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What to Watch in a Sea of Choices

Home of "The List"

2 MANY CHOICES

Quick Recommendations on the Best Options - 

In Theaters, On Demand and the Main Streamers

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THE LIST - If it isn't on here, it's just average

In Theaters and On-Demand Only Movies:

  • Top Gun: Maverick (Rating 8.5 out of 10) - A truly exhilarating follow up to the cheesy original. Chock full of amazing action sequences that feel as real as any action sequences I've ever seen. Tom Cruise is terrific and the supporting cast is aces

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  • Everything Everywhere All at Once (Rating 8 out of 10) - This is a stunning, visceral thrill ride with strong emotion and a great performance by Michelle Yeoh. Weird, wild and emotional​

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  • The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Rating 7.5 out of 10) - A creative, energetic and funny original that tells a fictional tale about Nicolas Cage having to use his most famous roles to get out of trouble​

 

​Runners-Up: Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (7) - a solid horror film but overrated Emily the Criminal (7) - a decent thriller about unlikeable people performing credit card fraud Nope (7) - an average entry from director Jordan Peele

STREAMERS:

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 MOVIES

 Newer:  

  • Hustle (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Adam Sandler should now just stick with drama/dramedies. No more stupid movies! This is a solid film about an aging NBA scout with a strong lead performance from Sandler. A bit formulaic but fun

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  • Power of the Dog (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A slow burner Western about masculinity that builds tension expertly, but the pay-off is not quite there. Still recommend for the great performances

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  • My Octopus Teacher (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A wonderful, heartwarming documentary that is truly unforgettable about a man forming a bond with an octopus

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 Runners-Up: Lou (6.5) The Rental (6.5), The Harder They Fall (6.5), The Alpinist (7), Extraction (6.5)​

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 A Few Older Gems:  

  • The Shawshank Redemption (Rating - 9.5 out of 10) - One of the best films ever made. It's a must watch

    

  • How to Train Your Dragon (Rating - 9 out of 10) - One of the best non-Disney animated films about a group of Vikings learning that dragons are not their enemy. Full of emotion and heart

    

  • Saving Private Ryan (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Spielberg in the zone. Perfect WWII film with indelible performances and emotional power

    

  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Stupid, goofy humor done to near-perfection by a talented and funny cast of Brits

    

  • Argo (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Ben Affleck has never been better; a riveting thriller with constant tension and suspense

    

  • Full Metal Jacket (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A masterpiece about the mindset of war and the effects of it on our service people 

    

  • Blade II (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A fun, exciting and weird Marvel vampire film with an engaging story and cast - the anti-Morbius

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Some More Excellent Movies: Collateral (8), Nightcrawler (7), Wind River (7.5), Dunkirk (7), Silver Linings Playbook (7.5), Warrior (8), Creep (7), The Gift (7), Molly's Game (7), Django Unchained (7.5), Looper (7), The Conjuring (9), The Social Network (8.5), Donnie Brasco (8), Michael Clayton (8.5), Let Me In (8.5), Casino Royale (8), Moneyball (7), Into the Wild (8), The Town (8)​

    

 SERIES

 Newer:  

  • Our Great National Parks (Rating - 7 out of 10) - If you're a fan of the great outdoors and visiting national parks, this docu-series, narrated by President Obama, is a wonderful, informative and beautiful new series (1 season, 5 episodes)

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  • Heartstopper (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A sweet and joyful romance series about two high schoolers falling in love (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • Mo (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A sharp, funny dramedy about an Palestinian immigrant straddling different cultures in Houston (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • The Sandman (Rating - 7 out of 10) - If you're unfamiliar with its source material, this will be a surprising, fascinating fantasy series about the Sandman trying to find his tools of power after a long hiatus. The series is a bit confusing and could use a tighter narrative, but it is undeniably a cool and visually rich series (1 season, 10 episodes)​​

  

  • Squid Game (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Definition of a binge-able series; weird, violent and exciting tale from Korea about poor citizens agreeing to participate in children's games for money and getting more than they bargained for. Lee Jung-Jae is terrific (1 Season, 9 Episodes)

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  • Russian Doll (Rating - 7 out of 10) - An odd, exhilarating series about a woman caught in a time loop. Season one plays like a mini-series with what seemed like a complete end, but season two has found a way to continue the story in an exciting way (2 seasons, 15 episodes)

    

  • Narcos: Mexico (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Intense and terrific saga about the origins of the Mexican drug war, full of great performances and intense scenes (3 seasons, 30 episodes)

    

  • Mindhunter (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Tense and intelligent procedural about the FBI's first dealings with some of the most notorious serial killers (2 seasons, 19 episodes)

    

  • Unbelievable (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Emotional miniseries about rape with truly magnificent performances (1 Season, 8 episodes)

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  • ​Cobra Kai (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A wonderfully funny, warm and exciting (and sometimes cheesy) series that asks whatever happened to Johnny and Daniel from The Karate Kid (5 Seasons, 50 episodes NEW SEASON ALERT - season five episodes out now)

    

  • Ozark (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Strong, riveting series about a family laundering money for a drug cartel and trying to find their way out. It's had some great moments (season three was a masterpiece) but limps to the finish (4 seasons, 44 episodes)

    

  • The Kominsky Method (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Very funny series about two old guys aging in Hollywood. Surprisingly emotional in spots. Michael Douglas is great, but Alan Arkin and Paul Reiser steal the show (3 seasons, 22 episodes)

    

  • Dark (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A mind-blower of a thriller, full of wild sci-fi twists and turns from Germany (3 seasons, 26 episodes)

    

  • The Sinner (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Each season follows the same detective figuring out the "why" behind a gruesome crime. A very intelligent and interesting series, full of great performances (4 seasons, 32 episodes - season 4 not yet on Netflix)

    

  • Better Call Saul (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Could this be a better, tenser, more emotional series than its predecessor Breaking Bad? Yup. Can't say enough great things about this series. (6 seasons, 57 episodes - Season 6 on AMC not Netflix)

    

  • Midnight Mass (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - When a young priest shows up under mysterious circumstances to a fishing village on a remote island, horrors begin to unfold. A smart, tense and soulful horror series with a magnificent lead performance by Hamish Linklater. (1 season, 7 episodes)

    

  • Kingdom (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A zombie plague begins to spread across medieval Japan. This is how to do a zombie show - exciting, emotional and intense (2 seasons, 12 episodes)

    

  • Godless (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A more female-driven Western series with strong performances and constant tension throughout (1 season, 7 episodes)

    

  • When They See Us (Rating - 8 out of 10) - An emotional and harrowing series about the true story of the wrongful conviction of the Central Park Five (1 season, 4 episodes)

    

  • Schitt's Creek (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A hilarious and truly heartwarming sitcom series from Canada about a wealthy family forced to live in a small run-down hotel in a small run-down town. The four main characters are played to utter perfection. (6 seasons, 79 episodes)

    

  • Stranger Things (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Supernatural mystery series about strange things unfolding in a small American town in the 1980s. Exciting, tense and funny series with some truly knock-out scenes and a couple great performances.  The fourth season is its best yet! (4 seasons, 32 episodes)

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  • Grace and Frankie (Rating - 7 out of 10) - If you're a fan of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin and also loved The Kominsky Method, this show is a no-brainer. A very funny series that gets better and better with each season (the first season is just average though) (7 seasons, 94 episodes)

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Runners-Up: Lincoln Lawyer (6), Dahmer (6), The Midnight Club (6), The Last Kingdom (6.5), Bridgerton (6), Vikings Valhalla (6.5), Maid (7), The Witcher (6), You (6), Money Heist (6), The Queen's Gambit (7), Bodyguard (7), Dead to Me (7), The Chestnut Man (7), Peaky Blinders (6.5), Glow (6.5), Alias Grace (7)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Breaking Bad (Rating - 9 out of 10) - A high school chemistry teacher with cancer decides to get into the meth business with disastrous results. An all-time classic with one of a towering lead performance (5 seasons, 62 episodes)

    

  • Gilmore Girls (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Sweet, fast, funny and quirky series about a mom and her daughter navigating life. A feel good classic (8 seasons, 157 episodes)

    

  • Friday Night Lights (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A series about small town life in football crazy Texas. Emotional, well-written. (5 seasons, 76 episodes)

    

  • Downton Abbey -(Rating - 8.5 out of 10) Soapy and melodramatic series about a super wealthy family and its servants in the early 1900s. Fascinating and addictive to watch (5 seasons, 50 episodes)

    

  • Seinfeld - (Rating - 8.5 out of 10)Sitcom about 4 single friends in New York City, all-time classic comedy (9 seasons, 183 episodes)

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MOVIES

 Newer:  

  • Prey (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A riveting and exciting entry in the Predator franchise that focuses on a Native American warrior going up against a Predator in the 1700s. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and fun Predator film.

  

  • Pig (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Strange, slow tale of an ex-chef recluse living in the mountains who has his truffle pig stolen. Fascinating and weird, Nicolas Cage is terrific

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  • Hellraiser (Rating - 7 out of 10) - This is not saying a lot, but... this is the best Hellraiser movie made yet.

    

  • Another Round (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A middle-age crisis centering around four friends and their relationship to alcohol. Fun, intelligent and vibrant Danish film with the great Mads Mikkelsen as its lead

    

  • Palm Springs (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Two wedding guests get stuck in a time loop and can not get out no matter what they try. Hilarious, emotional and very timely when it hit during the heights of COVID

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Runners-Up: Girl in the Shed (6.5), Run (6.5), No Exit (6), The Assistant (6), Escape from Pretoria (7), Fire Island (6)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • L.A. Confidential (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Classic about detectives solving a murder in the 1950s in Hollywood

    

  • The Insider (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Intense and bracing story about the tobacco industry whistleblower. Al Pacino and Russell Crowe are magnificent

    

  • Sideways (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Hilarious road trip movie mixed with midlife crisis and a lot of wine

    

  • Open Range (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Great Western about cattle drivers running into trouble in one small town 

    

  • Tombstone (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday is everything in this now-classic Western

    

  • I, Tonya (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Funny and intense film about Tonya Harding's infamous life and very bad decisions

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Some More Excellent Movies: Eyes Wide Shut (7), Leave No Trace (8), Parasite (8), The Tree of Life (8), The Nice Guys (7.5)

    

 SERIES

 Newer:  

  • The Girl from Plainville (Rating - 7 out of 10) - This series is about the texting-suicide case of a teenage boy and his horrid girlfriend that was responsible for it. Elle Fanning is pitch perfect in this (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • Under the Banner of Heaven (Rating - 7 out of 10) - This series is True Detective about Mormons. If that sounds odd and fascinating, that about sums this series up. Andrew Garfield is putting in some great performances lately and this is another one as the lead detective (1 season, 7 episodes)

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  • The Old Man (Rating - 7 out of 10) - The great Jeff Bridges delivers another knockout performance as an ex-CIA operative who is pulled back into that world. The series started off wonderfully, but got a bit dull in later episodes (1 season, 7 episodes)

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  • The Bear (Rating - 8 out of 10) - This is a surprisingly intense series filled with dark humor, quirky characters and an engaging storyline about a fine dining chef returning to his hometown to run his family's sandwich shop. Best show on Hulu right now  (1 season, 8 episodes)​

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  • Welcome to Wrexham (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - This is an entertaining docu-series that is almost like a real Ted Lasso.  It is about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying and running a Welsh soccer team. Not the vanity project that it sounds like (1 season, 11 episodes, 8 available now)

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  • This Fool (Rating - 7 out of 10) - After a bit of a clunky first two episodes, this series about a guy working at Hugs Not Thugs and taking on his recently incarcerated cousin as his caseworker becomes a consistently funny, loopy and goofy good time  (1 season, 10 episodes)

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  • The Patient (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A tense and fascinating series about a therapy session between a killer and a psychiatrist that gets a bit claustrophobic as it is mostly set in just one room. The two lead performances are outstanding. Steve Carrell has never been better (1 season, 10 episodes)

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  • Dopesick (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Riveting and infuriating series about the horrible history of the opioid crisis, with terrific performances from a star cast (1 season, 8 episodes)

    

  • Nine Perfect Strangers (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Weird and meandering mystery series about a group of strangers going to a famous wellness retreat that is surprisingly intoxicating and addictive (1 season, 8 episodes)

    

  • The Looming Tower (Rating - 8 out of 10) - An absorbing series tracing the events leading up to 9-11 (1 season, 10 episodes)

    

  • The Great (Rating - 7 out of 10) - An "anti-historical" history of the rise of Catherine the Great in Russia. Hilarious and almost a touch too goofy, with two terrific lead performances (2 seasons, 20 episodes)

    

  • Reservation Dogs (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A Native American comedy about a group of teenagers getting into trouble on their reservation. Funny, warm and unique NEW SEASON ALERT (2 seasons, 14 episodes, 5 available on the new season 2)

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  • Harlots (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A fun and salacious series about a London brothel in the 18th century that hides a deeper, nuanced story with terrific performances all-around (3 seasons, 24 episodes)

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  • What We Do In the Shadows (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A hilarious and entertaining romp about vampires living together told in a mockumentary style (3 seasons, 30 episodes)

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  • This Way Up (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A very funny and well-acted series about a teacher who has a nervous breakdown. Aisling Bea and Sharon Horgan are dynamite (2 seasons, 12 episodes)

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Runners-Up: Candy (6.5), The Valet (6), Maggie (6.5), Normal People (7), Better Things (7), Taboo (6.5), 11.22.63 (6), Only Murders in the Building (6) - this is an average series that is overrated across the board NEW SEASON OUT NOW, The Act (7), The Handmaid's Tale (6), Little Fires Everywhere (6.5), You're the Worst (6), Ramy (7), Casual (7), Castle Rock (6), Cruel Summer (6), Looking for Alaska (7), The Path (7), Cardinal (7), Breeders (7)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Justified (Rating - 8 out of 10) - An engrossing and clever modern Western about a U.S. Marshall on the hunt for criminals (6 seasons, 78 episodes)

    

  • Fargo (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Each season is something completely different, unique and interesting about crime in the Midwest - season 2 is an absolute classic (4 seasons, 41 episodes)

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  • Top of the Lake (Rating - 8 out of 10) - An atmospheric and engrossing detective series with a knock-out lead performance. Season one is outstanding, where season two is a bit of a let-down (2 seasons, 13 episodes)

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MOVIES

 Newer:  

  • Thirteen Lives (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Riveting and intense movie about the true-life rescue of the Thai soccer team that was trapped for weeks in a flooded cave. Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell are outstanding as the lead divers who carry out the mission.​

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  • Val (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Interesting documentary about the life and career of Val Kilmer

    

  • Sound of Metal (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Compelling and intense film about a drummer losing his hearing

    

  • One Night in Miami (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Fun and captivating movie about one night when Malcolm X, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke and Muhammad Ali hung out in a Florida hotel

    

  • Blow the Man Down (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Strange, funny and absorbing movie about a crime in a fishing village on the coast of Maine

    

  • The Courier (Rating - 8 out of 10) - An intense and well-acted spy film about a man who suddenly finds himself in a very important role during the Cuban Missile Crisis

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Runners-Up: The Report (7), Ambulance (6.5), The Big Sick (7), Jungle (6.5), Sylvie's Love (7), Catherine Called Birdy (6.5)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Manchester by the Sea (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Gripping and devastating movie about loss

    

  • Walk the Line (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Johnny Cash biopic with great music and terrific performances

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Some More Excellent Movies: The Handmaiden (8), Last Flag Flying (7), The Color of Money (7), The Usual Suspects (8), Unbreakable (7), The Rock (6.5), Braveheart (8)

    

 SERIES

 Newer:  

  • Reacher (Rating - 7 out of 10) - It's preposterous and Reacher could put a shirt on sometimes, but it is entertaining and the story about an ex-military badass is tight and energetic (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • Chloe (Rating - 7 out of 10) - An intriguing thriller about the horrors of social media with a great performance by Erin Doherty at its center (1 season, 6 episodes)

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  • Paper Girls (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A fun, retro series, much like Stranger Things, about a group of girls who have a paper route that get embroiled in a time travelling adventure. Strong character development of the talented, young cast is the highlight (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • The Boys (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Loud, violent and bombastic series about superheroes actually being villains is wild fun and engrossing (3 seasons, 24 episodes)

    

  • Fleabag (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Witty and clever comedy about a single woman navigating past trauma and new relationships (2 seasons, 12 episodes)

    

  • The Expanse (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Get past the dull and unlively first five episodes of this sci-fi mystery series set in a time of space travel in our solar system and then it will knock your socks off - captivating and addictive (6 seasons, 63 episodes)

    

  • Red Oaks (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - 80s nostalgia done to near perfection. This is a funny and sweet-natured show about working at a country club in the 80s (3 seasons, 26 episodes)

    

  • Good Omens (Rating - 7 out of 10) - To stop Armageddon, an angel and a demon must team up. A very short but very fun series with two great leads (1 season, 6 episodes)

    

  • Catastrophe (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - An American guy and an Irish lady meet, have a bit of fun, and then she gets pregnant. Hilarity ensues in this terrific series. (4 seasons, 24 episodes)

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  • Bosch (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Suspenseful and sometimes masterful series about a L.A. homicide detective. A gritty lead performance and a superlative supporting cast anchor this (7 seasons, 68 episodes) *New series Bosch: Legacy is now out with 10 episodes - more of the same - feels like the same show

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Runners-Up: Outer Range (6.5), Night Sky (6.5), The Summer I Turned Pretty (6.5), The Terminal List (6.5), A League of Their Own (6.5), LOTR: The Rings of Power (6.5), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (6.5), Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (6.5), A Very English Scandal (6.5), Upload (6), Hanna (6), The Man in the High Castle (7), Jean Claude Van Johnson (6.5), Goliath (7), Undone (7)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Sneaky Pete (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A forgotten gem about a con-man assuming the life of his cell mate. Surprisingly intense and terrific (3 seasons, 30 episodes)

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MOVIES

 Newer:   

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  • Cha Cha Real Smooth (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Try and get past the awful title; this is a fun film about a young guy trying to find his way by getting a job as a "party starter". Made by a young filmmaker with a solid performance from Dakota Johnson

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  • CODA (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Best Picture winner for a reason. Smart, funny, and emotional with great performances

    

  • Wolfwalkers (Rating - 9 out of 10) - One of the best animated films of the past five years

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Runners-Up: Swan Song (7), The Greatest Beer Run Ever (6.5)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Greyhound (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Great WW2 actions sequences and an overall tense atmosphere

    

 SERIES

 Newer:   

  • Severance (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A mind-bending, intelligent sci-fi series by Ben Stiller with an odd but intoxicating vibe. Once you buy in to the weirdness, it is magnificent (1 season, 9 episodes)

    

  • Pachinko (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A wonderful, sweeping epic about a Korean family trying to make their way as they leave their homeland (1 season, 8 episodes)

    

  • Slow Horses (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A funny, quick-witted and surprisingly tense series about a second-rate group of English spies and their terrible boss (1 season, 6 episodes)

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  • Shining Girls (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A tense and terrific mystery thriller about a woman trying to piece together how a string of murders links to her own violent past. It is a bit odd in tone and how the story is plotted but it has very strong performances, especially from Elisabeth Moss in the lead (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • Prehistoric Planet (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Basically, a Planet Earth documentary (even has Attenborough as the narrator) but about dinosaurs and the different types of them in varying landscapes. A mindblower when it comes to the CGI. The dinosaurs look amazingly realistic, after a while you swear you're watching them for real in the wild. (1 season, 5 episodes)

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  • Black Bird (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Tense, breathlessly suspenseful series set in a prison where one inmate is tasked with getting a serial killer to confess his crimes. This is a true story and the lead performances are outstanding from Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser (1 season, 6 episodes)

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  • 5 Days at Memorial (Rating - 8 out of 10) - An intense and emotional series, about what a New Orleans hospital went through after Hurricane Katrina hit, that is packed with solid performances by a strong cast. (1 season, 8 episodes, 4 available now)

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  • Ted Lasso (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Just an all-around great show - hilarious, warm, emotional, and engaging. An American football coach going to England to coach a soccer team - simple but perfect story (2 seasons, 22 episodes)

    

  • Servant (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - An engrossing, weird, sometimes frustrating but always interesting "horror-ish" series about a tragedy, a nanny, a missing baby and a strange cult with terrific performances from all the leads (3 seasons, 30 episodes)

    

  • For All Mankind (Rating - 9 out of 10) - An alternate history series where the space race kept ramping up between the US and Russia. Great characters, intelligent storylines, fine writing and great effects make this a great series. Be warned that it is a "ramp-up" series, starts very slow and gets better and better as it goes. (3 seasons, 30 episodes)

    

  • Mythic Quest (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A fun, goofy and hilarious workplace comedy series that takes place at a video game company. Smartly written with great character work from the cast (2 seasons, 20 episodes)

    

  • Home Before Dark (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A young, preteen girl that lives and breathes journalism uncovers a vast mystery in the small town her father grew up in. A riveting, well-acted and expertly written series for all ages (2 seasons, 20 episodes)

    

  • Dickinson (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A coming-of-age series about a young Emily Dickinson and her dreams of becoming a poet. Not like it sounds, this is a fresh and funny show where the characters speak in modern slang even though set in Victorian times. Hailee Steinfeld is fantastic in this (3 seasons, 30 episodes)

 

Runners-Up: See (6.5), Tehran (7), The Morning Show (6), Swagger (6.5), Dr. Brain (6), Acapulco (7), Little Voice (6.5), Trying (7), The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (7), The Afterparty (6), The Essex Serpent (6), Bad Sisters (6.5)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Defending Jacob (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Not many "old" Apple shows yet, this one being one of the first to come out. This was a very engaging and tense series about two parents dealing with their son being accused of murder, with a great lead performance by Chris Evans (1 season, 8 episodes)

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MOVIES

 Newer:  â€‹

  • Free Guy (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A fun, goofy action comedy with a very clever premise about a background character in a video game slowly realizing he is exactly that. Ryan Reynolds, who can be a "bit much", is pitch-perfect in this vehicle.

    

  • Free Solo (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A documentary that follows a "free climber" as he tries to climb El Capitan in Yosemite with no ropes. A truly intense and awe-inspiring film. Why would anyone would do this!

    

  • Shang-Chi (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Exciting action-comedy in the MCU covering new, refreshing cultural ground. Same kind of action, humor and effects to be expected for a MCU film, but just a cut above

    

  • The Rescue (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Intense and incredible documentary about the rescue of twelve boys trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand

    

  • Togo (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Magnificent film about the true story of a sled dog and his owner trying to get medicine to a small town in Alaska. Emotional and inspiring. Willem Dafoe should have gotten an Oscar nomination for this

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  • Werewolf at Night (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Finally, Marvel has something strong out there! This is a terrific mini-movie with great atmospherics, strong performances, and a fun story just in time for the season.

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (Rating - 8 out of 10) - So much better than its reputation among critics, this was a great Star Wars film - a rousing adventure film like the first Indiana Jones

    

  • Captain America: Winter Soldier (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Best MCU movie hands down - exciting, intense conspiracy thriller

    

  • Thor Ragnarok (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Hilarious, goofy and a ton of fun - the exact opposite of the first two Thor movies. Prior MCU knowledge is necessary

    

  • The Greatest Game Ever Played (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A straightforward underdog golf story that is heartfelt and strongly acted all-around.

    

  • X2 (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - The best of the X-Men films, even though it does have a formulaic ending

    

  • The Rookie (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Rousing, emotional baseball film about an older guy going for his dream even though it looks like it has passed him by. Dennis Quaid has never been better

    

  • McFarland USA (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Kevin Costner is terrific in this emotional, funny sports film about a coach moving out to the middle of farm country in California and putting together a cross country team from the teens that work the fields

    

  • The Jungle Book (Rating - 8 out of 10) - The rare, mostly shot-for-shot live action remake that improves on the original in a big way. Great family film for all ages

    

  • Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (Rating - 7 out of 10) - As much as the world is trying to bury Johnny Depp, the first film in this franchise is a classic and his Captain Jack Sparrow is one for the ages

    

Some More Excellent Movies: Eight Below (7), The Straight Story (7), Star Wars: Rogue One (8), Guardians of the Galaxy (8)

  …as far as animated and old live-action classic Disney films, this list would go on and on. You already know which ones you love

    

 SERIES

 Newer:   

  • Moon Night (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A mystery thriller from Marvel involving Egyptian gods and multiple identities. This a weird but thrilling character study that is carried by a great Oscar Isaacs performance (1 season, 6 episodes)

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  • Andor (Rating - 8 out of 10) - This is a strong, gritty and intriguing Star Wars series about the birth of the rebellion from the eyes of Cassian Andor from Rogue One (1 season, 12 episodes, 5 available now)

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  • Obi-Wan Kenobi (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Ewan McGregor is back as Obi-Wan and it is a thrill to see him playing the iconic character again. Good show, wish it was great (1 season, 6 episodes)​

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  • The Mandalorian (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Can't say enough great things about this electric, funny and epic Star Wars series about a lone gunfighter in the chaotic post-Empire galaxy. (2 seasons, 16 episodes)

    

  • Loki (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Odd, goofy and utterly absorbing series about the God of Mischief uncovering a grand mystery. MCU knowledge required for this one (1 season, 6 episodes)

    

  • Daredevil (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - The best superhero series so far (if you ignore season 2). (3 seasons, 39 episodes)

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Runners-Up: Ms. Marvel (6.5) - good, solid show but nothing exceptional , She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (6.5) - another average, decent entry from the MCU (there is a pattern going on here)

    

 Older:  

  • Star Wars Rebels (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Quite possibly the best Star Wars tale in the entire Star Wars universe. This animated series takes some time to find its feet and then becomes an emotional, exciting, and wonderful story with an incredible end (4 seasons, 77 episodes)

    

  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - The series starts out as a pretty bland procedural and then turns into something unique. A fun, exciting, wild and original series about a team of Marvel secret agents. (7 seasons, 137 episodes)

    

  • Gravity Falls (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - One of the best animated shows for kids about strange events happening in a small town over a summer (2 seasons, 41 episodes) 

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MOVIES

 Newer:  

  • The Batman (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Different and engaging (although too long) take on Batman, more detective noir than other versions, with solid acting (Pattinson is really in a zone lately)

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  • The Survivor (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Ben Foster is a criminally underrated actor and he brings a magnificent performance to this Holocaust film

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  • Dune (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A gorgeous-looking sci-fi film that is a little too slow and confusing but the striking visuals, sounds and strong performances bump it into the list

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  • Belfast (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A low-key joy of a film about growing up in Belfast during the Troubles, from Kenneth Branaugh

    

  • Drive My Car (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A slow-moving, simple but emotionally satisfying Japanese film about grieving that is wonderfully shot, acted and written 

    

  • The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A good film about the famous televangelists but not a great one; but a great performance from Jessica Chastain elevates the whole thing

    

  • Greenland (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A tense and gripping movie about a comet coming to destroy Earth. Much, much better than it would seem

    

  • Let Him Go (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A classy, strong thriller with two solid performances from Kevin Costner and Diane Lane playing grandparents trying to rescue their grandchild

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Runners-Up: Nightmare Alley (7), The Night House (7), Nobody (6.5), The Last Duel (6), Death on the Nile (6.5), Doctor Sleep (7), Promising Young Woman (7), Elvis (6.5)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Seven (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Dark and hypnotic thriller about a serial killer with an all-time best dark ending 

    

  • Nolan's Batman Trilogy (Rating - 9 out of 10) - Still the strongest, most intense and expertly shot superhero films to date. Hard to beat

    

  • On the Waterfront (Rating - 9 out of 10) - A true classic from the classic era, Brando's acting helped pave the way for modern cinema

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Some More Excellent Movies: Black Mass (8), Rain Man (8), Good Will Hunting (8), A Time to Kill (8), Kill Bill movies (8), The Lincoln Lawyer (7.5), Breakdown (7), Changing Lanes (7), Chinatown (8.5), Collateral (7.5), Frailty (7.5), A Clockwork Orange (8.5), From Dusk Till Dawn (7), The Iron Giant (9), Mystic River (9), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (9), The River Wild (8), Rounders (8), The Shining (9), Say Anything (8.5), Swingers (8), Training Day (9), The Wolverine (7.5), Wonder Woman (8)

    

 SERIES

 Newer:  

  • House of the Dragon (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Westeros has never looked better! This series boats some fantastic sets, flawless CGI, smart direction, and a very strong cast. The story so far is decent, more focused than GOT's first few episodes. Looking forward to seeing if the story hooks in deeper as this goes, as it is missing... something.  (1 season, 10 episodes, 6 available now)

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  • Our Flag Means Death (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Goofy, stupid pirate comedy about a dandy gentleman who tries to be a pirate. Consistent laughs and great cast (1 season, 10 episodes)

    

  • Tokyo Vice (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Not withstanding the dull lead performance, the rest of this series is fascinating and engaging. About an American journalist going into the underbelly of Tokyo with the police (1 season, 8 episodes)

    

  •  Julia (Rating - 7 out of 10) - This warm, funny and engaging series chronicles the rise of chef Julia Child. Terrific writing and acting (1 season, 8 episodes)

    

  • Winning Time (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - The annoying camerawork and decision to have the actors speak into the camera almost drop this off the list, but the engaging story, solid performances and frenetic energy from this series about the rise of the Lakers in the 80s make this a good watch (1 season, 10 episodes)

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  • We Own This City (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - This is basically a sequel to The Wire and while it may not be quite as good as that classic series, this riveting new Baltimore police series is terrific (1 season, 6 episodes)

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  • The Staircase (Rating - 7 out of 10) - If you are unfamiliar with the true-crime murder mystery at the heart of this series, then you find this addicting and thrilling. If you're a true-crime buff who has seen the documentary and know all the details, this will be a bit by-the-numbers. The performances from Colin Firth and Toni Collette are top-notch and award-worthy (1 season, 8 episodes)​

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  • The Last Movie Stars (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Mesmerizing docu-series from Ethan Hawke about the romance between Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. This was a nice surprise (1 season, 6 episodes)

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  • Peacemaker (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - After the first episode, it was a struggle to even start the second. Then, around episode three this series hooks you. This was one of the most entertaining and hilarious shows of the year about a misfit superhero team trying to save the world (1 season, 8 episodes)

    

  • Raised by Wolves (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A strange, engaging sci-fi mystery series about two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious new planet. Very slow start but then it takes off; requires patience. Great writing, effects and performances (2 seasons, 18 episodes)

    

  • The Righteous Gemstones (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Very funny, somewhat messy series about a televangelist family and their not-so-holy ways (2 seasons, 18 episodes)

    

  • Succession (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Strange, intoxicating and oft-kilter series about a bunch of nasty rich people jockeying for position in their father's company. Season three went off the rails (incredibly overrated season), but hopefully the next season will reign this back in (3 seasons, 29 episodes)

    

  • Big Little Lies (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Murder and mystery series about some very rich and unstable people living in Monterey, CA. Fine writing, great performances and underlying tension throughout. (2 seasons, 14 episodes)

    

  • Mare of Eastown (Rating - 9.5 out of 10) - Terrific Kate Winslet-led miniseries about a detective in a small town investigating a crime. One of the best miniseries of the past few years (1 season, 7 episodes)

    

  • The White Lotus (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - An engaging, hilarious and intoxicating series about a luxury Hawaiian resort hotel. Amazing performances, beautiful scenery, and top-notch writing (1 season, 6 episodes)

    

  • The Undoing (Rating - 7 out of 10) - The two lead performances from Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant elevate this somewhat pedestrian who-dun-it and make it worth the watch (1 season, 6 episodes)

    

  • Hacks (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A funny, bracing series about an old Vegas comic taking on a protégé of sorts. Watch it for the great lead performance from Jean Smart and the whip-smart writing (2 seasons, 18 episodes)

    

  • The Outsider (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A mystery thriller with horror elements from Stephen King. This is a thrilling, engaging series full of twists, eerie atmosphere and strong performances (1 season, 10 episodes)

    

  • I May Destroy You (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - After a sexual assault, a woman struggles to piece together what happened and who did it to her. The lead performance from Michaela Cole is outstanding, as is the writing and direction. (1 season, 12 episodes)

    

  • I'll Be Gone in the Dark (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Terrific true-crime documentary about a writer tracking down the Golden State Killer. Truly incredible story (1 season, 7 episodes)

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Runners-Up: The Flight Attendant (7), Starstruck (6.5), Made for Love (7), The Deuce (6.5), The Other Two (7), Minx (7), Station Eleven (7), The Tourist (6.5), Somebody Somewhere (7), Irma Vep (6.5)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Barry (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Hilarious, surprisingly tense and heartfelt comedy series about a hitman finding his passion with acting lessons. The supporting turns from Henry Winkler and Anthony Carrigan are outstanding (3 seasons, 25 episodes)

    

  • Chernobyl (Rating - 9.5 out of 10) - Absolutely riveting and intense mini-series about the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. This is a must watch (1 season, 5 episodes)

    

  • Game of Thrones (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Well, if you still haven't seen this, do yourself a favor and strap in for a thrilling, awe-inspiring (and sometimes frustrating) ride (8 seasons, 73 episodes)

    

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Larry David is a terrible actor but this series is utterly hilarious and the supporting cast is truly pitch-perfect (11 seasons, 113 episodes)

    

  • True Detective (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Go ahead and skip season two, enjoy the third, and be blown away by the intense and terrific first season (3 seasons, 24 episodes)

    

  • The Wire (Rating - 9 out of 10) - One of the best series ever made. If it wasn't for the slightly forgettable last season, maybe the best (5 seasons, 60 episodes)

    

  • Rome (Rating - 9 out of 10) - A slow-building but incredibly engaging and thrilling series that HBO just ended without an end. As they did with Deadwood, would love to see them end this one properly with a movie as it is truly magnificent television (2 seasons, 22 episodes)

    

  • The Sopranos (Rating - 9 out of 10) - It's the incredible character work by a near-perfect cast and the overall tension that is cut by humor that made this series one of the best (6 seasons, 86 episodes)

    

  • Deadwood (Rating - 9.5 out of 10) - One of the best series of all-time. A Western to end all westerns (3 seasons, 36 episodes plus a movie)

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A Few More Notable Great Series: Watchmen (8), Eastbound and Down (7.5), Enlightened (7), John Adams (8.5), The Pacific (8.5), Oz (8), The Night Of (8.5)

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MOVIES

 Newer:  

  • Old Henry (Rating - 9 out of 10) - An old-fashioned, absorbing Western about a farmer and his son who help out a mysterious stranger who has a bag of cash on him

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  • The Dry (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A slow-moving but absorbing thriller about a crime in a small desolate town in Australia. Eric Bana has never been better

    

  • East of the Mountains (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - This is on here mostly for Tom Skerritt's moving performance about an old guy dealing with loss and his own cancer diagnosis by heading off into the wilderness

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Runners-Up: Zola (7), Violet (7), After Yang (6.5), Red Rocket (7), Pleasure (7)

    

 A Few Older Gems:  

  • Good Time (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A nerve-racking, frenetic crime thriller with a great performance from Robert Pattinson

    

  • Ex Machina (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Sci-fi at its best; a weird and tense film with great performances, a realistic storyline, and incredible effects

    

  • Room (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Expertly acted, deeply felt thriller about a mother and son being held hostage

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Some More Excellent Movies: Whiplash (8), Midsommar (7), Minari (7.5), Do the Right Thing (8.5)

    

 SERIES

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 Newer:  

  • Yellowjackets (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A mystery thriller series about a group of woman who were involved in a plane crash in high school (where they survived in the woods through mysterious circumstances for a long time). Elements of horror, mystery and humor blend together to make this a gripping and sometimes gruesome series (1 season, 10 episodes)

    

  • The Good Lord Bird (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Ethan Hawke is wild and intense as the abolitionist John Brown on his crusade to end slavery by any means necessary. A gripping thriller filled with bold choices and performances (1 season, 8 episodes)

    

  • City on a Hill (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Sort of like The Wire in Boston, although not quite as good as that sounds. Kevin Bacon is great as a slimy, nasty FBI agent in Boston. Season 2 is much better than the first (3 seasons, 24 episodes)

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  • Back to Life (Rating - 8 out of 10) - This is a truly wonderful series about a woman trying to re-start her life after a prison stint for a mistake in her teens (2 seasons, 13 episodes)

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Runners-Up: Let the Right One In (6), The Man Who Fell to Earth (6.5)

    

 Older:  

  • Dexter (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Up-and-down in quality with each season, yet distinctively addictive television with a wonderful lead performance. Season four is a masterpiece; John Lithgow is a revelation. The newest iteration, New Blood, was very good as well (9 seasons, 106 episodes including New Blood)

    

  • Shameless (Rating - 7 out of 10) - All over-the-place in quality, but on here for some of its most outrageous laughs and moments. William H Macy is fantastic (11 seasons, 134 episodes)

    

  • Penny Dreadful (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A Victorian-set horror series that explores the origins of some of the classic monsters of the period, like Frankenstein and Dorian Gray. Atmospheric, sexy and violent with some great performances (3 seasons, 28 episodes)

    

A Few More Notable Great Series: The Affair (7.5), The Tudors (8), Californication (7), Kidding (7.5)

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SERIES

 Newer:  

  • Angelyne (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A loopy, strange series about an L.A. legend that is bubbly and fun - just like the excellent lead performance from Emmy Rossum (1 season, 5 episodes)

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  • Resident Alien (Rating - 8 out of 10) - Warm, hilarious series about an alien in human form trying to fit into a small Colorado town (2 seasons, 28 episodes)

    

  • Yellowstone (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Soapy and melodramatic but addicting and very well-acted, written and directed. Like a modern-day Dallas (4 seasons, 40 episodes)

    

  • Dr. Death (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - Strong series about an insane true story about a horrid doctor, with great performances by the entire cast (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • A Friend of the Family (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - Peacock's best series so far! Incredible, grim true story that is absorbing and chilling and full of strong performances (1 season, 9 episodes)

    

Runners-Up: Rutherford Falls (7), The Resort (6.5)

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MOVIES

 Newer:  

  • The Outfit (Rating - 8 out of 10) - An old-fashioned and engaging spy thriller filled with great acting and solid thrills. This is one of 2022's best films so far.

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  • The Black Phone (Rating 8 out of 10) - It's been a minute since any horror film has stuck the landing. Leave it to Ethan Hawke to once again resurrect horror (and this time without even showing his face). This is a tight thriller about a young teen being kidnapped by a psycho in a mask. Entertaining throughout.

    

  • You Won't Be Alone (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A smart, interesting film about a witch that is not really horror but more like a gothic poem. Very atmospheric and a great lead performance.

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  • The Northman (Rating 7 out of 10) - A complete original in terms of atmosphere, tone and intensity. Even if the story is basic (a Viking on a revenge quest), this is a wild, realistic and thrilling film 

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Runners-Up: Ambulance (6.5), Beast (6.5)

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Other Streamers: 

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  • P-Valley (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Crazy, fun, and bombastic series about a strip club outside Atlanta (2 seasons, 17 episodes)

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  • Gaslit (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - This is on here for the cast alone - Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Dan Stevens, Betty Gilpin, and Shea Whigham. They all deliver great performances in this uneven but very entertaining Watergate series (1 season, 8 episodes)

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  • Counterpart (Rating - 8 out of 10) - A riveting and engrossing series that is basically a parallel dimension spy series has constant tension, suspense and great performances (2 seasons, 20 episodes)

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​Runners-Up: Becoming Elizabeth (6.5), Outlander (6.5), Power & Power Book Series (6.5), Black Sails (6.5), Blindspotting (6), Heels (6.5), The Serpeant Queen (6.5)

    

   

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  • Significant Other (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Strong thriller about a backpacking trip gone wrong

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  • Players (Rating - 7 out of 10) - A mockumentary series about an e-sports team that is hilarious and ridiculous with tons of references that gamers will enjoy (1 season, 10 episodes)

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  •  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - I'm not a huge fan of Star Trek television series (like Picard) but this one is a terrific adventure series with strong leads and a great sense of fun (1 season, 10 episodes)

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Runners-Up: 1883 (6.5), Evil (6.5), The Lost City (6), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (6), Halo (6)

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  • A Discovery of Witches (Rating - 7 out of 10) - Those morons are back and it is still bizarrely hilarious (3 seasons, 25 episodes)

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  • The Innocents (Rating 8 out of 10) - Just when it seemed like superpower films and TV series have jumped the shark, this riveting and chilling Nordic film, about a group of kids that get powers, comes along and proves there is still life in the trope

   

  • Better Call Saul - see description and rating in Netflix.

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  • The North Water (Rating - 8.5 out of 10) - A brutal and violent series about whalers and the secrets they hold. This is a riveting, intense and amazing series with an incredible performance from Colin Farrell (1 season, 5 episodes)

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  • This is Going to Hurt (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - A wonderful lead performance from Ben Whishaw breathes life into a funny medical drama (1 season, 7 episodes)

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  • Dark Winds (Rating - 7.5 out of 10) - An engaging series that elevates a good, dark detective noir on a Navajo reservation in all phases (1 season, 6 episodes)

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Runners-Up: That Dirty Black Bag (6.5), Gangs of London (6.5), The Walking Dead (some seasons are 9s, some are 3s), Interview with a Vampire (6.5)

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