Streaming this week
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX “Emily In Paris” – Season 2
The good times keep on rolling when “Emily In Paris” returns to Netflix with Season 2 on Wednesday, Dec. 22. A rising marketing whiz from Chicago, Emily (Lily Collins, “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” 2013) moves to Paris in Season 1 for an unbelievable job opportunity: a marketing firm wants to hire her to give them an American perspective. With endless opportunities for adventure and more culture to dive into, Emily’s return in Season 2 promises new romances, friendships and potential messes with the arrival of an old flame. From “Sex and the City” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” creator Darren Star, this fun comedy series also stars Philippine Leroy-beaulieu (“Call My Agent!”), Ashley Park (“Tales of the City”), Lucas Bravo (“Caprice,” 2019), Samuel Arnold (“National Theatre Live: Antony & Cleopatra,” 2018), Bruno Gouery (“Rose Island,” 2020) and Camille Razat (“The Accusation,” 2021).
“Don’t Look Up” (2021)
Keep an eye on the sky (or on second thought, maybe don’t) for the streaming release of the highly anticipated new sci-fi comedy “Don’t Look Up,” premiering on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 24. The star-studded film follows Randall (Leonardo Dicaprio, “The Revenant,” 2015) and Kate (Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games,” 2012), two low-level astronomers who have their quiet lives thrust into the limelight. A comet capable of destroying the planet is rapidly making its way toward Earth, and it’s up to Randall and Kate to venture on a giant media tour to warn mankind about their potential doom. Produced, directed and written by Oscar-winner Adam Mckay (“The Big Short,” 2015), and featuring a story by Mckay and David Sirota (“The ‘90s Greatest”), “Don’t Look Up” is already receiving rave reviews from its advanced screenings. The all-star cast is rounded out by Timothée Chalamet (“Dune,” 2021), Jonah Hill (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” 2013), Cate Blanchett (“Carol,” 2015), Meryl Streep (“Sophie’s Choice,” 1982), Melanie Lynskey (“Togetherness”), Ariana Grande (“Scream Queens”), Ron Perlman (“Hand of God”), Mark Rylance (“The Trial of the Chicago 7,” 2020) and Tyler Perry (“Those Who Wish Me Dead,” 2021).
WHAT’S NEW ON HBO MAX
“The Matrix Resurrections” (2021) Nothing is as it seems when the Matrix franchise returns with its newest installment, “The Matrix Resurrections,” this Wednesday, Dec. 22, on HBO Max. Set 20 years after the events of “The Matrix Revolutions,” Neo (Keanu Reeves, “John Wick,” 2014) is living a seemingly ordinary life in San Francisco as Thomas A. Anderson. With no memory of his former life, Neo’s reality dives back into chaos when Morpheus (Yahya Abdulmateen II, “Aquaman,” 2018) offers him a red pill, thus opening his eyes to the Matrix once more. With a screenplay by David Mitchell (“Cloud Atlas,” 2012) and Aleksandar Hemon (“Sense8”), the film sees franchise creator Lana Wachowski (“Bound,” 1996) return to direct. Christina Ricci (“Yellowjackets”), Carrie-anne Moss (“The Matrix,” 1999), Jessica Henwick (“Love and Monsters,” 2020), Jonathan Groff (“Frozen,” 2013), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (“Baywatch,” 2017), Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”), Jada Pinkett Smith (“Red Table Talk”) and Ellen Hollman (“Spartacus”) also star.
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME “Yearly Departed” (2021)
Settle in for an evening of hilarious performances when the annual comedy special “Yearly Departed” returns to Prime on Thursday, Dec. 23. For the second year running, “Yearly Departed” brings an all-female lineup of comedians to send off the year in style. Host Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”) joins fellow stars Chelsea Peretti (“Brooklyn Nine-nine”), Jane Fonda (“Grace and Frankie”), Aparna Nancherla (“Mythic Quest”), Canadian singer-songwriter Alessia Cara (“Scars to Your Beautiful”), Megan Stalter (“The Megan Stalter Show”), Dulcé Sloan (“Chick Fight,” 2020) and X Mayo (“The Farewell,” 2019) to usher in the new year with a comedic ode to all of the highs and lows the world saw in 2021, from “hot vaxx summer” to hermit life and ignoring the climate crisis. From Amazon Studios, Done+dusted and Scrap Paper Pictures, “Yearly Departed” is produced by Rachel Brosnahan (“House of Cards”), David Jammy (“P.O.V.”), Bess Kalb (“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”), Nathalie Love (“20th Century Women,” 2016), Katy Mullan (“How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” 2006), Samantha Ressler (“Home Again,” 2017) and Paige Simpson (“Yearly Departed,” 2020).
WHAT’S NEW ON PARAMOUNT+ “1883” – Season 1
The new drama series “1883” premieres Sunday, Dec. 19, on Paramount+. A prequel to the hit series “Yellowstone,” this new streaming-only series follows the Dutton family as they first set foot in Montana. Making their way across the Great Plains to the last bastion of untamed America, the Duttons pioneer this stark exploration of America’s expansion as they flee poverty in the hope of finding a better life in the west and do whatever it takes to survive. From “Yellowstone” creator Tyler Sheridan, this 10-episode first season stars Sam Elliott (“A Star is Born,” 2018), Tim Mcgraw (“Tomorrowland,” 2015), Faith Hill (“Dixieland,” 2017), Isabel May (“Young Sheldon”), Marc Rissmann (“Game of Thrones”), Lamonica Garrett (“Designated Survivor”), Eric Nelsen (“A Walk Among the Tombstones,” 2014), James Landry Hébert (“Stranger Things”) and Billy Bob Thornton (“Goliath”).