'In the Heights,' New Seasons of 'Evil,' 'Good Fight' Among June's Streaming Highlights

Photos: Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney & Netflix

In the Heights – HBO Max – Premieres: 6/18
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this one for more than a year now. “In the Heights,” based off the stage musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes (who wrote the screenplay), was supposed to hit movie theaters last June, but of course was delayed due to COVID-19. As part of the HBO Max/Warner Bros. deal to open films this year in theaters and streaming simultaneously “In the Heights” will stream on the service for 30 days beginning on Friday, June 18. “In the Heights” tells the story of a New York City bodega owner, played by Anthony Ramos (who had multiple roles in the stage performance of Miranda’s “Hamilton”), who’s saving money in hopes of a better life. Miranda has a supporting role in the cast. “In the Heights” is directed by Jon M. Chu, who piloted “Crazy Rich Asians” to much success in 2018. 

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Fatherhood – Netflix – Premieres: 6/18
Kevin Hart is one of the biggest comedians (if not the biggest) in the world, but many of his comedic films are a bit too slapstick-y for my taste, but based off the trailer “Fatherhood,” which premieres on Netflix on Friday, June 18, this film seems like one with a lot of heart. The dramedy, directed by Paul Weitz, and is based on the 2011 memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love by Matthew Logelin about a widowed father struggling to raise his daughter. The supporting cast of “Fatherhood” which features Alfre Woodard, Lil Rel Howery and Anthony Carrigan looks fantastic. 

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Evil – Paramount+ - Premieres: 6/20
I was blown away by “Evil” when it premiered in the fall of 2019 on CBS, and it instantly became my new favorite show at the time. Season two would’ve likely premiered in the fall of 2020 on CBS, but it was much delayed by COVID-19, so much in fact that the network was finally going to air it this summer. However, for some reason I don’t quite understand, CBS decided to give the series which follows a team of a forensic psychologist, a Priest to be and a skeptical technical expert investigating supernatural religious phenomena, to its streaming service Paramount+. Honestly, the show was too good for CBS, which seems only interested in procedural cop dramas now. It’s been a long wait, but I can’t wait to get back into this story on Sunday, June 20. 

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The Good Fight – Paramount+ - Premieres: 6/24
The week of June 20-26 is going to be a terrific one for show creators and runners Robert and Michelle King with their shows “Evil” and “The Good Fight” premiering new seasons just days apart on Paramount+. After a pandemic shortened fourth season in 2020, “The Good Fight” returns for its fifth season on Thursday, June 24 and will follow the lawyers of Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart as they potentially wrap the Memo 618 storyline from the shortened fourth season while getting used to a post-Trump America. The best thing about season five is it will season the return, at least for a while, of Delroy Lindo and Cush Jumbo, who were originally set to leave the series after its fourth season but have signed back on to give their characters a true farewell.  

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The Mysterious Benedict Society – Disney+ - Premieres: 6/25
I’m not a huge fan of animated films and shows, superhero films and shows, children’s films and shows and the “Star Wars” universe, so of all of the popular streaming services Disney+ is the one least likely to have programming catch my attention, but the upcoming series “The Mysterious Benedict Society” seems like it could be interesting (and, of course, fun for the whole family). The biggest draw for me is Emmy-winner Tony Hale, of “Veep” and “Arrested Development” fame, in a dual role as an eccentric benefactor (played by Hale) who recruits four orphans for a secret mission against a villain who happens to be his twin brother. I’m not familiar with the young adult book series the show is based off, but the trailer shows it could be a fun watch.