When it comes to streaming, viewers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television within each one!
Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services trying to determine what to watch! We've got your back whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more.
But if you're seeking something brand spanking new (or new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.
Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Need a little Christmas... right this very minute? Hankering for a crime tale that's kooky and creepy? Ready for a coming-of-age story that'll blow your mind and rock your concept of the Joker? Or maybe you just want a winsome tale from a galaxy far far away. Whichever's the case, we've got you covered.
Here's what's new on streaming, from worst to best.
7. Fly Me to the Moon
Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star in a Space Race-set romance that harkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood with its cheeky sensibility and chic 1960s fashion. Unfortunately, this woefully miscalculated movie is nowhere near as whimsical or funny as you'd reason it should be.
In 1969, NASA is desperate to make its mission to the moon work, so they've got their top NASA launch director (Tatum) on it. But they need a sure thing and an enthusiastic American public, so they also hire an advertising maven (Johansson) to sell the country on the idea — and plot an Earth-bound moon landing shoot in case they need to fake it. While Fly Me To the Moon has its moments — supporting player Anna Garcia is a hilarious standout — it ultimately falls short of its entertainment aims. In Mashable's review, I explained, "[Director Greg] Berlanti has a wide sandbox to play in but no idea what to do with all these toys. In the end, Fly Me to the Moon is not just a misfire but a cataclysmic miscalculation, turning out to be far more tedious than enchanting." — K.P.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jim Rash, Anna Garcia, Donald Elise Watkins, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Christian Zuber, Nick Dillenburg, Ray Romano, and Woody Harrelson
How to watch: Fly Me to the Moon comes to Apple TV+ on Dec. 6.
6. Speak No Evil
'Round these parts, we were big fans of 2022's Speak No Evil, a Danish thriller that had us riveting from its deceptively sunny opening act to its totally twisted finale. So we were a tad skeptical when an American remake was announced so swiftly.
Director James Watkins (The Woman in Black) adapted Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup's original script, translating the action from the Netherlands to rural England, and swapping doe-eyed Danes for American ex-pats. The plot was mostly the same: While vacationing abroad, a family of three befriends a married couple and their quiet son. So they decide to follow their new friends to their remote home and keep the party going. But soon, they discover something wicked lurks in the hearts of their hosts. However, Watkins' version adds new elements and a totally different ending. Admittedly, we weren't fans.
In my review for Mashable, I jeered, "Watkins has gussied up a convoluted action sequence to coddle American exceptionalism. Ironically, he does this by cutting the original's most horrific scenes and in their place offering underwhelming substitutions, like swapping a rare porterhouse steak for a bit of soggy cardboard. Of course, if you've never savored the blood and bite of a steak, this processed remake will probably serve just fine." — K.P.
Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, and Scoot McNairy
How to watch: Speak No Evil begins streaming on Peacock Dec. 6.
5. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Documentarians Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui teamed up with the family and friends of Christopher Reeve to unfurl a touching look at his life story.
The film cleverly parallels his rise to fame as Super-Man with his challenging journey after a near-fatal horse-riding accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Reeve's loved ones share how he rose from this tragedy to become an activist and advocate for people with disabilities, touching on the controversies therein. Archival footage and home movies show the late movie star in interviews, at award ceremonies, at home, and in his advocacy work. Altogether, this paints an emotional and inspiring portrait of a man many saw as super and a hero. — K.P.
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Dana Reeve, Alexandra Reeve Givens, Matthew Reeve, and Will Reeve
How to watch: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is now streaming on Max.
4. That Christmas
Richard Curtis, the visionary behind the holiday classic Love Actually, has a new yuletide treat — and this one doesn't have that NSFW stand-in plotline to worry about!
Based on his children's book series, That Christmas is an animated adventure that welcomes audiences into the charming small town of Wellington-on-Sea. There, a flurry of stories are stirring: A young boy pursues his crush on a shy classmate. A band of parents get stranded overnight, leaving their kids to create a holiday celebration for themselves. And a saucy Santa (voiced by Succession's Brian Cox) is sure to get in on the fun.
Filled with beloved British stars, holiday charm, and humor, That Christmas is a terrific choice for the whole family. —K.P.
Starring: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan, Andy Nyman, Kuhu Agarwal, Bronte Smith, Freddie Spry, Ava Talbot, Bill Nighy, and Rhys Darby
How to watch: That Christmas hits Netflix Dec. 4.
3. The People's Joker
Forget what you think you know about the Joker. Far from DC-approved spinoffs or box office-bombing sequels, The People's Joker employs elements from the classic Batman villain (and a slew of his criminal cohorts) to spin a boldly original trans coming-of-age story.
Co-written, directed, and starring Vera Drew, The People's Joker follows a trans girl from her humble, rural beginnings to a scuzzy, neon-drenched Gotham City, where comedy is outlawed to all but an SNL-like league. Joker the Harlequin (Drew) fights for the right to crack wise. Pulling together DC iconography, autobiographical elements, and a proudly chaotic and crowd-sourced aesthetic, Drew makes a movie that is romantic, funny, tender, bizarre, and endlessly surprising.
The People's Joker gained buzz on the festival circuit, spooked a certain studio, awed critics, and ultimately found its following thanks to film and fitting campaign that encouraged audiences to embrace their inner weirdos. And now it's easier than ever to see what all the buzz was about. Don't miss it. — K.P.
Starring: Vera Drew, Scott Aukerman, Tim Heidecker, Maria Bamford, David Liebe Hart, Robert Wuhl, and Bob Odenkirk
How to watch: The People's Joker debuts on MUBI Dec. 6.
2. The Sticky
From 2011 to 2012, thieves stole millions of dollars worth of maple syrup from Quebec's syrup reserves. Now, the unbelievable true story of the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist gets the TV treatment thanks to The Sticky. The new Prime Video series stars Margo Martindale, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Guillaume Cyr as three down-on-their-luck outsiders about to embark on the sweetest robbery of the century. (Jamie Lee Curtis pops in later as a Boston gangster out for blood.)
While the heist itself can feel a tad underwhelming after six episodes of build-up (some of it moving syrupy slow), The Sticky's true draw is the chemistry between the conspiring central crew. As I wrote in my Mashable review, "Martindale, Cyr, and Diamantopoulos have created a trio of lovable, flawed criminals who are fully-fledged right off the bat, and watching their dynamic evolve over the course of the season is a sweet treat all by itself." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: All episodes of The Sticky premiere on Prime Video on Dec. 6
1. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Do you want some sweet, sweet childlike joy with your Star Wars? Then check out the franchise's latest TV offering, Skeleton Crew. This rollicking adventure series centers on four young kids who find themselves far, far away from their home planet. On top of trying to get home, they've also got space pirates to worry about — not to mention the shifty Force-user Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) who's tagging along with them, and who may not be all that he seems. It's basically The Goonies in space, a combination that yields delightful returns.
Among these returns? Four adorable young heroes (played by Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Robert Timothy Smith, and Kyriana Kratter), some spectacular animatronic aliens, and a refreshing lack of fan service-y connections to other Star Wars shows and movies. (At least, not in the three episodes sent to critics for screening.) In my review for Mashable, I praised Skeleton Crew as being "charming as can be, with its classic adventure story feel setting it squarely apart from other Star Wars TV offerings." — B.E.
Starring: Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon, and Nick Frost
How to watch: Star Wars: Skeleton Crew episodes 1 and 2 are now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes airing weekly.
Honorable mention: A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter
At the time of publishing, none on our team have had the good fortune to watch more than the preview of Sabrina Carpenter's intriguing holiday special. The guest list alone is reason enough to add it to your watch list. (Hey, the promise of a duet between Carpenter and the glorious queer icon Chappell Roan is reason enough!) But having not seen what goodies this pop girlie has in store, we couldn't properly rank this one.
Once you've seen it, tells us where A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter would make it on your list: Naughty? Nice? Both!? — K.P.
Starring: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Tyla, Shania Twain, Kali Uchis, Nico Hiraga, Quinta Brunson, Cara Delevingne, Kyle Mooney, Megan Stalter, Sean Astin, Owen Thiele, and Jillian Bell
How to watch: A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter premieres Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. ET on Netflix.
UPDATE: Dec. 5, 2024, 2:04 p.m. EST This piece has been updated to reflect current release information.
Topics Streaming Watch Guides
