Simu Liu, Awkwafina and John Cena in “Jackpot!”
“Jackpot!” (2024)
What would you do to be a billionaire? The fight for the prize kicks off Thursday, Aug. 15, on Prime Video, when the new action comedy film “Jackpot!” makes its debut. Set in the near future, the “Jackpot!” universe centers around a lottery that’s recently been established in California. While the winner has the opportunity to walk away with a multibillion-dollar jackpot, there’s one mammoth condition: anyone who can kill the person with the winning ticket before sundown can claim the prize for their own. Having recently moved to Los Angeles, Katie Kim (Awkwafina, “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens”) mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the ruthless horde of would-be jackpot killers, Katie reluctantly teams up with Noel Cassidy (John Cena, “Ricky Stanicky,” 2024), an amateur lottery protection agent, who will do everything in his power to keep her alive in exchange for a portion of her prize money. However, Louis Lewis (Simu Liu, “Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” 2021), Noel’s rival, is hot on their tail and prepared to do whatever it takes to claim the prize for himself. Directed by Paul Feig (“Freaks and Geeks”), “Jackpot!” is written by Rob Yescombe (“Outside the Wire,” 2021).The cast is rounded out by Ayden Mayeri (“I Love That for You”), Donald Elise Watkins (“Fly Me to the Moon,” 2024), Sam Asghari (“Lioness”), Murray Hill (“Somebody Somewhere”), Seann William Scott (“Welcome to Flatch”), Dolly de Leon (“Triangle of Sadness,” 2022) and Colson “Machine Gun Kelly” Baker (“Bupkis”).
“Paddington” (2014)
The film that first brought this beloved bear to the big screen, “Paddington” comes to Prime Video this Thursday, Aug. 15.When Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw, “Skyfall,” 2012) — a polite, anthropomorphic bear — makes the decision to migrate from the jungles of Peru to the bustling streets of London, he finds himself almost immediately lost, stuck in a local train station. Lucky for Paddington, he is found by the kindly Brown family, who agrees to care for Paddington and help him escape the grasp of a taxidermist, Millicent (Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge!,” 2001), who wants to add the special bear to her collection. Written and directed by Paul King (“Wonka,” 2023), “Paddington” features a talented cast of actors that includes Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey”), Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water,” 2017), Julie Walters (“Mamma Mia!,” 2008), Matt Lucas (“Bridesmaids,” 2011),Tim Downie (“Outlander”), Jim Broadbent (“Hot Fuzz,” 2007), Madeleine Harris (“The Legend of Tarzan,” 2016), Samuel Joslin (“The Impossible,” 2012) and Peter Capaldi (“Doctor Who”), among many others.
“Night Swim” (2024)
Acting as writer-director Bryce Mcguire’s (“Every House is Haunted,” 2023) directorial debut, the demonic horror film, “Night Swim,” will be available to stream on Prime Video as of Tuesday, Aug. 13. In this chilling tale, an unsuspecting family, the Wallers — including father Ray (Wyatt Russell, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”), mom Eve (Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” 2022), and children Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle, “the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” 2023) and Elliot (Gavin Warren, “The Man in the White Van,” 2023) — moves into a house with a devilish, malevolent secret kept in the depths of their in-ground pool. After leaving his baseball career behind due to an injury, Ray begins to use the pool daily, hearing that it might help with his condition. While it does help Ray’s injury, the family quickly begins to notice that their patriarch is less and less like himself, raising questions about the self-sustaining body of water in the backyard. “Night Swim” also stars Jodi Long (“The Hot Chick,” 2002), Nancy Lenehan (“Catch Me If You Can,” 2002) and Eddie Martinez (“The Sinner”).