5 Must-See Movies and TV Shows to Stream Right Now

Streaming

The best new releases streaming on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus and more.

Welcome to Boston.com weekly streaming guide. Every week, we recommend five must-see movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO MaxPeacock, Paramount+ and more.

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

Do you have a new favorite movie or show that you think we should know about? Let us know in the comments or by email (email protected). Looking for even more great streaming options? View previous editions of our list of essentials here.

Movies

“7 days in hell”

You should definitely head to the movies to see the sexy new tennis drama “Challengers” (filmed in Boston!) this weekend. (Read our full review of these erotic adventures here.) But if you prefer to watch over-the-top tennis entertainment at home, Andy Samberg’s 2015 mockumentary, “7 Days in Hell,” is just what you need must. Inspired by the Isner-Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon tournament that lasted more than 11 hours, Samberg and “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harrington play two tennis pros stuck in a seven-day match. Tennis legends like Serena Williams and John McEnroe lend an air of authenticity to the absurdity, anchored by talking heads like Fred Armisen, Lena Dunham, Jon Hamm and June Squibb playing the Queen of England.

How to watch: “7 Days in Hell” is streaming on Max.

“King Richard”

Speaking of tennis, this biopic of the Williams sisters – or rather their father, Richard Williams – will forever be associated with its star, Will Smith, slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. And that’s a shame, because Smith gives an Oscar-winning performance as a father whose devotion to his daughters Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) walks the line between inspirational and pathological. Considering the real-life Williams sisters served as executive producers, it’s a surprisingly raw look at the sacrifices and tough love required to raise generational talent.

How to watch: “King Richard” is streaming on Netflix.

TV

“Dead Boy Detectives”

While Neil Gaiman fans await the arrival of the second season of “The Sandman”, Netflix has decided to adapt another comic book by the English writer into a series with “Dead Boy Detectives”. Edwin and Charles play two ghosts who decide to stay on Earth to solve mysteries with the help of the living. While digging into paranormal weirdness is all good and fun, Death himself is after the boys, hoping to bring them back to Hell. Gaiman’s mix of gothic, comedic and macabre energy is once again put to good use – but if you haven’t already watched “The Sandman,” you probably should, since this series takes place in the same universe and has some overlapping characters.

How to watch: “Dead Boy Detectives” is streaming on Netflix.

“Joins”

Paramount has built a surprisingly robust franchise on the shoulders of Sonic the Hedgehog, the fast-paced, chili-eating video game star voiced by Ben Schwartz. Ahead of December 2024’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” the studio is offering a spinoff series about Knuckles (Idris Elba), the dark echidna warrior who went from villain to ally in “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” There is no Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) in this edition. Instead, one of Eggman’s associates (Rory McCann, “Game of Thrones”) seeks to harness Knuckles’ power.

How to watch: “Knuckles” is streaming on Paramount+.

“Sugar”

“Sugar” is not so much a modern film noir as a direct homage to the genre’s heyday in the 1940s. Colin Farrell plays the hardened detective, who tells us in a steely voiceover about his new case, the search for the missing granddaughter of a Hollywood producer (James Cromwell). Creator Mark Protosevich has made Farrell’s detective a movie buff, and he casually mentions all the black people in Los Angeles that this series pays homage to throughout the eight-episode season. It’s a little distracting, but Farrell and his sidekick (Amy Ryan, “The Office”) are real pros and keep the show moving forward.

How to watch: “Sugar” is streaming on Apple TV+.