What to watch: new movies and TV shows to stream this week
The best shows and movies to stream on Netflix and beyond.
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.
In short: if it's in the WatchList, then you know it is going to be good.
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!
Woman of the Hour
Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut in Woman of the Hour. She also stars. Sheryl goes on a 1970s TV dating show, but the man she picks to date is actually a serial killer. Unlikely as that sounds, this one is loosely based on a true story. Serial killer Rodney Alcala went on a TV dating show in 1978, The Dating Game. This one lands at 95 minutes, and is the rare case when a movie could have been slightly longer if anything.
Rivals
Who knew an adaptation of a bonkbuster novel by Jilly Cooper would be this good? Cooper’s novels are a fun read, but this show comes alive on the TV screen thanks to star turns from David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Katherine Parkinson. It's set in and around the world of TV production in the mid-80s. Crammed full of sex scenes, Rivals is not one to watch with the kids. But it’s hilarious and all-out fun.
The Radleys
The Radleys seem like a normal family from a distance. But there’s just one issue. They’re vampires. And that secret threatens to bubble up over the surface when the daughter Clara sort-of accidentally kills a boy from her school. This film is based on a novel by Matt Haig, and typical of his writing this is as much a family drama comedy as it is an actual vampire film.
Submerged
We normally recommend shows and movies for flat screens big and small on What to Watch. But Submerged deserves a shout-out for its sheer ambition and audacity. This is a short film made and shot for Apple’s Vision Pro headset. You can look in around the 3D scenes, and tense ones they are too. You are aboard a submarine amid a torpedo attack. Submerged is directed by Edward Berger, who made 2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front for Netflix.
Available on Apple Vision Pro
Outside
One for the horror fiends. Outside is a zombie movie, but an unusual one. It’s set and filmed in the Philippines, and sees a family try to survive out in the wilderness as an outbreak kicks off. This is quite a long watch at 142 minutes. But that time is used to let the psychological thriller elements bed in. It’s no run of the mill zombie flick, and sees much of the tension come from within the family itself, not the wandering brain-eaters outside.
Shrinking season 2
Jason Segel returns as psychotherapist Jimmy, who takes an unusual approach with his patients after his own life fell apart at the show’s outset. This is perhaps Apple’s best attempt to bring back some of that Ted Lasso magic to Apple TV+. And, sure enough, this second season sees Brett Goldstein (also one of the show’s creators) enter the cast.
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
- The best Paramount Plus shows
Previously on The WatchList...
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
We have no idea when the next Tomb Raider game is out, but Lara’s back on our screens in animated form. This take on the legend sees Lara deal with her trauma as much as adventuring. And it’s led to some mixed reviews, but in the best possible sense. Some say it’s a 2-star dud, while CBR gave the show a glowing 9/10 write-up.
Sweetpea
The ever-watchable Ella Purnell is Rhiannon. Her life isn’t going so well. She’s bit of a doormat, who gets kicked around by people who exploit her amenability. But then she snaps and starts killing folks on her vengeance list. It’s a six-part series, and the whole run is available to watch now. It’s yet another watch with somewhat mixed reviews, but the (many) more positive ones say it’s a great time, buoyed by Purnell’s comedy chops.
The Boy and the Heron
Here’s one many of you will have missed in cinemas, Studio Ghibli’s latest. The Boy and the Heron was directed by the master himself, Hayao Miyazaki, and is the tale of a young boy who enters a magical world. It’s not one of Ghibli’s lightest works, though, as his desire to escape follows the death of his mother. An affecting watch, and definitely one for your personal watch list if you’ve ever enjoyed a Studio Ghibli film.
Lonely Planet
Netflix has a thing for unlikely romances at the moment. Lonely Planet zooms in on a novelist, played by Laura Dern, who heads to a remote holiday retreat in Morocco to try to get some work done. But when she meets a younger man there, played by Liam Hemsworth, all her plans are thrown into disarray. Is it a masterpiece? Absolutely not. But it’s an easy watch that avoids the worse excesses of the romance drama, and does feature some lovely scenery. And no, not just Liam Hemsworth.
On the big screen...
Terrifier 3
One of the wildest movies we have ever seen in the cinema, Terrifier 3 is another blood-drenched entry in the frightening franchise and cements the silent but violent Art The Clown as one of the best horror villains.
This one isn't for the faint-hearted, we were at the UK premier and the tabloids we awash with news that someone puked (we were all given sick bags) and numerous walkouts. But if you are already a Terrifier fan, then this one is for you!
It’s What’s Inside
Netflix acquired the rights to this unusual sci-fi-horror-thriller after it debuted at the Sundance film festival. A group of friends get together for a party game ahead of a wedding, and it goes to wild places. Some critics say it is one of the best movies of the year. Others were pretty non-plussed with its histrionics. We say it’s a must-watch just to see which side you land on. It’s the first movie of Greg Jardin, who also wrote It’s What’s Inside.
Trouble
A man is falsely convicted of a murder inside his home, and sentenced to 18 years in jail. It may not sound like the stuff of comedy, but that’s Trouble for you. This Swedish movie recounts a breakout of the prison, and how the man gets tangled up in crime outside of those walls. It's a remake of film from 1988, Strul, but to most of us this is likely to be a first-time watch of the story.
Heartstopper season 3
Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson are beginning to grow up in season three of Heartstopper. And that means more on the themes of university, booze and, yes, sex. But this is Heartstopper so, as you’d hope, it’s all handled with a deft and sensitive touch. We get all the charm of the earlier seasons, and a check in with two of our favourite characters.
Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead
No-one was asking for a remake of 1991 comedy Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. But this one from earlier in 2024 received a surprisingly warm reception from some critics. Variety said the film "takes the good parts of what was and fashions something fresh and fun for contemporary times." The plot? The mom of a family heads to Thailand for a retreat. But when the guardian left with the kids dies, they have to fend for themselves.
Last Days of the Space Age
Perth in Australia, 1979. Last Days of the Space Age looks into the lives of three families during a confluence of unusual events. There’s a strike at a power company that causes a blackout, a local beauty pageant and, to top things off, a space station falls out of the sky and lands just out of the city. It’s not as hard-hitting as that might suggest, but a drama not set in the US is refreshing in itself.
Joker Folie a Deux
A surprisingly bold film, Joker sequel Folie a Deux doesn’t just try to recreate what the first mega-hit film did in 2019. It blends a musical with some of the themes of the iconic villain, and ends up making a movie that might even be darker than the original. Will it go down well with the devotees? We’re not at all sure. And the critics didn’t love it either. But it’s no lazy rehash.
Out now in cinemas
Inside Out 2
Not only is Inside Out 2 a worthy follow-up to one of the best Pixar films of all time, this film is the biggest box office hit of the year. Heck, you can still catch it in some cinemas. We take another trip into Riley’s head, which is now flooded with the confusing emotions of adolescence. It’s a heartwarming and relatable adventure for just about all ages, in classic Pixar fashion.
His Three Daughters
A far cry from the average Netflix-distributed movie, His Three Daughters is a small-scale but affecting drama about three sisters and their dying father. While it was released without much fanfare, the film has three true stars — Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne and Carrie Coon — all putting in some of the best performances of their careers.
Four Kings
This four-part series looks into the history and achievements of four of the greatest British boxers of all time: Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Lennox Lewis. It’s no tour of glory, though, and digs into the racism and the often horrific injuries involved in this most violent of sports.
Nobody Wants This
Kristen Bell is a sex podcaster. Adam Brody is a rabbi who has just gone through a break-up. The 10 episodes of Nobody Wants This asks, will they make it given how different their lives are? It’s a light and breezy romcom, with each episode clocking in at 20-30 minutes. Reviews range from the entirely unpersuaded to fully enraptured.
Mr. McMahon
Wrestling boss Vince McMahon has done his best to distance himself from this documentary, saying it misrepresents him. But maybe that’s just a sign it digs a little too deep for his liking. Mr McMahon covers his ascent to stardom as the head of the WWE, but also the darker side of a man who has been accused of sexual abuse.
Ludwig
David Mitchell stars as DCI Taylor in Ludwig, a comedy-drama that sees the Peep Show star become a detective. Well, sort of. He actually plays the detective’s brother, but the two are so similar he impersonates him in order to get to the bottom of why the real John Taylor has gone missing. It’s a gentle show that has attracted comparisons to Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club novels.
- Stream now at BBC iPlayer (UK only)
The Penguin
Much like the film in which Colin Farrell first donned the prothetic suit to become Penguin, this TV series paints Gotham with unusual realism and grit. It's is a more human take on the Batman supervillain, and shows how he became the unhinged figure we know and love(/fear). The show, much like 2022’s The Batman, is pretty slow, though. Bring your patience for this one but it may well be rewarded.
Agatha All Along
Its teaser imagery looks more a Witches of Eastwick or Hocus Pocus spin-off than anything else but, yes, Agatha All Along is a Marvel show. It’s a Wandavision offshoot that centres on Wanda's nemesis Agatha, played brilliantly by Kathryn Hahn. The show has picked up some stellar reviews from critics who a) don’t mind the tonal shift to something more campy and b) aren’t already burned out on Marvel.
A Very Royal Scandal
That’s right, they’ve made another dramatisation of Emily Maitlis’s interview with Prince Andrew in 2019, following 2024 Netflix movie Scoop starring Gillian Anderson. This one stars Michael Sheen as the Prince and Ruth Wilson as Maitlis. And it’s a three-part series instead of a film. Reviews are mixed, but some folks can’t get enough of all things royal, and Sheen certainly puts on a dedicated performance as the prince.
Nöthin’ But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of ’80s Hair Metal
The ‘80s, man. This was the era of Motley Crüe, Guns ’N’ Roses, Van Halen, Poison and Ratt. Not all of us would choose to go back there, but if you have even a passing affection for the period, this is a must-watch. We get to see some of the key figures of the scene regale old tales of the day, including Bret Michaels, as well as newer figures, like Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, express their love for the sub-genre. It’s not a deep and challenging doc, but it is a good time.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The first season of Monster focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, and went on to become one of the most-watched Netflix shows ever. It racked up more than a billion hours in its first three months on stream. This second season looks into Lyle and Erik Menendez, who killed their parents in the 1990s. True crime fans shouldn’t, and probably won’t, miss this one. It also sees Javier Bardem return to our TVs, which is never a bad thing.
Frasier season 2
Frasier is a beloved show. But its 2023 return arrived to a mixed response, not helped by a very shaky start. This second season thankfully avoids those faulty beginnings. But the mixed reviews suggest your reaction to this new season may well be the same as the first. Reviewers range from saying it’s great and a welcome return, to that it’s as creaky as a rusty old bike. Give it a go and make up your own mind.
Billionaire Island
Miss Succession? You might want to take a bite out of Billionaire Island. But this power play isn’t about control of a media empire, but that of a salmon fishing business. Two families are trying to grapple the Norwegian market, and the shares of one person could let one of those families take control of the whole fish pie. It’s in Norwegian, but don’t let that put you off. Glimrende!
Into the Fire: Missing Daughter
A woman is asked to help in the investigation of the murder of an unidentified woman, because they believe it could be the girl she put up for adoption 35 years prior, when she herself was just 17. As she delves into the mystery, the twists and turns are wild enough to strain credulity were this not a real story. It’s that of Cathy Terkanian, who lives in Massachusetts and contributes to this two-part documentary.
Boxer
This Polish film is the heavyweight tale of a boxer chasing his dream of becoming a champion, while his young family watches from the ringside. Why heavyweight? It’s two-and-a-half hours long. Don’t come expecting a particularly novel story, as it hits the story beats you’d expect of one of these biopics, even though the film is pure fiction.
Rebel Ridge
Rebel Ridge is the Netflix Original streaming movie we have recommended more than just about any other in recent months. It’s a tense and thrilling action movie in which Aaron Pierre’s ex-Marine Terry Richmond ends up in an escalating face-off with a small town police chief, played by no less than Don Johnson. This film is directed by Jeremy Saulnier, who in films like Green Room and Blue Ruin has shown filmmaking nous can add real cinematic verve to what might be considered lesser genres by some.
The Grand Tour: One for the Road
After more than 20 years, it’s the end of the road for the classic (to some, anyway) Top Gear crew: Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond. The Grand Tour’s season five has come to an end with episode four. It sees the trio head out into Zimbabwe with cars each has always wanted to own, and is a real send-off for the series, clocking in at over two hours. It’s easy for some to think of The Grand Tour this as a mere Top Gear spin-off. But the show itself now has quite some pedigree, having began in 2016.
LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy
Star Wars shows have had a bit of a rough run for the last couple of years. Could this be the antidote? Rebuild the Galaxy combines classic Star Wars antics with the irreverent humour and lightness we’ve come to expect from a LEGO tie-in. And… it’s pure good fun? LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy is a four-part series that has enough cameos to appease the super-fan contingent, without getting bogged down.
The Perfect Couple
A detective show based on a hit novel. Nicole Kidman and Live Schreiber star as a wealthy couple living by Nantucket’s coastline. Their son is about to get married, but the supposedly happy event is derailed when a dead body is found on the beach nearby. Dark secrets are unearthed, and the veneer of this family’s rich and glossy life begins to crack. Plenty of twists are there to pull you through the six episodes.
Slow Horses season 4
One of the best shows on streaming is back for season four. It kicks off in dramatic style, as a bomb detonates in a shopping centre. But the appeal of the show is the same as ever: what’s going on in Slough House, where Jackson Lamb and co try to get to the bottom of a new conspiracy. Hugo Weaving stars in this season, and let’s just say he’s not a particularly nice guy in this one.
English Teacher
Brian Jordan Alvarez stars as Evan, the English teacher of the title. He’s gay, and under investigation after a parent complains about seeing him kiss his boyfriend. But this is no weighty and worthy show. It’s a comedy, and a genuinely funny one at that. Alvarez writes and directs. If you can’t quite place where you’ve seen him before, it may be from YouTube, where he’s found viral success for a decade.
Untold: Hope Solo vs U.S. Soccer
Hope Solo was a star of women’s football years before it was really put under the spotlight. But the story of her life outside of the pitch is even more eye-opening than her career. Goalkeeper Solo was suspended from play following charges of domestic violence, and has also been arrested for drunk driving. A flawed character, but one of the greatest goalkeepers in the women’s sport.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
36 years after the original, Tim Burton is back with another slice of off-kilter gothic comedy with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The alarming part: the main cast is back too, including Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and, of course, Michael Keaton. After all these years, that Beetlejuice flavour is still in-tact. And, a must for the fans, those shrunken head guys return too.
Out now in cinemas...
Terminator Zero
The Terminator series isn’t exactly in rude cinematic health. But outside of the movies, it’s doing alright. Terminator: Resistance has become a cult video game favourite, and new animated series Terminator Zero is probably the best reviewed Terminator content since Terminator 2. This is an anime project from one of the key animation houses of the art form. It’s violent, and features the classic trope of a warrior (a woman this time) sent back in time to try to avert the robot-apocalypse. The first eight episodes are available to stream now. Netflix hasn’t confirmed follow-up seasons yet, so wrap your eyeballs around this one, stat, to give it the best chance of a renewal.
Kaos
Picture this: Jeff Goldblum is a greek god. And not a figurative one, either. He’s Zeus, the King of gods and master of thunder. That’s Kaos’s whole deal. The greek gods have been transposed onto modern times, terrorising current-day Greece with natural disasters and the like as their family dysfunction overflows. Some reviews say it’s a comedic masterpiece. Others aren’t quite so persuaded. Give it a go for yourself. Eight episodes, roughly 50 minutes a piece.
The Rings of Power Season 2
A top candidate for the most expensive TV show ever made is back. The Rings of Power season 2 sees Sauron reprise his evil antics as he continues forging the rings of power that got Middle-Earth into such a pickle in the classic Lord of the Rings story. This second season is darker and more doom-laden, with more complex plotting than the first season. Review scores are all over the shop, a stellar 92% Rotten Tomatoes score obscuring quite how mixed opinions are on this one.
Worst Ex Ever
Netflix is back to its true crime shenanigans with no. 1 TV hit Worst Ex Ever. It’s a four-part series that examines abuse within relationships. Each episode focuses on a different couple. There’s fake identities, emotional abuse, an attempt to effectively steal someone’s child and more. All true stories, with some potentially triggering content in tow. It’s a typically no-nonsense Blumhouse production, and the one case per ep means there’s no bloat or fat to these stories.
Only Murders in the Building season 4
One of the most-loved comedy-mysteries on streaming is back for a fourth season. Some reviewers are calling this season a return to form. But last time we checked, there wasn’t a dud season of this show. Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez return to bumbling about and solving mysteries. The trio continue to lock into their winning rhythm, and the series showing no signs of letting up just yet.
The Frog
This Korean series follows two storylines at once, set twenty years apart. Two innocent strangers invite someone into their lives, and find theirs upended as a result. It’s part horror, part thriller, and the story unravels over right episodes. The pacing is a little uneven, so some patience is required. But it all comes together in a satisfying way in the show’s second half.
Pachinko season 2
Missed the first season of Pachinko? You’ve missing out on one of the best shows in all of streaming. It’s the tale of a Korean family that moves to Japan, charting their lives across four generations from 1915 to 1989. We can only hope we get a third season to fully adapt the original 2017 novel. The show has been almost universally praised for its acting, cinematography and storytelling.
GG Precinct
This Taiwanese show combines a serial killer story with… comedy. It’s a very, very silly show, but somehow manages to pull the oddball combination off. 20 years ago, a teacher murdered his students. And now a copycat killer is on the rise, linking his murders to word games. Check out the trailer to get a sense of whether you’ll get on with GG Precinct's unusual flavour.
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War
Cowboys can feel like the stuff of fictional legend, but they were actually real. Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War is a docudrama that lifts the lid on the iconic lawman Earp and his struggles against outlaws out west. The show includes the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and blends interviews and archive footage with more movie-like acted-out scenes. It’s a fun look back into a a part of American history it’s all too easy to have a murky, part-fictional take on.
Arcadian
After a limited theatrical run earlier this year, Nic Cage vehicle Arcadian has come to NOW. It’s a post apocalypse thriller in which Cage and his two sons try to stay alive in a remote farmhouse. And that’s made somewhat more difficult by the horrifying creatures that start trying to kill them at night. Contrary to what you might expect, Cage puts in a pretty restrained performance in this effective low-budget horror.
Incoming
What happened to all those high school comedies? They’re still around, but tend to take a different approach, as in Bottoms. Incoming takes more of an old-school approach, focusing on a bunch of idiot teenage boys. It’s led to comparisons to Superbad, although you shouldn’t approach Incoming with hopes for another minor classic like that. However, if you have a penchant for toilet humour, it should go down a treat.
Emily in Paris season 4
The first half of Emily in Paris season 4 is here. Gabriel is in love with Emily, and it’s set to cause all kinds of havoc, especially with Gabriel’s ex Camille just out of frame. This first half of the season is comprised of five episodes, with the other five due on 12 September. Some reviews have begun to tire of the Emily in Paris formula, but others say it’s just a joy to slip back into Emily’s somewhat unhinged world.
Bad Monkey
A comedy series starring Vince Vaughn sounds like a magnet for mediocre reviews but Bad Monkey is a real critical hit. He’s no wedding crasher here, starring as a detective who has become a restaurant inspector after being demoted. However, he finds a severed arm while on duty, pulling him into a mystery. Also stars Rob Delaney and Michelle Monaghan. But the charm of Vaughn’s performance is the lead draw here.
The Tyrant
If there’s a non English language country whose productions you should pay attention to, it’s South Korea. The Tyrant is about a virus developed by the country, one designed to give people enhanced abilities. It’s intended to give the country an edge, but the US finds out about it, after the virus is stolen. And it causes an international incident. This show is written and directed by Park Hoon-jung, who wrote I Saw the Devil. Unusually, there are just four episodes in this series. You can plough through them in a weekend.
The Union
This Netflix movie stars Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry. Wahlberg is Mike, who has an ordinary job. He’s a construction worker, but is pulled into a world of espionage and danger by his old high school girlfriend, Roxanne. She’s played by Berry. It lasts under two hours. Plenty of action. Silly premise. Sounds like the perfect movie for weekend streaming to us.
Homicide Life On The Streets
We usually highlight brand new movies and TV shows in our What to Watch round-up, but this one is special. Homicide Life on the Streets is a 1990s police procedural show led by the brilliant Andrew Braugher. There are seven seasons, and this is one of the best shows you’ve probably never seen. It’s also even remastered in 4K and HDR. What a treat.
- Stream now at Peacock (From August 19)
On the big screen…
Alien: Romulus
Could this be the best Alien film since Aliens? That’s what some think. It takes elements from all the previous mainline instalments, and amps up the horror to max out the impact of the alien’s presence. We absolutely recommend going to see it. But we also recommend going in not expecting the headline some — including us just now — have given it. That this is the best Alien flick since 1986. It’s too much weight for what is really just a pleasantly brutal time at the movies.
Out now in cinemas
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Netflix’s latest big hit is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, based on a book by Holly Jackson. Pip Fitz-Amobi is a 17-year-old who begins to think a local murder may not have gone as everyone else thinks it did. Five years before, Andie was murdered. It was concluded her boyfriend did it. But he took his own life after the crime. But perhaps the truth isn't that simple. An engaging 6-part series.
Umbrella Academy season 4
The fourth and final season of The Umbrella Academy is here, finishing off the show after five years. There are just six episodes. And this is by far the least well-received of the seasons so far. But, hey, it's good to once see a fan-favourite show get a proper send-off rather than a classic brutal Netflix cancellation. The Hargreeves crew are back to tackle a world-ending event, and have to collapse a bunch of alternative timelines in order to restore the universe.
The Instigators
Damon and Affleck in a heist comedy? This would once have been the stuff of big box office earnings. But this is 2024, and we're talking Casey Affleck, not Ben, whose career has been on the rocks since 2010 when he was accused of sexual harassment. The Insitigators is still a major project, though, an Apple TV+ movie from Doug Liman, who also directed the brilliant Edge of Tomorrow, the fun American Made and Amazon's Road House. It’s not Liman’s best, but we’ve seen far worse streamer original movies
Cowboy Cartel
This documentary series from Apple TV is about how a violent Mexican drug cartel used horse racing to launder millions and millions of dollars. Or, more to the point, it's really about how a team of agents at the FBI managed to bring them to justice. Without getting killed in the process. It’s a 4-episode series, and all four are thankfully available to watch now.
Love is Blind: UK
Love it or hate it, trashy reality TV is big news on streaming. And Love is Blind is contemporary trash royalty. We’ve had six US seasons since 2020. Now it's the UK's turn. Missed this show so far? The premise is pretty wild. Couples go on dates and get engaged without ever actually seeing each other, while the men and women live in Love Island style tribes to keep the chat flowing. It's not for everyone, but is binge gold for the right viewer. Presented by Matt and Emma Willis.
The Influencer
Now here’s an odd one. A real curio. The Influencer is a South Korean show, a reality TV competition in which real influencers across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram duke it out. They compete for the attention of the public, in real influencer-style tasks, and wear neck bands that show their follower numbers. The Influencer has been compared to The Hunger Games. And, yep, there are some real dystopia vibes here. But can we really say our influencer culture is that much better?
Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats
Love him or hate him, Joe Rogan has become a major cultural figure. This is his third Netflix special, and features the kind of incendiary topics you might expect from the world-famous podcast host. The reviews say, as most of us know, Rogan isn't exactly as world-class a comic as his cultural stature might suggest. But, hey, whether you’re a fan or merely curious, you may want to dip into Burn the Boats.
Women in Blue
This show is about the first female police force in Mexico City. It’s set in the early 1970s, making it ripe for representations of sexism an order of magnitude worse than what we see today. And this female squad ends up on the hunt of a serial killer. It’s based on real-life events, in a typically very loose way. However, it really works as a thriller, and is tinged with horror in parts.
Futurama season 12
25 years in, Futurama is on its 12th season. This latest bunch consists of 10 episodes, but with one released a week on stream, it’s just like watching back in 1999. We’ve had a chance to see the first couple of episodes, and they feature Futurama-themed skewerings of NFTs and Squid Game. It’s fun comfort viewing.
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
25 years (again) after the first SpongeBob Squarepants episodes, the brand is apparently sill so strong it can power a spin-off. Sandy Cheeks gets her own Netflix movie. Bikini Bottom is scooped right out of the ocean, and the gang needs to head to Texas in order to get it back. So, yeah, while this may be a Sandy Cheeks movie, it still absolutely features everyone’s favourite sea sponge.
Batman: Caped Crusader
We’re in a golden era of animation, particularly if you loved the 90s shows that proved formative for so many millennials. Batman: Caped Crusader revives the spirit of the 1990s cartoons, pitching the superhero as a noir detective. If you need more proof it’s worth a watch, just check out its perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating (at the time of writing, anyway).
Fantasmas
This unusual comedy show came to the US in June but has just arrived in the UK courtesy of Sky’s NOW. It comes from a former SNL writer and has received mixed reviews, in the best kind of way, with write-ups ranging from perfect scores to stinkers. Which side will you fall on? Well, how of you feel about talking puppets? This is part sketch show, part full narrative, and is packed with creativity. There are just six episodes, 30 minutes a piece, with cameos from Paul Dano, Emma Stone, Steve Buscemi and more.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
What’s wrong with a good old-fashioned action movie? The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare takes us back to a time when even stories based on serious history could be almost entirely irreverent. This movie is directed by Guy Ritchie and stars Henry Cavill as part of a team charged with taking out the German U-boat fleet during World War II. It’s silly, fun, and action-packed. But not not one for the up-tight history sticklers.
The Decameron
The Black Death isn’t the most obvious fodder for comedy, but that’s The Decameron’s deal. A bunch of rich folks escape the city of Florence as the plague breaks out, and it all gets a bit debauched. While this show is very roughly based on a series of 14th century short stories by Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron’s feel is absolutely up-to-date.
Time Bandits
Trying to adapt one of Terry Gilliam’s most beloved works is a tall order, thanks to the auteur’s specific style and sense of comedy. The original was a film. This is a 10-episode series headed up by Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi and Inbetweeners writer Iain Morris. An 11-year-old boy teams up with a bunch of young thieves in a time-travelling troupe led by Lisa Kudrow’s Penelope. Reviewers are split on whether it stacks up to the original, but the more positive ones love it.
Doom Scroll: Andrew Tate and the Dark Side of the Internet
Andrew Tate has become a figurehead of the negative forces impacting younger generations of men and boys, and with good reason. He’s a bad egg. But it’s not just the message that has entranced so many people. The ways people are stewarded towards his content though social media algorithms are to blame too. This documentary looks at both sides of this.
Elsbeth
2009’s The Good Wife really did have legs. Despite ending in 2016, its legacy lives on. First we had The Good Fight, a spin off that ran from 2017. And now we have Elsbeth. Its creators say this isn’t a strict The Good Wife spin off, but it does feature a character from the original show’s universe. It’s a detective series starring Carrie Preston, from the original series.
Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam
Today we know NYSNC and the Backstreet Boys as some of the most successful US boybands of all time. But did you know there was a scam behind them? It was the work of Lou Perlman, who generated a Ponzi scheme out of their success. This is the disturbing story of that era. The documentary itself is controversial, through the use of AI techniques to alter the presentation of some of the talking heads. But the story itself is interesting and alarming.
And on the big screen...
Deadpool & Wolverine
Are you ready for the big one? Deadpool & Wolverine is finally here, a last attempt to bridge the gap between eras of the MCU. In case you’ve been avoiding the hype, the film sees two superhero luminaries team up for an all-the-fall comedy-action adventure. Reviews are mixed. It’s ei
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