The 12 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch Labor Day Weekend

Clockwise from top: Onslaught, The Gentlemen, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and By Any Means.
Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Everett Collection (Richard Foreman Jr./A24, Eli Ade/Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Studios), Matt Towers/Netflix

You’d think there’d be an onslaught of theatrical releases for Labor Day weekend, but instead we have the likes of Onslaught and Cars, again. On streaming, there’s another season of Glen Powell’s Chad Powers, where he drops the weird disguise this time; the finale of Furious; and three Madonna films on Criterion because she’s got something she wants to talk about.

I have no idea what’s going on here besides a whole lot of pew pew. Directed by Adam Wingard (of Godzilla vs. Kong), Onslaught stars Adria Arjona as a mother and former Army sniper (which explains some of the pew pew) who protects her child from “super soldiers.” I suppose we’ll figure out why they’re after her if we watch the film. Dan Stevens, Drew Starkey, and Rebecca Hall also star.

In this major improvement on the fairly racist Guy Ritchie film that inspired it, Eddie Horniman (Theo James), a former Army captain and duke, aligns with a drug syndicate to keep his estate afloat; his sexual chemistry with the syndicate’s de facto leader, Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario), complicates things. As does the fact Eddie and Susie now wonder if they should break off ties to Susie’s imprisoned dad, Bobby (Ray Winstone). The supporting stars, including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms breakout Daniel Ings, make this series. —Roxana Hadadi 

➽ Intheaters; read thefull review.

Season one, which spun an Eli Manning gimmick video into a sports comedy with Glen Powell as a disgraced college-football star, started to veer in a fascinating, somewhat depraved direction. As the show returns, will it follow through?

One of the best television shows of the year came to a close.

➽ On that twist.
➽ On Emmy Rossum’s finale performance.
➽ A chat with Quincy Tyler Bernstine.

Life is a highway; life is also a total trip. What do you mean it’s been 20 years since Owen Wilson first “Kachow!”-ed? The Pixar film that got us thinking about the interior lives of automobiles is celebrating by rereleasing in theaters this weekend.

➽ Also out again this weekend: Eddie Murphy, Eddie Murphy, and Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor.

The Criterion Channel honors the timeless diva this month with a few of her films, including her first major theatrical bow, Desperately Seeking Susan. She’s made more movies than you might expect, but the streamer has three to start with — alongside Susan are Dangerous Gameand Body of Evidence. Maybe you can watch A League of Their Own on Netflix afterward.

Streaming on Criterion
Criterion

➽ Criterion’s also got anime classic Neon Genesis Evangelion, now streaming for the first time with the classic ’90s English dub. (Note: Initially, Criterion’s release used the Netflix dub, but the error’s been corrected.)

If you ever wanted to know what it means to step out of the shadow of your father Jabba the Hutt … do we have the movie for you. The Mandalorian and Grogu didn’t leave a lasting impression in theaters, but Rotta may have.

➽ The new Scary Movie scares its way to Paramount+, and fans of giant robots can feast on Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe on Netflix.

Want more? Sign up to geteven more recommendationsin your email.

• The 10 Movies You Don’t Want to Miss on Netflix in September
• The 7 Must-Watch Movies on Paramount+ This August

The 12 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch Labor Day Weekend