Another week, another fresh crop of new movies and TV shows on streaming services. But for the second consecutive weekend in December, there is a noticeable lack of holiday-themed arrivals to add to your winter watchlist. Maybe we’re all on the naughty list this year.
Still, holiday frustrations aside, Netflix, Prime Video, and HBO Max have all offered an eye-catching bundle of new content to enjoy over the next few days, with season 3 of Pinocchio and its dark Guillermo del Toro material leading the charge.
Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the biggest new movies and TV shows available to watch on streaming services this weekend.
Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro (Netflix)
Who said Netflix lost its love of originality? With Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the streamer breathed new life into Carlo Collodi’s beloved 1883 fairy tale about a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy.
Shot entirely using stop-motion animation (similar to the Netflix series House), del Toro’s darker adaptation takes place in the 1930s during Mussolini’s fascist regime and features an all-star voice cast including Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Cate Blanchett and others.
Forrest Gump filmmaker Robert Zemeckis recently brought in Pinocchio to live on Disney Plus, although we called the film “a somewhat magical remake whose strings ultimately hold it together.” But del Toro’s version of this age-old story is indisputably one of those best Netflix movies in years. A must see.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
His Dark Materials season 3 (HBO Max)
After a hysteria-inducing start to 2019, the HBO and BBC series His Dark Materials has failed to maintain the same level of popularity for years. The third and final season of the series arrives, carrying the burden of responsibility on its shoulders.
Based on The Amber Spyglass – the third novel in Philip Pullman’s eponymous novel trilogy – His Dark Materials Season 3 picks up immediately after Lyra’s (Dafne Keen) kidnapping at the hands of her mother, Marisa Coulter (Ruth Wilson), at the end of season two, and follows Will (Amir Wilson) as he tries to save her.
In our review, we called the last tour in the series “a wonderful but inconsistent conclusion to one of. the best HBO Max series“. The first two episodes of His Dark Materials season 3 are now available to stream on HBO Max, with the remaining six coming weekly every Monday. UK fans will have to wait until December 18 to see the series return on BBC iPlayer.
Now available to stream on HBO Max.
Harry and Meghan (Netflix)
Look out for the influx of defamatory tabloid headlines: Harry and Meghan have started streaming on Netflix.
In this six-part documentary series, split into two volumes, the former Duke and Duchess of Sussex give their version of the controversial royal story that stretches from the couple’s seemingly fairy-tale marriage in 2018.
The first three episodes of the series explore themes of duty, race, and alleged betrayal, although the next three episodes – which are set to air on December 15 – will reportedly deepen the drama even further. Expect a long fallout from (and for) Harry and Meghan.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
Emancipation (Apple TV Plus)
Will Smith returns with his first film role that Oscar controversy with Emancipation on Apple TV Plus.
Southpaw director Antoine Fuqua’s truly story-inspired historical drama follows Smith as an escaped slave, Peter, who must outsmart hunters and navigate the deadly swamps of Louisiana on his journey to safety in the north.
So far, reviews of Emancipation have been overwhelmingly mixed, with some critics calling Smith’s return “torture porn” and others calling it “a tough, suspenseful chase thriller.” When we watch this weekend for ourselves, we’ll decide if it warrants a place on our list the best movies on Apple TV.
Now available to stream on Apple TV Plus.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (Disney Plus)
Admittedly, The Muppet Christmas Carol isn’t a new movie (in the traditional sense), but Disney’s beloved holiday classic is now available to stream on Disney Plus for the first time.
To celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary – which falls on Sunday, December 11 – this version of the Charles Dickens adaptation starring Michael Caine features an additional “lost” song, When Love Is Gone, performed by Caine and Meredith Braun.
You shouldn’t need a reason to re-watch The Muppet Christmas Carol – one of them, no doubt best christmas movies – in December, but you have a pretty convincing one now.
Now available to stream on Disney Plus.
Little America Season 2 (Apple TV Plus)
Along with Emancipation, season 2 of Little America arrives on Apple TV Plus this weekend.
An eight-part comedy anthology again based on a series of inspirational immigrant stories published in Epic magazine – from producers Lee Eisenberg (The Office), Siân Heder (CODA) and Kumail Nanjiani (eternal) – aims to warm your heart with a variety of stories about hope and happiness.
Sure, it might sound a little too sugary for your tastes, but the second season of Little America has been almost universally praised for being “an essential treasure in the television landscape.” Trust us: watch this one before it gets cool.
Now available to stream on Apple TV Plus.
Something From Tiffany (Best Video)
Okay, maybe we lied when we said there were absolutely no new holiday movies this weekend.
Something from Tiffany on Prime Video is the quintessential holiday romantic comedy. According to the official synopsis of the film, it’s about a woman (Zoey Deutch) whose life is turned upside down when an engagement ring meant for someone else leads her to the person (Kendrick Simpson) she’s supposed to be with.
We doubt this one will make it onto our list the best Prime Videosbut we’ll admit that Something From Tiffany’s looks like a charming enough story for these cold winter months.
Now available to stream on Prime Video.