Here’s what’s new and ready to stream now on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Now, video-on-demand, and other streaming services …
Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, and Matt Bomer star in “The Boys in the Band” (2020, R), a new revival of the groundbreaking 1968 play about the lives of gay friends in the era before Stonewall, AIDS, and acceptance. Joe Mantello, who directed the Broadway revival, brings it to the screen with his stage ensemble, and Ryan Murphy produces. (Netflix)
The true crime documentary “The Wilderness of Error” (TV-MA) reexamines the case of Jeffrey MacDonald, a Green Beret physician convicted in 1979 of murdering his family. It’s directed by Marc Smerling, writer and producer of “Jinx,” and based on the book by documentary filmmaker Errol Morris, who also appears in the series. The first three episodes of the limited series available, the final two episodes arrive Saturday. (Hulu)
Documentary filmmaker Kristen Johnson films mock death scenes with her elderly father in “Dick Johnson Is Dead” (2020, PG-13) to help him face death. This unconventional documentary premiered at Sundance Film Festival. (Netflix)
“Monsterland: Season 1” (not rated), based on stories of Nathan Ballingrud, is a horror anthology featuring people across the country confronting werewolves, fallen angels, mermaids, and other fantastical creatures. (Hulu)
The hour-long “South Park: The Pandemic Special” (2020, TV-MA) streams a day after its cable debut. (HBO Max)
With the Fall TV season delayed, why not check out a some of last year’s shows making their streaming debuts: the final season of the Emmy-nominated comedy “The Good Place” (2019-2020, TV-14) with Kristen Bell and Ted Danson and the second act sitcom “The Unicorn: Season 1” (2019-2020, TV-PG) with Walton Goggins as a father and widower ready start dating again. (Netflix)
Classic pick: William Powell and Myrna Loy sparkle in “The Thin Man” (1934) as the playfully-in-love couple solving a murder between cocktails. (HBO Max)
Pay-Per-View / Video-On-Demand
A woman (Sally Hawkins) suffering from schizophrenia finds unexpected connection with a fellow patient (David Thewlis) in the compassionate comic drama “Eternal Beauty” (2020, R). Billie Piper and Penelope Wilton costar in the debut feature directed by actor Craig Roberts. Also new:
- science fiction thriller “2067” (2020, not rated) with Kodi Smit-McPhee and Ryan Kwanten;
- historical costume drama “The Rising Hawk” (Ukraine, 2020, not rated) with Tommy Flanagan and Robert Patrick;
- music documentary “Herb Alpert Is…” (2020, not rated).
Netflix
Lily Collins stars as a young American woman who gets her dream job in “Emily in Paris: Season 1” (not rated), a romantic comedy from “Sex and the City” creator Darren Star.
The three-episode documentary series “Whose Vote Counts, Explained” (TV-PG), produced by Vox and featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Selena Gomez, and John Legend, takes a deep dive into the election process.
Julian Dennison and Sam Neill become unlikely outlaws in the New Zealand wilds in “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (2016, PG-13), the sweetly eccentric comedy from Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi.
The whimsical family comedy “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” (2012, PG) from stop motion masters Aardman Animations features the voices Hugh Grant and Martin Freeman.
Scott Eastwood and Orlando Bloom star in the Afghanistan war drama “The Outpost” (2020, R).
“Song Exploder: Season 1” (not rated) features world famous musicians discussing the birth of their most famous songs.
More streaming TV: “The Parkers: Seasons 1-5” (1999-2004, TV-PG), the spin-off of “Moesha” starring Mo’Nique, plus new episodes of sci-fi/horror series, plus “Van Helsing” (TV-MA) and Australian prison drama “Wentworth” (TV-MA)
True stories: “Human Nature” (2019, not rated) looks at the issues surrounding genetic engineering since the development of the CRISPR gene editing tool. Also new:
- “Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire” (2019, not rated), a profile of the influential Los Angeles painter;
- True crime documentary “American Murder: The Family Next Door” (not rated) about the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children.
International passport: “Oktoberfest – Beer & Blood: Season 1” (Germany, not rated, with subtitles) is a dark drama about the scheming, betrayal, and murder behind the birth of the world famous beer festival in Berlin. Also new:
- crime dramas “Good Morning, Verônica: Season 1” (Brazil, not rated, with subtitles) and “You Cannot Hide: Season 1” (Mexico, not rated, with subtitles);
- romantic time travel drama “Familiar Wife: Season 1” (South Korea, not rated, with subtitles);
- family drama “Serious Men” (India, 2020, not rated, with subtitles);
- comedy “You’ve Got This” (2020) (Mexico, 2020, not rated).
Road to Halloween: teen horror comedy “Vampires vs. the Bronx” (2020, not rated) and “The Binding” (Italy, 2020, not rated, with subtitles), about a mother fighting a curse on her child, debut along with “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” (2018, not rated), a Gothic horror with Taissa Farmiga and Crispin Glove, based on the Shirley Jackson novel
Kid stuff: the little ones can get in the Halloween spirit with “A Go! Go! Cory Carson Halloween” (TV-Y) and “The Worst Witch: Season 4” (TV-G).
Stand-up: “Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia” (not rated).
Amazon Prime Video
“Savage X Fenty Show. Vol. 2” (TV-MA) is a fashion show presenting Rihanna’s latest lingerie line.
Martin Scorsese won his only Academy Award for the Boston crime thriller “The Departed” (2006, R) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. Also newly arrived:
- romantic drama “Southside With You” (2016, PG-13) with Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter as young Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson;
- “Funny Girl” (1968) with Barbra Streisand in an Oscar-winning performance.
Streaming TV: Chris O’Down and Ray Romano star in “Get Shorty: Seasons 1-3” (2017-2019, TV-MA), a crime comedy adapted from the Elmore Leonard novel and subsequent big screen movie.
Available for the month of October only are the award-winning miniseries “The Loudest Voice” (2019, TV-MA) starring Russell Crowe as Fox News founder Roger Ailes, and the Australian murder mystery “Mystery Road: Season 1” (2018, not rated) with Aaron Pederson and Judy Davis.
Kid stuff: the little ones can get their Halloween on in “Bug Diaries Halloween Special” (TV-Y).
Prime Video / Hulu
Matthew McConaughey and Tye Sheridan star in “Mud” (2013, PG-13), a Tom Sawyer-meets-rural noir drama. (Amazon Prime and Hulu)
Gus Van Sant’s breakthrough film “Drugstore Cowboy” (1989, R) stars Matt Dillon as the leader of a crew of prescription drug thieves in Portland. (Amazon Prime and Hulu)
Mel Brooks spoofs the original “Star Wars” trilogy in “Spaceballs” (1987, PG). (Amazon Prime and Hulu)
Hulu
The NBC quarantine comedy “Connecting…” (not rated), the fourth season of the anthology crime show “Fargo” (TV-MA), this year starring Chris Rock, and new seasons of Fox animated comedies “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “Bless the Harts” are now rolling out. New episodes arrive a day after their respective network debuts.
HBO Max
“Just Mercy” (2019, PG-13) stars Michael B. Jordan as civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson fighting to free a wrongly convicted man (Jamie Foxx) on death row. (All HBO platforms)
International passport: “Patria: Season 1” (Spain, not rated, with subtitles) follows two families on the opposite side of the independence battle in Spain’s Basque Country. Two episodes available, new episodes each Sunday.
Road to Halloween: England’s Hammer Films resurrected the classic movie monsters with Gothic style and lurid color with “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), “Horror of Dracula” (1958), and “The Mummy” (1959), all starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
Disney+
Angelina Jolie is “Maleficent” (2014, PG) in this twist on the “Sleeping Beauty” story with Elle Fanning.
Also newly arrived is “The Simpsons: Season 31” (2019-2020, TV-PG).
Showtime Anytime
The two-part drama “The Comey Rule” (TV-MA) stars Jeff Daniels as former FBI Director James Comey and Brendan Gleeson as President Donald J. Trump.
Apple TV+
Paul Rudd narrates the natural history documentary series “Tiny World” (TV-G).
The Criterion Channel
Criterion Channel presents five features “Directed by Pedro Costa,” including the streaming debut of “Vitalina Varela” (Portugal, 2019, not rated, with subtitles)
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