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This week's guide to the best new shows and movies is one of the biggest for quite some time... After the quieter early months of the year the streamers are starting to deliver some huge releases.
On the new shows front, the latest Star Wars animated series gets up close and personal with legendary villain Maul; The Boys is back for one final round of super-powered carnage; and the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale is finally here to cheer everyone up. Over on the film side of things, there's a new comedy starring everyone's favorite member of the Stranger Things cast. A new disaster flick mixes sharks with hurricanes to gruesome effect. And let's not forget about Five Nights at Freddy's 2, which is new to streaming.
The Boys season 5
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Prime Video
The Boys returns for its much-anticipated fifth and final season. With Homelander (Antony Starr) having seized control of the world, it's up to Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and The Boys to take him down – whatever the cost. That may even mean resorting to using a virus that could wipe out every Supe on Earth...
OK, so that last bit feels slightly unlikely, if only because we know that there are more spin-offs to come. Even so, there's no doubting that this is the end of an era for one of the best shows of the last few years. The first two episodes are streaming from April 8, with the rest rolling out weekly. We're going to miss it when it's gone.
This list of the best Prime Video shows features The Boys and a whole lot more.
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Peacock
Return to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza with this horror sequel. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 delves deeper into the lore of the franchise, going back in time to show us the first killing at the pizzeria, while also catching up with Abby (Piper Rubio), Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), and Mike (Josh Hutcherson) as they try to move on with their lives. But evil forces still stir and it's not long before they're back on animatronic battling duties.
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 did great business at the box office, but got some fairly negative reviews. Where will you stand on it? There's only one way to find out, and that's by watching the video game adaptation for yourself.
Find out what we thought of the movie with our Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Disney Plus
It feels like it's been a minute since the last Star Wars show. Maul – Shadow Lord picks up with the former Sith (he ditched the "Darth" bit a while back) Maul (voiced once again by Sam Witwer) after the Clone Wars as he tries to forge a new criminal empire. Standing in his way, however, is an array of threats that are even more deadly than he is.
This 10-episode season (the first two parts are already streaming now on Disney Plus) gives us a great insight into this fearsome foe, while still keeping him fundamentally a menacing mystery. We know how Maul's story ends, thanks to Star Wars: Rebels, but Maul – Shadow Lord shows us how he lived.
Our list of the best shows on Disney Plus features Star Wars, Marvel, and more.
Pizza Movie
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Hulu
Stranger Things' Gaten Matarazzo stars alongside Kim Possible's Sean Giambrone in this new comedy. Jack (Matarazzo) and Montgomery (Giambrone) are college roommates who stumble upon a stash of a new, experimental drug known as M.I.N.T.S., which delivers violent hallucinations. The only way to counteract the drug is by eating pizza – but to get to that they have to navigate their college while dealing with the surreal and disorientating effects of the drug.
Yes, the premise sounds as cheesy as a 12" quattro stagioni, but Pizza Movie is actually a lot of fun, with some great gags and winning performances from Matarazzo, Giambrone, and Lulu Wilson. Worth a watch, but stock up on snacks first so you don't get the munchies.
Check out this list of the best Hulu movies for more recommendations.
The Testaments
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Hulu
The Handmaid's Tale ended last year after six seasons set in the repressively patriarchal regime of Gilead. This spin-off is inspired by Margaret Atwood's 2019 sequel novel takes place several years after the events of the original series. Two young teens, Agnes (played by One Battle After Another's Chase Infiniti) and Daisy (Lucy Halliday) are students at Aunt Lydia's (the great Ann Dowd) prep school for future wives. Lydia is aware of the injustice of Gilead and is working to try and change the system from within. Will these three women work together to bring a tyrannical system down?
Described as a coming-of-age story, The Testaments looks like a fresh take on Atwood's bleak world. The first three episodes (of 10) arrive on Hulu on April 8.
Our list of the best shows on Hulu is packed with terrific TV.
Thrash
Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Netflix
This survival thriller looks like a lot of gnarly fun! Written and directed by Violent Night's Tommy Wirkola, Thrash sees a category 5 hurricane devastate a coastal town – but that's only the start of the nightmare. Washed into town are a lot of hungry sharks! Fighting for their lives are pregnant Lisa (played by Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor), and marine researcher Dr. Dale Edwards (Djimon Hounsou), who may just be the answer to saving the town.
Yes, this sounds a bit like a classier take on Sharknado – and we're here for that! Thrash looks like a well-judged mix of disaster and monster movie that's just the thing for a good Friday night in.
Check out our guide to the best Netflix movies for more great viewing.
Our guide to the best Apple TV movies is full of cinematic gems.
