TAGGED AS: Binge Guide, movies, streaming, television, TV
Prime Video’s Invincible, FX’s hit anthology Fargo, and The Crown all return for new seasons in November. Also, Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters premieres, which will inspire a rewatch of the Monsterverse Godzilla titles. Here are nine streaming shows and movies you should catch up on before they kick off new seasons.
99%
Invincible
(Prime Video)
What it is: Mark Grayson, 17, is just like every other guy his age — except that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man; as Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers his father’s legacy may not be as heroic as it seems. Season 2 Part 1 premieres Friday, November 3.
Why you should watch it: Robert Kirkman’s source material is brought to life in a manner that doesn’t at all undercut the paneled page story; in fact, this is a comic book adaptation that levels the entire property up, thanks to the animation style, the smart writing, and performances of the cast (specifically that of Steven Yeun and J.K. Simmons). It’s bloody, dramatic, and a surprisingly fun binge.
Where to watch: Prime Video (subscription, season 1)
Commitment: Approx. 8 hours (for season 1)
100%
Rap Sh!t
(Max)
What it is: Two estranged high school friends from Miami reunite to form a rap group. Season 2 premieres Thursday, November 9.
Why you should watch it: Two words: Issa Rae. The Insecure writer and star is the show creator here, and her smart perspective and infectious humor are on full display.
Where to watch: Max (subscription, season 1)
Commitment: Approx. 4 hours (for season 1)
92%
For All Mankind
(Apple TV+)
What it is: The high-stakes lives of NASA astronauts and their families in a world where the global space race never ended. Season 4 premieres Friday, November 10.
Why you should watch it: Anchored by grounded performances by its ensemble cast, the sci-fi series uses the geopolitical issues of the past and present to inform a fully fleshed out alternate reality in which Russia wins the race to the moon and colonizing space is underway.
Where to watch: Apple TV+ (subscription, seasons 1-3)
Commitment: Approx. 31 hours (for seasons 1-3)
81%
The Crown
(Netflix)
What it is: Based on award-winning play The Audience by showrunner Peter Morgan, this lavish, Netflix-original drama chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. The series begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen, who ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. As the decades pass, personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries are revealed that played a big role in events that shaped the later years of the 20th century. Part 1 of the sixth and final season premieres Thursday, November 16.
Why you should watch it: Each season features a stacked cast of talented actors, lush set pieces, and awe-inspiring costumes. Netflix’s landmark drama is an inspiring and sprawling work of historical fiction.
Where to watch: Netflix (subscription, seasons 1-5)
Commitment: Approx. 50 hours (for seasons 1-5)
76%
Godzilla
(2014)
76%
Kong: Skull Island
(2017)
42%
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
(2019)
76%
Godzilla vs. Kong
(2021)
82%
Skull Island
(Netflix)
What it is: The Monsterverse is the American reboot franchise of Toho Co.’s iconic Godzilla movie series. Beginning with 2014’s Godzilla, the series of movies includes Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and the most recent big screen entry, Godzilla vs. Kong. Expanding the story world on the small screen is the 2023 animated Netflix offshoot Skull Island and Apple TV+’s live-action series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which will premiere its first season on Friday, November 16.
Why you should watch it: Aside from the fact that watching giant monsters wreak havoc as they battle each other over various cityscapes, it’s worth noting the ways Legendary has brought the iconic Godzilla story into present day. Each title is packed with spectacular effects, but there’s a deeper narrative thread connecting it all. And considering how Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will expand the canon further before the next big-budget installment in the franchise Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire hits theaters in 2024, now’s the perfect time for a kaiju movie marathon.
Where to watch: Rent or buy Godzilla at Vudu, Prime Video, and Apple TV+; rent or buy Kong: Skull Island at Vudu, Prime Video, and Apple TV+; rent or buy Godzilla: King of the Monsters at Vudu, Prime Video, and Apple TV+; watch Skull Island at Netflix (subscription, 1 season); and rent or buy Godzilla vs. Kong at Vudu, Prime Video, and Apple TV+.
Commitment: Approx. 11 hours (for all four movies and the Netflix series)
93%
Fargo
(Hulu)
What it is: In this anthology series inspired by the 1996 film, each season follows a mostly new cast of characters who get involved with murder investigations in different Midwestern towns, with seemingly unrelated crimes sometimes being connected in some way. Season 5 premieres Tuesday, November 21.
Why you should watch it: Inspired by the Coen Brothers classic, each season features top-notch talent from Billy Bob Thornton and Chris Rock, to Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Ewan McGregor. Guided by the narrative brilliance of show creator Noah Hawley, the show carries the quirky humor and dark cynicism that made the 1996 film a cinematic benchmark.
Where to watch: Hulu (subscription, seasons 1-4); buy at Vudu, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
Commitment: Approx. 34 hours (for seasons 1-4)
Thumbnail image by Apple.
