Craving an escape this summer but just can’t get away? Our writers have found the best original series and movies that will make you feel like you’re on vacation, take you out of this world, or sweep you away to another time and place.
Old Enough!
Though the idea of sending a three-year-old to the supermarket by themselves might seem terrifying, the Japanese documentary series Old Enough! is hardly a white-knuckle experience. It’s a sweet and watchable show showcasing the kids’ natural charisma.
The Essex Serpent
Like the mythical creature of the title, The Essex Serpent slowly draws you out to sea and before you know it you’re in deep, totally immersed.
Pachinko
Pachinko is a beautiful, sweeping, historic epic spanning generations as one family faces wars, strife, peace, and its own complex legacy.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
If you love the idea of an old-fashioned Star Trek that lives up to today’s standards of inclusion and diversity (so, minus the ‘60s sexism), this is going to be right up your alley.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a fun time filled with impressive acting by its talented cast. Between the laughs, heartfelt moments, and action, this flick checks off all the genres in Cage’s filmography.
Parallels
This French time-travel series on Disney+ has been compared to Stranger Things and Dark, but you can actually watch it with your kids.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All At Once is a collage of farce, action, sci-fi, and metaphysical drama that’s entertaining, yet not overdone.
Moon Knight
The first Disney+ series to introduce a character we haven’t already met in the MCU, Moon Knight throws everything at the wall, and most of it sticks thanks to a diligent and dedicated creative team.
Bridgerton
Emmy nominated for Best Drama and Best Actor (Regé-Jean Page), this sexy, modern, and diverse take on Regency romance is a delightful departure from the traditional. Yet it still has enough conventional elements to appeal to fans of classic Jane Austen.
Our Flag Means Death
Our Flag Means Death is a fun escape into the absurd, and we could all use a reminder that even in the 1700s people had mid-life crises and needed to escape reality as much as we do today.
The Worst Person in the World
The Worst Person in the World is a fluidly told story not about love, but instead about self-awareness, acceptance, and the persistent insecurity that accompanies the pursuit of both.
The Alpinist
Joie de vivre never looked so effortless as it does in The Alpinist. While the spectacular cinematography wows the senses, the beautiful character portrait at its core of an eccentric, backwoods mountain climber stirs the humanity in us all.
