Some of our most anticipated new movies and shows have arrived just in time for the weekend. The biggest TV shows include the return of our favorite dojo-based series Cobra Kai on Netflix, the premiere of a historical epic Those who are about to die on Peacock (or, if you’re watching internationally, Prime Video) and new 60s thriller Lady in the lake on Apple TV Plus.
We’ve also picked out two sports-related documentaries in the run-up to the Olympics: the first is a four-part series on Netflix about legendary gymnast Simone Biles, called Simone Biles Rising, while the other is a biopic about the late Olympic champion Gertrude Ederle on Disney Plus.
Rounding out our list of recommendations is the latest season of the reality dating show Too hot to handle on Netflix, alongside the Marvel TV show animation Hit monkey on Hulu. Not sure where to start? Learn more about the biggest new shows and movies on the best streaming services below.
Those Who Are About to Die (Peacock/Prime Video)
“Are you not entertained!?” Maximus Decimus Meridius shouted to a crowd of visitors to the Colosseum in the 2000 historical epic Gladiator. We certainly were (and still are after 24 years), but if you thought you’d be as fascinated by Those who are about to diea new historical drama that you can stream on Peacock (US) and Prime Video (international), you might want to temper your expectations a bit.
Why? Well, while we were suggesting Those who are about to dieThe first trailer looked like a spicy meeting of minds between Game of Thrones And Gladiatorcritics claim it’s anything but. Touted as a series with “obvious limitations” and an “increasingly dull” story, this Anthony Hopkins-led drama should be consigned to the history books. Don’t expect it to appear on our list of the best Prime Video series any time soon.
Cobra Kai season 6 (Netflix)
Sensei and students from the Cobra Kai dojo return to our screens once again to train for the World Karate Championship in Cobra Kai season 6. The Sekai Taikai Tournament will be the epic finale that fans of the hit series have been waiting for since they saw the first trailers for the final episode of one of Netflix’s best series.
While it’s sad news that this season will be the last, the show is ending with a bang, as there are a whopping 15 episodes to get through that will be released in three parts. The first five dropped on Thursday, July 18 and are available to stream this weekend, but you’ll have to wait until November 15 for the next batch to drop. If you’re already twiddling your fingers, here are three similar shows that pack a punch to stream while you wait.
Lady in the Lake (Apple TV Plus)
Natalie Portman’s New Apple TV Plus Show Lady in the lake sees her play the lead role of Maddie Schwartz, a prosperous Jewish housewife in 1960s Baltimore. Her life fatally collides with that of Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram), a black mother who juggles three jobs, when a young girl disappears during the Thanksgiving Day parade.
The thriller, based on a book by Laura Lippman, has only just hit the streaming service and has already received rave reviews. The guard wrote: “This unflinching, 1960s-set thriller is astonishingly written and acted. It’s so lush that its brilliance threatens to overwhelm you.” We’re confident it’s a worthy contender for our list of best Apple TV Plus shows, and if you manage to watch it all this weekend, here are three more shows on the streamer with 86% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes.
Too Hot to Handle season 6 (Netflix)
Too hot to handle is not your average dating show. Yes, there are attractive singles dating in a villa, but their idea of paradise quickly collapses when they are no longer allowed to kiss or engage in sexual acts. If they break the rules, everyone pays the price, as money is deducted from the $100,000 prize pool.
If you want to watch explosive drama and addictive entertainment this weekend, then Too hot to handle Season six is available to watch on Netflix.
Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)
Legendary gymnast Simone Biles documents her mental health struggles following the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and her triumphant return to the 2024 Paris Olympics in this inspiring Netflix documentary Simone Biles on the rise.
Variation said The four-part docuseries is “an elegantly paced, vulnerable account that infuses the history of gymnastics with Biles’ personal legacy—one that’s hard-won but fascinating to watch.” With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Biles has not only secured a place in our hearts, but her docuseries is shaping up to be a gold-medal-winning future addition to our best Netflix documentaries guide.
Hit-Monkey season 2 (Hulu)
Marvel’s hitman Monkey and sidekick Ghost are back on Hulu (or Disney Plus if you stream internationally) this week. It’s been two years since the hit animated series first aired, but in that time the series has built a loyal following and generally positive reviews. The series currently holds an 82% score on the Tomatometer , earning it a spot on our list of the best Hulu shows.
Like its protagonist, the Japanese macaque, the show is a force to be reckoned with. The series survived the cancellation following Marvel TV’s 2020 shutdown, snagging a renewal despite the cancellation of its Marvel sister show. Season two takes us no longer to the snowy mountains of Tokyo, but to New York City, where Monkey (Fred Tatasciore) and Bryce (Jason Sudeikis) attempt to escape a life of murder and find redemption. Can this unlikely duo escape a world of monkeys and assassins?
Young Woman and the Sea (Disney Plus)
Star Wars alumnus Daisy Ridley continues to build on her reputation after the mixed reception to the iconic sci-fi franchise’s sequel trilogy. The film is a heartwarming and endearing costume drama that puts the message of female empowerment front and center.
Ridley plays Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Ederle, who attempted to become the first woman to swim the entire 21 miles of the English Channel. Along the way, her attempts to break new ground are met with constant obstacles, not least from a patriarchal society that claims the fairer sex could never achieve such a feat.
A beautifully filmed and thematically dense film, Young woman and the sea is a powerhouse of a film that deserves far more recognition than it’s gotten so far. A worthy addition to our best Disney Plus movies when we next update it, it deserves it.
For more streaming coverage, check out our guides on the best Apple TV Plus movies , new Netflix movies , best Max movies , and best Max series .