What’s new to streaming this week? (Aug. 28, 2026)

What’s new to streaming? And what’s worth watching?Credit: Composite: Mashable. Images: AppleTV / Crosswalk and LD Entertainment / Russ Martin / FX / Lucia Faraig / Prime Video / David Lee / Netflix

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that’s before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don’t be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We’ve got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you’re seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we’ve got you covered there, too.

15. Death of the Pastor’s Wife

At a glance, John-Paul Miller and his wife, Mica Miller, seemed to have a happy, even blessed marriage. But before she turned up dead in a state park in April of 2024, she’d shared with family and friends her experiences of manipulation, abuse, and stalking at his hands. 

Over three episodes, Death of the Pastor’s Wifeexplores what went wrong in the Miller marriage through interviews with Mica’s surviving friends and siblings. While the filmmakers were unable to interview John-Paul or his new wife, who wed him a year after Mica’s body was discovered, footage of his video-recorded sermons give an insight into how he viewed love, marriage, and the duties of a wife. Be warned: It will make your blood run cold, and it won’t provide a satisfying ending. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor 

How to watch:Death of the Pastor’s Wifeis now streaming on Netflix.

14. Penny Lane Is Dead

Australian writer-director Mia’kate Russell’s Penny Lane Is Deaddraws from the ’80s Ozploitation films that put the country on the horror cinema map. However, while the film may start with “school’s out” teen fun and overt Australiana, it quickly goes to a dark, ultraviolent place that deserves a rape-revenge genre content warning. Penny (Bailey Spalding), Toni (Tahlee Fereday), and Amy (Alexandra Jensen) have finished high school and organize a girls’ night to celebrate. But Penny’s plotting cousin Kat (Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn) invites herself (and her criminal adult boyfriend and his criminal adult friends) to the party, and things take a dangerous turn. An exploitation film it is, alright, and how that sits in 2026 will be up to audiences. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring:Sophie Wright-Mendelsohn, Tahlee Fereday, Alexandra Jensen, Bailey Spalding, Ben O’Toole, Steve Le Marquand, and Fletcher Humphrys

How to watch:Penny Lane is Deadpremieres Aug. 28 on Shudder.

13. Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special

Everyone, wish Adult Swim a happy 25th birthday! To celebrate, the animation mainstay is airing a Robot Chicken special that combines characters from everything from Smiling Friends to The Venture Bros.andAqua Teen Hunger Force toHarvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. The special places these beloved characters (and even more) on a cruise that goes — you guessed it — terribly wrong. Tune in for the mayhem. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch:The Robot Chicken Adult Swim Specialpremieres at midnight ET on Aug. 31 and streams on HBO Max the next day.

12. Motor City

In the mood for stylized action? Cruise over to Motor City, where Reacherstar Alan Ritchson lays the smackdown on hordes of gangsters in 1977 Detroit. He plays ex-con John Miller, who’s on the warpath for vengeance against mobster Reynolds (Ben Foster). Not only did Reynolds frame John for a crime, he also stole his fiancée Sophia (Shailene Woodley). John’s quest plays out with little dialogue and a rock-heavy soundtrack, so you’ll be headbanging with every punch

Starring:Alan Ritchson, Shailene Woodley, Pablo Schreiber, Ben Foster, and Ben McKenzie

How to watch:Motor Cityis now available to buy or rent on digital.

11. Above & Below

Hypothetically, would you rather deal with great white sharks or a crime gang? Well, the folks in Jesse V. Johnson’s Above & Below have to choose both. With Antonio Banderas somehow starring, this horror-action-thriller throws a group of vacationing friends in the deep end when they’re accidentally caught up in a cartel drug situation during a shark diving session. Half are being held at gunpoint, and half are stuck in a shark cage with 10 minutes of oxygen left — quite the lose-lose situation. Which would you pick? — S.C.

Starring:Laura Marano, Antonio Bandera, Christina Ochoa, Diego Llinás, Timothy V. Murphy, Louis Mandylor, Jess Liaudin, Donncha Tynan, Ryan Bertroche, Ramiro Alonso, Rodrigo Poisón, and Mario Tardón

How to watch:Above & Belowis now available to buy or rent on digital.

10. Untold: The Testimony of Vince Young

Remembered for his MVP performance in 2006’s epic Rose Bowl game between the Texas Longhorns and the USC Trojans, football star Vince Young was supposed to be the NFL’s next big thing. But a series of injuries, conflicts, and more led to a very different career trajectory. The latest installment of Netflix’s Untoldsports documentary series explores the complexities of Young’s rise and decline, with insight from Young himself

How to watch:Untold: The Testimony of Vince Youngis now streaming on Netflix.

9. The Deb

Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut The Deb has taken a long and dramatic road to release, with the director sued for defamation by star Charlotte MacInnes. Two years after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the musical comedy will hit digital release this week.

The Deb follows awkward farm girl Taylah (Natalie Abbott), who lives in small town Dunburn, where the local debutante ball is a marquee event. Her city-slicker influencer cousin Maeve (MacInnes) shows up, sent away after an anti-patriarchy protest. These polar opposite relatives have very different views on feminism and “the deb,” and could learn a thing or two from each other

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Starring:Rebel Wilson, Natalie Abbott, Charlotte MacInnes, Stevie Jean, Brianna Bishop, Karis Oka, Tara Morice, Shane Jacobson, Costa D’Angelo, Alex de Crespigny, Ioane Sa’ula, Ben Turland, Hal Cumpston, Stephanie Tisdell, Amanda Kour, and Sophea Pennington

How to watch:The Debis now available to buy or rent on digital.

8. The Undeclared War Season 2

In 2022, cyber thriller The Undeclared War, created by Peter Kosminsky (Wolf Hall), saw its first season out on the UK’s Channel 4., taking audiences into the world of intelligence in the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Now, four years later, the show’s second season arrives with new director Paul McGuigan (Sherlock,Luke Cage), new writer Colin Teevan (Das Boot), and Simon Pegg as head of GCHQ operations Danny Patrick. Expect surveillance and bureaucracy and tension

Starring:Simon Pegg, Siân Brooke, Hannah Khalique-Brown, Alex Jennings, Danny Sapani, Ed Stoppard, and Chloe Pirrie

How to watch:The Undeclared WarSeason 2 is now streaming on Peacock.

7. LeanneSeason 2

Stand-up comedian Leanne Morgan’s self-titled sitcom returns this week, bringing more Southern charm to Netflix. Season 1 followed Leanne (Morgan) as she endured the biggest shock of her life: her husband of 33 years leaving her for another woman. Season 2 continues Leanne’s journey of self-discovery and reinvention, powered by support from her family, including her sister Carol (Kristen Johnston)

Starring:Leanne Morgan, Kristen Johnston, Celia Weston, Blake Clark, Ryan Stiles, Jayma Mays, Tim Daly, Graham Rogers, and Hannah Pilkes

How to watch:LeanneSeason 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

6. The Last Sunrise

Looking for a swoon-worthy summer love story? Then check out The Last Sunrise, based on the novel by Anna Todd. The film introduces college student Ry (Maia Reficco), who heads on a summer vacation to Mallorca with her mother (Eva Longoria). There, she strikes up a fling with Julián (Fernando Lindez). But their romance will face challenges as Ry struggles with chronic illness and uncovers hidden family secrets. Will these obstacles get in the way of Ry and Julián’s connection?

Starring:Maia Reficco, Fernando Lindez, Eva Longoria, Andrés Velencoso, Chloé Sweetlove, and Sabrina Bartlett

How to watch:The Last Sunriseis now streaming on Prime Video.

5. Mousetrap

Need a new mystery series? South Korean thriller Mousetrap has just landed on Netflix, an unsettling careen into the world of “identity laundering.” When incognito novelist Je Moon-jae (Ryu Jun-yeol) finds his identity completely stolen and loan shark No-ja (Sul Kyung-gu) on his trail, the writer must figure out why a mysterious figure known as “The Rat” has done such a thing, and how he can possibly get his life back. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this mind-bending thriller, directed by Kim Hong-sun and written by Lee Jae-gon, which twists and turns through the streets of Seoul. — S.C.

Starring:Ryu Jun-yeol, Sul Kyung-gu

How to watch:Mousetrappremieres Aug. 28 on Netflix.

4. Hadestown: The Musical

If you haven’t seen Hadestown on stage, you know someone who’s told you to see Hadestown on stage. Well, you could still see Hadestown on stage, and/or you could watch the live capture, Hadestown: The Musical. Filmed in London’s West End, Anaïs Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin’s Tony–winning musical comes to digital this week. An ideal way to watch or rewatch the hit adaptation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, this Hadestown filmed performance stars original Broadway cast members Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, Amber Gray, André De Shields, and Patrick Page. Then you can be the one to tell others to see Hadestown.*— S.C.

Starring:Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, Amber Gray, André De Shields, and Patrick Page

How to watch:Hadestown: The Musicalis now available to buy or rent on digital.

3. The Whisper Man

Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, and Adam Scott have all the crime thrills for you this week, with The Whisper Manarriving on Netflix. Based on Alex North’s novel of the same name, the film hinges around an unsettling playground rhyme from the author’s book: “If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken. If your window’s left unlatched, you’ll hear him tapping at the glass. If you’re lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.”

When children start disappearing, including the 8-year-old son of a crime writer (Scott), his detective father (De Niro) is pulled out of retirement as the culprit could be a serial killer he arrested long ago. With James Ashcroft (The Rule of Jenny Pen) directing a script from The First Omen’s Ben Jacoby and IT’s Chase Palmer, expect dark and chilling twists aplenty

Starring:Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Hamish Linklater, Owen Teague, Acston Luca Porto, and Will Brill

How to watch:The Whisper Manpremieres Aug. 28 on Netflix.

2. Dark MatterSeason 2

SiloSeason 3 may be winding down, but Apple TV has more sci-fi for genre lovers to feast on in the form of Dark MatterSeason 2. Based on the novel by Blake Crouch, Dark Matter’s first season introduced physicist Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), who winds up traveling through a series of alternate versions of his life. Season 2 goes beyond the book, with the Dessen family facing danger when threatening powers force them on the run again. Brace yourself for mind-bending multiversal madness

Starring:Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, and Jimmi Simpson

How to watch:Dark MatterSeason 2 premieres Aug. 28 on Apple TV.

Best of streaming this week: AdultsSeason 2

FX’s Gen Z sitcom Adultsgot off to a strong start in its first season, introducing a lovably messy friend group in housemates Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), Issa (Amita Rao), and Anton (Owen Thiele). Things only get funnier (and wilder) in Season 2, which sees Adults‘ cast firing on all cylinders, whether that means shining by themselves or gelling impeccably in ensemble scenes.

Just what kind of chaos can you expect from Season 2? Secret friend groups, cringe-y pop star careers, a raccoon invasion, and maybe, just maybe, more crumbs of romance between Anton and Paul Baker. Fair warning: There are only eight bite-sized episodes of this delightful season, so be sure to binge with caution. As soon as you’re done, you’ll want to hop right back to the beginning and re-witness the chaos of these friends’ adulthoods

Starring: Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao, and Owen Thiele

How to watch:AdultsSeason 2 premieres Aug. 27 at 9 p.m. ET on Hulu and FXX.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

Shannon Connellan is Mashable’s Senior Editor, General Assignments, based in London. She has been Mashable’s UK Editor (and still manages the illustrious UK team) and Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives searching for Exit 8. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror, and loves to nerd outwith movie stars, filmmakers, and TV creators.

Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Television Critics Association, as well as a Tomatometer-approved critic.

Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she’s an established film critic and entertainment reporter who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, and interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers.