Just a month ago, it seemed like there weren’t many new TV and movies options to stream or head to the movies for—but things are picking up. That means that our What to Watch lists are getting longer, giving us more and more shows and movies to catch up on this weekend. Some streaming services are steering away from the binge-watching model and releasing episodes of their latest shows on a weekly basis. Apple TV+ is debuting their Ben Stiller-directed series Severance this week, with three episodes, and new ones will drop every Friday. That might give viewers the chance to tune in week after week while catching up on other shows and movies in the meantime.
After a strong start to 2022 with The Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna, Netflix is coming in strong again this week with Space Force’s second season, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the first installment of Kanye West’s documentary Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy. There are also some strong options at the movies this weekend, with Tom Holland returning to the big screen with Uncharted, just months after Spider-Man: No Way Home’s massive success, and Channing Tatum’s new project, Dog. We’ve compiled a list of some of the latest options in entertainment for this week, and while we won’t guarantee that you’ll love them all, there are going to be at least one or two choices that will pique your interest.
'Uncharted'
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When: Friday, Feb. 18
Where: In theaters
You hate to say “this is the film that will prove if Tom Holland is the action star or if he’s just doing well because of Spider-Mania,” but that’s kind of where we’re at right now. Luckily, Sony’s down to help the cause, taking a fan favorite (and seemingly cinema-ready) Uncharted video game franchise and, well, threw it up on the big screen. When it works, it works well; it sounds like Uncharted may not work all of the time. Whatever the case may be, it also sounds like this may not be the end of Uncharted on the big screen, and we are still in a panorama; anything that can happen, will. And to be honest, if you want a big cinema action-adventure film with familiar vibes, this is your best bet to see something without spandex. —khal
'Dog'
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When: Friday, Feb. 18
Where: In theaters
Channing Tatum is back in a film inspired by a late companion that also marks his directorial debut (alongside Reid Carolin, who is also making his directorial debut after writing and producing on a number of previous Tatum projects). The critics are eating the endearing story of a U.S. Army Ranger and a Belgian Malinois military working dog meeting cute on a road trip to say goodbye to an old friend. They learn a lot about each themselves, and each other. It’s like those buddy films we used to get, but now one of the buddies is a dog. Maybe this is the kind of film fans of Air Bud watch when they grow up? I don’t know, whatever the case may be, it is dope to see films that aren’t action-driven or horror getting love across the board. Go see this with your loved ones. —khal
'Space Force' (Season 2)
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When: Friday, Feb. 18
Where: Netflix
Steve Carell linked up with The Office producer Greg Daniels for yet another workplace comedy, Space Force, which premiered on Netflix in 2020. After playing one of the most famous bosses in TV history, Carell returned as Mark Naird, Space Force’s commanding general, who was entrusted with creating the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces that had a mission of getting a team of astronauts back on the moon. A massive Netflix budget couldn’t make this spaceship take off the way it should have with viewers, but the team behind it and its cast are ready for another go. Season 2 arrives on Netflix on Friday, Feb. 18, and the show also features performances from John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, Tawny Newsome, Jimmy O. Yang, Don Lake, and more. The show does not by any means rival The Office or Parks & Recreation, but if you miss Michael Scott, this might be one way to get your fix. If you don’t like it, don’t blame us! We’re just the messenger. —KR
'Severance' (Season 1)
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When: Friday, Feb. 18
Where: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is coming through with a new offering this week from director and executive producer Ben Stiller himself, along with writer and creator Dan Erickson. Their new sci-fi series Severance is about a man named Mark Scout (Adam Scott) who leads a team at Lumon Industries. This is not the usual white-collar workplace story, though. In Severance, the company’s employees have undergone a procedure, which surgically separates their memories between their work and personal lives. Mark takes the job in order to escape the grief his personal self is experiencing after the death of his wife. It isn’t long before this “work-life balance” experiment makes Mark and other employees question the company they work for and what they are really doing to themselves.
Erickson told Variety that the idea to create this show came to him when he was working a 9-to-5 job that made him wish he could block out that part of his day from his mind. The show could not come at a better time with all that’s going on in the workforce these past few years. Maybe one day people won’t have to separate who they really are from the work they do. Until then, catch the first two episodes of Severance now available for streaming on Apple TV+, and new episodes will be dropping every Friday. —KR
‘jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’
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When: Wednesday, Feb. 16
Where: Netflix
Any real Kanye West fan already watched this documentary as soon as it hit Netflix on Feb. 16—and some diehard fans might have even caught the preview in theaters the week prior. It’s been 18 years since the rapper released his groundbreaking debut The College Dropout, but he has been documenting his rise to the top way before the album dropped. This documentary will arrive in three acts and was created by Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah. jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy aims to give fans an intimate and revealing behind-the-scenes look at West’s experience. It starts in 1998, and shows Ye going from a Chicago producer to one of the greatest artists of all time to a global brand. The first part, available now, shows West proving himself in order to get a record deal, as well as some never-before-seen footage of him and his mom, the late Donda West. Seeing his journey as fans on the outside has been an incredible ride, but the side of him that we see in this documentary makes his massive success even more impactful. —KR
‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’
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When: Friday, Feb. 18
Where: Netflix
In the mood for some horror? Netflix has unleashed Legendary’s first Texas Chainsaw Massacre film after acquiring the rights from Lionsgate in 2018. Another horror sequel, this film takes place 50 years after the, um, chainsaw massacre that took place in 1973 back in Texas. It brings in everyone from Jacob Lattimore to John Larroquette (who returns as narrator) to follow a new batch of folks (and a familiar fave) attempting to escape a new massacre. That’s…about it? If you need new horror, it’s yours. Otherwise, maybe get back into your Inventing Anna binge. —khal
'We Need to Talk About Cosby' (Docuseries Finale)
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When: Sunday, Feb. 20
Where: Showtime
We Need to Talk About Cosby dropped at the wrong time. Between Euphoria, the Super Bowl, and the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, W. Kamau Bell’s four-part docuseries, which presented all of the information against America’s former “dad” Bill Cosby in regards to the allegations of sexual assault that many women have lobbed against him, doesn’t seem to be finding its way into regular conversation. It’s a shame because there is some solid work being done in there. It doesn’t help that Cosby was released from prison while they were completing the documentary. It sucks the wind out of their sails, to be honest. Hopefully, justice will be served in that situation, but for anyone who has never heard of this situation, this ends up becoming a more definitive look at the totality of the pain Cosby inflicted during his time on top. —khal
