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Movies & Shows Worth Watching (2026) — Batch 2
10
items Ten more movies and shows worth your time — real critic and audience reactions, and a clear watch-or-skip call for each. Disclosure: I earn a commission if you buy through my links, at no extra cost to you.
What it is: A big-budget movie musical adapting the first act of the Broadway show, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda.
Who it's for: Musical fans and anyone who grew up on The Wizard of Oz looking for a fresh, sympathetic origin story for its villain.
What people are saying: Reviewers consistently praise Erivo and Grande's performances as some of the best musical-film singing in years, along with the film's spectacular production design. The complaints: at nearly three hours for only “half” the st...
Where I land: The performances alone make this worth watching, but go in knowing this is only half a story — the ending won't feel complete until you've seen Part Two.
Watch it if: You love musicals and want to see career-best performances from Erivo and Grande.
Skip it if: You want a complete, self-contained story in one sitting, or nearly 3-hour runtimes test your patience.
Who it's for: Musical fans and anyone who grew up on The Wizard of Oz looking for a fresh, sympathetic origin story for its villain.
What people are saying: Reviewers consistently praise Erivo and Grande's performances as some of the best musical-film singing in years, along with the film's spectacular production design. The complaints: at nearly three hours for only “half” the st...
Where I land: The performances alone make this worth watching, but go in knowing this is only half a story — the ending won't feel complete until you've seen Part Two.
Watch it if: You love musicals and want to see career-best performances from Erivo and Grande.
Skip it if: You want a complete, self-contained story in one sitting, or nearly 3-hour runtimes test your patience.
Wicked (2024)
What it is: A dark comedy-drama from Sean Baker about a Brooklyn stripper who impulsively marries a Russian oligarch's son, only for the marriage to unravel violently.
Who it's for: Fans of character-driven indie cinema who don't mind slower pacing and heavy use of subtitled Russian dialogue.
What people are saying: Reviewers call Mikey Madison's lead performance unforgettable, and the film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for its sharp class-disparity commentary. The complaints: pacing is uneven — slow, then quick, then slow again — and non-...
Where I land: This earns its critical acclaim, but it's a slow-burn character study, not a crowd-pleaser — know that going in.
Watch it if: You appreciate awards-caliber performances and don't mind an uneven pace.
Skip it if: You want a fast-moving plot or find subtitle-heavy dialogue tedious.
Who it's for: Fans of character-driven indie cinema who don't mind slower pacing and heavy use of subtitled Russian dialogue.
What people are saying: Reviewers call Mikey Madison's lead performance unforgettable, and the film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for its sharp class-disparity commentary. The complaints: pacing is uneven — slow, then quick, then slow again — and non-...
Where I land: This earns its critical acclaim, but it's a slow-burn character study, not a crowd-pleaser — know that going in.
Watch it if: You appreciate awards-caliber performances and don't mind an uneven pace.
Skip it if: You want a fast-moving plot or find subtitle-heavy dialogue tedious.
Anora (2024)
What it is: A body-horror film starring Demi Moore as an aging star who takes a black-market drug promising a younger, “better” version of herself.
Who it's for: Horror fans who want sharp satire about aging and Hollywood's beauty standards alongside genuinely graphic body horror.
What people are saying: Reviewers praise Demi Moore's performance as career-best and call the film's satire of Hollywood's treatment of women pointed and effective, with a widely admired third act. The complaints: once the transformation horror kicks...
Where I land: The first two-thirds are a smart, well-acted satire — the ending is intentionally excessive, and whether that lands for you depends entirely on your horror tolerance.
Watch it if: You want body horror with real satirical bite and don't flinch easily.
Skip it if: Graphic gore isn't for you, or you want a tightly-paced ending rather than an excessive one.
Who it's for: Horror fans who want sharp satire about aging and Hollywood's beauty standards alongside genuinely graphic body horror.
What people are saying: Reviewers praise Demi Moore's performance as career-best and call the film's satire of Hollywood's treatment of women pointed and effective, with a widely admired third act. The complaints: once the transformation horror kicks...
Where I land: The first two-thirds are a smart, well-acted satire — the ending is intentionally excessive, and whether that lands for you depends entirely on your horror tolerance.
Watch it if: You want body horror with real satirical bite and don't flinch easily.
Skip it if: Graphic gore isn't for you, or you want a tightly-paced ending rather than an excessive one.
The Substance (2024)
What it is: A political thriller set inside the Vatican during the secretive process of electing a new Pope, starring Ralph Fiennes.
Who it's for: Fans of slow-burn political intrigue and awards-season dramas with strong ensemble acting.
What people are saying: Reviewers praise the electric performances, sharp script, and sumptuous cinematography, calling the first 90 minutes some of the best political drama of the year. The complaints center almost entirely on the ending: many criti...
Where I land: This is one of the year's best-crafted films for most of its runtime — but go in prepared for a divisive final act that not everyone will accept.
Watch it if: You love tense, well-acted political drama and can accept a controversial ending.
Skip it if: A weak or polarizing ending would ruin the film for you.
Who it's for: Fans of slow-burn political intrigue and awards-season dramas with strong ensemble acting.
What people are saying: Reviewers praise the electric performances, sharp script, and sumptuous cinematography, calling the first 90 minutes some of the best political drama of the year. The complaints center almost entirely on the ending: many criti...
Where I land: This is one of the year's best-crafted films for most of its runtime — but go in prepared for a divisive final act that not everyone will accept.
Watch it if: You love tense, well-acted political drama and can accept a controversial ending.
Skip it if: A weak or polarizing ending would ruin the film for you.
Conclave (2024)
What it is: Robert Eggers' gothic horror remake of the 1922 silent classic, starring Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok.
Who it's for: Horror fans who want atmospheric, visually stunning dread over jump scares, and don't mind a slow, deliberate pace.
What people are saying: Reviewers consistently praise the stunning, painterly cinematography and Skarsgård's genuinely terrifying performance as Orlok. The complaints: pacing is called painfully slow by several critics, some viewers felt disconnected...
Where I land: Visually this is one of the best-looking horror films in years, but it demands patience — if you need fast pacing or emotional connection to carry a horror film, this may frustrate you.
Watch it if: You want atmospheric, slow-burn gothic horror with a genuinely scary villain.
Skip it if: You want fast-paced scares or need strong emotional attachment to characters to stay engaged.
Who it's for: Horror fans who want atmospheric, visually stunning dread over jump scares, and don't mind a slow, deliberate pace.
What people are saying: Reviewers consistently praise the stunning, painterly cinematography and Skarsgård's genuinely terrifying performance as Orlok. The complaints: pacing is called painfully slow by several critics, some viewers felt disconnected...
Where I land: Visually this is one of the best-looking horror films in years, but it demands patience — if you need fast pacing or emotional connection to carry a horror film, this may frustrate you.
Watch it if: You want atmospheric, slow-burn gothic horror with a genuinely scary villain.
Skip it if: You want fast-paced scares or need strong emotional attachment to characters to stay engaged.
Nosferatu (2024)
What it is: A biopic of Bob Dylan's early career, from his arrival in New York's folk scene through his controversial electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival, starring Timothée Chalamet.
Who it's for: Music biopic fans and Dylan admirers who want to see his songs recreated on screen.
What people are saying: Reviewers consistently praise Chalamet's performance and live singing as eerily close to the real Dylan, along with solid cinematography and pacing. The complaints: several critics and viewers say the film doesn't offer real i...
Where I land: Chalamet's performance is reason enough to watch, but don't expect this to actually explain Dylan the person — it stays surprisingly surface-level for a biopic.
Watch it if: You want a strong lead performance and note-perfect musical recreations.
Skip it if: You want real biographical insight into Dylan rather than a greatest-hits career retrospective.
Who it's for: Music biopic fans and Dylan admirers who want to see his songs recreated on screen.
What people are saying: Reviewers consistently praise Chalamet's performance and live singing as eerily close to the real Dylan, along with solid cinematography and pacing. The complaints: several critics and viewers say the film doesn't offer real i...
Where I land: Chalamet's performance is reason enough to watch, but don't expect this to actually explain Dylan the person — it stays surprisingly surface-level for a biopic.
Watch it if: You want a strong lead performance and note-perfect musical recreations.
Skip it if: You want real biographical insight into Dylan rather than a greatest-hits career retrospective.
A Complete Unknown (2024)
What it is: The Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller about workers who surgically split their memories between work and personal life, returning for a long-awaited second season.
Who it's for: Fans of slow-building mystery box shows with strong performances and sharp workplace satire.
What people are saying: Reviewers call season 2 tense, gorgeous, and thoughtfully written, with a stronger emotional core than season 1, and near-universally rank it among the best shows of the year. The complaints: pacing is slower in places, with s...
Where I land: This lives up to the hype and the three-year wait, but the side-character detours are a real pacing cost — patience pays off if you trust the show.
Watch it if: You loved season 1's mystery and don't mind some slower, character-focused episodes along the way.
Skip it if: You want every episode tightly focused on the main plot with no detours.
Who it's for: Fans of slow-building mystery box shows with strong performances and sharp workplace satire.
What people are saying: Reviewers call season 2 tense, gorgeous, and thoughtfully written, with a stronger emotional core than season 1, and near-universally rank it among the best shows of the year. The complaints: pacing is slower in places, with s...
Where I land: This lives up to the hype and the three-year wait, but the side-character detours are a real pacing cost — patience pays off if you trust the show.
Watch it if: You loved season 1's mystery and don't mind some slower, character-focused episodes along the way.
Skip it if: You want every episode tightly focused on the main plot with no detours.
Severance (Season 2)
What it is: The FX restaurant dramedy's third season, continuing the story of chef Carmy and the Chicago restaurant he's trying to turn into a fine-dining destination.
Who it's for: Existing fans of the show's intensity and performances who can tolerate an unresolved, slower-moving season.
What people are saying: Critics scored this season very highly (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), praising Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri's performances as still career-best. Audiences reacted very differently — the audience score dropped to around 55-57%...
Where I land: The acting is still excellent, but this season plays like the first half of a two-part story (seasons 3 and 4 were filmed back-to-back) — go in knowing you won't get resolution, and the pacing will test even loyal fans.
Watch it if: You're already invested in the characters and can accept a transitional, unresolved season.
Skip it if: You want a self-contained season with real plot movement and payoff.
Who it's for: Existing fans of the show's intensity and performances who can tolerate an unresolved, slower-moving season.
What people are saying: Critics scored this season very highly (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), praising Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri's performances as still career-best. Audiences reacted very differently — the audience score dropped to around 55-57%...
Where I land: The acting is still excellent, but this season plays like the first half of a two-part story (seasons 3 and 4 were filmed back-to-back) — go in knowing you won't get resolution, and the pacing will test even loyal fans.
Watch it if: You're already invested in the characters and can accept a transitional, unresolved season.
Skip it if: You want a self-contained season with real plot movement and payoff.
The Bear (Season 3)
What it is: An FX limited series adapting James Clavell's novel about a shipwrecked English sailor navigating feudal Japan's political intrigue, largely performed in Japanese.
Who it's for: Fans of prestige historical drama who want an authentic, subtitle-heavy epic rather than a Western-centered take on Japan.
What people are saying: Reviewers near-universally praise the production quality, the authentic Japanese-language performances (especially Anna Sawai), and the compelling political plotting, and it swept the Emmys as the first Japanese-language serie...
Where I land: This is one of the best-reviewed shows in years for good reason — the authenticity is the point, and it pays off if you stick with it past the first couple episodes.
Watch it if: You want a genuinely authentic, subtitle-heavy historical epic with real political depth.
Skip it if: You want the story centered on a Western protagonist, or subtitles are a dealbreaker.
Who it's for: Fans of prestige historical drama who want an authentic, subtitle-heavy epic rather than a Western-centered take on Japan.
What people are saying: Reviewers near-universally praise the production quality, the authentic Japanese-language performances (especially Anna Sawai), and the compelling political plotting, and it swept the Emmys as the first Japanese-language serie...
Where I land: This is one of the best-reviewed shows in years for good reason — the authenticity is the point, and it pays off if you stick with it past the first couple episodes.
Watch it if: You want a genuinely authentic, subtitle-heavy historical epic with real political depth.
Skip it if: You want the story centered on a Western protagonist, or subtitles are a dealbreaker.
Shōgun (2024)
What it is: A Netflix limited series based on creator Richard Gadd's own experience being stalked, exploring trauma, abuse, and the complicated nature of victimhood.
Who it's for: Viewers who want raw, unflinching drama built from a true story, not a comfortable watch.
What people are saying: Reviewers praise the writing, performances, and nuanced handling of abuse and gender roles as genuinely groundbreaking television. The complaints: the content is graphic and disturbing enough that many describe it as difficult...
Where I land: This is exceptional television, but it is not entertainment in the usual sense — it's heavy, upsetting material handled with real skill, and you should know that before pressing play.
Watch it if: You want raw, true-story drama and can handle graphic depictions of abuse and trauma.
Skip it if: You're looking for a comfortable watch, or content involving sexual assault is something you need to avoid right now.
Who it's for: Viewers who want raw, unflinching drama built from a true story, not a comfortable watch.
What people are saying: Reviewers praise the writing, performances, and nuanced handling of abuse and gender roles as genuinely groundbreaking television. The complaints: the content is graphic and disturbing enough that many describe it as difficult...
Where I land: This is exceptional television, but it is not entertainment in the usual sense — it's heavy, upsetting material handled with real skill, and you should know that before pressing play.
Watch it if: You want raw, true-story drama and can handle graphic depictions of abuse and trauma.
Skip it if: You're looking for a comfortable watch, or content involving sexual assault is something you need to avoid right now.
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