We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
The Monkey: Fresh off the success of ‘Longlegs’, Osgood Perkins returns for another creepy jaunt—with some pitch-black, twisted comedy—adapting a Stephen King short story from 1980. Of course, there are time jumps—25 years’ worth! The plot: estranged twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn—Theo James plays them as adults, Christian Convery as kids—battle a mysterious wind-up monkey responsible for a series of outrageous deaths that tore their family apart.
Reviews are good. The Observer loves its central theme and says, “how are we supposed to keep living when death is indiscriminate, inevitable and all around? Well, here is one intriguing suggestion.” According to AV Club: “The gore is explicit, but the film is never scary. And it’s not trying to be. ‘The Monkey’ makes its farcical intentions clear from its opening scene.” Our take: Perkins is quickly emerging as the go-to guy for all things horror. Watch it in theatres now!
Mickey 17: The highly anticipated Bong Joon-ho sci-fi starring Robert Pattinson is finally here! Based on Edward Ashton's 2022 novel ‘Mickey7’—the film follows an “expendable” employee named Mickey Barnes who volunteers to take up the most dangerous jobs. Every time Mickey dies on duty, he is cloned and put on the next job. In his 17th stint, his own clone tries to kill him. Also starring in prominent roles: Mark Ruffalo and Steven Yeun.
Reviews are mixed. New York Times notes that the movie is a “deeply unsettling story about haves and have-nots” but Bong is an “an idealist… lifts you to the skies.” Associated Press commends Pattinson and says that he “takes what could have been an unwieldy mess and makes it much less, well, expendable.” Our take: We have super high expectations from the Oscar-winning Korean director who has given us gems like ‘Parasite’, ‘Okja’ and many more. Catch the movie in the theatres!
Daredevil: Born Again: Marvel fans, assemble! The reboot of Daredevil is finally here. The events of the new show begin a year after the last episode of the original ‘Daredevil’ series. The blind lawyer Matt Murdock (played by Charlie Thomas Cox) aka masked vigilante aka Daredevil—is forced to be back in action as his nemesis Wilson Fisk is elected mayor of New York City.
Reviews are great! Variety calls the show a “brilliant continuation”. Hollywood Reporter writes: “Born Again is gratifying the way that returning to a neighborhood you once lived in is gratifying.” Our take: We were fans of the original shows and are excited for the reboot. Check it out on JioHotstar.
Picture This: The movie is a remake of the American rom-com of the same name—starring Ashley Tisdale. The new film takes place in London with a British Indian lead—played by the ‘Bridgerton’ star Simone Ashley. The plot follows Pia—a struggling photographer who is trying to stay away from romance but cannot escape it. During her sister's engagement, the family panditji predicts that Pia will find her true love in the next five people she dates. With her ex attending the party, Pia’s life goes for a toss.
Reviews are mid. ScreenRant concludes that it is an “enjoyable rom-com with plenty of humor and a compelling lead that might not be as memorable as other titles in the genre.” Similarly, The Guardian points that it is a “a drop in the bucket, one in an algorithmic sea of many.” Our take: This fluffy ‘Indian’ romance will surely make our girls’ night a success! You can watch it on Amazon Prime.
Dupahiya: In the crime-free village of Dhadakpur, everything hinges on one wedding—Roshni’s marriage to Kuber, a match that promises new dreams for both families. But when the groom demands a flashy red motorbike as a wedding gift and it gets stolen overnight, chaos erupts. With no suspects in sight, the village turns to its outcast thief, Amavas, for help. Teaming up with Roshni’s Bollywood-obsessed brother, Bhugol, the unlikely duo sets off on a wild mission to recover the lost bike and save the village’s spotless reputation—before the big day falls apart. Directed by Sonam Nair, the film stars Gajraj Rao, Sparsh Shrivastava, Renuka Shahane, Bhuvan Arora, and Shivani Raghuvanshi.
Reviews are mixed. Shubhra Gupta in Indian Express says, “Enjoy ‘Dupahiya’ for what it aims to do — deliver clean, ‘socially-relevant’, family-entertainment — ‘na gaali, na dunaali, na katta, no goli’– an anti-Mirzapur.” The Hindu is more reserved on it: “Piled with off-kilter quests and crazy characters, ‘Dupahiya’ threatens to stall. Only Gajraj Rao, somehow, keeps it rolling.” Our take: This sharp-witted comedy blends small-town quirks with big stakes, delivered in a fast-paced ride. Catch it on Prime Video.
With Love, Meghan: A new celebrity lifestyle show, produced by and featuring the Dutchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. But but but, it’s being touted as the anti-celebrity show, where you will see the Dutchess perform ‘regular’ activities. She’s cooking, baking, tending to her garden, and chatting up with other celebrity guests. It’s a manicured peek into royal life, and Markle’s version of it.
Reviews are mostly bad. According to Vulture: “From scene to scene and line to line, though, ‘With Love, Meghan’ quickly dissolves into a meaningless pile of linen and gooseberries.” The Guardian says, “It’s the lack of humour, irony, self-awareness and apprehension of the reality of this deeply unequal and apocalyptic world that makes ‘With Love, Meghan’ so unlovable in the end.” Our take: We are mainly watching this to keep up with the social media memes. The show is also on Netflix.
When Life Gives You Tangerines: This Korean series is headlined by IU and Park Bog-um—two popular Korean actors. They play “the remarkable rebel” and “the unyielding iron”, respectively. The rom-com takes place on Jeju island in the 60s—and captures four seasons of the place as well as the couple’s lives.
Reviews are good! South China Morning Post writes: “This is at heart an intimate and simple story, but one that is beautifully penned, exquisitely performed and vividly realised.”. Forbes calls it “uniquely endearing” and “a sweet gift for viewers.” Our take: With reviews such as this, the series is going straight into our weekend watchlist. The first four episodes have dropped on Netflix.
Here’s a new chapter…
Formula 1 Season 7: The latest season dives into one of the most dramatic years-capturing the shockwaves of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, the controversy surrounding Red Bull’s Christian Horner, and the fierce rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. From Mercedes scrambling to fill Hamilton’s seat to Carlos Sainz navigating his uncertain future, each episode unpacks the high-stakes decisions and power struggles that defined the 2024 season. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access, the show makes a compelling case for why Formula 1 is a global phenomenon. Stream it on Netflix.
Fresh off the big screen…
Vidaamuyarchi: The latest release by Tamil star Ajith, is offbeat in comparison with his repertoire, and is now available to watch on OTT. The plot: An Indian couple, Arjun and Kayal, (Ajith Kumar and Trisha Krishnan) in Baku, Azerbaijan, is heading towards separation. They decide to take on their last road trip to Tbilisi—look back at happier times, only to be brought back to tumultuous ones as a gangster intercepts them. They meet another Tamil couple, and Kayal goes missing. The rest of the film is about Arjun’s search for Kayal, with a villain and unknown intentions in the backdrop. The movie dropped on Netflix yesterday.
