Movies and Shows to Stream

The Promised Neverland (Netflix)

The single season this show has under its belt BLEW ME AWAY with how perfectly crafted it was. This may be a cartoon series but I assure you it is not for kids. It follows a group of orphans who live in an orphanage secluded from the world by a wall and ran by their "mother" figure, Isabella. All the children are raised with rigorous mental exercise, with our three main protagonists (Emma, Norman, and Roy) being the oldest and smartest of the group. However, they soon discover the horrifying truth of their existence. I won't tell you anything more since it's best left to be experienced organically, but I promise you'll be hooked. Each episode uncovers something new, yet asks two new questions. It is a beautiful story that is both haunting and tear-jerking at the same time. Not only are the 3 oldest kids some of the most compelling protagonists I've ever seen in a show (especially Emma), but the show has one of the best written antagonist I've ever seen as well. Give it a shot.

Mindhunter (Netflix)

Here is your reminder to watch this absolute gem of a series from master director David Fincher (guy who did Social Network, Girl in the Dragon Tattoo, and Gone Girl). Based on the true story of the birth of criminal psychology, it follows two detectives as they travel around the US interviewing some of America's most notorious serial killers. It is one of the most haunting, yet fascinating psychological thrillers out there as we see very real conversations from truly evil people play out in Fincher's signature style.

Better Call Saul (Netflix)

The prequel series to Breaking Bad, arguably the greatest show of all time, can very well stand on its own two feet. I'd go even further and say that it has distinguished itself as its own masterpiece. I watched this fairly recently and to be honest, I forgot most of what happened on Breaking Bad besides a few main characters. Yet, I binged the hell out of this show anyways. Bob Odenkirk adds so many layers to the goofy, crooked lawyer from Breaking Bad and creates one of television's most compelling protagonists.

Ocean's Eleven (Netflix)

Whoops, not me recommending this movie for the 3rd time. How can I not? It's one of the coolest, most stylish movies of all time. Every line of dialogue is how you wish you sounded. In my head, I picture myself sounding like George Clooney being the coolest guy of all time, but in reality my voice just cracked. A casino heist with humor and wit being delivered by some of Hollywood's most charismatic actors is a movie that I have no problem watching for the 100th time.

Palm Springs (Hulu)

Arguably one of my favorite movies released in 2020. Palm Springs follows Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two wedding attendees who get trapped in an Groundhog-day-like time loop. What plays out is an absolutely hilarious romantic comedy with some surprisingly profound themes. All around, this is just a great movie that takes a old troupe and slaps a new coat of paint on it, giving us what I'd call the best comedy of 2020.

The Truman Show (Hulu and Amazon Prime)

This is, hands down, one of my favorite movies of all time. It stars Jim Carrey (in his finest role in my opinion) as Truman Burbank, a seemingly normal insurance salesman who slowly begins to realize that his entire life has been a reality TV show broadcasted to the entire world. Seems kind of ridiculous, but yet the movie handles it with such care. You see how they groomed Truman from a young age to never want to leave his home town (that's actually a giant movie set). How they gaslight him throughout his moments of doubt, and how he begins to cope with the fact that everyone in his entire life, even his wife and mother, are all paid actors. It's profound themes about reality and the promise of utopia is mirrored by its deep satire of media and how we consume it. Combine all of that with great situational comedy from Jim Carrey and you have a film that will make you laugh and cry at the drop of a hat.

Gone Girl (Hulu)

A must-watch if you like psychological/crime thrillers. David Fincher delivers a masterfully-told adaption of the famous novel that your mom has definitely read on the beach at one point. It follows the disappearance of Amy and the framing of her husband. Ben Affleck plays the husband, Nick, the guy everyone loves to hate, which isn't too far from Ben Affleck himself. Rosemund Pike gives an Oscar-worthy performance in her role as the missing Amy. Add an absolutely star-studded supporting cast and you have a murder mystery that gets more and more crazy with each scene.

Up in the Air (Hulu and Amazon Prime)

A very feel-good, yet very sobering and realistic look at the concept of firing people. Up in the air takes the trust people once had in their jobs and pulls the rug out. George Clooney plays a guy whose job is it fire people for bosses who are too scared to do it themselves. Anna Kendrick plays an idealistic recent college grad who has to accompany Clooney on the road as they fly from city to city, firing people along the way. While it is a comedy first and foremost, it does not shy away from the deeply sad and depressing reality of losing your job. This movie sticks with you, and is one of those films that I fully believe everyone will like and will relate to in some way.

Soul (Disney+)

Do you want to be sent into an existential crisis in the best way possible? Watch this beautifully-animated addition to Pixar's already stellar lineup. Remember when you cried because Pixar took on the aspect of emotions in Inside Out? Well now they want to send you even further into its death spiral of emotions and tackled the concept of death and our purpose in life. Please do yourself a favor and watch it, because this studio simply does not miss.

Chronicle (HBO)

One of the most underrated and slept on movies in the last 20 years in my opinion. This sleeper hit from 2012 plays out as a POV-style movie via cameras and follows three high school kids as they accidentally develop superpowers. Andrew, the loner of the group and owner of the camera that films everything, is impacted the most by this new power. While the other two are popular in school and don't feel the need to use their new powers for themselves, Andrew has a bad home life and is deeply insecure. What follows might be one of the greatest and most realistic villain origin stories I've ever seen. This was Joker eight years before Joker came out.

Hacksaw Ridge (HBO)

One of the greatest war movies ever put to film, Hacksaw Ridge follows the absolutely mind-boggling true story of one of WWII's greatest heroes, Desmond Doss. Doss was a small-town kid who, being deeply religious, vowed never to hold a weapon. Despite the harsh treatment he received from both his superiors and his fellow soldiers, he went on to save around 50-100 wounded soldiers over the course of one night. It's incredibly powerful and and does justice to one of the bravest men from WWII who always said he, "wanted to save lives while everyone else was taking them."