Netflix & Chill - Your Destination To Chill

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family Stars: Justin Fletcher, Kate Harbour Directed by: Steve Cox Shaun the Sheep and the adorable animals of Mossy Bottom Farm are at it again in this animated feature based on  Wallace & Gromit  creator Nick Park’s stop-motion universe of colourful characters who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. This time around, Shaun’s attempts to snag a bigger stocking for his barnyard buddies set off a chain of events that sends them on a winter adventure to rescue one of their own — an adventure that, of course, happens to involve a sleigh and a few other holiday essentials. Shaun’s adventures always find a way to be entertaining for all ages, and this one’s no exception.

Genre:  Drama, Music Stars: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús Directed by: Lin-Manuel Miranda Andrew Garfield stars as  Rent  playwright Jonathon Larson in this semi-autobiographical film directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The musical drama chronicles Larson’s struggles to bring the rock musical he’s been working on for years to the stage while navigating love, friendships, and both personal and professional pressure in New York City.

Genre:  Western Stars: Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Idris Elba Directed by: Jeymes Samuel This neo-Western adventure brings together some of Hollywood’s hottest African-American actors for a stylized spin on the genre filled with epic action, great music, and memorable performances.  Lovecraft Country  and   Loki   actor Jonathan Majors plays Nat Love, a man looking to avenge the murder of his parents by the ruthless outlaw Rufus Buck, played by Idris Elba. Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, and Edi Gathegi join Majors and Elba in the film’s impressive ensemble. Read our   The Harder They Fall  review  for more spoiler-free reasons to watch.

Genre:  Action, Thriller Stars: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino, Chloe Coleman Directed by: Navot Papushado Karen Gillan plays a lethal assassin who finds herself on the run after she refuses to kill a young girl in this fast-paced, beautifully choreographed thriller. While fleeing the mysterious organization out to end her contract, Gillan finds an unexpected ally in the mother she thought she lost (played by  Game of Thrones   actress Lena Headey) and a trio of brutally effective hitwomen (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino). With nonstop action and an impressive ensemble of leading ladies, the film gives new meaning to smashing the patriarchy. Read our spoiler-free   Gunpowder Milkshake   review  for more reasons to watch.

Genre:  Fantasy, Family, Horror Stars: Winslow Fegley, Lidya Jewett, Krysten Ritter Directed by: David Yarovesky In this dark, but (relatively) family-friendly horror feature, a young boy with an affinity for writing scary stories finds himself stuck in the magical apartment owned by a powerful witch (Krysten Ritter) and must tell her a new story every night if he wants to survive. Come for the mild scares, stay for the beautiful fantasy elements in this unique film.

Genre:  Sci-Fi, Adventure, Comedy Directed by: Jo Sung-hee Cast: Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu, Yoo Hae-jin Widely regarded as Korea’s first blockbuster space adventure,  Space Sweepers  is set in the year 2092 and follows the colorful crew of The Victory, a salvage ship that retrieves debris from space and sells it to the megacorporation that owns humanity’s last hope for survival, an orbiting space station high above the toxic surface of Earth. When the crew encounters a young girl in their latest salvage haul, it kicks off a wild adventure that pits them against powerful forces intent on steering mankind’s future. Filled with gorgeous visual-effects sequences, fascinating characters, and plenty of comedy — and a memorable robot named Bubs — the film is a fast-paced, fun throwback to classic space adventures with some wonderfully modern twists.

Genre:  Comedy Stars: Natalia Dyer, Alisha Boe, Francesca Reale Directed by: Karen Maine Stranger Things  alum Natalia Dyer stars in writer-director Karen Maine’s  Yes, God, Yes , a coming-of-age take on religious repression and burgeoning sexuality. Alice (Dyer) and her friend Laura (Francesca Reale) decide to attend their Catholic school’s annual Kirkos retreat. On their pilgrimage, Alice inadvertently enters into a promiscuous AOL chat when she tries to look up a particular sex act. This puts into place a daisy chain of rumors among Alice’s peers, with Alice’s genuine innocence and curiosity put uncomfortably in the middle. Based on her 2017 short film of the same name, Maine’s  Yes, God, Yes  is a nuanced and mature story of one teenager trying to wade her way through the stigma of sex, featuring a powerful lead performance from Dyer.

Genre:  Action, Fantasy Directed by: Kwang-Il Han Cast: Theo James, Lara Pulver, Graham McTavish A prequel to the live-action The Witcher series,  Nightmare of the Wolf  follows a brash monster hunter whose investigation leads to a pivotal moment in the timeline of the show’s dark fantasy world. The film is animated by the same studio responsible for hit shows  The Legend of Korra ,  Voltron: Legendary Defender , and  Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts , so it’s no surprise how beautiful it looks, but unlike those kid-friendly series,  Nightmare of the Wolf  is a brutal, bloody adventure aimed at the same audience as The Witcher. Theo James, Lara Pulver, and Graham McTavish are among the notable actors lending their voices to the film’s cast. Read our  The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf  review  for more spoiler-free reasons to watch.

Genre:  Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, Henry Cavill Directed by: Harry Bradbeer So, you thought Sherlock Holmes was played out? Well, you thought wrong because you didn’t know he had a little sister. Millie Bobby Brown shines as the title character in this action-packed, fun-filled twist on the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories. When her mother turns up mysteriously missing, teenage Enola Holmes hits the trail to find her — something her more famous brother is simply too preoccupied to do. As she sniffs out clues, Enola discovers she might just have as much as, or even more of, a knack for this sleuthing thing than her brother, slowly uncovering a dangerous conspiracy that threatens to rattle the English aristocracy.

Genre: Comedy Stars: Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish Directed by: Kitao Sakurai Eric André and Lil Rel Howery headline this hidden-camera prank film that has them playing two friends, Chris and Bud, who embark on an ill-fated road trip so Chris can tell his high school sweetheart he loves her. As they stumble from one ridiculous scenario to another, they’re pursued by Bud’s convict sister (Tiffany Haddish), whose car they stole for the trip. Raunchy, shocking, and relentlessly funny, the film blends scripted scenes with wild hidden-camera pranks and its duo’s signature comedy for a film that’s all about the journey, not the destination.

Genre:  Animation, Musical, Family Stars: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Gloria Estefan Directed by: Kirk DeMicco The first musical animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation,  Vivo  follows a musically gifted kinkajou — a long-tailed, raccoon-like mammal usually found in tropical regions — as he embarks on a journey from Havana, Cuba, to Miami, Florida, in order to bring a message of love to his guardian’s former partner.  Hamilton  and  In the Heights  mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda created the songs for the film and voices Vivo the kinkajou, with Ynairaly Simo voicing Gabi Hernández, the young girl who helps Vivo on his quest. A long list of popular Cuban musicians and performers — including Gloria Estefan — fill out the film’s cast and contribute to a musical score rooted in the region’s history and culture.

Genre:  Horror Stars: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, Fred Hechinger Directed by: Leigh Janiak This retro slasher feature based on R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name follows a group of teenagers in fictional Shadyside, Ohio, who find themselves terrorized by a supernatural killer with a link to the town’s dark history. Dripping with ’90s nostalgia and plenty of blood, the movie is the first installment of a trilogy that explores Shadyside’s deadly reputation as the murder capital of the country, with each chapter unfolding in a different era. Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, and Fred Hechinger star in the terrifying tale.

Genre:  Action, Adventure, Comedy Stars: Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson Directed by: Jude Weng Uprooted from her Brooklyn life, Pilialoha “Pili” Kawena (Kea Peahu) and her family travel to Oahu to care for her ailing grandfather. Initially disappointed by the lack of big-city buzz and activity, they discover a pirate journal that alludes to an ancient treasure buried somewhere on the island. As Pili and her older brother begin their quest for the trove, their journey takes them on a Hawaiian odyssey that connects them with their ancient island heritage. A loving family drama,  Finding ‘Ohana  is  The Goonies  meets visually breathtaking Hawaii.

Genre:  Comedy, Romance Stars: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves Directed by: Nahnatchka Khan Childhood friends Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) cross paths as adults, years after a teenage fling, and soon find themselves navigating life and love while maintaining two very different career paths and social circles. She’s a celebrity chef who hangs out with  Keanu Reeves   and he installs air conditioners. Can they ever find common ground? You probably know the answer to that already, but watching how they get there is where the fun lies — particularly when it comes to Reeves’ memorable performance.

Genre:  Drama Directed by: Zhang Yimou Cast: Deng Chao, Sun Li, Ryan Cheng Legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou followed up his misbegotten  The Great Wall  with 2018’s  Shadow , a beautiful return to form. The film begins when Commander Ziyu (Deng Chao) is defeated in a duel with enemy commander Yang Cang (Hu Jun), losing an important city in the process. This infuriates Ziyu’s king, who demotes Ziyu to commoner status and tries desperately to reclaim the city. Unbeknownst to the king, the actual Ziyu is on the verge of death after the duel, replaced by a body double who must now train to beat Yang Cang.  Shadow  is a historical epic of grand scope, heavy on intrigue and stylish combat sequences accented by a stark color palette.