April streaming highlights: films and series you just can’t miss

Luca Fontana

1.4.2024

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

New month, new streaming recommendations. Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video or Apple TV+, find out here which series and films are available on streaming services this April.

Singing in the shower is only fun until you accidentally get soap in your mouth. Then all you have is a soap opera. A place you definitely won’t get soap operas is my movie and series highlights for the month of April. Did I miss a great show or movie? Then let me know in the comments. Just don’t make any bad April Fool’s jokes. I’m the only one here allowed to make bad jokes. Muahaha.

Wish (movie)

It wouldn’t be the first Disney film to totally flop in cinemas before suddenly becoming one of the most-watched films of the year on Disney+. It’s what happened to Elemental, for example, or the live action The Little Mermaid, originally torn apart by critics. I also skipped both films in the cinema before later catching up at home – and to my surprise, they weren’t as rubbish as I’d feared. They were perfect «I’ll watch it when it’s on TV» movies I enjoyed, but would’ve been disappointed by if I’d bought a ticket.

Will Wish fall into the same category? I actually really like the animation style, as it’s something different from the usual Disney-Pixar look. And the songs I’ve heard so far aren’t that bad – although never at Encanto level. Definitely a movie I want to give a chance.

The Talented Mr Ripley was one of those books I initially found incredibly boring in my English lessons at secondary school. By the end, however, I could hardly put it down. The disturbing story of shy sociopath Tom Ripley, who sneaks into the life of rich snob Dickie Greenleaf in order to become his best friend – only to study his behaviour, his pronunciation, his writing, his habits and all his mannerisms up close. All so he can later ruthlessly get rid of Dickie and live his playboy life instead. Next-level identity theft.

In 1999, there was already a film adaptation with Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow in the leading roles. I saw it – even before I’d read the book. But I only realised this when I started to get the feeling that I already knew the story from somewhere while reading. I’m all the more excited to see what Netflix does with the material. Especially because of Sherlock villain Andrew Scott, a perfect fit for the sinister side of Ripley.

Start: 4 April
Where: Netflix

Sugar (series)

At first, the trailer reminds me of John Wick. And not because Colin Farrell plays a character with a similar name – John Sugar. More because of the short, intense gun-fu interludes. But Sugar turns out to be a private detective story. John Sugar has to investigate the disappearance of a Hollywood producer’s beloved granddaughter. This in turn brings to light – all too typically for the genre – secrets that should’ve been left hidden.

Doesn’t exactly sound innovative, but films and shows produced by Apple rarely disappoint. And Colin Farrell usually guarantees solid entertainment. For fans of the genre, Sugar is definitely worth a watch.

Start: 5 April
Where: Apple TV+

Parasyte: The Grey (series)

Another anime adaptation from Netflix. This time it’s Hitoshi Iwaaki’s Parasyte, but with a twist. The adaptation isn’t a 1:1 copy of the anime, but simply takes place in the same cinematic universe. It’s about the invasion of extraterrestrial parasites that settle in humans – the so-called Parasytes. Some of them are aggressive and malicious, others are more intelligent and rational. And finally some try to enter into a symbiosis so that the host survives longer and becomes stronger, even if this means they can’t take full control of their host.

An exciting approach. The anime at least deals with exciting topics, such as humanity vs. monstrosity. People who’ve become hosts come to terms with their new identity and ask themselves whether they’re still human at all. It could be something. Especially when Hellbound director Sang-Ho Yeon has his fingers in the pie – another great South Korean mystery series, by the way.

Start: 5 April
Where: Netflix

Scoop (series)

Remember November 2019, when Prince Andrew, the second eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, was interviewed by BBC journalist Emily Maitlis on Newsnight? The interview was intended to clarify Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in whose circle Andrew himself was confronted with allegations of abuse. A formality, Prince Andrew thought – before initiating his own downfall. His answers were actually perceived as so arrogant, insincere and unreasonable that the ensuing public outcry ultimately led to his resignation from all royal duties.

Netflix’s Scoop tells the story from the perspective of journalist Maitlis, played by X-Files star Gillian Anderson. Playing Prince Andrew, on the other hand, we see a barely recognisable Rufus Sewell. I personally know him best from the great dystopian sci-fi thriller Dark City. Sensational cinema.

Start: 5 April
Where: Netflix

Fallout (series)

Humanity almost completely wiped itself out in 2077. Nuclear apocalypse. What else? 200 years later, most people live in underground bunkers – so-called Vaults. But that’s the thing – most. Anarchy and chaos reign on the Earth’s surface, where murderous gangs battle paramilitary organisations for supremacy in the wasteland. That is, when hordes of mutated creatures transformed into monsters by the radiation aren’t getting in the way.

Fallout is an adaptation of the highly successful game series from developers Interplay Entertainment and Bethesda. I haven’t played a single one yet. Shame on me. But maybe it’s better that way. I can now form my own opinion of the broken world, crazy story and absurd characters without being burdened by expectations or prejudices.

In fact, Fallout aficionado Domagoj Belancic and I will be launching a Digitec podcast in a few weeks where we’ll discuss, analyse and review newly released films, shows or games in all their glory – spoilers included. To start us off? Fallout. After all, the spoilercast pilot project The Last of Us received a lot of positive feedback last year. Of course, you’ll find out soon enough how, where and when the new podcast starts. Stay tuned.

Start: 11 April
Where: Prime Video

Franklin (miniseries)

Benjamin Franklin was never President of America. But without him, the United States would hardly exist. Some describe him as the most important of all the founding fathers, far more than just a politician. It was Franklin, for example, who discovered that lightning is pure electricity through his kite experiment in 1752. He soon invented the first lightning conductor. Then there are bifocal glasses, which combine near and far vision in one lens. The Franklin oven. An odometer. The American Philosophical Society. Philadelphia’s first fire department. A forerunner to the University of Pennsylvania. And a new, extremely efficient postal system.

As if having signed the Declaration of Independence wasn’t enough, he was also instrumental in the completion of the first American Constitution – and in defending it. Franklin, the series starring none other than Michael Douglas, is dedicated to precisely this phase of his life. After all, Franklin is said to have been not only a politician, inventor and whatnot, but also an outstanding diplomat. He used his relationships with the French political class to gain a decisive ally in the war of independence against England…

Start: 12 April
Where: Apple TV+

Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.» more

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