February 2024 Staff Picks: The Movies and Series You Can't Miss

It’s hard to focus on any plot when you’re staring at this photo of Dua Lipa and Henry Cavill. But come February 2, we’ll find out who the real Argylle is, and perhaps why Bryce Dallas Howard keeps a cat in her backpack, in Matthew Vaughn's ensemble action-thriller. The movie is set in a world where BDH is an author whose new espionage novel begins to play out irl, and she’ll need to complete the story in real time to unravel a conspiracy on a global scale. Sam Rockwell (missed you! love you!) is the highly trained bearded figure who comes to her aid, and Cavill is the agent we’re initially led to believe the movie is named after. Is the real Argylle already listed in the IMDb credits? We promise we do not know!

In theaters Friday, Feb. 2

This streaming series from Donald Glover and his "Atlanta" collaborator Francesca Sloane knows how to get attention. It already knows you might be wondering why it has to exist, or why it shares a name with that Brad and Angelina movie if it's not an actual remake. You might plotz if you didn't know Phoebe Waller Bridge was supposed to star opposite Glover before "PEN15" genius Maya Erksine took over the role. We have a feeling any resistance to the series will fade week to week as these two strangers get to know one another as fake spouses working with the same spy agency. The episodes are designed as mysteries of the week, similar to "Poker Face."

Premieres Friday, Feb. 2 on Prime Video

Molly Manning Walker’s first movie just screened at Sundance, it’s up for three BAFTA Awards this month, and it’s already won big at festivals from Cannes to Stockholm, and the British Independent Film Awards. The movie is being released on the streaming service MUBI in the US, and it will hit select theaters as well. Though it's inflected with humor and interconnected energy shared between three young women who are coming of age, this is not lighthearted fare. Walker’s writing and direction have received praise for avoiding cliches and encouraging her characters to evolve in real time together.

In theaters Friday, Feb. 2

Dreamworks and Netflix are bringing families a fun treat with this adaptation of Emma Yarlett’s popular children’s book about facing your fears. Jacob Tremblay stars as Orion, a young boy held captive by his many worries until Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) appears to show him how the world really works. With a screenplay from Charlie Kaufman – the king of creating anxious characters – and an all-star supporting voice cast, ‘Orion and the Dark’ is sure to brighten up your winter Watchlist.

Premieres Friday, Feb. 2 on Netflix

The latest season of “Genius” follows not one, but two historic personalities in Martin Luther King, Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre). Executive producers Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood’s ambitious project alternates between the experiences of the two very distinct civil rights icons, but also brings them together in moments inspired by Jeff Stetson’s play about a fictional meeting between the two Black leaders. Fun fact: Both actors will be reunited (in voice only) later this year in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King,’ playing Mufasa (Pierre) and Scar (Harrison Jr.).

Premieres Thursday, Feb. 1 on National Geographic and Friday, Feb. 2 on Hulu and Disney+

Anime fans better get ready to rumble because animation studio MAPPA ("Jujutsu Kaisen," "Attack on Titan") is bringing the ultimate showdown with their new series "Bucchigiri?!" Directed by Hiroko Utsumi ("Banana Fish," "SK8 the Infinity") and written by Taku Kishimoto ("Ranking of Kings," "Fruits Basket"), this action-adventure follows two old friends as they stumble into a fight with the baddest guys around. Season 1 currently has an 8.5 rating on ]IMDb, and with several more episodes releasing weekly, we suspect "Bucchigiri?!" will become a fan favorite in no time.

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Larry David bids farewell in this twelfth and final season of “Curb,” his hit series that debuted 20 (!) years ago on HBO. The press-shy David is even doing a couple live tour dates, which may indicate this is the ACTUAL end of an era, and not one of the many “false” finales in previous seasons (like dying in Season 5, fleeing the country due to a spat with Michael J. Fox, etc.). While there have been few details about casting beyond the series regulars, expect a slew of A-listers to drop in—perhaps even some former “Seinfeld” alumni.

Season 12 premieres Sunday, Feb. 4 on Max

Fresh off her win for Best Actress at the 75th Emmys, Quinta Brunson and her colleagues are back for Season 3 of the hit mockumentary. Season 2 teased and then dashed hopes for a seemingly inevitable Janine (Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) pairing, but parleying that tension is a smart creative choice, and the show’s growing legion of ever-hopeful fans will be tuning in weekly for updates.

Season 3 premieres Wednesday, Feb. 7 on ABC and Hulu

Things didn’t look too good for Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) at the end of “Halo” Season 1. Betrayed by Makee (Charlie Murphy) and near comatose after allowing the AI Cortana to take over his mind, the John-117 we knew may be gone for good. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Season 1 of the Paramount+ video game adaptation was controversial with fans, thanks to several stylistic choices – namely removing Master Chief’s helmet for the majority of the runtime. Season 2 seems poised to refocus the series, cleaning up some of the subplots and keeping the importance of the Halo rings central to the storyline as John searches for them in preparation for the Covenant’s next attack. As for the helmet? Don’t hold your breath. Both Schreiber in interviews and the new season poster have made it clear the super soldier’s headgear is staying off.

Season 2 premieres Thursday, Feb. 8 on Paramount+

Based on the 2009 novel by David Nichols (and the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess), "One Day" is getting room to breathe with a 14-episode limited series expansion that kicks off right in time for Valentine's Day viewing. The series explores a decades-spanning relationship between Emma and Dexter, two students who spend a night together ('Before Sunrise' style) on their graduation and then circles back each year on the same day to see where they are in life. Leo Woodall ("The White Lotus") Ambika Mod, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Essie Davis star.

Premieres Thursday, Feb. 8 on Netflix

It may send chills up your spine to realize it’s been 15 years since Diablo Cody’s first horror-comedy, 'Jennifer's Body,' released in theaters. But never fear! The beloved indie screenwriter is back this month with an update to Mary Shelley’s classic tale that sees Kathryn Newton as a goth teen mad scientist on a mission to resurrect the perfect Victorian boyfriend. Behind the camera is Zelda Williams in her feature directorial debut, and along for the ride are Cole Sprouse as “The Creature” and IMDb top star of 2023 Carla Gugino in a role that looks equal parts hysterical and deranged.

In theaters Friday, Feb. 9

Loss, love, and finding your way are the themes of this coming-of-age drama from first-time feature writer-director Laura Chinn. Nico Parker plays Doris, a teen left in an impossible situation when her brother’s hospice becomes the center of a national human rights debate. Playing main support are Laura Linney as Doris’ mother and Woody Harrelson as a protester at the hospice who strikes up an unlikely friendship with the film’s young hero. Combine this emotional premise with music by Este Haim, and we’re certain you’re going to need tissues for this one.

Premieres Friday, Feb. 9 on Hulu

Camila Mendes ("Riverdale") and Archie Renaux ("Shadow and Bone") star in this 'The Devil Wears Prada' meets 'Cinderella' romantic-comedy dropping on Prime Video in the lead up to Valentine's Day. If you're a fan of mistaken identities, snarky workplace drama, and swoony men with British accents, this might be one for you. Marisa Tomei, Lena Olin, Anthony Head, and our favorite comedian Matteo Lane round out the cast.

Premieres Friday, Feb. 9 on Prime Video

Justin Hartley's new crime drama (and inevitable hit) "Tracker" premieres on CBS in the most wanted time slot on network TV: right after the Super Bowl. Based on the first installment of the best-selling Colter Shaw novels from Jeffery Deaver — the guy who gave us the prolific "Bone Collector" series — "Tracker" looks to deliver everything we want in a CBS procedural with its enigmatic lead, quirky home-team backup, and mystery of the week. Definitely looking forward to this one.

Premieres Sunday, Feb. 11 on CBS

The trailer for this Sony Spider-Man universe film got a mixed reaction from superhero fans, but reports say the movie’s test screenings have been smooth sailing so far. That’s likely good news for Sony, whose most recent addition to the SSU, Morbius, failed at the box office not once but twice, thanks to its unconventional theatrical re-release two months after its initial run. But there’s lots to get excited for with Madame Web, especially when it comes to the cast. Dakota Johnson heads up this story of a clairvoyant NYC paramedic with support from all-stars Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, and Adam Scott, among others.

In theaters Wednesday, Feb. 14

The idea of watching Juliette Bincohe acting out some of Coco Chanel’s most iconic reads of Christian Dior – “He doesn’t dress women, he upholsters them.” – is the sort of on-screen rivalry that could cause people who wouldn’t normally cotton to a fashion industry period piece to tune in, take notice. Those same people should know this is the new series from the creator of “Damages,” Todd A. Kessler.

Premieres Wednesday, Feb. 14 on Apple TV+

It’s somewhat surprising that we’ve never seen a biopic about the man who brought reggae music to the masses, but with the backing of the Marley family, director Reinaldo Marcus Green (‘King Richard’) is bringing the icon’s story to the big screen. There’s a lot of early buzz around star Kingsley Ben-Adir’s performance, whose resume already includes a Gotham Award for Breakthrough Performer portraying Malcolm X in 2020’s ‘One Night in Miami…,’ and he recently appeared as a Ken in last year’s ‘Barbie.’

In theaters Wednesday, Feb. 14

We don’t want celebrities to be relatable or tethered to the real world. We like to think about Jennifer Lopez in a bubble bath, fully unaware of how the water got into the tub. We absolutely have more than one active group text brimming over with questions we do not even need answered by Lopez’s new dream-state sorta-documentary, a celebration of her first record in a decade, which itself is a follow up to her 2002 album, 'This Is Me ... Then.' As we watched and rewatched its trailer, we asked: Why is she in a sweatshop? Why is Kim Petras there? Why is she sporting full paint in her support group meeting? Her friends support her new marriage? Should Fat Joe be our therapist? When does Ben show up? How hard does Matt Damon tease Ben about all of this?

Premieres Friday, Feb. 16 on Prime Video

We’re into Apple TV+ bringing us more outre tales as "Severance" and "Foundation" both prep new seasons. So for now, we’ll follow astronaut Noomi Rapace into space, and wonder if it’s the same Noomi who reunites with her daughter on Earth. A machine that looks like a sleeker version of what nearly destroyed three worlds in “Dark” seems to be at the center of this conspiracy tale from Peter Harness, who is running the show after paying dues for years on everything from “Doctor Who” to “Wallander.”

Premieres Wednesday, Feb. 21 on Apple TV+

Ethan Coen’s first outing as a director without his brother Joel is the first chapter in a lesbian B-movie trilogy the Oscar-winning filmmaker has been writing off and on for 20 years with Tricia Cooke, longtime editor for the Coen Bros. Do you really need to know what’s in the suitcase, Jules? Or can we hope this story is fresh take on Coen Canon and inspires the writer duo to make the next movie in the trilogy, which is already written. Co-stars Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan deserve all the acclaim this movie can manage, with support from Pedro Pascal, Beanie Feldstein, Matt Damon, Colman Domingo, and superrecognizable character actor Joey Slotnick.

In theaters Friday, Feb. 23

Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps are headed back to the big screen for a unique night at the theater. ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training’ is a theatrical feature made out of two episodes of the "Demon Slayer" series. The feature beings with Season 3, Episode 11 (“A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light”) before segueing into the first episode of the highly anticipated Hashira Training Arc. We don’t know what all is in store in this episode premiere but rest assured fans will get to see the start of training conducted by the Hashira in preparation for the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji.

In theaters Friday, Feb. 23

Over three seasons and 62 episodes, Nickelodeon's animated "Avatar: The Last Airbender" has won over scores of fans, and is STILL finding new converts almost 20 years after it debuted. Most people would like to forget the last attempt to translate the IP to live action, and that’s probably why fans are remaining cautious about Netflix’s latest anime adaptation, especially after original "Avatar" creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko departed the reboot over creative diferences. Nevertheless, it's Netflix. And that means there’s always a chance they’re going to have a mega-hit on their hands. Showrunner Albert Kim's last project was the well-received animated series "Pantheon," which may be a sign of good things to come.

Premieres Thursday, Feb. 22 on Netflix

Forget everything you know about the proposed film trilogy about the fate of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) after being whisked away by a helicopter in Season 9. Those projects have been reworked to become “The Ones Who Live,” a mini-series focused on the reunion of Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) after they disappeared in "The Walking Dead" Seasons 9 and 10, respectively. More recently, the pair made cameos in the final season of "TWD," teasing their return to the franchise.

Premieres Sunday, Feb. 25 on AMC

History buffs are in for a treat with this highly detailed adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel. Set at the dawn of the 17th century, “Shogun” is doubling down on what it means to make a historical epic. Unlike the 1980s miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshirô Mifune, this 10-episode drama focuses on its Japanese characters and the impact of outside forces in the region. You can catch the first two episodes on FX, Hulu, and Disney+ when the series premieres.

Premieres Tuesday, Feb. 27 on FX/Hulu

Nearly two years have passed since Jamie Dornan first appeared as "The Man," a/k/a Elliot Stanley, who wakes up in an Australian hospital with no clue who he is. Over a 6-episode first season, Dornan established the kind of chemistry with his co-star Danielle Macdonald it can take other series twice as long to develop. We don’t want to spoil what transpires between them – although, all of Season 2 has aired in the UK already, so read ahead at your desire – but know the mystery relocates to Ireland this season. As Elliot gets some crucial hints at his past (including an easy set-up for a third season, though that’s not a guarantee at this time) as the series reportedly cranks up the absurdity factor with some seriously wtf moments including thugs in balaclava dancing to “Brass in Pocket” by The Pretenders. Oh, and the series moves from Max to Netflix, so prepare to hear way more people recommending it.

Season 2 premieres Thursday, Feb. 29 on Netflix