If you feel like your “to-watch” list is getting a bit dusty, it’s time for an upgrade. We are officially in the 2026 peak-TV season, and the best new TV shows worth starting right now are leaning hard into cinematic craft. We’re talking about prestige limited series, returning giants with massive budgets, and directors like Noah Hawley and Vince Gilligan taking huge swings at small-screen storytelling.
The best new TV shows worth starting this year aren’t just background noise; they’re engineered to hook you from the first frame. Whether you’re looking for the final chapter of a decade-long saga or a fresh sci-fi mystery that actually respects your intelligence, these 2025–2026 releases are the ones dominating the conversation. Let’s get into the heavy hitters you need to queue up immediately.
Best for: Cinephiles who want high-production value, tight writing, and “water cooler” shows that define the 2026 cultural landscape.
Common cinephile pain points this list solves: “It gets good after season 3” (none of these do—they’re great now), bloated episode counts, weak visual language, and predictable plot armor.
Related Lists: Shows That Hook You From Episode One / Perfect Shows for a Weekend Binge / Hidden Gem TV Shows You Rarely Hear About / Great Shows That Slipped by Most People
What to watch for
When you dive into these 2026 picks, pay attention to the episode engine. A great show doesn’t just have a good premise; it has a reason to keep moving every 50 minutes. Watch for smart blocking in dialogue scenes and how sound design is being used to build tension in the 2026 era of streaming.
10 best new TV shows worth starting in 2026
1. Stranger Things 5 (2025/2026) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: The Duffer Brothers
Plot: The final stand for Hawkins begins as the barrier between worlds completely dissolves, forcing the core group into a high-stakes war to save their reality.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10 (Series average)
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why it’s a must-watch: This is the ultimate “event TV” finale. The Duffers are pulling out every cinematic trick in the book—pacing, scale, and emotional payoffs that have been ten years in the making.
2. The Last of Us Season 2 (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
Plot: Years after the events of the first season, a brutal act of violence sends Ellie on a relentless quest for revenge through a decaying, dangerous America.
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Where to Watch: Max
Why it’s a must-watch: Mazin is a master of the “pressure cooker” episode. Expect Season 2 to push the boundaries of perspective-shifting storytelling and raw, physical tension.
3. Alien: Earth (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Noah Hawley
Plot: Set decades before the original film, a spacecraft crashes on Earth, leading a small group of people to a terrifying discovery that threatens the entire planet.
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10 (Recent release)
Where to Watch: Hulu / Disney+
Why it’s a must-watch: Noah Hawley (Fargo) is a god of tone. He’s taking the “Alien” DNA and turning it into a smart, corporate-conspiracy thriller with top-tier blocking and dread.
4. Severance Season 2 (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Dan Erickson / Ben Stiller
Plot: After the explosive finale of season one, the “Innies” and “Outies” face the terrifying consequences of their brief crossover as Lumon Industries tightens its grip.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s the gold standard for production design and framing. Every shot feels like a piece of art designed to make you feel as trapped as the characters.
5. Andor Season 2 (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Tony Gilroy
Plot: The final 12 episodes track Cassian Andor over four years as he transforms from a reluctant survivor into the martyr of the Rebellion.
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Where to Watch: Disney+
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s the most “adult” sci-fi on TV. Tony Gilroy’s dialogue-heavy tension and massive, practical-set action make this a top pick for the best new TV shows worth starting.
6. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: George R.R. Martin / Ira Parker
Plot: A century before Game of Thrones, a young, naive but brave knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg, wander Westeros.
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10 (Recent release)
Where to Watch: Max
Why it’s a must-watch: It’s a smaller, more intimate story than “House of the Dragon.” The focus is on character, chivalry, and clean, grounded storytelling—refreshing for the fantasy genre.
7. Welcome to Derry (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Andy Muschietti / Jason Fuchs
Plot: A prequel to the “IT” films, this series explores the dark history of Derry and the origins of Pennywise the Clown in the 1960s.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: Max
Why it’s a must-watch: If you love high-budget horror with real world-building, this is it. It uses sound and 60s period design to build a persistent sense of local dread.
8. Blade Runner 2099 (2026) 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Silka Luisa / Ridley Scott (Exec Producer)
Plot: Set fifty years after the sequel, this limited series follows a new mystery in a world where the line between synthetic and human has completely eroded.
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 (Early reviews)
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Why it’s a must-watch: Visuals, visuals, visuals. It’s staying true to the high-contrast, atmospheric cinematography of the films, making it a must for anyone who loves “vibe-heavy” cinema.
9. Daredevil: Born Again (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Dario Scardapane
Plot: Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk try to leave their alter-egos behind to help the people of New York, but the city’s rising criminal tide won’t let them stay retired.
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch: Disney+
Why it’s a must-watch: This isn’t your standard “superhero” show. It’s a gritty legal drama with some of the best-choreographed, long-take fight scenes ever put on TV.
10. The White Lotus: Thailand (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Mike White
Plot: A new group of wealthy travelers checks into a luxury resort in Thailand, where spiritual “enlightenment” quickly turns into petty jealousy and a mysterious death.
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10 (Season 3 average)
Where to Watch: Max
Why it’s a must-watch: Mike White is the king of cringe-tension. The blocking in these ensemble scenes is a masterclass in showing social hierarchy without saying a word.
FAQ: Best New TV Shows to Start in 2026
Q: What are the best new TV shows worth starting if I only have a weekend?
A: Go with Alien: Earth or The White Lotus. They’re tightly paced and don’t require years of back-story knowledge to enjoy.
Q: Is Stranger Things 5 too scary for beginners?
A: It’s definitely leaning more into horror this season, but if you’ve seen the previous seasons, you’ll be fine. It’s more “thrilling” than “slasher.”
Q: Where can I find more underrated 2026 shows?
A: Check our “Hidden Gems” list below—we track the indie streaming hits that the big algorithms usually miss.
What to watch next
Next category: Perfect Shows for a Weekend Binge (because once you’re caught up on the 2026 giants, you need some fast-paced serif you’re hunting for the best popular movies right now, you’re looking for the heavy hitters that are currently owning the cultural conversation. Popularity isn’t just about what hit the theaters this morning; it’s about the films that have reached “must-see” status on the IMDb Most Popular charts. Whether it’s a 2025 blockbuster that everyone is rewatching or a modern classic that’s trending again because of a new sequel, these are the safe-bet winners.
This list of the best popular movies right now is built for the viewer who wants a guaranteed win for movie night. We’ve looked at the high-volume hits across all major platforms to find the 10 films that cinephiles are actually finishing, searching for, and debating in 2026. If you want to stay in the loop with the essential movies of the year, these are your starting points.
Best for: Viewers looking for high-confidence picks, trending streaming hits, and movies that offer a “guaranteed” top-tier experience based on IMDb popularity.
Common cinephile pain points this list solves: The “What should we watch?” argument / Wasting a Friday night on a boring film / Feeling out of the loop on viral movies / Watching movies that don’t live up to the hype.
Related Lists: The Best New Movies Worth Watching / The Movies Everyone’s Watching Right Now / List of Best Movies That Never Fail to Deliver / The Best Trending Movies Right Now
What to watch for
In 2026, “Popular” usually means the film has high visual weight and rewatch value. These are the movies people use to test their 4K setups or discuss in deep-dive podcasts. Watch for the classic sequels and auteur-driven blockbusters—they’re trending because the craft is so loud you can’t ignore it.
10 best popular movies right now
1. Beyond the Spider-Verse (2026) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Plot: Miles Morales faces the ultimate choice between his family and the stability of the entire multiverse, leading to a massive showdown that rewrites the rules of being a hero.
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Where to Watch: Cinemas (Recent Release) / Digital (Check availability)
Why it’s popular: It’s the best popular movie right now because it’s the payoff of the decade. Every frame is a masterclass in animation craft, and it’s currently the #1 most searched movie on IMDb.
2. Mickey 17 (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Bong Joon Ho
Plot: An expendable worker on a dangerous space mission keeps being cloned after every death, until a “living error” leaves two versions of him alive at once.
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch: Max / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s popular: This is the streaming giant of 2026. Bong Joon Ho’s signature tonal shifts—funny one second, terrifying the next—have made this a massive rewatch favorite for cinephiles.
3. Superman (2025) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: James Gunn
Plot: A young Clark Kent tries to reconcile his alien heritage with his Kansas heart, navigating a world where traditional heroism is being tested by new-age capes.
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Where to Watch: Max / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s popular: It revitalized the superhero genre. People are still bingeing this in 2026 because of the vibrant color palette and the surgical clarity of the action scenes.
4. 28 Years Later (2025) 🇬🇧
Director/Creator: Danny Boyle
Plot: Decades after the initial rage virus outbreak, a new settlement faces a breach that proves the infected have evolved into something far more calculated.
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s popular: Danny Boyle’s kinetic energy brought the zombie thriller back to life. It’s trending because of its incredible sound design and “heart-in-your-throat” pacing.
5. The Batman (2022) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Matt Reeves
Plot: A younger, vengeful Bruce Wayne hunts a serial killer targeting Gotham’s elite, exposing a web of corruption that goes back to his own family.
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Where to Watch: Max / Prime Video
Why it’s popular: With The Batman Part II hitting theaters in late 2026, the original is a top trending classic. It’s the ultimate “mood” movie that people keep coming back to for its noir style.
6. Dune: Part Two (2024) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Denis Villeneuve
Plot: Paul Atreides unites with the Fremen to wage war against the Harkonnens, while a terrifying prophecy starts to become reality.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: Max / Prime Video
Why it’s popular: It has officially entered the modern classics pantheon. It stays popular because its scale and sound are the gold standard for sci-fi filmmaking.
7. Nosferatu (2024) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Robert Eggers
Plot: A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch: Peacock / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s popular: Eggers is a cinephile darling. This is popular right now because it’s the “thinking man’s horror movie” that people are rewatching to catch all the practical effect details.
8. Interstellar (2014) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Christopher Nolan
Plot: A team of explorers travels through a wormhole in space in an attempt to ensure humanity’s survival as Earth’s environment collapses.
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+ / Prime Video
Why it’s popular: It’s an IMDb Top 250 staple that never drops in popularity. In 2026, it’s trending again due to its recent 12th-anniversary IMAX re-release.
9. Gladiator II (2024) 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Director/Creator: Ridley Scott
Plot: Decades after Maximus, a new warrior is forced into the Colosseum to challenge the corrupt rule of the twin Emperors and restore the dream of Rome.
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+ / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s popular: It’s a high-volume streaming hit. People love the spectacle, and Scott’s “big screen” energy makes it a favorite for weekend home-theater viewing.
10. Juror No. 2 (2024) 🇺🇸
Director/Creator: Clint Eastwood
Plot: A family man serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial realizes he may be responsible for the victim’s death, leading to a massive moral crisis.
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to Watch: Max / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s popular: This became a surprise hit. It’s popular because it’s a masterclass in “invisible” directing and tight, ethical suspense—a perfect palate cleanser from big blockbusters.
What to watch next
Next category: The Best New Movies Worth Watching (because once you’ve seen the cultural favorites, it’s time to see what literally dropped this month)