It’s all about the action this week, as the streaming releases are led by Charlize Theron’s sequel The Old Guard 2, the final season of Squid Game, the John Cena/Idris Elba action comedy Heads of State, and more!
SERIES
Squid Game 3
27 June 2025 – Netflix
This is it. This game is coming to an end. While officially billed as the third and final season of Netflix’s record-breaking Korean thriller series, the latest batch of episodes for Squid Games is really season 2.5. Not only were the two “seasons” filmed back-to-back, but the previous batch of episodes just kind of… ended. Well, for whatever reason (money, the reason is always money), Netflix split things up which means it’s been a six month wait to find out Lee Jung-Jae’s desperate-loser-turned-Squid-Games-winner Seong Gi-hun gets out of the violent mess he created when he decided to reenter the games to unmask its creators.
Smoke S1
27 June 2025 – Apple TV+
Dennis Lehane is no stranger to having his words put on screen. The popular author has already had four novels turned into acclaimed movies: Mystic River, Shutter Island, Gone Baby Gone, and Live by Night. Lehane has also done his own share of screenwriting, working on shows like The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, and Mr. Mercedes, and then, for the first time, running the whole thing with critically praised crime drama series Black Bird. Now he’s back, teaming up once again with the star of that show, with Smoke. Inspired by a true crime podcast about real-life arsonist John Leonard Orr, this is a fictional drama series starring Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett as an enigmatic arson investigator and troubled detective, respectively, as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists who seem unstoppable. John Leguizamo, Rafe Spall, and Greg Kinnear co-star.
The Sandman S2
3 July 2025 – Netflix
The Sandman is one of the greatest comic book stories of all time and the jury is still out on whether the first season of Netflix’s big budget adaptation did the fantasy epic justice. Personally, I found it a pretty good effort and was excited for more. I say “was” because unfortunately, the rather disturbing sexual assault and abuse allegations that has since emerged about original comic writer and show producer Neil Gaiman has soured everything about the show. Whether it was the original plan or a pivot from Netflix following the shocking revelations about Gaiman, the show’s second season will be its last. And for its final bow, we follow Tom Sturridge’s Morpheus aka Dream of the Endless, as a reunion of his siblings, the metaphysical personifications of primal cosmic forces, forces him “onto a perilous path, where a fateful choice makes him the target of a relentless quest for vengeance.”
Mary & George S1
3 July 2025 – Showmax
Based on a scandalous true story that rocked 17th century British society, Mary & George has a surprising South African connection. Critically acclaimed local filmmaker Oliver Hermanus (Moffie) directs the first three episodes of Emmy-nominated series, which stars Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine as Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, and her son, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, nobles on the verge of losing all their privilege. Based on Benjamin Woolley’s 2017 non-fiction book The King’s Assassin, it delves into the personal and political consequences of this mother and son duo’s schemes to take over the Court of England, using an unconventional approach at the time: George seducing his way into the bed of King James I.
MOVIES
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
27 July 2025 – Showmax
Despite me really enjoying the first and surprisingly great Sonic the Hedgehog film, I am yet to see its first sequel, spinoff TV series, and latest sequel. So, I will be turning to Sam for his 7/10 take on Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which he says has it’s “infuriating moments” but “stays the course blazed by previous instalments in this franchise to deliver an enthusiastic and entertaining ride.” Special mention is made of Jim Carrey, returning in his role as the villainous Robotnik, and the introduction of Keanu Reeves as fan-favourite Shadow. The “furry edgelord” is introduced as a mysterious new antagonist for Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, threatening to overwhelm the team with powers unlike anything they have faced before.
Heads of State
2 July 2025 – Prime Video
If you’re trying to take a break from the overwhelming horror of real-world of politics, then maybe try a more entertaining brand of politics instead. From director Ilya Naishuller (Nobody, Hardcore Henry), action-comedy Heads of State stars John Cena as Will Derringer, the President of the United States famous for his previous career as an action movie star, and Idris Elba as Sam Clarke, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and a veteran former SAS-trained commando (which is honestly so absurd a scenario that it’s kind of believable). On the political front, Derringer and Clark do not see eye to eye, but the pair of bickering statesmen are forced to set aside their rivalry and work together when a barely thwarted terrorist attack – part of a global conspiracy – leaves them to fend for themselves in hostile territory.
The Old Guard 2
2 July 2025 – Netflix
If you need to hit one of those recap videos for The Old Guard, that would be perfectly understandable. The Charlize Theron-led fantasy action film about a secret group of Immortals protecting humanity from evil debuted all the way back in 2020. Thanks to the pandemic, a set fire halting shooting in Italy, an upper management regime change at Netflix resulting in new ideas, and probably many other undisclosed events, it’s taken five years for this sequel to finally hit screens, but now Theron’s Andy is finally back! Once again adapted from his own original comic, Greg Rucka pens the script, but Victoria Mahoney has replaced Gina Prince-Blythewood in the director’s chair, while Uma Thurman and Henry Golding now join the cast. Following the events of the first film, Andy aka Andromache of Scythia is grappling with being mortal again for the first time in over 6000 years, but she is soon thrown back into the fray when Quynh (Veronica Ngô), a fellow immortal suffering a hellish imprisonment for the past 500 years, finally escapes her bonds and sets out for revenge. Andy and her team are forced to enlist the help of old friends who may provide the key to unlocking the mystery behind immortal existence.
Am I OK?
3 July 2025 – Showmax
If you’re looking for something far less action-y and more heartfelt, then be sure to check out Am I OK?. Nominated for Outstanding Film at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards, this critically acclaimed drama stars Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno as lifelong friends Lucy and Jane who think they know everything about each other. But as a big change in Jane’s life sees her moving to London, it forces her to reveal a long-held secret about her sexuality. As Jane tries to help Lucy navigate coming out as gay in her 30s, with the hilariously awkward attempts at getting into the dating game that comes with it, their friendship is thrown into chaos and put to the test.