Looking for comedy? Drama? A little romance? A lot of MrBeast? Not to worry, this week's new releases on streaming have a bit of everything.
I have this habit of telling my kids to shut off YouTube and watch real TV shows (so many reaction videos, so little time, according to one local child in my home) but for parents like me, be warned, YouTuber MrBeast is branching out to streaming. The first two episodes of his much-talked-about game show, Beast Games, arrive this week on Prime Video.
On Netflix, new seasons of the popular romantic drama Virgin River and the animated fantasy series The Dragon Prince drop this week, as does the newest film from Tyler Perry, the historical drama The Six Triple Eight.
Stephanie Hsu leads the cast of the new series Laid on Peacock -- expect to see SNL's Chloe Fineman, comedian John Early and musician Finneas O'Connell (better known as Billie Eilish's brother) on the show, too.
If you find yourself at home with your parents this week, you can tune in to The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, airing on CBS and Paramount Plus on Dec. 22, or check out Clint Eastwood's Juror #2, which drops on Max..
Learn about these titles and more below.
Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2024
Best new shows and movies to stream (Dec. 16 to Dec. 22)
Netflix
Virgin River Season 6 (Dec. 19)
Based on the popular series of novels by Robyn Carr, the romantic drama series' sixth season is its "wedding season," as Mel and Jack prepare to walk down the aisle. Picking up a few months after season 5's Christmas episodes, this installment sees the couple get to know each other -- and their loved ones -- a little better as they prepare to start their life together. Dresses will be tried on, bachelor and bachelorette parties will be had, and some surprising obstacles may just pop up on the road to marital bliss. With a seventh season already confirmed, season 6 comes to Netflix on Dec. 19.
The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos Season 7 (Dec. 19)
Callum, Ezran, and their friends and allies try to stop Aaravos and Claudia once and for all in the seventh and final season of The Dragon Prince, simply titled "Dark." The popular Netflix Family fantasy adventure series promises to conclude with a thrilling and heartbreaking conclusion to the show's "second saga," which began with season four. All nine episodes stream on Netflix beginning Dec. 19.
The Six Triple Eight (Dec. 20)
The Six Triple Eight, directed by Tyler Perry, is the true story of the women who made up of the first and only Women's Army Corps unit of color stationed in Europe during World War II. The 6888th Central Postal Directory, responsible for distributing more than 17 million pieces of mail to U.S. soldiers stationed overseas, was led by Charlity Adams, played by Kerry Washington, who executive-produced the film, too. In the midst of a global conflict, they faced racial discrimination and segregation, all while making sure their work wasn't compromised. The film, which also features Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, and Oprah Winfrey, arrives to Netflix Dec. 20.
Paramount Plus
The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors (Dec. 22)
This yearly celebration honors the careers of American legends of the performing arts, with the 2024 edition enshrining director Francis Ford Coppola, jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, and the Grateful Dead. In a first, the Center also honored a performance venue -- the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem. Celebrity presenters and performers are set to include David Letterman, Emmylou Harris, Dave Chappelle, Sheryl Crow, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, and Al Pacino, among many others. The special will air on CBS on Dec. 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET, simulcast on Paramount Plus.
Prime Video
Not content with his empire spanning burger chains, chocolate bars, smartphone peripherals, and the YouTube videos that made him a household name, Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson has entered the world of reality competition TV. His latest venture brings together 1,000 contestants (a record) who must undergo a slew of challenges in hopes of snagging the $5 million grand prize (also a record). The show, said to be inspired by Squid Game, has already been mired in controversy thanks to a lawsuit filed against Donaldson by five contestants, but something tells us that won't deter his 332 million YouTube subscribers from tuning in. The first two episodes stream on Prime Video starting Dec. 19, with eight more releasing weekly.
Max
Following its limited theatrical release, Clint Eastwood's latest directorial effort comes to Max for all the world to see. In the taut thriller, family man Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) finds himself on the jury of a high-profile murder trial, only to find that he might actually be the killer. A fine supporting cast includes J.K. Simmons, Zoey Deutch, Kiefer Sutherland, and Toni Collette -- reuniting with Hoult for the first time since 2002's About a Boy. The film drops on Max Dec. 20.
Peacock
This Peacock's on fire with passionate love: Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) stars in this adaptation of the oddball Australian rom-com series about a woman whose past romantic conquests suddenly start meeting horrifying ends. Hsu's Ruby, a determined true-crime fanatic, teams up with best friend AJ (Zosia Mamet) to solve the mystery – and warn the surviving (and very confused) gaggle of boyfriends and one-night stands. Expect lots of guest stars and a dark sense of humor. Streams on Peacock beginning Dec. 19.
English (US) ·