Here’s what’s new and ready to stream now on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Now, Showtime Anytime, FilmStruck, video-on-demand, and other streaming services …
Actor Tom Hardy developed the dark and gritty historical TV series Taboo, a British-American co-production about half-Welsh, half-Native American sailor James Delaney (Hardy) who challenges the British shipping monopoly in 1814, with his father Chip Hardy and writer/filmmaker Steven Knight.
Delaney strides into London after his sojourn in the New World, with tattoos from his travels visible under his beaten top hat and heavy topcoat, and claims the inheritance of the recently-deceased father. He’s the wild man in polite society, brooding and dour and dark, and he relishes the affront he represents to the power wielded by the rich and aristocratic. It’s a slow-moving story that straddles the upper-echelons of corporate and royal power (Britain’s fortunes are helplessly entwined with that of the East India Tea Company) and the grime and mud of street, where Delaney recruits his team in his war against the rich.
Jonathan Pryce, Oona Chaplin, Stephen Graham, Franka Potente, and Michael Kelly co-star, and Mark Gatiss plays the foppish Prince Regent.
For more on the series, read Matt Zoller Seitz at Vulture or Sophie Gilbert at The Atlantic.
The mix of political conspiracy, corporate thriller, and gangster drama played on FX in the U.S. and a second season is slated for 2018.
8 episodes. Watch it on Hulu
Pay-Per-View / Video-On-Demand
Aubrey Plaza is a stalker and Elizabeth Olsen her celebrity obsession in the social media satire Ingrid Goes West (2017, R), a dark comedy about confusing “likes” for friendship.
The Glass Castle (2017, PG-13), based on the best-selling memoir by Jeannette Walls, stars Brie Larson as a writer coming to terms with her rough childhood and dysfunctional parents (Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts).
For kids, Cars 3 (2017, G) takes one more lap around Pixar’s animated franchise of talking race cars.
Also new: underdog hip-hop drama PATTI CAKE$ (2017, R) with Australian actress Danielle MacDonald as a New Jersey rapper, French drama Polina (France, 2016, not rated, with subtitles) with Juliette Binoche and thriller Daguerrotype (France, 2017, not rated, with subtitles) from Japanese horror auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and documentary Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait (2017, not rated).
Available before theaters is romantic drama November Criminals (2017, PG-13) with Ansel Elgort and Chloe Grace Moretz and same day as select theaters nationwide is romantic comedy Amanda & Jack Go Glamping (2017, not rated) with David Arquette and Amy Acker and samurai action drama Blade of the Immortal (Japan, 2017, R, with subtitles), the 100th film from cult filmmaker Miike Takashi.
Netflix
The Homesman (2014, R), a frontier western directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones, is a moving drama about the toll of isolation on the pioneering settlers. Hillary Swank co-stars. Reviewed on Stream On Demand here.
Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall, and Steve Coogan meet up for The Dinner (2017, R) to discuss some pretty dark issues in Oren Moverman’s adaptation of the Dutch drama.
The Journey (2016, PG-13), starring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney, dramatizes an historic moment in the Northern Ireland peace talks.
Foreign affairs: The Killer (Brazil, 2017, not rated, with subtitles), originally titled O Matador, is a South American western set in the 1940s.
True stories: Jerry Seinfeld: Comedian (2002, R) follows the legendary comedian as he prepares to return to stand-up after the end of his hit TV series.
Streaming TV: the second seasons of Greenleaf, from the Oprah Winfrey Network, and the Netflix original series Lady Dynamite with Maria Bamford are now available. Also new: culinary shows I’ll Have What Phil’s Having: Season 1, The Great British Baking Show: Season 4, and The Mind of a Chef: Season 5.
Kid stuff: high school comedy Blazing Transfer Students: Season 1, a live-action series from Japan, and tweener series Project Mc²: Part 6 about a group of science-minded schoolgirls.
Animated series: Japanese series Fate/Apocrypha: Part 1 is an adventure fantasy for teens and tweens, while Dinotrux Supercharged: Season 1 and Glitter Force Doki Doki: Season 2 is aimed at younger viewers.
Stand-up: Mea Culpa: Alexis de Anda.
Amazon Prime
Debra Winger and Tracy Letts star in the romantic comedy The Lovers (2017, R) from indie filmmaker Azazel Jacobs.
The Oscar-nominated western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007, R) stars Brad Pitt as Jesse.
Cult: role playing nerds take on a real demon in the comedy fantasy Knights of Badassdom (2013, R) with Steve Zahn, Summer Glau, and Peter Dinkalge. Reviewed on Stream On Demand here.
Streaming TV: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a new animated series for kids based on the books by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. Also new: British WWII home front drama Home Fires: Season 2.
Also new:
- romantic fantasy 13 Going On 30 (2004, PG-13) with Jennifer Garner
- crime drama I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2004, R) with Clive Owen
- European romantic drama And Now… Ladies and Gentlemen (France, 2002, PG-13, with subtitles) with Jeremy Irons
- action thriller Armed Response (2017, R) with Wesley Snipes
Amazon Prime / Hulu
Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard are beautiful spies in love in Allied (2016, R), a lush, old-fashioned romantic thriller from director Robert Zemeckis set in World War II. It’s a gorgeous film for adult viewers who like grown-up stories. Now streaming on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
Horror comedy Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016, PG) isn’t quite so timely in November (Amazon Prime and Hulu).
Hulu
During a hiatus in the production of The Avengers, Joss Whedon made a film of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (2012, PG-13) in his suburban home with Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, and Nathan Fillion.
The six-part mini-series The Beautiful Lie (2015) retells “Anna Karenina” in contemporary Australia.
Streaming TV: FXX comedies It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 12 (FX) and the third and final season of Man Seeking Woman.
True stories: Zero Days (2016, R) looks at how the Stuxnet computer virus spread around the world.
HBO Now
Get Out (2017, R), the directorial debut of Jordan Peele, is a smart and witty mix of social satire, modern horror, and savvy commentary on race in modern America. Reviewed on Stream On Demand here.
Two-part documentary Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge looks at the 50 years of American culture and politics as shown on the pages of the iconic music magazine.
On Saturday morning, The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special launches a new season of the educational children’s show.
Arriving Saturday night is The LEGO Batman Movie (2017, PG), irreverent, kid-friendly take on the dark knight, and the documentary War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend (2017, not rated).
Showtime Anytime
Frankie Shaw stars as a single mother in South Boston in her new original comedy series SMILF. New episodes arrive each Sunday. Also new: the eighth season of Shameless with William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum.
FilmStruck / Criterion Channel
FilmStruck presents a collection of Stephen Frears films, including neo-noir crime thrillers The Hit (1984, R) with John Hurt and Terence and The Grifters (1990, R) with John Cusack and Anjelica Huston, and celebrates the creativity of Muppets creator Jim Henson with a collection of rare short films and documentaries, including his Oscar-nominated live-action short film Time Piece (1965, not rated).
The Criterion Channel adds a collection of Japanese films, from sixties classics by maverick filmmaker Shohei Imamura including Intentions of Murder (Japan, 1964, not rated, with subtitles) and The Pornographers (Japan, 1966, not rated, with subtitles) to the moving family drama Still Walking (Japan, 2008, not rated, with subtitles) from Hirokazu Kore-eda. The latter is reviewed on Stream On Demand here.
Acorn TV
The first season of the Scandinavian mystery series Rebecka Martinsson (Sweden, with subtitles) makes its stateside debut on Acorn TV. 8 episodes now available. Also new: the British crime procedural Line of Duty: Series 3.
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