We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Cunk on Life: The brilliantly British production, carried by actor and comedian Diane Morgan as an ignorant TV host Philomena Cunk is a guaranteed best start of the year. After giving us her controversial views on British politics and then her two cents on the evolution of human civilisation, Cunk attempts to understand the mother of all question: what is the meaning of life—by conducting interviews with real-life experts.
Reviews are great as usual. The Guardian calls Diane Morgan “absolutely peerless.” Telegraph UK notes that “Its inventive mockery is exhaustingly funny.” Our take: We are so ready to start the year with deadpan jokes! Watch the movie on Netflix.
Avicii - I’m Tim: The new documentary tells the story of Swedish DJ Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii. He rose to fame with early hits like ‘Wake Me Up’ and ‘Levels’. He toured the world and struggled with mental health issues, alcohol, and painkillers. The wildly famous DJ died by suicide in 2018, leaving fans heartbroken. The new documentary, directed by Henrik Berman, uses real-life footage, narration from Avicii himself, and clips from his shows to map the extraordinary journey of an ordinary boy from Stockholm.
There are no reviews out for this. Our take: We love to start the year with a great documentary, and one about a musician, with clips from concerts, comes with all the feels. Sign us up! Watch it on Netflix.
PS: If you love the DJ or the documentary, also catch Avicii - My Last Show.
Missing You: Rosalind Eleazar takes the lead in Missing You, shining as Kat Donovan, a sharp Detective Inspector haunted by her father’s murder and her fiancé’s sudden disappearance over a decade ago. The series throws in all of Harlan Coben’s signature tricks: a missing key character, a suspicious conspiracy, and a steady stream of familiar TV faces. Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, and Lenny Henry make appearances, each adding layers to the web of suspicion.
Reviews are great! Collider praises the series as "an extremely bingeable series" with "excellent performances—especially from Rosalind Eleazar," combining compelling character development and a mystery that "doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it sure knows how to spin it," whereas The Telegraph describes it as a thriller where Harlan Coben "constructs elaborate plotlines which interweave with such mathematical accuracy." Our take: Twisty, bingeable, and anchored by Rosalind Eleazar’s standout performance, Missing You is our top pick for a mystery fix to kickstart your year—watch it now on Netflix!
Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever: Bryan (not the Rock) Johnson takes center stage in the film, a documentary chronicling the tech entrepreneur’s obsessive quest to reverse aging. At 47, Johnson follows a rigid daily regimen of experimental therapies, extreme diets, and even plasma exchanges with his family in pursuit of eternal youth. The film captures everything from his 130-pill routine to trips for gene therapy in Honduras, offering a glimpse into his futuristic—and controversial—wellness empire.
Reviews are not so great. Roger Ebert notes that "extreme is not extreme enough of a term to describe Johnson’s regimen," while questioning whether his lifestyle of "meticulously monitoring, measuring, and documenting his progress" truly leads to a meaningful life, whereas New York Times dubs the film as a documentary that "takes 90 minutes of your life" while Bryan Johnson's extreme anti-aging routine is labelled as "not science... just attention." Our take: Obsessive, unconventional, and full of eyebrow-raising treatments, the documentary is our top pick for a provocative film for sure. Watch it now on Netflix!
When the Stars Gossip: This Korean series stars Lee Min-ho and Kong Hyo-jin—two of the biggest South Korean TV actors—in a rom-com in space—scratch that—a space station!? Kong Hyo-jin plays a Commander who works at a zero-gravity space station while Lee Min-ho is a space tourist with a secret mission.
Reviews are not out yet. Our take: We are looking forward to this K-drama for its novel setup—though we expect the same romantic tropes. You can stream the first two episodes on Netflix.
Lockerbie: A Search For Truth: Colin Firth headlines this fact-based miniseries about a doctor named Jim Swire and his wife Jane, played by Catherine McCormack. The couple fought tooth and nail to seek justice for the victims of the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 air disaster. The most tragic bit: their daughter Flora was one of the victims. Firth and McCormack are ably supported by several stalwart character actors of UK television, including Sam Troughton, Mark Bonnar and Ardalan Esmaili.
Reviews are good. Collider says it "expertly and subtly examines complicated and all-too-relevant topics of government deception and the ethically gray area of classified information in the name of public safety." According to AV Club: "A huge reason to buy into everything the show’s version of Jim does is also the sincerity with which Firth brings him to life." Our take: Colin Firth capturing hearts and minds for five emotionally charged episodes? Sign us up! You can catch the miniseries on JioCinema.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3: This kids’ movie’s third installment brings Sonic, Knuckles and Tails together to fight against Shadow the hedgehog—a mysterious new enemy voiced by Keeanu Reeves. Also a double threat: Jim Carry—who plays evil twins! The superhedgehogs take help from humans to defeat Shadow.
Reviews are okay. According to Variety: "'Sonic 3' gives hyperactivity a good name. Jeff Fowler, who directed all three of these movies, is a quicker and wittier flimflam magician of energy than he was when he made the first “Sonic” in 2020." OTOH, The Guardian calls it a “frenetically empty sequel”. Our take: We are down to see our faves as villains, TBH. You can catch the movie at the theatres.
Here’s a new chapter…
The Rig Season 2: The British supernatural thriller is back for a second season. The first season was set in a Scottish oil rig, where harsh weather cuts the crew off from the outside world. Something begins to go wrong with them, and they slowly discover they are being infected by an ancient parasite. In the second season, the surviving crew is on a mission, this time on a rig in the Arctic Circle atop the frozen sea. The stakes are high, and there are secrets waiting to unfold. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Fresh off the big screen…
All We Imagine as Light: The Cannes Grand Prix winner is finally available on streaming—starting the year with a bang. The plot: Kani Kasruti and Divya Prabha star as Prabha and Anu—Malayali nurses and roommates based out of Mumbai. Prabha struggles to find herself in the metropolis while Anu looks for a place where she can be safely intimate with her lover. They think they’ve found one in a coastal town. Also starring: Marathi film industry stalwart Chhaya Kadam, who is now best known for her roles in Hindi films, ‘Laapata Ladies’ and ‘Madgaon Express’. Watch it on Disney+ Hotstar.
Reunion: This escape room-style whodunnit is the perfect watch if you’re home this weekend. Starring Lil Rel Howery, Nina Dobrev, and Chace Crawford, among many others, the film is set on the night of a high school reunion. Chace Crawford is shot and now all the eccentric and mysterious characters have to find the killer. You can watch the movie on Netflix.
