New Netflix & Apple Comedy Series, Acclaimed International Feature and Documentary Among January's Streaming Recs

by Julian Spivey

Photos: Netflix, Amazon, Wild Bunch AG & Magnolia Pictures

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The Menu – HBO Max – Tuesday, January 3
There’s a good chance you’ve already seen the latest “eat the rich” horror-thriller “The Menu” as its been in the top five at the box office since it debuted in mid-November. But if you wanted to see it and didn’t make it to your local theater to do so it’s premiering on HBO Max on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The movie stars Ralph Fiennes as an acclaimed chef who’s prepared a lavish menu for a group of rich tourists on a remote island and a young couple, played by Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, who make the trip and find a shocking surprise. 

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Riotsville, USA – Hulu – Thursday, January 12
“Riotsville, USA,” one of 2022’s most prestigious and well-reviewed documentaries from director Sierra Pettengill, makes its streaming debut on Hulu on Thursday, Jan. 12. Pettengill’s documentary tells the story, using unearthed military training footage, of the military using custom-built fake towns to train law enforcement on how to react to civil unrest, which ultimately led to the militarization of local law enforcement.  

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That ‘90s Show – Netflix – Thursday, January 19
“That ‘70s Show” was one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms from the late ‘90s through the early ‘00s by many television viewers of that era. More than 20 years after its debut comes the sequel “That ‘90s Show,” premiering on Netflix on Thursday, Jan. 19, and focusing on the summer of 1995 when Leia Forman, the teenage daughter of Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti, comes to Point Place, Wisc. to spend the summer with her grandparents Red and Kitty, with Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp reprising their roles from “That ‘70s Show.” The majority of the original cast of ‘70s’ will appear at some point in “That ‘90s Show” and it’s important to note Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner, who created the original series, are involved in this sequel. 

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Happening – Hulu – Sunday, January 22
“Happening,” a French film from director Audrey Diwan, has been one of the best-reviewed international features of 2022 and has found its way onto multiple ‘Top 10 Movies’ of the year lists. Diwan’s film tells the story of Anne, a student in 1963 with a bright future ahead of her potentially shattered when she becomes pregnant. She wants an abortion, but it was illegal at that time in France. The film was originally released in France in late 2021, but it’s very timely today in America. 

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Shrinking – AppleTV+ - Sunday, January 27
There have been an awful lot of TV series or limited series over the last couple of years about therapists and AppleTV+ even had one already in 2021’s “The Shrink Next Door.” But AppleTV+ is back in the therapy game with its new comedy series “Shrinking,” which stars Jason Segel (“How I Met Your Mother”) as a therapist grieving the death of his wife who begins to break all the rules by telling his patients exactly what he thinks. The show is a collaboration between Segel and Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein of “Ted Lasso” fame and co-stars Harrison Ford.  

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Nate Bargatze: Hello World – Amazon Prime Video – Tuesday, January 31 
Nate Bargatze is one of the funniest stand-up comedians in the comedy game right now – I saw him live in Little Rock in early December and he just doesn’t miss with his humor. He’s also clean as a whistle, so his newest comedy special “Nate Bargatze: Hello World,” premiering on Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday, January 31, would be the perfect stand-up special to watch with your entire family. If the new special contains a lot of the jokes he performed when I saw him in person recently you’re going to be howling in laughter.