Yes, it’s that time again, the weekend, and time to review the best new movies and television shows added online this week, to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. And there are some exciting new adds this week, so let’s get started.
HULU
Hulu has no big titles added this week, but intriguing adds like Big Boys, a 2022 British comedy series. This tells of two first-year university students who room together, told from the point of view of Jack(Dylan Llewellyn). Jack is still mourning the recent loss of his dad, and questioning his sexuality, while his new roomie, Danny (Jon Pointing), is a beer loving football fan, who questions very little in life. But the two become fast friends, and offer support that will last a lifetime. Katy Wix, Jack Rooke, Camille Coduri and Izuka Hoyle also star, and there are 2 seasons available now, with 12 episodes total. And this series has won numerous awards in Britain, and was nominated for 4 BAFTAs in 2023, and winning the Best Writer Comedy award for Jack Rooke at the 2024 BAFTA Awards. And it gets a stunning 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 8.4/10 on IMDb. And Geordie Gray of The Australian said it “does something quite magical. It marries ripsnortingly funny, often completely filthy comedy with wise meditations on grief, mental illness, and sexuality.” So I’m definitely tuning in. Hulu also offers Paris Has Fallen, a 2024 British thriller series. A spin-off of the Gerard Butler Fallen series, this place after an attack on the British Embassy in Paris, with the French Ambassador targeted and Jacob Pearce seems to be the culprit. And Vincent Taleb (Tewfik Jallab) and ZaraTaylor (Ritu Arya) are assigned to bring Peace and his organization down, before any more violence occurs. Emmanuelle Bercot, Ana Ularu, Camille Rutherford and Jérémie Covillault also star, and there are 8 episodes available now. And this series gets a 6.5/10 on IMDb, and JB Spins says “fans of the mothership film series and the similarly conceived Citadel international franchise should greatly enjoy its brisk pacing and slickly produced action set pieces.” So its on my list. Hulu also offers Tsunami: Race Against Time, the 2024 Nat. Geo docu-series. This is about the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that bludgeoned Thailand and Sri Lanka, and other low lying countries. This is told not only from the point of view of not only eye-witnesses, traumatized and wounded, but also of rescuers and people who just pitched in and helped, already suffering themselves. So director Daniel Bogado brings us a story not only of overwhelming tragedy, but also one of hope, and resilience. And there are 4 episodes available now. And this series gets a shocking 8.1/10 on IMDb, and Mahan Zahiri of Gazettely calls it “a superb documentary that goes beyond traditional disaster storytelling.” So I’m watching. And, finally, Hulu has Light Shop, a 2024 supernatural horror series . This takes place in a small light shop, at the end of a dark alley, run by Jung Won-young (Ju Ji-hoon). And, while many people come in for a light bulb, or a lamp, other visitors are wander in lost or traumatized, seemingly drawn to the store. And as they approach the desk of Won-young, they pass a bare light bulb, that will tell the owner if that person is living or dead. For the shop is a destination for lost souls, looking for their entrance into the next world. Park Bo-young, Kim Seol-hyun, Bae Seong-woo and Uhm Tae-goo also star, and there are 8 episodes available now. And this series gets an amazing 7.7/10 on IMDb, and S. Poorvaja of the Hindu says it “builds a creepy, unsettling world while keeping up the intrigue” with “chills aplenty.” So I might tune in…from under the bed.
NETFLIX
Netflix has a big add this week with Black Doves, a 2024 espionage thriller series.Keira Knightley stars as Helen Webb, here, a politician’s wife and mother of two, who’s also a spy, and gathering information on the political world as a mole. Bored with her mundane role, she has an affair with Jason (Andrew Koji), but when he is assassinated, her spymaster, Reed (Sarah Lancashire!) has Helen‘s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) guard her life. And together, the pair go after Jason‘s killer. Omari Douglas, Andrew Buchan and Ella Lily Hyland also star, and there are 6 episodes available now. And it gets an thrilling 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Aramide Tinubu of Variety calls it a “twisted thriller of a series,… a fun, poignant and dizzying journey centering on friendship and connection.” And I’m definitely tuning in. Netflix also offers Heartbreak Motel, a 2024 Indonesian drama. This considers the life of Ava Alessandra, played by Laura Basuki, a famed actress who, apparently, has everything. But her life is not all it seems, and so she hides out in a motel, posing as a maid. But then she is confronted with her manipulative ex-boyfriend, and a hotel guest, who may prove an ally. Reza Rahadian, Chicco Jerikho, Jeremy Thomas and Sheila Dara Aisha also star, while Angga Dwimas Sasongko directs. And this movie was nominated for numerous awards last year, including 5 at the Festival Film Indonesia, including Best Actress for Laura Basuki. And it gets a fantastic 7.2/10 on IMDb, and, so, though I can find no reviews online, I’m watching. But Netflix also has Echoes of the Past , a 2024 Egyptian crime drama series. This follows Yehia(Asser Yassin) , released from prison after serving 15 years for the murder of his sister, Nadia (Huda El Mufti), that he did not commit, and intent upon revenge. Working as an Uber driver, Yehia pieces together the fragments of truth left over from the past, he finds evidence leading to a rich friend, and his powerful family. Mahmoud Hemida, Shereen Reda, Rakeen Saad, Sherif Salama and Mohammed Alaa also star, and there are 8 episodes available now. And this series gets a whopping 7.6/10 on IMDb, and Lopa K of the Review Geek calls it “eye-catching.” and I’m tuning in. Netflix also has The Children’s Train, a 2024 Italian historical drama. Based on Viola Ardone’s novel of the same name, this takes place in 1946, with Antonietta Speranza (Serena Rossi) and her son Amerigo(Christian Cervone) living in abject poverty, and the wreckage of WWII . So Antonietta is finally persuaded to take part in the “Trains of Happiness” program, and send her son to live with a family in Northern Italy. There, Amerigo lives with Derna (Barbara Ronchi), and finds his love of music and talent while playing the violin, and regains his health. But then, the time to go home to Naples approaches, where the poverty is still entrenched. And Amerigo and his loving mother have a heart-wrenching choice to make. Antonia Truppo, Dora Romano and Monica Nappo also star, while Cristina Comencini directs. And it gets an outstanding 7.2/10 on IMDb, and Ruchika Bhat of DMTalkies calls it “a delightful film about an admirable boy. It’s a coming-of-age story that is both hopeful and sad (as the best movies always are), so if that’s something that floats your boat, I definitely recommend this film.” And I’m definitely tuning in for this heretofore unknown chapter of history. But Netflix also has Beyond Evil, a 2022 k-drama crime drama series. This takes place in the town of Gyeonggi-do, where serial killings rocked the inhabitants 20 years before. Then, as the serial killings begin again, two detectives with secrets of their own, Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) and Han Joo-won (Yeo Jin-goo) , try to unearth the clues to catch the killer, even if they have to break the rules. Kim Shin-rock, Choi Sung-eun and Gil Hae-yeon also star, and there are 16 episodes available now. And this series was nominated for 5 Baeksang Arts Award Grand Prize – Television, and won Best Drama, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor for Shin Ha-kyun at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. And it gets an outlandish 8.1/10 on IMDb, and Ashley Hajimirsadeghi called it “brilliant,…. a must-watch Korean drama.” So I’m tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon has an exciting add this week with The Sticky, a 2024 comedy/crime drama series. this tells the truish story of Ruth Landry(Margo Martindale), a maple syrup farmer in a small Quebec town, already tested by caring for her comatose husband, and just trying to get her maple syrup to market, when she is shut down, by the Quebec Maple Association. So she loses it, and takes up with her husband’s crooked friend, Mike (Chris Diamantopoulos), who thinks they should rob the Association of it’s own maple syrup. How could they lose, since the Association has only one guard, Remy, who is in on the theft with them? But when the Association hires more guards, and the police pick up the scent of a crime in the making, the odds rise against the motley crew. Mickaël Gouin, Guy Nadon and Jamie Lee Curtis(!) also star, and there are 6 episodes available now. And it gets an impressive7.1/10 on IMDb and Aramide Tinubu of Variety calls it “a delightful, suspenseful adventure full of jokes, bizarre situations and a sharp cast.” And I’m definitely tuning in. Amazon also has The Red Virgin, a 2024 historical drama. Based on a true story, this takes place in 1930‘s Madrid, Spain, with Aurora Rodríguez(Najwa Nimri) raises her daughter Hildegart(Alba Planas) to be the “superwoman, ” modelled on Nietzsche’s superman. Hildegart grows and obeys her mothers rules, becoming a lawyer at 17, but then attends a communist meeting and meets Abel, a young man definitely not in her mother’s plans. But as Hidlegart becomes more independent, her mother’s authority is threatened, and is incensed. And a face off looms, that can have only one winner. Aixa Villagrán, Patrick Criado and Pepe Viyuela also star, while Paula Ortiz directs. And this movie is already nominated for multiple awards in 2025 , including 5 Feroz Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Nimri , Best Film, and Best Director for Ortiz. And it gets a 6.8/10 on IMDb, and Daniel Hart of Ready Steady Cut says “not only is The Red Virgin meticulously directed, but it is the hallmark of a must-see historical drama, with a firm screenplay and impeccable performances.” And, finally, Amazon has Season 1 of Un Professore, a 2024 Italian dramedy series from MHz choice. Here, Dante Balestra(Alessandro Gassmann) returns to Rome to teach high school philosophy at Leonardo Da Vinci scientific high school. But as his non-conformist methodology and thinking endears him with his students, his private life is in turmoil, as his son, Simone(one of his students) is distant and insecure. And when Dante‘s old girlfriend, Anita, shows up, it leads to more trouble for the professor, perhaps endangering his job. Damiano Gavino, Davide Di Vetta and Claudia Pandolfi also star, and there are 12 episodes available for streaming now. And Gassmann won Best Actor at the 2022 La Pellicola d’Oro awards, and this series gets an astonishing 7.1/10 on IMDb. So, though, I can find no online review at this time, I’m tuning in.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 