Congrats kids (and animals), this weekend is for you. The two biggest releases of the week are about lions and hedgehogs, they both have stacked casts, and they’re both “live-action” animation sequels. Meanwhile, if you’re in New York City or Los Angeles, you get The Brutalist in 70-mm. Who says life is fair? Here’s the rest of the picks this weekend.
Featured Presentations
Mufasa: The Lion King
If you sorely missed Lin-Manuel Miranda while watching Moana 2, well, now you can hear what he’s been up to in Mufasa, a “live-action” prequel to The Lion King directed by Barry Jenkins. It’s wild to remember, but 2019’s The Lion King nabbed so much money at the box office that naturally, there’s another film, but this one is set before Simba and Nala’s time in the animal kingdom when Mufasa and Scar were young cubs.
In theaters now
* showtimes
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
This franchise is really chugging along. They’ve even got Keanu Reeves as the new baddie, Shadow the Hedgehog. Good luck to the rest of the hedgehogs because we’ve all seen John Wick, so we know Reeves’s villain isn’t going down without a long fight.
In theaters now
* showtimes
Laid
The eight-episode romantic comedy stars Academy Award nominee Stephanie Hsu as Ruby, a woman who realizes all her former lovers are dying in weird and mysterious ways. Is she cursed? The format is a little like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World in reverse. — Roxana Hadadi
Streaming on Peacock
* peacock
What If … season 3
What if What If … ended? The MCU’s animated series played with the universe’s many superheroes — which included Chadwick Boseman’s final performance as T’Challa — by putting them in some fantastical scenarios, thanks to the multiverse. Each episode poses the main question “what if?” to an MCU hero, throwing them into a whole other world, like putting T’Challa into space to be the new Star-Lord. It seemed like a concept the MCU could run with for a while, but this third season is its last.
Streaming on Disney+
* Disney+
Fast Friends
Finally, the Warner Bros. that paid a shit-ton of money for the rights to stream Friends has turned knowledge of Friends into a game show that can further leverage that expensive acquisition. Hot tip for contestants: When in doubt about an answer, just shout “Piv-ot” or start singing “Smelly Cat.” — Jen Chaney
Streaming on Max
* Max
Streaming’s Greetings
The Simpsons: O C’mon All Ye Faithful
Three and a half decades ago this month, The Simpsons premiered on television for the first time as a stand-alone separate from its appearances on The Tracey Ullman Show. That first episode was a Christmas special, which is why the long-running animated provider of infinite memes is releasing a separate two-episode Christmas special this year. — J.C.
Streaming on Disney+
* disney+
Comedy Corner
Ilana Glazer: Human Magic
Hulu is doing its best to break into the comedy world, even announcing a comedy brand “Hularious” (they tried), and one of the specials out now is Ilana Glazer: Human Magic. The Broad City actress and comedian’s second special, taped during her latest tour, is directed by Jeff Tomsic as she talks all about the extremely awkward moments from high school, motherhood, and the rest of life.
Streaming on Hulu
* hulu
Rose Matafeo: On and On and On
The streaming platforms know you’re about to be spending a lot of time with your family. Rose Matafeo’s is the special to watch if you’re looking for co-viewing with your sister or your younger millennial cousins. After you finish, you can immediately binge all of her show Starstruck. — Kathryn VanArendonk
Streaming on Max
* max
Finally Streaming
Juror #2
For some reason, Warner Bros. buried this Clint Eastwood legal thriller — it arrived in only limited theaters last October with little fanfare. Which is a shame, because the critics generally agree that it’s good! Nicholas Hoult plays Justin, who is serving on the jury of a murder case in which a man is accused of killing his girlfriend. Except Justin knows this man is innocent, but revealing the truth would cost him. —Tolly Wright
Streaming on Max
* max
Anora
One of the most-talked-about movies of awards season is hitting streaming. You can finally see Mikey Madison’s lauded performance as the title character, a sex worker who crosses paths with a Russian rich boy (Mark Eidelstein) who sweeps her off her feet. But this is a Sean Baker film, so with the high highs of the fantasy come the low lows of the reality.
Available to rent on Amazon and Apple TV
* Amazon
* Apple TV
➼ Plus, surprise! Barbie is now on Netflix. Gilmore Girls is on Hulu (complete with a holiday-episode collection). And the Barry Keoghan drama Bird is on Mubi.
Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of December 13.
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