The weekend is here, and as always, there is so much to watch. And while you might be feeling overwhelmed, we’ve rounded up the best picks of the week to help narrow down your choices so you can kick back, relax, and eat some popcorn.
Below, we’ve gathered the six best movies and TV shows from across all the best streaming services, and thrown them together with a handy description that includes where you can watch. If you’re in the mood for some action-fantasy, lighthearted family-friendly comedy, or are absolutely dying to see Larry David in a powdered wig… we’ve got you covered.
Plus, there are some movies whose theatrical release you may have missed that have finally hit streaming. Whether you feel like taking a three-hour jaunt through a water-filled fictional CGI world, or watching a bunch of anthropomorphic sheep solve a murder, it’s all down below for you.
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Netflix
Not to be confused with the new animated series or forthcoming animated movie, Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is back for a second season. This time around, Aang (Gordon Cormier) and co. journey deeper into the Earth Kingdom to battle their enemy, Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim).
Early reviews for the new season have been overwhelmingly positive, with fans agreeing that Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 is a vast improvement on season 1. A third season is also on the way, which will conclude the series. After you finish season 2, I recommend firing up the original Nickelodeon cartoon, not just for comparison, but for an optimal double feature experience.
For even more, check out our list of the best Netflix shows.
The Bear season 5
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Hulu
The fifth and final season of The Bear has arrived, and with a 100% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score in tow. The Bear season 5 picks up the morning after the season 4 finale, in which Sydney (Ayo Edebri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Sugar (Abby Elliot) find out that Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) has quit the industry and left them the restaurant. Given that this is the end of the line for our favorite restaurateurs… it’s their one last chance to get that Michelin star.
It was star Jamie Lee Curtis who officially spilled the beans that the show would end here after four years and countless Emmy and Golden Globe wins. Before you head into season 5, I recommend watching Gary, the Jon Bernthal-penned one-shot that hit Hulu earlier this year and serves as its own standalone companion to the final season.
For what else to watch, here’s our pick of the best Hulu shows.
Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: HBO Max
It’s just as ridiculous as it sounds, and I mean that in the best way. Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is a sketch show that takes place across several events in American history – and sees Larry David don a variety of powdered wigs.
Bill Hader and Kathryn Hahn play Abraham and Mary Lincoln, respectively, with John Hamm and Sean Hayes as the Wright Brothers. The impossibly stacked cast includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Toby Huss, Isla Fisher, and former United States President Barack Obama. Michelle Obama also serves as executive producer.
For more viewing inspiration, check out our guide to the best HBO shows.
Adventure Time: Side Quests
Available: US
Where to watch: Disney Plus
In case you’ve been missing Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, and co. since the flagship show went off the air in 2018, the boys are back town. Adventure Time: Side Quests is a prequel series that chronicles Finn’s childhood and how he came to have that brotherly bond with Jake. John DiMaggio is back to voice Jake, but, because this is the tale of a tiny child version of Finn, Sasha Knight has taken over for Jeremy Shada.
All 10 episodes are currently available in the US only, but will drop internationally on Cartoon Network and HBO Max in October.
For more animated shows, check out our guide to the best shows on Disney Plus.
The Sheep Detectives
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Prime Video
The Sheep Detectives might seem like a silly movie on the surface (and that might be because Patrick Stewart and Bryan Cranston provide the voices of anthropomorphic sheep), but it’s actually a profoundly sad (but still funny) movie about grief. When their shepherd (Hugh Jackman) is mysteriously found dead, his flock launches an all-out investigation and goes on a murder-mystery adventure. The absolutely stacked cast includes Nicolas Galitzine, Emma Thompson, Bella Ramsey, Hong Chau, and Larraine Newman.
The film currently sits at a 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and has a 5/5 star review in my heart.
After this, give our guide on the best Prime Video movies a look.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Available: UK/UK
Where to watch: Disney Plus
Fancy a trip to Pandora? Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in James Cameron‘s blockbuster series, is set one year after the events of The Way of Water, and sees Jake and his family grapple with grief after Neteyama’s death. Per the official synopsis, they “encounter a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe called the Ash People, led by the fiery tribe leader, Varang, who has allied with Jake’s enemy, Quaritch, as the conflict on Pandora escalates to devastating consequences.”
Avatar 4 and 5 may or may not be on the way, with the fifth movie slated for a 2031 release… yes, you read that correctly.
For more on what to watch, here’s our guide to the best movies on Disney Plus.
If nothing on our list seems right for you, have a read of our guides to the best Netflix movies, the best Prime Video shows, and the best Apple TV movies you can watch right now.
