This is really the sequel season we didn't know we needed in Hollywood right now. The likes of The Matrix 4, Indiana Jones 5, and The Meg 2 are in the works, not to mention Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Legally Blonde 3, and many more - heck, even Enchanted is getting a follow-up movie. Point is, all-original adventures come at extra cost these days, and you won't be surprised to learn that this week's biggest streaming arrival doesn't do much to turn the tide. Perhaps the most out-of-place sequel of the bunch, Space Jam: A New Legacy hits HBO Max this weekend to bring the basketball antics of Bugs Bunny and company. to a whole new audience. This time, LeBron James is on hand to help the "Tune Squad" shoot three points and defeat their heated competition. Elsewhere, however, a handful of brand new properties are coming to Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV Plus, and Peacock in the coming days. Below, we've rounded up the best of the rest, from all-female action flicks to bizarre musical parodies.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (HBO Max)
And so we begin with Space Jam 2. 25 years after the 1996 original, LeBron James replaces Michael Jordan to lead the same all-star cast from Looney Tunes as he plans to escape the Warner 3000 Server-Verse multiverse. Don Cheadle. If that sounds too weird to understand, let's put it more simply: an NBA legend teams up with the world's most famous cartoons to play a high-stakes game of basketball, basically. Unsurprisingly, animation has come a long way since the 1990s, so expect plenty of bright colors and slapstick mayhem. A New Legacy is also packed with nods to Warner Bros. biggest franchises, from Game of Thrones to Batman, which has led some media outlets to label the film a gratuitous marketing gimmick, but we bet there's at least fun to have here. The sequel was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max in the United States, though subscribers to the streamer's cheaper, ad-supported tier don't get access to it. Those in the $14.99 monthly tier have a 31-day window to view it. For those in the UK, you'll only be able to see it in theaters. Now available to stream on HBO Max in the US and watch in theaters in the UK Today's best HBO Max deals
Gunpowder Shake (Netflix)
Can't wait for John Wick 4? The powder shake can be a valuable placeholder. Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett and Paul Giamatti star in this action film about an all-female assassin group on a mission to protect a young girl. It's an ultraviolent, tongue-in-cheek thriller set in a neon-infused universe: what's not to love? Gunpowder Milkshake garnered early comparisons to Kill Bill (and John Wick, obviously) and has already been given the nod for a sequel. Expect great things from him. And a lot of slow motion. British viewers, however, will have to wait until September 17 to see it - it hits theaters and Sky Cinema the same day. Now available to stream on Netflix in the US and available on Sky Cinema from September 17th The best Netflix deals of the moment
American Horror Stories (Hulu)
A spinoff of FX's biggest and longest-running show American Horror Story, American Horror Stories (note the plural) is coming to Hulu as a new anthology series from super-producer Ryan Murphy. Seven episodes will tell completely different stories, with a cast of familiar names including Matt Bomer, Evan Peters, Kaia Gerber and Danny Trejo within everyone's reach. Sarah Paulson is also listed as a series director. Episodes 1 and 2 are available to stream today, with the next five coming in weekly installments. By the way, the main show American Horror Story will also return next month. Disney Plus UK subscribers can watch it via Star sometime this year, but we don't know when that will be. Now available to stream on Hulu
Dr. Death (peacock)
Based on the hit podcast, Dr. Death tells the terrifying true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a confident young spine surgeon who left 30 of his patients injured and two dead, right under the noses of his fellow doctors. Joshua Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater and AnnaSophia Robb star in this haunting drama that was also one of the first shows to be commissioned by Peacock when the streaming service was announced in 2019. Long production delays linked to Covid resulted in numerous changes to the cast and crew in this one, with Jackson replacing Jamie Dornan as Duntsch and Maggie Kiley replacing Stephen Frears, who was initially signed on to direct the first two episodes. It won't be for the faint of heart, but Dr. Death tells an important story of systemic failure with devastating consequences. Now available to stream on Peacock
I've never had season 2 (Netflix)
Mindy Kaling's comedy-drama returns to Netflix for a second season this weekend, with lead Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) facing her first love triangle ahead of an impending move to India. The show's first season has been hailed as a turning point for South Asian representation in Hollywood and hailed for breaking stereotypes, so expect Never Have I Ever to continue that trend with its final episodes. And yes, John McEnroe is back (wild) for storytelling duties. Now available to stream on Netflix
Fear Street Part 3: 1666 (Netflix)
Netflix's Fear Street film trilogy wraps up this weekend with the arrival of Fear Street: Part 3: 1666. In this latest story, discussions turn to colonial America to explore origins (read: the witch trials). of the curse of Shadyside. Based on the books by RL Stine (of the renowned Goosebumps), the series has so far been almost unanimously praised for its more adult take on the supernatural genre, and don't expect that to change with the final chapter of the trilogy. The whole project wasn't as scary as it could have been. Now available to stream on Netflix
Schmigadoon! (Apple TVPlus)
What did we say before about the lack of originality? Well, Schmigadoon from Apple TV! it seems unlike anything we've seen (or heard) before. Created by the writers of Despicable Me and executive produced by SNL's Lorne Michaels, this six-part musical parody series stars Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a couple on a backpacking trip who stumbles across a town where all the residents think they are alive in a 40s musical. Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Fred Armisen and Jane Krakowski also star, with guest appearances by Martin Short. In fact, now that I think about it, isn't that basically the same plot as Netflix's Isn't It Romantic? It doesn't matter. Now available to stream on Apple TV Plus. Want some suggestions of things to look at? Check out our list of the best Apple TV Plus shows.