MOVIES TO STREAM
“Hit Man” is finally hitting Netflix on Friday. A charming, fun action-comedy romance based on a “somewhat true story,” “Hit Man” stars Glen Powell as a mild-mannered philosophy professor whose life takes a wild turn when he starts doing undercover work for the police as a fake hitman. It’s all costumes, tomfoolery and convictions until he meets the beautiful Madison (“Andor’s” Adria Arjona) and starts living a double life. Richard Linklater directed the film, which he co-wrote with Powell. A sensation at the fall film festivals, “Hit Man” was picked up by Netflix, which seems like a good home for this, shielding it from any “box office disappointment” narratives.
SHOWS TO STREAM
The National World War II Museum says black men and women served in every branch of the armed services during World War II, yet their stories are largely untold. Two new documentaries debuted Monday on National Geographic and highlight their service. “Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color” is executive produced and narrated by Idris Elba. “The Real Red Tails,” narrated by Sheryl Lee Ralph, recaps the discovery of a WWII-era Tuskegee Airmen plane in Lake Huron, Michigan. Both are streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
A ninth season of “Below Deck Mediterranean” sailed onto Bravo on Monday with a 75-minute premiere episode aboard a luxury charter yacht led by Capt. Sandy Yawn and her chief steward, Aisha Scott, who use cameras to catch the crew’s conflicts while catering to their guests. The show is streaming on Peacock.
Since her release from prison in late December for conspiring to kill her abusive mother, Gypsy Rose Blanchard has remained in the public eye. She’s walked red carpets, been the topic of tabloid gossip and even met Kim Kardashian. Lifetime cameras have followed Rose as she acclimates to freedom in a new docuseries, “Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup,” which debuted Monday.
In a new FX limited series called “Clipped,” Ed O’Neill (“Modern Family,” “Married with Children”) plays former Clippers team owner Donald Sterling. Recordings of him making racist comments led to Sterling stepping down as owner of the Clippers and being banned for life by the NBA. “Clipped” also stars Laurence Fishburne as Doc Rivers and Jacki Weaver as Sterling’s wife, Shelly. The series is based on an ESPN 30-for-30 podcast called “The Sterling Affairs.” “Clipped” debuted Tuesday on Hulu.
Daniel Brühl is already getting positive reviews from critics for his portrayal of late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld in a new six-part series for Hulu premiering Friday. “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” focuses on Lagerfeld’s rise in the fashion world as the designer of Chloé and Fendi. The series also doesn’t shy away from Lagerfeld’s complex legacy because he made contentious remarks about the #MeToo movement, same-sex marriages and plus-size models in addition to his contributions to fashion.
The NHL has its answer to the Puppy Bowl with its first Stanley Cup game airing on the NHL Network. The Stanley Pup will feature rescue dogs representing the 32 NHL teams. The 16 dogs representing the teams playing in the hockey playoffs will compete for the Stanley Pup. The “Stanley Pup” will air in the U.S. on Friday at 8 p.m. on NHL Network and ESPN+, and on Sportsnet in Canada on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Candice Carty-Williams has adapted her famous 2019 novel “Queenie” for television. The show follows Queenie Jenkins, a Jamaican Brit living in South London recovering from a bad breakup and trying to navigate her mid-20s. It stars Dionne Brown as Queenie, British R&B musician Bellah, Samuel Adewunmi, Michelle Greenidge and Joseph Marcell. “Queenie” premieres Friday on Hulu.
MUSIC TO STREAM
Before she even released her debut album – “Born in the Wild,” which will be released Friday — Nigerian singer Tems won a Grammy. In 2024, the avant-garde pop performer Charli XCX is returning to the raves of her youth. It’s a funny statement about a 31-year-old super producer/songwriter/hitmaker, but it’s the truth. “Brat,” her fourth full-length release, amplifies Charli XCX’s Y2K-era obsessions, like on the single “Von Dutch,” with its early-aughts references and showboating filtered through futuristic PC Music-style production or her contemporary IT girl anthem “360.” (A choice lyric from the chorus: “I’m everywhere/I’m so Julia,” she sings, a reference to model/actor/memoirist Julia Fox.) Turn it up, smell the smoke machine, feel the sweat.
On Friday, Carly Pearce, one of the most exciting voices in contemporary country music, will deliver a new album, “Hummingbird.” It is her first since 2021’s “29: Written in Stone,” a continuation of her EP “29,” which chronicled her divorce from singer-songwriter Michael Ray. That’s important to note because it gives additional context to this release: Still concerned with grief and loss but now energized by a new sense of autonomy and hope, Pearce’s songwriting is as sharp as ever.
There is no shortage of great music documentaries flooding Paramount+; another was added to the list Tuesday. “Let the Canary Sing” is a feature-length documentary on Cyndi Lauper, exploring her rise to fame, her political activism and, most crucially, her hits. Because “Time After Time,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “All Through the Night,” am I right?
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
You can head to a galaxy far, far away with Zynga’s Star Wars: Hunters. In the hottest sport on the planet, Vespaara, teams of four battle it out with their blasters and lightsabers. The gladiators include droids, Wookiees, Jawas and even a few ordinary humans from both the Dark and Light sides of the Force. The arenas range from a lush Ewok village to the desert planet Tatooine to the surface of a Death Star. The core game is free to download and play on mobile devices, though Zynga hopes you’ll shell out for costumes and season passes. You can join the fray on Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android.