Weekend watch guide: "Wicked" is now streaming

Chicago - If it ever feels like there’s just too much content, there’s a reason for that: dozens of streaming services, big releases available for rental at home, and movie theaters full of blockbusters and independent films alike. 

So we’re here to help. In our new column, we’ll make some recommendations for viewing each weekend. Some will be on streaming services like Netflix or Peacock, others will be available for free via Tubi and other platforms, and some will even be in good old-fashioned movie theaters. 

Now streaming: "Wicked"

The story: An adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical of the same name, director Jon M. Chu’s "Wizard of Oz" prequel focuses on the unlikely friendship between college roommates Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), destined to become the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda (Ariana Grande), later known as Glinda the Good. 

What we thought: Chu’s film is a faithful adaptation of the first act of "Wicked" (the second act, titled "Wicked: For Good," is due later this year), yet it manages to improve on the long-running stage version by probing deeper into its explorations of prejudice, propaganda and perception. 

It’s got spectacle and color to spare (and its 10 Oscar nominations, many of them in technical and design categories, speak to that). But Chu’s wisest decision is much less flashy: he simply trusts his cast to anchor the story. The emotionally rich performances of Erivo, Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Peter Dinklage and others keep "Wicked," which could have easily been a twee confection and nothing more, from floating away in one of Glinda’s pink bubbles. 

When will Wicked be on Peacock?

It’s there now! You can stream both the original "Wicked" and a sing-along version at your convenience. 

Does Peacock have a free trial?

Alas, not presently. But plans begin at $7.99 a month, and Peacock reliably gets some of the bigger theatrical releases first. 

When is Wicked 2 coming out?

The sequel, "Wicked: For Good," is currently slated for release in November 2025. 

New movies to stream this weekend

• "O’Dessa": "Stranger Things" star Sadie Sink anchors a post-apocalyptic rock opera (Hulu)
• "Den of Thieces 2: Pantera": Sequel to the 2018 Gerard Butler heist film (Netflix)
• "Sing Sing": A moving drama about a theater program for incarcerated people which earned star Colman Domingo a well-deserved Oscar nomination (Max)
• "Anora": While this newly-crowned Oscar darling has been available to rent for quite a while, it’s now streaming on Hulu

See it in theaters: "Black Bag"

The story: How does a marriage work when your spouse is also your co-worker – and your office is an all-seeing intelligence agency? Well, it’s complicated, as George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) find out, in Steven Soderbergh’s ice-cold, darkly funny spy thriller. 

What we thought: It may only be March, but expect to see "Black Bag" on quite a few "Best of 2025" lists when December rolls around. Soderbergh is one of the most consistently entertaining filmmakers out there, and here concocts a lean, mean, and wholly engrossing film that owes more to "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" than it does to "Mr. and Mrs. Smith. And while Blanchett and Fassbender are both excellent, the supporting cast is no less engaging, with Marisa Abela (HBO’s "Industry"), Tom Burke ("Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga"), and Regé-Jean Page ("Bridgerton") more than keeping up with the award-winning stars at the top of the cast list.

 Why we picked it: With a gripping premise, that amazing cast and a cool 94-minute runtime, it’s a perfect go-to-the-movies kind of movie. 

Where to watch: "Black Bag" arrived in theaters last weekend. 

Does "Black Bag" have a post-credits scene?

Nope! Once those credits roll, you can safely head out to the lobby. 

What’s new in theaters this weekend?

• "Disney’s Snow White": A live-action remake of the animated classic, starring "West Side Story" breakout Rachel Zegler
• "Locked": An unusual horror movie in which a thief (Bill Skarsgård of "It") gets trapped in a fancy SUV by its malevolent owner (Anthony Hopkins) 
• "The Assessment": A near-future dystopian drama starring Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander and Himesh Patel
• "The Alto Knights": Robert De Niro plays a New York City crime boss battling against another NYC mobster, also played by Robert De Niro

Rent at home: "Companion" 

The story:  A seemingly idyllic weekend getaway for three couples gets infinitely more complicated when one of the women defends herself from assault. This prompts her boyfriend to shut her down, literally: She’s an AI "companion," a fact of which she herself was unaware. 

What we thought: Starring rising scream queen Sophie Thatcher ("Yellowjackets") and Jack Quaid ("The Boys"), "Companion" is a smart, surprisingly funny little horror thriller, and we can't say much more about it without giving things away. 

Where to watch: "Companion" is available for digital rent or purchase. 

Watch with the family: "The Wild Robot"

The story: In this beautiful animated film, Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), a service robot, crashes on a remote island. After her means of signalling for retrieval are destroyed, she finds new purpose in tending to a gosling (Kit Connor) with the help of Fink (Pedro Pascal), a red fox. As she adapts to the wild world in which she finds herself, Roz begins to push against the boundaries of her programming, and discovers what home and heartbreak feel like.

What we thought: One of the best animated movies of 2024, this warm-hearted adventure features an excellent voice cast and screenplay. 

 Why we picked it: While it lost the Best Animated Film Oscar to "Flow," "The Wild Robot" was still one of the most acclaimed films of the year – and not just the animated kind. But it also fulfills one of the key requirements for any family movie night: It’s a great pick for kids and adults alike, with a moving story and some rock-solid jokes. 

Where to watch: "The Wild Robot" is streaming on Peacock and is available for digital rent or purchase.

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