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As we move from April into May, it's time to start planning what new shows and movies to watch this weekend. We're all in luck, as the streamers are delivering the goods this week, with a great selection of new TV titles and some superb films.
Netflix is earning its place on the best streaming services list with a brand new animated comedy, as well as a tense adaptation of a classic action thriller. Apple TV, meanwhile, has launched buzzy new horror comedy Widow's Bay, while HBO Max is bringing Emerald Fennell's much-discussed "Wuthering Heights" to streaming, a couple of months after it conquered the box office.
New movies
Swapped (Netflix)
Available: US/UK
Watch now: Netflix
If you're looking for something for the whole family to enjoy this weekend, then this new animated adventure could be just the ticket. In Swapped, a cute little critter named Ollie (voiced by Michael B. Jordan) and a bird named Ivy (Juno Temple) unexpectedly switch bodies. Now these two former foes are forced to work together on a perilous quest to undo the spell.
With a starry cast, which also includes Tracy Morgan as a fish named Boogle, this looks like a lot of fun. Swapped debuts on Netflix on May 1, and is ideal for kicking off the new month.
Watch Swapped.
"Wuthering Heights"
Available: US/UK
Watch now: HBO Max
This adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel is certainly one of the most talked-about films this year. Emerald Fennell reinvents Wuthering Heights as a raunchy bodice-ripper – a move that has divided opinions. For some, the film puts a bold and modern new spin on a book that has been previously adapted many times. For others, it's a campy and trashy take on the timeless story of Cathy (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi)'s tempestuous and ultimately toxic romance.
Regardless of the critical opinion, Fennell's version has been a huge hit. Find out where you stand on it when it hits HBO Max on May 1.
Watch "Wuthering Heights"
Jennifer's Body (Netflix)
Available: US
Watch now: Netflix
Diablo Cody's 2009 horror comedy classic is arriving on Netflix on May 1. It follows Jennifer Check (Megan Fox), a high school cheerleader who is sacrificed to Satan by a deadbeat indie band. The ritual works, but Jennifer is transformed into a succubus who proceeds to start picking off the local boys. Meanwhile, Jennifer's best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried), starts to figure out that something is very wrong with Jennifer.
Jennifer's Body was not a hit on its original release, but it has found a strong cult following in the years since, also enjoying a solid critical reappraisal, with Vox's Constance Grady calling the film a "forgotten feminist classic." Darkly witty and shot through with anger, it's well worth your time in 2026.
Watch Jennifer's Body.
New TV shows
Widow's Bay (Apple TV)
,Available: US/UK
Watch now: Apple TV
This new horror comedy series comes from Katie Dippold, who previously worked on Parks and Recreation. It's set in an island town off the coast of New England – a town that is supposedly cursed. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) doesn't believe in such things. He wants to bring tourists back to the town – but when he does, strange things start to happen and he begins to question everything he previously thought possible.
There's an unmistakable whiff of Stephen King about Widow's Bay, with the horror aspects well-balanced with the dark humor. Also caught up in the chaos are Tom's colleagues Patricia (Kate O'Flynn), Dale (Jeff Hiller), and Rosemary (Dale Dickey). The 10-episode season premiered its first two episodes on Apple TV earlier this week, with the rest of the season rolling out weekly over the next few months.
Watch Widow's Bay.
Man on Fire (Netflix)
Available: US/UK
Watch now: Netflix
If the name of this new thriller sounds familiar, then you're probably thinking of Tony Scott's terrific Denzel Washington-starring movie from 2004. Netflix's adaptation of the novel by A.J. Quinnell stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, a former Marine, who is hired to protect a young woman from a kidnapping plot. When things go wrong, however, Creasy will stop at nothing to save the day and take revenge.
If Netflix's version of Man on Fire is anything like the original, then we should expect explosive action and a few twists. The full seven-episode season is streaming now – just in time for a weekend binge!
Watch Man on Fire.
The House of the Spirits (Prime Video)
Available: US/UK
Watch now: Prime Video
This Spanish-language drama adapts Isabel Allende's novel of the same name. The story follows the Trueba family across a span of 50 years. Heading the family is the cruel Esteban Trueba (Alfonso Herrera), but the story is more about three generations of women: Esteban's daughter Blanca (Fernanda Urrejola), grandmother Clara (Nicole Wallace and Dolores Fonzi), and granddaughter Alba (Rocío Hernández). As well as being an insightful family drama, there's a dash of fantasy here, with Clara seeming to exhibit genuine psychic gifts.
Mixing historical drama with magical elements, this is an engaging new drama inspired by a great novel. And while The House of the Spirits takes a few diversions from its source material, it's still largely faithful to Allende's book.
Watch The House of the Spirits.
Looking for something else to watch? Check out our list of the best Netflix movies or the best movies on Disney Plus.
