As the nation relaxes into a four-day Bank Holiday weekend, many of us will be reaching for the remote.
But what new films are set to hit screens over the next few days?
If you’re looking for something to tune into, then leading streaming platforms Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and NowTV have got you covered and will each be releasing a collection of new flicks to their platforms – with everything from romance, drama and psychological thriller, to animated comedy, some cult-classics parody and a few brand-new originals to take your pick from.
Here’s everything new you can check out this weekend.
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Netflix
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Concrete Cowboy
Starring – Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin and Jharrel Jerome
With an all-star cast of big and upcoming names, Netflix original Concrete Cowboy is based on the novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri – which is a fictionalisation of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club and urban African-American horseriding culture in Philadelphia.
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The film tells the story of a 15-year-old boy from Detroit who is sent to live with his estranged father in and learns about the local urban cowboys.
Shrek
Starring – Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz
Fancy watching a modern cult-classic? With the first two films and a recording of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical already on the platform, there’ll be three more feature-length Shrek treats coming to Netflix this month.
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If you’re unfamiliar with the franchise, it follows an ogre called Shrek who finds his swamp overrun by fairy tale creatures who have been banished by the corrupt Lord Farquaad – who is aspiring to be king. With the help of Donkey, Shrek embarks on his quest to rescue Princess Fiona, but soon falls in love with the princess and finds she is hiding a secret that will change his life forever.
Run
Starring – Sarah Paulson
Another new Netflix original, Run tells the story of Chloe who was raised by her mother Diane in total isolated medical care. Her mother has been controlling her life since she was born – but now as a teenager, Chloe is starting to explore her mother’s sinister secrets.
Is her mother holding her back?
Sky High
Starring – Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kelly Preston and Kurt Russell.
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This 2005 American superhero comedy film is hitting Netflix this weekend, and tells the story of the son of two superheroes who is enrolled in an airborne high school for teenage superheroes where he discovers his true powers and learns about loyalty and friendship.
Just Say Yes
Starring – Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau
This Netflix original Dutch romantic comedy is brand new to the streaming platform today, and tells the story of incurable romantic Lotte who finds her life upended when her plans for a picture-perfect wedding unravel.
This all happens just as her self-absorbed sister gets engaged.
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Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video
Unhinged
Starring – Russell Crowe and Caren Pistorious
This American action thriller film tells the story of single mother Rachel whose bad day gets even worse when she beeps her horn at a fellow driver during rush-hour traffic, but after an exchange of words, she soon realises that the mysterious man is following her and her young son in his truck.
The initial case of road rage quickly escalates into full-blown terror as Rachel discovers the psychopath’s sinister plan for revenge.
The Ghost Writer
Starring – Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Kim Cattrall and Olivia Williams
Fresh to the platform this weekend, this 2010 political thriller film follows a successful ghostwriter who agrees to finish the memoirs of England’s former prime minister, Adam Lang, as his publisher assures him it’s the chance of a lifetime.
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Instead, he begins to uncover evidence that suggests his late predecessor knew a dark secret about Lang and may have been murdered to prevent it from coming to light.
Blaire Witch
Starring – James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott and Valorie Curry
Also known as Blair Witch 3, this 2016 American ‘found footage’ supernatural horror film tells the story of a young man and his friends who venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mystery surrounding his missing sister.
Many believe her disappearance 17 years earlier is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch.
NowTV
Sky Group | NOW TV
The Hunger Games
Starring – Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth
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All four films in the cult-favourite Hunger Games franchise – based on the book series by Suzanne Collins – is set to hit NowTV this month, telling the story of Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who volunteers to replace her sister in a tournament that ends only when one participant remains.
Pitted against contestants who have trained for this all their life, she has little to rely on.
SCOOB!
Starring – Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried, Mark Wahlberg, Gina Rodriguez and Will Forte
Boasting a truly all-star cast of major Hollywood names, this 2020 animated mystery comedy film follows Scooby and the gang facing their biggest and most challenging mystery ever, after hundreds of cases solved up their sleeves – a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world.
As they race to stop this global dog-pocalypse, the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone could have imagined.
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Antebellum
Starring – Janelle Monáe, Eric Lange, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons and Gabourey Sidibe
Another 2020 flick to hit the streaming platform this weekend is horror thriller film Antebellum, which tells the story of successful author Veronica Henley, who is finishing a book tour before she returns home to her husband and daughter.
But a shocking turn of events is about to upend Veronica’s existence, plunging her into a horrifying reality that forces her to confront her past, present and future before it’s too late.
Featured Image – Netflix | DreamWorks Animation
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The full list of Greater Manchester Olympians representing Team GB at Paris 2024
Danny Jones
The Paris Olympics are nearly here and this year Greater Manchester happens to have eight athletes competing at the 2024 Summer Games.
It just so happens that eight is also the exact same number of local Olympians who brought home medals from Tokyo 2020, and we’re hoping these lot will help Team GB bring back a record number, with the previous competition seeing them match their all-time record (65) set at London 2012.
Honestly, there are few times in the year that we love as much as when the summer of sport fully kicks in and with the heartbreak of the Euros finally starting to drift, we can fully throw ourselves into the Olympics and get behind our Mancs flying the flag for 0161.
But who exactly is representing Greater Manchester at Paris 2024 and what events are they competing in? Look no further.
Greater Manchester’s 2024 Team GB athletes and their sports
Without further ado, let’s meet our local Olympic heroes:
Keely Hodgkinson – Wigan – Athletics
Starting out over in the home of the Latics, pie barms and The Verve, we have Wigan‘s very own Keely Hodgkinson: a two-time European champion who also recently broke the all-time British record in the 800m at the Diamond League in London on 20 July.
Born in Atherton, the 22-year-old middle-distance runner’s career is already off to a flyer and having already picked up the silver in her event at the last Olympics at just 19, we have every faith she’ll be bringing home the gold this time.
Aimee Pratt – Stockport – Athletics
Over to Stockport (don’t start with that Cheshire nonsense today, just be proud she’s from around here) and our 3000m steeplechase specialist, who already broke the national record twice in 2022 and produced the UK’s best-ever finish (7th) in the women’s event at the World Athletics Championships.
A long-standing member of Sale Harriers running club and a University of Manchester graduate, Aimee Pratt, 26, has got so much local backing behind her and has quickly gone from rising star to very much looking like she’s going to live up to the expectations of becoming ‘world-class’ as coaches predicted.
The third and final Manc representing us in athletics events is Bury-born and bred Hannah Kelly, 23, who is also a member of nearby Bolton United Harriers.
She was part of the crack team at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow that helped Great Britain reach a women’s 4x400m national record, picking up the bronze medal and will no doubt be looking to go on further in her Olympic debut.
Now into the world of combat sport and the incredible story of Trafford boxer Pat Brown’s journey to Paris 2024 who beat Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki in a qualifier back in March and now finds himself heading to his first-ever appearance at the Olympics.
Coming through the ranks at his local clubs Moss Side Fire Station and Sale West ABC, the 24-year-old has gone through his fair share of challenges of late, losing his best friend and cousin shortly after sealing his place at the Games but now has more spirit and motivation behind him than ever.
Moving over to the world of cycling and there’s just one local name taking part in two-wheeled events this year: 28-year-old sensation, Charlotte Worthington, from just down the road in Chorlton.
One of the select few Team GB athletes who managed to pick up an Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, the BMX star is not only ready to defend her title – becoming the first women’s champion freestyle park champion in history – but is looking to come back stronger than ever after some time out.
Insane stuff.
Anthony Harding – Ashton-under-Lyne – Diving
On to those wading through Paris waters in the name of Manchester, the first of two aquatic athletes competing at this year’s tournament is Antony Harding from Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.
Joining forces will Britain’s first-ever Olympic diving champion, Jack Laugher (who won the gold at Rio 2016), the duo have already brought home Commonwealth and European gold in the 3m synchro, as well as a pair of World Championship silver medals in the last two years. Is 2024 set for more gold?
And completing the water-bound Team GB athletes hailing from 0161 is multiple-gold medal-winner James Guy who, to use a phrase the kids are using, really is ‘that guy‘.
Another Bury native, the 27-year-old swimmer already has a big collection of gold medals in both the 200m and 4x200m freestyle at the Worlds, as well as silvers across multiple events over the past few years. With five Olympic medals in total to date, we’re desperate for him to add a gold to that list.
Georgia Taylor-Brown – Droyslden – Triathlon
Last but certainly not least is Droyslden’s Georgia Taylor-Brown, who was born to be an Olympian after her mum and Dad swam and ran, respectively, but continues to chase her own story of greatness, having picked up silver on her Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020 – even whilst nursing an injury.
With two golds at the 2019 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series and AJ Bell World Triathlon in Leeds as well, we already know the colour looks good on her. You can listen to her full interview about going for gold yet again on BBC Sounds HERE but, for now, we’ll admit that her talking about coping with missing her dog come race time has made us love her even more:
Passport ✅ Hotel ✅ Alfie the cavapoo 🥰@TeamGB triathlete Georgia Taylor-Brown from Droylsden on what she can't live without at the Olympics.
Fingers crossed out Greater Manchester Olympians will absolutely smash it at Paris 2024 and regardless of how many medals they come home with, we already know they’ll give it their all.
No matter what, they’ll be welcomed back with a lovely homecoming party over at the AO Arena and we already have a great place to watch the events too.
Best of luck to our Mancs and all of Team GB – now go and do us proud!
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.