Get ready, it’s a whole new month, and Netflix is adding an incredible amount of new series and movies for fans to binge… including over thirty Netflix Originals. As well as new and returning original content, Netflix is treating fans to plenty of classic content, from stoner comedies to horror, sci-fi, drama and more. No matter what you are looking for this April, Netflix has you covered - even those people who think that they’ve already watched the entire back catalog (not that that even seems possible, at this point!).
All The President’s Men
Starting with a total film classic: All The President’s Men. This 1976 political thriller won no fewer than four Oscars (including Best Actor and Best Writing), and was a Best Picture nominee. It’s easy to see why, too. The film focuses on the Watergate scandal and the reporters at the heart of it, and stars Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. Anyone who hasn’t yet seen this should rectify that, immediately.
Arriving: April 1
The Fifth Element
This sci-fi cult classic from the ’90s (directed by Luc Besson) will take viewers on a wild ride through a brightly colored future version of Earth, and it cannot be missed. The Fifth Element stars Bruce Willis as Korben Dallas, an elite soldier who got out of the game, but is going to be called back for one last mission: to save the world. That may seem trite, but throw in some incredible costume design, aliens, the ‘perfect being’ (Milla Jovovitch) who has returned to save the world herself and a whole lot of comedy, and what’s left is a totally original, totally incredible, sci-fi movie.
Pineapple Express
Seth Rogen and James Franco take on stoner comedy with Pineapple Express, a 2008 comedy about a hapless stoner process server and his dealer… who end up trying to outrun (and outwit) hitmen and corrupt cops. It’s a perfect example of a wrong place, wrong time set up, and is sure to appeal to fans of Seth Rogen’s particular brand of humor (as well as anyone else just looking for something silly on a rainy day).
Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (Season 2)
The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina returns for its second season, following up on the smash hit first season (released in 2018) and the holiday special.
Brought to life by the same people who created Riverdale out of Archie and Jughead, this re-working of the comic character (and teen comedy series Sabrina The Teenage Witch) is much darker than the ’90s series, but that’s not a bad thing. Sadly, though, the original isn’t also available to stream at the moment.
Arriving: April 5
Unicorn Store
Captain Marvel fans, get ready: Brie Larson is starring in another film this month: Unicorn Store. The film marks her directorial debut (and certain ‘fans’ have certainly had something to say about that), and she also stars as Kit, a woman who isn’t loving the idea of growing up. When a mysterious man offers her a unicorn (yes, an actual unicorn) if she makes a few changes to her life, things start to get very, colorfully, weird.
You Vs Wild
Netflix made headlines with the interactive Black Mirror episode ‘Bandersnatch’, and that was just the start for the streaming service. This month, Netflix relases another, very different, interactive series: You Vs Wild. Inspired by Bear Grylls’ Man Vs Wild, the series puts the viewer in charge of Bear himself, choosing what he’ll do in a variety of survival situations. It’s definitely an interesting take on the interactive model, but it remains to be seen whether this style of content will be popular in the long-term.
Arriving: April 10
Special
This upcoming comedy is based on the book ‘I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves’ by Ryan O’Connell, who will also be starring the show. Ryan plays himself (or a fictional version of himself) and the series follows him on a journey as a gay man with cerebral palsy. With Jim Parsons producing, the series will presumably handle the subject matter with sensitivity as well as humor, as Ryan learns how to live a life where cerebral palsy doesn’t get in the way of the things he wants. Given how few series exist without an able-bodied lead, Special is a fantastic step toward a more truly diverse world of comedy on the streaming service.
Arriving: April 12
Someone Great
Gina Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, and Brittany Snow star in this new Netflix Original comedy film about female friendships and dealing with breakups. Rodriguez plays Jenny, a New York City girl who ends a long-term relationship just before moving across the country, and decides to mark this momentous life change with one last wild night out with the girls. While this may not look particularly groundbreaking, it’s bound to be a sweet movie, perfect for a night in with friends, wine, and popcorn.
Arriving: April 19
Bonding
Dark comedy fans, rejoice - Netflix has something new on the way for you. Bonding is a short-form comedy series about two high school friends who reunite as adults in New York… and discover that Tiff (Zoe Levin) isn’t just a grad student, she’s also a professional (and incredibly successful) dominatrix. She offers her old BFF Pete (Brendan Scannell) a job as her assistant, and unsurprisingly, sexy, latex and leather-clad chaos ensues and he learns how to navigate her world.
Arriving: April 24
The Hateful Eight (Extended Version)
While we wait for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (and that upcoming Star Trek film), it’s time to re-visit his most recent offering: The Hateful Eight. Originally released in 2015, Netflix is adding the Extended Version of the film to its catalog at the end of the month. This Oscar-winning film stars Samuel L Jackson as a bounty hunter, seeking shelter from a vicious storm with a group of other… interesting… characters. Tarantino fans are sure to love this latest addition to his filmography, with all the usual comedy blended with gratuitous gore and violence.
Arriving: April 25
