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Welcome to the Gold Ticket, your essential guide to award-worthy pop culture for the upcoming weekend, brought to you by the Gold Derby team. (April 25 – April 27)
The main stream
Get ready to return to that galaxy far, far away.
This week, Andor, the highly praised prequel to Rogue One, created by Tony Gilroy, makes its return for a much-anticipated second season, arriving more than two years after its successful debut. Unfortunately, this marks the final season, as the show — nominated for a 2023 Emmy for Best Drama Series — races toward the pivotal events of Rogue One and, consequently, A New Hope. Diego Luna reprises his role as rebellious spy Cassian Andor, and this season focuses on a planet burdened with valuable mineral resources coveted by the Empire.
Spanning 12 episodes that unfold over four weeks in clusters of three, this narrative structure sets it apart, allowing for swift progression through time. Unlike many series that meander through their timelines, Andor tackles themes of resistance with urgent relevance while delivering powerful performances from its strong supporting cast, firmly establishing itself as the premier Star Wars series and an awards frontrunner this weekend.
If space opera doesn’t pique your interest, other noteworthy contenders include:
Étoile: Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, this new series follows in the footsteps of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel but shares more similarities with their earlier series, Bunheads. Set in the competitive world of ballet, the story revolves around two prominent ballet companies — one led by Jack McMillan (Luke Kirby) and the other by Geneviève Lavigne (Charlotte Gainsbourg) — who agree to exchange their star performers to alleviate financial woes. While some subtitles may be required, all eight episodes are currently available for streaming on Prime Video.
You: Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), known for his perilous and violent antics, continues his saga in this fifth season of the Netflix series that began as a modest Lifetime drama. This final set of episodes sees Joe navigating his return to New York, confronting unresolved elements from his past. All 10 episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life: Two-time Emmy winner Brett Goldstein steps into the spotlight with a new stand-up special, proving he’s more than just Ted Lasso’s Roy Kent. The special airs Saturday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max, covering an array of topics from childhood nostalgia to contemporary masculinity.
Home movies
Pour yourself a glass of milk — or have someone else order one for you — and prepare to stream Babygirl, our top movie choice for this week. Nicole Kidman earned the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival and received a Golden Globe nomination for her role. Portraying Romy, a competitive tech CEO, she engages in a daring and sensual affair with Samuel (Harris Dickinson), an intern 25 years her junior. Directed by Halina Reijn, the film explores complex themes of power and sexual dynamics while delivering the thrilling elements of an erotic drama. Babygirl is now streaming on Max.
If you’re looking for more films beyond this, consider these other options:
Havoc: Directed by action expert Gareth Evans (known for The Raid), this gripping crime thriller is now on Netflix. Starring Tom Hardy as a detective entangled with a corrupt politician (Forest Whitaker), the narrative thickens when a drug deal goes awry, forcing him into the depths of the criminal underworld to locate the politician’s son. While the premise may seem conventional, Evans ensures the action is notably extraordinary. The cast includes popular Netflix talent Jessie Mei Li, along with Luis Guzman and Timothy Olyphant.
Freaky Tales: This unique action comedy is crafted by writer-directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, paying homage to late-‘80s Oakland. The anthology-style film unfolds five interconnected tales featuring characters from diverse backgrounds who band together against a Nazi threat. Boasting a colorful cast that includes personalities like Marshawn Lynch and rapper Too $hort, it has a nostalgic charm and retains a vibrant energy, available on VOD platforms and still showing in selected theaters.
Ash: This mind-bending film directed by electronic musician Flying Lotus is currently available on VOD for $19.99. The sci-fi horror stars Eiza Gonzalez as Riya, an astronaut grappling with amnesia and the loss of her crewmates. When approached by a man named Brion (Aaron Paul), who claims he knows her and is there to help, Riya faces the question of trust in a surreal journey influenced by horror greats like John Carpenter and David Lynch.
Azrael: This innovative horror film is now available for streaming on Hulu. Starring Samara Weaving, Azrael is a dialogue-free post-apocalyptic thriller involving her character, captured by a silent cult planning to sacrifice her. As she escapes to fight back, the film brings suspense and creativity to the genre. Directed by E.L. Katz, it was filmed in the enchanting forests of northern Estonia.
Rewind of the week
Despite its underwhelming critical reception upon release, the 1993 film Tombstone found commercial success and has since earned a status as a cult classic. Val Kilmer’s portrayal of the legendary Doc Holliday towered over a talented ensemble that included Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, and Bill Paxton. Although Kilmer didn’t clinch the Best Supporting Actor award, the iconic line “I’m your huckleberry” solidifies his memorable performance. This week, the film is available in a 4K Ultra HD version across digital platforms such as Apple and Prime Video, offering bonus content that includes a making-of featurette, storyboards from the director, and original trailers and TV advertisements.
Inside the blockbuster of the year
Delve into the year’s top film with A Minecraft Movie: From Block to Big Screen, available at major booksellers. Featuring a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes imagery, concept art, and interviews with the creative team — including director Jared Hess and stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa — the book chronicles the transformation of the beloved video game into the highest-grossing film and a social media phenomenon of 2025. Inside, readers will find insights into production challenges, including how the team crafted playable items reflective of the game’s unique blocky visuals, while producers fine-tuned design aspects, with one standout exception: a character named the chicken jockey, which left the team awestruck.
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