Hours of new movies and television shows are about to debut on streaming services in February. Here’s your regular GeekDad guide to what to add to your family’s watchlist:
The Amazing World of Gumball – Cartoon Network is ready to drop a new batch of episodes of its popular show on Hulu on Feb. 9. Gumball, a kids show about a middle-school-aged cat, combines traditional animation, CGI, and live-action technique. Hulu currently has the first two seasons and half of season three up, so it’s expected the new episodes will at least finish off the third season.
Batman – The jury is still out as to whether the upcoming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice will be any good, but, while we’re waiting, check out Tim Burton’s mega hit from 1989, arriving on Amazon Prime on Feb. 1. Like all of the ’90s Bat-flicks, the plot is a mess, but memorable performances from Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, an iconic score by Danny Elfman, and incredible production design by Anton Furst make this a must-see for any superhero fan.
Karate Kid – Now you can teach your children the wisdom of “wax on, wax off,” as the original 1984 coming of age story arrives on Amazon Prime Feb. 1. Ralph Macchio stars as Daniel LaRusso, a bullied kid who befriends an older handyman named Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). After a group of Cobra Kai students relentlessly harass Daniel, Mr. Miyagi teaches him self-defense as the two prepare to enter a karate tournament. The Karate Kid was an enormous hit upon its release, and its touching underdog story spawned a series of sequels and a remake. The original is still the best around.
Nintendo Quest – In case you geek parents haven’t noticed, there’s a small cottage industry of nostalgia documentaries about ’80s toys, video stores, and pinball machines, many of which are on Amazon Prime. The latest is Nintendo Quest, a Kickstarter-backed film about one man’s quest to acquire every single Nintendo Entertainment System game in a month. The movie also looks at the rise of Nintendo as a gaming giant. Nintendo Quest arrives on Amazon Prime Feb. 1.
Scooby-Doo – The 2002 live-action comedy starring Freddy Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, and a CGI dog received mixed reviews when it came out. However, considering the well-received revival series Mystery Incorporated and this movie’s script by Guardians of the Galaxy writer/director James Gunn, maybe Scooby-Doo is worth a revisit with the family. Pour a bowl of Scooby snacks and decide for yourself.
See the full list of all new titles on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
