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.
The Penguin (Max) will be taking its final bow this Sunday and Arcane (Netflix) will finally make its triumphant return for the first part of its second and final season on Saturday. But beyond that, it’s a pretty slow week for new releases in the streaming space. You can tell your dad Yellowstone is back, of course, and there are some great films making their way to digital, including Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. Plus, the Aubrey Plaza-starring My Old Ass makes its way to streaming on Prime Video after its theatrical run.
If you caught those movies in theaters and need more to watch on streaming to occupy your attention this weekend, here are some recommendations that have no thematic throughline whatsoever that I just think are neat.
The Sound of Music is on Disney+
The Sound of Music is a perfect family favorite to settle in with this weekend. The musical drama is packed with earworms, none of which I can mention because just reading the song titles will get them stuck in your — and more importantly, my — head. It follows Maria (Julie Andrews), a free-spirited nun who eventually becomes a governess for the von Trapp family and falls in love with their cranky-but-noble father, Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). The film, set in 1938, features singing, dancing, and the family’s timely escape from Austria. Why are they escaping Austria? Why is the Captain cranky? Who. can. say.
V for Vendetta is on Prime Video
It was, after all, the 5th of November this week. V for Vendetta follows V (Hugo Weaving), an anarchist who had been subject to government experiments in the fictional near-future of the British Empire. Surviving those experiments, V becomes a vigilante fighting the regime, and eventually comes across state employee Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman). A whole lot of morally dicey stuff occurs in the middle of this film, as Evey and V are “getting to know each other”, but the two eventually join forces to fight the baddies. Why are they bad? You’ll just have to watch and see.
Jojo Rabbit is on Hulu
Jojo Rabbit is a film that folks either really vibe with or really don’t. Taika Waititi’s satirical drama follows Johannnes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a young German boy very interested in becoming what we commonly refer to nowadays as “Hitler Youth.” But things quickly get pretty complicated for young Jojo. Turns out his mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), is a member of the resistance, and she’s hiding a young Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. I’ve never met anyone who’s lukewarm on this film — you’re either going to adore it or despise it. But I happen to think it’s Taika Waititi at his very best.
The Great Dictator is on Max and Hulu
One of, if not the best Charlie Chaplin films is available on multiple streaming services right now. But, while it was met with an incredible reception and has left behind an incredible legacy, Chaplin would admit in 1964 that he wouldn’t have been able to make the film if he had “known the true extent of the horrors happening in concentration camps” at the time. Chaplin plays both of the film’s leading roles: that of a ruthless dictator and of a persecuted (and amnesiac) Jewish barber. I suspect you can fill in a lot of the plot on your own, and I don’t want to spoil a thing. Definitely seek this one out.
Inglourious Basterds is on Both Paramount+ and Hulu
We’ve all caught on to the fighting of fascist regimes bit at this point, yeah? Either way, there was no way to beat around the bush when it comes to a film that features the line “each and every man under my command owes me 100 Nazi scalps.” My Tarantino flick of choice features a troop of Jewish-American soldiers (dubbed as Basterds) tasked with striking fear in the hearts of the Nazi regime by hunting their operatives down and scalping them. Great fun at the movies!
New and Notable to Streaming and Digital This Week
A Different Man — November 5 (Rent or own on digital)Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story — November 5 (Rent or own on digital)Arcane Season 2, Part 1 — November 9 (Netflix)Yellowstone Season 5 season premiere — November 10 (Paramount) The Penguin season finale – November 10 (Max)My Old Ass — Now on Prime Video
