7 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Max, Disney Plus and more this weekend (May 26)
If you haven’t heard of the news yet, HBO Max officially changed its name to Max this week, offering a shiny new service combining Discovery Plus content libraries with former Warner Bros. flagship streamer. discovery.
You can get details on the switching in our seven things HBO Max fans need to know about the Max guide elsewhere on TechRadar, but normal service resumes here in our weekly guide to the best new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend.
Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the biggest news to catch on Netflix, Max and Apple TV Plus over the next few days.
FUBAR (Netflix)
Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in action this weekend in a new Netflix comedy series FUBAR (intended caps).
In this eight-episode adventure, terminator star plays a CIA agent who has been forced to retire and discovers that his daughter (Top Gun: MaverickMonica Barbara) actually also works for US Foreign Intelligence. Forced to work together as partners, the pair quickly find themselves embroiled in a mission of poaching around the world to save the world (obviously!).
When you’re done with FUBAR – where it comes from Reacher writer Nick Santora – check out our recap 6 more action comedies available to stream on Netflix, Prime Video and more.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
Tall Maple (Max.)
Arriving with surprisingly little fanfare this weekend (which is essentially Max’s launch title) is Tall maplenew animated comedy series for adults Spider-Man: To the Spider-Verse writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
Well, we say “new”, but Tall maple – which follows a group of high school teenagers who are also clones of famous historical figures – actually ran for 13 episodes in 2002 before being unceremoniously canceled by MTV. The series has since gained a cult following, with this reboot appearing on Max with many of the original voice actors.
Critics have described Tall maple as “blissfully stupid”, suggesting that Lord and Miller – along with co-writer Bill Lawrence – created one of the Max’s best programs for comedy fans. It is not yet known when the series may debut in the UK.
Now available to stream on Max.
Platonic (Apple TV Plus)
Apple enlisted services Neighbors with Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in their latest comedy-drama, Platonic.
From minds Studio friends Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco, this 10-episode series centers on a pair of former childhood best friends (Rogen and Byrne) who try to rekindle their friendship in adulthood after a dramatic argument.
Reviews for Platonic called the show “the perfect modern buddy comedy,” so this one could be a sure bet for a spot on our list best Apple TV Plus shows in 2023
Now available to stream on Apple TV Plus.
Gremlins: Secrets of Mogwai (Max)
Who saw it? Coming next door Tall maple this weekend as another animated Max launch title Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
This spin-off series from the Gremlins film franchise serves as a prequel to the original 1984 Joe Dante film and follows a young Sam Wing as he first meets Gizmo in 1920s Shanghai. Ming-Na Wen, BD Wong, James Wong and Matthew Rhys lead the voice cast, which also includes Sandra Oh and George Takei.
The first two episodes of Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai are now available to stream on HBO Max, with the remaining eight parts scheduled to arrive weekly on Tuesdays. UK viewers will likely find the series streaming on Sky and NOW in the coming months.
Now available to stream on Max.
American-born Chinese (Disney Plus)
Hot on their heels after winning an Oscar, Everything Everywhere Everything at once stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu team up again in new Disney Plus comedy series American born Chinese.
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Kelvin Yu and directed by Shang Chi Helmer Destin Daniel Cretton, this eight-episode drama follows an American high school student whose encounter with a foreign exchange student leads him to a war between Chinese mythological gods
Ben Wang and Poppy Liu also star American born Chinesewhich critics described as “an unofficial encore Everything Everywhere Everything in Oncme.” Do what you will.
Now available to stream on Disney Plus.
Glade (Hulu, Disney Plus)
If you’re up for some scary this weekend, look no further Cleansingwhich is now streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK.
This eight-part Australian crime thriller – adaptation of the novel by JP Pomare On the Glade – centers on the mysterious Freya, whose dark past may be the key to stopping a religious cult from gathering the children and forcing them to carry out a grand plan. Happy stuff!
Starring Teresa Palmer, Miranda Otto and Guy Pearce Cleansing, who has garnered praise for his performances and storytelling. We hope the series is one of the best Hulu shows for a time.
Now available to stream on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK.
Prehistoric Planet Season 2 (Apple TV Plus)
This week’s documentary selection is Prehistoric planet season 2, which is now streaming in its entirety on Apple TV Plus.
In what is essentially a CGI-enabled version of the popular BBC series Planet Earth (if the latter occurred 66 million years ago), this season will be a continuation of last year Prehistoric planet promises another guided tour of various prehistoric habitats and their dinosaur inhabitants.
This time, the giant Hatzegopteryx, the old Pachycephalosaurus, and the world’s biggest predator, the Mosasaurus, are among the creatures taking center stage.
Now available to stream on Apple TV Plus.
Check out our guides to new Netflix movies, new Disney Plus movies, new Prime Video movies, and new HBO Max movies.
