From Festive Flicks to Gripping Mysteries: What to Watch This Weekend

If you're the type who shies away from Christmas thoughts until Thanksgiving passes, consider this your preemptive apology. For those already in the festive spirit, we're on your side. Mariah Carey herself has declared that the countdown has commenced, and when it comes to holiday matters, her pronouncement is gospel.

Here's how this impacts your weekend viewing.

An animated short inspired by the true tale of a tiny owl found in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City during 2020 unfolds. The narrative follows Moon, an owl who befriends a little girl named Luna. Their unexpected friendship leads them on a journey, unveiling the enchantment of the season as they seek to reunite with their families. Who can resist a heartwarming family tale? Catch it now on Disney+.

For those leaning towards crime thrillers, Aldis Hodge steps into the shoes of the protagonist in this adaptation of James Patterson’s famed Alex Cross novels. The astute detective employs both his brawn and intellect in his quest for justice. Hodge, no newcomer to television ("Underground") or cinema ("Black Adam"), is poised to captivate a fresh audience. Stream the series on Prime Video.

Turning to cherished sagas, "Dune" enthusiasts have anticipated this eagerly. "Dune: Prophecy" serves as a prequel, set millennia before Paul Atreides, famously portrayed by Timothée Chalamet in the franchise. Women lead the charge in this series based on the 2012 novel "Sisterhood of Dune." The sci-fi series premieres Sunday on Max, under CNN's parent company.

"Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan is a man of many projects. His latest features Oscar-winner Billy Bob Thornton as a land manager amidst the oil industry of West Texas. Thornton revealed to CBS that Sheridan tailored the role specifically for him. "He said, 'I’m going to write it in your voice,'" Thornton recounted. "Reading the script, it felt like, yeah, if I were a landman, I'd aspire to be like that." Given "Yellowstone" and its spin-offs, expect the West Texas landscape to shine alongside Thornton when it premieres Sunday on Paramount+.

If nothing else, the film gifted us the sight of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson masquerading as an Elf on a Shelf for promotional antics. He joins Chris Evans in a film about an E.L.F. Task Force Commander teaming up with a bounty hunter to save Christmas. An action-packed holiday film? Absolutely.