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- Family and Animation Picks for All Ages
- Blockbusters and Franchise Entries
- Drama, Romance, and Emotional Stories
- Comedy, Stand-Up, and Adult Animation
- Horror, Thriller, and True Crime
- Documentaries, Sports, and Music Profiles
- Limited Series and Returning TV Favorites
- Quirky Originals and Game Shows to Stream
- What to Queue First: Editors’ Picks
The streaming landscape is overflowing this week. New films, returning series, stand-up specials, and animated treats land across Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Peacock, and niche services. Below is a curated guide to what’s worth queuing now, organized by genre so you can find the right mood fast.
Family and Animation Picks for All Ages
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — nostalgia-packed family blockbuster
A follow-up to the huge 2023 hit, this animated adventure widens the Nintendo universe. New faces like Yoshi and Princess Rosalina appear. The story leans into fanservice and bright, playful set pieces more than deep character work.
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- Starring: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Brie Larson
- How to watch: Available to rent or buy on digital platforms.
Bluey — bite-size minisodes for little viewers
The hit Australian series expands with ten ultra-short minisodes. Each runs under three minutes, ideal for toddlers and quick family breaks.
- Starring: David McCormack, Melanie Zanetti
- How to watch: Streaming on Disney+ now.
Arco — a visual 2D treat about time and climate
This French animated film blends time travel and environmental themes. A boy from the future arrives in a damaged present and forges a friendship that drives a hopeful, urgent tale. The 2D art is striking and reminiscent of classic European comics and Studio Ghibli.
- Starring: Juliano Valdi, Romy Fay, Natalie Portman, Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Mark Ruffalo
- How to watch: Debuts on Hulu on May 22.
Blockbusters and Franchise Entries
Alien: Romulus — a return to raw, claustrophobic terror
This installment aims to recapture the horror roots of the Alien saga. A young crew of colonists face off against Xenomorphs in tense, bloody set pieces. Fans will find familiar beats and some heavy callbacks.
- Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced
- How to watch: Now streaming on Hulu.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War — CIA action thriller
John Krasinski returns as Jack Ryan in a film that ties into the TV show. Retired agent life is short-lived when a new black ops threat pulls him back into the field. Expect familiar Tom Clancy action and political intrigue.
- Starring: John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Sienna Miller
- How to watch: Streaming on Prime Video now.
Normal — darkly comic Western action
Bob Odenkirk headlines a twisted Western from director Ben Wheatley. When a small town is upended by a daring robbery, chaos and oddball violence follow. The film blends humor and shocking moments.
- Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, Jess McLeod
- How to watch: Available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.
Drama, Romance, and Emotional Stories
Reminders of Him — redemption and fractured families
Based on a popular novel, this drama follows a woman rebuilding life after prison. Reconnecting with the child she gave birth to while incarcerated creates emotional, complicated encounters with the victim’s family.
- Starring: Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, Bradley Whitford
- How to watch: Now available for rent or purchase on digital.
The Bride! — a bold take on Frankenstein’s myth
Maggie Gyllenhaal directs a daring reimagining of Bride of Frankenstein set against 1930s Chicago. The film blends crime, romance, and genre elements into a vivid, risky love story.
- Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz
- How to watch: Begins streaming on HBO Max on May 22.
Mother Mary — power, fashion, and a troubled reunion
David Lowery’s new film centers on a pop star and the costume designer she betrayed. Expect tense showbiz drama and performances that chew on fame, loyalty, and reinvention.
- Starring: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber
- How to watch: Available to rent or purchase on digital.
Comedy, Stand-Up, and Adult Animation
Mating Season — raunchy animal comedy from Big Mouth creators
The team behind Big Mouth turns their attention to wildlife mating rituals. Anthropomorphic animals navigate desire and absurd sexual humor. The trailer signals a very adult tone and plenty of boundary-pushing jokes.
- Starring: Nick Kroll, Zach Woods, June Diane Raphael, Sabrina Jalees
- How to watch: Debuts on Netflix on May 22.
Rick & Morty, Season 9 — more sci-fi chaos
The long-running animated hit returns with new episodes packed with surreal ideas, action, and dark humor. Expect inventive set pieces and the usual blend of sci-fi parody and emotional undercurrents.
- Starring: Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, Ian Cardoni
- How to watch: Premiere on Adult Swim May 24. Streaming on HBO Max and Hulu begins June 15.
Wanda Sykes: Legacy — sharp, politically charged stand-up
Wanda Sykes returns with a Netflix special filmed at her alma mater. Her jokes mix personal observation and pointed cultural critique with a signature bluntness.
- Starring: Wanda Sykes
- How to watch: Now streaming on Netflix.
Josh Johnson: Symphony — a comedian’s intimate hour
From writer to correspondent to stand-up force, Josh Johnson delivers a new special with deadpan wisdom on family, health, and life’s weird edges.
- Starring: Josh Johnson
- How to watch: Debuts on HBO Max on May 22.
Horror, Thriller, and True Crime
This Is Not a Test — teen-set zombie survival
A group of teenagers holds out in an abandoned high school during a zombie outbreak. It’s familiar territory for horror fans, but the claustrophobic setting can deliver tense thrills.
- Starring: Olivia Holt, Froy Gutierrez
- How to watch: Debuts on Shudder on May 22.
The Yogurt Shop Murders: The Final Chapter — revisiting a cold case
This four-part docuseries concludes an investigation into a 1991 Austin tragedy. The filmmaker centers victims’ lives and families while tracking new leads and evolving evidence.
- How to watch: Final chapter debuts on HBO on May 22.
Documentaries, Sports, and Music Profiles
Kylie — four decades of pop stardom in a three-part doc
A deep-dive documentary traces Kylie Minogue’s career from TV actor to global pop icon. The series uses home archives and interviews to chart hits, tours, and personal resilience.
- Starring: Kylie Minogue
- How to watch: Now streaming on Netflix.
Kyle Larson vs. The Double — NASCAR’s extreme endurance tale
This Prime Video documentary follows Kyle Larson attempting the Memorial Day “Double”: the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. The film captures the physical and mental demands of elite motorsport.
- Starring: Includes race team members and fellow drivers
- How to watch: Now streaming on Prime Video.
Limited Series and Returning TV Favorites
The Chi, Season 8 — the final season of a landmark drama
After eight seasons, Lena Waithe’s series reaches its closing chapter. The ensemble faces endings and new beginnings on Chicago’s South Side in a season heavy with emotional stakes.
- Starring: Jacob Latimore, Birgundi Baker, Luke James, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Hannaha Hall
- How to watch: Season 8 debuts on Paramount+ on May 22.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed — a darkly comic Apple TV thriller
Tatiana Maslany plays a newly divorced mother who gets tangled in blackmail, scams, and murder after witnessing a crime. The series mixes thriller beats with sharp comic shading.
- Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Jake Johnson, Brandon Flynn, Dolly De Leon
- How to watch: Now streaming on Apple TV+. New episodes drop weekly.
The Boroughs — Amblin-style sci-fi for older leads
Think Stranger Things tone meets a retirement community. When strange creatures appear, residents band together for mystery and adventure. The show pairs Spielberg-esque wonder with honest depictions of aging.
- Starring: Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters
- How to watch: Now streaming on Netflix.
Quirky Originals and Game Shows to Stream
Game Changer, Season 8 — improv-driven comedy games
Dropout’s rotating game show returns with unpredictable rules and guest comics who push absurdity to the limit. Expect rapid-fire jokes and inventive challenges.
- Starring: Sam Reich and a rotating cast
- How to watch: Season 8 now streaming on Dropout.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed — (see thriller section for details)
Note: This series blends dark comedy with mystery and is a standout among limited thrillers this week.
What to Queue First: Editors’ Picks
- For families: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Bluey minisodes.
- For thriller fans: Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed and Alien: Romulus.
- For comedy lovers: Wanda Sykes: Legacy and Josh Johnson: Symphony.
- For animation buffs: Arco’s gorgeous 2D world.
- For viewers after a moving drama: Reminders of Him and The Bride.
