David Farnor | On 30, Jan 2016

February means The Walking Dead for most Sky customers – or, if you don’t want to be tied to a contract, NOW subscribers. Next month will see the £6.99 monthly Entertainment Membership give you access to the second half of AMC’s zombie hit, but the undead are only the half of it, as HBO’s Vinyl, the Limitless TV series, Season 5 of Girls and Alan Partridge all arrive. And that’s before we mention Twin Peaks.

Subscribers to Sky Movies – or NOW’s NOW Cinema Membership (£9.99 a month) – also have some of the last year’s big hits to look forward to, from Mad Max: Fury Road and Tomorrowland: A World Beyond to Fast & Furious 7 and Pitch Perfect 2.

Here’s what’s coming soon to Sky and NOW in February 2016:

TV

Vinyl – 15th February

Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger team up for this HBO mini-series about a record exec trying to resurrect his label. Bobby Cannavale stars, with Scorsese helming the first episode.

The Walking Dead: Season 6 – 15th February

What’s next for Rick and the community of Alexandria? Season 6 of The Walking Dead finally returns at 9pm on 15th February, within 24 hours of its US broadcast. Catch up with the first half by reading our reviews.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Season 3 – 15th February

Missing Jon Stewart? Get your US satire fix with our very own John Oliver, whose solo weekly series never fails to make your brain tick and your sides stitch.

Limitless: Season 1 – 17th February

The CBS spin-off from the excellent 2011 movie, which starred Bradley Cooper, features Jake McDorman (American Sniper) as Brian, a down-on-his-luck musician who struggles to hold down a long-term job. His life, however, is changed when he discovers the brain-boosting power of the mysterious drug NZT. The FBI finds out about Brian and uses his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them. Soon, a powerful partnership forms with himself and Agent Rebecca Harris (Dexter’s Jennifer Carpenter). But unbeknownst to the FBI, he also has a secret relationship with Senator Edward Morra (a guest appearance by Cooper, also an Exec Producer on the show), regular NZT user and someone with plans of his own…

Alan Partridge: Mid Morning Matters: Season 2 – 16th February

Alan Partridge’s small-screen return began as a sponsored web series with Fosters, until Sky snapped up rights to turn them into 30-minute episodes. Now, it returns as a Sky exclusive on Sky Atlantic, with Steve Coogan losing none of his idiotic charm.

Girls: Season 5 – Tuesday 23rd February (10.30pm)

Lena Dunham’s comedy about a group of 20-something friends in New York only has one more season to go after this run, so enjoy it while it lasts on Sky Atlantic.

Sensitive Skin: Season 2 – 11th February

Kim Cattrall reprises her role as Davina in this drama about a woman going through a mid-life crisis. One of Sky Arts’ most prominent series.

Blacklist: Season 3, Part 2 – Date TBC

James Spader returns once more for the second half of this thriller’s third season, which airs on Sky Living.

Californication: Seasons 1 to 7 – 1st February

Need more David Duchovny after watching the revival of The X-Files on Channel 5? Sky and NOW are bringing back the whole of Californication for your binge-viewing please.

Twin Peaks: Season 1 and 2 – 1st February

Before David Lynch’s classic TV show returns in 2017 – exclusively on Sky – catch up with the mystery of Laura Palmer’s death with both seasons of this wonderfully weird drama, which manages to combine small-town community life and old-school synth with logs and cherry pie.

The Frankenstein Chronicles: Season 1 – 1st February

If you missed ITV’s drama starring Sean Bean last year, now’s your chance to rectify that, as the Lord of the Rings star plays an inspector in 19th century London solving crimes in the age of everyone’s favourite unnatural doctor.

Movies

Tomorrowland: A World Beyond – 5th February

Brad Bird’s underrated film follows Casey Newton (Britt Robertson), who finds that she is transported to a futuristic city every time she touches a lapel pin with the letter “T” on it. She tracks down reclusive old scientist Frank Walker (George Clooney) for answers, leading to an unabashedly old-school adventure.

Predestination – 5th February

This stunning indie sci-fi follows a temporal agent (Ethan Hawke) on his final time-travelling assignment to stop a bomber from killing thousands of people. Co-star Sarah Snook steals the whole show, as the film transforms into a gentle study of identity and character.

Fast & Furious 7 – 12th February

This seventh entry in the Fast & Furious franchise makes up for any overblown action with its hugely moving tribute to the late Paul Walker, who passed away during the making of the film.

Pitch Perfect 2 – 19th February

Anna Kendrick returns in this musical sequel, which hits the rights notes, but suffers from an uneven, off-key script.

Unfriended – 19th February

A cyber-bullying victim who was driven to turn a gun on herself after a hounding on social media extracts a gruesome digital revenge in this cyber-thriller.

Barely Lethal – 19th February

Hailee Steinfeld takes the lead in this action comedy about a young agent who fakes her own death to live a normal life in an everyday high-school. Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Alba and Sophie Turner make sure that doesn’t happen.

Mad Max: Fury Road – 26th February

George Miller’s latest entry in the Mad Max series sees Tom Hardy take over Mel Gibson’s role, but its success lies in another character entirely: Imperator Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron, who leads a string of female prisoners in an escape attempt from their sinister overlord, Immortan Joe. Full of practical stunts, dazzling visuals and burning with a feminist message, this is fantastic, eye-boggling stuff.

Far From the Madding Crowd – 26th February

Thomas Vinterberg brings a delicate touch to Thomas Hardy’s tale of a young woman inheriting a farm in rural England, but Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts (as a poor sheep farmer with a crush on her) give this period drama a swooningly modern passion.

Stretch – 26th February

Patrick Wilson plays the eponymous limo driver, who finds himself taking a billionaire (Chris Pine) for a ride to clear his debts. Jessica Alba, Ed Helms and Ray Liotta co-star in this comedy thriller from Joe Carnahan (The Grey).

 

Other films coming soon to NOW in February 2016

Friday 5th February
Return to Sender
Bound to Vengeance

Friday 12th February
Fighting Demons
Exists
Last Knights
Zulu (2013)

Friday 26th February
Unconscious
Inception
The Hangover
Roman Holiday
Dumb and Dumber

 

Main photo: Gene Page/AMC

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