When it comes to streaming options, the list goes on and on: Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that’s before you even look at their vast libraries of movies and television within each one!
It can be overwhelming. So Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more. But maybe you don’t know what you want beyond something new and entertaining. No worries.
The best Netflix TV shows of 2024 (so far)
Mashable’s Entertainment Team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least to most watchable. Whether you want rocking concert films, heartwarming comedies, or juicy political thrillers, we’ve got you.
7. The Manhattan Alien Abduction
Tales of alien abduction are often set in areas rural and remote, meaning there are few witnesses who might corroborate a self-proclaimed abductee’s story. But, incredibly, in November of 1989, a Manhattan woman named Linda Napolitano claimed she’d been plucked right out of her apartment by a beam of light, which lifted her body into the sky and up to a spacecraft. Numerous witnesses shared accounts of seeing strange things that night, which inspired devoted UFOlogist Budd Hopkins to write the book Witnessed: The True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge UFO Abductions, focusing on Napolitano’s abduction and her subsequent run-ins with otherworldly creatures. But was it all a hoax?
Two sides of this story face off in The Manhattan Alien Abduction. Directors Daniel Vernon and Vivienne Perry sit down with believers, including Napolitano and her son — now grown — who also claims to have had close encounters. They also give space to outspoken skeptic Carol Rainey, the late Hopkins’ ex-wife who once worked closely with him as he interviewed alleged abductees. But as Rainey examined his tactics — which included hypnotism and some dubious deductions — she began to become skeptical of his evidence, and especially of the charismatic Napolitano. While life beyond Earth is all but certain, whether or not this supernatural story is true is still a matter of debate. With fresh interviews and never-before-seen footage, this three-part documentary invites audiences to play Mulder and Scully themselves. But be warned; this is not one of the better Netflix documentaries. Like too many of the streaming platform’s doc series, it feels overlong, as if there was studio pressure to add filler. Ultimately, The Manhattan Alien Abduction is an easy binge-watch, but it’s not a satisfying one. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: The Manhattan Alien Abduction is now streaming on Netflix.
6. Despicable Me 4
The Despicable Me franchise keeps chugging along. This time around, Gru (Steve Carell) must face off against supervillain Maxime Le Mal (voiced by Will Ferrell), who’s busted out of prison and is hellbent on taking Gru down. The escape sends Gru and his family (including new baby, Gru Jr.) into witness protection program in a sleepy little town, but it’s not long before the pressure of new identities and Gru Jr.’s hijinks get to Gru.
Despicable Me 4 is fine enough, with a rollicking heist set piece and a twist that sees the Minions getting superpowers. But after a while, the barrage of bits fades together, leaving you exhausted. Ultimately, Despicable Me 4 may be fun for the youngest of viewers to let off steam this weekend, but when it comes to 2024’s animated offerings, you could certainly do better. After all, The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2 are out on digital and streaming. — B.E.
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Joey King, Sofia Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Pierre Coffin, Dana Gaier, Madison Polan, and Chris Renaud
How to watch: Despicable Me 4 is now streaming on Peacock.
5. Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour
If you’re wondering, “Watching GUTS tonight, it’s a good idea right?” the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Olivia Rodrigo continues to cement her status as a pop superstar with her concert special — and fans are in for a treat. Rodrigo invites viewers to sing along, spill their guts, and quite literally scream about their feelings, all set to a soundtrack of her biggest ballads and bangers.
GUTS classics on display include “all-american bitch,” “bad idea right?,” “get him back!,” and “vampire.” And don’t worry, there are a ton of SOUR songs in the mix, including “drivers license,” the hit that catapulted Rodrigo into a household name status. Plus, get ready to dance your socks off when Chappell Roan cameos for a rousing rendition of “HOT TO GO!” — B.E.
Starring: Olivia Rodrigo
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How to watch: Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour is now streaming on Netflix.
4. The Diplomat Season 2
One of Netflix’s most addictive political dramas of 2023 is back for Season 2, and after that finale we’re ready to dive into more diplomatic tension, secret workplace romances, and Keri Russell generally kickin’ ass. Created by Debora Cahn (The West Wing, Homeland), this wildly popular series returns with Russell in the lead as Kate Wyler, the U.S. ambassador to the UK amid an international crisis. In the finale, the real villain was unmasked as a very influential caller from inside the house, and an explosion left some of the main characters’ fates uncertain. Who survived the blast? And how will Kate figure out who’s behind it, especially when she’s distracted by the dishy UK foreign secretary, Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and the arrival of U.S. Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney)?* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Keri Russell, Allison Janney, Rory Kinnear, David Gyasi, Rufus Sewell, Ato Essandoh, Ali Ahn, Nana Mensah, Miguel Sandoval, Michael McKean, Celia Imrie, and T’Nia Miller
How to watch: The Diplomat Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
‘The Diplomat’s Eidra and Stuart embody the practical puzzle of secret work romances
3. The Gutter
Seeking a side-splitting comedy that’s perfect for a movie night with friends? We recommend audacious and hilarious new release The Gutter. This outrageous from directing brothers Isaiah Lester and Yassir Lester delivers a tale of lovable losers that’s wacky, heart-warming, and will bowl you over with jaw-dropping jokes. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse‘s Shameik Moore stars as a bowling prodigy whose drunken mentor (The Good Place‘s D’Arcy Carden) hopes to roll him to victory over a vicious long-standing champion (Susan Sarandon). But between handling the pressure of the game, dubious advertisers, and psychological warfare of fame, the path to success is anything but smooth.
‘The Gutter’ review: The right kind of stupid
In my review out of SXSW, I proclaimed The Gutter “absolutely hysterical,” praising its proudly stupid silliness and comparing it to such comedy classics as Dumb and Dumber, Cabin Boy, and The Big Lebowski. (Some of my personal favorites!) Simply put, “The Lesters have strategically stuffed so many goofy gags and such cleverly cast comedic performers, that from the first frame to the last The Gutter is a winner.” — K.P.
Starring: Shameik Moore, D’Arcy Carden, Paul Reiser, and Susan Sarandon
How to watch: The Gutter opens in theaters and on Video On Demand on Nov. 1.
2. Janet Planet
Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Annie Baker makes her directorial debut with the quietly affecting Janet Planet. The film examines the relationship between rising sixth grader Lacy (Zoe Ziegler) and her mother, the eponymous Janet (Julianne Nicholson), who are almost inseparable. Told in three acts, each named after a new friend or partner who arrives in Janet’s life, Janet Planet positions Lacy as a mostly reserved observer trying to understand the intricacies of adulthood from afar.
‘Janet Planet’ review: Annie Baker’s mother-daughter story is a quiet marvel
The result is one of the most moving films of the year, and an impressive first directorial outing from Baker. As I wrote in my review, “Every line, every beat of Ziegler and Nicholson’s performances — and yes, every silence — contributes to this thoroughly grounded, thoroughly in-the-moment portrait of Janet and Lacy’s lives. This is a film that washes over you in a wave of quiet subtleties, marking a profoundly striking debut.” — B.E.
Starring: Zoe Ziegler, Julianne Nicholson, Elias Koteas, Sophie Okonedo, and Will Patton
How to watch: Janet Planet hits Max Nov. 1.
1. Somebody Somewhere Season 3
Looking for a great comedy to get into? Look no further than Somebody Somewhere, which just kicked off its phenomenal third (and tragically final) season. An understated slice-of-life series that only gets better over time, Somebody Somewhere tells the story of Kansas native Sam (Bridget Everett), who’s all but given up on herself in the wake of her sister’s death. In Season 1, she finds new friends and a new community in Joel (Jeff Hiller) and Fred Rococo (drag legend Murray Hill). By Season 3, that community has blossomed — but Sam can’t help but feel she’s been left behind. Can she grow against all odds?
As I wrote in my review of Season 3, Somebody Somewhere is “a show that takes all of life’s ups and downs in stride. In any other show, a big development like a successful business pitch, a disheartening trip to the doctor, or an encounter with a homophobic high school bully would cause a commotion and take up an entire episode. That’s not a bad thing in itself, but Somebody Somewhere simply plays by a different set of rules, taking these developments and weaving them quietly into these characters’ lives to inform their actions. It feels as true to life as TV can get, and it’s an absolute gift we’ve gotten to experience it.” — B.E.
Starring: Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Tim Bagley, Murray Hill, Jennifer Mudge, Mercedes White, Meighan Gerachis, and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
How to watch: Somebody Somewhere is now streaming on Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
(*) denotes a blurb has been lifted or modified from a prior TV preview.
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