What to watch this weekend.
The weekend is finally upon us, and there are a ton of new TV shows and movies to stream now that the work week is over. There are a couple new theatrical releases I’ve included in this guide as well, because I still believe in the magic of the movie theater.
Every week, I scour the internet and the myriad streaming services we all subscribe to these days (I subscribe to so many I’ve completely lost track) and try to find the best recommendations I can to pass on to all of you. I haven’t watched all of these, but if I have I’ll give my opinion or link to my review. Sometimes, I also include stuff that hasn’t gotten the best critical response or that I don’t much care for as well, because you just never know. There’s no accounting for taste!
In any case, we have Southern Gothic horror, a new series from the creator of Parks and Rec, a promising new animated family movie and much more, as well as a bunch of ongoing shows. Let’s dive right in!
Check out last weekend’s streaming guide right here:
A Man On The Inside (Netflix)
Ted Danson stars in this funny yet emotionally poignant new series from Parks and Rec and The Good Place creator Michael Schur. I’ve actually watched the entire season (all in one sitting) and published my spoiler-free review earlier today. I really loved this show, and highly recommend it!
Spellbound (Netflix)
Netflix’s new animated family movie, Spellbound, just released and so far the reviews seem pretty positive. It certainly has a star-studded cast doing the voicework, including Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem. I’m mostly intrigued by the music, which was composed by the one and only Alan Menken, who wrote the scores to many of the best Disney films, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, not to mention the wildly underrated TV show Galavant. I haven’t watched this one yet, but it looks fun.
Blitz (Apple TV)
Perhaps a little less fun is Apple’s Blitz, about a mother who sends her son away from London during the German bombardment of that city in WWII, only to have him run away and try to find her. The movie was written and directed by British filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen (what a name to have in the film industry) whose past work includes 12 Years A Slave. Blitz is doing pretty well with critics (80%) though slightly less so with Rotten Tomatoes audiences (63%) most of whom cite boredom as the film’s biggest problem.
Say Nothing (Hulu)
I missed this one last weekend, so I’m including it here. All episodes for this limited FX series are out now on Hulu, and I’ve heard very good things. The story takes place in Ireland during The Troubles. The 9-episode series is based on the book by Patrick Radden Keefe, and spans four decades, beginning with the disappearance of a mother of ten in 1972. I admit, it looks quite dark and I haven’t been in that headspace, but it’s at the top of my list.
The Piano Lesson (Netflix)
A Southern Gothic horror film about a family clashing over a piano—a family heirloom—and its dark history, the legacy of slavery, and more. Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler and Ray Fisher star. Honestly, this trailer alone deserves some kind of award. That’s a damn fine trailer. The movie currently rocks a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. It looks excellent, though clearly not an easy watch. This is an adaptation of August Wilson’s Broadway stage play, which also starred Samuel L. Jackson.
Arcane Season 2, Act III
I’ve been enjoying the second season of Netflix’s Arcane, though as I noted in my Act 2 review, the pacing really is off this time around. Still, I’m incredibly excited to see how they wrap up the story of Jinx and Vi, Jayce and Viktor and all the rest of the sprawling cast of characters.
Cruel Intentions (Prime Video)
I admit, I really didn’t care for the 1999 film Cruel Intentions starring Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Michelle Gellar when I watched it 25 years ago, but it looks like the new Prime Video series is much worse—22% on Rotten Tomatoes. But hey, you never know. There’s something for everyone out there.
Wicked (In Theaters)
I’m genuinely excited to go see Wicked in theaters even though I just saw it on Broadway earlier this year (which was awesome). Critics love the film (89%) but audiences appear to love it even more (98%) and that’s a relief. So many adaptations are a mess, but this one appears to be hitting all the right notes. I’m hoping to take the kids to this one over the weekend and report back with my own review.
Gladiator 2 (In Theaters)
Critics and audiences are a little less enthusiastic about Ridley Scott’s big historical epic sequel, but it’s still getting pretty good reviews (72% with critics and 84% with audiences). I think it looks like a fun movie theater movie, something well-suited for the biggest screen you can find. If I had to pick just one to go to, I’d go with Wicked, but if you’re looking for some high-octane arena combat rather than song-and-dance, go with Gladiator.
What’s Currently Streaming
Alright, now that we have all that covered, here are the shows still currently streaming that I’m either writing about or following or that I think are worth mentioning. Some great stuff has come out this year, and a lot of it is now come and gone, including The Penguin on HBO. But there’s still more to watch before the year is out!
FROM Season 3 (MGM+)
Last weekend’s episode of FROM was pretty intense, with some very big reveals about the mysterious town our heroes find themselves trapped in. We have just one more episode to go in Season 3, and I can’t wait to see what happens. The really good news is that MGM has just renewed the show for a fourth season, so more answers to this scary show’s many mysteries are on the horizon. The finale comes out this Sunday.
Silo Season 2 (Apple TV)
I’m one episode behind on Apple’s excellent post-apocalyptic drama Silo, which in many ways is even 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. Rebecca Ferguson stars. New episodes drop Fridays (so I guess I’m not exactly behind, I just haven’t watched this weekend’s episode yet).
Shrinking (Apple TV)
We still have a few episodes of Shrinking to go. I still haven’t reviewed this show, but I really do love it and find it enormously relatable with all the parenting stuff. Like Jason Segal’s Jimmy, I too have a 17-year-old daughter, and we have our own relationship struggles. Harrison Ford is wonderful in this as well. New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Dune: Prophecy (HBO / MAX)
I still haven’t made up my mind about HBO’s Dune: Prophecy yet. Then again, I’m kind of mixed on the Frank Herbert novel and the Denis Villeneuve films also. I thought the first episode of the prequel was convoluted and too exposition-laden for its own good, but it got pretty interesting in the second half and I’m curious to see where it goes. New episodes land Sundays.
Day of the Jackal (Peacock)
The first five episodes of the spy thriller Day Of The Jackal starring Eddie Redmayne landed on Peacock last week, with new episodes releasing on Thursdays for a total of 10. I’m a big fan of this kind of spy thriller, though I have doubts the series will live up to the original 1973 film.
Landman (Paramount+)
One of two Taylor Sheridan dramas on this list, Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) as he navigates the world of Texas oil. The series is based on the Boomtown podcast from Christian Wallace, who co-created the show. New episodes land Sundays.
Yellowstone (VOD / Paramount Network)
Taylor Sheridan’s massive hit, Yellowstone, isn’t streaming unless you purchase the season on a site like Prime Video. Otherwise, you’ll have to watch it on Paramount Network or wait for it to eventually come to Peacock, thanks to a convoluted streaming deal. I’m still a few episodes behind on this one, because I honestly just find it too melodramatic and its characters too unpleasant to make myself keep watching. This latest half-season has been controversial, with Kevin Costner no longer involved.
What did I miss? And what are you watching these days? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
