New shows and movies to watch on Netflix Canada this weekend

With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, it’s full force ahead with 2021. And not much has changed from 2020 in terms of parking it on the couch all weekend and soaking up some of what Netflix Canada has to offer.

Because let’s be honest, is there a better time in the history of mankind to stream content for hours on end?

From Netflix Originals to documentaries, tough prisons, surviving death, the history of swear words, and everything in between, here is what might be worth checking out on the streaming service.

See also:

Along with some newly added content from the end of December and the beginning of January, here is what’s going on this weekend.

Literally.

Lupin

Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family.

Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons: Season 5

Raphael Rowe, who spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, volunteers to go behind bars in the Philippines, Greenland and South Africa.

Pretend It’s a City

Writer Fran Lebowitz discusses life in New York City as a reader, walker, and incisive observer of the changes in contemporary culture and the city.

Pieces of a Woman

A heartbreaking home birth leaves a woman grappling with the profound emotional fallout, isolated from her partner and family by a chasm of grief.

Surviving Death

Surviving Death is an in-depth investigative series exploring the possibility of an afterlife.

And in case you missed it, here are some releases from earlier on in December and January:

History of Swear Words

An education in expletives: the history lesson you didn’t know you needed. History of Swear Words, hosted by Nicolas Cage, is a loud and proudly profane series that explores the origins, pop culture-usage, science and cultural impact of curse words.

Dream Home Makeover: Season 2

Shea and Syd McGee keep the dream alive for families in search of stylish spaces, whether it’s a comfy cabin or a manor sporting NBA-worthy hoops.

Headspace Guide to Meditation

Take a deep breath and start the new year by being kind to your mind with the new Netflix original series Headspace Guide to Meditation. Over the course of eight animated episodes, Andy Puddicombe — former Buddhist monk and co-founder of the globally beloved Headspace meditation app — takes viewers through the benefits and science behind meditation.

The Minimalists: Less Is Now

They’ve built a movement out of minimalism. Longtime friends Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus share how our lives can be better with less.

What Happened to Mr. Cha?

With the peak of his career long behind him, an actor clings to his past glory — until a sudden wake-up call forces him to face who he’s become.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson’s play.

S weet Home

As savage monsters inflict terror and threaten humanity, a troubled teen with inner demons emerges as his neighbours’ best bet for survival.

The Ripper

Investigators and witnesses recall how a modern-day Jack the Ripper terrorized the north of England during the late 1970s.

Vir Das: Outside In – The Lockdown Special

Stage banter takes on a different — deeper — meaning as the comedian performs online shows to homebound viewers worldwide from his Mumbai residence.

Canvas

A grieving grandfather struggling to reclaim his passion for painting after suffering a loss finds the inspiration to create again.

Giving Voice

Students from across the US audition for a spot in the August Wilson Monologue Competition, culminating in a riveting final round on a Broadway stage.

Alice in Borderland

A video-game-obsessed young man finds himself in a strange version of Tokyo where he and other visitors must compete in deadly games to survive.

The Surgeon’s Cut

The Surgeon’s Cut profiles four ground-breaking surgeons from around the world, each with a visionary approach to their craft. Viewers will follow along as they perform innovative operations and procedures, and reveal personal insight into their journey into medicine, providing a unique window into the world of surgery.