This week on streaming services, we’ve got a blockbuster action film, an Oscar-winning dramatic thriller, and a bunch of notable indies and Certified Fresh TV. Read on for the full list.
This documentary — originally shown in IMAX 3D — follows entomologist Fred Urquhart’s decades-long efforts to document the extraordinary seasonal migrations of monarch butterflies.
Available now on: Netflix
Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem star in the Coen brothers’ Oscar-winning dramatic thriller about a man who discovers a briefcase full of cash, the deadly hitman ordered to retrieve it, and the grizzled local sheriff trying to make sense of it all.
Available now on: Netflix
This coming-of-age drama follows a French teenager’s troubled family life and misadventures in the Soviet Union.
Available now on: Netflix
Bill Murray plays a curmudgeon with a heart in St. Vincent, about a Vietnam vet who forges an unlikely friendship with a neighborhood boy. Naomi Watts and Melissa McCarthy costar.
Available now on: Netflix
In this psychological horror film, a pregnant newlywed couple are terrorized by their invasive new landlord.
Available now on: Netflix
This Turkish horror film tells the terrifying tale of a group of cops who stumble into an otherworldly realm.
Available now on: Netflix
Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson star in this widely acclaimed thriller, in which the IMF is on the run from both the government and a shadowy band of bad guys.
Available now on: Amazon Prime
Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander star in this Best Foreign Film nominee, a period drama about a doctor who seduces the soon-to-be queen of Denmark.
Available now on: Amazon Prime
This documentary takes a look at the life of Maila Nurmi, the woman who played television horror icon Vampira during the 1950s.
Available now on: Amazon Prime
WGN’s Certified Fresh drama centers on a group of slaves living in Georgia during the pre-Civil War plantation era who plot to escape north together with the help of the Underground Railroad.
Available now on: Hulu
David Morse and Ryan Hurst lead an ensemble cast in this WGN drama about the power struggles within an Appalachian community living off the grid in rural Kentucky.
Available now on: Hulu
Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny star in Whit Stillman‘s adaptation of the Jane Austen novel about a widow who attracts the attention of three suitors.
Available now on: Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes
This documentary profiles a Ukrainian preacher who made it a personal mission to save local kids from addiction.
Available now on: Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes
This documentary examines the complex relationship between Argentinian tango dancers Maria Nieves Rego and Juan Carlos Copes.
Available now on: FandangoNow, iTunes
This Certified Fresh French drama is the story of an aging factory worker who’s laid off and begins a new job as a supermarket security guard.
Available now on: Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes
Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes. and Dakota Johnson star in this drama about an injured rock star whose recuperation from an injury is interrupted when she’s visited by an old flame.
Available now on: Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes
Craig Robinson stars in this coming-of-age drama about a teen who moves to Germany with his father and learns to adjust to his new life.
Available now on: Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes
Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island partners Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone starin this Spinal Tap-esque satire of the modern mainstream pop scene and 21st century celebrity in general.
Available now on: Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes
From the highly acclaimed to the aw-that’s-a-shame, these are the best and worst reviewed television series by network. Unsurprisingly, networks with just a few shows, like BBC America and TBS, fared much better overall than those with more. Even with 10 shows on the docket, though, HBO still managed to stay entirely Fresh; its lowest-rated series is Animals at 60 percent. See below for the full breakdown.
Series included are currently on the air and have not aired their final episode as of May 18th, 2016.
As we ramp up into summer, we reflect upon the 2016 winter/spring season, which brought with it a handful of top-notch TV shows worthy of Certified Fresh status. Whether they be series premieres or new seasons of returning shows, we’ve got all of them here in one place for you. Did your favorites make the list? Sound off in the comments below.
It’s time for our weekly countdown of the Winter TV premieres! Here are the best new shows for the week of Friday, March 11. See how this week’s shows, Flaked, Of Kings and Prophets, Underground, and Damien stack up against each other on the Tomatometer!
This week at the movies, we’ve got a confused captive (10 Cloverfield Lane, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman), an unlikely spy (The Brothers Grimsby, starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Strong), seven-year-old Jesus (The Young Messiah, starring Adam Greaves-Neal and Sara Lazzaro), and a serial dater (The Perfect Match, starring Terrence J. Corwley and Cassie Ventura). What do the critics have to say?
We’ve learned to be cynical when it comes to sequels and spinoffs, but there are always exceptions, and 10 Cloverfield Lane looks like it might be a perfect example. Cut from a different corner of the same canvas that produced 2008’s Cloverfield, this J.J. Abrams-produced feature ignores its predecessor’s rampaging alien in favor of dispensing an altogether different type of thriller. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Michelle, a young woman who awakens after a catastrophe to find herself locked in a bunker with a doomsday prophet (John Goodman) who insists they’re in the last safe place on Earth. It’s a solid premise, and the critics say director Dan Trachtenberg (working from a script by Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken, and Damien Chazelle) makes the most of it, navigating the viewer through a tense, unpredictable maze of nail-biting twists and turns.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s method of confrontational performance-art comedy works brilliantly within the context of a mockumentary like Borat, but Cohen has struggled to find his footing on more traditional narrative ground. That tradition unfortunately continues with The Brothers Grimsby, which finds Cohen playing a dimwitted Englishman who sets out to reunite with his long-lost brother (Mark Strong) unaware that his younger sibling is a lethal spy — and one who’s on the run after being framed for a dastardly crime. While Cohen’s scatological silliness may resonate with hardcore fans (or viewers with an extreme fondness for low humor), most critics have dismissed Grimsby as a disjointed, uneven comedy whose eagerness to test the limits of decency ultimately creates a numbing effect.
Most of us are quite familiar with stories of Jesus’ birth, his ministry, and his death and resurrection. But what happened during his childhood? It’s an intriguing premise, and though The Young Messiah doesn’t have a whole lot of reviews at press time, the critics who have seen it say it’s thoughtful, well-acted, and dramatically satisfying.
The Perfect Match wasn’t screened for critics prior to its release in theaters. It’s a romantic comedy about a inveterate ladies man who meets a woman that makes him reconsider his wanton ways. Time to guess the Tomatometer!
Underground blends credible terror with enough compelling thrills to overcome the storyline’s occasional cliches.
Of Kings and Prophets tries to add a Game of Thrones-inspired spin to the Old Testament, but ends up an aimless muddle.
Damien is a horror series in need of some horror — not to mention better writing and more interesting characters.
Also Opening This Week In Limited Release
RT talked to Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, and Christopher Meloni from Underground, about how, although it’s a show about history, it’s surprisingly modern, and also a rocket ride. And how the cast wants very much to honor the characters and time depicted, and make them real people brought to life. Check it out!
This week in TV news, the next America’s Next Top Model, Xena gets a reboot, casting news, and more!
Yesterday, WGN America screened its highly anticipated original series Underground at the White House as part of the White House Office of Public Engagement’s Black History Month event, “These Hallowed Grounds.” Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to President Barack Obama, provided opening remarks, and the premiere episode was lauded by attendees at the event. Prior to the screening, the Underground cast and creative team, including executive producers John Legend and Akiva Goldsman and stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Christopher Meloni, Alano Miller, Jessica de Gouw and Amirah Vann, participated in panel discussions in which they elaborated on the inspiration behind the escape thriller. Underground premieres Wednesday, March 9th on WGN America.
Here it is: the ever-growing list of mid-season premieres for winter and spring, 2016. Included here are series and season premieres, as well as returns of shows that will have been on hiatus for a couple of months or more. So mark your calendars now. Will “peak TV” continue peaking in 2016? You be the judge.
January | February | March | April | TBA
Friday, Jan. 1
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride special event, 9 p.m., PBS
Sunday, Jan. 3
Galavant season two premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Downton Abbey season six premiere, 8 pm, PBS
Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life series premiere, FOX
Bordertown series premiere, 9:30 p.m., FOX
Monday, Jan. 4
The Bachelor, season 20 premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
The Biggest Loser season 17 premiere, 9 p.m., NBC
Tuesday, Jan. 5
The New Girl season five premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Teen Wolf season five return, 9 p.m., MTV
The Shannara Chronicles series premiere, 10 p.m., MTV
Wednesday, Jan. 6
American Idol season 15 premiere, 8 p.m., FOX
Mike & Molly season six premiere, 8 p.m., CBS
American Crime season two premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 11 premiere, 10 p.m., FXX
Man Seeking Woman season two premiere, 10:30 p.m., FXX
Thursday, Jan. 7
Angel from Hell series premiere, 9:30 p.m., CBS
Beyond the Tank season two premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
Shades of Blue series premiere, 10 p.m., NBC
Todd Margaret season three premiere, 10 p.m., IFC
Sunday, Jan. 10
Shameless season six premiere, 9 p.m., SHO
Tuesday, Jan. 12
Pretty Little Liars season six return, 8 p.m., Freeform
Shadowhunters series premiere, 9 p.m., Freeform
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Second Chance series premiere, 9 p.m., FOX
Younger season two premiere, 10 p.m., TV Land
Teachers series premiere, 11 p.m., TV Land
Thursday, Jan. 14
Colony series premiere, 10 p.m., USA
Workaholics season six premiere, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Idiotsitter series premiere, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central
Friday, Jan. 15
Hell’s Kitchen season 15 premiere, 9 p.m., FOX
Sunday, Jan. 17
Angie Tribeca series premiere, 9 p.m., TBS
Billions series premiere, 10 p.m., Showtime
Mercy Street series premiere, 10 p.m., PBS
Monday, Jan. 18
War & Peace series premiere, 9 p.m., A&E, Lifetime, History
Almost Royal season two premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Hit the Floor season three premiere, 10 p.m., VH1
Tuesday, Jan. 19
Marvel’s Agent Carter season two premiere, 9 p.m., ABC
Thursday, Jan. 21
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow series premiere, 8 p.m., CW
The 100 season three premiere, 9 p.m., CW
Baskets series premiere, 10 p.m., FX
London Spy series US premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Portlandia season six premiere, 10 p.m., IFC
Dark Net series premiere, 11 p.m., Showtime
Friday, Jan. 22
Chelsea Does series premiere, Netflix
Mad Dogs series premiere, Amazon Studios
Children’s Hospital season seven premiere, 11 p.m., Comedy Central, Adult Swim
Saturday, Jan. 23
Black Sails season three, 9 p.m., Starz
Beowulf series premiere, 10 p.m., Esquire
Sunday, Jan. 24
The X-Files season 10 premiere, 10 p.m., FOX
Monday, Jan. 25
The Fosters season three return, 8 p.m., Freeform
American Dad! season 12 premiere, 8:30 p.m., TBS
Lucifer series premiere, 9 p.m., FOX
The Magicians series premiere, 9 p.m., SyFy
Recovery Road series premiere, 9 p.m., Freeform
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Outsiders series premiere, 9 p.m., WGN
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Lucha Underground season two premiere, 9 p.m., El Rey
Suits season five return, 10 p.m., USA
Thursday, Jan. 28
You, Me and the Apocalypse series premiere, 8 p.m., NBC
Friday, Jan. 29
The Vampire Diaries season seven return, 8 p.m., CW
The Originals season three return, 9 p.m., CW
Sunday, Jan. 31
The Venture Bros season six premiere, midnight, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim
Tuesday, Feb. 2
The Muppets season one return, 8 p.m., ABC
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson series premiere, 10 p.m., FX
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Madoff series premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Young & Hungry season three premiere, 8 p.m., Freeform
Baby Daddy season five premiere, 8:30 p.m., Freeform
Friday, Feb. 5
Sleepy Hollow season three return, 8 p.m., FOX
Animals series premiere, 11:30 p.m., HBO
Monday, Feb. 8
Castle season eight return, 10 p.m., ABC
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Tosh.0 season eight return, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Not Safe with Nikki Glaser series premiere, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central
Thursday, Feb. 11
Grey’s Anatomy season 12 return, 8 p.m., ABC
Scandal season five return, 9 p.m., ABC
How to Get Away with Murder season two return, 10 p.m., ABC
Those Who Can’t series premiere, 10:30 p.m., TruTV
Friday, Feb. 12
The Amazing Race season 28 return, 8 p.m., CBS
Sunday, Feb. 14
The Walking Dead season six return, 9 p.m., AMC
Vinyl series premiere, 9 p.m., HBO
Monday, Feb. 15
11.22.63 series premiere, Hulu
Major Crimes season four return, 9 p.m., TNT
Better Call Saul season two premiere, 10 p.m., AMC
Bitten season three premiere 11 p.m., Syfy
Tuesday, Feb. 16
The New Yorker Presents series premiere, Amazon Studios
Rizzoli & Isles season seven premiere, 9 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Survivor season 32 premiere, 8 p.m., CBS
Broad City season three premiere, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Thursday, Feb. 18
Vikings season four premiere, 8 p.m., History
Friday, Feb. 19
Love series premiere, Netflix
Sunday, Feb. 21
Girls season five premiere, 10 p.m., HBO
Togetherness season two premiere, 10:30 p.m., HBO
Thursday, Feb. 25
Prey miniseries premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Friday, Feb. 26
Fuller House series premiere, Netflix
Monday, Feb. 29
Gotham season two return, 8 p.m., FOX
The Voice season 10 premiere, 8 p.m., NBC
Blindspot season one return, 10 p.m., NBC
Back to Top
Wednesday, Mar. 2
Rosewood season one return, 8 p.m., Fox
The Real O’Neals series premiere, 8:30 p.m., ABC
CSI: Cyber season two return, 10 p.m., CBS
Hap and Leonard series premiere 10 p.m., Sundance
Thursday, Mar. 3
The Family series premiere, 9 p.m., ABC
Friday, Mar. 4
House of Cards season four, Netflix
Sunday, Mar. 6
Once Upon a Time season five return, 8 p.m., ABC
I Am Cait season two premiere, 9 p.m., E!
Quantico season one return, 10 p.m., ABC
Monday, Mar. 7
Bates Motel season four premiere, 9 p.m., A&E
Damien series premiere, 10 p.m., A&E
Tuesday, Mar. 8
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season three return, 9 p.m., ABC
Of Kings and Prophets series premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
Wednesday, Mar. 9
The Carmichael Show season two preview, 10 p.m., NBC
Underground series premiere, 10 p.m., WGN
Thursday, Mar. 10
60 Days In series premiere, 9 p.m., A&E
Friday, Mar. 11
Bosch season two premiere, Amazon
The Characters series premiere, Netflix
Flaked series premiere, Netflix
Party Over Here series premiere, 11 p.m., FOX
Sunday, Mar. 13
And Then There Were None miniseries US premiere, 8 p.m., Lifetime
The Carmichael Show season two premiere, 9 p.m., NBC
Tuesday, Mar. 15
Crowded series preview episodes, 10:00 p.m., NBC
Faking It season three premiere, 10:30 p.m., MTV
Wednesday, Mar. 16
Happy Valley season two premiere, Netflix
Schitt’s Creek season two premiere, 8 p.m., POP
Nashville season four return, 9 p.m., ABC
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders series premiere, 10 p.m., CBS
The Americans season four premiere, 10 p.m., FX
Friday, Mar. 18
Marvel’s Daredevil season two premiere, Netflix
Sunday, Mar. 20
Crowded series premiere, 9:30 pm, NBC
Monday, Mar. 21
Dancing with the Stars season 22 premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Tuesday, Mar. 22
Heartbeat series preview, 9 p.m., NBC
Stitchers season two premiere, 10 p.m., Freeform
Wednesday, Mar. 23
Heartbeat series premiere, 8 p.m., NBC
Rogue season four premiere, 9 p.m., DirecTV
The Carbonaro Effect season two premiere , 10 p.m., TruTV
Sunday, Mar. 27
Grantchester season two premiere, 9 p.m., PBS
Mr. Selfridge season four premiere, 10 p.m., PBS
Thursday, Mar. 24
The Catch series premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
Wednesday, Mar. 30
The Path series premiere, Hulu
Empire season two return, 9 p.m., FOX
Lopez series premiere, 10 p.m., TVLand
The Soul Man season five, 10:30 p.m., TV Land
Thursday, Mar. 31
Archer season seven premiere, FX
Rush Hour series premiere, 10 p.m., CBS
Friday, Apr. 1
The Ranch season premiere, Netflix
Banshee season four premiere, Cinemax
Motive season three premiere (US), 10 p.m., USA
Wynonna Earp series premiere, 10 p.m., SyFy
Sunday, Apr. 3
Call the Midwife season five premiere, 8 p.m., PBS
Thursday, Apr. 7
The Odd Couple season two premiere, 8:30 p.m., CBS
Friday, Apr. 8
Catastrophe season two premiere, Amazon
Saturday, Apr. 9
Outlander season two premiere, 9 p.m., Starz
Sunday, Apr. 10
The Girlfriend Experience series premiere, 8 p.m., Starz
House of Lies season five premiere, 9 p.m., Showtime
Dice series premiere, 9:30 p.m., Showtime
Fear the Walking Dead season two premiere, 10 p.m., AMC
Monday, Apr. 11
The Detour series premiere, 9 p.m., TBS
Hunters series premiere, 10 p.m., SyFy
Tuesday, Apr. 12
Ajin: Demi-Human series premiere, Netflix
The Mindy Project season four return, Hulu
Game of Silence series premiere, 10:00 p.m., NBC
Wednesday, Apr. 13
The Last Panthers series premiere, 10 p.m., SundanceTV
Thursday, Apr. 14
Bones season 11 return, 8 p.m., FOX
Orphan Black season four premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Friday, Apr. 15
Cuckoo season three US premiere, Netflix
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt season two premiere, Netflix
Monday, Apr. 18
12 Monkeys season two premiere, 9 p.m., SyFy
Tuesday, Apr. 19
Containment series premiere, 9 p.m., CW
The Night Manager miniseries premiere, AMC
Wednesday, Apr. 20
Deadbeat series 3 premiere, Hulu
Sunday, Apr. 24
Game of Thrones season six premiere, 9 p.m., HBO
Rebellion miniseries premiere, 9 p.m., Sundance
Silicon Valley season three premiere, 10 p.m., HBO
Veep season five premiere, 10:30 p.m., HBO
Monday, Apr. 25
Turn season three premiere, 10 p.m., AMC
The Last Man on Earth season two return, FOX