Movies to catch, books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your ears this season.

Movies

PIKE RIVER

Even before the standing ovation at its world première in Sydney, this film on the fight to find justice for the 29 victims of the Pike River Mine tragedy was the most anticipated Kiwi drop of 2025. A who’s who of New Zealand cinema is behind the production, which is helmed by Rob Sarkies and stars Melanie Lynskey as Anna Osborne and Robyn Malcolm as Sonya Rockhouse. Lucy Lawless gets a look-in too. In response to demand, a series of premières and special screenings are scheduled ahead of the film’s nationwide release on October 30. The Isaac Theatre Royal will host Christchurch’s première on October 16.

REGRETTING YOU

Fans and new readers embraced with equal verve Colleen Hoover’s 2019 novel ‘Regretting You’. The book rose above cliché in its depiction of a mother/daughter relationship already under duress when a sudden accident robs them of their husband, father and foil. Now we get the film version, starring Allison Williams as Morgan Grant and Mckenna Grace as her daughter, Clara. Perfect fare for a girls’ night out at the movies.

ANDY WARHOL: AMERICAN DREAM

He’s had more than 15 minutes of fame and death has done little to slow his trajectory. The pioneer of pop art and the man behind Velvet Underground’s ‘Banana’ album is the subject of this doco, which explores the influence on his work of Andy Warhol’s immigrant-family backstory. It’s a long way from the eastern Slovak village of Miková to the penthouses of Fifth Avenue. Turning the American Dream back on itself in his celebrations of mass consumerism in turn made Andy an iteration of that dream.  

Bingewatching

THE LOWDOWN: SEASON 1

First up, it’s got Ethan Hawke, who only looks better as he gets older. He plays Lee Raybon, a bookshop manager who moonlights as an investigative journalist out to expose the local ‘Mr Bigs’ and their corrupt cronies in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Second, the eight-part series is created, written and directed by Sterlin Harjo, who collabed with Taika Waititi on breakout comedy series ‘Reservation Dogs’. So expect that trademark blend of funny dark bits and dark funny bits. 

THE DIPLOMAT: SEASON 3

If you are already a follower of Keri Russell’s career US diplomat Kate Wyler, you will be booking a date with your favourite bingeing device when this one drops in mid-October. For the uninitiated, it’s ‘West Wing’ in the State Department – it’s even got some of our favourite West Wingers in Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford. Protagonist Kate has plenty of upside potential in her career this season after the Shakespearean conclusion to Season 2. 

STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5

It made the 1980s cool again and saved the share price of a faltering Netflix – sci-fi psycho drama ‘Stranger Things’ has held us in its Upside Down grip since 2016. In the fifth and final season, the stage is set for the denouement. The hunt is on to find and kill the people-slaying creature of Season 4; the military sets up shop in Hawkins and begins hunting Eleven; and a final battle looms near the anniversary of Will's disappearance.

Reading

ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER: LOVE, LOSS, AND LIBERATION – ELIZABETH GILBERT

Surely every one of the 30 million people who bought, read and loved ‘Eat, Pray Love’ are going to want to know how the story ends. Elizabeth Gilbert takes up her tale after the runaway success of her 2006 memoir with a compelling account of fame wrecking her marriage, a new relationship that redefines toxic, and her coming-out as a sex addict. So will Julia Roberts be back to play Gilbert in the movie?

THE WOMEN OF WILD HILL – KIRSTEN MILLER 

Finally, a book that takes an honest, sympathetic look at the plight of today’s witch as she wages war on the patriarchy while at the same time just trying to survive it. Throw in a family destiny and the call of ancestral land, mix with a comedic touch and you have another satisfying read from the author of ‘Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books’.  

SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE TE KŌRERO I TŌKU REO – MIKE McROBERTS

The 2022 documentary ‘Kia Ora, Good Evening’ followed journalist and TV presenter Mike McRoberts as he reconnected with his Māori whakapapa and connected for the first time with te reo, the language he had grown up ashamed at not knowing. Now we get the book, in which McRoberts gives a fuller account of his journey to speak te reo Māori and reclaim his identity. It’s a positive message, with McRoberts inviting all New Zealanders to take the first step to understanding why speaking te reo and treasuring Māori culture matter.

Listening

TRACE – RHIAN SHEEHAN & ARLI LIBERMAN

From being a darling of the dancehall demi-monde, Rhian Sheehan has slipped into the shadows recently while being busy writing music for movies. Here he teams up with guitarist and fellow knob-twiddler Arli Liberman on an album of electronic, ambient and post-rock soundscapes. Yes it’s like the soundtrack to a film we haven’t seen yet but no shame in that. The usual suspects show up in the credits – Lee Prebble, Simon Gooding, Tiki Taane, Riki Gooch ...

SAVING GRACE – ROBERT PLANT

A new Robert Plant album with a brand-new band. The diverse bunch of minstrels came together in the English countryside during the enforced containment of Covid. Recorded over six years in the Cotswolds and on the Welsh Borders, the album is a haunting anthology of songs by Memphis Minnie, Bob Mosley (Moby Grape), Blind Willie Johnson, The Low Anthem, Martha Scanlan, Sarah Siskind, and Low.

FIFTH SEASON – KORA

It’s been 13 years since their last album dropped and there’s been a few changes along the way but it’s still Kora as we know and love them. The lineup is a seven-piece now, with Fran and Stu Kora, Dan McGruer and Richie Allan being joined by Darren Mathiassen (Trinity Roots, Shapeshifter) on drums, Marika Hodgson (Hollie Smith, Troy Kingi, Alae) on bass, and Karlos Tunks (Troy Kingi, MMQ) on rhythm guitar and BVs. And co-founder Laughton Kora returns for the reggae anthem in waiting ‘Revolution'. Chur!

PODCASTS

UNICORN GIRL

From the woman who brought you ‘Scamanda’ comes another tale in which nothing is what it seems. Candace Rivera projected a flawless image as she launched multimillion-dollar businesses and a global nonprofit. Then it all came tumbling down. Journalist Charlie Webster unravels a tale of deceit and manipulation.

FLIGHTLESS BIRD

The Louis Theroux of the South seems as good a bet as any for trying to understand what’s going on in the United States these days. Follow David Farrier as he teams up with Rob the local in a strictly non-judgmental bid to do just that.