Streaming Guide: Movies and TV shows to watch on June 7

A David Fincher directorial, Zodiac was based on the infamous serial-killer Zodiac who terrorised the citizens of San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s and 1970s. The film starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Brian Cox and John Carroll Lynch among others.

Three kids break into a blind veteran’s secluded house, thinking it would be an easy job to just go inside and pick up the cash. If the old guy wakes up, knock him cold and run away, is the plan. They are in for a really, really nasty surprise. Don’t Breathe is a thriller verging on horror.

Christopher Nolan’s last film before he became a global household name with Batman Begins, The Prestige stars two of the best ‘star’ actors Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. Set in late 19th century London, two magicians turn from friends to bitter foes with their rivalry ending in the greatest trick of them all.

Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same name is about two US Marshals played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo, who arrive on an island that houses a facility for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of an inmate. The film is known for its thwack of an ending that changes the way the viewer looks at the whole story. It is an otherwise well-made film as well, with stunning cinematography, performances, background score, writing and, of course, direction.

Helmed by Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods is a subversive horror film that takes the hackneyed remote forest cabin premise of so many horror films and turns it on its head. The result is a smartly written movie. Chris Hemsworth plays the role of Curt Vaughan, one of the college students who go on a vacation to that forest cabin.

The Vast of Night, an indie sci-fi thriller distributed by Amazon, harks back to classic stories and accounts of UFOs and alleged alien sightings, and the steady diet of shows and movies made on them which many of us grew up on.

Also Read | The Vast of Night movie review: A gripping old-school sci-fi thriller

Morgan Freeman’s jaded detective is paired up with Brad Pitt’s rash, idealistic newbie in this David Fincher thriller. The relationship is one of the film’s greatest strengths. This critically acclaimed film posits the two against Kevin Spacey’s psychopath who kills according to Christianity’s seven deadly sins.

HBO’s Watchmen series is a sequel of sorts (called a “remix”) to Alan Moore’s graphic novel of the same name. It is created by Damon Lindelof, co-creator of Lost and HBO’s own The Leftovers. Just like how the English author boldly confronted the contemporary social and political issues in the United States in the late 1980s, Lindelof’s Watchmen deals with the present concerns: chiefly white supremacy and racism. And it does it amazingly well.

12 Years a Slave is Steve McQueen’s heart-wrenching adaptation of a memoir of a black slave Solomon Northup. Chiwetel Ejiofor essayed the lead role in the film which also starred Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong’o, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, and Alfre Woodard. The film was a brutal depiction of slavery and is a hard movie to watch.

HBO miniseries Chernobyl streaming on Hotstar is a harrowing and meticulous dramatisation of the events leading up to and the immediate aftermath of the biggest nuclear disaster in history. Most of the plot across five taut episodes is about the superhuman efforts at containment by brave people without which millions would have perished.

This Krishna Marimuthu-directorial traces the story of an eligible bachelor Prabhu Govind (Harish Kalyan), who hates kids but ends up being the biological dad of 49 healthy children. The film is a Tamil rendition of Shoojit Sircar’s 2012 Hindi blockbuster Vicky Donor, and stars Harish Kalyan, Vivek and Tanya Hope in the lead.

MX Player's Mannphodganj Ki Binny is an adaptation of the book ‘Band Baaja Boys’ by Rachna Singh. It is a story of a small-town girl Binny Bajpai who is attractive, happy go lucky and has an attitude of being in it to win it. The slice of life comedy web series chronicles her big dreams and escapades to leave her small town.

Panchayat is an eight part-series set in the village of Phulera, Uttar Pradesh. Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) who is fresh out of college has somehow landed himself a government job, as Panchayat sachiv, which pays him Rs 20,000 a month. He goes straight from hanging out with his friends at the mall, talking about CTCs and instagramming to the dusty village of Phulera with daily power cuts and where he has to bathe in the open at the hand pump outside the panchayat office.

American actor-filmmaker John Krasinski has come up with his new show, in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is winning the hearts of audiences around the world. The show called Some Good News is hosted by Krasinski on his YouTube channel. With just two episodes, the channel already has over a million subscribers

The AltBalaji web series is an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women. It stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Surveen Chawla in the lead roles. It is a story of four sisters (Meher, Jannat, Amal and Bano) that focuses on the issues of society and how women are always judged and put to test. It also highlights the independent and strong mentality of today’s women.

Rajesh Khanna’s character of Anand while suffering from cancer makes you fall in love with him courtesy his ‘live life to its fullest’ attitude and the thought ’embrace death as much as you embrace life.’ Through the film, he, along with Amitabh Bachchan, give lessons on death and life to the audience. And, mind you, it’s done in such an entertaining way that not for a second you get bored with all the life philosophy thrown at you.

All you foodies who are missing outside food during the lockdown, don't worry! All the seasons of Masterchef Australia are available on Hotstar and it’ll keep you satiated till you can properly go out and indulge again.

True crime lovers, Jamtara: Sabka Number Aayega is a gem that’s hiding in the crevices of Netflix. Based on a true story, the series focuses on phishing operations in Jamtara district. Directed by Soumendra Padhi, the 10-part series garnered positive reviews upon its release. In an interview with Indian Express, Padhi said, “What drew me to this particular crime, as a concept, is that I feel it is a great equaliser. Most people there have not studied after class six. All they do is procure mobile phones and it’s like a family business, they’re all into conning.”

Mulk revolves around one joint Muslim family whose honour is at stake after a family member takes to terrorism. Set in the Indian heartland, Mulk features Taapsee Pannu, Manoj Pahwa, Neena Gupta and Rishi Kapoor.

A young bride is excited about moving into her in-laws' place, but the whole thing takes an unexpected turn when she is coerced into playing a game of hide and seek with her new family.

Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet feature in this moving drama about drug addiction and its consequences. Chalamet and Carell won critical acclaim for their performances in the movie. However, it unfortunately failed to woo the larger audience. Worth a watch.

If you are craving a bit of everything, then this drama should be your go-to. It has action, some thrill and the lead pair share a great chemistry. The show is currently streaming on Netflix.

Two hopeless tech geeks and one clueless dame together try to make through the hurdles of the job. Sometimes they fail, sometimes they succeed. And what do we get? Lots of LOLs. 

Even though we missed the chance to catch Irrfan Khan’s comeback on the big screen, Angrezi Medium is now streaming on Hotstar. The Indian Express' film critic Shubhra Gupta wrote in her review, “Angrezi Medium could just as well have been called Irrfan Returns. Watching this terrific actor lighting up the screen, of knowing about his medical struggles, and the fact that he did this film while still in treatment, gives it a special bittersweet flavour.”

Brightburn is a truly terrifying superhero (or supervillain?) horror film. It is an inversion of Superman’s lore. Just like Clarke Kent, Brandon Breyer came from outer space and fell in a Kansas farm. And just like Clarke, he found loving parents. But instead of being a kind, thoughtful individual, he submits before his darker proclivities and goes on a murder spree.

The Kid Who Would Be King is about a school kid who has nothing special about him. His fortunes change, however, when he pulls King Arthur’s famous sword Excalibur from the stone it is buried in. According to the Arthur stories, only the true king can draw the sword and wield it. The film is an enjoyable adventure for kids and adults alike.

Remy, a rat, has a special talent – he’s a magnificent chef. He comes to the aid of restaurant staff member and serves up divine food. The movie is a great watch for people of all ages. It is packed with comedy, emotions and great food. The movie gets its name from a classic Ratatouille dish that Remy serves to a renowned food critic to remind him of his childhood days. Must watch!

Directed by Mysskin, the film has no heroine and no songs. It is a neo-noir thriller filled to the brim with dark humour and raw emotions. OA, which stars Mysskin himself and Sri of Vazhakku Enn 18/9 fame in the lead roles, is the tale of a man trying to redeem himself in society. The movie brilliantly shows society in its cruel, unforgiving form. And the suspense element holds up right until the end of the film.

Supported by a strong cast including Annu Kapoor, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Parikshit Sahani, Himani Shivpuri and the younger lot Amol Parashar and Chetna Pande, Ekta Kapoor’s web series Home is the story of a middle-class family which decides to fight authorities after being issued a notice to vacate their home in the wake of illegal construction by the builder. Read more 

Starring Amol Palekar, Vidya Sinha and Ashok Kumar, Chhoti Si Baat is the story of a timid man who can’t gather the courage to talk to the woman he admires. When he meets Col Julius, his life transforms as he suddenly finds himself extremely confident and direct. The film was appreciated for being a simple story of regular people. The film’s song “Jaaneman Jaaneman Tere Do Nayan” is still remembered.

Servant is a twist-filled, psychological thriller from M. Night Shyamalan. The series follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home.

Jojo Rabbit is a film about a young German boy (Roman Griffin), who finds out that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. The film’s director Taika Waititi plays the boy’s imaginary friend Hitler whom he admires a lot. Jojo Rabbit won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Illegal is a watchable web series, just don't go in with the expectations of a Suits or Boston Legal. Writer Reshu Nath has penned a smart and entertaining web series. Each episode has interesting plot twists. The courtroom sequences, where a rape case is being debated, is devoid of theatrics. There is simply an argument with both the lawyers citing the laws and presenting their evidence. Read more 

The final season of the high school drama, based on Jay Asher’s 2007 novel of the same name, has Liberty High School’s senior class preparing for graduation. But before they can say goodbye, the friends will have to get together one last time to keep a dangerous secret buried, and make heartbreaking choices that might change their lives forever.

What The Folks is the story of a husband and wife and their experiences with their respective in-laws. The ever-evolving relationships of a family, the changing dynamics between siblings, parents, and even husband and wife are beautifully explored here. Created by Dice Media, the show has had three seasons until now with a total of 16 episodes.

Bhaukaal, a 10-episodic series that traces the real life chapters of an IPS officer. Set in the hinterland of Uttar Pradesh in Muzaffarnagar, the series highlights how a police officer went beyond his call of duty to eradicate organised crimes in the crime capital of India. It stars Mohit Raina, Abhimanyu Singh, Siddhanth Kapoor, Bidita Bag, Sunny Hinduja, Rashmi Rajput, Pradeep Nagar and Gulki Joshi in pivotal roles.

The deceased king rises and a mysterious plague begins to spread; the prince must face a new breed of enemies to unveil the evil scheme and save his people.

When you are down and out, all you sometimes need in life is a nudge in the right direction to lift your spirits. And Netflix series Sweet Magnolias does exactly that. It is a show about three women who celebrate the choices they make. Based on the books penned by Sherryl Woods, the web series features JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley in the lead roles. Read more

This Martin Scorsese directorial is about the rise and fall of mobster Henry Hill (a real figure) and stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta. The film is easily one of the best Scorsese film -- it is that good -- if not the best.

Adapted from Donna Tartt's Pulitzer-winning novel, The Goldfinch is about a young man Theodore Decker (Ansel Elgort) whose mother died in a museum bombing when he was 13 years old. The event changed his life and he became grief and guilt-ridden. He has only one tangible piece of hope in his life -- a painting of a goldfinch.

Despite its mixed critical reviews, The Mummy (1999) is simply one of the best adventure movies ever made. Brendan Fraser's Rick O'Connell is an American adventurer who accidentally awakens a cursed high priest Imhotep from the era of Seti I, a pharaoh that ruled Egypt around 3300 years ago. The special effects handled by Industrial Light & Magic still hold up superbly.

Helmed by Drew Goddard and co-written by him and Joss Whedon, The Cabin in the Woods is a subversive horror film that takes the hackneyed remote forest cabin premise of so many horror films and turns it on its head. The result is a smartly written and acted movie. Chris Hemsworth plays the role of Curt Vaughan, who is one of the college students who go on a vacation to that forest cabin.

A sitcom about a bunch of police officers in a New York precinct, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is continuously funny. The performances are great, and the uniquely written characters never let you get bored. 

FX's horror comedy TV series What We Do in the Shadows revolves around the vampires’ clumsy and hilarious attempts to adjust to the modern world and with, ahem, people who eat food to sustain themselves instead. Helping them in the adjustment process is Guillermo, Nandor’s harried familiar who, due to lack of money or career opportunities, is stuck with the vampires who can consume him anytime they wish. Yep, it is all very crazy and also downright amazing.

A prequel of the classic Alfred Hitchcock film, Bates Motel tells the story of Normal Bates from when he was a kid. The acting is superb, both by Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates and Vera Farmiga as his mother Norma Bates. There is uneasy, almost incestuous tension between the duo and that is the biggest strength of this show. Sometimes scary and sometimes creepy, Bates Motel is a worthy prequel.

Elementary is a contemporary retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes starring Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. The show follows Holmes, a recovering drug addict and former consultant to Scotland Yard, as he assists the New York City Police Department in solving crimes, where he is joined by Dr Watson.

This Bill Hader starrer is about an ex-United States Marine who now works as a ruthless hitman in the Midwest, but he does not like his job. He moves to Los Angeles for an 'assignment' and ends up in a community of people looking to make an entry into the LA theatre scene. The highly entertaining series is a seamless blend between the macabre and the hilarious.

Goldie Behl’s RejectX is a fast-paced thriller that revolves around the members of a music band. The second season of the show starts streaming on May 14. It stars Sumeet Vyas, Kubbra Sait, Anisha Victor, Ahmed Masi Wali and Ridhi Khakhar.

The science fiction thriller is the first ever German language Netflix original series. It is the story of a child who sets four families on a frantic hunt for answers as they unearth a mind-bending mystery that spans three generations.

Post his Hathoda Tyagi act in Paatal Lok, Abhishek Banerjee is back in Kaali 2, his first Bengali web series. The story is about the journey of a woman who will go to any extent to protect her son. It also stars Paoli Dam and Vidya Malavade.

The Belgium crime daram series in French language revolves around a police detective who moves back to his peaceful hometown while mourning a painful loss only to be drawn into a murder case that dredges up dark secrets.

Chef Vicky Ratnani gives some easy recipes to shed those extra kilos in this cookery show, that includes five episodes.

Sharman Joshi and Asha Negi starrer Baarish 2 is currently streaming on ALTBalaji and ZEE5. In the first season, the audience saw Anuj and Gauravi falling in love and getting married. And now, they will witness the roller coaster journey of the couple as they face hurdles in their relationship.

Actor Ranvir Shorey plays Kalpesh in the sitcom Metro Park, which is back with a Quarantine Edition. The shot-at-home segment, which also stars Purbi Joshi and Omi Vaidya in pivotal roles, revolves around how Kalpesh (Shorey), Payal (Joshi) and Kannan (Vaidya) deal with the coronavirus pandemic and its consequence, the lockdown.

The 2019 thriller Crawl directed by Alexandre Aja had its digital launch. It's story revolves around Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper who play daughter-father. The duo gets trapped in their home and hunted by alligators during a Category 5 hurricane.

The zombie horror web series stars Viineet Kumar, Aahana Kumra and Suchitra Pillai in pivotal roles. It revolves around a village which is cursed by the spirit of an East India Company officer who attacks the defense force lead by Viineet with his army of zombies. Events happen after the army arrives there to build a road via a tunnel which is apparently inhabited by the Betaal.

Cribs: Footballers Stay Home is a special series adapted for the lockdown era, featuring the homes of famous football players. The series features a number of well-known footballers from the biggest leagues in the world, including Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and David Luiz, Manchester United midfielders Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira, Juventus footballer Paulo Dybala, Borussia Dortmund's Axel Witsel and FIFA 2017 female player of the year, Lieke Martens.

There’s no way that you will not be impressed by the kids featured in Netflix’s latest documentary Spelling the Dream. Here, we see how the Indian Americans have dominated the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition for decades now, and their hold on the title is just getting stronger every year. Director Sam Rega offers a short history lesson on Indian immigrants in America and then focuses on the families who devote the children’s formative years to competing in spelling bees. Read more