The 5 Movies and TV Shows You Should Be Watching on Streaming Right Now

Welcome to Boston.com weekly streaming guide. Each week we recommend five must-watch movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO MaxPeacock, Paramount+ and more.

Many recommendations are for new shows, while others are for under-the-radar releases that you may have missed, or classics that disappear from the streaming service at the end of the month.

Do you have a new favorite movie or show that you think we should know about? Let us know in the comments or via email [email protected]. Looking for even more great streaming options? Check out previous editions of our Must-watch list here.

Stream new movies

“Carrie” (1976)

Boston.com recently completed a reader-voted ranking to determine the best Stephen King book of all time, with The Stand taking the top spot. While some may argue about the end result, it was undoubtedly a fun way to revisit some of King’s greatest hits after half a century of stories.

It all started with “Carrie” — both King’s 1974 debut novel and the 1976 film that led to countless Stephen King film adaptations. The film marked a box office breakthrough for director Brian De Palma, who directed “Scarface,” “The Untouchables” and “Mission: Impossible,” among others. A Hitchcock obsessive, De Palma proved a worthy heir to the master of suspense, building hair-raising suspense just before the mild-mannered, strange Carrie (Sissy Spacek) is doused in pig’s blood at her prom. After the excruciating preparation leading up to this moment, the hell that will break loose when Carrie’s telekinetic powers are unleashed is inevitable.

How to watch: Carrie (1976) is streaming on AMC+.

“It” (2017)

The idea that clowns, who spread joy and cheer and are secretly frightening, has been around for centuries. But few have taken it to the level King reached with his 1986 novel It, in which Pennywise the Clown (actually a demonic creature in the shape of a clown) preys on the children of Derry, Maine , might. The 1990 TV miniseries starring Tim Curry was already a worthy adaptation, but in 2017 director Andy Muschietti (“Mama”) found great success with his big-screen version, which split the novel into two films.

The first appearance is the stronger of the two, as the chemistry between the child actors in the Losers Club (the Derry kids who vow to defeat Pennywise) seems reminiscent of films like The Goonies and Stand By Me. You can find the latter later in this list.

How to watch: “It” (2017) is streaming on Max.

“The Running Man” (1987)

“The Running Man” is the rare Stephen King film adaptation based on a work published under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman. It’s also funnier than almost any other King film and bears only a passing resemblance to the 1982 novel on which it is based.

But don’t let that stop you from checking out this dystopian satire. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in top form as a contestant on the world’s most popular game show, a Deadliest Game-style spectacle in which trained killers hunt the show’s contestants for fun. Arnold spouts catchphrases left and right, and game show host Richard Dawson (“Family Feud”) playing an absurd version of himself is a particular highlight.

How to watch: The Running Man (1987) is streaming on Paramount+.

Stream new TV shows

“The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox”

It’s been 20 years since the Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino and became World Series champions again after an 86-year drought. That’s long enough for the joy and unparalleled catharsis to fade a little from memory, making The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox a welcome addition to the rich genre of sports documentaries.

Director Colin Barnicle gets some really interesting insight from players, coaches and executives from the Sox of the early 2000s, including a candid conversation with Grady Little, the manager who let Pedro Martinez down for a little too long in the 2003 ALCS, which turns out to be how Boston felt like it was the only chance to beat the Yankees at the time.

How to watch: “The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox” is streaming on Netflix.

“What We Do in the Shadows”

“What We Do in the Shadows” has come a long way from Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s 2014 co-created mockumentary (“Flight of the Conchords”). The basic idea – a group of vampire roommates living on Staten Island – has remained the same, but each year has presented new opportunities for the series’ fanged protagonists to spread their wings. In the sixth and final season, which debuted earlier this week on FX and Hulu, the gang finds itself at odds with a recently awakened vampire (Mike O’Brien, “Saturday Night Live”) who isn’t just annoyed that he’s been… He woke up late almost 30 years ago, but because his bloodsucker brood have become contented city dwellers instead of conquering the world. You really need to start with Season 1 to appreciate all the backstory that “Shadows” has built up over the seasons, but it’s definitely worth taking the time if you haven’t already.

How to watch: “What We Do In The Shadows” Season 6 is streaming on Hulu, with new episodes airing Mondays on FX.

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