Despite the total solar eclipse, things are starting to brighten up outside, but unless you’re reading this from a beach house in California, it’s still not warm enough to spend your weekends completely apart from the TV.
Thank goodness, then, for the streaming services, which are offering a particularly exciting array of new movies and TV shows to enjoy this week. Leading the load is Fallout on Prime Video, Amazon’s serialized adaptation of the hugely popular post-apocalyptic video game series The sympathizer And Franklin start streaming on Max and Apple TV Plus respectively.
Below, we’ve rounded up the seven biggest new movies and TV shows you can stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Max, and more.
Fallout (Prime Video)
It’s no exaggeration to say that we’re living through a golden age of video game adaptations, and Amazon is hoping for its latest game-to-screen series, Falloutcan mimic the success of recent projects such as The last of us TV program.
Adapted from the post-apocalyptic video game franchise of the same name (by Westworld writing duo Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, no less), this eight-part, 1950s-style series focuses on a young woman’s journey through a nuclear war-ravaged Los Angeles. Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan and Walton Goggins lead the cast.
In our Fallout season 1 review, we describe the show as “an absolute blast” and one of the best Prime Video shows ever made, so existing Fallout fans should not be afraid of the quality of this project. For more insight into the product of the series, check out our interviews with the Fallout cast and Nolan himself.
Now available to stream on Prime Video.
The Sympathizer (Max)
Fresh off his Oscar-winning performance Oppenheimerplays Robert Downey Jr. multiple characters in A24’s Park Chan-wook-directed spy thriller The sympathizer.
This seven-part adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel follows a Vietnamese communist spy (Hoa Xuande) who continues to secretly gather intelligence for the Viet Cong while in exile in the United States after the Vietnam War. Downey Jr. stars in various antagonist roles.
The first episode of The sympathizer – which critics have described as “a tour-de-force adaptation” – is available to stream on Max in the US from Sunday and on Sky in the UK from Monday. The remaining six episodes of the show will be released weekly every Sunday.
Available to stream on Max in the US from Sunday and on Sky in the UK from Monday.
Franklin (Apple TV Plus)
Participate Napoleon this weekend in Apple TV Plus’ biopic library Franklina new historical miniseries charting the exploits of famed polymath Benjamin Franklin.
Set toward the end of Franklin’s decades-long career, the eight-episode show focuses on how the diplomat brokered the French-American alliance of 1778. Michael Douglas stars in the title role alongside Noah Jupe, Daniel Mays and Ludivine Sagnier.
Critics have praised Douglas’ performance as “absolutely convincing”, suggesting Franklin could be one of the best Apple TV Plus shows of the year so far. The first three episodes of the series are now available to stream, with the remaining five releasing weekly every Friday.
Now available to stream on Apple TV Plus.
Good Times (Netflix)
1970s CBS sitcom by Norman Lear Good times is getting the animated treatment on Netflix this weekend.
Featuring the voices of Jay Pharoah, Yvette Nicole Brown, Marsai Martin, JB Smoove and Gerald Anthony Johnson, this adult animated comedy series – produced by the late Lear himself alongside Seth MacFarlane and Stephen Curry – focuses on the misadventures of a family living in the Chicago projects.
Suffice it to say, Good times has left preview audiences divided, but critics have said this animated sequel “gets better when it steps out of Normal Lear’s shadow.”
Now available to stream on Netflix.
Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
British comedian Richard Gadd adapts his award-winning, partly autobiographical play Baby reindeer this weekend to a new Netflix series.
Based on Gadd’s own experience with a stalker, this new drama (from the makers of The end of the damn world) follows a struggling comedian (played by Gadd himself) who becomes an obsessive object for a vulnerable woman (Jessica Gunning).
Critics have described Baby reindeer as “a suspenseful, eerily filmed series that will stay with you for a long time,” so this could be one of the best Netflix shows of the year.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
What Jennifer Did (Netflix)
This first of this week’s two documentary choices is What Jennifer did on Netflix.
This lengthy investigation examines the 2010 case of Jennifer Pan, a young Vietnamese-Canadian girl who was inexplicably left as the only witness when armed intruders broke into her home and murdered her parents.
If you don’t already know how this shocking case unfolded, we won’t release any spoilers here, but judging by the trailer: What Jennifer did has the potential to be one of the best Netflix documentaries for a while.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion (Max)
If you enjoyed Netflix White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & FitchHBO has a new fashion-focused exposé documentary for you.
Brandy Hellville and the cult of fast fashion examines the toxic origins and culture behind the titular teen clothing brand, which faced accusations of racism and misogyny from former employees, executives and fashion insiders.
Now available to stream on Max.
For more streaming coverage, check out our guides to the best Disney Plus movies, the best Netflix movies, new Prime Video movies, and new Max movies.