😲 The No. 1 show on Netflix right now is “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” It dives into the true story of two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. They said a lifetime of abuse drove them to it; prosecutors argued it was all about inheriting the family fortune.
Fire up the TV: Here’s what to stream in April
Don’t want to waste precious time looking for something to watch? Let me point you straight to the good stuff! Here’s everything new this month that’s worth a stream.
Netflix
Hello, black leather, bullets and Keanu: All three “Matrix” movies are on Netflix this month. If that’s not your bag, “Happy Gilmore” with Adam Sandler is always a hole-in-one. Or treat the kids to “Hotel Transylvania” (and then “Hotel Transylvania 2”).
Watch for new seasons of “The Circle,” “Heartbreak High,” “Spirit Rangers” and “As the Crow Flies.” Oh, and don’t forget all four seasons of the adventure series “Black Sails.” No need to pirate it!
Hulu
Lots of cool movies hitting Hulu this month, including the star-packed thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” the Coen brothers’ classic “The Big Lebowski” and DC Comics blockbuster “Wonder Woman.”
As for series, check out new seasons of “We’re Here” and “Ugliest House in America” — you know, for when you wanna feel better about your fixer‑upper.
Amazon Prime Video
You’ve got the ‘80s classic “Top Gun,” the ‘90s hit “Titanic” and the 2015 Bond flick “Spectre.” Or pay homage to the ‘70s with the latest movie in the “Exorcist” franchise, “The Exorcist: Believer.” Thanks, I’ll pass.
As far as shows go, your best bets are all seasons of “House” and the latest video-game-to-TV adaptation, “Fallout.” I swear there’s a new adaptation of something every day.
Max
If you have an extra 20 hours on your hands, binge all eight “Harry Potter” movies on Max this month. There’s a ton of other great stuff, like this year’s Oscar-winning “The Zone of Interest” and 2003 classic “Lost in Translation.” Ooh, maybe I’ll watch that when I’m missing Japan.
Nothing to watch? Here's what's new on Netflix
There is a joke that you can easily spend more time looking for the perfect show or movie than what it would take to watch it. Sharing your Netflix account? Tap or click here for why you may have to pay up soon.
There’s a slew of new shows coming to Netflix over the next few weeks, and we’ll bet our bottom dollar that something will pique your interest. Don’t worry about searching for things to watch. We’ve done all the research for you.
You don't own your streaming purchases
Something to think about before you hit “buy” on a movie or series.
🎬 The Wookie’s cookie is a little Chewie: “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” drops on Disney+ on Dec. 3. Set during the same era as “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka,” the series follows a group of kids who discover a spaceship and embark on an adventure. It stars Jude Law as a Jedi and looks like a 1980s Steven Spielberg movie. Check out the final trailer.
42% drop
In Xbox Series X and S sales since 2023. Sales of Microsoft’s four-year-old console have been on a steady decline since 2022 — a way quicker drop-off than most consoles. For context, the seven-year-old Nintendo Switch still sold 1.96 million consoles in the first quarter this year, double the estimated Xboxes sold.
Netflix pro tip: Use this tool to find hidden streaming categories
These days it’s more likely than not that your plans for Friday and Saturday night include a whole lot of nothing since social distancing is the way of the world. But, just because you’re not hitting the town doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to stay entertained. A nice evening with a great movie is a good way to go.
🦑 Ready to play (again)? Netflix dropped an early Christmas gift — the trailer for Season Two of “Squid Game.” The first season was the most-watched series of all time on the platform. I liked it, despite all the blood. The new season drops on Dec. 26. How festive.
No iPhone for you, bad guy: While it’s not explicitly stated in Apple’s Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights, the doc mentions their products must be shown in the “best light” only and never in a “disparaging manner.” Rumors about Apple products being for “good guys only” date back to the early 2000s. In the series “24,” for instance, the good guys use Macs, but the villains are on PCs.
$170 million lawsuit
Over the hit Netflix series “Baby Reindeer.” The drama-thriller is based on comedian Richard Gadd’s one-man show about being stalked. Martha Scott says Netflix never fact-checked his story, and the show has exposed her identity and ruined her life.
Mom needs to be a mom: Instead of being strong with her 12-year-old son, an Ohio mom is suing the makers of Fortnite and the Madden NFL game series over her son’s gaming addiction. He’s glued to the screen up to 10 hours a day (paywall link), leading to severe emotional distress, a shrinking friend circle and serious anger flare-ups. PSA: Take away the gaming console, put the kid in counseling and grow a set.