It's a new week, which means there are nearly endless new options to watch on our favorite streaming services. We like to keep tabs on what's new to Netflix and Max in the month ahead, but don't you just hate it when you get all excited to watch a show or movie, only to find out you still have to wait weeks for it to come out? That's why we like to keep things a little short-sighted here, by telling you about the best entertainment options available this week.
With these excellent choices to look forward to, the week will fly by. Just try to see how many you can make it through before the weekend hits!
What to watch this week — the best movies and TV on streaming
Pop Culture Jeopardy! (May 11)
Colin Jost hosts the weekly show, which is coming to Netflix after one season on Amazon. New episodes drop every Wednesday, and contestants will compete in teams for the grand prize. Watch the trailer closely — you might recognize some faces.
Marty, Life Is Short (May 12)
Oscar-nominated director Lawrence Kasdan helms this definitive documentary on the beloved comedian. The film uses never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive interviews with stars close to Short (including Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, and Tom Hanks) to paint a portrait of the influential and beloved comedian.
Tucci In Italy season 2 (May 12)
When you've finished The Devil Wears Prada 2 and still can't get enough of Stanley Tucci, tune into his travel show. While the title is pretty self-explanatory, the second season will take viewers across southern Italy, beginning in Naples, hitting Sardinia and looping back up to Veneto. You'll be able to stream it on Hulu.
Good Omens season 3 (May 13)
The fantasy series in which an angel and demon team up to stop Armageddon (but no pressure) returns to Prime Video for its third season. The series might fly under the radar, but it's not a star-studded cast. We're talking David Tennant, Jon Hamm, and Benedict Cumberbatch, to name a few.
Margo's Got Money Troubles (May 13)
If you haven't been keeping up with this buzzy Apple TV series starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman, you can get up to speed in time for the latest episode (and before the finale on May 20). The show is based on the 2024 novel about a single mom who turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet.
Lisa Ann Walter: It Was An Accident (May 15)
The star of Abbott Elementary (and The Parent Trap, for the real ones) is returning to the stage (and her comedy roots) with a stand-up special that covers feral Gen-Xers, self-loathing, and navigating a backsliding America.
Lord of the Flies (May 4)
A new British series based on the famous novel is coming to Netflix. The four-part series comes from the mind of Jack Thorne, the creator of His Dark Materials and Enola Holmes.
Partners (May 4)
If you've ever thought to yourself, "There should be a reality TV show about pro pickleball," then you're in luck — Prime Video is coming out with just that. The six-part series follows the ups and downs of the PPA, pickleball's top league. Don't let the age stereotype of the sport fool you — it's got social rivalries, romantic drama, and fierce competition.
Remarkably Bright Creatures (May 8)
The adaptation of the 2022 bestselling novel about an aquarium cleaner (played by Sally Field) who befriends an octopus hits Netflix, so we recommend clearing your schedule.
Hacks (April 30)
It's won a slew of Emmys and it's one of Katie's favorite shows — so if you haven't gotten into Hacks yet, what are you waiting for? The show's final season began airing earlier this month, and episodes drop weekly on Thursdays up until the finale on May 28.
Should I Marry a Murderer? (April 29)
This new docuseries coming to Netflix chronicles what happens when a young forensic pathologist embarks on a whirlwind romance with a man she meets on Tinder. The two get engaged — and then she learns that he's hiding a horrific secret. She's forced into an unthinkable dilemma when her fiancé confides in her about a brutal killing and a body that was never found.
Shut Up Evan (May 1)
Did you know Netflix is getting into the podcast game? You'll be able to check out Evan Ross Katz's video podcast on the streaming platform twice a week in two different formats. On Tuesdays, it'll be "Deep In the DMs With..." where Evan will have one-on-one chats, and on Fridays, "The Groupchat" will feature Evan with a rotating panel of celebrity guests, recapping the buzziest topics of the week.
The Departed (May 1)
Martin Scorsese's crime thriller starring Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon turns 20, and you can stream the Oscar-winning film on Hulu all month long.
The Prestige (May 1)
For some reason, it's hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that The Departed and The Prestige came out the same year — and that both movies are almost old enough to legally drink. In any case, you can stream The Prestige on Hulu starting May 1.
Wuthering Heights (May 1)
Did you miss the frenzy surrounding the new Wuthering Heights movie starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie? No sweat, because you'll be able to watch it on HBO Max from the comfort of your couch. Grab the popcorn!
Best New Books to Read This Week
Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger (May 12)
This savage feminist satire about an underappreciated woman going through a transformation fueled by rage has been hailed as "darkly entertaining" by Publishers Weekly and "an ambitious tale of perimenopause — and lycanthropy" by Booklist. We say — you'll want to sink your teeth into it ASAP.
The Forgotten Midwife by Laura Anthony (May 12)
This work of historical fiction toggles between present-day and 1950s Ireland. Based on true events, the book follows Margaret Lannigan, who's forced to become a nun and sent to live in a home for "fallen girls." In the present, Riley Carmichael finds an Irish birth certificate from the 1950s that sends her on a journey into the past.
Five by Ilona Bannister (May 5)
Five characters' lives collide in the span of a fateful five minutes spent waiting for a train — and one of them will die. But before that, we'll get to know each of the characters and the circumstances that brought them to the edge of that train platform. You haven't read a thriller like this.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune (May 5)
Just in time for summer, the #1 NYT best-selling author is back with another beachy romance. This one's centered on two friends, Frankie and George, who've had an intense relationship since they were eight years old. When Frankie is left at the altar, George proposes a way to cheer her up: They take what was supposed to be her honeymoon together.
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu (April 28)
This wildly entertaining read — think Yellowface meets You — will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow protagonist Elizabeth down the rabbit hole of her own obsessions. Elizabeth has considered only one trajectory for her life: undergrad at Columbia, then law school at Harvard. When Elizabeth gets rejected, that's when things go off the rails. The thriller explores race, the model minority myth, ambition, and success.
The Boyfriend Academy by J.S. Strange (April 28)
What if the Manosphere was set in dark academia? That's sort of the feel of The Boyfriend Academy, a novel set at an all-boys boarding school that molds boys into “strong, perfect, obedient men” before they're released into the world. Dylan is all but ready to do his final trial and graduate — until his friend disappears, and he can no longer ignore the questions keeping him up at night.
The Hotel Guest by Rosemary Hennigan (April 28)
Set in the French Alps, this psychological suspense has it all: A gorgeous and ritzy backdrop, an untrustworthy cast of characters, and a shocking ending. Kit spends a summer working at the upscale Abbaye de Saint Maurice hotel, where she becomes entangled with a mysterious group of guests. When her biggest secret is exposed, she flees the resort — only to be called back after 10 years of hiding.
