Tag Archives: December 20

Streaming Video News: December 20, 2024

I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with today’s debut of the Original music documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous. Netflix also announced the first two Original premiere dates for 2025. Vikramaditya Motwane’s drama series Black Warrant comes out on January 10, and the celebrity docu-series The Roshans releases on January 17. I wrote a preview of Black Warrant for What’s on Netflix.

In other Netflix news, I was recently a guest on an episode of the Bollywood Drafts podcast where we ranked the Top 10 Netflix Original Hindi Films. I had so much fun talking with Suchin and Cris about their favorites — including some intriguing movies that I Whathaven’t seen — and I appreciate host Manish for having my back on a controversial pick. 🙂 Without spoiling the final rankings, here was the Top 10 list I assembled before the recording (title links go to the Netflix entry, star links go to my review):

  1. Bulbbul (2020) — ★★★★
  2. Amar Singh Chamkila (2024) — ★★★★
  3. Jaane Jaan (2023) — ★★★★
  4. AK vs AK (2020) — ★★★½
  5. CTRL (2024) — ★★★½
  6. Brahman Naman (2016) — ★★★½
  7. Ludo (2020) — ★★★½
  8. Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) — ★★★½
  9. Sector 36 (2024) — ★★★½
  10. Monica, O My Darling (2022) — ★★★½

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Hulu with the addition of the Marathi series Lagnanantar Hoilach Prem.

I’m going to take most of the rest of 2024 off for the holidays. It’s a good time, too, since things look very quiet on the streamers for the next two weeks. I expect to see Singham Again debut on Amazon Prime on the afternoon of Thursday, December 26. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 should come out on Netflix on the same day, which is also when the Tamil film Sorgavaasal is scheduled to debut.

After the new year starts, it’s time to review some final movies before making my Best and Worst of 2024 lists. I’m considering box office blockbusters like Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, plus Fighter, Bad Newz, and Baby John (though that likely won’t stream until late February). I’m also interested in theatrical releases Jigra and Madgaon Express and OTT exclusives Sikander Ka Muqaddar and Despatch. Which titles should I prioritize? Anything I’ve left off of your must-watch list?

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks for another great year at Access Bollywood! — Kathy

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Opening December 20: Dabangg 3

Chulbul Pandey faces his toughest challenge yet — taking on a Star Wars film at the box office. Dabangg 3 opens on December 20, 2019, in 294 theaters across North America, with 8 of those in the Chicago area.

Dabangg 3 opens Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, AMC Niles 12 in Niles, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, Regal Round Lake Beach in Round Lake Beach, AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, Regal Cantera in Warrenville, AMC Naperville 16 in Naperville, and AMC Woodridge 18 in Woodridge. Its streaming partner is Amazon Prime, and it has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 20 min.

Mardaani 2 gets a second week at MovieMax, South Barrington 24, and Cantera.

Pati Patni Aur Woh carries over at MovieMax and the South Barrington 24, which also holds onto Panipat.

Other Indian movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend (all films have English subtitles):

Opening December 20: Dhoom 3

2013 goes out with a bang when Dhoom 3 releases on December 20.

Dhoom 3 opens on Friday in seven Chicago area theaters, several of which are devoting multiple screens to the action blockbuster: AMC River East 21 in Chicago, Regal Gardens Stadium 1-6 in Skokie, Big Cinemas Golf Glen 5 in Niles, AMC Loews Crestwood 18 in Crestwood, AMC South Barrington 30 in South Barrington, AMC Loews Woodridge 18 in Woodridge, and Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 53 min. The Golf Glen 5 will also carry the Tamil-dubbed version of the film.

This weekend, the Golf Glen 5 will also carry the Tamil movies Biriyani and Endrendrum Punnagai.