What are you going to be watching this month? We round up everything coming to streaming services this month, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, Neon and TVNZ+.
The biggies
Party Down (all seasons on TVNZ+ from April 1)
Thirteen years is a long time between drinks and the stars of Party Down – a cult comedy hit from 2009 that’s never been available on New Zealand screens – have noticeably aged. Ken Marino’s hair is greying, Martin Starr’s goatee is trimmed neatly, and Adam Scott has matured, thanks to his star turn in Severance, like a fine wine. The one thing that hasn’t changed is its sense of humour – Party Down is funny. Based around the antics of a catering company staffed by out-of-work actors, there’s plenty of humour to be had mocking Hollywood elites. Party Down’s long-delayed third season picks up right where things left off, with superhero digs, content creator jabs and Instagram put downs. It’s great, and it’s even better that all of it –the first two seasons, and the new third season – is now available here, through TVNZ+. Start at the start, and just keep going. / Chris Schulz
BEEF (on Netflix from April 6)
I sit in a lot of traffic. I get cut off, undertaken, honked at, yelled at and given the fingers. I’m a good driver, honestly! The people in Beef are not. Netflix’s new series is about an extreme version of exactly that. It stars fiery comedian Ali Wong and The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun who have a minor car clash that escalates into the pair unleashing all hell on each other. They’re both at fault, yet they refuse to back down, and reviews say what follows is an escalating game of cat-and-mouse taken to extremes. The star turn, says Indiewire, is by Wong, who “tears into her most fearsome scenes with giddy satisfaction”. Can’t wait to drive home – calmly – through some traffic to see this one. / CS
Tiny Beautiful Things (limited series on Disney+ from April 7)
Grab the tissues for the latest drama from Reese Witherspoon’s production company, because it looks like Tiny Beautiful Things wants to give you plenty of big feels. Based on the best selling novel by Cheryl Strayed (Wild, another Witherspoon project), Tiny Beautiful Things follows Clare (Kathryn Hahn), a writer who is struggling to simultaneously navigate the breakdown of her marriage, a hormonal teenage daughter and the death of her mother decades before. I feel drained just typing that, but who doesn’t love both tiny and beautiful things? Plus, Kathryn Hahn will never let you down. / Tara Ward
Sweet Tooth (season two on Netflix from April 27)
From Casey Lucas’ review of the first season: “While Sweet Tooth is certainly older child-appropriate, for all its fantasy elements and CGI animals it still tells a vividly human story for adults. Don’t go into it expecting a riveting, realistic apocalypse drama. Instead allow yourself to be drawn into the pages of its storybook, to enjoy a tale that’s a bit more Brothers Grimm than Stephen King’s The Stand. Your weekend will be warmer for it.” / Casey Lucas
The notables
Barry (season four on Neon from April 17)
One of the more startling and original shows to come out in recent years, HBO’s brilliant Barry is sadly ending this year with season four. Bill Hader’s titular assassin turned amateur actor may finally have to reckon with his past and/or wrestle with his future and I honestly have no idea how it’s going to end. That’s the beauty of Barry – despite starting out as a kooky 30min comedy, it’s ended up a sort of twisty Breaking Bad-esque crime drama that still manages to generate belly laughs. / Stewart Sowman-Lund
The Last Thing He Ever Told Me (on AppleTV+ from April 14)
Two Jennifer Garner shows? In one month? Audiences have never been luckier. While Party Down sees Garner in comedic territory, The Last Thing He Ever Told Me sees Garner back in thriller mode take on the role of a woman who has to form an unexpected relationship with her stepdaughter after the sudden disappearance of her husband. This miniseries, based on the 2014 novel of the same name, promises fewer wigs than Alias, but I’m expecting Garner to bring her classic silk-and-steel approach to this material and I cannot wait./ Sam Brooks
Dead Ringers (on Amazon Prime Video from 21)
As above, this feels like a treat for me, personally. A remake of the 1989 David Cronenberg film about twin gynaecologists, but this time played by Rachel Weisz as opposed to Jeremy Irons? Absolutely yes. If that casting wasn’t alone to seal my interest, the participation of Alice Birch (who has also worked on Succession and Normal People) cinches the deal. Renew your Amazon Prime Video sub for this one, readers, it’s going to be great. / SB
Hui Hoppers (on TVNZ+ from April 28)
This new local comedy series follows two half-sisters Anahera (Roimata Fox) and Kura (Tomai Ihaia) as they work together as caterers on the Marae. The sisters have only just reconnected after years apart, but they both know that kai unites people in times of both love and loss. Each episode takes place at a different type of hui, as Anahera and Kura use their prowess in the kitchen to strengthen their own relationships, as well as those of the people around them. Kahu Ropata and Noah Curtis also star. / TW
The movies
Ticket to Paradise (on Neon and Amazon Prime Video from April 7)
A movie starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney should be a slam dunk. Ticket to Paradise is not that, but it’s still pretty damn pleasant. It follows a man (Clooney, natch) and his ex-wife (Roberts, radiating ex-wife energy) on a race against time to stop their daughter from marrying a seaweed farmer. Feelings? They may be rekindled! My recommendation? Watch Ocean’s 11 or 12 instead./ SB
Peter Pan and Wendy (on Disney+ from April 28)
Finally! Peter Pan is being adapted for the screen, because that’s never been done before– oh wait, it has. Multiple times. In the last decade alone. The difference of this adaptation in particular is that it focuses less on Peter and more on Wendy Darling, but the rest of the film seems pretty much the same – hook-wielding pirate gets obsessed with young boy, there’s a fairy involved, and hopefully zero racial stereotypes. One for the kids!/ SB
Ghosted (on AppleTV+ from April 21)
Despite the above trailer, I am 100% certain that this film doesn’t exist. An action rom-com starring Chris Evans as a man who has been ghosted by an international spy played by Ana de Armas, supported by Adrien Brody, Anna Deavere Smith and Amy Sedaris? Pull the other one, Apple TV+. / SB
The rest
Netflix
April 1
Weathering
Grown Ups
50 First Dates
This is 40
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
April 2
War Sailor
April 4
The Signing
My Name is Mo’Nique
April 5
Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now
April 6
BEEF
April 7
Transatlantic
Thicker Than Water
Chupa
Kings of Mulberry Street: Let Love Reign
Oh Belinda
April 8
Hunger
April 10
CocoLemon: Season 8
April 11
Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman
April 12
Smother-in-Law: Season 2
Operation: Nation
Celeste Barber: Fine, Thanks
American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing
April 13
Florida Man
Obsession
The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib: Season 2
April 14
Queenmaker
Queens on the Run
Seven Kings Must Die
Phenomena
April 15
Doctor Cha
Paper Planes
Keeping Up With the Kardashians: Season 13
Made in Chelsea: Season 19
April 16
The Nutty Boy: Part 2
April 17
Oggy Oggy: Season 2
April 18
How to Get Rich
Longest Third Date
April 19
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always
Chimp Empire
April 20
The Diplomat
Tooth Pari: When Love Bites
April 21
Rough Diamonds
Indian Matchmaking: Season 3
One More Time
A Tourist’s Guide to Love
Chokehold
April 22
Ada Twist, Scientist: Season 4
April 24
Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian
April 25
John Mulaney: Baby J
April 26
Workin’ Moms: Season 7
Love After Music
The Good Bad Mother
Kiss, Kiss
April 27
The Nurse
Firefly Lane: Season 2: Part 2
Sweet Tooth
The Matchmaker
Sharkdog: Season 3
April 28
King of Collectibles: The Golden Touch
AKA
Neon
April 1
Danger Force: Seasons 1-2
Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers in Goldmember
April 4
George and Tammy
Trick of Treat Scooby-Doo!
April 6
Six Days to Air: The Making of South Park
South Park: Season 19-25
Dreamland
April 7
Ticket to Paradise
April 8
Dave: Season 3
Ballerina
April 11
Baby Shark’s Big Show
Big Fat Liar
April 12
Sniper: Rogue Mission
April 13
La Brea: Season 2
The Emoji Movie
April 14
Gone In The Night
April 15
The Flintstones
April 16
Paws of Fury
Smile
April 17
Barry: Season 4
April 18
Quantum Leap
Arctic Justice
April 19
Catfish: The TV Show: Season 8
April 20
Blues Clues and You: Season 2
Valiant
April 22
Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park 3
April 23
Middlemost Post
The Infernal Machine
Kong: Skull Island
April 25
All American: Homecoming S2
April 26
Who Do You Think You Are: Season 16-18
Ghostbusters
April 27
Star Trek
Star Trek: Into Darkness
Star Trek Beyond
April 28
Love and Death
Mud
April 29
17 Again
April 30
Paradise City
Three Thousand Years of Longing
TVNZ+
April 1
Party Down: Seasons 1-3
Asia
Litigante
Tales of the Grim Sleeper
Jihad Jane
Fat: A Documentary
American Dharma
Elstree 1976
Barbecue
Ruby
Pearl in the Mist
All the Glitters
hidden Jewel
Chilli Hunter Asia
Diving with Crocodiles
For the Love of DILFs
Never Apart
The Villbergs Wedding Chronicles
Killjoy Comedy
Drag Heels
Outspoken: King of the Nudies
Super Highs
Killing Escibar
In the Cold Dark Night
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
King of the Cruise
April 3
Secrets of the Chippendales Murders
April 5
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie
Matilda
Look Who’s Talking
Look Who’s Talking Too
Baby Geniuses
Khumba
Muppets From Space
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Annie
The Dark Crystal
Snowpiercer
Get Smart
Silence
Holding theMan
Mr Holmes
Turbo Kid
Macbeth
Shame
An Education
Ghosthunters
Stand by Me
Center Sage
April 6
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies
Outnumbered: Season 1-5
April 7
Mayflies
April 8
Poi-E: The Story of Our Song
Michael Jackson’s This Is It
April 10
Trawlerman: Hunting the Catch
April 12
This is Spinal Tap
Burlesque
Closer
Punch-Drunk Love
Erin Brockovich
The People vs Larry Flynt
April 13
Django
April 14
Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies
April 17
Catastrophe: Seasons 1-3
Zoo: Season 1-3
April 19
The North Water
April 22
Consent
April 24
The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes
April 25
Deep Heat
April 27
Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project
The King’s Speech
April 28
Hui Hoppers
April 30
Fatal Attraction
Disney+
April 1
Tengoku-Daimakyo: Season 1
April 5
The Crossover
The Company You Keep
The Lesson is Murder
The Pope
The Good Mothers
Restaurants at the End of the World
Arranged
Grown-Ish: Season 5
History: The Interesting Bits
Kiff
Raven’s Home: Season 5
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Area21 Live on Planet Earth
April 7
Tiny Beautiful Things
Escaping the NIXVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter
Chris Watt: Confessions of a Killer
Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story
Patsy and Loretta
Adriana Trigiani’s Very Valentine
April 12
Rennervations
It’s All Right
Single Drunk Female: Season 2
Disney Junior Mickey Mouse Funhouse: Season 2
Justified: Seasons 1-6
Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and CatNoir: Season 5
Good Trouble: Season 5
April 14
My Apologies
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
April 17
Family: The Unbreakable Bond
April 19
Mask vs Knight
Cake: Season 5
What We Lose to Love
April 20
Quasi
April 22
Secrets of the Elephants
April 26
Matildas: The World at Our Feet
The 1619 Project
Sam: A Saxon
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
Dangerous Beauty
April 28
Peter Pan and Wendy
Clock
Amazon Prime Video
April 4
Redefined: Jr Smith
April 6
Lizzy Hoo: Hoo Cares
April 7
On a Wing and a Prayer
Gangs of Lagos
Ticket to Paradise
Jubilee
Jury Duty
Moonage Daydream
April 12
True to Love
April 14
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel: Season 5
Star Trek: Picard: Season 3
Salade Grecque
Caravana Das Drags
Vengeance
April 18
Alex Borstein: Corsets and Clown Suits
April 21
Dead Ringers
Judy Blume Forever
Dancing ont he Grave
Wild Isles
April 28
Citadel
April 30
Three Thousand Years of Longing
Apple TV+
April 5
Schmigadoon: Season 2
April 7
Boom Boom: The World vs Boris Becker
April 14
The Last Thing He Told Me
Jane
April 21
Drops of God
Ghosted
April 28
The Afterparty: Season 2
Acorn
April 3
Agatha Raisin: Season 4
April 17
Candice Renoir: Season 6
April 24
Dalgliesh: Season 2
Shudder
April 6
Slasher: Ripper
April 14
Kids vs Aliens
April 25
The Boulet Brothers’ Halfway to Halloween TV Special
April 28
From Black