If you’re looking for something new for your devices, there’s plenty of music, TV, movies and video games coming to your screens this week. Lenny Kravitz will drop his first record in six years, “South Park,” mocks weight loss drugs and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” has hit the streaming service Max. Music documentary fans also have a lot to look forward to with Peter Jackon’s “The Beach Boys” on Disney + and “Stax: Soulsville, U.S.A.” about Stax Records on Max.
MOVIES TO STREAM
The spice is flowing on Max after Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” hit the streaming service on Tuesday. The film continues the saga of Paul Atreides as he learns the ways of the desert-dwelling Fremen following his father’s death in “Part One.” It’s also a decidedly more action-packed spectacle than the first film, introducing a slew of new characters, including the demonic Feyd Rautha, played by Austin Butler. In his review, AP film writer Jake Coyle wrote that “Like its predecessor, ‘Dune: Part Two’ thrums with an intoxicating big-screen expressionism of monoliths and mosquitos, fevered visions and messianic fervor — more dystopian dream, or nightmare, than a straightforward narrative.”
A different kind of eye-popping spectacle will also be available Thursday on Prime Video in “The Blue Angels,” a documentary about the daring U.S. Navy pilots who have thrilled air show audiences since 1946. Produced by J.J. Abrams and “Top Gun: Maverick” star Glen Powell, filmmaker Paul Crowder got unprecedented access to the pilots on the ground and in the air to give audiences a front-row seat. Stunts were filmed using a helicopter and mounted IMAX-certified camera — it was the first civilian aircraft allowed to fly in their performance airspace — unlike in “Top Gun: Maverick,” there was no staging or second takes.
The ever-prolific Jennifer Lopez already has another movie on the way in the sci-fi action pic “Atlas,” debuting Friday on Netflix. She plays the titular character, a data analyst who must learn to trust AI to save humanity. Lopez has said that, at its core, it’s a love story. “Atlas” was directed by “San Andreas” helmer Brad Peyton.
MUSIC TO STREAM
Lenny Kravitz is back with his first full-length album in six years: “Blue Electric Light.” (The album follows 2018’s “Raise Vibration.”) It is a testament to his status as one of the last remaining true rock stars, evident from the moment he released the album’s lead single, “TK421.” Last year, Kravitz described the album as “the album I didn’t make in my teens” to The Associated Press.
You’ve seen nearly all eight hours of Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary “Get Back” on Disney+. Now, prepare for a definitive documentary on America’s band, the Beach Boys, on the same platform starting Friday. (Let the spirited rivalry continue!) Appropriately titled “The Beach Boys,” this doc boasts never-before-seen footage and all-new interviews with members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston.
At the epicenter of Memphis’ music scene in the ’50s and ’60s was Stax Records, home to Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, The Staple Singers and many others; a funk, R&B and soul label that celebrated interracial creative endeavors at a point in American history when doing so was life-threatening. “Stax: Soulsville, U.S.A.” started streaming Monday on Max.
“The Tuba Thieves,” out Monday PBS’ app, is not about stealing tubas. Well, at least not completely: From 2011 through 2013, tubas started disappearing from high schools in Los Angeles. Filmmaker Alison O’Daniel, who identifies as deaf/hard of hearing, used these thefts as a jumping-off point in her experimental work, which attempts to understand the role of sound in our lives. That’s music to anyone’s ears.
SHOWS TO STREAM
Has chef Gordon Ramsay met his match in season two of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars?” He faces off against fellow Brit, restaurateur and reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump to find fresh talent in the food and beverage industry. They each lead teams of contestants who compete in various challenges, and the winner gets $250,000 toward their brand. It’s like “Shark Tank” meets “The Voice” meets “The Apprentice.” Season two debuted Wednesday on Fox. The series also streams on Hulu, Tubi, and Fox.com.
Shay Mitchell, best known for the original “Pretty Little Liars” series, is serious about her love of travel. She hosts her travel show on Max but with a twist. “Thirst with Shay Mitchell” is about seeking out beverages unique to each area and soaking up local culture. Mitchell is game to try it all one sip at a time.
“South Park” has never shied away from poking fun at hot-button topics. In a new special, weight loss drugs are all the rage in South Park. The kids get involved when Cartman is denied access. “South Park: The End of Obesity” started streaming Friday on Paramount+.
“My Adventures with Superman” is back for season two on Adult Swim on Saturday. Jack Quaid voices Clark Kent/Superman as a young man who is roommates with his best friend, Jimmy Olson, played by Ishmel Sahid. Alice Lee voices Lois Lane. The lighthearted take on the DC Comics hero also streams on Max.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Paper Trail also follows a young woman trying to make her way in the world, but it’s a much less stressful journey. Paige lives in a comfy home with loving parents, but it’s time to go to college. The road isn’t always straightforward, but Paige has a unique talent: She can treat her environment like paper, folding it to reconnect broken pathways. The result, from British studio Newfangled Games, is a series of colorful, 2D mazes with charming graphics that look handcrafted. Turn the Paige on Tuesday on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and PC.