It's holiday blockbuster season, and to celebrate, Cheddar's Digital Team recommends the return of the Netflix hit series "The Witcher," all the Spider-Men (or Spiders-Man?) in time for the premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home, "Selling Sunset" sister-show "Selling Tampa," and classically Christmas tales "This Christmas," and "A Christmas Carol."
The Witcher Season 2 - Netflix
Picked by Digital Editor Mike Nam
♫ Toss a coin to your Witcher, oh valley of plenty! ♫ … Henry Cavill is back as the magic-using, sword-wielding mercenary badass in the second season of the Netflix series. Based on the internationally bestselling series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski that also became a hit video game franchise. Cavill plays Geralt of Rivia, a less-than-heroic hero who usually hunts down supernatural creatures for money, but now, he's also taken on the guardianship of a princess in exile. Epic magical hijinks ensue on December 17.
Every Spider-Man Flick - Various
So, the MCU's third-installment (in partnership with Sony) of the Spider-Man franchise will get wide release this weekend to likely blockbuster ticket sales. Superfans of the wall-crawling superhero might want to check out the entire library of major film releases featuring the webhead.
Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 — The Sam Raimi trilogy that presaged Marvel Comics' dominance at the cinema, along with Blade and X-Men. All three films with Tobey Maguire in the lead role as Peter Parker are available on Peacock (premium service) and multiple sites for rent or purchase.
The rest of the films are not available on subscription-based services, so fans will have to shell out some cash for either online rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon, iTunes, etc.
The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 — This Andrew Garfield-led series had some good ideas, but largely ended up disappointing fans.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — Arguably the best Spider-Man movie, it also was an early entry in films exploring the now very popular concept of the multiverse. It too will be getting a sequel next year.
Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home — You would think the first two entries in the MCU reboot starring Tom Holland would be on Disney+, but thanks to its (sometimes tense) sharing with Sony, alas, they too are currently only rentals.
Selling Tampa - Netflix
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
If you read this column regularly, you know I've already revealed myself to be a big Selling Sunset fan. So I'm ready to check out the new Netflix series Selling Tampa, which premiered on Netflix on Wednesday. Florida is a long trip from California, but the sunshine and expensive homes are just as fabulous. I can't wait for the drama, with a hefty side of built-in pools and walk-in closets, and it looks like the agents from Allure Realty, the all-Black, all-female real estate firm at the center of the reality show, are here to deliver.
This Christmas - Amazon Prime Video (Available to Rent)
Picked by Producer Lawrence Banton
We are in the thick of the holidays and as promised, I will keep my What to Stream suggestions limited to this season. With that said, I bring to you another Christmas classic in the Will Packer-produced This Christmas. The 2007 film has a star-studded cast including Regina King, Idris Elba, Lauren London, Chris Brown, and the legendary Loretta Devine. There is one downside to this movie: it's set in Los Angeles at Christmas time, so no snow, but this dramedy is worth the watch. The Whitfield family returns home after spending four Christmases apart and, as you can imagine, everything was sweet like candy canes until personal secrets began to spill and threaten to turn the entire reunion upside down. I won't ruin it for you, but there is some resolve followed by a number that might get the emotions rolling for you.
A Christmas Carol (1984) - Hulu
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is one of the greatest stories ever told. It's been directly adapted for the screen countless times, and its simple, timeless story structure is the inspiration for an untold number of films, from It's a Wonderful Life (1946) to Scrooged (1988). But of all these adaptations and homages, my favorite is 1984's A Christmas Carol, starring George C. Scott. The made-for-television movie is a fairly straightforward retelling of the original story, but what elevates it is Scott's pitch-perfect performance. More than any other Scrooge, with Scott you can believe that underneath the greed and callousness is a good man fighting to get out. This makes the ghost-guided journey through his life all the more affecting. If you only watch one version of the holiday classic this year, watch this one.
Looking for more to watch? Check out our recommendations from last week and the week before.
