STREAMING THIS WEEK
By Raye Smith TV Media
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU
“Nine Perfect Strangers” - Season 1 Get acquainted with the Season 1 premiere of “Nine Perfect Strangers,” airing on Hulu on Wednesday,Aug. 18. This drama miniseries, based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Lianne Moriarty, is being released across eight episodes, the first three of which arrive Aug. 18.The remaining five episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays.The story follows nine strangers as they gather for a 10-day health and wellness retreat at Tranquillum House, hoping to heal and find peace. However, not everything is as it seems, and secrets about each other and their retreat host, Masha (Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”), come to light. Filmed on location in Australia, the series comes from director Jonathan Levine (“50/50,” 2011) and writers John-Henry Butterworth (“Ford v Ferrari,” 2019), David E. Kelley (“Big Sky”) and Samantha Strauss (“The End”).Tiffany Boone (“The Chi”), Bobby Cannavale (“Ant-Man,” 2016), Luke Evans (“Beauty and the Beast,” 2017), Melvin Gregg (“The Way Back,” 2020), Regina Hall (“Girls Trip,” 2017), Les Hill (“Wonderland”), Manny Jacinto (“The Good Place”), Asher Keddie (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” 2009), Melissa McCarthy (“Bridesmaids,” 2011), Michael Shannon (“The Shape of Water,” 2017), Grace Van Patten (“Maniac”) and Samara Weaving (“SMILF”) also star.
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX
“Sweet Girl” (2021)
Settle in for a summer thriller with “Sweet Girl,” the new film coming to Netflix this Friday,Aug. 20. Jason Momoa (“Aquaman,” 2018) stars as Cooper, a devastated father out for revenge after the tragic death of his wife.With a vow to seek justice for his wife, Cooper works to take down those responsible for her death while protecting the only family he has left: his daughter, Rachel (Isabella Merced, “Transformers:The Last Knight,” 2017). Written by Philip Eisner (“Mutant Chronicles,” 2008), Gregg Hurwitz (“V”) and Will Staples (“Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse,” 2021), the film is directed by Brian Andrew Mendoza (“Frontier”). Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (“The Magnificent Seven,” 2016), Raza Jaffrey (“Lost in Space”), Lex Scott Davis (“SuperFly,” 2018),Adria Arjona (“True Detective”), Justin Bartha (“National Treasure,” 2004) and Amy Brenneman (“Goliath”) also star.
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME
“Annette” (2021) Prime brings a brand-new musical film to its streaming lineup when “Annette” premieres on the platform on Friday,Aug. 20. The film stars Adam Driver (“Star Wars: Episode
VII - The Force Awakens,” 2015) and Marion Cotillard (“Inception,” 2020) as a stand-up comedian and a world-famous soprano.The pair are married and living a lavish life, all of which changes when their daughter is born with a unique gift. Directed by Leos Carax (“Holy Motors,” 2012) in his English-language debut, the musical features a screenplay by Ron and Russell Mael (“Fright Night,” 1985) of the band Sparks, with music and lyrics written by their band. Simon Helberg (“The Big Bang Theory”), Rila Fukushima (“Arrow”), Natalie Mendoza (“The Descent,” 2005) and Rebecca Dyson-Smith (“Blood Red Sky,” 2021) also star.
WHAT’S NEW ON APPLE TV+
“Truth Be Told” - Season 2
Don’t miss the Season 2 premiere of “Truth be Told,” coming to Apple TV+ this Friday,Aug. 20.This thriller series’ first season followed true crime podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer, “Hidden Figures,” 2016) as she tried to solve the mystery surrounding the death of a family’s patriarch. Now, moving into Season 2, the show is bringing all of the spinechilling mystery back again for eight more episodes. From creator and writer Nichelle D.Tramble (“The Good Wife”), the series also stars Rico E.Anderson (“S.W.A.T.”), Lizzy Caplan (“Mean Girls,” 2004), Michael Beach (“Aquaman,” 2018), Mekhi Phifer (“Dawn of the Dead,” 2004) and Tracie Thoms (“Rent,” 2005), and it’s likely the new season with bring with it a host of new faces as well.
WHAT’S NEW ON DISNEY+
“Growing Up Animal” - Season 1
Snuggle up with the adorable new series “Growing Up Animal,” coming Disney+ on Wednesday, Aug. 18. This documentary series from National Geographic follows different animals in each episode, walking audiences through their unique transformations as they grow from the tiniest of creatures into fully grown animals — big, small and all shapes and sizes in between. Each of the six episodes looks at a different
wild animal, from chimps, sea lions and elephants to African wild dogs, lions and grizzly bears. Get an extraordinary and intimate look at how they change from the womb through their birth, take their first steps and grow into adulthood, all while the show highlights each animal’s unique characteristics and habits.
WHAT’S NEW ON HBO MAX
“Reminiscence” (2021)
Take a trip down memory lane with “Reminiscence,” coming to HBO Max on Friday, Aug. 20. Hugh Jackman (“X-Men,” 2000) stars as Nick Bannister, a rugged veteran with a dangerous occupation: offering his clients the opportunity to relive any memory they desire.When Nick meets a mysterious woman named Mae (Rebecca Ferguson, “Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation,” 2015), his life changes and he is forced to delve through the dark past to figure out the truth. Directed and written by Lisa Joy (“Westworld”), this new sci-fi mystery stars Thandiwe Newton (“The Pursuit of Happyness,” 2006), Natalie Martinez (“The Fugitive”), Angela Sarafyan (“Westworld”), Cliff Curtis (“Fear the Walking Dead”), Brett Cullen (“The Blacklist”), Teri Wyble (“The Walking Dead”) and Daviel Wu (“Into the Badlands”).
WHAT’S NEW ON DISCOVERY+
“The Smartest Kids in the World” (2018)
Based on the New York Times Bestseller of the same name by Amanda Ripley, the 2018 documentary “The Smartest Kids in the World” is making its way to discovery+ on Monday,Aug. 16.The 95-minute film follows the stories of four teenagers as they study abroad in countries that dramatically outperform the United States in education: the Netherlands, Finland, South Korea and Switzerland. Filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos (“Rich Hill,” 2014) looks at how the American education system is failing its students and what changes can be made to make it better for those it is supposed to help.