Now Stream This: 'First Reformed', 'The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs', 'Mandy', 'Sorry To Bother You' 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.) 

There's a very long holiday weekend on the way. That means one thing: spending time with family! Just kidding – it actually means you now have an excuse to stay inside and stream some movies. Thank heavens I'm here to steer you in the right direction. In this edition of Now Stream This, you'll find not one, not two, not three, but four of the year's best films; a weirdo Western; a classic thriller; a somewhat forgotten Bill Murray movie; a great new horror TV series; and more.

These are the best movies streaming right now (and beyond). Let's get streaming!

Release Date: 2018Genre: Existential DramaDirector: Paul SchraderCast: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric KylesEthan Hawke gives one of the year's best performances in First Reformed, one of the year's best movies. That's a lot of bests, I admit, but First Reformed lives up to the hype, and then some. Paul Schrader's existential reflection on faith, love, death, climate change, and even more, is a hypnotic, captivating, and haunting experience. Ethan Hawke plays the reverend of a small church, suffering from a spiritual crisis. When one his parishioners turns to him for help, Hawke does his best, but his guidance leads him down a deep well of despair. It's almost as if the depressed man he's counseling has passed his depression on like a virus. Along the way, he develops a friendship with a very pregnant young woman (Amanda Seyfried). Schrader's cerebral script draws you in, making great use of Hawke's narration. It all builds to a climax that will leave you utterly shaken.For fans of: Taxi Driver, Diary of a Country Priest, Winter Light, Drano and barbed wire.

Release Date: 2018Genre: Western AnthologyDirector: The Coen BrothersCast: James Franco, Brendan Gleeson, Zoe Kazan, Liam Neeson, Tim Blake Nelson, Tom WaitsThe Coen Brothers head to the Old West with The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. This anthology film tells six stories with one recurring theme: death. Death comes for many of the characters of Buster Scruggs, and when it does, it often comes in cruel, strange, and even macabrely funny ways. Some of the segments play out more like anecdotes than full-fledged stories – they're over before we've learned a whole lout about the characters. But each story contains the trademark Coen brilliance – humorous, weird and wholly unique. The best story of the bunch – for my money – is the titular tale, in which Tim Blake Nelson plays a grinning, singing cowboy who also just happens to be a sociopathic murderer. Another highlight is a segment in which Tom Waits plays a grizzled prospector looking for gold. Like most Coen Brothers movies, I expect this to be wildly misunderstood for now, only to end up reappraised as a classic in a few years.For fans of: O Brother, Where Art Thou?, True Grit, No Country For Old Men, chickens who can perform math.

Release Date: 2018Genre: Beats me!Director: Josephine DeckerCast: Molly Parker, Miranda July, Helena Howard

What a wonder Madeline's Madeline is. A rush, an enigma, a headtrip, Madeline's Madeline is all that, and none of that. It's everything, and nothing. It's a whiz-bang, what-the-fuck-am-I-watching work of art. Josephine Decker's work here should be studied, marveled over, and awed at. Newcomer Helena Howard is a revelation as Madeline, a young actress working with a physical theater troupe lead by Molly Parker. Madeline has mental issues that aren't quite explained, but it's clear she's troubled. She also has an uncanny ability to become whatever part she's playing – human, animal and otherwise. Madeline's talent is embraced and exploited by Parker's character, all while Madeline's long-suffering mother (Miranda July) tries her best to connect with her daughter. This is definitely not going to be for everyone – it's light on plot and big on experience. But those looking for a marvelously unique viewing experience are in for a treat.

For fans of: mother!, Me And You And Everyone We Know, All That Jazz, cats.

Release Date: 2018Genre: Psychedelic horrorDirector: Panos CosmatosCast: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouéré, Richard Brake, Bill Duke, Cheddar Goblin

In Mandy, the psychotic drowns where the mystic swims. Panos Cosmatos' acid-laced nightmare is like the airbrushed side of a panel van come to life, full of fantastical landscapes, occult imagery and swirling, bloody madness. Nicolas Cage – who is surprisingly reserved here – seeks revenge against a crazy cult that attacked him and his lady love, Mandy (played by human chameleon Andrea Riseborough). This could have been a simple revenge flick, but Cosmatos' jaw-dropping visuals, and the film's overall aesthetic turn Mandy into a masterpiece. Oh, and did I mention there's a scene where Nicolas Cage fights a guy wielding a gigantic chainsaw?

For fans of: Beyond the Black Rainbow, Altered States, Enter the Void, mac and cheese.

Release Date: 1971Genre: ThrillerDirector: Alan J. PakulaCast: Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Charles Cioffi, Roy ScheiderKlute! I can't imagine a major studio ever giving a film like this the greenlight today. But back in the '70s, Warner Bros. did just that. Alan J. Pakula helms this strange, eerie mystery featuring a killer performance from Jane Fonda (she won an Oscar for her work here). Fonda plays Bree, a call girl who might be connected to a missing man. Enter John Klute (Donald Sutherland), a private eye trying to find out what happened to the wayward individual. Bree is hostile to Klute at first, but the two enter in a relationship that blossoms in unexpected ways. Together, they try to put the pieces together, entering into a mystery that involves obscene phone calls, dirty letters, and more. The mystery isn't much of a mystery – Pakula clues us in to what's going on much sooner than Klute and Bree solve it themselves. But the mystery is secondary. This is really about the anti-chemistry between Sutherland and Fonda. The two don't work together – not really – and that's what makes their relationship so fascinating. It reminds you of the relationship between Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. As good as Fonda and Sutherland are, the real star of Klute is the inky black cinematography from the legendary Gordon Willis (The Godfather). Willis, who loved shadows, bathes much of Klute in darkness, resulting in one of the most distinct-looking films of the era.For fans of: All the President's Men, The Parallax View, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Jane Fonda sporting a constantly-changing wardrobe.

Release Date: 2018Genre: Horror seriesDirector: Graham ReznickCast: Hannah Gross, Evan Gamble, Ted Raimi, Yuki SakamotoDeadwax is a quick, creepy horror series exclusive to Shudder. Each episode runs about 10-14 minutes, which means the show never drags, never overstays its welcome, and always leaves you wanting more. Hannah Gross is a vinyl tracker hoping to find a record created by legendary sound engineer Lyle M. Lytton. The LP has developed an infamous reputation – anyone who listens to it either goes crazy, or dies. Creepy, clever, and often surprising, Deadwax is a breeze to watch, and features an exceptional performance from Mindhunter's Gross.For fans of: In The Mouth of Madness, The Ninth Gate, Cigarette Burns, cursed objects.

Release Date: 2018Genre: Dark ComedyDirector: Boots RileyCast: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Steven Yeun, Armie HammerBoots Riley's gonzo satire hits Hulu this week, so why not gather your family around the TV after Thanksgiving, and teach them about anti-capitalism?! Trailers sold Sorry to Bother You as a weird, quirky comedy – but there's a lot more going on here. Lakeith Stanfield gets a job as a telemarketer, and rises through the ranks when he starts using a "white voice." But the company he works for is up to more than meets the eye, and as Stanfield's character gets drawn further into the lavish lifestyle being offered him, he alienates people from his past, including his artist girlfriend, played by Tessa Thompson. This all builds to a twist so flat-out-strange that it might literally break your damn brain. Bonus: Armie Hammer, snorting lots of coke.For fans of: Get Out, Blindspotting, Putney Swope, horses.

Release Date: 1990Genre: ComedyDirector: Howard Franklin and Bill MurrayCast: Bill Murray, Geena Davis, Randy Quaid, Jason RobardsQuick Change is one of Bill Murray's best movies, even though it isn't brought up as much as some of his other work. The film portrays New York City as a hellscape that's nearly impossible to escape, throwing one hectic situation after another at the main characters. At the start of the film, three thieves – played by Murray, Geena Davis and Randy Quaid – pull off a bank robbery. The robbery goes surprisingly well, but getting away proves to be exceedingly difficult. Quick Change isn't as laugh-out-loud funny as some of Murray's other early comedies, but it's incredibly compelling. You find yourself glued to the screen, hoping these three hapless crooks can just make it the hell out of the Big Apple.For fans of: Dog Day Afternoon, Scrooged, Broken Flowers, crying on the inside.

Release Date: 2018Genre: Indie musical-comedyDirector: Brett HaleyCast: Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner, Toni Collette

Droll record store owner Nick Offerman is in a rut, and not quite ready to send his daughter (Kiersey Clemons) off to college. On a whim, the two end up recording an incredibly catchy song together – and start to consider starting a band. Now, Clemons' character has to decide if she wants to give up her college dreams to stay behind for the band, and her new girlfriend (Sasha Lane). There's a lot of predictable quirky indie moments in Hearts Beat Loud, but the film excels thanks to the performances from Offerman and Clemons. Offerman brings just the right mix of bitterness and pathos to his part, and Clemons is wonderful as the conflicted daughter. Best of all: the song that gives the film its name is dynamite, and sure to get lodged in your head.

For fans of: High Fidelity, Sing Street, Little Miss Sunshine,

Release Date: 2002Genre: Dark ComedyDirector: Roger AvaryCast: James van der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Ian Somerhalder, Jessica Biel, Kate Bosworth, Kip PardueAmerican Psycho is, without question, the best movie adaptation of a Bret Easton Ellis novel. But The Rules of Attraction, which feels mostly forgotten, is quite good as well. This bleak, darkly comedic ensemble is set at a fictional college in New Hampshire. There, several students interact with each other, while existing in their own bubble. James van der Beek – yes, Dawson himself – delivers a surprisingly great performance as the apathetic Sean Bateman (brother of serial killer Patrick Bateman), who screws his way through college, unconcerned with the consequences. Sean catches the eye of bisexual Paul (Ian Somerhalder), while lusting himself after Lauren (Shannyn Sossamon), a virgin saving herself for her someone else. What makes Rules of Attraction so memorable is the way the multiple storylines unfold, in a Pulp Fiction-like manner, with moments doubling-back on themselves.For fans of: American Psycho, Go, Pulp Fiction, Fred Savage cameos.