Five Netflix offerings worth binge-watching this weekend

Regardless of weekend plans (perhaps after the sun goes down given the rather glorious weather), Netflix always has a series of interest when you want some downtime. Here are five offerings to help stop those ‘what’ll we watch?’ arguments…

Homecoming, A Film by Beyoncé 

Netflix has just released Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, which presents an intimate look at her historic 2018 Coachella performance that paid homage to America’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).  Interspersed with candid footage and interviews detailing the preparation and powerful intent behind her vision, Homecoming gives a peek into the process and emotional physical sacrifices it took to conceptualise and execute a performance of that magnitude that became a cultural movement.

Related: Beyoncé fans react to new Homecoming film and album  

Shot over eight months, the film follows Beyoncé as she returns to the stage after the birth of her twins, highlighting the comprehensive preparation involved in creating her groundbreaking performance, which included four months of band rehearsals followed by four months of dance rehearsals with over 150 musicians, dancers, and other creatives – all of whom were hand-picked by the artist herself.  It is an amazing watch; she is a tour de force, to put it mildly.

Jurassic Park Trilogy 

One of the biggest movie franchises of all time – and they don’t make ’em the same way anymore – is now on Netflix! From Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg and Joe Johnston dinosaurs once again roam the earth in an amazing theme park on a remote island. The action-packed adventures find man up against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking filmmaking, these epic films are sheer moviemaking magic and suitable for the kids if the whole family sits down to watch (some of the early scenes are still frightening, not bad for 90s CGI).

 Bridget Jones Diary & Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Based on Helen Fielding’s international bestsellers, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason remain worthy comedic gold watches. Renee Zellwegger earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Bridget Jones, a thirty-something single English woman who decides to improve her life and chronicle the efforts in a diary. We follow her efforts through her wry and witty narration, as she struggles with career, family, and romantic challenges. Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent co-stars along with Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. The first one remains the best but as sequels go, The Edge of Reason still works.

 Someone Great 

Aspiring music journalist Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) has just landed her dream job at an iconic magazine and is about to move to San Francisco. Rather than do long distance, her boyfriend of nine years (Lakeith Stanfield) decides to call it quits. To nurse her broken heart, Jenny gathers up her two best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow) for one outrageous last adventure in New York City. Worth it for the hugely underrated Gina Rodriguez and some brilliant comic timing.

Available to stream April 19

Line of Duty

From the creators of Bodyguard (only with more corruption), seasons 1 to 4 follows DS Steve Arnott after a transfer to a police anti-corruption unit after he refuses to be part of a cover-up involving an accidental shooting. The series follows AC-12, a fictional police squad assigned with uncovering corruption within the police force, comprised of Arnott (Martin Compston), DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar). Gripping and intense, this one is the most binge-worthy of the lot and brilliant TV.