This week brings a wave of fresh content to streaming services, with new films, music, and games making their debuts across multiple platforms. Among the highlights selected by Associated Press entertainment journalists: the streaming premiere of a major sci-fi blockbuster, Colin Farrell playing an alien in disguise, and a debut album from a breakout singer-songwriter.
“Project Hail Mary,” one of the year’s biggest box office hits, begins streaming Thursday, June 18, on MGM+. Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the sci-fi adventure features Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a science teacher who awakens aboard a spacecraft on a mission to rescue dying stars. Sandra Hüller co-stars alongside an alien character named Rocky, brought to life by puppeteer James Ortiz. AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr described it as “a clever, sincere, most-ages crowd-pleaser that’s full of life, energy and a love of science.”
Also arriving June 19 on HBO Max is “How to Make a Killing,” starring Glen Powell as a working-class man who turns to murder in an attempt to reclaim his inheritance. Written and directed by John Patton Ford, the film draws inspiration from the classic Alec Guinness Ealing comedy “Kind Hearts and Coronets.” AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review that the movie falls short, calling it “a disappointingly flat almost-remake that has neither the biting farce nor the chilling darkness to match its black-comedy ambitions.”
Netflix adds another romantic comedy to its lineup with “Voicemails for Isabelle,” debuting Friday, June 19. Written and directed by Leah McKendrick, the film stars Zoey Deutch as a woman coping with the loss of her sister by leaving voicemails on her late sibling’s old phone number. When that number gets reassigned to an Austin real estate agent played by Nick Robinson, the two find themselves unexpectedly connected.
On the music front, English singer-songwriter Myles Smith drops his debut album, “My Mess, My Heart, My Life,” on Friday. Despite being a newcomer with his first full-length release, Smith is no stranger to success — his 2024 track “Stargazing” earned triple platinum status and made him a household name in folk-pop circles.
Also arriving Friday is “Released At Last,” a three-song EP from New Orleans bounce music icon Big Freedia, recorded in collaboration with the late Scottish artist and producer Sophie back in 2016. Sophie, who had worked with artists including Madonna and Charli XCX, passed away in 2021 at age 34 following an accident in Athens, Greece. She had received a Grammy nomination during her career. AP Music Writer Maria Sherman notes the release serves as a reminder of Sophie’s lasting impact on both underground and mainstream music.
For reality TV fans, the new docuseries “Million Dollar Nannies” lands Thursday, June 18, on Hulu. All episodes drop at once, following a boutique babysitting agency based in Ibiza that caters to wealthy VIP clients. Expect private jets, non-disclosure agreements, and children with a taste for caviar.
Colin Farrell is back as an alien living undercover on Earth in Season 2 of “Sugar,” premiering Friday, June 19, on Apple TV+. Farrell’s character goes by the name John Sugar and works as a private investigator in Los Angeles. The noir-style drama carries a season-long central mystery, with Sugar balancing his detective casework while secretly keeping tabs on the human population around him.
In gaming, Square Enix releases “The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales” on Thursday, June 18, for PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2, and PC. Set in a land called Philabieldia, the game follows a young hero named Elliot and his fairy companion Faie on a time-traveling quest spanning 1,000 years. The pixelated visual style will feel familiar to fans of developer Clay Tech Works’ previous title “Octopath Traveler,” while the gameplay leans more toward arcade-style action. The time-hopping storyline draws comparisons to Square’s beloved 1995 classic “Chrono Trigger.”
