As responsible adults who care about our neighbors and community, we’re planning to spend a lot of time at home over the coming weeks while the coronavirus pandemic settles down. There are plenty of productive ways to pass the time, and we definitely encourage you to get out in nature if you can (please do so responsibly). But it’s likely that a big chunk of our entertainment will come from Netflix, Hulu, etc. and podcasts.
Your coronavirus self-quarantine provides the perfect outlet for guilt-free streaming. That’s why we compiled a list of Florida-related shows, movies and podcasts to keep you entertained while further fueling your love for the Sunshine State. All of these stories are either set in or about Florida and most of them are critically acclaimed. Happy streaming!
SHOWS
“Bloodline” [NETFLIX]: Ben Mendelsohn earned a Primetime Emmy Award for his work alongside Sissy Spacek and Kyle Chandler in this dark Netflix Original drama set in the Florida Keys.
“Dexter” [NETFLIX]: Not for the faint of heart! This now-iconic thriller follows a blood splatter expert through various crime scenes in Miami—some he solves, some he commits.
“Claws” [HULU]: If you’re into girl-boss flicks, check out this eccentric drama about a small-town crime ring running out of a nail salon in Manatee County.
“I Dream of Jeannie” [CRACKLE]: Barbara Eden had everyone dreaming in pink throughout the ’60s and ’70s Cocoa Beach—the perfect setting for a little escapism in these uncertain times.
“The Glades” [HULU]: Aussie-hunk Matt Passmore plays an arrogant (but oddly charming) detective swamped (literally) with homicide cases as he tries to live a golfer’s dream life in a small Everglades town.
“Miami Vice” [SLINGTV]: Binge all five seasons of this stylish crime thriller starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. Also available on STARZ, with subscription.
“On Becoming God in Central Florida” [SLINGTV]: Kirsten Dunst stars in this dark comedy that’s taken everyone by surprise since it debuted last year. Also available on Showtime Anytime with subscription.
“Burn Notice” [HULU]: If you’re into high-drama, high-action TV shows, this Miami-based one that ran for seven seasons and gets an 88 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is sure to satisfy.
MOVIES
“The Florida Project” [AMAZON PRIME]: This indie film gained a ton of buzz for chronicling the struggle of low-income parents trying to shield their kids from harsh realities, living near “The Most Magical Place on Earth” in Orlando.
“Moonlight” [NETFLIX]: An Academy Award-darling, this visually striking film, set in Miami, chronicles a young man’s journey to manhood and the community that helps him grow up.
“Magic Mike” [AMAZON PRIME]: Channing Tatum leads a crew of male exotic dancers in this story loosely based on the actor’s life coming up as a dancer in Tampa.
“Apollo 13” [HULU]: The thrilling adaptation of the 1970 space mission that took off from Cape Canaveral stars the ever-charming Tom Hanks. Also available on STARZ with subscription.
“Ulee’s Gold” [HULU]: Part of a trilogy by one of Florida’s most underrated talents, writer and director Victor Nuñez, Ulee’s Gold is set in the Panhandle and features an outstanding lead performance by Peter Fonda.
“Adaptation” [CRACKLE]: Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep are dynamic as they attempt to capture the Everglades’ “orchid thief” in a story that is much too convoluted to try to explain. Just watch it.
“The Birdcage” [GOOGLE PLAY, VUDU]: We won’t pass up any opportunity to delight in the comedic magic of Robin Williams—especially not when paired with Gene Hackman and Nathan Lane in a Miami gay nightclub. It’s still hilarious more than 20 years later.
“Monster” [TUBI, VUDU, CRACKLE]: Charlize Theron’s portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos is still one of her best performances.
“Cross Creek” [AMAZON PRIME]: Mary Steenburgen plays Florida hero Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, as she movies to a small town and finds her inspiration for “The Yearling.”
“Out of Time” [VUDU]: Eva Mendez and Denzel Washington combine with sultry Miami to make for one of those perfect, early-2000s action-dramas.
“Because of Winn-Dixie” [DISNEY+]: The perfect flick to stream for the kids while they’re at home, this Disney gem captures the bond between a girl and her pup.
“There’s Something About Mary” [FUBOTV]: It’s just pure Florida-based fun when you watch this modern classic romantic comedy with Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz.
WORTH THE FEE — RENTALS, LESS THAN $4
“The Truman Show”: Another charming flick about a man finding his way as the utopia he lives in proves to be a manipulated charade. The idyllic town depicted in the film is Seaside, Florida. Available on: AMAZON PRIME, GOOGLE PLAY/YOUTUBE, VUDU
“Matinee”: John Goodman provides all the happy you need right now in this delightful comedy set in Key West during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Roger Ebert called it “one of the most charming movies in a long time.” Available on: ITUNES, GOOGLE PLAY/YOUTUBE, VUDU
“Cool Hand Luke”: Though we don’t see a whole lot of the Sunshine State in Paul Newman’s epic prison movie, this classic flick is always worth the watch. Available on: AMAZON, YOUTUBE/GOOGLE PLAY, ITUNES
“Sunshine State”: Viewers love this movie with Angela Bassett, Timothy Hutton and Edie Falco about a tiny Florida island trying to hold its own as country club developers take over. Available on: AMAZON PRIME and VUDU
“Scarface”: If it’s been a while since you’ve seen this cinematic take on Miami’s cartel culture, stream it now to remember why it’s a classic.
Available on: GOOGLE PLAY and ITUNES
“The Palm Beach Story”: The Guardian likened this screwball comedy to “drinking a chilled glass of champagne, down in one.” It’s witty, it’s pretty and it’s a lot of fun to watch. The formula: couple struggles with financial problems + woman goes to Palm Beach to land herself a wealthy suitor + man goes after her to convince her otherwise = madness ensues. Available on: AMAZON, ITUNES, GOOGLE PLAY/YOUTUBE, VUDU
“The Yearling”: Based on the story by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, this coming-of-age tearjerker is a must-see for families.
Available on: AMAZON, ITUNES, GOOGLE PLAY, YOUTUBE, VUDU
“Key Largo”: This poster child for film noire is set in the keys and stars the on-screen dream team of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart.
Available on: AMAZON, ITUNES, GOOGLE PLAY, YOUTUBE, VUDU
“Where the Boys Are”: You’ll be charmed by this 1960s spring break-tale, without the lewd, obnoxious aspects of contemporary versions.
Available on: AMAZON and ITUNES
“Citizen Kane”: Though the newspaper magnate Orsen Welles portraits is based on California’s William Randolph Hearst, in the movie, Kane builds his mega-mansion on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Available on: AMAZON, GOOGLE PLAY, YOUTUBE, ITUNES, VUDU
“Beneath the 12-Mile Reef”: Another classic film set on the Gulf, this is most celebrated for its Bernard Herrmann-composed score.
Available on: AMAZON and VUDU
“The Heartbreak Kid”: One of the most memorable movies from the brilliant director Elaine May, perfects the art of dark comedy as her leading guy falls for another lady while on honeymoon with his new bride in Miami. Available on: AMAZON
“David Makes Man” [AMAZON]: A powerful portrayal of African American boyhood in the projects of South Florida, written by Academy Award winning Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”) and produced by The Oprah Winfrey Network. Available on: AMAZON
“Invasion” [AMAZON]: Dramatizing every Floridians worst fear, this show—with a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes—shows us what happens if aliens were to emerge from our hurricanes. The show is a lot better and less ridiculous than it sounds.
Available on: AMAZON
PODCASTS
“Over My Dead Body” [APPLE PODCAST]: Created by the respected Wondery podcast team, this podcast eloquently tells the story of a “perfect” couple, a messy divorce and the Florida law professor who was senselessly gunned down on his Tallahassee driveway.
“Felonious Florida” [APPLE PODCAST]: Another Wondery hit—for this series, the team partners with the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporters to recount some of the most notorious crimes in recent Florida history.
“NPR’s The Florida Roundup” [APPLE PODCAST]: The latest headlines from around the state summarized and discussed by seasoned journalists.
“Fiasco” [LUMINARY]: The first season of this show, by a co-creator of the popular “Slow Burn” podcast, looks at the infamous Al Gore-vs-George Bush fight for presidency that played out in Florida in 2000. Season 2 untangles the Iran-contra affair.
