In a press release, Netflix confirmed today (Tuesday, May 7 – a strange day for a Wednesday-based reveal) that principal photography is now underway on Wednesday's sophomore season. Like its predecessor, season 2 will be filmed in Ireland, although it's unclear how long it'll shoot for. Regardless, considering that's it's been 16 months since Netflix renewed Wednesday for a second season after its record-breaking debut, we're just glad filming is up and running.

That's not the only big announcement that was made about one of the best Netflix shows ever created. As the YouTube video above shows, there are plenty of new faces among the season 2 cast, including Doctor Who alumnus Billie Piper, Star Wars' Joonas Suotamo, Westworld's Thandiwe Newton, and The Big Lebowski's Steve Buscemi. The latter duo were all but confirmed to feature in Wednesday season 2, mind you – indeed, we reported on Newton and Buscemi's inclusions after Netflix added them to the second season's roster in late April.

A familiar Addams Family face returns

Curiously, Wednesday season 2 has also drafted in legendary actor Christopher Lloyd as a guest star. Lloyd played Uncle Fester in the two Addams Family films that were released in theaters in the 1990s, but the beloved character was portrayed by Fred Armisen in Wednesday season 1. Netflix has confirmed that Armisen will be back as Uncle Fester for the season's next installment, so Lloyd isn't replacing Armisen to reprise one of his many iconic roles.

Okay, so who are the other newcomers playing? Netflix hasn't revealed the identities of every new character, but the aforementioned YouTube video dropped some crowd-pleasing news on a few fronts. First, Joanna Lumley will take on the role of another Addams Family member in Grandmama. Piper will portray someone known as Capri, while Newton and Buscemi's individuals are Doctor Fairburn and Barry Dort. Buscemi's Dort is rumored to be the new principal of Nevermore Academy, who follows in the footsteps of Gwendoline Christie's Larissa Weems.

Here's a full list of the new series regulars – listed first – and guest stars that we'll be seeing in season 2:

• Steve Buscemi (The Big Lebowski, Boardwalk Empire)
• Billie Piper (Scoop, Doctor Who season 1)
• Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill, Lord of Misrule)
• Owen Painter (Tiny Beautiful Things, The Handmaid’s Tale)
• Noah Taylor (Law & Order: Organized Crime, Park Avenue)
• Christopher Lloyd (Addams Family, Back to the Future)
• Joanna Lumley (Fool Me Once, Paddington 2)
• Thandiwe Newton (Westworld, Crash)
• Frances O’Connor (The Missing, The Twelve)
• Haley Joel Osment (The Kominsky Method, Somebody I Used to Know)
• Heather Matarazzo (The Princess Diaries, Scream)
• Joonas Suotamo (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Acolyte)

Unsurprisingly, lead star Jenna Ortega is back as the titular teen with supernatural abilities. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, who all appeared in the show's smash hit first season, are also reprising their roles as Morticia Addams, Gomez Addams, Pugsley Addams, and Deputy Sheriff Ritchie Sanitago. All four cast members have been upgraded to series regulars. Lastly, Tim Burton returns to direct and executively produce the show alongside returning co-showrunners/writers/executive producers Al Gough and Miles Millar.

Wednesday season 2 doesn't have a release date, but I'd be amazed if it doesn't make its debut on the world's best streaming service sometime in 2025.

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I'm writing this on a holiday weekend where the title of the third Hellraiser movie, Hell on Earth, seems like a pretty good description of the roads, the stores and pretty much everything else. But if you're familiar with the franchise, you'll know that you're in for something much more horrific than heavy traffic. After the tension of the first two movies, the third is more of a slasher: it's incredibly gory and there's a very high body count. It's also smarter than its rather low Rotten Tomatoes score suggests, and it's available on Prime Video right now.

• Watch Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth on Prime Video

Is Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth worth streaming?

If you're not a gorehound, the answer is a very big no. But if you like your horror in many shades of red, this third instalment is an interesting one. It moves the previously vague location to Hollywood, where an accidentally unleashed Pinhead causes havoc, and the result is what Time Out says is "adult horror to die for."

Empire gave the movie a largely positive three stars, noting that "mercifully gone is the waffling metaphysics of the second film; instead there are surprisingly careful characterizations and good, creepy, squishy horror stuff." While Pinhead is really a "sub-Freddy goon" the movie is "a good horror sequel" of the kind that'll delight mall teenagers. It's not particularly deep, but then it's not supposed to be.

Variety is hardly gore central, but it praised the movie: it's "an effective combination of imaginative special effects with the strangeness of author Clive Barker's original conception, on which the characters are based." And The Washington Post liked it too, saying; "Genre fans will appreciate the blood flow and the gore, and director Anthony Hickox keeps things moving so that there's never a dull moment – or dull blade. Consider Hell raised."

It wouldn’t be the last time Hell was raised, either: if you like this one, there are eight more movies for you to enjoy; the most recent one, 2022's Hellraiser, was the obligatory reboot to take the series back to its roots. Hellraiser III may not rank among the best Prime Video movies overall, but it'll really hit the spot for horror fans.

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Mr and Mrs Smith, the Prime Video show featuring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as two arranged-married spies, has received great reviews (check out the trailer if you don't know anything about it yet). But it's very different from the original movie it's based on, and which you can stream right now on Netflix. The original takes the same concept – two contract killers are married to each other – but comes at it from a different direction: in this film, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are in a real marriage, and they're keeping their spy stuff secret from each other. 

• Watch Mr and Mrs Smith on Netflix

Is the original Mr and Mrs Smith worth streaming?

Yes. The 2005 movie is really a classic Hollywood romance with fighting – a screwball comedy with heavy artillery – and the screen crackles with electricity every time Pitt and Jolie are together: they're clearly having an absolute hoot making this movie, and because they're both highly skilled actors they deliver just enough seriousness to make the often quite ridiculous plot work. The fact that neither actor fell out of the ugly tree also helps keep you glued to the screen.

As Roger Ebert wrote at the time, "What makes the movie work is that Pitt and Jolie have fun together on the screen, and they're able to find a rhythm that allows them to be understated and amused even during the most alarming developments." 

As Empire points out, the story isn't new: the same conceit was at the core of the mid-80s mob movie Prizzi's Honor. But "where that was a demure black comedy with all the kinetic energy of a chess game, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a speedfreaks' pinball tournament." The movie is a "full-on action flick, subversive rom-com and weapons-grade star vehicle that's drenched in Tinseltown glitz."

Is it a film you'll want to watch a dozen times? Probably not, and it's not on our list of the best Netflix movies overall. But if you're looking for a two-hour thrill ride with some great gags, some edge-of-the-seat action and some of the most beautiful people on the planet, Mr and Mrs Smith is a lot of fun.

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Trust no-one. That seems to be the main takeaway from Star Wars: The Acolyte's latest suspense-driven trailer, which traveled at lightspeed to arrive in time for Star Wars Day 2024 (May 4).

Almost two months after The Acolyte's first trailer teased an ominous disturbance in the Force, and less than a week after an early Star Wars Day teaser hinted at a fan-favorite link to the prequel movies, a ton of new footage was debuted online for the highly anticipated series. Take a look at the Disney Plus show's official trailer below:

There's plenty to unpack from The Acolyte's newest action-packed and mystery-filled teaser, and I suspect you might have overlooked some key details that give us some ideas about its morally gray characters, overarching plot, and ties to wider Star Wars lore. With that in mind, I've picked out five things you may have missed from the latest trailer to speculate on what they could tease. This is final warning: possible spoilers for The Acolyte follow!

A towering temple

The trailer's first noteworthy aspect – outside of confirmation (via a character voiceover) that someone is hunting down and killing Jedi – is just how much the Jedi Temple looms over the rest of Coruscant. Remember, this show takes place during Star Wars' High Republic era, which is when the Jedi were at the height of their powers. 

Considering how much these so-called peacekeepers held themselves in, well, high regard, it's unsurprising that the Jedi Order's headquarters stands head and shoulders over every other building. This changes as the centuries pass, with Coruscant undergoing a construction transformation as new places are built in and around the Jedi Temple. That makes it appear as if the building has 'shrunk' (a thematic symbol for how the Jedi's influence decreases throughout the Star Wars timeline), but it's just that other properties have been erected at the same height as it.

Sith sympathy

The Acolyte's first teaser, which was released in March, was accompanied by a number of character profiles (on StarWars.com) that provided some key intel on the major players who'll appear.

One individual whose role is still something of a mystery, though, is Manny Jacinto's Qimir. His StarWars.com character profile only tells us that he's a "former smuggler who now makes his living as a trader, procuring unusual things and enjoying a life of leisure". That makes it sound like the roguish ex-criminal has turned his life around.

Based on the series' latest trailer, though, it appears that Qimir has done anything but – and, even worse, he could be a Sith sympathizer. At this point in Star Wars history, Dark Side wielders are believed to have been wiped out, which makes their return a huge problem for the Jedi (more on this later).

Okay, so how do we know Qimir is empathetic to the Sith's cause? Because of a single line of dialog – "Peace is a lie" – that he utters around the 0:20 mark. This simple quote is one of the main tenets of The Sith Code, which was written by Sorzus Syn and taught by iconic Sith Lord Darth Bane. 

Some fans have even gone as far as to suggest that Qimir is a Sith himself. While that could be one of many shock twists that showrunner Leslye Headland as hinted at in various interviews, I think Qimir being a Sith Lord is too much of a leap to make from a plot and/or character perspective. I'm open to being proved wrong, though!

Distraction tactics

The Acolyte – one of many new Star Wars shows and movies set to arrive in the coming years – is going to give us something completely different from previous projects. Indeed, it's being billed as a mystery-thriller, which is a far cry from the usual sci-fi fare we've become accustomed to with Lucasfilm's iconic franchise.

As I mentioned, there'll be plenty of twists and turns in this detective-style series, and it appears that the show's newest trailer is already trying to throw us off the scent. With a voiceover from Rebecca Ferguson's Vernestra Rwah – "I sense this is only a small part of a larger plan" – accompanying footage of a new coven of Force-sensitive witches (led by Jodie Turner-Smith's Mother Aniseya), The Acolyte's latest teaser suggests this group will be its secondary antagonists. The fact that they use their abilities to hypnotize Dean-Charles Chapman's unnamed Jedi at the 0:55 mark lends further proof to this fan theory.

But what if it's all a misdirect? What if Mother Aniseya's coven is actually trying to reveal an important plot point to Chapman's character that'll help the Jedi track down Amandla Stenberg's Mae and her alleged Sith Master? True, it would be a strange narrative decision for these witches to help the Jedi – given what Aniseya says in The Acolyte's first teaser, it seems that they're largely neutral in this never-ending conflict between the Light Side and Dark Side. That said, I wouldn't rule them out of aiding the Jedi if it means that balance between both sides of the Force continues to be maintained.

A planetary connection to The Last Jedi?

2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi is arguably the most divisive movie in the franchise's near-50-year history. But, while plenty has been said and written (some good, some less so) about the Rian Johnson-directed flick, it did give us an entirely new location to travel to: Ahch-To, aka the birthplace of the Jedi Order and home to the ancient Jedi Texts.

Considering how vital this planet is to the Jedi's origins, fans believe that we'll return to said world during The Acolyte. That speculation has been fuelled by blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments in the show's new trailer, which show off environments that are eerily reminiscent of Ahch-To's ocean-covered and island-laden surface. 

Could we journey once more to a planet that birthed the Jedi way back in 25,025 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin)? If it holds the secret to some world-shattering revelations about the Force wielders, I wouldn't discount us doing so.

Fan-ning the Abeloth flames

The last (and arguably most crowd-pleasing) moment in the official trailer is the shadowy Sith figure who appears in its final scene.

Moments after igniting one of the Sith's classic red-bladed lightsabers, we get a much better (but not completely clear) look at the show's apparent big bad – and, my oh my, are they sporting a gnarly helmet. Not only does it look like a callback to the headgear worn by the Knights of Ren in Star Wars' sequel film trilogy, but it also teases a major tie to Abeloth, an extremely powerful, immortal, and evil Force entity who has ties to Star Wars' three Mortis Gods. The Mortis trio were hinted at in Star Wars: Ahsoka and appeared in the Clone Wars series.

A mortal woman who, in basic terms, was transformed into the ancient, terror-inducing, Dark Force-wielding being by the Font of Power and Pool of Knowledge, Abeloth is not to be trifled with. Given her immense power, it's no surprise that she has plenty of fans within the Sith, either – and it seems that The Acolyte's unnamed Sith Lord is a particularly huge supporter of her work.

How so? Because of the giant, teeth-like grin that's etched onto the side of their helmet. Abeloth is usually depicted as an individual with a giant, carved, Joker-style smile that stretches from one ear to the other to show off her razer-sharp gnashers. What better way to pay tribute to someone you idolize than engraving your helmet with a similar aesthetic?

There are plenty more reveals to come – we've already been treated to a confirmed look at Vector starships, which the Jedi used during the High Republic era, in this poster for The Acolyte – in the show. For one, I want to know how the Sith infiltrates the Jedi Order, as one of its stars Dafne Keen exclusively told me in December 2022.

Regardless, I can't wait to see how it'll bridge the gap between Star Wars' expanded universe and the prequel movies. June 4th can't come soon enough for one of 2024's potentially best Disney Plus shows.

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Penelope stars Megan Stott from Little Fires Everywhere as a disaffected 16-year-old girl who leaves her family and her life behind to forge a new existence in the wilderness, learning to live off the land alone. It was written during the pandemic, but when the creators attempted to get it commissioned nobody chose to make it. So they decided to go the indie route instead. The show was a big hit at the Sundance festival, and Netflix has now snapped up the US distribution rights to the first eight-episode season.

The show is trying something that's common in indie film-making but still relatively rare in streaming TV. Rather than get a big streamer such as Netflix to commission and pay for the show to be made, the show's creators made the whole series themselves and then signed a short-term deal for Netflix to distribute it. That means if Netflix decides that season two isn't right for the streamer, it shouldn't prevent the second series from being made and shown elsewhere.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, co-creator Mark Duplass explained: "we brought it [to streamers] and everybody was like, this is so beautiful and unique, so deeply connected to something that I've lost."

And then they said that they couldn't make it. So Duplass and director Mel Eslyn made it instead.

Why this kind of distribution deal could help cancel the cancel curse

The problem with getting streamers to pay for your programs is that all of your show's eggs are in a single streamer's basket. And that's why we're all familiar with the disappointment of a successful show's "will they won't they" drama when it ends without a new season being already confirmed. Netflix especially has a strong history of disappointing cancellations.

According to Duplass, Penelope is breaking new ground here. "From taking out the show and figuring out how we’re going to sell it or making the deals with our actors, no one knows how to do it… So there was actually this childlike fun. We were just making up new deal structures as we were going along.” 

By taking what they call a "piece by piece" model the creators can sell different streaming rights to different services in different parts of the world rather than trying to persuade Netflix that they can make a global hit. "We've basically absolved [them] of the responsibility to make us their flagship show," Duplass says.

That's particularly important when it comes to future seasons, because the show isn't dependent on the priorities or spreadsheets of a single streaming provider. If Netflix passes on season two, there should be enough deals in place elsewhere to finance another season and to make it available to fans. So for example with this show the creators will retain the rights to the show everywhere but the US, including the rights for video on demand rentals. 

"Ideally, we see how we do on Netflix," Dupress explains. "In the event that it's a blowout success, you might see a bigger scope for season two." And if it's quite successful rather than a mega-hit, "we might write it for a smaller scope, but at least we're in the driver's seat now as to whether we get to keep making this show."

It also means that the showrunners have more control over their show: they don't have to persuade a single provider that their show will be a big hit in multiple markets and potentially change it to make it more widely appealing. And Dupress is so convinced that the model is a good one that his studio has used it for three other shows: a documentary and two comedies. 

Penelope is set to streaming this year on Netflix US, with other streamers to be confirmed in other countries.

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Revealed by Gunn on his social media channels yesterday (May 6), the highly anticipated reveal of the costume has proven to be pretty divisive. Indeed, whether it's the design of the suit itself, or the way in which the image has been captured, the DC Cinematic Universe (DCU) hero's new attire has generated plenty of discussion.

Here's the photograph in question, for those who haven't seen it:

As mentioned, this is the first time we've seen a image of Superman's new suit in full. In March, Gunn teased a first look at said suit alongside a title change for the film, which was originally called Superman: Legacy. However, that close-up shot only revealed what the costume's logo would look like, so it's high time we were shown the full suit.

Immediately after its unveiling, diehard DC fans noted that the Last Son of Krypton's new suit is clearly taking inspiration from the comic book giant's 52 comic book series. It's long been suspected that the first DCU Chapter One film, which is due out in July 2025, would be heavily influenced by this era of late 1990s comics. With those eye-drawing, near-knee-length red boots, slight collar, and the return of Superman's iconic red trunks, fans – myself included – are even more convinced that Gunn is pulling from various 52 storylines and character arcs for his first DCU endeavor.

Pleasing as it is to get an official look at 2025's Superman, however, there are numerous fans who aren't exactly enamored with the suit's design. As I suggested earlier, DC aficionados haven't been shy in voicing their opinions about the costume, with various threads popping up on Reddit and ResetEra that contain a whole host of mixed reactions. It seems that multiple fans who aren't taken with it, then, will need to see how the suit looks and moves in the film itself before changing (or doubling down) on their initial opinions.

Brains versus brawn

One thing that DC fans can seemingly agree on, though, is that Superman's first official image appears to tease the movie's primary villain. The giant, purple-pink laser being fired into the heart of Metropolis seems to be a dead giveaway that no other than Brainiac, one of Superman's most noteworthy adversaries, will show up.

Indeed, not only are the colors of said laser largely associated with the exceptionally clever, Colu-born android, but he also plays a significant role in the 52 comics sequel series – the creatively named The New 52 – and its own follow-up series DC Rebirth. It's possible, then, that Gunn's Superman film will also draw inspiration from these two recent comic series, plus the 52 lineup, to tell its own story and set up the wider DCU universe.

Of course, Brainiac has featured heavily in other DC comic series. The individual also known as Vril Dox made his debut in 1958's Action Comics #242, which was just one of many Silver Age-era comics, so he's been around for a long time. Oh, and he's also the humanoid responsible for 'saving' Kandor, the capital city of Krypton and Superman/Clark Kent's birthplace, by shrinking it down and placing it inside a glass jar for safekeeping (read: preserve Krypton's knowledge for his own selfish means).

If Brainiac is Superman 2025's primary antagonist, could this Kandor-centric plot point be part of its narrative? It would certainly give the titular superhero an incentive to keep Earth – Brainiac's likely new target and Clark's adoptive home – from suffering a similar fate. Heck, 'Supes' might even come into possession of the bottle jar-based Kandor and, just like in the comics, spend time trying to restore to its normal size. Time will tell. For now, you can catch every Superman movie to date on Max (US), Sky/Now TV (UK), and Binge (Australia).

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The tease was a video uploaded to TikTok, in which Iñaki Godoy celebrated Monkey D. Luffy's birthday with a cake that looks like a big ol' candle. That cake had a candle on top, which was shaped like the number three – and that is almost certainly a very big hint about which story arc we're going to see this time around. 

Where Netflix's One Piece season one went with the East Blue story from the manga, the teaser suggests that we're going to follow the Arabasta story arc. That focused on the Baroque Works criminal syndicate, which features an array of villains named after numbers and holidays – including a certain Mr 3, who – as IGN notes – can create and control candle wax. 

Netflix's teaser all but confirms the fans' speculation

One Piece fans were already pretty sure that the next season would follow the Arabasta story arc, not least because there was a reference to it early in the first season. A red-haired Baroque Works character called Mr 7 featured in one of the opening scenes of season one, and was promptly killed off by Zoro.

That raises the tantalizing possibility that we're going to see a whole bunch of the Baroque Works baddies this time around. And there are lots of them, with the male agents given numbers and the female ones given holidays – so in addition to mastermind Mr 0, there are agents Mr 1, Mr 2, Mr 3, Mr 4 and Mr 5 plus Miss All Sunday, Miss Doublefinger, Miss Goldenweek, Miss Merry Christmas and Miss Valentine, among others. 

With each character having their own odd abilities, there's scope for a lot of fun here. And there could be more: fans are hoping that Tony Tony Chopper, a shape-shifting reindeer absent from the first season, could also make an appearance. 

Other details are still under wraps, but we're expecting the second season to begin filming this summer for a streaming release in 2025 – it's a long wait for the return of one of the best Netflix shows of the last couple of years, but it'll be worth it, we hope.

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From heist comedies to dark gangster thrillers, there are four in particular we think you need to catch before they leave the service. Each has their own take on the crime genre, with incredible ensemble casts full of recognizable faces. 

These are just a few examples of movies that are set to leave, and you can head over to our full list of everything leaving Hulu in May 2024. You can also view our list of new Hulu movies, if you're looking for something fresh this month. 

L.A. Confidential (1997) 

Director: Curtis Hanson
Runtime: 136 minutes
Age rating: R
Leaving on: May 31 

Not only has L.A. Confidential proven to be a hit with crime movie fans, but it earned Oscar wins for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger. Taking inspiration from film noir and set in 1950s Los Angeles, three police officers each with their individual motives seek to uncover the truth of an unsolved murder. Starring familiar faces Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Danny DeVito, the members of the police force find themselves at the intersection of LA crime and the celebrity world. 

Scarface (1983)

Director: Brian De Palma
Runtime: 170 minutes
Age rating: R
Leaving streaming on: May 31 

Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, an ex-convict who makes his way to Miami after assassinating a Cuban government official to attain a green card. He joins the drug trade only to become the biggest drug lord in the state, not afraid to inflict the worse kinds of violence on to people who try to get in his way. But his desires and thirst for power get to his head, and soon his world begins to fall apart. 

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Director: Joel Coen
Runtime: 117 minutes
Age rating: R
Leaving streaming on: May 31

From the creators of the Oscar winning movie Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski is a crime comedy that follows Jeff 'The Dude' Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), a burnout and keen bowler who has the same name as millionaire Jeffrey Lebowski (David Huddleston). When The Dude is mistaken for the millionaire, he's beaten by thugs and is roped into paying a debt he knows nothing about. He recruits his bowling friend Walter (John Goodman) to gain compensation, but they are greeted with even more trouble. 

Ocean's Eleven (2001) 

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Runtime: 116 minutes
Age rating: PG-13
Leaving streaming on: May 31 

Soderbergh's heist comedy is a remake of the 1960 film of the same name, and features a stellar cast of familiar Hollywood faces, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, just to name a few. Just a day into his parole period after a prison stint, Danny Ocean (Clooney) begins the roll out for his plan to conduct the biggest heist in history. His targets; casinos owned by Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who also happens to be the new lover of Danny's ex-wife (Roberts). 

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Of all the new arrivals classic Hollywood is one of the most popular movie categories this month, so naturally, we've narrowed it down to five that you have to catch. Each of our selections are fantastic examples of early cinema, and each offer something different - whether that's slapstick comedy, tense unfolding drama, or whether you just like to watch for the familiar faces of early cinema. 

If classic Hollywood isn't your thing, there's a shedload of other movies in the full list of titles coming to Prime Video in May 2024. But if you're fond of a good black and white movie, these five are the ones to watch. 

Some Like It Hot 

Director: Billy Wilder
Runtime: 121 minutes
Age rating: PG
Available to stream from: May 1

A timeless Hollywood classic with leading lady Marilyn Monroe that combines crime with slapstick comedy. After bearing witness to a Mafia murder, saxophone player (Tony Curtis) and his friend Jerry (Jack Lemmon) plan to quickly flee Chicago to spare their lives by disguising themselves as women. They join an all-female jazz band, accompanying them on a train to Florida where they find themselves infatuated with the band's singer, Sugar (Monroe). 

Vertigo 

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Runtime: 128 minutes
Age rating: PG
Available to stream from: May 1

Alfred Hitchcock has many movies under his belt, but Vertigo is considered to be his crowning achievement. James Stewart stars as John 'Scottie' Ferguson, a detective who is forced to retire after the death of a fellow officer and a girl he was hired to follow triggers an extreme fear of heights. Following the incident, Ferguson sees a doppelgänger of the girl which leads into a spiral of manipulation and madness.

12 Angry Men 

Director: Sidney Lumet
Runtime: 95 minutes
Age rating: U
Available to stream from: May 1

12 Angry Men brings the tension of American theater to the silver screen. Lumet's classic is set in the backdrop of a New York jury where 12 men decide if a teenage suspect in question is responsible for the death of his father. As the jury dives deeper into the case, their doubts and suspicions grow stronger leading to a dramatic eruption where the jurors start to question each other's morals and preconceptions about the trial. 

On The Waterfront

Director: Elia Kazan
Runtime: 108 minutes
Age rating: PG
Available to stream from: May 1

Elia Kazan's crime drama was just one Oscar short of winning The Big Five, earning Marlon Brando the first of his two Oscars. Dockworker and ex-boxer Terry Malloy (Brando) witnesses the murder of a fellow docker, instigated by mob boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). When he meets the victim's sister, Edie (Eva Saint Marie), Terry urges to stand up to the bosses and testify against Friendly and his lawyer, Terry's brother. 

Psycho 

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Runtime: 109 minutes
Age rating: R
Available to stream from: May 1

Hitchcock took a risk with Psycho because of its themes of violence, sexuality, and unsettling behavior – and it became an instant classic. When Marion (Janet Leigh) is sent to bank $40,000 for her employer, she sees this as a chance to flee and start a new life. She stops at the Bates Motel for the night where she meets the manager Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) who becomes smitten with her, but he can't seem to shake off his complicated relationship with his mother. 

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In addition to two Wes Anderson classics perfect for relaxed viewing, we've selected a family favorite from the '80s, and a historical drama from last year. 

This is just a taste among the other new Hulu movies this month, but they're an ideal place to start!

Big (1988) 

RT score: 98%
Director: Penny Marshall
Runtime: 104 minutes
Age rating: PG
Available to stream from: May 1

A classic straight from the '80s and a childhood favorite among dads everywhere, Big tells the story of 12-year-old Josh Baskin (David Moscow) with a huge crush on a girl who rejects him for being too short. When he wishes to be 'big' to a Zoltar machine, he wakes up the next morning as a fully grown man (Tom Hanks) and must navigate the world as an adult. He moves to New York and lands a job, but the pressures of living in the grown-up world get to him, and he finds himself longing for his childhood back. 

Rushmore (1998)

RT score: 90%
Director: Wes Anderson
Runtime: 93 minutes
Age rating: R
Available to stream from: May 1

The first of two Wes Anderson movies in our list, and Anderson's sophomore directorial feature with recurring actors across his filmography. Jason Schwartzman stars in his first feature film as Max Fischer, a private school student whose academic performance is weak but knack for his extracurricular activities keeps him occupied. The arrival of new teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams) turns Max's world around, and he must find a way to cope with his feelings while navigating life on academic probation. 

The Promised Land (2023)

RT score: 96%
Director: Nikolag Arcel
Runtime: 127 minutes
Age rating: R
Available to stream from: May 1 

Arcel's historical drama was submitted as Denmark's entry for Best International feature at this year's Academy Awards, but while it didn't receive the nomination it still left a lasting impact on audiences. In 1755 Denmark, soldier Ludwig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) seeks to make a wealthy man of himself by following the king's order to cultivate the land. When landowner Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg) rebels against the king's order, he plans to execute a ruthless revenge. 

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

RT score: 93%
Director: Wes Anderson
Runtime: 88 minutes
Age rating: PG
Available to stream from: May 1 

Rushmore's Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray join George Clooney and Meryl Streep in Anderson's first animated feature, adapted from the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl. Together with their son Ash (Schwartzman), Mr Fox (Clooney) and Mrs Fox (Streep) live peacefully inside a tree, but their new human farmer neighbors Boggis, Bunce, and Bean threaten their safety. Going behind his wife's back, Mr Fox plots to raid the farm of their produce. 

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