The Umbrella Academy is one of Netflix’s most popular shows, and it’s based on the comic of the same name, published by Dark Horse Comics. The comic was written by the vocalist of My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way, and drawn by Gabriel Bá, both acting as executive producers in the series. The story is that on the first day of October 1989, 43 babies were born, even though the mothers were not pregnant when the day started. Sir Reginal Hargreeves adopted seven of them, leaving 36 to grow up independently. Those seven were raised to be superheroes, and all lived in a house called The Umbrella Academy.
Now in its fourth season, the show has a lot of fans and a celebrated cast. If you’ve watched all that is out and are waiting for the next season to come, there are plenty of other great movies and shows featuring the cast in the meantime. From drama series to war movies, family and political issues, there is a little bit of everything in this list. Some of those can be a great watch on the weekend, even if you’re looking for a new show to start, or even if you’re looking to watch everything your favourite actor has done.
10 Inception
Starting off with a classic, Inception is a great and acclaimed sci-fi thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and takes viewers on a wild ride through a maze of dreams and reality. Elliot Page plays the role of Ariadne, a college student who is recruited by a professional thief called Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) to help him create dreams that can be shared with multiple people, exploring and subtracting information from deep within the subconscious of the mind. Cobb’s rare ability has put him deep into corporate espionage, making him an international fugitive. To redeem himself, he is going to try the impossible: Inception. His job is not now to steal an idea but to implant it. It is definitely one of the must-sees for movie fans and a great thriller to keep you hooked during the screen time.
9 Central Park
Central Park is an animated musical series created by Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith, and Josh Gad, which premiered on Apple TV+. The show follows the story of the Tillerman family, who live in and care for Central Park in New York City. In season 2, Emmy Raver-Lampman voices the character of Molly Tillerman, the family’s teenage daughter who is an aspiring journalist and songwriter. Molly is a central character in the series, and her storylines often involve her efforts to pursue her dreams and navigate the challenges of growing up in the unique environment of Central Park.
8 Merlin
Tom Hopper played the role of Sir Percival, a Knight of the Round Table, in the BBC series Merlin. Quite popular at its time, the show is a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, focusing on how the early years of the legendary wizard Merlin (Colin Morgan) and his relationship with Prince Arthur of Camelot (Bradley James) would have been. Merlin must keep his magical powers a secret, as magic has been outlawed by King Uther Pendragon (played by Anthony Head), who sees it as a threat to his rule.
Throughout the series, Merlin and Arthur develop a close friendship as they face a series of challenges, including battles against evil sorcerers, treacherous knights, and other threats to the kingdom of Camelot. Tom Hopper’s performance as Sir Percival is one of its highlights, as he brings a sense of honor and nobility to the role. His character is both brave and loyal, and he is always willing to risk his life to protect his friends and fellow knights.
7 Misfits
Misfits is a British sci-fi television series that follows a group of young offenders who gain supernatural powers after being struck by a mysterious electrical storm while serving community service. Nathan (Robert Sheehan), Kelly (Kelley Bailey), Simon (Iwan Rheon), Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), and Alisha (Antonia Thomas) need to learn how to control their powers while dealing with personal issues and the consequences of their actions. The show has a dark and irreverent sense of humor, often dealing with adult themes as it explores issues such as loneliness, identity, and responsibility. Misfits was praised for its unique blend of genres and its strong performances by the cast, and it ended after five seasons.
6 Nickelodeon’s Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn
Before acting as Number Five in The Umbrella Academy, the young actor, Aidan Gallagher, played the role of Nicky Harper in Nickelodeon’s Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn. The show follows the Harper quadruplets as they navigate their way through middle school, all with 10 years old and very different personalities. Nicky is the brainy one, Ricky is the sporty one, Dicky is the cool one, and Dawn is the only girl and often the reasonable one. Throughout the series, the quadruplets learn valuable lessons about teamwork, communication, and the importance of family.
5 Sicario: Day of the Soldado
David Castañeda plays the role of Hector in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, the sequel to the critically acclaimed movie released in 2015, Sicario (2015). The film, directed by Stefano Sollima, tells the story of the drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border with CIA operative Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and the former undercover operative Alejandro Gillick (Benicio Del Toro) as the American government tasks them to create chaos within the Mexican drug cartels.
Their mission is to start a war between the rival cartels to disrupt their operations and to stop the flow of terrorists and illegal drugs. As the story unfolds, the characters find themselves facing a moral dilemma, torn between their loyalty to their country and their conscience. They also discover that deeper forces are at work beyond their mission and are just pawns in a larger geopolitical game.
4 Mudbound
Mary J. Blige plays the role of Florence Jackson in Mudbound, a period drama set in the Mississippi Delta during World War II, based on the novel of the same name by Hillary Jordan. The movie tells the story of two black and white families living in the 1940s and trying to make a living and survive in this harsh environment. Throughout the film, they are forced to confront their differences and prejudices, exploring themes of racism, classism, and poverty. With Carey Mulligan, the movie was nominated for the Oscars in 2018, and Mary J. Blige was nominated as Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song for ‘Mighty River’.
3 After Yang
A24
Justin H. Min, who plays the role of Ben Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy, played the character Yang in After Yang, an A24 production directed by Kogonada that premiered in the same year’s Cannes Film Festival. With Colin Farell and Jodie Turner-Smith, this is the story of an android called Yang, the companion of a little girl named Mika, that malfunctions. The father, Jake, hires a specialist to try fixing the android, but in the meantime, he discovers that life has been passing in front of him. As the film progresses, it explores themes of family, the impact of technology on human relationships, and identity. It is a sensible movie that takes us on a journey of reconnection, love, and loss.
2 The Borgias
Colm Feore plays the role of Pope Julius II in The Borgias, a historical drama set in Renaissance Italy. The show follows the Borgia family, who rose to power and became embroiled in political and religious intrigue. They try to consolidate their power and influence in the Vatican, but as the series progresses, things become increasingly embroiled in scandal and corruption. They are accused of many crimes as they struggle to maintain their power in a world where alliances can shift immediately. The show is a thrilling exploration of the darker side of Renaissance Italy, where no one is safe from the cutthroat machinations of those in power.
1 Feel Good
Feel Good is a British that premiered on Channel 4 in the UK and on Netflix internationally, and Ritu Arya plays the character of Lava. The show tells the story of Mae (Mae Martin), a Canadian comedian struggling with addiction, and her romantic relationship with George (Charlotte Richie). Throughout the two seasons, both navigate their complicated relationship due to Mae’s addiction issues and George’s fear of commitment. In the show, Lava is a fellow comedian and friend of Mae’s who performs alongside her at the comedy club and provides support to Mae as she works through her issues. Exploring the themes of sexuality, identity, and mental health, the series has a great cast, such as Mae Martin, Charlotte Ritchie, Lisa Kudrow, and Adrian Lukis.
