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Journey to the west — conquering the demons: film review.

Stephen Chow is back in box-office storming form with this lucrative update of one of China's most beloved literary epics.

By Elizabeth Kerr

Elizabeth Kerr

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Combine rapidly increasing screen numbers, a voracious appetite for movies, a beloved literary legend and perhaps one of Hong Kong’s most popular actor-directors ever and you’ve got the recipe for a minor cinematic phenomenon. A lot would have to be dreadfully wrong for producer-writer-director Stephen Chow ’s entertaining comedy-fantasy Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons , to flop. And indeed, it has lived up to its potential, earning a massive $190 million in a few weeks in mainland China. Though the film was oddly beaten at home over the key Lunar New Year holiday weekend (by A Good Day to Die Hard of all things) this umpteenth iteration of the Chinese classic is likely to continue its successful streak beyond the Mainland and Hong Kong.

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JTTW is Chow’s first film in five years, the last being the fatuous and uncharacteristically schmaltzy CJ7 , and it boasts all the hallmarks of a Chow film: the slow development of running jokes and motifs, the wry asides, the everyman background characters that are often hilariously baffled or disbelieving on the viewer’s behalf, the tendency to allow scenes to run on organically. Though the film has more humanity and less of a sharp tongue than Chow has been noted for in the past, it’s undeniably his work (he doesn’t star in the film this time) and audiences and distributors receptive to surprise hits like King of Comedy and the groundbreaking Shaolin Soccer will want to get on the JTTW bandwagon.

The Bottom Line A welcome return to form by Hong Kong favorite Chow, even if it is without the director’s usual bite.

PHOTOS: 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time at the China Box Office

The story kicks off with a stirring opening sequence involving a fake demon hunter, a fake water demon and a Taoist monk (the man that would be Tripitaka) Chen Xuanzang ( Wen Zhang ) dedicated to demon expulsion via love, kindness and a book of 300 nursery rhymes. Failing to get the job done and strung up for being a hoax, Xuanzang watches helplessly as the real water demon appears and wreaks havoc on a small village. The day is ultimately saved by real-deal Duan ( Shu Qi ) and her Infinity Flying Ring. Despondent at his failure, Xuanzang goes back to his master ( Cheng Sihan ) who tells him his lack of faith was the root of his demon banishing ineptitude. Cue the journey to betterment and wisdom.

Constructed in segments pivoting on encounters with the various demons Xuanzang meets — the opening fish demon, the Gao Family Inn and its Pig Demon proprietor ( Chen Bingqiang ), the closing Five Finger Mountain segment and a run-in with Sun Wukong, aka the Monkey King ( Huang Bo ) with short bridging bits — Journey to the West is more picaresque than pure narrative. But Chow and his army of writers manage to hold on to their themes and ideas through each set piece. The central conflict in the film grows from Xuanzang’s very Buddhist quest to honor the greater love for all things under the sun — demons included — and Duan’s more earthly quest for physical and romantic love. Her aggressive pursuit of him makes Xuanzang uneasy, and challenges his already fragile hold on his faith. The film has a dark undercurrent, entertaining and colorful as it is. Chow has no time for unwritten rules that say toddlers can’t die on screen; the Pig Demon’s lair is truly grotesque; and the Monkey King isn’t the impish charmer that has dominated popular culture. Laughs bump up against loss time and again, giving JTTW a more adult edge than may be expected.

STORY: Stephen Chow, China’s Huayi Brothers in Dispute Over ‘Journey to the West’ Profits

But Chow has a stellar cast that can soften the more gruesome elements without losing control of their purpose. Shu ( Three Times ) and Huang ( Crazy Stone ) are the standouts this time around, and help the bland Wen ( The Guillotines ) look stronger than he is. Huang is a proven comic performer but Shu surprises yet again with a nuanced turn that deftly balances the film’s emotional weight with its comic demands. The film’s 3D and CGI is adequate, and though it goes needlessly overboard in the closing segments, for the most part it avoids the effects-as-message trap. Journey to the West may not rank among Chow’s classics, but it’s a crowd-pleaser that also serves as a reminder of what the director can accomplish when he’s on his game.

Producers: Stephen Chow, Wang Zhonglei Director: Stephen Chow Cast: Wen Zhang, Shu Qi, Huang Bo, Show Luo, Cheng Sihan Screenwriters: Stephen Chow, Derek Kwok, Lola Huo, Wang Yun, Andew Fung, Lu Zhengyu, Ivy Kong, Lee Sheung-ching Executive producers: Wang Zhongjun, Dong Ping, Han Sanping, Ellen Eliasoph, Bill Kong Director of Photography: Johnny Choi Production Designer: Bruce Yu Music: Raymond Wong Costume Designer: Lee Pik-kwan Editor: Andy Chan

No rating, 109 minutes  

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By turns daffy and dazzling, awkward and artful, "Journey to the West" takes an ancient tale and gives it contemporary flair.

In adapting one of the Four Great Classical Novels of 16th-century Chinese literature, co-directors Stephen Chow and Derek Kwok have crafted a rollicking fantasy—a crazy fable that ultimately reaffirms the power of faith. Their giant martial-arts set pieces are nothing short of extraordinary; lively and lovely, they're filled with both great intricacy and innovation.

These scenes, which can be both wildly slapsticky and minutely graceful, provide the film with a winning, driving energy. And then when they're over, the characters unfortunately have to talk.

"Journey to the West" follows a goofy but sincere Buddhist monk named Xuan Zang ( Zhang Wen ), a young demon hunter who must vanquish a series of foes en route to his ultimate showdown with the notorious, shape-shifting Monkey King ( Bo Huang ). When we first see him, in the film's lengthy, tour-de-force opening sequence, he's helping a bunch of frightened villagers take down a giant, hungry fish that's leaping from the water and wreaking havoc. The comedy has a Mel Brooks-like sensibility about it that's appealing; it's playful in a deadly-serious situation. (Chow also directed the pleasingly cartoonish " Shaolin Soccer " and " Kung Fu Hustle .") But the choreography is undeniable: a breathtaking series of near misses and tricky balancing acts.

Xuan's preferred, absurd method of attack, per his mentor, is to tame the beasts by singing lullabies to them from a book called "300 Nursery Rhymes." The sweetness and innocence within Zhang's performance feels very Keanu Reeves circa "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," complete with a mop of wild hair. This is actually a compliment.

The rival demon hunter he keeps running into, a catlike creature known as Miss Duan ( Qi Shu ), favors a more direct strategy: She takes them on through balletic physical battles with the help of a magical golden bracelet—"The Infinite Flying Ring"—which she can duplicate countless times. As she flings the circles through the air like lethal boomerangs, her targets explode in a burst of dust. It's an awesome sight to behold.

But then "Journey to the West" has an episodic structure that saps it of much of the momentum it gains during those thrilling set pieces. Xuan and Duan have one adventure, then another, than another. They meet one eccentric character, then another, then another. There's a tiger demon and a pig demon. There's a preening royal known as Prince Important (clearly a friend of President Business from " The Lego Movie ") and an elderly man known as the Almighty Foot, whose shriveled limb expands to an enormous size when the time comes for him to stomp on his enemies. (He might have the best catch phrase ever: "Today, you will die by my almighty foot!")

Along the way, Xuan and Duan trade some stilted and truly cringe-worthy dialogue—initially about their conflicting strategies, eventually about the half-hearted romance that develops between them. Out of nowhere, Duan finds herself falling hard for her unlikely companion and throwing herself at him in increasingly elaborate ways.

Maybe it's written that way on the page, but on the screen—especially in a film that benefits from such a strong and fearless female—the sudden need to have a man define her is a disheartening cliché. Also, some of the interactions between the male characters carry more than a whiff of homophobia which seems archaic. Again, maybe that's from the source material. But a film that clearly went out of its way to appeal to modern audiences perhaps could have gone just a tiny bit further.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Journey to the West (2014)

Rated PG-13

110 minutes

Zhang Wen as Xuan Zang

Qi Shu as MIss Duan

Bo Huang as Monkey King

• Stephen Chow
• Derek Kwok Chi-Kin

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Journey to the West: Conquering Demons | Review

A Demon in My View: Chow Returns with Rousing, Comedic Action

When a vicious water demon attacks the populous of a tiny village in the form of a large, ravenous fish, Xuan Zang (Zhang Wen), a self-professed demon hunter, intervenes, using the non-violent methods his master (Sihan Cheng) has taught him, which means singing a nursery rhyme to the demon (of which he 300 to choose from), which will coax the demon out instead of killing it. This method proves futile, and luckily another demon hunter, Miss Duan (Qi Shu) is nearby who beats the creature down and encases it in a tiny bag which turns into a cloth toy. After surviving a band of marauders hell-bent on assassinating demon hunters, the two reunite forces to take down a vicious pig demon. Suddenly, Miss Duan finds herself falling in love with Xuan Zang, who has no intention of returning her feelings because he is more interested in the pursuit of a ‘greater’ love in his pursuit of enlightenment rather than the ‘lesser’ love between humans. But when Xuan Zang is tasked with pursuing the most powerful demon of all, the Monkey King Sun Wukong (Bo Huong), he discovers that sometimes more aggressive tactics may be in order, though his master’s teaching may provide him with the added dexterity, making him the Monkey King’s greatest challenge.

Opening with a doozy of an action sequence, which plays like an homage to Jaws , Chow runs us through a veritable gamut of emotions as we’re introduced to a small girl that first jokes around with her father before getting scared by his prank, making up with him, then watching him get viciously murdered right before her eyes. Chow, who often elicits convincingly endearing child performances, hooks us in minutes with material that mutates from touching, to funny, to downright violent in mere seconds.

As this first spectacular sequence unfolds, it’s a tad disappointing that the daffy Xuan Zang and lovely Miss Den don’t quite get to match that intense energy until a grand finale where they battle the Monkey King, who gets to spruce up as King Kong battling Buddha’s ‘talk-to-the-hand’ tactics. In fact, Zhang Wen seems to get a little lost in the mix as a screen presence, though Qi Shu (who many should recognize from her work in Hou Hsiao Hsien’s Three Times or Millennium Mambo ) gets to seem a bit more charming as the lone female demon hunter, pummeling demons into squeaky toy pulp.

In a cinematic age where spectacular special effects are the empty hearted centerpieces of mainstream cinema, Chow knows how to use technology and harness its magic for excitement and effect. Sure, there’s his customary zany slapstick (replete with a fat lady saving the day as she launches herself onto a cumbersome see-saw apparatus to fling the gargantuan fish demon onto land) present in nearly every sequence, but stitched together with aplomb, he always manages to surprise and entice with his colorful, exuberant cinema.

Los Angeles based Nicholas Bell is IONCINEMA.com's Chief Film Critic and covers film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Cannes and TIFF. He is part of the critic groups on Rotten Tomatoes, The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and GALECA. His top 3 for 2021: France (Bruno Dumont), Passing (Rebecca Hall) and Nightmare Alley (Guillermo Del Toro). He was a jury member at the 2019 Cleveland International Film Festival.

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Review: ‘Journey to the West’ a rollicking tale of demon hunters

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What’s the best method for vanquishing monsters: martial arts or loving kindness? It’s a question that goes to the heart of “Journey to the West,” director Stephen Chow’s dazzling comic fantasy about a gentle Buddhist demon hunter.

The latest in a long line of movies based on the 16th-century novel of the same name, this exuberant and delightfully cartoony CGI-fest topped China’s 2013 box office.

Beginning with the 10-minute opening sequence — a triumph of Rube Goldberg zaniness in a rustic fishing village — Chow’s version of the fable, subtitled “Conquering the Demons,” is propelled by jaw-dropping visual inventiveness.

It spins around two mismatched demon hunters. Nursery rhymes are the weapon of choice for raggedy-haired Xuan Zang (Wen Zhang, goofy-sweet), whose master teaches him that even demons are born good, providing back stories on how they are transformed by hatred after being wronged. Duan, played by Shu Qi with a kinetic mix of toughness and vulnerability, has no time for compassion; she’s a mercenary with a magician’s flair for killing and a nifty Infinite Flying Ring.

PHOTOS: Box office top 10 of 2013 | Biggest flops of 2013

Their innocence-versus-experience rivalry morphs into Duan’s unrequited love after she decides, somewhat incredibly, that he’s the one. He resists such worldly matters as sex but starts to get the hang of her smackdown approach to evil spirits, and together they face the trickster Monkey King (the excellent Huang Bo).

The spectacular combination of slapstick, love story and superhero antics doesn’t entirely avoid awkwardness, but mostly it defies gravity, like many of the stunts. The film finds the sweet spot between spoofy and sincere, rollicking and dark.

“Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.” MPAA rating: PG-13 for fantasy violence including bloody images, sexual content and partial nudity; in Mandarin with English subtitles. Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes. At AMC Atlantic Times Square 14, Monterey Park. Also on VOD

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Journey to the West

Tang Zhijun, an editor of a science fiction magazine, tries to find signs of alien civilization. Tang Zhijun, an editor of a science fiction magazine, tries to find signs of alien civilization. Tang Zhijun, an editor of a science fiction magazine, tries to find signs of alien civilization.

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Critics Consensus: As sweet, silly, action-packed and ridiculous as director Steven Chow's best work, Journey to the West serves up dazzling action sequences while playing its disparate elements against each other with thrilling abandon.

AUDIENCE SCORE

Critic Consensus: As sweet, silly, action-packed and ridiculous as director Steven Chow's best work, Journey to the West serves up dazzling action sequences while playing its disparate elements against each other with thrilling abandon.

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Based on one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature of the same name, Stephen Chow's 'Journey To The West' is a contemporary remake of the misadventures of a Buddhist monk as he makes a pilgrimage from China to India. --(C) Magnet

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Critic Reviews for Journey To The West

All Critics (30) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (2)

Another exquisite, snail-paced cinematic perambulation from Tsai Ming-liang and Lee Kang-sheng.

Liang's ravishing conceptual film achieves a rare blend of sensuous delight and documentary specificity.

Journey to the West works so well because Chow has a flair for grand comic-action set pieces, and his imagination seems to actually draw energy from these rapid-fire tonal shifts.

By turns daffy and dazzling, awkward and artful, "Journey to the West" takes an ancient tale and gives it contemporary flair.

Mr. Chow has perhaps achieved more sustained and elaborate adventures, but he hits a sweet spot of comedy that never grows too self-aware or forgets the value of a good, clean demon whomping.

The final product is very much Chow - with elaborately staged stunts, slapstick inspired by silent Hollywood, and a silliness that will appeal to kids (as well as some black humor that may take some explaining for younger audiences).

Chow breaks out one elaborate set-piece after another.

It makes good use of computer animation and slapstick action comedy.

Stephen Chow's inimitable chops for comedic action are on full display in Journey to the West.

It is a work that appears to ask so little from its audience (not much more than patience and an alert eye), but gives a heck of a lot back.

A kung fu comedy, a Chinese fairy story, a Buddhist action movie, a prequel to a mega-series that makes James Cameron's ambitions look puny, Chow's Journey to the West is everything that is good about China's mega-blockbuster inclinations.

Journey to the West is an episodic picaresque epic, moving from set piece to set piece without the traditional Western screenplay-101 contrivances, allowing for a more casual, freewheeling, adventurous tone.

Audience Reviews for Journey To The West

A Buddhist demon hunter who tries to redeem evil spirits clashes with a powerful mercenary huntress who keeps killing his potential converts; she also falls in love with him, despite his vow of chastity, and together they seek the Monkey King's help to defeat a powerful boar demon. The special effects aren't up to Hollywood standards and the Chinese comedy tropes are unfamiliar, but only the most unimaginative and parochial Westerner could fail to be charmed by this endlessly inventive and surprising fantasy/comedy/romance from Stephen (KUNG FU HUSTLE) Chow.

Super Reviewer

is A bit of a misstep for the up-until-now reliable Stephen Chow. The movie sits uncomfortably between parody and literal rendering of Classical Chinese literature.

Stephen Chow's version of Journey to the West is okay, but kind of all over the place. And it's nowhere near as fun to watch as Shaolin Soccer or Kung Fu Hustle. I'd say SKIP IT.

Spin off of Journey to the West story. Not a bad attempt to play with the story but the CGI is very cheesy and needs a lot of color correction work. You can totally see Stephen Chow's dry humor all the way through, but like other Stephen Chow's movies, it is also cheesy (although technically he only directed halfway through, and you can see that..). Show Luo, although only appeared for a brief moment, probably gave the best line in the movie.

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Journey to the West Movie Review

By Harvey Karten

JOURNEY TO THE WEST

Reviewed for Shockya by Harvey Karten. Data-based on Rotten Tomatoes

Director: Stephen Chow

Screenplay: Stephen Chow

Cast: Qi Shu, Zhang Wen, Bo Huang, Show Luo, Shing-Cheung Lee, Bingqiang Chen, Sihan Cheng, Yu Xing, Zhengyu Lu, Chi Ling Chiu

Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 2/11/14

Opens: March 7, 2014

Every country takes pride in its legends. The best known might be the Twelve Labors of Hercules, wherein the man had to slay a lion and a hydra, capture a Boar and a Cretan Bull, and, hardest of all, to steal a girdle. China is not about to sit back and let Greece take all the plaudits. The country with the most ambitious schemes of economic growth uses Stephen Chow to show that China, too, can match and maybe surpass Greece. The sixty-two year old Hong Kong director is known here in the West mainly for his “Shaolin Soccer” (a Shaolin follower unites with his brothers to use martial arts skills in forming a soccer team) and also for “Kung Fu Hustle” (residents of a housing complex use their extraordinary skills to resist a gangster). Never before, however, has Chow been graced with some of the most outrageous visual effects yet seen in the cinema. In other words, “Journey to the West” is pure cinema wherein plot take a long step back to make way for an abundance and variety of Fx. To what end? In “Journey,” a follower of Buddhism will gain full inauguration by Buddha himself if he can save the people from a number of dragons; specifically, a big fish or piranha, a monkey god, a gorilla, and a huge, ugly pig.

With an abundance of comic violence involving a Miss Duan (Qi Shu) who uses a series of large rings to pulverize her enemies, Chow has his characters take off in a series of actions that are truly cinematic—that is, this movie is not meant to be seen on an I-Pad but needs the full resources of the big screen to give graphic life to the classic novel Journey to the West, which, by the way, is available on Amazon.com in a boxed set of four novels dealing with the search for the Buddhist Sutra, i.e. the sermons of the historical Buddha.

Audience members will have their favorite segments of this drama; mine is the very first, a comical look in which a community living in shacks on a river are threatened by a big fish that can leap to the top of the hill to drag down anything and anyone that moves. The principal demon-hunter, Wen Zhang, heretofore seen in “Love is Not Blind,” is not an overly ebullient hero but a quiet fellow with a big mop of hair which, as we find out later, he would give up, every follicle stripped from his head, to become an early representation of the Buddha. Though he comes across like a fifth-degree black belt, he is political to the left, believing that there is goodness in the most evil human being. He therefore seeks to use his charm to evoke the good qualities that he believes are buried in the most corrupt form of life.

In the struggle he is aided by Miss Duan (Shu Qi), who has fallen in love with her fellow demon-hunter but who, we expect, will be snubbed as Xuan Zang who seeks a love that is higher than that which we associate with romance—a Platonic idea, perhaps. He is to learn that there is really not a ladder of quality: that human love is the equal of the most glorious heavenly kind.

The film has hardly a focused plot, unfolding as a series of Herculean, or Buddhist, tasks, some of which are comical, others simply an exercise in technical proficiency. Ultimately the pulverizing, the bombing, and the knifings become repetitious, but we cannot fault the actors who, like the thespians of an early time in cinema history when silents were king show their emotions largely by widening their eyes.

Rated PG-13. 110 minutes. © 2014 by Harvey Karten, Member, New York Film Critics Online

Technical – A

Overall – B

Harvey Karten is the founder of the The New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) an organization composed of Internet film critics based in New York City. The group meets once a year, in December, for voting on its annual NYFCO Awards.

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The library of must-watch movies on Paramount Plus has expanded in April 2024, with the streaming service adding plenty of new picks that you’ll want to make time to stream. 

All of the options on this list can stake a claim to be included in our roundup of the best Paramount Plus movies because each has scored at least 90% on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes . That’s no mean feat and serves as a testament to the quality of each of them. The new movies range from a road-trip classic to an overlooked indie flick starring a young Peter Dinklage. 

If you’re unsure where to start with all the new movies and shows added to Paramount Plus in recent weeks, we’re on hand to cut through the clutter and pick out the movies most deserving of a place in your watchlist. With further introduction, let’s dive into the list…

'Nebraska' (2013)  

A quaint comedy-drama centered on a father-son relationship, and a cross-country road trip to settle scores and claim a million-dollar lottery prize, “Nebraska” comes from director Alexander Payne whose newest movie, “The Holdovers”, has made big waves in recent months. 

“Nebraska” is similarly charming with an award-winning leading performance from Bruce Dern, alongside a brilliant role for Will Forte that allows him to flex his comedic muscles and showcases some solid dramatic chops. Presented in stunning black-and-white, the color in “Nebraska” comes from its characters and deadpan humor.  

Genre:  Comedy drama Rotten Tomatoes score:   91%   Stream it on  Paramount Plus

'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' (1987) 

Speaking of must-watch road trip movies, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is the genre's gold standard. In this classic comedy, Neal Page (Steven Martin), desperately needs to get from New York to Chicago to make it home for Thanksgiving. 

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Just about every part of his trip goes wrong including his flight getting diverted, and then being forced to travel across the country with the most annoying companion ever, Del Griffith (John Candy). Martin and Candy are two of the funniest actors in cinema history and bounce off each other expertly. The movie’s final destination is very predictable, the journey to the mushy ending is a hoot.  

Genre:  Comedy Rotten Tomatoes score:   92%   Stream it on  Paramount Plus

'The Station Agent' (2003) 

Before “Game of Thrones” made him a household name, Peter Dinklage could be found cutting his teeth in movies like “The Station Agent”, and watching the 2003 movie now it’s clear he was a star-in-the-making. In this comedy-drama, Dinklage plays Fin, a young man who moves into an abandoned train depot after his only friend dies. 

Intent on a life of total solitude, his plans to be alone are halted when he meets a young woman (Patricia Clarkson) dealing with a personal tragedy, a talkative hot-dog vendor (Bobby Cannavale), and a pregnant librarian (Michelle Williams). These flawed but kind-hearted individuals teach Fin that other people aren’t so bad after all.   

Genre:  Drama Rotten Tomatoes score:   94%   Stream it on  Paramount Plus  

'Galaxy Quest' (1999)

“Galaxy Quest” is a farcical parody of 20th-century sci-fi aiming particularly at the “Star Trek” universe. But, this isn’t a mean-spirited comedy trying to tear into the beloved franchise and its passionate fanbase. If anything, “Quest Galaxy” is more of a loving tribute to the beloved series. 

It stars Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell and Daryl Mitchell as cast members of a cult sci-fi TV show who are drawn into a conflict with real extraterritorial invaders who mistakenly believe they are real interstellar explorations. “Galaxy Quest” is so fun you can enjoy it even if you’re not a Trekkie.  

Genre:  Comedy Rotten Tomatoes score:   90%   Stream it on  Paramount Plus  (with Showtime)

'El Dorado' (1967) 

“El Dorado” is a ‘60s Western starring John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and James Caan. It sees the legendary Wayne play Cole Thornton, a gun-for-hire, who arrives in the town eponymous town of El Dorado to take on a job, but instead ends up being reunited with an old friend, Sheriff J.P. Hara (Mitchum). 

Soon enough, the two team up with a rancher and his family to defend his land from a rival looking to steal their water. The New York Times called the classic movie a “tough, laconic and amusing Western that ambles across the screen as easily as the two veteran stars” and “worth seeing” in the publication's original 1967 review. 

Genre:  Western Rotten Tomatoes score:   96%   Stream it on  Paramount Plus  

More from Tom's Guide

• New on Paramount Plus in April — all the new shows and movies
• 9 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Max and more
• My favorite Netflix movie ever is getting a sequel — and I'm torn

Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team. 

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20 Special Presentations and Guest Appearances to Check Out at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival

From big names like steven spielberg, david fincher, and the cast of pulp fiction to a 4k restoration of a hitchcock classic, here's what to look for at this year's festival..

TAGGED AS: Classic Film , festivals , movies

Turner Classic Movies has been carrying the torch for movie lovers ever since it first flickered onto television screens in 1994. Running back cinema history with no commercial interruption, the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned cable channel serves as a firm reminder that great movies never have an expiration date.

This month marks the institution’s 15th TCM Classic Film Festival , hosted in theaters across Los Angeles’ Hollywood Boulevard. TCM is screening more than 75 classic movies with the overarching theme of “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film” from April 18-21. Here are 20 highlights from the festival program that feature special presentations or notable guest appearances, along with Tomatometers all recently updated with contemporaneous reviews by the Rotten Tomatoes curation team to best reflect how they were received in their own time.

91% Almost Famous (2000)

Screening: Sunday, April 21 at Chinese Multiplex House 1 with makeup artist Lois Burwell in attendance.

Cameron Crowe had a life story fit for a movie. A born music geek who grew up in the halcyon days of rock and roll, Crowe broke into the field of rock journalism at the mere age of 16, touring with bands like the Allman Brothers and The Who. Eventually hanging up the journalist badge to take up Hollywood screenwriting, he kept his childhood adventures in his back pocket as a dream script. Coming off his wild success with Jerry Maguire , he finally moved his passion project to the front of the line.

The resulting labor of love was Almost Famous , one of the most critically adored gems of the year 2000. Not everyone was impressed; some critics grumbled that Crowe had sanded off the era’s rougher edges to present too cuddly a view of tour life. The majority consensus, however, was jubilant, with high praises sung for ensemble MVPs like Kate Hudson and Philip Seymour Hoffman . While the film was a box office flop, it found a resilient second life on home video shortly thereafter. Almost Famous ’ make-up designer Lois Burwell will be a special guest at TCM Fest’s screening.

“The film shimmers with the irresistible pleasures that define Hollywood at its best — it’s polished like glass, funny, knowing and bright, and filled with characters whose lives are invariably sexier and more purposeful than our own.” – Manohla Dargis, L.A. Weekly, Sept. 13, 2000

94% The Big Heat (1953)

(Photo by Everett Collection)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at Chinese Multiplex House 6 with Dana Delany in attendance.

Few movies depict the grueling tenacity it takes to uproot organized crime better than The Big Heat . The ever-reliable Glenn Ford stars as a good cop who sniffs something fishy about a fellow officer’s suicide and can’t leave well enough alone, embroiling himself in a web of corruption that will punish his good intentions. Gloria Grahame , fresh off an Academy Award for The Bad and the Beautiful , sauntered into the pivotal role of an enigmatic mob moll, a part originally considered for Marilyn Monroe. Fritz Lang , the genius behind German classics Metropolis and M , directed the Columbia Pictures production with a pitilessness that made its rogue copper’s crusade feel all the more righteous.

The melodrama received unanimous praise from critics, who were thrilled to see Lang in top form again after a string of comparatively anonymous work in the Hollywood system. Ford and Grahame were both singled out for applause, their mutual intensity practically singeing the screen. Tulsa King star Dana Delany will be attending the film’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“[ The Big Heat ] has Gloria Grahame in so amazing a performance as a gun moll that if you miss going down to see her, boy, oh boy, you are cheating yourself.” – M. Oakley Christoph, Hartford Courant, Oct. 8, 1953

87% The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings (1976)

Screening: Sunday, April 21 at Chinese Multiplex House 1 with Billy Dee Williams in attendance.

Before they were immortalized in pop culture by Star Wars , Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones were already minting box office hits like the 1976 baseball comedy The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings . Set during the segregated era of baseball in the 1930s, it stars Williams, Jones, and Richard Pryor as a band of Black players who ditch their repressive Negro League management to go it alone as a freelance team, flouting convention along the way with their showmanship on the plate. Their characters were loosely based on legendary ballplayers like Satchel Paige, Leon Carter, and Charlie Grant.

Bingo Long hit a home run with critics, who singled out Williams and Jones’ chemistry as the picture’s greatest asset. Williams acknowledged in interviews that while the film was a romp, it was also a tip of the cap to a generation of athletes whose ambitions were often thwarted by systemic prejudice. “The characters in Bingo Long had their dreams, just like my father,” he told The Courier-Journal at the time of the film’s premiere. “And that’s what the picture is all about.” Williams will be attending the film’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“[ Bingo Long is] a fine movie which gives an important recreation of our country’s past in a spirit full of hope and good cheer. When’s the last time you heard a ring of applause at the end of a movie?” – Anthony Bannon, Buffalo News, July 17, 1976

98% Chinatown (1974)

Screening: Sunday, April 21 at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX with director Carl Franklin in attendance.

Screenwriter Robert Towne was saturated in Raymond Chandler novels and the history of his hometown Los Angeles when he conceived Chinatown , a detective story probing the shadow games that decided control over the city’s most precious resource: water. The script attracted cream-of-the-crop talent in director Roman Polanski and stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway , but it did not translate into a smooth production. Shooting Chinatown was, by all accounts, torturous, the huge personalities of everyone involved leading to frequent on-set clashes. All the while, Polanski and Towne never stopped arguing over the all-important ending.

Remarkably, the creative differences and interpersonal spats never diminished the end result. Chinatown was heralded on arrival as an instant classic, its fusion of film noir and contemporary grit intoxicating critics as well as the Academy, who recognized the film with a whopping 11 nominations. As for any hard feelings between the cast and crew? “Forget it, Jake. It’s Hollywood.” Devil in a Blue Dress director Carl Franklin will be attending the TCM screening as a special guest.

“In its total recapturing of a past, in its plot, its vivid characterizations, its carefully calculated and accelerating pace, its whole demonstration of a medium mastered, Chinatown reminds you again that motion pictures are larger, not smaller than life.” – Charles Champlin, Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1974

90% Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Screening: Friday, April 19 at TCL Chinese Theatre with director Steven Spielberg and UCLA Professor Howard Suber in attendance.

When 30-year-old Steven Spielberg finally unveiled his mysterious third theatrical feature in the fall of 1977, he had a tough act to follow. Not only was he trying to meet the bar set by his own smash hit Jaws , but his new science-fiction epic was arriving mere months after Star Wars , directed by close friend George Lucas , became a worldwide phenomenon.

Critics couldn’t resist comparing the two projects, but it turned out there was plenty of love to go around. Even with sky-high expectations, Close Encounters of the Third Kind was both a critical and box office sensation. Spielberg’s optimistic tale of humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrials was hailed as a visual masterpiece; even the naysayers were wowed by Douglas Trumbull’s dazzling special effects. Beyond the bravura technique, though, the film’s core hopefulness resonated with an audience who had grown weary of cynicism at the cinema. Spielberg garnered his first directorial nomination at the Oscars for his trouble. He will be in attendance at Close Encounters of the Third Kind ’s TCM screening as a special guest along with film scholar Howard Suber.

“There is no better indication of how far movies have progressed in 75 years than this awe-inspiring, magical foray into the worlds of science fiction and science fact.” – Dale Pollock, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dec. 21, 1977

96% Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at the Egyptian Theatre with actor Jeff Daniels in attendance.

It was a true story stranger than fiction: a Brooklyn bank robbery that quickly devolved into a hostage situation, with its mastermind John Wojtowicz turning negotiations into a public spectacle. What’s more, the robber professed to have done it all for love, claiming he had planned to use the loot for his partner’s sexual reassignment surgery. Perversely, Wojtowicz became something of a folk hero by failing spectacularly as a criminal.

It only took three years for the standoff to be recreated on screens with some light embellishments courtesy of Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino , a director-star team fresh off another ripped-from-the-headlines success, the cop drama Serpico . They had outdone themselves: Dog Day Afternoon was a critical sensation, earning Lumet kudos for locating both the comedy and tragedy inherent in the peculiar true crime tale. Pacino, meanwhile, received some of the most effusive plaudits of his career for his frenzied portrayal of Wojtowicz, renamed Sonny Wortzik for the film. Dog Day Afternoon was a box office hit and garnered six Oscar nominations, taking home a trophy for Frank Pierson’ s screenplay. Actor Jeff Daniels will be attending it’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“By turns manically funny, slyly terrifying and strangely provocative, it somehow reaches beyond its format to make startling comment on the rampant panic of contemporary life.” – Kevin Kelly, Boston Globe, Oct. 11, 1975

67% Jailhouse Rock (1957)

Screening: Friday, April 19 at Chinese Multiplex House 4 with director Allison Anders in attendance.

Elvis Presley’ s career had reached a fever pitch by 1957. The shimmying singer had ignited a culture war, his unbridled sexuality on the stage enthralling a generation of young people while making their parents shake their heads. He had also just broken into movies, taking initial baby steps with clean cut roles in musicals like Love Me Tender . Jailhouse Rock , his third picture, marked the first time he got to be a little dangerous on the screen. The MGM production starred Elvis as a prison convict who finds stardom behind bars, bringing the jailhouse down with the film’s titular song. The production was shot on the quick and ended in tragedy when Elvis’ co-star, Judy Tyler , died in an automobile accident days after picture wrap. Elvis was so grief-stricken that he skipped out on the film’s premiere.

While critics greeted Jailhouse Rock skeptically, many noted that Elvis was improving as an actor and had finally found a vehicle tailored to his strengths. Even the naysayers conceded that their objections would do little to dissuade Elvis’ fans, and they were right: The picture made a tidy profit and spun off a hit record. Director and film scholar Allison Anders will be attending it’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“ Jailhouse Rock is an astute offering for Presley… It looks very much like an important step in a scheme to let Elvis ‘level off’ into a ballad singer who will be on the scene for a long time to come.” – Dick Banks, Charlotte Observer, Oct. 30, 1957

97% La Strada (1954)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at Chinese Multiplex House 6 with director Mike Newell in attendance.

Federico Fellini hadn’t yet become the ringleader of cinematic carnivals he’s remembered for today when he began formulating La Strada , but the project marked his first decisive step towards that creative evolution. Drawing inspiration from his wife Giulietta Masina , he developed the story of a pure-hearted girl sold to a circus strongman (played by Anthony Quinn ), both of them scraping by while traveling along an unforgiving road. When investors resisted casting Masina as the protagonist, Fellini opted to start production without secure funding rather than cast somebody else.

Fellini’s gamble on his vision seemingly failed to pay off when the film premiered to scornful reactions at the 1954 Venice Film Festival. At the height of neorealism’s popularity in the Italian film industry, Fellini had made something unfashionable: a fable. However, by the time La Strada made its way to the United States in 1956, it had accumulated a groundswell of critical appreciation. American tastemakers were bowled over by the simple movie’s complex humanity, and it won the first-ever Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Four Weddings and a Funeral director Mike Newell will be attending the film’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“There is a tenderness and pity in almost every scene which cannot be defined in words. That is the miracle of Federico Fellini’s direction.” – Arthur Steele, Birmingham Mail, Jan. 18, 1957

72% Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

Screening: Friday, April 19 at Chinese Multiplex House 1 with Billy Dee Williams in attendance.

Lady Sings the Blues marked a convergence of two musical icons. Based on the ghostwritten autobiography of Billie Holiday , the legendary jazz singer who succumbed to substance abuse at 44 years old, the film was parlayed into a Hollywood launching pad for The Supremes alum Diana Ross by executive producer and Motown mastermind Berry Gordy. Ross viewed the assignment with trepidation. “If I had made the decision instead of my management on what was to have been my first film, I think I would have chosen something a little bit easier than playing Billie Holiday,” she told The Cincinnati Post at the time. She was paired with the suave Billy Dee Williams, playing an amalgamation of Holiday’s three husbands.

The musical biopic was a big box office success, garnering generally positive reviews with some caveats. Many critics took issue with the film’s tidy treatment of Holiday’s troubles but were unanimous in singing Ross’ praises. The film earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress while launching Williams as a sex symbol, the press dubbing him the new Clark Gable. Williams will be attending the TCM Fest screening as a special guest.

“Apart from the extraordinarily camera-wise charisma of Diana Ross, Lady Sings the Blues is graced by a mumbly-magical performances by Richard Pryor as Piano Man… and by the ultra leading man stability of Billy Dee Williams.” – Andrew Sarris, Village Voice, Nov. 23, 1972

92% Little Women (1994)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at Chinese Multiplex House 1 with stars Trini Alvarado, Eric Stolz, Samantha Mathis, and screenwriter Robin Swicord in attendance.

Every generation deserves their own Little Women . It’s a testament to the evergreen charm of Louisa May Alcott’s novel that it has inspired seven film adaptations without diminishing returns. While most dramatizations of the March sisters are worth seeking out, My Brilliant Career director Gillian Armstrong’ s crack at bat in 1994 might just might be the nearest and dearest to Gen-X and millennial hearts. Starring Winona Ryder , Kirsten Dunst , Claire Danes , Susan Sarandon , and Christian Bale , among others, this rendition was the first to foreground the feminism inherent in the text.

The film had a warm reception, critics embracing it as intelligent drama fit for the whole family. Ryder received commendations for her performance as the strong-willed Jo, clinching an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a career highlight. Ironically, Little Women struggled to get made in the first place, many studios declining to greenlight it for fear it was too feminine to be a moneymaker. It went on to gross nearly $130 million at the box office, adjusted for inflation. Little Women ’s screenwriter Robin Swicord and cast members Trini Alvarado , Eric Stoltz , and Samantha Mathis will be attending the TCM screening as special guests.

“[Director Gillian] Armstrong and her team have made it an A-movie blubfest, a sisterhood fairy tale set in an almost operatic world of heightened emotional drama. The film feels both nicely dated and timeless at the same time.” – Anna Maria Dell’oso, Sydney Morning Herald, March 30, 1995

97% North by Northwest (1959)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX with director Nancy Meyers in attendance.

Alfred Hitchcock once said “Some films are slices of life, mine are slices of cake.” In that context, North by Northwest is the most decadent gateau in the legendary director’s filmography. Starring Cary Grant as a poor fellow in over his head when he’s mistaken for a secret agent, and Eva Marie Saint as the femme fatale who may or may not be aiding him, it was a lark made with the utmost moviemaking craft.

It was also the kind of success that prompts Hollywood to pop the champagne. Scripted with the precision of a luxury watch by Ernest Lehman and shot in ravishing VistaVision, North by Northwest was embraced by critics as a return to form for Hitchcock after the disappointing response to his now-cherished Vertigo . Audiences agreed and made the espionage romp a box office hit. A new 4K restoration will premiere at TCM Fest with director Nancy Meyers as a special guest.

“Alfred Hitchcock’s new thriller, North by Northwest , is one of those no holds barred films. For better than two hours, he lets the Technicolor melodrama ramble across the VistaVision screen while gleefully setting traps for his hero.” – Barbara L. Wilson, Philadelphia Inquirer, Aug. 17, 1959

92% Pulp Fiction (1994)

Screening: Thursday, April 18 at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX with stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman in attendance for a special conversation.

When John Travolta met with upstart filmmaker Quentin Tarantino on a professional playdate arranged by his agent, he had been stuck in a career rut for nearly a decade. While they played board games branded from past glories like Saturday Night Fever , Tarantino bluntly told Travolta he had squandered his talent but vowed to resurrect the actor’s movie stardom. He had just the project in mind: a vampire western that would go on to become From Dusk Till Dawn . Travolta was baffled by the pitch but expressed interest in Tarantino’s other percolating script, Pulp Fiction . Unfortunately, Tarantino had already reserved the leading role of Vincent Vega for Michael Madsen , one of the stars of his debut feature Reservoir Dogs .

Several months later, Tarantino changed his mind and offered Travolta the part. The decision paid off handsomely for the both of them: Pulp Fiction was an era-defining success, garnering Tarantino the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and restoring Travolta to the Hollywood A-List. Travolta, along with co-stars Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman , will participate in a special conversation at the film’s TCM screening, with several other members of the cast and crew also in attendance.

“A truly great soundtrack keeps the tone hip and even steals a scene or two. Not that Tarantino doesn’t have plenty to spare. Pulp Fiction is riveting filmmaking funny, visceral, stylish and so unabashedly original that you never want it to end.” – Marylynn Uricchio, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 14, 1994

83% Seven (1995)

Screening: Friday, April 19 at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX with director David Fincher in attendance.

The infamous climax of Seven remains so iconic that it’s hard to believe it almost didn’t happen. When record store clerk Andrew Kevin Walker attracted Hollywood’s attention with his screenplay about a murder spree inspired by the seven deadly sins, executives balked at the fatalistic ending and insisted he tone it down. By a twist of fate, an early draft including Walker’s intended finale was mistakenly sent to David Fincher , a hotshot from the music video world still licking his wounds after the rocky production of his debut feature, Alien³ . Fincher agreed to direct the project on the condition that they stick with the original twist.

The finished product scandalized critics, some charging that Fincher and co. had gone too far. Most, however, were riveted by Seven ’s uncompromising construction. The grisly procedural was an unexpected box office hit and catapulted Fincher from Mr. MTV to the directorial A-list. He will be attending the film’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“Fincher’s suffocatingly dark style is the perfect fit for Seven : The gloomy, nightmarish images communicate a fear that the characters’ dialogue cannot, and if Seven haunts your dreams, it’s thanks to Fincher’s post-modern eye.” – Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald, Sept. 22, 1995

87% The Searchers (1956)

Screening: Sunday, April 21 at The Egyptian Theatre with director Alexander Payne in attendance.

It wouldn’t be a reach to say that much of 20th century America’s conception of itself was molded by the pairing of John Ford and John Wayne . The director and star worked together on over a dozen films that traversed multiple genres, but it was their Westerns that lingered in the public imagination. The Searchers marked their ninth — and arguably most atypical — collaboration. Starring Wayne and Jeffrey Hunter as uneasy relatives on a long quest to retrieve their kin from a Comanche tribe, the film complicated the genre’s formula by making Wayne’s hero a hateful man motivated by vengeance.

The Searchers premiered to solid if unspectacular reviews, with some critics miffed by its languorous pace. It was a financial success but received zero Academy Award nominations, chalked up as another good effort from a team known for greatness. In the ensuing decades, however, The Searchers came to be regarded as the duo’s signature achievement, often cited as one of the greatest films ever made. Martin Scorsese, an avowed admirer, perhaps summed up the picture’s slow-burn appeal best: “Like all great works of art, it’s uncomfortable.” TCM Fest will be uneveiling a new restoration of the film with director Alexander Payne as a special guest.

“Ford has achieved an extraordinary effect. There is the sense of time passing, yet the picture never drags. There is continued action, yet the picture conveys in almost leisurely fashion the life of isolated families in the remote early West.” – Helen Bower, Detroit Free Press, May 19, 1956

89% The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX with stars Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in attendance.

The Shawshank Redemption was a sleeper in every way. It was a tough sell from the jump, extrapolating a whole movie from one of Stephen King’s few non-horror short stories and helmed by rookie director Frank Darabont , who had cut his teeth writing for television. There was also that pesky name and premise. “Not only is the title horrendous, it’s a 2½-hour movie that takes place in prison,” Jeff Simon of The Buffalo News assessed .

Yet Simon’s review was glowing, as were most of the reactions. Some detractors dismissed the prison picture as too old-fashioned, but most were enthralled by the story’s hard-earned uplift, with unanimous praise given to Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins’ soulful performances. The film fizzled at the box office but surprised with seven Academy Award nominations, garnering no wins. However, much like its wrongly convicted hero Andy Dufresne, time would be a great vindicator for The Shawshank Redemption . An omnipresent run on cable over the next decade cemented it as a modern classic and one of the most enduringly popular films of all time. Both Freeman and Robbins will be attending its TCM screening as special guests.

“ The Shawshank Redemption is both resigned and inspirational, grittily realistic and vaguely surreal, matter-of-fact and operatic. Somehow, these opposites are combined into a remarkably smooth and lyrical composition.” – Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel, Oct. 7, 1994

86% Sherlock, Jr. (1924)

Screening: Sunday, April 21 at The Egyptian Theatre with the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra providing musical accompaniment.

Renowned for his ghostly poker face and death-defying stuntwork, Buster Keaton was one of the most meticulous entertainers of the silent era. For his third directorial feature, he spun a whole story from one of his daydreams: the image of him walking through a theater screen and entering a movie. To depict his projectionist character’s sleuthing adventures through a cinema wonderland, Keaton and his crew pioneered boundary-pushing optical effects. The complicated production proved especially hazardous for Keaton, who fell off a train during one stunt scene gone awry and hit a rail on the way down. He would essentially walk the injury off, only to learn years after the fact that he’d broken his neck.

All that blood, sweat, and tears were met with an underwhelming reaction when the film debuted. Reviews were generally positive, praising the movie’s visual ingenuity, but audiences had expected a more straightforwardly funny film. Keaton himself didn’t even regard it as a standout in his filmography. A century later, Sherlock Jr. is widely recognized as a landmark in visual effects and one of the silent era’s crown jewels. TCM Fest will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary with live musical accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.

“It is packed with laughable incidents, ridiculous tricks that will cause roars of real belly-laughs, and will send them home just a bit ashamed at having laughed so much, just as it did this reviewer.” – Herman Shumlin, Billboard, May 17, 1924

95% The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Screening: Friday, April 19 at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX with star Jodi Foster in attendance.

The Silence of the Lambs ’ Oscars success was an anomaly. Virtually nothing about it had the pedigree of a traditional nominee, let alone winner. Adapting the second entry in Thomas Harris’ bestselling Hannibal Lecter novels, its unflinching gore and digressions into psychopathy were the stuff of horror, a genre the Academy had historically ignored. It was released at the very beginning of 1991, long before the holiday months typically reserved for awards season hopefuls. Its distributor, Orion Pictures, was heading into bankruptcy. As far as trophies go, the serial killer thriller was an underdog, albeit one fitted with a muzzle and straightjacket.

It was, however, met with rapturous reviews, hailed for bringing a sophisticated psychological dimension to a genre often written off as exploitative. The critical darling was also a massive box office success, but a Best Picture prize still seemed difficult to imagine. Yet it went on to sweep the main categories on Oscar night, taking home the top accolade and additional trophies for Anthony Hopkins , Jodie Foster , and director Jonathan Demme . Everything about it should have damned its awards chances, but The Silence of the Lambs defied the odds with a very simple trump card: It was damn good. Jodie Foster will be attending its TCM screening as a special guest.

“ The Silence of the Lambs is the stuff that nightmares are made of. It is, in a sense, a horror movie, but one that deserves comparison with such great works of psychological terror as The Shining , Psycho and Rosemary’s Baby .” – Harper Barnes, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Feb. 15,1991

99% The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at Chinese Multiplex House 1 with director Rian Johnson in attendance.

With a keen eye for the little details that could elevate a joke like a magic trick, director Ernst Lubitsch brought such a deft hand to his comedies that the marketing phrase “The Lubitsch Touch” was a household name during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The Shop Around the Corner ’ s premise was so perfectly tailored to the director’s particular touch that he could’ve worn it like a glove. Based on the 1937 play Parfumerie , it told the story of feuding co-workers who unwittingly fall in love as anonymous penfriends. Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan played the two bickering lovebirds, their onscreen rapport already fully formed after previously starring together in romances like The Shopworn Angel .

The Shop Around the Corner received universal acclaim upon release. Critics, many of whom couldn’t resist commenting on the film’s light “touch,” fell in love at first sight. The Shop Around the Corner remains one of the most influential romantic comedies of all time, famously receiving a spiritual and technologically-updated successor in Nora Ephron’ s You’ve Got Mail half a century later. Knives Out writer-director Rian Johnson will be attending the film’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“It’s a simple but effective comedy-drama, telling a very human story… Director Lubitsch has put on a lot of his characteristic comedy touches but he has also woven plenty of dramatic interludes into the picture.” – James T. Hamada, The Nippu Jiji (Honolulu), Feb. 20, 1940

52% Spaceballs (1987)

(Photo by ©MGM courtesy Everett Collection)

Screening: Sunday, April 21 at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX with director Mel Brooks in attendance.

Mel Brooks cemented his legend as the great lampooner of genre with his prodigious run in the 1970s, his high-concept comedies affectionately ribbing MGM Westerns, Universal horror, and even Alfred Hitchcock’s ouvre. By the 1980s he had slowed down in the director’s chair to focus on producing, taking a six-year break from the parodies before finally setting his irreverent sights on the biggest franchise of them all, Star Wars . Securing George Lucas’ blessing by agreeing not to merchandise the picture, Brooks played several characters in the farce, the cast rounded out by comedy stars John Candy and Rick Moranis along with relative unknowns Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga .

Spaceballs was a bonanza of silliness, gleefully mocking everything sci-fi while functioning as an adventure story in its own right. The initial reception was mixed; critics were ready to move on from Star Wars and compared the picture unfavorably to Brooks’ past work. George Lucas was a fan, though, and over time, the sci-fi comedy became Brooks’ most broadly popular movie. “By far the most letters I get are from people who love Spaceballs ,” he told Entertainment Weekly . The 97-year-old legend will be attending the film’s TCM screening as a special guest.

“This sendup by director Mel Brooks incorporates the silliest aspects of all the major space adventures of the last decade, and the whole is a hilarious combination of its parts.” – Cathy Burke, United Press International, July 3, 1987

69% Westward the Women (1951)

Screening: Saturday, April 20 at The Egyptian Theatre, preceded by a special honor for film scholar Jeanine Basinger.

When legendary director Frank Capra flirted with idea of making a Western, he thought up of a neat twist to the genre’s formula: a wagon trail adventure where most of the adventurers were women. He eventually passed the concept on to his personal friend, director William A. Wellman , with Charles Schnee fleshing out the script. The result was Westward the Women , an oddball oater starring the dashing Rob Taylor as a misogynistic trail guide tasked with escorting over 100 women from Chicago to a town full of lonely homesteaders in California. When the caravan loses most of its trail hands during the journey, the women step up to help brave the travails of the wild, challenging their guide’s dismissive attitude of the opposite sex. What’s more, Taylor’s character meets his match in one of his charges, a strong-willed showgirl played by Denise Darcel .

The picture was a modest success both critically and financially, receiving kudos for bringing some fresh wrinkles to an increasingly homogenous genre. Today, Westward the Women stands out as one of the few 1950s westerns that acknowledged women’s agency.

“All the parts in the film are well played, under William Wellman’s direction. The latter has a way of making these pictures of the old West come alive. He gives each scene a touch of realism that heightens the illusion of the story.” – Kate Cameron, New York Daily News, Jan. 1, 1952

The TCM Classic Film Festival runs from April 18-21, 2024.

Archival curation for this feature was led by Tim Ryan. Additional review curation by Robert Fowler, Dom, and Jeff Giles.

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The 45 Best Shows on Apple TV+ Right Now (April 2024)

Though Apple TV+ is still pretty new to the game, it's quickly established itself as one of the best streaming services around, with critically acclaimed shows like Ted Lasso and Severance . Whether you're looking for something to watch with the whole family, a thrilling mystery to take your mind off the real world, or some good old-fashioned star-studded prestige drama, we've got you covered with the highlight picks on Apple's streaming service. Browse our list of the best shows on Apple TV+.

For more streaming recommendations, check out the Best Shows on Netflix , the Best Shows on Amazon Prime , or the Best Shows on Hulu.

Editor's note: This article was updated April 2024 to include Sugar.

'Sugar' (2024 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 81% imdb: 8.0/10, sugar (2024).

Release Date April 5, 2024

Cast Massi Furlan, Bernardo Badillo, Dennis Boutsikaris, Colin Farrell, Sydney Chandler, Nate Corddry

Genres Drama, Mystery, Crime

Creator(s) Mark Protosevich

Read Our Review An off-beat noir drama with a fascinating lead, Sugar is a mystery series created by Mark Protosevich that stars Colin Farrell as an LA private detective. The show’s star-studded cast also features the likes of Kirby Howell-Baptiste , Amy Ryan , and Nate Corddry . The eight-episode series follows John Sugar (Farrell), a private detective, as he investigates the disappearance of a Hollywood producer's granddaughter. Critical reception to Sugar has been largely positive, and Farrell, in particular, is amazing as a Humphrey Bogart -esque private eye who unearths unexpected secrets and wrestles personal demons like the best of them. Farrell’s cool, understated performance is the main reason to watch the series, but the plot and narrative are quite enjoyable as well, especially if you’re a fan of pulpy detective fiction. The show is very much a take on classic noir, and while it’s not without flaws, Sugar is a welcome treat for fans of the genre. It’s a combination of Alfred Hitchcock and Dashiell Hammet with a modern sensibility — and it just might be your new favorite detective show.

Watch on Apple TV+

'Manhunt' (2024 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 87% | imdb: 7.2/10, manhunt (2024).

Release Date March 15, 2024

Cast Damian O'Hare, Will Harrison, Patton Oswalt, Brandon Flynn, Lovie Simone, Betty Gabriel, Anthony Boyle, Tobias Menzies, Matt Walsh, Lili Taylor, Hamish Linklater

Genres Drama, Thriller

Creator(s) Monica Beletsky

Read Our Review

Created by Monica Beletsky , Manhunt is a historical drama miniseries following the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Adapted from James L. Swanson 's book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer , the show stars Tobias Menzies , Lovie Simone , Patton Oswalt , and more, with Anthony Boyle as Booth and Hamish Linklater as Lincoln. Part history lesson and part conspiracy thriller, Manhunt is a dramatized and fictional look at a landmark moment in American history. The series has gained positive reviews from critics for its powerful performances and for how it makes its historical subject matter relevant to modern times. It’s a surprisingly thrilling show with great production value, including great costumes, a talented ensemble cast, and a deeply layered political narrative. The most important thing about Manhunt , however, is the way it educates audiences about an important chapter in history through an entertaining lens.

'Palm Royale' (2024 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 53% | imdb: 6.6/10, palm royale.

Release Date March 20, 2024

Creator Abe Sylvia

Cast Leslie Bibb, Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Allison Janney

Genres Drama

Palm Beach high society in the late 60s is a very exclusive scene, and Maxine Simmons ( Kristen Wiig ) hopes to join their ranks — no matter what it takes. Created by Abe Sylvia and based on Juliet McDaniel ’s 2018 novel Mr. & Mrs. American Pie , Palm Royale is a 10-episode dramedy miniseries that follows Maxine’s story, with the likes of Ricky Martin , Laura Dern , and Allison Janney starring alongside Wiig. The series premiered its first three episodes on Apple TV+ on March 20, with the rest following weekly. And while the critical response to Palm Royale has been rather mixed, the responses from the audience have been largely positive. The biggest highlight of the miniseries is its visual style and production. Simply put, it’s wonderful to look at, showcasing Palm Beach as a veritable paradise. The performances of its star-studded cast are also a major draw. Wiig is phenomenal as the ambitious Maxine, utterly capturing the audience’s attention. Though the narrative can be bumpy (especially at the beginning), the sheer beauty of the series, combined with its cast of fabulous and hilarious characters, makes Palm Royale a thoroughly engaging watch.

'Constellation' (2024 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 75% | imdb: 7.1/10, constellation.

Release Date February 21, 2024

Cast James D'Arcy, Jonathan Banks, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Noomi Rapace

Genres Sci-Fi, Thriller

Read Our Review Created by writer Peter Harness , Constellation is a captivating science-fiction thriller starring Noomi Rapace ( It Happened to Monday ) alongside Jonathan Banks ( Better Call Saul ). Rapace navigates the mysterious series, playing a distraught astronaut who must return home to Earth after an unexpected disaster leaves her desperate for answers. Through an eerie premise peppered with suspense, Constellation unravels a gripping quest for truth by intersecting the human brain with the enigma of space travel and the universe at large.

Rosie Coleman and Davina Coleman hold their own opposite Rapace, providing an uneasy vibe throughout the haunting series. Featuring grounded performances in an untethered world, Harness allows his action-packed thrills to mesmerize in an undeniably creepy atmosphere, only begging for more to be revealed. - Yael Tygiel

'The New Look' (2024 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 58% | imdb: 6.9/10, the new look.

Release Date February 14, 2024

Creator Todd A. Kessler

Cast Emily Mortimer, Ben Mendelsohn, Maisie Williams, Glenn Close, Juliette Binoche

Genres Biography, Drama, History

The New Look covers the rise of now-iconic fashion designer Christian Dior as he goes head-to-head in the cutthroat industry against Coco Chanel . A period piece, the show is set during World War II, adding to the tension and conflict within the show’s storylines as Dior attempts to introduce the world to modern fashion. Created by Todd A. Kassler ( Damages ), the show premiered on February 13th, 2024.

The New Look stars Ben Mendelson ( Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ) as Christian Dior, Juliette Binoche ( The English Patient ) as Coco Chanel, alongside David Kammenos ( Supersex ), Maisie Williams ( Game of Thrones ), Joseph Olivennes ( Versailles ), and John Malkovich ( Being John Malkovich ) . Audiences have enjoyed the show’s look and high-quality production value, as well as the cast’s terrific acting.

'Calls' (2021 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 95% | imdb: 7.7/10.

Release Date March 19, 2021

Creator Fede lvarez

Cast Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clancy Brown, Aubrey Plaza, Ben Schwartz

Genres Mystery, Thriller

Many horror writers and directors have harped on the importance of the viewer's imagination, believing that what the audience can think up will always be scarier than anything that can be shown on screen. Apple TV+ 's Calls takes this to the extreme, as it consists of nine twelve-minute-long episodes where visuals are minimal and audio is everything. The viewer is eavesdropping on all sorts of calls, from ones involving plane crashes to murder to weird bodily occurrences.

The show premiered in 2021 and was praised for its voice actors, a cast composed of very well-known names in entertainment. With appearances by Aubrey Plaza ( Parks and Recreation ), Rosario Dawson ( Rent ), Joey King ( The Act ), Edi Patterson ( The Righteous Gemstones ), Judy Greer ( Thirteen Going on Thirty ), Ben Schwartz ( The Afterparty ), and Karen Gillan ( Guardians of the Galaxy ), it's almost as fun to figure out whose voice is whose as it is to figure out the mystery of each episode. - Emily Cappello

'Prehistoric Planet' (2022 - 2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 90% | imdb: 8.5/10, prehistoric planet.

Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.

Release Date May 23, 2022

Cast David Attenborough

Genres Nature, Documentary

You know it's going to be amazing quality if Jon Favreau ( The Mandalorian ) is involved, and Prehistoric Planet is no exception. The Apple TV+ show time travels back 66 million years and takes its audience to the time of dinosaurs. Directed by Andrew Jones and Adam Valdez , the show premiered in 2022 and ran for two seasons.

Each episode of Prehistoric Planet tackles a different area of the world where dinosaurs thrived , from deserts to swamps to the badlands. Viewers are taken on an immersive tour through the world and shown incredibly lifelike representations of what these places would have looked like when dinosaurs still lived. And where there's an epic show about the planet, there's an epic score. Prehistoric Planet was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Music Composition" by Kara Talve ( The Planets ), Anze Rozman ( Beckham ), and Hans Zimmer ( Pirates of the Caribbean ). While it only ran for two seasons, it was critically acclaimed for its state-of-the-art visuals and "immersive narration" by David Attenborough ( Blue Planet II ). - Emily Cappello

'The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy' (2023 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 87% | imdb: 7.5/10, the reluctant traveler with eugene levy.

Release Date February 24, 2023

Cast Eugene Levy

Genres Travel, Documentary

Producer Eugene Levy, David Brindley

If Eugene Levy is in it, it's already iconic. That is the case with The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy , an Apple TV+ documentary series that takes viewers around the world to some of the most unbelievable hotels. While in each location, Levy also explores the culture, the food, and the people of the area, all while delivering his classic Levy deadpan sass. Other than those he meets in his travels, Levy largely holds the show on his own, which is a feat few could do without boring their audience; however, Levy proves once again why he is one of the best as he travels through the show with ease.

Produced by Lucy Evans ( Visionaries ) and Laura Senior ( Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures ), the show premiered in 2023 and visited Finland, Costa Rica, Venice, Utah, Maldives, South Africa, Lisbon, and Tokyo in its first season, with Levy refereeing a sumo match in the season finale. With a second season on the way, fans of the show are eager to see what kind of traveling (and mischief) their beloved host will get into next. - Emily Cappello

'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 88% | imdb: 7.8/10, the last days of ptolemy grey.

Release Date March 11, 2022

Creator Walter Mosley

Cast Marsha Stephanie Blake, Dominique Fishback, Damon Gupton, Samuel L. Jackson

Based on the novel written by Walter Mosley , The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey tells the story of Grey (played by Samuel L. Jackson ) , a 91-year-old man whose sudden return of his memory allows him to investigate the death of his nephew. Now being cared for by Robyn ( Dominique Fishback ), Grey rushes to use his long-forgotten memories before they're gone again. Created by original author Mosley, the show premiered on Apple TV+ in 2022. Reviewers highlighted the performances of the cast, especially that of Jackson and Fishback, who make a great duo in the show.

The show also stars Cynthia Kaye McWilliams ( Bosch ), Damon Gupton ( Bates Motel ), Marsha Stephanie Blake ( Orange is the New Black ), DeRon Horton ( Lethal Weapon ), and Percy Daggs IV ( Solos ). 71-year-old author and show creator Mosley has written dozens of books, most notably Blood Grove and And Sometimes I Wonder About You . Mosley has won several literature awards and is best known for his crime fiction writing. - Emily Cappello

'Swagger' (2021 - 2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 7.4/10.

Release Date October 21, 2021

Creator Reggie Rock Bythewood

Cast Shinelle Azoroh, Caleel Harris, Tessa Ferrer, Quvenzhan Wallis, O'Shea Jackson Jr.

Genres Drama, Sports

Inspired by basketball legend Kevin Durant 's experience as a youth player in the AAU circuit, Apple TV+ 's Swagger follows Ike Edwards ( O'Shea Jackson Jr. ) as he navigates the game, the coaches, the players, and their families. The show was released in 2021 to rave reviews, getting a second season and eventually wrapping up in 2023 after it failed to be renewed for a third. Fans were surprised when the show failed to receive a third season, as the cast's performances were widely praised, as well as the overall authenticity of the subject matter.

Created by Durant and Reggie Rock Bythewood ( Dancing in September ), the show also stars Isaiah R. Hill ( Youthful Tales ), Shinelle Azoroh ( Don't Let Go ), Tessa Ferrer ( Insidious: The Last Key ), Quvenzhané Wallis ( Beasts of the Southern Wild ), and Caleel Harris ( Think Like a Man ). Since Swagger 's end, Bythewood went on to Executive Produce Genius , a National Geographic show that tells the story of history's greatest minds like Pablo Picasso , Aretha Franklin , and Albert Einstein . - Emily Cappello

'Acapulco' (2021 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 100% | imdb: 7.7/10, acapulco (2021).

A young Mexican man's dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime at the hottest resort in Acapulco. But he soon realizes the job is far more complicated than he ever imagined.

Release Date October 8, 2021

Cast Camila Perez, Fernando Carsa, Vanessa Bauche, Eugenio Derbez, Damian Alcazar

Genres Comedy

When Maximo gets a job at the hottest resort in Acapulco, he quickly realizes that it's much more complicated than he previously thought. The Apple TV+ show Acapulco , based on the 2017 film How To Be A Latin Lover , follows Maximo through the trials and tribulations of learning this new job, as well as his demanding new clientele. Created by Eduardo Cisneros ( Instructions Not Included ), Jason Shuman ( Lone Survivor ), and Austin Winsberg ( Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist ), Acapulco premiered in 2021. Since then, a second season premiered in 2022, and the show was renewed for a third.

Set in 1984, the show stars Enrique Arrizon ( April's Daughter ) as young Maximo, while the show is narrated by modern-day Maximo, played by Eugenio Derbez ( Overboard ). The show also stars Damián Alcázar ( The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ), Camila Perez ( Gotham ), Vanessa Bauche ( The Mask of Zorro ), and Raphael Alejandro ( Once Upon a Time ). - Emily Cappello

'The Big Door Prize' (2023 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 92% | imdb: 6.4/10, the big door prize.

Release Date March 29, 2023

Cast Gabrielle Dennis, Damon Gupton, Josh Segarra, Chris O'Dowd

Developer David West Read

Based on the book by MO Walsh , The Big Door Prize tells the story of a small town that is thrown into chaos when a mysterious machine appears that is able to measure people's "Life Potential." Premiering on Apple TV+ in 2023, the show stars Chris O'Dowd ( Bridesmaids ) as Dusty , whose interactions with the machine and the townspeople around him are chronicled throughout the show. While Dusty is perfectly fine in his uneventful life as a teacher, his daily routine alongside his wife Cass ( Gabrielle Dennis ) and his daughter ( Djouliet Amara ) is uprooted when the machine appears.

The show was popular upon its release, earning high on Rotten Tomatoes and a second season order. The show was created by Schitt's Creek alum David West Read and also stars Sammy Fourlas ( Backstage Features ), Patrick Kerr ( Curb Your Enthusiasm ), Josh Segarra ( Arrow ), and Elizabeth Hunter ( Jersey Boys ). Season one is currently available to stream on Apple TV+, with season two coming mid-2024.

'Platonic' (2023 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 93% | imdb: 7.2/10.

Release Date May 24, 2023

Cast Andrew Lopez, Tre Hale, Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen

Genres Romance, Comedy

Reuniting unexpectedly delightful comedy duo Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne ( Neighbors ), Platonic hilariously explores friendship dynamics between former best friends as they approach their individual mid-life crises. Platonic was created by Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller and features a supporting cast that includes Luke Macfarlane ( Bros ), Tre Hale , and Carla Gallo . Platonic is 10 episodes of relatable yet ridiculous physical comedy, drug-fueled shenanigans, and all-around ludicrous hijinks.

Guaranteed laughs with Rogen and Byrne leading the charge, Platonic allows the more series moments to breathe as these characters figure out their messy lives. The central, age-old question regarding whether men and women can be just friends doesn’t diminish the talent and presence of the incredible cast. Approaching the subject from a completely different viewpoint than the classic comedy When Harry Met Sally , Platonic cleverly explores new avenues of the topic with characters facing later-in-life milestones. - Yael Tygiel

'Central Park' (2020 - 2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 97% | imdb: 6.9/10, central park.

Release Date 2020-00-00

Cast Josh Gad, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn

Genres Animation, Comedy

Central Park is an adorable animated musical series with the visual style of Bob’s Burgers . Narrated by a fourth-wall-breaking street performer voiced by Josh Gad ( Frozen ), Central Park revolves around the Tillerman–Hunter family who lives on the premises in the fictional Edendale Castle. Through the first season, the series centers on the family attempting to save the famous park from the clutches of Bitsy ( Stanley Tucci ), a wealthy curmudgeon intent on replacing the park with condos and rental space.

Appealing to the wholesome and progressive humor of adult animated shows like Bob’s Burgers and The Great North , Central Park welcomes viewers into the life of yet another working-class American family with intriguing and rambunctious children, while allowing the plot to unfold over the season instead of limiting shenanigans to a single-episode storyline. Plus, you can’t beat the catchy musical numbers featuring Gad and other Broadway star cast members like Hamilton alums Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr.

'The Essex Serpent' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 75% | imdb: 6.3/10, the essex serpent.

Release Date 2022-00-00

Cast Frank Dillane, Tom Hiddleston, Hayley Squires, Claire Danes

Genres Drama, Romance, History

Creator Anna Symon

Read Our Review This BAFTA-winning series is set in 1893 in Victorian England and follows the story of Cora ( Claire Danes ), who, although recently widowed, has actually found freedom following a long and physically abusive relationship. In her attempts to forget the horrors of her past, Cora relocates to Essex and starts to investigate the mystery of a local creature known only as the Essex Serpent. However, as Cora starts to get closer to the investigation and those around it, a striking tragedy leaves her at the heart of a local hunt for answers.

Surrounded by a beautifully realized Victorian setting, The Essex Serpent tells a tale of faith and freedom that, despite its unrelatable time period and concept, often feels gut-wrenchingly real to a modern society where online witch hunts are a daily activity. Featuring a star-studded cast, including the likes of Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes (with the character of Cora being originally given to Keira Knightly ), this moody tale offers the perfect immersive antidote for the weight of the world, with an enthralling puzzle at its heart ready to pull you in. - Jake Hodges

'Lessons in Chemistry' (2023)

Rotten tomatoes: 84% | imdb: 8.2/10, lessons in chemistry.

Release Date 2023-00-00

Cast Lewis Pullman, Aja Naomi King, Brie Larson

Main Genre Drama

Creator Lee Eisenberg

Read Our Review Based on Bonnie Garmus ’ novel of the same name, Lessons in Chemistry follows Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott, a highly intelligent chemist who, due to the backward views on gender in the 1960s, is rejected from fulfilling her potential at work. After being fired from her job, Zott decides to take matters into her own hands, starting a television cooking show specifically to, on the surface, teach housewives tips and tricks about chemistry. In reality, however, she is educating them on their right to a full and boundless education.

Poignant, encapsulating, and ready to tug on your heartstrings, Lessons in Chemistry is perhaps Brie Larson at her finest, working with a set of scripts that accurately and tenderly adapt the wonderful source novel. Not wanting to be bogged down by subtextual foreshadowing or mysterious twists and turns, Lessons in Chemistry is akin to its title in that it simply plays out, like some sort of science, the journey of its central character in all its life-affirming glory. - Jake Hodges Watch on Apple TV+

'The Changeling' (2023 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 74% | imdb: 5.9/10, the changeling.

Release Date September 8, 2023

Cast Elena Hurst, Jonelle Gunderson, Elizabeth Whitmere, LaKeith Stanfield

Genres Drama, Horror, Fantasy

Read Our Review This blend of horror, drama, and fantasy is set in an alternate version of New York City and follows Apollo Kagwa ( LaKeith Stanfield ), a used book dealer whose father disappeared when he was only a boy. Once burdened by mysterious dreams in the wake of his father’s absence, Apollo had managed to move on in his life — that is, until he became a father of his own and the dreams returned. Then, suddenly, all of his nightmares come true when his wife, Emma ( Clark Backo ), is revealed to not quite be who she says she is as she runs away with their child.

Based on Victor LaValle ’s novel of the same name, The Changeling is a gripping, thought-provoking puzzle that encourages its audience to put the pieces together episode by episode. Alongside a stellar cast, the always-terrific LaKeith Stanfield beautifully blends a sense of hope and despair, like he somehow expected the devastating events yet to hit him. Each episode is pensive in its delivery of the story, allowing time for each moment of character development to perfectly land, with this series likely to live in your memory for many years to come. - Jake Hodges

'Black Bird' (2022)

Rotten tomatoes: 98% | imdb: 8.1/10.

Release Date July 8, 2022

Cast Ray Liotta, Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Greg Kinnear

Genres Biography, Drama, Crime

Read Our Review This double Primetime Emmy-winning biographic drama stars Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene, a man sentenced to a 10-year stint in a minimum security prison without chance of parole. Fearing for his safety, Keene strikes a deal with the FBI for him to be moved to a maximum security prison where, amongst some of the most sadistic and evil criminals in the country, he will attempt to befriend and eventually elicit a confession from a suspected serial killer, Larry Hall ( Paul Walter Hauser ).

This moody, brooding drama keeps you gripped from minute one, thanks to a tense atmosphere only amplified by the dark and fearful setting. Taron Egerton, alongside a superbly cast ensemble, is captivating as a man who walks the tightrope between relatable and often difficult to empathize with. The story is unapologetically brutal at times, made even more viscerally gutwrenching when you realize the tale is based on true events. Sure to hold your focus without letting go, Black Bird is one for fans of dark drama. - Jake Hodges

Watch on AppleTV+

'Hijack' (2023 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 88% | imdb: 7.4/10.

Release Date June 28, 2023

Cast Idris Elba, Neil Maskell, Max Beesley, Ben Miles

Creator Jim Field Smith, George Kay

Read Our Review This thrilling Idris Elba -led series took the world by storm upon its release, telling the story of a plane hijacked during its seven-hour flight to London. With a plane full of passengers staring down the barrel of death, it is up to business negotiator Sam Nelson (Elba) to use his powers of psychology and impressive combat skills to save everyone on the plane.

As far as action-thrillers go, Hijack has absolutely everything a viewer could want. Idris Elba unsurprisingly makes for a perfect lead, managing to be both a captivating, hard-hitting hero and a vulnerable victim of a terrifying ordeal. Creators Jim Field Smith and George Kay do everything they can to make each episode as breathless as possible by not just setting a hostage situation on an airplane (perhaps the scariest place to be held hostage) but also having each of the seven episodes play out in real-time. - Jake Hodges

'Silo' (2023 - Present)

Rotten tomatoes: 88% | imdb: 8.1/10.

Release Date May 5, 2023

Cast Shane McRae, Henry Garrett, Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Iain Glen

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi

Creator Graham Yost

Read Our Review This big-budget sci-fi series is set in a dystopian future in which the entirety of humanity has been forced to survive underground deep inside the claustrophobic confines of the titular silo. Engineer Juliette Nichols ( Rebecca Ferguson ) is tasked with investigating the mystery behind the suspicious death of one of her colleagues. While on her mission, however, she uncovers an even bigger conspiracy that goes right to the top — or, more accurately, right to the surface.

Based on Hugh Howey ’s novel Wool , Silo is the perfect blend of a bleak, intricate character study and an eye-opening sci-fi adventure. Every aspect of the series seems to lend generously towards the success of the final product, perhaps no more than the show’s sound design, which, like many other triumphs in this genre, feels both out-of-this-world and touching. With a story brimming with twists impossible to see coming, this is one series you’re going to be very grateful you took the time to watch. - Jake Hodges