What to Watch This Week
The 5 movies, TV shows, and events everyone will be talking about, for the week of September 24 to September 30.
For a movie or TV show to draw people in, sometimes all it needs is a bit of star power. This week, however, on-screen entertainment is going far beyond “a bit” — bona fide stars are driving every obsession-worthy new release. On the big screen, there’s Primetime, a tantalizing drama inspired by the notorious To Catch a Predator series that’s earning Robert Pattinson early buzz for an Oscar nomination, and Heart of the Beast, a survival thriller that depends on Brad Pitt’s ability to work with a dog as his main acting partner. But the celebs are filling our smaller screens at home too: American Horror Story: 13 brings back some of the franchise’s most iconic stars, while the charming duo of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson reunite in Brothers. Plus, there’s the debut of the A Different World reboot, which may have the potential to introduce us to a new generation talent we’ll be following for years to come.
For the week of September 24 to September 30, here are the five movies, TV shows, and events that will have everyone talking.
Primetime
When to watch: September 25
Where to watch: In theaters
For three years in the aughts, To Catch a Predator was about as big as a segment on an evening news magazine show (Dateline NBC, in this case) could be. The recurring series followed host Chris Hansen, often using hidden-camera footage, as he confronted men arriving at a house expecting to have sex with an underage person. It had everything viewers love about the true crime genre today: dark, twisted, and depraved stories that both hit close to home yet were removed just enough from their own realities, plus the added feeling that communities got safer when these men were ultimately arrested. But soon, people began questioning the merit of the segment. Was Hansen actually doing journalism, or was he acting as a vigilante mixed with law enforcement? Was this borderline entrapment? Was the sensationalist tone serving the serious subject matter?
All of this — the juiciness, the stickiness, the complicated questions — is now being tackled in Primetime, the narrative feature-length debut from Lance Oppenheim (who is also a co-director on the upcoming Nathan Fielder documentary on Elizabeth Holmes, You Can See Everything). Robert Pattinson stars as Hansen, as the movie tracks the notorious figure on his quest to make TV history. The actor, who’s already having a big year between The Drama, The Odyssey, and Dune: Part 3, quickly generated Oscar buzz at the Venice Film Festival for his transformative performance; there are also scene-stealing turns from the supporting cast, which includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and musician Phoebe Bridgers in her acting debut.
Blending satire, psychological thriller, and horror, Primetime brings us back into a specific moment of the past, reminding us why the obsession existed in the first place while inviting us to reconsider and interrogate the cultural phenomenon.
Read what critics are saying in First Reviews and buy tickets on Fandango.
Brothers
When to watch: Now streaming. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
Where to watch: Apple TV
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have a long and real friendship with natural, easy chemistry. That’s why people love watching them on screen together, whether it’s in a groundbreaking drama like True Detective or as co-presenters at the Emmy Awards. Over a decade after their aforementioned HBO hit, the actors are reuniting in Brothers, a comedy that’s been described as “based on a true rumor.” McConaughey and Harrelson play fictionalized versions of themselves at a moment where they (and their families) decide to live together in Texas. Cohabitation is enough to put any good friendship under stress, but the duo begin to face a serious challenge when they learn of a rumor that they might actually be biological brothers. Chaos, naturally, follows.
Meta comedy can be hard to pull off, but, even with mixed results, McConaughey and Harrelson are a duo worth making time for. Plus, there’s something interesting about the fact that the pair could have reunited in any type of project, and this is what they chose. Digging into why — while enjoying a laugh — may be just as entertaining as the actors themselves.
American Horror Story: 13
When to watch: September 24. New episodes drop every Thursday.
Where to watch: FX & Hulu
American Horror Story has been through a lot of ups and downs, which is only natural when a show is on the air for over a decade. But what’s a surefire way to get viewers excited for the 13th season of an anthology series? Reviving all of the classics. That’s right, this new season of AHS, which is aptly subtitled 13, brings back fan-favorite actors and characters, including Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Kathy Bates, Gabourey Sidibe, and Emma Roberts, many of whom are playing reprising multiple roles from seasons past. There are also newcomers to the franchise, like Paul Anthony Kelly (Love Story), Avantika (Mean Girls), Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale), and model Alex Consani. Not much is known about what 13 is actually about, just that the cast of characters must confront new terrors, but series co-creator Ryan Murphy has described the season as AHS’s version of the Avengers uniting to fight evil. That sounds like more than enough of a reason to grab the popcorn for some weekly appointment viewing to us.
A Different World
When to watch: September 24
Where to watch: Netflix
Fans of classic sitcoms will recognize A Different World. The comedy originally ran in the late ’80s and early ’90s, starting as a spinoff of The Cosby Show centred around Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable, but soon evolved into a now-iconic depiction of what life was like for students at Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) produced (and largely directed by) Debbie Allen. Now, the series is being revived for 2026, and while OG cast members are set to return (including Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer and Jada Pinkett Smith), this new version will tell the story of a new generation of Hillman College students.
In particular, this take on A Different World centers on Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the daughter of Whitley and Dwayne (Guy and Hardison’s characters). A bold free-spirit, Deborah embarks on her freshman year looking to come into her own identity. This, of course, means learning what it means to be independent, building friendships, and finding romance. And it’s arguably the perfect moment for this reboot: coming-of-age stories are having somewhat of a renaissance (hi, Sterling Point and Off Campus), but the newest additions to the genre haven’t given a lot of time or space to Black stories. A Different World expands on a much-needed perspective, while building on a strong legacy and exploring the relatable, everyday experiences modern day college students go through.
Heart of the Beast
When to watch: September 25
Where to watch: In theaters
Movie audiences love a story about a dog, but it’s not often a trope that often requires a second look or much conversation. You go in, get completely taken with an adorable animal, maybe shed a few tears (hopefully because the dog survives tremendous circumstances), and move on. On surface level, you’d expect Heart of the Beast to fit this exact bill. Directed by David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch), the film stars Brad Pitt as an ex-special forces soldier who survives a plane crash alongside his former combat dog. Now stranded in the Alaskan wilderness, the two must find a way to brave the harsh elements and get back to safety. But here’s the thing about Heart of the Beast: the reviews are way better than expected. In fact, with the Tomatometer currently sitting at a Certified Fresh 89%, they indicate that the film is much more than meets the eye. Perhaps the top-level talent elevates the material. Or maybe the deeply felt bond between a veteran and his canine partner hit the right Americana notes. Whatever alchemy is at work, it definitely seems like Heart of the Beast will take audiences by surprise and become the type of exceptional-dog movie that people will remember for a long, long time.
Buy tickets on Fandango.
