I cover streaming for a living — here’s my ranked weekend watchlist, including the year’s creepiest blockbuster
"Netflix and chill" takes on a whole different meaning during these long, hot days of summer. Why sweat outside when you can stay in, blast the AC and enjoy new movies and TV shows this weekend on Netflix, Apple TV and more of the best streaming services.
I've ranked this weekend's picks by buzz and can't-miss factor, from the titles everyone will be talking about to the sleepers I think deserve a spot on your watchlist. Leading the pack are the digital releases of the blockbuster psychological horror film "Backrooms" and Hong Kong action thriller "The Furious."
On the TV side, "The Five-Star Weekend" serves up wine mom drama with an all-star cast, "Trying" returns for a heartwarming fifth season and "Little House on the Prairie" gets a fresh reboot for a new generation. Here's our ranked guide on what to watch this weekend.
1. 'Backrooms' (digital release)
Genre: Sci-fi psychological horror
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
What it's about: A furniture store owner (Chiwetel Ejiofor) stumbles upon a portal hidden beneath his showroom that leads to an endless labyrinth of fluorescent-lit, impossible rooms where reality starts to fray at the edges. Alongside his therapist (Renate Reinsve), he uncovers a nightmare that feels like the most cursed IKEA trip ever taken.
Why it's worth your time: "Backrooms" turns an internet creepypasta into one of the year's most unnerving horror movies, pairing jaw-dropping production design with suffocating atmosphere and existential dread that invades your brain like a parasite.
Where to stream: Prime Video (with purchase)
2. 'The Five-Star Weekend' (Peacock)
Genre: Drama
Available now: Episodes 1-2 (1 hour each)
What it's about: Celebrity cookbook author Hollis Shaw's seemingly perfect life falls apart after her husband's sudden death. Hoping to heal, she invites four friends from different chapters of her life to a luxurious beach weekend, but old resentments, buried secrets and personal conflicts quickly surface.
Why it's worth your time: Jennifer Garner leads a glossy wine mom drama packed with emotional drama, beautiful coastal scenery and plenty of juicy interpersonal conflict.
Where to stream: Peacock
3. 'The Westies' (MGM+)
Genre: Crime drama
Release details: Episodes 1-2 premiere Sunday, July 12 (1 hour each)
What it's about: Set on Manhattan's West Side in the early 1980s, the series follows Irish gang leader Eamon Sweeney as he fights to maintain control of his criminal empire while ambitious lieutenant Jimmy Roarke pursues a dangerous expansion into the cocaine trade. With law enforcement and rival gangs closing in, violence becomes inevitable.
Why it's worth your time: Featuring J.K. Simmons, this gritty crime saga blends organized crime, political corruption and New York history into an intense mob drama.
Where to stream: MGM+
4. 'Little House on the Prairie' (Netflix)
Genre: Historical family drama
Available now: 8 episodes (1 hour each)
What it's about: This reimagining follows the Ingalls family as they journey west to Kansas in search of a better life, only to face the harsh realities of frontier survival. The series also incorporates Osage perspectives to offer a more historically grounded take on the classic story.
Why it's worth your time: It updates a beloved American tale with richer historical context while preserving its focus on resilience, family and hope.
Where to stream: Netflix
5. 'Trying' season 5 (Apple TV)
Genre: Comedy-drama
Available now: Episode 1 (30 minutes)
What it's about: Nikki and Jason have finally settled into family life, but their hard-won stability is shaken when Kat, the biological mother of Princess and Tyler, unexpectedly returns. Her arrival forces everyone to navigate complicated emotions.
Why it's worth your time: "Trying" remains one of TV's warmest, funniest and most heartfelt comedies, balancing genuine emotional stakes with wry British humor.
Where to stream: Apple TV
6. 'The Furious' (digital)
Genre: Martial arts action thriller
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
What it's about: When his young daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers, mute handyman Wang Wei (Xie Miao) tears through a brutal criminal underworld in a relentless rescue mission. Teaming up with a journalist searching for his own missing wife, he leaves a trail of shattered bones in his wake.
Why it's worth your time: If "John Wick" and "The Raid" left you craving an even more brutal adrenaline rush, this is your next watch. The thin plot is basically an excuse to string together some of the year's most jaw-dropping fight scenes.
Where to stream: Prime Video (with purchase)
7. ‘Love Is Blind UK: After the Altar’ (Netflix)
Genre: Reality dating
Release details: 3 episodes on Sunday, July 12 (45–60 minutes each)
What it's about: Set just weeks after the season 2 reunion, this three-episode special reunites the cast to catch up on their relationships. A birthday celebration brings former couples back together, stirring up unresolved drama.
Why it's worth your time: If you couldn't get enough of season 2, this is where the real post-show tea gets spilled.
Where to stream: Netflix
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