As the nation relaxes into another weekend of lockdown and the weather forecasts show rain and gloomy skies, 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 horror, to dark surrealist comedy, parody and even some brand new originals to take your pick from.
Here’s everything new you can check out this weekend.
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Netflix
Unsplash
The Princess Switch: Switched Again
Starring – Vanessa Hudgens
Brand new to the streaming service this today, The Princess Switch: Switched Again is the much-anticipated sequel to the 2018 Christmas romantic comedy film The Princess Switch, which followed the well-known concept of two people running into one another who look identical and switching places.
In this latest instalment though, when Margaret’s Christmas coronation complicates her love life, her double Stacy steps in to save the day, but will a third look-alike ruin their plan?
Holmes & Watson
Starring – Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly
This 2018 mystery comedy film is a parody of the famed detective duo – with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as the title characters – which sees them they set out to find the culprit behind a threat at Buckingham Palace, and features performances from Rebecca Hall, Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan, and Ralph Fiennes in supporting roles.
A film branded “so bad, it’s good” by some critics, you may as well give it a watch just once.
Life of the Party
Starring – Melissa McCarthy
Another comedy film to first hit the big screen back in 2018 – starring Melissa McCarthy, and written and directed by her husband Ben Falcone – Life of the Party sees a middle-aged mother return to college in order to complete her degree and ends up bonding with her daughter’s friends after her husband abruptly asks for a divorce.
Another Netflix original, Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square is a Christmas musical film directed and choreographed by acclaimed choreographer Debbie Allen, which follows follows a wealthy and pretentious woman named Regina Fuller, who after the death of her father, returns to her hometown before Christmas to evict the residents and sell the land to a mall developer.
Catch it on Netflix this Sunday 22nd November.
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Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video
Seven Stages To Achieve Eternal Bliss
Starring – Kate Micucci, Sam Huntington & Taika Waititi
Often going by an abridged version of the full title Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss By Passing Through the Gateway Chosen By the Holy Storsh, this dark comedy film sees a small-town young couple learn their new apartment is being used for a deranged cult’s ritualistic suicides.
With Academy Award-winning writer, director and actor Taika Waititi playing the cult leader, you know you’re in for a wild ride.
Body Cam
Starring – Mary J. Blige and Nat Wolff
In this 2020 police procedural horror film, Mary J. Blige stars as a cop with the Louisiana Police Department who, when a routine traffic stop results in the unexplained, grisly death of her colleague, realises footage of the incident will play for her eyes only.
Officers are haunted by a spirit after the death of a black youth and the subsequent cover-up.
Uncle Frank
Starring – Paul Bettany & Sophia Lillis.
Set in 1973, Uncle Frank is a roadtrip movie about a gay man who confronts his past.
When Frank Bledsoe and his 18-year-old niece Beth take a road trip from Manhattan to Creekville, South Carolina for the family patriarch’s funeral, they’re unexpectedly joined by Frank’s lover Walid.
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NowTV
(with a Sky Cinema pass)
Sky Group / NOW TV
The Photograph
Starring – Issa Rae & LaKeith Stanfield
This 2020 romantic drama film, famed photographer Christina Eames unexpectedly dies and leaves her estranged daughter Mae Morton hurt and full of questions, but when a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box is found, Mae finds herself on a journey delving into her mother’s early life and ignites a powerful, unexpected romance with a rising-star journalist, Michael Block.
One that’s worth the watch.
Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island
Starring – Maggie Q, Michael Pena, Lucy Hale & Michael Rooker
In this 2020 supernatural horror film, five people take a trip to the eponymous magical island – adapted from the popular 1970s TV show – only to discover that their dream fantasies brought to life begin to turn into horrific living nightmares that they must try to survive.
Reckon you can hack it?
Trending
Harry Kane tears up as he honours England’s first Muslim player
Danny Jones
Three Lions skipper Harry Kane teared up as he honoured Djed Spence with an emotional speech on his England debut, becoming the first Muslim player ever to represent the senior national team.
Another historic night for sport in this country.
In case you didn’t tune in, the result against Serbia was a thrilling 5-0 victory, which saw Thomas Tuchel’s side maintain their unbeaten run, with a five-star performance serving as the perfect way to mark five wins from as many fixtures.
But, again, the headline story of the night was Djed Spence celebrating his faith in the best way possible – not to mention England captain Harry Kane paying sincere tribute to the history-making 25-year-old:
Pretty much everything you see of Harry Kane points towards him being a genuinely sound bloke. He could have just passed that cap over to Djed Spence with empty platitudes but you can tell he really cares.
As you can see, sharing some heartfelt and inspirational words as a former Lilywhite himself, ‘King’ Kane – who was first given the armband back in 2018 ahead of the Euros – spoke highly of the Tottenham Hotspur star following his inaugural national team cap.
Confessing that he himself felt emotional speaking on behalf of Spence, the 32-year-old striker recalled first seeing the wing-back arrive at Spurs just a few short years ago before his eventual departure for Bayern Munich in 2023.
He also shared, “I know what it takes to get here”, and saw what it took on his end to make those same steps forward in his career and ultimately break into the England squad, adding, “credit to you and your family – you deserve this, mate.”
As for the former Nottingham Forest defender himself, writing on social media, Spence said: “Today is arguably the greatest and proudest day of my life. Honoured to make my England debut.
“A day I’ve dreamt of all my life and now has become a reality. GOD IS THE GREATEST! #GODSPEED“
While there have been many individuals from the Islamic faith throughout the footballing pyramid and, indeed, the FA‘s national team youth ranks over the years, Djed Spence becoming the first senior capped Muslim player in our country’s history is nothing short of an incredible milestone.
Speaking to the media after the game, which also saw Harry Kane surpass Sir Bobby Moore as England’s fifth-most capped player of all-time (now on 109), the London-born athlete admitted: “I was surprised because I didn’t know I was the first, so it’s a blessing.
“It’s good to make history and hopefully inspire young kids around the world that they can make it as well. They can do what I am doing.”
Here’s hoping he can fly the flag for British Muslims throughout domestic football and help generate further impact on the sporting world beyond that.
Spanish journalist rubbishes reports of Barcelona debating ending Marcus Rashford’s loan deal early
Danny Jones
Spanish journalist Guillem Balagué has come out to rubbish reports that FC Barcelona have been considering ending Marcus Rashford’s loan deal early.
The well-known football reporter, who regularly works with the likes of Sky Sports, CBS Sports, BBC and more, is one of many to have publicly decried false claims made about the Manchester United loanee, who joined the La Liga giants at the start of this summer.
Barca themselves are also said to have quashed the rumours, with Balagué’s quotes having now been widely circulated online.
Speaking via X over the weekend, the 56-year-old put it simply: that the rumblings are nonsense, reassuring that the club have plenty of faith in his abilities.
Absolutely rubbish that Barcelona is planning to end up early @MarcusRashford loan deal
Barça told his representative that they have a lot of confidence in Rashford’s potential and that they believe he will recover as a top player
As you can see, the Catalan-born RCD Espanyol fan also chose to publicly align himself with former England footballer, Gary Lineker, who has suggested that a targeted and discriminatory narrative against Rashford has developed in recent years.
Though he didn’t state it verbatim, Balagué added: “No more to say, apart from the fact I agree with Gary Lineker and his treatment by some media.”
In case you were unaware of what he’s precisely referring to, Lineker said in a chat with the Man United forward on his The Rest Is Football podcast that he believes Rashford “wouldn’t face the same criticism if he was white.”
Having also made the move from Britain to Barcelona back in 1986 (spending a total of three seasons there), the 64-year-old knows plenty about adjusting from playing in one country to another.
You can see the interview in full here.
The interview was conducted shortly after Rashford’s loan deal was completed, and he had plenty to say about his boyhood team.
Responding to Balagué’s social media post, one commenter wrote: “This nonsense is coming from racist journalists in England who refuse to leave [Rashford] alone. They bullied him when he was in England, especially during times when he seemed unhappy.
“Now, these haters have followed him to Barcelona. Rashford is one of the kindest players in the world, but these clowns just won’t let him live his life in peace.”
It is worth noting, however, that the original reports in question and ultimately aggregated by media across Europe and here in the UK come from a domestic outlet, El Nacional.
While he is yet to rediscover the form of his peak years in United red at the Camp Nou, he is now entering what are traditionally seen as the ‘prime’ period in a footballer’s career and did show more positive signs on loan at Aston Villa during the second half of the previous campaign.
At 27, there is still plenty of time to turn things around; that being said, after being brought back into the national team and with his parent club holding an option to buy clause for around a reported £20 million, the question remains whether he will be returning to Old Trafford at the end of the term. Speaking of…
Emily Sergeant -
20th November 2020 
