As the nation relaxes into a four-day Bank Holiday weekend, many of us will be reaching for the remote.
But what new films are set to hit screens over the next few days?
If you’re looking for something to tune into, then leading streaming platforms Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and NowTV have got you covered and will each be releasing a collection of new flicks to their platforms – with everything from romance, drama and psychological thriller, to animated comedy, some cult-classics parody and a few brand-new originals to take your pick from.
Here’s everything new you can check out this weekend.
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Netflix
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Concrete Cowboy
Starring – Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin and Jharrel Jerome
With an all-star cast of big and upcoming names, Netflix original Concrete Cowboy is based on the novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri – which is a fictionalisation of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club and urban African-American horseriding culture in Philadelphia.
The film tells the story of a 15-year-old boy from Detroit who is sent to live with his estranged father in and learns about the local urban cowboys.
Shrek
Starring – Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz
Fancy watching a modern cult-classic? With the first two films and a recording of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical already on the platform, there’ll be three more feature-length Shrek treats coming to Netflix this month.
If you’re unfamiliar with the franchise, it follows an ogre called Shrek who finds his swamp overrun by fairy tale creatures who have been banished by the corrupt Lord Farquaad – who is aspiring to be king. With the help of Donkey, Shrek embarks on his quest to rescue Princess Fiona, but soon falls in love with the princess and finds she is hiding a secret that will change his life forever.
Run
Starring – Sarah Paulson
Another new Netflix original, Run tells the story of Chloe who was raised by her mother Diane in total isolated medical care. Her mother has been controlling her life since she was born – but now as a teenager, Chloe is starting to explore her mother’s sinister secrets.
Is her mother holding her back?
Sky High
Starring – Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kelly Preston and Kurt Russell.
This 2005 American superhero comedy film is hitting Netflix this weekend, and tells the story of the son of two superheroes who is enrolled in an airborne high school for teenage superheroes where he discovers his true powers and learns about loyalty and friendship.
Just Say Yes
Starring – Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau
This Netflix original Dutch romantic comedy is brand new to the streaming platform today, and tells the story of incurable romantic Lotte who finds her life upended when her plans for a picture-perfect wedding unravel.
This all happens just as her self-absorbed sister gets engaged.
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Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video
Unhinged
Starring – Russell Crowe and Caren Pistorious
This American action thriller film tells the story of single mother Rachel whose bad day gets even worse when she beeps her horn at a fellow driver during rush-hour traffic, but after an exchange of words, she soon realises that the mysterious man is following her and her young son in his truck.
The initial case of road rage quickly escalates into full-blown terror as Rachel discovers the psychopath’s sinister plan for revenge.
The Ghost Writer
Starring – Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Kim Cattrall and Olivia Williams
Fresh to the platform this weekend, this 2010 political thriller film follows a successful ghostwriter who agrees to finish the memoirs of England’s former prime minister, Adam Lang, as his publisher assures him it’s the chance of a lifetime.
Instead, he begins to uncover evidence that suggests his late predecessor knew a dark secret about Lang and may have been murdered to prevent it from coming to light.
Blaire Witch
Starring – James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott and Valorie Curry
Also known as Blair Witch 3, this 2016 American ‘found footage’ supernatural horror film tells the story of a young man and his friends who venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mystery surrounding his missing sister.
Many believe her disappearance 17 years earlier is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch.
NowTV
Sky Group | NOW TV
The Hunger Games
Starring – Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth
All four films in the cult-favourite Hunger Games franchise – based on the book series by Suzanne Collins – is set to hit NowTV this month, telling the story of Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who volunteers to replace her sister in a tournament that ends only when one participant remains.
Pitted against contestants who have trained for this all their life, she has little to rely on.
SCOOB!
Starring – Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried, Mark Wahlberg, Gina Rodriguez and Will Forte
Boasting a truly all-star cast of major Hollywood names, this 2020 animated mystery comedy film follows Scooby and the gang facing their biggest and most challenging mystery ever, after hundreds of cases solved up their sleeves – a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world.
As they race to stop this global dog-pocalypse, the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone could have imagined.
Antebellum
Starring – Janelle Monáe, Eric Lange, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons and Gabourey Sidibe
Another 2020 flick to hit the streaming platform this weekend is horror thriller film Antebellum, which tells the story of successful author Veronica Henley, who is finishing a book tour before she returns home to her husband and daughter.
But a shocking turn of events is about to upend Veronica’s existence, plunging her into a horrifying reality that forces her to confront her past, present and future before it’s too late.
Featured Image – Netflix | DreamWorks Animation
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Pep Guardiola hints at when Manchester City fans can expect to see their latest arrival
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given supporters a rough timeline as to when they can expect to see their new signing, or at least their latest arrival, make his first appearance.
The Blues wrapped up the January transfer window with four major signings: their new attacking number seven, Omar Marmoush (who has already bagged a hattrick on his home debut) promising defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, as well as their ‘mini-Rodri’, Nico Gonzalez.
However, the club has had another late arrival who was technically signed back at the start of last year but who has spent for the last 12 months or so loaned back to his previous parent club, River Plate in Argentina, waiting to make the move over to the Etihad Stadium – and now he’s here in Manchester.
Speaking on his touchdown in 0161, Pep said Claudio Echeverri won’t be thrown into first-team action straight away but did give a rough estimate as to when City fans could expect him to get involved. You can see him discussing the integration plan in his post-match press conference following the Spurs win.
The mention was only brief but there’s still plenty of reason for Man City fans to be excited by the late January signing.
“Yeah, he [Claudio Echeverri] is going to start to train and mainly will be for the end of the season, maybe the [Club] World Cup and as soon as possible [that] he arrives he can adapt quick for the future.”
As mentioned, the 19-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder from Resistencia officially put pen to paper with CFG back in January 2024 and was quickly dubbed ‘the next Messi’.
Now, although the football world is often quick to jump the gun with these things and he isn’t the first and certainly won’t be last to be slapped with this premature title, he’s done more to back up these claims since then than he has rubbish them.
Starring at the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, netting six goals in nine games to finish the tournament as the second highest scorer thanks to notable braces against Brazil and Uruguay as the young Argentine’s finished as runners up.
He also notched 48 senior appearances for River Plate thus far, netting four goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, not to mention having already captained his national team at the 2023 Under 17s World Cup, where he scored another five.
Safe to say there’s plenty of talent to be tapped in this lad.
Once again, Echeverri won’t go straight into the senior set-up for a little while yet, barring a major injury crisis, but he’ll be a more than exciting addition to the City Football Academy and for future first-team lineups for years to come.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be included in an FA Cup matchday squad? Nevertheless, you can expect him to not just come of the bench but hopefully show what he can do at the Club World Cup this summer.
City‘s first fixture as reigning champions of the competition will be against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June 2025.
You can watch Echeverri’s first full interview as a Man City player down below:
The new Man City signing is excited to be finally be part of the club 13 months on from agreeing his contract.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd April 2021 
