“Dune: Part 2,” Jennifer Lopez in the sci-fi action pic “Atlas” and a “South Park” episode skewering weight loss drugs are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.
New movies to stream
The spice has started flowing on Max: Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” finally hits the streaming service. The film continues the saga of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he learns the ways of the desert-dwelling Fremen following the death of his father in “Part One.” It’s also a decidedly more action-packed spectacle than the first film, introducing a slew of new characters including the demonic Feyd-Rautha played with scene-stealing menace by Austin Butler.
The ever-prolific Jennifer Lopez has another movie on the way with the sci-fi action pic “Atlas,” debuting on Netflix on Friday. She plays the titular character, a data analyst who must learn to trust artificial intelligence in order to save humanity, in a cast that includes Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown and Mark Strong. Lopez has said that at its core, it’s a love story. “Atlas” was directed by “San Andreas” helmer Brad Peyton.
— Lindsey Bahr
New music to stream
Lenny Kravitz is back with his first full-length album in six years: “Blue Electric Light.” (The album, out Friday, follows 2018’s “Raise Vibration.”) It is a testament to his status as one of the last remaining true rock stars, evident from the moment he released the album’s lead single, “TK421.” Last year, Kravitz described the album as “the album I didn’t make in my teens.”
You’ve seen nearly all eight hours of Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary “Get Back” on Disney+. Now, prepare yourself to watch a definitive documentary on America’s band, the Beach Boys, on the same platform starting Friday. (Let the spirited rivalry continue!) Appropriately titled “The Beach Boys,” this doc boasts of never-before-seen footage and all-new interviews with members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston.
— Maria Sherman
New shows to stream
Has chef Gordon Ramsay met his match in Season 2 of “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars”? He faces off against fellow Brit, restaurateur and reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump to find fresh talent in the food and beverage industry. They each lead teams of contestants who compete in various challenges and the winner gets $250,000 toward their brand. It’s like “Shark Tank” meets “The Voice” meets “The Apprentice.” Season 2 debuts Wednesday on Fox. The series also streams on Hulu, Tubi and fox.com.
“South Park” has never shied away from poking fun of hot-button topics. In a new special, weight loss drugs are all the rage in South Park. The kids get involved when Cartman is denied access. “South Park: The End of Obesity″ streams on Paramount+ on Friday.
For a more family-friendly animated option, “My Adventures With Superman” is back for Season 2 on Saturday on Adult Swim. Jack Quaid voices Clark Kent/Superman as a young man who is roommates with his best friend, Jimmy Olsen, played by Ishmel Sahid. Alice Lee voices Lois Lane. The lighthearted take on the DC Comics hero also streams on Max.
— Alicia Rancilio
New video games to play
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice rattled unsuspecting gamers in 2017 with a story in which the scariest monsters may or may not have sprung from the protagonist’s own psychosis. Things haven’t gotten much easier for her as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II begins — it’s not like mental health care was a high priority among the Vikings in 10th-century Iceland. Still, Senua is determined to rescue “those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny,” though the question remains: Can she do it without losing her mind? British developer Ninja Theory is promising a “brutal” follow-up to one of the most haunting and nerve-racking games in history, so consider yourself warned. The trials resume on Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Paper Trail also follows a young woman trying to make her way in the world, but it’s a much less stressful journey. Paige lives in a comfy home with loving parents, but it’s time to go to college. The road isn’t always straightforward, but Paige has a special talent: She can treat her environment like paper, folding it in order to reconnect broken pathways. The result, from British studio Newfangled Games, is a series of colorful, 2D mazes with charming graphics that look like they were handcrafted. Turn the Paige on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and PC.
— Lou Kesten