From demonic villains in parallel realms to a documentary series about a legendary band, the latest streaming offerings are a diverse mix of genres. Fans can indulge in crime thrillers, superhero flicks, and screwball comedies, all conveniently distilled into this streaming guide.
As November draws to a close, it’s been a whirlwind month filled with holiday activities and a deluge of new releases. Keeping track of it all can be overwhelming. A couple of years ago, I started crafting this guide for two main reasons:
Firstly, I aimed to assist readers in navigating the myriad of viewing options. This guide not only informs you about what’s new and currently available but also includes my personal insights, along with links to reviews and related content.
Secondly, it serves as a personal organizational tool. With so much content, it’s easy to lose track, and I’m not adept at maintaining spreadsheets. Compiling this guide forces me to explore the internet each week, gathering noteworthy recommendations, which I can then revisit as needed. It’s a resource for me, and I hope it proves helpful for you too.
Second, because I needed a way to keep myself organized. It’s so easy to lose track of everything, and I’m not good at keeping spreadsheets. This guide forces me to scour the internet each week to find everything worth watching, and then gives me a reference to go back to whenever I need. It’s useful for me, so I hope it’s useful for you as well.
Don’t forget to check out last weekend’s streaming guide for additional picks.
This week’s highlight is Stranger Things 5. After a three-year wait, the beloved series makes its return, a testament to the Duffer Brothers’ enduring appeal, despite mixed reactions to the initial four episodes of Season 5. The familiar crew reunites to track down Vecna and hopes for Max’s recovery from her coma, all while the town of Hawkins faces a military lockdown. The show marks an explosive comeback to the Duffer Brothers’ 1980s-inspired sci-fi saga. You can read my detailed recap and review here.
New TV Shows To Watch This Weekend
Stranger Things — Season 5, Volume 1 (Netflix)
Stranger Things 5 is the big release this week. We’ve been waiting for three years for this show to come out, which is a long time even for a show as beloved as this one. The Duffer Brothers have not disappointed, though I know not everyone feels this way about the first four episodes of Season 5 (the rest come in two more installments). The gang is back together, looking for Vecna and hoping that Max comes out of her coma, all while the town of Hawkins is under military quarantine. It’s an action-packed return to the Duffer Brothers’ 1980s’ sci-fi adventure. Read my recap/review right here.
The Beatles Anthology — Docuseries (Disney+)
If you’re a Beatles fan, this multi-part anthology is spread out over three nights ending on Friday for a total of 9 episodes. Go down the rabbit hole with John, Paul, George and Ringo in one of the most extensive documentaries ever made about this band.
New Movies To Watch This Weekend
Caught Stealing (Netflix)
I’ve been waiting and waiting for Austin Butler’s ‘90s crime thriller, Caught Stealing, to come to streaming. It looks like a lot of fun but I missed it in theaters. The pulpy crime film also stars Zoë Kravitz and a mohawked Matt Smith (so fans of House of the Dragon’s Daemon Targaryen can get their fix here). This is out on Saturday.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Netflix)
I didn’t bother with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom when it came out because the first film was so bad and this one was apparently even worse. Still, it’s on Netflix now so if you have a hankering for underwater fight scenes, dive on in. Jason Momoa is always watchable enough (though perhaps opt for his historical drama Chief of War on Apple TV instead).
Sidelined 2 (Tubi)
I will most certainly never watch Sidelined or the sequel, Sidelined 2, but apparently the football/romance flick was popular enough on Tubi to warrant a second entry. And hey, it’s Tubi so it’s free.
A New ‘Kill Bill’ Animated Short: ‘Yuki’s Revenge’ — (Fortnite)
This is a bit off the beaten path, but if you’re a Quentin Tarantino fan and also happen to play Fortnite, now you can watch the “Yuki’s Revenge” scene that didn’t make it into Kill Bill. This was a scene Tarantino apparently wanted to include but it didn’t quite fit, so now he’s worked with Epic Games to create an animated version. Uma Thurman even returned to voice her character, The Bride. The scene will debut in Fortnite this Sunday at 2pm ET and in select theaters when the Kill Bill double-feature releases this December.
Last Chance Movies Leaving Netflix
When December 1st gets here, we’ll get a big batch of new movies on Netflix and other streaming services. We’re also going to lose a bunch of great movies that day. I’ve compiled a list of seven to watch before November shuffles off this mortal coil.
Streaming Weekly TV Shows
The Mighty Nein — Season 1 (Prime Video)
I was wrong about The Mighty Nein’s release schedule. The first three episodes dropped last week and I thought it would follow the same release schedule as The Legend of Vox Machina, with three more episodes every week. Instead, we’re getting just one episode per week giving us a bit more spread out season (the reverse of what we got with Andor Season 2). Four episodes in, and the latest animated fantasy from Critical Role is every bit as good as Vox Machina, with a cast of lovable characters and a great story with lots of violent action, magic and plenty of comic relief. This is not for kids. New episodes drop Wednesday.
Pluribus — Season 1 (Apple TV)
Pluribus, the new Vince Gilligan sci-fi series on Apple TV, actually aired early this week (officially on Wednesday, but Apple releases Wednesday shows on Tuesday evenings). It ended on quite the teaser, too. Rhea Seehorn continues to do a great job in this show, even though I find it a little slow and her interactions with the hivemind (previous to this episode) weirdly redundant. I’m still very curious to find out what has caused this bizarre hivemind and what on earth Carol saw beneath those tarps. We’ll have to wait until next week to learn anything, unfortunately.
The Chair Company — Season 1 Finale (HBO Max)
I’m pretty sure that the big reveal in last Sunday’s episode of The Chair Company was a massive red herring. Then again, I really have no clue what to expect each week from Tim Robinson’s wacky, conspiracy-laden comedy about a man who spirals after an office chair breaks at work, sending him crashing to the floor. I’m really not even sure how to describe this show to people who haven’t seen it, but it’s one of the best things on TV at the moment if this style of humor floats your boat. The show has been renewed for a second season which is great news.
IT: Welcome to Derry — Season 1 (HBO Max)
Other than the goofy CGI which, at times, really breaks the immersion for me and undermines the horror, IT: Welcome to Derry is quite good. It’s certainly a great prequel for fans of the movies, and I’m very curious to see where it goes. Each episode has some fresh new terror and I suspect that the show will only get more and more intense as we approach the finale.
Blue Lights — Season 3 (BritBox)
Blue Lights is the best cop show on TV at the moment, especially if you enjoy UK crime series. It’s a bit like Belfast’s version of The Wire, with a focus on day-to-day police work rather than flashy action. That being said, Season 3 has plenty of suspense and tension and a new focus on upper class criminals. It’s the terrific characters and their relationships with one another and the people of Belfast that make this series such a gem, however.
Landman — Season 2 (Paramount+)
I’m still behind on Landman, but if you were a fan of the first season, Billy Bob Thornton (not to be confused with Millie Bobby Brown) is back for more Texas oil drama. Fans have voiced concerns with the mother/daughter storyline, but otherwise seem to pretty happy about this latest Taylor Sheridan production. Episode 3 lands on Paramount+ this Sunday.
For all the shows streaming weekly at the moment, you can read my full TV streaming guide right here. Check out last weekend’s big streaming guide here.
And that’s all folks! Let me know what you’re watching and if I missed anything you think I should add to this guide. If there’s anything upcoming on your radar, let me know about that as well! You tell me: What are you watching these days? What else did I miss? What should I put on this list or add to my backlog? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook.
