| WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, MAY 19 WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP: 2023 sports comedy, based on the 1992 film of the same name. Sinqua Walls and Jack Harlow star as a mismatched duo of street basketball players who team up to compete in a high-stakes tournament. Teyana Taylor, Laura Harrier, Vince Staples, and Lance Reddick co-star; Calmatic ("House Party") directed. [Hulu] AMERICAN MURDERER: 2022 direct-to-VOD crime drama from first-time writer/director Matthew Gentile, based on the true story of alleged armored car robber and killer Jason Derek Brown, a fugitive from justice since 2004. "Ozark" vet Tom Pelphrey stars as Brown; Idina Menzel, Ryan Philippe, Kevin Corrigan, and Jacki Weaver co-star. [Hulu] GHOSTS OF BEIRUT: Four-part spy drama series from Showtime, based on the real-life manhunt for Imad Mughniyeh, a high-ranking leader within the Hezbollah organization who was implicated in multiple terrorist attacks in the 1980s and '90s. Dermot Mulroney, Dina Shihabi, Garret Dillahunt, Iddo Goldberg, and Hisham Suleiman co-star. The series debuts Friday on Paramount+ and Sunday night on cable TV. [Paramount+ / Showtime] PRIMO: Semi-autobiographical comedy series from author and creator Shea Serrano, inspired by his own adolescence in San Antonio. Ignacio Diaz-Silverio stars as a 16-year-old being raised by his single mom (Christina Vidal) and five uncles. "Parks and Recreation" vet Mike Schur executive produced. All eight episodes hit Freevee on Friday. [Freevee] SELLING SUNSET: The luxury real estate-themed reality series -- set among the team at Los Angeles' Oppenheim Group -- returns this weekend for a sixth season. This year's cast includes Brett and Jason Oppenheim, Chrishell Stause, Heather El Moussa, Davina Potratz, Mary Fitzgerald, Chelsea Lazkani, Emma Hernan, Amanza Smith, Nicole Young, and Bre Tiesi. [Netflix] YOUNG, FAMOUS & AFRICAN: Netflix's first reality series from Africa chronicles the glamorous lives of a group of up-and-coming media personalities and entertainers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, and Tanzania. Season 2 features returning stars Khanyi Mbau, Annie Macaulay-Idibia, Zari Hassan, Diamond Platnumz, Andile Ncube, Swanky Jerry, Naked DJ, Nadia Nakai, Kayleigh Schwark, and 2Baba Idibia, plus newcomers Fantana, Bonang Matheba, and Luis Munana. [Netflix] ASTÉRIX & OBÉLIX: THE MIDDLE KINGDOM: This French adventure-comedy -- in which the heroic warriors visit Imperial China -- is the fifth film in the "Astérix" live-action series, and the first based on an original story not featured in the comics. Guillaume Canet returns as Astérix while Gilles Lellouche takes over for Gerard Depardieu as Obélix. [Netflix] KATHAL - A JACKFRUIT MYSTERY: Hindi-language crime comedy from India -- inspired by a true story -- starring Sanya Malhotra as a young police officer tasked with uncovering the whereabouts of a local politician's prized jackfruits. The film is the feature debut of co-writer/director Yashowardhan Mishra. [Netflix] MUTED (EL SILENCIO): Spanish-language psychological thriller series starring Arón Piper as Sergio, who refuses to speak after witnessing his parents' murder, and winds up taking the fall for the crime. After a six-year prison stay, he meets a young psychiatrist (Almudena Amor) who attempts to unlock his secrets. [Netflix] CONSECRATION: Horror-thriller film from British writer/director Christopher Smith ("Creep," "Triangle"). Jena Malone stars as a woman who visits a convent on Scotland's Isle of Skye to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of her brother, a priest. Danny Huston and Janet Suzman co-star. [Shudder] STILLWATER: Animated kids series based on the picture book "Zen Shorts" by Jon J. Muth. It centers on three siblings who learn valuable life lessons from their neighbor, a wise panda named Stillwater. Season 3 debuts this weekend on Apple TV+. [Apple TV+] SPY/MASTER: Six-part espionage drama series from Romania, set during the height of the Cold War. Alec Secăreanu stars as a close advisor to dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu who's also serving as a secret agent for the KGB, and must escape the country before his cover is blown. [Max] SATURDAY, MAY 20 THE SECRETS OF HILLSONG: Four-part investigative docuseries from FX, inspired by a Vanity Fair exposé about the controversial international megachurch, which included allegations of sexual assault, bullying, racism, and intolerance. Former pastors Carl and Laura Lentz gave their first public interviews for the series. The first two episodes debut this weekend on Hulu. [Hulu] LOVE TO LOVE YOU, DONNA SUMMER: Documentary profile of the iconic singer-songwriter and "Queen of Disco," co-directed by Roger Ross Williams ("The Apollo") and Summer's own daughter, Brooklyn Sudano. It premiered at this year's Berlin Film Festival before hitting HBO. [Max] SUNDAY, MAY 21 FANGORIA CHAINSAW AWARDS: The annual ceremony recognizes outstanding achievements in horror films and TV shows. Presenters include Jamie Clayton, Mason Thams, Madeleine McGraw, and Akela Cooper; David Dastmalchian and Peaches Christ co-host. [AMC+ / Shudder] LOVE IN ZION NATIONAL: A NATIONAL PARK ROMANCE: Romantic comedy feature from Hallmark starring Cindy Busby as an assistant curator who visits the Pueblo Nation to investigate a set of ancient vases, then falls for a local park ranger (David Gridley). [Peacock] A SALUTE TO NCIS: LOS ANGELES: Hour-long CBS "Entertainment Tonight" special airing and streaming immediately after the two-part "NCIS: Los Angeles" series finale, looking back on all 14 seasons of the crime drama series and featuring interviews with the cast. Kevin Frazier hosts. [Paramount+] |
