The best new Netflix UK & Ireland series, films, and documentaries to binge in April 2021, courtesy of Secret Dublin.
We’re almost there, friends. But, with some lockdown measures still ahead of us, there’s still much temptation to remain in the warm embrace of Netflix. Come join us! Plenty of blockbuster films, hot new series, and though-provoking documentaries are also being unleashed this month, so here’s the best of what to watch on Netflix UK & Ireland in April 2021, as well as some winners available now. Plus, a tantalising glimpse at what lies in store later in 2021!
New to Netflix UK & Ireland in April 2021:
Concrete Cowboy (April 2)
Idris Elba and Stranger Things lead Caleb McLaughlin star in this compelling drama about family, fatherhood, and urban horseback-riding.
Thunder Force (April 9)
Breaking away from the refined, serious Marvel superheroes is new comedy Thunder Force, which sees Octavia Spencer and Melissa McCarthy develop the superpowers to take on their city’s crime bosses.
Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! (April 14)
Is it humanly possible to be embarrassed by your dad when your dad is Jamie Foxx? Guess we’ll find out when this fun sitcom hits the streaming service in April.
Shadow and Bone (April 23)
Based on the book series The Grisha Trilogy, Shadow and Bone brings together magical powers and dark forces for a highly enjoyable fantasy romp.
Stowaway (April 22)
Jetting off to space is an incredible adventure – provided you meant to do it, of course. In this tense thriller, Shamier Anderson is the technician who unknowingly finds himself on a mission to Mars. Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, and Anna Kendrick also star.
Rocketman (April 30)
The lavish Elton John biopic hits Netflix, giving all of us who missed it in cinemas (guilty!) the chance to finally see what the hype is about.
The best of the rest – coming to Netflix UK in April 2021
Lots and lots to enjoy this month! Arriving on April 1 alone are sci-fi thriller Arrival, powerful August Wilson adaptation Fences, war drama Atonement, winsome fantasy Stardust, cult black comedy Death Becomes Her, the brilliant Cast Away (Wiiiiiiiillllllsssonn) and a hell of a lot of swamp shenanigans with Shrek, Shrek 2, and Shrek the Musical. Oh wait, that’s not even half of them: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Big Lebowski, Hot Fuzz, Kidulthood, Do the Right Thing, Schindler’s List, Jane Eyre, Jarhead, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Liar Liar are also available to stream from April’s beginning. Good grief! In what’s truly a top-heavy month, there’s still room for The Death of Stalin (20th), A Star Is Born (11th), Run (2nd), Jackie (21st), Love and Monsters (14th), and Things Heard & Seen (29th) too.
Fancy getting your hands on $10 million? That’s the reward for information about a notorious Boston art heist, which forms the subject of This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist (7th). Elsewhere, the second season of The Circle US kicks off on the 14th, and there’s a star-studded tribute to our queen Dolly Parton with Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute on the 7th.
Now streaming – new to Netflix UK in March 2021:
They’re already here, so check ’em out!
Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell
Few stars burned so brightly yet so briefly as that of Christopher Wallace, known to millions as The Notorious B.I.G. This documentary includes behind-the-scenes footage and testimony from those who knew him best, to deliver a must-watch portrait of the hip hop legend.
Moxie
A Me Too-influenced coming-of-age tale, Moxie sees a young woman begin to upend the patriarchy at her local high school, aided and abetted by her mother (Amy Poehler).
Waffles + Mochi, Season 1
Former First Lady of the USA, author, style icon, and all-around fantastic woman Michelle Obama launched her new Netflix show in March, aiming to teach kids about healthy eating choices and global food cultures.
Sky Rojo, Season 1
From the makers of La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) comes a crime drama that looks all kind of stylish, sultry, and violent. We’re sold!
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 7
The Irregulars
A new riff on the Sherlock Holmes legend sees a group of Victorian urchins press-ganged into solving crimes for the mysterious detective, with more than a hint of the supernatural at play.
The best of the rest for March 2021
Obviously, the best film to arrive on Netflix UK in March was Dirty Dancing. It’s your chance to swap lockdown for Kellerman’s, and also prep for the immersive show hitting London this summer. You can also sink your teeth into family-friendly comedy Yes Day, outlaw drama The Sisters Brothers, and terrifying Stephen King adaptation Pet Sematary from the March releases. Elsewhere, you’ll find the joyous Blinded by the Light soundtracked by Springsteen songs, brilliant comedy Eight Grade, chilling jump scares in The Nun, and the highly watchable adventures of the extremely wealthy in Crazy Rich Asians. Plus, Ghostbusters, The Girl on the Train, Steel Magnolias, and Into The Wild.
Imagine a world where a simple DNA test could lead you straight to your perfect partner. No need to imagine it with The One, as the sci-fi drama looks to provide twists and turns aplenty. Other new series include Pacific Rim: The Black, an anime series based on the blockbuster film franchise, and season three of animated comedy Paradise PD.
True crime fans are going to love Murder Among The Mormons, which follows the story of a series of bombings amongst the Mormon community of Salt Lake City in 1985. There’s high-speed thrills from season three of F1: Drive to Survive, and more sports drama in Last Chance U: Basketball. Finally, the ground-breaking Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland, which details the abuses the singer committed against young boys, is now available on Netflix UK.
Coming to Netflix UK later in 2021
Impatient, are we? Fear not, for we’re a forward-thinking bunch too. We’ve sifted through the rumours, hearsay, and snippets of information to take a look forward to Netflix arrivals rumoured to drop later in 2021. They don’t have streaming dates yet, but keep your eyes peeled for the highly-anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things (check out a tantalising teaser trailer here), and the rumoured return for Russian Doll. We’ll of course keep you updated with the new arrivals!
Meanwhile, Netflix has already promised to launch a new original film every week, so there are an embarrassment of riches coming our way in the future. Among the long list of arrivals is political satire/disaster film Don’t Look Up with Leonardo Di Caprio and Jennifer Lawrence, action comedy thriller Red Notice with Gal Gadot, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Ryan Reynolds, and musical adaptation tick tick…BOOM with plenty of input from Lin-Manuel Miranda. You can also look forward to some Netflix Originals sequels, including The Kissing Booth 3 and The Princess Switch 3. What a Christmas present that’ll be!
Featured image: IMDb