With Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Max (formerly HBO Max), Apple TV+, Paramount+, Netflix, Peacock, Starz and even more streaming services, there’s no shortage of options when choosing what to binge-watch in your free time. However, sometimes, the sheer amount of great films and television shows available to stream can be overwhelming and lead to aimless scrolling.
Scroll no more! To help you out, we’ve rounded up the best movies and TV shows to stream this week, including new arrivals, nostalgia-filled favorites, book-to-screen adaptations and more. For the week of July 8 to July 14, 2024, there are several great streaming options to watch, including the new Descendents installment, in which Brandy reprises her role as Cinderella.
But, that’s not all — there are plenty more new movies and note-worthy television shows to look forward to watching in your downtime. Jenn Tran, the first Asian-American Bachelorette, begins her quest to find love on Monday night. Parks and Rec star Rashida Jones stars in a new dark comedy series. Artist Melissa Ethridge is the center of a new docuseries, while actress Faye Dunaway also gets candid in a documentary about her life.
It’s time to make your weekly streaming plans. Here are this week’s best TV shows and movies to stream.
ET, CBS, SHOWTIME, Nickelodeon and Paramount+ are subsidiaries of Paramount.
Descendents: The Rise of Red
Brandy and Paolo Montalban reprise their iconic Cinderella and Prince Charming roles in Disney+’s original movie, Descendents: The Rose of Red. In the fourth franchise of the Descendents series, Red, the daughter of the infamous Queen of Hearts, is invited to Auradon Prep. Red is excited about the experience, but her mother takes over campus in a coup on her first day. To save the school, Red and Cinderella’s daughter must go back in time to stop Red’s mom from becoming a villain. The family-friendly film premieres on Friday, July 12.
The Bachelorette (Season 21)
Listen up, Bachelor Nation: The newest season of The Bachelorette premieres on ABC on Monday, July 8, and streams the next day on Hulu. Season 21 stars Jenn Tran as The Bachelorette, who first appeared on Joey Graziadei‘s season of The Bachelor. Tran will attempt to find love among the 25 suitors vying for her attention.
Sunny
Rashida Jones stars in Apple TV’s new series, Sunny, which is part mystery, part thriller and part dark comedy. Jones stars as Suzie, whose life is devastated when her husband and son go missing after a plane crash. Suzie is gifted a robot named Sunny, allegedly created by her husband, despite his last known profession being refrigerator maintenance at an electronics company. As more questions arise, Suzie and Sunny work together to investigate the truth. Sunny premieres on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, July 10.
Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken
Famed singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge struck tragedy when she lost her 21-year-old son from causes related to his opioid addiction. Since then, Etheridge has become inspired by letters she has received from women in prison, many of whom are also struggling with a substance addiction. Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken documents the stories of these incarcerated women and the concert Etheridge performs at the correctional facility. The docuseries premieres on Paramount+ on Tuesday, July 9.
FAYE
Academy Award-winning actress Faye Dunaway is telling her story in HBO’s latest documentary, FAYE. In the doc, Dunaway speaks candidly about her difficult childhood and the challenges she faced throughout her legendary career. The iconic star is joined by those closest to her, including many celebrities who became famous in Hollywood’s “second Golden Age.” FAYE premieres on Max on Saturday, July 13.
Beverly Hills Cop 4: Axel F
After 30 years, Eddie Murphy once again steps into the role of Axel Foley. Beverly Hills Cop 4: Axel F features an all-star cast, including Judge Reinhold, Kevin Bacon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Taylour Paige. Axel finds himself back in Los Angeles when his daughter (Paige) is in danger. While he might not have changed much since his last job, the city has. The much-anticipated film premiered on Netflix on July 3.
Space Cadet
Unhappy with her life as a bartender, Rex (Emma Roberts) decides to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. Unbeknownst to Rex, her friend Nadine (Poppy Liu) recreates a fake resume that secures Rex’s admission into a NASA space training program. Chaos ensues as Rex must keep up with the charade. Tom Hopper and Gabrielle Union also star in Space Cadet, which premiered on Prime Video on July 4.
Back to Black
First released to theaters, Back to Black is exclusively streaming on Peacock as of Friday, July 5. Back to Black is a biopic about the life of best-selling artist Amy Winehouse. Viewers will see how Winehouse became one of the most popular talents of her time by watching the dramatization of her life from adolescence through her rise to stardom.
Hard Knocks: Offseason With the New York Giants
During the NFL season, you’ll see your favorite players on the television screen nearly every week. Typically, what goes on during the offseason is a bit of a mystery, but that’s no longer the case thanks to Max’s beloved docuseries. This season of offseason Hard Knocks follows general manager Joe Schoen as he navigates the scouting combine, draft and training camps during the Giants’ offseason. Hard Knocks: Offseason With the New York Giants premiered on Max on July 2.
A Family Affair
Zara Ford (Joey King) is the assistant to the self-absorbed, high-maintenance movie star Chris Cole (Zac Efron). Dealing with him is bad enough at work, but things become even more complicated when her mother (Nicole Kidman) and Chris begin to have a relationship. Zara doesn’t trust the superstar, but could the feelings between him and her mom be real? Find out by watching A Family Affair, which is streaming now on Netflix.
I Am: Celine Dion
Celine Dion‘s voice was her identity. Not only did she have chart-topping songs and spectacular concerts, but her iconic singing voice awed crowds without any of the extras. In 2022, Dion shared that she had developed a rare neurological condition called Stiff Person Syndrome which took her voice away from her. (Dion spoke about this diagnosis in an interview with Koda Hotb.) Now fans can see even more about her journey with the illness in a new, intimate documentary called I Am: Celine Dion, streaming on Prime Video as of June 25.
The Bear (Season 3)
FX’s Emmy-winning series The Bear is back for a third season. Tensions are higher than ever in the kitchen as Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) pushes his cousin (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), lead chef (Ayo Edebiri) and the rest of the kitchen staff to a new level to stay at their elite status. Will they be able to handle the heat? Find out when you watch the entire series that dropped to Hulu on Thursday, June 27.
Land of Women (Season 1)
Inspired by award-winning novelist Sandra Barneda’s work, Land of Women stars Eva Longoria as Gala. Gala is a socialite in NYC, but when her husband becomes indebted to criminals she must flee the country with her daughter and mother for their safety. Gala takes her unsuspecting relatives to her mother’s small hometown in Spain, where she loses her car and money early on their journey, forcing them to live with a local who takes pity on them. The series debuted on Apple TV+ on June 26.
Problemista
A24’s latest film to come to streaming is Problemista. Written and directed by Julio Torres, Problemista follows Alejandro (Torres) while he has one month left to find a sponsor for his visa — otherwise, he can’t stay in the United States. Alejandro’s only hope is the unpredictable woman he assists, an eccentric and erratic art studio owner played by Tilda Swinton. Problemista premiered on Max on Friday, June 28.
Black Barbie: A Documentary
The illustrious Shonda Rhimes is the executive producer of Black Barbie: A Documentary that dives into the creation of Mattel’s first Black Barbie. Not only is Rhimes the executive producer, but she also sits down and explains the importance and impact of including a Black doll in the Barbie lineup, as well as other stars like Gabourey Sidibe and Dear White People‘s Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins. Along with this commentary, viewers will hear the stories of three Black women who were pivotal in Mattel’s decision. Black Barbie: A Documentary premiered on Netflix on June 19.
Hotel Cocaine
Danny Pino plays Roman Compte in a new glamorous series, Hotel Cocaine. Compte is the general manager of Hotel Mutiny, Miami’s hottest club in the late 1970s where drugs and disco reigned free. When a CIA agent realizes Compte’s estranged brother is one of the biggest cocaine dealers in the area, he is forced to go undercover to keep his family safe. Hotel Cocaine premiered on MGM+ on June 23.
Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini
Keith and Sherri Papini were a married couple whose lives looked perfect from the outside — until one fateful day when she went missing. When Sherri disappeared without a trace the news made headlines around the country. Her friends, family and the investigators on the case sit down for a new documentary series Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini on Hulu that explores what really happened. Get ready for some jaw-dropping revelations by watching the documentary streaming now.
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
A member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, a regular on The Sopranos and an activist who fought issues surrounding apartheid in South Africa, Stevie Van Zandt has a long list of impressive accomplishments. Max’s new documentary Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, which premiered on June 22, explores his long career as a producer, songwriter, activist, actor and more. The documentary features interviews from Zandt, other celebrities and behind-the-scenes footage.
Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play.
Slave Play by playwright Jeremy O. Harris hit Broadway in 2019 and petitions to shut down the show quickly started due to its themes of sexuality and slavery. It broke the record for the most nominations for a play at the Tony’s, until this year when Stereophonic broke that record. Max is taking viewers on a journey with Harris as he workshops his performance and strips down what it all means in Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play. The documentary premiered on Thursday, June 20.
House of the Dragon (Season 2)
House of the Dragon had the highest viewership for its first season finale since Game of Thrones, and now those eager viewers can finally settle in for a second season. Westeros is on the verge of a civil war while the Targaryen family members each fight for their claim to the Iron Throne. The first of the eight episodes for season 2 of House of the Dragon began streaming on Max on Sunday, June 16.
The Boys (Season 4)
The Boys are back as of Thursday, June 13 for a fourth season on Prime Video. The world is more divided than ever with those siding with the indestructible and power-hungry Homelander and the others on Team Starlight. The Butcher has lost all his allies, but with the high stakes, he knows he must find a way for them all to work together again. The Butcher’s latest idea to take down the supes? A virus that kills only those with superpowers.
BRATS: ABC News Documentary Premiere
First named the “Brat Pack” in 1985 by New York magazine, the iconic group of young actors starred in some of the most iconic coming-of-age films of their generation, including The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire. One of the members, Andrew McCarthy, sits down with some of his fellow Brat Packers — Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore and Ally Sheedy — for an inside look at what life was like for these stars. Brats premiered on Hulu on Thursday, June 13.
Presumed Innocent (Limited Series)
Based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name by Scott Turow, Presumed Innocent is a new eight-episode crime thriller limited series. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Rusty Sabich, a chief deputy prosecutor whose life is turned upside down when his coworker is murdered. Investigators uncover Sabich’s affair with the victim, and the situation looks even worse thanks to his unhealthy obsession with her. Despite the evidence against him, he maintains his innocence. Presumed Innocent premiered on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 12.
Love Island USA
One of our favorite reality dating shows, Love Island USA has returned with a brand new host. Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix hosts the sixth season of the hit reality show, picking up the helm from Modern Family‘s Sarah Hyland (and before that, social media personality Arielle Vandenberg). Sexy singles have headed to the vibrant villa ready to find love and you can watch it all go down by streaming the series on Peacock now.
Bridgerton (Season 3, Part 2)
In the back half of Bridgerton season 3, Penelope Featherington’s (Nicola Coughlan) struggles with how and when to share her secret with Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). Meanwhile, Violet Bridgerton worries about daughter Francesca’s love match as a potential match of her own blooms. Part two of Bridgerton season 3 premiered on Netflix on June 13.
The Acolyte
When Jedi begin going missing, a Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) must confront his past to make things right. He believes his old student (Amandla Stenberg) may be behind the disappearances, but nothing is what it seems in this new Star Wars series. The first two episodes of Disney+’s The Acolyte premiered on Tuesday, June 4.
Am I OK?
Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, a woman in her early 30s who is surprised to realize she isn’t straight. Her friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) guides her on her quest to start dating women, which proves difficult as Lucy has never stepped outside her comfort zone. Directed by real-life couple Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro, Am I OK? premiered on Max on June 6.
An Audience with Kylie
ITV’s musical extravaganza, An Audience with Kylie, is now available for audiences in the United States to enjoy. Fans will hear Kylie Minogue sing her hit songs and see VIP guests including Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey and Nicola Coughlan at the show. The special began streaming on Hulu on Wednesday, June 5.
Let the Canary Sing
Cyndi Lauper created catchy, chart-topping melodies you couldn’t help but sing over and over again, but even more than that, the artist had a strong influence on multiple generations. She used her fame to fight for feminism and advocate for those who couldn’t speak up for themselves. Let the Canary Sing is a documentary streaming now on Paramount+ that dives into her legacy in the music industry as well as her impact through advocacy.
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