Here’s what’s new and ready to stream now on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, video-on-demand, and other streaming services …
“The Harder They Fall“ (2021, R) draws from real-life characters of the old west to tell a fiction drama of African American cowboys. Jonathan Majors stars as the outlaw leader who reunites his gang to take out an old enemy (Idris Elba) in the revenge thriller directed by Jeymes Samuel and produced by Jay-Z. It’s a classic western tale with contemporary music and a star-studded cast that includes Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, and LaKeith Stanfield. (Netflix)
The biographical drama “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain“ (2021, PG-13) stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the eccentric British artist who became famous in the 1880s for his playful, almost psychedelic paintings of cats. Claire Foy and Andrea Riseborough costar. Streams two weeks after its theatrical release. (Amazon Prime Video)
Tom Hanks stars as a robotics engineer in a post-apocalyptic future who creates a robot (Caleb Landry Jones) to look after his dog in “Finch“ (2021, PG-13). The science fiction drama follows the three on an odyssey to across the American wasteland. (Apple TV+)
“Dalgliesh: Season 1“ (not rated) stars Bertie Carvel as the enigmatic detective and poet Adam Dalgliesh in a new British mysteries series based on the novels by P.D. James and set in 1970s England. Two episodes available, new episodes on Mondays. (Acorn TV)
A scientist taps into the brains of the dead in “Dr. Brain“ (South Korea, 2021, TV-MA, with subtitles), a limited series created and directed by filmmaker Kim Jee-woon. New episodes on Fridays. (Apple TV+)
Pay-Per-View / Video-On-Demand
A mysterious man (Winston Duke) interviews souls to determine which will get a chance to be reborn on Earth in “Nine Days“ (2021, R), a metaphysical drama with more questions than answers about life. Also on DVD. Also new:
- “Cry Macho“ (2021, PG-13), directed by and starring Clint Eastwood as a former rodeo rider on mission to return a boy home from Mexico back to his father in Texas;
- “The East“ (Netherlands, 2021, TV-MA, with subtitles), a drama about a Dutch soldier in the Indonesian War of Independence;
- “The Flood“ (2021, not rated), about an Aboriginal woman fighting back against Australia’s bigoted government during World War II.
Netflix
Keira Knightley is a songwriter and Mark Ruffalo a music producer who helps develop her sound in “Begin Again“ (2013, R), a music drama about creative collaboration from director John Carney.
Jennifer Kent’s “The Nightingale“ (2018, R) is a dark, brutal revenge thriller set on the frontier of early 19th century Australia.
Early Christmas movies include the romantic comedy “Love Hard“ (2021, TV-14) with Nina Dobrev and Darren Barnet and the family adventure “The Claus Family“ (Netherlands, 2021, TV-G, with subtitles).
International passport: the inspirational sports drama “Zero to Hero“ (Hong Kong, 2021, TV-14, with subtitles) dramatizes the true story of Paralympian champion So Wa-wai.
International TV: “Glória: Season 1“ (Portugal, TV-MA, with subtitles) is an espionage drama set amidst the Cold War machinations of 1968 Portugal.
True crime: “Catching Killers: Season 1“ (TV-MA) spotlights the investigators behind infamous serial killer cases and the documentary limited series “Where is Marta?“ (Spain, TV-MA, with subtitles) delves into the unsolved disappearance of teenage girl Marta del Castillo. Also new are two documentary features:
- “Lords of Scam“ (France, 2021, TV-14, with subtitles), about the scammers who conned the EU carbon quota system for billions before they turned on each other;
- “A Cop Movie“ (Mexico, 2021, R, with subtitles), which delves into corruption in the Mexican police through the experiences of two officers.
True stories: the animated short documentary “Camp Confidential: America’s Secret Nazis“ (2021, PG-13) tells the story of a secret US military camp where Jewish soldiers interrogated Nazi POWs.
Amazon Prime Video
Dylan O’Brien and Michael Keaton star in the action thriller “American Assassin“ (2017, R).
The eight-episode reality series “Tampa Baes: Season 1“ (TV-MA) follows a group of young lesbian friends in a gay hotspot on the Florida shoreline.
Hulu
The four-part series “Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi: Holiday Edition“ (TV-14) looks at traditions through the lens of a different immigrant culture and city, such as Korean New Year in Los Angeles and Cuban Christmas in Miami.
Pedro Pascal (“The Mandalorian”) stars in the indie sci-fi thriller “Prospect“ (2018, R) trying to survive a hostile planet with the help of a young pioneer woman (Sophie Thatcher).
HBO Max
“Head of the Class: Season 1“ (TV-G) reboots the 1980s sitcom with Isabella Gomez in the role of the inspirational teacher of a group of overachieving high school students. The original series starring Howard Hesseman is also available to stream.
A group of veterans form a community to deal with their trauma by creating art in the drama “This is Not a War Story“ (2021, not rated).
International TV: “Queer You Are: Season 1“ (Spain, TV-MA, with subtitles), an autobiographical series created by Roberto Enríquez (aka Bob Pop), tells the story of an overweight, musical-loving teenager growing up in Madrid in the eighties.
Apple TV+
Kid stuff: Jack McBrayer hosts the live-action kids show “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show: Season 1“ (TV-Y).
IMDbTV
Judge Judy Sheindlin takes her daytime reality court series to streaming in “Judy Justice“ (not rated). New shows with real-life cases debut every weekday. Free with ads.
AMC+
Elijah Wood plays the FBI analyst who interviewed Ted Bundy (Luke Kirby) after his conviction in “No Man Of God“ (2021, not rated), based on the transcripts of the interviews.
Shudder / AMC+
“Dead & Beautiful” (Taiwan, 2021, not rated, with subtitles) follows group of rich, spoiled young women whose efforts to chase new thrills turns them into vampires. (Shudder / AMC+)
BritBox
Greg Davies is a chatty crime scene cleaner in the comedy “The Cleaner: Season 1“ (not rated). New episodes on Tuesdays.
Sundance Now
The limited series psychological thriller “Too Close“ (2021) centers on the battle of wills between a forensic psychiatrist (Emily Watson) and a manipulative criminal suspect (Denise Gough).
Popcornflix
The documentary “Hollywood Bulldogs“ (2021, not rated) puts a spotlight on the British stunt performers who set the bar for action cinema in the 1970s and 80s. Streams free with ads.
The Criterion Channel
“Fox Noir” spotlights a dozen classics film noirs classics from 20th Century Fox, including the original version of “Nightmare Alley“ (1947) with Tyrone Power, presented with optional commentary and bonus interviews (Guillermo Del Toro’s remake is coming to theaters in December). There are also special edition presentations of “Night and the City“ (1950) and “Pickup on South Street“ (1953) with Richard Widmark and one of the first noir classics (and greatest noir titles of all time) “I Wake Up Screaming“ (1941) with Victor Mature and Betty Grable. (Criterion Channel) Also new:
- “This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection“ (Lesotho, 2019, not rated, with subtitles), a modern landmark of African cinema from Berlin-based Mosotho filmmaker Lemohang Jeremiah Moses;
- the dual-portrait documentary “Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation“ (2020, not rated) about American writers Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams.
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