The lineup of new movies and TV shows streaming this week has something for just about everyone. An action-packed zombie heist movie; check out Netflix's "Army of the Dead." Marvel's wacky animated show; check out Hulu's "M.O.D.O.K." A serious documentary about mental health starring Prince Harry; check out "The Invisible Me" on Apple TV Plus.
Plus, there's the second season of "Who Killed Sarah," which has already dominated the #1 spot on the Netflix Top 10 list since its debut earlier this week. While we look forward to the summer movies of 2021, streaming offers so much more for our viewing pleasure.
And many more new TV shows and specials are available on broadcast and cable, like the Billboard Music Awards and SNL's 46th season finale. If you've turned off cable TV, just sign up for one of the best cable TV alternatives that give you access to your favorite channels.
Here are our picks for new movies and TV shows to watch this week.
Film, 148 min, R-rated, Watch NowThis is a big year for director Zack Snyder. First, he released the Snyder cut of "Justice League" on HBO Max. Now, he is returning to his zombie roots with this Netflix film (Snyder made his directorial debut with the remake of Dawn of the Dead). Army of the Dead follows a group of mercenaries (Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, and others) who use the opportunity of a zombie outbreak to execute a heist at a Las Vegas casino. Really, what could possibly go wrong?
Series premiere|Season 1, Episodes 1-5|Watch Now Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey have already done what will probably be the TV event of the year (along with Meghan Markle) with that impassioned interview about leaving the royal family. And now, Harry and Oprah are teaming up for a documentary on mental health. Harry will once again open up about growing up as royalty and undergoing therapy to deal with the trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana. Other celebrities and public figures, including Lady Gaga, will join him to share their personal experiences.
Series premiere|Season 1, Episodes 1-10|How to watch MODOK online Hmm, a Marvel show not on Disney Plus. Yes, it's a bit confusing, but Hulu is also part of Disney, so they are in the same family. Patton Oswalt is the co-creator and voice actor for an animated series called M.O.D.O.K. (short for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing). This supervillain fights Iron Man (Jon Hamm) by day, but by night he is just a struggling husband and father. The series features stop-motion puppetry and computer animation in the vein of Robot Chicken, with the same quirky and wry sense of humor. Since this is not a typical Marvel project, it makes sense to stream it on Hulu.
Season 2 Premiere | Episodes 1-2 | Watch Now Apple TV Plus Everyone knows (and adores) the comedy Ted Russo. But don't miss "Trying," the roller-coaster adoption story of Nicky (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall). In Season 2, the two finally get the go-ahead to adopt a child. And the second phase of the process is just as complicated, confusing, and frustrating as the first. Luckily (or unluckily), they have an eccentric social worker, Penny (Imelda Staunton), to support them.
Film | 99 min | Not Rated | Watch Now "So what. I'm still a rock star," yells/sings Alecia Beth Moore, who goes by the name Pink. Go behind the scenes of her Beautiful Trauma World Tour and see her perform 156 shows in 18 countries as she juggles her work as a mother, wife (and sometimes aerialist). Don't expect much gossip. But Pink is the most enduring pop star of our time, and in a year when we haven't seen much music, we would opt for a concert doc.
Season 2 premiere|Episodes 1-8|Watch Now The Mexican crime drama returns! Alex Guzman (Manolo Cardona) continues his journey to find answers about the death of his falsely convicted sister. In Season 1, the title question remained unanswered. This is because Sarah may not be dead, or if she was, she may have committed suicide.
Special | 46 mins | TV-PG | Watch Now The third "Adventure Time" one-hour special (after "BMO" and "Obsidian") reunites the main heroes of the Cartoon Network series, Finn and Jake the Dog, for their biggest adventure yet. After taking a break for the past few years, the two embark on a cosmic journey to take on a monstrous evil.
Special | Streaming Saturday, May 22, 3 p.m. ET | Watch Eurovision OnlinePlay Jaja Ding Dong. That probably won't happen, as this catchy, earworm of a song comes from a Netflix movie named after this annual competition. But we can dream. The Grand Final will showcase the top 20 vote-getters from the previous round and the Big 5 (Germany, France, England, Italy, and Spain). Expect a spectacle of outrageous costumes, bizarre dancing, and genuinely great songs.
Season 46 Finale | Airs Saturday, May 22, 11:30 p.m. ETA After the uproar caused by inviting Elon Musk to host, SNL closes the season with a more sane lineup: host Anya Taylor-Joy and musical guest Lil' Nas X As for Taylor-Joy, she has appeared in a variety of projects, from "Peaky Blinders" to "Emma" to "The Queen's Gambit."
Season 3 Premiere | Episodes 1-5 Sunday, May 23, 3:00 a.m. ETAziz Ansari did not seem in a hurry to add more episodes to the show he co-produced, but the four-year break between Seasons 2 and 3 is long. Whether he needed to get his creative juices flowing or escape the harsh spotlight of the sexual misconduct allegations against him, Ansari took his time and crafted a sweet ode to love consisting of five episodes. He directs, but not on camera, focusing instead on Denise, played by Lena Weich, and her partner, Alicia (Naomi Ackie).
Special | Airs Sunday, May 23, 8 p.m. (E) Similar to the Drake Music Awards. This year's ceremony will not only honor the singer with the Artist of the Decade award, but he is also nominated in seven categories. Billboard will also right the wrongs of the Grammy Awards, with The Weeknd topping the finalists with six nominations. Nick Jonas will host, and the BTS legion will flock to the awards as the K-pop band BTS debuts their new single "Butter."
Season 4 Premiere | Airs Sunday, May 23 at 9 p.m. ET The Way drama returns to Chicago's South Side to continue following the lives of Emmett, Kevin, and the residents. Season 4 brings new faces to the neighborhood, including Tabitha Brown as interior designer Octavia and Jason Weaver as an old friend of Trig's (Luke James). Meanwhile, Duda becomes mayor, but finds it difficult to balance his new duties with his old life.
Season 4 Premiere | Sunday, May 23, 9 p.m. (E-telecast) Pandemic was the perfect opportunity to revive this HBO drama, since it's just two people talking, a therapist and a patient. Currently, that emotionally distraught session is on Zoom (wailing emoji) and is being handled by Uzo Aduba, who hails from "Orange is the New Black." Dr. Brooke Taylor, who has three clients played by Anthony Ramos, John Benjamin Hickey, and Quintessa Swindell, is dealing with her own issues outside the office, i.e., outside the webcam.
Season 5 Premiere | Wednesday, May 26 at 10 p.m. I'm quite disappointed that this is the final season of the millennial workplace drama set in an e-cosmopolitan women's magazine. No more conversations about boys and bosses in the fashion closet. Season 5 begins with Jane (Katie Stevens), Kat (Aisha Dee), and Sutton (Megan Fahey) living together. Sutton is over her breakup with husband Richard, and Kat may get back together with Adena. Meanwhile, Jane must make a big decision about her future at Scarlett.
Special | Streaming: 3 a.m. ET Thursday, May 27 | Friends ReunionWe all were just taking a break, weren't we? 17 years after NBC's hit sitcom ended, six stars (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer) gather for a table read and reminisce about the show that made them all superstars. This special program will also feature a number of very welcome guests (Janice, Gunther), although we don't mind them. The trailer for the "Friends" reunion made me teary-eyed, and I'm already stocking up on tissues.
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