmas had gone out of fashion when Dickens began writing A Christmas Carol, and the popularity of the book helped revived interest in the holiday season. In the midst of all this, we learn about Dickens' troubled past and his conflicting relationship with his father (played with a mix of humor and melancholy by Jonathan Pryce). The film also has a clever way of making Dickens' writing process cinematic, but having the writer envision everything he's putting to paper. The Man Who Invented Christmas probably won't go down as a holiday classic, but it's a nice peek into the history of A Christmas Carol.

For fans of: Every single version of A Christmas Carol, even the one featuring Mr. Magoo.

9. Christmas Evil

Now Streaming on Shudder

Release Date: 1980Genre: Holiday HorrorDirector: Lewis JacksonCast: Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn, Dianne Hull, Andy Fenwick

There are a lot of Christmas horror movies about killer Santas, but how many of them can count director John Waters amongst their fanbase? Christmas Evil can! Waters has gone on record saying this is his favorite Christmas movie. This strange, quirky picture stars Brandon Maggart as Harry, a total loser who works at a toy factory. Harry is obsessed with Christmas and Santa Claus, and has taken it upon himself to become the real Santa. He wears the costume, he spies on kids, he paints a sleigh on the side of his van. And oh yeah, he also goes crazy and starts killing people who he sees as naughty. This premise is somewhat similar to the trashy Silent Night, Deadly Night, but Christmas Evil is so inherently weird and even surreal that it stands on its own.

For fans of: Silent NightDon't Open Till Christmas, Santa's Slay, whimsy laced with murder.

10. Maps to the Stars

Now Streaming on Netflix

Release Date: 2014Genre: SatireDirector: David CronenbergCast: Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack, Robert Pattinson, Olivia Williams, Sarah GadonMaps to the Stars can't capture the body-horror magic of director David Cronenberg's earlier films, but it still has his distinct touch, blending violence and kinkiness. Mia Wasikowska plays a pyromaniac who heads to Hollywood, and becomes the assistant of a troubled, aging actress, played with over-the-top zeal by Julianne Moore. Wasikowska's character just wants to fit in and live in the middle of a Hollywood dream, but it's clear she has mental problems. She's not alone: almost everyone here is bonkers, from Moore's frequently anxious actress, to John Cusack playing a TV psychologist. The only stable person might be Robert Pattinson, playing a limo driver. But he's also an asshole, so there's that. Bruce Wagner's script can't quite tie all these characters together, and Maps to the Stars feels more like a series of vignettes than an actual narrative. But there's enough strange energy here to make it worth visiting. Bonus: look for a cameo from Carrie Fisher, playing herself.For fans of: CosmopolisSunset Boulevard, wishing David Cronenberg would return to full-blown horror again.