Welcome to the WatchList, the ultimate what to watch guide. Each week our TV and movie experts curate a list of the best things to watch on the small - and sometimes big - screen.
This is the place to find what you should be streaming at the weekend and beyond.
Each week our esteemed group of TV and movie reviewers impart their expert knowledge of all things streaming and boil it down to a handful of things you really need to be watching, going through hours of episodes to hep you make the most important decision of the week: what to watch in your down time.
As you will read, we look at all the new shows that have landed on Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus and Paramount Plus and more, then give our verdict.
After our recommendations of the week, we have links to all of our essential streaming guides - the rankings of which are voted by our readers, so if you haven't done so already then give them a click and have your say.
And if you are still stuck with what to watch, then we have kept all of our previous recommendations so you can have a read.
Happy viewing!
Heads of State
This week saw the release of big-name Netflix sequel The Old Guard 2. But if you have a Prime sub, check out Heads of State instead. It’s a comedy thriller starring John Cena and Idris Elba, as the President of the US and Prime Minister of the UK. And while that may sound like a recipe for some real throwaway trash, solid performances from the two A-lister leads made it seriously watchable. And some of the action is great too. The comedy? Opinions vary on that one.
Attack on London - Hunting the 7/7 Bombers
In 2005, London was the victim of a series of terrorist bombings, with explosives set off on a bus and in the London Underground. This 4-episode Netflix series digs into those events, and the manhunt it kicked off across the UK. It features substantive interviews with figures from the time, including then-Prime-Minister Tony Blair.
Jurassic World Rebirth
One of the top action movie directors working at the moment, Gareth Evans, lends his knack for spectacle to the tired Jurassic Park series. And the results are good. While Jurassic World Rebirth doesn’t necessarily give the entire franchise a new lease of life, an actual rebirth, the action is fantastic and it’s a suitably theme park-like ride of a movie. Early indications suggest it’s bringing in the big audiences it requires too.
- Out now in cinemas….
The Sandman season 2 (volume 1)
The irrevocable cancellation of Neil Gaiman hasn’t put a stop to the continuation of this adaptation of one of his most famous works. Some say it’s boring and pretentious, others that it’s pretty great despite its creator joining the ever-growing pantheon of wrong ‘uns. It sees The Sandman return to the Dreaming and reunite with his family. Netflix has dropped the first chunk of episodes, with the rest arriving later in July.
The Old Guard 2
The original Old Guard was a surprisingly good Netflix action movie from 2020, a superhero-themed story in which Charlize Theron played an immortal warrior called Andy. The Old Guard 2? In that classic tradition of sequels, it’s not as good. But we did at least think this one deserved a shout-out as to its existence. You’ve been warned, though. Enter with low expectations as it’s a bit of a mess, while Empire called it “barely a movie.” Yikes.
We have spent A LONG time watching things on all these streaming services. So, if you want more of an in-depth look at the shows and movies you can stream then please head to the following guides.
- The best Apple TV Plus shows, revealed
- The best Netflix shows and best movies on Netflix
- The best Amazon Prime Series and best movies on Amazon Prime Video
- The best Disney Plus shows and best Disney Plus movies
- The best NOW TV shows and best movies on NOW TV
- The best Paramount Plus shows
Previously on the watchlist...
Squid Game season 3
It’s finally here, the last chapter of the Squid Game story. Season 3 is a six-episode package. And, well, there are mixed opinions on whether the ending is a fitting one or a total “WTF” moment, as The Guardian’s review suggests. Either way, if you’re the one person who has been waiting all these time to dig into Squid Game at all, your feast awaits.
The Bear season 4
One of the most talked-up TV shows of the last decade get its fourth season and, well, it’s the least well-reviewed of the bunch so far. However, it has been such a critically lauded series, that’s saying less than you might think. Season 4 shows us a softer, more tender side of things, rather than trying to cheese-grater our nerves into its televisual gumbo as usual. A controversial shift, but it doesn’t mean The Bear season 4 is bad.
Ironheart
This six-part series follows Riri Williams, the young inventor who makes her own Iron Man-style suit. But in this initial run of episodes at least, she ends up working with hoodlums instead of the Avengers. Not the obvious Disney/Marvel route. It has received mixed reviews, but is worth a watch if you like the character, who was introduced to us in Wakanda Forever.
Trainwreck: Poop Cruise
Now here’s a nightmare scenario: you’re stuck on a cruise ship and the toilet system malfunctions. This is what happened to a 14-storey Carnival Triumph ship in 2013. 4000 people were aboard when a fire left the ship without power or, yikes, flushing toilets. It’s a little less serious than some of the other episodes in the Netflix Trainwreck series but remains a gross story worth witnessing.
Smoke
Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett star in Smoke, which was inspired by real-world events. They are arson investigators on the tail of serial fire-starters in a 9-episode series. It’s a little inconsistent but really goes places, so stick with this one as it does pay off. Smoke is set in a fictional American town, Umberland, so don’t come expecting a particularly grounded tale.
The Mortician
A kind of corruption that will linger in your nightmares, The Mortician is the tale of a funeral home owner who takes more and more disturbing measures to try to undercut his rivals. And things end up very grim indeed, but it’s best to hear the the bizarre tale from the 3-part documentary itself. It even includes testimony from the man himself, David Sconce.
Warfare
Alex Garland’s Warfare has been called one of the most realistic depictions of war ever made. It’s intense, disturbing, engaging and depicts the chaos and confusion of a real US Navy Seal action of the Iraq war perfectly. It’s not an easy watch, but it is a powerful 95 minutes of film-making. Highly recommended.
Sally
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, having made the trip up into the inky black in 1983. This documentary is about not just that experience, but the various indignities she had to put up with as a female astronaut. It also looks into her personal life, and her experiences as a gay woman at a time when it often paid to be less than open.
Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem
A political controversy from another era, Trainwreck looks into the story of the former mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, who was filmed smoking crack and yet refused to resign. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg on this one. Trainwreck is a snappy 49-minute documentary that reads like a primer for the fractious world in which we find ourselves today.
28 Years Later
The better part of 20 years after 28 Weeks Later, Danny Boyle has returned to his venerated zombie series to direct 28 Years Later. Script writer Alex Garland returns too, in a film that is as much a family drama as a gory zombie movie. But is it any good? Have a look at our 28 Years Later review round-up for the full skinny.
Out now in cinemas…
FUBAR season 2
Did you know FUBAR was Arnie’s proper TV lead debut? After all these years? Well it’s back for a second season. The premise: Luke Brummer and his daughter both live double lives. And they are both secret CIA operatives, each ignorant of the other’s role until, well, they aren’t. This second season continues the blend of action, comedy and spy adventure. And while it’s not going to dominate any “best of the year” lists, it’s a fun diversion, particularly for the Schwarzenegger fans out there.
Our Times
A married couple, who also happen to be world-class physicists who discover how to travel through time, get into relationship difficulties. Why? They travel from 1966 to 2025, but while one of them takes to the “future” perfectly, the other does not. That’s right, Our Times is a high-concept time-traveling rom-com. And while it doesn’t have the tightest time travel logic going, it doesn’t waste your time at a tight and tidy 90 minutes. Well worth a watch. A Spanish language movie.
Deep Cover
Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed star in Deep Cover, a surprisingly solid action-comedy about improv performers who have to try their luck playing criminals in an actual London crime gang. It sounds like it should be dreadful, but really is not — and at the time of writing sits with an impressive 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating. It was also co-written by Hollywood big-shot Colin Trevorrow.
Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster
In 2023, a submersible imploded while heading for the wreck of the Titanic, more than three thousand metres down. This Netflix documentary looks into the events of the tragedy, in which the five people aboard the Oceangate vessel died, and why it happened. A whistleblower had already suggested this fate was inevitable, further deepening the controversy.
Twin Peaks
Wondering what all the cultural fuss about Twin Peaks is? You can find out for yourself over at MUBI, which has snagged the complete TV show run of the classic David Lynch series. The original run was just two seasons, but the second is an old-school season with a whopping 22 episodes. We usually focus on the new stuff in this What to Watch round-up, but this one’s a bit special. The 1992 follow-up film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me isn’t part of this MUBI deal, but the streamer does have the 2017 return to Twin Peaks.
The Accountant 2
It’s barely out of cinemas but The Accountant 2 has already arrived on Prime Video. This is classic Friday night fodder. Sure, it’s no Oscar-bait, no all-timer classic, but is an effective and punchy buddy-based action movie. Ben Affleck and John Bernthal are those buddies, estranged brothers who come back together to take down the killer of one of their friends.
Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut (4K UHD Blu-ray)
The last truly good Ridley Scott film? Your jaw may drop at that statement if you've only seen the shoddy theatrical release, but Kingdom of Heaven's Director's Cut is almost an entirely different film, offering far more depth and grandeur to go along with the sword-swinging action. An epic historical drama released in 2005, it follows Orlando Bloom's Balian of Ibelin, an apprentice blacksmith who finds himself at the heart of the crusades in 12th century Jerusalem. This new 4K UHD steelbook Blu-ray release includes an astonishing 8 extra hours of bonus content — including an insightful director's commentary from Scott himself as he describes the trials of bringing this version of his movie to audiences.
Stick
Owen Wilson returns to our screens in Apple’s Stick. He plays Pryce Cahill, a former golf pro whose career is in the past, and his marriage is heading that way too. But he still sees a hope for glory in coaching Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager), a young player with heaps of promise. Wilson is as charming as you’d hope in this comedy-drama. It’s a 10-episode series.
Sara - Woman in the Shadows
Italian crime drama Sara - Woman in the Shadows stars Teresa Sapomangelo as Sara, a retired agent who returns to her old work in order to investigate the death of her own son. It was made to look like an accident, but was it really one? It’s a six-episode story with solid plotting and twists in all the right places.
What it Feels Like for a Girl
This BBC series dramatises the life of Paris Lees, the author and trans advocate. The eight roughly 50-minute episodes dig into her life growing up as Ellis, a chaotic and witty teen, in Nottingham. It’s been compared to 2021’s It’s a Sin for its unvarnished and relatively unfiltered view on living as a queer person. Based on Lees's own autobiography.
Piece by Piece
An unlikely combo, Piece by Piece is a biopic of singer and producer Pharrell Williams, told through the medium of LEGO. This film did have a cinema run in 2024, but will no doubt find a wider audience on streaming. Reviews praise its creativity, matching that of Williams’s own genre-merging music. But it’s not the ultra-revealing and deep biopic some fans of the musical titan may be after. Available from June 7.
Dept. Q
Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) is a good detective but not necessarily a good man who gets in trouble after his actions get a fellow officer killed. He’s demoted, cast out to Dept. Q, where he has to try to solve cold cases, with — supposedly — little chance for glory. Feel like you’ve heard this one before? That might be because the concept is similar to Apple’s venerated Slow Horses. But thankfully it’s no low-effort rip-off, with sharp writing and a great cast.
The Better Sister
Like a bit of “eat the rich” sentiment in your shows? The Better Sister puts that on the plate, as well as a lot more. It’s a drama between two feuding sisters. It’s a murder mystery. It’s a police show. The Better Sister stars Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks as the titular sisters. We don’t think this is going to feature on many “show of the year” lists but it’s solid twisty entertainment for fans of the genre(s).
Death Valley
It’s murder mystery time, comedy edition. Tim Spall turns detective as amateur crime-solver John Chapel. He’s a retired actor who, in his pomp, played a police detective in one of those never-ending procedurals that litter the airwaves. “Cosy” and “witty” are words you’ll find in almost all the reviews, as well as the conclusion it’s a pretty darn good take on this well-trodden formula.
Speak No Evil
James McAvoy has always been able to do clean-cut wholesomeness. But in Speak No Evil he flips that, putting in perhaps the most unnerving performance of his career. Yep, even more unsettling than Split. Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis’s Ben and Louise believe they’ve met a charming couple on holiday. But they’re revealed to be anything but.
Fountain of Youth
Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth is not set to be remembered as a highlight of the director’s career. But we imagine it will be stuck on the TV in plenty of homes across the country this weekend, ones that have Apple TV+ anyway. John Krasinski stars as Luke Purdue, who teams up with his sister and a gang of treasure hunters in search of, yup, the fountain of youth. It’s dumb and not only sub-Indiana Jones but sub-National Treasure. But enter with the right lowered expectations and you should have fun.
Sirens
Dark comedy Sirens is set during a long holiday weekend at a resort. Devon finds her sister Simon has formed a strange attachment with her new boss Michaela, played by Julianne Moore. Michaela seems to be trying to brainwash her into her socialite ways, but Devon isn’t going to just let that happen. Loads of fun, with some brilliantly unhinged moments through its five episodes.
The Wild Robot
This animation is cited by some as Dreamworks’s most persuasive Pixar-a-like movie in years. It features a robot called Roz. She is stranded on an island, and finding no-one there to satisfy her mission she ends up making friends with the local wildlife. Heart-warming stuff. But Pixar-grade? You'll have to watch to find out.
Tucci in Italy
Whenever Stanley Tucci is on screen, we’re watching. Tucci in Italy sees the maestro return to his homeland, following 2021’s Searching for Italy. We get more gorgeous vistas, more dishes that will make you hungry even if you just had dinner. And a satisfying combo of culture, history, eye candy and travel. The Amalfi Coast, Rome, Sicily and more await.
Untold: The Fall of Favre
Those outside the US may not be entirely familiar with this story. Star quarterback Brett Favre was a football legend whose star was tarnished following accusations of sexual harassment, and more. This hour-long documentary charts his rise and fall. And while it doesn’t feature “talking head” involvement from the man itself, it does make for a pretty compelling watch even if you aren’t an American football fan.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Is it the last hurrah for Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt? There’s been no announcement of that, but this movie sure seems to be bearing that idea in mind. It’s a near-3-hour ode to all things Mission: Impossible, going hard on incredible stunts while referencing plot points and characters from movies past. Don’t miss it on the big screen.
Out now in cinemas…
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Making a follow-up to a beloved film is always tricky. Doing it the better part of 40 years later? Dangerous stuff, but it works in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton returns as the titular demon, and he absolutely still has the juice. It’s absolutely worthy of the legacy of the original, and arguably has a more coherent story too.
Murderbot
Alexander Skarsgard is a synthetic being that gains sentience in Murderbot, which is also the name the lead gives himself. But despite that name, Murderbot is more of a comedy than a show about killing. Even if the character Murderbot does initially quite fancy killing humans... in theory.
A Working Man
Ready for another slice of ‘stath? Jason Statham returns in another over-the-top action move in A Working Man, which is also another collaboration between the star and director David Ayer, following last year’s The Beekeeper, which was a blast. Statham plays Levon Cade, a black ops solider turned construction worker who brings out his old skills to save a kidnapped young girl. It’s not a patch on The Beekeeper, but we don’t pass on a chance to see Statham do this thing.
Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story
Long before true crime was an international obsession, serial killers Fred and Rose West became almost the stuff of UK folklore. However, if you’re younger or not from a country in which this story was constantly retold, this Netflix doc is an effective precis of the real-world events. This three-part series takes content from more than 100 police interview tapes
Love, Death + Robots season 4
Three years after the last season, Love, Death + Robots has returned. And thankfully, the winning formula has not changed. We get 10 slices of animated genius, featuring a wide range of directors, concepts and styles, including David Fincher. Series creator Tim Miller is back too, and directs two from this clutch of episodes.
American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden
Everyone knows the vague story of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. But do you know what really happened? This three-part series looks into the military operation that eventually uncovered the man behind 9/11. It’s not a balanced look at the events, but there’s a good chance you’ll learn plenty from this engaging show. American Manhunt also brought us documentary series on O.J. Simpson and the Boston Marathon Bomber, also available on Netflix.
Long Way Home
Ewan McGregor takes to the road again in Long Way Home on Apple TV+. For those who weren’t there the first time around, McGregor teamed up with Charley Boorman for a 2005 TV series in which the pair roamed about on a pair of motorbikes, travelling from London to New York. They returned in 2020 with a trip from Argentina to Los Angeles. And in this latest show, they go from Scotland to England… but via Europe and even the arctic circle. It's a 10-episode series.
Poker Face season 2
Natasha Lyonne returns for a second season of what was one of the big critical TV hits of 2023. She plays Charlie Cale, who is basically a human lie detector. And that ability takes her from casino worker to unlikely Columbo-a-like, solving cases in gravel-voiced style. Show creator Rian Johnson didn’t return for this series, apparently, but the overall feel and style of the first season do.
Octopus!
Phoebe Waller-Bridge takes on the Attenborough narrator role in Octopus!, a two-part documentary series about the famously intelligent sea creatures. It combines the usual beautiful nature footage we’ve come to expect from these more lavish documentaries with a script infused with some of the quippery Waller-Bridge has infused into shows like Fleabag.
Last Bullet
This film completes a trilogy of stories that began with Lost Bullet and Lost Bullet 2. Alban Lenoir’s Lino is a genius car driver and mechanic who faces off against corrupt cops. But the real meat in the sandwich here is absolutely loads of fast-paced car-based action. If you’re wondering why you’ve missed this pulpy action series of films, which telegraphs its style clearly in poster image and name alone, it may be because this is a French series. Well worth a watch if you're hankering after some action.
Nonnas
Vince Vaughn is Joe Scatavella, a man who opens up an Italian restaurant following the death of his mother. But the difference here is the chefs are actual Italian grandmas, nonnas. It’s based on a real-life story, of a restaurant based in Staten Island. The film does of course hit some familiar heart-warming beats, but the concept alone should give you a good idea whether this one is for you or not.
Another Simple Favor
Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor was one of 2018’s film delights, a twisty comedy-slash-thriller starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. The pair return in Another Simple Favor, which sees the tangy sass of the original transported to Italy. Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie travels there to be maid of honour for a wedding. But as you’d guess if you’ve seen the first film, nothing is quite as simple as it seems.
The Four Seasons
Tina Fey! Will Forte! Colman Domingo! Steve Carell! This show has an absolutely killer cast. And it has the comedy chops to match. The Four Seasons is about a group of old friends, now middle-aged, who go on holiday together. It’s a TV series remake of a 1981 movie directed by (and starring) Alan Alda. He acts as exec producer for this series, which has picked up some great reviews.
Carême
The top line description of Apple TV+’s Carême sounds like a fever dream. Antonin Carême is a pastry chef, arguably the first celebrity chef, working in the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, who also happens to be a spy. Benjamin Voisin stars in a show packed full of lurid affairs, elegantly OTT gastronomy and twists. As you might guess from all this, if not the name alone, this is a French show. It plays out in the French language too, but don’t let that put you off.
Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes
20 years ago London’s metropolitan police killed Jean Charles de Menezes, believing him to be a terrorist extremist. But he was actually just an innocent electrician. This 4-part series looks into the confluences of mistakes that led to the tragic killing. It’s a dramatisation rather than a documentary, starring Emily Mortimer and Daniel Mays, while Edison Alcaide plays de Menezes.
Cleaner
Late last year we saw Taron Egerton take on a Die Hard style role in Carry-On. Now it’s Daisy Ridley’s turn with Cleaner. She’s a former soldier turned window cleaner — no, we’re not joking — who has to intervene when the attendees of a gala in a high ride building are taken hostage. It’s silly, and definitely not as good as Die Hard. But for easy Friday night viewing it might be this week’s top pick.
Andor season 2
The most anticipated second Star Wars season of them them all, at least among adults. And Andor season 2 does not disappoint. We still get the more grown-up side of Star Wars storytelling. It’s still a proper thrill ride. And this time around there’s a bit more humour added to the mix. We’re staying spoiler-free, but Andor season 2 comes highly recommended.
A Complete Unknown
Biopic A Complete Unknown sees Hollywood hot stuff Timothy Chalamet take on the role of gravel-voiced crooner Bob Dylan, during his younger years when his vocal chords weren’t so serrated. It might just be Chalamet’s best performance too. A Complete Unknown is an engaging trip back to the 1960s that makes two hours and change breeze by. Pick up the physical edition to also get The Making of A Complete Unknown, a behind the scenes doc that shows Chalamet training for all that crooning, and a great look at who that super-cool 60s fashion aesthetic was brought to the silver screen.
Havoc
Tom Hardy is exceptionally violent in Havoc, a thriller from The Raid director Gareth Evans. Hardy is Walker, a homicide cop drawn into the criminal underworld after the son of a crime boss is murdered. He’s left dodging bullets from both the gangs and the establishment when a politician’s son is fingered for the crime. Come for the action. Stay for the action.
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