Everything you need to stream this fall
The fall season is here. That means the marquee at your local movie theaters will soon be filling up with awards contenders and blockbusters, while new and returning cable and network shows are going to clutter up your DVR. But those aren’t your only sources of autumnal entertainment. The major streaming services have a packed lineup of original movies and episodic shows just begging to be binge-watched. Here’s Yahoo Entertainment’s curated guide to some of the fall’s best streaming options, from Sarah Silverman continuing her tour of America’s less-traveled roads to Bruce Springsteen rocking out on Broadway.
SEPTEMBER
I Love You, America (Hulu, Sept. 6)
Even in these divisive times, everyone can agree that Sarah Silverman’s Emmy-nominated politically tinged travel series is a national treasure. A fresh batch of 11 episodes finds the L.A.-based comedian exploring this big, crazy country of ours and seeking common ground with her fellow citizens on a host of timely issues.
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (Netflix, Sept. 7)
Cyrano de Bergerac gets the Clueless treatment with this gender-swapped high school version of the 19th-century play. Stranger Things star Shannon Purser (who plays Barbara “Barb” Holland) gets the Cyrano role, and ’80s teen movie royalty Lea Thompson and Alan Ruck play her well-meaning parents.
Marvel’s Iron Fist (Netflix, Sept. 7)
Pity poor Danny Rand: Not only did most viewers regard Iron Fist as the runt of Netflix’s Marvel litter, but Rand also didn’t get any respect from his fellow Defenders in that all-star team-up series. Maybe that’ll change with Season 2, which, based on early trailers, appears to emphasize martial arts street fights over the corporate boardroom intrigue that bogged down Season 1. Look for Alice Eve to make her Marvel-ous debut as fan-favorite villain Typhoid Mary.
Snatch (Sony Crackle, Sept. 13)
After Snatch-ing a major sum of money from British gangsters in Season 1, Rupert Grint and his heist-happy pals are hiding out abroad in the show’s sophomore year. Naturally, trouble soon catches up to them in the form of an all-new crime boss eager to claim their ill-gotten fortune for himself. Too bad they don’t teach stuff like that at Hogwarts.
BoJack Horseman (Netflix, Sept. 14)
Hooray for Hollywoo! Heading into its fifth year, Netflix’s cult cartoon hit begins with its equine star returning to the boob tube to headline an all-new series. But because this is BoJack Horseman we’re talking about, it’s only a matter of time until he ruins his umpteenth comeback attempt in hilarious — and heartbreaking — ways.
The First (Hulu, Sept. 14)
One small step for Hulu, one giant leap for Sean Penn. The Oscar-winning star of Milk and Mystic River makes his streaming debut in an eight-episode drama depicting mankind’s first attempt to colonize Mars. Natascha McElhone, LisaGay Hamilton, and Oded Fehr co-star, with House of Cards creator Beau Willimon calling the creative shots behind the camera.
Forever (Amazon Prime, Sept. 14)
No disrespect to the real people, but Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen were always our favorite Beyoncé and Prince. Now the Saturday Night Live veterans are playing a California married couple whose routine-oriented life is overdue for a major shakeup.
The Land of Steady Habits (Netflix, Sept. 14)
The latest film from Enough Said writer-director Nicole Holofcener casts Ben Mendelsohn and Edie Falco as a recently separated couple trying to lead independent lives after two decades together. Always an incisive chronicler of her characters’ relationship foibles and personal failings, Holofcener is expected to once again craft a half-sad, half-funny feature that cuts close to the bone.
Norm Macdonald Has a Show (Netflix, Sept. 14)
Norm! The former “Weekend Update” anchor now anchors his own half-hour streaming chat show series featuring his interviews with such fellow Netflix personalities as Drew Barrymore and David Letterman.
Sorry for Your Loss (Facebook Watch, Sept. 18)
Full credit to Facebook for funding the Scarlet Witch/Rose Tico team-up we’ve all been waiting for. Infinity War‘s Elizabeth Olsen and The Last Jedi‘s Kelly Marie Tran play grief-stricken sisters trying to move past the death of a loved one with the aid of their sometimes-overbearing mother (Janet McTeer). We “like” this idea already.
The Good Cop (Netflix, Sept. 21)
Need a good reason to watch Netflix’s new cop comedy? Here are two: Tony Danza and Josh Groban play a father and son who bleed NYPD blue. Considering that both guys are known for their ability to carry a tune, maybe this could be the second coming of Cop Rock?
Maniac (Netflix, Sept. 21)
A decade after Superbad, Emma Stone and Jonah Hill reunite for this trippy adaptation of a Norwegian TV series, helmed by True Detective‘s Cary Fukunaga. Seeking relief from their disaffected lives, the two enroll in a pharmaceutical experiment that plays with their — and our — minds. Strap in, because this show is gonna drive you mental.
Nappily Ever After (Netflix , Sept. 21)
After arriving at a personal and professional crossroads, Violet Jones (Sanaa Lathan) reboots her life by shedding her inhibitions — and her hair — in this new film from celebrated Saudi filmmaker Haifaa al-Mansour. Ernie Hudson, Lynn Whitfield, and Lyriq Bent round out the ensemble cast.
Quincy (Netflix, Sept. 21)
Rashida Jones co-directs an up-close-and-personal look at the life and career of her father, the one and only Quincy Jones. In addition to her own memories and personal footage, the documentary features testimonials from such entertainment luminaries as Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, and Bono.
Chef’s Table (Netflix, Sept. 28)
Have you binged your heart out on Nailed It and find yourself desperately in need of more time in the Netflix kitchen? Book a reservation with the latest season of Chef’s Table, where you’ll have the chance to witness — but, sadly, not sample — the dishes of some of the world’s top culinary masters.
King Lear (Amazon Prime, Sept. 28)
A tyrannical, and unstable, ruler uneasily presides over his nation, even as his three children vie for their own slice of power. Sound familiar? Director Richard Eyre’s adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play very notably takes place in the present day, with Anthony Hopkins as the titular king, and Emma Thompson, Emily Watson, and Florence Pugh as his offspring.
OCTOBER
Into the Dark (Hulu, Oct. 5)
Horror maestro Jason Blum takes his talents to Hulu, producing 12 extra-long scary stories that will roll out over the next 12 months. First up on Oct. 5 is “The Body,” the tale of an assassin who is handed a very unusual Halloween assignment. “Flesh & Blood” follows on Nov. 2 and stars Dermot Mulroney as a dad whose agoraphobic daughter is approaching the edge of a serious breakdown.
The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Prime, Oct. 5)
The Philip K. Dick-inspired alt-reality series heads into Season 3 by adding new cast member Jason O’Mara as a scrappy foot soldier in the ongoing fight against America’s ruling Nazi party. It is an alternate reality, right?
Private Life (Netflix, Oct. 5)
Tamara Jenkins’s first film in over 10 years stars Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn as would-be parents whose attempts to start a family have left them despondent and in a deep financial hole. Into this fraught situation comes their college-age niece Sadie (Kayli Carter), giving them a small taste of what parenthood is like.
Apostle (Netflix, Oct. 12)
Gareth Evans gave action cinema a major shot in the arm with his 2011 hit, The Raid. Now he’s returning with his version of a costume drama, featuring Dan Stevens as an early 20th-century heir to a prominent London family who has to rescue his sister from a religious cult. In other words, it’s The Wicker Man meets Downton Abbey.
Feminists: What Were They Thinking? (Netflix, Oct. 12)
Johanna Demetrakas’s timely documentary explores the origins and lasting accomplishments of the 1970s feminist movement through the lens of an important series of photographs snapped at the time. But the film doesn’t dwell entirely on the past, pointing out the backlash that women continue to face when fighting for equal rights in the face of (mostly male) opposition.
The Kindergarten Teacher (Netflix, Oct. 12)
Maggie Gyllenhaal won rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival in January for her portrayal of an educator whose devotion to a gifted young pupil upends her own life. The second film from co-writer-director Sara Colangelo also stars Gael García Bernal and Rosa Salazar.
Light as a Feather (Hulu, Oct. 12)
You might think twice about playing the titular slumber party game at your next sleepover after bingeing on all 10 episodes of Hulu’s teen-centric horror series. First Ouija: Origin of Evil, then Truth or Dare, and now this? Hollywood’s gonna run out of ideas for party games it can turn evil.
The Romanoffs (Amazon Prime, Oct. 12)
Matthew Weiner assembles a star-packed ensemble for his follow-up to Mad Men, including Aaron Eckhart, Noah Wyle, Diane Lane, John Slattery, and Christina Hendricks. The globe-hopping anthology series features a myriad of characters who are connected by one thing: They may — or may not — be part of the Russian Romanoff dynasty.
22 July (Netflix, Oct. 19)
Having previously placed viewers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 for a gripping re-creation of that doomed Sept. 11 flight, director Paul Greengrass depicts the horrifying events of July 22, 2011, when a Norwegian man killed 77 people in a single day. The film will make prestigious festival stops in Venice and Toronto before premiering on Netflix.
Lore (Amazon Prime, Oct. 19)
Aaron Mahnke’s popular podcast about real-life horrors from the past and present provides the jumping-off point for Amazon’s series, now entering its second season. Archival footage, dramatic re-creations, and animated segments mix and mingle to increase the show’s fear factor.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix, Oct. 26)
Just as Riverdale took Archie Andrews and his pals in a darker direction, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina definitely isn’t your mother’s happy-go-lucky teenage witch. Kiernan Shipka plays the all-new Sabrina, who is poised to confront metaphorical and literal demons that are going to require a lot more than a talking cat to defeat.
Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj (Netflix, Oct. 28)
The Daily Show veteran follows the path of Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and Samantha Bee from correspondent to host of his own politically minded comedy show.
NOVEMBER
StartUp (Sony Crackle, Nov. 1)
Mira Sorvino is on the case as an NSA agent investigating the StartUp crew as the tech drama begins Season 3. Other new faces this year include Zachary Knighton, Tyler Labine, and Jason Kravits.
Homecoming (Amazon Prime, Nov. 2)
Sean Penn isn’t the only Oscar winner making his first foray into streaming television. Julia Roberts headlines Amazon’s new thriller as a former caseworker for veteran soldiers who can’t — or doesn’t want to — remember some of the things she witnessed at the Homecoming Transitional Support Center. With Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail on board as the director, you can bet there will be plot twists aplenty.
House of Cards (Netflix, Nov. 2)
Kevin Spacey is gone, but House of Cards lives on … for one more season, anyway. Robin Wright now occupies center stage — and the Oval Office — in the show’s final eight-episode term. Tune in to see Frank Underwood get the Poochie treatment, and then stick around to watch how the house of cards he and Claire built comes crashing down.
The Other Side of the Wind (Netflix, Nov. 2)
How could a film from the ’70s be nominated for Best Picture in 2018? When that film is Orson Welles’s never-completed Hollywood satire, which has finally been finished three decades after his death. John Huston, Susan Strasberg, and Dennis Hopper are among the now-deceased actors who appear in the movie, which was shepherded to completion by a team that includes prolific producer Frank Marshall.
They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead (Netflix, Nov. 2)
To accompany the long-awaited release of The Other Side of the Wind, documentarian Morgan Neville assembles this portrait of Orson Welles during his declining years out of archival footage and interviews with his contemporaries. Back-to-back viewings of both films are mandatory for those who consider themselves serious movie buffs.
SuperMansion Thanksgiving Special (Sony Crackle, Nov. 15)
Spend your Turkey Day with the cracked superheroes of Crackle’s SuperMansion, as they presumably try to break bread with their enemies turned allies the Injustice Club.
The Fix (Netflix, Nov. 16)
The comic triple threat of Jimmy Carr, Katherine Ryan, and D.L. Hughley set out to fix the world one problem at a time in Netflix’s latest stab at a topical talk show.
The Kominsky Method (Netflix, Nov. 16)
Michael Douglas gets his Larry David on as Sandy Kominsky, a cranky Hollywood celebrity who has traded superstardom for a career as an acting coach. Alan Arkin plays the Jeff to Douglas’s Larry, while Emily Osment, Lisa Edelstein, and Nancy Travis round out the ensemble of Chuck Lorre’s latest series.
The Christmas Chronicles (Netflix, Thanksgiving)
From Snake Plissken to Santa Claus! Kurt Russell plays the bearded gift giver in this Chris Columbus-produced family caper about two kids who make elaborate plans to capture Santa … and succeed.
DECEMBER
Springsteen on Broadway (Netflix, Dec. 15)
Still sad you couldn’t score tickets to see the Boss live and in person on the Great White Way? Now you can watch him from the comfort of your living room couch. Filmed by Thom Zimny — who has an extensive back catalog of Bruce Springsteen docs in his filmography — it’s sure to be a memorable recording of a memorable production.
Bird Box (Netflix, Dec. 21)
Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier directs Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, and Sarah Paulson in a taut thriller set against the backdrop of an imploding world order. With society crumbling around her, Malorie (Bullock) has to lead her children on a treacherous downriver journey, even as human predators nip at their heels.
Marvel’s Runaways (Hulu, Dec. 21)
The kids are all right — not to mention all on their own — as Season 2 of Runaways begins. Having ditched their villainous parents, these super-powered runaways now have to look after one another on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Do we even need to tell you there may be a mole in their ranks? There’s always a mole.
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