This week, streaming services are conducting a symphony of genres, with five new films that refuse to be put in a single box. They blend, borrow, and subvert categories to create unique and compelling cinematic experiences.
Ballerina (Starz, today) is an action film at its core, but it’s also a dark, neo-noir thriller. With its shadowy underworld, morally ambiguous hero, and crime-fueled plot, it blends the high-octane spectacle of modern action with the moody atmosphere of classic noir.
The Surfer (Hulu, today) is a psychological thriller, but it also functions as a powerful character drama and a modern-day Western. The film’s themes of territorialism and a lone man standing against a gang of outlaws are classic Western tropes, simply transplanted to a coastal setting.
Karate Kid: Legends (Netflix, Saturday) is more than just a martial arts film. It’s a coming-of-age story, a sports drama, and a legacy sequel all in one. It skillfully balances its thrilling tournament action with a heartfelt story about mentorship and finding one’s place in the world.
M3GAN 2.0 (Peacock) is a fascinating genre blend. It takes the horror-comedy roots of the original and fuses them with high-stakes science fiction action. The result is a unique hybrid: a campy, self-aware action-thriller with a killer doll at its center.
All of You (Apple TV+, tomorrow) promises the most intriguing fusion: a science fiction romance drama. This blend suggests a story that will use futuristic concepts to explore the most timeless and intimate of human emotions, defying the expectations of both a typical romance and a typical sci-fi film.
