What to Stream: Madonna, 'Happy Gilmore 2,' Judge Judy and Jenna Ortega
and Paul Rudd team up
[July 21, 2025]
By The Associated Press
Adam Sandler’s hockey player-turned-golfer Happy Gilmore returning for a
second movie and Madonna’s long-rumored album “Veronica Electronica” are
some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device
near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The
Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd
playing father and daughter in the horror-comedy “Death of a Unicorn,”
gamers get a pirate adventure with Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Judge
Judy rules on true crime in her new series for Prime Video, “Justice on
Trial.”
New movies to stream from July 21-27
— It’s been almost 30 years since we first met Adam Sandler’s hockey
player-turned-golfer Happy Gilmore, but Sandler finally got the gang
back together for a sequel. “Happy Gilmore 2,” coming to Netflix on
Friday, July 25, brings back many familiar faces, including Julie Bowen,
Ben Stiller and Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, alongside an
army of new co-stars from Bad Bunny to Post Malone as well as a few
familiar faces in the golf world. This time around, Happy also has kids,
including four hockey goon sons played by Ethan Cutkosky (“Shameless”),
Conor Sherry (“Shake Shack”), Maxwell Jacob Friedman (a pro wrestler)
and newcomer Philip Schneider. Here’s hoping it’s as quotable as the
first — we’ve been needing some new Sandlerisms.
— November, and “Wicked: For Good,” is coming fast. What better time to
catch up with “Wicked,” which begins streaming on Prime Video on Friday,
July 25? In her review for The Associated Press, Jocelyn Noveck wrote
that it might convert a non-musical lover into one, but that, “if people
breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate
dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and
emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you
already love ‘Wicked,’ well then, you will likely love this film.”
— Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd play father and daughter in the
horror-comedy “Death of a Unicorn,” about, well, just that (and also
exploitative billionaires). It was met with mixed reviews: Some enjoyed
the chemistry of the characters and the fun it has with its outlandish
plot, while others saw those efforts as strained and hollow. You can
decide for yourself when it hits HBO Max on Friday, July 25. Richard E.
Grant and Will Poulter also star.
— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr
New music to stream from July 21-27
— It is the stuff of pop music mythology. Madonna’s long-rumored album
“Veronica Electronica” — originally conceived as a remix companion to
1998’s blockbuster “Ray of Light” — finally arrives Friday, July 25. It
is that and more. Begin with the new-to-fans, original demo of “Gone,
Gone, Gone.”
— The second and final part of an expansive documentary series on the
life and career of Billy Joel hits HBO Max on Friday, July 25. And it’s
not too late to catch up on the first half of “Billy Joel: And So It
Goes,” either. It’s an in-depth look at the beloved singer-songwriter,
replete with never-before-seen performance footage and more.
— Rock ’n’ roll fans, listen up. On Friday, July 25, the original Alice
Cooper band lineup reunites to release “The Revenge Of Alice Cooper,”
the first album in over 50 years to feature that original lineup. It
gives the album a sort of revived spirit — all high-octane riffs.
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman
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This image released by Universal Pictures shows Ariana Granda as
Glinda in the film "Wicked." (Universal Pictures via AP)
 New series to stream from July
21-27
— Judy Sheindlin, beloved for her syndicated series “Judge Judy”
that ended production in 2021 after 25 years, rules on true crime in
her new series for Prime Video. In “Justice on Trial,” actual
criminal court cases are recreated by trial lawyers with Sheindlin
presiding over the courtroom. Will she find the right decision was
made? Find out Monday when all eight episodes drop.
— Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow star in “The Hunting Wives” for
Netflix. It’s based on a thriller mystery novel by May Cobb. Snow
plays Sophie, a woman whose husband’s job requires trading the East
Coast for east Texas. She’s a fish out of water until she meets
Margot (Akerman,) the queen bee of a group of women known as the
Hunting Wives. These wives aren’t trading recipes or having tea —
they like to party. Sophie finds Margot’s carefree lifestyle and
confidence to be intoxicating until she gets caught up in a murder
investigation. All eight episodes drop Monday.
— A new Hulu miniseries called “Washington Black” is also based on a
book of the same name, but this one was shortlisted for the Booker
Prize in 2018. Set in the early 1800s, Wash — short for George
Washington Black — is born into slavery in Barbados. Wash’s talent
for art and curiosity catches the attention of a scientist named
Titch (played by Tom Ellis), who encourages his education and
creativity. When danger strikes, Titch and Wash escape in a hot-air
balloon that lands in Nova Scotia. The series follows Wash’s
adventures as he grows into a man played by newcomer Ernest Kingsley
Jr. Sterling K. Brown is an executive producer and also has a role
in the show. Stream the episodes beginning Wednesday.
— An acclaimed British crime drama called “Code of Silence” comes to
BritBox on Thursday. Rose Ayling-Ellis plays a deaf cafeteria worker
who begins working with the local police because of her ability to
read lips. This new world is exhilarating but also dangerous. The
show has already been renewed for a second season.
— Alicia Rancilio
New video games to play from July 21-27
— Last year’s Black Myth: Wukong turned Chinese folklore into a
blockbuster game, and another Chinese studio is hoping to repeat
that success with Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. It tells the tale of a
pirate who wakes up with amnesia and a bad case of “feathering” —
not only is she sprouting blue plumage, but it’s driving her insane.
The adventure takes place during the end of the Ming Dynasty in the
1600s, and Chengdu-based developer Leenzee Games promises a mix of
historical figures and supernatural monsters. Take flight Thursday,
on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S or PC.
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