This weekend is jam-packed with old and new content for audiences to enjoy. Paramount+ will stream South Park: The 25th Anniversary Concert one day after the live performance, and the highly anticipated film Secret Headquarters also is set to premiere. Disney+ added I Am Groot's short films and the series The Orville Seasons 1-3 to its platform. With the addition of the musical biopic Respect and the rebooted horror film Candyman both coming to Paramount+, there is something for everyone to watch this Saturday and Sunday.
Respect Was Added to Paramount+ on Aug. 10
The biopic Respect features the first three decades of Aretha Franklin's life, spotlighting her natural talent as a child and the tribulations she faced as an African American woman in the music industry. Although Franklin died before the film's release, she was heavily involved in the production. Franklin asked Jennifer Hudson directly to play her after she saw the actor in the Broadway musical The Color Purple. Respect received critical praise for Hudson's performance and the film's production value. For those who enjoyed Franklin's music, the biopic provides an excellent view of the iconic singer's life.
I Am Groot Premiered on Disney+ on Aug. 10
I Am Groot is a collection of original shorts that follow Baby Groot's adventures between Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel. Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper star in the short series, adding to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four development. Critics have responded well to the series as it serves as a self-contained project without set-ups for other installments of the franchise. The show does provide an MCU project primarily targeted toward the franchise's youngest viewers.
The Orville Joined Disney+ on Aug. 10
The sci-fi comedy-drama series The Orville stars Seth McFarlane and follows a crew of space adventurers on their episodic escapades. The series' third season added a subtitle to the show, making it The Orville: New Horizons. Season 1 wasn't received well by critics, but Seasons 2 and 3 have received a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Orville is set 400 years into the future and is highly inspired by the Star Trek franchise.
Candyman Remake Joins Original on Paramount+ on Aug. 11
Candyman (2021) is a direct sequel to the original film of the same name. This modern version ignores the events of Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, which premiered in 1995. The critical reception of this reboot film is significantly higher than all the previous installments in the franchise, making it worth watching for those who might not have seen it yet. Candyman has received praise for providing more insight and details into the already established franchise.
Secret Headquarters Premieres on Paramount+ on Aug. 12
Paramount+'s original movie Secret Headquarters premieres this weekend, starring Owen Wilson as the father of the film's protagonist. Charlie Kincaid (Walker Scobell) is disappointed when his father has to work late again. He pretends to call his mother but calls his friends instead. After the group triggers a hidden entrance to a secret headquarters in the basement, Charlie and his friends realize Jack Kincaid (Wilson) might be a superhero. The film offers an alternate perspective on superheroes as Jack seemingly has to choose between his duty as a father or as a protector of the world.
South Park: The 25th Anniversary Concert Premieres on Paramount+ on Aug. 14
South Park premiered on Comedy Central on Aug. 13, 1997, making this weekend exactly 25 years since the show's debut. Comedy Central will host the show's anniversary concert while it takes place live in Colorado. The concert celebrates the franchise's iconic songs featured throughout the series. It will premiere on Aug. 13, 2022, on Comedy Central and will be available to stream on Aug. 14, 2022. The event will feature performances from Matt Stone, Trey Parker, Primus and Ween.