6 new streaming movies and shows to watch this weekend: Encanto and more

Merry Christmas and happy holidays! It’s time to gather with family and friends to exchange gifts, drink some eggnog, and watch the ton of new content that’s going to be available to watch on streaming services. Here are our picks for the six new streaming movies and shows to check out during the holiday weekend.

Read more: The best streaming services

Encanto (Disney Plus)

Just 30 days after this new Disney Animation Studios movie hit theaters, it makes its debut on Disney Plus on Christmas Eve — and for no additional cost. The movie is set in Latin America and centers on the Madrigal. Most of the family members have superpowers that they use to protect the village they live in. Even the Madrigal family home is magically intelligent. One member of the family, Mirabel, doesn’t seem to have any powers. However, when the other family members feel their powers weaken, it’s up to Mirabel to save them. The voice cast includes Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, and Wilmer Valderrama, and the movie also has original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Read more: The best Disney Plus animated movies

Making its debut on HBO Max, the fourth movie in the sci-fi Matrix franchise sees Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) in San Francisco. Wait, didn’t Mr. Anderson (aka Neo) die at the end of the third Matrix movie? Also, what is Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss) doing here? She died as well, and neither she nor Mr. Anderson seems to remember what happened to them. It’s time once again to take the red pill to find out what’s happening.

Aaron Sorkin wrote and directed this look back at the beginning of TV for Amazon Prime Video. The film takes place in the 1950s during one week of filming for an I Love Lucy episode. Nicole Kidman plays Lucille Ball, and Javier Bardem plays her husband, Desi Arnaz. We see the conflicts Ball and Arnez had with each other, with their I Love Lucy co-stars, and with the network as well.

Adam McKay co-wrote and directed this satirical movie for Netflix that boasts a truly all-star cast. The main leads are Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, who play two astronomers that discover a comet. The problem? It’s going to collide with Earth. However, convincing the rest of the world that this comet is a threat to humanity is even harder than trying to stop its date with destiny. Other cast members include  Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, and Meryl Streep as the US President.

The cult-favorite Cops parody show cast is back in this new special, a Paramount Plus exclusive. The Reno Sheriff’s Department is ordered to serve papers to the mysterious “Q,” the head of the QAnon movement. They attempt to find the person on board a cruise ship acting as the “Q’s Booze Cruise” event. Hijinks will definitely happen, but will “Q” be found at last?

Some of the best TV crime dramas come from the UK. A highly popular recent BBC crime show is making its US debut this week via Peacock. It certainly has a unique premise. Two members of the Scottish police try to solve a murder that seems to have taken place on board a Royal Navy Trident nuclear missile submarine.

That’s just a taste of what’s available to watch in new streaming movies and shows this weekend. What will you be checking out this holiday?