March may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean streaming services are halting their efforts to put out as much springtime content as possible. Longstanding platforms like Netflix and Hulu are known to house a wide variety of movies and shows, but newer services such as Disney+ and Paramount+ are not far behind. From new releases to cult classics, here are the best TV shows and movies streaming on Disney+ and Paramount+ this weekend.
The Royal Tenenbaums Brings Back Old School Charm
No one does comfort movies quite like Wes Anderson, and The Royal Tenenbaums is no exception. Available on Paramount+, this classic flick has timeless appeal, stunning visuals and clever writing. Holding a surprising amount of depth within its comedic tone, The Royal Tenenbaums makes it clear why Wes Anderson is one of the most renowned directors working today.
Starring Danny Glover, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow and a slew of other A-listers, The Royal Tenenbaums sheds light on a dysfunctional family of formerly gifted children barely keeping it together. As the now-adults have to face their failures and disappointments head-on while attempting to reconcile with their distant father, audiences will be pulled along while the family tries to redeem itself in the most absurdly comedic ways possible.
Edward Scissorhands Mixes Nostalgia With Cult Classic Appeal
When one thinks of iconic movies from the ’90s, there’s no better example than Edward Scissorhands. Starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder and headed by legendary director Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is a genre-bending tale of romance and whimsy with just the right amount of weird. An artificial humanoid with an unsettling design flaw, Edward is a gentle soul who, despite his kindness and purity, is treated as an outcast by others due to him having literal scissors for hands. Taken in by a traditional family living in suburbia, Edward finds himself falling in love with their teenage daughter Kim, played wonderfully by Ryder. Exploring themes of love and self-discovery, Edward Scissorhands takes Paramount+’s growing library to new levels.
The Halo Adaptation Series Puts Master Chief on the Big Screen
Adapted from one of the most popular video game anthologies of all time, the Halo series is set to be an ambitious retelling of Master Chief’s quest to protect humanity from the Covenant, a military alliance of different alien species seeking to commit genocide against the human race. Headed by showrunners Kyle Killen and Steven Kane, Episode 1 of Halo is streaming exclusively on Paramount+, and while the rest of the season hasn’t been released yet, excitement from die-hard fans of the game has led to an early Season 2 renewal. With this in mind, there’s no question Halo fanatics and sci-fi enthusiasts alike will have at least two seasons of action and alien warfare to look forward to.
Turning Red Tackles Uncomfortable Teenage Years
While initially supposed to premiere in theaters, Turning Red found a home on Disney+ instead. Following a young girl named Mei as she navigates puberty, boy band obsessions and her newfound ability to transform into a giant red panda, Turning Red teaches a valuable lesson in normalizing the ups and downs of adolescence.
After recent controversy involving Disney’s decision to release Turning Red straight to streaming at no extra charge, the staff at Pixar expressed deep disappointment and continuously stood up for the quality and important message behind the film. Indeed, in a time where genuinely fun movies that balance important themes with child-friendly entertainment are few and far between, Turning Red is a breath of fresh air for a wide variety of audiences.
Daredevil Is Due for a Rewatch
Marvel fans were distraught when it came to light that Daredevil and the other three Defenders’ solo series would be leaving Netflix, but luckily, they can now be found on Disney+ and are currently available to watch. The number of accessible superhero shows can be daunting, but there’s no better place to start than this critically-acclaimed fan-favorite series.
Charlie Cox stars as Matt Murdock, a lawyer who was blinded after a terrible childhood accident. After this event, however, Murdock’s other senses advanced to superhuman levels, leading to him becoming the masked vigilante known as Daredevil. With three seasons of gritty action, memorable performances and a fresh, grounded take on the superhero genre, fans and critics alike agree Daredevil is a cut above the rest.
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