MUST-WATCH: Will Smith’s return to the big screen

Will Smith and Ben Foster in Emancipation, courtesy of Apple TV+.

By James Mackin

Posted December 12, 2022 2:39 pm.

The return of a classic fable has made its way into the MUST-WATCH Top 10! But will it take the top spot, or could it go to the first film from Will Smith since his Oscars debacle? Or could it go to the return of talking and walking museum exhibits? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!

Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again

Where to watch: Disney+

Let’s start this week off with a trip to the museum!

Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again is an animated sequel, and the fourth film in the Night at the Museum franchise. In this film Larry (now played by Zachary Levi from Shazam) is hoping to take some time off and find a replacement to work as the night guard. He, as well as the residents of the museum, are hoping to get his son Nick (played by Joshua Bassett from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) to take over the position. He eventually does and on his first night a grave tragedy strikes the museum. Kahmunrah, the ancient Egyptian pharoah, is free once again! Nick will have to rise up with the help of the museum’s residents to stop this villain from taking over the world!

You can watch this animated film on Disney+ now!

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Where to watch: Netflix

Next up is the newest take on an Italian classic!

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, courtesy of Netflix.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a stop-motion animated adaptation of the classic fable co-directed by Mark Gustafson and (you guessed it) Guillermo del Toro. This film recontextualizes the original by placing it into 1930s fascist Italy, as the evil dictator Benito Mussolini came to power. Geppetto (played by David Bradley from the Harry Potter series) creates a boy made out of wood as a means to cope with the death of his son. Pinocchio hopes to become a real boy, and ends up running away to join the circus. He encounters a variety of fantastical creatures on his journey, but none compare to his own father. This film also stars Ewan McGregor (from Trainspotting), Christoph Waltz (from Inglorious Basterds), and Cate Blanchett (from Tár).

You can watch this film on Netflix now!

Doom Patrol (Season 4)

Where to watch: Crave

Now it’s time to return to tv’s wackiest superhero group!

The main cast of Doom Patrol, courtesy of HBO.

Doom Patrol is a show about several superheroes with strange abilities who feel left behind from the world. These include Negative Man (played by Matt Bomer from Magic Mike), a pilot who accidentally fused with negative energy, Crazy Jane (played by Diane Guerrero from Orange is the New Black), a woman with DID and over 60 personalities who each have their own individual powers, and Robotman (played by Brendan Fraser), a professional racer whose brain was placed inside a robot body, among several other heroes. When we last left the Doom Patrol they were fighting the Brotherhood of Evil. Now a new villain called Immortus is prophesied to come for them and bring about the destruction of everything. The team will have to re-unite and travel through time to defeat this new foe.

You can watch the first two episodes of this show on Crave now, with other episodes coming out weekly!

Something from Tiffany’s

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Next up, it’s time for a romantic comedy!

Something from Tiffany’s is about two separate people going through romantic troubles. Rachel (played by Zoey Deutch from the Politician) has decided to give her boyfriend one last chance after several mistakes in their relationship. Ethan (played by Kendrick Sampson from Insecure) wants to move with his girlfriend to New York, and decides to propose. Ethan and Rachel’s boyfriend both go to Tiffany’s at the same time to buy an engagement ring and earrings respectively, but accidentally get the bags mixed up. This leads Rachel and Ethan to eventually meet up, leaving both of them to wonder if they’re actually with the right people. This film also stars Ray Nicholson (from Out of the Blue), Shay Mitchell (from Pretty Little Liars), and Javicia Leslie (from Batwoman).

You can watch this film on Amazon Prime Video now!

Emancipation

Where to watch: Apple TV+

Lastly, the first role for Will Smith since the infamous slap!

In Emancipation, Smith plays the real-life slave in this photograph. He’s desperate to get back to his family, and with the help of some other slaves, decides to escape his Louisiana plantation. While they are being chased for five days through the swamp, Smith’s character pushes through in search of a better life. He eventually makes his way to a Union camp, and decides to join up with the army in the Civil War to fight the oppressors that enslaved, beat and brutalized him among countless other people. This film also stars Mustafa Shakir (from Cowboy Bebop), Ben Foster (from Hell or High Water) and Steven Ogg (from Grand Theft Auto V).

You can watch this film on Apple TV+ now!