Tomorrow is April 1st, which means a whole slew of dumb jokes and groan-worthy fake-outs will be headed your way — but so will an entirely new selection of choices from your favorite streaming services. And unlike most months, April seems to be an equal opportunity grab bag no matter which service you prefer.
Netflix customers will get the chance to watch movies like the original A Nightmare on Elm Street (ignore the remake; accept no substitutes), Schindler’s List, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige — easily the best Nolan movie for those who like David Bowie and magic tricks. The first season of Dear White People also debuts in April, as does Bill Nye Saves The World and the Kickstarter-funded return of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
On the Amazon Prime side of things, the original Robocop is coming (ignore that remake, too), along with Almost Famous, The Handmaiden, the first season of Amazon’s new series American Playboy, and others. There will be plenty of new options on HBO Now as well. Not only will movies like Cape Fear, Slumdog Millionaire, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High be joining the service, but there’s also going to be two — count ‘em, two! — versions of David Ayers’ Oscar-winning masterwork Suicide Squad.
But of course, for all that streaming giveth, it must also taketh away. And if you’re a Netflix consumer, you’re going to be losing a lot. How much? Try every season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, for starters. The X-Files? Gone. Netflix is even losing the three original Superman films, but then again, it’s also losing Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, so that might make the whole deal a wash. Things aren’t much better on the HBO side, either. Mad Max: Fury Road will disappear on April 7th, and at the end of the month All the President’s Men, Carlito’s Way, and The Revenant will be among the casualties. Most tragic of all? Tom Cruise’s Cocktail will be gone as of April 30th. So start watching.