15 Shows and Movies to Watch This Weekend

Yes, there are a lot of streaming services, and, yes, there's a lot of buzz around the latest releases. But just because something's trending or on lists of most-viewed titles doesn't mean it's always worth a watch (take Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, for example).

The past few weeks have delivered a ton of great new content, from Practical Magic 2 to The Gentlemen. And this week is no different.

Allow me, an entertainment editor, to help you parse through it all with shows and movies that are actually worth watching. I'm talking exciting new sequel shows like A Different World, buzzy movies like UNABOMBER and returning series like American Horror Story season 13 and Survivor season 51. Enjoy the best selections (recommended by yours truly) on Apple TV, Prime Video and more.

From the 2026 VMAs to Brothers (starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson), here's what to watch this weekend.

• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of seasons: 1

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson play fictionalized versions of themselves in this fun new comedy on Apple TV. Things take a major turn for the real-life buds when McConaughey's onscreen mother (played by Holland Taylor) drops the bomb that they could actually be related. The show is really enjoyable, and the chemistry between the potential brothers is off the charts.

• Rating: TV-MA
• Runtime: 120 minutes

The 2026 VMAs—arguably the most memorable awards show of the year—take place at the Peacock Theatre in L.A. this Sunday. Martha Stewart BFF's Snoop Dogg is set to host, Madonna will be opening and LISA, Shaboozey, Sienna Spiro and RAYE are performing. But make sure to keep an eye on the red carpet for what are bound to be some wild looks.

• Rating: TV-14
• Number of seasons: 1

Now here's a spinoff series I can fully get behind. The O.G. series ran from 1987 to 1993 and was groundbreaking as it showcased the experiences of students at an HBCU. More than 30 years later, we follow a new class of students at Hillman College. But don't worry, the show is just as funny as its predecessor and features quite a few familiar faces like Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison.

• Rating: TV-14
• Number of seasons: 1

No, there aren't any celebrities in this version (other than the iconic Alan Cumming), but the drama and the treachery are just as prominent. A castle full of "regular people" try to sniff out the Traitors—and the first episode already features a huge twist. No spoilers here, but it does involve two players facing a major test...

• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of seasons: 13

Another day, another Ryan Murphy show. But unlike All's Fair, The Shards and Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (meh, meh and meh), AHS is known to be a fan favorite. And in this impressive 13th installment, it's a who's who of the best characters of the series, with Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange and Evan Peters playing multiple familiar parts.

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 97 minutes

It's been 30 years since the Unabomber was caught in a remote cabin in Montana, so it was only a matter of time before Ted Kaczynski got the Netflix treatment. Jacob Tremblay plays the notorious bombmaker and murderer, and he's joined by several big names including Shailene Woodley and Russell Crowe.

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 112 minutes

A student and a professor pretend to be in a relationship but (gasp!) start to develop feelings for one another. Does this romantic Prime Video offering follow basically the same plot as Off Campus? Yes, yes, it does. Is it likely to be a smash hit anyway? I mean, we did really like Off Campus...

• Rating: TV-14
• Number of seasons: 51

Nothing will make you feel quite as old as discovering that Survivor has been airing for 26 years and a mind-boggling 51 seasons. Jeff Probst is back as host of this groundbreaking competition series. And the 51st edition finds the 21 castaways divided into only two tribes. They sure do know how to keep us on our toes.

• Rating: TV-14
• Number of seasons: 1

While I'm not usually a fan of new, unproven procedurals, I'm willing to make an exception when it stars the incredible Peter Krause. He was brilliant in Sports Night, Six Feet Under, Parenthood and 9-1-1, so I'm surprisingly eager to give this series about federal law enforcement agents a proper shot.

• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of seasons: 1

Imagine the thrill of being able to visit a real-life version of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. (Who am I kidding? I'd fall in the chocolate river on Day One.) Well, these lucky contestants are entering the factory to compete in a series of tests and games as part of this colorful and delicious new reality series.

• Rating: TV-14
• Number of seasons: 3

A brilliant doctor, Dr. Amy Larsen (Molly Parker), suffers a traumatic injury and forgets the last eight years of her life. In this third installment, Dr. Larsen takes on a new role as a Co-Chief Resident—but it seems her flashbacks are revealing she may have a complicated past with another doctor (played by Blair Underwood).

• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of seasons: 1

Is anyone else getting Elite vibes here? I can only hope this new Italian offering on Netflix lives up to the same high-drama standards. A mystery begins to unfold inside this prominent military school in Naples, but these students must still navigate the usual high school turmoil.

• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of seasons: 1

If you're a Sharon Horgan stan like me (anyone else absolutely love the dark comedy Bad Sisters?!), you're in for a treat with her new HBO series Youth. This slice-of-life rom-com follows a divorcee who is trying to balance her love life with taking care of her elderly parents.

• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of seasons: 1

This brand-new show from Netflix has been garnering a lot of buzz, with the New York Times even asking, "Can a Polish epic become the world's next period drama hit?" The historical series tells the story of a woman who refuses to follow the rules of high society—and, like all of my favorite shows, it features quite a few dramatic plot twists.

• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of seasons: 6

This funny spy thriller about a team of dysfunctional agents has a whopping 98 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has received 23 Emmy nominations and has already been renewed for season seven. According to my colleague, this is "the one show me, my millennial husband and my boomer parents are equally obsessed with."

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