By Stacy Lee Kong

There are plenty of TV shows and movies coming to all our favourite streaming services in the coming month, including Hocus Pocus 2, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, season 3 of Central Park, American Gigolo and Blonde. Here’s what else we’re recommending on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, CBC Gem, Crave, Disney+ and Netflix Canada in September 2022.

Prime Video

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Premieres September 2) 

Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this epic drama will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism (Premieres September 30) 

The year is 1988. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to act...different. She's moody, she's irritable and bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she's nearby. Abby's investigation leads her to some startling discoveries-and by the time their story reaches its terrifying conclusion, the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single question: Is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil?

The Capture, Season 2 (Premieres September 30) 

The second season of The Capture returns! Invisible assassins stalk London, and DCI Rachel Carey is drawn into a case involving a rising politician that brings greater risks than she first imagines.

Apple TV+

Central Park, Season 3 (Premieres September 9) 

In the third season of Central Park, as Bitsy continues her relentless pursuit to buy the park, Owen embarks on a new promotional campaign to make more people fall in love with it, and Paige finds herself busier than ever when she lands her first book deal.

Gutsy (Premieres September 9) 

A highly anticipated eight-part documentary event following Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton as they celebrate the gutsy women who inspire them. Based on the Clintons’ acclaimed New York Times bestselling book, The Book of Gutsy Women, the docuseries features Hillary and Chelsea as they embark on a thought-provoking journey to speak with pioneering women artists, activists, community leaders and everyday heroes who show us what it truly means to be gutsy. The series shows Hillary and Chelsea as you’ve never seen them before, revealing their special mother-daughter bond and the unique, multi-generational way they approach the important and timely issues highlighted in each episode.

Sidney (Premieres September 23) 

From producer Oprah Winfrey, this revealing documentary, directed by Reginald Hudlin, honours the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the centre of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring candid interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Spike Lee and many more, the film is also produced by Derik Murray, in close collaboration with the Poitier family.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever (Premieres September 30) 

To show support for his neighbourhood friends serving in Vietnam, Chickie Donohue (Zac Efron) decides to do something totally outrageous: travel to the frontline by himself to bring the soldiers a little piece of home — their favourite can of American beer. However, what started as a well-meaning journey quickly turns into the adventure of a lifetime as Chickie confronts the reality of this controversial war and his reunions with his childhood buddies thrust him into the complexities and responsibilities of adulthood. Based on an incredible true story, The Greatest Beer Run Ever is a heartfelt coming-of-age tale about friendship, loyalty and sacrifice.

CBC Gem

Fakes (Premieres September 1)

Created by David Turko and presented by CBC Gem and Netflix, Fakes is the story of two best friends who accidentally build one of the largest fake ID empires in North America. They move into a downtown penthouse, have more cash than they know what to do with, and then get raided by the feds. One of them goes to jail, the other doesn’t. This is the story of their ultimate betrayal, told through each of their POVs with regular fourth wall breaks. A comedy-drama with two unreliable narrators who are both competing for the last word, Fakes was shot and is set across Metro Vancouver. Starring Emilija Baranac (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Jennifer Tong (Grand Army) and Richard Harmon (The 100).

Islands (Premieres September 1)

Nominated in three categories at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards, this coming-of-middle-age film follows a timid Filipino immigrant struggling with the care of an elderly parent while managing his first experience with love. Islands, which premiered at SXSW in 2021, is the debut feature from Filipino-Canadian filmmaker Martin Edralin, who wrote, directed, and produced the film.

Noughts + Crosses, Season 2 (Premieres September 7)

Jack Rowan and Masali Baduza return as star-crossed lovers Callum and Sephy, now desperately attempting to flee Albion in search of a new life together, while the city they left behind ignites in the wake of Sephy's 'kidnap' and the devastating events of the first season. Season 2 dives straight back into the dangerous, alternate world of Malorie Blackman's bestselling novel series and the irresistible, forbidden love story at its heart.

Burnout: The Truth About Work (Premieres September 16)

Technology was supposed to free up our time to do the things we enjoy. But we are busier than ever, working longer hours, with 24/7 communication access, chasing ever-increasing targets. Why do we work, and why do we work more than ever? This film explores how overwork is killing us and destroying the planet, and reveals what we can do about it. To save ourselves, we have to return to the past and look to other cultures around the world so that we can learn to relax again.

Lido TV (Premieres September 23)

Making its world premiere at TIFF 2022, LIDO TV is a variety show with a mission: to help people cope with life in a world that sometimes feels like it’s falling apart, filled with hilarious sketches, inspiring interviews, immersive documentaries, surreal animations, and puppets. At the centre of it all is host Lido Pimienta, the award-winning Colombian-Canadian musician, artist and mother whose hilarious, curious, and tender personality drives the action. The series tackles themes ranging from feminism and privilege to colonialism and success, and features appearances by Nelly Furtado; musicians Shad and Kittie; writer Sarah Hagi; NorBlack NorWhite co-founder Mriga Kapadiya; and artists jes sachse and Jessica Karuhanga.

Virgins! (Premieres September 27)

Set in Toronto, virgins! is a dramatic comedy created by Aden Abebe that follows the lives of four 20-something year-old women who are too modest for the big city and too provocative for the East-African homes they come from. Doe-eyed in-betweeners, they are not just virgins in the biblical sense but in life experience as well. The show follows Aby [the Analytical-Intellectual virgin], Amina [the Apprehensive-Queer virgin], Delina [the Bride-of-Christ virgin], and Sara [the Family-Honour virgin] as they awkwardly navigate through an infinite number of adult experiences they were never prepared for: starting their careers; dodging workplace politics; dating & relationships; and of course, sex. 

Dreams in Vantablack (Premieres September 29)

Twelve Black youth poets reach within to make sense of a world that has often silenced them, revealing their truths on bullying, mental health, racism and more. Told through a wide array of animation styles DREAMS IN VANTABLACK brings to life poems that teeter between disaster and a dream.

The Passionate Eye - The Pretendians (Premieres September 30)

Anishinaabe author, humourist and playwright, Drew Hayden Taylor, tackles one of the most controversial topics in the world today: What does it mean to be Indigenous and who is entitled to claim that identity.

Crave Canada

1 Queen, 5 Queers (Premieres September 1)

World-renowned drag queen and Canada’s Drag Race judge Brooke Lynn Hytes moderates in-depth, authentic, and oftentimes hilarious, conversations with panelists—as well as new voices from the LGBTQ2S+ community—about queer life, and culture. Building on the compelling, honest, and unfiltered discussions from Season 1, topics covered in Season 2 include: dating, drag, kinks and fetishes, aging, lifestyle, stereotypes, accomplishments, mental health and self-care.

American Gigolo (Premieres September 9) 

A present-day reimagining of the iconic 1980 film, Showtime’s eight-episode series follows Julian Kaye (Jon Bernthal) after his wrongful conviction release from 15 years in prison as he navigates his complicated relationships with his former lover Michelle, his troubled mother and the people who betrayed him. While Kaye struggles to reconcile the escort he was in the past, and the man he is today, Detective Sunday (Rosie O'Donnell) seeks the truth about the murder that sent Julian to prison all those years ago, unearthing a much larger conspiracy along the way.

The Serpent Queen (Premieres September 11)

A cunning account of one of the most influential women ever to wear a crown: Catherine de Medici. Considered an immigrant, common and plain, de Medici (Samantha Morton) is married into the 16th century French court as an orphaned teenager expected to bring a fortune in dowry, and produce many heirs, only to discover that her husband is in love with an older woman, her dowry is unpaid, and she's unable to conceive. Yet, only with her intelligence and determination, she manages to keep her marriage alive and masters the bloodsport that is the monarchy better than anyone else, ruling France for 50 years.

Los Espookys, Season 2 (Premieres September 16)

The critically acclaimed series follows a group of friends who turn their shared passion for horror into a peculiar business, providing horror to clients who need it, in a dreamy Latin American country where the strange and eerie are just a part of daily life.

Ramy, Season 3 (Premieres September 30)

The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series Ramy returns for its third season, and continues to follow first-generation, Egyptian-American Ramy Hassan (Youssef) and his family as they navigate spirituality in their politically divided New Jersey neighbourhood. Ramy also continues to bring new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it’s like to be caught between a religious community who believes life is a moral test, and a millennial generation that doubts an afterlife even exists.

Disney+ Canada

Pinocchio (Premieres September 8) 

Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis directs this live action and CGI retelling of the beloved tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto, the woodcarver who builds and treats Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) as if he were his real son. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his "conscience"; Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo is the Blue Fairy; Keegan-Michael Key is "Honest" John; Academy Award® nominee Lorraine Bracco is Sofia the Seagull, a new character, and Luke Evans is The Coachman.

Hocus Pocus 2 (Premieres September 30) 

The live-action comedy Hocus Pocus 2 is a haunting sequel to the 1993 Halloween cult classic which brings back the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters for more comedic mayhem. It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.

Netflix Canada

Love in the Villa (Premieres September 1)

Julie's dream trip to Verona, Italy, turns star-crossed when she discovers her rented villa is already occupied by an annoyingly attractive stranger.

Devil in Ohio (Premieres September 2)

Determined to protect a young patient who escaped a mysterious cult, a psychiatrist takes the girl in, putting her own family — and life — in danger.

Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, Season 2 (Premieres September 2)

In a season of fresh starts, the wives redefine relationships, careers and personal goals — all with their signature mix of cheeky quips and camaraderie.

Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy (Premieres September 6)

Sheng Wang makes his Netflix comedy special debut in Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy, marking Ali Wong’s directorial debut and filmed at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles. Sheng finds magic in the mundane as he discusses the upside to owning a juicer you don’t use, the secret to his posture, his heist dream team and much more.

End of the Road (Premieres September 9)

Recently widowed mom Brenda (Queen Latifah) fights to protect her family during a harrowing road trip when a murder and a missing bag of cash plunge them into danger.

Jo Koy: Live from the Los Angeles Forum (Premieres September 13)

Returning to Netflix for his fourth original special, Jo Koy takes the stage at the iconic Los Angeles Forum. True to form, Jo gushes about his relationship with his teenage son along with sharing the struggles of living with sleep apnea and more.

Sins of Our Mother (Premieres September 14)

Lori Vallow was known to friends and family as a devoted mother of three, a loving wife, and a woman of God. But over the past three years, something went very wrong: Now Lori is in jail, waiting to stand trial for conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her fourth husband, her fifth husband’s wife, and her two youngest children. For the first time, Lori’s surviving son Colby steps forward to provide exclusive insight into his family’s backstory as well as their present-tense narrative as Lori faces justice. At the heart of this three-part series is a single burning question: how did a seemingly normal woman become the most notorious mother in America?

Do Revenge (Premieres September 16)

After a clandestine run-in, Drea (Alpha, fallen it girl) and Eleanor (beta, new alt girl) team up to go after each other’s tormentors. Do Revenge is a subverted Hitchcock-ian dark comedy featuring the scariest protagonists of all: teenage girls.

Love is Blind: After the Altar (Premieres September 16)

After the experiment, reality comes into focus. What happened to the couples and singles from Love is Blind season two after the weddings? Love is truly blind, but is the future blurry? Follow the stories of Jarrette, Iyanna, Deepti, Shayne, Natalie and more when Love is Blind: After the Altar (S2) premieres September 16th.

Designing Miami (Premieres September 21)

Miami's two hottest designers aren't just competitors, they're also husband and wife. Eilyn and Ray Jimenez are making South Florida chicer one house at a time - she with a minimalist aesthetic and he with a more maximalist approach. Juggling the needs of their deep pocketed clients, their staffs of young designers, their close-knit families (some of whom are also contractors) and their relationship with each other isn't easy, but this talented, stylish duo manages to pull it off while always maintaining a healthy sense of humor.

The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist (Premieres September 21)

First there was the reality series, then a Hollywood movie. But the truth has never been told… until now. 10 years after the notorious events, the culprits have done their jail time and are ready to tell the real story of the outrageous heists that gripped the nation. This series will reveal how celebrity obsession and the rise of social media played an integral part in their motivations and serve as a cautionary tale to today’s teenagers.

Lou (Premieres September 23)

A storm rages. A young girl is kidnapped. Her mother teams up with the mysterious woman next door to pursue the kidnapper – a journey that tests their limits and exposes shocking secrets from their pasts.

Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy (Premieres September 27)

After performing stand-up for 20 years, Nick Kroll makes his Netflix stand-up special debut with Little Big Boy. Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC, in a set that is hilarious with an emotional undercurrent, Nick shows a bit of his vulnerable side as he talks getting his heart broken for the first time at the ripe age of 33, the power of mothers, his journey to fatherhood, and the trick to farting without making any noise … and much more. The special is executive produced by Kroll, John Irwin, Casey Spira and Christie Smith. It is directed by Bill Benz.

Blonde (Premieres September 28)

Based on the bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates, this boldly reimagined fictional portrait of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe stars Ana de Armas.

Entergalactic (Premieres September 30)

From the minds of Kid Cudi and Kenya Barris comes a story of two young artists navigating the twists and turns of finding love in New York City.

Rainbow (Premieres September 30)

A modern tale of a teenager’s coming-of-age journey loosely inspired by the classic novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.