Looking for something to watch this weekend on Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, or Hulu? Check out our list of the best new shows and movies on various streaming services, including the clown-centric horror of Stephen King’s It, Rian Johnson’s take on the Star Wars franchise, and more.
Streaming entertainment is bigger than ever, and with so many streaming services adding new shows and movies every week, it can be nearly impossible to sort through the good and the bad. If you need something to watch and don’t want to wade through the digital muck that washes up on the internet’s shores, follow our picks below for the best new shows and movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, and other services.
On the list this week: The latest entry in the Star Wars franchise, a new adaptation of Stephen King’s It, and more.
In 2017, Stephen King’s classic, hefty horror novel It got a new adaptation from director Andy Muschietti, and although it only covers half of the story (with the rest to come in a sequel), it’s a great adaptation. Set in the ’80s, It follows a group of kids — Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher), Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis), Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard), Eddie Kaspbrak (Jack Dylan Grazer), Stan Uris (Wyatt Oleff), and Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor) — who live in Derry, Maine, an old town with a dark secret. Every so often, brutal tragedies strike the town, and children go missing. As the kids deal with bullies and other mundane problems, they start to have visions of a grotesque clown named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard), who lurks wherever they go. It is a well-crafted horror movie, dripping with menace, and it also captures the spirit of childhood camaraderie that underlies a lot of King’s work.
Watch now on:
HBO Now
Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’s oddball comedy series Rick and Morty has been one of Adult Swim’s greatest hits, and even if it has a contingent of off-putting fans, it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already. The mostly episodic cartoon follows Rick (an alcoholic, misanthropic mad scientist) and his grandson Morty (an awkward, neurotic teen) as they go on adventures throughout the universe. The show’s premise gives the writers a limitless sandbox to work in: One episode follows an experiment with a love potion making the whole world obsessed with Morty, another finds the protagonists just chilling and watching the weird shows on interdimensional cable. The only constant with Rick and Morty is the show’s off-kilter humor and complete disdain for propriety.
Watch now on:
Hulu
Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island, an adaptation of the novel of the same name, is a bold entry in the director’s long oeuvre, a detective story wrapped up in a Gothic horror tale, set on an island where cliches grow like weeds. Set in the 1950s, Shutter Island follows two U. S. marshals — Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) — who travel to the eponymous isle to investigate a strange case. The island is home to an insane asylum, and one patient, a murderer named Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), has vanished. The man running the asylum, Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley), blocks their attempts to probe the facility, and it quickly becomes apparent that the staff has plenty to hide. Making matters worse, a storm hits the island, leaving Daniels and Aule stuck there for days as they go spelunking in the depths of the hospital. Shutter Island is chock full of familiar elements — the creepy insane asylum, the shady doctor, the storm that traps the protagonists — but they all work together to create an exciting thriller.
Watch now on:
Hulu Amazon Prime
This Spanish drama begins with an older woman, Anabel (Susi Sanchez), receiving shocking news: Her daughter Chiara (Barbara Lennie), whom she abandoned as a child, has tracked her down and wants to spend 10 days together in the countryside. As the days pass, mother and daughter try to get a feel for each other, leading to somber moments, conflict, and maybe a chance at reconciliation. Sunday’s Illness is an eerie drama about family relationships (or the lack thereof), tinged with horror.
Watch now on:
Netflix
The middle chapter of the new Star Wars trilogy is perhaps the most controversial entry yet; some viewers call it a bold reimagining of the franchise, while others fly into paroxysms of rage. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, The Last Jedi picks up not long after the events of The Force Awakens. General Leia (Carrie Fisher) and the Resistance flee the First Order, which is able to track their ships through hyperspace. Meanwhile, young force user Rey (Daisy Ridley) arrives on the distant planet of Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has been living in isolation. Rey hopes that Luke will teach her the ways of the Force, but after his last student — Leia’s son, Ben — became the fearsome warrior of the dark side Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Luke is convinced the Jedi teachings must fade away once and for all. The Last Jedi takes the franchise in some strange directions, and while the film’s mainstream sensibilities may turn some viewers off — the film opens with one of the heroes prank calling the villains, which is a bit silly — there’s no denying that Johnson has left his unique mark on the saga.
Watch now on:
Netflix
