13 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Peacock, Paramount Plus and more

Find a coin to throw because The witcher season 2 is finally here, with a slew of new movies and shows to watch this weekend. As usual, Netflix, Peacock, Paramount Plus, Hulu and other streaming services unveil a new list of content for your viewing pleasure.

This weekend’s lineup also includes the premiere of Prequel to Yellowstone 1883, which tells how Kevin Costner’s ancestors came to Montana and founded his massive ranch. We’re not sure what’s more exciting: seeing Tim McGraw and Faith Hill play a married couple for the first time, or Sam Elliott’s mustache.

In addition, this weekend brings the South Park: Post COVID 2 special, the very Zeitgeist-y post-apocalyptic drama Station Eleven and the return of Saturday Night Live fan favorite character MacGruber.

Check out our full guide on what to watch this weekend.

The Witcher Season 2 (Netflix)

After a nearly two-year wait, The Witcher finally returns for more monster hunting, witchcraft, and high fantasy storytelling. Netflix has placed a big bet on the series, which has already produced a spin-off animated film. And it seems to pay off: The Witcher season 2 reviews compare the new episodes to Game of Thrones (in a good way).

The second season takes a more direct approach to the narrative, which fans may find a relief. No more jumping in time and space. Instead, the focus is heavily on the mentoring relationship that develops between Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and the runaway Princess Ciri (Freya Allan). Cavill is giving off some serious daddy vibes and it’s hot. Meanwhile, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) survived the Battle of Sodden, but is a prisoner of war. She has to rely on unlikely allies to find a way out.

Broadcast Friday (December 17) on Netflix

1883 (Paramount Plus)

Welcome to the cinematic world of Yellowstone. The flagship series has become a huge hit for Paramount Network, and naturally the powers that be at ViacomCBS want to get the most out of their IP. Thus, we get 1883, a prequel defined during Western expansion. Married country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill play the roles of James and Margaret Dutton, who found the Yellowstone Ranch which Kevin Costner’s John Dutton would inherit and direct.

But before they can claim Montana, the Duttons and their daughter Elsa (Isabel May) must get there first. For help, they turn to Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott), a cowboy who guides settlers along the dusty and dangerous road to the West. And if you think the modern drama of Yellowstone’s current Season 4 is ruthless, 1883 could be even more treacherous. The will be be blood.

Broadcast Sunday (December 19) on Paramount Plus

Station eleven (HBO Max)

The premise of the new limited-series Station Eleven may seem inspired by the current pandemic, but in reality, the show is adapted from an extraordinarily premonitory 2014 novel by Emily St. John Mandel. Deadly flu kills 99% of Earth’s population, wiping out civilization as we know it.

Twenty years later, a traveling troupe performs Shakespeare’s works for small communities of survivors. The Traveling Symphony ensemble, which includes Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis), is committed to bringing theater, music and culture to life, even as the world is in ruins. But they are still grappling with what happened to them and to the company. It all feels so vivid, painfully similar to the present moment. Can art make sense of disaster? Eleven Station will try.

Broadcast Thursday (December 16) on HBO Max

South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID (Paramount Plus)

The South Park follow-up: Post COVID November special continues 40 years into the future, with Kyle, Stan and Cartman as adults. In the first installment, wealthy adult Kenny created a time machine so he could turn back the clock and prevent the pandemic from starting. However, his work was interrupted when someone killed him. RIP Kenny!

Now his friends must work together to complete the mission – and hopefully save Kenny in the process. They also need to understand what’s going on with Butters, now known as Victor Chaos (pronounced Chaws). And Cartman is tough because, well, it’s Cartman.

Broadcast Thursday (December 16) on Paramount Plus

MacGruber (Peacock)

Will Forte revives his iconic Saturday Night Live character, a bawdy version of Macgyver. MacGruber has starred in a box office bombshell in a movie before, but hey, why not give it one more shot in a TV series? This kind of parody usually works best in small doses.

Picking up 10 years after the events of the film, the show finds the ultimate hero and uber patriot American finally released from prison for killing Dieter von Cunth (Val Kilmer). His new mission is to defeat a mysterious villain from his past, Brigadier Commander Enos Queeth (Billy Zane). To save the world, MacGruber gathers his old team, including Vicki St. Elmo (Kristen Wiig) and Dixon Piper (Ryan Phillippe).

Broadcast Thursday (December 16) on peacock

Swan Song (Apple TV Plus)

Oscar winner Mahershala Ali stars as Cameron in this Black Mirror film, a loving husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness. Cameron is offered a radical and controversial alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) that could save his family from the grief of his death – by replacing themselves with a carbon copy clone. The cue would look, act and speak like Cameron, and have all of her memories but without the disease.

While the premise wouldn’t be out of place on Black Mirror, Swan Song is less of a sci-fi horror story and more of a moving meditation on grief. Cameron faces an impossible situation, which requires you to think about how you would handle your swan song.

Broadcast Friday (December 17) on Apple TV Plus

Mother / Android (Hulu)

Here’s another sci-fi tinted film, “set in the near future.” Georgia (Chloë Grace Moretz) and boyfriend Sam (Algee Smith) are days away from the arrival of their first child when their country is caught in an unexpected war on artificial intelligence. Androids, commonly used as laborers and servants, became sensitive and rose up against humans.

To deliver the baby, the couple sets out on a grueling journey to a safe enclave in Boston. But first, they must face off against No Man’s Land, an android stronghold.

Broadcast Friday (December 17) on Hulu

The Hand of God (Netflix)

Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (La Grande Belleza, The Young Pope) delivers this love letter to his hometown of Naples. Much like Alfonso Cuaron did with Roma and Kenneth Branagh with this year’s Belfast, Sorrentino harnesses his own youth to create a vivid and entirely personal coming-of-age story.

In the 1980s, teenager Fabietto Schisa (Filippo Scotti) lived a relatively happy existence with his rowdy family. He studies philosophy, listens to music and watches the great footballer Diego Maradona play for the Napoli team. Then, tragedy strikes and Fabietto’s life is changed forever.

Streaming now on Netflix

Claws season 4 (TNT)

This is the final season of the wickedly funny, very dark comedy set in a nail salon in Florida. Desna Simms (Niecy Nash-Betts) and her manicurist team made their way between nail painting, money laundering and controlling a criminal enterprise.

The Season 3 finale left everyone in precarious positions – no one more than Desna. His plan to steal pills from Uncle Daddy (Dean Norris) is threatened when Quiet Ann (Judy Reyes) joins him. But Desna still has a back-up plan and this time it’s about selling pills through tiered marketing.

Broadcast on Sunday December 19 on TNT (via Sling Where Fubo)

Shatner in space (Amazon Prime video)

Star Trek actor William Shatner’s special chronicle of space travel aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin seems half infomercial, half moving, and finally boldly goes to the last frontier.

Is flying Captain Kirk in space the best use of resources? No. Does this solve the myriad of problems we face on Earth? Absolutely not. But it’s still pretty cool to see geeky Shatner on his star-studded journey and become the oldest person to ever go to space.

Streaming now on Amazon Prime Video

Finding Magic Mike (HBO Max)

Channing Tatum helps men find their own rhythm in this reality series that puts 10 regular men in a Magic Mike-style training camp. There, they learn sexy and daring dance routines for a chance to win a $ 100,000 prize.

Adam Rodriguez, a film actor, acts as the host. Tatum and director Steven Soderbergh are producers. The goal of the show isn’t necessarily to find the best dancer, but to raise these guys. Most of them are down for one reason or another, and stripping is their way to get their mojos back.

Broadcast Thursday (December 16) on HBO Max

The Real Housewives of Miami Season 4 (Peacock)

After almost a decade, RHOM is back! Not a ton has changed, however – there is still a lot of DRAMA going on in South Florida. We’re getting everything from accusations on OnlyFans’ shady accounts to accusations of trying to be the next Kim Kardashian (these both relate to Larsa Pippen, for the record).

Returning cast members include Alexia Echevarria, Lisa Hochstein and Pippen, who are joined by newcomers Guerdy Abraira, Dr Nicole Martin and Julia Lemigova (the first openly LGBTQIA + housewife ever).

Broadcast Thursday (December 16) on peacock

Sell ​​Tampa (Netflix)

Selling Sunset has perfected the combo of real estate porn and Housewives-style drama. Now their formula is replicated and moved to Tampa, where military vet Sharelle Rosado owns an all-black, all-female brokerage firm.

Sharelle has big plans to develop Allure Realty and take advantage of the city’s booming housing market. Its agents will do business left and right on glamorous waterfront mansions. In between, however, expect competitive bickering and territory marking.

Streaming now on Netflix