Miniseries have maximum entertainment value. The 26 best miniseries ready to bingewatch this weekend Miniseries have maximum entertainment value. By Ilana Gordon :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles. EW's editorial guidelines and Declan Gallagher on May 12, 2026 9:13 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/thegirlfriendadolescenceblackrabbit022526a82614090ef6417d9d15b694bbdd4a42.

Miniseries have maximum entertainment value.

The 26 best miniseries ready to binge-watch this weekend

Miniseries have maximum entertainment value.

By Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and Declan Gallagher

on May 12, 2026 9:13 a.m. ET

Olivia Cooke as Cherry Laine in 'The Girlfriend'; Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in 'Adolescence'; Jason Bateman as Vince Friedken in 'Black Rabbit'. Credit:

Christopher Raphael/Amazon; Netflix (2)

For those who can’t commit to dozens of 20-plus-episode seasons, miniseries are a major solution. In 2025, audiences enjoyed premium content across a variety of genres, including Netflix's *Death by Lightning *(historical drama),* *Hulu's *Dying for Sex *(dramedy), and Amazon Prime Video's *The Girlfriend *(psychological thriller). Still to come in 2026: Apple TV will release *Cape Fear* (psychological thriller) on June 5, and a new *Pride & Prejudice* adaptation (romance) is slated to hit Netflix at some point later in 2026.

In these busy times, find a series as limited as your attention span. Read on as ** runs down the 26 best miniseries streaming options.

Adolescence (2025)

Mark Stanley as Paulie Barlow, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, and Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence'.

Courtesy of Netflix

One of the most talked-about pieces of television to emerge in 2025 is *Adolescence**. *A British crime drama about a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller who is accused of murdering his classmate, the miniseries offers four episodes, all of which were shot in one continuous take. The technical execution of the project is thrilling, and so is the show’s depiction of how modern media affects the minds and actions of teenage boys.

Young actor Owen Cooper makes a brilliant Emmy-winning debut as Jamie, and the scenes between him and his therapist (Erin Doherty) in episode 3 are some of the most affecting examples of storytelling in recent history. A series that feels especially relevant as talk of incels and loneliness epidemics becomes more mainstream, *Adolescence *gets deep about what teenage boyhood really looks like today. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Adolescence*: Netflix

**Cast: **Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay

American Crime Story (2016–present)

Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story'.

Ryan Murphy more or less does away with his signature campy trappings for this riveting fact-based anthology series profiling some of the most notorious crimes in American history. Each of the three seasons so far — concerning O.J. Simpson’s trial; the murder of Gianni Versace; and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal — are accomplished pieces of television, but the first two installments are particularly well done.

Coming from Murphy’s stable, the miniseries are nothing if not soapy. However, *American Crime Story* takes a much more serious approach to its material, allowing a murderer’s row of talent to dramatize the most notorious period in the lives of those chronicled. *—Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *American Crime Story*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A

**Cast: **Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, John Travolta, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance

Angels in America (2003)

Meryl Streep as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg in 'Angels in America'. HBO/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Tony Kushner adapted his own Pulitzer Prize-winning two-part play into a six-part HBO miniseries. For the uninitiated, *Angels in America* is a fever dream collision of historical figures and events (Republican lawyer Ray Cohn’s closeted homophobia, the AIDS crisis, the execution of Ethel Rosenberg) and everyday New Yorkers of Kushner’s own design. Director Mike Nichols' televised version breaks the story into six chapters and adds a dash more humor and coherence to appeal to HBO’s audience.

The finished product is an achievement in both acting and writing. EW’s review compliments “Kushner’s language, arias of desire and fury and lamentation,” and gives special praise to Al Pacino’s work as Ray Cohn, and Meryl Streep’s performances. (She plays multiple roles — blink and you’ll miss her as the Rabbi.) *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Angels in America*: HBO Max

**Cast:** Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson

Angelyne (2022)

Charlie Rowe as Freddy Messina, Emmy Rossum as Angelyne, Martin Freeman as Harold Wallach, and Tonatiuh as Andre Casiano in 'Angelyne'. Isabella Vosmikova/Peacock

Emmy Rossum gave an astonishing performance in this sweet-natured but pleasantly barbed look at the life of Los Angeles’ No. 1 celebrity, Angelyne. Through a fascinating grass-roots campaign, Angelyne rose to fame simply on the merits of being famous decades before the Kardashians dreamt of such things.

Peacock’s lithe five-part series is a fictionalized version of Angelyne’s rise, but it’s emotionally truthful in its exploration of pre-internet fame (and infamy). Rossum is spectacular here, disappearing into the role in a way she’s not been afforded to do before. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Angelyne*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Emmy Rossum, Molly Ephraim, Alex Karpovsky, Lukas Gage

Baby Reindeer (2024)

Richard Gadd as Donny Dunn in 'Baby Reindeer'.

This Netflix hit is as controversial as it is buzzy, but there’s no denying a terrific miniseries when you see it. Making splendid use of both the short-form medium and the tragi-comedy genre, Richard Gadd’s seven-episode, semi-autobiographical work follows a struggling comedian (Gadd) who can’t shake an increasingly deranged stalker (Jessica Gunning) who inserts herself into all aspects of his life.

*Baby Reindeer* is an excellent example of juggling tone and allegedly true events with dramatizations. That’s caused quite a stir, including a lawsuit, but the combination makes for one of the most daring and bingeable miniseries in recent memory. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Baby Reindeer*: Netflix

**Cast:** Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Nina Sosanya, Hugh Coles

Band of Brothers (2001)

Cast of 'Band of Brothers'. Everett Collection

HBO’s groundbreaking dramatization of WWII takes an ensemble approach to the mayhem, showing many different facets of the American men who served and their disparate experiences fighting abroad.

Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who are well-heeled in authentic WWII productions, *Band of Brothers* positions itself as overtly emotional and realistic. This is an incredibly harrowing, at times hard-to-watch miniseries, but it’s one of the finest stories ever told about war. The heartbreaking moments feel authentic and well-earned, while the brilliant writing rarely relies on the easy way out. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Band of Brothers*: HBO Max

**Cast:** David Schwimmer, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Peter O’Meara, Matthew Settle

Beef (2023–present)

Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho in 'Beef'.

Andrew Cooper/Netflix

The first season of Netflix’s astonishing anthology series stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as Amy and Danny, two strangers who get into a fender bender and proceed to disrupt each other’s lives to the nth degree. To say any more would ruin *Beef*’s terrific surprises. This is both one of the funniest and most tragic shows in recent memory, one which conveys with unmistakable clarity the low-level anxiety, and perhaps anger, that many people harbor in the modern age. The second season (starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny) premiered on April 16. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Beef*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, Young Mazino, David Choe, Ashley Park

Black Rabbit (2025)

Jude Law as Jake in 'Black Rabbit'.

Combine *The Bear'*s subject matter with the stress of *Uncut Gems* (2019), and you get *Black Rabbit*. Netflix’s thriller miniseries tells the story of the Friedken brothers, Jude Law's Jake and Jason Bateman's Vince, whose restaurant business is threatened by debt, accusations of sexual harassment, and other criminal activity. As their family, friends, and co-workers get pulled into the madness, Jake and Vince must confront their history and look for a way to save themselves and their restaurant, The Black Rabbit.

The series unfolds over eight fast-paced episodes — New York City culinary and scandal nerds may recognize elements of the story as being similar to those that precipitated the closing of the West Village’s beloved gastropub, The Spotted Pig. And while no one would describe this miniseries as uplifting, it does give Bateman a chance to reunite with former *Ozarks* costar Laura Linney, who directs two *Black Rabbit* episodes. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Black Rabbit: *Netflix

**Cast:** Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Sope Dirisu, Amaka Okafor

Chernobyl (2019)

Jared Harris as Valery Legasov and Emily Watson as Ulana Khomyuk in 'Chernobyl'.

The 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was a situation unlike anything ever experienced on planet Earth. Millions of Europeans were exposed to low levels of radiation, and doctors later linked thousands of cancer cases to the nuclear contamination. Even after four decades, the city of Chernobyl and the surrounding Exclusion Zone remain restricted.

History lovers will be pleased to learn the story of what occurred that April night is available to watch as a five-part miniseries on HBO Max. Craig Mazin (*The Last of Us*) focuses *Chernobyl* on the scientists and government officials tasked with cleaning up after the disaster, and the everyday people who lost their lives and loved ones. Jessie Buckley is a particular standout in her role as Lyudmilla Ignatenko, the wife of one of the first responders. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Chernobyl*: HBO Max

**EW grade: **A–

**Cast: **Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adam Nagaitis

Death by Lightning (2025)

Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield in 'Death by Lightning'.

Larry Horricks/Netflix

President James A. Garfield is best known for how he was born and how he died: in a log cabin, and by assassination, only 120 days into his time in office. His truncated presidency meant Garfield was largely overshadowed in the history books, but the 20th President of the United States finally gets his time to shine in Netflix’s *Death by Lightning*.

The four-episode series stars Michael Shannon as Garfield, chronicling his election, civil rights advocacy, and eventual collision with Charles J. Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), the failed lawyer with a mental health condition, who was destined to end his life. Adapted from the 2011 book *Destiny of the Republic* by Candice Millard, *Death by Lightning *is a fascinating historical footnote. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Death by Lightning*: Netflix

**Director: **Matt Ross

**Cast:** Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford

Dopesick (2021)

Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix in 'Dopesick'. Antony Platt/Hulu

Hulu’s distressing miniseries spotlights America’s opioid epidemic, from the Purdue Pharma headquarters to a small middle-American community ravaged by drug abuse. Michael Stuhlbarg stars as Richard Sackler, a modern-day villain if there ever was one, while Michael Keaton plays a well-intentioned GP who is suckered into prescribing OxyContin to a young coal miner (Kaitlyn Dever) with a back injury.

Charting the crisis from the early 1990s to the present day, *Dopesick* lays out in tragic and unambiguous detail how pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to prey upon hapless victims for decades. The series, created by writer Danny Strong, is one of the most compelling and credible modern dramas. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Dopesick*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Cast:** Michael Keaton, Michael Stuhlbarg, Kaitlyn Dever, Will Poulter, Phillipa Soo

Dr. Death (2021–2023)

Joshua Jackson as Dr. Christopher Duntsch on 'Dr. Death'. Scott McDermott/Peacock

The first season of NBC’s haunting true-crime procedural, based on the Wondery podcast of the same name, stars Joshua Jackson as real-life spinal surgeon Christopher Duntsch, who was eventually found guilty and sentenced to life in prison after maiming 31 of his patients and killing two.

*Dr. Death*’s terrifically satisfying structure pivots around Duntsch’s co-workers, Dr. Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin) and Dr. Randall Kirby (Christian Slater), slowly putting the pieces together which implicate the twisted surgeon in a series of increasingly botched procedures. The series is “part medical drama, part mystery, part *Catch Me If You Can* thriller,” EW's critic noted in a glowing review. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Dr. Death*: Peacock

**EW grade:** A–

**Cast:** Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, AnnaSophia Robb

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Dying for Sex (2025)

Jenny Slate as Nikki and Michelle Williams as Molly in 'Dying for Sex'.

One woman’s terminal cancer diagnosis prompts her to leave her husband of 15 years and prioritize pleasure in *Dying for Sex*. Based on a true story — which was first shared in a critically acclaimed podcast — this miniseries follows Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams) and her best buddy, Nikki Boyer (Jenny Slate), as Molly tries to find a partner she can have an orgasm with, and Nikki tries to support her sick friend through her sexual exploration.

A story about living and dying on one’s own terms, the series is thoughtfully created, beautifully performed, and uniquely empowering. As EW’s critic writes, “*Dying for Sex* is a heartbreaking (and at times, very horny) story about female friendship, self-actualization, and the realization that it’s never too late to heal.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Dying for Sex*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+

**Cast: **Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, Jay Duplass

Five Days at a Memorial (2022)

Vera Farmiga as Dr. Anna Pou in 'Five Days at Memorial'.

Russ Martin/Apple TV+

Among the best shows Apple TV has produced thus far, John Ridley and Carlton Cuse’s eight-episode miniseries is an adaptation of Sheri Fink’s non-fiction book, which chronicled a New Orleans hospital left devastated after Hurricane Katrina.

If “agonizing” and “deeply anxiety-inducing” are things you avoid in your entertainment, *Five Days at Memorial* is probably not for you. The title itself is almost a taunt — can you make it through another? However, despite the challenging material, the series is a compelling dissection of the U.S. government’s beyond-blundered response to the natural disaster and an inspiring ode to the first responders who attempted to fill the gaps. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Five Days at Memorial*: Apple TV

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Vera Farmiga, Cherry Jones, Molly Hager, Julie Ann Emery, Cornelius Smith Jr.

Feud: Bette vs. Joan (2017)

Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis in 'Feud: Bette vs. Joan'.

The polar opposite of *American Crime Story*’s (relatively) austere presentation, this is likely the closest Ryan Murphy will ever come to producing an out-and-out WWE battle. Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange play the titular divas, respectively, in this dramatization of their infamous (though largely invented) feud.

Less baroque than its title suggests but just as campy as it needs to be,* Bette vs. Joan* relies less on extended sequences of Sarandon and Lange berating one another (though there are plenty) in favor of more nuanced stories about how hard it was, and still is, to be a woman in a man’s world. There are also fun Easter eggs for film buffs — like John Waters playing schlock-meister William Castle, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Olivia de Havilland, doing her best *Lady in a Cage* impression. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Feud: Bette vs. Joan*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Cast: **Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Jackie Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Kathy Bates

The Girlfriend (2025)

Robin Wright as Laura Sanderson in 'The Girlfriend'.

Christopher Raphael/Amazon Content Services LLC

Yes, technically, *The Girlfriend* is a miniseries about two women fighting for a man’s attention, but not in the way that you think. This psychological thriller tells the story of Daniel (Laurie Davidson), who brings his girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke), home to meet his mother, Laura (Robin Wright), only for the two women to engage in a power struggle for the ages.

Set in London and Spain, the story unfolds across six episodes — Wright directed the first three — and cleverly heightens the tensions sometimes experienced in in-law relationships. The series skews soapy, and Cooke and Wright revel in putting each other through psychological hell. It’s all leading up to what Wright calls a “psychotic" ending, making *The Girlfriend* the perfect binge option. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Girlfriend*: Amazon Prime Video

**Directors:** Robin Wright, Andrea Harkin

**Cast:** Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, Laurie Davidson, Waleed Zuaiter, Tanya Moodie

I May Destroy You (2020)

Michaela Coel as Arabella in 'I May Destroy You'. HBO

Writer-director-actor Michaela Coel’s devastating, terrifically smart miniseries follows a young writer (Coel) who attempts to remount her life after a sexual assault lingers as such a fleeting, dim memory she’s not entirely sure what happened.

Coel’s exceptional, largely autobiographical 12-part series upends the clichés about processing unspeakable trauma. *I May Destroy You* is a vicious satire of modern social mores and a deeply authentic, heartbreaking examination of a life undone just as it was taking flight. Coel has just lined up her next series with Max and the BBC, *First Day on Earth*, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *I May Destroy You*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Weruche Opia, Marouane Zotti

Lady in the Lake (2024)

Mikey Madison as Judith Weinstein and Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz in 'Lady in the Lake'.

Apple TV+/Everett Collection

Clear your weekend and find a cozy comforter. Once you begin this magnificently drawn Apple TV miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by Laura Lippman (not Raymond Chandler), you’ll be hooked until its final moments.

*Lady in the Lake *concerns Maddie Schwartz (Natalie Portman), a journalist in 1960s Baltimore who comes up against a community activist (Moses Ingram, in a role originally intended for Lupita Nyong’o) while trying to uncover the culprit responsible for murdering a young girl. As Maddie finds herself drawn deeper into the case, she’s taken further from her domineering husband (an astonishingly repellent Brett Gelman) and her young son (Noah Jupe). *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Lady in the Lake*: Apple TV

**Cast:** Natalie Portman, Moses Ingram, Noah Jupe, Brett Gelman, David Corenswet

Midnight Mass (2021)

Hamish Linklater as Father Paul in 'Midnight Mass'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Mike Flanagan’s stunning Netflix miniseries stars Zach Gilford as a former finance bro who returns to his hometown following a tragedy. His arrival coincides with that of Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), a charismatic priest who is to replace the church’s ailing monsignor. As you may have guessed, Father Hill isn’t exactly who (or what) he appears to be, and his presence has shocking ramifications throughout the close-knit community.

Flanagan is a clear-eyed auteur who rarely puts a foot wrong. With this darkly hilarious, genuinely quite frightening ode to Stephen King and ‘80s supernatural horror, *Midnight Mass** *is unabashedly an homage to the author, but it’s also blessedly and entirely its own beast. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Midnight Mass*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Cast:** Zach Gilford, Hamish Linklater, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan

Normal People (2020)

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne and Paul Mescal as Connell in 'Normal People'. Enda Bowe/Element Pictures/Hulu

Sally Rooney writes novels “about what it feels like to be alive right now,” and the miniseries adaptation of her book *Normal People *is bursting with youthful romance and struggle. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal star as Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron, two Irish high school seniors transitioning into college life and young adulthood.

At school, Marianne is the rich outcast and Connell is the working-class jock whose single mother cleans Marianne’s family’s home. In spite of their differences, the two connect emotionally and begin a complicated relationship that continues through their time at Trinity College Dublin. The story is told over 12 episodes, and while binging is definitely an option, *Normal People* is best enjoyed slowly, so you have time to process the show’s vulnerability and nuance. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Normal People*: Hulu

**Cast:** Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Sarah Greene

One Day (2024)

Ambika Mod as Emma and Leo Woodall as Dexter in 'One Day'.

This adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 novel gets the source material completely right, unlike the anemic 2011 film of the same name starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. The Netflix miniseries sees Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) meet at their university graduation and proceed to fall in and out of love throughout the next two decades.

*One Day* takes the *Normal People* recipe of sex and tragedy and manages to do the most authentic, interesting version of it since. Nicholls’ novel, and both of its screen adaptations, are upfront about their emotional manipulation. It’s a testament to Woodall and Mod’s undeniable chemistry and the sharp character writing that *One Day* makes those turns not only believable but deeply affecting. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *One Day*: Netflix

**Cast:** Ambika Mod, Leo Woodall, Essie Davis, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amber Grappy

One Hundred Years of Solitude (2024–present)

Claudio Cataño as Colonel Aureliano Buendía in 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'.

Considered one of the foremost literary achievements of the last century, Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realism novel, *One Hundred Years of Solitude*, has finally been adapted for television. The series tells the story of the Buendía family over multiple generations and is set in the fictitious town of Macondo, Colombia, which the family founded.

Critics and fans have commended the adaptation for its acting, cinematography, and adherence to the original source material. A TV series with the spirit of the novel, Netflix released the show's first eight episodes in December 2024, with another eight to come this August. A must-watch for literary lovers and TV nerds alike, treat yourself to *One Hundred Years of Solitude*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *One Hundred Years of Solitude*: Netflix

**Cast: **Claudio Cataño, Diego Vásquez, Marleyda Soto, Viña Machado, Loren Sofía

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in 'The Queen's Gambit'.

Ken Woroner/Netflix

One of the cultural highlights of the pandemic, *The Queen’s Gambit* is a period drama about an orphan who becomes a chess prodigy in the 1950s and '60s. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Beth, a young woman who becomes addicted to tranquilizers during her time in an orphanage, and whose substance abuse and mental health issues threaten to undermine her rise through the competitive chess world.

Chess is an internalized and intellectual pursuit, but Taylor-Joy throws her body, face, and soul into it, and the result is a performance that makes a board game feel as exciting as an NBA championship. The show’s success generated a renewed interest in chess, and Taylor-Joy’s performance is almost universally acclaimed. EW’s reviewer highlights the show’s “luscious production design” and notes the “darkly fascinating lead performance duel against mawkish sentiment and a messy final act. It's always fun to watch, even when it's playing emotional checkers.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Queen's Gambit*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Cast: **Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Isla Johnston, Christiane Seidel

Sharp Objects (2018)

Patricia Clarkson as Adora Crellin in 'Sharp Objects'. Anne Marie Fox/HBO

Amy Adams stars as Camille Preaker, a big-city journalist who returns home to her small hometown in Missouri, where a spate of child murders has unsettled locals. In addition to outing the killer, Camille must deal with her icy, high-society mother (the always incredible Patricia Clarkson) and her creepy little sister (Eliza Scanlen), not to mention her own struggles with alcoholism.

The late, great Jean-Marc Vallée directed all eight episodes of this darkly comic, consistently suspenseful adaptation of former EW staffer Gillian Flynn’s 2006 novel. It’s a delight to watch actors like Adams and Clarkson go toe-to-toe, while Vallée, ever a master at capturing the near-imperceptible shifting loyalties amongst society’s ranks, puts his sardonic eye to particularly good use here. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *Sharp Objects*: HBO Max

**EW grade: **B+

**Cast:** Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Eliza Scanlen, Chris Messina, Sydney Sweeney

The Thing About Pam (2022)

Renée Zellweger as Pam Hupp, Judy Greer as Leah Askey, and Josh Duhamel as Joel Schwartz in 'The Thing About Pam'. Frank Ockenfels 3/NBC

Renée Zellweger stars as real-life murderer Pam Hupp in this pleasantly campy six-part series. In 2011, Betsy Faria (​​Katy Mixon) was found slain in her suburban home. A bullish prosecutor (Judy Greer) comes after Betsy’s husband, Russ (Glenn Fleshler), but it’s Betsy’s best friend Pam who was the last person to see her alive.

Much like HBO Max’s *The Staircase*, *The Thing About Pam* uses a star-studded assortment of actors to sketch a lightly fictionalized dramatization of a notorious murder. This miniseries isn’t always beholden to the facts, but it’s pretty close and is certainly one of the most delightfully odd entries in the true-crime television genre. *—D.G.*

Where to watch *The Thing About Pam*: Peacock

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Renée Zellweger, Judy Greer, Katy Mixon, Glenn Fleshler, Gideon Adlon

The White Lotus (2021–present)

Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett in season 3 of 'The White Lotus'.

The best way to travel these days is through HBO’s *The White Lotus*. The anthology series is set at The White Lotus Resort and Spa, a fictional hotel chain with luxurious locations in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand (so far — France is next). The staff at The White Lotus is on hand to provide a special experience to the resort’s wealthy, if eccentric, guests, but the hotel is fast becoming known for the strange deaths that keep occurring.

Mike White has established himself as a character study artist, a keen observer of families, friend groups, and social dynamics. The characters on his show are fascinating, flawed people, and White knows exactly where to push to apply pressure and tension. The show is especially beloved for its ensemble casts, which are full of some of the best actors you forgot about. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The White Lotus*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast: **Jon Gries,** **Jennifer Coolidge, Natasha Rothwell

- TV Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW TV"

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The 26 best miniseries ready to binge-watch this weekend

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New Jersey Democrats pick opponent in district where US Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent

New Jersey Democrats pick opponent in district where US Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent MIKE CATALINI Tue, June 2, 2026 at 4:36 PM UTC 0 1 / 0Election 2026 New JerseyFILE In this Jan. 15, 2019, file photo, New Jersey Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., RWestfield, addresses reporters in Trenton, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Democrats will choose their U.S. House nominee on Tuesday in a New Jersey battleground district represented by Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr.

New Jersey Democrats pick opponent in district where US Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent

MIKE CATALINI Tue, June 2, 2026 at 4:36 PM UTC

0

1 / 0Election 2026 New JerseyFILE - In this Jan. 15, 2019, file photo, New Jersey Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Westfield, addresses reporters in Trenton, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Democrats will choose their U.S. House nominee on Tuesday in a New Jersey battleground district represented by Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr., who's been absent from Congress for months as he deals with an unspecified medical issue.

New Jersey's 7th District, which includes suburban towns and rolling farmland — and one of President Donald Trump's golf clubs — is the state's highest-profile primary. Four Democrats are competing to take on Kean, whose aides have said he plans on seeking a third term.

Kean's absence — his last vote was in early March — has supercharged interest in the seat, which Democrats view as key to winning control of the narrowly divided House and Republicans recognize as important to defend. Voters in the district have ousted two incumbents during midterm elections over the past decade.

Trump endorsed Kean in a social media post late Monday and didn't mention his absence from Congress or his medical issue.

“A Tremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda, Tom is working tirelessly,” the president said, going on to praise Kean for his views on the border, economy and military.

Democratic voters are deciding between Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot whose background mirrors Gov. Mikie Sherrill 's; Michael Roth, a former Small Business Administration official; Tina Shah, an intensive care unit doctor; and Brian Varela, a businessman with backing from progressive groups.

The campaign has been hotly contested, with each candidate bringing in seven figures in fundraising and walking a line between appealing to the party's base and to more independent general election voters.

Bennett's campaign has come under fire from a political action committee that's spent about $650,000 in the primary, attacking her from the left. Bennett said in an interview she believes the group, whose donors haven't been disclosed, is Republican-backed and aiming to weaken her candidacy because they fear her in the general election.

The Democrats are leaning into the rising costs of groceries and gasoline caused by the Iran war and Trump's sweeping tariffs. They're casting blame at Republicans and Kean in particular, who they say is a bad fit for the district, pointing to his support for the president's signature tax cut legislation.

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Kean's absence has raised eyebrows. Kean posted on X last month that he's dealing with a “personal medical issue” and is expected to return soon. His staff and political aides have declined to elaborate.

The district was redrawn after the most recent census to become more favorable to Republicans, but it's gone back and forth in recent years. Kean ousted incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski in 2022, who defeated Republican Rep. Leonard Lance in 2018.

Also being watched Tuesday is a Republican Senate primary. The party has been adrift in New Jersey since last year, when its Trump-backed candidate for governor lost by double digits. Voters face a four-way race between attorney Justin Murphy, surgeon Robert Lebovics, Army veteran Richard Tabor and former TV reporter Alex Zdan.

The winner will face Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, who is running for a full third term.

More House seats could have noteworthy campaigns in the fall.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew is seeking a fifth term in southern New Jersey’s 2nd District. He was originally elected as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party during Trump's first term.

Rep. Bonnie Watson is retiring from the heavily Democratic 12th District, where a crowded primary field is vying to succeed her.

Dr. Adam Hamawy, a surgeon and Army veteran, has shot to prominence with endorsements from independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and other progressives. Some of his opponents recently began criticizing him over his connection to Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, a blind Egyptian cleric convicted in 1995 of conspiring to blow up the United Nations and other New York-area landmarks.

Hamawy was a defense witness in the sheikh's trial but wasn’t accused of wrongdoing. He has condemned violence and distanced himself from the sheikh during the campaign. Abdel-Rahman died in federal prison in 2017.

Republicans are picking their nominee in northern New Jersey's 9th District, choosing between attorney Tiffany Burress and Clifton City Councilwoman Rosie Pino, to take on first-term Democratic Rep. Nellie Pou. Pou's margin of victory in 2024 was narrower than her long-serving predecessor, Rep. Bill Pascrell, and coincided with Trump winning a county in the district.

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New Jersey Democrats pick opponent in district where US Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent

New Jersey Democrats pick opponent in district where US Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent MIKE CATALINI Tue, June 2, 2026 at 4:...

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Trump taps housing finance director Pulte as acting director of national intelligence after Gabbard

Trump taps housing finance director Pulte as acting director of national intelligence after Gabbard JOSH BOAK Tue, June 2, 2026 at 2:26 PM UTC 33 1 / 0Trump National IntelligenceFILE Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte walks outside the White House, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has tapped Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to be the acting director of national intelligence — putting a real estate scion and fierce Trump loyalist in a key national s...

Trump taps housing finance director Pulte as acting director of national intelligence after Gabbard

JOSH BOAK Tue, June 2, 2026 at 2:26 PM UTC

33

1 / 0Trump National IntelligenceFILE - Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte walks outside the White House, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has tapped Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to be the acting director of national intelligence — putting a real estate scion and fierce Trump loyalist in a key national security post as the U.S. remains at war with Iran.

Trump made the surprise announcement Tuesday on social media that Pulte would be replacing Tulsi Gabbard, the former Hawaii congresswoman who had served as the director of national intelligence. Trump said Pulte will keep his other positions even as he fills in for Gabbard, who resigned last month after revealing her husband’s cancer diagnosis.

The Republican president cited Pulte's work at the FHFA and his role as chair of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as indicating that his real estate work would overlap with the skills needed to coordinate 18 federal agencies tasked with foreign and domestic security.

“William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump's choice to elevate Pulte, who would also continue in his post at FHFA, shows how the president is putting a greater priority on fidelity to him. It’s unclear what national security expertise Pulte brings to bear as the U.S. faces conflict in the Middle East, helps Ukraine defend itself against Russia's assault and manages the emergence of artificial intelligence as a military tool. But Pulte has been a frequent guest on Air Force One as Trump has traveled to Mar-a-Lago, his home and club in Palm Beach, Florida.

As the grandson of the founder of PulteGroup, one of the country's largest homebuilders, Pulte has cut a combative streak on social media and used his post at the FHFA to attack perceived opponents of the Trump administration.

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His time overseeing mortgage finance has been linked with criminal referrals for mortgage fraud by public officials Trump sought to punish, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; and Lisa Cook, a board member of the Federal Reserve, who was nominated by a Democratic president, Joe Biden.

The prosecution against James was dismissed in November after a judge concluded that the prosecutor who filed the charges was illegally appointed. Other referrals made by Pulte, including against Schiff and Cook, have not yielded any criminal charges. Lawyers for both have denied any claims of wrongdoing. But Trump did try to use the possibility of mortgage fraud as grounds for removing Cook from the Fed.

Pulte told reporters at the White House several months ago that he had also made criminal referrals regarding at least one Republican official, but he declined to provide the name.

He has famously gone after then-Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting the central bank’s benchmark interest rates as aggressively as the president wanted. He has also been linked to ideas such as the 50-year mortgage and efforts to lower mortgage rates through the purchase of home loan debt that have not paid off as promised, as mortgage rates began to climb after the Iran war started at the end of February.

Pulte has a reputation for cultivating enemies. In a legal feud pursued by Pulte that involved his family namesake's homebuilding company, he accused his grandfather’s widow of insider trading. He was believed to be the driving force behind a website trashing an aunt as a “fake Christian.” And he publicly blasted another relative as “a fat slob,” “weirdo” and “grifter,” according to court records.

Politico reported in September that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch Pulte in the face. The showdown occurred at a private dinner, and the treasury secretary claimed that he had heard Pulte had been badmouthing him to Trump.

If formally nominated, Pulte would need to be confirmed by the Senate to hold the position full time.

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These films have all the summer loving that your heart desires. The 27 best romantic movies on Netflix These films have all the summer loving that your heart desires. By Ilana Gordon, :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles. EW's editorial guidelines and James Mercadante on June 2, 2026 7:15 a.m.

These films have all the summer loving that your heart desires.

The 27 best romantic movies on Netflix

These films have all the summer loving that your heart desires.

By Ilana Gordon,

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and James Mercadante

on June 2, 2026 7:15 a.m. ET

LaKeith Stanfield as Nate Davis and Gina Rodriguez as Jenny Young in 'Someone Great'; Emma Corrin as Lady Constance Chatterley and Jack O'Connell as Oliver Mellors in 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'; Robert Redford as Louis Walters and Jane Fonda as Addie Moore in 'Our Souls at Night'. Credit:

Netflix (2); Kerry Brown/Netflix

Love is in the air, or maybe that's just pollen. Love is definitely on Netflix, though, where the streamer has assembled an eclectic collection of romantic films.

Recent additions to this month's guide include the British comedy *Four Weddings and a Funeral* (1994) and teen weepie *The Fault in Our Stars** *(2014). Rewind to the ‘80s for a viewing of *Splash* (1984), the mermaid rom-com that puts the "sea" in NYC. Or come back to contemporary times with *Your Monster* (2024), a horror love story with a musical theater through-line.

Partners may come and go, but a good movie will stay with you forever. Keep scrolling to find **’s list of the 27 best romantic movies streaming on Netflix.

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Keanu Reeves as himself in 'Always Be My Maybe'. Doane Gregory/Netflix

Two old childhood friends reconnect in *Always Be My Maybe*, starring Ali Wong and Randall Park. As teens, the pair considered a romantic relationship, but it didn't work out. As adults, she's become a famous chef while he's still stuck in a small-time band and working for his dad's business.

Now, they'll have to try and see if love is their destiny once again while facing her fame and his insecurities. The movie also features plenty of quirky moments, including Keanu Reeves playing an odd version of himself as a love interest for Wong's character. And, as an added bonus, there's also Wong's amazing wardrobe. —*Lia Beck*

Where to watch *Always Be My Maybe*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Nahnatchka Khan

**Cast: **Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Dae Kim, James Saito

Atonement (2007)

James McAvoy as Robbie Turner and Keira Knightley as Cecilia Tallis in 'Atonement'.

Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection

Saoirse Ronan had her breakout movie role in *Atonement*, Joe Wright’s adaptation of the bestselling novel by Ian McEwan. A romantic war tragedy told across six decades, *Atonement* starts in the mid-1930s, before jumping forward to World War II and then the late-20th century.

Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave share the role of Briony Tallis, a 13-year-old (Ronan) who tells a lie that haunts her for the rest of her life. Keira Knightley portrays Cecilia, Briony’s older sister, and James McAvoy plays Cecilia’s lover, Robbie. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including nods for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (Ronan), and contains one of the most iconic outfits in cinema history: Cecilia’s green dress. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Atonement*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Joe Wright

**Cast:** James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave

Blue Jay (2017)

Sarah Paulson as Amanda and Mark Duplass as Jim in 'Blue Jay'. Everett Collection

Twenty years after breaking up, former high-school sweethearts Jim (Mark Duplass, who also wrote the script) and Amanda (Sarah Paulson) bump into each other in their California hometown and end up spending the day — and night — together. As they update each other on what's transpired in their lives in the years since they last spoke, Jim and Amanda reminisce together about the people they used to be while attempting to understand the people they have become. A slice of life film that offers a glimpse into the optimism of youthful infatuation, and the bitter realities of aging, living, and loving, *Blue Jay's *simple story is still meaty enough for its two leads to dig their performative talons into. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Blue Jay*: Netflix

**Director: **Alex Lehmann

**Cast: **Mark Duplass, Sarah Paulson

Bros (2022)

Billy Eichner as Bobby in 'Bros'.

Universal Pictures

*Bros* didn't perform great at the box office, and while critics and pundits will argue the reason, it’s clear the blame doesn’t fall with the quality of the film. A romantic comedy led by Billy Eichner — the first out gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film — *Bros* follows the proudly single Bobby Lieber (Eichner) as he accidentally falls for the hetero-presenting Aaron (Luke Macfarlane).

A Judd Apatow production, *Bros* has the requisite one-liners, witty banter, and celebrity cameos necessary to boost the comedic sections of the movie, but it’s the romantic portions that truly distinguish the film. As EW’s critic notes, “*Bros* wears its queerness proudly, without stooping to cater overmuch to whatever elusive demographics might qualify it as a 'crossover' success.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Bros*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Nicholas Stoller

**Cast: **Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Guy Branum

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Ansel Elgort as Gus and Shailene Woodley as Hazel in 'The Fault in Our Stars'.

James Bridges/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Adapted from John Green’s 2012 young adult novel, *The Fault in Our Stars* is a love story about Hazel (Shailene Woodley), an Indianapolis teenager with thyroid cancer, and Gus (Ansel Elgort), the boy in remission from bone cancer who she meets in her support group. Together, the teens travel to Amsterdam in search of the reclusive author of Hazel’s favorite book, but as Hazel struggles with health difficulties, she finds solace in her deepening bond with the romantic and charismatic Gus.

Sick kids grow up faster, and the teenagers in *TFIOS *cram a lifetime of self-awareness and wit into one movie. EW’s critic writes, “[Gus] woos Hazel Grace as if his life depended on it; you get the impression that in some ways maybe it does.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Fault in Our Stars*: Netflix

**Director: **Josh Boone

**Cast: **Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Nat Wolff

The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

Emily Blunt as Violet Barnes and Jason Segel as Tom Solomon in 'The Five-Year Engagement'.

Glen Wilson/Universal

Proposals are supposed to serve as the preamble to marriage, but in the romantic comedy *The Five-Year Engagement*, one couple’s extended engagement ends up pushing them farther apart. After Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) get engaged, marriage and a happily ever after spent in San Francisco seem inevitable. But when Violet’s career forces the couple to move to Michigan, the engagement — and Tom’s mental health — begin to unravel.

Directed by Nicholas Stoller and co-written by Stoller and Segel (the duo behind 2008's *Forgetting Sarah Marshall*), *Five-Year* *Engagement *is a Judd Apatow-produced film through and through. EW’s review calls it a “lively, original, and scattershot-hilarious ramble,” but more than that, this is a smart, funny interrogation of love, sacrifice, and how people and relationships grow and adapt. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Five-Year Engagement*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Nicholas Stoller

**Cast:** Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Rhys Ifans, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Hugh Grant as Charles and Andie MacDowell as Carrie in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. Gramercy Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

No situation forces you to examine your life quite in the same way as a wedding or a funeral, and during *Four Weddings and a Funeral*, Charles (Hugh Grant) attends — as advertised — five of these events. The film picks up during the first wedding, where Charles meets an American woman named Carrie (Andie MacDowell); he then proceeds to spend the subsequent three weddings and one funeral trying to deduce how he feels about her.

Surrounded by a group of friends navigating similar shifts in life and love, Charles must learn to overcome his fear of commitment, or risk losing the best thing that’s ever happened to him. If you’re in the mood to enjoy romantic hijinks, statement hats, and self-deprecating British humor, RSVP yes to *Four Weddings and a Funeral*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Four Weddings and a Funeral*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A–

**Director:** Mike Newell

**Cast:** Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow, James Fleet

Frances Ha (2012)

Adam Driver as Lev and Greta Gerwig as Frances in 'Frances Ha'. IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

One of the best-known additions to the mumblecore movement that briefly invaded independent cinema during the mid-2010s, *Frances Ha* is also one of the most charming. Directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written by the film's star, Greta Gerwig, *Frances Ha* chronicles a difficult period in 27-year-old aspiring dancer Frances Halladay's life. Struggling with the dissolution of one of her closest friendships, financial challenges, and difficulties with her chosen career, Frances is both unmoored and undeterred.

A late-20s coming-of-age story released in 2012, *Frances Ha* contains some vague similarities to HBO's *Girls* (Adam Driver, for one), which premiered that same year. But the film offers such a high level of style, point of view, and performance that it deftly distinguishes itself from the rest of the genre. *—I.G.*

Where to watch* Frances Ha*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Noah Baumbach

**Cast: **Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver, Mickey Sumner, Michael Zegen, Michael Esper

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society (2018)

Glen Powell as Mark Reynolds and Lily James as Juliet Ashton in 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'. Studiocanal/Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Fans of period romances will fall head over heels for the Netflix original* The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society*. The 2018 film stars Lily James as a writer who gets to know the residents of Guernsey, an island that had recently been under German occupation during World War II. As for the romantic aspect, the lead character is torn between two men: her American fiancé (Glen Powell) and a new man from Guernsey (Michiel Huisman). EW's review of Mike Newell's film calls it "as snug and sweet and congenitally British as a tea cozy." *—L.B.*

Where to watch *The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Mike Newell

**Cast: **Lily James, Michael Huisman, Glen Powell, Jessica Brown Findlay

The Half of It (2020)

Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu and Daniel Diemer as Paul Munsky in 'The Half of It'. KC Bailey/Netflix/Everett

Securing Tribeca's Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Alice Wu's queer revision of *Cyrano de Bergerac *introduces viewers to Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a booksmart outcast whose writing skills become a lucrative business with her peers as customers. When she starts drafting love letters for himbo jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer, a.k.a. Will Poulter's doppelgänger) to popular girl Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) — whom Ellie secretly harbors feelings for — the unlikely pair forge a connection far more profound than any high school crush.

Through atmospheric camerawork, whip-smart dialogue, and a sea of film references for cinephiles to bathe in, *The Half of It** *spins a coming-of-age love story that bleeds wisdom beyond its years. *—James Mercadante*

Where to watch *The Half of It*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Alice Wu

**Cast:** Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano, Wolfgang Novogratz

The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Chris O'Dowd as Boone and Jessica Williams as Jessica James in 'The Incredible Jessica James'. Netflix

Jessica Williams took the world by storm when she became the youngest correspondent on *The Daily Show*. And after leaving the program in 2016, Williams honed in on film — starting by taking on the roles of executive producer and lead actor in the rom-com *The Incredible Jessica James. *The role of Jessica James was created especially for Williams by writer-director Jim Strouse, and the character is perfectly customized to flaunt her many comedic and performative strengths.

In the film, Jessica is an aspiring playwright and employee at a children's theater workshop who just broke up with her boyfriend (LaKeith Stanfield). After her friend Tasha (Noël Wells) sets her up on a date with Boone (Chris O'Dowd), Jessica must decide if their romance is worth pursuing, and what she wants her love life and work life to look like going forward. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Incredible Jessica James*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Jim Strouse

**Cast: **Jessica Williams, LaKeith Stanfield, Noël Wells, Chris O'Dowd

The 17 best romantic comedy movies on Netflix

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Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2024)

Camille Rutherford as Agathe Robinson in 'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life'.

Icon Film Distribution

Those in search of a recent romantic comedy that feels like it could have been made during the early ‘90s should look no further than *Jane Austen Wrecked My Life*. This bilingual film follows Agathe Robinson, a French bookseller and aspiring novelist, as she joins a writing retreat in England sponsored by Jane Austen’s descendants. While attempting to write her book, Agathe wrestles with her feelings for two different men and tries to process her grief surrounding her parents’ accidental death.

A film that feels like a French riff on classics like *Notting Hill* (1999) and *Bridget Jones’ Diary *(2001), *Jane Austen Wrecked My Life* is the perfect comfort watch for bibliophiles, Anglophiles, and anyone else who enjoys a good, old-fashioned romantic comedy. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Jane Austen Wrecked My Life*: Netflix

**Director:** Laura Piani

**Cast: **Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson, Annabelle Lengronne, Liz Crowther

Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)

Emma Corrin as Lady Constance Chatterley and Jack O'Connell as Oliver Mellors in 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'. Netflix

If* Fifty Shades of Grey *and *Bridgerton* welcomed a child, its name would be *Lady Chatterley's Lover*. Enduring decades of bans for its salacious content, D.H. Lawrence's 1928 avant-garde novel gets a fresh adaptation under the heedful eye of Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, who deftly explores the depths of female desire. In this soft-core romance about emotional and bodily fulfillment, an unhappily married aristocrat (Emma Corrin) defies gender roles by acting on her own urges — starting a clandestine affair with the gamekeeper (Jack O'Connell) of her husband's (Matthew Duckett) estate.

While EW's critic observes a lack of dramatic conflict in the film, they highlight that "what's left is just an unabashedly heady romance, rich in pretty costumes — when they're wearing them — and lush, lusty atmosphere." *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Lady Chatterley's Lover*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre

**Cast:** Emma Corrin, Jack O'Connell, Matthew Duckett, Faye Marsay, Ella Hunt

The Lovebirds (2020)

Issa Rae as Leilani Brooks and Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran in 'The Lovebirds'.

After four years of dating, Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae) are prepared to call it quits — until the couple finds themselves involved in a murder that requires them to put their break up aside and go on the run. Too concerned about racial profiling to involve the police, Jibran and Leilani must hunt down the identity of the man who was murdered so they can find out who killed him and clear their own names.

Directed by Michael Showalter (2001's *Wet Hot American Summer*), *The Lovebirds* is a romantic evening gone wrong in the style of films like 2010's *Date Night* and 2018's *Game Night*. Boasting a high ratio of jokes per minute and a pair of lead actors who know how to wield their witticisms like machetes, Nanjiani and Rae's on screen bickering and loving needling will have you rooting for their relationship, even as it's falling apart. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Lovebirds*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Michael Showalter

**Cast: **Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Anna Camp, Paul Sparks

My Girl (1991)

Anna Chlumsky as Vada Sultenfuss in 'My Girl'.

Columbia/Courtesy Everett Collection

*My Girl* is the movie that traumatized a generation, but it’s also a sweet coming-of-age story. Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin star as Vada Sultenfuss and Thomas J. Sennett, two 11-year-old friends who experience a memorable summer together in 1972. Though known for its devastating climax, the heart of the film lies in Vada and Thomas’s relationship, a platonic friendship that starts to seem less so as the summer wears on.

Chlumsky is charisma personified in her breakout role, and the relationship between supporting players Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis gives the film another layer of romantic energy. *My Girl *got flak upon its release for its seemingly saccharine tone, but as the world has gotten scarier, *My Girl* is a rom-com reminder of simpler and sweeter times. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *My Girl*: Netflix

**Director: **Howard Zieff

**Cast:** Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay Culkin, Anna Chlumsky, Griffin Dunne

Obvious Child (2014)

Jenny Slate as Donna in 'Obvious Child'.

Written and directed by Gillian Robespierre, *Obvious Child* stars Jenny Slate as Donna, a stand-up comedian who drunkenly pursues a one-night stand with a man named Max (Jake Lacy) after being dumped by her boyfriend. Several weeks later, Donna realizes she is pregnant, but struggles to tell the people in her life, even as Valentine’s Day — the day of her scheduled abortion — draws closer. Yes, Donna’s decision is a crucial part of the story — but it’s really the engine that propels a romantic comedy. The film, like its protagonist, is bristly and sarcastic on the outside, but warm and vulnerable at its core.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch* Obvious Child*: Netflix

**Director:** Gillian Robespierre

**Cast:** Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffman, Gabe Liedman, Richard Kind,

Our Souls at Night (2017)

Robert Redford as Louis Walters and Jane Fonda as Addie Moore in 'Our Souls at Night'. Kerry Brown/Netflix

Some partnerships just keep getting better with age, and the onscreen relationship between Robert Redford and Jane Fonda — now in its fourth iteration — is one of those unions. In the Netflix original movie *Our Souls at Night*, Redford and Fonda play longtime neighbors and widowers Louis and Addie, who find comfort in spending their nights together as platonic friends. Aware that their unorthodox relationship and sleeping arrangement are eliciting side eyes from the town and their adult children, the pair must eventually choose between their growing emotional dependence on each other and the needs of their respective families.

With a cast of only seven actors, the strength of *Our Souls at Night* lies mainly in the steady hands of its two leads, who make falling in love look just as appealing as they did half a century ago in *Barefoot in the Park*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Our Souls at Night*: Netflix

**Director: **Ritesh Batra

**Cast: **Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Judy Greer, Matthias Schoenaerts, Bruce Dern

Pretty Woman (1990)

Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward and Richard Gere as Edward Lewis in 'Pretty Woman'.

Buena Vista/Getty Images

Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) is a corporate raider who comes to Hollywood for work. Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) is a local sex worker who gives him directions. Their chance encounter leads to a week spent together, during which these two radically different people fall in love. Roberts’ performance made her the most sought-after young actress of the decade — she imbues Vivian with an irrepressible spirit and deep vulnerability, and her chemistry with Gere is undeniable.

The rags-to-riches modern fairy tale premiered to mixed reviews, but time and societal shifts have looked favorably upon *Pretty Woman*. As EW’s critic writes in an review, *Pretty Woman* is "the rare Hollywood movie that doesn’t just channel the culture but changes it.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Pretty Woman*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director: **Garry Marshall

**Cast: **Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander, Héctor Elizondo

Set It Up (2018)

Zoey Deutch as Harper Moore and Glen Powell as Charlie Young in 'Set It Up'. Netflix

If you found Glen Powell to be perfect boyfriend material in *Anyone but You* (2023), wait until you see him paired with the dynamic Zoey Deutch in *Set It Up*. When two stress-ridden assistants from adjoining companies, Harper (Deutch) and Charlie (Powell), conspire to set up their Type-A bosses (Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu) in hopes of freeing themselves from the nonstop office grind, it sparks an enemies-to-lovers fling between the two matchmakers that's as satisfying as a sublime slice of pizza. *Set It Up *ranks among Netflix's finest rom-coms, injecting the genre's familiar elements with an extra dose of heart — all fueled by the palpable chemistry between Powell and Deutch. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Set It Up*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Claire Scanlon

**Cast:** Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs, Joan Smalls

She's Gotta Have It (1986)

John Canada Terrell as Greer Childs, Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, and Tommy Redmond Hicks as Jamie Overstreet in 'She's Gotta Have It'.

Island Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Spike Lee’s first feature film as a writer and director, *She’s Gotta Have It* presents intertwining romances as lead character Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) decides which of the three men she’s dating (Lee, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell) she wants to have a monogamous relationship with. Luxuriating in Lee’s creative sensibility and shot in crisp black and white, Nola’s journey towards picking a partner is funny, thought-provoking, and unique in every respect.

In a review of Netflix’s 2017 *She’s Gotta Have It *adaptation (also directed by Lee), EW’s critic describes the original movie, writing, “*She’s Gotta Have It *was Spike Lee’s first feature film, and few movies feel so joyfully first.” A dramedy that questions sexual, relationship, and gender norms of the time, *She’s Gotta Have It *is notable for its subject matter, aesthetic, and for launching Lee’s storied Hollywood career. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *She’s Gotta Have It*: Netflix

**Director:** Spike Lee

**Cast: **Tracy Camilla Johns, Spike Lee, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell

Sleeping With Other People (2015)

Jason Sudeikis as Jake and Alison Brie as Lainey in 'Sleeping With Other People'. Linda Kallerus

Cheaters never prosper, except in *Sleeping With Other People*, a rom-com about two intimacy-challenged adults who find salvation in each other. After losing their virginities to one another in college, Jake and Lainey (Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie) reconnect after 12 years apart and — despite their admitted sexual attraction and chemistry — decide to just be friends. But when their platonic relationship becomes complicated by their romantic feelings, the two struggle not to let their past mistakes define their future.

A modern, dirtier, more drug-filled version of *When Harry Met Sally *(1989), *Sleeping With Other People* is, as EW’s critic writes, “a smart, flawed movie about smart, flawed people.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Sleeping With Other People*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Leslye Headland

**Cast: **Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, Natasha Lyonne

Sliding Doors (1998)

Gwyneth Paltrow as Helen Quilley and John Hannah as James Hammerton in 'Sliding Doors'.

Miramax/Everett

If *The Butterfly Effect *(2004)* *were a romantic comedy, it would be *Sliding Doors*. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Helen Quilley, a London publicist whose life after being fired unfolds in parallel storylines: One details what happens to Helen after she catches a train home, the other tells the story of what happens after she misses the train.

As Helen’s two paths deviate and coincide throughout the film, her love life and career trajectory unfold in separate arcs, an effective narrative illustration of how the small moments in our lives can have the biggest impacts on our future outcomes. Alternatively funny, tragic, and ultimately very, very British, EW’s critic writes, “writer-director Peter Howitt demonstrates a lovely feel for the dreamy poetry of what-ifs — a deeply satisfying formula for romances and melodramas, from *It’s a Wonderful Life *to *Brief Encounter*.” *—I.G. *

Where to watch *Sliding Doors*: Netflix

**Directors: **Peter Howitt

**Cast: **Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Someone Great (2019)

LaKeith Stanfield as Nate Davis and Gina Rodriguez as Jenny Young in 'Someone Great'. Sarah Shatz/Netflix

Heartbreak just hits different in Netflix's *Someone Great*, a film about Jenny (Gina Rodriguez), a music journalist who goes through a breakup after accepting her dream job in San Francisco and learning her boyfriend (LaKeith Stanfield) doesn't want to come along. Emotionally buttressed by her best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow), Jenny decides to make the most of her last night in New York City, and along the way encounters an eclectic supporting cast including Rosario Dawson, RuPaul, and Alex Moffat.

In addition to being a solid modern rom-com, *Someone Great* also has great significance in Swiftie lore: Taylor's 2014 song "Clean" off the *1989* album was one of the inspirations for the film's story, and Swift wrote *Lover'*s "Death by a Thousand Cuts" after seeing the movie. Deeply relatable for anyone who's been blindsided or suffered a broken heart, *Someone Great *is about endings, beginnings, and finding the joy in both. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Someone Great*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

**Cast: **Gina Rodriguez, DeWanda Wise, Brittany Snow, LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson

Splash (1984)

Daryl Hannah as Madison in 'Splash'.

Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection

If you mixed *The Little Mermaid* with the ‘80s comedy *Mannequin, *you would have Ron Howard’s *Splash*. Tom Hanks stars as Allen Bauer, a yuppie running a business in New York City with his rakish brother (John Candy), whose life takes a turn when he falls in love with a mysterious woman named Madison (Daryl Hannah) who is secretly a mermaid. Eugene Levy plays antagonist Dr. Walter Kornbluth, a scientist who discovers Madison’s existence and seeks to expose her to the scientific community.

A studio once advised Howard to make the film without the mermaid; he didn’t listen, and the result was one of the top films of 1984. A fantasy about finding authentic love and rejecting social standards, *Splash* offers a sense of whimsy that is sorely lacking these days. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Splash*: Netflix

**Director:** Ron Howard

**Cast: **Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Shecky Greene

Steel Magnolias (1989)

Sally Field as Mary Lynn ‘M’Lynn' Eatenton and Julia Roberts as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie in ‘Steel Magnolias’.

TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Everything about the ‘80s was big, from the hair and clothing to the emotions dominating the decade’s top films. A prime example: *Steel Magnolias*, the melodramatic tearjerker with an all-star female cast that passes the Bechdel Test with ease. The film — adapted from a play and inspired by the writer’s own life — is set in a small town in Louisiana and tells the story of a group of women who come together to support each other through personal triumphs and health tragedies.

Simultaneously funny and traumatic, the film is deeply Southern, and can best be described as comfort food for the emotional soul. Sally Field and Julia Roberts are especially powerful as a mother and daughter duo, and Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, and Olympia Dukakis provide much-needed comic relief. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Steel Magnolias*: Netflix

**Director: **Herbert Ross

**Cast: **Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey and Jordan Fisher as John Ambrose in 'To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You'. Bettina Strauss/Netflix

Navigating high school is painful enough without all of your crushes finding out you like them — at the same time. A modern rom-com that EW's critic calls "breezy and charming," *To All the Boys I've Loved Before* follows Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) as her worst fears are realized when the love letters she never meant to send find their way to the boys who inspired them.

Cornered by love, Lara Jean negotiates a sham relationship with her former crush to throw off her current one, but when feelings start catching, Lara Jean must deal with the consequences of both her lies and the truths she's starting to realize. The first in a series of three films, which also include 2020's *To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You* and 2021's *To All the Boys: Always and Forever*, the original still hits the hardest. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *To All the Boys I've Loved Before*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Susan Johnson

**Cast: **Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Andrew Bachelor

Your Monster (2024)

Tommy Dewey as Monster and Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco in 'Your Monster'.

A horror romantic comedy that riffs on *Beauty and the Beast*, *Your Monster* is a genre mash-up that is sure to delight. Laura (Melissa Barrera) has just been broken up with by her long-term boyfriend, Jacob (Edmund Donovan). Forced to move back home, Laura discovers a monster (Tommy Dewey) squatting in her childhood bedroom. He agrees to give her two weeks to get her life together, and so begins the relationship between a woman trying to move on and the monster who lives in her closet.

Much of the film centers around a musical theater performance involving Jacob, Laura, and the woman Laura believes Jacob is romantically interested in, so it has some great songs. But the movie primarily exists as a showcase for Barrera, one of the most exciting actors in this new class of Scream Queens.* —I.G.*

Where to watch *Your Monster*: Netflix

**Director: **Caroline Lindy

**Cast: **Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster, Meghann Fahy

- Romance Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Romance"

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Source: Romance

Published: June 2, 2026 at 07:38AM on Source: PRIME TIME

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June 02, 2026

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