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 an interesting with The End, a 2024 apocalyptic musical drama. This takes place in a world subsumed by climate crisis, with an unnamed family living in an underground bunker. ‘Father'( Michael Shannon) was an oil tycoon and champion of fossil fuels, while ‘Mother'(Tilda Swinton) is a former ballet dancer, who spends her day rearranging masterpieces they brought from above. Their son(George MacKay) was born underground, and has little knowledge of what really happened to bring them into hiding, until a stranger visits, Girl((Moses Ingram), who might bring a little enlightenment to the limited world of the bunker. Lennie James, Bronagh Gallagher and Tim McInnerny also star, while Joshua Oppenheimer directed. And this movie was nominated for Best Feature at the Chicago International Film Festival, and Best Film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. And it gets a 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Alissa Wilkinson of the New York Times said “like all apocalyptic art, this movie is less a thought experiment than a statement about our present, and in this case a rather pointed one.” So its on my list. But Hulu has also added Pita Hall, a 2025 comedy. Also called Kalender Pide(in Turkish), this tells the story of Kalender(Tolga Çevik), who runs the family Pita hall along with his daughter Filiz(Esra Rusan). But the business is in trouble, with visitors dropping, and since Kalender’s wife died years ago, his energy is fading, too. So when Tolga Çevik Öcü (Ibrahim Büyükak), a young upstart joins the team, Kalender is anything but hopeful. But his new ideas and enthusiasm might just save the shop from being sold. Mustafa Kirantepe, Gafur Uzuner and Almila Ada also star, while Ömer Sinir directs. And this is a funny new add, with lots of good characters, acting, and good food. So , though it is very new, and has no reviews, I’m watching. Hulu also offers Harbin, a 2024 K-drama historical epic. This follows Lt General Ahn Jung-geun (Hyun Bin) on his journey in 1909, to assassinate Japan’s Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi shortly after Korea’s annexation by Japan. As he travels the snowy deserted expanses to reach his fellow freedom fighters, they quarrel and disagree, but when they find there is a mole in there group, their morale declines even more. Add to that the dogged pursuit of Jung-geun by Japanese Captain Mori Tatsuo (Park Hoon), and their goal begins to seem impossible. Park Jeong-min, Jeon Yeo-been, Jo Woo-jin and Lee Dong-wook also star, while Woo Min-ho directed. And this movie won Best Cinematography at the Asian Film Awards, and gets an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Siddhant Adlakha of Variety called it a “gorgeous historical thriller about Korea’s fight for independence.” And I’m definitely tuning in. And finally, Hulu has added Decision to Leave, a 2022 award-winning S. Korean romantic thriller. This finds lead detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) called in to investigate the suspicious climbing death of a man, leaving only his widow, Seo-rae (Tang Wei) behind. But as other police suspect the woman, the sleep deprived Hae-joon is drawn to her. As he trails her, and surreptitiously watches her every move, he finally falls for her, and they begin an affair. Even though he suspects she may be a murderer. Lee Jung-hyun, Park Yong-woo, and Go Kyung-pyo also star, and Park Chan-wook directed. And this movie won multiple awards in 2023, including And it gets an astounding 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Nick Schager of the Daily Beast called it a “genre work of superior, silken craftsmanship, so sinister, serpentine and sexy as to be downright swoon-worthy.” And I am so tuning in.
NETFLIX
The big title added this week on Netflix has to be The Four Seasons, the dramedy series from Tina Fey(!)and friends. An adaptation of the 1981 movie starring Alan Alda and Rita Moreno, this series tells of three couples, old friends, who vacation together four times, over four seasons. But the group is hit by shock waves when they discover one of their group is getting a divorce. Worse yet, there may be infidelity, and a young paramour, involved. So the old friends wonder at the strength of their own marriage, and if anything was ever as it seemed. Steve Carell(!), Colman Domingo(!), Will Forte(!), Kerri Kenney-Silver and Marco Calvani also star, and there are 8 episodes available for streaming now. And this series gets an incredible7.2/10 on IMDb, and Eric Deggans of NPR calls it a “series that is both a touching tribute and knowing update — a meditation on the value of grown-up relationships that is a wonderful antidote to the isolated age we live in.” So I’m tuning in. But Netflix has also added Past Lives, the award-winning 2023 drama. This tells the story of Nora(Greta Lee), who grew up in Seoul, and deeply bonded to Hae Sung (Teo Yoo). Nora assumes they’ll marry, as a girl, feeling it’s Ingeon, or fate . But then Nora’s family emigrates to Canada, leaving her old life, and Hae Sung behind, and works to become a great writer. Then she meets Arthur(John Magaro), who will become her husband, and the pair move to New York City. But when, on a whim, Nora connects with Hae Sung on Facebook, the pair start communicating again. And when Hae-Sung travels to New York City, it seems Nora has a choice to make. Moon Seung-ah, Leem Seung-min and Yun Ji-hye also star, while Celine Song directed, along with writing the script. And this movie was nominated for numerous awards in 2023 and 2024, including Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture at the 2024 Oscars. It also won Best International Film at the Australian Film Critics Association Awards, and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film from the Directors Guild of America. And gets an eye-popping 7.8/10 on IMDb, and a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. And Christy Lemire of Filmweek called it “an achingly beautiful, emotionally subtle and understatedly powerful film.” And I’m watching, again. Netflix also offers Bad Boy, a 2025 Israeli drama series. From the creators of Euphoria, and based on the real-life experiences of comedian Daniel Chen, this tells of 12 year-old Dean Shaiman(Guy Manster), getting arrested and sent to juvenile prison. Attracted to a life of crime by problems at home, while he’s embraced by those on the criminal fringe, the prison is a shock of chaos and violence. His only saving grace is his wit, and making his cell mates laugh, especially Zion Zoro(Havtamo Farda), a murderer. And finally, he attracts the attention of the drama teacher, Keren (Bat-Chen Sabag), who suggests he try stand-up, and a life outside the criminal world. Daniel Chen narrates, and Neta Plotnik, Liraz Chamami and Yaniv Levi also star, and there are 8 episodes available for streaming now. And this series won 7 awards of the 2024 Israeli Television Academy, including Best Script in a Drama Series, Best Director of a Drama series for Hagar Ben-Asher, and Best Drama Series. And it gets a 6.9/10 on IMDb, and Vikas Yadav of the Midgard Times calls it “a moving drama elevated by the performances.” So I’m watching. Netflix also offers The Cliche, a 2025 Thai dramedy. This finds content creator Shoot(Jaii Itkron Pungkiatrussamee) is forced to work for a production company, after he trashed their offices. Unfortunately, they want him to direct their soap opera, the very one he has ridiculed for years. And so, he finds himself behind the camera, reduced to creating what he considers schlock. But on the way, he finds some parallels between the show and his own life, and friendship with some of the artists on (and behind) the camera. Atitaya Tribudarak, Pisitpol Ekaphongpisit, Korranid Laosubinprasoet, Sanya Kunakorn and Boriboon Chanrueng also star, and Chadchawal Wisawabumrungchai directs. And this movie gets a 7.1/10 on IMDb, and Neerja Choudhuri of the Midgard Times says “if you’re in the mood for a smart, funny, and slightly absurd comedy that offers more than just surface-level laughs, The Cliche is well worth watching. With its sharp wit, self-aware humor, and a plot that cleverly blurs the lines between fiction and reality, the film manages to satirize soap operas while also delivering genuine moments of introspection.” And I’m tuning in. And, finally, Netflix has (finally) added The Eternaut, a 2025 Argentinian sci-fi series. Based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld’s 1957 graphic novel, this takes place in Argentina, with a toxic snow-like substance falling from the sky(in summer), which kills humans on contact. In Buenos Aires, most inhabitants are killed in the first days, and survivors like Juan Salvo (Ricardo Darin) are forced to cover every inch of the body, plus wear a gas mask to survive outside. And as he ventures outdoors to search for his daughter, and other survivors, he is confronted by others in masks , armed with guns, terrified at the slightest move. But as the story commences, Juan and the others find the cause of the toxic snow, and find the horror is just beginning. Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari and Marcelo Subiotto also star, and there are 6 episodes available now. And this series gets a stunning 7.7/10 on IMDb, and Dan Einav of the Financial Times says ” The Eternaut isn’t just another derivative end-of-the-world yarn, but an adaptation of the graphic novel series considered to be a sort of urtext for the genre.” And I am so watching, but with subtitles. Like most other streamers, the dubbing on Netflix stinks.
AMAZON
Amazon has a huge add this week, with Nickel Boys, the 2024 award winning drama. Based on Colson Whitehead‘s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, this tells of the teen, college freshman Elwood (Ethan Herisse) finds himself sent to reform school, Nickel Academy, in 1962 Florida. Imprisoned after unknowingly hitching a ride with a criminal, Elwood meets Turner(Brandon Wilson), another black internee in the segregated ‘school.’ And as the pair still enjoy certain of life’s undeniable pleasures, they also feel the wrath of prejudice, especially Elwood, with his dedication to the civil rights movement. And when he stands up to bullies at the school, he finds him sent to the infamous ‘White House, ‘ where he is beaten to within an inch of his life. Ethan Cole Sharp, Jimmie Fails, Daveed Diggs and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor(!) also star, while RaMell Ross directed. And this movie was nominated for tons of awards last year including the Best Picture Oscar, and went on to win Excellence in Directing Award for RaMell Ross at the Denver Film Festival, Best Cinematography for Jomo Fray at the Seattle Film Critics Society and Best Film at the Stockholm Film Festival, and the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. And this movie gets an impressive 7/10 on IMDb, and a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. And Justin Chang of NPR said “the [camera] approach takes some getting used to,but the effect is astonishing. It calls on us to empathize in a radical new way with these two young men, their fleeting hopes and their crushing sense of entrapment.” And I agree, I’m definitely tuning in. But Amazon has another big title added with Another Simple Favor, a 2025 mystery thriller. The sequel to the 2018 comedy A Simple Favor, this revisits the main character, Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), who, presumably, sent Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) to prison at the end of the first movie. But here, Emily abruptly reenters Stephanie‘s life, surprisingly not in jail, instead, inviting her to her upcoming wedding in Capri. Suspicious, Stephanie reluctantly says agrees, and flies over to the Mediterranean with her son, Miles ( Joshua Satine) and her friends. But as they prepare for the wedding, first one murder occurs, and then another. But as all the men at the wedding seem to be getting killed, Stephanie wonders if she can bring the bloodshed to a stop. Allison Janney, Elizabeth Perkins, Taylor Ortega and also star, and Paul Feig directs. But this sequel gets only a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com says “it’s another very twist-heavy film that works better when its characters are just allowed to be marvelous instead of mysterious.” But I’d rather watch the original, which you can find on Netflix, here. And, finally, Amazon has added Khauf, a 2025 Indian horror series. Here, a recent grad, Madhuri (Monika Panwaras) moves to Delhi to experience freedom and independence. But the hostel she chooses, and its occupants, has already known violence, and the malevolence that surrounds her room is growing by the day. Her fellow residents refuse to leave the building, and distrust her, and so Madhu has to seek the help of a wise man, or Hakim(Rajat Kapoor), and hope she can bring an end to the violence that envelopes the hostel and its occupants. Riya Shukla, Rashmi Zurail Mann, Priyanka Setia, and Chum Darang also star, and there are 8 episodes available now. And it gets an astounding 7.6/10 on IMDb, and Tamma Moksha of The Hindu says “Singh’s latest creation delicately punctuates the grammar of [the female-centric horror] sub-genre by ensuring that the female revenge is not for the laughs, and neither is it cosmetic — we get blood, blood-curdling screams, and flesh.” So you know I’m too scared to watch.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 