British actor Idris Elba can currently be seen "canceling the apocalypse" in the monsters vs. robots epic, "Pacific Rim," but some of his best work can be seen (instantly!) on Netflix.

The BBC series "Luther" makes the most of Elba's fiery-cool intensity. The series follows detective John Luther (Elba) as he works London's most gruesome and puzzling cases.

The familiar setup is complicated by Luther's relationship with Alice (Ruth Wilson), a brilliant murder suspect who takes an interest in Luther's estranged wife, as well as a past case in which Luther puts the prime suspect into a coma.

Elba's performance, combined with Wilson's creepy-manipulative meddling, elevate "Luther" above typical procedurals. Elba's already won a Golden Globe for the role, as well as two Emmy nominations. The first two short-seasons are available on Netflix Instant, with the third season to arrive in the near future.

Elba's other definitive television role was that of Russell Bell on the acclaimed HBO series "The Wire," which is available on DVD and HBO Go streaming service. Netflix and Hulu users can, however, see Elba on a memorable guest stint on season five of "The Office," as an overbearing new boss that leads to one of the show's best arcs (concerning The Michael Scott Paper Company).

New Streaming Title of the Week:

"The Intouchables"

One of the most acclaimed international films of last year, "The Intouchables" focuses on a rich quadriplegic who hires a poor kid to be his caretaker. It's inspirational, but also French.

Celebrate San Diego Comic-Con from Home!

Chances are you aren't going to the annual nerd fest in San Diego, but you can bring a little bit of that excitement into your home with a few notable streaming titles:

* Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope

Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me") wanders around the 2010 convention to profile the various oddballs (and normal people) who attend the year's biggest comic book-inspired event. Available on Hulu and Hulu Plus.

* The Achievers: The Story of Lebowski Fans

A chronicle of Lebowski Fest, which draws thousands of "Big Lebowski" fans each year. The Dude abides. Available on Netflix Instant.

* Done the Impossible

A behind-the-scenes look at the cancellation of the sci-fi series "Firefly" and its subsequent revival with the theatrical revival, "Serenity." This documentary, as well as "Firefly" and "Serenity" are available on Netflix Instant.

Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.