With so many shows and movies to choose from on Australia's major streaming services, it can often be difficult to find the best new stuff to entertain yourself with when the weekend rolls around.
In an effort to make things easier, every Friday we'll be hand-picking the best new shows and movies to watch on Aussie streaming platforms on the weekend, covering the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Binge, Stan and Amazon Prime Video.
Below, you'll find a list of this weekend's highlights, separated by streaming service, with binge-worthy new shows sitting alongside some great big-budget new movie arrivals – and a couple of oddball left-of-field entries, just for some variety.
Thankfully, there's a nice selection of new shows and great movies landing on Australia's streaming services this week for watching this Friday through Sunday. Here are our streaming picks for the week of October 16-18, 2020.
Netflix
Social Distance (Movie – available now)
Perfectly encapsulating the world's current state, Social Distance is a tragicomic anthology series that was shot entirely in isolation. Included stories include both dark and funny takes on human connection and how we persevere while kept apart.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Movie – available16/10/2020)
From Aaron Sorkin, the man behind such classics as The West Wing, A Few Good Men and The Social Network comes The Trial of the Chicago 7, a dramatic retelling of the real-life events that saw a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention erupt into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. Stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Redmayne.
Amazon Prime Video
The Invisible Man (Movie – available 17/10/2020)
Still one of the best movies of 2020, Australia's own Leigh Whannel writes and directs this thriller which updates the classic story of The Invisible Man for a new and terrifying era. Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale) stars as a woman who is being terrorised by an abusive ex. While that's already a bad situation, it's made worse by the fact that no one can see him, making her friends and family think she's crazy.
Sonic the Hedgehog (Movie – available now)
A video game adaptation that's way better than it has any right to be, Sonic the Hedgehog surprised almost everyone upon release by being an incredibly charming and likeable flick that does well by its beloved mascot. Previously available for rental and purchase on Amazon Prime Video's premium storefront, Sonic the Hedgehog is now available to stream to all Prime members.
Disney Plus
The Right Stuff (TV Series – season 1, episode 3 available 16/10/2020)
Chances are you've seen the classic film of the same name, now National Geographic and Disney Plus have returned to the original novel by Tom Wolfe to tell the story of America’s first astronauts, known as the Mercury 7, to a whole new generation of stargazers. Stars Patrick J. Adams (Suits).
Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer (TV Series – available now)
Remember Disney's early 90s action adventure film The Rocketeer? Well, it's back – in animated form! Disney Junior’s The Rocketeer follows Kit (Kitana Turnbull), a young girl who inherits the spirit (and rocket pack) of The Rocketeer!
- Best Disney Plus shows: 20 TV series that are worth streaming now
- Best Disney Plus movies: from Frozen 2 to Onward
Binge
Fear the Walking Dead: Season 6 premiere (TV Series – available now)
Kicking off its sixth season this week, Fear the Walking Dead returns for more gruelling and terrifying zombie survival action! In this new season, the series will explore what has become of the unlikely family once united by a mission to help those in need.
Stan
Brave New World: Season 1 (TV Series – available now)
A brand new take on the classic novel of the same name by Aldous Huxley, Brave New World explores life in a Utopian society that has given up all its freedoms regarding monogamy and privacy. But when members of 'The Collective' begin to question the rules, that same Utopia comes under threat of revolution. Stars Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo: A Star Wars Story).
