What are you going to be watching in February? We round up everything coming to streaming services this month, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, Neon and TVNZ+.
The biggies
You (season four, part one on Netflix from February 9)
When we last left murder-curious hipster Joe Goldberg, he was (massive spoiler alert) standing over the lifeless body of his freshly-killed wife, giving away his baby son to the neighbours, and then getting the hell out of dodge after faking his own death. Now he’s back, and starting yet another new life – and, presumably, another doomed attempt to “go straight” – in London, not the Paris where we saw Joe in the final few seconds of season three. Living under the alias Professor Jonathan Moore, Joe experiences a taste of his own medicine when he finds himself the victim of a mysterious stalker. Season four is 10 episodes, split into two; the second part is scheduled to land on March 9. / Catherine McGregor
Rūrangi: Rising Lights (on Neon from February 13)
The second season of this groundbreaking, International Emmy award-winning series, the first in New Zealand history to feature a trans actor in a leading role, couldn’t come at a better time. The first season saw Caz (a tremendous Elz Carrad) returning to his hometown, the fictional Rūrangi, with hopes of reconnecting with his father, but the politically divided dairy community had other ideas. In the second season, the culture war intensifies between transgender activists, farmers and local Māori, and there might even be a little mysticism thrown in. / Sam Brooks
Kindred (on Disney+ from February 8)
It’s absolutely wild that it has taken over 40 years for Octavia Butler’s seminal science fiction novel to make it to the screen, but finally, here we are. The limited series follows Dana, a Black writer who has moved to Los Angeles to get close to her family, but she gets pulled back in time to the 19th century. It is, as you might expect, an exploration of slavery from the sensibility of a 21st century Black woman. The book is a classic for a reason, and I’ve every reason to believe this adaptation could be the same. / SB
Hello Tomorrow! (on Apple TV from February 17)
There’s a certain kind of acto who you absolutely know will be playing the most rotten human you’ve ever come across whenever they show up onscreen. Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Watchmen, Almost Famous) is one of those guys, and I’ve no reason to believe that his role as a salesman selling timeshares on the moon in Hello Tomorrow! is going to get me away from that. The dramedy, set in a strange sort of retrofuture, also stars Hank Azaria, Alison Pill and Jackie Weaver. / SB
The notables
Funny Woman (on Neon from February 9)
Novelist Nick Hornby has had quite the run when it comes to screen adaptations of his work, from High Fidelity to Fever Pitch to About a Boy. Now comes Funny Woman, a serialised version of Hornby’s 2016 novel Funny Girl, about a female star in the male-dominated comedy world of the 1960s. Starring Gemma Arterton in the lead role, Funny Woman also features Tom Bateman (Behind Her Eyes), Rupert Everett and David Threlfall in a six-part series set in London at its most swinging. / CM
Not Even (on Neon from February 6)
Super excited about this series, which follows an average group of Māori and Pasifika 20-somethings living in Wellington, from this line in the press release alone: “If there were a scale of Māoriness – Paula Bennett to Tame Iti – then the five mates are spread out between Winston Peters and a solid Cliff Curtis.” It comes from producers Ainsley Gardiner and Georgia Conder, and is written by newcomer Dana Leaming. This feels like the sort of show we should have a million of, but I’ll take one, just for the time being. / SB
Not Dead Yet (on Disney+ from February 9)
Jane the Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez? Back on our screens? In a comic role that will also probably utilise her considerable dramatic talents? Sign. Me. Up. Not Dead Yet, adapted from Confessions of a Forty-Something Fuck-Up by Alexandra Potter, follows Nell Stevens, a broke and newly single self-described disaster (censored down from fuck-up, this is a network show in the States after all), as she works to restart the life and journalism career she left behind, but the only job she can find is writing obituaries. The twist? She’s getting advice from the people she’s writing obituaries for. Couldn’t be keener for this. / SB
When Bob Came (on TVNZ+ from February 6)
Bob Marley only ever played a single time in Aotearoa, but that one show – at Western Springs in Auckland, on April 16, 1979 – had a seismic effect on this country’s music scene and cultural life. When Bob Came, fronted by actor James Rolleston, explores the galvanising effect Marley’s visit with his band the Wailers had on Māori in particular, who found inspiration in the reggae star’s questioning of the post-colonial status quo. Not just a historical documentary, When Bob Came digs into why, more than 40 years on, Marley’s music still holds such a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders. / CM
The movies
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (on Disney+ from February 1)
Oh hey, it’s the little known indie film that gave Angela Bassett her second Oscar nomination! If you need me to tell you what Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is, you’re probably not going to care that you can stream it at home now. For what it’s worth: Angela Bassett is really good in it! / SB
A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou (on Netflix from February 28)
Don’t know who Jamie Demetriou is? He played the Bus Rodent in Fleabag, had a choice role in Apple TV+’s The Afterparty and created the truly hilarious Stath Lets Flats (which you can stream on TVNZ+, and you really really should). A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou marks his first live comedy special, a mixture of musical and sketch, and will take the viewer on a journey through life from birth to death. He’ll be joined by comedians Ellie White, Sian Clifford and Katy Wix among others. / SB
Emily the Criminal (on Neon from February 26)
Aubrey Plaza’s star continues to rise and rise. Although she’s been reliably killing it for years, Emily the Criminal is Plaza’s first foray into a full-on dramatic role. She plays Emily, who is struggling to pay off her student loans and works as a delivery driver, through which she comes into contact with a crime ring. You can probably guess what happens next. As she gets further invested in the criminal underworld she gets involved with Youcef (Theo Rossi), complicating things. Plaza has received rave reviews for her performance, but if you didn’t know she was capable of being this great, where’ve you been? / SB
The rest
Netflix
February 1
Gunther’s Millions
Detective Conan: The Culprit Hanzawa
February 2
Freeride
Make My Day
February 3
Class
True Spirit
Stromboli
Vikingulven
Infiesto
February 8
The Exchange
Bill Russell: Legend
February 9
You: Season 4: Part 1
The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem
Dear David
My Dad the Bounty Hunter
February 10
Love is Blind: After the Altar Season 3
Love to Hate You
10 Days of a Good Man
Your Place or Mine
February 13
Squared Love All Over Again
The Love Punch
February 14
In Love All Over Again
Perfect Match
All the Places
A Sunday Affair
Re/Member
Jim Jefferies: High n’ Dry
February 15
Eva Lasting
#NoFilter
The Law According to Linda Poet
Red Rose
African Queens: Njinga
Full Swing
Love and Other Drugs
February 16
The Upshaws: Part 3
Aggretsuko: Season 5
Fifty Shafes Darker
Pitch Perfect
The Unusual Suspects
February 17
Ganglands: Season 2
Community Squad
A Girl and an Astronaut
Unlocked
Ellie and Abbie
February 19
Whindersson Nunes: Preaching to the Choir
February 22
Triptych
The Strays
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal
February 23
Outer Banks: Season 3
Call me Chihiro
That Girl Lay Lay: Season 2
February 24
Who Were We Running From?
We Have a Ghost
Formula 1: Drive to Survive: Season 5
Oddballs: Season 2
February 28
Too Hot to Handle: Germany
A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou
Neon
February 1
Teen Mom OG: Season 9b
The Loud House: Season 5
The Penguins of Madagascar: Season 3
Jurassic World: Dominion
February 2
Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Season 12-20
Supercool
February 3
Flip It Like Disick
Ben 10 Ultimate Alien
Father Stu
February 4
Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry: Season 3-4
Around the World in 80 Days
February 5
The Unbearable
February 6
Not Even
February 7
Reunion Road Trip
Big Gold Brick
February 8
Overserved with Lisa Vanderpump
The Wolf and the Lion
February 9
Botched: Season 2-7
Funny Woman
Dumb and Dumber
February 10
Dr. 90210
A Million Little Things: Season 5
The Flash: Season 9
Agent Game
February 11
E! True Hollywood Story: Season 1-2
XXX
XXX: The Next Level
February 12
For Real: The Story of Reality TV
Blade Runner
Blade Runner 2049
Stowaway
February 13
Rūrangi: Rising Lights
The Son Of Bigfoot
February 14
Miss Scarlett and the Duke: Season 2b
February 15
Steven Universe: Season 4-5
The Bounty Hunter
February 16
The Black Phone
February 17
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows
February 18
Wanted
February 19
Dazed and Confused
Survive
February 20
Helter Skelter: An American Myth
Last Week with John Oliver: Season 10
February 21
Book Of Love
February 22
Lethal Weapon: Season 1-3
Turbo
February 23
Above The Law
February 24
Reno 911: Season 1-6
Snowfall: Season 6
Collateral
My Sweet Monster
February 25
Last Man Standing
February 26
Over the Garden Well
Emily the Criminal
The Outfit
February 27
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
February 28
Safe Haven
TVNZ+
February 1
The Negotiators
Taskmater: Season 1-7, Season 10-12
The Medallion
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
A Son
Florianopolis Dream
Untouchable
Cold War Secrets: Stealing the Atomic Bomb
First Lady of the Revoution
Red LInes
Flowers in the Attic
Petals on the Wind
If There Be Thorns
Seeds of Yesterday
Bear Grylls: Mission Survive: Season 2
Could You Survive
Call Me Mother
Sew Fierce
Game of Bros: Season 2
Translation: Season 2
The Fantasy Makers
Are You Proud?
Beyond Driven
Making Montgomery Clift
February 3
The Ex-Wife
Act of Valour
Three Kings
End of Watch
Lockout
A Most Violent Year
No Escape
Flight of the Navigator
Short Circuit
February 4
House: Seasons 1-8
February 5
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams
February 6
When Bob Came
February 7
Bride and Prejudice
The Lake House
Music and Lyrics
The Wedding Date
Leap Year
Beautiful Creatures
Memoirs of a Geisha
February 8
The Body in the Bag
The Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell
Method of a Serial Killer
February 10
Love/Hate: Season 1-5
February 14
Beauty and the Geek UK
February 15
7.7 Billion People and Counting
February 16
Transplant: Season 3
February 17
All Eyez On Me
Killer Joe
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Dukes of Hazzard
Gary of the Pacific
February 18
One of Us Is Lying
Re: Dating While Asian
February 19
Seven Days on Mars
February 23
Bel Air: Season 2
February 24
Bad Chefs
The Duff
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Adventureland
Mid90s
February 25
The Box
February 26
Elvis: Heartbreaker
Prey: Season 1-2
February 27
The Flatshare
February 28
Upright
Disney+
February 1
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder: Season 2
The Chorus: Success
Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir: Seasons 1-4
The Simpsons: Season 33
February 3
Killing Country
Iron Man: Rise of Technovore
Sran Lee’s Mutants, Monsters and Marvels
February 8
Kindred
The Saint
America’s National Parks
Ancient Aliens: Season 18
Broke-Ass Bride
The First 48: Seasons 17-18
Love at First Flight
Storage Wars: Season 2
Storage Wars: Season 14
Storage Wars: Unlocked
February 9
Not Dead Yet
Stolen
February 10
Dug Days: Carl’s Date
Marvel Studios Legends: Episodes 1-3
Recep Ivedik 7
Baby Sharks
February 15
Mila in the Multiverse
Prime Time
The Hair Tales
American Dad: Season 18
Dance Moms: Miami
Forged in Fire: Best of Season 1
Forged in Fire: Knife or Death: Seasons 1-2
Wild Crime: Season 2
February 17
j-hope IN THE BOX
February 22
The Low Tone Club
Web of Death
Call It Love
Atlanta Plastic
Ice Road Trucks; Season 11
Intervention: Seasons 19, 21, 22
Pawn Stars: Season 2
Stan Lee’s Superhumans: Seasons 1-3
February 24
Bruiser
Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher
Amazon Prime Video
February 2
Gary and His Demons: Season 1-2
February 3
Harlem: Season 2
Hellboy
The Estate
Father Stu
February 10
Clarkson’s Farm: Season 2
Somebody That I Used To Know
February 14
Survive
February 15
The Nanny: Season 1-6
Unforgettable: Season 1-4
February 16
The Big Lebowski
The Purge: Anarchy
American Gangster
The Purge: Aanarchy
The Shield: Season 1-7
Carnival Row: Season 2
February 17
Nate Bargatze: Hello World
Joel Creasey Queen of the Outback
Rhys Nicholson’s Big Queer Comedy Concert
February 18
Star Trek: Picard: Season 3
February 20
Five Feet Apart
February 24
Die Hart
The Consultant
Apple TV+
February 3
Pinecone and Pony: Season 2
Dear Edward
February 9
A Charlie Brown Valentine
February 17
Hello Tomorrow!
Sharper
February 23
The Reluctant Traveler
February 24
Pretzel and the Puppies: Season 2
Liason
Acorn
February 6
Shetland: Season 7
February 27
Candice Renoir: Season 5
Shudder
February 2
Skinamarink
February 9
Attachment
February 16
The Witch: Part 2: The Other One