Every week, MobileSyrup outlines some of the most notable movies and TV shows that recently hit Canadian streaming platforms.
Our ‘Streaming in Canada’ column typically focuses on new content from Amazon Prime Video Canada, Crave and Netflix Canada, but other services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ will be mentioned when relevant.
We’ll also highlight shows or movies that are made in Canada, involve notable Canadian cast or crew and/or are filmed in Canada.
Finally, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing many movies to hit digital platforms much sooner than planned, we’ll make note of any major films — as well as any other notable streaming service news — that fall into this category when applicable.
Amazon Prime Video
The Great Escapists [Amazon Original]
Shipwrecked on a deserted island, Top Gear‘s Richard Hammond and Mythbusters‘ Tory Belleci must work together to survive.
Amazon Prime Video is included at no additional cost in a $79 CAD/year Amazon Prime subscription.
A full list of movies and shows hitting Amazon Prime Video Canada this month can be found here.
This week in Amazon Prime Video Canada news: Amazon has revealed the full list of movies and shows hitting Prime Video Canada in February.
Apple TV+
Palmer [Apple Original]
After a 12-year prison stint, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to piece his life back together and bonds with a troubled outcast boy.
Palmer was directed by Fisher Stevens (Before the Flood) and stars Justin Timberlake (Inside Llewyn Davis) and Ryder Allen (Law & Order True Crime).
Apple TV+ Canada release date: January 29th, 2021
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72 percent (based on 46 reviews)
Stream Palmer here.
An Apple TV+ subscription costs $5.99/month.
A breakdown of some of the Apple originals releasing later this year can be found here.
Crave
In This Together: A Bell Let’s Talk Day Special
@bell_letstalk special: In this together I’m co-hosting with @melissagrelo tonight on @ctv at 7pm
The special features several segments including themes around COVID-19 essential workers, parenting in a pandemic, race and mental health, and seniors’ mental health #BellLetsTalk pic.twitter.com/BXcNqtoMum
— Tyrone T-rex Edwards (@mr1LOVETO) January 28, 2021
As part of Bell’s Let’s Talk Day initiative this year, eTalk‘s Tyrone Edwards and The Social‘s Melissa Grelo host this special featuring Canadians sharing their mental health journey during the trying COVID-19 pandemic.
Celebrity guests include Ottawa-born singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette (Jagged Little Pill), Toronto-raised Malin Åkerman (Billions) and Toronto-born Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart (“If I Had $1,000,000”).
For more on Bell Let’s Talk, visit this page. Crave also has a Mental Health Awareness Collection featuring shows and movies about mental health, including Euphoria, I May Destroy You, I Know This Much is True and Rat Park. There are collections for both English and French programming.
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, please call 1-833-456-4566 toll-free (in QC: 1-866-277-3553), 24/7 or visit www.crisisservicescanada.ca.
Crave release date: January 28th, 2021
Genre: Reality
Runtime: 43 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
Stream In This Together: A Bell Let’s Talk Day Special here.
The Sister
Nathan’s nearly decade-long married life is upended when Bob, an unwelcome face from his past, shows up on his doorstep to deliver shocking news.
Created by Neil Cross (Luther), The Sister stars Russell Tovey (Being Human), Bertie Carvel (Les Misérables), Amrita Acharia (Game of Thrones) and Nina Toussaint-White (Bodyguard).
Original TV broadcast run: October 2020
Crave release date: January 29th, 2021 (first two episodes, final two episodes release on February 5th)
Genre: Psychological thriller
Runtime: Four episodes (47 to 76 minutes each)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 57 percent (based on 23 reviews)
Stream The Sister here. Note that a $19.98/month Crave + Movies + HBO subscription is required.
A standard Crave subscription is priced at $9.99/month, with Starz costing another $5.99/month and HBO an additional $9.99/month.
A full list of movies and shows hitting Crave this month can be found here.
This week in Crave news: Warner Bros. has confirmed that Zack Snyder’s Justice League will premiere in Canada on Crave on March 18th.
Disney+
While there isn’t any notable new content on Disney+ this week outside of a big episode of WandaVision, some big news did drop this week.
In case you missed it, Disney unveiled the full list of movies and shows that will release with Star, its international version of Hulu, when the brand launches in Disney+ Canada on February 23rd.
Read more on that here.
Netflix
The Dig [Netflix Original]
On the precipice of World War II, a British widow hires an archaeologist to dig up mysterious formations on her land, resulting in a surprising find.
Based on John Preston’s 2007 film of the same name, The Dig was directed by Simon Stone (The Daughter) and stars Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List) and Lily James (Downton Abbey).
Netflix Canada release date: January 29th, 2021
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 1 hour, 52 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86 percent (based on 73 reviews)
Stream The Dig here.
Penguin Bloom [Netflix Original]
An Australian photographer and his family adjust to his wife’s partial paralysis by nursing an injured Magpie chick back to health.
Based on the book of the same name by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive, Penguin Bloom was directed by Glendyn Ivin (Cracker Bag) and stars Naomi Watts (The Impossible), Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) and Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook).
Netflix Canada release date: January 27th, 2021
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes score: 66 percent (based on 67 reviews)
Stream Penguin Bloom here.
Snowpiercer (Season 2) [Netflix Original]
Mr. Wilford sets out to take his train back as Mel and Layton work to stop him.
Based on Bong Joon-Ho’s 2013 film of the same name and the 1982 French graphic novel Le Transperceneige (which the film also adapts), Snowpiercer stars Daveed Diggs (Hamilton), Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind), Mickey Summer (Frances Ha), Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) and Edmonton’s own Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead).
It’s worth noting that the series is filmed in Vancouver.
Original TV broadcast: January 25th, 2021 on TNT (first episode)
Netflix Canada release date: January 26th, 2021 (first episode, new episodes every Wednesday_
Genre: Dystopian thriller
Runtime: Number of episodes TBA (first episode is 48 minutes long)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90 percent (based on 10 reviews)
Stream Snowpiercer here.
A ‘Basic’ Netflix subscription costs $9.99/month, a ‘Standard’ subscription (HD-supported) costs $14.99/month and a ‘Premium’ membership is priced at $18.99/month (4K-supported).
A full list of movies and shows hitting Netflix Canada this month can be found here.
Premium video on demand (PVOD)
The Little Things
In December, Warner Bros. confirmed that its 2021 theatrical slate would release on HBO Max in the U.S. and PVOD services in Canada (on top of whichever theatres remained open amid the pandemic).
Now, the first of these films, The Little Things, is available on PVOD in Canada.
Set in the ’90s, the film follows two clashing California police officers as they track down a serial killer.
The Little Things was written and directed by John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks) and stars Denzel Washington (Fences), Rami Malek (Mr. Robot), Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) and Natalie Morales (Dead to Me).
PVOD release date: January 29th, 2021
Genre: Crime thriller
Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes score: 48 percent (based on 123 reviews)
The Little Things can be rented on iTunes and Google Play for $24.99 and the Cineplex Store for $25.99.
Snapchat
Ryan Doesn’t Know
You’re probably wondering why Snapchat is on here. After all, it’s not a streaming service, per se. Nonetheless, the social media platform is notable this week for a new original series starring none other than Vancouver’s own Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool).
The series follows Reynolds as he tries to learn new skills from experts, including sculpting, VFX and axe throwing.
You can watch Ryan Doesn’t Know for free via Snapchat on iOS and Android.
What are you planning on streaming? Let us know in the comments!
For more suggestions, check out last week’s Streaming in Canada column.
Image credit: Apple
