Best Movies and TV Shows to Stream: April 2024
The post Best Movies and TV Shows to Stream: April 2024 appeared first on Consequence.
April 2024 was pretty packed with great TV and movies, as Stream On subscribers already know (join them here!). From gut-wrenching autobiographical drama to time travel tales to plenty of music-driven docs and films, there was a truly wild assortment of titles, including a few delightful surprises.
For example: Who would have predicted that a Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff would feature some true moments of comedy genius? Or that one of the best streaming debuts this month would be a Tubi movie starring yet another Sex Education star? Seriously, whoever did the casting on Sex Education deserves a Pulitzer, given the way that cast is slowly but surely invading the rest of film and TV…
I digress. Point is, check out the full wrap-up of this month’s standout streaming premieres below!
Baby Reindeer (TV)
Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Created by: Richard Gadd
Cast: Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Tom Goodman-Hill, Hugh Coles, Danny Kirrane, Shalom Brune-Franklin
Streaming on: Netflix
So, a warning: This is far from an easy watch. Yet creator/star Richard Gadd, adapting his own one-man show, proves fearless in exploring this autobiographical story about a struggling comedian/bartender whose life gets turned upside down after he takes pity on a customer at the bar (Jessica Gunning), who begins stalking him. While there’s a hint of true crime to the narrative, it’s a lot more complex than that — by the end, it’s really a story about trauma, and what it robs of us all. Again, this is tough subject matter, but it’s also captivating. And Gadd and Gunning make for a remarkable pair, along with Nava Mau as a potential love interest for Gadd’s character.
Dead Boy Detectives (TV)
Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix)
Showrunners: Steve Yockey, Beth Schwartz
Cast: George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Kassius Nelson, Briana Cuoco, Ruth Connell, Yuyu Kitamura, Jenn Lyon
Streaming on: Netflix
As I wrote in my review, the dream of what The CW aspired to be lives on in this sometimes sweet, sometimes scary supernatural mystery series. And, not to be all Tumblr about it, but I might honestly die for some of these characters, especially dear sweet Edwin. (I just want him to be happy!)
Dinosaur (TV)
Dinosaur (Hulu)
Created by: Matilda Curtis, Ashley Storrie
Cast: Ashley Storrie, Kat Ronney
Streaming on: Hulu
This sweet dramedy features Ashley Storrie as Nina, a neurodivergent archeologist whose sister Evie (Kat Ronney)’s surprise engagement requires her to step outside her comfort zone. There’s a lot of charm here, especially in the sibling bond between Nina and Evie, and a gentle, engaging spirit.
Fallout (TV)
Fallout (Prime Video)
Showrunners: Graham Wagner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Cast: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Moises Arias, Walton Goggins
Streaming on: Prime Video
This impressively funny/horrifying/moving post-apocalypse tale marks a big new addition to Prime Video’s collection of franchises, with fantastic performances by Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, and more as the survivors of a devastating, if sometimes silly, nuclear apocalypse. Be sure to check out Clint Worthington’s full review, if you haven’t already, as well as interviews with the cast and creators (plus a bonus breakout piece featuring Goggins himself and Purnell and Moten on the Spark Parade podcast). Okeydokie!
The Greatest Hits (Film)
The Greatest Hits (Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Ned Benson
Cast: Lucy Boynton, Justin H. Min, David Corenswet, Austin Crute
Streaming on: Hulu
The saying is that a great song can bring you right back to the first time you heard it — for Harriet (Lucy Boynton), that’s literally the case, as certain songs have a way of slapping her back in time to key moments in her relationship with Max (future Superman David Corenswet), who died in a car accident but lives on in Harriet’s trips to the past.
As Harriet is a music producer, The Greatest Hits emphasizes its music nerd bonafides — this is the first time I’ve ever witnessed someone mention the term “shoegaze” outside of the Consequence Slack workspace — yet it also reveals itself to be a very sweet time-bending dramedy about grief and finding new love. Also, Justin H. Min, as Harriet’s love interest in the present, brings true leading man energy; he continues to be a talent worth following.
Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (TV)
Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (HBO)
Directed by: Ari Katcher
Cast: Jerrod Carmichael
Streaming on: Max
Jerrod Carmichael’s newest adventure on television is a hard show to explain on some level, yet it’s nonetheless fascinating to watch the Emmy-winning comedian, having recently come out as a gay man, explore the impact that that’s had on his friends, his family, and his partner. Things start out awkward, and only get more so.
Knuckles (TV)
Knuckles (Paramount+)
Created by: John Whittington, Toby Ascher
Cast: Idris Elba, Adam Pally, Cary Elwes, Edi Patterson, Stockard Channing, Julian Barratt, Rory McCann, Scott Mescudi, Ellie Taylor
Streaming on: Paramount+
This… did not have to be as good as it is. A spinoff series from the Sonic the Hedgehog movies (yes, there have actually been two of them already!), Knuckles focuses on the titular echidna played by Idris Elba, who decides to lend his warrior expertise to floundering Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) as Wade prepares to compete in a true warrior’s challenge (a bowling tournament). Not only is it too much fun to imagine Elba standing in a recording booth to recite lines like “Perhaps you are right, hedgehog” — there’s some genuinely high-level goofy comedy packed in here, thanks to Pally’s gung-ho commitment. Also, Cary Elwes plays a significant character who gets arguably one of the funniest introductions I’ve seen in a long time.
Late Night With the Devil (Film)
Late Night With the Devil (IFC Films)
Directed by: Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Cast: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Georgina Haig, Josh Quong Tart
Streaming on: Shudder
I really dug this fresh approach to the found footage genre, and David Dastmalchian gives a helluva performance. One quick disclaimer, from someone who is very anti-AI: There is a little bit of AI art used in this to create some of the title cards, which is annoying (but nowhere near as egregious a use as other projects of late).
Madu (Film)
Madu (Disney+)
Directed by: Matthew Ogens, Joel Kachi Benson
Streaming on: Disney+
There’s a fair bit of Disney polish on this documentary about Anthony Madu, a 12-year-old Nigerian boy who gets the chance to study ballet at a prestigious English school after a video of his dancing goes viral. Yet it still manages to let its young protagonist just be a regular kid struggling with the challenges that come with such a massive life change, including some unforeseen obstacles that put his future as a dancer in question. Even though much of it was filmed at the dance school (and as my near-constant rewatching of Center Stage has taught me, dance school can be a very competitive place), everyone is exceptionally nice in this movie. Real feel-good stuff here, with some wonderful dancing as a bonus.
Música (Film)
Muisca (Prime Video)
Directed by: Rudy Mancuso
Cast: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, J.B. Smoove
Streaming on: Prime Video
Rudy Mancuso stars, writes and directs another autobiographical(ish) story about an aspiring artist who just wants to find love and bring his unique vision to others. It’s a story you’ve seen before, but what makes Música stand out is its inventive staging, blending bits of Michel Gondry, Jim Henson, and Mancuso’s own unique POV for a visually rich experience. Camila Mendes also adds additional evidence to the idea that the casting director for The CW’s Riverdale had a damn good eye for talent. (Charles Melton deserved an Oscar nomination for May/December, and yes we’re still bitter about that.)
Paradise (Film)
Paradise (Tubi)
Directed by: Max Isaacson
Cast: Patricia Allison, Tate Donovan, Myles Evans, Adam Lustick, Arjun Gupta, Bashir Salahuddin, C.J. Hoff, Tia Carrere
Streaming on: Tubi (free with ads)
Ella (Patricia Allison, one of the many breakout stars of Sex Education) lives a rough and tumble life in the small town of Paradise, but it’s not until her father the sheriff (Bashir Salahuddin) gets killed under mysterious circumstances that she realizes just how rotten Paradise might be. I’m so glad I gave this admittedly violent but swiftly paced little film a shot, as a solid cast (love Tate Donovan, and Tia Carrere has an eyepatch!) and a compact runtime (83 minutes!) help the movie fly by. Watching this, I was primarily reminded of the novels of Carl Hiaasen — a little bloody, but very human and funny.
Scoop (Film)
Scoop (Netflix)
Directed by: Philip Martin
Cast: Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Billie Piper, Keeley Hawes, Connor Swindells, Romola Garai, Charity Wakefield
Streaming on: Netflix
A really compelling dramatization of the events surrounding Prince Andrew’s disastrous 2020 interview about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein — if you spent even an hour this spring to trying to figure out what the hell was going on with the British royal family, you’ll find it engrossing. There’s also a real temptation to refer to this film as The Crown Season 7… In fact, Girls5eva Season 3 maybe predicted it.
She Came to Me (Film)
She Came to Me (Vertical)
Directed by: Rebecca Miller
Cast: Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomei, Joanna Kulig, Brian d’Arcy James, Anne Hathaway
Streaming on: Hulu
Rebecca Miller writes and directs this lovely look at the creative process that also has an objectively wonderful logline: Peter Dinklage is a struggling composer of operas whose life is transformed after he meets Marisa Tomei, who is a tugboat captain. Also, he’s married to Anne Hathaway. It’s a light and strange little film that happens to feature an original song by Bruce Springsteen. Because why not.
Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story (TV)
Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Hulu)
Directed by: Gotham Chopra
Streaming on: Hulu
I mean, real talk, rock fans have been eagerly awaiting this one. The four-part series offers an intimate look at Jon Bon Jovi at a dark turning point in his career, due to his vocal issues, while also skipping back in time to encompass the full scope of the legend’s career. If nothing else, you’ll get to see Bruce Springsteen talk about what it means for guys of their generation to be from New Jersey. (This happens, it may not shock you to learn, in the episode entitled “New Jersey vs Everybody.”)
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Best Movies and TV Shows to Stream: April 2024
Liz Shannon Miller
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