Best new movies and TV series on Neon: April 2023

Neon continues to bring in a convoy of quality shows and films. See our handpicked highlights below followed by the full release schedule.

Top picks: TV

George & Tammy (April 4)

Just who was country queen Tammy Wynette wailing about in her signature ballad “Stand By Your Man”? The year after the track was released, she divorced her ex and married another legend of the genre, George Jones, entering into country music’s most iconic and complex power couple. We’re not sure whether stars Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon have the pipes to tackle Jones and Wynette’s duets, but they’ll certainly act up a storm in this limited series biopic of the pairs’ struggles with fame and addiction. A must-see for fans of country’s golden era.

Barry: Season 4 (April 17)

We’re almost relieved that this is the final season of Bill Hader’s devastating hitman dramedy Barry—the existential guilt of last season was tough on our ruthless anti-hero (Hader) and us, too. Still, it’ll be tough to say goodbye to excellent characters like daggy, redeemed acting coach Gene Cousineau (Harry Winkler), Barry’s self-obsessed on-again-off-again GF Sally (Sarah Goldberg), and my comedic MVP NoHo Hank (Anthony Corrigan). All the murder and self-discovery has been leading to this explosive set of final episodes, and Hader’s directing them all, which is mighty exciting after his Emmy-snubbed scenes of highway chases and devastating kills.

Love & Death (April 28)

This true crime miniseries had to compete with another TV retelling of the exact same sordid story—where Jessica Biel wigged up to play Candy Montgomery in Candy, now it’s Elizabeth Olsen’s turn, albeit with a much more modest set of curly locks. A housewife and devout Christian, Montgomery ruined lives with a cheating scandal and a shocking, axe-swinging murder. Olsen’s typically placid and luminous screen persona will play nicely opposite Jesse Plemons, Candy’s affair partner and the husband of her very best friend (and ultimate victim) Betty Gore. Love & Death comes from TV super-producer David E. Kelley, who’s very used to working with massive stars and larger-than-life material like this.

Top picks: Movies

Ticket to Paradise (April 7)

In this formulaically fun rom-com, Australia’s Sunshine Coast plays Bali, while George Clooney and Julia Roberts play a bitterly divorced pair determined to break up their daughter Kaitlyn Dever’s premature wedding ceremony. She barely knows the dreamy seaweed farmer she’s making a lifelong commitment to, and they’re desperate to ensure she doesn’t make the same marital mistake they did so long ago!! But will the romantic seaside setting bring their former fondness for each other back to the surface? Yeah, absolutely. Everyone watching this knows what’s going to happen, and that’s part of its popcorny charm.

Smile (April 16)

This CGI-laden horror film from last year won’t turn your frown upside down—rather, its tale of a viral, grinning demonic entity will twist any cheery expression towards dark gut feelings of dread. Sosie Bacon stars as a therapist trying to understand and escape contagious visions of smiling, self-harming ghouls in Parker Finn’s surprisingly taut and well-directed debut. Just look at that image from the film’s traumatising trailer: hnnng. Hard to forget once it’s flashed its pearly-whites at you.

Three Thousand Years of Longing (April 30)

This isn’t a simple, palate-cleansing love story by George Miller in between chapters of his Mad Max franchise. Instead, it’s a lush mess of fantasy, stories-within-stories, and Orientalism, starring Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba as a shy academic and the ancient Djinn she now commands. Despite making about three thousand pennies at the box office, Miller’s romantic epic has some stunning moments, and even some cogent commentary on contemporary disconnection: can our redeeming myths of love and power survive in the cruel modern world?