Clockwise: Marvel Studios’ Echo, Doctor Who, Fast X, Broadchurch.
Clockwise: Marvel Studios’ Echo, Doctor Who, Fast X, Broadchurch.

Pop CultureDecember 25, 2023

New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this summer break

Clockwise: Marvel Studios’ Echo, Doctor Who, Fast X, Broadchurch.
Clockwise: Marvel Studios’ Echo, Doctor Who, Fast X, Broadchurch.

What are you going to be watching over the break? We round up everything coming to streaming services for the next three weeks, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+.

The biggies

Boy Swallows Universe (on Netflix from January 11)

This limited series, based on Trent Dalton’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, follows a precocious boy and his selectively mute brother as they embark on a “suburban odyssey” of love and redemption after the Brisbane underworld tears their family apart. Fair warning: your tears may be jerked by this one. / Sam Brooks

Marvel Studios’ Echo (on Disney+ from January 10)

Once upon a time, a new Marvel Studios series would be something to celebrate. Now, however, it’s merely worth a shrug. That being said, I have to say I’m actually interested in this one: Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), pursued by Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), is forced to flee New York for her hometown in Oklahoma, where she comes to terms with her past and reconnects with her Native American roots. Perhaps the reason I’m excited is that it sounds nothing like a Marvel show! / SB

Criminal Record (on AppleTV+ from January 10)

Does AppleTV+ have the best hit rate of any of the streaming services? I’d say so! In this eight episode crime thriller, two detectives (Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo) are drawn into a confrontation by an anonymous phone call regarding an old murder case. One detective is in the early stages of her career, the other is a well-connected veteran determined to protect his legacy. Thrilling! / SB

The notables

Berlin (on Netflix from December 29)

Did you know there is a character called Berlin, played by Pedro Alonso, in Netflix’s hit series Money Heist? Now there’s also a prequel series featuring that character, played once more by Alonso, and a gang of associates as they attempt an audacious heist: stealing $44m worth of jewels in one night. / SB

Broadchurch (all seasons on ThreeNow from January 2)

There’s never a bad time to binge watch Broadchurch, and now all three seasons are in the same place so you can do just that. In the first season, Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman, pre-Oscar) investigate the death of an 11 year old boy. The subsequent seasons follow the aftermath of Danny’s death, and the rippling impact it has on the town. It’s a show that pretty much everybody who has ever seen it loves, and everybody can’t be wrong, right? / SB

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road (on Disney+ from December 26)

It’s been a hard few years to be a Doctor Who fan. Several mediocre seasons made it seem as though the show was destined to be cancelled for the second time in its 60-year history. But now, with returning talent behind and in front of the camera in the form of writer Russell T. Davies and stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate, it’s starting to feel like Doctor Who has once more been saved from extinction. The uniquely British show has partnered with Disney+, bringing international production values to a programme that has historically been made on a shoestring budget. Hype for these three specials, celebrating six decades of the Time Lord, is at an all-time high. / Stewart Sowman-Lund

The films

Fast X (on Neon from January 1)

Is Fast X a good movie? Absolutely not! Is Fast X a great movie? Absolutely yes. If you’re on the internet in 2023, I doubt you need the premise of the Fast and Furious series summarised, but just in case, it’s essentially The Avengers, but with cars, Vin Diesel and occasionally Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson star. / SB

Good Grief (on Prime Video from January 5)

Dan Levy makes his directorial debut in this film about a man, played by Levy himself,  who joins his best friends (Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel) to Paris for a weekend getaway following the death of his parents. That sounds pretty heavy, but turns out it’s actually a romantic comedy! Why not! / SB

Many, many Mission: Impossible films (on Neon from December 26)

I do not exaggerate when I say one of the best things you could do with your Christmas break is to watch all six of the pre-Dead Reckoning Mission: Impossible films. They’re all really good, especially the series’ late pivot into a joyfully ridiculous, stunt-driven star vehicle. Do yourself a favour and give them all a watch, and we’ll see you all next year with more things coming to streaming! / SB

Netflix

December 25

Ricky Gervais: Armageddon

December 26

Thank You, I’m Sorry

December 27

Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare

December 28

Pokemon Concierge

December 29

Berlin

January 1

Fool Me Once

Bitconned

You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment

January 4

The Brothers Sun

Society of the Snow

January 5

Gyeongsang Creature: Part 2

Good Grief

January 7

Dual

Alice

January 10

The Trust: A Game of Greed

Break Point: Season 2

January 11

Boy Swallows Universe

Champion

Sonic Prime: Chapter 3

January 12

Love is Blind: Sweden

Lift

January 14

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Neon

December 26

The Black Demon

Hypnotic

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible II

Mission: Impossible III

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

Mission: Impossible – Fallout

December 27

Blaze and the Monster Machines: Seasons 6-7

The Big Sick

Stuart Little 2

December 28

Shallow Grave

The Wedding Singer

Waterworld

December 29

sMothered: Seasons 3-4

December 30

Dr. Pimple Popper

Santiago of the Seas: Season 2a

High Society

December 31

Rush Hour

Rush Hour 2

January 3

Rugrats: Season 1

Belgravia: Season 1

January 5

Bump: Season 4

January 6

Nella the Princess Knight: Season 1-2

January 8

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Season 2

The Thing About Pam

January 11

Frank of Ireland

January 12

The Powerpuff Girls: Season 3

January 13

Steven Universe Future: Season 1

January 14

Quantum Leap: Season 2a

TVNZ+

N/A

ThreeNow

December 27

Bounty Hunters: Seasons 1-2

Lil Jon Wants To Do What?: Season 2

January 2

Broadchurch: Seasons 1-3

January 3

Code of a Killer

January 4

All That Glitters: Season 2

January 8

Alaskan Bush People

January 9

River

January 11

Informer 3838

January 14

The Bridge: Seasons 1-2

Prime Video

December 28

The Pope’s Exorcist

January 1

Marry My Husband

Wicker Park

West Side Story

Invaders from Mars

Once Bitten

The Long Riders

Mystic Pizza

Joy Ride

January 2

Bank of Dave

January 4

Barbarian

January 5

Foe

James May: Our Man in India

January 12

Role Play

Jesus Revolution

Disney+

December 26

The Church on Ruby Road

December 27

Raffa: Season 1

January 3

Ishura: Season 1

Truth and Lies: The Last Gangster

January 10

Marvel Studios’ Echo

Bob’s Burgers: Season 14

The Secret Life of Dancing Dogs: Season 1

January 11

Daughters of the Cult

Apple TV+

January 10

Criminal Record

AMC+/Acorn TV

December 25

The Madame Blanc Mysteries

January 8

Cheat

Shudder

January 1

Possession (1981)

Tower Block

Homebound

January 8

Swallowed

The Outwaters

Hayu

N/A

Keep going!