Armchair Vacation: The Non-Wrestlemania Edition [April 5-7]

I usually don’t wade into these waters here on the site, as Josh does a wonderful job of picking a handful of really great titles to watch over the weekend, that have recently hit the various streaming services. Now, sometimes Josh’s love of wrestling gets the better of him and we have to step in. Here’s me stepping in.

I’m mostly writing this up because on April 1st, a ton of new films and series hit Netflix streaming, and I didn’t want you all to miss out.

Here is a list of new films and television series that you can stream, if you’re not too busy marathoning Game Of Thrones, in anticipation of the new season premiere on Sunday.

Netflix

Robinson Crusoe On Mars

Special effects wunderkind and genre master Byron Haskin (The War of the Worlds, The Outer Limits) won a place in the hearts of fantasy film lovers everywhere with this gorgeously designed journey into the unknown. Robinson Crusoe on Mars tells the story of U.S. astronaut Commander “Kit” Draper (Paul Mantee), who must fight for survival when his spaceship crash-lands on the barren waste of Mars, a pet monkey his only companion. But is he actually alone? Shot in vast Techniscope and blazing color, this is an imaginative and beloved marvel of classic science fiction.

Jane Eyre

Orson Welles stars as Edward Rochester, the brooding employer of governess Jane Eyre in this adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel.

Roman Polanski’s Chinatown

With a suspicious femme fatale bankrolling his snooping, private eye J.J. Gittes uncovers intricate dirty dealings in the Los Angeles waterworks.

The Graduate

Dustin Hoffman turns in a landmark performance as a naïve college graduate who is seduced by a middle-aged neighbor in this Oscar-winning classic.

Young Justice Season 1

Canceled too soon!

This animated series follows Robin, Aqualad and other teenage superhero sidekicks as they form a secret crime-fighting squad to save the world.

Adventure Time Season 2

Give me all of it, Netflix!

Young Finn and his shape-shifting dog buddy, Jake, have a series of surreal adventures as they journey through the postapocalyptic Land of Ooo.

Batman: The Brave And The Bold Season 3

Don’t be afraid to start here, if you haven’t watched any of it. This show is easily the best animated version of Batman to be released, post-Batman TAS.

Mad Men Season 6

This might be my favorite season of the entire series (so far).

Madison Avenue’s most notorious advertising executive, Don Draper, returns to battle more personal demons stemming from his mysterious past.

Hulu

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey

The series has been fantastic so far, catch up on all of the last four episodes before Sunday.

iTunes

Pre-order Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger and Carol Reed’s Odd Man Out (coming soon from Criterion)

Errol Morris’ The Unknown Known

Errol Morris, using declassified memos, guides the notorious Don Rumsfeld through a historical and provocative discussion examining his career, philosophy and complex legacy.

Stripped

“Stripped” is a feature-length documentary on comic strips, how they’re created, and the people behind them – featuring the first-ever recorded interview with Bill Watterson of Calvin & Hobbes. The film sits down with over 60 of the world’s best cartoonists to talk about comic strips, where the art form’s going, and what happens to it as newspapers die and digital takes off. Featured interviews include: Cathy Guisewite (Cathy), Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse), Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), Mike & Jerry (Penny Arcade), Matt Inman (The Oatmeal), Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant) and Patrick McDonnell (Mutts). Set to original music by Stefan Lessard of Dave Matthews Band, the film is a must-see for comics fans.

Warner Archive Instant

Check out all of their latest additions here.

Sidney Lumet’s The Sea Gull

A brilliant cast brings playwright Anton Chekov’s masterpiece of the capricious power of passion to the screen. The story is set during two gatherings, two years apart, on the same Russian country estate and among six lovers, most of whom are not loved in return. Those who are hard-shelled and worldly shrug off romantic disappointment. Those who are not, cannot…and tragedy ensues. With direction by Sidney Lumet (Network, Dog Day Afternoon) and the talents of James Mason, Vanessa Redgrave, Simone Signoret, David Warner, Denholm Elliott and more leading lights of stage and screen.