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Happy holidays everyone! It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and not just because the sleigh bells are ringing. Nearly every major streaming service dropped at least one movie or TV show that made headlines this weekend, so there’s really never been a better time to plop down in front of the television and catch something new.
Spearheading the festive load is Netflix, whose Knives Out sequel and adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda is sure to light up millions of living rooms this Christmas. But HBO Max, Prime Video and Apple TV Plus all have something new to offer too, so there’s no shortage of options to watch once post-dinner exhaustion hits on a Sunday.
Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the biggest new movies and TV shows to stream in the coming days.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
Daniel Craig continues his redefinition of his post-James Bond career with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (also known as Knives out 2) on Netflix this weekend.
In Glass Onion, the highly anticipated sequel to director Rian Johnson’s critically acclaimed murder mystery film, Craig reprises his role as master detective Benoit Blanc to solve another humorous whodunnit – this time on a private Greek island owned by the eccentric tech billionaire Miles Bron (Eduard Norton).
Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Leslie Odom Jr, Kate Hudson and Ethan Hawke also star in Johnson’s sequel, which was praised for being “lighter and brighter” than its predecessor. No doubt Glass Onion will soon be on our list of the best netflix moviesso add it to your watchlist ASAP.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
Matilda the musical by Roald Dahl (Netflix)
Netflix’s singing-dancing film adaptation of Matilda the Musical (which itself is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel) is the definition of celebratory family fun.
Directed by Matthew Warchus and featuring original music by Tim Minchin – who both helmed the Tony Award-winning show – Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir), a schoolgirl with extraordinary powers who dares to stand up to her oppressive parents and mean school principal.
Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough also star in this luscious Netflix musical, available to stream in the US from Sunday, December 25 (aka Christmas Day to those who celebrate). UK viewers can find Matilda in theaters where it will remain an exclusive until 2023.
Streaming on Netflix from Sunday.
The Witcher: Blood Origin (Netflix)
If you’re eager to return to the creature-filled forests of the continent but can’t wait The Witcher season 3 downloadthen the series’ first spin-off show, The Witcher: Blood Origincould be the answer to your prayers.
Set 1,200 years before the time of Geralt of Rivia, this four-part miniseries follows the origin story of the very first Witcher and follows seven doomed outcasts as they join forces to overthrow the tyrannical elven kingdom of Xin’trea. Sophia Brown (a replacement for originally cast Jodie Turner-Smith), Michelle Yeoh, Laurence O’Fuarai and Minnie Driver are among the show’s cast.
Prior to the release of Blood Origin, we spoke to the creators and cast about how the series is reshaping The Witcher’s mysterious past. In front of our moneyHowever, this Netflix spinoff is “a frustrating and magic-less misfire that doesn’t know what it wants to be.”
Streaming on Netflix from Sunday.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (Apple TV Plus)
Competing with Matilda the Musical for health this weekend is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, which will be available to stream on Apple TV Plus starting Sunday.
A BBC-produced adaptation of Charlie Mackesy’s mega-successful children’s book, this animated short follows a boy’s journey home and the unlikely companions he makes along the way. Idris Elba, Tom Hollander and Gabriel Byrne lend their voice talents.
The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse’s limited maturity mean it probably won’t break into our list of the best apple tv plus moviesbut the understated story of simple kindness is sure to make you feel good this Christmas weekend.
Streaming on Apple TV Plus from Sunday.
Jack Ryan Season 3 (Primary Video)
John Krasinski’s special agent Jack Ryan returns this weekend for his highly anticipated third appearance on Prime Video.
Amazon’s synopsis for Jack Ryan Season 3 isn’t exactly short, but the general thrust of the series’ new episodes is as follows: While working as a CIA officer in Rome, Ryan is alerted to a secret plan to restore the Soviet Empire that him on a criss-cross tour of Europe in an attempt to prevent World War III. Standard espionage shenanigans.
All eight episodes are now available to stream on Prime Video – we hope they’re good enough to earn Amazon’s spy series a place on our list of the best Prime Video shows.
Now available to stream on Prime Video.
I Hate Suzie Season 2 (HBO Max)
The air-produced series I Hate Suzie didn’t set the world on fire when it debuted in 2020, but those who’ve seen the Billie Piper starrer can’t recommend it enough.
Now Piper’s titular child star turned actress returns for more public meltdowns in the three-episode I Hate Suzie Too, which has been described by Sky as “an anti-Christmas Christmas special” given Suzie’s ongoing battle with ex-husband Cob (Daniel Ings) and estrangement from best friend Naomi (Leila Farzad).
Still not convinced? Showrunner Lucy Prebbile – who co-wrote I Hate Suzie (and its follow-up) with Piper – also serves as co-executive producer and writer on Season 4 follow up, aka the upcoming entry in one of the best HBO Max shows ever. How’s that for credentials?
Now available to stream on HBO Max.
Alice in Borderland Season 2 (Netflix)
The Japanese sci-fi thriller series Alice in Borderland returns this weekend for its highly anticipated second season on Netflix.
Continuing the story of Haro Aso’s manga of the same name, Kento (Ryōhei Arisu) and Tao (Yuzuha Usagi) will take on the challenge of killing the deadly, Squid game-like games commissioned by the mysterious gamemasters.
Judging by the trailer for the season, things are about to get pretty bloody in Alice in Borderland season 2, and all eight episodes are now available to stream on Netflix (perhaps the series will finally make it onto our list of the best Netflix shows).
Now available to stream on Netflix.