What do you want to watch tonight?
Each title says who it's good for, and who it isn't. Tap what you want tonight, or say no to one and why.
Closest to Firefly first
Return of the Jedi 1983
Film
Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.
The sides of Return of the Jedi
- A rescue from a gangster's palace
- A battle in a forest of small bears
- A son facing his father
Good for you if
- you like Jabba's palace on a desert planet and a forest moon full of Ewoks.
- you like speeder bike chases and a space battle.
- you like a hero who believes there's still good in someone.
Bad for you if
- effects from 1983 feel dated to you.
- you lose track when a film cuts between three battles at once, on Endor, in space and in the Emperor's throne room.
About: redemption · family · hope
Star Trek: Discovery 2017
Series
Follow the voyages of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new life forms, and one Starfleet officer who must learn that to truly understand all things alien, you must first understand yourself.
The sides of Star Trek: Discovery
- A human officer raised by Vulcans
- A starship that jumps on a spore network
- A crew flung far into the future
Good for you if
- you like Starfleet ships, aliens and new worlds.
- you like a crew discovering what lies beyond the known map.
- you like following Michael Burnham's arc more than the mission of the week.
Bad for you if
- you roll your eyes at big emotional speeches on the bridge.
- five seasons is too much for you.
About: identity · exploration · loyalty
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 2023
Film
Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
The sides of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- Rocket's past
- A mad scientist who made him
- A last mission together
Good for you if
- you like a goodbye to a team you've followed for years.
- you like the family jokes one last time.
- you like another mixtape.
Bad for you if
- animal experiments in flashback are too hard for you.
- two and a half hours is too long for your evening.
About: family · cruelty · goodbye
The Empire Strikes Back 1980
Film
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
The sides of The Empire Strikes Back
- Rebels hiding on an ice planet
- Training in a swamp
- A family secret
Good for you if
- you like a revelation that changes how you see the whole saga.
- you like snow planets, swamps and cities in the clouds.
- you like a middle chapter where the heroes lose.
Bad for you if
- effects and pacing from 1980 feel dated to you.
- you need an ending that wraps things up. This one leaves the heroes scattered, waiting for the next film.
About: family · failure · patience
Andor 2022
Series
In an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue, Cassian Andor will discover the difference he can make in the struggle against the tyrannical Galactic Empire. He embarks on a path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
The sides of Andor
- A thief who becomes a rebel
- A prison where inmates build parts for the Empire
- A secret network financing the rebellion
Good for you if
- you like the start of a rebellion told through spies, money and politics.
- you like a slow build told in three-episode arcs, each ending in a big payoff.
- you like long speeches about sacrifice, like Luthen's.
Bad for you if
- you want a light Star Wars adventure with Jedi and fun.
- you need some hope, and here freedom costs nearly everyone something.
About: rebellion · sacrifice · tyranny
Guardians of the Galaxy 2014
Film
Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.
The sides of Guardians of the Galaxy
- Misfits becoming a family
- A 70s mixtape in space
- A talking raccoon and a tree
Good for you if
- you want an adventure that never takes itself too seriously.
- you like a soundtrack of old hits you'll hum for days.
- you like space battles full of colour.
Bad for you if
- you're in the mood for something dark and serious.
- a talking raccoon and a walking tree are too silly for you.
About: found family · loss · belonging
Star Wars 1977
Film
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
The sides of Star Wars
- A farm boy dreaming of the stars
- A princess, a smuggler and a wookiee
- A space station to destroy
Good for you if
- you want the feeling of a whole galaxy opening up.
- you like a universe full of creatures, droids and planets.
- you like a farm boy, a smuggler and a wookiee becoming a crew.
Bad for you if
- effects and pacing from 1977 feel dated to you.
- you need the science to hold up. Here spaceships roar in the vacuum of space.
About: hope · rebellion · destiny
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 2017
Film
The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill's true parentage.
The sides of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- A son meeting his father
- Baby Groot dancing
- A family of misfits arguing
Good for you if
- you want an adventure that keeps the jokes coming.
- you like another mixtape of old hits.
- you like a silly film that turns out to be about fathers.
Bad for you if
- you're in the mood for something dark and serious.
- living planets and a talking raccoon are too silly for you.
About: fathers · family · belonging
Stargate SG-1 1997
Series
The story of Stargate SG-1 begins about a year after the events of the feature film, when the United States government learns that an ancient alien device called the Stargate can access a network of such devices on a multitude of planets. SG-1 is an elite Air Force special operations team, one of more than two dozen teams from Earth who explore the galaxy and defend against alien threats such as the Goa'uld, Replicators, and the Ori.
The sides of Stargate SG-1
- An ancient ring that opens onto other planets
- An Air Force team exploring the galaxy
- Alien parasites posing as gods
Good for you if
- you like a new planet through the Stargate every week.
- you like O'Neill, Carter, Daniel and Teal'c as a team that jokes under fire.
- you like firefights with the Goa'uld between the science.
Bad for you if
- ten seasons is too much for you.
- you find late-90s TV effects dated.
About: exploration · loyalty · ancient myths
Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015
Film
Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers.
The sides of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- A scavenger on a desert planet
- A stormtrooper who walks away
- Old heroes coming back
Good for you if
- you like a scavenger and a runaway stormtrooper becoming friends on the run.
- you like dogfights between X-wings and TIE fighters.
- you like new heroes discovering the Force.
Bad for you if
- you have no patience for space battles, droids and desert planets.
- you need answers. Rey's parents and Luke's exile are left for the next film.
About: legacy · belonging · family
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 2016
Film
A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.
The sides of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- Rebels stealing the plans
- A ragtag team on a one-way mission
- A battle on a tropical beach
Good for you if
- you like a war film inside Star Wars.
- you like heroes who know what it will cost.
- you like a darker, grittier side of the galaxy.
Bad for you if
- you don't care for space. Star Destroyers, X-wings and the Death Star fill the screen.
- two hours and a quarter is a lot for your evening.
About: sacrifice · hope · rebellion
Avengers: Endgame 2019
Film
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
The sides of Avengers: Endgame
- Heroes picking up the pieces
- A heist through time
- Goodbyes to old friends
Good for you if
- you like seeing characters you've followed for years get their goodbye.
- you like every hero getting a moment in the final fight.
- you want armies, alien ships and a battle that fills the whole screen.
Bad for you if
- three hours is a lot for one sitting.
- time travel rules that bend make you itch.
About: grief · sacrifice · family
Star Wars: The Clone Wars 2008
Series
Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu and other Jedi Knights lead the Grand Army of the Republic against the droid army of the Separatists.
The sides of Star Wars: The Clone Wars
- Jedi generals leading clone troopers
- Anakin Skywalker and his apprentice Ahsoka
- A war across many planets
Good for you if
- you like lightsaber duels and space battles in every arc.
- you like exploring the planets and peoples of the Star Wars galaxy.
- you like seeing Ahsoka grow up and Anakin slowly change.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated series.
- seven seasons is too much for you.
About: war · loyalty · duty
Star Wars: The Last Jedi 2017
Film
Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.
The sides of Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- A tired old master on an island
- A fleet running out of fuel
- A red salt planet
Good for you if
- you like red and white images you'll remember.
- you like a Star Wars film that doesn't go where you expect.
- you like heroes who fail and learn from it.
Bad for you if
- two and a half hours is too long for your evening.
- you lose track when a film splits into three stories at once.
About: failure · legacy · hope
Titans 2018
Series
A team of young superheroes led by Nightwing (formerly Batman's first Robin) form to combat evil and other perils.
The sides of Titans
- Batman's first Robin out on his own
- A girl with a darkness inside her
- Young heroes becoming a team
Good for you if
- you like superhero fights that hit hard.
- you want your superheroes dark and damaged.
- you like misfits like Raven, Starfire and Beast Boy becoming a family.
Bad for you if
- you can't stand bloody superhero fights.
- you lose track when a team keeps growing, from Hawk and Dove to Donna Troy and Superboy.
About: found family · identity · trauma
DC's Legends of Tomorrow 2016
Series
When heroes alone are not enough ... the world needs legends. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat — one in which not only is the planet at stake, but all of time itself. Can this ragtag team defeat an immortal threat unlike anything they have ever known?
The sides of DC's Legends of Tomorrow
- A team of misfit heroes and villains on a time ship
- Missions in the Old West, Camelot and the 1980s
- An assassin who becomes the captain
Good for you if
- you like superheroes who never take themselves seriously.
- you like a big crew of heroes and ex-villains sharing one time ship.
- you want a show that goes sillier every season.
Bad for you if
- seven seasons of time missions is too much for you.
- you need time travel rules that hold together.
About: found family · second chances · time
The Mandalorian 2019
Series
After the fall of the Galactic Empire, lawlessness has spread throughout the galaxy. A lone gunfighter makes his way through the outer reaches, earning his keep as a bounty hunter.
The sides of The Mandalorian
- A bounty hunter protecting a small green child
- A western in space
- A helmet that never comes off
Good for you if
- you want Star Wars you can share with kids, with Grogu along for the ride.
- you like gunfights in the style of old westerns.
- you like the edges of the Star Wars galaxy.
Bad for you if
- you want long conversations, and Mando speaks in few words between gunfights.
- you watch for a lead actor's face. Mando almost never takes off his helmet.
About: fatherhood · honour · belonging
The Book of Boba Fett 2021
Series
Legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand must navigate the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.
The sides of The Book of Boba Fett
- Boba Fett taking over Jabba's palace
- The crime families of Tatooine
- A past with the Tusken Raiders
Good for you if
- you like Tatooine, its Tusken Raiders and its cantinas.
- you like a bounty hunter with a jetpack and a blaster.
- you like a gangster story where Boba Fett tries to rule with respect.
Bad for you if
- you need momentum, and the early episodes move between Tatooine politics and long flashbacks with the Tuskens.
- you watch for sharp dialogue, and Boba Fett is a man of very few words.
About: power · respect · belonging
Cowboy Bebop 1998
Anime
In 2071, roughly fifty years after an accident with a hyperspace gateway made the Earth almost uninhabitable, humanity has colonized most of the rocky planets and moons of the Solar System. Amid a rising crime rate, the Inter Solar System Police (ISSP) set up a legalized contract system, in which registered bounty hunters, also referred to as "Cowboys", chase criminals and bring them in alive in return for a reward.
The sides of Cowboy Bebop
- Bounty hunters on a ship called the Bebop
- A jazz and blues score
- A past in a crime syndicate
Good for you if
- you like jazz and blues running through every episode.
- you like bounty hunters chasing a new criminal across the solar system each episode.
- you like gunfights and martial arts in a space western.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch anime.
- you need cheerful endings, and many episodes close on a lonely, melancholy note.
About: the past · loneliness · freedom
Star Trek Into Darkness 2013
Film
When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.
The sides of Star Trek Into Darkness
- A terrorist from inside Starfleet
- Kirk and Spock's friendship tested
- A ship falling to Earth
Good for you if
- you like fast space action.
- you want a fun adventure with a familiar crew.
Bad for you if
- you want a patient, talky voyage. This one races from an erupting volcano to a manhunt on the Klingon homeworld.
- you can't take the noise. A starship crashes through San Francisco at the end.
About: friendship · revenge · duty