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Tag: Stream

What to stream: MrBeast jumps to TV, Little Big Town’s holiday special and Squid Game: Unleashed

The griping Vatican-based thriller “Conclave” about picking a new pope and Stephanie Hsu starring in the dark comedy “Laid” as a woman whose former lovers keep unexpectedly dying are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Dwayne Johnson stars as Santa’s bodyguard in the movie “Red One,” internet star MrBeast hosts his own reality competition show on Prime Video called “Beast Games” and Little Big Town host a Christmas special on NBC.

– What goes on inside the Vatican before white smoke flows out of the Sistine Chapel? “Conclave” (streaming now on Peacock), about the election of a new pope, is a gripping thriller that imagines how the gathering of cardinals could go. The film, directed by Edward Berger and based on Robert Harris’ 2016 novel, stars Ralph Fiennes as the cardinal tasked with running the conclave. Nominated for six Golden Globes, “Conclave” is a major Oscar contender and one of the rare recent adult-oriented dramas to succeed at the box office. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a deliriously fun watch in the way that tense, smart thrillers with an ensemble of great actors can be.”

– It was easy to miss Clint Eastwood’s “Juror No. 2” in cinemas, but the 94-year-old’s latest arrives Friday, Dec. 20 on Max. And “Juror No. 2,” despite its small theatrical footprint, has been much praised by critics. In it, Nicholas Hoult plays a juror in a murder trial who’s struggling with a moral dilemma.

– A sled-full of new Christmas movies arrive every year, with hopes of establishing themselves as a new holiday classic. Of them, “Red One” (now streaming on Prime Video) is distinguished by being the biggest, most garishly wrapped one yet. In the $250 million movie, Dwayne Johnson stars as the bodyguard for a more militaristic Kris Kringle (J.K. Simmons), who teams up with a deadbeat hacker (Chris Evans) to rescue Santa after he’s kidnapped. In my review, I wrote that “there is ample time during ‘Red One’ to ponder who, exactly, put a Marvel-ized Santa on their wish list.”

– Mati Diop’s “Dahomey,” one of the year’s nonfiction highlights, is not to be missed. Diop, the French Senegalese director of “Atlantics,” documents the return of 26 art works seized by French troops during the 1890s from the African kingdom (now southern Benin). In the film, currently streaming on Mubi, Diop casts a wide and fantastic net in chronicling their voyage home, with a wide array of voices debating the ethics and meaning of reparations — including even those of the Dahomey treasures, themselves.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

— ’Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. That is, until Monday, when “Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry” airs on NBC, available to stream on Peacock the following day! What says “happy holidays” more than some of country music’s modern greats bringing their twang from the famous Nashville stage to the family living room? A group of great guests, probably – and those include Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Kirk Franklin, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson and Orville Peck.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

— A new docuseries on Apple TV+ reveals the habits and behaviors of animals in the wild. Filmmakers spent three years tracking 77 unique species in 24 countries, and capturing everything from jumping spider courtship dances to a killifish in Trinidad breathing through its tail when out of the water. Hugh Bonneville narrates “The Secret Lives of Animals, ” debuting Dec. Wednesday.

— Stephanie Hsu stars in a new dark comedy for Peacock as Ruby, a woman whose former lovers keep unexpectedly dying in mysterious, outrageous ways. Ruby and her best friend AJ (Zosia Mamet, doing her wry observational bit) dig into the past to make sense of what’s happening and save lives. The process prompts Ruby to learn hard truths about herself. “Laid” is based on an Australian series. There are also a number of fun guest stars including Finneas O’Connell, Chloe Fineman and Josh Segarra. “Laid” premieres Thursday on Peacock.

— Internet star MrBeast, (real name: Jimmy Donaldson) whose YouTube channel has more subscribers than any other — is now the host of his own reality competition show on Prime Video called “Beast Games.” Contestants wear tracksuits and compete in wild games for a $5 million prize. It’s like “Squid Game,” without the dying. “Beast Games” premieres Thursday on Prime Video.

— Alicia Rancilio

— Season 2 of “Squid Game” drops on Netflix the day after Christmas, but you and your family can get an early start if you’re already itching for a fight to the death. The streamer is inviting subscribers to download Squid Game: Unleashed, an online battle royale for up to 32 players. It includes familiar season 1 competitions like Glass Bridge and Red Light Green Light, as well as deadly new devices like buzzsaws, wrecking balls and lava pits. Last one to survive … well, you don’t get any money but at least you don’t get squished. The contest begins Tuesday, Dec. 17, on iOS and Android.

— Lou Kesten

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December 16, 2024
What to stream: Paris and Nicole reunite, Romano and Kudrow team up and Indiana Jones quests

Angelina Jolie portraying opera singer Maria Callas in the movie “Maria” and a Jamie Foxx Netflix comedy special are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Snoop Dogg teams up with Dr. Dre on an album, Elton John looks back at his 50 years in the spotlight in the documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late” and Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie reunite for “Paris & Nicole: The Encore.”

— If you didn’t make it to the theater to see “Joker: Folie à Deux” (and according to the lackluster box office, most didn’t), it’s streaming on MAX on Dec. 13. Todd Phillips’ musical sequel to the Oscar winning “Joker” has Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the mentally ill Arthur Fleck, imprisoned and awaiting trial for his crimes, and adds Lady Gaga as an obsessive fan and love interest. Jake Coyle in his review called it a theoretically interesting film that’s curiously dull. It cratered with critics and fans, but perhaps more audiences will now take a chance on this very unconventional sequel.

— Elton John looks back at his 50 years in the spotlight in a new documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” streaming on Disney+ Dec. 13. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the film features never before seen footage and new interviews and reflections from John as he prepares for his final North American concert at Dodger Stadium.

— Angelina Jolie portrays opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” streaming on Netflix Dec. 11. The movie plays out during the final week of her life, flashing back over her difficult childhood, her grand career and her tumultuous affairs. As I wrote in my review, “This is a biopic as opera — an emotional journey fitting of the great diva, full of flair, beauty, betrayal, revelations and sorrow.” Jolie even trained to sing for the role and her voice, they’ve said, is woven into the audio. If you liked “Spencer” and “Jackie,” “Maria” is a no-brainer. Jolie may even get another Oscar nomination out of it.

— The Blake Lively-led adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends With Us” arrives on Netflix on Monday. Lively stars as Lily Bloom in the romantic drama, which became a minor sensation at the box office, opposite Justin Baldoni, who also directs, and Brandon Sklenar. In his AP review, Mark Kennedy wrote that it was “uneven” and “tries to balance the realities of domestic violence inside a rom-com and a female-empowerment movie.” Instead, he added, “it veers too close to melodrama.”

— A community grapples with the discovery of unmarked graves on the grounds of a Catholic Church run Indian residential school in Canada in “Sugarcane,” an emotional and revelatory documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. The investigation exposes the harrowing abuses inflicted on Indigenous children at these segregated boarding schools. It streams on Hulu and Disney+ on Tuesday.

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

— What else could Snoop Dogg do for his 20th album but team up for a project produced entirely by Dr. Dre. Out Friday, “Missionary” is described as the sequel to Snoop’s 1993 debut “Doggystyle” — the only other full-length collaboration between the two giants of hip-hop — a NSFW meeting of minds featuring guest verses from Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty, BJ the Chicago Kid, Jhené Aiko and more. If the previously released singles, “Outta Da Blue” “Gorgeous” and “Another Part of Me” are evidence of what is to come, the holidays will have arrived early this year.

— DMX, the iconic hip-hop artist behind the songs “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here)” whose distinctively gruff voice and thoughtful messages in his rhymes made him one of rap’s biggest stars, died in 2021. Now, a new posthumous release from the rapper will arrive on Dec. 13 via Def Jam Records: “Let Us Pray: Chapter X.” DMX’s voice is unmistakable, and with contributions from Snoop Dogg, Mary Mary, Killer Mike, MC Lyte, LeCrae, Terrace Martin, Lena Byrd Miles and RoyzNoyz Orchestra, the album makes for some can’t-miss listening.

— How did Elton John become Elton John? What did those early days look like? And how does he reflect on that time, now? A new documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” available to stream on Disney+ starting Dec. 13, attempts to peek behind the curtain and explore exactly that. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

— The 2024 Billboard Music Awards will air live on Paramount+ on Thursday. Little is known about it just yet, but previously announced performers include Coldplay, Jelly Roll, Seventeen, Teddy Swims and Tyla.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

— It’s been 20 years since Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie first showed us what’s hot on “The Simple Life.” The two revive their schtick with “Paris & Nicole: The Encore,” a three-part series where they recreate memorable moments from the past and return to work at a Sonic fast-food location. It debuts Thursday on Peacock.

— Jamie Foxx is ready to address his 2023 undisclosed medical condition and joke about it, too. The Oscar winner has a new comedy special called “ Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…” debuting Tuesday on Netflix. The streamer is promoting the event as “the story we’ve been waiting for.” In a trailer, the multi-hyphenate performer walks on stage and declares, ’I’m back!” The special was filmed in October.

— A new “Dexter” prequel details just how the serial killer discovered his “dark passenger.” The show stars Patrick Gibson as the young Dexter and Christian Slater as his father Harry, who teaches his son to follow a code of ethics when it comes to murder. “It was simple. Kill the bad buys who escape justice,” we hear Michael C. Hall say in the trailer. Hall, who played Dexter in the original series, returns to narrate the character’s inner voice. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey also appear. “Original Sin” is just one example in an expanding “Dexter” universe. “Original Sin” premieres Sunday, Dec. 15 on Showtime and streams on Paramount+ with Showtime.

— “Queer Eye” returns this month with cast changes for its ninth season. Home design expert Jeremiah Brent replaces Bobby Berk to round out the Fab Five. Fans may remember Brent from Bravo’s “The Rachel Zoe Project” or his design shows with husband Nate Berkus. “Queer Eye” drops Wednesday on Netflix.

— Two sitcom favorites, Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow, team up for a dark comedy in “No Good Deed,” also coming to Netflix. Premiering Thursday, the pair play Paul and Lydia, a married couple at odds over whether to sell their LA home, which has some tragic family history. The listing draws a range of eclectic prospective buyers played by Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, O-T Fagbenle, Teyonah Parris and more. Paul and Lydia are quickly in over their head.

— Alicia Rancilio

— “Raiders of the Lost Ark” has inspired dozens of video games, from Tomb Raider to Uncharted to Spelunky, but it’s been a while since Indiana Jones himself has taken center stage. The hiatus ends with Bethesda Softworks’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in which the intrepid archaeologist once again puts on his fedora and sets off in search of a stolen cat mummy. The quest bounces from the Vatican to the pyramids of Egypt to the temples of Thailand, mixing exploration, puzzle-solving and flashy action set pieces. Developer MachineGames is best known for its Wolfenstein series — experience that will no doubt come in handy when it’s time to punch some Nazis. Crack that whip Monday on Xbox X/S and PC.

— Monument Valley and its sequel were landmarks during the golden age of mobile gaming in the 2010s. Fans have been craving more of their M.C. Escheresque 3-D mazes, and London-based developer Ustwo Games is finally ready to deliver Monument Valley 3. Publisher Netflix says that while you can expect plenty of gravity-defying brainteasers, the series is evolving with a fresh protagonist on a ocean-based world — which means you’ll have to cruise between islands to find the tools to solve all its architectural puzzles. Set sail Tuesday, Dec. 10, on mobile via Netflix.

— Lou Kesten

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December 9, 2024
What to stream: Sabrina Carpenter holiday special, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and Rosé goes solo

Sabrina Carpenter hosting a holiday variety music special on Netflix and Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw playing a spy and an assassin in the TV series “Black Doves” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: K-pop star Rosé has her first solo full-length album, Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” enjoys another afterlife odyssey and BLACKPINK’s Rosé has her first solo full-length album.

— Thirty-six years after the original, the Deetz family returns to Winter River in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ” (streaming Saturday, Dec. 7 on Max). There, Lydia (Winona Ryder), still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), is forced into another afterlife odyssey when her teenage daughter (Jenna Ortega) discovers a portal. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it “a joyously rendered sequel that sometimes makes sense, and sometimes doesn’t, but just keeps rollicking.”

— A lowkey reunion of “Love Actually” writer-director Richard Curtis and one of that film’s stars, Bill Nighy, is part of the new Netflix animated movie “That Christmas” (streaming Wednesday). The film was co-written by Curtis (it’s based on his series of Christmas books) and features Nighy as the voice of Lighthouse Bill, one of the Wellington-on-Sea townspeople grappling with a winter blizzard. The storm poses challenges even for Santa, voiced by Brian Cox.

— Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star in the space race rom-com “Fly Me to the Moon,” about a NASA launch director (Tatum) and a Madison Avenue marketing executive tasked with selling the mission to the moon. The film, which debuted in theaters in July, hits Apple TV+ on Wednesday. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr praised it as “lighthearted and breezy with a pleasing screwball energy, giving Johansson the opportunity to use the full wattage of her movie star power.”

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

— Does espresso go with eggnog? Find out when Sabrina Carpenter hosts a holiday variety music special that streams on Netflix starting Friday, Dec. 6. “It’s an hour of literal nonsense,” Sabrina told Time magazine about the special. “If people are expecting boring, me singing by a tree, it’s not that. It’s so fun, so chaotic. There are so many guests that I’m excited about.” Those guests include Chappell Roan, Tyla, Shania Twain, Kali Uchis, Quinta Brunson, Cara Delevingne, Kyle Mooney, Nico Hiraga, Megan Stalter, Sean Astin, Owen Thiele and Jillian Bell.

— Lauren Mayberry, vocalist and percussionist from the Scottish pop band Chvrches, makes her solo debut with “Vicious Creature.” The 12 tracks veer from the coffee-house folk of “Anywhere But Dancing” to the punky “Punch Drunk,” the dance-pop of “Change Shapes” and stuttering glam of “Sorry, Etc.” “It’s a mission statement of all things that you like,” she tells us in an interview.

— Mayberry isn’t the only woman setting out alone — BLACKPINK’s Rosé has her first solo full-length album, titled “rosie,” scheduled for release on Friday, Dec. 6. She kicked it off with “APT.,” her collaborative with pop star Bruno Mars. The catchy pop-punk track, inspired by a popular Korean drinking game, known as the “apartment game.” It has spent weeks atop the Billboard Global 200 chart. On Instagram, she previewed the album by saying “I have poured my blood and tears into this album. I cannot wait for you to listen to this little journal of mine.”

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

— In their new Netflix series “Black Doves,” Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw play old friends who also happen to be a spy and an assassin, that team up to solve a murder (and get revenge) at Christmas. Knightley joked to The Associated Press that the show falls in the “Die Hard” category of holiday entertainment. “It’s like, I’ve spent too much time with my family. I hate them all. I need to watch something blow up!” “Black Doves” debuts Thursday on the streamer.

— Margo Martindale stars in the new Prime Video series “The Sticky,” as a down-on-her-luck woman on the brink of financial ruin who finds herself in a crime ring stealing, of all things, millions of dollars’ worth of maple syrup. It’s inspired by a true story. The dark comedy also stars a delightful Chris Diamantopoulos and Guillaume Cyr. Jamie Lee Curtis is an executive producer and also makes an appearance. It premieres Friday, Dec. 6.

— Alicia Rancilio

— Multiplayer free-for-alls like Overwatch and Apex Legends remain popular online, but it’s been years since a new release has made an impact. Chinese-owned NetEase Games is hoping to shake up the genre by adding superheroes and villains to the formula with Marvel Rivals. The core competition is a battle between two teams of six heroes each. The initial lineup includes marquee names like Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain America as well as a few cult favorites like Luna Snow and Jeff the Land Shark. Some characters — say Thor, Loki and Hela — can join forces to unleash all sorts of havoc. It’s all free-to-play, and the mayhem begins Friday, Dec. 6, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

— Lou Kesten

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December 2, 2024
Sporting vs. Arsenal live stream, lineups: Where to watch Champions League online, pick, prediction, odds
Can Sporting keep up their remarkable run through the Champions League even without the manager who established them as title winners in Portugal once more? Tuesday should offer the first indication as a Ruben Amorim-less side welcome Arsenal to the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Sporting’s first game since their head coach departed for Manchester United proved to be a comprehensive triumph for new boss Joao Pereira, but Arsenal will pose a much greater challenge than third tier Amarante, who lost 6-0 in the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup. With the Gunners in form and having rested several players for the win over Nottingham Forest, this promises to be an intriguing clash. Here is how you can watch the match and what you need to know:

Viewing information
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 26 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Jose Alvalade — Lisbon, Portugal
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Sporting +220; Draw +250; Arsenal +125
Team news

Sporting: Pedro Goncalves’ absence could be a profound headache for Pereira. The 26-year-old may not be as starry a name as Viktor Gyokores but do not underestimate his ability to drive Sporting up the pitch as an auxiliary midfielder while providing the sort of double figure goal and assist return more associated with a forward. In his place could come former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards.

Left wing back Nuno Santos will also be missing for Sporting due to a knee injury while promising defender Zeno Debast is a doubt with a muscle issue.

Possible Sporting XI: Israel; St. Juste, Diomande, Inacio; Catamo, Hjulmand, Morita, Quenda; Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao

Arsenal: It was not just the return to winning ways that was so encouraging for Mikel Arteta on Saturday, but the way in which his side were able to overcome Nottingham Forest while also rotating the XI. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey could all come into the XI, as might Declan Rice, whose recovery from a toe injury is being carefully managed.

Indeed with Kieran Tierney having joined first team it is only full backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu (both suffering knee injuries) who are certain to be unavailable for Arteta in Lisbon.

Possible Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

Prediction

Don’t expect Sporting to run riot over Arsenal as they did City. The Premier League side should just about have enough. PICK: Sporting 1, Arsenal 2
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November 26, 2024
What to stream: Michael Fassbender spies, yacht rock doc, Ben Stiller, the Beatles and Lindsay Lohan

The Oscar-nominated animated charmer “Robot Dreams” and Lindsay Lohan starring in the Christmas romantic comedy “Our Little Secret” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: HBO has a documentary about yacht rock, there’s another entry in the reality genre of seniors looking for love called “The Later Daters” on Netflix and the Fab Four’ first trip to America is chronicled in the documentary, “Beatles ’64.”

— “Robot Dreams,” the Oscar-nominated animated charmer about a dog and a robot, comes to Hulu on Tuesday. Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle called it “one of the best New York movies in years, not to mention a surprisingly mature tale of loving and losing for a movie where the effects of rust are quite central to the narrative.”

— Also arriving on Hulu shortly after, on Friday, Nov. 29, is the family comedy “Nutcrackers.” Ben Stiller plays a city guy who must go to the country to take care of his unruly orphaned nephews. It’s a return to comedy for “Pineapple Express” filmmaker David Gordon Green.

— “When Harry Met Sally” gets a modern update in the new romantic comedy “Sweethearts,” about childhood best friends whose relationship gets a little complicated in college. Starring Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga “Sweethearts,” debuting on Max on Thursday, is the feature directorial debut of “Dollhouse” creator Jordan Weiss.

— If you’re wondering why Lindsay Lohan seems to be everywhere lately, Netflix is the answer. The streamer has a new Christmas romantic comedy on the way, “Our Little Secret,” on Wednesday. The idea is that Lohan’s character is spending the holiday with her boyfriend’s family, only to discover that his sister is dating her ex.

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

— The Beatles’ first trip to America is chronicled in a new movie produced by Martin Scorsese, “Beatles ’64,” which streams on Disney+ on Friday, Nov. 29. The documentary uses never-before-seen and rare footage and drills down on the Fab Four’s milestone American visit, which included appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Washington Colosseum, and a meeting with Muhammad Ali. It offers interviews with David Lynch and Ronnie Spector as well as some of the women who as girls screamed outside the Beatles’ New York hotel. Its backbone is rare footage filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles of John, Paul, George and Ringo being exceedingly silly.

— Grab your captain’s hat and fake mustache for a tour of yacht rock, the once dismissed musical genre that has found new love of late. HBO’s revealing “Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary” traces the rise of the music style — elevated pop music infused with jazz and R&B — from the perspective of its makers, including Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross. The documentary nicely connects yacht rock to the culture and music heritage, adding the creators of the web series who coined the label. Sail away on Friday, Nov. 29.

— Eric Clapton has a new live album and concert film, “Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023,” which captured the shows on Sept. 23-24, 2023, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Only Clapton could attract this level of musical talent to join him: Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, H.E.R., Los Lobos, John Mayer, Santana and The Wallflowers. The master of ceremonies is Bill Murray. This was the seventh installment of the festival after a four-year break. Guitar World hailed it as “a six-string celebration.”

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

— When a CIA agent who goes by “Martian” (played by Michael Fassbender) returns to the London office after a long undercover job, the transition to real life is not an easy one in “The Agency.” The espionage thriller also stars Jodie Turner-Smith as a former love who complicates matters. “It’s the battle of his soul between what he does for a living and the relationships he has,” Fassbender told the AP. George Clooney is an executive producer. The story is based on a 2015 French espionage series called “The Bureau.” Jeffrey Wright, Katherine Waterston and Richard Gere also star. “The Agency” premieres Friday, Nov. 29 on Paramount+ with Showtime.

— America first fell for the notion of people of a certain age finding love on ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” and most recently “The Golden Bachelorette.” Netflix — and Michelle Obama, who is an executive producer — have jumped on the trend with a docuseries called “The Later Daters” debuting Friday, Nov. 29. Cameras follow six silver singles as they go on a series of blind dates to find love and companionship.

— Alicia Rancilio

— Colman Domingo stars in a new conspiracy thriller series “The Madness” as a CNN pundit who is framed for the murder of a white supremacist. It deals with misinformation and disinformation spread online about Domingo’s Muncie Daniels character, and the damage it can do to an individual and community. “The Madness” hits Netflix on Thursday.

— Ryan Pearson

— There are plenty of job simulators out there, but Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is the first one I know of that also invites you to “ponder the futility of your existence.” You are a spaceship mechanic, so instead of flying around exploring strange new worlds, you’re stuck on a lonely asteroid tightening screws and replacing burnt-out wires. You also have to contend with a particularly demanding boss — one who might actually kill you if you don’t make your quota. The result, from British developer Beard Envy, is a mix of tricky, time-sensitive mechanical puzzles and surreal black comedy. Start choppin’ Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch or PC.

— Lou Kesten

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November 25, 2024
What to stream: ‘The Piano Lesson,’ ‘Wicked’ album, ‘Spellbound’ and ‘Cruel Intentions’ TV series

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo teaming up for the soundtrack to the upcoming movie “Wicked” and a TV series based on the 1999 film “Cruel Intentions” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Season three of Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” Denzel Washington’s son Malcolm directing August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” for Netflix and the animated tale in “Spellbound” with a heroine voiced by Rachel Zegler.

— Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” streaming Friday on Apple TV+, is a wartime odyssey about a 9-year-old biracial boy (Elliott Heffernan) who, after being sent to the countryside during the Nazi bombing of London, tries to get home to his mother (Saoirse Ronan). “Blitz,” McQueen’s first narrative feature since 2018’s “Widows,” sometimes feels stuck between a conventional war drama and something more adventurous. But it’s vividly drawn, and, as I wrote in my review, “more complicated and unsparing than the average WWII drama.”

— Denzel Washington’s quest to bring the works of August Wilson to the screen have already produced several exceptional films, and performances, in “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In “The Piano Lesson” (on Netflix Friday), he hands the reins to his son, Malcolm Washington, who makes his directorial debut in a production starring John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Erykah Badu, Ray Fisher and Corey Hawkins. The film, set in 1930s Pittsburgh, is about a family wrestling with the legacy of a family heirloom, and of slavery. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr praised it as a “a literal ghost story, with creaks, spooks and shadows lurking.”

— Following its first foray into feature film animation, 2022’s “Luck,” Skydance returns with another original animated tale in “Spellbound” (on Netflix Friday). The film, set in the magical world of Lumbria, is about a young girl (voiced by Rachel Zegler) who must save the rulers of Lumbria, her parents (Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem), after they’re turned into monsters. “Spellbound,” produced by former Pixar boss John Lasseter, features original songs from Disney legend Alan Menken.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

— Kim Deal, the center of bands like the Breeders and the Pixies, will release her debut solo album on Friday, “Nobody Loves You More,” via the influential indie label 4AD Records. The project has been in the works for many years — beginning with tracks like “Are You Mine?” and “Wish I Was,” dating back to 2011 — but no matter, it still sounds like some left-of-center future, from the Steve Albini-produced “Coast” to noisy, clangorous world-building of “Crystal Breathe.” “Beat by beat I expel your point of view,” Deal declares. “The heels of my imagination digging into you I start a new life/Beat’s gonna lead us/Live on.”

— For those hoping for something a bit more classic, look no further: PBS’ “Great Performances” anthology series, which features musicals, operas, plays, ballets and concerts, will spotlight the great Patsy Cline on Friday, broadcast on PBS and available to stream on the PBS app. “Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight” celebrates the country music giant on stage at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium with performances by Wynonna Judd, Ashley McBryde, Mickey Guyton, Kristin Chenoweth, Rita Wilson and more, with interviews from her husband, Charlie Dick, and famous friends like Loretta Lynn.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

— We’ve already gotten an Ariana Grande album this year with “eternal sunshine” but there’s more on the way. On Friday, her voice is all over the soundtrack for the movie “Wicked” as Glinda, opposite Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The album is part of a two-fer, with the first 11 songs from the first chapter of the two-part film adaptation. That means two of the musical’s best tunes will be available — “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.” Also listen for Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey and Jeff Goldblum.

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

— In “Interior Chinatown,” actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang plays a Chinese American background actor in a police procedural who dreams of becoming a leading man. It’s adapted from a novel by Charles Yu, who also served as showrunner of the series. Taika Waititi is an executive producer. “Interior Chinatown” premieres Tuesday on Hulu.

— It’s the beginning of sophomore year for the ladies of Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” The show, created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, follows roommates at a fictional college in Vermont. Season three, premiering Thursday, brings back original leads Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur and Alyah Chanelle Scott but will wrap up Reneé Rapp’s storyline. She quit the show to focus on her music career. Mia Rodgers and Gracie Lawrence have been added to the mix as series regulars.

— Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina have more problems when season two of “Based on a True Story” begins streaming Thursday on Peacock. Season one saw their characters, Ava and Nathan, launch a true crime podcast with an actual serial killer (played by Tom Bateman). In the new episodes, the couple are new parents attempting to return to a normal life, until a string of murders draws them back into amateur sleuthing.

— The 1999 film “Cruel Intentions” starring Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar remains a cult classic but Prime Video has updated the story with a TV series. Sarah Catherine Hook and Zac Burgess play wealthy stepsiblings who hatch a plan to seduce and deceive one of their college classmates, who also happens to be the daughter of the vice president of the United States. The show, premiering Thursday, also has plenty of Easter eggs in the that call back to the movie.

— Alicia Rancilio

— The Ukrainian developers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl have overcome some serious obstacles — not the least of which being the need to move from Kyiv to Prague after the Russian invasion in 2022. The premise of the game is that the nuclear reactor at Chornobyl (that’s the Ukrainian transliteration) has been hit with a second explosion, unleashing monstrous mutations and other anomalies. Your job is to enter the “Exclusion Zone” and try to prevent the chaos from spreading. It’s a creepy blend of the first-person shooter, horror and survival genres, and it arrives Wednesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

— Lou Kesten

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November 18, 2024
Stream It Or Skip It?

Jingle Bell Run, yet another entry on Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas roster, stars Ashley Williams and Andrew Walker as two contestants who meet (and fall in love) while competing in a reality competition show that takes place at Christmas. Thanks to the ensemble cast that rounds out their reality show competition and the series of challenges that help move the story along, the film is full of high energy holiday fun.

Opening Shot: An elementary school teacher named Avery Muller (Ashley Williams) is having her students create ornaments and discuss the history of some Christmas traditions. When one student freezes up when she has to give an oral presentation, Avery calmly and kindly gives her a “We can do hard things” pep talk and reassures her that she’s got this.

The Gist: Avery is a dedicated elementary school teacher in Chicago who is so consumed with helping her students that she doesn’t make time for anything truly exciting or unusual in her life – but she’s perfectly fine with that, down time is her hobby. This Christmas, Avery’s parents are headed out for a cruise and her sister Ruby is headed to her in-laws, which means that Avery’s going to be alone… or so she thinks. As a surprise, Ruby tells Avery that she sent in an application for a popular televised reality show called The Great Holiday Dash, think The Amazing Race with candy canes, and Avery was selected for it. Avery’s not thrilled by any of this, but her sister and colleagues are all excited for her. And who do you think is the one person that can convince her she can do hard things? Her young student of course, the one she gave the pep talk to at the beginning of the movie, who tells her, “Deep breaths. I think you’re gonna win this.”

While Avery reluctantly accepts that this is how she’ll be spending her holiday, across town a retired NHL star named Wes (Andrew Walker) is desperate to find a way to stay relevant. He’s not getting the endorsements he wants, but he learns that he, too, has been cast on The Great Holiday Dash, and is thrilled at the chance to be in the spotlight once again.

The Dash is both a test of physical endurance and intellectual challenges, puzzles and the like, with the goal of finding a silver bell that’s hidden “somewhere in America.” In an effort to prepare, Avery hits the gym and, no surprise here, she’s… not very good at gymming. Wes happens to be there and, long story short, she causes them both to fall of their respective treadmills, and it’s safe to say he doesn’t appreciate that. The very next day, the two reunite on the set of The Great Holiday Dash to their dismay, only to learn that they’re paired up as a team to compete against everyone else on the show.

Obviously they hate each other… at first. But then, as they travel by map all over the country, solving puzzles and racing to their next challenge, they begin to grow on each other. She’s the brains, he’s the brawn, and over time, they begin to share more of themselves with each other and form a bond. But when a producer asks Wes – behind Avery’s back – to play up a romance angle to hook more viewers in to the show, he obliges because, let’s not forget why he got into this, for the eyeballs.

The ploy works and the two become fan favorites (but not in a Hunger Games way), but when Avery overhears a producer giving Wes direction on how he should confess his feelings to her on air, she feels like she’s just been a pawn in some fake ploy. Of course their feelings for one another are real, and of course Avery bolts before she can hear Wes tell the producer he’s done faking it for the camera and that he really does love her. This momentary drama subsides when Wes comes clean (as does the producer) to Avery about how he could never fake his real feelings for her, and the two go on to win the whole thing.

Allister Foster

Our Take: Jingle Bell Run cleverly combines the reality TV show confessional with a rom-com, so we’re not only watching a movie version of events, but the reality show version, too. The show also introduces us to a few of the other competing couples, including an older woman named Shirley and her partner Katie, and Ramon and Brad, who were all strangers when they joined the show, but who have developed close relationships with each other with every passing challenge. By the end, it almost seems unnecessary for Avery and Wes to win, because the movie has us rooting for everyone. (Avery and Wes do win though, but ultimately they give some of their winnings to each of their competitors because that’s just the vibe they’re giving out.)

While I don’t necessarily need a competitive aspect to my holiday films, there’s something really fun when movies like this introduce a concept that I wish existed in real life. In this case, a holiday reality TV racing competition that takes place in real time right before Christmas is definitely something I’d watch. (Similarly, in the recently released ‘Twas the Date Before Christmas, that movie prominently features a Christmas Day “Family Christmas Olympics,” which sounds incredible… if anyone in my family had the time or energy to execute such a thing.) That a reality TV competition is the construct around which the whole premise is based is a really fun way to bring a group of characters together and help each other find the true meaning of Christmas and all that good stuff.

Parting Shot: Wes tells Avery that even though they won the cash prize at the end of the show, he would have felt like a winner even if they hadn’t won because he found her. And then they kiss.

Performance Worth Watching: David Lewis plays Keegan, the host of The Great Holiday Dash, and he has real game show host vibes that suit his role as a reality show emcee.

Memorable Dialogue: “I would never have been able to do this if I wasn’t stuck with you,” Wes jokes to Avery when they complete the race.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Jingle Bell Run is fun not just because it’s got all the elements of a heartwarming romance, it’s also energized by the pace of the reality show-within-a-movie and the challenges along the way. It’s a completely unrealistic version of a reality show, sure, but even though it’s pretty obvious how the results will shake out, it will keep you invested.

Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction.

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November 16, 2024
What to stream: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, ‘Bad Sisters,’ Shawn Mendes and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman starring in “Deadpool & Wolverine” and James Patterson’s psychologist detective Alex Cross finally having his own thriller TV show are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: A new album from Shawn Mendes, the return of Apple TV+ dark comedy “Bad Sisters” and a new generation of storm chasers feature in “Twisters.”

— Anyone looking for an escape will find plenty of options on streaming. Some of the summer’s biggest blockbusters will soon be in your living room, starting with “Deadpool & Wolverine,” ready to spice up Disney+ starting Tuesday. Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and director Shawn Levy went full throttle with the characters’ first entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with in-jokes, celebrity cameos and f-bombs galore. In her review for the Associated Press, Krysta Fauria wrote that it’s a “fun, generally well-made summer movie.”

— If you prefer your spectacles to be (sort of) more reality-based, “Twisters” storms Peacock on Friday, Nov. 15. The stand-alone follow-up to the 1996 movie “Twister” stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos as a new generation of storm chasers making dangerous decisions in Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley. Like so many great disaster movies before it, it’s very silly and extremely watchable.

— One of the most crowd-pleasing movies of the year is also coming home: “Thelma,” in which 94-year-old June Squibb plays a Los Angeles grandmother who gets scammed out of $10,000 and goes on a mission to get it back, with the late Richard Roundtree and his motorized scooter as her accomplice. It’s streaming on Hulu starting Friday, Nov. 15.

— Awards season watchers will also get a chance to dive into the fantastical world of Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” when it hits Netflix on Wednesday. A film that defies simple explanation, AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote around its Cannes debut that this “gonzo trans Mexican drug lord musical” is “probably the first movie that can sincerely be compared to both ‘Sicario’ and ‘Mrs. Doubtfire.’” It stars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and breakout Karla Sofía Gascón.

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

— In a Michael Jackson -based timeline, there’s a love story being told in “I’ll Be There.” Set in the backdrop of Jackson’s 2009 death in Los Angeles, the independent film starring Jasmine Batchelor follows the youngest of a blended family, who reconnects with her estranged siblings after her older brother is diagnosed with cancer. The reconnection unveils family secrets and cultural moments that impacts their lives. The emotional drama streams Friday, Nov. 15 on Prime Video and Apple TV.

— AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr.

— Four years between albums is an eternity for Shawn Mendes, the Canadian folk-pop star who first emerged on the long-defunct social media platform Vine, miraculously — through talent and resilience — transforming six-seconds of fame into a viable career. On “Shawn,” his self-titled album four years removed from 2020’s introspective “Wonder,” Mendes is seeking to reintroduce himself with guitar-forward, John Mayer-esq. singles like “Why Why Why” and “Nobody Knows.” “Shawn” releases Friday, Nov. 15.

— Also on Friday, Nov. 15, the Florida rapper Denzel Curry will release “King of the Mischievous South,” the album version of his popular mixtapes — released in 2012 and “Vol. 2” in 2024 — of the same name. The tracklist has been reimagined, and it now features five new songs, including the braggadocious single “Still in the Paint,” featuring Bktherula and Lazer Dim 700. That one uses a sample of Lex Luger’s beat for Waka Flocka Flame’s “Hard In The Paint,” naturally.

— As country music continues to dominate the culture zeitgeist, so too do its stars endeavor to learn more about the genre that made them. In the Hulu original docuseries “It’s All Country,” Luke Bryan aims to get at the heart of country’s stars and songs, sitting down with Wynonna Judd, Mickey Guyton, Kane Brown, Sheryl Crow, Luke Combs and Lady A for some moving conversations. It hits the streaming giant on Friday, Nov. 15.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

— There’s another dead body and a suitcase of killer secrets in a new series of Apple TV+ dark comedy “Bad Sisters.” Showrunner Sharon Horgan again writes and stars alongside Sarah Greene, Eve Hewson, Eva Birtwhistle and Anne-Marie Duff as the Garvey sisters continue to deal with the fall out of season one. It returns Wednesday.

— James Patterson’s psychologist detective Alex Cross finally has his own thriller TV show. In “Cross,” coming to Prime Video, Aldis Hodge stars as the charismatic and clever cop as he negotiates personal tragedy and brutal killings in Washington D.C. — helped by his bromance with fellow policeman John Sampson, played by Isaiah Mustafa. It premieres Thursday.

— By Hilary Fox

— Mike Tyson squares up against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a live fight happening Friday, Nov. 15 and streaming live on Netflix. “Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson” was postponed in May after Tyson became nauseous and dizzy on a flight from Los Angeles in May. His representatives said it was due to an ulcer. Tyson, who is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers ever, is now 58 years old and Paul is 27.

— “Yellowstone” may be airing its final episodes, but Taylor Sheridan has a new series debuting Sunday, Nov. 17 on Paramount+ called “Landman.” It’s based on the popular podcast “Boomtown” and described as an “Upstairs Downstairs” story about the world of oil rigs. It stars Billy Bob Thornton as a crisis manager for an oil company. Ali Larter, Jon Hamm and Demi Moore also have roles.

— Alicia Rancilio

— The Case of the Golden Idol, a devious collection of mysteries inspired by 1990s adventure games, was one of the most delightful surprises of 2022. Its creator — Latvian studio Color Gray Games — has returned with a sequel, The Rise of the Golden Idol, that looks every bit as charmingly morbid. The time frame has moved from the 18th century to the 1970s, but the titular idol, which may or may not have supernatural powers, is still creating havoc. Publisher Playstack promises a slicker interface to solve its word and logic puzzles, and says we can look forward to 20 new crimes in an “age of hallucinogens, fax machines, parapsychology and TV guides.” The investigation resumes Tuesday on PC, PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Switch and mobile via Netflix.

— Lou Kesten

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November 11, 2024
What to stream: ‘Yellowstone’ starts its end, Eddie Redmayne as a sniper and Aubrey Plaza gets high

Eddie Redmayne starring as a sniper for hire in the new limited series “The Day of the Jackal” and “Yellowstone” riding off into the sunset with the launch of its final episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Aubrey Plaza stars in the coming-of-age comedy “My Old Ass,” two famous Nintendo siblings team up for the video game Mario & Luigi Brothership and Whitney Houston’s epic 1994 concert video in post-apartheid South Africa.

– Is there a better way to spend election week than with a psychedelic mushroom-induced Aubrey Plaza? Well, yes, there probably is. But, still, Megan Park’s “My Old Ass” (streaming Thursday on Prime Video) is a uniquely charming and oddly moving coming-of-age drama. The film stars Maisy Stella as Elliott, an 18-year-old whose birthday mushroom trip, while camping in Ontario’s Muskoka region, conjures a surreal visitor: her 39-year-old self (played by Plaza). In his review, AP’s Mark Kennedy called the results “uneven but (Park) sticks the landing.”

– Of the many fans of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s films, none is more passionate than Martin Scorsese. In “Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger” (airing Thursday on TCM), Scorsese narrates his journey through movies that have had a profound effect on the filmmaker. In it, he describes being “so bewitched by them as a child that they make a big part of my films’ subconscious.” The documentary, directed by David Hinton and produced by Thelma Schoonmaker, isn’t just a chronicle of films like “The Red Shoes,” “Black Narcissus” and “I Know Where I’m Going!” but captures how movies can transfix you, change you and live alongside you as you grow older.

— With many glued to screens for the election results Tuesday, it might be a good week to revisit some of the best films about American politics. Alan Pakula’s chilling assassination thriller “The Parallax View” is streaming on Paramount+. On Hoopla, you can find both John Frankenheimer’s mind control masterpiece “The Manchurian Candidate” and Elia Kazan’s prescient “A Face in the Crowd.” “Election,” Alexander Payne’s biting satire, is streaming on Fubo. Spike Lee’s towering “Malcolm X” is available to rent, as is Steven Spielberg’s epic “Lincoln.” But if you’re feeling more cynical, Mike Judge’s “Idiocracy” can be found on Hulu.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

— On Friday, Nov. 8, the Whitney Houston estate and Legacy Recording will release “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban),” the recording of her epic concert in post-apartheid South Africa, staged after President Nelson Mandela’s landmark election. It follows the fully remastered theatrical release of a concert film of the same name. In 1994, Houston took the stage for three concerts in South Africa including in Durban at Kings Park Stadium, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Over 200,000 people attended. The album is also Houston’s first ever live concert album (but not her first ever live album, give credit where credit is due — to 2014’s “Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances” and “VH1 Divas 1999.”) She’s never sounded better.

— Another look back at the ’90s: Tsunami, the ferocious indie rock band lead by frontwomen Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson, co-owners of the Simple Machines record label, are receiving a long overdue, career-spanning collection from the prolific Numero Group: A five LP, vinyl box set that features demos, singles, 1993’s “Deep End,” 1994’s “The Heart’s Tremolo,” and for the first time ever pressed to wax, 1997’s “A Brilliant Mistake.” If that’s too much physical media, don’t fret — listeners will be able to get an education on streaming platforms as well.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

— Eddie Redmayne hasn’t starred in a TV series since the 2012 two-part World War I saga, “Birdsong.” He marks his return as a sniper for hire in the new Peacock limited series, “The Day of the Jackal.” It’s an updated version of a Frederick Forsyth novel published in 1971. Lashana Lynch plays an intelligence officer, intent on catching Redmayne’s mysterious killer who goes by the moniker The Jackal. “The Day of the Jackal” debuts Thursday on Peacock.

— Prime Video’s spy franchise “Citadel” now includes “Citadel: Honey Bunny.” This version is set in India and is a prequel to the 2023 original that starred Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden. It takes place in the 1990s and introduces viewers to the parents of Chopra Jonas’ character, Nadia. Samantha Ruth Prabhu plays Nadia’s mother, Honey, with Varun Dhawan portraying her father, Bunny. The series debuts Thursday.

— “Yellowstone,” the contemporary Western about a family whose ownership of the largest cattle ranch in the U.S. goes back generations, returns for the second half of its final season on Sunday, Nov. 10. Fans will want to tune in to learn how Kevin Costner is written off the show and what happens to couple Rip and Beth, played by Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly. “Yellowstone” season 5B debuts on Paramount Network.

— Alicia Rancilio

— Mario may be the biggest celebrity in the Nintendo universe, but some of his most satisfying adventures have co-starred his gangly brother, Luigi. The boys are teaming up again for Mario & Luigi: Brothership, in which they explore an ocean dotted by a variety of islands. You’ll need to switch between the two to solve various puzzles, and sometimes they’ll need to team up to fly over or knock down obstacles. When they run into an enemy, the action switches to turn-based combat in which timing is everything. Mamma mia! Set sail Thursday on the Switch.

— Lou Kesten

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November 4, 2024
Stream It Or Skip It?

There’s no moment like it in professional sports. After a long, hard-fought best-of-seven series, it all comes down to one winner-take-all game. Game 7, a new six-episode documentary miniseries on Prime Video, looks at the phenomenon through the lens of a half-dozen of the most memorable Game Sevens in recent sports history.

GAME 7: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: The first episode deals with the 2003 American League Championship series between the then-long-suffering Boston Red Sox and the then-dominant New York Yankees, and so we’re treated to a montage of intense chatter preceding that series’ final game. Yankees fans swagger, confident in victory, and the ferocity of the rivalry is plain to see. As Yankees ace Roger Clemens puts it: “I gotta tell you, there’s nothing like a Game 7, because there’s no tomorrow. One team continues, and one goes home.”

The Gist: Each episode of Game 7 portrays a single different Game 7, pulling from baseball, basketball and hockey. They’re mini-documentaries, setting up the context of the game and the series that led up to it with archival footage and commentary. It’s fast-paced and as-it-happens, packaging it as more of a highlight reel than a sober recounting.

Photo: Amazon Studios

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? It’s hard to review any sports documentary without comparing it to a 30 For 30, and Game 7 compares to some of the faster-paced ones. There aren’t a lot of quiet, introspective moments here, and in that sense it’s probably closer to some of NFL Films’ highlight packages. (Ironically, as football’s the one major North American professional sport not represented here.)

Our Take: The Super Bowl might hold America’s heart, but there’s nothing that can compare to the intensity of a Game 7. Two exhausted teams have traded blows for a week or more, and now everything comes down to one final game, winner-take-all. It’s thrilling and terrifying and absolutely wonderful–so long as your team isn’t one of the two involved.

I’m a Cleveland sports fan, and there’s a handful of Game 7s that will be forever etched in my memory, for better and (mostly) for worse. Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, when the then-Indians came within two outs of clinching an elusive championship, only to see previously-dominant closer Jose Mesa blow the game. Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, when the similarly-suffering Chicago Cubs benefited from a lucky rain delay to overcome their demons and pass their curse off to Cleveland. And, in brighter terms, Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, one of the greatest basketball games ever played, when the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a comeback from a three-games-to-one deficit against the historically-dominant Golden State Warriors.

I got sick just thinking about those games, and they were a hundred times worse in the moment.

Game 7 chooses to illustrate this point by showing rather than by telling. There aren’t sober commentaries on what Game Sevens mean, no Ken Burns-y navel-gazing or generalization. There’s just the games themselves, six in particular: the 2003 ALCS between the Red Sox and Yankees, the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers, the 2006 NBA Western Conference Semifinal between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, the [eye twitches] aforementioned 2016 World Series, the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals between New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, and the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.

It’s a great selection of games, and if you’re a non-hockey fan questioning the fact that a full half of them are Stanley Cup Finals games, I quote sportswriter Jon Bois on the intensity of playoff hockey: “Why watch playoff hockey when you can simply snort cocaine and ride a motorcycle out of a helicopter?”

The first episode is devoted to that 2003 clash between the Yankees and Red Sox, a peak in the two northeastern baseball teams’ historic and ferocious rivalry–a moment when the Yankees were the Evil Empire and the Sox were still saddled with the Curse of the Bambino. They’d shake off that curse the following year with one of the great comebacks in sports history, but in 2003 the Yankees still had the swagger on their side. The episode sets up this context well, and brings in some of the key figures to reminisce over fast-paced, heavily-soundtracked highlights. There’s ace pitchers Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, and then-Yankees third baseman (and current Yankees manager) Aaron Boone, whose (spoiler alert, I guess?) walkoff home run in Game 7 would send New York back to the World Series and earn Boone a profane nickname from Red Sox faithful.

That’s a series that I watched every pitch of at the time, and Game 7 does a capable job condensing the (often interminably-long, thank god we have a pitch clock now) games into an hour-long highlight reel. It’s a solid proof of concept, and provides enough background that I could go into the other, less-familiar Game 7s (I’m not a big hockey watcher) with confidence that they captured the essence.

Photo: Courtesy of Prime

Sex and Skin: None.

Parting Shot: Boone didn’t start Game 7, but he entered the game late as a pitch-runner, a fateful lineup shift that would find him at the plate with a chance to make history. He reflects on his experience coming to the Yankees that year, and facing the intense spotlight of playing in New York. “It can be a challenging place to play, and those pinstripes do get heavy sometimes.” He leads off the bottom of the 11th inning against Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, a pitcher who he’s struggled against in the past. It’s his first at-bat of the game, in his first year playing in the postseason. He swings–and deposits one into the left-field stands, sending the Yankees to the World Series yet again. “It’s a moment I told myself to drink this all in,” Boone recalls. “A childhood dream, realized and fulfilled.” Red Sox players reflect on the sting of that moment, still present after all these years. “Aaron F**king Boone,” Johnny Damon recalls. “It hurts to this day. We had a bond. We win and we lose together. Yeah, it was a tough one.”

We see Boston fans bereft, and the Yankees exultant. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman smiles, and notes with a hint of ironic foreshadowing (considering what happened the following year): “To come out victorious and win the war… there’s no way they’re going to be coming back from this.”

Sleeper Star: It’s hard to call one of the greatest pitchers of all time a “sleeper”, but Roger Clemens’ presence carries the first episode–he’s still got the fiery attitude that made him dominant on the mound, and he clearly still relishes sticking it to the Red Sox more than twenty years after the fact. It’s not a one-sided argument, though, as Pedro Martinez delivers the same fire from the Boston side of the trenches.

Most Pilot-y Line: “You can feel their emotions, you can feel the intensity they have,” Roger Clemens recalls. “It was fantastic. You’ve seen these guys so many times, and more importantly–they saw me four or five days ago. And now here we are, Game Seven, with everything on the line.”

Our Call: STREAM IT. There’s nothing like a Game Seven, and Game 7 does a great job channeling the energy of sports’ most exciting moments into a tidy package.

Scott Hines, publisher of the widely-beloved Action Cookbook Newsletter, is an architect, blogger and proficient internet user based in Louisville, Kentucky.

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October 29, 2024