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It’s a clash of the comic book giants this week, as Marvel and DC go head-to-head in a TV battle for the ages. Indeed, comic book giants Disney and Warner both released new shows this week, so it’s no surprise that the duo top our streaming recommendations for the weekend.
It’s not just Disney Plus and Max that are going all out this week, though. Two other of the world’s best streaming services also have a number of new movies and TV shows to keep you entertained at home, so if you’re not a fan of superheroes or comic book cinema, then one of the other five suggestions in this article should appeal to you. Enjoy!
Agatha Always (Disney Plus)
Just when I thought I finally WandaVision‘s incredibly catchy (and popular!) original song off the top of my head, Marvel just named an entire TV spinoff after it. That’s right, Kathryn Hahn’s delightful and morally complex Agatha Harkness is back, with the scheming witch’s own series – Agatha Always Already – finally in time for the spooky season.
Stripped of her powers by Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision‘s series finale, Harkness must assemble her own coven of misfit witches to traverse the Witches’ Road, a dangerous realm that, if successfully traversed, will make a traveler’s long-held dream come true. No pressure, gang.
Based on the many trailers, this Marvel Phase 5 show looks like it could be another MCU TV project that dominates online discussions during its nine-episode run. I can’t wait to see more after the campy, catty, cringe-worthy, and cackling two-episode premiere — though, as I noted in my Agatha Always Already review, I wished it leaned more towards its horror roots. Anyway, all in all: It was Agatha all alooooooong!
Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
The Penguin (Max)
Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb/The Penguin was one of my many highlights of 2022 The Batman (you can read more about the others in my review of The Batman). Still, considering that his screen time – in a film that’s nearly three hours long, no less – totaled just eight minutes, I was wary of the prospects of this shady, scheming criminal starring in one of the best Max series ever made.NB: The Penguin is available to stream on Sky/Now TV in the UK and Binge in Australia.)
I needn’t have worried. The Penguin is an absolute blast from start to finish, with Farrell and co-lead Cristin Milioti’s (she plays Sofia Falcone) performances making this an unmissable miniseries. By the time I got around to putting my thoughts on the latest Batman live-action project down on paper, I had only seen the first two episodes. But even then, I could still see The Penguin deserved to sit next to The Sopranos in HBO’s crime drama pantheon. Now that I’ve watched the entire series, I triple that opinion – it’s just That epic. Now give Farrell and Milioti their 2025 Primetime Emmys trophies, please and thank you.
Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez (Netflix)
Ryan Murphy has a pretty shady portfolio. From American horror story Unpleasant Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryHe has taken viewers down some winding paths. His foray into true crime continues with the latest in his Sample series that focuses on Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers convicted of murdering their parents.
This double murder resulted in a huge investigation that went down in American history, largely due to the trial being broadcast by Court TV. With some big names like Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny in the picture, this dramatization is well worth watching if you’re up for it. A third installment of Monsters will the life of serial killer Ed Gein, played by Sons of Anarchy head Charlie Hunnam.
Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer
His Three Daughters (Netflix)
His three daughters is already shaping up to be one of the best Netflix movies of 2024 with a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score – and that’s before it even hits Netflix. His three daughters stars Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne, who play three estranged sisters who reunite in New York City to care for their ailing father. As the sisters wait by their father’s bedside during his final days, they confront old resentments and face new struggles in their relationships.
I imagine this bittersweet portrayal of sisterhood with all its joys and pains will have me laughing and crying until the end, and I’m ready to start the emotional rollercoaster ride with one of the new Netflix movies of September.
Grace Morris, entertainment writer
A Very Royal Scandal (Prime Video)
Just like Netflix’s Spoonwhich aired earlier this yearA very royal scandal on Prime Video is another bombshell drama about Prince Andrew’s explosive 2019 year News evening interview. A very royal scandal is a retelling of News evening journalist Emily Maitlis’ journey that led to her interview with Prince Andrew on BBC Two’s news and current affairs programme.
Michael Sheen plays the role of Prince Andrew, while Ruth Wilson plays Maitlis. If the two leads are anything to go by, there’s a good chance this will be one of the best Prime Video series.
Grace Morris, entertainment writer
Twilight of the Gods (Netflix)
Zack Snyder needs no introduction here, but the beloved/divisive director’s (delete as appropriate) collaboration with Netflix didn’t exactly get off to a promising start with the release of his two-parter Rebel Moon film. Despite the fact that it attracted viewers at the time Rebel Moon Part 1 aired last December, but the critical and commercial reception of both films left much to be desired. It is unclear whether Snyder’s epic sci-fi franchise will be given the time, effort and money needed to turn things around.
The former DC Cinematic Universe (DCEU) filmmaker is hoping that the Norse mythology-inspired, R-rated animated series will fare better. Twilight of the Gods stars Sylvia Hoeks as Sigrid, a fierce warrior who assembles a ragtag band of crusaders and embarks on a death-defying mission of revenge after Thor murders her fiancé—on her wedding day, no less. One that joins similarly mature animated films like Arcane and BoJack Horseman on our list of the best Netflix series? I guess it depends on how bloody and thunderous it is.
Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
I saw the TV glow (Max)
I saw the TV glow is still my favorite horror of the year. My colleague Rowan Davies agrees, in his *ahem* glowing personal piece on I saw the TV glowin which he explains how it made him want to rewatch the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s easy to see why, as this powerful coming-of-age story explores topics like identity, fandom, and more, with the help of a creepy fictional TV show called The pink opaque.
Horrors like this are special and don’t come around all the time. This isn’t jump scares galore or over-the-top gore (if there’s room for that) – instead, it’s subtle but creepy nonetheless. One of September’s new Max films relies not just on this sense of dread and unease, but on a general, deeply unsettling feeling that something is missing. Two unlikely teens become friends in this slightly campy, ’80s-esque supernatural series, and the result is something as beautiful as it is spooky. To say too much would be spoiling it, but I can’t recommend it enough, so you can expect to see it on our list of the best Max movies soon.
Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer
For more streaming information, check out our guides on the best Hulu shows, the best Paramount Plus movies, the best Apple TV Plus shows, and the best Disney Plus movies.
