Your Ultimate Binge Guide: This Week's Hottest New OTT Releases

Well, it’s that time of the week again! The weekend is peeking around the corner, and our watchlists are looking a little empty. Luckily, the streaming gods have blessed us with an incredible lineup of new movies and shows. This week is serving up a perfect blend of high-stakes thrillers, laugh-out-loud comedies, and gripping dramas across Netflix, Prime Video, and JioHotstar, so grab your popcorn and get ready to settle in.

Key Highlights

• ✓ Nearly 30 years later, Adam Sandler is back on the green in Happy Gilmore 2, coming to Netflix.
• ✓ Vaani Kapoor and Vaibhav Raj Gupta investigate ritualistic killings in the mythological thriller Mandala Murders.
• ✓ Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kajol face a family crisis in the patriotic Kashmir-set thriller, Sarzameen.
• ✓ Judge Judy Sheindlin revisits controversial verdicts in the docuseries Justice on Trial on Prime Video.
• ✓ Scott Eastwood, Jamie Foxx, and Robert De Niro star in the gritty action-thriller Tin Soldier.

Thrills, Chills, and High-Stakes Action

If you’re in the mood for something to keep you on the edge of your seat, you are in for a treat. First up is Mandala Murders, dropping on Netflix on July 25. This 6-episode mythological crime-thriller looks absolutely chilling. It’s set in the eerie township of Charandaspur, where detectives Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) and Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) are called in to investigate a series of bizarre ritualistic killings.

As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of cryptic symbols and dark prophecies tied to a centuries-old secret society. With their own pasts getting tangled in the investigation, they have to unravel a conspiracy rooted in faith and fanaticism. The series also features Surveen Chawla and Shriya Pilgaonkar, so the cast is stacked. I'm always here for a good mystery that blurs the line between myth and reality.

When Duty and Family Collide

Over on JioHotstar, we have Sarzameen (July 25), a patriotic thriller that looks incredibly intense. Set against the backdrop of escalating unrest in Kashmir, it stars the brilliant Prithviraj Sukumaran as army officer Vijay Menon. His unwavering dedication to his country is put to the ultimate test when his own son, Harman (played by Ibrahim Ali Khan), turns rogue and gets involved with extremist violence.

Caught in the middle of this heart-wrenching father-son showdown is Vijay's wife, Meera, played by the one and only Kajol. It’s a story where loyalty to the nation clashes head-on with the bonds of family, and I have a feeling this one is going to be a powerful, emotional watch. It’s a classic conflict that always makes for compelling drama.

💡 What's Interesting: In the thriller Novocaine, Jack Quaid plays a bank assistant with congenital insensitivity to pain—meaning he literally can't feel anything. He uses this rare condition as his greatest strength when his love interest is kidnapped during a heist.

Suburban Secrets and Gritty Infiltrations

For those who love a good high-society thriller, Netflix is releasing The Hunting Wives on July 21. Based on May Cobb’s novel, the series stars Brittany Snow as Sophie O'Neil, whose quiet suburban life gets turned upside down when she meets the magnetic Margo Banks (Malin Åkerman) and her clique. What starts as skeet shooting and cocktails spirals into a world of illicit affairs, jealousy, and even murder. It sounds like a juicy, scandalous ride.

And if you want straight-up action, Prime Video has you covered with Tin Soldier (July 23). This one has a powerhouse cast with Scott Eastwood, Jamie Foxx, and Robert De Niro. Eastwood plays a former special forces operative sent to infiltrate a cult of disillusioned war veterans led by Foxx’s enigmatic character, ‘Bokushi.’ As he gets deeper, the lines between duty and belief begin to blur, building towards a massive showdown.

Laughs, Nostalgia, and Feel-Good Fare

Alright, let's talk about the big one. It’s happening, people! Nearly three decades after he first smashed his way onto the golf course, Happy Gilmore 2 is coming to Netflix on July 25. Adam Sandler is back as the hockey-player-turned-golfer, and this time he’s emerging from retirement to help fund his daughter Vienna’s ballet tuition. I can already imagine the hilarious chaos.

He's an ageing golfer now, facing a whole new generation of pros, and the story seems to be about personal growth and family. We'll see familiar faces like Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) and Virginia (Julie Bowen), plus new characters played by Sandler's own daughter, Sunny Sandler, and his caddie, Bad Bunny. Oh, and get ready for cameos from Travis Kelce and a bunch of PGA stars. This is pure nostalgic gold.

Farewell to Acapulco

It's a bittersweet moment for fans of Acapulco, as the fourth and final season premieres on Apple TV+ on July 23. This show has been such a wonderful blend of heart, humor, and 80s nostalgia. The final season will continue its dual-timeline story, with present-day Máximo (Eugenio Derbez) trying to revive the Las Colinas resort, while young Máximo (Enrique Arrizon) fights to keep the hotel on top in 1986.

Familiar faces like Chord Overstreet and Fernando Carsa are returning, and the show promises an emotional and vibrant farewell to its sun-drenched world. Two episodes will drop on premiere day, followed by weekly releases, giving us a little more time to say goodbye. It’s always sad to see a good show end, but I’m excited to see how they wrap it all up.

Gripping Dramas and Real-Life Stories

If you're in the mood for something more profound, there are some incredible dramas and documentaries dropping. On July 23, JioHotstar brings us Washington Black, an adaptation of Esi Edugyan’s acclaimed novel. It follows the journey of an 11-year-old slave on a Barbados sugar plantation whose life changes when he escapes and forges a bond with an abolitionist inventor (Tom Ellis).

The series also stars the amazing Sterling K. Brown and explores heavy themes of freedom, identity, and resilience. It sounds like a beautifully told, globe-spanning odyssey that will be both heartbreaking and inspiring. Another one to watch is the Turkish drama Letters from the Past (July 23 on Netflix), where a daughter uncovers letters her mother’s students wrote to their future selves, sending her on a journey to uncover her own past.

Reality, Raw and Unfiltered

For a dose of reality, two docuseries stand out. First, there's Justice on Trial, arriving on Prime Video on July 21. Here, Judge Judy Sheindlin isn't arbitrating small claims; she's overseeing a deep dive into America's most controversial criminal verdicts. With a panel of legal experts, she'll use reenactments and archival footage to scrutinize landmark cases that sparked public outcry, asking the tough question: did the system get it right?

Then, on Netflix, Critical: Between Life & Death (July 23) offers an intense, real-time look inside London’s Major Trauma System. Filmed over 21 days with body cams and portable cameras, the series follows paramedics, surgeons, and nurses as they race to save lives. From roadside rescues to split-second operations, it’s an immersive look at what it truly means to work under unimaginable pressure.

A Journey of Self-Discovery

Finally, there's Rangeen, a fascinating-sounding series on Prime Video (July 25). It follows a straight-laced husband, Adarsh (Vineet Kumar Singh), who discovers his wife has betrayed him. In a twisted act of revenge, he dives into the hidden world of paid intimacy, only to find himself on an awkward and hilarious journey of self-discovery that challenges everything he knows about love and masculinity.

Conclusion

So there you have it! This week is absolutely packed with something for every mood. Whether you’re looking to revisit an old favorite with Happy Gilmore 2, solve a dark mystery in Mandala Murders, or get your heart pounding with the patriotic drama of Sarzameen, the streaming platforms have truly delivered. It's a fantastic mix of star-studded sequels, chilling new thrillers, and thought-provoking dramas. Happy bingeing!