Top streams for the week
A struggling writer (Kathryn Hahn) finds success as an advice columnist while her own personal life is falling apart in "Tiny Beautiful Things" (TV-MA), a limited series based on the book by Cheryl Strayed. As she works through the problems of her readers and her difficult relationship with her daughter (Tanzyn Crawford), she flashes back on her troubled relationship with her mother (Merrit Wever). Fans of Strayed may recognize the name of the advice column: Dear Sugar, the very name the author used in her own regular column. (Hulu)
Two strangers (Steven Yuen and Ali Wong) spiral after a near-collision sends them on an escalating cycle of revenge in "Beef: Season 1" (TV-MA). The half-hour dark comedy spins the road rage into a feud that becomes an outlet from the tensions of their own personal lives. (Netflix)
The international war thriller "Transatlantic: Season 1" (Germany, TV-MA, with subtitles) dramatizes the real-life efforts of American journalist Varian Fry (Cory Michael Smith) to help thousands of refugees flee Europe in the early years of World War II. Gillian Jacobs and Lucas Englander costar as his coconspirators. (Netflix)
The second season of the musical spoof "Schmigadoon!" (TV-14) sends our couple (Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong) to Schmicago to experience the more adult world of ’60s and ’70s musicals. New episodes on Fridays. (Apple TV+)
Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field star as lifelong friends who go on a wild trip to see their hero, Tom Brady, play in the 2017 Super Bowl in "80 For Brady" (2023, PG-13). Billy Porter, Guy Fieri, and Brady himself play themselves in the comedy, which is inspired by a true story. (Paramount+)
International pick: Based on a true story, the limited series "The Good Mothers" (Italy, not rated, with subtitles) chronicles the efforts of a young prosecutor (Barbara Chichiarelli) to take down the Calabrian mob with the help of the women oppressed by the mob culture. (Hulu)
Classic picks: Alfred Hitchcock helped transform the horror film with "Psycho" (1960, R), which shocked audiences on its release and influenced filmmakers for decades, and then rocked it again with "The Birds" (1963). (Netflix)
Netflix
A lonely boy befriends a mythical creature in the family friendly adventure "Chupa" (2013, PG), starring Demián Bichir and Christian Slater.
True stories: "Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now" (TV-MA) chronicles Lewis Capaldi's journey to a Grammy-nominated pop star.
Streaming TV: "The Signing: Season 1" (TV-MA) is a reality singing competition show featuring young Latino artists.
International passport: a journalist investigates the serial killings of sex workers in the Iranian holy city of Mashhad in "Holy Spider" (Jordan, 2022, TV-MA, with subtitles), inspired by a true story.
International TV: two sailors on a Norwegian merchant ship fight to survive World War II in "War Sailor" (Norway, TV-MA, with subtitles).
Kid stuff: the animated "Puss in Boots" (2011, PG) is the first solo adventure of the swashbuckling feline.
Stand-up: "My Name Is Mo'Nique" (TV-MA)
Hulu
In the comedy "Reginald the Vampire: Season 1" (TV-14), a newly-turned young man (Jacob Batalon) is fat-shamed in his new world of beautiful and vain vampires.
"Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields" (2023, not rated) explores the way society objectifies women through the experiences of the model and actor.
"The Pope: Answers" (Spain, not rated, with subtitles) chronicles the meeting between Pope Francis and ten young adults.
HBO Max
The debut seasons of the CW prequel shows "Walker: Independence" (TV-14) and "The Winchesters: Season 1" (TV-14) now stream in their entirety.
Amazon Prime Video
A passenger (Dennis Quaid) must land an airplane and save his family when their pilot dies mid-flight in "On a Wing and a Prayer" (2023, PG), based on the true story.
Billy Eichner writes and stars in "Bros" (2022, R), the first romantic comedy about a gay couple produced by a major studio.
The limited series documentary "Redefined: J.R. Smith" (2023, 16+) profiles the form NBA star as he embarks on a new career in golf.
International passport: the crime thriller "Gangs of Lagos" (Nigeria, 2023, not rated, with subtitles) follows a group of childhood friends growing up on the mean streets of Isale Eko.
Kid stuff: an ordinary girl get temporary magical powers in the animated fantasy "Mary and the Witch's Flower" (Japan, 2017, PG) directed by former Studio Ghibli animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi.
Disney+
The sports drama "The Crossover: Season 1" (TV-PG) follows the journeys of teenage twin brothers and basketball phenoms on and off the court.
A young boy discovers a portal to another dimension—and a family secret—in the adventure "Journey to the Center of the Earth: Season 1" (Mexico, TV-PG, with subtitles).
Paramount +
The musical prequel "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies: Season 1" (TV-14) follows four rebellious girls at Rydell High School.
Peacock
A young singer (Chloe Bailey) helps take her cousin's underdog praise team to a national competition in the musical comedy "Praise This" (2023, TV-14).
Apple TV+
True stories: "Boom Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker" (2023, TV-MA) chronicles the career and turbulent life of the tennis superstar.
Other streams
The limited series documentary "Catching Lighting" (not rated) tells the story of how "Lightning" Lee Murray went from martial arts star to bank robber. (Showtime Anytime)
The documentary "2nd Chance" (2022, not rated) revisits the life and legacy of Richard Davis, who invented the bulletproof vest then covered up defects in his creation. (Showtime Anytime)
A young singer goes on a bender with the legendary George Jones (Ben Hall) the night before the country music star is to be cryogenically frozen in the comedy "Country Gold" (2023, not rated). (Fandor)
The classic TV miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977, TV-PG) starring Robert Powell, Laurence Olivier, James Earl Jones, and Anne Bancroft arrives in time for Easter. (Britbox)
"Orphan Black: Complete Series" (2013-2017, TV-MA) now streams as an AMC+ exclusive in advance of an upcoming sequel series featuring Krysten Ritter. (AMC+)
"Jury Duty" (2023, 16+) reimagines reality TV as we watch a jury trial through the eyes of one juror, who doesn't know that everyone else is an actor following a script. Free with ads.
(Amazon Freevee)
"The Twilight Zone: Complete Series" (2019-2020, TV-MA), Jordan Peele's revival of the classic series, originally produced for Paramount+, now exclusively streams on Amazon Freevee (with ads).
16 "Erotic Thrillers" of the 1980s and 90s follow the genre's evolution from Brian De Palma's "Dressed to Kill" (1980) and the steamy neo-noir "Body Heat" (1981) with William Hurt and Kathleen Turner to "The Last Seduction" (1994) with Linda Fiorentino and "Bound" (1996), the debut feature by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. Other highlights include Ken Russell's "Crimes of Passion" (1984) and Katt Shea's "Poison Ivy" (1992, R), which helped relaunch child actor Drew Barrymore's career. (Criterion Channel)
The autobiographical "Waltz with Bashir" (Israel, 2008, R, with subtitles) and the wild comic adventure "The Triplets of Belleville" (France/Belgium, 2003) were both Oscar nominees for animated feature. (MUBI)
Sean Axmaker is a Seattle film critic and writer. His reviews of streaming movies and TV can be found at https://streamondemandathome.com.
Copyright © 2023 by Sean Axmaker
