5 must-watch movies & TV shows streaming right now

Welcome to Boston.com’s weekly streaming guide. Each week, we recommend five must-watch movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and more.

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For even more great streaming options, check out previous editions of our must-watch list here.

New Movies Streaming

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ (2026)

“The Mandalorian and Grogu,” the first Star Wars movie since 2019, is more ambitious than simply smushing three episodes of “The Mandalorian” together – but not much more. (You can read my full review here.) Mando (Pedro Pascal) and his little green buddy are doing contract work for a New Republic leader (Sigourney Weaver), and find themselves chasing down the son of Jabba the Hutt, Rotta (Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”). There’s nothing wrong with a solid base hit, just don’t expect “The Mandalorian Strikes Back.”

How to watch: “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is streaming on Disney+.

‘Mayday’ (2026)

On the subject of entertaining but not groundbreaking new movies, Ryan Reynolds is back doing another streaming action-comedy, this one set in 1980s USSR. Reynolds is a U.S. pilot shot down in enemy territory, while Kenneth Branagh plays an ex-KGB agent who loves American culture (he’s seen “Top Gun” over 100 times) and serves as his willing protector. Reynolds mostly does his usual sarcastic schtick, but when he plays the straight man to Branagh, the movie shines.

How to watch: “Mayday” is streaming on Apple TV+.

‘The Brink’s Job’ (1978)

William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”) turned the infamous 1950 Boston bank robbery into this 1978 broad comedy, with “Columbo” star Peter Falk assembling a crew of oddballs including Peter Boyle and Paul Sorvino to assist in his caper. The movie is “old school Boston” at its finest, both because it features some classic details (the old elevated Orange Line, a dinner at Rino’s, the Custom House Tower) and because of the locals who derailed production at every turn, setting the local film industry back decades.

Hearing that a Hollywood film was in town, armed robbers raided the film’s production office and stole several film canisters, holding them for ransom. Though the canisters were worthless without the negatives, this incident was one of many hindrances Friedkin faced. Federal investigators charged several Teamsters with extorting the production, and according to Paul Sherman’s book “Big Screen Boston,” countless North End residents installed window air conditioners once they heard producers were paying people to remove them to preserve the 1950s authenticity.

How to watch: “The Brink’s Job” is streaming on Prime Video.

More new movies streaming: More new movies streaming: “Fuze” (HBO Max); “Scary Movie” (Paramount+); “Signal One” (Hulu)

New TV Shows Streaming

‘Chad Powers’ Season 2

Against all odds, this Hulu series — based on the thin premise of Eli Manning wearing facial prosthetics to sneak into a college football quarterback tryout — was surprisingly watchable in Season 1. The second season is even better, with Chad, aka failed athlete Russ Holliday (played by Glen Powell) directly addressing the show’s ludicrous premise by highlighting how much effort it would take to maintain the ruse 24-7. Russ/Chad’s task is only made more difficult when he sleeps with the coach’s wife, falls in love with the coach’s daughter, and fends off the advances of a college cheerleader. Drama!

How to watch: “Chad Powers” Season 2 is streaming on Hulu.

‘Lanterns’

DC has long lagged behind Marvel when it comes to constructing a coherent cinematic universe. But the studio arm of the comics company isn’t afraid to take risks, as evidenced by this R-rated take on Green Lantern. Kyle Chandler plays Hal Jordan as a cynical wiseacre, none too pleased that he must solve galactic crimes with his ready-made replacement, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), tagging along and taking notes. “Lanterns” is at its best when playing into the buddy cop tropes, which it does regularly. Even the requisite world-building that comes with any movie or show expanding a cinematic universe is relatively painless, especially for those with superhero fatigue.

How to watch: “Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max.

More new TV shows streaming: “Earle Meets World” (Netflix); “The Gentlemen” Season 2 (Netflix); “LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian” (Disney+)