Outrageous. Ridiculous. Excessive. It’s fair to use all three words when describing the current state of the “Fast & Furious” franchise. 25 years ago, those adjectives would never be used to describe the first movie in the franchise, “The Fast and the Furious.”

I’ve seen every single movie in the “Fast & Furious” saga, including the spin-off, which relied more on comedy than racing. Considering what the movies have become, I miss the days of tuna sandwiches, 10-second cars, and Race Wars. There is a simplicity about “The Fast and the Furious” that I miss, and I’m hoping “Fast Forever” can recapture what made this once-great franchise so special.

'Point Break' with cars

“The Fast and the Furious” is a movie I hold near and dear to my heart because it introduced me to one of my favorite on-screen tandems: Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Conner. Let’s call it like it is: “The Fast and the Furious” is “Point Break” with street racing. In this comparison, Paul Walker is Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Utah, while Vin Diesel channels Patrick Swayze’s Bodhi, but with more muscles and sleeveless T-shirts.

Officer Brian O’Conner (Walker) is tasked with going undercover to find out the group responsible for hijacking trucks carrying valuable electronics. The cops believe these criminals are street racers, so Brian’s job is to infiltrate the racing community to find the thieves. He starts with Dominic Toretto (Diesel), an alpha male in every sense of the word. Dom is one of the best street racers in L.A., and everyone knows it, including Brian, who spends his days eating tuna fish sandwiches and flirting with Dom’s sister, Mia (Jordana Brewster), at Toretto’s Market & Cafe.

To gain Dom’s respect, Brian enters an illegal street race. It’s one of the most integral scenes in the entire franchise because it establishes everything you need to know about Brian and Dom. Brian is the Scottie Pippen to Dom’s Michael Jordan. Brian is talented in his own right, but when push comes to shove, when it’s winning time, Dom always prevails, which leads to his iconic speech: “It don't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning.”

After the race, Brian saves Dom from getting busted by the cops, which turns out to be the best thing for their relationship. They become brothers by choice, not by blood. Dom is clearly the older brother in this situation because he dials up the monologues and life lessons in the second half of the movie. Dominic “Socrates” Toretto tells Brian his life’s motto: “I live my life a quarter-mile at a time.”

Once the movie gets to Race Wars, “The Fast and the Furious” floors it to the finish line. The highway heist is an exhilarating sequence, highlighted by the veins on Vin Diesel’s head popping out as he reaches out the window to grab Vince. It all culminates with a final quarter-mile race between Brian and Dom, which ends in the latter crashing his car into a truck. With sirens blaring, Brian hands his keys to Bodhi ... I mean Dom and lets him drive away. With that moment, Brian says goodbye to his life as a cop and chooses his new brother over the job.

It was a simpler time in “The Fast and the Furious.” No fate-of-the-world consequences. No thwarting cyberterrorists. Just gorgeous cars, family drama, and a lot of NOS.

The moment the franchise leveled up

Everyone — and by everyone, I mean the franchise’s haters — believes the “Fast & Furious” saga became a juggernaut that churned out massive hits right away. That’s not the case. Diesel, an actor synonymous with this iconic character, opted to do “xXx” instead of the sequel “2 Fast 2 Furious.” Walker sat out the third movie, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” and Diesel only appeared in a cameo role. With all due respect to Christopher Nolan, the less time I spend talking about “Tokyo Drift,” the better.

Diesel and Walker eventually reunited for “Fast & Furious,” which proved there was an appetite for these movies. Then, the entire trajectory of the franchise changed in “Fast Five.” Instead of focusing on smaller, grounded stories, “Fast Five” raised the stakes and transformed into a full-blown action franchise. It’s an international heist movie in which Dom, Brian, and their crew attempt to steal $100 million from a drug lord. I’m not good with money, but I’d say the money inside the vault is worth a little more than some DVD players.

“Fast Five” is when the franchise leaned into the ridiculous as long as it looked cool on-screen. Brian and Dom driving through the streets of Rio de Janeiro with a vault attached to their cars is awesome. It would also never happen in reality, but I’m willing to suspend my disbelief, especially in the fight of the century, where Diesel bests Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The shift to emphasize action set pieces and deprioritize car races paid off, as “Fast Five” became the highest-grossing movie in the franchise at $626 million worldwide. That financial record would be broken by “Fast & Furious 6,” which grossed $788 million worldwide, and then “Furious 7,” the current leader for the franchise’s highest-grossing movie at $1.5 billion.

This three-movie stretch from “Fast Five” through “Furious 7” is when this franchise soared to new heights. It might be best remembered for how it honored Walker, who tragically died in 2013. The ending of “Furious 7” should be studied by film schools when discussing the best ways to say goodbye to a character. It’s so beautiful that I’m willing to look past the fact that Dom has boots on at the beach.

The franchise has lost its way, but it can be fixed

The nail in the coffin for me happened in “F9.” You know what I’m about to say. It’s when Roman and Tej take a modified Pontiac Fiero into space. This is the moment the “Fast & Furious” franchise lost its way. “F9” was a mess, and “Fast X” only made things worse.

Acceptance is the first step to recovery. Diesel has indicated the franchise must return to its grounded roots in “Fast Forever,” the so-called “Fast & Furious” finale. The rest of the cast, including Michelle Rodriguez, also knows the final movie must scale down.

I don’t think “Fast & Furious” can return to hijacking trucks and stealing electronic goods. It can, however, channel the spirit of the first movie when the cars were front and center. It’s time to return to living life one quarter-mile at a time.

Watch the first seven "The Fast and the Furious" movies on Netflix

Most stories about "the cloud" and "strangers on the internet" will make you cringe. But this modest little adult animated series takes the premise and absolutely runs with it. A grieving teenager starts getting messages from an online stranger, only to slowly realize that the stranger is her dead father. That is how "Pantheon" opens, and it might just be the best science-fiction series most people have never heard of.

It aired to little initial fanfare, got pulled from its original streaming home in a round of corporate cost-cutting, and nearly had its second season shelved for good before Netflix picked up both seasons to give it the audience it deserves. The show is created by Craig Silverstein ("Turn: Washington's Spies") and adapted from a collection of short stories by acclaimed sci-fi author Ken Liu. It is animated, but do not mistake it for a kids' cartoon. This is a dead-serious adult drama about grief, consciousness and the end of the world, told across two seasons and 16 episodes with a voice cast that is frankly ridiculous for a series this far under the radar.

If you are ready for an animated sci-fi series to completely blow your mind, keep reading.

What is ‘Pantheon’ about?

"Pantheon" is set a few years in the future, in a world on the threshold of a technology that allows a dying person's mind to be scanned and uploaded to the cloud. The scanning process kills the physical body, but what emerges on the other side is a fully conscious digital copy known as an Uploaded Intelligence (UI).

Maddie (Katie Chang) is a bullied teenager still reeling from her father's death when she begins receiving cryptic messages online. They are coming from David (Daniel Dae Kim), her dad, who was secretly uploaded before he died and is now struggling to reach his family from deep within the network.

That tearful reunion is only the beginning. David turns out to be one of the very first UIs, and his digital existence is tangled in a corporate conspiracy that threatens to ignite a whole new kind of global war. The narrative soon widens to follow others, including Caspian (Paul Dano), a brilliant teenager who slowly discovers his entire life has been an orchestrated experiment, and a computer engineer uploaded entirely against his will.

Naturally, these uploads raise existential questions: What do you owe a digital copy of someone who has technically already died? And if human minds can live forever in the cloud — continuously learning and growing — what happens to those left behind in flesh and bone?

Why I recommend you stream ‘Pantheon’ on Netflix

Almost everyone has wished for five more minutes with someone they lost. "Pantheon" opens by granting that exact wish, but then asks a far more difficult question: Is that extra time actually a gift, or a curse? The bond between Maddie and the digital ghost of her father serves as the emotional core of the series, handled with more tenderness and honesty than most live-action dramas ever manage. It takes a lot for an animated show about cloud computing to bring a viewer to tears, but "Pantheon" achieves it almost instantly.

What truly elevates the series is its refusal to slow down or dumb down its high-concept narrative. Where most sci-fi shows run out of steam after a single season, "Pantheon" continuously escalates its stakes. It remains deeply committed to exploring grief and the perils of unchecked tech without ever sacrificing its relentless pacing. Furthermore, the medium of animation grants it a scope and visual freedom that live action could never afford, giving every scene a grand, larger-than-life presence.

Across its two-season run, "Pantheon" proves itself to be one of the smartest, most emotionally devastating sci-fi stories in years. It is a genuine diamond in the rough, and well worth adding to your watch list.

Stream "Pantheon" on Netflix

I'm not a big fan of the Pixel 11 Pro. As I mentioned in my Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL review, these are not bad phones but it feels as though Google hasn't done enough to help justify their existence. One of the few hardware changes the phones do include is the HiLight LED, which lives on the camera bar.

HiLight is part of the camera flash on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, utilizing a range of colored LED lights. It's essentially a modern day take on the notification light smartphone companies mostly ditched years ago.

Unfortunately, the way HiLight works right now feels like a missed opportunity, but there is potential if Google is willing to put some effort into it.

What HiLight can do

Looking at the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, you'd never know that HiLight was actually there. Though if you are familiar with Pixel phones you may recognize that the flash is totally different, with a smooth solid-colored surface rather than the fresnel-looking lens utilized on the likes of Pixel 10 Pro.

Here's how it works. When you place your phone face down, and whenever the right trigger occurs HiLight will flash one of six colors. Blue is reserved for Google Gemini, but at the moment the HiLight icon can also flash teal, yellow, magenta, purple and white. Unfortunately, the feature is limited in what it can actually do.

The way Google described HiLight, you might have assumed that it would support a bunch of different notification types. I know I did, but that isn't the case. As it stands, HiLight will only flash for two reasons. The light will flash blue whenever you're talking to Google Gemini, but it can also be set up to flash one of the five other colors when your starred contacts are calling you.

At the moment, that is all HiLight can do. Any other kind of notification is completely off limits, and there's no way to set up HiLight to flash up when you get an email, text message or something else entirely.

It's also worth noting that HiLight won't engage if your phone screen is not facing directly down. It doesn't have to be a flat surface, only that your phone screen is pointing towards the ground. In fact, you can test this yourself, because HiLight will actually turn off if you tilt your phone too far in any other direction.

The limitations are disappointing — but it didn't have to be this way

It feels like Google has only done half a job with the way it's rolled out HiLight to the Pixel 11 Pro. The limited functionality means that the one thing that could have become the Pixel 11 Pro's standout feature is nearly pointless for me.

I can't tell you how many times my starred contacts actually bother to call me. Usually they send me a text message, or call me via WhatsApp — which is not compatible with HiLight.

Honestly, it feels like Google hasn't put a lot of effort into making HiLight a feature that people will actually get much benefit from. Everything about it is limited, from the compatibility to the color options.

Google did state that HiLight will be updated with more features at some point in the future, but the only specific detail we've been given is that HiLight will flash when you get messages from favored contacts. We just don't know when that might happen, or what further plans Google has in store for the feature.

App developers have been hard at work trying to crack the system behind HiLight and give users the freedom to utilize the LED however they want. One of them claims to have succeeded, which is crazy considering we're just a few short days out from the phones' official release.

Developers step in

HiLight Studio has garnered attention for its bold claims, promising that users can control the rear-lights colors, and program the lights to activate with an even larger range of apps. I haven't been able to test it for myself, because the setup process is a lot more complicated than simply installing an APK file. This is a system level feature, after all, and it's not one that Google will want you messing with.

In other words, this is for people with patience and technical ability to get everything going. The fact that you need to relaunch the service every time your phone reboots is enough to put me off.

Still, it shows that HiLight is not necessarily limited to the few features Google has graced the Pixel 11 Pro with so far. It's a lot more versatile and potentially a lot more useful than I initially gave it credit for — or it could be.

Bottom line: HiLight could be a lot better than it is

I can see potential in HiLight, and the ability to keep tabs on your notifications without constantly checking your phone screen. In an ideal world you could map different notifications to a veritable rainbow of different colors and use that to determine whether you should actually open up your phone or not.

But in its current state, HiLight is basically a non-starter. It's only compatible with two features, and while I understand why Gemini was chosen I have no idea why Google decided adding support for phone calls was a priority. Actually receiving a phone call is unusual enough that it grabs my attention, I don't need a colorful light to go with it.

HiLight could be something, but it's going to rely on Google actually rolling out a bunch of updates to improve the usefulness of the entire mechanism. But if things stay the way they are, it's just one more phone feature destined for the scrap heap.

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Few superhero franchises have had quite the journey of “X-Men.” From the original 2000 movie that helped usher in the modern superhero era to Hugh Jackman’s emotional farewell in “Logan,” the franchise has delivered some genuinely brilliant highs, as well as a fair few forgettable lows. Across 14 movies, we’ve had time travel, mutant cures, apocalyptic villains, alternate timelines and, of course, plenty of Wolverine. However, the X-Men are far from finished.

Marvel Studios is finally bringing the mutants into the MCU with its new “X-Men” movie, which is set to hit theaters on May 5, 2028. Marvel unveiled its new ensemble at D23, with Sadie Sink set to play Jean Grey alongside Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Samara Weaving as Emma Frost. Adam Driver will also join the cast as the villainous Mister Sinister, with “Thunderbolts” director Jake Schreier at the helm.

With a whole new era of mutants on the horizon, there's never been a better time to look back at the movies that started it all. Here’s how all 14 “X-Men” movies rank, from worst to best.

14. ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ (2009)

It makes sense to put “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” at the bottom, because while Hugh Jackman is still excellent as Logan, the movie does very little with one of Marvel’s most interesting characters. The prequel explores Wolverine’s early life, his relationship with Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) and the Weapon X experiment that bonds adamantium to his skeleton. There is plenty of action, but the story is weighed down by a convoluted plot, particularly questionable interpretations of established characters, and a heavily criticized depiction of Deadpool that sowed frustration among comic book fans. It’s watchable, but compared with what came later, it is easily one of the weakest entries.

Stream on Disney+

13. ‘The New Mutants’ (2020)

“The New Mutants” had a genuinely interesting idea, but unfortunately its troubled production and eventual release worked against it. The movie follows five teenage mutants who are held inside a mysterious institution where they are supposedly being treated for their powers. As their fears begin manifesting as terrifying visions, they realize they may not be there for the reasons they were told. The horror-inspired approach could have given the “X-Men” universe something different, particularly with a cast including Anya Taylor-Joy and Maisie Williams, but the finished movie never reaches its potential. The film ultimately feels too small and underdeveloped to make much of an impact.

Stream on Disney+

12. ‘Dark Phoenix’ (2019)

“Dark Phoenix” had almost everything it needed to be a fitting conclusion to the original “X-Men” saga: a talented cast, an iconic comic-book storyline and years of established history behind Jean Grey. Instead, it became one of the franchise’s biggest disappointments. The story follows Jean (Sophie Turner) after a space mission goes wrong, leaving her with an enormous new power that she struggles to control. Soon, the X-Men must decide whether they can save her or stop her. Unfortunately, the movie was heavily criticized for its rushed storytelling, underdeveloped characters and lack of emotional weight. Plus, news of Disney acquiring Fox made the film feel like a narrative dead end.

Stream on Disney+

11. ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ (2016)

“X-Men: Apocalypse” is a classic example of a superhero movie that tries to go bigger without necessarily becoming better. Set in the 1980s, it introduces Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), an ancient and immensely powerful mutant who awakens after thousands of years and decides that humanity must be destroyed. The movie brings together Professor X (James McAvoy), Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Jean Grey (Turner) and Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), giving the franchise plenty of familiar faces and some impressive action sequences. There are some genuinely fun moments here, particularly with the younger X-Men, but Apocalypse himself never feels as compelling as the movie clearly wants him to be.

Stream on Disney+

10. ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ (2006)

“X-Men: The Last Stand” is the most frustrating movie on this list because there is a genuinely good film buried somewhere inside it. The story tackles two major comic-book ideas at once: the mutant “cure”, which offers mutants the chance to become human, and Jean Grey’s (Famke Janssen) transformation into the powerful Phoenix. The problem is that the movie tries to cram so much into its relatively short runtime that many of its characters and storylines never receive enough room to breathe. It also made some controversial choices with major characters. There is some impressive spectacle here, but the rushed storytelling prevents it from delivering the emotional impact its big moments deserve.

Stream on Disney+

9. ‘The Wolverine’ (2013)

Surprisingly, “The Wolverine” was a major improvement over “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” giving Hugh Jackman a much more thoughtful solo story and introducing Logan to a completely different setting. After the events of “The Last Stand,” Wolverine travels to Japan, where he becomes caught up in a conflict involving yakuza, samurai, an old acquaintance and a powerful industrialist family. More importantly, the film explores Logan’s relationship with his own mortality, giving Jackman more emotional material to work with than the previous “Wolverine” movie. The final act does become a little too dependent on conventional superhero spectacle, but the story makes this a worthwhile adventure.

Stream on Disney+

8. ‘Deadpool 2’ (2018)

Following the enormous success of “Deadpool,” the sequel had the difficult job of proving that Ryan Reynolds’ foul-mouthed mutant could work just as well a second time. Thankfully, “Deadpool 2” largely succeeds. This time, Wade Wilson finds himself protecting a troubled young mutant who becomes the target of Cable (Josh Brolin), a time-travelling soldier from the future. The movie expands the world considerably, introducing characters including Domino (Zazie Beetz) and giving Deadpool his own unlikely team of mutants. It also balances the franchise’s trademark fourth-wall-breaking comedy with a surprisingly emotional story about grief, family and redemption.

Stream on Disney+

7. ‘X-Men’ (2000)

It’s impossible to overstate just how important “X-Men” was. Released in 2000, Bryan Singer’s movie helped demonstrate that superhero films could become genuine mainstream blockbusters, years before the MCU existed. The story introduces audiences to Professor X’s (Patrick Stewart) team of mutants, including Wolverine (Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry), Cyclops (James Marsden) and Jean Grey (Janssen), as they fight Magneto (Ian McKellen) and his Brotherhood while dealing with a world that fears and discriminates against mutants. It may look comparatively simple today, but “X-Men” laid the foundations for the modern superhero movie.

Stream on Disney+

6. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is essentially a celebration of everything that came before it. The movie brings Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool into the MCU properly, while Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine for one final, much-anticipated team-up. The story sees Deadpool recruited by the Time Variance Authority to help save his universe, forcing him to work alongside a version of Wolverine who is very different from the hero audiences remember. Its storyline can occasionally become convoluted, but that is hardly the main attraction. The real appeal is seeing these two characters finally share the screen, alongside a huge number of cameos and references to the wider Fox Marvel universe.

Stream on Disney+

5. ‘Deadpool’ (2016)

“Deadpool” was the movie nobody was quite sure would work, and that uncertainty made its eventual success even more satisfying. Reynolds plays Wade, a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who is diagnosed with cancer before undergoing a brutal experiment that leaves him scarred but gives him accelerated healing abilities. Now calling himself Deadpool, he sets out to find the man responsible. The film completely embraced the character’s R-rated personality rather than trying to fit him into the more conventional superhero formula. It proved audiences were ready for superhero movies that were violent, filthy and completely unapologetic.

Stream on Disney+

4. ‘X2’ (2003)

If “X-Men” proved that superhero movies could work, “X2” proved that sequels could be even better. The movie sees the X-Men facing a new threat when Colonel William Stryker (Brian Cox) launches an attack on Xavier’s school and begins hunting mutants. Forced to work alongside Magneto and his Brotherhood, the X-Men must put aside their differences while uncovering Stryker’s disturbing connection to Wolverine and Professor X. It gives far more characters meaningful material while also raising the emotional and political stakes of the original. Beneath all the spectacle, it still understands that the X-Men are fundamentally a story about prejudice and belonging.

Stream on Disney+

3. ‘X-Men: First Class’ (2011)

After the disappointment of “The Last Stand” and “Origins,” “X-Men: First Class” was exactly the reset the franchise needed. Rather than continuing with the original cast, the movie travels back to the 1960s to explore the origins of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr before they became Professor X and Magneto. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender give the franchise a fresh energy, while their developing friendship provides the emotional centre of the story. The film also cleverly weaves the young mutants into the Cuban Missile Crisis, giving the superhero story a real historical backdrop. More importantly, it reminded audiences why this franchise was worth saving.

Stream on Disney+

2. ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014)

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” somehow manages to do what should have been almost impossible: bring together the original cast and the younger “First Class” cast while telling a coherent time-travel story. In a dystopian future where mutant-hunting Sentinels have nearly wiped out mutants, Wolverine is sent back to 1973 to prevent a pivotal event that could change the course of history. The movie gives Jackman’s Wolverine a central role while allowing younger versions of Xavier, Magneto and Mystique to drive the past storyline. Ambitious, emotional and packed with spectacular moments, it is arguably the franchise at its most confident.

Stream on Disney+

1. ‘Logan’ (2017)

“Logan” is the rare superhero movie that feels like something much bigger than a superhero movie. Set in a bleak near future, the film follows an aging and increasingly broken Wolverine as he cares for an ailing Professor X. His life changes when he encounters Laura, a young mutant with abilities remarkably similar to his own, forcing him back into a fight he no longer wants. James Mangold strips away much of the traditional superhero gloss and instead delivers a violent, emotional road movie about family, regret and letting go. Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart both deliver career-best work, while Dafne Keen makes Laura an unforgettable addition to the “X-Men” universe.

Stream on Disney+

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August is barreling on, and the best streaming services are bursting with a fresh crop of new films and TV series for us to binge on our couches. Prime Video regularly updates its already extensive streaming library every month, and August 2026 was no exception.

Given how many new shows have popped up, I'm rounding up the best of the bunch to help you skip the scrolling and get to streaming. Of everything added, there's only three worth adding to your watchlist: Alan Ritchson's high-octane return in "Reacher" season 4, the messy YA drama "Sterling Point" that everyone is talking about, and the crossover episode you never expected, "The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls."

So without further ado, here are the three best new to Prime Video shows to binge this weekend.

'Reacher' season 4

What it's about: Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is back in Philadelphia, where he witnesses a woman (Karen Kwong-Chip), kill herself on a subway car. He's hounded by police, federal agents and the CIA, who all think she slipped him something before she died. Our action hero gets drawn into a conspiracy that goes all the way to the very top. Season 4 adapts Lee Child’s "Gone Tomorrow," sending Reacher on a dangerous search for answers, and along the way, he’s forced to confront his guilt over the woman's fate that set everything in motion.

Why you should watch it: This crime thriller delivers in all the ways you'd expect — and much of the credit goes to the perfectly cast Alan Ritchson, who kills it yet again.

Stream "Reacher" on Prime Video now

'Sterling Point'

What it's about: "Sterling Point" is a grounded YA mystery drama starring Ella Rubin as Annie Jacobson, a 17-year-old who inherits a remote island in Canada from her estranged grandfather. She secretly travels to the mysterious property to figure out why their grandfather chose her and learn more about her family history. While she's digging up long-buried secrets, she gets caught in a love triangle and discovers that a girl named Ramona (Amélie Hoeferle) is already staying there and appears to have a connection to her own family.

Why you should watch it: "Sterling Point" debuted with a strong 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been getting plenty of buzz on social media. It's a messy coming-of-age teen drama that's fun to lose yourself — and at only eight episodes, it's perfect for a weekend binge.

Watch "Sterling Point" on Prime Video now

'The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls'

What it's about: The famous survivalist Bear Grylls takes Jesus and his followers on devilishly tough adventures in the deserts of Utah. Or rather, he takes the actors who play them in "The Chosen," the multi-season series about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, along with showrunner Dallas Jenkins as they discuss faith and nature's trials and tribulations.

Why you should watch it: I'm not sure who exactly was clamoring for Bear Grylls content, but this seems made in a lab for men with religious trauma.

Stream "The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls" on Prime Video now

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Paramount+ is regularly adding new shows to binge-watch. This weekend is no exception. The streaming service releases new episodes of hit shows every week. Sometimes, even entire seasons at once. It added over 80 new movies and shows on August 1 alone. It even has some live sporting events, including all major events from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

This weekend, let's kick things off with a new season of television. "Average Joe" season 2 dropped its first two episodes on Paramount+ this week, and if you haven't seen this show about a plumber on the run from the Russian mob, now is the perfect time to catch up. It's also the perfect time to catch up on "The Challenge: Cutthroat" season 42, which is just four episodes into its quest to make someone $500,000 richer.

Finally, "MobLand" season 1 isn't technically new to Paramount+. However, the first three episodes are newly free to watch on the streaming service. No login required. With seaosn 2 coming next month, it's the perfect time to check out this Tom Hardy-led crime drama.

Here are the three new to Paramount+ shows you need to binge-watch this weekend. If you need more recommendations, check out everything new on Paramount+ in August 2026 for more options.

'Average Joe' season 2

Genre: Dark comedy-drama fiction series

What's it about? This series stars Deon Cole as Joe. He's an ordinary plumber who, it turns out, had an extraordinary father. That father also stole $10 million from the Russian mob, and now they're hunting Joe. In season 2, that hunt leads Joe to Africa to learn more about his father's past.

Why you should watch it: I hadn't heard of this show before seeing the season 2 trailer. It's one of the BET+ originals that came over to Paramount+ when the two streaming services merged, but this is the first one to really catch my eye. Catch up on season 1 now, then check out the two-episode premiere that arrived earlier this week.

Stream the two-episode premiere of "Average Joe" season 2 on Paramount+ now

'The Challenge: Cutthroat' season 42

Genre: Reality competition series

What's it about? Fans of "The Challenge" will be excited to see the return of this classic format. In "Cutthroat," 24 veterans and rookies are dropping into Thailand and are split into three teams. To win $500,000, the entire team has to cross the finish line. But the team captains are the ones who decide how the money gets divided, and nothing is stopping them from keeping it all.

Why you should watch it: "The Challenge" is arguably closer to a live sporting event than a reality show at this point. The competitors are more athletic; the line between this show and "Survivor" has seriously begun to blur. However, CBS's flagship competition show still cannot match "The Challenge" in terms of hookups and messy drama.

Stream the first four episodes of "The Challenge: Cutthroat" season 42 on Paramount+ now

'MobLand' season 1

Genre: Crime drama series

What's it about? "MobLand" is set around the Harrigan crime family. Led by patriarch Conrad (Pierce Brosnan), matriarch Maeve (Helen Mirren) and second son Kevin (Paddy Considine), the show largely focuses on Harry (Tom Hardy), the family's fixer. He cleans up all their messes, including an imminent gang war with the Stevensons after Richie Stevenson's (Geoff Bell) son, Tommy (Felix Edwards), goes missing after being last seen with Conrad's grandson, Eddie (Anson Boon).

Why you should watch it: "MobLand" season 1 ended with a stunning finale, despite some ups and downs getting there. The first three episodes are free to stream right now, and season 2 is coming September 18. Now is the perfect time for a binge-watch to catch up.

Stream all 10 episodes of "The Challenge: Cutthroat" season 42 on Paramount+ now (first three episodes free)

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I’ve always had a soft spot for survival horror games. Whether I’m wandering through the terrifying corridors of Resident Evil, getting lost in the psychological nightmare of Silent Hill, or trying to make sense of the supernatural weirdness of Alan Wake, horror games have always been some of my favorites. So when I was kindly given the opportunity to play The Sinking City 2, I was very intrigued by a game that feels like it combines elements of all three. And, as you can probably imagine, the horror fan inside of me is very happy.

Developed by Ukrainian studio Frogwares, The Sinking City 2 is the sequel to 2019’s The Sinking City, but it takes the series in a much more survival-horror-focused direction. Set in a flooded, otherworldly version of 1920s Arkham, you play as occult adventurer Calvin Rafferty, who finds himself battling grotesque Lovecraftian creatures while investigating a mysterious supernatural threat. Unlike its detective-heavy predecessor, the sequel puts combat, exploration, resource management and horror front and center.

Frogwares has also built the sequel in Unreal Engine 5, essentially using it as an opportunity to reinvent the series and move beyond its traditional detective-adventure roots. I’ve spent a few hours with the game now, and honestly, I’m already intrigued. Here are my thoughts on The Sinking City 2.

The Sinking City 2 is a horror fan’s playground

To be frank, I haven’t played the first The Sinking City, but after doing some research, I found that playing the original isn’t necessary to enjoy the sequel, as The Sinking City 2 tells a standalone story.

That meant going into it, I had no idea what to expect, but that only made the experience more interesting. The Sinking City 2 spends its opening minutes establishing the story, with Calvin Rafferty sitting at the bedside of Faye Bennett after a ritual the pair performed goes horribly wrong. Faye has been left in a mysterious, coma-like state, while Calvin is determined to find a way to bring her back.

From there, you’re quickly introduced to the game’s survival-horror mechanics as you start your first mission to collect an important item, with exploration, scavenging and puzzles along the way. But having played my fair share of survival horror games like Resident Evil, I found The Sinking City 2’s challenges to be fairly easy.

However, the game makes up for that with its combat system, especially during your first encounter with the Slither, one of the game’s grotesque creatures.

What I appreciate about the game is that it has four combat difficulty levels, depending on how challenging you want your experience to be during enemy encounters and boss fights.

It’s important to note that Frogwares deliberately made investigation optional, allowing it to support the survival-horror experience rather than getting in the way of it. Hence why combat is more of a central focus, and it’s very similar to Resident Evil, particularly when it comes to the limited ammunition.

You’ll need to search drawers and rooms for supplies, while dedicated safe rooms give you somewhere to store items and save your progress. You have to conserve ammunition, target enemy weak spots and decide whether a fight is even worth taking. Keep in mind that the gunplay can sometimes feel a little clunky, especially when you’re trying to dodge at the same time.

But, in a way, the lack of crispness in the gameplay gives the game some charm. You’re navigating a rundown city crawling with reanimated corpses thanks to supernatural worms, and with the protagonist lacking any real fighting skills while desperately trying to save his lover, the jankiness almost makes sense.

What does become a little frustrating, though, are the stiff animations during particularly important cutscenes, as well as the fact that some environments can look very similar, with the game occasionally reusing assets and textures.

Despite some of the game’s technical roughness, The Sinking City 2 doesn’t fail to be visually pleasing. The flooded city is dark, oppressive and convincingly abandoned, with the fog, rain, water and muted color palette helping to create that constant feeling of unease. Even places like the flooded Miskatonic University, ruined hospital and fish market feel like real locations that existed before the city was submerged.

The rough edges are noticeable, but the underlying atmosphere and art direction are genuinely good, and you have to give the game serious credit for that.

The Sinking City 2 isn’t polished, but there’s something special here

Of course, for a Lovecraftian world to really come to life, the story has to be good enough to make you care about its characters and the goal the protagonist is trying to achieve. The Sinking City 2 has a very enjoyable narrative, with Calvin’s motivation to save Faye giving the game a clear emotional hook.

Rather than getting bogged down in an open-world investigation, the sequel tells a tighter, more linear story across different locations in Arkham. Along the way, there are plenty of strange twists, dark discoveries and increasingly bizarre situations that kept me wanting to see what would happen next.

Plus, we get to see more of their relationship through flashbacks and interactions, with their romance proving surprisingly effective. There’s a flashback early on when Calvin enters the library in search of something, only to find Faye deep in occult research, and the two share a flirty encounter.

When the flashback ends, we’re suddenly back in the same spot, only this time Faye is gone and we’re left in the darkness. These flashbacks add some much-needed warmth to an otherwise gruesome and dark story, and I found it particularly funny that the protagonist channels a lot of Indiana Jones’ energy.

It’s also hard to talk about The Sinking City 2 without acknowledging what Frogwares went through to actually get the game made. The Ukrainian studio was already in pre-production when Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, forcing development to stop. The team eventually resumed work while dealing with power cuts, air raids and developers being called into service. That makes finally seeing The Sinking City 2 in players’ hands feel like a genuine achievement, especially considering this is Frogwares’ first proper attempt at survival horror.

There’s also more here than simply finishing the main story and moving on. The Sinking City 2 offers New Game Plus, with additional unlockables including infinite ammunition, concept art and costumes, while the developers have packed Arkham with secrets and lore to discover. After only a few hours, I obviously haven’t experienced everything it has to offer, but that’s perhaps what has surprised me most. I went into The Sinking City 2 expecting a creepy horror game to dip into, and instead I’ve found myself genuinely wanting to see what horrors are waiting around the next corner.

The Sinking City 2 is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

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With "Inside Man," we're now 33 movies into the Denzel Watchathon. This marks the fourth team-up between Denzel and director Spike Lee, and having seen the previous three (as well as "Highest 2 Lowest," their fifth and most recent movie together), there's no mistaking this movie for anything other than a Spike Lee joint.

This heist thriller is incredibly well-made. It looks polished. It features a great Denzel performance. There's a constant score throughout the near 129-minute runtime, for better and worse. And, like many of Spike's films, it runs just a bit too long.

That's probably the biggest knock against this movie. For as twisted as the movie is, by the end, it's a straightforward story. So it's a bit frustrating that it takes so long for us to get to the end of it.

If I had another fault for this movie, though, it'd be that it fails to use its cast to its fullest. That's not to say it uses its cast poorly; it doesn't. But there are a few people I'd have loved to have seen more from. Specifically, I'd have loved to have gotten more time with Jodie Foster, and a few more interactions between Denzel and Clive Owen, who is ostensibly the bad guy in this crime drama.

If you want to watch this movie before you read on, I have some good news. "Inside Man" is currently streaming on Netflix, one of the best streaming services out there.

This might be Denzel's most star-studded movie

Denzel is no slouch when it comes to acting alongside great actors and actresses. He's acted with some of the best. Just last week, I covered "The Manchurian Candidate," where he's acting alongside Meryl Streep, Jeffrey Wright and Liev Schreiber

Yet, "Inside Man" might be the most loaded cast he's worked with yet. A heist thriller set in New York — it's a Spike Lee movie; where else could it be? It stars Denzel as NYPD Detective Keith Frazier, and he's tasked with bringing in Dalton Russell, played by Clive Owen. Dalton has taken a bunch of hostages at a bank he's robbing that belongs to Arthur Case, played by Christopher Plummer.

Case has a safe-deposit box at his bank, and he doesn't want anyone to see what's inside it. So he hires Madeleine White to get into the bank and make sure the contents stay secure or get disappeared. She's played by none other than Jodie Foster.

So far, that's Denzel, a two-time Oscar winner; Owen, an Oscar-nominated actor; Plummer, an Oscar-winning actor; and Foster, a two-time Oscar winner herself. I haven't even mentioned Chiwetel Ejiofor, an Oscar-nominated Olivier Award winner who plays Denzel's partner at the NYPD. Nor have I mentioned Willem Dafoe, a four-time Oscar nominee who plays a police captain assisting in hostage negotiations at the bank.

In short? That's an insane cast. Literally every single one an Oscar winner or nominee. Most movies dream of getting one Oscar nominee on their call sheet; this movie has six.

Now, the problem is you can't have all these people in every scene at once. Someone is going to have a lesser part or risk being underutilized.

Unfortunately, that happens to pretty much everyone I just mentioned. Denzel and Owen get used a fair amount, and Denzel probably gets the right amount of screen time. But we have to wait a while for these two to play their game of cat-and-mouse face-to-face. I'd have liked a bit more of them acting against each other in scenes.

Foster is another one I'd have loved to have seen more from. Plummer is used just the right amount for his character, but Foster is a fixer. She could easily have a very active role in this movie, constantly side-by-side with Denzel. But she flits in and out of scenes, sometimes taking off large chunks of time.

One person who at least gets to maximize their time on screen is Ejiofor. Sure, I'd have liked to have seen more of him — I loved him in "Backrooms" earlier this year. But while he's not on the screen a ton, when he is, he gets to cook. Unfortunately, we can't say the same for Dafoe, who is in a role so secondary that probably most competent actors could have handled it.

Verdict: 'Inside Man' is yet another must-watch team-up between Denzel and Spike Lee

Despite this loaded cast not being used quite to its full potential, let me assure you: this is a good movie. It's part "Ocean's Eleven," part "The Usual Suspects." If you make it to the end of the movie, you'll also see it's got a hint of "Munich" to it as well, though I don't want to spoil why.

So go check out "Inside Man" for yourself and watch not just a Denzel movie, not just a Denzel movie with Spike Lee directing, but a movie that features probably the most talented cast either Denzel or Spike has worked with in their careers. Right now, it's streaming on Netflix, the one streaming service you almost certainly have, so there's no excuse not to give it a watch.

Stream "Inside Man" on Netflix now

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When readers, acquaintances and friends ask me to put over a decade of TV knowledge to good use and to help them shop for a new screen, I'm often given one of three budgets: $500, $1,000 and $2,000.

Yes, there are plenty of TVs cheaper than $500. There's also an entire classification of ultra-premium sets — including many of the best OLED TVs — above $2,000. However, setting aside the super-cheap sets and the luxurious, top-tier TVs, you can still find most of the best TVs within the $500 to $2,000 mark.

With this in mind, let's run through a little thought experiment: You come to me and ask me for help buying a TV within these three budgets, and I lay down some hip, up-to-date advice about which models I think make the most sense as a living room upgrade.

$500: Hisense U6SF Pro (55 inches)

$500 is one of the most popular price points for shoppers embarking on a budget-oriented search for a new TV. It's just above the ultra-affordable, $300 benchmark while not tipping into the lower end of the mid-range tier.

As such, I'm looking for a TV whose performance is also just above the ultra-affordable class. While $200 or $300 will net you a perfectly cromulent screen, I've found that folks shopping with a $500 expect a bit more when it comes to picture quality and features — and rightfully so.

If someone cut me a check for five hundred bucks and told me to come back with the best deal right now, I'd pick the Hisense U6SF Pro. We're still in the process of evaluating this set, but having seen the test results and the TV itself in action, I'm confident that it's among the best options at this price point.

As the "Pro" designation suggests, this TV is built around Mini-LED backlighting, which is great to have on hand for $500. With Mini-LEDs in tow, the U6SF Pro offers a peak brightness between 1,200 and 1,400 nits (depending on content and picture mode). That means it’s plenty bright enough for both daytime viewing and movie nights.

Unlike most super-affordable, entry-level sets, the U6SF Pro comes with a couple of HDMI 2.1 inputs (out of four total) and supports 4K gaming at 120Hz (and up to 144Hz with VRR). Just note: You'll have to settle for 55 inches to get under the $500 mark.

$1,000: TCL QM7L (55 inches)

Another number people throw at me when asking for TV-shopping advice is $1,000. If you're comfortable spending up to a grand on a living room upgrade right now, your list of options expands greatly.

If you slide me a sack of a thousand bucks and hire me to buy an all-around fantastic TV for your home, I'm coming back with the 55-inch TCL QM7L, one of the year's best mid-range TVs.

The QM7L is one of just a handful of TVs to sport TCL's brand-new, Super Quantum Dot (SQD) display technology. SQD tech enhances range of color on a Mini-LED display to, in some cases, levels we used to only measure on quantum dot-enhanced OLED TVs.

What I love about the QM7L is that, according to our lab tests, it delivers roughly the same color volume we measured on the flagship-level TCL QM8L. The latter is significantly brighter in HDR, but the QM7L is no slouch in the brightness department, either.

The 55-inch version of the QM7L is on sale for just a hair under $1,000. For my money, it's one of the most value-forward TVs of the year.

$2,000: Sony Bravia 7 II (65 inches)

For $2,000, you're opening up the door to some remarkable-looking, cinematic pictures. As your theoretical personal shopper, I might have some further questions for you about how and when you might use your new $2,000 TV, but the Sony Bravia 7 II will be one of the top picks for the job nine times out of ten.

Unlike the TCL QM7L, which taps TCL's proprietary SQD technology for brighter, bolder color, the Bravia 7 II leverages Sony's True RGB technology — the brand's spin on RGB LED backlighting.

While flagship-level RGB LED TVs often crest the $3,000-mark, Sony's step-down model is significantly cheaper. However, in many ways, it punches well above its relatively reasonable price tag. It's not quite as bright as Sony's top-tier TV for 2026 (the Bravia 9 II), but it offers a comparable range of color and a similar set of features as the higher-end model.

Look, I have to be honest: For $2,000, it was tempting to come back from the store with a brand-new OLED TV like the 65-inch LG C6 OLED. But while there are multiple mid-range OLED TVs worth buying this year, a TV with the bright, punchy performance profile of the Bravia 7 II is a safer bet for a wider swath of shoppers.

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Every month, Prime Video — one of the best streaming services around — updates its already extensive library with fresh new movies and TV series for your binging pleasure. August 2026 has been no different, and with that influx of new streaming options comes one of the most harrowing dramas of the past few years.

"Women Talking" is a Sarah Polley-directed film starring some of the industry’s finest talents (Oscar winners Jessie Buckley and Frances McDormand among them) and centered on an increasingly timely discussion of female agency, bodily autonomy and systemic abuse.

If the 2022 indie sounds like a heavy watch, it’s because it is; but it’s also a vital and riveting one, thanks to that stellar all-star cast and a screenplay that nabbed Polley a deserved Academy Award. It didn’t make a ton of money at the box office (in fact, it only grossed $9 million against a $20 million budget, making it a veritable box office bomb). Still, if you weren’t one of the few who saw it in theaters, you can now catch up on the deeply moving drama on Prime Video.

What is 'Women Talking' about?

Adapted from Miriam Toews's acclaimed 2018 novel of the same name, “Women Talking” centers on the tragic story of a group of Mennonite women — played by Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Sheila McCarthy, Frances McDormand, among others — who are being abused by the men in their close-knit, ultra-conservative community.

Much of the action of the film revolves around, as the title suggests, discussions between the women in the days leading up to the jail release of the accused men, as the mothers and daughters try to reconcile the harsh realities of the systemic abuse with their devout faith, and vote on their future: will they continue on as usual, remain in the community but fight back against the injustice, or leave their world altogether?

Why I recommend you stream 'Women Talking'

Though woefully underseen by the public, Polley’s gripping drama did manage to score a coveted Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards, no doubt, in part, for the way the film masterfully retains its tension and intensity despite very little physical action and balances intellectual complexities with emotional depth.

The raw lead performances, too, are reason enough to watch, with Jessie Buckley tapping into understandably seething fury over the hypocrisy and brutality of the community’s men, and Rooney Mara conversely offering up a quieter but no less devastating turn as a mother to be weighing what’s best for her and her child.

"While 'Women Talking' sometimes forsakes entertaining drama in favor of simply getting its points across, its message is valuable-and effectively delivered,” reads the critical consensus over on Rotten Tomatoes, where the film has a solid 90% approval rating.

Stream "Women Talking" on Prime Video now

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Netflix is constantly adding new movies to its library every month, but while it gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. Because the streaming service also removes dozens of movies at the end of each month, clearing space in its library to make way for the arrivals.

On September 1, Netflix is set to wave goodbye to 79 movies. That’s an overwhelming number of movies that will vanish from the Netflix catalog in just over a week's time. Watching all of them before they're removed is basically impossible. So, I’m picking out a selection of must-watch favorites. These movies should be at the very top of your Netflix watchlist.

There’s no time to lose here. The five picks below will be removed from Netflix on Tuesday, September 1. Put your weekend plans on hold, and stream these films as soon as possible.

5 movies to watch on Netflix before September 1

‘Creed’ (2014)

Netflix added the complete “Rocky” franchise in June, alongside the sequel/reboot “Creed” trilogy. Unfortunately, these movies have barely stuck around for a full 12 rounds as they’re already being removed at the start of September. Picking just one to watch before then is a tall order, but I’m going for 2014’s “Creed.” Yes, even ahead of the original “Rocky” movie.

Don’t get me wrong, Sylvester Stallone’s first bout as the titular Rocky Balboa is a certified classic, but “Creed” offers up the one-two punch of Stallone and Michael B. Jordan, which is hard to beat. “Creed” is a legacy sequel done pretty much perfectly. It sees an older Rocky mentoring the son of his former rival Apollo Creed, Adonis “Donnie” Johnson (Jordan). Their bond becomes more than coach/boxer as each learns life lessons from the other. It’s a triumphant continuation of a legendary franchise, and the two sequels ain’t bad either.

Watch "Creed" on Netflix until September 1

‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

Speaking of certified classics, historical dramas don’t come much more acclaimed than Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.” This emotionally devastating epic will floor you, and its reputation speaks for itself. The winner of seven Academy Awards, including the Oscar for Best Picture, it might just be Spielberg’s magnum opus. Plus, the stunning black-and-white presentation, with a few moments of vivid color, is iconic. This epic drama is harrowing but essential.

Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) is a German businessman operating a factory in Krakow, Poland. Employing primarily Jewish workers, when the Nazi Party begins its mass extermination of Jews, Schindler becomes an unlikely protector and turns his factory into a refuge for those escaping persecution. “Schindler’s List” is a masterpiece blending the horrors of the Holocaust with a hopefully story of humanitarian sacrifice. If you watch only one movie being removed from Netflix at the end of the month, it should be this one.

Watch "Schindler’s List" on Netflix until September 1

‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (2006)

One of the 2000s best road trip movies is “Little Miss Sunshine.” It’s got all the ingredients for farcical comedy, and most importantly, at its center is a dysfunctional family that is an absolute hoot. It wonderfully reflects on the importance of family, essentially proving that while families can be messy and melodramatic, they’re the people you can rely on most. It celebrated its 20th anniversary last month, making now a great time to give it a watch.

The movie centers on the Hoover family, who all squeeze into a battered VW camper van to travel from New Mexico to California so their youngest (Abigail Breslin) can compete in a child beauty pageant. Once on the road, the family’s quirks threaten to derail the trip, and the drive becomes quite the journey. This screwball comedy also stars Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, and the late Alan Arkin. It’s a charming shot of sunshine.

Watch "Little Miss Sunshine" on Netflix until September 1

‘Searching’ (2018)

Narratively speaking, “Searching” is a fairly generic mystery thriller. It follows a desperate father, played by John Cho, frantically searching for clues about the sudden disappearance of his 16-year-old daughter, Margot (Michelle La). Naturally, along the way, he discovers Margot had a whole hidden life, and he maybe didn’t know his child as well as he thought. To assist in the matter, he gets some help from a police detective, Vick (Debra Messing).

That all sounds like very standard stuff for the genre, but what elevates “Searching” is that it’s a screenlife movie. Unfamiliar with the term? It means almost the whole thriller is presented on a computer screen. So, you physically watch as Cho’s David Kim attempts to break into Margot’s email account or scans her social media pages for information. This novel approach to storytelling keeps “Searching” compelling throughout, and if you enjoy it, there’s also a sequel, “Missing” (streaming on Hulu), which I think is an even better flick.

Watch "Searching" on Netflix until September 1

‘Zombieland’ (2009)

“Zombieland” is far from a brainless post-apocalyptic movie. This end-of-the-world comedy is a riot that packs a strong cast — Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin — and thrives with a highly humorous tone. The world might have gone to hell, but “Zombieland” still finds joy in a United States overrun with zombies. It swerved from the seriousness of zombie apocalypse media at the time and instead focused on pure fun.

Set a couple of months after a zombie outbreak has left the U.S. in ruins, Jesse Eisenberg plays a timid survivor named Columbus, who follows a careful set of rules to avoid becoming a zombie snack. He teams up with a gruff wanderer named Tallahassee (Harrelson) and two sisters, Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin), and the foursome head off on a cross-country journey to find sanctuary and locate the last ever Twinkie.

Watch "Zombieland" on Netflix until September 1

Every movie leaving Netflix on September 1

• 21 Bridges (2019)
• Abducted At an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie (2024)
• Abducted on Prom Night (2023)
• Airport (1970)
• Airport ’77 (1977)
• Airport 1975 (1974)
• Almost Christmas (2016)
• American Graffiti (1973)
• Bad News Bears (2005)
• Bee Movie (2007)
• Burn After Reading (2008)
• Crashing (2016)
• Creed (2015)
• Creed II (2018)
• Creed III (2023)
• Den of Thieves (2018)
• Desperado (1995)
• Devil on Campus: The Larry Ray Story (2024)
• Don’t Breathe (2016)
• Dracula: Untold (2014)
• Dumb and Dumber To (2014)
• El Dorado (2000)
• Fallen (1998)
• Fast & Feel Love (2022)
• Goosebumps (2015)
• Gridiron Gang (2006)
• Home (2015)
• Hotel Mumbai (2018)
• House on Haunted Hill (1999)
• I Can Only Imagine (2018)
• Jennifer’s Body (2009)
• K-Pax (2001)
• Leatherheads (2008)
• Legion (2010)
• Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
• Matilda (1996)
• Miracle (2004)
• Muriel’s Wedding (1994)
• Non-Stop (2014)
• Passengers (2016)
• Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 (2015)
• Pitch Black (2000)
• Rocky (1976)
• Rocky II (1979)
• Rocky III (1982)
• Rocky IV (1985)
• Rocky V (1990)
• Rocky Balboa (2006)
• Rookie of the Year (1993)
• Rudy (1993)
• Schindler’s List (1993)
• Scooby-Doo (2002)
• Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
• Searching (2018)
• Sniper Legacy (2014)
• Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers (1992)
• The Big Lebowski (1998)
• The Breakfast Club (1985)
• The Boss (2016)
• The Captive (2014)
• The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
• The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
• The Four Seasons (1981)
• The Girl on the Train (2016)
• The Good Son (1993)
• The Green Knight (2021)
• The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992)
• The Hurricane (1999)
• The Land Before Time (1988)
• The Road to El Dorado (2000)
• The Swan Princess (1994)
• The Wedding Date (2005)
• Trick ‘r Treat (2008)
• Trainwreck (2015)
• Toro (2016)
• Waterworld (1995)
• Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
• Zombieland (2009)
• Zombieland Double Tap (2019)

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To keep things feeling fresh and interesting, the top streaming services regularly revamp their libraries each month, so there's always something new and exciting to click "Play" on. And Netflix is no exception: August 2026 has seen a lot of exciting additions join the streamer's already extensive movie selection, meaning that there's plenty to keep you entertained until Monday rolls around yet again.

However, the very sprawl of that streaming library can make it difficult to settle on which movie to watch next. That's where Tom's Guide comes in: We've done the dirty work and sifted through the latest titles to round up three films that are perfect for a weekend watch.

That includes a delightfully bizarre buddy comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe, a sweet queer teen romance coming out of Brazil, and a harrowing sequel documentary about aviation giant Boeing. Without further ado, here are the three Netflix movies you should watch this weekend.

'Swiss Army Man'

If you haven't delved into Daniel Radcliffe's filmography past Harry Potter and Weird Al, this is the film to watch: Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan in their feature directorial debuts, this 2016 surrealist comedy sees the former child star play a washed-up corpse who gets dragged around a deserted island "Weekend at Bernie's"-style by a suicidal man named Hank (Paul Dano).

Together, the unlikely duo set out to find civilization and over the course of their journey, Radcliffe's character displays his unique superhuman abilities (including talking from beyond the grave and farting his way across the ocean), while Hank helps the deceased remember exactly what it means to be alive.

Stream "Swiss Army Man" on Netflix now

'Here the Whole Time'

Based on Vitor Martins' 2017 bestselling novel of the same name, this Brazilian coming-of-age romantic drama stars Miguel Lallo as Felipe, a gay teenager dealing with body image issues and bullying at school.

The youth is looking forward to spending a quiet summer far away from the halls of his high school alongside his artsy mother Rita (Débora Falabella)—that is, until mom informs him that Caio (Diego Lira), their neighbor and Felipe's longtime childhood crush, will be spending a few weeks with them while his parents are away.

What follows is a warm and heartwarming watch that deals with everything from body dysmorphia to teenage insecurity to young love with tenderness, authenticity and care—think of it as a Brazilian "Heartstopper"!

Stream "Here the Whole Time" on Netflix now

'Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing'

A follow-up to 2022's "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing," this investigative Netflix doc from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rory Kennedy picks up after the mysterious and highly publicized death of John Barnett, a former Boeing employee-turned- whistleblower known for his extensive safety and quality reports on the aviation giant.

With alarming testimonies from fellow American whistleblowers, surviving members of Boeing crash victims and more, the 90-minute documentary uncovers startling new revelations about cost-cutting initiatives and troubling cover-ups at the aircraft manufacturer.

Stream "Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing" on Netflix now

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Summer is winding down, but Prime Video is only heating up with great new movies to watch. So far in August, the streamer added over 60 new movies to its platform, which is enough to make our good ol' friend decision paralysis rear its ugly head once more. To help you skip the scrolling, I've done the hard work for you, combing through all the new releases and highlighting the best of the bunch.

Only a few new releases on Prime Video this week, but they run the gamut genre-wise. "Blue Beetle" is a bright spot of the now-retired DC Extended Universe, a family-focused superhero movie that snags on your heart. "Is God Is" is a poignant revenge thriller that's stylish as hell with an all-Black cast and Black writer/director. And while it doesn't entirely still the landing, the comedy fantasy "Good Fortune" starring Keanu Reeves and Aziz Ansari is good for a laugh this weekend.

For even more streaming recommendations, check out everything new on Prime Video in August. So without further ado, let's dive into the best new movies on Prime Video to add to your watchlist.

'Is God Is' (2026)

The vibe: Southern Gothic FAFO

"Is God Is" hits painfully close to home to any of us who grew up with angry men, and that catharsis is all the more reason to watch this brutal and stylish revenge thriller this weekend. *Stepping up on my soap box* Art should make you feel things! That's the whole dang point, y'all!

Based on Harris' award-winning stage play, "Is God Is" follows Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson), twin sisters left scarred but not broken after their father (Sterling K. Brown) lit their mother (Vivica A. Fox) on fire right in front of them. After a childhood spent jumping from one foster home to another, they receive a letter from their estranged mother. From her deathbed, she asks them for one last favor: to kill the man who hurt them, which kicks off an emotional "Kill Bill"-style quest for closure and revenge.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Watch "Is God Is" on Prime Video now

'Good Fortune' (2025)

The vibe: Keanu Reeves as a bumbling angel, what's not to love?

Audiences slept on Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogan's R-rated fantasy comedy in theaters, but since it hit streaming earlier this year, it's been validating seeing "Good Fortune" finally getting its flowers. Written and directed by Aziz Ansari, it stars Keanu Reeves in a rare comedic turn as Gabriel, a guardian angel who, despite being well-meaning, is really, really bad at his job.

He's already on thin ice with his supervisor (Sandra Oh), but throws himself into his work nonetheless, determined to make a difference in the life of a struggling gig worker named Arj (Ansari). To convince Arj that more money = more problems, Gabriel orchestrates a "Trading Places" style swap with a wealthy tech bro (Seth Rogen). The problem is, now that Arj knows how the other half lives, he's not interested in going back anytime soon.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%
Watch "Good Fortune" on Prime Video now

'Blue Beetle' (2023)

The vibe: The best bad superhero movie

For all the DCEU's problems, it did have some endearing spin-offs, "The Flash" not included. "Birds of Prey" is one of my favorite superhero movies to date, the first "Shazam!" was alright, and "Blue Beetle" is one my friends and I still talk about with a lot of fondness. It stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, a recent college grad who returns to his hometown with the hopes of snagging a high-paying job to give his family a better life.

All that goes out the window when he stumbles on an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab. A sentient weapon, the Scarab chooses him to be its symbiotic host (a la "Venom"), giving him with a near-indestructible exoskeleton armor with extraordinary and, more importantly, unpredictable powers. As he grows into his newfound superhero identity, his close-knit family reluctantly accepts his destiny and offers support. All the while, the unscrupulous CEO of a company after the Scarab's powers (Susan Sarandon) schemes to take it back.

Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Watch "Blue Beetle" on Prime Video now

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Hulu is a great streaming service if you're looking for new shows to binge this weekend. It features a deep library of series from a range of Disney-owned networks, including FX, ABC and 20th Television. It also has tons of original hit shows that you don't want to miss. As per usual, this week, I've put together a list of three newly added shows perfect for adding to your weekend watchlist.

First up is "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," which is back for season 18. Once you're done catching up with the two-episode premiere (and the other 17 seasons), make sure to check out "Furious." This serial killer crime drama is one of the summer's surprise hits, and you don't want to miss out. Finally, for those who love a good outfit as much as a good episode, "Project Runway" season 22 is in full swing, hunting for the next great designers.

Here are three new to Hulu shows you need to binge-watch this weekend, and why you need to watch them. For more recommendations, check out the full list of everything new to Hulu and Disney+ in August 2026.

'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' season 18

Genre: Situational comedy series

What's it about? Charlie, Mac, Dee and Dennis (Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson and Glenn Howerton) are back for another season and at least another round at Paddy's Pub. In season 18, they're heading to the Renaissance Faire, trying non-alcoholic beer and even getting in nine innings of baseball. Plus, it looks like Frank (Danny DeVito) is getting married, though it's no guarantee that everyone will show up to the altar in one piece.

Why you should watch it: If you've watched any of the past 17 seasons of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," you probably already know if you like this show or not. But if you're on the fence, don't be. Nearly two decades later, this show remains an absolute riot. Start with season 18 or season 1; you'll be laughing either way.

Stream the two-episode premiere of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" season 18 on Hulu now

'Furious'

Genre: Crime drama series

What's it about? "Furious" stars Emmy Rossum as FBI agent Alice Black. As a former homicide detective, she's familiar with dead bodies. But a serial killer is a whole different beast. Now that she's working for the Feds, she's on the hunt for a serial killer (Lola Petticrew), who is really a sex trafficking survivor on a quest for vigilante justice. That detail might be enough to stop Alice from bringing her in when it's time to make the arrest.

Why you should watch it: This show has been a big hit for Hulu, seemingly out of nowhere. It's currently an impressive 98% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences seem nearly as enthused. This might be the show of the summer, and it's not too late to catch up before the season finale.

Stream the first six episodes of "Furious" on Hulu now

'Project Runway' season 22

Genre: Reality fashion competition series

What's it about? "Project Runway" is a reality show that likely needs no introduction. Its goal is simple: find the best new designers out there. This season, the iconic series pits a show-record 22 aspiring designers against each other to see who is runway-worthy. In an added twist, a former "Project Runway" competitor is returning for another shot at glory this season.

Why you should watch it: If you like competition shows, this is one of the best. And there are just six contestants. Catch up now on the challenges we've already gotten this season, like designing a dress for the red carpet at the premiere of "The Devil Wears Prada 2."

Stream the first seven episodes of "Project Runway" season 22 on Hulu now

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I’ve reviewed dozens of the best tablets over the years, and the one thing they almost always have in common is less-than-ideal speaker quality. While the best iPads tend to produce great sound, their speakers can’t compete even with built-in TV speakers. Perhaps that's why Lenovo decided to slap a giant speaker on its Tab Plus Gen 2 to buck this trend.

I’m currently testing the Tab Plus Gen 2 and will have a full review for you soon. But I wanted to write a dedicated piece on the tablet’s sound since it’s so darn impressive. Whether it’s ear-scorching heavy metal or your favorite podcast, everything sounds fantastic on this tablet thanks to its enormous JBL speaker and its various sound settings.

If you’re like me and are generally disappointed by tablet speakers, then the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 will be literal music to your ears. Let me tell you why.

Speaker tech

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 features a JBL 9-Unit Pro speaker system, tuned by Dolby Atmos. That 9 isn’t superfluous, as it’s exactly how many speakers this thing packs.

To be specific, this includes four tweeters, three woofers, and two passive radiators. The latter two allow the speaker to produce truly deep bass, while the tweeters handle higher-frequency sounds. Combined, they deliver exceptional audio quality for a tablet.

My initial experience

I decided to go into the deep end right from the start by firing up Amon Amarth’s “We Rule the Waves” to see how the speakers handled melodic death metal at max volume. While the bass was punchy and the overall sound was room-filling, I wasn’t impressed by the thin midrange. This is a demanding genre even for a good speaker system, so I initially chalked it up to that.

Next, I fired up Lion’s “Transformers” from the legendary (and childhood trauma-inducing) 1986 film. This song sounded better than the Amon Amarth track since everything came through evenly and punchy. 80s songs also aren’t nearly as compressed as modern songs, which also helps.

After that, I watched an episode of the The Comics Pals on YouTube and was equally stunned by how natural the dialogue sounded. All the panelists came through clearly, even if some had better microphones than others. I also liked how well the speaker handled the dialogue and music in the latest Avengers: Doomsday trailer, making everything sound appropriately cinematic.

I was already impressed by the out-of-the-box sound experience, but then I realized you could select different sound profiles within settings. This is when I went from impressed to having my mind (or my ears) completely blown.

Optimized sound

The Dolby Atmos sub-menu is where you can get the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 to sound its absolute best. There are three presets: Dynamic, which identifies the content and automatically adjusts for the best sound; Movie, which provides surround sound and clearer dialogue; and Music, which delivers detailed audio so every note and beat sounds punchy. Music also has its own presets: Detailed, Balanced, and Warm, along with a manual equalizer.

Listening to the aforementioned songs with the Music preset enabled makes a world of difference, as everything from the highs and mids to the lows packs an appropriate amount of power and bass.

For Amon Amarth specifically, the Warm preset in Music helps the guttural vocals stand out more. The Transformers track sounded fantastic and made me even more stoked to see the 40th-anniversary screening next month!

As you’d expect, Movie mode is perfect for movies, TV shows, and trailers. For instance, I felt like I was in the theater when I fired up the Doomsday trailer again. Dialogue-focused videos also sound fantastic in Movie mode, though I found the sound was a tad richer and fuller in Music mode.

I didn’t mess around too much with the equalizer settings, as I’m no audio engineer. But I like that this option exists for the true audiophiles out there. While the Dynamic preset is decent enough, its mid-range is too thin to my liking. The Movie and Music presets are the best bet for nearly all the content you’ll be engaging with on this tablet.

Music to my ears

If you’re looking for a tablet with phenomenal speaker quality, you can’t do much better than the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2. While that giant speaker looks somewhat awkward and makes the slate heavy to hold, it excels at what it's designed for. The out-of-the-box sound is pretty impressive, but it can sound way better with some minor fiddling.

There’s more to discuss about this entertainment-focused Android tablet, such as its display quality, performance, battery life, and more, so stay tuned for that. But if you found what I said interesting, then don’t hesitate to check out this tablet, especially since it’s pretty affordable at $299. Trust me, your ears will thank you!

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Jason Statham is a remarkably reliable and consistent action star, but he has to do more than just show up for a movie to be successful. Filmmakers need to know how to utilize Statham to his greatest potential, or at least how to get out of his way to let him do what he does best. I may not have loved Statham’s previous 2026 action movie, “Shelter,” but director Ric Roman Waugh understood exactly how to work with Statham, providing him with the right mix of action set pieces and moments of downtime.

I can’t say the same for “Mutiny” director Jean-François Richet, who holds Statham back for far too much of the movie’s brief running time. The sporadic action sequences are solid but unremarkable, and they aren’t quite enough to make up for the stretches of dull exposition in between. Richet also directed 2023’s Gerard Butler hit “Plane,” and “Mutiny” is similarly generic and poorly paced, without the benefit of the buddy dynamic between Butler and Mike Colter in “Plane.”

Statham fans may find a few bright spots, but everyone else can just rewatch his many superior action movies at home.

‘Mutiny’ rushes through its basic thriller plot

Statham doesn’t need a lot of complicated back story for his man-of-action characters, but “Mutiny” is notably awkward in its attempts to establish the personal relationships of Statham’s Cole Reed before he’s thrust into peril. After an opening flash-forward featuring a sudden car crash, “Mutiny” steps back to introduce Cole as the bodyguard for a Thai shipping mogul (Ramon Tikaram) who’s about to sell the company he’s owned for decades.

Statham can bring emotional weight to certain roles, but there’s no pathos to the quick glimpses of Cole mourning his late father while scrolling through old photos on a tablet. Likewise, the brotherly affection between Cole and his boss feels forced, and it’s not long before the rich industrialist is murdered, with Cole framed as the culprit. To the movie’s credit, it doesn’t waste any time in putting Cole on track to clear his name, and the bulk of the story takes place on one of the company’s cargo vessels, where Cole believes he can locate the real killer.

That involves uncovering a human trafficking operation and teaming up with American Navy veteran Angie Ellis (Annabelle Wallis), the only crew member aboard the ship who isn’t part of the conspiracy. The details, which encompass a shady corporate rival and Cole’s boss’ adult failson, are sketchy and unimportant, but that doesn’t stop Richet and screenwriters Lindsay Michel and J.P. Davis from staging numerous scenes of characters delivering exposition to each other when they should be trading blows instead.

The action in ‘Mutiny’ is brief but intense

After the shootout that takes his boss’ life, Cole has to bide his time for a while before taking on more bad guys, and there are long stretches of “Mutiny” in which Cole and Angie are just skulking around the ship, trying to evade their attackers. When the action arrives, it can be brutal and exciting, especially in Cole’s ingenious use of a padlock in one early fight scene, but it’s often over within a few minutes. As in “Plane,” Richet seems reluctant to stage wall-to-wall action, but he doesn’t have anything interesting to fill the rest of the time.

Statham and Wallis have minimal chemistry, although she acquits herself decently enough when Angie has to engage in some combat of her own. The human trafficking plot is perfunctory and underwhelming, in what has become a modern action-movie cliché. Recent martial-arts sensation “The Furious” used essentially the same plot device, and while it wasn’t any more interesting in that movie, at least the filmmakers offered far more dynamic and frequent fight scenes to distract from the uninspired storytelling.

“Mutiny” also frequently cuts away to an American Navy vessel that has received Angie’s distress signal, with Adrian Lester struggling to find anything compelling in his role as a Navy commander who stands around and explains the plot and character motivations. The prospect of the Navy invading the cargo ship never amounts to anything, and their function is essentially irrelevant.

As the ship’s captain and the coordinator of the human trafficking operation, Roland Møller snarls and snaps at his underlings, but he’s no match for Statham.

Verdict: ‘Mutiny’ is lower-tier Statham

Statham is so steely and determined that it’s pretty much impossible for him to give a bad performance within his specifically defined range, and his presence makes “Mutiny” watchable. That’s the best I can say for an entirely disposable movie that will join the likes of “Wild Card” or “Parker” among Statham action films that people struggle to remember.

The good news is that viewers only have a few months to wait before a newer, hopefully better Statham action vehicle comes along with “The Beekeeper 2.”

“Mutiny” opens Aug. 21 in theaters

Paramount+ is a great streaming service if you're building a weekend movie marathon. It adds dozens of movies to the platform each month. It just added over 80 new movies and shows on August 1. Many of these are beloved classics or more modern hits. A few times a month, you also get brand-new movies from Paramount Skydance Studios.

This week, I'm keeping things horror, sci-fi and (for a change of pace) sci-fi horror. That's because "Passenger" debuts on Paramount+ this week, making it a must-watch for those who missed it in theaters. Once you're done with that new movie, check out a modern classic: "Blade Runner 2049." Finally, last week I recommended the found-footage monster movie, "Cloverfield." So this week I'm recommending its 2016 follow-up, "10 Cloverfield Lane."

Here are the three new to Paramount+ movies that you need to be streaming this weekend. If you need more recommendations, check out our full guide to everything new on Paramount+ in August 2026.

'Passenger' (2026)

Genre: Supernatural horror movie

What's it about? "Passenger" stars Lou Llobell as Maddie. She's living the van life with her fiancee, Tyler (Jacob Scipio), but one night they see a man crash his car, killed by an unseen force while trying to get free. They learn this force is a figure known as the "Passenger," and because they stopped to see the crash, they are now likely to be haunted next.

Why you need to watch it: This movie got mixed reviews according to Rotten Tomatoes, but it has a seriously creepy trailer. If you're a horror fan with Paramount+, I'd risk the poor reviews and check it out for yourself this weekend.

Watch "Passenger" on Paramount+ now

'Blade Runner 2049' (2017)

Genre: Science fiction movie

What's it about? "Blade Runner 2049" takes place thirty years after its legendary prequel. The story is set around LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling). He's a Blade Runner, which means he's also a replicant, aka a bioengineered humanoid. His job is to hunt down rogue replicants, but when he finds Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), it opens up a conspiracy with massive implications for this futuristic world.

Why you should watch it: "Blade Runner 2049" is every bit the classic the original "Blade Runner" was. It's also right up there with Denis Villeneuve's other sci-fi masterpieces: "Arrival" and the two "Dune" movies.

Watch "Blade Runner 2049" on Paramount+ now

'10 Cloverfield Lane' (2016)

Genre: Sci-fi horror movie

What's it about: This isn't really a sequel. It's more accurately a companion piece to "Cloverfield." It stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Michelle, a young woman who wakes up in an underground bunker following a car crash. There, she discovers two men (John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr.) who, to her shock, insist that the Earth's surface is no longer inhabitable.

Why you should watch it: There are just three people in this movie. It's almost entirely set in a bunker. And yet, you never feel like it needs more. You're far too engaged. This is a definite must-watch this weekend..

Watch "10 Cloverfield Lane" on Paramount+ now

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Hulu is an excellent choice for building your next weekend movie marathon. The streaming service regularly adds both originals and classics to its library. Plus, because it's owned by Disney, it's the home for new releases from several Disney-owned studios. It even has deals with some other studios to get new releases before any other service, whether they're produced by Disney or not.

This weekend, I've got two must-watch movies, and a third that's worth checking out if you have the time. "All of Us Strangers" is a stunning romance movie starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal with a fantastical twist. Once you're left reeling from that film, check out "The Christophers," a new Steven Soderbergh movie anchored around great performances from Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel. Finally, wrap up your weekend movie marathon with "Greedy People," a 2024 crime comedy film starring "The Odyssey" star Himesh Patel.

So, here are the three new to Hulu movies you need to stream this weekend. For more recommendations, check out the full list of everything new to Hulu and Disney+ in August 2026.

'All of Us Strangers' (2023)

Genre: Romantic fantasy movie

What's it about? "All of Us Strangers" stars Andrew Scott as a lonely writer who is still grappling with the childhood loss of his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell). But he starts to explore that trauma as he grows close to Harry (Paul Mescal), a mysterious neighbor he meets in a chance encounter.

Why you should watch it: This movie ends on a twist you might not see coming. But the real selling point of this movie is the lead performance of Scott, and to a lesser extent, Mescal. Both are excellent, and Scott was considered snubbed by the Academy when he didn't get an Oscar nomination. Make time for this movie this weekend.

Watch "All of Us Strangers" on Hulu starting August 22

'The Christophers' (2026)

Genre: Black comedy movie

What's it about? Lori (Michaela Coel) is an art restorer and former forger, but Barnaby and Sallie Sklar (James Corden and Jessica Gunning) want to change that last part. They've hired her to pose as a prospective assistant for their father Julian (Ian McKellen), a famous artist, so that she can finish his eight incomplete pieces without him knowing. Then, once he dies, the kids will magically "discover" the missing works and become quite rich while they're at it.

Why you need to watch it: This movie got rave reviews from nearly everyone who saw it. Like with "All of Us Strangers," "The Christophers" is all about its two leads. McKellen and Coel are worth the price of admission, and this might be the best movie from 2026 you haven't seen yet this year.

Watch "The Christophers" on Hulu starting August 22

'Violent Ends' (2025)

Genre: Crime comedy movie

What's it about? "Greedy People" tells five intertwined stories set in the sleepy town of Providence, SC. These misadventures are all caused by the characters' greed, and they create a domino effect of retaliatory murders and chaos.

Why you need to watch it: Based on the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, "Greedy People" is a mixed bag. The cast is excellent, and the performances shine because of it. But the result of this messy web of murders leaves something to be desired. Still, if you're looking for a newly added movie on Hulu to watch, this one is worth checking out; just make sure you watch it after the first two on this list.

Watch "Greedy People" on Hulu now

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Every week, I comb through the new additions to Netflix to pick out the latest and greatest thriller movies on the world’s biggest streaming service. The genre is a personal favorite of mine, and it’s clear that many of my fellow Netflix subscribers love a great thriller flick, too.

This week, there’s a handful of solid options, including a stunning noir mystery from the director of “Seven” and “Fight Club,” and there’s also a sci-fi horror-thriller that sounds stupid but is actually a critical darling with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. And if you want a quick watch, there’s a pick that runs for a very short 80 minutes, great for watching after a busy day.

Let’s dive into the three Netflix thriller movies you should stream this week. Add these to your watchlist if you need a jolt of excitement.

3 new to Netflix thrillers to watch this week

‘Lazareth’ (2024)

“Lazareth” might not be a critically acclaimed thriller like the other two picks on this list, but if you’re looking for a quick watch, it runs just over 80 minutes, which will be a big selling point to some viewers. There’s an increasing demand for shorter movies in our attention-span-challenged society. Netflix has even created a whole category for “short ass movies,” and “Lazareth” offers a quick shot of excitement without any padding.

After the death of their parents, sisters Imogen (Katie Douglas) and Maeve (Sarah Pidgeon) are adopted by their aunt, Lee (Ashley Judd), and raised in a remote cabin. With a deadly pandemic laying waste to the world beyond the woods, the sisters grow up in isolation, following Lee’s instructions to avoid contact with outsiders. But when the sisters find an injured man, they begin to question Lee’s claims, and the family dynamic unravels.

Watch "Lazareth" on Netflix now

‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2011)

David Fincher, the filmmaker behind genre classics like “Seven,” “Fight Club,” “Gone Girl,” and more, adapts Stieg Larsson’s best-selling novel of the same name, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” On paper, that sounds like the perfect pairing of director and source material, and it proves to be exactly that. This neo-noir mystery thriller is a masterpiece. I’d even argue it’s the rare American remake that surpasses the foreign-language original.

Starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, a disgraced journalist (Craig) is hired by a wealthy tycoon (Christopher Plummer) to solve a mystery that has haunted him for 40 years: the sudden disappearance of his niece. The industrialist is convinced his niece was killed by a member of his family and is desperate for answers. To assist, the journalist hires a skilled but troubled hacker (Mara), and the two uncover some dark family secrets.

Watch "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on Netflix now

‘M3GAN’ (2023)

The horror and thriller genres mix together well, and “M3GAN” is an example of a movie that combines a few shlocky scares with some solid tension-building. You might think it looks utterly stupid from the trailer, and you’d have a point, but fortunately, the creatives involved clearly understood what sort of movie they were making and leaned into the absurdity. This is a self-aware sci-fi horror-thriller with plenty of comedy.

The M3GAN in question is a lifelike doll (voiced by Jenna Davis), specifically programmed to be a child’s best friend. Its creator, Gemma (Allison Williams), is a brilliant roboticist who has just become the unexpected guardian of her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). When Gemma gives Cady a prototype M3GAN, the two quickly develop a close bond, but there are several flaws in the A.I.’s code, and this doll will go to extreme lengths to keep Cady safe and happy.

Watch "M3GAN" on Netflix starting August 24

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I’m a sucker for a terrible movie on cable. I’m not sure if there’s a better feeling than sinking into your couch on a Sunday afternoon and flipping through the channels to find a mediocre movie on TNT or FX. This feeling is why I refuse to cut the cord — at least until I can’t afford it anymore.

“Snakes on a Plane” is a bad movie, but it’s not a typical bad movie. I like watching “Snakes on a Plane” because it's unapologetically ridiculous and wickedly entertaining. It’s a “so bad it’s good” movie. It’s not going to win any Oscars, and it shouldn’t. It’s not going to be in someone’s four favorites on Letterboxd.

However, it is a movie I love to revisit for its laughs and charm. Plus, there’s no better time to watch it than this month, as "Snakes on a Plane" celebrates its 20th anniversary.

A simple yet insane premise

I imagine the pitch for “Snakes on a Plane” lasted no more than 30 seconds.

Writer: “I want to make a movie with snakes on a plane.”
Studio: “That’s it?"
Writer: “They’re poisonous snakes.” Studio: “Done. What’s the title?”
Writer: “Snakes on a Plane.”
Studio: “Here’s millions of dollars.”

It’s the easiest high-concept pitch to understand. The title explains everything you need to know. It’s a perfect title, which makes it all the more confusing that New Line Cinema wanted to change the title to “Pacific Flight 121.” You can thank Samuel L. Jackson for keeping the “Snakes on a Plane” title because he threatened to quit if they stuck with “Pacific Flight 121.”

There is a reason the snakes are on a plane, something I completely forgot when I sat down to rewatch the movie to write this article. While out on his dirt bike in Hawaii, Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips) witnesses gangster Eddie Kim (Byron Lawson) murder a prosecutor. Kim sends his men to kill Sean, but FBI agent Neville Flynn (Jackson) intervenes and saves him.

Sean agrees to testify at the trial against Kim, so Flynn agrees to escort him on a 747 flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles. When Kim gets word of the plan, he has his goons smuggle a crate of poisonous snakes into the plane's cargo hold. If that wasn’t dangerous enough, the passengers’ leis are sprayed with a special pheromone to make the snakes more aggressive and violent.

Did we need the FBI subplot for this movie? Absolutely not. This is a 106-minute movie about poisonous snakes on a plane, and it takes over 30 minutes for these slithery creatures to start wreaking havoc on the passengers and crew. 30 minutes! You could’ve set up the premise in less than 10 minutes.

Ridiculous is an understatement

I’m not sure if the word “ridiculous” does “Snakes on a Plane” justice. What is beyond ridiculous? Is it absurd, preposterous, ludicrous, or all of the above? You catch my drift, though. Once the snakes come out of hiding in the cabin, the movie flies into the left lane on the highway and never presses the brake again. Then again, I don’t want “Snakes on a Plane” to live in reality. The more unrealistic the scene, the better.

To explain how ridiculous the movie is, I’m going to spotlight the five most absurd moments in “Snakes on a Plane,” in descending order, from ridiculous to absolutely bonkers.

No. 5 is when Elsa Pataky sucks snake venom out of a boy’s arm after swishing olive oil in her mouth. I’m unfamiliar with snakebites, so I always believed you could suck certain snake venom out with your mouth. It was a solution used in medieval times. I’m not one to give medical advice, but it probably shouldn’t be attempted today. Pataky is married to Chris Hemsworth, so I’ll suspend my disbelief for Thor’s wife.

No. 4 is a tie between the mile-high couple (with Taylor Kitsch playing the male) and the man taking a pee break. Stealing a page from a horror playbook, the movie kills the sexually promiscuous people first. I audibly laughed at the man who went to pee, unbuttoned his pants, and said, “How’s my big boy?” before a snake came through the toilet to kill him. It’s a 10/10 scene with no notes from me.

No. 3 is the moment when the flight attendants, played by Julianna Margulies and Sunny Mabrey, ask for the doctor and locate his seat. The camera pans to reveal the dead doctor lying in his seat with a snake slithering out of his mouth. Does it get any more cinematic than that?

No. 2 is when Flynn shoots the cabin windows open, and the snakes get sucked out of the plane into the sky. During the pandemonium, a snake gets wrapped around a woman’s neck. Thankfully, a professional kickboxer grabs the snake with his bare hands (!) and throws it out the window (!!). Somehow, I draw the line there and not the fact that the entire scene is preposterous, and every single person on the plane would likely die.

No. 1 is when Troy, played by Kenan Thompson, lands the plane. When in doubt, let the man with zero flying experience in the real world pull off an emergency landing because he has more than 2,000 hours on a flight simulator. This was a win for the gamers. Unrealistic, sure, but it did allow Thompson to give an A+ intro for Flynn, “my brother from another mother, the biggest pimp that I know, Superfly Agent Flynn.”

God bless this dialogue

The real reason “Snakes on a Plane” remains charming to this day is the dialogue. I would love to sit down with screenwriters John Heffernan and Sebastian Gutierrez and discuss the film’s one-liners. The movie is not a comedy, but its use of punchlines is hilarious.

Here are some favorites:

- When Flynn learns the snakes are aggressive because of the pheromones, he goes, “Well, that’s good news. Snakes on crack.”

- After Troy lands the plane, Flynn screams, “All praises to the PlayStation.”

- When Ken throws a snake in a microwave, he says, “Who’s your daddy, bi—?”

- When Rick the pilot gets injured, he says, “You’d be surprised at what a man can do with one hand.”

Obviously, I’m saving the best line for last. Before Flynn decides to shoot the plane’s windows, he says, “Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherf—ing snakes on this motherf—ing plane.” To think, this iconic line almost never happened due to the studio wanting a PG-13 rating. Thankfully, Jackson fought to curse in this scene, so they added it during reshoots.

Audiences need to embrace the “so bad it’s good” movie again. Although maybe it’s not a bad movie after all, considering it has a 69% on Rotten Tomatoes. We need more “Snakes on a Plane” in this ecosystem. Here’s to someone making “Lions on a train.”

Watch "Snakes on a Plane" with purchase on Prime Video or Apple.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Googlebooks, since these new high-end devices are expected to compete with the best MacBooks and best Windows laptops. But if you’re tired of waiting for the new hardware to launch, there’s a way to see what’s in store.

And how do you do that? By plugging any of the more recent Pixel phones, like the Pixel 11 Pro, into a monitor and trying Android 17’s beta desktop mode. It’s pretty similar to the Googlebook experiences and leaks we’ve seen so far. So while the experience likely won't be the same, you basically have a Googlebook in your pocket right now.

Android 17 desktop mode with a skin

From everything we know about the devices so far, Googlebooks will be powered by Android. Reading past the AI hype and the fancy features like Magic Pointer, leaked images show the underlying experience looks a lot like the Android 17 desktop.

Of course, there are a few custom layers and touches that we have yet to see in action. Overall, it doesn’t seem too different from anything you can’t already try today.

The basics from Android 17 are there

I plugged my Pixel 9 Pro XL into a monitor in our test lab and chose the “Desktop” option for display mirroring. The similarities between the leaked Googlebook experience were noticeable right away.

On my Pixel in desktop mode, I have the taskbar on the bottom for pinning apps, as well as a button to access the apps. It seems, though, that for Googlebook, Google has removed Android’s multitasking buttons from the right side of the screen, which isn’t too surprising, since the UI is likely optimized for keyboard and mouse.

More interestingly, apps open and surface in a similar windowed experience in both Android 17’s desktop mode and the leaked Googlebook interface. You get an app window with a title bar, and options to resize and arrange. To access apps, you get the same centered-facing app launcher that the Android 17 desktop mode has.

In apps like Gmail, you even get the foldable-friendly two-pane layout. You even have the same. So clearly, Google has been putting thought into this behind the scenes and right under our noses.

But some things are missing

Of course, Google will not just roll out the Android 17 desktop experience to everyone and call it a Googlebook. There are a lot of things missing right now from the Android 17 desktop experience that I look forward to trying on a Googlebook.

Based on leaks, it seems you’ll be able to pin apps to the desktop, customize the OS colors, assign corner shortcuts, and much more. Notifications also seem to work differently, with a dedicated notifications drawer, similar to Samsung’s DeX.

That could help Googlebook feel more like a full-fledged desktop operating system rather than simply Android running on a bigger screen, like Android 17’s desktop mode does today.

I'm excited for Googlebook

Android 17’s desktop mode definitely reveals the foundation of Googlebook, and I'm excited.

Google’s upcoming hardware in September will likely add the polish and desktop-specific features that we’re not seeing in Android 17’s desktop mode today. With features like folders on the desktop, this can turn it into a true Windows and macOS competitor backed by Android. In the meantime, I’ll keep using the Googlebook in my pocket.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Android vs. iPhone debate is different from what it was a decade ago
• Best Android apps — free and paid
• Best Android games

Given that the foldable iPhone is expected to cost anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500, there is some legitimate debate going on right now as to whether it will really be worth the premium. And at least based on the reports and rumors thus far, the so-called iPhone Ultra could have some serious drawbacks compared to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

People shopping for a foldable phone compared to a traditional flagship slab are accustomed to making trade-offs. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series doesn’t have IP68 dust resistance, a telephoto camera or an S Pen like the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The question is whether Apple is making the right trade-offs with the iPhone Ultra. Here’s what will likely be missing on the foldable iPhone — and my “bummer score” on whether it’s a big deal.

No telephoto lens (Bummer score: 8/10)

The iPhone Ultra will reportedly feature dual 48MP rear cameras: a main wide lens and an ultrawide. However, Apple is expected to skip a telephoto lens, which means you won’t get a long optical zoom as you will on the iPhone 18 Pro Max (tipped for 6x optical zoom).

In other words, you’ll have to rely on cropping from the main camera or digital zoom if you want to get closer to your subject. For example, the Galaxy Fold 8 also lacks a telephoto and features a max digital zoom of just 10x. Based on all of the design leaks, this omission would not be a surprise at all but would still be a very big bummer for a $2,000+ phone.

No Face ID (Bummer score: 7/10)

Face ID has been the standard way to unlock your phone since the iPhone X way back in 2017. But it looks like Apple simply won’t have the room to cram a TrueDepth sensor and the other necessary tech to make Face ID happen on the iPhone Ultra.

This is a big bummer because with Face ID you don’t even have to think about unlocking your phone — even in the dark. It just works. You’ll likely unlock the iPhone Ultra with Touch ID instead, and Apple has done a remarkable job perfecting this technology in the iPhone line and now the iPad and Mac. But fingerprints sensors are by their very nature more finicky than face recognition.

No dust resistance (Bummer score: 6/10)

It’s one of the most notable weaknesses of the Galaxy Fold 8, so it’s just as appropriate to mention here. The iPhone Ultra is expected to have a durability rating of IP48 or IPX8.

This would mean that the iPhone Ultra would be able to withstand being submerged in water but not dust or sand. This is another trade-off shared by the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra.

There are foldables that are IP68 rated for water and dust, including the Motorola Razr Fold and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. These are on the thicker side, though, and the iPhone Ultra is expected to be thinner at 4.5 to 4.8 mm when open.

No MagSafe (Bummer Score: 5/10)

It would be a definite step backwards if the foldable iPhone didn’t support MagSafe technology, which debuted on the iPhone 12 series back in 2020

With MagSafe you can easily attach your iPhone to various wireless chargers, as well as turn your phone into an alarm clock with StandBy mode. Whether it’s about achieving a thinner design or leaving room for a larger battery, not having MagSafe on board would stink. But at least you could buy a case with the necessary magnets built in.

iPhone Ultra outlook

When you add up these drawbacks, there are some major reasons to potentially skip the iPhone Ultra and get the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max instead.

For me, not having a telephoto zoom camera is a big deal, and I might wait for an iPhone Ultra 2 to see if Apple can add this feature.

But the iPhone Ultra is still likely to draw a ton of interest (and buyers) because of its ability to give you a 7.8-inch display in a compact design. You’ll essenitally be getting an iPad mini and iPhone in one device. Apple is also rumored to have eliminated the crease (though we’ll see about that).

In short, the iPhone Ultra could be the ultimate phone for multitaskers. But you’ll have to be willing to live with less features and functionality to enjoy this versatility. Let me know in the comments if you think these trade-offs will be worth it — or not.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Ultra leakers reveal new details around release and 'extremely limited' availability
• Apple iPhone 18 event — all the new products expected to launch in September
• iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro pre-order date just tipped — here's when you can get yours

Prime Video subscribers looking for the latest thriller movies don't need to waste time scrolling through the platform's vast library. Every week, I comb through the service's slate and pick out a trio of noteworthy new thrillers.

In August 2026, Prime Video has already added plenty of gripping flicks, with more on the way. This week in particular, you'll want to get "Is God Is" on your watchlist, as this revenge drama has some of the best reviews of the year to date and looks set to be labeled one of 2026's hidden gems.

Alongside this recent release, there's also a pair of '90s classics, including a Jean-Claude Van Damme action romp and a heist caper that is getting remade (again) next year with an Oscar winner in the lead role. Here are the latest thriller movies on Prime Video. Stream these picks right now.

3 best new to Prime Video thriller movies this week

‘Is God Is’ (2026)

It’s definitely disappointing to see a quality movie like “Is God Is” struggle to make waves at the box office. Perhaps the clunky title didn’t help, or maybe this ambitious comedy-thriller, which crosses into multiple genres, was a little difficult to market. Either way, the flick holds a near-perfect 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and I’m hoping that its arrival on Prime Video this week will spark a surge of interest that the acclaimed film deserves.

“Is God Is” is a darkly comedic revenge story centered on twin sisters, Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson). Written and directed by Aleshea Harris and adapted from her stage play of the same name, it follows the two sisters as they embark on a quest for revenge. The target is their estranged father (Sterling K. Brown), who started a fire that left both twins disfigured in childhood. Along the way, they discover their twisted family history.

Watch "Is God Is" on Prime Video starting August 19

‘Sudden Death’ (1995)

Jean-Claude Van Damme reunited with director Peter Hyams after their first collaboration, “Timecop,” quickly became a cult favorite and one of the most successful movies of Van Damme’s career. The result was “Sudden Death,” an action-thriller set in the world of professional hockey. It didn’t manage to secure the same crowd-pleasing status as “Timecop,” but nevertheless, it’s an entertaining romp, with Van Damme in full action-star mode.

Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Darren McCord, a former firefighter, now working as the fire marshal at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL team (at the time). Scoring tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals as a birthday treat for his children, he’s unaware that the event has been infiltrated by a group of terrorists with plans to blow up the building if their demands aren’t met. The group is led by ex-CIA agent Joshua Foss (Powers Boothe), and it’s up to McCord to stop them.

Watch "Sudden Death" on Prime Video now

‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ (1999)

Hollywood remakes aren’t exactly uncommon, and it’s not even unheard of for a movie to be remade more than once. That’s the case with “The Thomas Crown Affair,” a 1960s heist caper starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, which is getting a modern spin next spring, headlined by Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan. But before then, why not enjoy the first stab at remaking this movie, as the 1999 effort has just landed on Prime Video.

The titular Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is a bored billionaire who decides to entertain himself by planning the perfect heist. The plan succeeds, and Crown makes off with a Claude Monet masterwork valued at $100 million. Insurance investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is called in to assist with the painting's retrieval, and so begins an exciting cat-and-mouse game with some serious romantic undertones. In this playful romantic thriller, the big question is who is playing who?

Watch "The Thomas Crown Affair" on Prime Video now

More from Tom's Guide

• New on Prime Video in August 2026
• Prime Video top 10 movies — here are the 3 worth watching
• I was surprisingly moved by this underrated drama on Prime Video

After spending the last five years testing the best office chairs, I decided to mix things up by going completely chair-free for a week. While I missed the comfort and full-body support of my ergonomic office chair, I found myself moving a whole lot more, which is exactly the kind of thing you need to break up your workday.

Although you can do something similar with one of the best standing desks by switching between sitting and standing, you might not be ready — or even want — to swap out your current desk. Plus, given a good entry-level, dual-motor standing desk costs around $500, that’s a big investment if you just want to be a bit more active while working.

To that end, I decided to try out three active chairs for a week to see how well they supported my body and my workload. Unlike a traditional seat, active chairs encourage small, continuous movements and micro-adjustments throughout the day. Not only does this keep your core engaged and improve circulation, but it can also sharpen your focus and help fight off mid-day drowsiness.

Here’s what it was like ditching my office chair for a wobble stool, a saddle stool, and a kneeling chair. While this experiment was originally supposed to last just a week, it’s now been two — and of these three active chairs, I’ve found one I’m sticking with long term.

Bended knees, better posture?

As the oddball of the bunch, I decided to try out the kneeling chair first. Although this design was invented in the late ’70s and first rose to prominence in the ’80s, it’s seen a massive resurgence recently as more people work from home and look for alternatives to traditional office chairs. Even as someone well versed in home office furniture, it took me a few minutes to figure out how to sit on it properly.

With a kneeling chair, you sit on the top cushion while your shins rest on the two smaller pads below. Doing so drops your thighs from the standard 90° angle of an office chair down to a 60° or 70° angle. This shifts part of your body weight onto your shins rather than dumping all of it onto your tailbone, which helps reduce lower back pressure and prevents slouching in the process.

I learned the hard way what happens when you slouch on a kneeling chair: doing so absolutely kills your shins. After that painful lesson, I made a conscious effort to push my glutes back, straighten up the small of my back, and use the balls of my feet to keep the rest of my posture accountable. This made working in the chair a whole lot more comfortable, though I found myself focusing just as much on my posture as I did on the task at hand.

Many kneeling chairs feature a curved wooden base like the model I tested. This made sitting upright easier while allowing me to rock back and forth to burn off extra energy— a fun mental reset whenever my work got tedious.

While I had hoped the kneeling chair would be my favorite, it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Still, if you struggle with lower back pressure and want an active way to force better alignment, it could be the right alternative seat for you.

Constant motion, fixed focus?

If you’ve ever seen someone sitting on an exercise ball at work, a wobble stool is the more professional (and much safer) alternative. While the kneeling chair gives you some limited movement, a wobble stool is designed to keep you moving continuously. It features a rounded, weighted base that tilts, swivels, and sways a full 360° — for better or worse.

A word of warning, though: a wobble stool is best paired with a standing desk, as they typically have a higher starting height than a traditional office chair. For instance, with the Secretlab Magnus Evo standing desk I used for testing, I had to raise the desktop up to 33 inches just to use the wobble stool comfortably.

Since you have to engage your core, lower back, and leg muscles to stay balanced, using one is a lot more physically taxing than a kneeling chair. If you’re wondering how wobble stools made the jump into home offices, they actually grew out of physical therapy and sensory education in the early 2000s. They are frequently recommended for people with ADHD or high energy, as the continuous micro-movements help channel extra energy into better mental focus.

Once I got my desk raised to a height where my forearms and monitor were in an ergonomic position, using the wobble stool felt far more natural to me than the kneeling chair. I really liked being able to rock back and forth or sway side to side for quick breaks while typing. I also found the weighted base to be a surprisingly comfortable spot to rest my feet, even if maintaining an upright, backless posture required more core stamina while doing so.

The wobble stool wasn't without its flaws, though. My rear got sore after prolonged stretches, forcing me to take a break every 40 minutes to an hour. Then again, taking routine breaks is something we should all be doing at our desks anyway, and after a quick stretch, I was ready to jump right back on. I also loved its space-saving footprint — it slid right under my desk out of the way and was light enough to move around my office effortlessly.

Saddle posture, perfect perch?

Although it’s a single seat, what makes a saddle stool like this one stand out is that there are actually two ways to sit on it: like you're riding a horse or in a perching position. While this makes it the most versatile option of the bunch, you do lose out on some of the dynamic motion you get with a kneeling chair or a wobble stool.

Just like those other alternative seats, the saddle stool has an interesting history. Back in the 1970s, a doctor noticed that equestrians didn’t suffer from the same back pain that office workers routinely deal with. However, it wasn’t until 20 years later that saddle stools became the gold standard for dentists, surgeons, and others in the medical field who need high mobility without a bulky office chair.

When using one of these chairs in its default saddle position, your spine is instantly aligned, which prevents slouching or rounding your lower back. Sitting astride the cushion automatically tilts your pelvis forward, locking your spine into a natural S-curve without needing a backrest. Like the wobble stool, though, you’ll need an adjustable desk since you have to raise your desktop higher to accommodate its taller height. When used in a perched position, a saddle stool offers more rear cushioning, but you have to engage your core and back muscles to sit upright with good posture.

Although I initially tried using this saddle stool as intended, I quickly switched to a perched position to give my glutes extra support. This turned out to be surprisingly taxing on the rest of my body. Even though I wasn’t in constant motion like I was on the wobble stool, making a conscious effort to keep my core engaged and stay upright wore me out fast.

When I swung the seat back around into the saddle position, everything clicked. Sure, my rear wasn’t quite as cushioned, but with my spine locked into a natural S-curve, the whole experience felt much more comfortable overall — mainly because I didn't have to strain so hard to maintain good posture. As for movement, saddle stools do offer some range of motion, but it is noticeably more limited. While I couldn’t sway side to side, I could rock back and forth ever so slightly. Still, the saddle stool’s instant posture fix more than made up for its subtle motion.

Wobbling won me over

When I first set out to conduct this experiment, I really thought the kneeling chair was going to be my top pick. Of the three, it looked the most comfortable and I had seen it getting the most attention online. On the other hand, I actually built and tried the saddle stool first, so I was already familiar with its design and limitations, though I hadn’t spent much time using it as my daily driver.

The wobble stool surprised me the most. Its seat is very traditional — we’ve all sat on similarly shaped stools before — but what really won me over was the total freedom of moving in a full 360-degree circle. When I was deep in focus on my screen, I could lean all the way forward without tweaking levers or knobs like I would on a standard office chair. Then, when I needed to sit back and look at the big picture, I could lean all the way back just as easily. That complete flexibility of movement felt incredibly freeing for someone tethered to a desk all day.

As you might have guessed, the wobble stool takes the top spot. I don’t plan on completely ditching my office chair now that this week-long experiment has stretched into week two, but I’m certainly not done with the wobble stool either. Thanks to its compact footprint, I plan to keep it stored right under my desk so I can pull it out to break up the day between sitting and standing.

These were the three alternative seats I had on hand after Uplift Desk sent them over for testing. If there’s an active chair you swear by or one you’d like to see me try next, let me know in the comments below.

As for me, I think it’s finally time to wheel the next ergonomic chair into my home office and give my core a well-deserved break.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I tried the Sonic the Hedgehog office chair — and it actually makes ergonomics fun (and fast)
• I ditched my office chair for the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen and it finally sold me on gaming chairs
• I’ve spent a year testing LiberNovo’s viral Omni office chairs — here’s my final recommendation

A fresh week brings a new Netflix top 10, shaped by what viewers were watching most over the weekend, with recent releases often making up a big part of the list. That’s why the trending section can be so handy: if a new movie or show slipped under your radar, there’s a good chance it’ll appear among the service’s most-watched titles. So, if you’re searching for something to watch this week, Netflix’s trending list is a pretty good place to begin.

Of course, having a top 10 list doesn’t necessarily make choosing your next watch any easier, particularly when there are often a few questionable picks mixed in. So, I’ve gone through the current rankings and selected three shows. That includes the new season of a hit workplace comedy, a charming romantic drama with a messy love triangle, and a period drama miniseries based on a classic novel. If you want to see what else is trending, you’ll find the full Netflix top 10 below.

Note: This list is based on the Netflix U.S. top 10 shows as of Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

Best shows in the Netflix top 10

‘Tires’

Netflix’s latest No. 1 show is “Tires,” a workplace comedy that has now returned for its third season. The sitcom was created by stand-up comedian Shane Gillis, Steve Gerben and director John McKeever, and was initially self-funded before being picked up and distributed by Netflix. Across its multiple seasons, the series has established itself as a raw, blue-collar alternative to classic workplace comedies like “The Office.” So, if you’re in the mood for something lighthearted with snappy 20-minute episodes, this is definitely worth streaming this week.

Season 3 of “Tires” picks up with cousins Will (Steve Gerben) and Shane (Shane Gillis) continuing to run the struggling Valley Forge Automotive Center. As Will looks for new ways to bring in customers and keep the business afloat, Shane’s unpredictable antics continue to cause problems around the shop. The new season also introduces several fresh faces, including Billy Magnussen as Taylor, an entrepreneur with a history with Will, while Shane reconnects with his former high school girlfriend, Jill (Taylor Misiak).

Stream "Tires" season 3 on Netflix

‘My Life with the Walter Boys’

Still holding strong in the top 10 is “My Life with the Walter Boys,” a romantic drama that very much thrives on its central love triangle and the idea of yearning for someone you shouldn’t be with. A direct adaptation of Ali Novak’s viral 2014 Wattpad novel of the same name, the series is a glossy mix of cozy small-town drama and high school relationships. “My Life with the Walter Boys” season 3 is chaotic and packed with drama, but its compelling love story, endearing characters, and easy-to-binge episodes make it incredibly difficult to turn off.

Season 3 picks up immediately after Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez) and Cole (Noah LaLonde) confess their feelings, only for Alex (Ashby Gentry) to overhear them before George Walter (Marc Blucas) is rushed to hospital. As the family deals with the aftermath, Jackie focuses on helping develop a new community space in Silver Falls, while Alex joins a rodeo team and Cole gets an unexpected opportunity to pursue his passion for racing. Jackie’s childhood friend also arrives from New York, bringing a connection to the life she left behind.

Stream "My Life with the Walter Boys" season 3 on Netflix

‘My Brilliant Career’

“My Brilliant Career” is a six-part period comedy-drama series that serves as a modern, energetic reimagining of Miles Franklin’s seminal 1901 Australian literary classic. The engine of the series rests on the friction between creative freedom and systemic financial duty, as a fiercely independent young woman fights to become a published writer rather than a socialite wife. Upon its release this month, it earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with its lavish period setting and modern sensibilities drawing obvious comparisons to “Bridgerton.”

Set in rural Australia around 1900, “My Brilliant Career” follows Sybylla Melvyn (Philippa Northeast), a young woman determined to become a writer. After financial difficulties force her to leave home, Sybylla is sent to live with her wealthy grandmother, where she is expected to learn proper manners and find a suitable husband. Instead, she becomes drawn to Harry Beecham (Christopher Chung), a wealthy local landowner, while continuing to pursue her writing ambitions. Soon, she must decide what she wants from her future and whether marriage could fit into the life she has imagined for herself.

Stream "My Brilliant Career" on Netflix

Netflix top 10 shows right now

1. "Tires" (2024)
2. "Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes" (2026)
3. "My Life with the Walter Boys" (2023)
4. "My Brilliant Career" (2026)
5. "The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare" (2026)
6. "Best Medicine" (2026)
7. "Umthetho" (2026)
8. "I Will Find You" (2026)
9. "The Bombing of Pan Am 103" (2025)
10. "Salish & Jordan Matter" (2026)

More from Tom's Guide

• Everything new on Netflix in August 2026
• 7 best new Netflix movies and shows to stream this week
• Netflix just added one of the best shark movies

If you're not sure what to watch on Prime Video this week, you might turn to the streaming service's top 10 most-watched list for some guidance. After all, this rotating ranking gives you a quick look at the movies dominating the platform right now. However, it's no perfect recommendation tool.

Take it from me, somebody who tracks the Prime Video top 10 daily: Just because a movie ranks on the list doesn't necessarily mean it's a quality watch. But that's why I've combed through the current top 10 (as of Monday, August 17) and picked out a trio of movies worthy of your time.

Best movies in the Prime Video top 10

‘Masters of the Universe' (2026)

Amazon MGM Studios’ “Masters of the Universe” underwhelmed in theaters, failing to recoup its $170 million budget, but it’s been far from a disappointment on Prime Video, where it’s had the No. 1 spot on lockdown for more than a week. He-Man fans didn’t turn out in large numbers when it was in cinemas, but they’re paying attention on streaming. The fantasy blockbuster also holds a strong 86% viewer score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on the beloved Mattel toy range, which was originally created to compete with a rival’s lineup of popular “Star Wars” action figures, “Masters of the Universe” follows Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), who is sent to Earth as a child when his home of Eternia is conquered by the ruthless Skeletor (Jared Leto). Years later, now a fully grown adult, he must return to the fantasy land to fulfil his destiny and save his people from his nemesis.

Watch "Masters of the Universe on Prime Video now

‘Project Hail Mary’ (2026)

I’ve recommended “Project Hail Mary” dozens of times already this year, and I’m not stopping now. Put simply, this is one of the year’s most entertaining blockbusters, with plenty of heart and exciting moments. It’s adapted from Andy Weir’s novel and stars Ryan Gosling as an astronaut on a critical mission. But while Gosling is fantastic, the real star of the show is an alien creature named Rocky, brought to life by some phenomenal puppetry.

In “Project Hail Mary,” astronaut Ryland Grace (Gosling) awakes on an interstellar craft, millions of miles away from Earth. The problem is he can’t remember his mission, or even his own name. Piecing together his past, Grace must find a way to prevent Earth’s sun from dying, but fortunately, he’s got some help from a lovable alien, Rocky. “Project Hail Mary” is the complete sci-fi package; it’s funny, thrilling and packed with memorable moments.

Watch "Project Hail Mary" on Prime Video now

‘The Gates’ (2026)

Similar to "Masters of the Universe," "The Gates" is a movie that didn't receive much attention on the big screen, but is getting a second win via Prime Video. This dark thriller marks the final movie appearance of James Van Der Beek, who passed away in February. While the reviews were lukewarm, Van Der Beek's villainous performance was highlighted as one of the movie's biggest strengths. I'm glad to see his final film role celebrated.

“The Gate” sees a trio of college friends (Mason Gooding, Algee Smith and Keith Powers) enjoying a road trip when they make what proves to be a potentially fatal mistake by taking a shortcut through a remote gated community. They witness a ritualistic murder and are then trapped within the community's walls. Hunted by the local residents who plan to frame them for the murder, the trio endures a desperate battle for survival.

Watch "The Gates" on Prime Video now

Prime Video top 10 movies right now

1. "Masters of the Universe" (2026)
2. "The Amateur" (2025)
3. "Badh" (2025)
4. "Project Hail Mary" (2026)
5. "S4: The Bob Lazar Story' (2026)
6. "The Devil's Mouth" (2026)
7. "The Gate" (2026)
8. "Wrong Turn" (2021)
9. "Uncharted" (2022)
10. "Primate" (2026)

More from Tom's Guide

• New on Prime Video in August 2026
• How well do you really know 80s action movies? Take our quiz
• 5 new to Prime Video movies with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

Ben Affleck has been creating quite the buzz lately between his $1 million win on "Celebrity Jeopardy" and his ongoing bromance with "The Odyssey" star Matt Damon. My own Affleck fandom kicked off way back when I first saw him in "Good Will Hunting." Honestly, gotta love a guy with a Boston accent, right?

Since then, I’ve always kept an eye out for his projects. One film I feel stands as one of his most underrated roles is 2010's "The Company Men." The story focuses on a group of corporate executives reeling from massive layoffs at GTX, a ship-building and transportation conglomerate.

It takes you through the familiar highs and the abundance of lows that come with job hunting, showing how differently everyone responds to that painful experience. Affleck plays Bobby Walker, a man struggling against his own ego to accept that his life may never quite look the same again. If you want to check out this hidden gem for yourself, it's currently streaming on Prime Video.

What is 'The Company Men' about?

"Company Men" opens against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis, quickly establishing the wealthy, comfortable lives of GTX executives like Bobby Walker (Affleck) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones). That comfort is short-lived. Bobby arrives at work only to find his dream life collapsing because he's being let go. He packs his office into a box and walks out, leaving behind a building that suddenly feels colder and emptier than ever.

Before long, fellow executives Gene and Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) face the same fate. The film follows each man through the painful stages of joblessness, exposing hidden personal struggles — from Gene's workplace affair with Sally Wilcox (Maria Bello) to Phil dealing with alcoholism at home — and the desperation to maintain their lavish lifestyles without an income.

While all three stories unfold, the focus remains on Bobby's humbling search for work. Moving from overconfidence to harsh reality, he applies for positions lower and lower down the corporate ladder. Eventually, his pride takes a back seat, leading him to accept a rough construction job from his tough-love brother-in-law, Jack Dolan (Kevin Costner).

Why I recommend you stream 'The Company Men'

On paper, it might be hard to feel immediate sympathy for wealthy corporate executives who drive Ferraris and live in mansions. However, "Company Men" goes far beyond executive boardroom drama—it’s fundamentally about the raw humanity underneath the suit jackets, and that is where the film truly shines.

Affleck delivers a stellar performance as a man desperately trying to maintain his identity as his family's provider. Navigating the overconfident highs and humbling lows, he renders Bobby extremely relatable throughout his journey. Eventually, Bobby moves his wife, Maggie (Rosemarie DeWitt), and their children out of their lavish home and into his parents' house, slowly learning to let go of the fancy sports cars and country club memberships.

Cooper and Jones also deliver powerhouse performances. Cooper plays the most vulnerable of the trio, expertly portraying a man whose entire identity was wrapped up in his career, leaving him completely unmoored by its loss.

If you're worried the film is nothing but a gloomy downward spiral, rest assured: it lands on a remarkably strong, hopeful note. Alongside the central cast, I loved Eamonn Walker as Bobby’s steadfast job-hunting comrade, Danny, as well as Kevin Costner, who shines as the tough-love brother-in-law who can barely stand Bobby, yet steps up to help him anyway.

With economic uncertainty constantly making headlines, "The Company Men" remains a deeply relevant, empathetic, and ultimately inspiring look at the reality of job loss.

Stream "The Company Men" on Prime Video

My TV-testing process consists of two phases. The first phase is painstakingly measuring a TV’s performance with boring-looking test patterns. The second phase involves kicking back with some snacks and watching movies. I’ll let you guess which part is my favorite.

As a former film student and a current cinephile, my penchant for the pictures isn’t limited to the hours I spend on the clock. When my day’s done and I’m ready to relax, there’s a good chance you can catch me spinning a 4K disc I picked from the most-recent Criterion Collection sale.

Between work and play, there’s one constant: the Panasonic DP-UB820. In addition to having the most-memorable name for a product you’ll hear all week, the DP-UB820 is, in many ways, the heart and soul of both my office and my living room. In an era where the relevance of physical media is being questioned by critics and C-suite executives alike, Panasonic’s excellent player is an increasingly irreplaceable part of my life.

For a while, I used Panasonic's 4K player at work while relying on my Xbox Series X at home. Over time, the pain points got too prickly to put up with, and I finally picked up a Panasonic player for my living room.

For one thing, it was a serious drag to fumble with my Xbox controller whenever I wanted to pause, rewind or skip ahead. The clicker that comes with the Panasonic DP-UB820 isn't a marvel of engineering or anything, but you better believe it's more convenient than a video game controller.

However, the Panasonic DP-UB820's primary advantage over a game console pulling double duty is its support for Dolby Vision HDR. Neither the Xbox Series X nor the PlayStation 5 supports Dolby Vision playback for 4K discs.

In addition, a ton of people (myself included) have encountered problems when trying to play certain discs on an Xbox Series X. A quick Google search returns piles of message board posts and comments-section rants about the issue, which typically affects 100GB Blu-ray discs (often called "triple-layered" discs).

Based on these accounts, the problem doesn't affect all discs of this size, but it speaks to the Xbox Series X's limitations as a Blu-ray player.

Lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to talk about just how much better my discs look on the Panasonic DP-UB820. It's not just the 4K discs, either — my garden-variety DVDs from 2007 look their best with this player's processing backing them up. It's the secret sauce that makes a standalone player superior to the alternatives.

There's no way around it: If you've poured a lot of hard-earned cash into a physical media collection and the best TV you can afford, you won't be getting the most out of either on a subpar player like an Xbox or PlayStation.

I'll leave you with a very-real, not-at-all-fabricated admission: I'm thinking about buying another Panasonic DP-UB820 and keeping it sealed in the box, stashed away in a safe place.

It's not that I expect my current player to break anytime soon. But as companies abandon physical media at an exponential pace, my own physical media collection grows. 4K Blu-ray players are an endangered species in the home entertainment ecosystem, and I can't bear the thought of living in this world without one.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 incredible 4K Blu-Rays I recommend to push your TV to its limits
• Dolby Vision 2 is finally live — here are the TVs getting the update and my expert take on the new format
• We asked readers which TV brand they trusted most — and one company rose above the rest

Tonight's "Lanterns" premiere shouldn't have had everything riding on it. Sure, there was hype. There were expectations. This was still a major DC superhero being put on an HBO show. It was still Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as not just one, but two Green Lanterns. It was still Damon Lindelof returning to HBO and DC following the acclaim of 2019's "Watchmen" series.

But the future of James Gunn's DCU wasn't supposed to be riding on the success of this show. This was supposed to be a big swing Gunn could take after the surefire success of "Supergirl" earlier in the summer. Except, "Supergirl" was a flop. Now, "Lanterns" was the property that needed to be the success, or the whole DCU could fall apart.

Well, we don't have to worry about the implications of that scenario anymore, because "Lanterns" is a hit. It's great. It's as if Lindelof picked up right where he left off with "Watchmen" and didn't look back, and it delivered exactly what I hoped: a darker, grittier, more grounded Green Lantern series would deliver.

That's not to say it's perfect. While the quality of the actors cast in this series is (so far) unimpeachable, the ages are another matter. I'm willing to play fast and loose with things like this, but there are generations of characters within this show that, frankly, look like they're around the same age. It's not a dealbreaker, but it is a flaw. Still, it's not even close to enough to stop me from declaring this HBO series must-see TV.

Spoilers ahead for "Lanterns" premiere

'Lanterns' is a tale of two Lanterns and three timelines

"Lanterns" (at least the premiere episode) takes place in three separate years, each at least a decade apart. We briefly see John as a kid in 1996, when Hal reveals to the world that he's the Green Lantern. Then, we spend the majority of the premiere in 2016, where it seems our story really begins and when Hal begins to train John.

Finally, as a coda to the premiere, we arrive in the present: 2026. John is now in charge, and Hal is ... well, Hal's fate seems like it'll be a major plotline in this show. I won't spoil exactly what happens in case you haven't seen the episode. You can see what's coming, but it's still a bit of a surprise when it does.

At any rate, it's 2016 where the bulk of the story takes place. It's here that we see John training to be a Green Lantern under Hal, who seems to be going through almost a midlife crisis. He's not handling having a trainee well, especially since that trainee might turn into a replacement.

But that mentor/mentee conflict gets shelved once our heroes suddenly head to Nebraska for what turns out to be a mass shooting where the victims are all aliens. Or at least, that's what Hal thinks.

Turns out, Hal's right. This is the highlight of the episode: Hal interrogating this seemingly ordinary Nebraskan until he can get him to trip up and reveal he's an alien. He finally does, but the alien reveals themself to be a cold-blooded soldier, ready to die for his people. That's precisely what he does when he sets off a massive bomb within himself that Hal only just manages to keep contained with his ring.

But this alien was just an advanced scout, and after meeting with the almost certainly villainous William Macon, it seems the Lanterns are the only ones aware of an impending extraterrestrial invasion.

Verdict: This is the Green Lantern show I hoped we'd get

When does that invasion come? Well, we don't learn that in this premiere episode. The easy guess is that it comes in 2016, but I think, based on what we see, that the main invasion is still to come, and that's why we end the episode in 2026.

Regardless, there's no denying that this premiere has set up a season I can't wait to see play out. I'm already anticipating being devastated by a tragic event at some point in the next seven episodes.

But I'm also anticipating seeing John and Hal get fleshed out more as characters. We've already seen some of John's complicated side, including his relationship with his father (J. Alphonse Nicholson/Sherman Augustus), who shoots apples off his head, and a sexual encounter outside of a bar with someone who turned out to be William Macon's wife (Poorna Jagannathan). We're still waiting to see more of Hal's complications, though hints are already dropping.

Just as important as this character building, though, I'm hopeful the show continues to give us John and Hal using the ring. A real concern going into the series was that the ring wouldn't be used much, so that the show would stay grounded. But that didn't prove to be the case in the premiere, and if Lindelof and company can keep it up for the rest of the season, James Gunn's perch atop DC Studios might just stay safe after all.

Stream "Lanterns" on HBO Max now

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Imagine waking up behind your best friend's eyes, staring across the room at your own body. That unsettling "what if" is the premise of "It's What's Inside," and it might be the most overlooked thriller sitting on Netflix right now. It made plenty of noise on the festival circuit when it debuted in 2024, but after landing on Netflix, it promptly got buried under everything else in the queue.

That's a shame, because writer-director Greg Jardin's feature debut is one of the sharpest, strangest things — pun intended — that the platform has added in ages. It’s a body-swap mystery that turns a pre-wedding reunion into a neon-soaked head trip.

The cast is stacked with familiar faces, including Brittany O'Grady ("The White Lotus"), Alycia Debnam-Carey ("Fear the Walking Dead"), and Gavin Leatherwood ("Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"). Best of all, you don't have to go hunting for it: it's streaming right now on Netflix. Check it out today so you can be the first in your friend group to brag about finding it. You're totally welcome.

What is 'It's What's Inside' about?

Eight years after they were last together, a group of college friends reunites at the estate of groom-to-be Reuben (Devon Terrell) the night before his wedding. The crew includes anxious Shelby (Brittany O'Grady) and her thoughtless boyfriend Cyrus (James Morosini), influencer Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey), trust-fund kid Dennis (Gavin Leatherwood), artist Brooke (Reina Hardesty), and free-spirited Maya (Nina Bloomgarden).

Things get dicey when Forbes (David Thompson) crashes the party; he's an estranged friend no one has seen since a college scandal got him expelled. He arrives carrying a mysterious suitcase containing a device that allows the group to swap consciousnesses. What starts as an innocent party game ("guess who's inside who?") quickly spirals into something much, much darker.

Jardin color-codes and tracks the swaps just enough to help you keep up, but the film is at its most fun when you're completely confused about who is actually who. As the night wears on and everyone stops trusting their own reality, the game begins to feel like a high-stakes hostage situation. Who is really driving each body? And what happens to the people who don't make it back into their own?

Why I recommend streaming 'It's What's Inside'

Most of us have looked at someone else’s life—the prettier one, the richer one, the one who seems to have it all figured out—and wondered what it would be like to trade places. "It's What's Inside" gives its characters the chance to climb inside the exact person they envy most, but it doesn't play out the way any of them expect.

Jardin has noted that the body-swapping is really a metaphor for the curated versions of ourselves we perform online. That might sound heavy, but the movie plays most of its themes for deliciously uncomfortable comedy, keeping you delightfully off-balance as you try to piece together what's actually happening.

It's also one of the best-looking movies Netflix has released recently. Drenched in vivid neon hues, it feels closer to a sleek nightclub experience or a high-concept video game than a standard horror film. Because it actively rewards your full attention, it’s far from a background "fold the laundry" or "scroll on your phone" watch.

"It's What's Inside" is a stylish, mean, and clever little thriller about how well we really know the people we love—and how much we'd change about ourselves if given the chance. If you're looking for something genuinely original for your next movie night, give this one a spin.

Stream "It's What's Inside" on Netflix

With “The End of Oak Street” hitting the big screen this weekend, it’s got movie fans in the mood for anything that features dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures. When you talk about the best dinosaur movies, there’s basically a default answer: “Jurassic Park.” But what about the dino-themed flicks beyond Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic (and its numerous sequels)?

Considering the enduring popularity of dinosaurs, the competition to be the best dinosaur movie not called “Jurassic Park” is surprisingly sparse. Nevertheless, I’ve still been able to round up five movies vying for the title. These range from action-focused efforts to family movies that put a more colorful spin on the long-extinct oversized lizard-like creatures.

So while you won’t find “Jurassic Park” on this list (nor any of the “Jurassic World” movies), here’s the best alternative dinosaur movies to consider streaming this weekend.

‘The Land Before Time’ (1988)

“The Land Before Time” might look like a children’s Saturday morning cartoon, and while it’s definitely a movie suitable for the whole family, don’t be surprised if it has you bawling your eyes out. This animated film gives “Bambi” a run for its money in the “making adults tear up” department. Steven Spielberg also worked as an executive producer on the film, giving it a slight connection to “Jurassic Park.”

The movie centers on Littlefoot, a young herbivorous dinosaur, separated from his herd by an earthquake. Meeting fellow orphaned dinos, Littlefoot and his new pals set out on a quest to locate the fabled Great Valley and be reunited with his family. The good news is that if you enjoy the first “Land Before Time,” then there are 13 (yes, 13!) sequels. Just be aware these are all direct-to-DVD fodder, and don’t match the quality of the original.

Watch "The Land Before Time" on Netflix now

‘65’ (2023)

Cards on the table, I’m not a fan of “65.” I even ranked it among my least favorite movies of 2023. But that’s just my personal opinion. I’ve included it on this list because of its respectable 64% viewer score on Rotten Tomatoes, proving that at least some people enjoyed this sci-fi thriller. One of those people would be my colleague Alix Blackburn, who argues it’s “one of the most underrated sci-fi thrillers” and advises you to “ignore the critics.”

Kylo Ren himself, Adam Driver, plays an interstellar astronaut named Mills, who crash-lands on Earth. Only it’s our planet 65 million years in the past. If the bumpy landing that destroyed his craft wasn’t enough to deal with, prehistoric Earth is home to some very dangerous creatures: dinosaurs. Mills faces a desperate battle to find a way home while taking a fellow survivor under his wing, a young girl named Koa (Arriana Greenblatt).

Watch "65" on Hulu now

‘King Kong’ (2005)

I’m maybe stretching the definition of a dinosaur movie here. After all, “King Kong” is really about an oversized ape wreaking havoc across NYC. But before he’s transported to the Big Apple, Kong is ruling over Skull Island, a mysterious location that is home to not just the skyscraper-climbing ape but also plenty of dinosaurs. And it’s hard not to have fun watching King Kong punch a pack of dinos in the face. Tell me that doesn’t sound appealing to you?

This epic Peter Jackson movie, which gives his “Lord of the Rings” movies a run for their money with an equally butt-numbingly long runtime, is actually the second remake of the 1933 original. It stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody and Andy Serkis, and follows a group of filmmakers in the 1930s as they travel to Skull Island to shoot a movie. Once on location, they encounter King Kong and more exotic dangers on the tropical island.

Watch "King Kong" on Prime Video (buy/rent) now

‘The Good Dinosaur’ (2015)

“The Good Dinosaur” is a memorable movie in Pixar’s canon, but not necessarily for the right reasons. The movie marked the end of the animation studio’s hot streak and became its first box office failure. The family adventure film struggled to recoup its large budget, and its messy development cycle was evident on screen. But it’s still a charming Pixar movie at its core, with strong animation and a cast of likable characters.

Perhaps taking cues from “The Land Before Time,” in “The Good Dinosaur,” a young apatosaurus (those are the dinos with really long necks) named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) is separated from his family during a rainstorm and must team up with a feral child (Jack Bright), whom Arlo happens to blame for the death of his father (Jeffrey Wright), to return home. It’s your classic story of unexpected friendship on a grand adventure.

Watch "The Good Dinosaur" on Disney+ now

‘One Million Years B.C.’ (1966)

“One Million Years B.C.” caused quite the stir upon its release in 1966, and it wasn’t because of its big-screen depiction of dinosaurs. Second only to Princess Leia in the iconic swimwear department, Raquel Welch dons a fur-covered bikini, which became an enduring image and was used aggressively in the film's marketing. But looking beyond the uncomfortable objectification of its female lead, this ‘60s movie is still a Hollywood classic.

Naturally, it’s aged considerably in the decades since release, so if you want incredibly lifelike CGI dinosaurs, steer well clear, but if you can appreciate old-school effects, this movie has its charms. It sees a caveman, Tumak (John Richardson), exiled from his tribe, before wooing Loana (Welch) from a rival group. Together they venture out into the harsh prehistoric world and face all sorts of hurdles, including dinosaurs, earthquakes and more.

Buy "One Million Years B.C." (DVD) at Barnes & Noble now

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• How to watch the 'Jurassic Park' movies in order online
• "End of Oak Street" review
• 5 thriller movies about being trapped

As a certified personal trainer, fitness writer and mum of two (very) active kids, I know working out isn't just about looking good in the mirror. For me, it's about building all-round strength, balance and mobility and feeling strong for everyday life.

I usually train five or six days a week, combining strength training and cardio, but I also like to mix things up with barre, yoga and Pilates. And lately, I've found myself doing a lot more of the latter.

Pilates has become one of social media's favorite workouts, thanks to its reputation for building strength, improving posture and helping you move better. Scroll through Instagram, and it won't be long before you're faced with an impressive-looking Pilates move promising to fire up muscles you didn't even know you had. And I'm not ashamed to admit it: I used to think low-impact Pilates meant low effort. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Celebrity Pilates instructor and founder of Motus Institute Catherine Farrell, also known as Pilates by Cat, agrees. "The biggest fitness myth I wish would disappear is that Pilates doesn't build strength," she says. And here is one exercise she swears by.

What is the Pilates exercise?

"Strength is built by progressively asking your muscles to do more over time. That can mean increasing resistance, repetitions, or sets; working through a greater range of motion; changing the leverage; reducing assistance; or progressing to a more challenging variation. Every one of those principles can be applied in both mat and reformer Pilates," says Cat.

I discovered the one exercise she returns to time and time again with her celebrity clients and runway models, and I had to try it for myself. It's called the reverse plank bridge, and, according to Cat, it is "one of the most efficient full-body movements in Pilates," so I tried it for 30 days.

How to do a reverse plank bridge

• Start seated on the floor with your hands behind you, fingers pointing away from your body. Press your right heel into the mat and hover your left foot just above the floor.
• Push through your right heel and squeeze your glutes as you lift your hips into a tabletop position. At the same time, straighten your left leg, keeping your thighs parallel.
• Slowly bend your arms and lower your glutes towards the floor. As you lower, reach through the lifted leg and raise it toward the ceiling, keeping your core engaged and your ribs drawn down
• Pause briefly, then press back up, opening through your chest as you return to the tabletop position with your leg extended in line with your body. That's one rep.
• Complete 12 reps on each side for 4 rounds, moving slowly and focusing on control rather than speed.

Why is it so effective?

The reverse plank bridge is one of the most efficient full-body movements in Pilates because it strengthens the glutes and hamstrings, challenges the deep core and works the arms and shoulders, while encouraging good posture and balance.

Because you're supporting your own body weight, multiple muscle groups have to work together to stop your hips from dropping or twisting. Instead of isolating one muscle group, you're training your body to work in unison, which is exactly what makes it feel so challenging.

What happened after 30 days?

Sprinkling this move into my daily workouts was interesting. I was under no illusion that it would be easy. I’m used to swinging kettlebells, sprinting up hills and pushing heavy sleds, but not flowing gracefully through Pilates.

Within seconds, my shoulders were working, the gluteal muscles on my supporting side were burning and my core was working overtime to keep my hips lifted. Your glutes certainly feel the brunt of this move, and don't be fooled by the fact you're on the floor, as your entire body has to work hard.

I’ll admit, I finished that first set feeling slightly frustrated. Cat made it look effortlessly graceful. For me, it absolutely wasn't.

The stretch in my hamstring as I lifted and lowered my leg was pretty extreme, too. Keeping a slight bend in my knee helped with this until, after a week or so, I felt my flexibility improving.

As always, I stuck with the challenge I set myself, and what surprised me most was just how many muscles had to work together to control the movement. Think glutes, hamstrings and shoulders, with my core constantly switched on to keep me stable.

After 30 days, I noticed better hip and glute engagement and stability during my longer runs. My core also felt more switched on during everyday movements, and I became more aware of my posture. The ache in my shoulders was also a regular reminder to sit a little straighter at my desk and be more mindful of my posture when getting my steps in.

Adding the reverse plank bridge to my routine helped me feel more connected to my body, particularly during exercises that require balance, control and coordination. But one of the biggest changes was something I hadn't expected: I started using the flow of the movement as a chance to become more present.

With this exercise, I made a conscious effort to slow down and focus on what my body was doing. Once it clicked, the move became a great way to finish a workout or switch everything on before a morning run. In that sense, it became a small moment of mindfulness.

Most importantly, I got better at it. The movement became smoother and more controlled with each day, and by day 30, I may not have looked quite as graceful as Cat, but I was certainly less clunky than on day one.

Overall, the challenge reminded me just how interconnected our muscles are. Strength isn't always about lifting heavier or pushing harder. Sometimes slowing things down, moving with control and paying attention to how your body moves can expose weaknesses and build strength in ways you don't expect.

I’m much more mindful of what slow, controlled movements can give you compared with simply rushing through your reps. In fact, I’ve started slowing things down when I lift weights too. Time under tension, good form and feeling the muscles you're trying to work can be just as important as the weight you're lifting.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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• A Pilates instructor says these 6 exercises strengthen your abs without weights, so I tried them
• A Pilates instructor shares a 20-minute Pilates workout for developing healthy hips and strengthening your lower body
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Looking for the best movies to stream on Mubi? Or do you not even know what Mubi is? If you haven't heard of Mubi, that's OK. It's understandable. The streaming service is not currently on our list of the best streaming services. But it's quite possibly the best streaming service you've never heard of if you're a cinephile who loves indie, arthouse and foreign films.

It's not just a service for those who only love more niche movies, though. There are some movies on there that everyone should watch, and the streaming service even produces and distributes its own films — one of which, "The Substance," even earned multiple Oscar nominations. It's even added some shows, most notably adding the entire run of "Twin Peaks" last year.

In short, while Mubi is a bit too niche to contend with the likes of Netflix and Prime Video as the only streaming service you need, it is a streaming service worth checking out. Especially if you love movies.

So, whether you're already a Mubi subscriber and are looking for something to watch, brand new to the service and don't know where to start, or are just curious about what's available to watch on Mubi, I've got you covered. Here are the five best movies streaming on Mubi right now, including a twisted Oscar-nominated film with a twisted Demi Moore performance.

5 best movies on Mubi to stream right now

'A Poet' (2025)

Genre: Spanish-language tragicomedy movie

What it's about: Oscar Restrepo (Ubeimar Rios) is a poet ... but not a successful one. This has led to him not being well-liked by anyone, including his family. But that all changes when he meets a young girl, Yurlady (Rebeca Andrade), with enough poetic talent to rewrite his own legacy.

Why you should watch it: "A Poet" was an Oscar contender last year for Best International Feature Film after winning the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes. I've been waiting for it to arrive on Mubi, and can't wait to see it now that it's finally here.

Stream "A Poet" on Mubi now

'Shiva Baby' (2020)

Genre: Comedy movie

What's it about? "Shiva Baby" stars Rachel Sennott as Danielle. She's a young bisexual Jewish woman who hasn't exactly figured her life out. That lack of direction is on full display when she's forced to attend a shiva with her parents. But the real scene-stealer is Danielle's successful ex-girlfriend Maya (Molly Gordon), who arrives at the shiva with her sugar daddy Max (Danny Deferrari), his wife Kim (Dianna Agron), and their screaming baby.

Why you should watch it: This movie is funny. You're guaranteed to laugh. It's also one of the movies on Mubi you're most likely to have seen or heard about already, as it has made the rounds on streaming services before and been a hit. I know it's second on the list, but I'd almost advocate watching it first.

Stream "Shiva Baby" on Mubi now

'Amores Perros' (2000)

Genre: Spanish-language psychological drama movie

What's it about? "Amores Perros" is constructed of three stories. All three are connected by a car crash in Mexico City. One centers on Octavio (Gael García Bernal), who gets involved in the local dogfighting scene. Another stars Goya Toledo as a model who seriously injures her leg in a car crash with Octavio. The third story is focused on a mysterious hitman (Emilio Echevarría) who is in the middle of a job when Octavio's car crash occurs.

Why you should watch it: This movie is important for two reasons. First, it's a breakout performance for Bernal, who followed it up the following year with Alfonso Cuarón's "Y tu mamá también." It is also the debut film for Alejandro González Iñárritu, who went on to direct "Birdman," "The Revenant," and this year's "Digger." It's an undeniable must-watch.

Stream "Amores Perros" on Mubi now

'Fremont' (2023)

Genre: Drama movie

What's it about? Donya (Anaita Wali Zada) lives in a tight-knit community of Afghan immigrants in Fremont, California. She works in San Francisco, unable to break out of her routine or process her past as a translator for the U.S. government in Afghanistan. But an appointment with a therapist (Gregg Turkington) and a promotion finally get her to break out and travel, where she meets a quiet auto mechanic (Jeremy Allen White).

Why you should watch it: This film is emotionally balanced and complex, and Zada's performance has earned significant praise from critics. Plus, you get some Jeremy Allen White, and not in a kitchen or as a CGI Hutt. So that's a nice bonus.

Stream "Fremont" on Mubi now

'The Substance' (2024)

Genre: Body horror movie

What's it about? "The Substance" stars Demi Moore as a fading celebrity who turns to a black market drug after her producer (Dennis Quaid) fires her. That drug creates a younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley), and this version is still worthy of Hollywood. But the drug comes with some serious side effects.

Why you should watch it: One could argue I saved the best for last here. I loved this movie, though my hot take might be that Quaid sneakily gives the best performance in it. If you're squeamish, you might not be able to handle it. But otherwise, you need to watch it, whether you're a horror fan or not.

Stream "The Substance" on Mubi now

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I’ve made it my personal mission to find the best pair of open-earbuds on the market. I find myself reaching for my open-earbuds almost daily, and I think everybody should have a pair in their audio gear rotation. But how do you know what to look for or how much to spend?

First, let’s address the elephant in the room — open-earbuds won’t be for everyone. They’re for a very specific person, such as office workers, runners and gym-goers who need to hear the ambient sound around them at all times.

When I first started testing open buds, I was skeptical. I was so used to in-ear buds that I wasn’t sure why anyone would want to sacrifice ANC (and indeed audio quality) in their daily listening. However, once you realize that having situational awareness and superior comfort in the office and at the gym is a game changer, I’m telling you, there’s no going back.

This style of earbud is still in its infancy, with the first pair of truly open earbuds being released by Bose in 2021. So this means that the space is still constantly improving, with brands innovating their open-ear styles and finding ways to replicate the sound quality of in-ear buds. My personal favorite style is the clip, but you can also buy hook-style earbuds that are better suited for high-intensity activities like running.

Open-earbud sound

In short, since you don’t get a seal around the ear canal, which you get with regular earbuds, sound waves escape. Open-earbuds rely on directing sound towards your eardrum, but there’s a lot of sound leakage. This means you can lose some frequencies, and with the addition of ambient sound, it can be tricky to listen to your music in detail.

Low frequencies that contribute to bass performance are often lost as they need trapped air pressure to effectively drive the sound. This means you’ll lose the low-end impact, according to Shokz.

Recently, I’ve been using the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. Bose is known for awesome bass performance in its products from speakers to headphones — but what about open-earbuds? Well, I can tell you they do a great job. Despite the obvious hurdles, these buds deliver a bass performance I’d be pleased with from regular earbuds.

However, for their $299 price, I was disappointed by the lack of detail I got from the Bose buds. I had high expectations because of the premium price tag and the sleek look, but ultimately, I felt let down. The sound was almost unnatural, and the bass priority was making my music sound muffled in the mid and high frequencies.

So while I enjoy listening with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, they’re far from perfect. And if I’m paying $300, I need them to be perfect.

My perfect open earbuds

But fear not. My quest to find the best open-earbuds continued. And after months of testing, I think I found them. The buds to beat all other buds. The Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO.

Reaching for a lower-priced competitor after being let down by a premium flagship product felt like a bit of a Hail Mary. But after spending months wishing I could get some real balanced detail from a pair of open-earbuds, the Beyerdynamics have delivered.

They are everything I’ve been asking for from open-earbuds.

Firstly, these buds have the same clip design as the Bose, but are far more comfortable as they’re highly flexible and don’t move much during workouts. The Beyerdynamics also have a higher durability rating, with dust and splash protection, whereas the Bose are only protected from water splashes. The studio tuning of the Beyerdynamics lends itself well to crisp highs and a natural sound, whereas the Bose buds sound almost artificial and manufactured.

The Bose buds are tuned to please a large consumer base, but the detailed studio tuning of the Beyerdynamics allows you to immerse yourself in the music wherever you are.

Keeping it real

Although the sound tuning of the Beyerdynamics makes them my winner, there are some trade-offs. The Bose buds have a longer total battery life of 27 hours in comparison to the 20 hours of the Beyerdynamics, and if you care about special features like head-tracking spatial audio, the Bose will be your bag.

Also, when you look at the cases side by side, there’s not much difference, so either pair will do the job well for portability.

The takeaway here is that spending more doesn’t always get you the best sound. Sure, the Bose buds are some of the best you can buy, but for a natural, balanced sound that translates well across a wider variety of genres, I can’t recommend the Beyerdynamic Amiron ZEROs enough.

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“The Shallows” is a movie I’ve written about quite a few times already, as it seems to be the type of film that makes its rounds on streaming services like Prime Video and Hulu before dropping off completely for a while. Now that it’s landed on Netflix, I feel the need to shout about it, especially given that 2026 has delivered quite a few shark movies, but none of them have quite been a success in my eyes. “The Shallows” remains one of the best shark films of the past decade, so naturally, it comes highly recommended.

I first saw “The Shallows” in theaters with my friends, and I remember it being a film we immediately started talking about once the credits rolled. Of course, 10 years ago, there weren’t that many shark movies around, and the only thing you could really compare it to was the iconic “Jaws” (nothing could ever top that). But “The Shallows” ended up being a surprisingly strong entry in the genre. It was one of those times I was very glad to be sitting in a theater with my bucket of popcorn rather than anywhere near the ocean.

Since it’s now available on Netflix, I’d urge anyone with an appetite for a good survival thriller to stream it this weekend. Starring Blake Lively, the film pits her against a deadly great white shark, and here’s why it’s worth adding to your Netflix watchlist.

What is ‘The Shallows’ about?

“The Shallows” follows Nancy Adams (Blake Lively), a medical student who travels to a secluded beach in Mexico to surf alone. After spending some time in the water, Nancy decides to catch one final wave before heading back to shore, only to encounter a great white shark. The shark attacks her, leaving her with a serious injury and forcing her to swim to a small rock for safety.

Unfortunately, Nancy is stranded around 200 yards from shore, with the shark continuing to circle the area between her and the beach. As the tide begins to rise, the rock she is using for protection becomes increasingly unsafe, leaving her with limited options. With no one around to immediately come to her rescue, Nancy has to assess the area and make use of whatever resources are available to her.

‘The Shallows’ is a far more gripping watch than you might expect

In most shark movies nowadays, it feels as though the plot centers around a group of people who unfortunately find themselves stuck with hungry sharks. This year, Prime Video’s “The Devil’s Mouth” uses every trope in the handbook, “Deep Water” suffers from sharks that look uncannily animated, and Netflix’s own shark movie, “Thrash,” was completely lifeless. That’s why “The Shallows” stands out as one of the few films that makes the story feel more intimate, giving us a character with plenty of baggage while allowing her intelligence and skills to take center stage as she attempts to outwit a single shark.

If anything, the genre should take some notes from “The Shallows.” Its biggest strength is narrowing the story down to one protagonist, Nancy, giving us a glimpse into her family trauma and explaining why she’s decided to surf alone. This not only makes us sympathize with her but also gives us a reason to root for her when she ultimately comes face to face with the shark. Thanks to her medical training, there are also some smart scenes of Nancy using her necklace to stitch up a wound, and it’s pretty gnarly.

“The Shallows” is a more emotional shark movie, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less gripping. Even during the first act, when Nancy is out in the ocean, the camera frequently dips beneath the water’s surface, holding on the murky depths and leaving us wondering when the shark might appear. When that moment finally comes, it’s an intense scene, and from then on, the movie manages to sustain its tension throughout its 86-minute runtime. For a film that focuses on a single character, that’s pretty impressive.

Of course, “The Shallows” will never beat “Jaws” because, honestly, nothing will. It unfortunately has a pretty weak ending that might not leave you feeling completely satisfied. But if you enjoy a good shark movie that doesn’t follow every trope in the rulebook and instead focuses on one character fighting to survive, alongside a seagull she names Steven who becomes her unlikely companion along the way, then “The Shallows” should be on your Netflix watchlist. Let’s just say, it has more bite than most shark films.

Stream "The Shallows" on Netflix now

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With "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004), we're arguably approaching the end of an era in the Denzel Watchathon. While most of the movies from here on out are some level of quality — we've left movies like "Carbon Copy" and "Heart Condition" far behind at this point — this psychological thriller is the end of a pretty incredible run.

Sure, "Inside Man" is coming next week, and "American Gangster" two weeks after that. But we just went on a run that included "Remember the Titans," "Training Day" and "Man on Fire." 2000-2004 might be the best four-year stretch of Denzel's career, and "The Manchurian Candidate" is the final movie of that stretch before he takes 2005 off from the box office for the first time since 1997.

Thankfully, this is a pretty good movie to close a chapter on. It's not a masterpiece; there are flaws in the plot, and arguably this movie ends about a third of the way through it in the real world. Denzel's Major Bennett Marco almost certainly would have been institutionalized by the Army once he started going after Vice Presidential candidate Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber). The Army tries to institutionalize him later in the movie for just that reason, proving that point.

If you set aside issues like that, though, you're left with a handful of noteworthy performances. Jeffrey Wright, Scheiber and (of course) Denzel all impress. But the clear star of the movie is Meryl Streep as Raymond's mother, Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw.

If you want to watch this movie before you read on, I have some good news and some bad news. "Man on Fire" isn't currently streaming on any of the best streaming services or the best live TV streaming services. Instead, you'll need to buy or rent it from digital storefronts like Amazon.

Streep steals the show from Denzel

In the 1962 original "The Manchurian Candidate," Shaw and Marco are captured by communist soldiers in the Korean War. They're brainwashed; Shaw is given a Medal of Honor, and the incident is used by his mother, Eleanor, to boost the status of her husband, Senator Iselin, forcing him onto the presidential ticket as the Vice Presidential nominee.

This 2004 remake is similar in a lot of ways. But there are two major changes. First, instead of fighting in the Korean War and being taken to literal Manchuria, Shaw and Marco are fighting in Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. They're captured by a multinational private equity corporation named Manchurian Global, rather than the Chinese. Second, Shaw is the one who becomes the Vice Presidential nominee, rather than his father, who is deceased in this version.

But the end goal is the same. Shaw's mother, Eleanor, is working with the bad guys to brainwash her son so that she can elevate a family member to the Presidency.

This makes her quite evil. And Streep knows it. And she revels in it. Don't get me wrong, Denzel is as good as Marco. He does the proper amount of unraveling in the movie's first act, and then propels the film forward once he becomes a man on a mission. Schreiber is also good as Shaw. He's not quite on Denzel's level, but the character, Shaw, isn't given as much to work with as Marco.

If anyone comes close to taking the crown from Streep, it's Wright. He's only in one scene, but it's an intense one, as he recounts to Marco the dreams he's been having of their captivity during the war. The same dreams, it's later revealed, that Marco and Shaw are both having as well.

Streep chews the scenery in this movie. She fully sinks into the role of a strongwoman Senator, which is partially a nod to Hillary Clinton, a U.S. Senator at the time "The Manchurian Candidate" was being filmed.

At times she's egomaniacal. She's convinced that she alone can save America. She's not doing this to get her son into the White House. She's doing this to prevent the people in the NSA's security reports from harming Americans abroad and at home.

At other times, she's clearly a mother trying to build a life for her son. Every powerhungry movie designed to move him up a political ladder that, frankly, Shaw doesn't seem to have much interest in climbing.

Ultimately, she's still evil, though. She still conspired with a private corporation to turn her son into a brainwashed assassin. Then, in a fit of rage and panic, she unleashes said son on two people, ending their lives without a second thought. It's a delightful performance to watch, even if it is a bit terrifying.

Verdict: It's irrelevant if 'The Manchurian Candidate' is better than the 1962 original — it's still a must-watch

The 1962 original version of "The Manchurian Candidate" is often considered the better one. That's not to say this remake was considered bad; it was positively reviewed at the time and Streep even earned a Golden Globe nomination. But her counterpart in the 1962 version, the great Angela Lansbury, earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Eleanor. She also won the Golden Globe, for what that's worth.

But you don't need to decide for yourself which version is better. You don't even need to watch the original (though you should check it out). This movie, better or worse, stands on its own as a movie worth seeing. It's also an iconic Denzel movie where he gets out-acted, and that's a rare feat worth checking out in its own right.

Buy or rent "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004) from Amazon now

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For me, the debate over morning showers vs evening showers has one clear winner. Evening showers help me unwind and wash away the sleep-disrupting allergens collected during the day. Morning showers just add another step to my pre-work routine. However, there is one drawback to an evening shower: harsh bathroom lighting.

Exposure to bright bathroom light bulbs in the evening has been found to shift circadian rhythms about two hours later per day, making it harder to fall asleep. In other words, your sleep-wake cycle thinks it's still daytime, so you can't drop off.

And that's where the Auria Glow Lamp, now $49.99 at Amazon, comes in. This dark showering device swaps overstimulating LED bulbs for a soothing amber glow. It's gone viral but does it work? I tested it out to see if the Auria Glow lamp (and dark showering) can help me sleep.

Key takeaways

• Exposure to harsh bathroom lighting before bed has been shown to suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that signals it's time to sleep.
• The dark showering trend, however, is said to support melatonin production by replicating the natural conditions at the end of the day.
• The Auria Lamp is designed to be used while showering, switching your overhead light for a warm amber glow that mimics a sunset.
• However, while the Auria Glow Lamp is more relaxing than bright LED bulbs, further research is needed on its effectiveness.

What is the dark showering trend and how does it improve sleep?

Dark showering is pretty self-explanatory; it's when you take shower in the dark.

While the dark showering trend originated on (where else?) TikToK late last year, it mirrors time-honored bathing customs from Japan, India, and ancient Rome. And there's a good reason why dark showering traditions have stood the test of time: they really can help you sleep.

"The 'dark showering' trend can improve sleep for a couple of reasons," explains Sam Sadighi, a certified sleep practitioner at Get Laid Beds. "Bathroom lighting is renowned for being bright, which isn't going to help our melatonin production."

Melatonin is a hormone that makes us feel tired and its production heavily relies on light (or lack thereof).

"Showering in dim lighting helps, as our brain expects our surroundings to be dark approaching bedtime and will help our melatonin production," she explains.

A 2023 study found that reducing blue light exposure shortened sleep latency (how long it takes to fall asleep) and helped prevent melatonin suppression.

Another argument in favor of dark showering is that a warm shower (counterintuitively) drops our body temperature before bed, echoing how our core body temperature naturally drops before sleep.

"That's one of the reasons why it's harder to sleep when the ambient temperature is hot," explains Sadighi. "Having a very warm shower before bed will help to lower your core body temperature, which will help sleep by drawing heat from your core."

What is the Auria Glow Lamp?

Sadighi points out there is one major flaw with showering in the dark. You can't see.

"The main issue with showering in low light is ensuring that while the lighting is dim, it isn't so dim that you can't see what you're doing," says the sleep consultant.

To counteract this, the waterproof Auria Glow Lamp aims to light up your bathroom. But instead of a harsh blue light, it emits a warm amber glow.

Amber lighting, the color of a toasty fireplace, has been shown to help people fall asleep faster and experience fewer awakenings — making it the perfect alternative to showering in darkness.

The lamp comes in two different projection styles, depending on whether you want to keep the dome on or take the dome off. Below is dome-on mode, which gives you a diffused candlelight-mimicking glow.

If you decide to take the dome cover off, you'll get a more ethereal, wave-like projection, with wisps of light cascading along your walls (sounds dramatic, but it's true).

Auria says the Glow Lamp "lowers cortisol, supports melatonin, mimics sunset light and calms nervous system".

"You already know the power of a dark shower," claims Auria's website. "Now add the warm, amber glow that helps your nervous system finally exhale."

While the science behind the dark showering and warm lighting checks out, will the Auria Glow Lamp really work miracles on my sleep?

Putting the Auria Glow Lamp to the test — see the results over 3 nights

Night 1

The first night, I decided to try the Glow Lamp without the dome, as this was the projection style that seemed the most exciting to me. This projection style creates an underwater feel, with the lamp spilling golden waves over the wall. Here's what it looks like in action:

The Auria Lamp made me feel as if I were showering in an enchanted lagoon — one with passionfruit-scented shower gel and volumizing shampoo.

It certainly created a relaxing mood before bed, but was it enough to boost my sleep score from the previous night?

According to my Oura Ring 5, it was. I scored an 82/100, 5 points more than the previous night. "Your Sleep Score was above your typical range last night. Hopefully you feel in your energy levels!" the smart ring told me.

Night 2

On the second night, I tried the lamp with the dome on, which created a soft, muted glow. This projection style is more luxury spa than mermaid cove, and I can see why some users prefer this lightning mode when conducting their nightly ablutions. Here's what the Auria Lamp looks like avec dome:

Again, the lamp delivered a tranquil shower setting, and I definitely felt ready for bed afterwards. However, I didn't get the perfect sleep. But it had nothing to do with the Auria Glow...

At 3 a.m., I woke up with menstrual pain, which kept me awake until 4 a.m. This significantly impacted my sleep score (a "fair" 68) but it can't be blamed on the Auria. So instead, I'm focusing on my sleep before my 3 a.m. rude awakening.

My sleep latency was shorter than the previous night, meaning I fell asleep two minutes quicker. Meanwhile, all the deep sleep I experienced happened before 3 a.m, racking up to 1 hour and 24 minutes. Not bad considering that, according to the Oura App, the optimal amount of deep sleep is between 1 hour and 1.5 hours.

Night 3

On the third night, I still had pretty bad cramps, meaning I showered and went to bed later. I decided to bring the lamp closer to the shower, to change the lighting effect. (It's completely showerproof so you can actually bring it in beneath the stream if you want.)

I used dome-off (mermaid) mode this time around and found that the warm relaxing shower did relive stress. I felt my muscles relaxing, which also provided some pain relief.

So, the good news is that my sleep score crept up into "good territory" again (73/10) and my sleep latency was shortened by another 2 minutes. My REM sleep could have been longer, but my deep sleep was still in the optimal range at 1 hour and 19 minutes.

Does the Auria Glow Lamp actually work?

Considering that cramps ravaged my sleep on nights 2 and 3, I still managed to fall asleep fast and get plenty of deep sleep after using the Auria lamp.

It definitely helped me unwind before bed and created a relaxing, sleep-inducing atmosphere. It was nice to take a break from the harsh LED lightning in my bathroom, and I will definitely keep showering in the glimmer of the Auria Glow.

Overall, I think sleep expert Sadighi summed up the lamp: "The Auria Glow Lamp does look good. However, honestly? I'm not sure it would be a magic elixir to help sleep, but it's absolutely not the worst sleep aid on the market"

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If you need an excuse to stay out of the hot August sun, Netflix is offering plenty of new TV shows that will have you drawing the curtains and staying indoors all weekend long.

However, with so much choice, you might spend more time trying to choose what to watch on Netflix than actually enjoying great streaming series. That’s why I’m here to cut through the clutter and deliver you a trio of popular picks worth watching this weekend. Including a British limited series based on a true story, and a guilty-pleasure teen drama that gets messy. And there’s also a new reality dating show… if that’s your thing.

These are the new Netflix shows to stream this weekend. Add to your watchlist if you want to settle down to some binge-watching now.

‘My Life with the Walter Boys’

Netflix subscribers are clearly enjoying their return to Silver Falls, as the third season of teen drama “My Life with the Walter Boys” remains locked at No. 1 on the platform’s top 10 most-watched list. The series has a dedicated fanbase, and with its melodramatic love triangle heating up, season 3 hasn’t skipped a beat. Whether you’re returning to the Falls or starting from scratch, “My Life with Walter Boys” is a real guilty pleasure.

In her review of the latest 10-episode season, Tom’s Guide’s own Alix Blackburn said, “‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ season 3 is messy, overstuffed, and occasionally overwhelming, but its addictive romance, lovable characters, and bingeable drama make it hard to resist." Sure, this Netflix series falls into predictable teen drama grooves, but who doesn’t love a knotty love triangle?

Watch "My Life with the Walter Boys" on Netflix now

‘Let’s Marry Harry’

Speaking of guilty pleasure watches, Netflix’s increasingly vast slate of vapid reality TV shows has been expanded with “Let’s Marry Harry.” The Harry in question is Harry Jowsey, an Australian television personality and social media influencer (aren’t they all) who has appeared in reality favorites, “Too Hot to Handle,” “The Amazing Race,” Love Island,” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Now he’s got his very own TV show on Netflix.

Taking cues from shows like “The Bachelor,” Harry claims to be done with the dating game and now wants to settle down. So, 20 women compete for the opportunity to marry Harry. Offering advice are some of Harry’s closest friends, including his ex-girlfriend (I guess exes can stay friends) and television presenter Amanda Kloots. As per the genre traditions, this show is glossy and overedited, but reality obsessives will likely enjoy it.

Watch "Let’s Marry Harry" on Netflix now

‘The Bombing of Pan Am 103’

When a TV show is based on a true story, it adds to the intensity. Knowing that the events on screen really happened makes every moment hit harder. That’s the case for “The Bombing of Pan Am 103,” a British limited series that arrived on Netflix at the end of July after debuting on the BBC in the U.K. in the spring. This six-part show chronicles the deadliest terrorist attack in British history and the investigation that followed.

On 21 December 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was on course from London Heathrow to New York’s JFK airport. While flying over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, a bomb in the hold detonated, resulting in 270 casualties, including the death of 11 local residents on the ground. The show follows the investigation by the British and U.S. governments to find those responsible for this horrific attack and stars Connor Swindells, Merritt Wever, Patrick J. Adams and Eddie Marsan.

Watch "The Bombing of Pan Am 103" on Netflix now

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Hulu is a great streaming service if you're looking for new shows to binge this weekend. It features a deep library of series from a range of Disney-owned networks, including FX, ABC and 20th Television. It also has tons of original hit shows that you don't want to miss. As per usual, this week, I've put together a list of three newly added shows perfect for adding to your weekend watchlist.

First up is "Furious," which has become a surprise hit from Hulu. Don't be surprised if it gets some Emmy buzz this time next year. Then, for fans of animated comedies, "Futurama" season 14 is in full swing, and the iconic series is still able to get a laugh. Finally, "The Shards" is a brand-new series from Ryan Murphy that is based on the life of American Psycho" author Bret Easton Ellis.

Here are three new to Hulu shows you need to binge-watch this weekend, and why you need to watch them. For more recommendations, check out the full list of everything new to Hulu and Disney+ in August 2026.

'Furious'

Genre: Crime drama series

What's it about? "Furious" stars Emmy Rossum as FBI agent Alice Black. She's a former homicide detective now working for the Feds, and she's on the hunt for a serial killer (Lola Petticrew). But she doesn't realize that her serial killer is really a sex trafficking survivor on a quest for vigilante justice.

Why you should watch it: This show has been a surprise hit for Hulu. It's currently an impressive 98% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences seem nearly as enthused. This might secretly be the show of the summer, and it's not too late to catch up.

Stream the first 5 episodes of "Furious" on Hulu now

'Futurama' season 14

Genre: Animated sci-fi sitcom series

What's it about? Set in the third millennium A.D., "Futurama" centers around a band of misfits. Theoretically, they run a delivery service, but they mostly get up to hijinks. This season, it seems like time travel is set to play a part, so hopefully we don't end up with multiversal madness.

Why you should watch it: "Futurama" is on the Mount Rushmore of American animated comedies. The most recent seasons may not be as good as the first several, but they're still guaranteed to earn a laugh.

Stream the first two episodes of "Futurama" season 14 on Hulu now

'The Shards' season 1

Genre: Teen thriller series

What's it about? "The Shards" is based on the fictionalized memoir of show co-creator Bret Easton Ellis. Set at the prestigious Buckley Prep, it stars Igby Rigney as a young Ellis. His world gets turned upside down when a new student, Robert (Homer Gere), arrives at the same time a serial killer known as the Trawler becomes active.

Why you should watch it: Ryan Murphy is a prolific showrunner, and his FX shows all tend to have a combination of polish, style and darkness. "The Shards" seems to be cut from that same cloth, especially with "American Psycho" author Ellis on hand to turn up the dark, twisted drama. Just be warned that most people seem to either love it or hate it.

Stream the first four episodes of "The Shards" season 1 on Hulu now

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Paramount+ is regularly adding new shows to binge-watch. This weekend is no exception. The streaming service releases new episodes of hit shows every week. Sometimes, even entire seasons at once. It added over 80 new movies and shows on August 1 alone. It even has some live sporting events, including all major events from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

This weekend, let's kick things off with some "Star Trek." Specifically, "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" season 4, which just dropped its third episode of the season on Thursday. Then, it's time to catch up on "Lioness" season 3. Whether you're a fan of Taylor Sheridan or not, this spy thriller is still worth a watch. Finally, this Saturday night there's live UFC fighting once again. This time, it's a UFC Welterweight Championship bout between current titleholder Islam Makhachev and challenger Ian Machado Garry. UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, so make sure your popcorn is ready in advance.

Here are the three new to Paramount+ shows you need to binge-watch this weekend. If you need more recommendations, check out everything new on Paramount+ in August 2026 for more options.

'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 4

Genre: Science fiction series

What's it about? "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" stars Anson Mount as Christopher Pike. He's the captain of the USS Enterprise and he's joined in this series by some familiar names. There's Spock (Ethan Peck), Number One (Rebecca Romijn), Montgomery Scott (Martin Quinn) and several others who have appeared in previous "Star Trek" movies and shows.

Why you should watch it: Season 4 covers the fourth year of the Enterprise's five-year mission. It's been a largely well-received show through its first three seasons. Season 4 is no exception and is currently rated an impressive 92% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stream the first four episodes of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" season 4 on Paramount+ now

'Lioness' season 3

Genre: Spy thriller series

What's it about? "Lioness" stars Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara. She is a CIA operative who runs the Lioness program. This woman-led initiative inserts female operatives undercover in the war on terror. Once in, they take down enemy targets by getting close to the women around them and exploiting the target from there.

Why you should watch it: "Lioness" season 3 has Joe dealing with deadly operations and enemy combatants abroad, and betrayals close to home. Critics have been largely positive about it, but audiences seem to really love it. It's currently rated 91% fresh by audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stream the first two episodes of "Lioness" season 3 on Paramount+ now. Episode 3 premieres on August 16

UFC 330: Makhachev vs Machado Garry 

Genre: Live sporting event

What's it about? UFC 330 will see UFC Welterweight Champion (and former UFC Lightweight Champion) Islam Makhachev defend his title against challenger Ian Machado Garry. Each of them has lost just one fight in their professional careers, so someone is adding another tally to the loss column for just the second time. My money is on Makhachev taking this one, given his only loss was back in 2015. That's four years before Machado Garry's career even started.

Why you should watch it: Obviously, you can't binge a live sports event. But live sports such as UFC included in your subscription are a major perk for having Paramount+. Especially when it's a fight with a title belt on the line..

Stream UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry on Paramount+ starting at 9 p.m. ET on August 15

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It’s been a long time since I could wholeheartedly recommend a new Netflix movie. “Voicemails for Isabelle” had strong cast chemistry but was overstuffed with genre tropes, “The Last House” had a promising first half and then collapsed on itself in a spectacularly misjudged third act, and “Ladies First”? Well, the less said about that utter trainwreck, the better.

This is to say that I went into “Don’t Say Good Luck,” the latest Netflix project from the House of Sandler, with, at best, modest expectations. It would be easy to accuse this new comedy drama of being a nepotism project. It stars Sunny Sandler, daughter of Adam Sandler, and comes just a few months after the older Sandler daughter, Sadie, got her own Netflix movie earlier this year, the fun but inherently forgettable “Roommates.”

Netflix is firmly in the Sandler family business, but it’s the youngest of the clan that has delivered the goods for the big red streaming service. “Good Say Good Luck” is a genuinely touching teen drama, and while it explores very familiar topics, a standing-ovation-worthy performance from Sunny Sandler elevates this crowd-pleaser above the pack. It’s a new Netflix movie that stands out in a sea of streaming originals not worthy of your watchlist.

What is ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ about?

Sophie (Sunny Sandler) is a spirited 16-year-old hoping to land a supporting role in her high school’s upcoming production of the popular Broadway musical “Waitress.” Much to her shock, after an emotionally charged audition, she lands her dream role, the lead, Jenna.

As she prepares for opening night, her home life becomes more dramatic than any of the events depicted on stage when her mother (Melaine Lynskey) discovers her cancer has returned. As her father (Max Greenfield) attempts to balance looking after his ill wife and Sophie’s two younger brothers, the family home becomes increasingly chaotic.

Throw in two grandparents (Bebe Neuwirth and Steve Buscemi), high school crushes (and naturally some heartache), squabbles with best friends, and Sophie finds herself torn between wanting to give her all to the production and wanting to spend as much time with her mom as possible.

‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ is the best Netflix movie in months

There are a lot of familiar themes in “Don’t Say Good Luck.” It’s far from the first comedy-drama to tackle a teen struggling to grapple with a parent’s serious illness while also balancing all the usual high school drama. So, I can’t really award this Netflix movie many points for originality. But it treads this well-worn ground with grace, humor, and lots of heart.

Sunny Sandler is the movie’s fulcrum, and much of what works runs through her tender performance. You’ll probably enjoy this movie and her performance more if you appreciate musical theater (specifically “Waitress” itself), but even if you have no love for stagecraft, her torn emotional state will likely bring you to tears. Particularly in a touching finale that ends the movie on a bittersweet note. Sunny Sandler appears to have a bright future.

But the youngest daughter of Adam Sandler doesn’t have to carry the movie’s emotional load solo. Melanie Lynskey delivers a devastating supporting performance as a mother fighting a serious illness while trying not to lose herself in the battle. Max Greenfield is also strong as the family’s father, and Steven Buscemi pops up with a few chuckle-worthy lines.

The movie sings when it explores the family dynamic, which is thankfully always kept loving. There is no tacky melodrama involving parental divorce or anything so needless. Sophie's family is together through it all. It's at its best when Sophie is torn between her responsibilities to her castmates on stage and her desire to support and spend quality time with her mother.

It’s less successful when it briefly devolves into adolescent angst, like boy trouble. This subplot could have been axed with no overall loss. Perhaps it's included to contrast Sophie's home life, where the grim realities of a serious illness hang heavy in the air, with the more carefree nature of high school dating. But her crush isn't developed enough, and this particular side story veers too heavily into clichés, including a weak self-empowering speech.

“Don’t Say Good Luck” is a sweet little movie. It pulls at your heartstrings in all the right ways, and Sunny Sandler and Lynskey deliver memorable performances, forming a mother-daughter bond that is easy to invest in. While it doesn’t put the original in Netflix Original, it’s unquestionably one of the streaming service’s strongest efforts this year. And frankly, it’s a colossal setup from anything Adam Sandler has headlined for Netflix.

Watch "Don't Say Good Luck" on Netflix now

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It's hot out there, and the couch is looking better than ever these days. Prime Video added a whopping 57 new movies so far in August, enough to make our good ol' friend decision paralysis rear its ugly head again. That's why I've already sifted through all the new releases to shine a spotlight on the best of the bunch. No one wants to waste all that time searching just to settle on a dud.

Slim pickings this week. "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is one of the better sequels in the series, and it's got enough spectacle to keep your interest. Especially after it picks up in the second half. If you don't mind Christmas coming a little early this year, "Journey to Bethlehem" will scratch that musical itch.

Me? I'll be watching "Fargo," my second favorite Coen brothers movie. In case you were wondering, the first is "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" — still the best Odyssey adaptation imo. "Fargo" is always good for a laugh in my household, and I'm pretty sure all Midwesterners are required by law to watch it at least once.

For even more streaming recommendations, check out everything new on Prime Video in August. So without further ado, let's dive into the best new movies on Prime Video to add to your watchlist.

'Journey to Bethlehem' (2023)

The vibe: A less horny "Jesus Christ Superstar"

It's a strange time of year to be recommending a Christmas musical, but we live in Unprecedented Times, I 'spose. I'm not exactly the target audience for "Journey to Bethlehem," but the grown-up theater kid in me yearns for musicals, and I must feed it something every few months lest I get stuck watching Gerard Butler play the Phantom of the Opera again.

"Journey to Bethlehem" seems like just the earworm-y cotton candy to stuff in its maw. It borrows from the biblical story of Jesus' birth, weaving in the struggles of Mary (Fiona Palomo) and her betrothed, Joseph (Milo Manheim) and other creative liberties, most notably the inclusion of pop songs and yuletide greatest hits.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%
Watch "Journey to Bethlehem" on Prime Video now

'Fargo' (1996)

The vibe: Cozy ridiculousness to cool you off

If better movies had come out on Prime Video this week, I wouldn't have to put a 20-year-old Cohen brothers flick on this list. Yet here we are. "Fargo" is what happens when the world's most pathetic criminals collide. Unfortunately for them, it's in the crosshairs of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), a Midwest nice police chief who's entirely too pregnant for this foolishness when she gets caught up in one of the strangest cases in North Dakota history.

This being a Coen brothers film, you'll find plenty of quirky characters — not to mention the delightfully pitch-perfect Midwest accents of McDormand and William H. Macy’s Jerry Lundegaard, a schmuck in every sense of the word. His scheme to have his wife kidnapped to extort his father-in-law for money kicks off the whole string of unfortunate events. Steve Buscemi is slimy as ever as one of the two-bit criminals Jerry hires, and he meets a pretty grisly end (if ykyk).

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
Watch "Fargo" on Prime Video now

'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' (2024)

The vibe: Another underbaked unnecessary sequel, but at least this one's kinda fun to watch

"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is the latest installment in the "Planet of the Apes" franchise. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where intelligent apes have risen to dominance, the movie is set several years after the events of "War for the Planet of the Apes." Apes have long established themselves as the dominant species, with what humans are left either enslaved or barely scraping by as scavengers in the wilderness.

The ruthless Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand) seeks to strengthen his reign, but one serious thorn in his side arrives after a young ape named Noa (Owen Teague) meets a human scavenger named Mae (Freya Allan). Their unlikely friendship threatens to throw a wrench in everything, and Proximus will stop at nothing to see his plans realized.

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Watch "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" on Prime Video now

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We’re basically in the middle of August, and while many people see this as the last month of summer and the final few weeks to enjoy the sunshine, I very much see it as a countdown to the colder months ahead. If, like me, you’re already looking forward to fall and would rather spend your weekend curled up with a good movie than sizzling in the sun, you’re in luck. Netflix added a bunch of new movies this week.

However, with so much to choose from on Netflix, settling on a movie can be half the battle. So, I’ve done the digging for you and rounded up three films that are perfect for a weekend watch.

That includes a new coming-of-age musical dramedy starring Adam Sandler’s youngest daughter, Sunny, one of Sydney Sweeney’s most overlooked movies, and a survival thriller that shows just how savage a great white shark can really be. So, here are the three Netflix movies you should watch this weekend.

‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ (2026)

“Don’t Say Good Luck” is a coming-of-age musical dramedy that could easily grab the No. 1 spot on Netflix over the next few days. Produced by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions and starring his daughter, Sunny Sandler, the movie marks a noticeable shift for the studio, moving away from its traditional comedies and into more emotionally driven territory. Plus, it already boasts an impressive 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, so I don’t think you’ll need much convincing to give it a watch.

Sophie Birenbaum (Sunny Sandler) is a high school theatre student who lands the lead role in her school’s production of Waitress. Just as she prepares for her biggest performance yet, Sophie discovers that her mother’s (Melanie Lynskey) cancer has returned, throwing her home life into turmoil. As she juggles several rehearsals away from home, friendships, romance and the pressures of being a teenager, Sophie tries to keep everything together while supporting her family.

Watch "Don't Say Good Luck" on Netflix

‘Immaculate’ (2024)

Getting closer to fall means now’s the perfect time to stream a good horror movie. Luckily, Netflix has you covered with one of Sydney Sweeney’s more overlooked films, “Immaculate.” Released around the same time as the eerily similar “The First Omen” back in 2024, Sweeney’s psychological horror stands out thanks to her intense performance alone, and I’m convinced she needs to do more in this genre. Expect to be a little spooked after watching it, because it’ll certainly get you in the mood for Halloween.

Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney) is a young American woman who travels to the Italian countryside to join a remote convent after surviving a near-death experience as a child. Welcomed by the resident nuns and priests, Cecilia settles into her new surroundings and prepares to take her final vows. However, shortly after becoming a nun, strange events begin to unfold around her, leaving Cecilia increasingly unsettled. As the convent celebrates what it considers a miracle, she begins experiencing strange nightmares and strange physical symptoms.

Watch "Immaculate" on Netflix

‘The Shallows’ (2016)

2026 seems to be the year of shark movies, but not necessarily the year of good ones. This type of survival thriller is getting pretty oversaturated at this point, with many relying on the same storylines and tropes, which is why I appreciate “The Shallows” for doing things a little differently. I’d rank it among the best shark movies out there. Starring Blake Lively in the lead role, this thriller is an intense watch from start to finish, and makes the smart choice of following one character as she faces one of the ocean’s deadliest predators.

Nancy (Blake Lively) is a medical student who travels to a secluded beach in Mexico to surf alone. While out in the water, she is attacked by a great white shark and manages to escape to a small rock just 200 yards from shore. However, the shark continues circling the area, leaving Nancy injured and unable to safely return to the beach. With the tide rising and her injuries worsening, she must figure out a way to get back to land while avoiding the shark, and so she begins planning her escape.

Watch "The Shallows" on Netflix from Aug. 15

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