What to Stream: Sydney Sweeney, ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ Jonah Hill, ‘Hacks’ and Ella Langley

Entertainment Landscape Expands with New Releases Across All Media This Week

Sydney Sweeney steps into the boxing ring as legendary fighter Christy Martin in HBO Max’s new biopic “Christy,” leading a wave of notable entertainment releases across streaming platforms, music, and gaming this week.

The film, which debuts Friday, April 10, has garnered Sweeney some of her strongest critical acclaim to date. She delivers what AP critic Jocelyn Noveck describes as a “no-holds-barred portrayal” that combines “both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.” The biographical drama follows Martin’s journey from her West Virginia beginnings to professional success, while highlighting her relationship with an abusive manager-turned-husband, played by Ben Foster. Sweeney also served as producer on the project.

In other film releases, director Akinola Davies Jr.’s touching father-son drama “My Father’s Shadow” arrives on MUBI Friday. The semi-autobiographical film, co-written with his brother Wale, presents a poignant story of Nigerian boys spending an unexpected day with their father (portrayed by Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) against the backdrop of pivotal moments in Nigeria’s 1993 history. Critics have praised it as “a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait.”

Meanwhile, Jonah Hill returns to the director’s chair with “Outcome,” a Hollywood satire starring Keanu Reeves as movie star Reef Hawk facing potential career disaster from a damaging video. Hill, who co-wrote the script, also appears as Reef’s crisis-management lawyer in the Apple TV+ release.

On the television front, HBO’s Emmy-winning comedy “Hacks” begins its fifth and final season on Thursday. The series, which explores the complex relationship between legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and young writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), has been a critical darling since its inception. Smart has won four consecutive Emmys for her role, while the show itself claimed the outstanding comedy series award.

For nostalgic viewers, a “Malcolm in the Middle” revival arrives Friday on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. The four-episode special “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” reunites Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, with Muniz’s character now navigating fatherhood to a teenage daughter.

Prime Video subscribers can look forward to the fifth and final season of “The Boys” on Wednesday. The darkly satirical superhero series brings back regulars Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, and Erin Moriarty, while adding “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs to the ensemble.

Hulu will debut “The Testaments” on Wednesday, a sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale” based on Margaret Atwood’s novel. Ann Dowd reprises her role as Aunt Lydia, now overseeing a school that prepares girls for adulthood in Gilead. The series explores life through the perspective of young women who have never known another world.

The music world welcomes new albums from rising country star Ella Langley and English disco-pop singer Jessie Ware on Friday. Langley, known for hits like “You Look Like You Love Me” and the George Strait-referencing “Choosin’ Texas,” releases her sophomore album “Dandelion.” Ware’s “Superbloom” continues her dance floor-ready sound with singles like “Ride,” which creatively incorporates elements from the 1966 spaghetti Western film “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

Gaming enthusiasts have much to anticipate as Nintendo celebrates Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with the release of “Pokémon Champions” on Wednesday. Unlike the recently released community-building “Pokémon Pokopia,” this free-to-start title focuses on combat, allowing players to recruit and train monsters for battles against other trainers worldwide.

Annapurna Interactive’s “People of Note” launches Tuesday for PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, and PC. The musical adventure follows pop singer Cadence as she forms a band and travels across a world defined by different musical styles, ultimately working to save music itself from a disruptive Harmonic Convergence.

This diverse slate of releases ensures entertainment options for audiences of all preferences across multiple platforms this week.