So, what’s everyone been watching this week? Hmmmm?
Just to get a sense of what everyone’s streaming, we’ve used data from streaming aggregator Reelgood, which gathers viewership numbers from hundreds of streaming services in the U.S. and UK. Each week, the most streamed TV shows and movies come down to a few elements — sheer buzz, a big finale, smart marketing, star power, critical acclaim, or word-of-mouth that leads uninterested people to finally watch it out of spite.
This week, it’s all about fantasy, with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon ruling TV this week, and Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder racking up big hours on streaming. Clearly, people are done with reality this week.
3 ways ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ is different from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books
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.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video
Well, they did it. Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power, is the most streamed of the week again. In fact, according to the company, it was viewed by 25 million viewers globally over the first 24 hours the series’ first two episodes dropped, a record debut for a Prime Video show.
But most importantly, the series does what no other J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation has done: it places people of color and women front and center.
What we thought: The Rings of Power turns out to be a rousing tale of perseverance in the face of evil, a sumptuous re-introduction to Tolkien’s world, and just all-around great TV. You won’t just feel like you’ve returned to Middle-earth: You’ll feel like you never left. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video.
2. House of the Dragon
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
There is simply no denying the power of Game of Thrones, a franchise that has roared back into our lives with the release of prequel series House of the Dragon. Taking place nearly 200 years before Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen existed, House of the Dragon follows House Targaryen at the height of its power in Westeros. There’s just one small problem: King Viserys (Paddy Considine) doesn’t have a male heir. With the line of succession in question, you can bet on scheming, bloodshed, and mayhem. Oh, and many, many dragons. Let fire and blood reign! — B.E.
Who’s who in ‘House of the Dragon’: The Targaryen family tree
What we thought: If you’re worried about House of the Dragon after getting burned by the final season of Game of Thrones, don’t be. HBO’s epic new series is excellent through and through, juggling memorable characters, high fantasy, and intense emotions with practiced ease. You’ll be sucked in faster than you can say “Dracarys.” — B.E.
How to watch: House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO Max. New episodes premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
3. Thor: Love and Thunder
Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios
The God of Thunder is back in Marvel’s follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok. Co-written by Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Thor: Love and Thunder picks up where we left off with Asgard’s less mischievous prince, who is casually winning his way through battles across space and still getting over his ex Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who just happens to have evolved into Mighty Thor with the help of Mjölnir. But Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) has destructive plans in action, and Thor needs to get his pals King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Korg (Waititi) together to take on a mighty villain. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
What we thought: In the end, Love and Thunder is raucous, flashy, and vacuous, not satisfyingly fun. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor
How to watch: Thor: Love and Thunder is now streaming on Disney+.
4. Do Revenge
Credit: Kim Simms/Netflix
Vengeance is the name of the game in Do Revenge, a newly released and dark teen-comedy starring Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke as two high schoolers enacting each other’s revenge plans. Do Revenge takes its cues from teen classics like Mean Girls, Clueless, Heathers, and more. Yet its voice is fresh and fun enough to grant it its own spot in the teen movie pantheon. Between instantly quotable one-liners, fabulous fashion, and a scene-stealing turn from Sophie Turner, it’s no wonder Do Revenge is one of the most streamed flicks of the week. — B.E.
How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Cobra Kai
Credit: Courtesy of Netflix
We don’t quite know how it’s happened, but somehow Netflix‘s Cobra Kai now has more seasons than Stranger Things. In Season 5, which has just hit Netflix, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny (William Zabka) have to join forces to stop the looming threat of Sensei Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) as he attempts to expand his Cobra Kai empire. Expect fast punches, intense stare-downs, and flying kicks aplenty. Here’s everything you need to know before you watch.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
How to watch: Cobra Kai is now streaming on Netflix.
The cast of ‘Cobra Kai’ plays ‘Cobra Kai or Miyagi Do’
6. Rick and Morty
Credit: Adult Swim
Rick and Morty is back for Season 6, and people are streaming the hell out of the adventures of scientist Rick and his grandson Morty. You might have some questions after the Season 6 premiere — here’s an explainer. — S.C.
What we thought: Packed with action, callbacks, and deep cuts, the first episode of Season 6 is a mind blower. — K.P.
How to watch: Seasons 1 through 5 of Rick and Morty are now streaming on HBO Max and Hulu. Episode 1 of Season 6 is available on Adult Swim, and new episodes air Sundays at 11 p.m. ET on Adult Swim.
7. Morbius
Credit: Sony Pictures
Jared Leto’s MCU vampire film has finally hit streaming, if you truly, really, seriously want to watch it. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Morbius sees Leto as the titular Michael Morbius (Leto), a doctor trying to find a cure to his own rare blood disease, which his friend (Matt Smith) also has. But in a turn of events, they become living vampires. Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson also star. — S.C.
What we thought: Lacking in style, spirit, scares, and suspense, this would-be thriller is a toothless and tedious chore. — K.P.
How to watch: Morbius is now streaming on Netflix.
8. Goodnight Mommy
Credit: Amazon Studios
2014’s Goodnight Mommy, an Austrian psychological horror film that will have you squirming in your seat, gets a 2022 remake courtesy of Prime Video. Starring Naomi Watts, Goodnight Mommy follows twin boys Elias and Lukas (Cameron and Nicholas Crovetti) whose mother (Watts) returns from surgery with a gauze-covered face. They begin to suspect she isn’t truly who she seems. Tension and violence ensue. — B.E.
What we thought: In a nutshell, the remake dilutes the most shocking, violent elements of the original, in a way that reduces the film to a rather stale few hours of emotional and physical torment that underuses Watts’ talent. Then comes lukewarm home truths that don’t land in any way as expertly as the chilling 2014 film. — S.C.
How to watch: Goodnight Mommy (2022) is now streaming on Prime Video.
9. The Handmaid’s Tale
Credit: Sophie Giraud/Hulu
The Handmaid’s Tale is back for Season 5, and people keep tuning in for the latest in bleak dystopian storytelling. June (Elisabeth Moss) may have killed Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) in Season 4, but her journey is far from over. She’s still looking for her daughter and trying to fight Gilead. Meanwhile, in an alarming turn of events, Gilead’s influence is growing in Canada. — B.E.
How to watch: The Handmaid’s Tale is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes every Wednesday.
10. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Credit: Courtesy of Marvel Studios
The newest hero to burst into the MCU is Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany). She’s a lawyer who just happens to be a Hulk, but she’d much rather do good through the legal system than through smashing things. As Jennifer grapples with life, love, and pressing questions about Captain America, she’ll team up with MCU mainstays like her cousin Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and Wong (Benedict Wong). It’s a fun time all around, and Maslany is as charming as humanly possible in her double role. — B.E.
From ‘House of the Dragon’ to ‘She-Hulk’: Pugs are having a TV moment
What we thought: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is unlike any Marvel show we’ve seen before. Yes, it’s the story of a hero — Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany) — discovering their powers. But this half-hour comedy about a lawyer-turned-Hulk has just as much in common with Ally McBeal or Legally Blonde as it does with WandaVision or Ms. Marvel. It’s a smaller-scale take on the MCU with an irreverent, self-referential tone, making for a refreshing change of pace from the MCU’s other TV offerings. — B.E.
How to watch: She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes every Thursday.
Source : The most watched movies and TV of the week dominated by fantasy
