It’s a deluxe edition of Weekend Recs in Screen Time this week, as I let you know which movies (and one show) you should definitely be watching over the Thanksgiving break — from a movie that will make you sob your eyes out to Elizabeth Olsen starring in a rom-com. I also share what’s all over my FYP, like the funniest and best reactions to the Dancing with the Stars finale and Wicked: For Good. There’s also what we’ve got going on over on BuzzFeed Celeb’s YouTube channel, and I share the best Christmas movies, in my opinion.
And if you’re saying, “Hey! I love all of that stuff,” then you can get Screen Time delivered directly to your inbox by subscribing here!
Here’s what the newsletter is covering this week:
BuzzFeed
Stranger Things — watch for: All the Hawkins chaos we love
Netflix
Season 5, Vol. 1 streaming now on Netflix
Three years after the release of Season 4, Stranger Things officially kicks off its final season this week with Season 5, Vol. 1, aka the first four episodes. Set in the fall of 1987, the new season follows all of our beloved group as they have only one goal in mind: to find and kill Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). However, he’s vanished, and his whereabouts and ultimate plans are unknown. As Hawkins continues to deal with opening gates to the Upside Down and just general chaos, the town’s quarantine intensifies, and a new hunt for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) begins. The final battle is upon us, and with the full party ready to fight together, anything can happen.
I just finished a full rewatch of the show — if you need a recap before the final season, here you go — and I have to say I am shifting into a renewed Stranger Things hyperfixation. I know it’s been WAY too long since we got new episodes, but I forgot just how good this show is. I love these characters. I love these stories. And I’m excited to see how it all ends. All I have to say is we must protect my close personal friends, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), because I am stressed for them.
Related: No One Born After 2004 Can Identify 15/17 Of These Nickelodeon Kids’ Shows From A Single Screenshot
Eternity — watch for: Elizabeth Olsen + a rom-com = a must-watch
A24 / Everett Collection
In theaters now
There’s one thing we need to get out of the way right now: I would die for Elizabeth Olsen. So, that being said, I am highly recommending getting yourself to a movie theater to go see Eternity. Starring Olsen, alongside Miles Teller, Callum Turner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and John Early, Eternity follows Joan (Olsen), who has recently died and is now in an afterlife where she gets one week to choose where to spend, well, eternity. Well, it’s not so much where as opposed to who with, as she must choose between her first love (Turner), who died in a war, or the man she built her life with (Teller).
It’s no surprise that Olsen is captivating in this rom-com from David Freyne, after all, this is coming from the woman who made everyone weep over Wanda Maximoff and Vision’s love story in WandaVision. After years of spending time in the Marvel universe, it’s great to see Olsen back to her roots in an indie-like rom-com with a lot of heart.
Hamnet — watch for: Soul-crushing performances from literally everyone
Agata Grzybowska / Focus Features / Everett Collection
In select theaters now; everywhere December 5
Hamnet is being hailed as one of the saddest and greatest movies of the year, and as someone who has also read the book, I think everyone should bring at least one box of tissues if you’re seeing this one. From Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao, Hamnet is based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name, and follows the relationship between Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). In particular, how their young son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), inspired Shakespeare to write Hamlet.
Buckley, who has been a standout in all of her recent films, really shines in this one, so it’s no surprise that she’s an early frontrunner for Best Actress at the Oscars. And, once again, Mescal knows how to play absolute love and devastation. While both of their performances are extraordinary, this is a career-making movie for Jupe, who is only 12 years old. Visually, this movie is stunning, too, which should come as no surprise, given that Zhao is a master visual storyteller, as evident in films like Nomadland and Eternals.
Zootopia 2 — watch for: Another fun Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde adventure
Disney / Everett Collection
In theaters now
A children’s movie sequel opening Thanksgiving weekend in the US? This movie is going to make a billion dollars. The highly anticipated Zootopia 2 sees the return of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they continue their detective partnership. With their clashing personalities, they’ve botched a few jobs and are on the verge of being separated as partners. However, they are given one last make-or-break assignment to prove they are a good team.
The assignment? To find a snake that has reportedly been spotted in Zootopia. But, when the snake, played by Ke Huy Quan, says he’s just trying to help his family, Nick and Judy realize there’s more to reptiles than meets the eye. I loved the first Zootopia. It’s arguably one of my favorite Disney animated movies in the last 10 years, so I will also be seated amongst the kids for this one. But am I sad that Disney seems to only have success with sequels and live-action remakes? YES 100%.
BuzzFeed
To celebrate The Mighty Nein, we challenged the Critical Role cast, aka Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Sam Riegel, and Liam O’Brien, to a game of Cast Wars, and it might’ve been our most competitive one yet. Since the Critical Role cast is like family, we knew they’d know each other very well, so how well do they remember their second Dungeons & Dragons campaign, which The Mighty Nein is based on? Plus, just some general questions about their characters, the Critical Role fandom, and more.
Related: This Might Be The Hardest “High School Musical” Quiz Of All Time
Like, does Laura know how many times Jester cast Cure Wounds in Campaign 2? You know, because she is THE cleric! Or can they actually spell Percy’s full name?! It’s simply so heartwarmingly chaotic, and I suggest clicking below to watch all the goodness right now:
BuzzFeed
These are some of my favorite things from my FYP, feed, and more:
No surprise that reactions to Wicked: For Good are all anyone can talk about on my timeline, and they are genuinely so good (and so funny). So, here are just a few of the best ones:
You can see even more funny Wicked: For Good reactions by clicking here.
It was the big finale on Dancing with the Stars, with the five finalists competing for the Mirrorball Trophy. After an extremely competitive night with several perfect scores, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa delivered my personal favorite dance of the night with their freestyle. The winners of Dancing with the Stars Season 34 are Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. It’s SO well-deserved and felt like a win a season in the making. So, as always, here are the best reactions to the final episode:
Related: This “High School Musical” Lyrics Quiz Is So Hard, Only Sharpay Could Get 100%
BuzzFeed
Also, have a question for me? Send it to me now at screentime@buzzfeed.com, at this Google form, or let me know in the comments below.
What’s the best Christmas movie of all time?
Probably my favorite Christmas movies of all time are The Santa Clause and Home Alone. They are both so nostalgic for me, and I make sure to watch them every year. And those two have stuck with me throughout my childhood, and as I’ve gotten older. In terms of Christmas movies I discovered as an adult that I NOW consider the best, those are probably The Family Stone and The Holiday. Two exceptional films in my book, especially The Holiday. Nancy Meyers can really do no wrong, and I’ve watched everything she’s made.
Disney / Sony Pictures Releasing
Well, that’s all I’ve got for this week’s edition of Screen Time. Come back every week to get more TV and movie recommendations, find out which celebs we’re working with, and so much more!
Have a question for me, or want to tell me what you’re watching right now, or have a suggestion of what I should watch next? Send it to me now at screentime@buzzfeed.com, in this Google form, or in the comments below!
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