We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+.
If you love crime and puppetry: Eric (Netflix, May 30)
Benedict Cumberbatch plays a puppeteer and parent pushed to the brink in Eric, Netflix’s big new scripted release of the week. Created by Abi Morgan (The Hour, The Iron Lady, The Split), the psychological thriller follows Vincent, a children’s show creator who starts to unravel after the kidnapping of his son, and his determination to bring his son’s favourite monster to life in an attempt to get him home. Early reviews are saying the series hosts some of the most “idiosyncratic and striking” TV moments of the year so far.
If you love nostalgia and puppetry: Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+, May 31)
If you prefer your puppet content to be a little more on the whimsical side, Disney’s much-anticipated Jim Henson documentary also arrives this week. Director Ron Howard pieces together the fascinating origin story and limitless imagination of the Muppets visionary, blending archival footage with present-day talking heads. Packed with inspiration, nostalgia and ending with an allegedly “heart-shredding finale”, this is for anyone who can’t make it through Rainbow Connection without sobbing.
If you love local music: The 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards (RNZ, May 30)
The Beths at Auckland Town Hall. Photo / The Spinoff
NZ Music Month is coming to an end, and what better way to celebrate than by blobbing out while watching a bunch of glammed-up New Zealand musicians win awards on the Viaduct? Hosted by Jesse Mulligan and Kara Rickard, the awards night will also feature new categories including Te Tino Waiata Iti Rearea o te Tau (Breakthrough Single) and Te Iti Rearea o te Tau (Breakthrough Artist of the Year), as well as Te Manu Mātārae, a new award for artists who have made a significant impact on the music landscape over the last year.
If you love internet drama: Dancing for The Devil: The TikTok Cult (Netflix, May 29)
An intriguing new true-crime watch for people who are into cults, viral trends and internet culture. The blurb is pretty simple - “After TikTok dancers join a management company and its associated church, unsettling details about the founder and their dark realities come to light” - but a quick scroll of the comments section on YouTube reveals there might be even more internet drama within the drama. We suggest you tie yourself to something before diving into this rabbit hole, for there may be no return.
If you love a British cop procedural: The Responder S2 (TVNZ+, June 2)
We loved the first season of The Responder, a British police procedural set in Liverpool following Martin Freeman as a haggard copper living on the edge. “The Responder is the perfect TV package - fast-paced and tightly scripted, plenty of twists and turns, and some dark humour chucked in for good measure,” wrote Tara Ward. “The supporting cast is solid and the tension high, but it’s Freeman’s captivating performance that will stay with you long after the show ends.”
