6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (August 22

Hunting for the finest fresh movies and series to dive into right now? Consider it handled. Below, we round up the brightest new arrivals that landed this week across the top-tier platforms, from Peacemaker’s encore to the BoJack Horseman team’s latest animated gem. Whatever vibe you’re chasing, you’ll spot an enthralling, brand-new title to fire up.

While we sweat out the dog days, holing up with chilled drinks, blasting AC and killer content sounds far wiser than melting outside. Sure, thrilling big-screen blockbusters are on the horizon, but we’re zeroing in on everything instantly streamable—from fresh flicks to 2025’s greatest series. This week’s roll-call ranges from spine-chilling horrors like Wolf Man to sprawling sci-fi such as Invasion.

We zeroed in on six standout films and shows that debuted on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Apple TV Plus and Hulu—perfect additions to your queue. Here’s hoping these drops rival 2025’s heavy hitters, think Andor season 2 and Severance season 2.

New TV shows

Peacemaker season 2 episode 1 (HBO Max)

Available: US
Watch right here: HBO Max

Following his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in Superman, Peacemaker finally zooms back to television. Season 2 launches this very week on HBO Max, and anticipation is sky-high to witness whatJames Gunn has lined up for admirers. Early signs are more than encouraging – Peacemaker’s second run premiered with a pristine 100 % Rotten Tomatoes score, praised by reviewers as “a high-point of comic-book TV” and “gore-drenched, marrow-snapping escapism.”

John Cena returns to headline, flanked once more by Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee. The storyline places Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo, fresh from his Superman stint) on a warpath to avenge his son, whom Peacemaker offed in The Suicide Squad. Our morally messy protagonist will also hop across twin realities, squaring off against a doppelgänger of himself—so brace for plentiful DC Easter-eggs and jaw-droppers.

The first episode of Peacemaker season 2 drops on Max starting August 21. Dig deeper with our season-2 critique, and take a peek at our rundowns of the top HBO series plus the best HBO films.

In a Nutshell (Netflix)

Available: US/UK
Watch now: Netflix

Bojack Horseman architect Raphael Bob-Waksberg returns to Netflix with a brand-new toon, and anticipation couldn’t be louder. Viewed already as one of the finestgreatest series ever made, so Long Story Short has colossal footwear to fill.

The series zeroes in on the Schwooper clan, tracking three brothers and sisters across the span of their lives while ricocheting between yesterday and today. The initial preview brimmed with household squabbles, multigenerational clashes and excruciatingly cringe moments. Reviewers are already labeling it “achingly gorgeous” and likening it to “Bluey colliding with Tolstoy” (via The Guardian) – count us obsessed.

Long Story Short starts streaming on Netflix August 22. For additional picks, browse the top Netflix series available right now.

Invasion season 3 premiere (Apple TV Plus)

Available: Worldwide
Watch now: Apple TV Plus

Invasion returns this week with its third installment, plunging the ensemble of human protagonists against a fresh, even deadlier wave of extra-terrestrial attackers. The third run of Apple TV Plus’ sleeper sci-fi hit is teeing up a long-awaited convergence, bringing back Golshifteh Farahani’s Aneesha Malik, Shamier Anderson’s Trevante Cole and Shioli Kutsuna’s Mitsuki Yamato.

Penned by X-Men scribe Simon Kinberg and Hunters architect David Weil, the new episodes will at last unite its scattered characters after two globe-trotting seasons. Since premiering in 2021 the show has quietly amassed a devoted following, joining the ranks of top-tier Apple originals like For All Mankind, Foundation and Silo.

Invasion season 3 episode 1 lands on Apple TV Plus August 22. Dig deeper with our guides to the finest films on Apple TV Plus and the best Apple TV Plus shows.

New movies

Wolf Man (Prime Video)

Available: US
Watch now: Hulu

Ready or Not leading woman Samara Weaving is prepared to whisk you through a breakneck caper in Hulu’s fresh original feature Eenie Meanie—say yes. This pedal-to-the-metal heist romp could be your perfect Friday-night watch. It also marks Andy Garcia’s return to the genre two decades after the Ocean’s saga, and we’re here for it.

Shawn Simmons writes and directs the picture, which trails ex-teen wheelwoman Edie (Weaving) as she’s yanked back into the underworld when an old boss dangles one last job: save her perpetually flaky ex-boyfriend (Karl Glusman). The ensemble rounds out with Jermaine Fowler, Marshawn Lynch, Randall Park, Steve Zahn, and Mike O’Malley.

Eenie Meanie starts streaming on Hulu August 22. For more picks, swing by our roundup of the top Hulu series to stream right now.

Tron (Disney Plus)

Available: Worldwide
Watch now: Disney Plus

The long-awaited threequel Tron: Ares lands in theaters in just over a month, so cue your refresher by revisiting the very first film. The 1982 trailblazer is essential sci-fi, and the 2010 follow-up Tron: Legacy is just as vital—both are waiting on Disney Plus.

Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a gifted software whiz, discovers a corporate higher-up has been pinching his code. While attempting to hack the mainframe, he’s hurled into the Grid, forced to battle Dillinger’s digital enforcer Sark and the tyrannical Master Control Program.

Tron and Tron: Legacy are both on Disney Plus right now. Scope more picks in our guide to the greatest Disney Plus television.

Still hunting for something to watch? Peruse our rundown of the finest Netflix films or the cream of the Disney Plus movie crop.

Mireia is a UK-based culture scribe and critic. She formerly served as Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy, and bylines as a freelancer have popped up in WeLoveCinema and Spanish outlets Fotogramas, Esquire, and Elle. She’s the author of the 2023 book Studio Ghibli’s ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’. Mention anime or musicals and you’ve got her undivided attention.