Anything Good To Watch? These 17 New Film And TV Series Are Worth Your Time

Josh ShepherdOctober 28, 2022

Entertainment has become dominated by extremes. Movie theaters roll out flashy, clamorous spectacle blockbusters, balanced by many TV options that promise engrossing, character-driven plots. And hardly ever the twain shall meet.

Despite hundreds of millions of dollars being spent to market new films and series, finding the good, true, and beautiful ones has become increasingly difficult. Stories that pay equal attention to character development, intriguing visual work, and historical and thematic depth are rare. Where they exist, they might be lost on one of a dozen major streamers or a limited theatrical run.

At its best, entertainment serves as a means to laugh, imagine, provide respite, and see the world through different eyes. Perhaps a few of these may fit the bill. With a focus on based-on-true-story titles and notable fiction adaptations — plus, throwing shade on a couple of tentpole franchises — here are 17 on-screen stories to keep an eye out for this holiday season.

Coming to Theaters

‘Devotion’ (Nov. 23)

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If record box-office for “Top Gun: Maverick” is any indicator, moviegoers are revved up for air combat. That film’s co-star Glen Powell returns to the fighter jet cockpit in Korean War drama “Devotion” alongside Jonathan Majors, set to star soon as “Avengers” baddie Kang. While unlikely to be a Tom Cruise-level blockbuster, “Devotion” hopes to make up for it with a historical backdrop including the use of authentic aircraft.

‘The Fabelmans’ (Nov. 23)

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Acclaimed director Steven Spielberg has given the world “Jurassic Park,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Schindler’s List,” “Lincoln,” “E.T.,” and countless other memorable films. Riffing on his formative years growing up in Arizona, “The Fabelmans” reportedly develops themes on the power of stories and why they’re worth the effort to tell. It debuted in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (Nov. 11)

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Marvel’s past decade of pop culture dominance has taken hits lately, as recent franchise entries focus on confusing religious themes, feminist activism, mother-as-monster tropes, and computer-generated imagery over heroic storytelling. Still, don’t count out director Ryan Coogler, who’s determined to pay tribute to the late great Chadwick Boseman with a superhero adventure that deepens themes of his first outing in the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda.

‘Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon’ (Dec. 5)

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The man in black and his haunting country-folk-rock songs return to the big screen in this documentary, with never-before-seen concert footage. Along with his son John Carter Cash and sister Joanne Cash, watch for creative personalities who knew Johnny Cash — such as Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Alice Cooper, and others — to unveil why his music continues to resonate across generations.

‘A Man Called Otto’ (Dec. 25)

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Known for dramedies like “Finding Neverland” and “Stranger Than Fiction,” director Marc Forster adapts an award-winning novel. He hopes to make us laugh and cry in