If it’s A-list star power (or superpowers) you’re after, this week’s streaming releases have you covered. We have the debut of Marvel’s new Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man cartoon, Amy Adams’ mom-thriller Nightbitch, Will Ferrel & Reese Witherspoon wedding comedy You’re Cordially Invited, the local streaming debut of Channing Tatum-led Blink Twice, the return of both The Recruit and Mythic Quest, and more!


SERIES

Paradise S1

28 January 2025 -Disney+

It may just be me, but I’ve seen very little promo for Paradasie, a new political thriller series debuting on Disney+ this week. When checking out the Emmy Awars-winning lead talents Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson) and then watching that action-packed trailer above, I can’t quite understand why Disney isn’t pushing this more as it looks great. Paradise follows Brown’s Xavier Collins, a family man Secret Service agent who has become a confidant of the US President Cal Bradford (Marsden) after some heroic actions. Collins doesn’t just have the thanks of the President though, as he is pulled into the very inner circle of government and made privy to top secret information. But just as Collins’ career is skyrocketing, it all comes crashing down when Bradford is shockingly murdered, and Collins is the main suspect.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man S1

29 January 2025 -Disney+

It’s seemingly still a long while till we’ll see Spider-Man back on the big screen, but in the meantime, if you’re itching to get swinging again, Marvel’s new Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is here to keep you thrilled! The new animated series doesn’t take place in the same timeline as the Marvel Cinematic Universe… or does it?! But that personal theory about what’s going to happen in the big upcoming Avengers: Secret War movie is a story for another day. The one we have here now follows a young Peter-Parker just starting out in his crime-fighting career, still ironing out all the kinks of being a superhero. That is until a chance encounter with Harry Osborn and his father, Norman Osborn, the head of tech giant Oscorp, which sets Spidey on a whole new heroic trajectory. But be careful what you wish for…

Mythic Quest S4

29 January 2025 – Apple TV+

Mythic Quest is an incredible show and easily one of Apple TV+’s biggest drawcards. For some reason though, after enjoying the hell out of the first two seasons, in which we followed the crazy inner workings of a game dev company creating and running the world’s biggest MMORPG, I just fell off season three hard. I just checked and I only watched the first two episodes AND I DON’T KNOW WHY! Well, I guess it’s time to fix that oversight as Mythic Quest is back with a fourth season, which sees the team “back together under the same fluorescent office lights” after a split happened in the previous season. Now “he reunited team at Mythic Quest confronts new challenges amongst a changing video game landscape as stars rise, egos clash, relationships bloom and everyone tries to have a little more work life balance.” Take note that shortly after the weekly releases of this season ends, a companion anthology series titled Side Quest will be coming out.

The Recruit S2

30 January 2025 – Netflix

Last week saw the second season debut of The Night Agent, a show about a young unlikely spy which ended up being a surprise hit for Netflix based mostly on the charming lead’s charisma. And this week we have the second season debut of The Recruit, a show about a young unlikely spy which ended up being a surprise hit for Netflix based mostly on the charming lead’s charisma. Hey, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?! To be fair, I actually enjoyed The Recruit more, mainly because lead Noah Centineo is doing absolutely star-making stuff as CIA Lawyer Owen Hendricks. He is just incredibly likeable. And also great in an action scene, which he gets pulled into frequently despite not being a field operative. And in season two, Netflix is seemingly combining this winning formula with another: Korean drama! After a run-in with series newcomer South Korean spy Jang Kyun, played by BAFTA nominee Teo Yoo, Owen is pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency.


MOVIES

Blink Twice

20 January 2025 – Prime Video

As Noelle mentioned in her 8.5/10 review, it’s best to go in blind to Blink Twice, which is why I won’t be bothering with a lengthy plot synopsis here. I will just mention that this is the feature film directorial debut of actress Zoë Kravitz and damn does she knock it out of the park! Starring Channing Tatum, Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat, Christian Slater, Haley Joel Osman, Geena Davis and more, it is packed with acting talent. But it’s the story that Kravits tells that is the killer here. Every part as disturbing and unnerving as it timely, it’s a twisting, hard-hitting social commentary from a very female perspective that slowly unspools, keeping you enthralled all the way.

Nightbitch

24 January 2025 – Disney+

Keeping up the theme of layered storytelling about the female experience, comes Nightbitch. Adapted from Rachel Yoder’s critically acclaimed 2021 novel of the same name by writer/director Marielle Heller, the film stars Amy Adams as a young mother who finds the pressures of supporting her child and family while trying to find time for herself becoming nearly impossible to bear. And what probably isn’t helping is that she thinks she’s slowing turning into a dog. Yes, you read that right. No, I will not be taking further questions. Just watch the trailer above.

The Killer’s Game

24 January 2025 – Prime Video

If you prefer your movies to involve far less thought and social commentary though, I have the perfect palate cleanser. Headlined by Dave Bautista, this skop, skiet, en donner action flick also stars fan-favourites Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews, Pom Klementiff, and Ben Kingsley and follows Bautista’s Joe Flood, a highly regarded contract killer who discovers he only has months to live after falling ill. Looking to go out in a blaze of glory, he takes out a contract on himself, garnering the attentions of all the best killers out there. There’s just one problem: Joe’s terminal diagnosis was a mistake. He’s not going to die after all. Well, unless all the killers he’s just offered $2 million dollars to take his scalp gets to him first!

You’re Cordially Invited

30 January 2025 – Prime Video

After the subgenre seemed to be teetering on the precipice of extinction for a few years, we’ve slowly been seeing the return of the R-rated comedy in Hollywood. And the latest two stars to get in on the ribauld act are Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon with You’re Cordially Invited, which is whelmed by a veteran of the genre in Nicholas Stoller, the same acclaimed director behind Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Bad Neighbours 1 and 2, Get Him to the Greek, The Five Year Engagement, and more. You’re Cordially Invited sees Ferrell and Witherspoon as the respective father and sister of two separate brides who each have their dream weddings turned into a nightmare when a wedding venue accidentally books both nuptials ceremonies for the same day. With all other plans in place and no time to make alternative arrangements, the two parties will have to find a way to make it work, but that’s far easier said than done when either side won’t compromise. Cue the hijinks!


VOD RENTALS/PURCHASES

The following movies have recently become available for digital purchase/rental:

Hitpig

Purchase: Apple TV – R170 / Google Play Movies – R151

Rental: Apple TV – R45 / Google Play Movies – R35

If you’re looking for something to entertain the kids, Hitpig may just tick the boxes. An adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner Berkley Breathed’s 2008 children’s book Pete and Pickles, this animated family adventure stars Jason Sudeikis as the voice of Hitpig, a porcine bounty hunter who specialises in tracking down missing animals. When Pickles, a dancing elephant goes missing, Hitpig is contracted by its owner, the Leaping Lord (Rain Wilson) to find his beloved pet. But, as Hitpig discovers, there’s a lot more to Pickles’ disappearance, sparking an adventure of self-discovery.