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On Demand: What's New To Netflix And Redbox For June 2014

Taylor Quimby

If you subscribe to Netflix Instant you already know that its selection is vast, but finding something you really want to watch can still be a challenge.  There are dozens of new titles added every month, and although  many of them aren't exactly fresh, there's still plenty worth watching, even if it is for the second time. Here are a few of the best Netflix offerings for June, both new and old.

Orange is The New Black: Season 2

Netflix may not have a lot of new movies to offer this month, and I'll get to that in a bit, but they're making up for it by serving up the highly-anticipated second season of their original show, Orange is the New Black.  Available June 6th.

Sherlock: Season 3

For fans of this BBC detective drama starring Bilbo Baggins and Smaug the dragon, here's another reason to spend the weekend locked indoors.  Available now.

Carrie (1976)

It's still super creepy, and there's no better time to appreciate a cult classic than after the release of a questionable remake.  Just be glad prom season is over. Available now.

Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Before Jack Bauer, there was Jack Ryan.  A good movie to watch with your dad this Father's Day. Available now.

Credit Taylor Quimby
The second season of Orange is the New Black is available on Netflix Instant on June 6th. #BingewatchTime

Cold Mountain (2003)

The Oscar-winning Civil War drama starring just about everyone in Hollywood, and musician Jack White. Available now.

World War Z (2013)

A smarter zombie movie than most (though not nearly as smart as the book) this is the biggest blockbuster film being released this month on Netflix. Available June 13th.

Oldboy (2013)

Spike Lee's remake of the South Korean cult classic, Oldeuboi.  Critics generally agree that this one didn't live up to the original, but fans of Lee and Chan Wook-Park's may want to weigh-in if they haven't seen it yet.  If you'd rather watch the original, it's available on Netflix Instant as well. Available June 17th.

The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

An adorable animated feature from France, with limited subtitles, and a great soundtrack.  It's an overused phrase, but hey, this one's fun for the whole family.

Redbox

If you've ever wanted to see the world's most diverse collection of straight-to-DVD horror films, just head to your neighborhood Redbox.  That being said, Redbox also tends to score high profile movies before they get to Netflix.  If you're new to the world of the movie-rental kiosk, go to redbox.com to find a booth close to home.  While there, you can browse the selections and reserve the film in advance.  It's worth doing, especially on a crowded Friday or Saturday night when the person in front of you might rent the one movie you were dying to see.  Here are three movies coming to Redbox this month that you might want to check out:

1. Her (2013) 

Directed by oddball auteur Spike Jonze, and starring Joaquin Phoenix's mustache and Scarlett Johansson's voice, this Academy Award Best Picture nominee is probably the one you were least likely to see in theaters. It's about a lonely writer who falls in love with his new, artificially intelligent operating system. Just think Siri, with a little more personality. While it's hard to imagine that their relationship works out in the end, Jonze has a way of defying expectations.  Available on June 10th.

Credit Taylor Quimby

2. How I Live Now (2013) 

Another unusual love story from a compelling director, Kevin Macdonald, How I Live Now stars Irish actress Saoirse Ronan as a young American girl vacationing in England when World War III breaks out. Unfortunate timing, but good for the sake of drama.  Having been made in the UK, this film seems to have been overlooked by American audiences.  Solid reviews and an apocalyptic premise that doesn't beat you over the head with the apocalypse part makes it a good option for movie night. Available on June 10th.

3. Joe (2013)

At his best, Nicolas Cage is one of my favorite actors (remember Adaptation, Wild at Heart, and Leaving Las Vegas), but like a brood of cicadas, Cage's acting chops only emerge once every few years.  So, when Nicolas Cage bothers to turn out a good performance the critics notice.  As the title character in Joe, Cage plays one of those good bad guys we all love nowadays, and more than one reviewer has called it "a return to form".  That makes it worth watching in my book. Available on June 17th.

You can listen to my conversation with Virginia about the movies coming to Redbox and Netflix Instant this month right here:

And for more musings on the world of film and television, here's a link to my Tumblr, Abbrev. Movie Reviews.

Each month, we're asking readers and listeners to contribute their thoughts to an unofficial film-related poll. Here's this month's question: If, for the rest of your life, you could only watch movies or television programs, which would you choose?  Share your thoughts in the comments below, or by calling our listener line at 603 223 2448.

Correction:  An earlier version of this post said that the 2nd season of Orange is the New Black was already available.  It will not become available until June 6th.

Taylor Quimby is Supervising Senior Producer of the environmental podcast Outside/In, Producer/Reporter/Host of Patient Zero, and Senior Producer of the serialized true crime podcast Bear Brook.
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