Here Are the Best Movies to Stream this Weekend on Paramount+, Including ‘Arrival’

If you’re planning a low-key weekend with Paramount+, the service has a fresh batch of titles that cover everything from intimate character studies to big-scale sci-fi, plus a handful of modern and classic crime dramas. The newest additions landed across early September, with a couple of this week’s arrivals leading the way and a deep September 1 drop rounding out the list.

Below are 10 movies you can stream right now, pulled from this month’s rollout. For each pick, you’ll find the essentials—plot, cast, key creatives, and useful production notes—so you can line up your watchlist without any guesswork.

‘Personal Shopper’ (2016)

Olivier Assayas’s psychological thriller follows Maureen, an American in Paris working as a high-fashion assistant while attempting to make contact with the spirit of her late twin brother. Kristen Stewart leads the cast as Maureen, with Lars Eidinger, Sigrid Bouaziz, and Anders Danielsen Lie in supporting roles; it arrives on Paramount+ this week.

Written and directed by Assayas, ‘Personal Shopper’ features cinematography by Yorick Le Saux and editing by Marion Monnier, emphasizing texting, nocturnal streets, and quiet interiors to frame Maureen’s double life. The production is a European co-venture, and its contemporary setting threads together grief, identity, and technology.

‘The Wedding Banquet’ (1993)

Ang Lee’s bilingual romantic comedy centers on Wai-Tung, a Taiwanese immigrant in New York, who stages a marriage of convenience with artist Wei-Wei to appease his traditional parents, only to see the plan escalate into a full family celebration. The ensemble includes Winston Chao, May Chin, Mitchell Lichtenstein, Gua Ah-leh, and Sihung Lung; it joined Paramount+ earlier this week.

Co-written by Ang Lee, Neil Peng, and James Schamus, ‘The Wedding Banquet’ was photographed by Jong Lin and edited by Tim Squyres. Produced with Good Machine and Taiwanese partners, the film uses New York locations and a mix of Mandarin and English dialogue to ground its culture-clash premise.

‘Arrival’ (2016)

‘Arrival’ follows linguist Louise Banks, brought in by the U.S. military to communicate with extraterrestrial visitors whose ships appear across the globe. Amy Adams stars alongside Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker in this first-contact story, which is based on Ted Chiang’s short story ‘Story of Your Life.’

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, ‘Arrival’ was shot in and around Montreal and integrates language, time, and perception into its narrative design. The film blends large-scale setpieces with methodical scenes of decoding, guided by a tight adaptation of Chiang’s source material.

‘Witness’ (1985)

In ‘Witness,’ a Philadelphia detective hides out in an Amish community to protect a young boy who has inadvertently seen a murder. Harrison Ford leads the cast, with Kelly McGillis and Lukas Haas, as the investigation collides with the rhythms and customs of rural life.

Directed by Peter Weir, the film was shot in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, using real locations to shape the story’s cultural contrasts. Its blend of police-procedural elements and quiet domestic scenes is anchored by Weir’s emphasis on environment and routine.

‘Road to Perdition’ (2002)

Set during the Great Depression, ‘Road to Perdition’ follows Michael Sullivan, a mob enforcer who flees with his son after a betrayal inside the organization. Tom Hanks stars with Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig in this father-son crime drama adapted from Max Allan Collins’s graphic novel.

Directed by Sam Mendes, the production filmed in and around Chicago, with Conrad L. Hall’s cinematography shaping the period’s moody visuals. The adaptation keeps the core of the graphic novel’s plot while foregrounding family ties and underworld codes.

‘Galaxy Quest’ (1999)

‘Galaxy Quest’ tracks the cast of a defunct sci-fi TV show who are mistaken for real space heroes by an alien race seeking help. The ensemble features Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and Sam Rockwell as the actors are pulled into an actual interstellar crisis.

Directed by Dean Parisot, the film blends practical effects and CG, and it was produced in Los Angeles with sets and costumes designed to echo vintage space-opera television. Its script uses fandom and convention culture as scaffolding for the adventure premise.

‘The Grifters’ (1990)

‘The Grifters’ centers on small-time con artist Roy Dillon, caught between his seasoned-grifter mother and his equally calculating girlfriend. John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, and Annette Bening headline the adaptation of Jim Thompson’s novel.

Directed by Stephen Frears, the production shot largely in Los Angeles and leans on sharp dialogue and tightly staged cons to map the characters’ shifting loyalties. The screenplay filters Thompson’s hard-boiled tone into a modern neo-noir framework.

‘Jacob’s Ladder’ (1990)

‘Jacob’s Ladder’ follows Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer, who returns to New York plagued by disturbing visions and fragmented memories that point toward a hidden past. Tim Robbins stars, with Elizabeth Peña and Danny Aiello in key roles as the mystery deepens.

Directed by Adrian Lyne, the film weaves psychological horror with hints of conspiracy, staging its setpieces in everyday locations turned uncanny. Practical effects and atmospheric lighting support the story’s blurring of reality and hallucination.

‘Nobody’s Fool’ (1994)

Set in a small northeastern town, ‘Nobody’s Fool’ focuses on Sully, a stubborn but resourceful handyman reconnecting with his estranged family. Paul Newman leads the cast alongside Jessica Tandy and Bruce Willis in this character-driven drama.

Directed by Robert Benton from a screenplay based on Richard Russo’s novel, the film emphasizes everyday spaces—diners, job sites, and neighborhood streets—to frame its intergenerational dynamics. Its supporting players fill out the town’s social fabric around Newman’s central role.

‘Virtuosity’ (1995)

In ‘Virtuosity,’ former police officer Parker Barnes is tasked with stopping a murderous AI composite that escapes from a virtual-reality training program into the real world. Denzel Washington stars as Barnes, with Russell Crowe portraying the adaptive antagonist created from multiple criminal profiles.

Directed by Brett Leonard, the production mixes location work with digital effects to visualize its virtual-to-real crossover premise. The cast is rounded out by Kelly Lynch and William Forsythe, with setpieces built around law-enforcement tech and urban pursuit.

Share your weekend picks—what will you stream first on Paramount+?