Five new movies added to Netflix to binge during quarantine
This is a scene of Jack and Dina, played by Sam Clafin and Olivia Munn respectively, from “Love Wedding Repeat.” Photo by The Hollywood Reporter
By Emma Ralls
A&E Editor
Most of us are finding ourselves with extra time on our hands nowadays, and thankfully we have a large amount of digital content to keep us occupied when time feels like it is moving at an excruciatingly slow pace. Netflix is doing its part by frequently adding new titles for its viewers.
As April progresses, many new originals and beloved classics are becoming available on the platform. So get some popcorn and whoever you are quarantining with and settle down with one of these five movies that are each a must-watch during your quarantine.
- “The Hangover”
This 2009 comedy made its way to Netflix on April 1. The movie stars Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, who play four friends who drive to Las Vegas for an unforgettable bachelor party. This party turns out to be quite forgettable when the three groomsmen (Cooper, Helms and Galifianakis) wake up the next morning unable to remember a thing and cannot find the groom (Bartha) anywhere. The three must retrace their steps the best they can and find the groom in time before he misses his big day. The movie will cause you to burst out laughing. If you cannot get enough of the “Hangover’s” shenanigans, the three sequels (“Hangover II, III and IV”) are not on Netflix yet, but you can find them streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies and TV and iTunes.
- “Love Wedding Repeat”
The most recent movie on the list, “Love Wedding Repeat,” premiered on Netflix on April 10 and was directed by Dean Craig directorial debut. This movie is a Netflix original, but is based on the 2012 French romantic comedy film, “Plan de Table.” The movie combines two fan-favorite movie genres, the recurring day trope as seen in “Groundhog Day” and the classic romantic comedy genre. The movie follows Jack (Sam Claflin) as he tries to keep his younger sister’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) wedding day from going south. Throughout the time-loop, Jack faces obstacles like his angry ex-girlfriend (Freida Pinto), a wrongly administered sleep sedative and an uninvited wedding guest who is convinced the bride loves him and that he must stop the wedding. Havoc ensues with each new scenario, and the audience is entertained with humor geared for more mature viewers. The romance part of this rom-com comes as Jack sees Daina (Olivia Munn), AKA the one who got away, for the first time in three years. He must confess his feelings now or will never get the chance…if only the other wedding guests would stop getting in his way.
- “Salt”
While ‘Salt” hit theaters in 2010, it just made its way to Netflix on April 1. This action thriller follows our protagonist, CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie). But when a defector accuses Salt of being a Russian spy, she turns into a fugitive and must use all her skills to avoid being captured. In doing so, Salt puts a bigger target on her back and seems more and more guilty as time goes on. But as she tries to prove her innocence, she also must try to stop an assassination attempt on the president. Jolie impressively did all her own stunts and was actually injured during the filming of this movie when she banged her head on a desk during an “easy scene.”
In an interview, Jolie stated, “I was bleeding and I have a little scar now,” she said. This spy thriller is fast-paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat right until the credits roll.
- “Despicable Me”
The smash animated hit finally made its way onto Netflix on April 16. Supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) devises a plan to steal the moon and prove he is the most evil villain of them all. He has the weapons, the prowess and a hoard of loyal yellow minions to help him achieve his goal, but a cog in his plan comes when three orphans girls (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier and Elsie Fisher) somehow worm their way into his life and do all they can to make him their dad. Not to mention a rival supervillain Vector (Jason Segel) also has his sights set on stealing the moon and will not make it easy for Gru to accomplish his goal. This comedy is great for all ages and has another two sequels (not on Netflix yet), as well as a new movie, “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” coming to theaters in 2021.
- “Molly’s Game”
Molly’s game has a star-studded cast and a plot that packs a punch. The film brings to life the true story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), who was arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Why, you wonder? It is because she was running the most exclusive underground poker game for a decade. A-list celebrities, sports stars and unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob all took part in this exclusive game, and her only ally in the fallout was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba). This was the directorial debut for Aaron Sorkin, and many agree he successfully translated the so-called “Poker Princess” life to screen – even though the opening skiing accident didn’t actually happen.
These are trying times the world is in right now, and sometimes it is easier to sit back and distract yourself with a movie than face what is going on around us head-on. Hopefully, one of these movies can make your day a little bit better and provide some entertainment to you at home.