The 5 Movies and TV Shows You Should Be Watching on Streaming Right Now

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

Many recommendations are for new shows, while others are for under-the-radar releases that you may have missed, or classics that disappear from the streaming service at the end of the month.

Do you have a new favorite movie or show that you think we should know about? Let us know in the comments or via email [email protected]. Looking for even more great streaming options? Check out previous editions of our Must-watch list here.

Stream new movies

“The Nightmare Before Christmas”

Stop-motion maestro Henry Selick will be happy to correct anyone who incorrectly claims that Tim Burton directed the 1993 hit The Nightmare Before Christmas, with Selick recently telling the AV Club that Burton was directing two other films at the time and was almost never on set. Still, much like Halloween and Christmas in the film, Selick’s animation and Burton’s story fit together perfectly, telling the story of Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, who discovers a portal to Christmas Town and decides to undertake Santa’s duties for the holidays take over. “Nightmare” is the rare film that spans the period from October 31st to November 1st, doing the work of retailers around the world who trade candy corn and jack-o-lanterns for candy canes and mistletoe in their sleep.

How to watch: The Nightmare Before Christmas is streaming on Disney+.

“Practical Magic”

In somewhat surprising news from earlier this year, Warner Bros. announced that it would produce a sequel to the 1998 witch comedy Practical Magic, a film that wasn’t a hit upon release but gained a cult following (or perhaps a occultism) that have followed in the last 25 years.

“Practical Magic” tells the story of two Massachusetts sisters (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) whose romantic interests always suffer a premature death due to a long-ago spell cast by their own ancestor. Luckily, the duo have learned a little magic of their own over the years and set out on a quest to free themselves from their family curse.

How to watch: “Practical Magic” is streaming on Max.

“Woman of the hour”

Actress Anna Kendrick (“Pitch Perfect”) makes her directorial debut with this harrowing true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala, who appeared on (and won) the 1978 episode of “The Dating Game” while raping and killing at least eight women . Kendrick plays the struggling actress sitting on the bachelorette pad trying to figure out which of the three men behind the curtain will be her Prince Charming.

“Woman of the Hour” is not limited to the show set, but tells the story of Alcala’s many victims in a series of vignettes. In doing so, Kendrick asks why, after decades of second-wave feminism changed the conversation about the role of women in American society, these women are still seen as available.

How to watch: “Woman of the Hour” is streaming on Netflix.

New TV streaming

“It’s the big pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”

An unfortunate reality of the streaming wars is that popular holiday specials that were once widely available on network television now sit behind locked, subscription-only gates. Apple, which owns the rights to all of Charlie Brown’s Christmas specials, is at least generous enough to give non-subscribers a short window of time to watch the holiday classics for free, including a 48-hour period this Saturday and Sunday Look at. It’s the big pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”

You don’t even need to sign up for a free trial to access the story of Linus and his undying belief in the Santa of Pumpkins, saving everyone some heartache.

How to watch: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! is streaming on Apple TV+ and free to watch for non-subscribers on October 19th and 20th.

“Shrinkage”

After single-handedly acquiring countless Apple TV+ subscriptions with “Ted Lasso,” showrunner Bill Lawrence (“Scrubs”) has a budget big enough to hire both Jason Segel and Harrison Ford for “Shrinking.” returns for a second season. Segel plays Jimmy, a therapist who is experiencing a life crisis after the death of his wife. When he starts treating customers with radical openness instead of simply asking, “How do you feel about this?” ad nauseam, it begins to change both Jimmy’s life and the lives of the people around him, including Ford, who as Psychiatrist colleague dealing with recently diagnosed Parkinson’s disease is brilliant.

In Season 2, “Shrinking” strikes a nice balance between comedy and tragedy, pushing more emotional buttons as the characters delve deeper into their own psyches. Supporting this process is “Ted Lasso” star Brett Goldstein, a character from Jimmy’s past who exemplifies the series’ realistic depiction of forgiveness and reconciliation. There are no typical moments here, and that’s what makes it so captivating.

How to watch: The second season of “Shrinking” is streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes debuting on Wednesdays.

---

---