Few distractions helped us weather the seismographic events of 2020 as effectively as Netflix.
The platform's offerings, from the scandalous world of big cat breeding in Tiger King to a gripping adaptation of Walter Tevis's The Queen's Gambit, gave many the closest thing to a getaway in the past 12 months.
But, as we head into a new year, there are new releases to add to your must-watch lists. From an investigation into the possibility of an afterlife in Surviving Death to the black comedy The White Tiger, here are 11 releases to look out for in the coming weeks.
'Cobra Kai'
The third season of Cobra Kai is scheduled to be released on Friday, January 1. The series takes place three decades after the events of the 1984 martial arts favourite Karate Kid, reigniting the conflict between Daniel LaRusso, who is now a successful car salesman, and the down-and-out Johnny Lawrence. The series stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, both of whom are reprising their roles as LaRusso and Lawrence 36 years after the first Karate Kid film.
Release date: Friday, January 1
'The Minimalists: Less is Now'
This documentary gets its title from the “less is more” idiom popularised by US-German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who used the phrase to convey his design approach.
In this film, directed by Matt D’Avella, minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus aim to make audiences think about how much of the things they own are essential and what value these things are adding to their lives.
Release date: Friday, January 1
'Asphalt Burning'
A high-octane road trip film that is also billed as a comedy, Asphalt Burning tells the story of a man who has to win over his runaway bride with a car race at the famous Nurburgring track in Germany.
Release date: Saturday, January 2
'Surviving Death'
Based on the bestselling book by award-winning author Leslie Kean, Surviving Death is an in-depth exploration of the possibility of an afterlife. The six-episode series confronts some of mankind's most seminal questions such as what does it mean to die and does death mark the end of our existence?
Release date: Wednesday, January 6
'Pieces of a Woman'
A film from the mind of Hungarian Jupiter's Moon director Kornel Mundruczo, Pieces of a Woman centres around a Bostonian couple whose lives irreversibly change after a home birth at the hands of a flustered midwife, who faces charges of criminal negligence. The film stars Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf and was executive produced by Martin Scorsese.
Release date: Thursday, January 7
'Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer'
This limited docuseries unravels the true story of how a nocturnal serial killer in Los Angeles was hunted down and brought to justice by a young detective and the legendary homicide investigator Frank Salerno. The series follows their efforts as they race to identify the killer while panic sweeps California.
Release date: Wednesday, January 13
'Outside the Wire'
Set in the not-too-distant future, Outside the Wire tells the story of a drone pilot who is dispatched into a war zone, along with a high-tech android officer, and tasked with stopping a nuclear attack. The film is directed by Swedish filmmaker Mikael Hafstrom and produced by Avengers star Anthony Mackie, who is also the lead in the film along with Snowfall actor Damson Idris.
Release date: Friday, January 15
'The White Tiger'
This darkly humorous film is based on the Man Booker Prize-winning novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. The film follows Balram Halwai's rise from a poverty-stricken villager to a successful businessman. Directed by Fahrenheit 451 filmmaker Ramin Bahrani, it stars Adarsh Gourav in the lead role, along with Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
Release date: Friday, January 22
'Red Dot'
An action-thriller set in Sweden's snow-capped mountains, Red Dot follows a couple in their twenties who decide to rekindle their romance by travelling to the north of Sweden for a ski hike. Soon their trip turns into a nightmare as a laser dot appears in their tent, forcing them to flee into the cold, white, unforgiving expanse.
Release date: Thursday, February 11
'Spirit Riding Free'
Inspired by the Oscar-nominated animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Spirit Riding Free brings the touching adventure of the wild mustang who cannot be tamed to a new generation.
Release date: Sunday, February 28
