What to stream this week: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Almost Famous, Ratched, Archer and The Vow

From a prequel series to a classic movie to a tender Australian show, there are plenty of streaming choices this week.

A cinematic classic is getting a prequel series, and there’s a cute Australian koala series that’s dropping on Netflix.

All this and more in what you should be streaming this week.

SOMETHING UNSETTLING

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: If you’ve never seen the 1975 Milos Forman adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel, get on it. It’s a classic for a reason, or several reasons as it were. Chief among them are Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher’s performances, for which they both won Oscars.

Nicholson’s R.P. is a sex criminal who fakes mental illness to avoid prison, thinking he could ride out his sentence in an institution. But he didn’t count on Nurse Ratched and her cruel, iron-fisted control over the hospital.

A battle of wills ensues between R.P. and Ratched but it comes to symbolise a larger war between institutional control and individualistic rebellion, two extremes embodied by a sadist and a child rapist. Watch it: YouTube digital purchase

Jack Nicholson and Danny DeVito in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Ratched: If you have seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, then you’d be familiar with Nurse Ratched. Brutal and formidable, it’s a character that leaves an impression. And now her backstory is being fleshed out in this Ryan Murphy-produced, Alfred Hitchcock-inspired prequel series, set about 15 years before Ken Kesey’s book. Sarah Paulson plays a younger Mildred Ratched and the series is a stomach-churning look at how she became that monster we’ve already met. Watch it: Netflix, Friday September 18 from 5pm AEST

Sarah Paulson takes on the role that previously won Louise Fletcher an Oscar.

SOMETHING REAL-LIFE

Hillary: Hillary Clinton is one of the most documented public figures over the past five decades, from the moment she captured Americans’ attention as a college student with her rousing graduation speech. You may wonder what a new documentary series can reveal about someone most people think they already know and have judged. It’s a fair question, and it’s one filmmaker Nanette Burstein, who did 35 hours of interviews with Clinton, is prepared to answer. For one thing, as someone no longer running for any offices, it’s a slightly more unguarded version of Clinton than we’re used to seeing. Watch it: SBS On Demand, from Wednesday, September 16

Loathed and loved in equal parts.

The Vow: Cults have always inspired a voyeuristic fascination in audiences, curious as to how people get sucked into these organisations that are clearly up to something dodgy. The story of NXIVM – which has already defied human decency through its placement of all those consonants – has all the ingredients for an eye-popping investigation, full of gross manipulations, sex trafficking and celebrity followers. Watch it: Foxtel Now/Binge*, from Sunday, September 20

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What is it about cults?

SOMETHING IRREVERENTLY FUNNY

Archer S11: After three seasons of genre-hopping thanks to the narrative convenience of Archer’s coma, the super spy will be awakened for the eight-episode 11th season, taking the series back to its espionage roots. After his prolonged nap, Archer feels a little off, so will he still be able to pull off daring missions while quipping like a pro? Watch it: Foxtel Now, from Thursday, September 17

Archer awakens.

PEN15 S2: Whatever you were expecting from PEN15, it probably wasn’t the gem of a series created by and starring Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle. The pair play a version of themselves at 13 years old in 2000, that awkward age when the challenges of puberty, sexual discovery and friendship make every moment either glorious or crushing. PEN15 is funny, resonant and emotional. It’ll also flash you back to those strange days in your own life, forcing you to confront some embarrassing memories. Watch it: Stan, from Saturday, September 19

Creators and stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle. Picture: Erica Parise/Hulu

SOMETHING WITH A ROAD TRIP

Almost Famous: This week is the 20th anniversary of Cameron Crowe’s ode to music, a semibiographical story of a 15-year-old journalist (Patrick Fugit) who accompanies rock group Stillwater on tour, documenting everything he sees for Rolling Stone. Out of depth but incredibly insightful, he becomes family to a cast of complicated and pained characters including the charismatic lead singer (Billy Crudup) and veteran groupie Penny Lane (Kate Hudson). Watch it: iTunes/Google Play

Almost Famous is 20 years old today

The Trip to Greece: The final instalment in Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s Trip series, this one recreating Odysseus’ journey. Expect a lot of the usual witticisms and impressions that defined the series, along with beautiful views and delectable meals. The Trip to Greece came out in film form earlier in the year, this is the episodic TV cut. Watch it: iview, from Tuesday, September 15

Always trying to out-impression each other. Picture: Andy Hall/IFC Films via AP

SOMETHING WITH THE KIDS

Izzy’s Koala World: Filmed on Queensland’s Magnetic Island, this Netflix original series follows 11-year-old “koala whisperer Izzy Bee and her veterinarian mum, who runs an animal sanctuary. Izzy has a special connection with the cuddly marsupials, and she seems to have a calming effect on them, helping recover before they’re released back into the wild. We think anyone named John Barilaro should, at the very least, make some time for this tender series. Watch it: Netflix, from Thursday, September 17 from 5pm AEST.

Mandatory viewing for NSW Nationals MPs.

Spies in Disguise: Will Smith and Tom Holland voice the lead characters in this charming family movie about the “world’s most awesome” spy who is accidentally transformed into a pigeon by a genius teen inventor. Together, in their new guises, they must stop of vengeful cyberterrorist. Also features the voices of Rashida Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Rachel Brosnahan, DJ Khaled and Masi Oka. Watch it: Disney+ from, September 18

Family fun.

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