Merry Christmas, one and all! It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and not just because the sleigh bells are ringing. Almost all of the major streaming services released at least one movie or TV show this weekend that made headlines, so there’s really never been a better time to sit down in front of the TV and catch something new.
Leading the Christmas rush is Netflix, whose sequel Knives Out and Roald Dahl’s adaptation of Matilda are sure to light up millions of living rooms this Christmas. But HBO Max, Prime Video and Apple TV Plus also have something new to offer, so there’s no shortage of options to browse when dinner fatigue kicks in on Sunday.
Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the biggest new movies and TV shows that will be streaming over the next few days.
Glass Onions: Knife Mystery (Netflix)
Daniel Craig continues to redefine his post-James Bond career with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (also known as Outdoor knives 2) on Netflix this weekend.
In the highly anticipated sequel to director Rian Johnson’s acclaimed crime thriller Glass Onion, Craig reprises his role as lead detective Benoit Blanc to solve another humorous mystery – this time on a private Greek island owned by eccentric tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton). .
Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Leslie Odom Jr, Kate Hudson and Ethan Hawke also star in Johnson’s sequel, which was praised for being “lighter and brighter” than its predecessor. Without a doubt, Glass Onion will soon be on our list best Netflix moviesso add this item to your watchlist as soon as possible.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda Musical (Netflix)
The singing and dancing film adaptation of the musical Matilda (which itself is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel) is the definition of Christmas family fun.
Directed by Matthew Warchus and with original music by Tim Minchin – both of whom directed the Tony Award-winning stage show – Roald Dahl’s musical Matilda the Musical tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir), a student with extraordinary powers who dares to take a stand against her oppressive parents and nefarious school principal .
Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough are also starring in this great Netflix musical, which can be watched in the US from Sunday December 25 (which is Christmas for those celebrating). British viewers can find Matilda in cinemas, where it will remain exclusively until 2023.
Available to stream on Netflix from Sunday.
The Witcher: Origin of Blood (Netflix)
If you can’t wait to go back to the creature-filled forests of the continent, but you can’t wait The Witcher season 3followed by the show’s first spin-off, The Witcher: Origin of Bloodmay be the answer to your prayers.
Set 1,200 years before the time of Geralt of Rivia, this four-part miniseries traces the origins of the first Witcher and follows seven destiny-bound outcasts as they join forces to overthrow the tyrannical elven kingdom of Xin’trea. Sophia Brown (replacement for originally cast Jodie Turner-Smith), Michelle Yeoh, Laurence O’Fuarai and Minnie Driver are among the cast of the series.
Before the release of Blood Origin, we spoke to its creators and cast about how the series is changing The Witcher’s mysterious past. Down our moneyhowever, this Netflix spin-off is a “frustrating and magic-less dud that doesn’t know what it wants to be.”
Available to stream on Netflix from Sunday.
Boy, Mole, Fox and Horse (Apple TV Plus)
Matilda the Musical’s health rival this weekend is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, which is available to stream on Apple TV Plus starting Sunday.
Produced by the BBC, an adaptation of Charlie Mackesy’s hugely successful children’s book, this animated short follows one boy’s journey home and the unexpected companions he meets along the way. Idris Elba, Tom Hollander and Gabriel Byrne lend their voice talents.
The Boy, Mole, Fox, and Horse’s limited run time means it probably won’t make our list the best Apple TV Plus moviesbut his humble tale of simple kindness is sure to make you feel uplifted this festive weekend.
Available to stream on Apple TV Plus from Sunday.
Jack Ryan Season 3 (Best Video)
John Krasinski’s Special Agent Jack Ryan returns for his highly anticipated third appearance on Prime Video this weekend.
Amazon’s Jack Ryan Season 3 Synopsis isn’t exactly short, but the general outline of the new episodes of the series is as follows: While working as a CIA officer in Rome, Ryan is tipped off to a secret plan to rebuild the Soviet Empire, which sends him on a cross-country journey across Europe to prevent World War III. So standard spy tricks.
All eight episodes are now available to stream on Prime Video – we hope they’re good enough to get the Amazon spy series on our list the best Prime Video shows.
Now available to stream on Prime Video.
I Hate Suzie Season 2 (HBO Max)
The Sky-produced series I Hate Suzie didn’t set the world on fire when it debuted in 2020, but those who watched the star Billie Piper couldn’t recommend her highly enough.
Now, titular child star turned actress Piper is back to break down in public in a three-part episode of I Hate Suzie Too, which was described by Sky as an “anti-Christmas special” given Suzie’s ongoing fight with ex-husband Cob (Daniel Ings) and separation from best friend Naomi (Leila Farzad).
Still not convinced? Showrunner Lucy Prebbile – who co-wrote I Hate Suzie (and its sequel) with Piper – is also co-executive producer and writer Relegation season 4, which is the upcoming entry in one of the best HBO Max shows ever. What’s with the credentials?
Now available to stream on HBO Max.
Alice on the Border Season 2 (Netflix)
The Japanese sci-fi thriller Alice on the Border returns with its long-awaited second season on Netflix this weekend.
Continuing the story of Haro Aso’s manga of the same name, in Season 2 of Alice in Borderland, Kento (Ryōhei Arisu) and Tao (Yuzuha Usagi) will be challenged to complete a deadly, Calamari game-esque games at the behest of mysterious game masters.
Judging by the season trailer, things are getting suitably bloody with Alice in Borderland season 2, and all eight episodes are now available to stream on Netflix (perhaps the series will finally make it onto our list of Netflix’s best shows).
Now available to stream on Netflix.