“Kabul" is a fictional dramatization of the U.S. Armed Forces' botched 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the Taliban rapidly seizing control of the country. The French, German and Italian co-production follows multiple threads that converge at Kabul Airport on that fateful day: Sunday, August 15, 2021.

Here's how to watch “Kabul" online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free.

At the heart of the six-part miniseries is the westernized Nazany family, which seeks safe passage out of Afghanistan and is aided by French police officers, Italian diplomats, German military personnel and American intelligence services, including a CIA operative played by the late Eric Dane.

It's fair to call it a "Homeland"-esque depiction of events, which are largely sympathetic to western interests.

Many Afghans, including close colleagues of the foreign officials who were safely evacuated from the country, were abandoned, and in some cases given lower priority than pets. Many of those who were lucky to make it out were then left stranded in refugee camps.

Read on as we explain how to watch "Kabul" online from anywhere, starting with free options.

How to watch 'Kabul' for FREE

You can watch "Kabul" free-of-charge on SBS on Demand in Australia, where the series first aired on October 30, 2025.

Free-to-air BBC iPlayer is home to "Kabul" in the U.K., where the drama premieres on August 2, 2026. Alternatively, episodes air on BBC Four from 9 p.m. BST on August 15.

Abroad right now? Use a VPN to get around the geo-restrictions that will prevent your favorite streamer from working. Scroll down for all the details.

How to watch 'Kabul' from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Kabul" on your preferred service?

You can still tune in as normal thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you want to watch the show free-of-charge on SBS on Demand, choose 'Australia' from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to SBS on Demand, sign in, and watch "Kabul" for free.

Can I watch ‘Kabul’ in the U.S., Canada or elsewhere?

At the time of publication, "Kabul" hasn't picked up a broadcasting partner in either the U.S. or Canada.

If you're currently in North America for work or on vacation from Australia or the U.K., you can still catch "Kabul" for free by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.

'Kabul' — Need to Know

'Kabul' trailer

'Kabul' episode guide

• Episode 1 — Taliban Take Over: The worst fears of the westernised Afghan Nazany family come true when the Taliban march into Kabul; at the airport, inexperienced junior Italian attaché Giovanni struggles to manage an influx of desperate refugees.
• Episode 2 — Desperate Choices: When the Taliban drive American evacuation helicopters away from the French embassy, Gilles opens the doors and Zahara and Baqir manage to get inside; Fazal, pursued by the Taliban, seeks help from a CIA operative.
• Episode 3 — Daesh Danger: Baqir charters five school buses, so the French embassy evacuation to the airport can finally begin; Vera and her colleagues locate Hassan in a Taliban camp; Amina and Nooria flee the hospital; Fazal follows US orders to infiltrate ISIS.
• Episode 4 — The Airport Road: Gilles and the French bus convoy are stopped by the Taliban; in the crazy rush of refugees trying to get past the American guards into the airport, Giovanni discovers a young boy who is looking for his parents.
• Episode 5 — The Gate Of Hell: Stuck inside the sealed airport, Giovanni can't go look for Haroon's parents; Vera and Hassan, still on foot and far from the airport, persuade mistrustful Afghan villagers to sell them a van.
• Episode 6 — The Departure: In Doha and en route for Paris, Zahara learns about the attack at Kabul airport; devastated Gilles abandons his Afghan protégés and evacuates with all the other French.

'Kabul' cast

• Eric Dane as Martin
• Darina Al Joundi as Zahara
• Shervin Alenabi as Fazal
• Vassilis Koukalani as Baqir
• Hannah Abdoh as Amina
• Jonathan Zaccaï as Gilles
• Gianmarco Saurino as Giovanni
• Jeanne Goursaud as Vera

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• How to watch U.K. TV from abroad

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Summer is slowly starting to creep away, but not before August slides in with a fresh batch of content that's new on Peacock. If you're looking for something to curl up on the couch with and totally veg out to, you're in luck. Aside from "Obsession" hitting in late July, there's plenty to look forward to as we get our first taste of fall.

It starts in Italy on Aug. 7 with "You, Me & Tuscany," where culinary school dropout Anna (Halle Bailey) lets herself into a stranger's empty villa and accidentally convinces his family she’s his fiancée. If you want something with a bit more teeth, cyber-thriller "The Undeclared War" returns Aug. 27 after a four-year gap as Simon Pegg's GCHQ team hunts down a mole while still cleaning up after a massive Russian cyber-attack.

Finally, the month closes out on Aug. 31 with the "Love Island USA" season 8 reunion. After Bryce Dettloff and Trinity Tatum snagged the $100,000 prize, the Islanders are coming back to talk through Casa Amor, Movie Night and every recoupling in between. Ready to see what else is on the docket? Keep reading for our top picks that are new on Peacock this August.

New on Peacock in August 2026: Top picks

'You, Me & Tuscany'

Anna (Halle Bailey) dropped out of culinary school after her mother died and has been languishing ever since. Then a chance meeting in New York with an Italian man named Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor) gives her an idea, and she flies to Tuscany and lets herself into his empty villa without asking. His family turns up before she can get out. Cornered, she tells them she's Matteo's fiancée, and every lie after that one gets bigger. It gets considerably harder when Matteo's cousin Michael (Regé-Jean Page) arrives and the two of them start circling each other. It turns out she might actually be interested in him.

Stream on Peacock starting August 7

'The Undeclared War' season 2

Four years after the first season aired, this cyber-thriller picks up right where it left off, still in 2024, which was the near future in 2022 and is the recent past now. The Malware Department is dealing with what's left of a Russian attack on the UK, and just as it starts to look survivable, Danny Patrick (Simon Pegg) works out there's a mole on his own team and something worse coming behind it. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Stream on Peacock starting August 27

'Love Island' Season 8 - Reunion

Bryce Dettloff and Trinity Tatum won the $100,000 back on July 12, and seven weeks later the villa reconvenes to sort through everything that happened in Fiji. Ariana Madix hosts, this time with Andy Cohen beside her, which is a fairly clear signal about how gently the cast intends to handle one another. Casa Amor, Movie Night and the recouplings all get relitigated with the Islanders now aware of how the season played on the outside. It's "Love Island", you already know there's going to be drama.

Stream on Peacock on August 31

Peacock originals and exclusives in August 2026

• May 6: Love Island: Beyond the Villa, Season 2 - Finale (Peacock Original)*
• May 7: M.I.A. - Premiere (Peacock Original)*
• May 8: Another Man’s Wife - Premiere (Peacock Exclusive)*
• May 22: Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair - Premiere (Peacock Exclusive)*

Everything new on Peacock in August 2026

* = is exclusive to Peacock

(++) = New episodes of Reelz original series stream live on the Reelz Channel and are available on demand the next day.

New Episodes Weekly

• Access Hollywood: Reality Nightcap (Podcast) S1 (Access Hollywood)
• America’s Got Talent S21 (NBC)
• American Ninja Warrior S18 (NBC)
• Below Deck Mediterranean S11 (Bravo)
• Dateline, Season 34 (NBC)
• Dateline: Unforgettable S8 (Oxygen)*
• Days of Our Lives, Season 61 & 62 (Peacock Exclusive)
• El Señor de los Cielos S10 (Telemundo)
• Eres Mi Luz S1 (Telemundo)
• The Killer Among Us, Season 1 (Oxygen)
• Married at First Sight S20 (Peacock Original)*
• The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys S3 (Bravo)
• Next Gen NYC S2 (Bravo)
• Next Gen NYC S2 After Show Podcast (Bravo Digital)
• On Patrol: First Shift S5 (Reelz)
• On Patrol: Live S5 (Reelz)
• Operación Triunfo S1 (Telemundo)
• Password S3 (NBC)
• Poder y Traición S1 (Telemundo)
• QuédaT: El Señor de Los Cielos Podcast Oficial S1 (Telemundo)
• The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 17 (Bravo)
• The Real Housewives of London S1 (Bravo)
• The Real Housewives of Orange County S20 (Bravo)
• The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th (Bravo)
• The Real Murders of Atlanta S4A (Oxygen)
• Snapped, Season 36 (Oxygen)
• Talking Dateline (Podcast) S1 (USG Audio)
• Top Chef VIP, Season 4 (Telemundo)
• Unknown Serial Killers of America S2 (Oxygen)
• The Valley S3 (Bravo)
• The Wall S6A (NBC)
• Watch What Happens Live, Season 23 (Bravo)

New additions

AUGUST 1

• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
• Almost Famous
• The Angry Birds Movie*
• Armageddon
• Battleship
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever*
• The Big Short
• The Boy Next Door
• Bring It On
• The Cable Guy*
• Clash of the Titans
• Clueless
• Couple Retreat
• Dear Evan Hansen*
• Escape Room
• Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
• Exodus: Gods and Kings
• F9: The Fast Saga*
• The Faculty
• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Field of Dreams
• Fifty Shades of Grey
• Fifty Shades Darker
• Fifty Shades Freed
• Flashdance
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• Fool’s Paradise*
• Footloose
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• Good Boys
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• Gremlins
• Gremlins 2: The New Batch
• Grown Ups*
• Grown Ups 2*
• The Help
• Insidious*
• Insidious: Chapter 2*
• Insidious: Chapter 3*
• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
• Keanu
• Kindergarten Cop
• Knock Knock
• Kung Fu Panda
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Kung Fu Panda 3
• Lemony Snicket’s a Series of Unfortunate Events
• Let’s Be Cops
• The Lincoln Lawyer*
• Little Miss Sunshine
• Major Payne
• The Matrix
• The Matrix Reloaded
• The Matrix Revolutions
• Mean Girls
• Mean Girls 2
• Megamind
• Mud*
• National Lampoon’s Animal House
• Neighbors
• Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
• Old*
• Old School
• One Hour Photo
• Peeples
• Pineapple Express*
• Predator
• The Predator
• Pretty in Pink
• Robin Hood
• Save the Last Dance
• The School of Rock
• Seabiscuit
• The Secret Life of Pets
• The Secret Life of Pets 2
• She’s All That
• Sideways
• Source Code
• Troy
• Twins
• Uncle Buck
• Wrath of the Titans

AUGUST 2

• The Killer Among Us, Season 1 - Finale (Oxygen)

AUGUST 3

• The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 17 - Finale (Bravo)
• Ms. X, Season 1 - Premiere (Peacock Exclusive)

AUGUST 6

• The Valley, Season 3 - Reunion Part 1 (Bravo)
• The Ballad of Wallis Island*

AUGUST 7

• You, Me & Tuscany - Premiere (Peacock Exclusive)*

AUGUST 9

• Unknown Serial Killers of America, Season 2 - Premiere (Oxygen)

AUGUST 10

• The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, Season 5 - Premiere (Bravo)
• The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 17 - Reunion Part 1 (Bravo)
• Kim’s Convenience, Seasons 1-5 - Premiere (Peacock Exclusive for 6 Months)*
• Copshop*

AUGUST 11

• Marry Me*

AUGUST 13

• The Valley, Season 3 - Reunion Part 2 (Bravo)

AUGUST 16

• Oppenheimer*

AUGUST 17

• The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 17 - Reunion Part 2 (Bravo)

AUGUST 18

• The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys, Season 3 - Finale (Bravo)

AUGUST 20

• We Are Pat
• The Valley, Season 3 - Reunion Part 3 (Bravo)

AUGUST 21

• The 355*
• She Dances

AUGUST 24

• The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 17 - Reunion Part 3 (Bravo)
• Days of Our Lives, Season 62 - Premiere (Peacock Exclusive)*

AUGUST 25

• Borderlands*

AUGUST 27

• The Undeclared War, Season 2 - Premiere, All Episodes, 60 min (Peacock Original)*
• Married at First Sight, Season 20 - Finale (Peacock Exclusive)*
• Married at First Sight, Season 20 - Reunion (Peacock Exclusive)*
• The Woman in the Yard*

AUGUST 28

• Fear Lake Lanier*

AUGUST 31

• Love Island USA, Season 8 - Reunion (Peacock Original)*
• Mama June: From Hot to Not, Season 8 - Premiere (We TV)

Live sports and events

New Episodes Weekly

• The Dan Patrick Show (Wednesday through Friday - through July 10)
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• PFT Live (Monday through Friday)
• The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (Monday through Friday)
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• August 1: Tour de France Femmes - Stage 1
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• August 8: MLB - Game of the Day #132
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• August 9: MLB - Game of the Day #133
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• August 10: MLB - Game of the Day #134
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• August 11: MLB - Game of the Day #135
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• August 12: Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - Day 1 (Prelims)
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• August 12: MLB - Game of the Day #136
• August 12: Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - Day 1 (Finals)
• August 13: Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - Day 2 (Prelims)
• August 13: 2026 U.S. Amateur Golf - Round of 32
• August 13: MLB - Game of the Day #137
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• August 14: Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships - Individuals All-Around Finals Day 1
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• August 14: 2026 U.S. Amateur Golf - Quarterfinals
• August 14: MLB - Game of the Day #138
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• August 14: Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - Day 3 (Finals)
• August 15: Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships - Groups All-Around DAY 2
• August 15: Supermotocross - Race Day Live - Unadilla
• August 15: Supermotocross Rd. 26: Unadilla
• August 15: Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - Day 4 (Prelims)
• August 15: 2026 U.S. Amateur Golf - Semifinals
• August 15: MLB - Rockies vs. Giants
• August 15: MLB - Game of the Day #139
• August 15: Women’s Soccer - DC Power FC vs. Carolina Ascent FC
• August 15: Women’s Soccer - Lexington SC vs. Brooklyn FC
• August 15: Women’s Soccer - Fort Lauderdale United FC vs. Sporting JAX
• August 15: Women’s Soccer - Dallas Trinity FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC
• August 15: MLB - Rangers vs. Athletics
• August 15: Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - Day 4 (Finals)
• August 16: Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships - Individuals and Group Apparatus Finals Day 3
• August 16: MLB - Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• August 16: MLB Sunday Stretch #16
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• August 16: MLB - Game of the Day #140
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• August 18: MLB - Giants vs. Guardians
• August 18: MLB - Game of the Day #142
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• August 19: MLB - Giants vs. Guardians
• August 19: MLB - Game of the Day #143
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• August 20: MLB - Game of the Day #144
• August 21: MLB - Giants vs. Red Sox
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• August 21: Liga MX - Juárez vs. America
• August 22: La Vuelta a Espana Stage 1
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• August 22: Premier League - GOAL RUSH
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• August 22: MLB - Game of the Day #146
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• August 22: Liga MX - Tigres vs. Atlante
• August 23: La Vuelta a Espana Stage 2
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• August 23: IMSA - Ford Mustang Challenge- VIR #2
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• August 23: MLB - Athletics vs. Astros
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• August 23: MLB - Game of the Day #147
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• August 26: MLB - Game of the Day #150
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• August 27: La Vuelta a Espana Stage 6
• August 27: MLB - Game of the Day #151
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• August 28: MLB - Game of the Day #152
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Spider-Man has always been one of my favorite Marvel characters, so it’s safe to say my excitement for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has been building for a while. After the emotional ending of “No Way Home,” seeing where Peter Parker goes next has me more curious than ever, especially with the mystery surrounding what’s coming for the web-slinger.

But whenever there’s a new “Spider-Man” movie on the horizon, there’s one thing you can always count on: the theories are going to get wild. From secret identities and multiversal twists to completely unexpected character reveals, fans have already been trying to piece together every clue, especially with Sadie Sink’s mysterious role being kept under wraps.

So, I spent the last two hours diving through the strangest corners of the internet to find some of the most unhinged “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” theories out there. And while some of them are genuinely outrageous, I might have come up with one that’s even crazier.

Top 5 theories

1. The hidden X-gene twist

One of the more complex “Spider-Man” theories online suggests a major rewrite of Peter Parker’s origin story. Instead of being someone who only gained powers from a radioactive spider bite, the theory claims Peter was actually born with a dormant X-gene, making him a mutant.

The spider bite would have simply activated abilities that were already inside him, similar to Wanda Maximoff’s later mutant connections in the MCU. Fans believe the physical changes shown in promotional material could represent Peter’s body developing new mutations, giving him abilities like organic web-shooting, enhanced durability, and protection from psychic scans like Cerebro.

The theory becomes even more interesting when connected to Sadie Sink’s mystery role. Some fans believe she is playing “Mary Jean Grey,” a new version of Jean Grey created by Loki and the TVA. According to this theory, she comes from a separate timeline after Doctor Strange’s spell and is sent to Earth-616 to protect Peter.

2. Peter’s venom problem

This second theory takes a darker approach, bringing together the comic storyline “The Other: Evolve or Die” and the Venom symbiote fragment left behind in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” After being transported to Earth-616, a small piece of the Venom symbiote may have remained behind and bonded with Peter, not to corrupt him, but to save him from a dangerous transformation happening inside his body.

Peter’s trauma and isolation might cause his DNA to break down, allowing his spider-like abilities to take over and slowly transform him into a feral “Man-Spider” hybrid. The Venom symbiote attaches itself to Peter’s cells to stabilize the mutation and keep him alive.

Fans believe the strange body changes, black eyes, web-like cocoon imagery, and violent behavior shown in the trailer could represent a battle between Peter’s evolving mutation and the symbiote trying to control it. The symbiote could eventually force Peter through a controlled rebirth, giving him permanent organic webbing and enhanced instincts before leaving him.

3. Gamma dualism and Hulk’s magic resistance

The next theory focuses on Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner and suggests that the Hulk may have been immune to Doctor Strange’s memory spell in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The theory argues that Strange’s spell erased Peter Parker from the minds of everyone on Earth-616, but Hulk’s unique brain structure protected him from the magic.

Because Bruce Banner and Hulk share the same body but have different minds, the theory suggests a conflict begins between them. While Banner no longer remembers Peter, the Hulk side of him still recognizes Spider-Man and reacts with confusion, protectiveness, and aggression.

The theory heavily implies that an unseen villain could exploit this mental conflict, taking control of Banner’s unstable mind and unleashing Savage Hulk on New York. This would lead to a battle at Empire State University, where Spider-Man uses experimental gamma technology created with Banner to remove Hulk’s powers and change their relationship forever.

4. Tobey Maguire’s secret ‘Doomsday’ connection

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” could be used to reshape the “Spider-Man” franchise and connect the MCU with Tobey Maguire’s universe (Earth-96283).

The theory claims Sadie Sink is playing Mayday Parker (Spider-Girl), the daughter of Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker, who arrives in the MCU after her reality is damaged by a multiversal event. Instead of being a simple character introduction, fans believe the movie is setting up a major change for Spider-Man’s future.

According to the theory, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker could step away from being the MCU’s main Spider-Man after “Avengers: Doomsday,” with Mayday Parker and a future live-action Miles Morales taking over the role. The theory ends with a possible post-credits scene showing Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man being visited by the TVA or Deadpool, confirming him as a major Spider-Man figure heading into “Doomsday.”

5. Time loop theory and the body-hopping entity

The final theory takes the title “Brand New Day” literally, hinting that Peter Parker is trapped in a repeating time loop. The multiversal damage left behind in New York creates a localized time anomaly, forcing Peter to relive the same 24-hour period over and over with small changes each time.

The theory says that the loop begins with Peter waking up completely alone and trying to fight crime without his usual support system. A mysterious astral entity, possibly connected to characters like Shathra, the Spider-Queen, or the Beast of the Hand, attacks the city by freezing civilians through psychic powers.

The entity then moves between different hosts, taking control of figures like Bruce Banner, Damage Control agents, and other villains to hunt Spider-Man. Because Frank Castle (The Punisher) has suffered severe brain trauma, he could be immune to the entity’s abilities, forcing him and Peter to work together to uncover the truth.

Basically, if Peter fails to stop the entity, the day ends in disaster and the timeline resets, forcing him to wake up and begin the same “Brand New Day” all over again.

My own theory

I think Peter Parker is the new sorcerer supreme anchor

My theory might be one of the wildest “Spider-Man” theories out there right now, but the more I look at the pieces, the more it starts to make sense. You just have to hear me out.

Introduced in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” an Anchor Being is someone whose existence keeps an entire universe stable. If they die or are removed, their timeline slowly begins to collapse. While Logan was shown as Earth-10005’s Anchor Being, my theory centers around the idea that Peter Parker could be the Anchor Being of Earth-616.

After Tony Stark’s death in “Avengers: Endgame,” Peter became one of the universe’s most important figures, tying into the comic concept of the Web of Life and Destiny, where Spider-Man acts as a key multiversal connection.

In “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Peter’s possible transformation, mutation, and near-death experience could weaken his Anchor Being status, causing Earth-616 to fracture and setting up the events of “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Secret Wars.”

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Netflix constantly claims to know what I like. It thinks it understands my viewing habits to the point where it can confidently serve up movies and shows it knows I will willingly lap up. But is that actually true?

Most of us open the app with at least a vague idea of what we want to watch—scrolling past endless rows of recommendations or searching directly for a specific title. But as an experiment, I decided to lean into the machine and spend a full week letting the Netflix algorithm take total, unyielding control of my viewing.

"Today’s Top Picks for You" and "Because You Watched" suddenly became my best friends, because without them, I was utterly lost. I stopped ignoring them and actually paid attention to the content being directed straight into my eyeballs. That new show friends kept raving about? Off-limits. The next season of the series I started months ago and wanted to jump back into? Strictly forbidden. Instead, I was stuck watching only what Netflix placed in front of me. Here’s how that experiment actually went.

More of the same, until that became a problem

Things started off well enough. Thanks to my (and my partner’s) eclectic tastes, Netflix served up a swath of great movies and TV shows. Some were aimed at me, some at her, but their appearance was always entirely logical. British comedies for me to binge on? Check. Quirky documentaries for my partner to sink into? Check. Blockbuster films such as "Barbie" and "The Fall Guy" to watch on a Saturday night? Check.

I started with the first tailored recommendation beyond the general "Show of the Week" being pushed on everyone: "The Middle," a series I’d never watched but always intended to. It was as if Netflix could read my mind. Six episodes later, I was a fan, but I needed to switch things up.

Returning the next day, however, meant things had shifted. Suddenly, my homepage was flooded with similar sitcoms, foisting titles like "Young Sheldon" and "Superstore" upon me. I gave both a shot and enjoyed a few episodes, but that’s when things got tricky.

Netflix noticed I was clearly in the mood for quirky American sitcoms, so it recommended more and more of them. Perfectly logical, sure, but also a little annoying. Yes, I like "Superstore," but that doesn’t mean I want every clone of it forced on me, especially when I’m only halfway through season 1.

I got caught in a content bubble I couldn’t escape

I didn’t just watch sitcoms all week. I decided to expand my horizons while staying true to the confines of the experiment, scrolling further right past the endless comedy clones to find something different. That worked great — until the exact same cycle repeated itself with the new genre.

Categories I enjoy watching occasionally, but not often enough for Netflix to care about, simply stopped appearing. The more I followed the algorithm, the more it asserted its own choices. Every new frame I watched fed the beast more data, leading it to serve up even more of what I was "obviously" enjoying.

This isn't inherently a bad thing. Giving people more of what they want is an algorithm’s entire raison d'être. But that mindset ruthlessly destroys discovery and kills the variety that is essential to human nature.

I did find myself watching more; it just happened to be more of the exact same thing. My total viewing time increased, partly because I was being shown content I legitimately liked, and partly because I wasn't wasting time deciding what to watch. But it was a soulless experience, making me feel like a passive passenger rather than the driver.

Netflix knows me, but it doesn’t understand human nature

So, what did I learn? Netflix's algorithmic recommendations are remarkably useful for removing friction from the viewing experience. You spend less time searching and more time actually watching. However, that convenience comes at the direct expense of variety. The recommendation engine is a great guide, but a terrible explorer—the latter still requires a human touch.

If you just want to sit back and let Netflix do the heavy lifting on a Friday evening, hand the wheel to the algorithm. But if you actively want to discover something new and interesting that isn isn’t a carbon copy of what you watched yesterday, you’ll need to work a little harder and scroll a little further.

I enjoyed letting the algorithm take over for a week, but I wouldn't do it again. The more control you give it, the more it exerts. I can only imagine that a year into this, you'd be trapped in a feedback loop, watching the exact same show recommended over and over as the algorithm circles in on itself.

So, occasionally, on a Friday night after a long week at work, I’ll cede control. But for the rest of the time, I want to make my own decisions about what to watch—even if those decisions turn out to suck.

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If you're looking for the best shows of 2026 so far, you've come to the right place. The year is now over halfway done, so it's the perfect time to check in on which shows from the best streaming services are a must-watch. Especially now that we know which shows are competing for the 2026 Emmy Awards.

I watch dozens of shows each year, so I typically put together a list of the best shows a few times a year. As of the end of July, I've watched 38 shows so far in 2026. That feels like a good sample size, even if I still haven't seen quite every single new show this year.

Some of these names on this list, like "The Pitt," will be familiar to those of you who watch TV regularly. But there are some new shows on my list you might not be familiar with yet. Four of my 10 best shows of 2026 so far debuted this year.

As usual, these shows are all available on a variety of streaming services. So if you're a cord-cutter, don't worry. I've got you covered. I review TV shows for a living, and these are the 10 shows from 2026 I’d actually recommend streaming right now

10 best shows of 2026 (so far)

10. 'The Agency' season 2 (Paramount+)

Genre: Spy thriller series

What's it about? "The Agency” is adapted from the acclaimed French spy thriller series "Le Bureau des Légendes," also known as "The Bureau."

This adaptation is set at the CIA's London office. It stars Michael Fassbender as a deep-cover agent named Brandon. However, he mostly goes by his codename: "Martian." His cover and his work life are dangerously intertwined. In season 2, he has betrayed the CIA to save the woman he loves (Jodie Turner-Smith) while hunting down a mercenary known only as "Viking" (Clayne Crawford).

Why you should watch it: In my "The Agency" season 2 review, I landed firmly in the camp of loving this show for a second season. It's not a perfect show. Many problems that existed in season 1 are still there in season 2. But the things that worked in season 1 also work in season 2. This show knows how to build to an explosive finale, and I don't mean that as a metaphor.

Stream "The Agency" season 2 on Paramount+ now

9. 'Legends' (Netflix)

Genre: Crime thriller series

What's it about? "Legends" is set in 1990s England. A select group within Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, led by Don (Steve Coogan), has come up with a new plan to win the war on drugs. The plan? Assemble a group of everyday customs officers, completely untrained in espionage. Then, train them and send them undercover to infiltrate gangs and global drug dealing operations.

Why you should watch it: I will freely admit I'm a sucker for a British miniseries. Especially one from Neil Forsyth, who also created the excellent BBC series "The Gold." While this series will feel like other British thrillers, at just six episodes, it's perfectly paced. You get exactly what you need, and nothing more, and the show leaves nothing unresolved.

Stream "Legends" on Netflix now

8. 'Rooster' (HBO Max)

Genre: Comedy series

What it's about: From Scrubs" and "Ted Lasso" creator Bill Lawrence, "Rooster" stars Steve Carell as Greg Russo. He is a divorced best-selling novelist who arrives at Ludlow College to comfort his daughter (Charly Clive) after her husband (Phil Dunster) leaves her for a graduate student. Once he's there, he gets roped into being the new writer in residence by the college president (John C. McGinley), and the comedy ensues.

Why you should watch it: I had essentially zero expectations for this show. But it quickly hooked me. I could not stop laughing when watching. The pedigree of the writing and acting talent makes this comedy special. Lawrence, in particular, is what makes the show special. Not only can he still write, but he also brings in veteran actors McGinley and Dunster from past shows. They, alongside Carell, prove that assembling a loaded cast list can still pay off in a major way.

Stream "Rooster" season 1 on HBO Max now

7. 'The Bear' season 5 (Hulu/Disney+)

Genre: Comedy-drama series

What's it about? If you've somehow never heard of "The Bear," it centers around Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White). At the end of season 4, the former hot-shot chef declared he's no longer in love with cooking. So he's leaving the titular restaurant and saying goodbye to his dreams of a Michelin Star-worthy establishment. Before he can leave, though, he and the rest of the staff have to get it together for one final service.

Why you should watch it: This season was different and yet such a return to form. It's set mostly within a single day, and features a new original score from Hans Zimmer. But the ensemble cast and controlled chaos of the writing still are the show's main draw. Seasons 1-2 of "The Bear" were two of the best seasons of television this century, and season 5 is the best the show has had since. It may end a bit too neatly, but at least it ends on a high note.

Stream "The Bear" season 5 on Hulu now

6. 'Hacks' season 5 (HBO Max)

Genre: Dark comedy drama series

What it's about: "Hacks" stars Jean Smart as legendary stand-up comedian Deborah Vance. She's joined, in most moments, by her young protege/writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder). Together, they've revitalized Deborah's career. They've even taken the aging comedy legend to the pinnacle of the world of late-night television. But last season, it all came crashing down to earth. Now, in the show's final season, they have to find a way for Deborah to go out on top — and on her terms.

Why you should watch it: "Hacks" season 1 and season 2 are two of the best seasons of a comedy show I've seen this decade. It's simply brilliant at times. It's never afraid to tug at your heartstrings, but it's also willing to go to dark places. It frequently makes you laugh uncontrollably at a politically incorrect joke. While seasons 3 and 4 were a bit of a drop-off in quality, season 5 was a return to excellence. It even delivered two of the best episodes of TV I've seen in 2026 so far.

Stream "Hacks" season 5 on HBO Max now

5. 'The Vampire Lestat' (AMC+)

Genre: Fantasy drama series

What it's about: "The Vampire Lestat" is technically the third season of "Interview with the Vampire." It stars Sam Reid as the titular vampire, who now has aspirations of being the next rock star. Unfortunately for everyone else, it seems more likely that he might bring about the Great Conversion. That's an event where the vampires take over the world. Bad news for us humans.

Why you should watch it: Reid is incredible as Lestat. His biting wit and rock star looks are a star-making combination. But the rest of this cast also impresses, particularly Jacob Anderson as Louis, Lestat's on-again-off-again vampire boyfriend. Yes, this show is campy at times. Its budget also doesn't do it any favors. But despite being the least "prestige TV" show on this list, it still delivers incredible moments of drama, sometimes across entire episodes rather than mere scenes. Don't sleep on this series.

Stream "The Vampire Lestat" on AMC+ now

4. 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' (HBO Max)

Genre: Fantasy drama series

What it's about: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" tells the tale of Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall (Peter Claffey). As the series begins, the hedge knight (a knight with no lord) is headed to the tournament at Ashford Meadow. He's been freshly knighted by his late master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), and wants to make a name of his own. But along the way, he meets a young boy named "Egg" (Dexter Sol Ansell). That meeting has consequences that will reverberate not just throughout Westeros, but throughout history.

Why you should watch it: This show is a change of pace from "House of the Dragon." It manages to implicate itself in larger storylines while remaining relatively focused and grounded. It takes place over just six 30(ish)-minute episodes, which is a potentially jarring shift for those used to Westeros' history being told in hour-long drama episodes. But it works. In my review of "Seven," which is still the best episode of any show this year, I declared that "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" proved that "Game of Thrones" is finally back.

Stream "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 1 on HBO Max now

3. 'The Pitt' season 2 (HBO Max)

Genre: Medical procedural drama series

What it's about: "The Pitt" is set in the emergency department of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Each season takes place over a single 15-hour workday in the ED.

In season 2, the show juggles many storylines across those mere hours. Top of the list, though, is a potential cyber attack that's already taken out other hospitals in the area. There's also the looming countdown to the end of Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch's (Noah Wyle) shift. Once he clocks out, he's going on sabbatical and a motorcycle road trip. The show strongly hints it's one he might not come back from.

Why you should watch it: This show is "ER" meets "24." That's not an insult either. Across 30 episodes, it's proven to be a recipe for success. Season 1 was my best show of 2025. It cleaned up at the Emmys last year, and I expect season 2 to be the favorite for Outstanding Drama Series once again this year. Episode 11 of this season, "5:00 P.M.," is one of the best of any show so far this year, and will have you feeling all sorts of emotions. This show is, once again, must-see TV.

Stream "The Pitt" season 2 on HBO Max now

2. 'Widow's Bay' (Apple TV)

Genre: Comedy horror series

What it's about: "Widow's Bay" is set in the titular New England island town. It has aspirations of being the next Martha's Vineyard. Unfortunately for Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), his town has more in common with Sleepy Hollow. His island oasis is secretly cursed, and it's not just the tourists who could be in danger.

Why you should watch it: "Widow's Bay" perfectly strikes a balance between workplace comedy and dark horror. It's simply impressive. A lot of this balance is thanks to show creator and former "Parks and Recreation" writer Katie Dippold. The hit 2000s sitcom's fingerprints are all over this new show. Still, there are truly horrifying moments. Top of the list is a creepy clown that would put Pennywise to shame. This new series is undeniably one of the best shows of 2026 so far.

Stream "Widow's Bay" on Apple TV now

1. 'Industry' season 4 (HBO Max)

Genre: Thriller drama series

What it's about: "Industry" started as a drama about a group of young investment bankers at Pierpoint & Co. in London. That plot took a major turn in season 3. In that season, Pierpoint was sold off to the Egyptian firm Al-Mi'raj, and the show's cast went in separate directions. Now, in season 4, Harper (Myha'la) is running an innovative new fund that's heavily shorting the fintech company Tender. However, Tender just hired her best friend (and worst enemy) Yasmin (Marisa Abela) and just made Yasmin's husband, Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington), the new CEO. It's going to get messy.

Why you should watch it: I declared "Industry" season 3 the best show on HBO in 2024. Season 4 might be the best show on HBO of the 2020s. The drama is incredible. There are moments where I genuinely forget to think or breathe because it's so enthralling. And while "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and "The Pitt" both have contenders for best episode of the year, right now, three of my top spots are occupied by this season of Industry. How this show got zero Emmy nominations is beyond me.

Stream "Industry" season 4 on HBO Max now

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Streaming continues to get more expensive between rising platform costs and now streaming devices.

Roku announced that it's raising prices on several of its flagship streaming devices — an ominous sign after Fox just purchased Roku for $22 billion in June.

Here's what Roku devices will cost you now.

In an interview with The Desk, an unnamed Roku executive blamed the price hike on increased RAM prices and supply issues due to AI demand.

From laptops and phones to gaming consoles and now streaming devices, the AI gold rush is impacting and deforming the market for everything as RAM prices and supply continues to be astronomically bad with no end in sight.

How to save money on streaming devices

There is a small bit of good news, however: Currently, Roku is running a sale on its official store that keeps most Roku devices at their old prices. The Roku Ultra, for example, is "on sale" for $99.99.

You can also pick up Roku devices from Amazon and Best Buy, where you might find some for even less. The Ultra is on sale for $90 on Amazon. Best Buy isn't having a sale, but as of this writing, none of the devices are listed at the new prices.

Of course, if you're not inclined toward Roku, the best streaming devices have alternatives like the Google TV Streamer, which costs $99 on Amazon. I would offer the Apple TV 4K, but Apple just hiked prices across nearly every product the company makes, including the set-top box, which now costs $199 — $50 more than the Roku Ultra despite Roku's increase.

Of course, if you want the Stick form, there's always the Amazon Fire Stick HD for only $35, a new slimmer version of which just launched in April.

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I do love a good shark movie. Most of the time, it comes down to the survival story: watching a single person or a group of characters try to escape a dire situation involving one of Earth’s most terrifying predators. But beyond the danger, these movies also make for a thrilling evening watch. So when Prime Video announced “The Devil’s Mouth,” its latest original movie, I was intrigued to see how this new shark thriller would stack up against the rest of the genre. Having now watched all 104 minutes of the survival flick, I’m left feeling more frustrated than entertained.

“The Devil’s Mouth” essentially feels like a claustrophobic version of “Jaws,” with a premise that’s almost an exact copy of “47 Meters Down: Uncaged.” It follows five college friends who embark on a guided swim through a remote cave system along Thailand’s coast. However, their exploration quickly turns into a nightmare when they realize there’s a deadly bull shark lurking in the darkness. Now they must work together to survive a predator that can strike at any moment.

Prime Video likely has a new No. 1 movie on its hands, but “The Devil’s Mouth” suffers from one major problem that almost had me switching it off: its incredibly annoying characters. Not only did I want to scream at my TV, but I had absolutely no intention of rooting for these people, meaning there was no emotional investment whatsoever. So, before you dive into Prime Video’s new shark movie, here’s what I think.

The scares are there, but patience is required

“The Devil’s Mouth” starts off like many shark survival films, introducing the group of characters who will eventually come face to face with the ocean’s deadliest predator. This friendship group includes the controlling leader Max (Lana Condor), soft-spoken Sara (Kathryn Newton), Max’s overly passive boyfriend James (Nico Hiraga), the whiny Greg (Gavin Casalegno), and his spontaneous girlfriend Adrienne (Tommi Rose). It’s a pretty standard setup for a survival movie, especially when these characters fall into almost every familiar trope. From the opening minutes, you can already predict who’s going to make it out alive.

This movie doesn’t make much of an effort to make you care about its characters. There’s some exposition-heavy dialogue about their plans after college, along with early hints of tension between best friends Max and Sara, but for the most part, I struggled to become invested in their journey. “The Devil’s Mouth” almost forces you to dislike everyone except Sara, meaning there’s very little emotional payoff once the shark finally enters the picture. Every character makes frustratingly poor decisions, with the group constantly screaming at one another, to the point where I found myself checking how much time was left.

It’s frustrating because “The Devil’s Mouth” does manage to build enough tension to keep me hooked, and the third act is a little more compelling, but without any emotional investment, the outcome ultimately feels wasted. This movie would have benefited from focusing more on the toxic friendship between Sara and Max, keeping them as the central characters navigating an awful situation while being forced to confront their issues. Max has an unhealthy obsession with being in control, while Sara lacks the backbone to stand on her own and stop simply following along.

“The Devil’s Mouth” will probably please those looking for a simple shark movie or a new guilty pleasure watch. Kathryn Newton does what she can with the material, and she’s already one of my favorite actresses right now, so her performance alone was compelling enough to keep me watching. However, I wish this had been a more intimate movie focused on a couple of complex characters rather than a larger group that’s difficult to connect with. Thankfully, the bull shark hunting them doesn’t suffer from any poor visual effects, and I’m sure many viewers will find the thrills enough to overlook the annoying characters.

Verdict: ‘The Devil’s Mouth’ proves the shark isn’t always the biggest problem

All I want is a shark movie that genuinely gets under my skin and hits me on a visceral level. I don’t even mind flawed or annoying characters because conflict is standard fare. But they need to act like actual human beings with understandable reasons for making bad choices, not just walking tropes lined up as fresh bait. Honestly, maybe this is a sign the subgenre is running out of steam.

If filmmakers aren’t going to give us something genuinely different like the way “Dangerous Animals” tried to shake things up by throwing a serial killer into the mix, maybe it's time to give the creature-feature side of the genre a break. “The Devil’s Mouth” certainly packs enough quick thrills to boost it to the No. 1 spot on Prime Video this week, and it works fine if you’re looking for a mindless guilty pleasure. But as someone who genuinely loves a tight, gripping survival thriller, I just left the water feeling unsatisfied.

"The Devil's Mouth" is streaming on Prime Video now

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If you're anything like me, Friday night arrives way too fast — and suddenly you're 20 (or 40) minutes deep into scrolling Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and every other streaming app instead of actually watching something. We spend all week rounding up the best new shows and movies worth your time, but even then, decision paralysis is real.

So we're trying something different this week. Instead of another list, we're handing out personalized streaming recommendations — completely free, just in time for the weekend.

Looking for a pulse-pounding thriller? A comfort-watch that'll make you forget the Sunday scaries? A comedy that'll actually make you laugh? Drop your question in the Live Q&A box below, and we'll point you toward your next binge. We'll answer every question we receive between now and Friday, July 31, at 5 p.m. ET.

Answering your questions is me, Kelly Woo, streaming managing editor with 20+ years of experience watching everything, with help from senior entertainment editor Rory Mellon, streaming editor Malcolm McMillan and senior streaming writer Alix Blackburn.

See a question you know the perfect answer to? Jump in. The best recommendations often come from fellow streamers, and we're all for crowdsourcing your next obsession.

Just keep the questions focused on what to watch, and drop them into the Live Q&A box above. We'll be here with recommendations through Friday, July 31, at 5 p.m. ET.

Not sure where to start? Take the quick Netflix quiz below for a personality-based recommendation. Then tell us: Did it nail your taste, or is the algorithm about to get roasted?

It goes without saying that we won't answer any questions with inappropriate or offensive language or photos. This Live Q&A is designed to be an open space for anyone looking for help, no matter how "silly" you think that question may be.

If you've never left a comment on our site before then you may need to sign up to post your first question. It's free to sign up and will unlock a host of other Tom's Club member benefits, such as exclusive rewards and savings, the ability to earn badges and enter giveaways, join in with popular conversations and all Live Q&As, and reveal hints for our quizzes and puzzles.

We can't wait to hear from you — let us know what you'd like help with now.

"The Ark" is back for season 3, with new missions to embark upon for the whole crew, whether they're at Homebase 1 or traversing the universe.

Below is our guide to how to watch "The Ark" season 3 from anywhere — live or on demand — including how to tune in with a VPN.

The key storyline to look out for in "The Ark" season 3 will be the origins of Captain Sharon Garnet. For the past two seasons we've only known her as the brave and bold leader of Ark One. Now, she's heading out to answer a distress call from the Ross-128 planet, and may end up finding answers to questions she didn't ask.

Meanwhile, at Homebase 1 the colony building continues, but with limited resources and new villains closing in, life in space is not going to be easy for Angus Medford and the rest of the crew.

If you can't wait to see what the spacefarers are up to next, check out the following information regarding how to watch "The Ark" season 3 with live viewing and streaming options available.

How to watch 'The Ark' season 3 for FREE without cable

"The Ark" season 3 is available to watch live and free thanks to a YouTube TV free trial.

Remember, you'll need a VPN to watch if you're not in the U.S. right now. We recommend NordVPN.

Watch 'The Ark' season 3 from anywhere

Traveling when "The Ark" season 3 airs? A VPN, or virtual private network, can make your device appear to be back in your home country so you can log in to the streaming services you already pay for while you’re away.

We’ve tested all the major options, and NordVPN remains one of the best VPN services right now. It’s fast, easy to use, and works across phones, laptops, tablets, streaming sticks, and smart TVs. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it with very little risk.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favourite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're outside the U.S. but want to watch the show as usual, you'd select a U.S. server from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to ElectricNOW and watch "The Ark" season 3 as normal.

Watch 'The Ark' season 3 in the U.S.

In the U.S., "The Ark" season 3 is playing on the SyFy channel on Wednesday, July 29 — from 10 p.m. ET.

You can stream SyFy live through services such as Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, with Sling Blue carrying SyFy in select markets.

But, what if you miss the live broadcast? The episodes land on ElectricNOW the next day.

If you're outside the U.S. when the show airs, you can use a VPN such as NordVPN to access your usual services while traveling.

Watch 'The Ark' season 3 in Canada

In Canada, "The Ark" season 3 is showing on CTV SCI-FI which you can get through cable. You can also watch online on the CTV website if you provide your TV provider login details.

The release schedule is exactly the same as the U.S..

Travelers from the U.S. can also use a VPN to access their home subscriptions.

Can you watch 'The Ark' season 3 in the U.K.?

There is no plan in place for the broadcast of "The Ark" season 3 in the U.K. as things stand.

If you're a U.S. subscriber traveling in the U.K., a VPN such as NordVPN can help you sign in to ElectricNOW as you normally would.

Can you watch 'The Ark' season 3 in Australia?

It's fairly similar in Australia, with the latest episodes of "The Ark" season 3 having no firm release date or streaming plan for those Down Under just yet.

If you're traveling and already subscribe to a service carrying the show in your home region, a VPN like NordVPN is the easiest way to keep watching without changing accounts or waiting for a local release.

'The Ark' season 3 - episode guide

There are only details about the first episode of "The Ark" season 3 but we do have episode titles for the second and third installments in the latest season. You'll have to wait for more information on all 12 episodes, though...

• Episode 1 - I Told You Not To Come: After Homebase 1 is founded, Captain Garnet leads a mission aboard Ark 1 to find lost survivors. While part of the crew explores space, Homebase 1 faces a troubling discovery that raises new fears about the planet.
• Episode 2 - It Won't Hurt Too Much: Synopsis TBC
• Episode 3 - Déjà Vu: Synopsis TBC

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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing

Summer’s in its final stretch, but Apple TV is giving you plenty of reasons to stay parked on the couch all through August. Leading the charge on Aug. 5 is season 4 of "Ted Lasso," which pulls Ted right back to Richmond to coach a second-division women’s team.

Mid-month shifts gears with the return of "Women in Blue" on Aug. 12, featuring María’s promotion to lieutenant as the Azules chase a sprawling 1970s Mexico City case tied to the 1968 student massacre. Double-feature energy arrives Aug. 21 with "The Dynasty: UConn Huskies, a three-part documentary on Geno Auriemma’s legendary program, alongside five delightfully cozy new episodes of "Stillwater."

Closing out the month on Aug. 28 is season 2 of "Dark Matter," reopening Blake Crouch’s mind-bending multiverse with Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly back to explore the road not taken. With a slate this stacked, beating the late-summer heat from the comfort of your living room isn't just tempting — it’s practically mandatory. Here's everything coming to Apple TV in August 2026.

'Ted Lasso' season 4

Season 3 sent Ted home to Kansas for good... or so it seemed. Season 4 pulls him back across the Atlantic to Richmond and hands him a challenge he's arguably even less equipped for than managing a Premier League side: coaching a second-division women's football team. The men's players are out of the picture now, so Ted is starting close to zero, learning a new roster and, in his own bumbling way, the sport itself all over again. Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), Keeley (Juno Temple), Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) and Higgins (Jeremy Swift) all return, with Tanya Reynolds and Faye Marsay among some of the newcomers filling out the squad.

Watch "Ted Lasso" season 4 on Apple TV starting August 5

'Women in Blue (Las Azules)' season 2

Season 1 followed the first women admitted to the Mexico City police force in the 1970s as they hunted a serial killer nobody else would take seriously. Season 2 gives María (Bárbara Mori) a promotion to lieutenant and a case that runs straight into the country's recent history. When the body of a student activist turns up, the Azules are pulled into an investigation that leads back to the 1968 student massacre, the day government forces killed protesters in the capital. Then a second body surfaces, this one belonging to someone connected to that same chapter, and it becomes clear that a killer is hunting down people tied to the massacre and leaving them at the police's door.

Watch "'Women in Blue (Las Azules)" season 2 on Apple TV starting August 12

'The Dynasty: UConn Huskies'

Geno Auriemma took over a UConn program with a single winning season to its name and turned it into the closest thing American college sports has to a permanent dynasty: 12 national championships across four decades. This three-part documentary tells that story. Players from across generations keep circling the same admission: that Auriemma was brutally demanding and that a championship, once you have one, mostly leaves you wanting the next. The 2025 title team anchors the present-day thread through Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, while Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and Rebecca Lobo trace the program back to the start.

Watch "The Dynasty: UConn Huskies" on Apple TV starting August 21

'Stillwater' season 5

The animated series, based on Jon J Muth's "Zen" picture book series, follows three young siblings, Karl, Addy and Michael, and the wise panda who happens to live next door. When the everyday problems that come along with being a kid start to feel like too much, Stillwater (voiced by James Sie) tells them a story or walks them through a few breaths, and the kids learn a gentle lesson. It's a show that's made for young kids, but adults could also learn a thing or two. People aren't perfect, after all.

Watch "Stillwater" on Apple TV starting August 21

'Dark Matter' season 2

"Dark Matter" centers on a device called the Box, a device that opens a door onto every other version of the life you could have lived. Season 1 followed physicist Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) as he clawed his way back to his own wife and son through a maze of parallel worlds, only to end the season fleeing into yet another unfamiliar universe with Daniela (Jennifer Connelly) and Charlie (Oakes Fegley) in tow. Season 2 finds the three of them trying to build a new life in that new world, right up until something drives them to run again. Jason can't leave the Box alone, and Daniela's paranoia starts ruining any stability they've managed to build. Blake Crouch, who wrote the novel and never followed it with a sequel, runs the show himself, so this season is genuinely uncharted territory, so who knows where it'll end up?

Watch "Dark Matter" on Apple TV starting August 28

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I think it’s safe to say we’re back. As in, Marvel is properly back. Walking out of my screening of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” I felt that same MCU magic I’d been missing for years.

Ever since “Avengers: Endgame,” there’s been a near-universal feeling that the universe has lost some of its momentum, even if genuine high points like “Guardians of the Galaxy 3,” “Thunderbolts” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” briefly rekindled that old excitement. “Brand New Day” takes its title literally, giving us a fresh new chapter for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker while paving the way for an exciting new era for Marvel.

In the aftermath of Doctor Strange’s memory spell, Peter Parker lives in complete isolation, dedicating every waking moment to protecting New York City as Spider-Man. Cut off from MJ and Ned, the intense toll of full-time heroics triggers a dangerous evolution in his superpowers. As he crosses paths with an unlikely ally in Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), Peter must battle a sinister, invisible new threat capable of mind manipulation, and learn to reclaim his humanity before losing himself entirely.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” serves as the 38th film in the MCU and a key pillar of Phase Six, making it one of Marvel’s most highly anticipated releases in years. Following the massive reset at the end of “No Way Home,” it carries the challenge of reinventing Peter’s journey while grounding the franchise in a way we haven’t seen for some time. While I won’t be giving away any spoilers, I can share my honest thoughts on this new Marvel film and why you should be prepared for what comes next.

Marvel is back in the swing of things

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” was one of the biggest cinematic events in Marvel history. Not only did it deliver one of the franchise’s most heartbreaking deaths (poor Aunt May), but it also embraced the multiverse in a way fans had never seen before, bringing together three generations of Spider-Man and delivering shocking cameos that kept audiences talking for months afterwards. Recreating that level of spectacle for the franchise was always going to be a huge challenge, but I’m glad “Brand New Day” doesn’t try to repeat that. Instead, it takes us back to the streets of New York and tells a more emotional story.

I truly loved the opening of “Brand New Day.” Peter is doing what he does best, tinkering with his web-shooters while talking to his new AI assistant, E.V. Right now, she’s his only real companion, as the world has completely forgotten who he is. He spends much of his time watching Ned’s (Jacob Batalon) videos on social media, keeping up with what his old friends are doing, especially now that Ned and MJ (Zendaya) are attending MIT. The film does an excellent job of showing just how lonely Peter has become, and the pain of loving MJ while she has no memory of their life together.

This emotional foundation gives the film so much strength, and it allows Tom Holland to deliver what is arguably his strongest performance yet, not just as Spider-Man, but as Peter Parker.

He knows the only way to keep himself sane is by embracing the one thing he has left: being the web-slinging hero the city has come to adore, solving local crimes and helping the police force. But the trauma of watching the woman he loves and his best friend move on without him, combined with the physical demands of being a superhero, eventually begins to take its toll. These changes play a huge role in how Peter adapts to his new lifestyle.

Of course, “Brand New Day” isn’t just about its emotional moments. Much of the film’s humor comes from the incredible dynamic between Spider-Man and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher. As you already know, the two have very different morals and approaches to solving problems, making their interactions on screen incredibly entertaining to watch. There are also some visually stunning fight sequences, with new combat styles for Spidey and a particularly exciting sequence involving the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). When these action scenes are woven into the story, it’s pure Marvel magic.

I know most people will want to know about Sadie Sink’s mysterious character, but I’m not giving anything away other than the fact that her performance is one of the best in the film. That’s all I’ll say on that, but just know she leaves a huge impression.

The same can’t be said for every character, though, with villains like Scorpion (Michael Mando) and Tombstone (Marvin Jones III) feeling particularly underused. They get very little screen time, often feeling more like additions designed to please comic fans. “Brand New Day” does occasionally lean into fan service, but thankfully these moments are fleeting, and the film never loses sight of its emotional core.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is a great time, and its ability to tell a more character-driven story while still including plenty of humor, inventive fight sequences and twists is genuinely impressive. It’s also a heartbreaking yet beautiful journey about what it truly means to be alone, focusing squarely on Peter’s isolation and his struggle to hold onto his humanity. Destin Daniel Cretton’s direction and the visual team deserve all the praise for their practical stunt work and brilliant cinematography.

Verdict: Marvel’s future has never looked more promising after ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

Without a doubt, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” delivers the most character-driven and mature Spidey story we’ve seen in over 19 years since “Spider-Man 3.” The film nails the action, with remarkable web-swinging sequences across New York that feel like they’ve been pulled straight from the PlayStation games and stand among the best the franchise has ever showcased.

The cast shines across the board, but Sadie Sink is a massive standout, and it pains me not being able to talk about her role right now (it just means you have to experience it for yourself). Watching Frank Castle and Peter Parker butt heads on the big screen is an absolute blast, and I’m so glad Bernthal gets plenty of screen time, because their dynamic makes this such a fun time.

I can’t say much else in fear of spoiling the best surprises, but “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” sets up an exciting future, so be prepared for what’s coming next! My Spider-Sense tells me this is just the beginning of something special.

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is in theaters on July 31

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• 7 new movies to stream this week on Netflix, HBO Max, and more
• Who's the best Spider-Man ever? Here is my definitive answer
• 9 movies and shows I’m most excited to see in the rest of 2026

We're gearing up for the hottest month of the year, and Netflix is certainly matching that heat with its lineup for August 2026, with buzzy TV releases and must-watch movies arriving on the streaming service to fuel the summer weeks ahead.

On the television front is the fifth and final installment of the crowd-pleasing treasure-hunt drama "Outer Banks," as well as a fresh new miniseries adaptation of the early-20th-century classic "My Brilliant Career." And the film side of things is equally exciting, with new originals like the Greta Lee-led horror flick "The Last House," the Adam Scott-starring crime thriller "The Whisper Man" and the addition of old favorites like Parker Posey's seminal "Party Girl," all of which are hitting the streamer before September rolls around.

And those are only a few of the titles that will be joining the already-sprawling Netflix library in August. Here's the full breakdown of everything you need to stream on Netflix this month.

New on Netflix in August 2026: Top picks

'Party Girl'

Genre: Indie dramedy movie

What it's about: Turning 21 this summer, Daisy von Scherler Mayer's lively and charming "Party Girl" stars Parker Posey as a fast-talking, under-employed Manhattanite who starts working at the library to pay off her debts and turn her life around.

Why you should watch it: Long before she was a lorazepam-taking matriarch in "The White Lotus" universe, Parker Posey was best-known as the undisputed arthouse queen, a cool-kid status cemented with iconic roles in "Dazed & Confused," "Waiting for Guffman" and, yes, this 1995 cult-favorite comedy.

Stream "Party Girl" on Netflix starting August 1

'The Last House'

Genre: Horror/sci-fi movie

What it's about: Led by Wagner Moura ("The Secret Agent") and Greta Lee ("Past Lives"), this Louis Leterrier-directed thriller centers on a family of four who are suddenly and terrifyingly sealed inside their home with no way out.

Why you should watch it: We love an original thriller concept, especially one that's part survival drama (unable to leave, the family has to figure out how to survive with dwindling resources) and part supernatural mystery (of course, there's a mysterious threat forcing them indoors). “The storyline will evolve in ways that the audience certainly will not expect, but that is what makes this film so interesting,” Moura told Netflix. “There are layers and twists that I can’t wait for everyone to see.”

Stream "The Last House" on Netflix starting August 7

'My Brilliant Career'

Genre: Period drama series

What it's about: Based on the classic 1901 novel by Miles Franklin, this six-part Australian drama stars Philippa Northeast as the headstrong Sybylla Melvyn, who harbors grand ambitions of being a writer — that is, until a hunk named Harry (Christopher Chung) gets in the middle of those plans.

Why you should watch it: If you're a fan of fellow romance-filled historical dramas like "Bridgerton" and "The Buccaneers," you'll surely swoon for this lush adaptation from Liz Doran ("Please Like Me," "Barons). Anna Chancellor, Genevieve O'Reilly, Kate Mulvany, Jake Dunn, Alexander England, Sherry-Lee Watson and Miah Madden also star.

Stream "My Brilliant Career" on Netflix starting August 13

'Outer Banks' season 5

Genre: Teen drama/action-adventure mystery series

What it's about: Picking up directly after the heartbreaking loss of one of their own, our trusty treasure-hunting Pogues — Chase Stokes' John B, Madelyn Cline's Sarah Cameron and Madison Bailey's Kie Carrera among them — are back for revenge and redemption.

Why you should watch it: Because it's the last season, duh. Premiering on August 20, the 10-episode final run with the OBX gang will wrap up one of Netflix's longest-running teen dramas and given the shock and grief prompted by that season four finale, it's sure to be one hell of an emotional goodbye.

Stream "Outer Banks" season 5 on Netflix starting August 20

'The Whisper Man'

Genre: Crime thriller movie

What it's about: When his young son vanishes, a widowed crime writer (Adam Scott) enlists the help of his estranged father (Robert De Niro), who just happens to be a retired detective who once put away the serial killer now linked to the kidnapping case.

Why you should watch it: Hello, just look at that cast: Along with the aforementioned Scott and De Niro, the ensemble also includes Michael Keaton, Michelle Monaghan, John Carroll Lynch, Hamish Linklater and Owen Teague, in a harrowing story based on the novel of the same name by Alex North.

Stream "The Whisper Man" on Netflix starting August 28

Everything new on Netflix in August 2026

Synopses provided by Netflix

COMING SOON

"Mousetrap" (KR)

A reclusive writer wakes to find his identity stolen — and must ally with a ruthless loan shark to reclaim his life from a man known as “The Rat.”

August 1

• 3 Ninjas: Kick Back
• About Last Night...
• Anaconda
• Annie
• Are We Done Yet?
• Bride of Chucky
• Child's Play 2
• Child's Play 3
• Clueless
• Cult of Chucky
• Curse of Chucky
• Daddy Day Camp
• Daddy Day Care
• Elysium
• The Fast and the Furious
• 2 Fast 2 Furious
• The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
• Fast Five
• Fast & Furious
• Fast & Furious 6
• Furious 7
• Field of Dreams
• The Hitman’s Bodyguard
• The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
• Holmes & Watson
• Marie Antoinette
• Mile 22
• Minions
• National Security
• Nightcrawler
• Party Girl
• Seed of Chucky
• Selma
• Something's Gotta Give
• Speed
• Speed 2: Cruise Control
• Tears of the Sun
• The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
• Zero Dark Thirty

August 2

• Ingrid Goes West

August 3

• Eighth Grade
• Five Nights at Freddy's 2
• Sing
• Spoiler Alert

August 4

"Badly in Love: Season 2" (JP) (Netflix series)

School's back in session in Okinawa as yankiis gather from across Japan. Will they find love and friendship — or will chaos erupt at their seaside campus?

• Best Medicine: Season 1
• Beyond the Lights
• The Cocktail Lab: Season 1

August 5

"1670: Season 3" (PL) (Netflix series)

Obsessed with reclaiming his nobility status, Jan Paweł becomes oblivious to the trouble brewing in his family and among the villagers of Adamczycha.

"Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy" (GB) (Netflix documentary)

In a bold 28-day experiment, comedian Mo Gilligan tours the UK and US on a fried chicken diet to uncover the impact of the craving — and industry behind it.

"Inside The Trustor Scandal (SE)" (Netflix documentary)

Key insiders revisit the snowballing financial scandal that followed the illegal purchase of a Swedish investment firm in the '90s — and who exposed it.

"Let's Marry Harry" (Netflix series)

Heartthrob Harry Jowsey (Too Hot to Handle, Perfect Match) is done playing the field. This time, he’s handing the reins of his love life to those who know him best. After years of dating in the spotlight — and getting it wrong — his closest confidants are stepping in to make the tough calls. From a carefully selected pool of potential matches, they’ll decide who stays and who goes, guiding Harry toward what he truly wants: authentic love and marriage.

"One Hundred Years of Solitude: Part 2" (CO) (Netflix series)

In that instant, the keys to Melquíades were revealed to Aureliano Babilonia: the first of the line is tied to a tree and the last is being eaten by ants.

• Soul Surfer

August 6

"My Life With the Walter Boys": Season 3 (Netflix series)

A medical crisis forces Jackie and the Walters to find a new normal as a risky hobby, unexpected visitors and evolving romances present new challenges.

• Tortilla Soup

August 7

"Death Inc.: Season 4" (ES) (Netflix series)

Torregrosa's future is at stake. Dámaso's directorial dreams are finally within reach — until Chemi emerges as a new contender to run the funeral home.

"The Last House" (Netflix film)

A family of four are suddenly sealed inside their home with no way out, and must work together to survive against both their dwindling resources and the mysterious, looming threat that is keeping them trapped.

"Operation Safed Sagar" (IN) (Netflix series)

As the Kargil War erupts between India and Pakistan, the Golden Arrows squadron of the Air Force takes flight on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines.

"Our Sticky Love" (KR) (Netflix series)

An ambitious prosecutor loses her memory and moves in with a boxing coach who claims to be her boyfriend. Can this sticky situation turn into real love?

"Ricky Gervais Alley Cats" (GB) (Netflix series)

Outrageous misadventures run wild as feral cats cause chaos on the streets in this no-holds-barred animated comedy from Ricky Gervais.

August 8

"THE RIBBON HERO" (JP) (Netflix film)

When the monstrous Nergal devastates her kingdom, Princess Sapphire reawakens as the Ribbon Hero and fights to save her new home from the same dark fate.

August 9

• Lazareth

August 10

"Dr. Seuss’s Red Fish, Blue Fish": Season 3 (Netflix family)

Fun-loving pals Red and Blue swim together through life's ups and downs while visiting the zoo, camping out in nature, going to the doctor and more.

• Midwinter Break

August 11

"MOURINHO" (GB) (Netflix documentary)

This trophy-packed, insider-fuelled documentary charts José Mourinho's iconic rise as one of the world's top footballing managers of the most elite clubs.

"Rory Scovel: Show Must Go On" (Netflix comedy special)

With a hypothetical home invasion, a biblical reenactment and his late dad's final wish, Rory Scovel delivers unrelenting laughs in this raucous special.

• What's Eating Dan?: Season 1

August 12

"Nando Between Two Worlds - A Sintonia Film" (BR) (Netflix film)

Caught between family life and his obligations to the criminal underworld, Nando faces an impossible choice about where his true loyalties lie.

August 13

"A Child of My Own" (MX) (Netflix film)

Desperate for a baby and burdened by family and societal expectations, a woman fakes a pregnancy and gets tangled in a crime in this shocking documentary.

"MLB Field of Dreams: Phillies vs. Twins" (Netflix live event)

The Phillies face the Twins as Major League Baseball returns to the Iowa cornfields for a nostalgic night of America's favorite pastime.

"My Brilliant Career" (AU) (Netflix series)

Modern, rebellious Sybylla dreams only of writing. Choosing an exciting career over a safe marriage is easy — until she falls in love unexpectedly.

"This, That and Everything in Between" (PH) (Netflix film)

A TV writer's carefully rebuilt life unravels when her estranged mother resurfaces after 27 years — with a secret that changes everything.

"Tires": Season 3 (Netflix series)

While settling in as part owners of a struggling Valley Forge, Will confronts the road not taken and Shane finds himself on a detour toward adulthood.

• Immaculate

August 14

"Don't Say Good Luck" (Netflix film)

In this coming-of-age dramedy, Sophie Birenbaum (Sunny Sandler) is ready for the spotlight as the lead in her high school musical — until suddenly she’s living with even more drama at home than on the stage.

"Moria" (AR) (Netflix series)

In this highly stylized fictionalization, Moria Casán transforms her life story into a symbolic spectacle of fame, controversy and ceaseless reinvention.

"My Best Friend, His Girlfriend and Me" (DE) (Netflix film)

Olli and Matze are best friends living, working and planning to travel the world together — until Matze's romance with Rebecca turns it all upside down.

"To the Max" (ES) (Netflix film)

A group of friends bonded by their love for extreme sports discovers BASE jumping in wingsuits — but feeling like flying carries the highest risks.

"Umthetho" (ZA) (Netflix series)

To keep their youngest brother alive, an idealistic state prosecutor is forced to become a double agent in her imprisoned older brother's gang.

August 15

• Firehouse Dog
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• The Shallows
• Smurfs: The Lost Village

August 18

"Kelsey Cook: Happy Hour" (Netflix comedy special)

In this candid and clever stand-up special, Kelsey Cook explores “hangxiety,” relives a plane bathroom nightmare and breaks down dating a literal Chad.

"Take a Hike!" (KR) (Netflix series)

Four celebrity hiking newbies end up forming a club to tackle Korea's snow‑capped peaks. Can they figure out why on earth people go to the mountains?

• On the Road: Season 1
• Seal Team: Seasons 1-7

August 19

"Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing" (Netflix documentary)

Following the highly publicized death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, in Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rory Kennedy and her Emmy-nominated producing partner Mark Bailey continue their urgent investigation into the once-iconic aviation giant, uncovering startling new revelations and capturing voices from the inside.

"Here the Whole Time" (BR) (Netflix film)

Felipe just wanted a quiet summer with his artsy mom and every musical he could binge... when his childhood crush knocked on his door to join the party.

"Love Is Blind": UK: Season 3 (GB) (Netflix series)

A new group of UK singles enter the iconic dating pods in search of love — but who will make it past the proposal, through the retreat and down the aisle?

• Swiss Army Man

August 20

"Blood Sacrifice" (SE) (Netflix series)

Following the brutal murder of two police officers, a tenacious detective reluctantly joins forces with his estranged ex-cop father to catch the killer.

"Chompoo: Lost & Forgotten" (TH) (Netflix documentary)

When a young girl vanishes from a remote village, the frantic police hunt becomes a media frenzy. But who turned a suspected criminal into a celebrity?

"Outer Banks": Season 5 (Netflix series)

After losing one of their own, the Pogues chase revenge and redemption as they pursue a stolen artifact with the power to change their fortunes.

"S&X" (JP) (Netflix series)

At his clinic, sex therapist Ichito Shimotori treats diverse and intimate sexual issues with sincerity. Yet, he secretly hides a struggle of his own.

August 21

"Facing El Chapo" (MX) (Netflix film)

Two Mexican officers must survive the final hours of their shift after crossing a ruthless cartel boss in this crime drama based on true events.

August 23

• Talamasca: The Secret Order: Season 1

August 24

• Danny Go!: Season 2
• M3GAN
• Revival: Season 1

August 25

"Stamptown" (Netflix comedy special)

Filmed during the Netflix Is a Joke Festival, this full-on fringe variety show blends unhinged clowning, razor-sharp bits and offbeat stand-up.

"Untold: The Testimony of Vince Young" (Netflix sports series)

From his rise to college football phenom to his tumultuous time in the NFL, Vince Young unpacks his fall from stardom in this gripping documentary.

• Martha Cooks: Season 1

August 26

"Mom Knows Best?" (BR) (Netflix series)

In this new reality TV show, nine mothers secretly observe their adult children and bet on their choices as they put their familial bonds to the test.

"One Hundred Years of Solitude: Part 2": Grand Finale (CO) (Netflix series)

In that instant, the keys to Melquíades were revealed to Aureliano Babilonia: the first of the line is tied to a tree and the last is being eaten by ants.

August 27

"Leanne": Season 2 (Netflix series)

With their parents testing their patience, Leanne and Carol dish up sass and surprises as they face old habits, new challenges and changing family roles.

August 28

"All the Truth in My Lies" (ES) (Netflix series)

Two roommates join a bachelorette road trip, where unspoken feelings ignite and shake up their entire friend group. Based on Elísabet Benavent's novel.

"Graveyard: Season 3" (TR)(Netflix series)

When sinister boxes arrive at women's homes across Türkiye, Chief Inspector Önem and her team reunite to unravel a connected web of misogynistic murders.

"The Secret Woman" (DK) (Netflix film)

After discovering she has a family and a shipping empire, a woman with amnesia returns to a wealthy and seemingly perfect past to uncover why she left.

"The Whisper Man" (Netflix film)

Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as "The Whisper Man."

August 29

• Four Hands, Two Sonatas (KR)

August 31

• Sex Lives of College Girls: Seasons 1-3
• Sheriff Labrador: Season 2

Leaving Netflix in August 2026

Leaving 8/1/26

27 Dresses

A Million Ways to Die in the West

The Age of Adaline

Atonement

Borat

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie

Chef

Click

Enough

Everest

Ex Machina

Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride: Part II

Fletch

The Five-Year Engagement

The Glass House

Hacksaw Ridge

Home Improvement: Seasons 1-8

Hunter X Hunter (2011): Seasons 1-6

I Feel Pretty

Kindergarten Cop

Midnight Diner: Seasons 1-3

Mississippi Grind

Pixels

Pretty Woman

The Proposal

R.I.P.D.

Single White Female

Splash

There's Something About Mary

Tootsie

Leaving 8/5/26

Spider-Man

Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 3

Leaving 8/7/26

Labyrinth

Leaving 8/10/26

Copshop

Marry Me

Leaving 8/15/26

The Game: Seasons 1-33

Leaving 8/18/26

Fall

More from Tom's Guide

• 10 best Netflix movies and shows of summer 2026 (so far) ranked by viewers — No. 1 is a twisting mystery thriller made for binge-watching
• Can’t decide what to watch on Netflix this week? Answer these 5 simple questions and we’ll find your next stream
• 3 Netflix comedies to watch after '72 Hours' — including SZA and Keke Palmer's girl failure buddy comedy that hits way too close to home

"Diarra From Detroit" is back for a second season, with Diarra delving deeper into Detroit's weird and wonderful underworld as she uncovers a new mystery.

Here's how to watch "Diarra From Detroit" season 2 online from anywhere with a VPN.

Diarra Kilpatrick returns as her crime-solving namesake and in season 2 she's investigating Chris' mother at a family BBQ, recovering stolen antiques, and finds herself dragged into gang warfare on the streets.

There are eight new episodes of the neo-noir mystery series to come, releasing weekly, and the good news is there's only one platform you need no matter where you are in the world.

Ready to dig deeper into the criminal underworld? Here’s our guide on how to watch "Diarra From Detroit" season 2 online from anywhere in the world.

How to watch 'Diarra From Detroit' season 2 from anywhere

If you’re traveling and find that your usual streaming apps stop working outside your home region, a VPN (virtual private network) can help. It lets your device connect via a secure server back home, so you can use your existing subscriptions as normal.

Tom’s Guide has tested a wide range of services, and NordVPN is the one we most often recommend for streaming thanks to its fast speeds and broad device support. You can also try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Using a VPN is straightforward; follow these steps.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As noted, NordVPN is our preferred option.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.K. on vacation and want to view your regular American service, you'd select U.S. from the list.

3. Sit back and binge. Head to Paramount+ and stream new episodes of "Diarra From Detroit" season 2 online.

How to watch ‘Diarra From Detroit’ season 2 on Paramount+

"Diarra From Detroit" season 2 will be broadcast on Paramount+.

'Diarra From Detroit' S2 FAQs

'Diarra From Detroit' — Cast

• Diarra Kilpatrick as Diarra Brickland
• Morris Chestnut as Francois 'Swa' Brickland
• DomiNque Perry as Aja Edwards
• Bryan Terrell Clark as Mr. Tea
• Jon Chaffin as Danger
• Shannon Wallace as Chris / Deonte Brooks
• Phylicia Rashad as Vonda Brooks
• Claudia Logan as Moni

'Diarra From Detroit' season 2 — Trailer

'Diarra From Detroit' season 2 - episode guide

We know a lot about the first two episodes of "Diarra From Detoit" season 2, but the rest of the season is a bit of a mystery...

• Episode 1 - Welcome Home Deonte: Diarra struggles to help Chris navigate the dynamics of a "Welcome Home" family BBQ while secretly continuing an investigation into his mother.
• Episode 2 - Mr and Mrs Ambien: Diarra and Chris take on the seemingly simple task of recovering a stolen antique for their landlord and find themselves in a world of trouble.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 underrated movies on Paramount+ that you need to add to your watchlist
• New on Paramount+ in August 2026: All the new shows and movies to watch
• How to watch 'Granite Harbour' season 3 online — stream the latest episodes of the hit detective series

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

When Netflix removed its A–Z sorting and release-year filters, subscribers were left frustrated by an increasingly restricted interface. As my colleague Rory Melon noted when covering the sudden removal, viewers suddenly had fewer tools for finding what to watch next and were forced to rely on nebulous algorithms.

But you don't have to settle for a cluttered home screen. After reading about the issue, astute Tom's Guide reader Joey Robert Parks reached out with a clever workaround that completely bypasses the platform’s worst UI update.

Here is how Netflix broke its browsing experience, and how this reader-submitted hack restores full control over what you stream.

What Netflix changed (and why it sucks)

Sorting on Netflix used to be straightforward. You picked a genre, sorted by release date or title, and picked a movie. Now, those basic controls are gone on desktop and smart TVs.

Netflix replaced them with algorithmic categories designed to keep you scrolling through whatever titles they want to highlight that week, making it surprisingly difficult to see what is actually in the library.

The simple reader hack that fixes it

While Netflix took the physical filter buttons off the menu, the website’s direct category links still work perfectly behind the scenes. Every category, from broad themes like Comedies or Horror down to niche sub-genres, has a hidden numerical code.

By adding these codes directly to Netflix's standard category web address in any browser, you bypass the homepage algorithms and land straight on clean, unfiltered category lists.

Setting this up on your computer or mobile browser takes under two minutes. Start by opening Netflix in a web browser like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Next, type the category link into your address bar using (https://netflix.com/browse/genre/ followed by your chosen category number.

You can use standard broad codes like Comedies (6548), Horror (8711), Sci-Fi & Fantasy (1492), or Anime (7424). If you want to drill down into ultra-specific sub-genres like Nordic Noir, Space Operas, Cozy Mysteries, or Found Footage Horror, Joey points out that you don't need to memorize them.

Instead, as highlighted in his comment, you can look up thousands of these hidden IDs on Netflix's own Tudum Secret Codes Guide or search through the What's On Netflix ID Bible database. Once your unfiltered list loads, bookmark your favorite category URLs so you can jump straight to them with one click next time.

We live in the streaming era. What started as a cheaper alternative to traditional cable has turned into something that feels like cable spread across a bunch of different subscriptions.

Getting all the major streaming services, even on the cheaper ad-supported plans, will set you back around $80 per month. If you go with the premium ad-free options, the price skyrockets. Then, if you want one of the top streaming cable services, you'll need to almost double that amount.

Add ESPN for sports and suddenly your monthly bill is more than $160 per month — which is more than most people spent on basic cable when that was still the main way to consume entertainment.

So I decided that rather than picking and choosing which services to keep, I dumped them all and went with a mix of free options and just not watching as many shows and movies as I normally would. I gave myself one month to try it so I could weigh having about $90 in my pocket (I didn't have a streaming cable service to begin with, so there was nothing to drop there) versus the FOMO feeling of not being able to see the new releases.

Here's what happened each week:

No paid streaming: Week 1 (June 21 - June 27)

I started this little test on Sunday, June 21, so I missed out on a lot of content. For example, "House of the Dragon" season 3 debuted on the first day, but fortunately, I haven't watched the first two seasons yet (I planned to wait until the entire series dropped and then go with the binge strategy). "Avatar: The Last Airbender" season 2 also hit, but to be honest, I couldn't care less about it, so I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

The final season of "The Bear" started on June 25, which definitely made me a little sad as I enjoy the show. However, it's not one I'm totally hooked on, so I was able to get by knowing it'll be there later.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" dropped on June 24, but I actually didn't notice it until the following week, as I was deep in the Scary Movie franchise for week one. "Little Brother" debuted on Netflix at the end of the week, and while I was passively interested in it because I'm a wrestling fan (something else I was unable to watch without a paid service), I didn't feel too awful skipping it.

For the first week, these were the main releases that gave me a little FOMO, but they were pretty minor, especially since Pluto TV brought it hard with some big movies that kept me entertained. With "Scary Movie" dropping in theaters earlier in the month, it added the first five movies in the series for everyone to catch up, and I ripped through all of them (the latter three films aren't the best, but they're still good for a laugh).

Between work, family life and watching kids' content during the day (thankfully, he's 9 and doesn't follow the latest releases, so movies on Pluto TV were satisfying for him), these films were enough to fulfill my watching needs for the week (along with some golf YouTube content before going to bed at night). "The Sheep Detectives" would have probably caught his attention, but thankfully, we saw it in theaters.

Week 1 (June 21-27) difficulty rating (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest):

• 3 - I would have liked to have watched "The Bear" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash," but I could live without them

No paid streaming: Week 2 (June 28-July 4)

Now, this week and next would've been nearly impossible for soccer (football) fans, which I am not. The round of 32 started on June 28, then the round of 16 kicked off on July 4, and the rest of the tournament went on from there. Some games were available for free, but if you wanted to see the finals and the biggest matches, you needed subscriptions. For me, this was a non-issue, but it could've easily been the breaking point for some.

Outside of the biggest sports event that had everyone talking, I realized that "Avatar: Fire and Ash" launched the previous week and I was very much looking forward to watching it. Should I have gone while it was in theaters? Probably. But the fact remains that I didn't, and I was definitely feeling some FOMO not being able to catch it on Disney+.

And then July 1 rolled around, and my sadness increased exponentially: "X-Men ‘97" season 2 dropped on Disney+, and I was left out in the cold.

Another show I was interested in watching before the next season was "Silo" — with season 3 launching on July 3, it seemed like a good time to get in. But I didn't get a chance to watch it before shutting everything down, so there's another show I will be left out of watching for the time being (I'll have to re-up Apple TV at some point to catch it, as I don't see it going to a free service anytime in the future).

So with what I didn't watch out of the way, let's talk about what I did actually watch. Quite simply, I watched a lot of YouTube. I caught up on videos from pretty much every major YouTube golf channel from the past few months that had slipped through the cracks. I watched live concerts of my favorite bands from old-school Woodstock broadcasts to modern pro-shot stuff. I discovered Angine de Poitrine through a random YouTube recommendation.

And I dove into the Pluto library for older movies I might have missed or just wanted to see again. My childhood crush Alicia Silverstone's classic "Clueless" arrived, so I took a trip down memory lane with it. "The Matrix Revolutions," by far the worst movie in the series in my humble opinion, came to Pluto, so I gave it a second chance (I stand by my original opinion; it's a bad, bad, terrible, awful movie). Mix in the requisite kids' movies, and we had an okay week of entertainment for the family while I cried inside about not being able to see "X-Men 97."

Week 2 (June 28-July 4) difficulty:

• 8 - Missing out on "X-Men 97" season 2 hit me hard, and I'm excited for this all to be over so I can go watch it now.

No paid streaming: week 3 (July 5-11)

I'm not going to oversell it here: This week was pretty easy for me. Looking through the new releases from Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ and streaming as a whole, nothing really caught my eye. Sure, I'd normally watch the PGA Tour's Genesis Scottish Open, but it's not a tournament I can't live without (we'll get to that next week).

"Hamnet" looked good, but it's a movie I feel I need to watch. The Netflix doc "Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea" looked interesting, and I'll probably watch it at some point if I ever resubscribe, but if not, I won't lose sleep.

Pluto and YouTube carried me through week three without issue — I watched some of my favorite movies from my teenage years: "Friday" and "Next Friday" (I skipped "Friday After Next" as it's just not very funny). Then, I went even further back, jumping into "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls." Finally, I tickled my horror fancy with "Pet Sematary (1989)" and "The Cabin In The Woods," a couple of classics.

Week 3 (July 5-11) difficulty:

• 2 - It honestly could be a 1 for this week, but I added a single point because I still really want to watch "X-Men 97."

No paid streaming: Week 4+ (July 12-20)

Everything was going pretty well, with "X-Men '97" being the only release I truly had FOMO over.

And then the middle of July knocked me on my streamless butt with the release of Netflix's "The Hawk" and the airing of the Open, one of the four biggest golf events of the year. Sure, Will Ferrell's "The Hawk" was getting mixed reviews, but after thoroughly enjoying "Stick," the last big golf comedy series (on Apple TV), I really wanted to watch (and review) "The Hawk."

Could I have asked for a media screener? Sure, but that felt just as against the spirit of this test as pirating it. So I suffered through not being able to formulate my own opinion on the show.

How did I deal with the crushing lack of the Open, which broadcast on a mix of NBC Sports, USA Network, Golf Channel and Peacock? I just didn't watch it. It was hard; I don't usually miss any of the big golf tournaments, but I was committed to this experiment. I did listen to the No Laying Up podcast, which recaps the event each day to keep up with what happened, and I watched highlights on social media, but I didn't sit down and watch any of the event live. It was a sad Thursday-Sunday for me, but I made it work.

OK, that's not entirely true. I did get to see a little of the tournament at restaurants. For example, I played golf on Saturday morning, and the event was playing in the clubhouse, so I watched a bit. But it felt more like a tease than a satisfying viewing experience.

Other than that, in week four, I didn't watch much. Maybe the strain of missing two big things I really wanted to see was too much for me, but I just played a lot of Diablo IV. It had an expansion recently and a new season rolled out, so I dug in and leveled up a Barbarian. It was actually quite enjoyable, and it felt good to dive into one of my favorite video games again.

Week 4+ (July 12-20) difficulty:

• 10 - Everyone's difficult week will be different. Maybe "House of the Dragon" was the big release for you, but for me, "The Hawk" on Netflix and The Open made me realize I really can't live without paid streaming services.

No paid streaming: Final thoughts

In the end, not having paid streaming services is kind of a bummer.

FOMO is a very real thing. From live sports events to new movie releases, there's a lot of content out there that people are talking about, and if you're not willing to turn to illegal means (which I wasn't, both because it's illegal and it would kind of defeat the whole point of my test if I could just pirate anything), you will feel like you're not part of things.

So what's my ultimate advice after a month of depriving myself of the latest entertainment? Pick and choose which streaming services to keep each month. It takes a little effort, yes, but Tom's Guide's own Kelly Woo makes it easy with her monthly pieces on which services to cancel based on goodies slated to come to each one.

Obviously, your tastes will vary, and there might be a show or movie that you care about that makes you subscribe, but she'll give you a nice baseline from which you can work.

Obviously, if money is no object and you don't feel like putting in the effort, just subscribe to everything and forget it. But if that's not your situation (it's not mine, for sure), then your best bet is to be smart about what you keep active.

My ultimate conclusion after all this is that the streaming landscape is actually more annoying than cable. Instead of managing cable packages on one service, now we have upwards of 10 different subscriptions to worry about. It's great for the companies; they can nickel and dime us with increases that feel small — a dollar here and 50 cents there — but add up over time.

It feels like we're rapidly approaching a breaking point where there are just too many streaming services available, and people are going to get frustrated; I sure did, it's the whole reason I did this test.

But unless the cancellations happen in large numbers, nothing will change, and we'll be stuck jumping between multiple services to keep up with the content we want. Sure, you can survive with the ad-based freebies out there, but it's hardly ideal.

There is plenty of evidence that Warner Bros. and DC's 'Supergirl' has struggled mightily. From poor box office numbers to divided critical reviews, Supergirl isn't having a good summer.

The latest blow to James Gunn's version of the DCU comes as the Milly Alcock-led movie is set to hit digital release just over a month after it was on the big screens. It's one of the fastest turnarounds for a DC movie from theater to digital since 2020.

Supergirl is in the top 10 of shortest DC movie digital release dates, though not every film on the list pivoted to digital because of underperformance at the box office.

1. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
2. Joker: Folie à Deux
3. Supergirl
4. Black Adam
5. The Flash
6. Aquaman & the Lost Kingdom
7. Blue Beetle
8. The Batman
9. Birds of Prey

With a 32-day theatrical window, Supergirl claims third behind two sequels: 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' and 'Joker: Folie à Deux.' The Shazam sequel released on March 17, 2023, and was on VOD by April 7, 2023. As far as I can tell, that's the shortest theatrical window for a theatrical-exclusive modern DC movie ever at 21 days.

That includes number 10 on the list, 'Birds of Prey', which debuted in February of 2020 but had an accelerated digital release thanks to the pandemic and the lockdowns that began in March of that year; it still had a 46-day window by comparison though.

However, like Folie à Deux and Fury of the Gods, Supergirl's pivot appears directly related to poor box office performance.

The movie was reportedly produced for $170 million, with a sizable $120 million marketing spend (per Variety). As of July 28, the movie has only earned back just over $124 million globally, according to The Numbers.

A confused DCU

Beyond culture warrior crap, Supergirl arrived at a weird time as James Gunn attempts to turn the DCU into Warner Bros.' own version of the floundering Marvel Cinematic Universe. Floundering might be the only thing it's gotten right.

As my colleague Rory Mellon points out, it's not that the movie is bad but that it may have been the wrong DC hero to focus on immediately after the success of David Corenswet's 'Superman.'

Unlike Marvel and its tightly connected series that all seemingly take place in the same universe, 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' aside, DC's properties are all over the map.

Matt Reeves' 'The Batman,' the upcoming Batman 2 and 'Clayface' are leaning into more of a grim and horrific vibe. Meanwhile, Supergirl felt like a toned-down 'Peacemaker' while the better-received Superman leaned more into the heart of what makes the mythological character popular.

It feels more experimental, which is vastly more interesting than whatever Marvel is currently doing, but the tone is all over the map, which means it may be harder for people to step into the universe.

James Gunn is taking risks, but as the word implies, the coin doesn't always land on the side you want.

More from Tom's Guide

• Why your streaming bill is topping $60 a month — and the free alternatives viewers are using to fight back
• Hulu's new serial killer thriller series is dark and engrossing, with a side of humor
• I tested the ad load on 7 streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video and HBO Max — here’s the worst offender

This week’s selection of top new movies across the best streaming services is another busy one with plenty of options on popular platforms including Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock and more.

Thriller fans are spoilt for choice with several worthwhile picks, including “A Private Life,” which sees Jodie Foster deliver a powerhouse performance entirely in French, and a new shark survival movie on Prime Video (we’re fully in shark movie season right now). But those looking for lighter watches should consider “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” on Peacock.

There’s plenty of new movies to talk about this week, so I’ve rounded up the most noteworthy arrivals across platforms down below. Plus, here’s a guide to the top new TV shows this week, if you want to binge-watch.

‘Supergirl’ (PVOD)

The second feature film in James Gunn’s DC Extended Universe didn’t manage to capture the attention of comic book fans like “Superman." In fact, “Supergirl” proved to be anything but super at the box office, grossing an underwhelming $124 million against a production budget reportedly north of $170 million. Ouch! Just a month after release, it’s swapping the big screen for streaming, where it’ll hope to find a larger audience.

Based on the fan-favorite “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” comic book, Milly Alcock plays the eponymous heroine, also known as Kara Zor-El. Unlike her cousin, Clark Kent, she hasn’t taken to being a world-saving hero. Supergirl spends her days wandering between planets and visiting dive bars. But she’s forced to adopt the hero lifestyle when a ruthless villain emerges. She teams up with a young survivor (Eve Ridley) to dish out some justice.

Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) starting July 28

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (Hulu)

20 years after the original strutted the catwalk, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” brings viewers back to the world of Runway magazine, luxurious designer fashion and the iconic, almost impossible-to-please editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). This long-requested follow-up is your classic legacy sequel, reuniting the original cast (including Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci), and making more than a few nods to how much time has passed since the first “Devil Wears Prada."

With the magazine business no longer in its heyday, the frosty editor-in-chief of fashion mag Runway, Miranda Priestly (Streep), is reluctantly forced to turn to her former assistant, Andy Sachs (Hathaway) for help. As the pair navigate the evolving world of print publishing, they face competition from an old colleague, Emily Charlton (Blunt). Meanwhile, Miranda’s right-hand man, Nigel (Stanley Tucci), offers his wisdom.

Watch on Hulu starting July 29

‘The Devil’s Mouth’ (Prime Video)

Another week, another shark movie hits streaming. The toothy thrillers served up so far this summer haven’t been of the highest quality, so here’s hoping that “The Devil’s Mouth” can buck the trend and deliver some genuine scares. While the casting of Kathryn Newton and Lana Condor offers hope it could be a cut above the low-quality shark movies already released this summer, it also comes from Jeff Wadlow, the director behind “Fantasy Island,” Kick-Ass 2,” and “Imaginary,” and those movies stink!

In “The Devil’s Mouth,” a group of five college friends signs up for a guided tour through an underwater cave system from which the movie takes its title. They plan to have one last big adventure before entering the “real world.” But what was supposed to be an unforgettable trip becomes memorable for a sinister reason when they're trapped in the submerged caves and discover there’s a bull shark swimming in the dark waters.

Watch on Prime Video starting July 29

‘A Private Life’ (Netflix)

My colleague, Malcolm McMillan, claims this mystery thriller is “worth watching for Jodie Foster’s performance alone,” and was impressed that she portrays an American in Paris while speaking entirely in French.

I knew Foster was talented, but giving an awards-nominated performance in a second language is truly commendable. Her acclaimed work in “A Private Life” saw Foster become the first American to be nominated for a Lumière Award for Best Actress. So long as you can handle subtitles, then this thriller should be on your Netflix watchlist this week.

Dr. Lilian Steiner (Foster) is an American psychiatrist working and living in the French capital. She’s devastated to learn that a client has taken her own life. But after a visit from the client's widow, Simon (Mathieu Amalric), and daughter, Valérie (Luàna Bajrami), alongside the discovery that some of her files have been stolen, Lilian suspects foul play. Launching an investigation of her own, she becomes convinced this is a murder case.

Watch on Netflix starting July 29

‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ (Peacock)

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a pure sugar-rush explosion of iconic characters, colorful animation and big action-packed moments. In all the chaos, it neglects to spin much of a story (perhaps that's appropriate for a Mario movie). However, younger viewers will delight in the playful nature of Mario and pals’ latest adventure. Though I expect the majority of older watchers will find it very much a one-and-done watching experience.

Inspired by the popular “Super Mario Galaxy” video game on the Nintendo Wii, this sequel to the 2023 movie sees Mario (voiced again by Chris Pratt) take to the cosmos to assist Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), who has been taken prisoner by Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie). Along for the ride are Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Luigi (Charlie Day) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key). However, it's Jack Black’s Bowser who again steals the show.

Watch on Peacock starting July 30

‘The Drama’ (HBO Max)

“The Odyssey” hype is flowing with no signs of slowing down, which makes now a great time to watch “The Drama.” This darkly funny romantic comedy stars two of “The Odyssey’s” cast members, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, and ranks as one of my favorite films of the year to date. It’s not your typical feel-good rom-com, instead trading in awkward humor, but it’s sharply written, and Pattinson and Zendaya both bring their A-game.

Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are a happy couple preparing for their impending wedding. All seems perfect until an “unexpected revelation” days before they’re due to say “I do.” This sends their relationship into a tailspin, as they are forced to confront whether they truly know each other, and if their romance is built to last. I’ll say no more, because watching this spoiler-free enhances the viewing experience.

Watch on HBO Max starting July 31

‘Over Your Dead Body’ (AMC+)

“Over Your Dead Body” is in something of a similar mold to “The Drama”; it’s also a dark comedy about two people in a relationship that is anything but blissful. To add further intrigue, this movie also incorporates action-thriller elements, delivering a strong package of complementary genres. It’s also an American remake of a Norwegian movie called “The Trip,” but unlike some remakes, this one wasn’t branded a lazy, pointless cash-in.

Dan (Jason Segel) and Lisa (Samara Weaving) are a once-happy couple, heading towards an acrimonious split. Traveling to a remote cabin for the weekend, this getaway isn’t going to fix the cracks in their relationship, as they both harbor secret plans to murder the other. These plans are thrown into chaos when their weekend is crashed by strangers, forcing Dan and Lisa to pivot on the fly and maybe even team up to survive the trip.

Watch on AMC+ starting July 31

More from Tom's Guide

• New on Netflix in July 2026
• I’m not surprised ‘Supergirl’ is a $170 million box office bomb
• When is 'The Odyssey' streaming? Here's our best guess

We’re right in the thick of summer, but Prime Video certainly isn’t hitting the brakes when it comes to new movies and shows. Even if August feels like the final true stretch of the sunny season, there’s still more than enough time to soak it all in, and streaming platforms are keeping the energy high with a fresh lineup of entertainment.

The full Prime Video slate for August 2026 is officially in, so I’ve picked the biggest titles on the radar alongside the fresh additions dropping at the start of the month. This month includes a new teen drama packed with mystery, the fourth season of the action-thriller “Reacher,” and a romance set during a summer in Mallorca.

Take a look at my top picks below and the complete calendar of what’s hitting Prime Video this August 2026.

New on Prime Video in August 2026: Top picks

‘Sterling Point’ (August 5)

“Sterling Point” is a coming-of-age mystery drama series, based on an entirely original story conceived and written for the screen by Megan Park. It has a similar tone to shows like “We Were Liars” and “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” but with a distinctly Canadian setting. Set against the backdrop of a foggy island off the coast of Canada, the series is driven by a central mystery, but viewers tuning in for the romance will be pleased to know there’s also a love triangle at the heart of the story.

Seventeen-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin) has always lived an ordinary life in New York with her twin brother Connor (Keen Ruffalo) and their adoptive father. Everything changes when the siblings unexpectedly inherit a remote island in Canada from the estranged grandfather they were never allowed to meet. Hoping to uncover the truth about their family’s past, Annie travels to the island, where she meets an unexpected sister named Ramona (Amélie Hoeferle) and a group of locals who are deeply connected to the property.

Stream "Sterling Point" on Prime Video from August 5

‘Reacher’ season 4 (August 12)

It’s time to celebrate, because “Reacher” is finally back for season 4. This time around, the series adapts Lee Child’s novel Gone Tomorrow, which focuses on a conspiracy involving government cover-ups. From the trailer alone, this season appears to take heavy inspiration from classic neo-noir detective stories, with a much darker and more claustrophobic feel than what we’ve seen before. It’s an exciting time to be a “Reacher” fan, especially with the series already renewed for season 5.

“Reacher” season 4 begins when Reacher (Alan Ritchson) witnesses a woman behaving suspiciously on a late-night New York City subway train. Before he can question her, she dies, and what appears to be a straightforward suicide quickly proves far more complicated. Determined to uncover the truth, Reacher joins forces with the woman’s brother and an NYPD homicide detective, fighting to expose the truth before those responsible can silence him for good.

Stream "Reacher" season 4 on Prime Video from August 12

‘The Last Sunrise’ (August 26)

Lastly, we have a romance flick perfect for summer, and that’s “The Last Sunrise.” The film is based on Anna Todd’s 2025 novel of the same name, with the bestselling author best known for creating the global “After” franchise. It’s also directed by Carlson Young, who previously helmed the films “Upgraded” and “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things,” so I have high hopes. As a romance fan, I’m eagerly awaiting the trailer, but even from the premise alone, I’m already intrigued.

Oriah “Ry” Pera (Maia Reficco) is a college student living with a chronic illness whose overprotective mother takes a new job in Mallorca. Hoping for a fresh start, Ry spends the summer exploring the island and meets Julián (Fernando Lindez), a charming local who introduces her to experiences she has never had before. Soon, Ry begins embracing her independence and imagining a different future. However, worsening health problems threaten to cut her journey short, forcing her to make difficult choices before the summer comes to an end.

Stream "The Last Sunrise" on Prime Video from August 26

New shows on Prime Video in August 2026

August 5

• Sterling Point (2026)

August 9

• The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls (2026)

August 12

• Reacher S4 (2026)

August 14

• ONE Championship on Prime (2026)

August 20

• NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The Wolf in Winter (2026)

New movies on Prime Video in August 2026

August 1

• Baby Boom (1987)
• Back To School (1986)
• Bandits (2001)
• Barbershop (2002)
• Barbershop 2: Back In Business (2004)
• Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)
• Beauty Shop (2005)
• Blue Velvet (1986)
• Bridesmaids (Unrated) (2011)
• Challengers (2024)
• Colors (1988)
• Cop Car (2015)
• Everything, Everything (2017)
• Fargo (1996)
• Fighting With My Family (2019)
• Hard Target (1993)
• Hard Target 2 (2016)
• Hercules (2014)
• Hoodlum (1997)
• Interstellar (2014)
• Into The Blue (2005)
• Joy Ride (2023)
• Just Go With It (2011)
• Killing Me Softly (2003)
• Licorice Pizza (2021)
• Moonstruck (1988)
• Mystic Pizza (1988)
• No Way Out (1987)
• Oblivion (1994)
• Operation Finale (2018)
• Overboard (2018)
• Primate (2026)
• Pulp Fiction (1994)
• Quigley Down Under (1990)
• Return To Me (2000)
• Robocop (1987)
• Robocop (2014)
• Robocop 2 (1990)
• Robocop 3 (1993)
• Small Soldiers (1998)
• Sudden Death (1995)
• The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai (1984)
• The Gambler (2014)
• The Hustle (2019)
• The Silencing (2020)
• The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
• The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
• The Usual Suspects (1995)
• What's The Worst That Could Happen? (2001)
• Women Talking (2022)
• Yours, Mine, And Ours (1968)

August 2

• Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes (2024)

August 7

• Piece By Piece (2024)
• The Gates (2026)

August 8

• Journey To Bethlehem (2023)

August 17

• Blue Beetle (2023)

August 19

• Is God Is (2026)

August 21

• Back to the 90s (2026)
• Good Fortune (2025)

August 26

• The Last Sunrise (2026)

August 27

• Nickel Boys (2024)

Live sports

Yankees

• Wed Aug 5 at 7:05 p.m. ET: St. Louis Cardinals at New York Yankees
• Wed Aug 19 at 6:35 p.m. ET: New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
• Thu Aug 20 at 6:35 p.m. ET: New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
• Wed Aug 26 at 7:05 p.m. ET: Houston Astros at New York Yankees

WNBA

• Thu Aug 6 at 7 p.m. ET: Las Vegas Aces at Indiana Fever
• Thu Aug 6 at 9 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx
• Thu Aug 13 at 8 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Sparks at New York Liberty
• Thu Aug 13 at 10 p.m. ET: Washington Mystics at Las Vegas Aces
• Thu Aug 20 at 8 p.m. ET: Indiana Fever at Dallas Wings
• Thu Aug 20 at 10 p.m. ET: Atlanta Dream at Los Angeles Sparks
• Sat Aug 22 at 7 p.m. ET: Indiana Fever at New York Liberty
• Sat Aug 22 at 9 p.m. ET: Connecticut Sun at Los Angeles Sparks
• Thu Aug 27 at 8 p.m. ET: Golden State Valkyries at New York Liberty
• Thu Aug 27 at 10 p.m. ET: Washington Mystics at Phoenix Mercury

NWSL

• Thu Aug 7 at 8 p.m. ET: Gotham FC vs. San Diego Wave
• Thu Aug 14 at 8 p.m. ET: Gotham FC vs. Kansas City Current
• Thu Aug 21 at 10 p.m. ET: San Diego Wave vs. Utah Royals FC
• Thu Aug 28 at 8 p.m. ET: Gotham FC vs. Portland Thorns

More from Tom's Guide

• Prime Video's AI makeover could change how you stream
• 5 best new Netflix movies and shows to stream this week
• 10 best Netflix movies and shows of summer 2026 (so far)

Finding something to watch on Netflix at the start of a new week is a challenge we can all relate to. With thousands of movies and shows available, choosing your next stream can sometimes feel just as overwhelming as it is exciting. But finding the ideal watch doesn't have to mean endlessly scrolling through recommendations and hoping something catches your eye.

Instead, why not let your personality help make the decision? The way you spend your downtime, the stories you enjoy and the characters you're drawn to can all reveal what kind of movie or show you're most likely to love. Whether you’re a fan of dark psychological thrillers, unhinged comedy, gripping real-life dramas or just the classics, there’s a Netflix pick that could be the perfect fit.

We've put together a quick personality quiz below based on this week’s newest Netflix arrivals. Answer questions about your tastes, habits and preferences, and we’ll match you with the movie or show that’s most likely to become your next favorite watch!

Now that you’ve found your Netflix match, it’s time to see what makes it worth adding to your watchlist. Keep reading to discover more about your pick.

Top movies and shows on Netflix this week

‘Hannibal’ seasons 1-3

Gifted FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) is recruited by FBI agent Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) to help investigate a series of complex murder cases. To assist with his work, Will begins meeting with renowned psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), whose intelligence and expertise make him a valuable ally. As the pair work together to uncover criminals, Will becomes increasingly drawn into Hannibal’s world, unaware of the secrets his new colleague is hiding.

Stream on Netflix now

‘Tár’

Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) is a world-renowned conductor who is preparing for a career-defining performance while balancing her responsibilities as the leader of a major German orchestra, a teacher and a public figure. As she works through her professional commitments and personal relationships, Lydia’s carefully controlled world begins to shift, forcing her to confront challenges that threaten the future she has built.

Stream on Netflix now

‘Mary Beth Barone: Galaxy Brain’

“Mary Beth Barone: Galaxy Brain” is comedian Mary Beth Barone’s first hour-long Netflix stand-up special, featuring her sharp observations and personal stories delivered from the stage. Throughout the special, Barone explores a range of everyday topics, including relationships, friendships, dating apps and the strange moments that come with modern life. With her unique perspective and quick wit, she takes audiences through a collection of stories, questions and unexpected takes on the world around her.

Stream on Netflix now

‘The Exorcism’

Troubled actor Anthony Miller (Russell Crowe) lands the lead role in a supernatural horror film after the original star dies under mysterious circumstances. While filming, Anthony’s behavior begins to change, causing concern among the cast and crew, especially his estranged daughter Lee (Ryan Simpkins), who works alongside him on set. Unsure whether her father is struggling with his past or something more unusual is happening, Lee tries to uncover the truth as the production continues.

Stream on Netflix now

‘A Private Life’

Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster) is a respected psychiatrist living in Paris who is left unsettled after the sudden death of one of her patients, Paula (Virginie Efira). Refusing to accept the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, Lilian begins looking into what happened and launches her own investigation. Soon, she reconnects with her ex-husband Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil) and encounters a series of unexpected discoveries that challenge what she thought she knew about the people around her.

Stream on Netflix from July 29

‘Gear Heads’

“Gear Heads” follows Lan as she explores the world of cooking through practical demonstrations, clever techniques and everyday kitchen challenges. Across the first season, she shares tips for improving common recipes, from achieving crispier fried foods and preparing meat to mastering kitchen tools and getting more from appliances like ovens and microwaves. Each episode breaks down different aspects of cooking, offering viewers step-by-step guidance and useful tricks they can try at home.

Stream on Netflix from July 29

‘Clueless’

Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) is a wealthy and popular high school student living in Beverly Hills who spends her time managing friendships, school and relationships. After successfully bringing two of her teachers together, Cher decides to take on a new project by helping transfer student Tai (Brittany Murphy) improve her confidence and social life. Alongside her best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash), Cher attempts to guide those around her while figuring out her own feelings.

Stream on Netflix from August 1

‘Nightcrawler’

Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a driven and unemployed man who discovers a new opportunity after witnessing freelance camera crews recording crime scenes and selling the footage to local news stations. Armed with a camera and police scanner, Lou begins chasing breaking stories across Los Angeles, capturing accidents, fires and criminal activity for profit. As his work gains attention from news director Nina Romina (Rene Russo), he builds a growing career alongside his assistant Rick (Riz Ahmed) while pushing further into the dangerous world of late-night reporting.

Stream on Netflix from August 1

‘Zero Dark Thirty’

CIA analyst Maya (Jessica Chastain) joins the decade-long search for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11 attacks. Working alongside intelligence teams around the world, Maya tracks a series of leads and focuses on identifying a key figure who could reveal bin Laden’s location. During the investigation, she becomes convinced they are closing in on their target despite uncertainty from others involved. The film follows the final stages of the operation, culminating in the 2011 mission carried out by Navy SEAL Team 6.

Stream on Netflix from August 1

‘Ingrid Goes West’

Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza) is a young woman who moves to Los Angeles after becoming fascinated by Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen), a popular online personality whose glamorous lifestyle catches her attention. Determined to become part of Taylor’s world, Ingrid finds a way into her life and quickly forms an unexpected friendship. She meets new people, including Taylor’s brother Nicky (Billy Magnussen) and aspiring filmmaker Dan (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), while trying to maintain her place in this unfamiliar world.

Stream on Netflix from August 1

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 best new Netflix movies and shows to stream this week
• 10 best Netflix movies and shows of summer 2026 (so far)
• 3 Netflix comedies to watch after '72 Hours'

Not that long ago, cutting the cord felt like a financial no-brainer. Swap your bloated cable package for Netflix, maybe Hulu, and suddenly you were saving hundreds of dollars a year. Fast-forward to 2026 and... well, things have changed.

Every major studio now has its own streaming platform. Hit shows are scattered across half a dozen services. Prices keep climbing. And "just one more subscription" has become the entertainment equivalent of "I'll only have one chip."

To find out just how much streaming habits have changed, we surveyed 682 Tom's Guide readers about the services they subscribe to, how much they spend each month and which streamers they'd never give up. The results paint a picture of viewers who still love streaming, but are becoming much more selective about where their money goes.

We're subscribing to how many streaming services?!

The biggest surprise wasn't that people subscribe to multiple streaming services. That ship sailed years ago. It's just how many.

Nearly 30% of respondents said they currently subscribe to seven or more streaming services. Another 39% pay for between four and six. Add it all together, and more than two-thirds of the people we surveyed have at least four subscriptions on the go.

It's easy to see how this has happened. Netflix unveils a new season of "Bridgerton." HBO Max has "The Last of Us" and "The Pitt." Hulu drops the final season of "The Bear." Apple TV keeps producing buzzy hits like "Severance." Before long, canceling one service means missing the show everyone will be talking about Monday morning.

At some point, the hardest part of movie night stopped being deciding what to watch. Now it's remembering which app it's on.

The monthly bill is starting to look a lot like cable

Of course, all those subscriptions come with a price tag.

More than 35% of respondents said they spend over $60 every month on streaming, while another 29% spend between $36 and $60. In other words, nearly two-thirds of the Tom's Guide readers we surveyed shell out at least $36 every month just to keep up with their favorite shows and movies.

It's a far cry from the early days of streaming, when subscribing to Netflix was an easy way to save money after ditching cable. Back then, one or two services gave you access to most of the TV and movies you wanted to watch. Today, that's no longer the case.

It doesn't help that nearly every major streaming service has raised prices over the past few years while introducing ad-supported tiers and premium plans. Even viewers who opt for cheaper, ad-filled subscriptions can easily find themselves paying more overall as they add yet another service to the mix.

Prime Video is everywhere, but Netflix still owns viewers' loyalty

Prime Video technically came out on top in our survey. More than 83% of respondents subscribe to Amazon's streamer, edging out Netflix at 76%.

That probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Millions of people receive Prime Video automatically as part of an Amazon Prime membership, making it less of a deliberate streaming purchase than many competitors.

But when we asked which service people would never cancel, the picture changed dramatically.

Netflix is still the one viewers won't give up

Nearly 39% of respondents said Netflix is the one paid streaming service they'd never cancel. Prime Video finished second at 29%, while every other platform couldn't even reach double digits.

That's a big gap in favor of Netflix. It suggests viewers may subscribe to lots of services throughout the year, but Netflix remains the foundation. Everything else is negotiable.

That's exactly the kind of loyalty every streamer is chasing, but nobody other than Netflix has managed to replicate.

Free streaming is big

One of the most encouraging trends in the survey is the growing popularity of free streaming. More than half of respondents use YouTube to watch free content, while nearly half use Tubi.

Pluto TV and The Roku Channel have also become regular destinations for many viewers.

Not long ago, free streaming carried a stigma. Today, FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) services offer thousands of movies, classic TV shows, live channels and even original programming. For viewers feeling the pinch of subscription costs, watching a few ads is increasingly becoming a worthwhile tradeoff.

The future of streaming looks a lot more intentional

If there's one lesson from our survey, it's this: Streaming habits are evolving.

Consumers aren't necessarily subscribing to fewer services. Instead, they're becoming more intentional about where their money goes. They're identifying the platforms they consider essential, weighing whether new releases justify another monthly bill and increasingly turning to free, ad-supported services to fill the gaps.

As streaming continues to mature — and prices continue to climb — that balancing act may become the new normal.

Let us know in the comments: How much are you paying per month? Which streaming service would you never cancel?

"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" is finally available to watch around the world from the comfort of your home, more than a year on from its initial release in Japan.

Ready for the epic adventure? We'll explain how you can watch "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" online from anywhere with a VPN.

Anime fans in Japan got to witness the events of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" back in the summer of 2025, as the Demon Slayer Corps entered the titular castle and had to fight their way out. Tanjiro and the Hashira battled Upper Rank demons like Doma, Akaza, and Muzan Kibutsuji.

The film is a direct sequel to the fourth season of the hit anime series, adapting the manga's "Infinity Castle" arc to widespread acclaim. It grossed $793 million, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film internationally and the most successful international film in the U.S., surpassing "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." It also broke several box office records previously held by the Disney classic, "The Lion King". That success came despite a limited theatrical release, but now it's available to everyone.

Here's how to watch "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" online with all the streaming details you need below.

Watch 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' in the U.S.

You can catch "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" on Crunchyroll in the U.S. from Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

A Crunchyroll subscription will cost you $9.99 per month (for the basic package), or up to $17.99 per month for the top tier.

Meanwhile, you can buy or rent the film from your usual streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV if you just want to shell out the one-off fee.

Traveling outside the States? Use a VPN to access your Crunchyroll account when abroad. We love NordVPN.

Watch 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' from anywhere

If you're traveling overseas and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" is blocked by geo-restrictions, that doesn't mean you have to miss the film while you're away. With the right VPN (virtual private network), you can stream it from wherever you are.

We've evaluated many options, and the best VPN you can get right now is NordVPN.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the U.K. and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select a U.S. server from the location list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the film. Head to your usual streaming service app and watch "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" from wherever you are in the world.

How to watch 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' in Canada

Just like in the U.S. you can watch "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" on Crunchyroll from July 28, 2026.

That'll cost you CA$10.99 per month to sign up, or you could purchase/rent the movie from on-demand services like Apple TV.

Abroad? Don't panic. You just need one of the best VPNs to log in back home. We recommend NordVPN.

How to watch 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' in the U.K.

"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" has a global release date of July 28, both on streaming and for home rental/purchase.

Find it on Crunchyroll in the U.K. where a subscription costs just £5.99 per month.

Abroad and can't access "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle"? We recommend NordVPN to unblock Crunchyroll.

How to watch 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' online in Australia

You will also find "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" on Crunchyroll in Australia.

A subscription will cost you AU$11.99 per month.

Remember, if you are working or on vacation Down Under and you want to catch the film on your usual domestic streamer you can do so by using a VPN such as NordVPN.

'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' - Need to Know

'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' - trailer

'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' - Voice cast

Here's a rundown of the English voice cast for the movie:

• Zach Aguilar as Tanjiro Kamado
• Abby Trott as Nezuko Kamado
• Aleks Le as Zenitsu Agatsuma
• Bryce Papenbrook as Inosuke Hashibira
• Johnny Yong Bosch as Giyu Tomioka
• Erika Harlacher as Shinobu Kocho
• Brianna Knickerbocker as Kanao Tsuyuri

More of a purist when it comes to anime and like to avoid a dub? Here's the Japanese voice cast:

• Natsuki Hanae as Tanjiro Kamado
• Akari Kito as Nezuko Kamado
• Hiro Shimono as Zenitsu Agatsuma
• Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Inosuke Hashibira
• Reina Ueda as Kanao Tsuyuri
• Takahiro Sakurai as Giyu Tomioka
• Saori Hayami as Shinobu Kocho
• Kengo Kawanishi as Muichiro Tokito
• Kana Hanazawa as Mitsuri Kanroji
• Kenichi Suzumura as Obanai Iguro
• Tomokazu Sugita as Gyomei Himejima

More from Tom's Guide

• Finished 'One Piece' season 2? Chart your course for these 3 essential Netflix anime adaptations to watch next
• 3 best anime shows on Crunchyroll to stream right now
• Streamflation hits anime as Crunchyroll raises prices for the second time in as many years

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Over the past couple of years, between price hikes and shifting priorities, even the best streaming services have become more akin to cable TV with prices to match, especially at the higher "ad-free" tiers.

Almost every streaming service, save Apple TV, has multiple subscription tiers, including one with advertisements. These ad-supported memberships tend to be less expensive than the higher tiers and in some cases offer fewer features, like a lack of live sports or no downloads.

With that in mind, how often are advertisements interrupting your movies or TV shows? We tested seven of the major platforms to find out.

Tom's Guide testing process

We tested seven streaming platforms with the same process for both movies and TV shows.

These are the streamers I looked at:

• Disney+
• HBO Max
• Hulu
• Netflix
• Paramount+
• Peacock
• Prime Video

We tried to test out shows and movies of similar lengths within five minutes on either side. For movies, we watched films that were 2 hours long. For shows, we tried to find two episodes of about 60 minutes each, within five minutes.

We charted how many advertising breaks were inserted into the media, including starting ads. We also tracked how much added time the advertisements added to the overall runtime of the shows and movies.

Movie advertising

Surprisingly, how platforms break up their movies varies wildly between the number of breaks and how much added time they have.

If you want to avoid advertisements, Paramount+ and Peacock may be the way to go with only one ad roll at the start of the movies and nothing while it plays.

Here's how it broke down:

Netflix had the most ad breaks with nine, but those breaks were typically only 30 to 45 seconds with one or two commercials.

HBO Max had five ad breaks, but like Netflix, they only totaled two minutes. There were a couple of times during "Howl's Moving Castle" when I looked away and almost missed a couple.

The longest ads came from Prime Video, which only had four ad breaks but each one typically lasted around a minute and a half. It added over eight minutes to the process.

Disney+ was close behind with five ad breaks that added seven minutes and 45 seconds to "Fantastic Four: First Steps."

We're not doing winners and losers with these tests, but Paramount+ and Peacock waste your time the least and actually let you watch the movie.

TV show advertising

Unlike movies, most streaming services insert the same number of ad breaks in shows — between four and five, including ads that run before the show starts. The big difference lies in the added time.

For this test, we picked a series and watched the first two episodes of the show as long as they were in the 55- to 60-minute range.

Here's how it shook out:

Of the streaming platforms, Disney+ comes out the worst again.

I will note that I was only able to sign up for Hulu and Disney+ as a bundle. The Disney platform is a mess, and Hulu stuff is jumbled in with Disney content, which can be quite annoying when you're trying to find just Disney titles or just Hulu titles. Even clicking the Disney+ tab still sees Hulu shows or movies shoved into the different panels.

I specifically watched the Disney+ original series "The Punisher" for this test, and found between the first two episodes an average of over eight minutes of added runtime. Paramount+ was second worst with exactly eight minutes of added time between the two episodes of "Halo" I watched.

During the Paramount test, I got an error code during the second episode of "Halo," and the ads all disappeared. I did check out "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and "Dutton Ranch" just in case and got similar results, though those shows' episodes don't exactly hit 60 minutes.

Netflix may be the best value at only two minutes added time per episode. While watching the recently canceled "The Boroughs," there were only four ad breaks, but they varied in length. One was a minute, but the shortest was a quick 15 seconds.

How much the ad-supported subscriptions costs

If you're considering downgrading or signing up for one of the ad-supported tiers, they cost about the same across every platform, save the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, which combines both for $12.99 a month.

Here's what watching all those ads will cost you:

Some services like HBO Max and Peacock offer annual subscriptions, which will save you a dollar or so per month. Plus, Amazon Prime Video comes with a Prime subscription if you subscribe to that for $139 a year or $14.99 per month.

Otherwise, beyond HBO, most platforms cost $8.99 for the ad-supported subscription. Peacock is the cheapest at $7.99 by itself.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve tested 20+ streaming VPNs, and Norton VPN is unmatched
• Best music streaming services available right now, tested and rated
• The best free streaming services to watch movies and shows for $0

You can watch the "Love Island U.K." season 13 final FREE on ITVX, 9Now and TVNZ+, and from anywhere with a VPN. These free-to-air streaming services will show every moment of of the season finale as four couples battle it out for the £50,000 prize, with one final twist still set to shake up the competition before the winners are crowned.

After Mica and Samraj were voted out, they received a text message informing them that they have the power to eliminate one more couple from the show. So, instead of the usual four-couple finale, this will be the first time in the show's history that only three couples compete for the title.

The four couples currently remaining are Julia & Lorenzo, Yasmin & Tommy, Jasmine & Kavan, and Angelista & Simba. One of those couples will be eliminated before the live public vote decides the winners, with Julia & Lorenzo currently the favorites to win the title.

Want to catch the "Love Island U.K." season 13 final free? How can you stream these region-specific platform from anywhere? Can you watch the episode while in the U.S., Canada, Czech Republic, or elsewhere too? Here’s our full guide to watching the finale live and free online from anywhere.

How to watch 'Love Island U.K.' season 13 final for free

"Love Island U.K." season 13 final is streaming for free in the U.K. on ITVX.

In Oceania, 9Now (Australia) and TVNZ+ (New Zealand) are streaming the final episode for free. This won't arrive till Wednesday.

If you're traveling outside these countries, you can watch the episode from wherever you are by using a VPN. Full details on how to do that just below...

How to watch 'Love Island U.K.' season 13 final from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the final on your usual subscription? You can still watch "Love Island U.K." season 13 final stream thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

NordVPN is our top pick of the options – try it for 30 days with our deal below:

Watch 'Love Island U.K.' season 13 final for FREE: Quick Guide

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the Czech Republic and want to view your usual British service, you'd select United Kingdom from the server list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to ITVX (or 9Now) and watch the finale, completely free.

Which devices can I watch the 'Love Island U.K.' season 13 final with?

ITVX is available on the following devices:

Amazon Fire (Tablets, Cube, Stick, TVs)
Android TV (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Android (Mobile & Tablet) - Android 7.0 and above
Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later)
Google TV (Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)
Freely
Freesat (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (please note: some models aren’t supported)
iOS (iPhone & iPad) - iOS 14 and above
LG Smart TVs (2016-2024)
NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0)
PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0)
Samsung Smart TVs (2017 and above - 2016 models only offer on demand TV)
Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck
Virgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo)
YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk)
Xbox (One, Series X, Series S)

More from Tom's Guide

• Get the Tom's Guide app
• The best streaming VPN
• How to watch F1 online from anywhere

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

You can watch Diane Morgan's new AI robot comedy series, "Ann Droid," FREE on BBC iPlayer, and from anywhere with a VPN. The free-to-air streaming service has made all six episodes available at once. Sign up for free and binge-watch now!

Set in 2029, Ann Droid follows Sue (Sue Johnston), a recently widowed woman who insists that she can take care of herself and live independently. However, after she suffers a fall, her son Michael gifts her a second-hand Android Z58/100 basic eldercare robot named Linda (Diane Morgan) to look after her.

What follows is a journey packed with deadpan humor, heartfelt moments, and plenty of robotic chaos. Despite its seemingly fun and colorful premise, the series has been described as a "sadcom" by many critics, as it explores several weighty themes, including grief, aging, loneliness among older adults, and family guilt and responsibility, all while finding humor in the most unexpected situations.

Want to catch every "Ann Droid" episode free? How can you stream this region-specific platform from anywhere? Can you watch the series while in the U.S., Canada, Austra;oa, or elsewhere too? Here’s our full guide to watching "Ann Droid" free online from anywhere.

How to watch 'Ann Droid' for free

U.K. viewers are in luck! BBC iPlayer is carrying all the six episodes of "Ann Droid," so you can binge-watch it completely FREE.

All you have to do is create an account and have a valid U.K. postcode (e.g. SE1 7PB) and a TV license.

To watch BBC iPlayer: Visit the BBC iPlayer website or download the apps (iOS/Android).

If you're tied to the cord in the U.K., you can still watch for free: BBC One is airing one episode per week, with episode three slated to arrive on Friday, July 31, at 9:30pm BST.

If you're traveling outside the U.K., you can watch the series from wherever you are by using a VPN. Full details on how to do that just below...

How to watch 'Ann Droid' from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the series on your usual subscription? You can still watch "Ann Droid" streams thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

NordVPN is our top pick of the options – try it for 30 days with our deal below:

Watch 'Ann Droid' for FREE: Quick Guide

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the Czech Republic and want to view your usual British service, you'd select United Kingdom from the server list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to BBC iPlayer and watch the series, completely free.

How to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN

Which devices can I watch 'Ann Droid' with?

BBC iPlayer is available on the following devices:

• Amazon Fire (Tablets, Cube, Stick, TVs)
• Android TV (please note: some models aren’t supported)
• Android (Mobile & Tablet) - Android 7.0 and above
• Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later)
• Google TV (Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)
• Freely
• Freesat (please note: some models aren’t supported)
• Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (some models aren’t supported)       
• iOS (iPhone & iPad) - iOS 14 and above        
• LG Smart TVs (2016-2024)       
• NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0)
• PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
• Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0)
• Samsung Smart TVs (2017 and above)        
• Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck
• Virgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo)
• YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk)
• Xbox (One, Series X, Series S)

More from Tom's Guide

• Commonwealth Games 2026: Watch for free
• The best streaming VPN
• How to watch Shark Week

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Here we are, sliding into the back half of summer. Now that August is almost upon us, you know the drill: a fresh stack of shows queued up on one of your favorite streaming platforms. Before you flip the calendar to fall, check out what's new on Paramount+ this month.

Leading the charge on Aug. 2 is "Lioness" season 3, where Zoe Saldaña’s CIA officer, Joe McNamara, faces a high-stakes threat that hits uncomfortably close to home. Next up is "The Challenge: Cutthroat" on Aug. 5, marking the franchise’s bold move off MTV for the first time in nearly 30 years. Rounding out the highlights on Aug. 19, "Average Joe" season 2 sends Deon Cole’s plumber-turned-reluctant-fugitive and his crew from Pittsburgh all the way to Cape Town.

There is plenty of great television to look forward to, even if it feels like the year is barreling by at breakneck speed. Check out the full breakdown below for everything new on Paramount+ in August 2026.

New releases on Paramoun+ in August 2026: Top picks

'Lioness' season 3

Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña) runs the CIA's Lioness program, which plants female operatives undercover to get close to targets in the war on terror. Season 2 ended with Joe's team pinned down in a firefight after a mission built around a kidnapped member of Congress. Season 3 puts Joe up against foreign operatives and betrayals that hit closer to home. And this time, both her husband and daughter become collateral damage.

Premieres August 2 on Paramount+

'The Challenge: Cutthroat' season 42

After nearly 30 years on MTV, "The Challenge" is leaving the network for the first time and moving to Paramount+. It's marking the occasion by reviving one of its meanest formats. Cutthroat drops 24 veterans and rookies into Thailand and splits them into three teams, where the whole team has to cross the finish line together to claim a piece of the $500,000. But here's the catch: each team's captain decides how the money gets divided, and nothing stops a captain from keeping the whole pile.

Premieres August 5 on Paramount+

'Average Joe' season 2

Season 1 of "Average Joe" turned a Pittsburgh plumber's life inside out. Joe Washington (Deon Cole) buried his father after learning the old man had stolen $10 million and a Lamborghini from the Russian mob. He then proceeded to spend ten bloody episodes trying to survive people who wanted it back. Season 2 doesn't let him off the hook. A new threat tied to the same mob puts his family in danger again, and the hunt for answers takes Joe and his crew out of Pittsburgh and all the way to Cape Town, where things aren't quite getting any better for anyone involved, but it's more of the same satisfying action if that's what you're looking for.

Premieres August 19 on Paramount+

Everything coming to Paramount+ in August 2026

ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES, PREMIERES & EVENTS

8/1: UFC Fight Night: Medić vs. Rodriguez
8/2: Lioness: Season 3 - Paramount+ Original Series
8/4: Special Ops TRUE - NEW Paramount+ Original Docuseries
8/5: The Challenge: Cutthroat: Season 42 - Paramount+ Original Series
8/8: UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld
8/8: Zuffa Boxing 10
8/11: Dana White's Contender Series: Season 10 - Paramount+ Original Series
8/15: UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry
8/19: Average Joe: Season 2 - Paramount+ Original Series
8/29: UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song

New shows

August 2

Lioness | Season 3 | Paramount+ Original Series

August 4

Special Ops TRUE | Season 1 | Paramount+ Original Docuseries

Dana White Contender Series (Seasons 1-4)

August 5

The Challenge: Cutthroat | Season 42 | Paramount+ Original Series

August 11

Dana White’s Contender Series | Season 10 | Paramount+ Original Series

August 15

Bleed For This*

August 19

Average Joe | Season 2 | Paramount+ Original Series

August 22

The Run For A Million** (CBS Special)

The Harvest*

August 23

The Cured*

August 30

Blue Valentine*

New movies

August 1

• 10 Cloverfield Lane
• A.I. Artificial Intelligence
• As They Made Us*
• Babel
• Basic Instinct
• Best in Show
• Blade Runner 2049
• Body Cam
• Brave the Dark*
• Cloverfield
• Clue
• Coneheads
• Congo
• Cop Land
• Crawl
• Crawlspace
• Dead Man Walking
• Disturbia
• Don Jon
• Duplex
• Equilibrium
• Escape From Alcatraz
• For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada
• Frankie & Johnny
• From Dusk Till Dawn
• From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money
• From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter
• Get Hard
• Gravity
• He's Just Not That Into You
• Hustle & Flow
• Indecent Proposal
• Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
• Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back
• Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
• Katy Perry The Movie: Part of Me
• Labor Day
• Machine Gun Preacher
• Million Dollar Baby
• My Boss's Daughter
• On the Line
• Organ Trail
• Overlord
• Risky Business
• Sabrina
• School Ties
• Shaft
• She's the Man
• Sliver
• Some Kind of Wonderful
• The Bodyguard
• The Doors
• The Hangover
• The Hangover Part II
• The Hangover Part III
• The Heartbreak Kid
• The Hunted
• The Lego Movie
• The Lovely Bones
• The Perfect Score
• The Saint
• The Sandlot
• The Score
• The Spiderwick Chronicles
• The Time Traveler's Wife
• The Vault*
• The Yards
• Vampire in Brooklyn
• Varsity Blues
• What Women Want
• Where The Wild Things Are
• Wild Wild West
• You're Dating a Narcissist!*
• You've Got Mail

Sports

• August 1 - WNBA: Las Vegas Aces @ Chicago Sky*
• August 1 - UFC Fight Night: Medić vs. Rodriguez
• August 1-2 - PGA Tour: Rocket Classic (Third and Fourth Round Coverage)*
• August 3 - BIG3 Basketball*
• August 7 - PBR Team Series
• August 8 - EFL Carabao Cup: Middlesbrough vs. Wrexham
• August 8 - WNBA: Las Vegas Aces @ Minnesota Lynx*
• August 8 - UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld
• August 8 - Zuffa Boxing 10
• August 8-9 - PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship (Third and Fourth Round Coverage)*
• August 9 - BIG3 Basketball*
• August 12 - UEFA Super Cup: PSG vs. Aston Villa
• August 14 - PBR Team Series
• August 14 - EFL Championship: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Blackburn Rovers
• August 15 - BIG3 Basketball*
• August 15 - UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry
• August 15-16 - PGA Tour: FedEx St. Jude Championship (Third and Fourth Round Coverage)*
• August 16 - EFL Championship: Burnley vs. West Ham United
• August 17 - EFL Championship: Cardiff City vs. Wrexham
• August 21 - PBR Team Series
• August 22 - BIG3 Basketball*
• August 22 - Serie A: Inter vs. Monza
• August 22-23 - PGA Tour: BMW Championship (Third and Fourth Round Coverage)*
• August 23 - Serie A: Torino vs. Milan
• August 28 - NFL ON CBS Preseason: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles
• August 28 - Serie A: Milan vs. Venezia
• August 29 - WNBA : Chicago Sky @ New York Liberty*
• August 29 - UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song
• August 29-30 - PGA Tour: TOUR Championship (Third and Fourth Round Coverage)*
• August 30 - Major League Pickleball Finals*
• August 30 - Serie A: Napoli vs. Como
• Throughout August - English Football League competition
• Throughout August - Serie A competition
• Throughout August - Coppa Italia Frecciarossa
• Throughout August - Scottish Professional Football League competitio

• 5 best Paramount Plus miniseries to binge over a weekend
• 7 best Paramount Plus shows you're not watching

It’s officially a Spider-Man summer, as the next web-slinging adventure, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” swings into theaters at the end of July. Nolan’s Batman movies and “Iron Man” are usually cited as the catalyst for superhero culture, but 2002’s “Spider-Man” deserves its flowers for ushering in the rise of the comic book adaptation in the 21st century.

Since 2002, three actors have played the live-action version of Peter Parker: Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland. Each actor truly made the role their own, resulting in three distinct depictions of the beloved superhero. Since the three actors shared the same screen in 2021’s “No Way Home,” there has been an ongoing debate as to which Spider-Man is the best.

Having seen all their movies, I’m ready to put an end to the debate and name the top Spider-Man.

Best Peter Parker

Choose your Peter Parker: Awkward Peter (Maguire), Surprisingly Edgy Peter (Garfield), or Nerdy Peter (Holland). Maguire is the everyman version of Peter. He’s barely getting by on his newspaper salary, forcing him to live in a building with a shared bathroom. He’s always late to pay his rent (Sorry, Mr. Ditkovitch). While in school, Maguire’s Peter was a shadow in the background, searching for a way to sneak a picture of MJ.

Holland’s Peter is the biggest nerd out of the three Spider-Men. They’re all smart; Peter Parker is a genius. However, Peter’s mentor, Tony Stark, is always implementing the latest technological advances in his suit. When he’s not freezing up in front of Mary Jane, Peter is making web-fluid cartridges or quoting “old movies” like “Aliens,” which just celebrated its 40th anniversary. He’s a dork, but he’s a lovable dork.

Garfield plays the most comic-book-accurate version of Peter. He’s certainly the most confident and witty of the three. There is an edge to Garfield’s Peter. He's the cool alternative-music-loving kid in your high school class who skateboards and probably could talk your ear off about conspiracy theories.

Plus, Garfield’s Peter is willing to stand up for himself a lot more than Maguire’s or Holland’s Peter. Behind his caring personality, Garfield’s Peter has some cockiness to him. He calls Flash by his first name, and he romantically uses his webs to snag Gwen in for a kiss.

No chance Maguire or Holland are singing “Spider-Man (Theme Song)” like Garfield.

Winner: Andrew Garfield

Best Spider-Man

When I say "best Spider-Man," I’m judging the actor who plays the character the best while in the suit. Maguire’s Spider-Man deserves some grace. It goes back to that everyman version of Peter. Even though he gained over 25 pounds to play the character, Maguire’s physique looks attainable. You go to a gym, and Maguire’s Spider-Man wouldn’t even be in the top 10 most fit people there. Physique aside, Maguire’s Peter is mostly serious when dealing with the authorities, but he’s not afraid to crack a joke to his enemies. Isn’t that right, Gobby? The one-liners are hit or miss, with more swings and misses than home runs.

The confidence of Garfield’s Peter translates to his portrayal of Spider-Man. One of the first times we see Garfield in the full suit is when he acts out an entire sketch comedy routine with a criminal. Garfield certainly increased the athleticism from Maguire’s Spider-Man, with more flips, dips, and dangerous stunts. It helps to be two inches taller than Maguire and Holland.

Yet Maguire and Garfield are nowhere close to Holland in terms of athleticism. Holland’s dance background allows him to be quick and nimble in the suit. He’s CrossFit Spider-Man, a hero who can flip his way out of any situation. Peter’s innocent nature leads to some unintentional comedy moments as Spider-Man, including the memorable ATM robbery when he faces off against thieves in Avengers masks.

Holland’s Spider-Man exudes the same energy as a freshman trying to impress the seniors. He’s the little brother who tries to be cool, even though the best thing he can do is to be himself. It’s an innocent version of Spider-Man that I respond to more than the other two depictions.

Winner: Tom Holland

Best Movies

It’s universally known that Garfield has the worst collection of Spider-Man movies. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is the worst of the 21st-century Spider-Man movies. He’s the clear bronze medalist in this situation.

That leaves a trilogy battle between Maguire and Holland. It comes down to what you value more, high points or consistency. Holland’s trilogy is rock solid. All three MCU Spider-Man movies are fun adventures that let the character shine. They also differ in their overall themes and emotionality. “Homecoming” is a 1980s teen movie, “Far From Home” is a coming-of-age tale about growing up, and “No Way Home” is a sci-fi spectacle with life-or-death stakes.

Yet none of Holland’s movies equal the heights that Maguire’s first two Spider-Man entries reached. You could not ask for a better first movie of a superhero trilogy than “Spider-Man,” which establishes the character’s motivations and the movie’s message from the beginning. With great power comes great responsibility, a message that is omnipresent in all three movies.

Sam Raimi managed to top the highs of “Spider-Man” with “Spider-Man 2,” a superior sequel and arguably one of the best superhero movies of all time. Featuring a superb villainous performance from Alfred Molina, “Spider-Man 2” features some of the best action sequences in any Spider-Man movie, particularly the fight with Doc Ock on the train.

More importantly, “Spider-Man 2” might be relatable because of its messaging about choices. Are you willing to make hard sacrifices that will satisfy the greater good instead of personal gain? You, me, Spider-Man — it doesn’t matter — we’ve all had that existential crisis.

Even though “Spider-Man 3” has massive problems, I’ll take Maguire’s first two movies over Holland’s first three solo outings.

Winner: Tobey Maguire

Coolest Suit

The less technologically sound, the better. I don't need all of Mr. Stark’s gadgets or Oscorp’s products. I’ll take Maguire’s suit, which resembles the spandex a professional wrestler would wear.

Winner: Tobey Maguire

Better Spider-Man reveal to the woman he loves

Don’t get it twisted: All of the Spider-Men eventually get the girl. They might be nerds, but they can sling charm. How else could they convince someone to love them despite spending their free time listening to police scanners? I’m happy Holland and Zendaya found love off the set, but Peter’s Spider-Man reveal to MJ in Europe is pretty anticlimactic.

I mentioned Garfield’s Spider-Man having what the kids call “rizz” when he twirled Gwen into a kiss with his web on the roof. The chemistry between Garfield and Emma Stone is the best of the three couples, but that moment is too cocky for my liking. He’s Spider-Man, not a contestant on “The Bachelor.”

My pick for best Spider-Man reveal happens in “Spider-Man 2,” when Mary Jane finally sees Peter without the mask. In this moment, she realizes why Peter denied her at the end of the first movie. Peter avoided Mary Jane because he loved her so much that he couldn’t risk being Spider-Man around her. Now that’s real (cinematic) love.

Winner: Tobey Maguire

Best death scene

I’m sinning by not putting Uncle Ben’s death in “Spider-Man.” The internet corrupted me when it turned Maguire’s crying face into a meme. I can’t shake it, and that’s on me. Uncle Ben deserves better. Uncle Ben’s death in Garfield’s first movie is Spider-Man karaoke — the original is better.

I’m going with Aunt May’s sacrifice in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” as the best death scene. Personally, I didn’t expect it to happen because I was so used to Ben dying, not May. “You have a power, and with great power, there must also come great responsibility,” May said before collapsing. It’s a fresh spin on a classic Spider-Man trope — Peter contemplating his choices after a loved one dies.

Winner: Tom Holland

Best Spider-Man

We’ve reached the end of this Spider journey, and my vote for the overall best Spider-Man goes to Tobey Maguire. It’s difficult to beat the original, especially because I saw the first movie in prime Spider-Man-loving years as a young boy. Garfield is still the best Peter Parker, and Holland’s movies are the most consistent, but Maguire portrays my version of the character.

Winner: Tobey Maguire

Watch all eight live-action Spider-Man movies from the 21st century on Disney+

If I hadn’t been so impressed with “Dying for Sex,” I might not have paid much attention to “Furious,” the new crime thriller series on Hulu from “Dying for Sex” co-creator Elizabeth Meriwether. What looks like yet another streaming series about a troubled detective solving a brutal crime becomes a much more nuanced, insightful and even funny show in Meriwether’s hands.

“Dying for Sex” effectively balanced incredibly heavy material about a woman dying of cancer with lighthearted explorations of sexuality and joyous celebrations of friendship, and while nothing in “Furious” could ever be described as lighthearted, it achieves a similar tonal and thematic balance.

Meriwether also created the sitcom “New Girl,” and it’s not impossible to envision a slightly toned-down version of rookie FBI agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) as an offbeat acquaintance of the characters on “New Girl.” Alice’s quirks are darker than anything that would show up on a sitcom, but they manifest in an acerbic wit and a low tolerance for people who underestimate her.

Despite spending a decade in the NYPD, she’s still treated as the new girl at the FBI, and stumbling across the case of a potential serial killer offers her the chance to prove she knows what she’s doing. The subsequent investigation is equal parts thrilling and harrowing, with plenty of suspense alongside a bleak glimpse into the way the rich and powerful casually abuse young women.

‘Furious’ puts a smart spin on a familiar genre

The basic set-up for “Furious” is nothing particularly novel. In her first assignment at the FBI, Alice is stuck at the bottom rung of the ladder, answering the phones for the FBI’s general public number, which mostly involves talking to paranoid weirdos. She catches a break when her former NYPD colleague Danny (Scoot McNairy) calls her to the scene of a high-profile murder, the son of billionaire Jay Easton (Peter McRobbie). Although it looks like an accidental overdose, Alice and Danny quickly determine that Easton’s son was deliberately drugged, and it’s not long before they connect his death to another killing.

So it’s the FBI tracking a serial killer, just like in dozens of other shows. “Furious” isn’t really a mystery, though, because it begins by showing Catherine Grace (Lola Petticrew) administering the lethal dose to her victim, and continues to follow her as she kills more people. There are some secrets to be revealed over the course of the eight-episode season, but for the most part “Furious” is about how its two central female characters go about their parallel missions, and the way their harsh experiences have affected their lives.

That’s where Meriwether’s unique creative perspective comes into play. Both Alice and Catherine are complex, multilayered characters, whose backgrounds intertwine in depressingly similar ways. They’ve taken opposite paths from that shared trauma, though, and one of the most rewarding themes of “Furious” is its exploration of how different people process mistreatment.

The characters make ‘Furious’ distinctive

Alice’s mentor in the FBI’s sex crimes division is Nora (Quincy Tyler Bernstine), a hardened veteran who points out that victims of abuse often become the most vicious abusers. “We become evil to fight evil,” she tells Alice in a later episode, and both of them have to figure out a way to hold onto their humanity as they directly confront horrifically inhumane acts.

That’s difficult for Alice, who was beaten by her longtime cop boyfriend (Jake Lacy) and starts to sympathize with Catherine’s apparent mission to get revenge on her own abusers. Although Catherine is ruthless and often sadistic in her methods, she’s not picking random targets: Everyone she’s going after was a participant in the trafficking and exploitation of underage girls for sex.

Catherine isn’t just an evil serial killer; she’s the kind of person the audience might root for in another context. Her victims aren’t particularly sympathetic, and Petticrew makes her appealingly snarky and vindictive. Alice is equally engaging, although she’s more sullen and withdrawn, preferring to keep her emotions bottled up. Rossum’s performance is raw and affecting, even when she has to deal with some unfortunate plot contrivances in the later episodes.

McNairy is endearing and grounded as the eternally patient Danny, whose unwavering support for Alice contrasts with the way that Nora challenges her. Bernstine brings biting wit to her portrayal of an agent who’s grown bitter and cynical after all the terrible things she’s seen, but finds renewed purpose thanks to Alice’s tenacity in joining her unit and pursuing the case.

Verdict: ‘Furious’ is a superior crime thriller

Although there may be one too many convenient developments as the story goes on, overall “Furious” is a gripping, thoughtful story about murder, corruption, and the ability of the rich and connected to get away with nearly anything. It’s sometimes hard to watch, especially as Alice and her colleagues face the uncomfortable truths about the way the world works, but that darkness is always tempered by a sense of humor and genuine warmth among the main characters.

The season ends with a tease for Alice and Nora to work on future cases, but it’s hard to imagine Meriwether coming up with an angle as compelling as the back-and-forth between Alice and Catherine. Like “Dying for Sex,” “Furious” tells a devastating but satisfying story, and it leaves the audience with the right balance of hope and, well, fury.

“Furious” premieres July 27 on Hulu

If you’re wondering what new movies and shows Netflix is adding this week, I’ve got your watchlist covered. The streaming service is bringing a mix of new releases, returning favorites and some major catalog additions over the next seven days. Whether you’re in the mood for a gripping true story, a nostalgic movie marathon or a little late-night comedy, there’s something worth queuing up.

Leading the charge is “The Bombing of Pan Am 103,” a powerful drama that revisits one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in aviation history. But Netflix is also making room for some binge-worthy favorites, including “Hannibal” seasons 1-6 and seven of “The Fast and the Furious” movies.

If those aren’t quite your speed, there are still plenty of other options. "Mary Beth Barone: Galaxy Brain” brings a fresh dose of stand-up comedy, while the Brazilian MMA drama “Wrath” offers a darker, more intense watch. Those aren’t the only movies and shows arriving on Netflix this week, though. Here’s the full schedule of everything new on Netflix over the next seven days, along with my top picks for what you need to stream.

New on Netflix this week: Top picks

'The Fast and the Furious' movies 1-7

Genre: Action movies

What it’s about: Celebrate 25 years of "The Fast and the Furious" by revisiting where the ride began. The first seven films follow the evolution of Dominic Toretto’s crew from underground street racers to globe-trotting thieves, spies and superhero-adjacent drivers who treat gravity as more of a suggestion. It all starts with undercover cop Brian O’Conner infiltrating L.A.’s racing scene to investigate a crew of hijackers.

Why you should watch it: Before “family” became a meme and cars started launching into space-level absurdity, "The Fast and the Furious" was a scrappy street-racing saga with a surprisingly big heart. Netflix is bringing the first seven movies together, making it the perfect excuse to revisit the franchise.

Watch "The Fast and the Furious" movies 1-6 starting August 1

'The Bombing of Pan Am 103'

Genre: True crime drama limited series

What it's about: Based on the real-life investigation into the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, this miniseries follows the aftermath of Pan Am Flight 103’s destruction and the massive international effort to uncover who was behind it. It follows the Scottish police, U.S. law enforcement, and the families still seeking answers after one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on British soil.

Why you should watch it: This isn’t just a procedural whodunit; it’s a deeply human look at the lives reshaped by tragedy. With a stacked cast including Peter Mullan, Connor Swindells, Patrick J. Adams, and Merritt Wever, it promises a gripping history lesson that plays like a real-world mystery.

Watch "The Bombing of Pan Am 103" starting July 30

'Hannibal' seasons 1-6

Genre: Psychological thriller series

What it’s about: Gifted FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) has an uncanny ability to think like the killers he hunts, but the talent starts to unravel him. To keep him grounded, FBI boss Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) pairs him with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a brilliant psychiatrist hiding a very dark appetite.

Why you should watch it: Bryan Fuller’s "Hannibal" is less of a crime show and more a beautifully plated nightmare: gruesome, elegant and weirdly romantic. Mikkelsen’s chilling take on Lecter and Dancy’s haunted performance helped make this a cult favorite.

Watch "Hannibal" seasons 1-6 starting July 27

'Mary Beth Barone: Galaxy Brain'

Genre: Stand-up comedy special

What it’s about: Comedian Mary Beth Barone brings her sharp, self-aware brand of chaos to her debut hour-long special. Taped at New York City’s Skirball, Barone dives headfirst into everything from reproductive rights and dating apps to pop culture, ex-best friends, tattooed dudes and the bizarre phenomenon of NYPD merch.

Why you should watch it: Barone has built a reputation for turning modern life’s most ridiculous contradictions into brutally funny observations. Expect dark humor, internet-age absurdity and hyper-specific takes.

Watch "Mary Beth Barone: Galaxy Brain" starting July 28

'Wrath'

Genre: Action thriller / MMA drama series

What it’s about: When Marcelo (Vinicius Neri) is pulled back from the brink of death, he wakes up with no memory of who he was. Taken in by an MMA coach, he builds a new identity inside the cage, chasing victory while trying to piece together the mystery of his past. But the deeper he digs, the more he discovers a dangerous history.

Why you should watch it: Think "Warrior" meets "Memento." Brazilian drama and MMA intensity add up to a story where every fight has higher stakes than just winning the match.

Watch "Wrath" starting July 29

Everything new on Netflix: July 26-Aug. 2

JULY 27

• "Hannibal" season 1-3
• "Tár"

JULY 28

"Mary Beth Barone: Galaxy Brain" (Netflix comedy special)

Is an ex-best friend the worst ex? Can dating apps save democracy? What's with NYPD merch? Mary Beth Barone has all the answers in this witty special.

• "The Exorcism"

JULY 29

"Final Project" (MX) (Netflix series)

New school, new start — until vicious online attacks and a classmate's twisted challenge spark a dangerous bond that pushes Tamara toward transformation.

"Wrath" (BR) (Netflix series)

A wounded amnesiac finds refuge with an MMA coach and steps into the ring, torn between hope for a new future and a dangerous past that keeps closing in.

• "A Private Life"
• "Gear Heads" season 1

JULY 30

"The Bombing of Pan Am 103" (GB) (Netflix documentary)

The tragic bombing of a transatlantic flight over Scotland in 1988 unites the local police and the FBI in a hunt for the attackers. Based on a true story.

JULY 31

• "Terry McMillan Presents: His, Hers & Ours"

AUGUST 1

• "3 Ninjas: Kick Back"
• "About Last Night..."
• "Anaconda"
• "Annie"
• "Are We Done Yet?"
• "Bride of Chucky"
• "Child's Play 2"
• "Child's Play 3"
• "Clueless"
• "Cult of Chucky"
• "Curse of Chucky"
• "Daddy Day Camp"
• "Daddy Day Care"
• "Elysium"
• "The Fast and the Furious"
• "2 Fast 2 Furious"
• "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift"
• "Fast Five"
• "Fast & Furious"
• "Fast & Furious 6"
• "Furious 7"
• "Field of Dreams"
• "The Hitman’s Bodyguard"
• "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard"
• "Holmes & Watson"
• "Marie Antoinette"
• "Mile 22"
• "Minions"
• "National Security"
• "Nightcrawler"
• "Party Girl"
• "Seed of Chucky"
• "Selma"
• "Something's Gotta Give"
• "Speed"
• "Speed 2: Cruise Control"
• "Tears of the Sun"
• "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones"
• "Zero Dark Thirty"

AUGUST 2

• "Ingrid Goes West"

Leaving Netflix This Week

Leaving 7/27/26

"Sliding Doors"

Leaving 7/29/26

"Tallulah"

Leaving 8/1/26

"27 Dresses"
"A Million Ways to Die in the West"
"The Age of Adaline"
"Atonement"
"Borat"
"Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie"
"Chef"
"Click"
"Enough"
"Everest"
"Ex Machina"
"Father of the Bride"
"Father of the Bride: Part II"
"Fletch"
"The Five-Year Engagement"
"The Glass House"
"Hacksaw Ridge"
"Home Improvement: Seasons 1-8"
"Hunter X Hunter (2011): Seasons 1-6"
"I Feel Pretty"
"Kindergarten Cop"
"Midnight Diner: Seasons 1-3"
"Mississippi Grind"
"Pixels"
"Pretty Woman"
"The Proposal"
"R.I.P.D."
"Single White Female"
"Splash"
"There's Something About Mary"
"Tootsie"

More from Tom's Guide

• 'The Odyssey’ is the best movie of 2026 so far — and maybe topples my favorite Christopher Nolan film
• Apple TV's new crime thriller show features two of my favorite actors but not much else
• Nearly 25 years later, 'Training Day' remains Denzel Washington's greatest performance ever

July is ending in style by bringing a little bit of everything to your TV watchlist, from spy games and superhero sleuthing to true-crime drama and magical mayhem. This week’s new TV shows are packing enough intrigue, action and nostalgia to carry you straight into August.

Get ready for more high-stakes missions in "Lioness" season 3, a chilling chronicle of a tragedy in "The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103" and a serial killer hunt in "Furious." Meanwhile, "Batman: Caped Crusader" returns to clean up Gotham’s darkest corners, and "The Librarians: The Next Chapter" brings more supernatural shenanigans to the shelves.

Here’s my guide to what’s new on TV this week.

‘Furious’ (Hulu)

The vibes: “Killing Eve” meets “Mare of Easttown” with a simmering feminist fury.
The plot: FBI agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) is drawn into the pursuit of Catherine (Lola Petticrew), a serial killer who targets predatory men. As the investigation deepens, Alice begins to see unsettling parallels between herself and the woman she's chasing, turning a standard manhunt into a tense psychological duel where justice and vengeance become impossible to untangle.
Premiere date: Episodes 1-3 on Monday, July 27 at 12 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Hulu

‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’ (Netflix)

The vibes: One of history's most tragic events turns into a whodunit limited series.
The plot: This isn’t the first time the 1988 Lockerbie disaster has been put on screen and likely won’t be the last. It traces the bombing of the transatlantic flight and the sprawling investigation that followed, as Scottish detectives and U.S. agents race to identify those responsible. The ensemble cast includes Peter Mullan, Connor Swindells, Patrick J. Adams and Merritt Wever.
Premiere date: All 6 episodes on Thursday, July 30 at 3 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Netflix

‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ season 2 (Prime Video)

The vibes: Gotham somehow gets even gloomier — a perfect noir setting.
The plot: Batman (voiced by Hamish Linklater) faces a rogues' gallery that's deadlier than ever, with the Riddler (Dave Franco) pulling the strings and the Joker (Matthew Needham) slowly emerging from the shadows. As Gotham's horrors escalate, Bruce Wayne begins cracking open emotionally, forcing the city's most guarded vigilante to rely on others for the first time.
Premiere date: All 10 episodes on Friday, July 31 at 3 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Prime Video

‘Lioness’ season 3 (Paramount+)

The vibes: Work-life balance is tough when your job is international espionage.
The plot: CIA operative Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña) finds the fight hitting painfully close to home as she navigates hidden networks, foreign operatives and personal betrayals. Leaning on Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) and CIA deputy director Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly), Joe must stop a shadow war that's endangering both global security and her personal life.
Premiere date: Episode 1 on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 3 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Paramount+

‘The Librarians: The Next Chapter’ season 2 (TNT)

The vibes: A magical mystery tour with extra weirdness and higher stakes.
The plot: Season 2 throws Vikram (Callum McGowan) and his fellow Librarians into even bigger magical messes, from rogue genies to a sinister Peter Pan. As Lysa (Olivia Morris), Connor (Bluey Robinson) and Charlie (Jessica Green) wrestle with new responsibilities, Merlin (Dominic Monaghan) arrives with a tempting offer that could break the Library’s most sacred rule.
Premiere date: Episode 1 on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 9 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT (via Sling or YouTube TV)

Netflix's Kevin Hart-led buddy comedy "72 Hours" became the latest No. 1 movie on the platform, which just goes to show that you can't always trust Netflix's ranking. It's currently sitting at a 14% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with audience reactions not quite as scathing but still lukewarm at 49%. I'm tired of pretending Kevin Hart is still funny, and that's coming from someone who raved about his early stand-up comedy specials. His Napoleon complex schtick has gotten old, and if you ask me, there are much better comedies on Netflix that are worth you precious streaming time this weekend.

I've rounded up a few of my favorites below, including a girl failure comedy that I return to again and again when it's just been one of them days, a new(ish) chaotic double act with John Cena and Eric André, and one of the most controversial buddy comedies to date that I still stand by, 20 years later.

Read on for three more comedies to watch on Netflix next after "72 Hours."

'One of Them Days' (2025)

Keke Palmer and SZA's girl failure buddy comedy "One of Them Days" is one of those movies I return to whenever I need a good laugh (one joke about a "tumble-weave" never fails to crack me up). Directed by Lawrence Lamont, it follows two broke besties, Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) who find themselves desperate for cash after Alyssa's boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua Neal) runs off with their rent money.

With just hours to cough up with $1,500 before their landlord kicks them out, the two scramble to hit a lick by any means necessary — and manage to piss off a major gang banger in the process. Though "One of Them Days" has plenty of laughs, beneath the chaos and a great cameo by Katt Williams is a genuinely sweet story about the lengths we go to for family. Palmer and SZA are hilarious together, and if you’re into comedies with a lot of heart, this one’s worth adding to your watchlist. Plus it has a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a rare feat for a buddy comedy.

Watch "One of Them Days" on Netflix now

'Little Brother' (2026)

While it's fallen from the Netflix Top 10 since its debut last month, I still laughed way harder at "Little Brother" than I did at "72 Hours," so I opted to include it as a more recently released option to watch. If, like me, you're a big fan of both "The Eric André Show" and John Cena's unhinged straight man brand of humor ("Peacemaker" was one of my favorite shows last year), you should definitely check out Netflix's buddy comedy "Little Brother."

Cena stars as successful real estate agent Rudd, whose stable — if less-than-fulfilling — life is thrown into chaos when his former mentee Marcus (Eric André) crashes back into his orbit at the worst possible moment. A chaos magnet with a knack for turning every situation into a catastrophe, Marcus leaves Rudd scrambling to clean up the fallout his antics cause. "Little Brother" leans heavily into slapstick, with most of the humor coming from the clash between Cena's perpetually exasperated straight-man performance with André's off-the-wall energy.

Watch "Little Brother" on Netflix now

'White Chicks' (2004)

Another excuse to write about "White Chicks"? Don't mind if I do! Over 20 years after it hit theaters, "White Chicks" crept into the Netflix Top 10 earlier this month, which had me cackling and just goes to show how lackluster the streamer's summer lineup has been so far. My friends and I were just talking about how "White Chicks" is one of those unapologetically dumb comedies we'll defend forever, in the same vein as the original "Scary Movie" — which I still argue is the only good "Scary Movie."

Directed by the undisputed best Wayans brother, "White Chicks" stars Shawn and Marlon Wayans as FBI agents Kevin and Marcus Copeland, whose careers are not long for this world after yet another botched assignment. With one final chance to prove themselves, they're stuck babysitting wealthy socialites Brittany and Tiffany Wilson during a weekend in the Hamptons. To go undercover, the two Black agents disguise themselves as white women, resulting in one outrageous fish-out-of-water gag after another as well as an iconic serenade from Terry Crews.

Watch "White Chicks" on Netflix now

More from Tom's Guide

• 10 best Netflix movies and shows of summer 2026 (so far) ranked by viewers — No. 1 is a twisting mystery thriller made for binge-watching
• Netflix top 10 movies — here’s the only 3 I'm considering watching this weekend (July 25-26)
• 5 best new movies to watch this weekend on Netflix, Apple TV, Prime Video and more (July 25-26)

Kimi Antonelli will be aiming to extend his lead at the top of the drivers' standings ahead of the summer break as Formula 1 heads to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix (July 24-26). The Mercedes driver holds a 45-point advantage at the summit after winning at Spa last week.

Antonelli's bid to become the youngest Formula 1 world champion appeared to be rocking after seeing his lead narrow to 25 points, but the 19-year-old is back in control following a near-perfect weekend in Belgium. Not only did the Italian win from pole position to claim his sixth grand prix victory of the season, but teammate and nearest challenger George Russell crashed out in a collision with Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.

Hamilton, who was able to continue and came home fourth, is now second in the championship, five points ahead of Russell. The two Brits appear to be the only drivers capable of catching Antonelli, with fourth-place Charles Leclerc already 78 points behind after he was passed by the teenager and had to settle for second.

Antonelli has the chance to strike a huge psychological blow to the chasing pack if he can further stretch his advantage in Budapest, which is the last grand prix for four weeks before the season resumes in the Netherlands in late August.

Want to stay on top of all the F1 action in Hungary? Here’s how to stream the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix live and watch F1 2026 online from anywhere in the world.

Hungarian Grand Prix: Live Streams & TV Information

How to watch F1 Hungarian G.P. 2026 from anywhere

Away from home this week and blocked from watching the F1 on your usual streaming platform?

You can still watch your Hungarian G.P. live stream thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software makes your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal for F1 fans away on vacation or on business. NordVPN is one of the very best you can get for streaming:

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Can I watch the Hungarian Grand Prix 2026 for free?

Formula 1 fans in select countries can watch the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix for free:

Luxembourg:
RTL Zwee keeps you across the action in every single 2026 Formula 1 race.

Belgium:
RTBF provides FREE F1 live streams in Belgium.

Austria:
ORF is the FREE streaming service to catch all the action from Budapest.

If you're visiting the U.S. or U.K. or anywhere else from these countries right now you can still catch the Hungarian G.P. for free. Just use NordVPN and select a server in Austria, Belgium or Luxembourg and you'll be good to go!

How to watch Hungarian Grand Prix 2026 in the U.S.

It’s all change in 2026 — not just for the cars, but for the American broadcaster of Formula 1.

Apple TV has taken the driver’s seat and will deliver full coverage of every race throughout the season, including the Hungarian Grand Prix. Subscriptions start at just $12.99/month, giving fans comprehensive access to every grand prix.

Even better, new Apple TV subscribers get a handy 7-day FREE trial.

Discover everything you need to know in our complete F1 Apple TV guide.

How to watch Hungarian Grand Prix 2026 in the U.K.

Sky Sports will be the exclusive broadcaster in the U.K. of the Hungarian Grand Prix 2026.

Prices currently start at £20/month and streaming is also available through a NOW Sports Membership (£14.99 for a day pass).

You can also watch extended highlights on Sunday from 6:30 p.m. BST for free on Channel 4.

How to watch Hungarian Grand Prix 2026 in Canada

The Hungarian Grand Prix will be broadcast on TSN in Canada.

TSN+ plans are available for as little as CA$8/month to watch all the F1 action online.

What time is the Hungarian Grand Prix 2026 worldwide?

Lights out for the start of the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix is set for 3 p.m. local time at the Hungaroring on Sunday, July 26.

Here are the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix start times in Europe, India, South Africa and other worldwide locations:

• 6 a.m. PT — Pacific Time (UTC−7)
• 8 a.m. CT — Central Time (UTC−5)
• 9 a.m. ET — Eastern Time (UTC−4)
• 10 a.m. BRT — Rio de Janeiro (UTC−3)
• 2 p.m. BST — United Kingdom (UTC+1)
• 3 p.m. CET — Central Europe (UTC+2)
• 3 p.m. SAST — South Africa (UTC+2)
• 5 p.m. GST — Dubai (UTC+4)
• 6:30 p.m. IST — New Delhi (UTC+5:30)
• 8 p.m. WIB — Jakarta (UTC+7)
• 9 p.m. CST — Shanghai (UTC+8)
• 11 p.m. AEST — Melbourne (UTC+11)

More from Tom's Guide

• How to watch 'F1: The Movie' from anywhere in the world
• The best streaming VPN
• How to watch F1 2026 live online

Prepare for a jaw-some week of entertainment as “Shark Week” returns for 2026! With 20 blockbuster specials spread across the evenings, there’s something for everyone from K-Pop premieres to nerve jangling high dives, ground-breaking technology to whodunnit investigations. Here's how to watch "Shark Week" 2026 online from anywhere with a VPN.

Among the feeding frenzy of new premieres this year is season opener “K-Pop Shark Heroes,” which sees actor Ken Jeong team up with singer REI AMI to reshape the perception of sharks across Asia via the power of K-Pop, and “Ultimate Shark Dive” in which professional high-diver Molly Carlson aims to complete the highest freefall dive in “Shark Week” history, aiming squarely for a floating plexiglass box, and not the chum-filled, shark-infested waters surrounding it.

Other stand-out episodes include “House of Sharks,” which investigates the “Game of Thrones”-style house structure and power grabs of a group of great whites off New Zealand, the search for a rumoured 15 to 20-foot mako off Southern California in “The Biggest Mako on Earth” and the self explanatory “How to Train a Great White.”

There’s also two special episodes of the "Expedition" franchise with "Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” investigating sharks thriving in the shadow of former nuclear testing sites, and "Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets,” which delves into some of history’s most notorious shark encounters. Also look out for “Chum Island: Catching a Killer,” a “Shark Week” whodunnit in which marine biologist Dr. Riley Elliott aims to catch the culprits behind a series of aggressive shark attacks on a small Australian community.

There’s plenty to sink your teeth into, so read on to find out how to watch “Shark Week” 2026 online from wherever you are.

Watch 'Shark Week' 2026 from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Shark Week" 2026 on your usual subscription?

You can still watch the show thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. One of our favorites is Surfshark.

How to watch 'Shark Week' in the U.S. without cable

"Shark Week" 2026 is a TV event comprising multiple shows airing across seven days. You can tune in from Sunday, July 26 on the Discovery Channel or Max. Scroll to the bottom of this page for the full schedule.

We would recommend a cord-cutter to access the 20 shows on Discovery Channel across the week with Sling, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream among our favorites.

Sling is the one we would recommend:

HBO Max prices start at $10.99 per month, and it's one of the best streaming services. You also have the option of paying from $19.99 per month for the Disney Plus bundle, including Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max.

Traveling outside the U.S.? You can always use a VPN — we recommend Surfshark — to watch HBO Max from anywhere on the planet.

How to watch 'Shark Week' in Canada

"Shark Week" 2026 in Canada will air on Discovery and Discovery+ in Canada. Prices start at CA$5.99/month.

U.S. viewer currently traveling in Canada? You can use one of the best VPN services to tune in as you would at home. We recommend Surfshark.

Can I watch 'Shark Week' in the U.K.?

Certain specials from "Shark Week" usually arrive on Discovery+ in the U.K., although Blighty doesn't officially receive the week-long event.

Currently abroad in the U.K. from North America? You can use one of the best VPN services, such as Surfshark, to access your usual streaming service.

Can I watch 'Shark Week' in Australia?

"Shark Week" will go out in Australia on HBO Max from Sunday, August 16. Prices start from AU$11.99/month.

U.S. or Canada viewer in Australia? Make use one of the best VPN services, such as Surfshark, allowing you access to your usual streaming service.

"Shark Week" TV schedule 2026

Sunday, July 26

“K-Pop Shark Heroes” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

After a recent series of shark encounters off the Korean Peninsula, actor and comedian Ken Jeong joins forces with GRAMMY-nominated singer and lifetime shark lover REI AMI on a mission to reshape the perception of sharks across East Asia and around the globe, fueled by the power of K-POP.

“Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

Across the U.S. coastline, a new phenomenon is emerging as great white sharks are captured on film breaching in California like never before. Filmmaker Jeff Kurr, marine biologist Alison Towner, and cinematographer Andy Casagrande set out to capture this unprecedented behavior and uncover the secrets behind the Great American Breach.

“Invasion of the Mega Sharks” | 10 p.m. ET/PT

Shark researcher Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, joined by "Shark Week" expert Paul de Gelder, leads a team on a high-risk mission to track down "Big Rose," a record-breaking great white believed to be one of largest predators in the North Atlantic. Using innovative tagging technology and daring field operations, they venture to a newly discovered shark hotspot off Nova Scotia aiming to transform our understanding of these ocean giants.

Monday, July 27

“Bull Shark Dinner Bell” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

Shark attack survivor and advocate Paul De Gelder teams up with apex predator specialist Rosie Moore in Jupiter, Florida to investigate what triggers giant bull sharks to confront humans, testing human behavior in the ocean, extreme weather events and prey preferences to determine what factors ring the loudest dinner bell.

“House of Sharks” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

Off the coast of New Zealand lies a hidden shark battleground, where three distinct groups of great whites organize into competing “houses” and may be competing with one another to gain control of a major seal feeding ground. Marine biologist Dr. Tristan Guttridge and underwater cinematographer Kina Scollay venture into the middle of the action on an epic expedition, using brand new builds and massive blood bombs to document this new competitive behavior. As they investigate, they uncover the possibility that these clans of great whites recognize kin and return season after season to their ancestral territories, raising the theory that these predators aren’t solitary hunters, but rival dynasties at war.

“Biggest Mako on Earth” | 10 p.m. ET/PT

For decades, rumors have swirled about massive, 15 to 20-foot mako sharks patrolling the deep waters off Southern California. Long dismissed as fishermen’s tales, new footage, along with a recently published photo capturing a mako that appears to push 15 feet, is now forcing scientists to rethink everything they know about these oceanic apex predators. Marine biologist Tristan Guttridge, alongside conservationist Kendyl Berna and shark tagger Keith Poe, leads an investigation to determine whether the world’s biggest mako is real - and hunting in the coastal waters of Santa Catalina.

Tuesday, July 28

“Jurassic Sharks” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

In a "Shark Week" first, revolutionary CGI resurrects the ocean’s most bizarre Jurassic sharks, bringing them to life like never before. Guided by the rare living sharks that once shared their seas, real-world expeditions seamlessly merge with cutting-edge visual effects to uncover stories from the deep and prehistoric seas in ways never before possible.

“Jaws vs Orca” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

For millennia, the great white shark has reigned as the ocean's ultimate apex predator. But now, a new challenger is emerging: the killer whale. Around the world, sharks are washing ashore with their livers removed with chilling precision while in the Strait of Gibraltar, orcas are targeting sailboats - ramming hulls, crippling rudders, and sinking vessels. To investigate this alarming shift in behavior, Dr. Tristan Guttridge places himself directly in the path of an orca encounter, using their attacks on boats to reveal how these predators hunt and ultimately, how they may be taking down great white sharks.

“Chum Island: Catching a Killer” | 10 p.m. ET/PT

In this "Shark Week" whodunnit, a rare surge of highly aggressive shark attacks hit a tight-knit community off Australia’s southern coast, prompting marine biologist Dr. Riley Elliott to find and tag the oceanic suspects. But when he discovers this could be a new, elusive population of sharks, he builds the world’s first “chum island” to lure them in and uncover if they are the ones responsible for the attacks.

Wednesday, July 29

“Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

Phil Torres and Heather Amaro travel 5,000 miles west of the U.S. to the remote Marshall Islands, home to the world's largest shark sanctuary, where apex predators are exhibiting highly aggressive behaviors and erratic swimming patterns. Between 1946 and 1958, the United States military detonated 67 nuclear bombs around the island, raising questions about their lasting impact on marine life. Now, the team dives into these dangerous waters to investigate reports of “mutant” sharks and uncover whether atomic blasts could be to blame.

“Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

Global explorer Josh Gates travels back in time and dives into the history behind some of the world’s most infamous shark encounters, from the earliest known shark attack to the mystery surrounding the shark feeding frenzy faced by sailors following the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in remote waters. He also investigates the legendary “Stronsay Beast,” a mysterious creature that washed ashore in Scotland in 1808, long thought to be a sea monster. But could it in fact be the remains of a massive shark?

“Alien Sharks: Untamed America” | 10 p.m. ET/PT

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, wildlife biologist Forrest Galante embarks on a nationwide quest to find the nation’s most bizarre and dangerous alien sharks – from glowing swell sharks to elusive sawfish – proving the ultimate shark adventure is right here at home.

Thursday, July 30

“What Shark Attacked?” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

Shark attacks are extremely rare, but when they happen, the first question is always the same: what kind of shark was it? Leading shark scientists Tom “Blowfish” Hird and Rosie Moore, alongside conservationist Kinga Phillips, investigate mysterious attacks from around the world using cutting-edge forensic analysis - including bite pattern comparison, geographic profiling, video evidence, and eyewitness testimony – to identify the species responsible and uncover why these life-threatening encounters occur.

“How to Train a Great White” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

Marine biologist Dr. Tristan Guttridge ventures into the shark-infested waters of New Zealand to answer a provocative question: can sharks be trained? Using techniques pioneered by the U.S. Navy to train dolphins in complex cognitive tasks, the team applies similar methods to great white sharks, testing whether these apex predators can learn, solve problems, and respond to cues. If successful, the experiment can potentially redefine shark intelligence and transform our understanding of one of the ocean’s most misunderstood predators.

“Ultimate Shark Dive” | 10 p.m. ET/PT

World-class Red Bull high diver Molly Carlson leaps from a helicopter hovering above the open ocean in a bid to complete the highest freefall dive in Shark Week history, targeting a narrow plexiglass cage surrounded by circling reef sharks, or risking a direct plunge into a chum-filled feeding frenzy where seconds mean survival. From concept to execution, this fearless athlete will push herself to the limit with a record-setting stunt that no high diver has ever attempted.

Friday, July 31

“Secrets of the Great White Kill” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

For centuries, great whites were believed to simply stalk their prey. Now, groundbreaking science believes that these alpha sharks are highly intelligent predators that adapt their hunting techniques in real time. For the first time on Shark Week, the full range of great white hunting tactics will be revealed, reinforcing their status as one of the ocean’s top predator.

“Sharkzilla Takes New York” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

After a wave of mauled marine life washes ashore in New York, conservation biologist Dr. Craig O'Connell launches an investigation to find the culprit. When it leads to an old nuclear dumping ground teaming with great whites and makos, he is left with the chilling theory that the predator may be radioactive. A deeper dive reveals an unexpected hotspot for massive makos off the coast of the Hamptons, suggesting that these waters may be hiding something even bigger beneath the surface.

“My Strange Shark Addiction” | 10 p.m. ET/PT

How far will people go to fuel their fascination with sharks? For four devoted shark “fin-atics,” their obsession shapes every aspect of their lives. From a dentist who spends every spare moment searching for life-size shark replicas that overwhelm his home to a woman who insists she has a special connection with her shark “boyfriend,” and a world-record holder covered in shark tattoos, this special explores how their daily routines, relationships, and finances revolve entirely around the apex predators they can't live without.

Saturday, August 1

“Great White Highway” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

Great white sharks are pushing farther up the East coast than ever before and in far greater numbers leading to close encounters, forcing beach closures, and leaving locals wondering where the next attack could happen. Now, a daring team of shark scientists race to install high-tech receivers and tag as many great whites as possible before another harrowing incident rocks the country.

“Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

The physics behind the thresher shark’s devastating tail strike has long remained a mystery…until now. For the first time ever, the discovery of a shallow-water feeding ground has made observing this behavior possible. Now, shark scientist Dr. Craig O’Connell and marine biologist Aliah Banchik dive into the direct line of fire as they attempt to reveal exactly how these predators use their tails to stun and kill.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to watch 'Sharkfest' 2025 online
• How to watch 'Ocean with David Attenborough' online
• The best streaming devices

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

We're coming into the back half of summer, folks, but that doesn't mean things are cooling down where streaming is concerned. HBO Max, in particular, is keeping the temperature up with a hot crop of new films and TV shows joining its already extensive library this August.

Subscribers of the HBO streaming service will have plenty to choose from in the weeks ahead, from high-profile series — including the new DC Studios drama "Lanterns" starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, and another fun-loving season of the travel show "Conan O'Brien Must Go" — to buzzy movie releases, like the Anne Hathaway-led "Mother Mary" and the Bob Odenkirk-starring neo-Western "Normal."

Below, we give our top recommendations for HBO Max this August, followed by a comprehensive list of every title arriving on the service throughout the month. Happy streaming!

New on HBO Max in August 2026: Top picks

‘Monsters of God'

For this five-part documentary series, filmmaker Eric Goode slithers his way into the underground yet billion-dollar world of exotic animal smuggling, populated by outlaw traffickers (including industry legends Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield), unhinged collectors and the law enforcement agents on their metaphorical tails.

Goode's gonzo doc took home the Audience Award at SXSW 2026, and if you're into so-weird-it-must-be-true crime tales like "Tiger King" and "Chimp Crazy," this should be right up your alley. Episodes will roll out weekly.

Stream on HBO Max from August 6

'Normal'

A team-up between Bob Odenkirk, "John Wick" creator Derek Kolstad and "Free Fire" filmmaker Ben Wheatley, this neo-Western sees the "Better Call Saul" great as an unassuming small-town sheriff with a troubled past. In fictitious Normal, Minnesota, Odenkirk's Sheriff Ulysses inadvertently gets sucked into a dark, town-wide conspiracy after a botched bank robbery interrupts the peace of his provisional posting. Soon enough, Normal isn't seeming so "normal" after all.

The lively action comedy features a crowd-pleasing cast including Henry Winkler, Lena Heady, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Reena Jolly and Peter Shinkoda.

Stream on HBO Max from August 14

‘Lanterns’

Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre play Green Lanterns of different generations in this eight-episode DC Comics drama, a demographical difference that allows for some enjoyable tension between their respective characters, Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Old Lantern legend Jordan is tasked with mentoring rookie recruit Stewart as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. However, that earthly case soon takes on an extraterrestrial edge, leading the duo to darker mysteries and reckonings.

The superhero series also stars Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Laura Linney, Jason Ritter, Ulrich Thomsen, Nathan Fillion, J. Alphonse Nicholson and Jasmine Cephas Jones.

Stream on HBO Max from August 16

'Conan O'Brien Must Go' season 3

Sure, there seems to be a proliferation of celebrity-focused travel shows of late, but if there's anyone we'd want to go flailing around the world with, it's Conan O'Brien.

The third installment of his hilarious, Emmy-winning travelogue series will feature four episodes of the famous funnyman connecting with fans he first met on his "Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan" podcast and experiencing local cultures in India, the Philippines, the Netherlands and Morocco. Ridiculous shenanigans unsurprisingly ensue, with episodes released weekly.

Stream on HBO Max from August 21

‘Mother Mary'

Somehow, in between filming 2026 titles "The Odyssey," "Devil Wears Prada 2," "The End of Oak Street" and "Verity," Anne Hathaway managed to fit in this David Lowery-directed psychological drama. The Oscar winner plays the titular Mother Mary, a world-famous pop icon who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel) on the eve of a big comeback performance. As the two women collaborate, they are forced to confront the pain of their past partnership and personal traumas.

Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, Isaura Barbé-Brown with Sian Clifford and FKA twigs also appear.

Stream on HBO Max from August 21

Everything new on HBO Max in August 2026

August 1
Amy
Barbarian
Bells Are Ringing
Billy Budd
Blockers
Epic
Flipper's New Adventure
Great White Highway (Discovery)
Hall Pass
Hall Pass: Enlarged Edition
Happy Feet Two
It Comes At Night
Macao
Miss Sloane
Mojave
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Orphan
Practical Magic
Put A Ring On It: Cheat Hab (OWN)
Quo Vadis
Road House (1989)
Sicario
Smart Money
Stand by Me
Strike Up the Band
Taxi!
The Band Wagon
The Crimson Pirate
The Fighting 69th
The Kennel Murder Case
The Rain People
The Sea Chase
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
The Wrong Man
The Yearling
Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill (Discovery)
Tusk
Who's That Knocking at My Door?
You Can't Get Away with Murder

August 3
Naked And Afraid: Shipwrecked, Season 1 (Discovery)

August 4
Chopped: Volume 4, Season 64 (Food Network)
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks (HBO Original)

August 6
Monsters of God (HBO Original)

August 7
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Season 1
House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 215 (HGTV)
House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 260 (HGTV)
The Invisible Guest
The Strangers: Chapter 2 (Lionsgate)

August 8
Belle Collective, Season 8 (OWN)

August 9
Heart & Hustle: Houston, Season 2 (OWN)

August 10
Double Lives of Suburban Wives, Season 1 (TLC)

August 11
The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door (CNN Films)

August 12
Signs of a Psychopath, Season 11 (ID)

August 13
Building Giants, Season 5 (Science)
Faster With Newbern and Cotten, Season 3
Isadora Moon, Season 1D (Max Original)
Most Extreme Humans, Season 1 (TLC)

August 14
Normal (Magnolia Pictures)
Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes (HBO Original)

August 16
Lanterns, Season 1 (DC Studios Drama Series)

August 17
Thanksgiving (2023)

August 20
ER: Caught On Camera, Season 1 (TLC)
Expedition X, Season 12 (Discovery)

August 21
Conan O’Brien Must Go, Season 3 (HBO Original)
Mother Mary (A24)

August 22
Abbott Elementary, Season 5

August 24
Margarita: Make Your Story Count, Season 3 (Max Original)

August 25
“Ben Sasse is Coming Home: Lessons in Life and Death” with Jake Tapper, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (CNN Originals)

August 26
1000-lb Roomies, Season 2 (TLC)
Bobby's Triple Threat, Season 5 (Food Network)
Homestead Rescue: Intervention, Season 1 (Discovery)

August 27
Totally '90s House, Season 1 (HGTV)

August 28
House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 261 (HGTV)
The Producer, Season 1 (HBO Original)

August 30
Enter Nowhere
Holla
Knock Knock
The Cabin in the Woods
The Strangers: Chapter 1
The Strangers: Prey at Night

August 31
Big Burger Battle, Season 1 (Food Network)
The Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special (Adult Swim)

Live sports

**Live Sports available only on select plans. Plan availability varies by subscription provider. Check with your subscription provider for details. Select games available and blackouts may apply.

Please note this list may not be comprehensive and is subject to change. All times are in ET.

MLB
August 4
LA Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs, 8 p.m.

August 11
Seattle vs NY Yankees, 7 p.m.

August 18
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 8 p.m.

August 25
LA Dodgers vs Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Savannah Banana's
August 14
Clowns vs Bananas, 9 p.m.

August 21
Clowns vs Tailgaters, 8 p.m.

August 28
Bananas vs Coconuts, 7 p.m.

NASCAR
August 8
Newton, IA P&Q 2 p.m.

August 14
Richmond, VA P&Q 3:30 p.m.

August 22
Loudon, NH, 10:30 a.m.

August 28
Daytona Qualifying, 5 p.m.

DUNKMAN
August 4
Qualifiers, 8 p.m.

August 11
Qualifiers, 8 p.m.

August 25
Championship, 8 p.m.

These lists are provided by HBO and may not be comprehensive. These lists are subject to change at any point.

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There are few things that get our pulses racing quite like a good horror movie, full of things that go bump in the night and a bad guy who will seemingly never die. But the only thing scarier than a made-up monster is a real one, as true crime documentaries have shown us again and again.

And if you're a lover of the true crime genre, we've got good news: Peacock is home to countless bone-chilling docuseries and non-fiction thrillers. But if you need help narrowing that sinister selection, that's where Tom's Guide comes in: We've selected a trio of terrifyingly true and carefully researched accounts of some of America's most notorious killers, documentaries that will leave you shocked, appalled and, yes, hooked.

Here are three true crime docs on Peacock to watch if you never want to sleep again. We warned you!

'Making Manson'

He's arguably America's most mythologized murderer, but in this three-part docuseries by Billie Mintz ("Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them"), the psyche of infamous criminal and cult leader Charles Manson is frightfully deconstructed via over 100 hours of previously unreleased recorded interviews and conversations with the man himself.

In these jailhouse tapes, Manson — who died at 83 years old at a Kern County hospital in 2017 whilst serving multiple life sentences for orchestrating the brutal 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders — details the childhood trauma and schoolboy cruelty he experienced as a youth, as well as the early crimes and psychological motivations that would lead to that late-'60s murder spree. The doc also sees former members of the so-called Manson Family listen to Manson's testimony and grapple with their own roles in the group's dark legacy.

Stream "Making Manson" on Peacock now

'The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets'

Chilling in its recency, "The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets" recounts the horrific crimes and conviction of Long Island architect Rex Heuermann, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in June 2026 for strangling and killing eight women between 1993 and 2010, disposing of their remains along the coast of eastern New York.

The case alone is haunting enough, but the three-part Peacock Original docuseries adds an extra layer of horror by including exclusive commentary from Heuermann's own kin, including his estranged wife Asa Ellerup, their daughter Victoria and stepson Christopher, who were all allegedly unaware of the dark double life the family patriarch was leading, as well as the fact that many of those killings happened directly inside their Massapequa Park home.

Stream "The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets" on Peacock now

'The Idaho Student Murders'

Based on the true crime podcast "The Idaho Massacre," this gripping 90-minute documentary focuses on the pre-trial case of Bryan Kohberger, a twentysomething criminology student accused of brutally stabbing to death four University of Idaho coeds — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin — in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022.

With Kohberger facing four first-degree murder charges as well as the death penalty for the heinous crimes, the Catherine Park-directed doc delves into Kohberger’s past and possible motivations and also features emotional and unprecedented interviews with Kaylee Goncalves’ brother and friends of the victims.

Stream "The Idaho Student Murders" on Peacock now

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• 3 twisted true crime documentaries to stream on Netflix if its new No. 1 movie 'Maternal Instinct' got you hooked
• I’m a true crime junkie, and these 5 podcasts are the only ones that actually keep me up at night
• Your next true crime obsession: Netflix's 'Should I Marry a Murderer?' is a wild ride you can't help but binge

Not every thriller needs to keep you on the edge of your seat for two straight hours to be effective. If you're in the mood for a stylish, slow-burn adventure, "The Two Faces of January" is well worth seeking out, and right now, you can stream it for free on Tubi. But not for long!

This criminally overlooked 2014 film comes from a novel by Patricia Highsmith, the mastermind behind "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Strangers on a Train." It also marks the directorial debut of Hossein Amini, best known for writing the sharp screenplay for "Drive." Amini spent roughly 15 years trying to get this passion project made, and the result proves it was well worth the wait.

Boasting a star-studded cast led by Oscar Isaac, Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, it’s a wholly satisfying mystery that relies on psychological tension rather than cheap thrills. But if you're ready for something a little different to stream tonight, you'll want to head over to Tubi ASAP, because once it leaves the platform in the coming days, it'll be gone for good.

What is 'The Two Faces of January' about?

The story kicks off in 1962 with Rydal Keener (Oscar Isaac), an American expat working as a tour guide at the Acropolis. Rydal fled to Greece to escape his father and never looked back; he didn't even return home for the funeral. Instead, he spends his days walking tourists through ancient ruins while pulling low-stakes financial cons on the women in his groups.

Then, he spots Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) and his wife, Colette (Kirsten Dunst). Chester is rich, impossibly charming, and a good 25 years older than his glamorous wife. Rydal is instantly drawn to them both — though he takes a particular, dangerous liking to Colette.

After taking the couple to dinner, Rydal finds a bracelet Colette left behind in a taxi. Deciding to play the gentleman, he goes to return it and arrives outside their hotel room at precisely the wrong moment.

Inside is a private investigator sent by the angry clients Chester swindled back in the States. By the time Rydal steps into the room, the investigator is lying dead on the bathroom floor. Chester insists it was an accident, and Rydal, against his better judgment, helps him move the body.

From that moment on, the three of them are inexorably bound together. As they flee from Athens to Crete with forged passports and the Greek police trailing one step behind, the paranoia sets in. What’s actually going on beneath the surface? And now that a body is involved, how far will they go to save themselves?

Why I recommend streaming 'The Two Faces of January'

Most of us carry some version of unfinished business with a parent—an argument that was never settled because one side simply stopped being there to argue with. "The Two Faces of January" finds Rydal in that exact position, projecting his unresolved feelings onto a charming older stranger who fits the vacancy all too well. The tragedy is that his unspoken craving for closure ends up unraveling everyone in his orbit.

Don't expect explosive car chases or wall-to-wall action here. The tension in Amini's film is quiet, psychological, and driven by the smallest human interactions. Meaning you have to pay close attention to catch every subtle shift in power; scrolling your phone is not advised.

Visually, the movie is bathed in sun-drenched, warm tones and lush Mediterranean landscapes, yet a pervasive sense of dread simmers right under the surface. You're constantly left trying to figure out who is conning whom, and once murder enters the equation, the dynamic grows delightfully twisted.

At a lean 97 minutes, "The Two Faces of January" doesn't waste a single frame, a quality anyone with a massive watchlist will surely appreciate. It’s a patient, elegant, and deliciously nasty little movie about three liars trapped in paradise. If you’re craving an adult, slow-burning suspense film tonight, make your way to Tubi before it disappears.

Stream "The Two Faces of January" free on Tubi now

A forensic psychologist starts a job at a high-security psychiatric hospital and meets an inmate who insists she can see the future. However, the inmate in question has been convicted of murdering her mother, so who will believe her? Ruth Madeley and India Amarteifio star in 'The Rapture', a new psychological thriller that promises nerve-shredding tension.

Here's how to watch 'The Rapture' online from anywhere with a VPN.

A 'high-stakes thriller that crackles with danger', The Rapture is set in a heatwave with protesters taking to the streets. Against this backdrop, forensic psychologist Gabs Fox starts working at a psychiatric hospital and meets 17-year-old Bethany Krall, who has been convicted of murdering her mother but claims she is innocent. If that wasn't enough, her estranged father is the charismatic leader of an influential religious movement.

Bethany tells Gabs she has psychic powers that enable her to predict the future and warns of an impending apocalyptic disaster. But is she a manipulative psychopath or does she know a shocking truth?

This engrossing five-part series is adapted from Liz Jensen's bestselling novel of the same name, and directed by Eva Sigurđardóttir and Jennifer Perrott. Alongside Madeley and Amarteifio, the cast includes Stephen Campbell Moore, Lisa Palfrey, Siena Kelly, Naby Dakhli, Richard Elis, Dean Rehman, Robert Rhodes and Ruth Jones.

Read on as we explain how to watch 'The Rapture' online from anywhere.

How to watch 'The Rapture' in the U.K.

In the U.K., 'The Rapture' premieres on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm BST on Sunday, July 26.

All five episodes while be available immediately on BBC iPlayer, while they will be aired weekly on BBC One.

You need a TV Licence to watch any of the UK's free-to-air channels, and this is also true for iPlayer.

Abroad when it's on? Use a VPN to get around the geo-restrictions that will prevent your favorite streamer from working. Read on for all the details.

How to watch 'The Rapture' from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching 'The Rapture' on your preferred service?

You can still tune in as normal thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:

Can you watch ‘The Rapture’ in the U.S., Australia, Canada or elsewhere?

Unfortunately, 'The Rapture' does not yet have an international release date, so it is not currently available to watch in the U.S., Australia, Canada or elsewhere.

If you're in the U.S., Australia or Canada for work or on vacation, you can catch 'The Rapture' by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.

'The Rapture' — Trailer

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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

What started as an underrated horror series buried on MGM+ has gradually built a passionate fanbase and become one of television’s biggest surprises. Anchored by a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and explosive word-of-mouth growth across social media, “From” has established itself as a certified breakout titan. And it deserves every bit of praise.

Created by John Griffin, the nightmare-fuel mystery follows an ensemble of unwilling travelers trapped inside a nightmarish, inescapable town. By day, the residents scramble to maintain a civilized society, but by night, they must bolt their doors against terrifying, shape-shifting humanoids that haunt the surrounding forest. Taking inspiration from mystery box shows like “Lost” while delivering its own brand of horror, “From” has encouraged viewers to search for answers behind every twist.

With the stakes higher than ever and the series building toward its ultimate endgame, the hype surrounding the fifth season is at an all-time peak. From potential casting and release window speculation to lingering questions, we’ll be continually updating this page as fresh details and announcements emerge!

'From' season 5 release speculation

Since “From” season 4 finished airing at the end of June, we still don’t have a release window for season 5, and it could be some time before an official date is announced. For now, we can only make an educated guess based on the show’s previous release patterns.

Historically, “From” has had a gap of around 14 to 19 months between seasons. Season 1 premiered in February 2022, season 2 followed in April 2023, season 3 arrived in September 2024, and season 4 aired from April to June 2026. Filming in Halifax, Nova Scotia, typically takes around five to six months, followed by several months of post-production and editing.

With MGM+ confirming that season 5 will serve as the show’s final chapter, a mid-2027 release window seems like a realistic possibility, with summer 2027 being a likely timeframe based on the production schedule. However, this remains speculation until MGM+ announces an official release date.

'From' season 5 filming updates

“From” has officially started filming its fifth and final season, moving quickly from the end of season 4 into production! Following MGM+’s renewal announcement on April 15, 2026, filming began in early July 2026, with production returning to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Principal photography started on July 6, and filming is expected to continue until November 2026, followed by additional pickup shots later in the month. The fast turnaround suggests MGM+ is aiming to deliver the show’s final chapter sometime in 2027, which aligns with our release window speculation.

Production has also been confirmed through behind-the-scenes updates from the cast. Corteon Moore, who plays Ellis Stevens, shared photos from the Halifax set, confirming that filming was underway. Hannah Cheramy, who portrays Julie Matthews, also shared images from table reads featuring several returning cast members.

Further evidence of the busy production schedule came when Harold Perrineau, who stars as Boyd Stevens and serves as an executive producer, cancelled his appearance at Comic Con Midlands in July 2026 due to his filming commitments on “From” season 5.

'From' season 5 cast

The full cast list for “From” season 5 has not been officially released yet, but the main returning cast is expected to include the majority of the surviving characters from season 4. It’s unlikely the showrunners will introduce new cast members given this is the final season, and there may not be enough time to focus on new characters.

What we do know is that season 4 kept the body count coming, drastically shifting the stakes right before the series rolls into its fifth and final season. While a few minor background casualties occurred throughout the season, two major main characters met brutal ends in the season 4 finale (spoilers ahead).

Elgin’s tragic arc came to a head when he finally realized he was being manipulated by the dark forces of the town. When he refused to align with Sophia, who was revealed to be the shapeshifting Man in Yellow, his hands were crushed and he bled out in a fast, devastating turn of events. Marielle was also brutally killed when the terrifying Smiley creature breached the clinic, leaving her to die in Kristi’s arms.

It wasn't just them, though, because even side characters got gnarly treatment. Earlier in the season, Roger met a bizarrely horrifying end when his jaw was ripped off by one of the possessed dolls.

So, while we know which characters won’t be returning, it looks like almost the entire surviving ensemble will be back to help bring the story to a conclusion. Below is a list of characters who are likely to return in some capacity for “From” season 5:

• Harold Perrineau as Boyd Stevens
• Catalina Sandino Moreno as Tabitha Matthews
• Hannah Cheramy as Julie Matthews
• Simon Webster as Ethan Matthews
• Eion Bailey as Jim Matthews (ghost/hallucination)
• David Alpay as Jade Herrera
• Julia Doyle as Sophia/The Man in Yellow
• Elizabeth Saunders as Donna Raines
• Scott McCord as Victor
• Ricky He as Kenny Liu
• Chloe Van Landschoot as Kristi Miller
• Pegah Ghafoori as Fatima Hassan
• Corteon Moore as Ellis Stevens
• Avery Konrad as Sara Myers
• A.J. Simmons as Randall
• Robert Joy as Henry
• Samantha Brown as Acosta
• Katerina Bakolias as Clara
• Shaun Majumder as Father Khatri (hallucination)

'From' season 5 plot speculation

With season 5 set to serve as the show’s final, endgame chapter, fan speculation and theories have reached a fever pitch. Because show creators John Griffin and Jeff Pinkner designed season 4 and season 5 as a unified two-part conclusion, the board is effectively flipped, setting up a race against time.

Here is a breakdown of the leading plot speculations and narrative arcs driving the discussion for season 5 (again, spoilers ahead!):

Season 5 could begin with the town in its most dangerous state yet following the loss of the talismans. After Sophia (The Man in Yellow) threw them into the Faraway Tree/Bottle Tree network, the survivors are left completely exposed. With the sky remaining permanently dark, the creatures may no longer be restricted to hunting at night, forcing Boyd and the others to abandon their homes, retreat into the tunnels, or find new ways to protect themselves before the town is overrun.

One of the biggest mysteries heading into the final season is Fatima’s transformation. After her disturbing change in the tunnels and Smiley referring to her as “Mother,” it appears she may be losing her humanity. While some fans believe Fatima could become the next major threat, others theorize she could become a protector or even a weapon against the creatures. Because her transformation didn’t follow the same rules as previous sacrifices, there’s still a possibility that she has some humanity left and could turn against the monsters.

Meanwhile, Jade and Tabitha’s discovery of the ancient bones could hold the key to finally escaping Fromville. Despite the destruction caused by the tunnel collapse, the pair managed to recover them, and many fans believe they are connected to the ritual needed to break the cycle. Jade’s ability to decode the town’s mysteries will likely become even more important as he uncovers how the bones connect to Fromville’s history, the curse, and his and Tabitha’s mysterious past-life connection.

Going off that, Julie’s storywalking ability could play a major role in the ending. Rather than simply observing events from the past, Julie may discover a way to influence them, potentially changing key moments that shaped Fromville’s history. Her powers could allow the survivors to uncover the origins of the curse, prevent past tragedies, or weaken the entity’s control once and for all.

The final season is also expected to explore the growing conflict between the Man in Yellow and the Boy in White. Season 4 suggested that Fromville is controlled by opposing forces, with the Man in Yellow representing manipulation and the entity keeping people trapped, while the Boy in White appears to guide the survivors toward freedom. Season 5 could finally reveal who created this strange pocket dimension, why certain people are drawn there, and the true rules behind the curse.

More from Tom's Guide

• When is 'The Odyssey' streaming? Here's our best guess
• I’m rewatching 'From' and it’s even better the second time around
• How to watch 'From' season 4 online for free, and from anywhere

The summer season is in full swing, and while you might be enjoying the sunny weather outdoors or traveling the globe on vacation, Netflix is giving you plenty of reasons to stay indoors with a strong lineup of new movies and shows to watch from the comfort of your home.

Here at Tom’s Guide, we recently polled our readers on their favorite Netflix movies/shows of the summer (so far), and after more than 4,300 responses, we’ve compiled the results into a top 10 ranking. These are the shows and movies that Netflix viewers have enjoyed the most so far this summer.

There’s particularly strong variety in this list, ranging from easy-watching romantic dramas to fantasy-action, mystery thrills to crude comedy, and lots more. Whatever you like to watch on Netflix, there’s sure to be at least one entry on this list that appeals to your personal tastes.

Top 10 Netflix shows/movies of summer 2026 (so far)

10. ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (season 2)

The second season of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the beloved cartoon “Avatar: The Last Airbender” props up this ranking. The reception was roughly in line with the show’s first season, with fans and critics noting it was a huge step up from the awful 2010 movie take on the original show, but still a far cry from the quality of its animated predecessor. The show also quickly fell out of Netflix's top 10, suggesting that it might not have attracted many newcomers. However, Season 3 was filmed simultaneously, so it’ll get to wrap up on its own terms, which is good news for fans.

Watch "Avatar: The Last Airbender" on Netflix now

9. ‘Sweet Magnolias’ (season 5)

Netflix takes a lot of flak for canceling shows early, much of it deserved, but to give the streaming service some credit, when a show finds a consistent viewership (and presumably isn’t too expensive to produce), it will give it the runway to thrive. Romantic drama “Sweet Magnolias” is one such example; it dropped its fifth season in June, bringing the show’s dedicated watchers back to the small town of Serenity, South Carolina, for another scoop of messy melodrama. As of writing, season 6 has not been confirmed, but the show's passionate fans are already speculating online about what will happen next. Hopefully, new episodes are confirmed soon.

Watch "Sweet Magnolias" on Netflix now

8. ‘Office Romance’

Netflix’s glossy rom-com “Office Romance” attracted plenty of attention, even if reviewers (myself included) weren’t exactly in love with this generic genre effort. It scores a weak 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, but as our poll shows, at least some viewers fell under its moderately charming spell. It stars Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein as co-workers at a high-flying airline who begin a secretive workplace affair. Naturally, this leads to many professional and personal complications. Playing out like pretty much every other romantic comedy, “Office Romance” is anything but memorable, which is perhaps why it ranks lower down on this top 10 list.

Watch "Office Romance" on Netflix now

7. ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ (season 4)

“Sullivan’s Crossing” is another romantic drama, based on the Robyn Carr novel series about a neurosurgeon named Maggie (Morgan Kohan) who returns to her hometown amidst legal trouble to reconnect with her father, Sully (Scott Patterson). This one is actually a CW show that aired its fourth season weekly throughout the spring before dropping all at once on Netflix at the end of June. A fifth season is also in production, so expect that to arrive on Netflix sometime in the summer of 2027.

Watch "Sullivan’s Crossing" on Netflix now

6. ‘Little Brother’

Netflix’s comedy “Little Brother” leaned on a classic movie trope, the odd-couple dynamic. You have John Cena playing the straight man, with a successful real estate career and loving family. Meanwhile, Eric André has the wild-card role, a loose cannon who causes complete chaos everywhere he goes. It’s a reliable formula for comedy, and even with its low-brow gags, “Little Brother” is saved from total disaster thanks to the strength of its two stars. It’s not a Netflix comedy that is likely to live long in the memory, but it enjoyed a brief moment in the sun over the summer.

Watch "Little Brother" on Netflix now

5. ‘Little House on the Prairie’

Banking on nostalgia is usually a successful strategy for streaming platforms, and that seems to be the case with “Little House on the Prairie.” Whether you read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s original 1941 novel in your childhood or watched the original 1970s TV series, this story of a 19th-century settler family building a home on a farm in the American Midwest is beloved by millions. Netflix’s new adaptation was warmly received, and the streaming bigwigs were clearly impressed with what they saw, because it was renewed for a second season before it even premiered.

Watch "Little House on the Prairie" on Netflix now

4. ‘Enola Holmes 3’

Netflix put plenty of marketing muscle behind the third installment in its “Enola Holmes” franchise (I saw real-world posters everywhere), and it seemingly paid off. The detective mystery flick went straight to No. 1, and, as our poll results show, viewers were seemingly satisfied with this latest outing for Sherlock Holmes’ little sister, the eponymous Enola (played by Millie Bobby Brown). Also bringing back Louis Partridge as Tewkesbury, Henry Cavill as Sherlock, and Helen Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes, this mystery film offers plenty of fun and is all set in sun-soaked Malta.

Watch "Enola Holmes 3" on Netflix now

3. ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’

The competition hasn’t exactly been fierce, but “Voicemails for Isabelle” is perhaps the best Netflix original movie of the summer to date. Sure, this rom-com also has a generic quality, but the chemistry between leads Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson makes rooting for its central relationship very easy. The movie also tackles grief in a way that feels authentic. Deutch plays a San Francisco chef reeling from the death of her beloved sister. To cope with her loss, she leaves voicemails to her sister’s old phone, which are intercepted by Wes (Robinson). Wes engineers a meet-cute, and a connection forms, but will his lie be revealed and ruin the romance?

Watch "Voicemails for Isabelle" on Netflix now

2. ‘Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea’

No list of the most-popular Netflix shows and movies would be complete without a gripping documentary, and “Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea” storms into second place with nearly 20% of the votes in our poll. This feature-length doc chronicles the sinking of the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia in 2012. This maritime disaster became a global news story, tragically claimed 32 lives, and resulted in a 16-year prison sentence for the captain who abandoned his ship prematurely. “Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea” includes new footage of the events and insightful interviews with survivors who recount their chilling experience.

Watch "Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea" on Netflix now

1. ‘I Will Find You’

It’s no surprise to see “I Will Find You” claim the top spot. As somebody who tracks what’s popular on Netflix for a living, I can attest first-hand that the streaming service’s subscriber base loves binge-worthy mystery thrillers. This one marks Netflix’s latest collaboration with crime author supremo Harlan Coben, and packs the usual assortment of gripping moments and shocking twists that viewers have come to expect from a Coben-adapted TV show. It stars Sam Worthington as a man wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his son. When he learns his son might still be alive, he must break out to uncover the truth and clear his name.

Watch "I Will Find You" on Netflix now

More from Tom's Guide

• New on Netflix in July 2026
• 3 top Netflix movies being removed at the end of July 2026
• Netflix has racked up 17 No. 1 movies in 2026 (so far)

Paramount+ ranks as one of our best streaming services thanks to its strong library of binge-worthy TV shows and blockbuster movies. It’s the latter category that really draws my attention as a dedicated movie buff, and recently I’ve been combing through the catalog for hidden gems.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to look very hard, because Paramount+ is home to a host of great movies that I believe to be a little underrated. Whether that be because of their critical scores, because they struggled to break even at the box office, or just because they lack the name recognition of Paramount+’s most popular titles. These five films deserve some love.

That’s why I’ve put together this roundup of underrated Paramount+ movies to shine a spotlight on a collection of high-quality movies that you might not have streamed already.

‘The Island’ (2005)

Perhaps defending a Michael Bay movie will cost me some credit with the movie buff crowd, but I don’t care. This 2005 sci-fi action movie Starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson is a total guilty pleasure watch. Bay leans on his trademark penchant for explosions in the second half, but the openning portion offers an intriguing dystopian story, and there’s an entertaining mystery at the movie’s core. On a Bay scale, it’s pretty great.

Set in a futuristic 2019 (this released in 2005), “The Island” takes place within a slick facility due to the outside world being contaminated by a pathogen. The residents live by a strict set of rules, and each week one is chosen by random lottery to leave and go live on a luxury island. However, this facility is hiding some dark secrets, and when Lincoln (McGregor) discovers the truth, he teams up with Sarah (Johansson) to escape.

Watch "The Island" on Paramount+ now

‘Better Man’ (2024)

Musical biopics are all the rage right now; look at the recent box office success of “Michael” as the latest proof. So, I found it more than a little frustrating that “Better Man,” a wildly inventive drama focused on the life and career of British singer Robbie Williams, didn’t just struggle but outright bombed, grossing $22 million against a $100m budget. This fantastic movie, stuffed with Robbie’s earworm tracks, deserved better.

Perhaps it was the fact that Robbie’s fame has never quite translated to the U.S. market (he’s a superstar in the U.K., not so much Stateside), or maybe it was the oddball decision to cast Robbie as a CGI chimpanzee in this big-screen biopic (The real Williams voices the computer-created protagonist). Yes, this was a strange choice, but trust me, it works in the final movie, and this movie explores the perils of fame supremely well.

Watch "Better Man" on Paramount+ now

‘Mean Creek’ (2004)

Movies about bullying can often feel like a patronizing PBS afterschool special, so kudos to the filmmakers behind 2004’s “Mean Creek” for avoiding this pitfall and instead delivering a psychological drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This movie builds anxiety. In the first act, you'll have an uneasy feeling that something is going to go wrong. It all leads to a very tragic incident that changes the lives of its young cast.

In a small Oregon town, shy school kid Sam (Rory) and his older brother, Rocky (Trevor Morgan), invite stand-offish bully George (Josh Peck) to accompany them on a boating trip. However, their goal isn’t to make friends with George. They plan to humiliate him as revenge for a physical altercation with Sam. It’s a cruel scheme, and it rapidly backfires, forcing the adolescent characters to face very grown-up consequences.

Watch "Mean Creek" on Paramount+ now

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)

Another example of a great movie struggling at the box office is “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” This fantasy heist movie is based on the popular tabletop role-playing game, and pays respect to its source material, while ensuring that newcomers aren’t left behind. It’s a real popcorn movie, boasting charming characters, some surprisingly strong humor and plenty of big-budget action. It deserved way more attention in theaters.

Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and Hugh Grant, “Honor Among Thieves” spins a classic “Dungeons & Dragons” tale of an unlikely band of adventurers joining forces to embark on a dangerous mission to locate (and then steal) a lost relic. As all good D&D campaigns should, things don’t always go as planned, and watching the team adapt on the fly to each bump in the road is the real fun of this blockbuster.

Watch "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" on Paramount+ now

‘Mean Girls’ (2024)

2024’s “Mean Girls” never really got a fair shake. From its announcement, the necessity of a reimagining of Tina Fey’s classic 2004 teen comedy was questioned. But here’s the thing: This isn’t a cheap cash-in that just recycles the original. It’s actually an adaptation of the “Mean Girls” Broadway show. So, yes, it’s a full-blown musical. Packed with enjoyable show tunes and a great performance from Reneé Rapp as the iconic Regina George, we perhaps didn’t need a 2020s spin on “Mean Girls,” but I’m glad we got one. To borrow a phrase, it’s totally fetch.

The fundamental setup is the story you know. The formerly homeschooled Cady Heron (played by Angourie Rice) moves from Kenya to America, where she attends North Shore High School and discovers teenage social cliques are even more ruthless than the savanna plains. Invited to join the Plastics, a trio of the school’s most popular students, she gets a crash course in “Girl World” and hatches a plan to bring the Plastics down.

Watch "Mean Girls" on Paramount+ now

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Former world champion Anthony Joshua's first fight of the year comes against a surprising opponent — little-known knockout specialist Kristian Prenga. For "AJ", Saturday's 12-round heavyweight showdown been billed as a warm-up for Tyson Fury. For "The Eagle", however, this could be a real-life "Rocky" moment.

Here's how you can watch Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga live streams from anywhere with a VPN.

Aged 35, Prenga is no up-and-coming prospect. The Albanian bruiser only turned pro in 2016, and over the intervening decade he's racked up almost as many fights as Joshua has in 13 years. And his record speaks for itself.

Prenga has won all but one of his bouts, and all 20 of his victories have come by knockout. He stopped each of his last three opponents in the opening round. Despite that sterling knockout ratio, however, he's never got a look-in from any of the division's established stars — until now.

Joshua has cut a confident figure in Jeddah, having spent much of the buildup plugging his prospective bout with Fury, who was pushed to seven rounds by 46-year-old Mariusz Wach yesterday. However, three years have passed since the former Olympic champion last got the better of a heavyweight boxer, and there's concern amongst his fans that another Andy Ruiz moment could be coming.

Read on as we explain how to watch Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga live streams.

How to watch Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga with DAZN

Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga fight card

From 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. BST / 3 a.m. AEST (Sun.)

• Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga — Heavyweight
• Hamzah Sheeraz vs Simon Zachenhuber — Super Middleweight, for the WBO title
• Josh Kelly vs Caoimhin Agyarko — Super Welterweight, for the IBF title
• Reito Tsutsumi vs Alvino Herrera — Super Featherweight
• Jakob Bank vs Pawel August — Middleweight
• Nishant Dev vs Cesar Diaz — Super Welterweight

Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga tale of the tape

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All the best streaming services use AI in some form or another to serve up recommendations for what to watch, but Prime Video's looking to go all in. According to a Reuters report this week, Jeff Bezos is personally pushing Amazon’s Prime Video executives toward a major app redesign to turn the streaming platform into a marquee showcase for Amazon's multi-billion-dollar investments in AI technology for its 200+ million active viewers.

Internally codenamed Project Lighthouse, the effort is just one piece of Amazon's companywide AI efforts to compete against the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic. Lighthouse would comb through a subscriber's viewing preferences, using AI for improved film and TV recommendations and to respond to spoken requests, one person with knowledge of the project told Reuters. The final redesign is still in the works, but it could drastically change your home page and how you find what to watch next. We've reached out to Amazon for comment, and will update this story once we hear back.

Following a tense internal presentation last fall, Bezos rejected earlier redesign proposals from Prime Video head Mike Hopkins, expressing frustration that they did not go far enough in leveraging generative AI for improved personalization. The team scrapped those plans and started fresh under Global Head of Design Kam Keshmiri. So far this year, the company's dropped $200 billion in capital expenditures, mostly related to developing AI, Reuters reports.

Potential changes with Prime Video's AI redesign

Again, Prime Video's AI overhaul is far from finalized, but one part of the redesign under consideration would introduce AI-powered content tiles that surface curated viewing suggestions, such as "1980s action movies" or "Christmas rom-coms," three people familiar with the discussions told Reuters. Netflix employs similar categories to help direct viewers find other movies and shows in genres they gravitate toward.

The overhaul could also reshape how movies and TV shows are promoted on Prime Video. Right now, studios pay for premium placement on the service's homepage alongside recommendations generated by Amazon's algorithms, a practice that's standard among streaming platforms.

Amazon has reportedly already begun testing early versions of the redesign with a limited group of users. However, the final product could still change based on tester feedback, budget considerations, or other internal factors. The redesigned interface would still include the standard search bar, along with a dedicated area at the top of the homepage to spotlight new releases and live events, including Amazon's exclusive "Thursday Night Football" broadcasts.

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The weekend is here, and if you're struggling to narrow down what to watch, I got you. Every weekend, you'll find me here, combing through the Netflix Top 10 to spotlight which movies that have subscribers buzzing are actually worth the watch. Because lord knows a few duds always manage to make the ranking. Just look at the No. 1 spot: a Kevin Hart comedy with a whopping 14% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Naw, I only recommend Netflix Top 10 movies that are actually worth the hype. This weekend's pick include an uplifting drama based on a true story, one of Netflix's craziest true crime documentaries yet, and a movie musical that'll dazzle you into a stupor.

If you want to see what other movies made the cup, the platform's complete, up-to-the-minute movie rankings are detailed below. So far this year, Netflix has had 17 No. 1 movies, and our streaming team narrowed down the only 5 worth watching of the bunch.

This article is based on Netflix's top 10 movies list in the U.S. as of Saturday, July 25, 2026.

Best movies in the Netflix top 10

‘Wicked: For Good'

John Chu’s 2025 movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, "Wicked: For Good," just landed on Netflix this week, and to absolutely no one's surprise, it's already in the top 10. Though if you ask me, there are much better musicals on Netflix that are more worth your time. With all the best songs of "Wicked" in the first half, I knew "For Good" would struggle to stack up, but Glinda's new song and a few smart creative liberties to help buoy the less prolific singers (*cough* Jeff Goldblum*) managed to delight well enough.

It picks up right after "Wicked's" gravity-defying conclusion, with Elphaba now in her Wicked Witch of the West era on the run from the Wizard (Goldblum). Many of her old pals from Shiz now lead the mob calling for her head. Glinda and Elphaba clash over what's best for Oz, but when a mysterious storm sends a young girl from Kansas (and her little dog too) crashing into their world, it changes their lives for good.

Watch "Wicked: For Good" on Netflix now

'A Toxic Love Story'

Another weekend finds another true crime documentary trending on Netflix. Based on the title, you might think you know what you're in for — and you'd be wrong. This is one of Netflix's wildest true crime docs yet, with plenty of WTF moments before the final reveal as the mystery unravels.

At the center of it all is U.S. Deputy Marshal Ian Diaz and his wife, Ashley, a couple who started receiving threats shortly after getting married. They traced them back to Ian's ex, Michelle, and she was eventually arrested. But this isn't your stereotypical "crazy ex girlfriend" plot. The search also surfaces a Craig's List ad suggesting Ashely was looking to fulfill a rape fantasy, and the story only gets crazier from there. If you're a true crime fan, this movie is a must-watch.

Watch "A Toxic Love Story" on Netflix now

‘Ordinary Angels' (2023)

This fan-favorite Alan Ritchson movie has a near-perfect 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's a staple whenever I go to visit my in-laws back in Kentucky. Directed by Jon Gunn, "Ordinary Angels" is based on the true story of a Kentucky community that rallied together to help save the life of a young girl.

Hilary Swank stars as Sharon Stevens, a down-on-her-luck hairdresser who steps up to help widowed father Ed Schmitt (Ritchson) as he struggles to care for his two young daughters following his wife's sudden death. When one of the girls needs a life-saving liver transplant, Sharon unites the community to support the family through their darkest days, even as one of the worst snowstorms in Kentucky's history bears down on them.

Watch "Ordinary Angels" on Netflix now

Netflix top 10 movies right now

1. "72 Hours" (2026)
2. "A Toxic Love Story" (2026)
3. "Sniper: No Nation" (2026)
4. "Ordinary Angels" (2023)
5. "Elize: Shadows of a Woman" (2026)
6. "Wicked: For Good" (2025)
7. "The Truthers" (2026)
8. "The Debt Collector" (2026)
9. "Desire" (2026)
10. "The Boss Baby" (2017)

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It seems unfathomable how quickly summer is moving, but it's true: August is shortly upon us. And with the arrival of a new month comes a fresh wave of film titles and television shows to the industry's top streaming services. And as two of the biggest names in the streaming game, both Hulu and Disney+ will unsurprisingly welcome a hot batch of buzzy and brilliant new shows and movies to their already extensive selections this month.

Over on Disney+, August sees the very long-awaited (we're talking more than 15 years, ya'll) arrival of a new "Camp Rock" movie for the kiddos and the kids at heart. For more adult viewers, there's a new season of animated favorite "Futurama," as well as a pulpy new prep-school program from the Ryan Murphy camp, based on the 2023 horror novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

Want to see what else is hitting the platform? Keep reading to check out our top picks and the full list of everything new on Hulu and Disney+ this month.

New on Hulu and Disney+ in August 2026: Top picks

'Futurama' season 14

The folks behind the long-running animated sitcom — which follows a New York City pizza delivery boy (voiced by Billy West) who accidentally freezes himself in 1999 and gets defrosted in the year 3000 to find himself surrounded by hard-drinking robots, lovely cyclops and the like — promise "a non-stop onslaught of swaggering space pirates, lab-grown meats and sexy scams" in the upcoming fourteenth season of "Futurama," which premieres with two episodes on Monday, August 3. (Episodes will then be released one-at-a-time every subsequent Monday.) Along with West, the original voice cast will be back, including Katey Segal and John DiMaggio.

Stream on Hulu beginning August 3

'The Shards'

Based on Bret Easton Ellis' semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, FX's "The Shards" comes courtesy of Ellis himself as well as Ryan Murphy, so you know some campy TV fun is in your future if you choose to tune into the new teen thriller. Premiering August 5 on Hulu, the 1980s-set series follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite Los Angeles prep school whose universe gets rattled by a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere), whose arrival unsettlingly coincides with the activities of a serial killer known as The Trawler. The cast also includes Kaia Gerber, Wes Bentley, Graham Campbell, Hayes Warner and Igby Rigney as Bret Easton Ellis.

Stream on Hulu beginning August 5

'Camp Rock 3'

OG "Camp Rock" fans are now well and grown, but they can introduce a whole new generation to the movie-musical franchise with the long-awaited sequel "Camp Rock 3," which arrives 16 years in the making (yes, 16!) on August 14. The latest chapter of the trilogy sees original stars Jonas Brothers and Maria Canals-Barrera reprise their roles from the previous films, starring alongside Sherry Cola, Liamani Segura, and Malachi Barton.

When the opening act for Connect 3 cancels at the last minute, the band decides to return to their beloved Camp Rock and host a competition to find new talent to join their national tour. Talented campers are soon ruthlessly vying for the chance to join the group's reunion tour, testing friendships, stoking tensions and leading to unexpected alliances.

Stream on Disney+ beginning August 14

Everything new on Hulu and Disney+ in August 2026

August 1

• Disney+: Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024
• Disney+: The Book of Manning
• Hulu: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) 
• Hulu: Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005) 
• Hulu: Despicable Me 2 (2013) 
• Disney+: Eight on Eight
• Disney+: E60: The Many Lives of Lane Kiffin
• Hulu: Father of the Bride Part II (1995) 
• Disney+: "30 for 30" - Jordan Rides the Bus
• Hulu: Jurassic Park (1993) 
• Hulu: Jurassic Park III (2001) 
• Disney+: Locker Diaries: Descendants: Shorts (Season 1)
• Disney+: "30 for 30" - Little Big Men
• Disney+ and Hulu: Lollapalooza Livestream Day 3
• Hulu: Men in Black (1997)
• Hulu: Men in Black II (2002)
• Hulu: Men in Black 3 (2012)
• Hulu: She's the Man (2006) 
• Hulu: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) 
• Disney+: Theme Song Takeover (Season 6)
• Disney+ and Hulu: Time and Water 
• Hulu: Tropic Thunder (2008)
• Hulu: Untitled Home Invasion Romance (2026)
• Disney+: Banana Ball – Tailgaters vs. Party Animals – 8pm ET

August 2

• Disney+ and Hulu: Lollapalooza Livestream Day 4
• Disney+: WNBA – Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings – 7pm ET

August 3

• Hulu: Furious (Hulu Original)
• Hulu: Futurama (Season 14) (Hulu Original)
• Disney+ and Hulu: 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup – Live at 4am ET

August 4

• Hulu: Betrayal: Dirty Secrets (Season 4) (Hulu Original)
• Disney+: CoComelon Playdates with Sanrio Friends
• Disney+ and Hulu: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
• Disney+ and Hulu: 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup – Live at 2am ET

August 5

• Disney+ and Hulu: King & Prince: Our Meet-Up in LA
• Hulu: FX’s The Shards – Premiere at 9pm
• Disney+ and Hulu: A Shop for Killers (Season 2)
• Disney+ and Hulu: Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
• Disney+: Wizards Beyond Waverly Place (Season 3)
• Disney+: X-Men '97 (Season 2)

August 6

• Disney+ and Hulu: The Husband
• Disney+ and Hulu: Project Runway (Season 22) – New Episode @ 10pm PT
• Disney+ and Hulu: Disney+ Hulu Throwbacks Podcast - Camp Rock
• Disney+ and ESPN: PGA TOUR – Wyndham Championship

August 7

• • Disney+: Flex X Cop (Season 1)
  • Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)
  • Disney+: Pokémon: Indigo League (Season 1)
  • Disney+: SuperKitties (Season 3)
  • Disney+ and ESPN: Banana Ball – Bananas vs. Coconuts – 8pm ET

August 8

• Disney+: Chibiverse (Season 4)
• Disney+: Disney Jr. Play Break: Shorts (Season 1)
• Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)
• Disney+: Locker Diaries: Descendants: Shorts (Season 1)
• Disney+ and ESPN: Banana Ball – Bananas vs. Coconuts – 8pm ET

August 9

• Disney+ and ESPN: WNBA – Golden State Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks – 7pm ET

August 10

• Hulu: Furious (Hulu Original)
• Hulu: Futurama (Season 14)
• Disney+ and Hulu: 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup – Live at 2am ET
• Disney+: Magicampers (Season 1)

August 11

• Disney+ and Hulu: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
• Disney+ and Hulu: 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup – Live at 5am ET

August 12

• Disney+ and Hulu: King & Prince: Our Meet-Up in LA
• Disney+ and Hulu: A Shop for Killers (Season 2)
• Disney+: X-Men '97 (Season 2)

August 13

• Disney+ and Hulu: The Husband (Hulu Original)
• Disney+ and Hulu: Project Runway (Season 22) – New Episode @ 10pm PT
• Hulu: FX’s The Shards – New Episode
• Disney+ and Hulu: Disney+ Hulu Throwbacks Podcast - The Cheetah Girls
• Hulu: Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear
• Disney+ and ESPN: PGA TOUR – FedEx St. Jude Championship

August 14

• Disney+: Camp Rock 3
• Disney+: E60: Fistful of Steel: The Rise of Bubba Wallace
• Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)
• Disney+: This is What They Want
• Disney+: Tim Richmond: To The Limit
• Disney+: Venus Vs
• Hulu: The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
• Hulu: The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn (2026) – Director's Cut

August 15

• Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)
• Disney+: How Not to Draw: Shorts (Season 4)
• Disney+: Locker Diaries: Descendants: Shorts (Season 1)
• Disney+ and ESPN: Banana Ball – Clowns vs. Bananas – 8pm ET

August 16

• Disney+: Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration
• Disney+ and ESPN: WNBA – Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream – 5pm ET
• Disney+ and ESPN: WNBA – Portland Fire vs. Phoenix Mercury – 7pm ET

August 17

• Hulu: Furious
• Hulu: Futurama (Season 14)
• Hulu: FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 18)
• Disney+ and Hulu: 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup – Live at 5am ET

August 18

• Disney+ and Hulu: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
• Disney+ and Hulu: 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup – Live at 4:30am ET

August 19

• • Disney+: Sofia the First: Royal Magic (Season 1)

August 20

• Disney+ and Hulu: LION
• Disney+ and Hulu: Project Runway (Season 22) – New Episode @ 10pm PT
• Hulu: FX’s The Shards
• Disney+ and Hulu: Disney+ Hulu Throwbacks Podcast – High School Musical
• Disney+ and ESPN: PGA TOUR – BMW Championship

August 21

• Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)
• Disney+: LEGO Disney Princess: Magical Mayhem
• Disney+ and ESPN: Banana Ball – Coconuts vs. Bananas – 8pm ET

August 22

• Disney+: Big City Greens (Season 5)
• Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)
• Disney+: Locker Diaries: Descendants: Shorts (Season 1)
• Disney+ and Hulu: 9/11 Reunited
• Disney+ and ESPN: Banana Ball – Coconuts vs. Bananas – 8pm ET

August 24

• Hulu: Furious (Hulu Original)
• Hulu: Futurama (Season 14) (Hulu Original)
• Disney+: Gracie's Corner
• Disney+: Gracie's Corner: Shorts
• Hulu: MAO (Season 1) (Dubbed)

August 25

• Disney+ and Hulu: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
• Disney+: Venom: The Last Dance
  

August 26

• Disney+: Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug & Cat Noir (Season 6)
• Disney+: The Simpsons: Yellow Mirror
  

August 27

• Hulu: FX’s Adults (Season 2)
• Disney+ and Hulu: Project Runway (Season 22) – New Episode @ 10pm PT
• Hulu: FX’s The Shards
• Disney+ and ESPN: PGA TOUR – TOUR Championship – TBD

August 28

• Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)

August 29

• Disney+ and Hulu: Flex X Cop (Season 2)
• Disney+ and ESPN: Banana Ball – Bananas vs. Coconuts– 7pm ET

August 30

• Disney+ and ESPN: US Open – US Open First Round – 3pm ET

August 31

• Hulu: Furious

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As the “Walking Dead” universe continues to expand, “Dead City” has established itself as one of the franchise’s most successful spinoffs. The series takes place in a crumbling Manhattan, anchored by television’s most complicated duo: Maggie Rhee and Negan Smith. Their traumatic history needs no introduction. Ever since Negan brutally murdered Maggie’s husband, Glenn, the pair have been bound together by grief and revenge. Yet somehow, that explosive tension has become the absolute heartbeat of the show.

Now, heading into season 3, online speculation has hit a fever pitch with wild theories that the series might actually push Maggie and Negan into romantic territory. Predictably, the mere thought of a romance has sparked massive outrage across the fandom, and honestly, fair enough. Personally, I don't believe the showrunners would ever cross that unforgivable line (though I’m still mildly unsettled by that promo clip where she laughs and gently touches his face, but let’s conveniently ignore that for now).

Before the new season kicks off, here are five crucial things to remember about “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” including where the story left off in season 2.

1. Breaking the cycle of revenge

The relationship between Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) has always been defined by the trauma of Negan murdering Maggie’s husband, Glenn (Steven Yeun). For the first two seasons, their story was built around a cycle of anger, betrayal, forced teamwork, and unresolved hatred. However, the season 2 finale completely changed the direction of their relationship.

During the finale, Maggie saw Negan return to his terrifying “Savior” persona while taking down rival gang leader Bruegel (Kim Coates) through psychological warfare, Lucille and a deadly methane trap. Believing Negan had not changed, Maggie attacked him and stabbed him in the back. But as Negan struggled to survive, Maggie realized he wasn’t trying to escape for himself; he was desperately trying to reach Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), the surrogate daughter he had sworn to protect.

When Maggie and Perlie Armstrong (Gaius Charles) found Ginny’s cell, they discovered she had died from her injuries and turned into a walker. Devastated, Negan was forced to put Ginny down himself. Seeing Negan completely break down made Maggie realize that his violent exterior was often a shield for the people he cared about. She understood that killing him would not bring Glenn back or heal her pain, so she finally let go of her need for revenge.

Instead, Maggie helped save Negan’s life by removing the knife and treating his wounds, bringing their long-running feud to an end. No longer forced to work together because of circumstance, Maggie and Negan now share the same goal: building a lasting community in Manhattan in season 3.

2. Hershel’s transformation under the Dama’s control

While Maggie has chosen reconciliation and a path away from violence, her son Hershel (Logan Kim) has moved in the opposite direction. Influenced by The Dama (Lisa Emery), who survived the fire earlier in season 2, Hershel has grown distant from his mother and now stands against her vision of peace.

The Dama intentionally preyed on Hershel’s anger toward Maggie, using his feelings of abandonment and resentment over her years-long focus on Negan to gain his trust. She saw Hershel as someone who could be shaped by her beliefs, having grown up without memories of the old world. Under The Dama’s influence, Hershel came to believe that Maggie sparing Negan was a mistake and a sign that she was too weak to protect their family.

When Maggie revealed in the season 2 finale that she chose to spare Negan in order to end their cycle of violence, Hershel reacted with anger and refused to forgive her. Rejecting his mother’s attempts to bring him home, he chose to stay in New York with The Dama. Heading into season 3, Maggie knows her biggest opponent is being guided by her own son.

3. The new battle for Manhattan and the rise of New Babylon

The balance of power in post-apocalyptic New York City completely changed during the season 2 finale. Throughout the first two seasons, Manhattan was controlled by rival factions, mainly the Burazi, led by The Croat (Željko Ivanek) and influenced by The Dama, and Bruegel’s group. However, when Negan killed Bruegel, one of the island’s major criminal organizations collapsed, creating a power vacuum that was quickly filled by the arrival of the New Babylon Federation.

The Federation launched a large-scale invasion across the Hudson River, sending armed forces into Manhattan to take control of its resources. Their main goal is capturing the island’s methane production facilities, which provide a vital energy source by using harvested walker biomass to power technology.

This invasion forces old enemies to unite. Perlie, who was originally sent by New Babylon to capture Negan, turned against the Federation after witnessing their brutality. He joined Maggie and Negan to help unite Manhattan’s survivors into a resistance force.

4. Seth Hoffman’s new direction and the show’s tone shift

Season 3 marks a major creative shift for “Dead City” under new showrunner Seth Hoffman. A veteran writer and executive producer from the original “The Walking Dead” era, known for episodes like “Too Far Gone” and “No Way Out,” Hoffman brings a new approach to the series.

While the earlier seasons focused on a darker, more claustrophobic story built around captivity, revenge, and constant conflict, Hoffman shifts the tone toward hope, bigger world-building, and dark humor. The story moves beyond simply surviving and instead focuses on rebuilding society and creating a new home within the ruins of Manhattan.

To support this expanded vision, season 3 introduces several new characters who help grow the world:

• Renata (Aimee Garcia): The leader of an independent Manhattan settlement with a complicated past involving The Croat. Her group joins forces with Maggie and Negan to fight against the New Babylon invasion.
• Dr. Luis (Raúl Castillo): Renata’s brother and a skilled doctor who becomes a mentor to Hershel Rhee, encouraging him to follow his family’s medical legacy.
• Dillard (Jimmi Simpson): An eccentric bartender who has survived alone inside a Manhattan tavern. Years of isolation have led him to believe he can communicate with the dead, creating an unusual and comedic friendship with Negan.

5. Beth Greene is (kinda) coming back

Season 3 takes “The Walking Dead” franchise in a new direction with a concept-driven alternate reality episode that explores the emotional journeys of its main characters. Instead of a traditional flashback, the episode imagines a world where the zombie outbreak never happened.

This allows the return of Emily Kinney as Beth Greene, Maggie’s younger sister who died during season 5 of the original series. Set in a peaceful, untouched Central Park, the alternate timeline explores the lives Maggie, Negan, and their families could have had if society had survived.

The episode serves an important emotional purpose, especially for Maggie. Reuniting with Beth (emotionally) gives her a chance to finally confront the grief she has carried for years and find a sense of closure. For the series as a whole, the alternate reality raises an interesting question: without the apocalypse, would Maggie and Negan have become better versions of themselves?

"The Walking Dead: Dead City" season 3 is scheduled to premiere on July 26 on AMC and AMC Plus.

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After a successful U.S. remake and various European adaptations, everyone’s favourite comedic corpses head Down Under as a new couple find themselves harried by a gang of ghouls. Here's how to watch "Ghosts Australia" from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE.

No matter which side of the ocean you’re on, the core concept always remains the same, and here it’s Tamala Shelton’s Kate who gains the ability to see ghosts after a near death experience at her recently inherited family pile (in this case, Ramshead Manor).

Along with partner Sean (Rowan Witt), Kate has big plans for the run-down estate, but these are quickly hampered by the interference of a now visible troop of ghostly residents. While the set-up repeats itself in each version, it's always the ‘non-Breathers’ that set each iteration of “Ghosts” apart, pulled from history specific to each location.

In the case of “Ghost Australia,” we have Eileen (Mandy McElhinney) a 1800s era Irish publican, Gideon (Brent Hill), a former Third Fleet naval officer, Miranda (Ines English), a society darling from the early 1900s, Lindy (Michelle Brasier) a 1980s aerobics instructor, Joon (George Zhao), a Chinese miner killed during the gold rush, and ‘Satan,’ a gruff but sweet biker.

Comedy fans may note that another Britcom successfully translated Stateside had less impact in Oz, with “The Office” recently cancelled after one season, but “Ghosts” promises to hit all the right notes, having already received favourable reviews for its uniquely Aussie take on the franchise.

Read on to find out how to watch "Ghosts Australia" online and from anywhere.

Watch 'Ghosts Australia' for free in the U.K.

Watch 'Ghosts Australia' from abroad

If you’re travelling and find that your usual streaming service is blocked, a VPN (virtual private network) can make your device appear as though it’s back in your home country. That way, you can keep using the subscriptions you already pay for, just as you would on your sofa at home.

We regularly test VPNs, and NordVPN is one of the best all‑round options for streaming thanks to its fast speeds, reliable unblocking, and wide device support. It also comes with a 30‑day money‑back guarantee, so you can see how it works with your setup before fully committing.

Using a VPN is simple.

1. Install the VPN app on the device you’ll watch on. NordVPN is our pick.

2. Connect to a server in your home country. For example, choose a UK server to access BBC iPlayer while abroad.

3. Open your streaming app and play as normal.

How to watch 'Ghosts Australia' in Australia for free

Aussies can catch the full eight episode series totally free via 10 Play.

Viewers Down Under can also watch "Ghosts Australia" on Paramount+, where the season dropped in one go back in November.

Away from home? Download a VPN to connect to your usual streaming service, no matter where you are in the world.

Can I watch 'Ghosts Australia' in the U.S. and Canada?

Unfortunately for viewers in North America, there's no release date set for "Ghosts Australia" in the U.S. and Canada, but we'll be sure to update this page when we know more.

U.K. citizen abroad? You can download a VPN and connect to your usual streaming service.

All you need to know about 'Ghosts Australia'

'Ghosts Australia' trailer

'Ghosts Australia' release date

All eight episodes of "Ghosts Australia" arrived back in November in the show's native country. The series arrives in the U.K. on Saturday, July 25, with North American release dates TBC.

'Ghosts Australia' cast

• Tamala Shelton as Kate
• Rowan Witt as Sean
• Mandy McElhinney as Eileen
• Brent Hill as Gideon
• Ines English as Miranda
• Michelle Brasier as Lindy
• George Zhao as Joon
• Jackson Tozer as 'Satan'

More from Tom's Guide

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• How to watch "The Sentinels"

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

If you thought the first half of the year was busy, brace yourself, because the rest of 2026 is stacked. From massive theatrical blockbusters to late-night TV binges, the calendar between now and December is stacked with projects I’ve been counting down the days for.

In the coming months, we’re getting superhero epics, original sci-fi flicks, and some seriously exciting horror films. Whether it’s iconic comic book heroes clashing on the big screen, terrifying slasher prequels arriving on streaming, or long-awaited returns to dystopian worlds, there seems to be a major release landing almost every month.

To top it all off, the holiday season is set to close out the year with a bang, bringing one of the most anticipated TV reboots in recent memory with “Harry Potter,” alongside some truly beastly horror from genre mastermind Robert Eggers. If your watchlist is looking a little sparse right now, it’s time to clear your schedule and start adding these upcoming movies and shows.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ (July 31)

Starting with a film we don’t have long to wait for: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Following Doctor Strange’s memory-wiping spell at the end of “No Way Home,” the world has completely forgotten Peter Parker exists, and that emotional setup alone has me incredibly intrigued. But what has me most excited is the mystery surrounding Sadie Sink’s character, who fans have theorized could be a young Jean Grey. If that turns out to be true, I might just freak out (in the best way).

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” follows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) several years after the events of “No Way Home,” as he continues protecting New York City as Spider-Man while living a life where no one remembers Peter Parker. After a strange series of crimes begins spreading across the city, Peter is pulled into a dangerous mystery involving a powerful new threat. With his responsibilities as Spider-Man increasing, he must confront a major change that could affect his abilities.

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" hits theaters on July 31

‘The End of Oak Street’ (August 14)

I love it when movies take the leap to be original, and even more so when it’s sci-fi. “The End of Oak Street” is one of my most anticipated movies of the year, and I’m one of those people who still believe it’s connected to the “Cloverfield” franchise. J.J. Abrams is producing the movie through his company, Bad Robot. Abrams famously has a pattern of buying unique, standalone spec scripts and converting them into “Cloverfield” anthology films. Even if it’s not connected, I’m still super hyped.

The Platt family lives a quiet suburban life until a mysterious cosmic event tears their neighborhood from its original location, transporting Oak Street to an unknown world. Led by parents Denise (Anne Hathaway) and Greg (Ewan McGregor), the family must endure a strange new landscape filled with prehistoric dangers, including roaming dinosaurs, while searching for a way to survive and understand what happened to their home.

"The End of Oak Street" hits theaters on August 14

‘Resident Evil’ (September 18)

Another super exciting release is “Resident Evil,” which is based on one of my favorite video games ever. Directed by horror auteur Zach Cregger, the film abandons the previous movie continuities to tell a focused, real-time survival horror story set during the collapse of Raccoon City. Rather than adapting established video game protagonists like Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, the film takes place on the periphery of the iconic 1998 Raccoon City outbreak from an entirely new perspective, which I think is a smart move.

Set during a timeline parallel to the events of "Resident Evil 2," the film follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier making a routine delivery in Raccoon City, but the delivery goes horribly wrong. When a sudden, catastrophic viral outbreak unleashes hordes of infected monsters, the city falls into chaotic collapse. Trapped inside the sprawling disaster zone, Bryan is forced onto a desperate, harrowing foot journey across a frozen, monster-filled landscape.

"Resident Evil" hits theaters on September 18

‘Crystal Lake’ (October 15)

“Crystal Lake” is A24 and Peacock’s long-awaited TV expansion of the “Friday the 13th” universe. Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane has described the 1970s-set project not as a straightforward slasher, but as a blend of a paranoid '70s psychological thriller and character drama. It seems to draw heavy inspiration from classic era-defining cinema (think “The Stepford Wives” meets “Carrie”), tracking how grief and community paranoia rot the town from the inside out.

Set in the 1950s, the story focuses on single mother Pamela Voorhees (Linda Cardellini) struggling with overwhelming grief nearly a year after her young, sickly son, Jason (Callum Vinson), tragically drowns at a local summer camp. When two mysterious strangers arrive in town digging into her past, a dark sequence of events is triggered. Soon, violent incidents begin targeting residents and camp organizers around the lake, and the local community grows increasingly suspicious.

"Crystal Lake" drops on Peacock on October 15

‘Clayface’ (October 23)

“Clayface” brings one of Gotham City's most tragic villains into DC Studios’ main lineup with a visceral, Cronenberg-esque R-rated body horror origin story. Written by horror mastermind Mike Flanagan, this film stands out as one of the most unconventional moves DC Studios has made so far. The newest trailer shows some seriously grotesque physical side effects, like Matt Hagen’s eyelids melting together in a mid-flight airplane bathroom. Yes, it sounds gross, but it also looks like a solid horror flick.

Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is a rising Hollywood actor whose career and face are violently destroyed when a local mob boss leaves him disfigured. Desperate to restore his appearance, Matt agrees to an experimental medical procedure administered by fringe scientist Dr. Caitlin Corr (Naomi Ackie). The treatment successfully repairs his face, but causes unexpected biological side effects. His body mutates into malleable, shapeshifting clay, granting him the ability to manipulate his physical form at will.

"Clayface" hits theaters on October 23

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ (November 20)

“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” brings audiences back to Panem for the fifth big-screen installment in the franchise. The scale and lore depth of this film make it one of the most ambitious entries in the franchise to date. Lionsgate backed it with a record budget exceeding $150 million, matching the massive world-building required for a 48-tribute Quarter Quell. This very much has the paranoia-fueled 1970s psychological thriller aesthetic, and I’m here for it.

Set 24 years before the original trilogy, the prequel centers on a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) during the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. To mark the milestone, the Capitol alters the rules by demanding double the usual number of tributes, forcing 48 teenagers into the arena. Reaped alongside three fellow District 12 tributes — including Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) — Haymitch is torn from his family and girlfriend.

"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" hits theaters on November 20

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ (December 18)

I had to include “Avengers: Doomsday” on this list considering it’s one of the biggest Marvel events in years. This marks Marvel Studios' return to massive, event-level crossovers. Directed by franchise veterans Anthony and Joe Russo and scripted by Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron, the film serves as the penultimate chapter of the Multiverse Saga. The central existential threat facing all reality is Victor von Doom, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU in the heavily accented, ruthless, and complex villainous lead role.

“Avengers: Doomsday” follows major hero factions — including the Earth-616 Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men — across three distinct universes put on a catastrophic collision course. As dangerous multiverse-shattering “incursions” threaten to annihilate their respective worlds, these disparate hero teams must join forces. Together, they converge to stand against Victor von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), a brilliant, magically-armored mastermind wielding immense cosmic and mystic power who seeks to subjugate reality itself.

"Avengers: Doomsday" hits theaters on December 18

‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (December 25)

Season 1 of HBO’s massive decade-long Harry Potter TV series adapts “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” The ambition behind this new adaptation goes far beyond simply re-filming the 2001 movie. With an eight-episode order for season 1, the creative team has the breathing room to deliver the most comprehensive on-screen version of J.K. Rowling’s debut novel to date. The direction leans into the subtle horror and isolation of an 11-year-old boy entering a world that is just as dangerous as it is magical.

On his 11th birthday, mistreated orphan Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin) discovers he possesses magical powers and receives an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Leaving his non-magical life behind, Harry enters a hidden, extraordinary realm alongside new friends Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) and Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton). As he adapts to his studies and investigates mysterious occurrences within the castle, Harry uncovers a secret subterranean vault guarding an ancient, power-granting artifact.

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone" drops on HBO Max on December 18

‘Werwulf’ (December 25)

Can you tell I love horror now that we’ve reached the end of the list? The final pick, “Werwulf,” sees director Robert Eggers turn his maniacal focus to wolf lore. This time, the story is set in 13th-century England around the year 1300, during the absolute tail end of the country’s wild wolf population, and centers on an unnamed, deeply tormented farmer. It seems like the narrative digs deep into medieval superstition, panic surrounding Satanic shape-shifting, and the primal horror of human-to-animal metamorphosis. It’s going to be wild.

A farmer (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) suffers under a curse that violently contorts his body into a monstrous wolf. As brutal nighttime attacks terrorize a remote medieval village, suspicion spreads rapidly throughout the isolated community. The farmer desperately tries to hide his affliction to protect his wife (Lily-Rose Depp) and children from his own savage transformations. Meanwhile, a relentless hunter (Willem Dafoe) arrives in the village determined to track down and slaughter the beast.

"Werwulf" hits theaters on December 25

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"Antwone Fisher" holds a special place in the Denzel Watchathon. Unlike the previous 28 films, this is the first one directed by Denzel Washington himself.

Not that you'd know it just from watching the movie. And I don't mean that as a knock against this biopic. Far from it. Over the course of two hours, Denzel crafts a well-executed, emotionally engaging drama. It does not feel like a first-timer is in the director's chair on this movie.

That's not to say this movie is flawless. For the first 20-30% of the movie, it's unclear why Antwone's story is being told. There's nothing particularly remarkable about him. It's not "Malcolm X," which doesn't need to work hard to convince its viewers that its subject's story is worth telling. We go into that movie knowing who Malcolm is. We don't know who Antwone (Derek Luke) is. Not unless we happened to have already read "Finding Fish," the autobiography this movie is based on.

But when we come out the other side of "Antwone Fisher," it's clear why his story was worth being told. This boy suffered through mundane yet unimaginable horrors. He grew up in an American home, which should be a safe space. Yet he endured untold abuses, both physical and sexual. This movie isn't graphic in its depiction of either, but it's not for the faint of heart.

If you want to watch this movie before you read on, I'm afraid I have some bad news. "Antwone Fisher" isn't currently streaming on any of the best streaming services or the best free streaming services. Instead, you'll need to buy or rent it from Amazon or the digital storefront of your choice.

Who is Antwone Fisher?

As I mentioned, the average person wouldn't know who Antwone Fisher is going into the movie bearing his name. He didn't create the nuclear bomb. He didn't write a lasting pop music hit. He's just a "normal" person. But even normal people can bear stories worth telling. And once you get under the surface, Fisher's story is a remarkable one to tell.

Of course, we have to first get under the surface. And that's where Denzel comes in. He plays Lt. Cmdr. Dr. Jerome Davenport, a psychiatrist to whom Fisher, a U.S. Navy Seaman when we first meet him, has been sent for psychiatric treatment.