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Fall TV season is officially in full swing, and our buzziest titles of the week prove it. Four out of five entries on this list are TV shows that we just know people will be obsessing over. They include Slow Horses Season 6, the latest entry in Apple TV’s mega popular and critically acclaimed British spy thriller, and The Traitors: New Blood, a spin-off of the cult-favorite reality series that will feature everyday people instead of celebrities.
But, don’t worry, cinephiles. While there may only be one major movie on our radars this week, it’s a biggie: Resident Evil, which is a reboot of the hit video game-inspired franchise, director Zach Cregger’s follow-up to Weapons, and one of our most anticipated movies of the year.
For the week of September 17 to September 23, here are the five movies, TV shows, and events that will have everyone talking.
Resident Evil
When to watch: September 18
Where to watch: In theaters
Horror lovers — and movie fans in general — would be eager to devour filmmaker Zach Cregger’s first movie post-Weapons regardless of its subject matter. Add in the fact that said project just so happens to be Resident Evil, a new film reboot of the popular video game series (there are already seven flicks in the broader franchise), and the intrigue goes up even more.
And because so little is actually known about this take on Resident Evil, the buzz of anticipation is going strong. Here’s what we do know: The movie stars Austin Abrams (who was also a main player in Weapons) as a medical courier tasked with making a delivery to a hospital in Racoon City — ground zero for the franchise’s outbreak of zombie-like creatures. Over the course of one wild night, he must fight desperately to survive as the city around him descends into chaos.
As a filmmaker, Cregger has built his name on creating original horror movies (he’s also behind 2022 hit Barbarian) that are equal parts creative and terrifying. And following Weapons’ surprise awards season success (the horror genre has largely been ignored by awards bodies), it’s somewhat surprising that Cregger is doing a franchise film. Will his singular style and voice be able to translate? Or would movie-goers prefer that he stick to original storytelling? And can this latest reboot satisfy fans of the video games/earlier Milla Jovovich-fronted movies? There’s only one way to find out.
Check out what critics are saying in First Reviews and buy tickets on Fandango.
Slow Horses: Season 6
When to watch: Now streaming. New episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.
Where to watch: Apple TV
Slow Horses is one of the most reliable TV shows of the 2020s. The spy thriller, which follows a dysfunctional group of outcast MI5 agents led by Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, is well made and brilliantly performed (explaining its strong presence at the Emmy Awards the last few years), plus fun, twisty, and entertaining in a way that feels effortless. Perhaps most importantly of all? A new season comes out every year without fail, so you can always count on it to be there. All of this — and more — is true of Season 6. This time, our beloved Slough House agents (both past and present) are in the line of fire themselves, as they’re forced to go on the run when a pair of ruthless assassins start hunting them. The new batch of episodes also marks the return of Olivia Cooke’s Sid Baker, who was presumed to have died way back in Season 1. With a seventh and eighth season already confirmed, all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy.
The Traitors: New Blood
(Photo by Euan Cherry/NBC)When to watch: September 17. New episodes air weekly on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
Where to watch: NBC/Peacock
The Traitors US has been one of the juiciest, most addictive reality shows of the last few years. The drama of well-known reality stars and celebs converging in a Scottish castle to work together as the “Faithful” to kick out the secret “Traitors” among them is just too irresistible. Now we’re getting a new(ish) twist on the format with The Traitors: New Blood. Like the UK version, this spinoff, which will still be hosted by Alan Cumming, will feature a cast made up entirely of American “civilians” — aka non-celebrities. (Fans will remember that the first season of the US series actually mixed civilians and celebs.) The format is familiar: there are 22 total contestants, with a select few being chosen to act as Traitors. Over the course of the game, the Traitors then must “kill” the Faithful while hiding their identities. At the end, $250,000 is up for grabs. If all the Traitors are kicked out of the castle, the surviving Faithful split the cash; if even one Traitor is left, they get to claim it all.
The Traitors is still in its prime and doesn’t need freshening up, but the addition of New Blood to the TV calendar is a win for fans. Not only do we get more of the show we love to obsess over, but the dynamic of an all-civilian cast is really exciting too. These are relatable people we could actually know in our own lives who aren’t used to performing for cameras all day. The intensity and emotions will be so much more heightened, which will be just as compelling as the celeb-filled version — if not more so.
Youth: Season 1
When to watch: September 20. New episodes drop every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.
Where to watch: HBO/HBO Max
No one creates raw and messy women like Sharon Horgan. Her 2015 sitcom Catastrophe, for example, offered a hilarious and unflinching look at modern romance and family when the protagonist discovers she’s pregnant after a one-night stand; black comedy Bad Sisters offered an incisive portrayal of sisterhood against the backdrop of a murder-mystery. Next up for Horgan is Youth, which she created and also stars in. The candid comedy follows 50-year-old Alex, a divorcée who wants to revive her sex life, which is something that proves to be challenging as she also has to juggle caring for her aging parents and her nearly adult son (played by Cillian Murphy’s son Aran Murphy). Assuming the series follows in the tradition of Horgan’s previous work (and we have no reason to doubt that it will), we’re in for an authentically clever and sharply observed tale about sexuality, middle age, and contemporary womanhood — exactly what the Sex and the City generation is craving.
Jaÿ-Z in 8
(Photo by HBO)When to watch: September 18. New episodes drop every Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
Where to watch: HBO/HBO Max
Jay-Z has long been one of the most influential rappers of all time, but it’s been a while since he’s given fans a peek behind the curtain. That changes with Jaÿ-Z in 8. The eight-episode HBO documentary finds the artist sitting down with prolific producer/collaborator Rick Rubin (who also directs) for a string of in-depth conversations about his work. Each episode will focus on specific songs (from hits like “99 Problems” to deep cuts), which will act as a jumping off point for Jay-Z to share the stories behind the tracks and dig into his creative process. Throughout, he’ll also open up about his personal experiences, upbringing, family, and more.
Any opportunity to learn about music as great as the songs featured in this docuseries is one worth taking. But Jaÿ-Z in 8 also has the chance to be special. If Jay-Z and Rubin really get into it — not in a polished, hyper-aware-of-the-cameras way, but with real authenticity and introspection — the series could help deepen music lovers’ appreciation for an already acclaimed discography and provide them with new material to learn from and discuss.
English (US) ·