There’s so much streaming entertainment these days that picking one perfect thing to watch feels impossible, and what’s supposed to be fun can feel downright intimidating. So our weekly streaming recommendation column, Cut the Crap, is here to simplify the decision. Each Friday, we look at what’s going on in the entertainment world, and we pick something to go with it — one perfect film, show, or episode available on VOD or on major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. We’ll explain why it’s a good time for this recommendation, and why it’s worth your time specifically. Let us help you cut through the world’s ever-growing pile of mediocre entertainment and find one thing worth watching.
Nov 1, 2019, 2:02 PM UTCNoel Murray
A classic Mary Tyler Moore Show episode mirrors Apple TV Plus’ Morning Show series
How two series airing nearly 50 years apart deal with women in media
Oct 25, 2019, 6:48 PM UTCNoel Murray
Mike Judge’s Silicon Valley take on power continues in Tales from the Tour Bus
The Prince episode is another strong exploration of insider/outsider dynamics
Oct 18, 2019, 3:37 PM UTCNoel Murray
Before HBO’s Watchmen, stream V for Vendetta, the best Alan Moore adaptation
The 2006 movie, written by the Wachowskis, is still the strongest screen version of his work
Oct 11, 2019, 6:35 PM UTCNoel Murray
Succession’s creator wrote one of the best Black Mirror episodes
‘The Entire History of You’ shares some of Succession’s best narrative tricks
Oct 4, 2019, 5:41 PM UTCNoel Murray
Here’s the best Joker episode of Batman: The Animated Series to stream this weekend
Mark Hamill’s Joker may still be the best, most balanced version
Sep 27, 2019, 2:40 PM UTCNoel Murray
Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series The Politician is a perfect pairing with Election
Both have the same bright-eyed, surreal, cynical attitude toward politics — and high school
Sep 20, 2019, 4:03 PM UTCNoel Murray
The Downton Abbey movie is a terrific excuse to revisit Gosford Park
Robert Altman’s film was written by Downton Abbey’s creator
Sep 13, 2019, 3:09 PM UTCKeith Phipps
Amazon’s Undone makes a terrific double feature with Waking Life
Richard Linklater’s animated 2001 feature showed what computer rotoscoping could do
Sep 6, 2019, 2:13 PM UTCKeith Phipps
Why the horror movie Mama makes the perfect pairing with It Chapter Two
Director Andy Muschietti + star Jessica Chastain + deep horror
Aug 30, 2019, 3:20 PM UTCNoel Murray
Netflix’s new Dark Crystal reboot reaches back to the gentle fantasy of Fraggle Rock
Both showcase Jim Henson’s love of grand, ambitious worldbuilding
Aug 23, 2019, 3:32 PM UTCNoel Murray
Why The Most Dangerous Game is this weekend’s best streaming bet
It’s a terrific pairing with Ready Or Not, and other humans-hunting-humans films
Aug 16, 2019, 2:31 PM UTCNoel Murray
This weekend, stream two David Fincher crime thrillers: Mindhunter season 2 and Zodiac
When Iron Man, Hulk, and Mysterio teamed up to find a serial killer
Aug 9, 2019, 2:33 PM UTCNoel Murray
Prep for GLOW’s new season by watching the original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
A terrific Netflix documentary lays out the movement’s history and battles
Aug 2, 2019, 2:00 PM UTCNoel Murray
Why Netflix’s Derry Girls is the perfect show to stream this weekend
It’s cheeky, playful, and smart about self-absorbed teenagers
Jul 26, 2019, 3:18 PM UTCKeith Phipps
Before you see Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, watch Smokey and the Bandit
Tarantino’s latest film draws quite a bit of inspiration from the Burt Reynolds classic
Jul 19, 2019, 4:18 PM UTCKeith Phipps
For San Diego Comic-Con weekend, it’s time to re-watch Galaxy Quest
It’s the only popular film to really get convention culture right — and this is its 20th anniversary
Jul 12, 2019, 4:13 PM UTCNoel Murray
Fans of The Farewell should check out Awkwafina in the Netflix doc Bad Rap
It’s a telling look at her music career from before she was famous
Jul 5, 2019, 4:22 PM UTCNoel Murray
Cop Car shows where Spider-Man: Far From Home director Jon Watts learned action and storytelling
The indie thriller is currently streaming on Netflix
Jun 28, 2019, 2:19 PM UTCNoel Murray
Experience Beatlemania this weekend with Yesterday and Yellow Submarine
The 1968 animated film is one of the wildest, most psychedelic offshoots of The Beatles’ music
Jun 21, 2019, 2:02 PM UTCNoel Murray
With Child’s Play and Toy Story 4 in theaters, it’s Devil Doll time
This week’s streaming recommendation: evil dolls, MST3K-style
Jun 14, 2019, 3:55 PM UTCNoel Murray
The Dead Don’t Die is a perfect excuse to return to Zombieland
And explore the rise of the zom-com via Netflix
Jun 7, 2019, 5:06 PM UTCNoel Murray
For twisty stories about human-AI relations, stream I Am Mother and Moon this weekend
They’re a perfect pairing for fans of heady, serious science fiction
May 24, 2019, 3:17 PM UTCNoel Murray
Ahead of Aladdin, watch the lost film that helped shape it
Richard Williams’ The Thief and the Cobbler has a complicated history
May 10, 2019, 5:19 PM UTCKeith Phipps
Detective Pikachu is the perfect reminder to revisit Who Framed Roger Rabbit
We’re all living in the movie world Robert Zemeckis’ film inspired
May 3, 2019, 7:23 PM UTCNoel Murray
Before Netflix’s Dead to Me, watch Christina Applegate in Samantha Who?
It’s an earlier comedic role that also has her reinventing herself after trauma