HereBԪַs a look at some of the standout TV series and films debuting on subscription streaming platforms in January:
BԪַThat BԪַ90s ShowBԪַ
Swap out your bell bottoms for cargo pants and disco records for grunge CDs. Many things changed in the two decades between BԪַThat BԪַ70s ShowBԪַ and its new sitcom update, but one hasnBԪַt: Red and Kitty Forman. The Wisconsin parents watched their teenage son Eric grow up and marry his high school sweetheart Donna. And now, their granddaughter Leia is staying with them for the summer. ThatBԪַs where BԪַThat BԪַ90s ShowBԪַ picks up, as the cast quickly eases back into the familiar suburban habits: from high school crushes to getting high in the basement. Newcomer Callie Haverda steals the show as the youngest Forman, while many of the original BԪַThat BԪַ70s ShowBԪַ cast members return for appearances throughout the season. (Netflix, Jan. 19)
BԪַThe MenuBԪַ
ItBԪַs forks and knives out when a wealthy foodie takes his new girlfriend to an ultra-exclusive cuisine getaway run by an eccentric chef (Ralph Fiennes) on a private island. A group of elites have gathered for the experience of a lifetime: dining on some of the finest eats they can sink their teeth into. Except that as the dishes start to arrive at the tables, the guests learn that something darker might be afoot. Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult and John Leguizamo also star in this satire with shades of horror. (Disney Plus, Jan. 4)
BԪַThe TerritoryBԪַ
A tense battle plays out in BrazilBԪַs Amazon rainforest as farmers seek to push the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people off their protected land so they can build roads and grow crops. Alex PritzBԪַs immersive documentary brings two perspectives to the fore, giving the local tribe the space to tell its own story while capturing the words of the farmers who see their future on the land. BԪַThe TerritoryBԪַ won the Sundance Film FestivalBԪַs audience award for world cinema documentary. (Disney Plus, Jan. 13)
BԪַThe Last of UsBԪַ
A viral outbreak has left cities in ruins while two survivors trek across America with their only hope for a cure BԪַ a young woman who has proven resilient to the infection. Based on the popular video game, HBOBԪַs ambitious nine-episode series was filmed in Alberta over the better part of a year. ItBԪַs part zombie thriller, part apocalyptic drama that kicks off with a nail-biting 70-minute first episode with plenty of twists and a stunning single-shot sequence thatBԪַll have viewers talking. (Crave, Jan. 15, episodes weekly)
ALSO THIS MONTH:
BԪַKaleidoscopeBԪַ - Viewers can watch all eight episodes in any order BԪַ though itBԪַs best to save the one titled BԪַWhiteBԪַ for last BԪַ piecing together the puzzle of an elaborate $7-billion heist and its many characters. (Netflix, now streaming)
BԪַThe Pale Blue EyeBԪַ - Christian Bale is a detective hired to investigate the brutal murder of a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in the 1830s. (Netflix, Jan. 6)
BԪַThe NorthmanBԪַ - Robert Eggers, director of BԪַThe Lighthouse,BԪַ returns with his critically acclaimed tale of a viking bent on avenging his fatherBԪַs death. Starring Alexander Skarsgård and Björk. (Crave, Jan. 6)
BԪַIf These Walls Could SingBԪַ - Mary McCartney, daughter of Paul, tells the stories behind 91-year-old Abbey Road Studios where the Beatles, Elton John and countless others have recorded their albums. (Disney Plus, Jan. 6)
BԪַSound of MetalBԪַ - Riz Ahmed was an Oscar nominee for his role as a heavy-metal drummer who loses his hearing. (Jan. 7, Netflix)
BԪַThe ClimbBԪַ - Hollywood star Jason Momoa and rock climber Chris Sharma host an outdoor rock climbing competition series on the hunt for the best amateur climber. (Crave, Jan. 12, episodes weekly)
BԪַAmbulanceBԪַ - Two brothers hijack an ambulance after their bank heist goes awry. Michael Bay heightens the tension of his latest action flick by shooting many of the scenes with drones. Co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal. (Crave. Jan. 20)
BԪַShotgun WeddingBԪַ - A destination wedding goes off the rails when a couple, played by Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, get cold feet in the final hours BԪַ right around the time the celebration is hijacked by sea pirates. (Prime BԪַ, Jan. 27)
RETURNING SERIES:
Several popular streaming series wrap up in January. At Apple TV Plus, the twisted horror tale BԪַServantBԪַ begins its fourth and final season (Jan. 13, episodes weekly), while CBC Gem ramps up for the last run of BԪַWorkinBԪַ MomsBԪַ (Jan. 3, episodes weekly). Over at Prime BԪַ, the Al Pacino-led Nazi killer series BԪַHuntersBԪַ closes in on a reclusive Adolf Hitler in its grand finale of episodes (Jan. 13). And on Netflix the ultra-violent Spanish action series BԪַSky RojoBԪַ delivers a big finish (Jan. 13).
Other returning shows of note include the Toronto-shot dramedy BԪַGinny & GeorgiaBԪַ which is back for a second season (Netflix, Jan. 5) and Bryan CranstonBԪַs BԪַYour Honor,BԪַ which sees him return as a New Orleans judge dragged into the mess his son leaves after a hit-and-run (Crave, Jan. 13, episodes weekly).
BԪַDavid Friend, The Canadian Press