Multiple times per week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts and ratings) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.
10: (TIE) Spencer (NEON movie on Hulu)
Kristen freaking Stewart finally (and fully) puts her Twilight days behind her in this film, in which she portrays Princess Diana and earned an Oscar nomination. The film revolves around a pivotal few days towards the end of her ailing marriage to Prince Charles, and Stewart fully pulls out the emotional stops. It’s a gutsy-as-hell career move and fully watchable, all while knowing that this film made the British royals steam under the collar, as with The Crown.
10: (TIE)The Tinder Swindler (Netflix film)
This selection grew popular right ahead of Valentine’s Day, hopefully in an effort to save you from running to the apps on a very commercial holiday. Welcome to the sordid true-crime tale of the self-dubbed “Prince of Diamonds,” a faux billionaire playboy (Simon Leviev, actual name Shimon Hayu) who cruised Tinder, leaving women wondering what happened after they opened their wallets to him. This guy even succeeded in fooling people into thinking he was the son of real-life multi-millionaire Lev Leviev. Yikes.
9. Bel-Air (Peacock series)
This reboot (executive produced by Will Smith) debuted on Super Bowl Sunday and stoked the curiosity for those with fond memories of the O.G. The Prince Of Bel-Air series. There shall be no Carlton dance here, given that this reboot shall be darker and grittier with an eye toward providing important cultural context for contemporary times. Yet it’s an interesting test to see exactly how well Hollywood can persist in mining nostalgia, and the long-term jury’s still out here.
8. Jeen-Yus (Netflix docuseries)
As you are probably aware, Kanye West’s personal life has overshadowed his professional life lately, and much of this is his own doing, but he’s also got this documentary on Netflix that promises to chart his formative days as an artist and ascension to being a brand. The name of the project, of course, is a play on words on how he considers himself a “genius.” One thing is certain: this won’t be boring.
7. The Power of the Dog (Netflix film)
Oscar nominations all around for this film, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch’s a sinister, charismatic rancher who’s menacing side comes out in accordance with his own insecurities and toxic masculinity. He terrorizes his sister-in-law and her son, and both Jesse Plemons and Kristen Dunst won acting nominations along with Cumberbatch himself. Director Jane Campion earned accolades as well, so catch up on this one soon.
6. Pam & Tommy (Hulu series)
Pam & Tommy is a gloriously decadent show that revels in 1990s debauchery but also doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations about consent and misogyny. Pamela Anderson got a raw deal here, all while Tommy Lee and Rand Gauthier’s completely dumb beef worked high-stakes collateral damage upon her. The cast pulls out the stops, as does the incredible hair and makeup team. Plus, Jason Mantzoukas does the talking-penis thing. You can’t lose here.
5. All Of Us Are Dead (Netflix series)
Expect some Squid Game parallels to arise while you watch this K-drama series that rose to the peak of Netflix’s global charts immediately upon release (a few weeks ago). This show comes with the added bonus (?) of zombies while high school students try their hardest to survive the difficult conditions while realizing that there’s no hope of rescue on the horizon. Binging is the name of the game here, so clear your schedule.
4. Inventing Anna (Netflix limited series)
Julia Garner can’t be stopped after dominating the screen in Ozark, and she’s here with a wild, hybrid, mysterious accent and wigs and glasses and a master con-woman character who takes everyone on an intense ride, as inspired by Jessica Pressler’s New York Magazine article. The degree of commitment of Anna Delvey (real name Anna Sorokin) to the long con is nearly as impressive as those who clung to her coattails and got burned. There are no winners here, but there’s entertainment.
3. Peacemaker (HBO Max series)
John Cena’s insufferable, super-patriotic The Suicide Squad character may have annoyed everyone in that movie, but he’s back and doing everything to entertain through campiness and multiple dance sequences. One of them even puts Cena in tighty whities, so here’s to James Gunn for adding some Eagly to the mix for unconditional love.
2. Euphoria (HBO series on HBO Max)
Guys, it is not looking good for Zendaya’s Rue as she attempts to drag herself out of her latest drug binge. After that happens, she’s got more troubles lurking in the background, and there are still a few more episodes to go before season finale time. Before that happens, we have a lot of theories to consider and musical considerations until next week’s edition with a next-season renewal in the cards.
1. The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window (Netflix series)
The critics were not wild about this show, but the people love it. You’ve undoubtedly heard of (or even seen) the similarly titled Girl On The Train, which has nothing to do with this film, although the spookiness arrives in a darkly comedic manner here. Kristen Bell’s the woman with the wine in the window, and she grows entrenched in observing the lives of her new neighbor and daughter. Sit down for that finale, too. Hoo boy.
