5 must-watch movies & TV shows streaming right now

Welcome to Boston.com’s weekly streaming guide. Each week, we recommend five must-watch movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and more.

Many recommendations are for new shows, while others are for under-the-radar releases you might have missed or classics that are about to depart a streaming service at the end of the month.

Have a new favorite movie or show you think we should know about? Let us know in the comments, or email [email protected]. Looking for even more great streaming options? Check out previous editions of our must-watch list here.

Movies

“American Fiction”

First-time director Cord Jefferson won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for “American Fiction,” a sharp satire of the commodification of Black identity. Monk (Jeffrey Wright, who has never been better) plays a bitter, depressed author from Boston whose works aren’t considered “Black enough” by the publishing world. In a drunken fit of pique, Monk writes a ludicrous parody of a story — an ebonics-heavy tale of drugs, gangs and murder called “My Pafology” — under a pseudonym. To Monk’s chagrin, the book becomes a hit, forcing him to come to terms with the idea of persona and authenticity as he nears a payday that could help his ailing mother.

“American Fiction” is one of the funniest movies of 2023, but it has genuinely touching sections as well. The moments Monk gets to share with his family at their Cape home tell a sweet, secondary story that nicely complements the acidic A-story.

How to watch: “American Fiction” is streaming on Prime Video.

“Everybody Wants Some!!”

Richard Linklater (“School of Rock”) and Glen Powell (“Top Gun: Maverick”) are teaming up again in Netflix’s upcoming noir comedy “Hit Man,” which unofficially kicks off the 2024 summer movie slate before landing on Netflix. Before you watch “Hit Man,” check out Powell’s breakthrough role in Linklater’s “Everybody Wants Some!!,” which arrived on Prime Video earlier this month.

The 2016 film is a spiritual sequel to Linklater’s “Dazed and Confused” — whereas the latter film captured Texas students on the last night of high school in 1976, “Everybody Wants Some!!” follows members of the University of Texas baseball team in the days leading up to their first college classes in 1980. The anticipation and expectation are palpable, as players cruise the campus for women, assert their identities amongst the team hierarchy, and go through a surprising amount of growth and self-discovery in a mere 48 hours. Much like “Dazed” before it, “Everybody Wants Some!!” boasts early-career performances from bonafide movie stars (Powell, Zoe Deutch) as well as others who are right on the edge of breaking through (Blake Jenner, Wyatt Russell).

How to watch: “Everybody Wants Some!!” is streaming on Prime Video.

“Madame Web”

There are bad movies — like the aggravating “Argylle” — that are an absolute slog to watch. And then there are bad movies like Sony’s Spiderverse film “Madame Web,” which had me howling with laughter during a raucous home viewing with friends. The first superhero movie to be primarily filmed in the Boston area, “Madame Web” is one of the most shoddily made blockbusters you’ll ever see.

In the very first scene of the movie, set in the Peruvian rainforest, you’ll notice something strange when the villainous Ezekiel (Tamar Rahm) says the following piece of clunky, oddly accented expository dialogue: “I agreed to provide security for you because I thought you were close to finding the spider.” Ezekiel’s lips do not move. That’s not because of some latent psychic ability, it’s a continuity error — in the very first scene!

If you want to maximize your enjoyment of “Madame Web,” invite a group of friends over for a drinking game. Take a sip whenever Dakota Johnson, playing clairvoyant Cassandra Webb, says a line or gives a look that makes it seem like she’s from another planet. Top off your neighbor’s beverage whenever you see the Boston area masquerading as New York City. Finish your drink whenever there’s hilariously blatant product placement for Pepsi, who may have paid for the entire movie by itself.

How to watch: “Madame Web” is streaming on Netflix.

TV

“Bridgerton”

Fans of Shonda Rhimes likely expected her Netflix historical drama “Bridgerton” to be a cross between “Pride and Prejudice” and “Scandal,” a soapy costume drama for contemporary audiences. That’s partly true, but Rhimes also shakes off the shackles of network TV with “Outlander” levels of nudity and sex scenes, which are back with a vengeance after a comparatively chaste Season 2. Part 1 of Season 3, which debuts this week, is all about Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and her desire to land herself a husband after giving up on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). Colin, unaware of her longing, coaches Penelope on how to land a man, but soon realizes his own feelings. In short, “Bridgerton,” like most Shonda shows, remains a pulpy, guilty pleasure.

How to watch: “Bridgerton” Season 3, Part 1 is streaming on Netflix.

“Interview with the Vampire”

If you haven’t already jumped on AMC’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s hugely successful (and influential) vampire novel, you may notice a few changes by showrunner Rolin Jones (“Weeds”). For one, Louis de Pointe du Lac is no longer a plantation owner, but a Black brothel owner. For another, the homoerotic undertones between Louis and the blood-sucking Lestat blossomed in Season 1 into a full-fledged romantic relationship. This season, both elements are at the forefront after Louis leaves New Orleans for World War II-era Europe. Europe isn’t segregated, and he and new paramour Armand are free to live their truth, which they also share with a curious journalist (Woburn native Eric Bogosian).

It may have seemed cliché for AMC to jump on vampire IP as a companion to its zombie-filled “Walking Dead” universe, but “Interview” more than justifies its existence.

How to watch: “Interview with the Vampire” Season 2 is streaming on AMC+, with new episodes airing Sundays on AMC.

Kevin Slane

Staff Writer

Kevin Slane is a staff writer for Boston.com covering entertainment and culture. His work focuses on movie reviews, streaming guides, celebrities, and things to do in Boston.

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