Here's everything to stream in June 2022 in Canada
Warner Bros/Netflix/Disney
School’s almost out, the sun is (mostly) shining, and this month’s list of offerings from the big online streamers are hot, hot, hot. No exaggeration–the next four weeks have plenty to keep everyone satisfied, no matter your content or genre cravings.
June marks Pride Month and so there’s an abundance of new LGBTQ+ content coming your way each week. There are docuseries, comedies, dramas, love stories, and stand-up specials galore and–from Generation Drag to Fire Island–there is truly enough to keep the celebrations going all month long. And if that's not enough, CTV has a whole Pride collection dedicated to classic LGBTQIA+ titles and characters including Rent, But I'm a Cheerleader, Broad City and more.
Then get ready to have your funny-bone tickled with a boatload of new streaming comedy series starring all-stars like Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, and Rowan Atkinson or get your superhero on with the premiere of the MCU’s latest, Ms. Marvel.
In a sportier mood? celebrate the 2022 NBA Finals with two new basketball movies: Hustle, starring Adam Sandler and produced by LeBron James, and Rise, a look at how the Antetokounmpo brothers defied the odds and became giants of the game.
The month also brings a host of familiar and popular faces back to our screens, including Westworld, Peaky Blinders, The Boys, P-Valley, Only Murders in the Building and Umbrella Academy.
If you’re still looking for something to pique your interest after all that, there’s still new true crime, new movies, a doc that shows us the world according to JLo, and even a remake of family fave Father of the Bride to sink your teeth into. So if you’re looking for something new to watch in June, we’ve got you covered with a variety of picks below.
Generation Drag
Kick off Pride Month with this new, must-watch docuseries from producer Tyra Banks. Generation Drag follows five young teens and tweens as they prepare for their performances at Dragutante, an annual Colorado drag ball designed to provide a supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth to express themselves. Though there’s the requisite amount of glitz and drag glamour, the six episode series is at its best when providing an intimate look at the teens' personal exploration and their families' heartfelt quests to support them. The best part? You can binge all 6 episodes at once on June 1.
Watch it on Discovery+ starting Wednesday, June 1.
The Book of Queer
Brush up on your LGBTQ+ history with this special limited series spotlighting the stories of groundbreaking queer individuals throughout the ages. Margaret Cho, Dominique Jackson, Alex Newell, Leslie Jordan and Ross Mathews are on board as narrators, with each of the series’ five episodes recounting colourful and titillating tales of politicians, artists, activists, and scientists like Greek poet Sappho, Alexander the Great, Lenardo Da Vinci, Josephine Baker, Alan Turing, Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson.
Book’s look at the heroes, kings and queens of the past will also feature reenactments and recreations of important moments in the lives of its subjects, portrayed entirely by a queer ensemble cast.
The Book of Queer premieres on Discovery+ Thursday, June 2.
Fire Island
Jane Austen meets the famous LGBTQ+ beach haven in this new comedy from writer (and lead) Joel Kim Booster. Co-starring SNL MVP Bowen Yang and the always hilarious Margaret Cho, the film–loosely based on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice–follows two BFFs on an epic, week-long vacay at Fire Island Pines, an iconic spot on Long Island’s southern shore, alongside a troupe of eclectic friends and a whole lot of cheap rosé. Where Jane Austen comes in, we’re not too sure, but count us in for this unapologetic, modern-day rom-com.
Watch the brand new film on Hulu and Disney+ starting on Friday, June 3.
Irma Vep
HBO Max’s latest limited series comes to us courtesy of filmmaker and writer Olivier Assayas. Based on his critically acclaimed 1996 feature, the 8-episode drama revolves around a disillusioned movie star, Mira (Alicia Vikander), who is looking to simultaneously broaden her career, get over a break up, and break free of recent scandal. After agreeing to star as “Irma Vep” in a remake of the classic French silent film, Les Vampires, Mira begins to wonder if she’s taken on more than she can handle as the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur. With incredible cinematic pedigree both in front of and behind the camera, the series is a trippy, must-see for fans of the original and newcomers. Keep your eyes peeled for Kristen Stewart in a small cameo role.
Irma Vep premieres on Crave Monday, June 6.
Ms. Marvel
The Marvel Universe’s latest on-screen superhero is teen Kamala Khan (newcomer Iman Vellani), a.k.a. Ms. Marvel. The fourth character in the comics to claim the famous title, after Carol Danvers, Sharon Ventura, and Dr. Karla Sofen, Khan lives in New Jersey with her Muslim-American family and, like most teenagers, is trying to find her place in the world. She looks up to Captain Marvel and The Avengers and spends (possibly too much) time dreaming about becoming a superhero rather than navigating the awkward realities of high school life. When Khan actually ends up with her own set of superpowers, she learns that the superhero life isn’t as easy as it looked. But just how does Ms. Marvel fit into the MCU and their Phase 4 slate? You’ll have to tune in and find out.
Catch the series premieres on Wednesday, June 8 on Disney+.
Hustle
Don’t call it a comeback but Adam Sandler’s career is sitting pretty after the 2019 success of Uncut Gems, a film which garnered him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor. The 55-year-old actor is back again as the lead in Hustle, a rousing sports drama he co-produced alongside LeBron James. Here Sandler plays Stanley Sugarman, a less-than-successful basketball scout who’s lost the love of the game until he comes across a once-in-a-lifetime talent in Spain (played by the Utah Jazz’s Juancho Hernangómez). Without the backing of his own team, Sugarman sets out to prove that both he and his star player have what it takes to make it through the draft and in the NBA. With a stellar supporting cast that includes Queen Latifah, Ben Foster, and Robert Duvall, and a boatload of player cameos, it looks like Sandler might just have himself another hit.
Hustle drops on Netflix starting Wednesday, June 8.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Faith and fear are at the heart of this true crime drama adapted from Jon Krakauer’s (Into the Wild) nonfiction bestseller. Created by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk), the 7-episode narrative follows a police detective, Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield), whose world is turned upside down as he investigates the killings of a young Mormon mother, Brenda Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones), and her baby daughter Erica. The 1984 murders and subsequent trial may be unfamiliar to contemporary audiences but they shook the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints community to the core. As Pyre unravels the events that led to the brutal crime, he unearths buried truths about the origin of his religion and uncovers the consequences of blind fundamentalism.
The series premiered in the U.S. in April but will make its international debut on Disney+ June 8.
First Kill
First Kill proves falling in love can be tricky, especially for teens Juliette and Calliope– one is a vampire and the other is, you guessed it, a vampire hunter. Each girl comes with centuries-old baggage and both are being pressured by their families to make their all-important first kill. But their powerful connection makes the two strive to rise above their lineage (and their parents’ prejudices) and strike out on a new path together.
Looking to be the Buffy the Vampire Slayer of a new generation, the Netflix series stars Sarah Catherine Hook and Imani Lewis as the star-crossed lovers and is based on series creator V.E. Shuab’s short story. It’s set to give the old adage “you never forget your first” a whole new meaning.
First Kill premieres Friday, May 6 on Netflix.
Becoming Elizabeth
Our fascination with the Royal Family is far from a new phenomenon and Hollywood has a lucrative history with tales of Queen Elizabeth II’s ancestors. The crown and all its related intrigues have proved fertile ground for both stage and screen–most recently with Wolf Hall, The White Queen and The Tudors.
This latest series takes a look at Liz’s Tudor namesake before she became the famous Queen portrayed by Oscar-winning powerhouses Cate Blanchett and Helen Mirren. Alicia von Rittberg stars here as the young Princess, an orphaned teenager whose position as third in line to the English throne places her at the turbulent centre of court politics and dangerous plots for power. With colourful costumes and a stellar supporting cast, this is one for any card-carrying anglophile.
Becoming Elizabeth begins June 12 on Crave, with new episodes released every Sunday.
Halftime
Hustlers, an international sell-out concert tour and a 50th birthday. 2019 was a YEAR for Jennifer Lopez and she continued to impress with an explosive performance alongside Shakira at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in early 2020 and then as a headliner at the 2021 Inauguration of President Joe Biden. It’s no wonder the actress thought it was the right time to let a documentary team behind the scenes of her career and her life. From flashy film premieres to grueling rehearsals to quiet moments at home, Halftime is an intimate portrait of a hard-working, triple-threat entertainer who’s just getting started.
Jennifer Lopez: Halftime premieres on Netflix Tuesday, June 14.
God’s Favorite Idiot
Timing is everything, especially if you’re tech support guy Clark Thomson (Ben Falcone). Just as he falls in love with his co-worker Amily Luck (Melissa McCarthy), he gets hit by lightning and becomes an glowing, unwitting messenger of God who has been called on to prevent the upcoming Apocalypse. Real-life couple Falcone and McCarthy are on board here as producers–and in Falcone’s case, as creator and writer–of this new take on a workplace comedy, which filmed in Australia. According to Netflix, there’s also roller skating, a lake of fire and Gilmore Girls’ Michel (a.k.a. Montreal actor Yanic Truesdale). That’s more than enough to get us tuning in.
God’s Favorite Idiot premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, June 15.
Father of the Bride
Andy Garcia produces and stars in this contemporary remake of the timeless comedy. Garcia takes on the paternal role previously portrayed by Spencer Tracey and Steve Martin, and this time the focus is on a Cuban-American family in Miami trying to make it through the chaotic wedding of their eldest daughter, Sofia (Adria Arjona). As mom Ingrid (Gloria Estefan) juggles the duties of the mother of the bride, husband Billy is just trying to retain his sanity. It’s a well-timed reboot that looks like just the ticket for a summer movie night with the fam.
Catch the new Father of the Bride in theatres and on HBO Max in the US starting June 16. Canadian dates are still TBD.
Spiderhead
There’s more to Chris Hemsworth than Thor so we’re excited to see him front and centre in this new sci-fi thriller from Netflix. He stars alongside Miles Teller and Jurnee Smollett in this look at a near-future society where convicts are able to reduce their sentences by volunteering for experiments with mild and emotion-altering drugs. Hemsworth portrays the visionary at the heart of the state-of-the-art system and Teller, an inmate trying to outsmart the program in order to save another prisoner (Smollett). Based on a 2010 short story by George Saunders, this dystopian actioner might just be the antidote to anyone feeling superhero feature fatigue.
Watch Spiderhead on Netflix starting Friday, June 17.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
If romance is your genre of choice, this series based on Jenny Han’s best-selling book trilogy is tailor-made for you. The Summer I Turned Pretty follows teen Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin (Lola Tung) as she falls for two boys – who just happen to be brothers. There’s more here than just a coming of age story, as the series also explores the dynamics between mothers and daughters and between friends. Leaning into the nostalgia of balmy summer nights and the indulgent magic of the season, this one seems binge-worthy for all ages.
The Summer I Turned Pretty premieres on Amazon Prime Friday, June 17.
Fantastic Friends
James and Oliver Phelps, better known as Harry Potter’s Fred and George Weasley, are bringing audiences along as they travel the world seeking fabulous adventures, enchanting locations and spellbinding individuals. From Iceland to the Caribbean, the twins meet up with their fantastic friends to tour around and complete weird and wonderful challenges. Each episode is packed full of mischief, charm and a touch of the supernatural. If you’re missing the Harry Potter gang, this unique travelogue might provide just the right amount of magic to keep you going.
All six episodes arrive on Crave Friday, June 17.
Rise
This uplifting sports movie tells the real-life story of three young Nigerian-Greek brothers who come to the U.S. and find fame in the NBA. Their parents Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo (Dayo Okeniyi and Yetide Badaki, respectively) move to Greece from Nigeria hoping for a chance at a better life for themselves and their sons. With the looming threat of deportation ever-present, thanks to a hard-to-navigate citizenship system, the boys take to the local basketball court to vent their frustrations when they’re not busy trying to make extra money for the family selling souvenirs on the streets of Athens. When they discover they have a natural talent, they work together to overcome all the obstacles to become world-class athletes. It’s an unbelievable story that seems too amazing to be true. But it is.
The film debuts on Disney + Friday, June 24.
Chloe
This six-part series from the BBC is a fierce and refreshing psychological thriller that will keep you guessing throughout. It centres on Becky, a reserved young woman who spends more time living her life vicariously through other people’s social media than she does experiencing it herself. When she discovers one of the women behind a particular Instagram account has died suddenly, Becky assumes a new identity and infiltrates the dead woman’s life in an attempt to find out what happened. But what will she find and will she be able to give up the new exciting life she’s created for herself?
Tune in to see how things play out when Chloe premieres on Amazon Prime Friday, June 24.
Loot
Another new series is coming your way at the end of the month, with a cast of comedic heavy-weights destined to make us laugh. Loot stars Maya Rudolph, alongside Joel Kim Booster (again!), Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Ron Funches and Nat Faxon, as a woman whose life is turned upside down when her husband unexpectedly leaves her $87 billion in his will. Though there’s no trailer for the series yet, with that premise and those names? We cannot wait.
Loot premieres on AppleTV+ on Friday, June 24.
Man Vs. Bee
British comedy legend Rowan Atkinson stars in this unlikely comedy series about a house-sitter and the havoc wreaked upon his life (and the posh mansion he’s sitting) by one stubborn insect. Best known for his role as Mr. Bean, Atkinson has proven to be a deft physical comedian and if the trailer is to be believed, he’s definitely still game for a pratfall or three. We don’t know who will come out on top in this battle of man and winged-beast, but it looks like it will be fun finding out.
Man vs. Bee lands on Netflix on Friday, June 24.
Baymax!
In a move we’re totally in favour of, Big Hero 6’s scene-stealer is getting an animated show of his very own. The six-episode run picks up where the film left off, with the irresistible and adorable inflatable robot continuing his quest to make San Fransoyko a better place by helping its citizens. After all, it’s what Baymax is programmed to do. That said, the loveable healthcare companion often creates more chaos than he intends, leading to startled patients, occasional punctures and a cadre of baffled bystanders. This limited series is definitely one to stream with the whole family.
Baymax! debuts Tuesday, June 29 on Disney+.
HIDDEN GEM: Soap
Not as much a household name as some of its television contemporaries, Soap’s reputation has continued to grow over the years and the series is often seen as being ground-breaking and light years ahead of its time. Created as a satire of the popular daytime soap operas on at the time, the show revolved around two families–one well-to-do, the other working class. Nominated for 17 Emmys over its run, it’s perhaps best-known now for its inclusion of an openly gay character (portrayed by a very young Billy Crystal) at a time when that was a rarity, and for subsequently launching Crystal’s career. Not every moment of the show has withstood the test of time but it’s well worth revisiting.
