What will you watch this weekend?
Credit: Netflix / Universal
The weekend has finally arrived. Now that the work week is over, there are tons of new TV shows and movies streaming. I still believe in the magic of movie theaters, so I’ve also included some new theatrical releases in this guide.
Every week, I scour the Internet and the myriad streaming services we all subscribe to these days (I’ve got so many that I’m completely lost) and give you the best recommendations. I’m trying to find out. I haven’t watched all of these, but if I have, I’ll give my opinion or link to my review. Sometimes I include things that didn’t get the best critical response or that I don’t really care about because you never know. There is no need to consider taste.
Either way, there’s Southern Gothic horror, a new series from the creators of Parks and Rec, a highly anticipated new family movie, and plenty of other shows on the way. Let’s dive right in!
Check out last weekend’s streaming guide here:
Forbes What to watch this weekend: New streaming TV shows and movies from Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Apple TV, Disney+ and more By Erik Kain
The Man Inside (Netflix)
Ted Danson stars in this funny and emotional new series from Parks and Rec and The Good Place creator Michael Schull. I actually watched the entire season (in one sitting) and published a spoiler-free review earlier today. I really loved this show and highly recommend it!
Spellbound (Netflix)
Netflix’s new animated family movie Spellbound has just been released, and so far the reviews seem to be pretty positive. It certainly has a star-studded cast, including Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, and Javier Bardem doing voice work. What intrigues me the most is music. The music was composed by the one and only Alan Menken, who wrote the music for many of the best Disney films, including the underrated The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. . TV show “Gavan”. I haven’t seen this yet, but it looks interesting.
Blitz (Apple TV)
Perhaps a little less interesting is the story of a mother who sends her son away from London during the German bombing of the city during World War II, and tries to force his son to escape and find her. This movie was written and directed by British director Sir Steve McQueen (a rather strange name in the film industry), whose past works include “The Night Will Come”. Blitz has fared well with critics (80%), but slightly less with audiences (63%) on Rotten Tomatoes, with most of them citing boredom as the film’s biggest problem. There is.
Say nothing (Hulu)
I missed it last weekend, so I’m posting it here. All episodes of this limited FX series are available on Hulu, and I’ve heard very good reviews. The story is set in Ireland during the Troubles. The nine-episode series is based on the book by Patrick Radden Keefe and spans 40 years, beginning with the disappearance of a mother of 10 in 1972. I’ll admit, it’s a pretty dark story and I’ve never been in that headspace. It’s at the top of my list.
Piano Lessons (Netflix)
A Southern Gothic horror film about a family who clash over an heirloom piano, its dark history, and the legacy of slavery. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Daniel Deadwyler, and Ray Fisher. Honestly, this trailer alone deserves some kind of award. That’s a really nice trailer. The film currently has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. It looks great, but it’s clearly not an easy watch. It is an adaptation of August Wilson’s Broadway stage play, which also starred Samuel L. Jackson.
Arcane Season 2, Act 3
I’ve been enjoying Season 2 of Netflix’s Arcane, but as I mentioned in my review of Act 2, the pace has really slowed down this time around. Still, I’m incredibly excited to see how they wrap up the stories of Jinx and Vi, Jace and Victor, and the rest of the vast cast of characters.
Cruel Intentions (Prime Video)
To be honest, when I saw Cruel Intentions, the 1999 movie starring Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Michelle Gellar 25 years ago, I had no interest in it, but Prime Video Looks like the new series is even worse – 22% Tomato on Rotten. But, you never know. There’s something for everyone.
Wicked (in theater)
I just saw Wicked on Broadway earlier this year (it was amazing) and I’m really looking forward to going to see Wicked in theaters. Critics love the film (89%), but I’m relieved to see that audiences seem to love it even more (98%). Many adaptations are a mess, but this one seems to hit all the right notes. I want to take my kids here for the weekend and report my own review.
Gladiator 2 (now in theaters)
Critic and audience enthusiasm for Ridley Scott’s historical blockbuster sequel has waned somewhat, but it still received fairly positive reviews (72% from critics and 84% from audiences). It’s like a fun movie theater movie and I think it’s perfect for the biggest screen you can find. If I had to choose just one place to go, I would choose Wicked. But if you’re looking for heated arena combat instead of singing and dancing, choose Gladiator.
What’s currently streaming
So, with all that said, here are the shows that are currently still streaming that I think are worth writing about, following, and mentioning. There were some great movies released this year, but many of them are gone now, including HBO’s The Penguin. But there’s still more to see before the year ends.
From Season 3 (MGM+)
Last weekend’s episode of FROM was pretty intense, with some really big reveals about the mysterious town our heroes are trapped in. There’s only one episode left in season 3 and I can’t wait to see what happens. The really good news is that MGM just renewed the show for a fourth season, and more answers to this terrifying show’s many mysteries are just around the corner. The final will be held this Sunday.
Silo Season 2 (Apple TV)
I’m one episode behind Apple’s excellent post-apocalyptic drama Silo, which in many ways is more Fallout than Fallout. Season 2 got off to a bit of a slow start, but I still have high hopes for the new season. Starring Rebecca Ferguson. New episodes come out on Fridays (so I don’t think I’m behind, I just haven’t seen this weekend’s episode yet).
Reduce (Apple TV)
There are still a few episodes left in Shrinking. I haven’t reviewed this show yet, but I really love it and find it very relatable to all things parenting. Like Jason Segal’s Jimmy, I have a 17-year-old daughter, and we both have our own relationship struggles. Harrison Ford is great in this respect as well. New episodes drop on Tuesdays.
Dune: Prophecy (HBO/MAX)
I haven’t made up my mind about HBO’s Dune: Prophecy yet. Again, I’m also a bit mixed about Frank Herbert’s novel and Denis Villeneuve’s film. I thought the first episode of the prequel was complicated and explained too much, but the second half gets pretty interesting and I’m interested to see where it goes. New episodes will be released on Sundays.
Jackal Day (Peacock)
The first five episodes of Day of the Jackal, the spy thriller starring Eddie Redmayne, were released on Peacock last week, with a total of 10 new episodes to be released on Thursday. I’m a big fan of this type of spy thriller, but I have my doubts. The series is faithful to the original 1973 film.
Landman (Paramount+)
One of two Taylor Sheridan dramas on this list, The Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) as he navigates the Texas oil world. The series is based on the Boomtown podcast by the show’s co-creator Christian Wallace. New episodes will be released on Sundays.
Yellowstone (VOD / Paramount Network)
Taylor Sheridan’s blockbuster hit Yellowstone is not available for streaming unless you purchase the season on a site like Prime Video. Otherwise, you’ll have to watch it on Paramount Network or wait until it finally lands on Peacock thanks to a complicated streaming deal. Honestly, it’s too melodramatic and the characters are too unpleasant to keep watching. This latest half-season has been controversial and Kevin Costner is no longer involved.
What did I miss? So, what have you been watching lately? please let me know TwitterInstagram or Facebook. Also, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on this blog. For more entertainment and culture reviews and commentary, sign up for our newsletter.