Welcome to Streaming Rewind, a weekly breakdown of the new and noteworthy as we work to help readers wade through the absolute deluge of television series and movies in the streaming space.
It’s almost time for turkey! It’s also almost time for the universally accepted media catchup week, which is good, because there isn’t a whole lot new dropping on streaming or digital Thanksgiving weekend. You can finally watch Terrifier 3 at home, though, if you’re looking for a way to deeply scandalize your relatives.
Because there isn’t a ton dropping this week, here’s a quick list of shows and movies that you can stream that I loved this year and you may enjoy watching this weekend.
Hazbin Hotel (Prime Video)
I had never watched Vivienne Medrano’s hit YouTube pilot for Hazbin Hotel; I just knew that fans were ravenous for more. When Prime Video picked up the series (and then renewed for Season 2 and then Seasons 3 and 4 shortly after after the meteoric performance of Season 1), I figured it was time to give the salacious adult animated series a watch. Lucky I did, because it ended up being one of my favorite shows of 2024. Not for nothing, but I’m pretty sure my Spotify Wrapped will be made up exclusively of the soundtrack as well.
The series follows Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen, of Mean Girls — the stage musical — fame), daughter of Lucifer Morningstar, as she works to rehabilitate sinners and convince heaven to give them a second chance. There’s just one problem: Lucifer (Jeremy Jordan) has given up and the angels are all dicks. If you liked Supernatural’s nuanced approach to heaven and hell and angels and demons, you’ll appreciate a lot going on here.
Twisters (Peacock)
I’ve already talked about Twisters once on this weekly what to watch list, mostly because it very recently hit Peacock. But, given that the legacy sequel ended up as one of my favorite movies of 2024, you’re getting the recommendation again. For years, folks have said that 1996’s Twister had no stakes, featuring a ton of disasters but no real consequences for its primary cast. Well, Twisters heard you. You’ll know why after you watch the first 15 minutes of the film.
Outside of that, the chemistry between Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Kate and Glen Powell’s Tyler carries the ensemble cast through a rip-roaring and occasionally absurd disaster film. For the record, I am a firm believer that “rip-roaring and occasionally absurd” should be the descriptor for all disaster films, so let that be your guide when it comes to this recommendation.
The Acolyte (Disney+)
Every time Star Wars does something interesting, something bad happens (read: the executives panic and give a bunch of loud trolls exactly what they want), but that’s OK, because we still have The Last Jedi and The Acolyte. Creator Leslye Headland delivered a complex look at the Jedi and the issues with their authoritarianism during the High Republic era, which was buoyed by lead performances from Amandla Stenberg as twins Osha and Mae and Mannie Jacinto as Qimir. While it’s a pity we won’t get the end of their story, the series’ ending already tells us that Osha and Qimir are doomed, so we’ll just have to be happy to watch The Acolyte’s cult following grow over the years.
The First Omen (Hulu)
No one was a bigger The First Omen hater than me when the film was first announced. A prequel to The Omen was dangerously close to the top of completely unnecessary film projects, but that didn’t stop writer/director Arkasha Stevenson from making a movie that I consider to be damn near essential viewing. Nell Tiger Free acts her ass off as the film’s lead, Margaret, and gives life to a wildly feminist script that, no, is not free of a few prequel pitfalls. Once you’ve watched you may join me in ignoring the film’s cringe-worthy final 15 seconds. (Yoda doesn’t show up, but it’s almost as bad.)
Shogun (Hulu)
If you didn’t watch Shogun back when it first aired, now is absolutely the time to catch up on the series — especially now that it’s shifted from a limited series and will get a Season 2. The first season of the series adapts the novel of the same name in its completion, so we’re still not sure what Season 2 could possibly be about. However, it’s hard not to get excited when Season 1 was the best series of 2024. (We’ll see if the rest of the IGN staff agrees come IGN Awards time!)
Shogun follows the stories of the roguish pirate John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), the powerful and shrewd Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and the whip-smart and deftly loyal Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai) as their worlds collide during a complicated power struggle in feudal Japan.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Paramount+)
It’s not new but it’s Thanksgiving and we honor the classics in this house (and John Hughes, John Candy, and Steve Martin, obviously). Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a Thanksgiving tradition in plenty of households, but if you haven’t watched Martin’s Neal Page and Candy’s Del Griffith schlep across several states while one desperately tries to make it home for the holiday, you don’t know what you’re missing!
New and Notable to Streaming and Digital
Terrifier 3 — November 26 (On Digital)The Madness — November 28 (Netflix)Nutcrackers — November 29 (Hulu)Beatles ’64 (new documentary from producer Martin Scorsese) — November 29 (Disney+)
