The best movies, TV to watch this weekend; Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ prequel is Netflix-bound

It was one of the weirdest April’s Fools jokes when The Playlist reported that Quentin Tarantino awoke from his six-year slumber from movies with his latest project. It was stranger still when David Fincher (“Fight Club,” “The Social Network”) was reported to be working alongside him. But the wildest part was the project itself: A prequel to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” based around stuntman Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt, exclusive to Netflix.

But it’s no joke. It’s real, it’s greenlit, and it’s full steam ahead for a 2026 release.

How will Fincher’s cold, calculated style mesh with Tarantino’s most personal project, which he made with his heart all over his sleeve? Will Leonardo DiCaprio reprise his role of Rick Dalton? Will this be just more disposable streaming content, or a movie of enough quality to belong in Tarantino’s iconic filmography? Will the Manson family be involved yet again?

It ultimately doesn’t matter. What matters is it’s time to learn to stop worrying and love the sequel.

Sequels, prequels, and reboots are here to stay, and they don’t just belong to superheroes and space operas. Whether it’s a beloved 90s comedy like “Happy Gilmore,” a 70s sports classic like “Rocky” (we’re getting a making of “Rocky” film now), or an iconic series like “Naked Gun,” if there’s an ounce of room to explore, it will be explored. So start coming up with some legacy sequels to your favorites; they’re going to happen either way.

Now for some recommendations on what to watch this weekend.

What & How to Watch

In theaters: ‘Mickey 17’

“Mickey 17” is many things. It’s hilarious. It’s surreal. It’s unique. It’s gruesome. And it has a lot to say, with some poignant social commentary at its core. But that’s Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”) for you, and when he makes a movie, it deserves attention.

Robert Pattison dials up one of his best performances to date as a disposable employee sent to colonize an uninhabited world of ice. And he’s truly disposable, because if one iteration of Mickey dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact.

“Mickey 17” is right up the alley for those in the mood for something singular and a little eccentric.

On Max: ‘The White Lotus’

For those who haven’t been watching the third season of “White Lotus,” what have you been doing? The finale of Mike White’s frenetic, conversation-driven, tropical vacation-themed saga has finally arrived, airing Sunday, April 6.

Filled with jaw-dropping, bizarre moments and exchanges, “The White Lotus” delivered on the high expectations its second season set. It’s an unbelievable group of characters, unleashing and dealing with their privileged debauchery and desires during their luxurious stay in such delicious fashion. And, as the season premiere teased, there is a murder to solve after all.

On Hulu: ‘Big Boys’

This British comedy returned for its third and final season earlier this year, and six episodes later, it developed into one of the most heartfelt shows in some time. With Season 3 earning a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the pair of friends’ collegiate journey comes to an end, and what a journey it was, despite it lasting less than 20 episodes.

The show follows two new students in the dorms of Brent University as they slowly lean on each other in order to navigate the college experience. It may be grounded in its approach, but the show remains consistently side-splitting funny with very little wasted space.

On Max: ‘Aftersun’

Making one of its first major streaming debuts, “Aftersun” is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story from writer/director Charlotte Wells. It’s the first movie she ever put together, and what a first impression she made with the movie-watching world. “Aftersun” currently holds a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and earned a Best Actor nomination for burgeoning star Paul Mescal.

At its core, the movie is about a resort vacation in Turkey between an 11-year-old girl and her father, who exhibits signs of depression. Sad, emotional, heavy, Sophie’s story, told in a dream-like fashion, is captured brilliantly in one of the best movies of 2022.

On Netflix: ‘Heat’

RIP Val Kilmer, a terrific and complicated actor with an incredible filmography waxing and waning between lead and supporting roles. But there’s no better way to celebrate his career than firing up “Heat,” the magnum opus of bank robbing movies.

He steals practically every scene he’s in, despite sharing the screen with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, among others. Playing a crucial part in several of the film’s iconic scenes, like the street shootout, he mastered the physicality and fierceness director Michael Mann requires in his movies better than anyone.

And for this to all come full circle, yes, there is a “Heat 2” currently in the works.

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