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 2This 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.

Share:
More In Culture
Geoffrey and Margaret Zakarian on Finding Rising Star Chefs on Food Network Show
Geoffrey Zakarian, a former Iron Chef and host of the show "Big Restaurant Bet," and Margaret Zakarian, the president of Zakarian Hospitality and a featured judge on the series, joined Cheddar News to discuss the project for the Food Network. "The reason why the show is named 'Big Restaurant Bet' is because running any restaurant is a gamble. It really is. It's the hardest thing in good times. When everything's great it's hard," said Geoffrey.
Why American Gas Stations Are Turning Into Supermarkets
American gas stations are massive and only getting bigger. That's because most chains like Wawa, Sheetz, and Buc-ee's sell way more than just gas. So when and why did gas stations change from single-pump service garages to supersized, all-in-one travel hubs?
The Evolution of Documentary Filmmaking
Nina Gilden Seavey, Founding Director, The Documentary Center Research at George Washington University, joins Cheddar to dissect the evolution of documentaries in the streaming age.
Making a Documentary
Andrea Swift, Chair of NYFA Documentary Department, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss the documentary filmmaking process and why they remain so important in 2022.
Ye Pulls Out of Coachella Music Festival
Ye, more commonly known as Kanye West, has announced that he is removing himself from the lineup for Coachella. The rapper was a highly anticipated headliner for the last day of the music festival.
Yellowstone Park Fundraiser Offers Entry Pass Good for 2172
As Yellowstone National Park celebrates its 150th anniversary year, the park's fundraising arm is seeking $1,500 donations in exchange for an annual entry pass that can be used by carloads of the donor's descendants to visit the park in 150 years.
Need2know: War Crimes, Sacramento Shooting Arrest & Aluminum Shortages
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 5, 2022, with Biden's call for a war crimes trial for Putin, another arrest made in the Sacramento mass shooting, NYC rolling out a campaign against Florida’s "Don’t Say Gay" bill, an aluminum shortage potentially affecting beer and cat food cans, and more.
Sacramento Mass Shooting Raises Questions on How to Curb Rising Gun Violence
After a devastating mass shooting in Sacramento over the weekend that killed six people and wounded a dozen more, arguments about gun reform are also resurfacing. David Pucino, deputy chief counsel at Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, joined Cheddar News to talk about efforts to curb gun violence such as community intervention programs — and the more that needs to be done by lawmakers. "One thing that would be really important is at the federal level closing the loopholes that allow for private sales to go forward without a background check," he noted.
Load More