Most watched movies and TV this week are are all about ghosts, creepy dolls, and treasure
So, what’s everyone been watching this week? Hmmmm?
Just to get a sense of the most popular movies and TV shows people are streaming, we’ve streaming aggregator Reelgood, which gathers viewership numbers from hundreds of streaming services in the U.S. and UK. Each week, the most streamed watches come down to a few elements — sheer buzz, a big finale, smart marketing, star power, critical acclaim, or word-of-mouth that leads people to finally watch it out of spite.
But just because a lot of people are watching something doesn’t make it…good. Here they are, the 10 most streamed TV shows and movies of the week, where to watch them, and what Mashable critics thought.
Bella Ramsey and Keivonn Woodard in “The Last of Us.” Credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO
It’s the one to beat, every week. The Last of Us has been the most streamed of the week for seven weeks running now. Chernobyldirector Craig Mazin and The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann bring the lauded Naughty Dog survival adventure game to the screen, with a deeply moving, stunt-packed, superbly scripted, and powerfully performed television show.
What we thought:Making a TV show that lives up to the source material is always a high bar to clear, but especially so in this case. Luckily for gamers and new viewers alike, The Last of Us leaps over it with room to spare, chasing excellence with the boundless energy of a Clicker hunting its prey. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (aka Daniels), Everything Everywhere All at Once stars Michelle Yeoh in her most exhilarating role yet: a multiverse-hopping mom, dedicated to saving all existence but especially her on-the-edge daughter (the sensational Stephanie Hsu). Having more fun with the multiverse concept than Marvel could dare, this outrageous action-comedy giddily thrusts audiences into wild alternative worlds, brandishing unexpected weapons alongside jaw-dropping fashion and wildly captivating performances from Yeoh, Hsu, and their totally game co-stars Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis.*— Kristy Puchko, Film Editor
What we thought:Everything Everywhere All at Once is a tornado of a movie: dizzying, filled with turns, and peppered with eye-catching elements. Yet at the core of its frenetic swirls of allusions, action sequences, and madcap mayhem, there lies a poignant parable about this ruthlessly overwhelming age. — K.P.
Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in “Poker Face.” Credit: Sara Shatz / Peacock
If you’re thirsty for more mystery-solving after Knives Outand Glass Onion, dive right into Poker Face, created by Rian Johnson. Natasha Lyonne plays Charlie, whose uncanny ability to tell if someone is telling the truth or not sees her hitting the road to solve different cases. — S.C.
What we thought:Poker Face cements itself as a gem in its own right. Its effective mystery-of-the week format scratches any itch you may have for puzzly goodness (and for guest stars), all while introducing a phenomenal new case-cracker in Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale. — B.E.
Margot Robbie stars in “Babylon.” Credit: Paramount Pictures
Damien Chazelle’s opulent Oscar nominee has hit streaming, and audiences are smashing that play button. The director’s early Hollywood epic starring Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Brad Pitt, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, and Jean Smart delves into the excesses of 1920s Los Angeles. — S.C.
What we thought:Brace yourself for Chazelle’s about-face, because Babylon is a ghastly, sticky, indulgent mess of a movie, slinging shock value in lieu of anything interesting to say. — K.P.
“Outer Banks” is back for Season 3. Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
The Netflix series is back for a third season, seeing the Pogues (John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ, and Cleo), back and still living free and hunting for treasure. Created by Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke, the series began in 2020, following a group of teens living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, an area defined by the haves and have nots. Season 1 focused on Pogues leader John B (Chase Stokes) and his pals finding a wreck and searching for a stash that could be associated with his missing father, while rivalling their wealthy adversaries, the Kooks. — S.C.
Julianne Moore and Justice Smith in “Sharper.” Credit: Apple TV+
Apple TV+’s new psychological thriller comes with a stacked cast and a pile of truths to uncover in New York City. Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, Briana Middleton, and John Lithgow star in this drama that sees characters competing for power and money, each trying to con the other. Director Benjamin Caron, who worked on Andor and The Crown, sets a stage of greed and lust in Sharper, promising to keep you guessing until the end. — S.C.
It’s the biggest horror movie of 2023 so far. James Wan and Blumhouse’s lauded film M3GAN has finally hit streaming, following the plight of eight-year-old Cady (Violet McGraw) and her newfound BFF. Having lost her parents, Cady’s aunt Gemma (Allison Williams) gifts her a M3GAN, an AI companion doll. But M3GAN’s behaviour starts to take a turn, involving some seriously creepy crawling and dance moves. — S.C.
What we thought:Hold onto your wigs, because the next queer monster has arrived, and she’s got better rhythm than the Babadook. — K.P.
Party Down has been revived for Season 3, with Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, and Megan Mullally returning a decade after the first two seasons. They’re joined by a host of new additions, including Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams, and Zoe Chao. — S.C.
What we thought: If you loved the original series, you’ll relish every twisted episode of Season 3, death cake and all. — K.P.
Party Down – Everything you need to know before watching Season 3
9. We Have a Ghost
Ta-da! Credit: Netflix
Based on the short story “Ernest” by Geoff Manaugh, Netflix’s We Have a Ghost follows a teenage boy’s discovery of a ghost in his new home, that’s played by none other than David Harbour. Ernest immediately becomes some sort of a family friend to Kevin’s (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) family, with Kevin adamant on finding out what happened to him in his life. He’s also become a viral sensation thanks to a video Kevin took of him, and everyone from Jennifer Coolidge (playing a famous medium) to the CIA wants a shot of Ernest. Well, the CIA actually wants to capture Ernest which leaves Kevin with no choice but to hit the road with Ernest by his side and the CIA at his heels. We Have a Ghost‘s cast also includes Tig Notaro, Erica Ash, and Anthony Mackie.*— Yasmeen Hamadeh, Entertainment Intern
Taylor Sheridan’s western drama won’t be beat. Credit: Peacock
Kevin Costner-led Western Yellowstone has one of the most loyal audiences around, making the most streamed list every single week. Created by Taylor Sheridan and John Lindan, the drama follows John Dutton (Costner) and his family of ranchers in Montana. The show hasn’t always been beloved by critics (the first season, in particular, got a very mixed reception) but it is undeniably popular. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor