What to watch: new movies and TV shows to stream this week
Great shows and movies you should be streaming on Netflix and beyond.
Welcome to the WatchList, the ultimate place to find out the best things to stream this week - what you should be watching at the weekend and beyond.
Each week we will look at some fantastic new things that have landed on the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, Apple TV Plus and Disney Plus.
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 the 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
Still here? Then what you are after are a handful of recommendations to stop you endlessly scrolling into next week.
Only Murders In The Building: S2
One of the very best things on Disney Plus / Hulu right now is Only Murders In The Building, the whodunnit murder mystery that features comedy heavyweights Steve Martin, Martin Short and the always ace Selena Gomez. The second series sees the crime podcast creating trio as ‘persons of interest’ for yet another murder in their building.
Westworld: S4
While the fourth season of Westworld feels a little redundant, it does well to try and keep the show relevant. We’re way past the point of the rogue robot filled western theme park of the first two seasons and are now on Earth, where humans and technology collide in a strange Matrix-like existence. Season 4 may bring back old faces, but some are different characters or at least have different characteristics. It’s chaotic and confusing but still entertaining.
Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe
Nope, we didn’t think the world needed another Beavis And Butt-Head movie either but Do The Universe is a joy. The plot is ridiculous. The dude-dithering duo find themselves on board a NASA space mission in 1998 which, in turn, sends them time travelling to the strange year of 2022. It’s a classic fish-out-of-water tale that houses a lot of laughs.
Stranger Things: S4 Part 2
The last two episodes of the epic fourth season of Stranger Things is now streaming and cements the show as the very best on Netflix right now. This season has far more horror seasoning than the previous three. The laughs are still there but there is darkness at the heart - which means nobody in the cast is safe from new big bad, Vecna.
Atlanta: S3
The third and penultimate season of Atlanta has arrived and it is still one of the very best shows of recent memory. It’s been some four years since season 2 and the gang, lead by Donald Glover are now touring Europe. The third season stretches the idea of the show being a comedy, with some genuinely jaw-dropping, surreal moments but not knowing where the show is going to go is part of its eclectic charm.
Previously on the WatchList
Man Vs Bee
It shouldn't work but Rowan Atkinson proves once again that he is the one of the best physical comedians out there. Those familiar with his rubber-faced antics in the likes of Mr Bean will be right at home here. Think an ACME cartoon made real, with the bumbling Trevor Bingley's world turned upside down thanks to a pesky bee. There may be 9 episodes, but they are only 10 minutes long (the first is a hefty 20 minutes, mind) which is the ideal run time for this one - any longer and it would lose its sting.
The Umbrella Academy: S3
The third season of The Umbrella Academy is also its best. It's been a strange but wonderful ride for the adopted family of superheroes which has taken in everything from time travel to alternate universes. In season 3, Elliot Page has a more significant role as Victor (formerly Vanya) and how the show adapts to this change is sublime.
Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area
Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area is something of a nail biter. It's set in the near future where a new Joint Economic Area is created in Korea, after a massive civil war. It's here where the country's 'mint' is housed and that is where the heist is set to take place. Much like the show it's a remake of, Money Heist: Korea is being released in parts. If the rest of the show is as good as Part 1, then we are in for a wild ride. Interestingly, though, while being Money Heist through and through the show does touch upon similar economic storylines as Squid Game.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Well, that was quick. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness is now exclusively streaming on Disney Plus and while it is a muddled Marvel movie, there is still a lot to like. When director Sam Raimi is allowed to, he runs amok with the horror elements and Elizabeth Olsen once more adds even more nuance to the Scarlet Witch. You may not know what's going on half the time, but stick with it and there's fun to be had.
The Boys: Herogasm
It's here: the episode of The Boys we have all been waiting for - Herogasm. We have never read a warning quite like the one that precedes this episode which gives you a good idea of what you are going to get. In short: this is one of the most 'explosive' hours of NSFW/L television that you are ever likely to see.
Loot
Apple TV Plus has another fun TV show added to its roster. Loot is about the wife of a tech billionaire who divorces after she learns of an affair and is left with some $87 billion in the split. Adam Scott plays the tech entrepreneur, while Maya Rudolph is the estranged wife who wants to good with the money she has. While the premise may sound cold, this is from the Parks And Recreation team and there is a lot of soul searching in this one, with added laughs.
Love & Anarchy: S2
Season 2 of the fantastic Love & Anarchy is now streaming on Netflix and if you haven't yet ventured into this workplace comedy, then now is the time. It's a Swedish romcom of sorts - there are serious moments but it's not quite a dramedy - based around the restructuring of a publishing company that needs to go digital to survive. Ida Engvoll is superb as the consultant who starts to play an increasingly out-of-control game of flirtation with a colleague. It's not quite Severance when it comes to upending workplace norms, but it's a great watch.
Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet
This true-crime anthology series is a harrowing watch as each episode delves into an area of the web that you'd rather not be in, whether it is SWATing, Sextortion, white extremists... the stories are told in a compelling, dramatised way. Yes it's sensationalist in parts but this is a decent look at the ugly, dangerous side of the internet.
Spiderhead
Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski re-teams with Miles Teller for this Netflix original movie which is all about a dystopian future where convicts are given the chance to partake in a drugs experiment to shorten their sentence. Other big names in the movie include Chris Hemsworth as the rather smarmy head of the experiment. While not perfect, fans of Black Mirror will be at home with this one.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
The Worst Person In The World
While this one is currently streaming on Mubi in the UK, it has also just landed on Hulu in the US and is a must watch. Director Joachim Trier has created an existential romcom about a high achiever who seemingly has it all, except love - something that hits hard as she is hitting 30. Renate Reinsve is the star and she is superb, deserving of the best actress gong she received at this year's Cannes. Divided like a book into chapters, The Worst Person In The World is a fantastic 'of its time' film.
On the big screen
Lightyear
Disney travels back to Infinity and Beyond with this intriguing spin-off of the Toy Story franchise. Based on the premise that Buzz Lightyear is a toy from a famous film that persuaded Andy to get his much-loved toy - Lightyear is that movie. Chris Evans is great as the voice of Buzz but it's his co-stars Uzo Aduba and Keke Palmer who really steal the show.
Ms Marvel
Wow, this is how you begin a Marvel TV series. Ms Marvel is a huge achievement, not just for Disney but television in general. To have Iman Vellani star as the first muslim main star of a Marvel show is one thing - but for her to be an absolute revelation and the rest of the cast to be superb is something else. This show has serious Spider-Man movie vibes with animated sequences and a focus on the younger side of the MCU is inspired. Seriously, this is one of the freshest Marvel shows in years and we can’t wait to see where it goes.
- Streaming now on Disney Plus
For All Mankind
The third season of Brian K. Vaughan's alternative look at the space race is here, and we aren’t kidding when we say that this is one of the best TV shows around right now. Just like he did with Battlestar Galactica, Vaughn has taken a unique approach to telling this alternative history that is just gripping TV.
- Streaming now on Apple TV Plus
Beyond Infinity: Buzz and the journey to Lightyear
This is a great documentary which charts just how Disney Pixar created a character that is now as well loved as Mickey Mouse. If you are hoping to catch up with the new movie, then this is a great primer about the character and just how he had gained the popularity he has.
- Streaming now on Disney Plus
Keep Sweet: Prey And Obey
Ah, that age-old cult story. While the details are horrific, the actual subject matter of cult-like religions taking advantage of the vulnerable is unfortunately a tale that happens time and time again. In short, the story is about a horrible cult leader who led an offshoot of the Mormon church which involved polygamy and systematic abuse. As you hear about the story of a man who accumulated some 78 wivs you will be sick but it is a compelling watch.
- Streaming now on Netflix
The Hustle
Adam Sandler is the king of Netflix. While you may not like his dumb comedies, he makes something like Uncut Gems and all is forgiven. The Hustle is more in the Uncut Gems way of thinking about the actor, a superb look at a down on their luck agent who things he has struck gold with an upcoming NBA star. Sandler is effortless as the agent who needs a break and clings hard on the one he has seemingly got.
- Streaming now on Netflix
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is an absolute must watch. It follows Kenobi after the events of Return Of The Sith and sees Ewan McGregor once more as Old Ben and Hayden Christensen back as Darth Vader.
The first two episodes of the show are streaming now and they don't disappoint - and they make you strangely nostalgic for the prequels.
Stranger Things: S4
It's time to head back to The Upside Down with the fourth season of Stranger Things now streaming on Netflix. Well, seven episodes. There will be two more feature-length ones in July.
Each episode cost a reported $30 million to make and it really shows - it's great to have the group back together, even if they look like they have aged somewhat more than the six months that has passed in the show.
PISTOL
Danny Boyle's first foray into TV is a triumph. This look at the Sex Pistols and the beginnings of punk is a ferocious, fun look at one of the most raucous times in music's history.
The standout performance is Maisie Williams who shakes off her GoT persona to play punk icon Pamela. There's six episodes that well be streaming weekly from 31 May.
The Boy: S3
The Boys is back and there's no letting up when it comes to how extreme this show can get. It's a year later, after the events of the second season and everyone is, well, bored. Billy Butcher is working for the government, Homelander is slowly losing his mind. It takes newcommer Soldier Boy to stir things up - and boy does he.
The Boys: S3 is streaming weekly from 3 June.
On the big screen
The Bob's Burgers Movie
Even if you aren't yet a fan of the show, this one is a delight. The Belchers are in trouble. There burger business isn't making enough money and a sinkhole has developed around the building. Couple this with a mysterious death and what you have is a fun, pun-filled romp that will leave you as full as a burger dinner. Brilliant stuff.
Previously on The WatchList...
Night Sky
There are myriad layers to Night Sky. For a start, there's the sci-fi premise: a portal to another planet just happens to be in the shed of an ageing couple, something they use to observe other worlds. That is about as high concept as it gets, but the real meat of Night Sky is the couple themselves. They are in their twilight years and played superbly by Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons. This one is a slow burn but it's a slow story about two people who haven't got much time left but are sitting on a secret that would change the world.
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
We never thought we would write this but if you watch one thing on The Watchlist this week, then it should be Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. This superb movie of the classic cartoon is one big love letter to old-school animation, while also satirising the idea of reboots, and CGI, in the process. It's also hilarious thanks to Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer taking the helm and John Mulaney and Andy Samberg voicing the rescue rangers. There's cameos galore and a lot of IP to poke fun at. In short: this one is far more fun than it should be.
Love, Death + Robots: S3
Netflix's fantastic anthology series is back and it's better than ever. Love, Death + Robots: S3 has some great callbacks to the first season, while also offering the reteaming we all wanted to see. That's right: Bad Traveling features Se7en's Andrew Kevin Walker on script duties and David Fincher directing a stunning-looking episode.
The Valet
We'll watch Samara Weaving in pretty much anything but this time around The Valet is actually a decent, original rom com that will have you reaching for the tissues. Weaving is Olivia Allen, a movie superstar who is caught by the paps with a married billionaire. To get out of the situation, she pretends to be in love with the valet is also in the picture. As fish-out-of-water stories go, this is a really fun watch.
Previously on The WatchList
Our Father
One of the most disturbing Netflix documentaries you are likely to see, Our Father is the true tale of Donald Cline, a fertility doctor who has been using his own sperm to impregnate patients of his. His actions went on for some 30 years and it was only the advent of home-testing DNA kits that meant his ruse was finally up. Over the course of 90 minutes, this doc recounts the devastation he caused to the many lives he affected. Kids In The Hall
Kids In The Hall, the classic Canadian sketch show is back, thanks to this Prime Video revival, and sees the comedians revitalised after some 27 years off the screen. These new 8 episodes are great fun and there’s a real dose of comedic nihilism throughout. All eight 25-minute episodes are available to watch now. The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith
The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith proves that it’s not just Netflix who can do a decent true crime drama. Here we get the tale of Beverly Lynn Smith, a cold case in Canada in the 70s that saw a 22 year old murdered. Years later her neighbour is implicated in the murder and becomes part of an elaborate police sting to bring him in. This doc charts the twists and turns of the case, over four episodes, and makes for a riveting watch. Oussekine
With Disney Plus the new home for Fox-related content, the streaming service - in the UK at least - is now showcasing Oussekine, a fantastic French drama about a true-life tale of police brutality that saw the murder of a young student and highlighted the political disparities in France at the time. Over four episodes, this is a fantastic dramatic account of those tragic events. The Essex Serpent
This faithful adaptation of Sarah Parry’s fantastic novel features an all-star cast, with Tom Hiddlestone and Claire Danes starring as a vicar and widower respectively. Over six episodes, this adaptation takes its time to tell this knotty tale of mythical creatures, religion, science and love. The Derry Girls Season Finale
The Derry Girls is some of the best TV the UK and Ireland has ever produced and it will be hard to say goodbye to the show. But at least it is going out in style, with the finale happening May 17 and a one-hour special based around the Good Friday Peace Agreement talks the day after. This one is UK-only for now, but given how much the US also loves the show - hopefully it will be shown there soon. On the big screen...
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The UK has had to wait an age for this multiverse masterpiece, but finally Everything Everywhere All At Once is on at the big screen in the UK and it’s an absolute must watch. An inventive film that has shades of Gilliam, Gondry and Jeunet, it’s a fantastical look at Michelle Yeoh’s Evelyn Wang, a downtrodden laundromat owner who is tasked to save the world. What ensues is mind-melting mayhem that’s hilarious to boot.
Watch on the big screen now
Previously on The WatchList
The Staircase
This fictionalised account of the hit true-crime documentary is an absolute must watch. It's twistier than a helter skelter as it unfurls the tale of an author whose wife is found dead at the bottom of their staircase. Did she trip? Her bludgeoned head says 'no' but there is much more to it than that.
As you would expect, both Colin Firth and Toni Collette are fantastic in this suitably meta TV show - when the documentary crew turn up to star filming the documentary of which this show is based, you'll be scratching your head while marvelling at the whole thing. Meltdown: Three Mile Island
The Three Mile Island accident in 1979 is the worst nuclear accident on American soil to date - but it could have been prevented. This captivating documentary looks at the issues behind the plant that lead to the disaster, interviewing key players and, near its end, offering a balanced look at whether nuclear power is worth the fallout that can happen.
The Pentaverate
Mike Myers is back! We wish it was in a better series than The Pentaverate but there is enough of his childish humor to keep your watching. The plot is centred on a secret society that has been the reason for many of the world's big events. After a member dies, they enlist the help of outsiders to keep their controlling plans in control. Packed with cameos, this one works best when the focus is on Myers who - naturally - hams it up as myriad characters throughout.
Disney Gallery: The Book Of Boba Fett
One thing we love about Disney Plus is that the site loves to offer up behind-the-scenes documentaries of its hit shows, much like those great Blu-ray extras of old. The latest focuses on The Book Of Boba Fett and is a great hour of TV that lets you peak behind the Star Wars magic curtain.
Bosch: Legacy - Season 1
The spin-off Bosch is one of the big tentpole dramas that is available on Amazon's Freevee, formerly called IMDb TV. Titus Welliver is back as Harry Bosch, no longer an LAPD detective but now a PI. Anyone who is a fan of the original Bosch series (and if you haven't watched it, then we really do recommend) will like what's happening in Legacy - a spin-off that feels familiar, and that's no bad thing.
On The Big Screen
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
We liked Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness but there's no denying that it is one of the messier entries of the MCU. It's clear that director Sam Raimi has been allowed to add his own flourishes to the movie and this really shows in some of the scarier moments. While the convoluted plot will annoy some, Marvel has pulled off a blinder with the metaverse conceit as it's the ultimate get-out clause for anything that was deemed cannon before it. This means that you just don't quite know where In The Multiverse Of Madness is going to go, which makes the film all the more watchable.
