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James Van Der Beek’s best performances streaming now
From “Dawson’s Creek” to “Varsity Blues,” here are three standout roles to revisit this weekend.
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This week’s edition of The Queue is a varied one, reflecting the busy week that was.
We lost two iconic actors in James Van Der Beek and Bud Cort. We saw the debut of a number of trailers for much-anticipated 2026 movies during the disappointing Super Bowl LX. And a number of romantic comedies arrived on streaming services just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend — as did a number of other exciting non-romcom titles for those who don’t go in for that lovey-dovey stuff.
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Here’s your weekend watch guide.
3 James Van Der Beek performances to watch this weekend
“Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003): Set in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, this teen drama made Van Der Beek a household name, playing artsy high schooler Dawson Leery opposite a formidable cast of future stars including Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson. (Netflix, Hulu, Tubi)
“Varsity Blues” (1999): Originally slated for the role of the injured first-string quarterback played by Paul Walker, Van Der Beek instead lobbied to play Mox, the brainy fill-in who dreams of more than gridiron glory and clashes with their tyrannical coach (Jon Voight). (Paramount+, Pluto TV)
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“Don’t Trust the B—- In Apartment 23” (2012-2014): Van Der Beek always projected a self-awareness of his onscreen persona, whether playing himself in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” or a vain version of himself on this short-lived ABC sitcom opposite his fictional BFF, Chloe (Krysten Ritter). (Available to rent)
3 romantic comedies streaming this Valentine’s Day weekend
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“Harold & Maude” (1971): An unconventional romcom, to say the least, Bud Cort (who passed away this week at age 77) plays a suicidal 20-year-old Harold who gains a new appreciation for life thanks to his relationship with the free-spirited 79-year-old Maude (Ruth Gordon). Cort’s career peaked during this two-year run that included Robert Altman’s “M*A*S*H” and “Brewster McCloud,” but he continued to pop up in oddball roles for decades to come.(Pluto TV)
“When Harry Met Sally” (1989): Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron used elements of their own lives as inspiration for Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan), two brainy, verbose urbanites who test the hypothesis that men and women cannot simply be friends over a decade-plus of chance encounters and life phases. (Hulu)
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“Splitsville” (2025): One of my favorite movies of 2025, this cynical romcom is about two best friends (Kyle Marvin, Michael Angelo Covino) and their wives (Adria Arjona, Dakota Johnson), whose lives are upended by (in order): A separation, an open marriage, a successful consummation of said open marriage, a confession, and a no-holds-barred brawl that has better fight choreography than any action movie this year. And that’s just the first 30 minutes. (Hulu)
3 movie trailers you may have missed during the Super Bowl
“The Adventures of Cliff Booth” (TBA):The biggest surprise of the night commercial-wise was the teaser for “The Adventures of Cliff Booth,” a sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood” starring Brad Pitt as stuntman and Hollywood fixer Cliff Booth. David Fincher will direct the film, which is coming to Netflix sometime in 2026.
“Disclosure Day” (June 12): Other than the short teaser released late in 2025, not much is known about “Disclosure Day,” other than that it is an alien film both directed by and based on a story by Steven Spielberg. After “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “E.T.,” and “The War of the Worlds,” what else do you need to know?
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“The Mandalorian & Grogu” (May 22): The 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes were key in Lucasfilm’s decision to forego a Season 4 of “The Mandalorian” in lieu of developing this film, which is a direct follow-up to the Disney+ series.
Play or Skip:
Have a show you can’t stop watching? Email me about it at [email protected], and your recommendation may appear in a future edition of The Queue.
Press play on these movies:
- “Blue Moon” (2025): Another of my favorite movies of 2025, Ethan Hawke brings deep, agonizing pathos to the role of Broadway lyricist Hart, who sits in a bar as his former creative partner, Richard Rodgers (Andrews Scott) receives raves for his new musical with Oscar Hammerstein. Regaling anyone who will listen with stories of his past glories and of future dreams that will clearly never come to fruition, Hawke is a tragic figure. (Netflix starting Feb. 14)
- “Eternity” (2025): If you enjoy a romcom with a fantastical premise, try this A24 title about a recently deceased woman (Elizabeth Olsen) who arrives at the afterlife and must decide whether to spend eternity with her also recently-deceased husband of 65 years (Miles Teller) or her first husband (Callum Turner), who has been waiting for her arrival since dying in the Korean War. (Apple TV)
- “Predator: Badlands” (2025): Following the success of “Prey,” Dan Trachtenberg helmed another inventive entry in the Predator series, putting a teen predator (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and a Weyland Yutani android (Elle Fanning) on the same team as the extraterrestrial attempts to complete a coming-of-age ritual killing. (Hulu)
But go ahead and skip this show:
- “Cross” Season 2 (2026): Aldis Hodge anchored a fun season 1 of this James Patterson adaptation, but in Season 2 his Alex Cross feels detached from the plot, which involves food company CEO (Matthew Lillard) and a vigilante (Jeanine Mason). (Prime Video)
End Credits
That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.
Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!
— Kevin
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