Josh O’Connor’s new movie and Zoë Rocha’s Netflix series – what to watch this week

Monday, May 27

The Sympathizer, Sky Atlantic/NOW TV

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over. Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr. star alongside Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong Vy Le and Ky Duyen.

Tuesday, May 28

Turtles All the Way Down, Sky Cinema/NOW TV

Turtles All the Way Down tackles anxiety through its 17-year-old protagonist, Aza Holmes. It’s not easy being Aza but she’s trying… trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, and a good student, all while navigating an endless arrange of invasive, obsessive thoughts that she can’t fully control. When she reconnects with Davis, her childhood crush, Aza is confronted with fundamental questions about her potential for love, happiness, friendship and hope.

Wednesday, May 29

The Veil, Disney+

An international spy thriller starring Elisabeth Moss, The Veil explores the surprising and fraught relationship between two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, while the other is on a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost. In the shadows, mission controllers at the U.S. CIA and French DGSE must put differences aside, as difficult as it may be, and work together to avert potential disaster before it is too late.

Thursday, May 30

Eric, Netflix

Eric is a limited series thriller that follows a desperate father as he battles his demons on the vibrant, dangerous, and intoxicating streets of 80s New York in a race to bring home his missing son. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Vincent, one of the Big Apple’s leading puppeteers and creator of the hugely popular children’s television show Good Day Sunshine. But his life unravels when his nine-year-old son goes missing on the way to school.

Friday, May 31

The Breakfast Club, Prime Video

Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy (a.k.a. The ‘Brat Pack’) star as five high school students, stuck in Saturday detention together. Overseen by their authoritarian vice principal (keen to assert his power), it’s not long before the group discover that they have a great deal more in common than they thought. A perennial classic, The Breakfast Club is one of John Hughes’ best in my opinion.

Saturday, June 01

Bonus Track, Sky Cinema/NOW

It’s 2006 and George – a 16-year-old from a small town – is on the road to complete social and academic failure. He knows he’s a gifted musician and dreams of being a star, but no one else seems to agree. So, when Max – the son of a mega-famous musical duo – enrols at his school and takes an interest in his music, George can’t believe it. But as the boys grow closer, George begins to question why he actually wants to spend time with Max. Face with a potential dream come true, George must now just figure out what that dream really is… Written by Challengers star Josh O’Connor with music by Olly Alexander.

Sunday, June 02

Geek Girl, Netflix

Based on the internationally bestselling book by author Holly Smale, Geek Girl stars Emily Carey as Harriet, an awkward teenager whose life is turned upside down when she is scouted to be a model and embarks on a life-affirming journey of self-discovery as she balances high school and high fashion. The series is executive produced by Zoë Rocha, daughter of John Rocha and Eily Doolan. Geek Girl will debut on Netflix on May 30th.

Photography by Sky.