There’s something for everyone.
The temperatures are dropping, daylight hours are dwindling, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time to cozy up in your snuggliest sweats and blanket and get swept up in a good book, TV show, or movie. The best part? There is no shortage of options coming out this week to get lost in. Whether you need a good laugh, a bit of a scare, or a dose of family-friendly fun, we’ve got you covered with our preview of the hottest new releases.
With these excellent choices to look forward to, the week will fly on by. Just try to see how many you can make it through before the weekend hits!
Best new movies and shows to watch this week
Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny (Nov. 22)
7-time GRAMMY nominee Jim Gaffigan’s new hour of stand-up — and Hulu’s first comedy special — tackles everything from his recent weight loss to appetite suppressants to raising teenagers.
Spellbound (Nov. 22)
Looking for a family-friendly watch? This movie from Skydance animation comes from the director of Shrek and the original score is composed by EGOT winner Alan Menkin (whom you may know from Beauty and the Beast). And if you thought it couldn’t get any better, it’s voiced by Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, with Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman. Talk about star power! Stream it on Netflix.
The Piano Lesson (Nov. 22)
This film will be released in select theaters Nov. 8, but if your local cinema isn’t one of them, you can stream it on Netflix beginning Nov. 22. Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, the film revolves around a dispute over a prized heirloom piano, which is threatening to tear the Charles family apart at the seams. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Erykah Badu, to name a few.
A Man on the Inside (Nov. 21)
Another Michael Schur (The Office, The Good Place) hit is upon us! Based on the documentary The Mole Agent, this new Netflix comedy stars Ted Danson as a retiree who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad to become a mole in a top-secret investigation.
The Sex Lives of College Girls season 3
It’s back! The third season of the HBO comedy returns for the Essex College girls’ sophomore year. This season will be the last for Renée Rapp, who is leaving the show to pursue other projects. But don’t worry, Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur and Alyah Chanelle Scott will be there to keep us laughing.
Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy (Nov. 20)
We couldn’t put it any better than Netflix’s own description of this new documentary, so here goes: “The lies you’ve been sold will cost you. This unpredictable and revelatory documentary special from a two-time Oscar-winning team pulls back the curtain on the secretive world of the most influential brands, as insiders and whistleblowers expose the covert manipulation tricks to keep you buying, no matter the cost. This is the story big business doesn’t want you to know.”
Our Oceans (Nov. 20)
This new documentary coming to Netflix explores the wide, wonderful world of our planet’s oceans — which make up about 70% of the Earth’s surface. From the fiery depths of the Atlantic to the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean and more, you’ll be taken on an actual deep dive. And did we mention it’s narrated by Barack Obama? Plus, if you can’t get enough of exploring the planet, sign up for our environmental newsletter, Ripple Effect!
Rhythm + Flow (Nov. 20)
Talk about a November surprise! Netflix’s rap competition — where emcees battle it out for the chance to win $250,000 — is returning for a second season five whole years after the premiere. Season one launched 3-time GRAMMY nominee D Smoke, so we can’t wait to see the new crop of talent. True to its form, this season will be judged by three of hip-hop’s heavy hitters: DJ Khaled, Ludacris, and Latto.
Watchmen: Chapter I (Nov. 18)
This superhero movie, which is based on the DC comics limited series Watchmen, will be available to stream on HBO and Max. It takes place in an alternate world where the murder of a government-sponsored superhero forces his colleagues out of hiding.
Yellowstone (Nov. 10)
After close to two years of delays, months of feuding and speculation, and Kevin Costner-related questions, Yellowstone‘s final episodes are finally hitting airwaves. It’ll air Sundays on Paramount or CBS — or you can purchase the episodes to stream the following day on Prime Video.
Emilia Pérez (Nov. 13)
This double Cannes-winning film coming to Netflix stars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez, to name a few, and is about a cartel leader who teams up with a lawyer so she can fake her own death and start a new life away from organized crime.
Hot Frosty (Nov. 13)
Can’t wait to start watching Christmas movies? When you’ve run out of the best Hallmark has to offer, head on over to Netflix, which is streaming a new holiday movie starring Lacey Chabert. You’ll want to grab the cheese (and crackers) when you sit down for this movie — because, from the looks of it, this movie’s not shying away from the schmaltz. Here’s the description: “Two years after losing her husband, Kathy magically brings a handsome snowman to life! Through his naïveté, the snowman helps Kathy to laugh, feel and love again, as the two fall for each other just in time for the holidays…and before he melts.”
Return of the King: The Rise and Fall of Elvis Presley (Nov. 13)
Think you know all there is to know about The King? This new documentary, which zeroes in on Elvis’s comeback in 1968, may teach you a thing or two. It’s told using in-depth interviews with the likes of Priscilla Presley, Conan O’Brien, Billy Corgan, and more. Plus you’ll see never-before-seen access to Presley and his manager Colonel Tom Parker’s personal files and footage of the 1968 “The Elvis Presley Comeback Special” and its rehearsals. True to its name, Return of the King takes a deep dive into Elvis’s rise, fall, and comeback.
The Golden Bachelorette finale (Nov. 13)
It’s finale finally here! We’ll get to see how Joan Vassos’ search for love concludes. Will she choose Chock or Guy? Or, even more shockingly but still very possibly, will she go home alone? We’ll have to wait until Wednesday to see who, if anybody, receives that final rose. It’s all going down at ABC on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern, or you can stream it the following day on Hulu (provided you avoid spoilers, that is).
Beyond Goodbye (Nov. 14)
Grab the tissues, because this movie hitting Netflix is sure to pull at your heartstrings. It tells the story of a woman named Saeko, who loses the love of her life in a horrible accident the day he proposes. Yusuke, Saeko’s late fiancé, was an organ donor, and she gets to know the recipient of his heart — who begins to develop some of Yusuke’s memories.
Cross (Nov. 14)
Does the name Alex Cross mean anything to you? James Patterson’s detective series is coming to life on the screen with a new series on Prime Video. If you’re a devoted Patterson fan, you might be relieved to learn that Cross isn’t based on any one of the 30 Alex Cross books out there — meaning you’re sure to be kept on the edge of your seat.
Cobra Kai (Nov. 15)
The Karate Kid spin-off show is coming to a close, with part two of three dropping this week. But never fear — if you blow through those episodes, there’s still a final installment coming in 2025.
Like Water for Chocolate (Nov. 3)
The critically acclaimed 1992 film — and Laura Esquivel’s hit debut novel — was adapted into an HBO original TV series executive produced by Salma Hayek. TIME calls the series “a lavish melodrama,” and the film version is one of the highest-grossing foreign-language films ever released in the United States, so it’s working with some stellar source material.
A Man Called Otto (Nov. 6)
Tom Hanks stars as an unhappy and lonely neighbor who is dealing with a mental health crisis. His life is inadvertently saved when he strikes up an unlikely friendship with the quick-witted pregnant woman next door and her family. This movie hits Hulu later this week, so if you missed it in theaters, now’s your chance to watch it.
Pedro Páramo (Nov. 6)
The film adaptation of the book of the same name — which is considered one of the most important works of Mexican and Latin American literature — hits Netflix this week. After his mother’s death, Juan Preciado returns to the village where he was born in search of his father. It’s a ghost town, and the line between supernatural and reality blurs as he comes into contact with mysterious characters and learns the truth about who his father really was.
The Golden Bachelorette (Nov. 6)
Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves! This week on The Golden Bachelorette is the “Men Tell All,” where we’ll get to reunite with some of our favs from earlier in the season and revisit everything that went down. If you just can’t wait, we got the scoop from Joan’s final four about what they learned about looking for love — and Joan sounded off on Pascal’s surprise exit.
America’s Cutest Puppies season 1 (Nov. 7)
How’s that for a palette cleanser? This WeTV show, which is just as cute as it sounds, will become available to watch on Hulu. That means you don’t have to wait for the Puppy Bowl to get your needed dose of adorable dogs!
NCIS seasons 1-11 (Nov. 8)
If you’re a huge fan of Jethro, McGee, Ducky, and the whole NCIS gang, you no longer have to wait for marathons on Ion or USA to get your fix of the military crime-solving squad. The full seasons 1-11 are dropping on Hulu so you can make your own marathon.
My Old Ass (Nov. 7)
This hilarious coming-of-age movie in the vein of Booksmart stars Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella. It’s about a teen who’s on the verge of leaving for college when she meets her 39-year-old self. The film is full of laughs and a surprising heartfelt twist. It’ll be available to stream on Prime Video.
Dancing With the Stars (Oct. 22)
The competition continues on Tuesday, and you can stream it on Disney+ at 8pm/7pm central as it airs on ABC. Still in the running to win the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy are Super Bowl champ Danny Amendola, Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher, Olympic gymnast (and pommel horse specialist) Stephen Nedoroscik, actress Chandler Kinney, former Bachelor Joey Graziadei, NBA champ Dwight Howard, former Bachelorette star Jenn Tran, and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks. (If you need a primer on all the contestants, click here.)
Hasan Minhaj: Off With His Head (Oct. 22)
In his third comedy special — and the first one since the viral New Yorker article that fact-checked his jokes — the Peabody Award-winning comedian takes on politics, self-improvement, parenting, and more. You’ll be able to stream the whole thing on Netflix.
Family Pack (Oct. 23)
Ever wish you could relive the magic of watching Jumanji for the first time? Netflix’s new movie will fulfill that (perhaps oddly specific) desire. In it, an old card game comes to life and forces a family back in time to a medieval village. There, they have to finish the game and unmask werewolves to be able to return home.
Territory (Oct. 24)
Calling all Yellowstone fans! Netflix’s new original series is the streamer’s answer to the mega-hit rancher drama. In this series, the Lawson family control the world’s largest cattle station, and when their patriarch dies, the farm is left without a clear successor. Disputes over who’ll take over threaten to tear the family apart, and while they’re weak, the Lawsons’ rivals — including competing cattle barons, gangs, billionaire miners, and Indigenous elders — plot their moves.
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Oct. 25)
Are you ready to rock? In this in-depth Hulu documentary, Springsteen fans will get a close and personal behind-the-scenes look at what it takes for the band to put on some of its most legendary performances — with commentary from The Boss himself. For the first time ever, we’ll get to see professional footage from the 2023-2024 tour, too.
Trap (Oct. 25)
Josh Hartnett stars in this M. Night Shyamalan film about a father who brings his teenage daughter to a pop concert, only to realize they’re unwittingly at the center of an FBI sting — because authorities believe a serial killer known as The Butcher will also be at the concert.
I Am Not A Monster: The Lois Riess Murders (Oct. 15)
In 2018, the quiet Minnesota city of Blooming Prairie was rocked by the murder of David Riess, whose wife Lois was a loving grandmother of five. A cross-country manhunt revealed Lois had killed David and another woman in an attempt to steal her identity. Now, she’s giving her first interview since being convicted of two murders in a new two-part HBO documentary.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare (Oct. 16)
Any true crime podcast fans are likely familiar with the infamous catfishing saga of “Sweet Bobby” — but for those who haven’t listened to that hit podcast, you’ll be able to watch this jaw-dropping true tale unfold thanks to a new Netflix documentary. We don’t want to tell you too much about the plot for fear of giving away spoilers, but we’ll just say that this is one story you have to see to believe.
The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 (Oct. 17)
The TV adaptation of the best-selling novels by Michael Connelly returns for its third season on Netflix, which tackles the events of the fifth book in Connelly’s series. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who plays the titular lawyer, told Netflix’s Tudum, “We see Mickey struggling with so many things at the same time — with romance, with the wives, with the cases. You never expect what’s going to happen, who’s going to be bad and who’s going to be guilty.”
Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara (Oct. 18)
Catfishing… so hot right now? It’s a big week for documentaries about online deception, because Hulu’s new documentary chronicles the 16-year catfishing ordeal indie pop duo Tegan and Sara has been struggling with behind the scenes. It began when someone went online posing — quite convincingly — as Tegan, to manipulative and malicious ends.
The Turnaround (Oct. 18)
This new documentary coming to Netflix is short on time but big on heart. It’s about Jon McCann, a Phillies fan who wanted one thing: for shortstop Trea Turner to receive a standing ovation.
Woman of the Hour (Oct. 18)
Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut hits Netflix in this crime thriller about Rodney Alcala, otherwise known as the Dating Game Killer. In the 1970s in San Francisco, Alcala infamously appeared on — and won — an episode of the hit game show The Dating Game while, unbeknownst to authorities at the time, in the midst of his murderous spree. Kendrick stars as Dating Game bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw and gives a more robust look into her life than most reporting on Alcala provides.
The Penguin (Sept. 29)
Max made us wait a grueling 10 days between the premiere of The Penguin and episode 2, but now we’ll finally find out what happens next in Matt Reeves’ gritty The Batman spin-off. Trust us when we say, you don’t want to miss out on this show: It premiered to 5.3 million viewers, which is higher than even the series finale of Succession.
Challengers (Oct. 1)
If you missed seeing the movie of the spring in theaters, or you simply want to watch it again, now you can when it comes to Prime. The film stars Zendaya as an injured tennis star-turned-coach and is about her love triangle between her husband and ex. Spicy!
CSI: Miami seasons 6-10 (Oct. 1)
If you love crime procedurals, you’ll be pleased to learn that five complete seasons of CSI: Miami are arriving on Hulu. Watch director Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Eric Delko, and the whole Miami-Dade Crime Lab squad put the pieces together to solve the county’s most difficult cases.
Making it in Marbella (Oct. 1)
For fans of Netflix’s Selling Sunset comes basically the same show, only it’s set in Sweden. The brokerage at the center of it all is Homerun Brokers, so get ready to watch their crop of young, beautiful agents try to sell opulent homes to the rich and famous. Come for the extravagant houses, stay for the interpersonal drama.
The Amazing Race seasons 31, 33, & 34 (Oct. 1)
Attention, Amazing Race fans! Seasons 31, 33, and 34 of the series hit Hulu this week for your streaming pleasure. Season 31 is a fun twist on the usual format because the teams are all made up of previous contestants from Survivor, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race in a race around the world, while seasons 33 and 34 involve the usual reality TV newbies.
Love is Blind season 7 (Oct. 2)
The hit reality series is heading to Washington, D.C., where a new crop of singles will date each other, sight-unseen, to try to find the love of their life. The only way to make it out of the “pods” is to get engaged, and from there they’ll have three weeks until their wedding day.
Unsolved Mysteries season 5 (Oct. 2)
Season 5 of the hit docuseries arrives on Netflix, and you can expect everything from unexplained murders to paranormal encounters and even UFOs. This season includes guest directors like Abducted in Plain Sight’s Skye Borgman.
Salem’s Lot (Oct. 3)
Get the spooky season vibes started with this Max original adaptation of Stephen King’s classic horror novel about an author who returns to his hometown for inspiration for his next novel — only to discover the residents of Jerusalem’s Lot are being turned into vampires.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Oct. 3)
The season 2 finale of the LOTR series, which takes place thousands of years before the events of the first novel, airs this week. You’ll have to forgive me for not being familiar with the lore, but it appears as though Adar will use one of the Rings of Power against Sauron and might answer the enduring question of what the elves’ three rings do.
Best new books to read this week
Variation by Rebecca Yarros (Nov. 19)
Number-one New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal author Rebecca Yarros of the Empyrean series (you may have heard of her blockbuster hit The Fourth Wing) is coming out with a contemporary romance and family drama about a famous ballerina who returns home, only to uncover secrets about her family that change everything she thought she knew about herself.
The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime by Shirley MacLaine (Oct. 22)
Shirley MacLaine — as you likely are very aware — has won just about every award you can imagine: an Oscar, an Emmy, six Golden Globes, the Kennedy Center Honors, you name it. In her new memoir in photographs, she reflects on her illustrious career alongside gorgeous snapshots from her ballet days all the way to Broadway and the silver screen.
War by Bob Woodward (Oct. 15)
Do we even need to give an introduction? Two-time Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward is zooming in on the war in Ukraine in his latest book. A few of the revelations from his reporting have already made major news, so we’ll just have to see what other bombshells come out.
A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara (Oct. 1)
Fans of Claudia Lux’s Sign Here will want to pick up a copy of this darkly funny novel, which takes place in a world where there’s not one grim reaper, but many, and instead of carrying a scythe, they work for a government organization called S.C.Y.T.H.E. Kathy Valence’s job collecting human souls is boring, just how she likes it — until one of her clients insists he was murdered, and he won’t give up his soul until his killer is caught.
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London (Oct. 1)
The author of One to Watch, the charming romance that took on body diversity on reality TV dating shows, is back — but this time, she’s taking us into the sexy (under)world of vampires. Main character Tess is obsessed with the vampire novel Blood Feud, and even thinks it could be real. When the hot villain from the series walks through her door saying only she can rescue him, she ends up on a secret mission and soon finds herself caught in a paranormal romance.
Good Reasonable People: The Psychology Behind America’s Dangerous Divide by Keith Payne (Oct. 1)
We’ve been thinking a lot about the stark polarization that’s evident in today’s landscape, particularly as we come up on the election. Payne, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of the Obama-approved The Broken Ladder, examines the human toll of our deep divisions and how we can begin to repair them. Adam Grant calls Good Reasonable People “an eye-opening analysis of why our politics have become so polarized.”
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown (Oct. 1)
This dark academic thriller was just named a Reese’s Book Club pick. It takes place in Princeton, where alum Maya’s sister Naomi is about to graduate — until she’s found drowned. When the police rule Naomi’s death an accident, Maya’s forced to investigate it alone. As she does, she has to come face-to-face with the other suspicious death that happened at Princeton, back when Maya was there.
