Movies to catch, books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your spare time.

Movies

Back to Black

The story of Icarus, who flew too high and paid with his life, was played out in full public view with the short life of Amy Winehouse, reinforcing another trope – that great art requires suffering. Sanctioned by the Winehouse estate, this biopic traverses Amy’s early years and adulthood. Scenes were filmed at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, outside Winehouse's first flat in Camden Town, and at Primrose Hill.

Challengers

The so-hot-right-now Zendaya stars alongside Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor in this love triangle played out on centre court as two men do battle for the heart of one woman. To prep for her role, Zendaya spent three months training with a pro tennis player.

The Mountain

Rachel House, a regular in Taika Waititi’s films, makes her directorial debut with this drama about three children discovering friendship while on a mission to find healing. The mountain in question is Taranaki Maunga, and for one of the trio, the quest is to reconnect with her Māori roots.

Bingewatching

Apples Never Fall

Sam Neill and Annette Bening star as retired tennis coaches Stan and Joy Delaney in this dramatisation of Lianne Moriarty’s novel of the same name. The lives of the couple’s four adult children are upended when Joy goes missing and secrets start to emerge. Critics have praised the series’ outstanding cast and intriguing hook. TVNZ+

Gallipoli

As we look ahead to Anzac Day, this big-budget revisiting of the Gallipoli story focuses on 17-year-old Thomas 'Tolly' Johnson, who with his brother finds himself at Gallipoli, caught up in the key battles of the Great War. ThreeNow

Sugar

Colin Farrell is in it – that's enough, isn’t it? The actor who can turn a phone booth into a theatre brings a modern take to the LA gumshoe genre. As usual, John Sugar has his own demons to deal with as well. Apple TV+

Listening

A La Sala — Khruangbin

The Texas trio of Laura Lee, Mark Speer and DJ Johnson return with their fourth studio album. It’s their first real album since 2020’s Mordechai, although there have been several collabs and live releases in between. In some ways, then, A La Sala is a return to the original Khruangbin sound, with its atmospheric guitars and plenty of big spaces.

Ghost Stories — Blue Öyster Cult

“The thinking person’s metal band” have dropped their 16th (and final?) studio album, which includes both reimagined tracks and “lost gems” from between 1978 and 2016, as well as a studio version of their cover of MC5's legendary anthem “Kick Out the Jams”. Turn this one up to 11 and head back to the glory days of power chords and impenetrable lyrics.

The Tortured Poets Department — Taylor Swift

Hey, hey it’s Tay-Tay! Her Swiftness’s 11th studio album is out, hot on the heels of her record-breaking Eras tour. She collabs with rapper Post Malone and indie rockers Florence and the Machine on two tracks, “Fortnight” and “Florida!”. Taylor says writing the songs for the album has reinforced how important her art is to her.

Reading

Return to Blood – Michael Bennett

For some, Michael Bennett’s debut crime novel, Better the Blood, was their standout read of 2023. For those hankering to find out what has happened to Hana since the events of that book, here is the answer. Now out of the police and living a quiet life by the sea, Hana finds herself once again at the centre of a dark mystery.

The Cleaner – Paul Cleave

Death stalks the Garden City in crime writer Paul Cleave’s debut novel, re-released in the wake of the TV adaptation being streamed on Sky NZ. It’s the voice of serial killer Joe that is the most chilling – he doesn’t kill for sex or money, he does it for fun. It’s purely recreational.

City in Ruins – Don Winslow

This is the final book in Don Winslow’s crime trilogy, following City on Fire and City of Dreams, and also the final book of the New York Times bestselling author’s career. Protagonist Danny Ryan is now rich beyond his wildest dreams but all that is threatened when he triggers a war that brings old enemies out of the woodwork.

Podcasts

Class of 88 With Will Smith

Presented by Will Smith, this podcast revisits 1988, the year hip-hop came out of the ghetto and took over the world. Interviews include Queen Latifah, Jazzy Jeff, DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Chuck D, Fab Five Freddy and Rakim.

It's Personal with Anika Moa

The iconoclastic Anika Moa goes where anyone else would fear to tread in her frank interviews with a wide range of guests. You will squirm at her questions but you’ll want to hear the answer.