New albums from Lizzo and Death Cab for Cutie, along with the streaming debut of the animated hit "Hoppers", are among the entertainment highlights this week.
New Movies to Stream from June 1-7
With strong reviews and solid ticket sales, "Hoppers" stands out as one of the better-received Pixar originals in recent years. This zany body-swapping comedy about environmental protection arrives on Disney+ on June 3. The story follows Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda) as she attempts to defend a pristine pond from development by the local mayor (Jon Hamm). When she transforms, or 'hops,' into the body of a robotic beaver, the adventure truly begins. AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr described it as a 'buoyant, freewheeling adventure.'
On June 5, Netflix releases "Office Romance", a workplace romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso). Lopez plays the chief executive of an airline who falls for the company's new lawyer, played by Goldstein, who also co-wrote the film with Ted Lasso co-creator Joe Kelly.
Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson continues his documentary series exploring music history with "Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World)". This tribute to the iconic Chicago group debuts on HBO and HBO Max on June 7, shortly after its premiere at the Tribeca Festival.
Harry Lighton's "Pillion" arrives on HBO Max on June 5, offering one of the most memorable love stories in recent years. Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård star as an unlikely BDSM couple: one sings barbershop quartet, the other is a gruff biker. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle praised the film as a portrait of a relationship 'in the extreme, one that ultimately, like any other, is guided by needs and wants.'
New Music to Stream from June 1-7
It has been four years since Lizzo last released a full-length project, Special, which was led by the ubiquitous funk-pop hit "About Damn Time". This time, she promises 'good, clean fun' on her new album, suggestively titled "B----". Led by the '80s ballad "Don't Make Me Love U", it's clear she remains focused on crafting big pop songs.
Death Cab for Cutie's upcoming studio album, "I Built You A Tower", draws inspiration from two main sources: the end of anniversary tours for their career-defining albums Transatlanticism (2003) and Plans (2005), which revitalized their songwriting, and frontman Ben Gibbard's personal separation and eventual divorce. 'I was doing a lot of context switching,' Gibbard told the AP. 'I started to write a lot about how we contextualize, compartmentalize, specifically our grief.' The result is an album that showcases the band's signature human touch.
Among former One Direction members, Niall Horan has stayed truest to the boy band's propulsive pop-rock sound, but his matured work is far from derivative. His fourth solo album, "Dinner Party", draws inspiration from the place where he met his long-term partner, with Damien Rice as a main influence. The songs are dreamy and romantic.
Vince Staples kicked off his new era with "Blackberry Marmalade", his first solo track in two years. This heavy introduction to his hyper-independent album "Cry Baby", out Friday, features noise-rock, critical messaging ('Empires build on bloodstained ground,' he opens the first verse), and a music video styled like a first-person shooter game. The even darker follow-up "White Flag" continues this direct approach from the inventive, often surrealist artist.
New Series to Stream from June 1-7
For many, summer isn't just about warm weather and school breaks—it's also the return of "Love Island USA". The new season begins airing five nights a week on Peacock starting Tuesday. Over approximately six weeks, scantily clad single contestants are sequestered in a villa in Fiji, where they must couple up or face elimination. The last couple standing wins a cash prize.
AMC has renamed the third season of "Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire" to "The Vampire Lestat", focusing on Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) as he shares his story. Unhappy with how he was portrayed in Daniel Molloy's book, Lestat forms a rock band and goes on tour, craving attention and admiration. AMC is leaning into Lestat's music, making it available on streaming apps. Fun fact: Reid performed his own songs. The Vampire Lestat premieres Sunday, June 7, on AMC and AMC+.
New Video Games to Play from June 1-7
Amid the noise and chaos of modern culture, sometimes a quiet puzzle is just what you need. Belgium's Business Goose Games offers "Swan Song", a music box with two compartments: one contains sheet music, the other a maze. Players must choose the right notes to make each maze solvable. The developer's previous mellow brainteaser, Sizeable, found an enthusiastic audience, and this new puzzler has a similar vibe. Open the box on Thursday, June 4, on PC or Mac.
