‘Whiplash’ (Airing now)

Damien Chazelle’s 2014 breakthrough remains a thrilling look at abusive mentor-mentee relationships and what we are willing to sacrifice in our pursuit of perfection. Miles Teller stars as a jazz drummer trying to keep his head above water at an elite music institution, while his instructor (JK Simmons) pushes him far beyond the boundaries of common decency. Tense and relentless, this is a near-perfect thriller that showcases the endless potential that Chazelle will bring to the world over the next decade. If you missed the chance to catch the 10th anniversary theatrical rerun, we recommend you rush (not drag) to stream it on Netflix.

‘Sixteen Candles’ (Currently streaming)

If the holiday season has you craving some comforting nostalgia, you could do a lot worse than revisiting John Hughes. The king of teen comedies made his directorial debut with the 1984 film ‘Sixteen Candles’; This film established its unique formula of high school romances set in Chicago, often starring Molly Ringwald. But even if she had never picked up a camera again, ‘Sixteen Candles’ would still stand alone as the classic saga of a girl whose older birthday is overshadowed by her older sister’s unexpected wedding and is forced to create her own fun when everyone else ignores her. .

‘Super Bad’ (Airing now)

If John Hughes predates your formative years and you’re looking for a newer kind of high school nostalgia, perhaps ‘Superbad’ will be more your speed. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s screenwriting debut is perhaps the definitive studio comedy of the 2000s; combines unapologetic raunchiness with a borderline weird tale of two high school punks trying to have some fun before heading off to college. No matter how many times you rewatch it, most of the jokes still hold up, making it one of the best jokes around. The funniest comedies of the 21st century remains undisputed.

‘The Lost City’ (Airing November 9)

Hollywood’s handwringing over the demise of original, star-driven movies is often justified. But every once in a while, a studio releases some nostalgic, fluffy entertainment that makes you forget you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘cinematic universe.’ Such was the case with ‘Lost City,’ Aaron and Adam Nee’s feather-light comedy about a bestselling romantic novelist who teams up with his cover model after he becomes the target of an eccentric billionaire obsessed with his books. The movie is largely an excuse to let Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum act ridiculous together; Still, they’re bolstered by Daniel Radcliffe’s delightful villain performance and a great cameo from Brad Pitt. If you’re looking for a little star power to brighten your day, streaming is a great choice.

“Fast and Furious” Collection (Releasing November 12)

One day you may find yourself faced with an urge that can only be satisfied by making a ridiculous action movie. It’s one where panache comes first and you can be sure you can easily get out there to enjoy the car chases and explosions. If you are like this this month, maybe the ‘Fast and Furious’ movies will be to your liking. Netflix is ​​making sure there will be no shortage of testosterone-fueled racing all holiday season long by releasing the first six movies of the never-ending series.

“Emilia Perez” (Airing November 13)

When Jacques Audiard’s ‘Emilia Perez’ premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the consensus was that it had to be seen to be believed. A sweeping musical about a former cartel boss trying to secure gender confirmation surgery and fake his own death to leave his life of crime behind, Audiard’s film seizes every opportunity to make bold choices that are bound to polarize audiences. With stars Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez well positioned as Oscar nominees, ‘Emilia Perez’ may be the movie you’ll be hearing about for the next six months. Love it or hate it, you can never forget it.

‘Piano Lesson’ (Airing on November 22)

With 2016’s ‘Fences,’ Denzel Washington embarked on one of the most ambitious projects of his career: adapting for the big screen all 10 plays in August Wilson’s Century Cycle, which tells ten different stories about Black families in Pittsburgh throughout the 20th century. movies. He moved on to the role of producer in the second film of the series, 2020’s ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’. And this month, audiences will experience the third adaptation, ‘The Piano Lesson’.

Malcolm Washington adapts one of Wilson’s best-known plays; This play follows a Pittsburgh family who are unsure of what to do with their valuable piano decorated by their enslaved ancestors. A nuanced tale about the burdens and opportunities of inheritance, the source material should provide an ideal canvas for the film’s A-list cast, which includes Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, and John David Washington.