15 Shows and Movies to Watch This Weekend

Yes, there are a ton of streaming services, and there's a ton 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 view. (Case in point: My least favorite show was renewed for season two—you can fully skip it BTW—while my favorite new show has been fully flying under the radar).

Allow me, an entertainment editor, to help you parse through it all with shows and movies that are actually worth watching this week (or this weekend). I'm talking star-studded new movies like Ella McCay, festive holiday content like The Christmas Showdown and fascinating documentaries like Taylor Swift: The End of an Era. Enjoy the best selections (recommended by yours truly) on Netflix, Apple TV+, in theaters and more.

From the IT: Welcome to Derry finale to The Accident season two, here's what to watch this weekend.

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

My severe aversion to clowns comes courtesy of Mr. Stephen King and his terrifying creation, Pennywise. In this buzzy and horrifying origin series, we discover the events leading up to the first IT movie. The show's season one finale drops this Sunday and I'm sure I'm not the only one who will be sleeping with the lights on.

• Rating: PG-13
• Runtime: 115 mins

Hard-working horror queen Jamie Lee Curtis joins my favorite Sex Education actress, Emma Mackey, and the world's greatest TV bartender, Woody Harrelson, in a brand-new comedy. It looks heartwarming, it looks funny and, most importantly, it's under two hours.

• Rating: TV-G
• Number of seasons: 1

Chip and Joanna are back...with two major twists: First of all, they're ditching Texas and heading to the mountains. Second, they're not alone. Their 19-year-old daughter Ella is joining in the fun, designing a small Colorado cottage alongside her famous parents. Good luck, Ella. Those are some big work boots to fill.

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

Whether you're a diehard Swiftie or just more of a Taylurker (yes, that's a real thing—I Googled it), this six-part behind-the-scenes docuseries is a must-watch. And to answer your inevitable question, yes, this is different than the Eras Tour concert movie—because a tour and a movie just weren't enough for our favorite billionaire songstress.

• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of seasons: 2

Every parent's worst nightmare comes to life in this drama-thriller series—and now, the popular Mexican Netflix show is back for season two. No spoilers here, but let's just say you should probably skip the bouncy castle when throwing your next birthday party...

• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of seasons: 2

Here's a tasty competition show to hold you over until the new Harry Potter series arrives in 2027: The world's best bakers face off on the actual sets of the Harry Potter films. Hopefully one of them knows a spell to keep me from burning the pumpkin pie again this Christmas...

• Rating: TBD
• Number of seasons: 1

The world's grumpiest television judge has a brand-new reality show on Netflix as he tries to put together the next big boy band. Thousands compete, before 16 fly to Miami to work with Simon's team and see if they can hack it. *Cut to me singing their songs in the shower*

• Rating: R
• Runtime: 123 minutes

Netflix is buying Warner Brothers, Katy Perry has gone to space and now, the Rock is nominated for an acting Golden Globe. Sorry, Nostradamus—no way you saw any of this coming. Here, Dwayne Johnson gets intense and raw in a biopic about a real-life MMA fighter.

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

Mr. Bean delivers holiday hijinks—and, naturally, a lost baby is involved. Finally, some lighter fare from Rowan Atkinson, who is best known for hard-hitting content like Man vs Bee, Handy Bean and Happy Birthday, Mr. Bean.

• Rating: TV-PG
• Runtime: TBD

Two former childhood best friends go head-to-head as they compete for the same job...at Christmas. Cue the holiday showdown, the musical numbers and the snowy, festive, magical ending (that's not a spoiler; I've just, ya know, seen a Christmas movie before).

• Rating: PG-13
• Runtime: 144 mins

While the internet was abuzz with reviews, memes and red carpet moments all to do with Wicked: For Good, I was busy digging out my detective hat for the brand-new Knives Out sequel, Wake Up Dead Man, which just hit Netflix. The cast is stacked: I'm talking Daniel Craig, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Josh O’Connor, Thomas Haden Church and more.

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

A woman calls social services on her BFF, leading to suspicion, drama, paranoia and a whole lot of twists. If you loved Anatomy of a Scandal, this new show is based on a book by the same author. If you didn't, well, you're on your own here.

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

While I might be baffled by this new show's Rotten Tomatoes score, here's what's not baffling: why everyone's talking about it. The American Western stars the Lena Headey and the Gillian Anderson. (Though, sadly, it's not the Game of Thrones x X-Files crossover I was hoping for.)

• Rating: PG-13
• Runtime: 125 minutes

Fun fact: PureWow's Editor-in-Chief read 200 books in the past five years. Her favorite? Hamnet, which has now been made into a movie starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. Oscar buzz has already begun, which should come as no surprise since the film is directed by the one and only Chloé Zhao.

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

Yes, this is on my "what to watch" list for the third week in a row. Everyone is talking about this new romantic drama series about two rival hockey players who fall in love. The steamy show drops new episodes every week. And all of a sudden, I think I like sports...

Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here.