Widows

Right now you can watch Widows in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Starz Apple TV Channel and YouTube TV — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 2,498 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Viola Davis anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Put it on tonight on Stan and see for yourself.

There is a reason Widows keeps coming up in conversation. Widows treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows have nothing in common except a debt left behind by their spouses' criminal activities. Hoping to forge a future on their own terms, they join forces to pull off a heist. The writing gets a boost from Viola Davis and Michelle Rodriguez, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2018. Widows is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Widows will keep you hooked. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch Viola Davis work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.