Stream On This Week: Marvel Gets Wonderfully Meta, Rose Byrne’s Stressed, and Samm Levine Recommends

Welcome to the latest issue of Stream On, the weekly newsletter from Consequence that answers the eternally confounding question: What films and TV shows should you be watching? (Subscribe here!) We’re looking at all the new and recent releases from Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, HBO Max, and more for ideas — not to mention a Blast From the Past and streaming suggestions from this week’s special guest: iconic Geek Samm Levine!

This Week’s Picks

Wonder Man (TV)

Created by: Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Guest
Cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, X Mayo, Zlatko Burić, Ben Kingsley, Arian Moayed, Joe Pantoliano, Byron Bowers, Josh Gad
Streaming on: Disney+

Oh my Zod y’all, I love Wonder Man, a TV show that exists at the direct center of many of my interests (superhero action, meta Hollywood storytelling, Ben Kingsley being a lil weirdo). Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as a struggling actor up for the role of a lifetime, while also harboring a secret that could ruin his career — fortunately, somewhat disgraced veteran thespian Trevor Slattery (Kingsley) has decided to take him under his wing. It feels totally different from anything else Marvel Studios has done on screen, an often-hilarious breath of fresh air, and I really don’t want to say any more about it, as it’s a show that unfolds in such a fascinating way over its eight episodes.

Oh, except for two things: You can dive into this without knowing pretty much anything about the past or present MCU (especially compared to other Marvel projects) — the only project you might want to revisit first is Iron Man 3. Additionally, Wonder Man features a few really fun celebrity cameos, and it’s aware of a key fact about celebrity cameos: They get funnier the more the celebrity’s full name is repeated by other characters (or the celebrity themself).

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (Film)

Directed by: Mary Bronstein
Cast: Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Christian Slater, ASAP Rocky
Streaming on: HBO Max

Not gonna say that writer/director Mary Bronstein’s ode to motherhood is a movie you should kick back and relax with on a chill Friday night — it was one of the best movies of 2025, but also one of the most stressful. However, Rose Byrne’s Oscar-nominated performance is an incredible achievement in jaw-clenching, and the supporting cast features some knockout work from ASAP Rocky, Danielle Macdonald, and Conan O’Brien (a real surprise as a dramatic actor!). Also, it’s funnier than you’d expect. Funny in a bleak and dark way. Much like life itself.

Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 (TV)

Created by: Chris Van Dusen
Cast: Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, Jonathan Bailey, Victor Alli, Adjoa Andoh, Julie Andrews, Lorraine Ashbourne, Masali Baduza, Nicola Coughlan, Hannah Dodd, Daniel Francis, Ruth Gemmell, Florence Hunt, Martins Imhangbe, Claudia Jessie, Luke Newton, Golda Rosheuvel, Will Tilston, Polly Walker, Emma Naomi, Hugh Sachs
Streaming on: Netflix

Once again Netflix is being a naughty naughty tease with a new season of Bridgerton, splitting the season in two and leaving this season’s romance between second son Benedict (Luke Thompson) and the newly introduced Sophie (Yerin Ha) on a dramatic cliffhanger. Still, that didn’t keep me from adding nine new entries to our ranked list of the horniest Bridgerton scenes ever (bringing us, yes, to the new and glorious total of 69, because I am a very mature grown-up person). I’m excited for Benedict and Sophie to figure out their issues in the back half of the season, but I’m also intrigued by the way this show has evolved into a real ensemble piece over the years: Of those nine scenes, only three feature our core couple. Bridgerton, baby! Where horniness abounds.

The Luckiest Man in America (Film)

Directed by: Samir Oliveros
Cast: Paul Walter Hauser, Walton Goggins, Shamier Anderson, Brian Geraghty, Patti Harrison, Haley Bennett, Damian Young, Lilli Kay, James Wolk, Shaunette Renée Wilson, David Rysdahl, Ricky Russert, David Strathairn, Johnny Knoxville, Maisie Williams
Streaming on: Hulu

This is a curious trifle of a movie, based on the true story of a contestant on the 1980s game show Press Your Luck whose luck, it turned out, was a little more than luck. 2025 supporting actor MVP Paul Walter Hauser (seriously, just look at how many movies he was in last year) gets to play the lead, and when you see photos of the real guy it’s clear he was perfect casting. It’s a stacked cast overall, though (look at it!!), with my beloved David Strathairn getting to do something a little different here — play a TV producer whose morals might be more than a little loose.

Blast From the Past

The home screens of streaming services are always packed with the latest new releases, but we don’t spend enough time appreciating how much good library content is streaming across all of these platforms. Each week, Stream On will spotlight one less-than-new favorite (must pre-date the founding of Consequence, so 15 years or older) that deserves attention from modern-day eyes.

Paris Is Burning (Film)

Directed by: Jennie Livingston
Featuring: Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija, Venus Xtravaganza, Octavia St. Laurent, Willi Ninja, Angie Xtravaganza, Freddie Pendavis, Junior Labeija
Streaming on: HBO Max, The Criterion Channel, Tubi,

My body is in Los Angeles but at this moment, my heart is in Park City, as I look forward to a weekend on the couch watching as many movies as I can thanks to the virtual Sundance Film Festival. In recognition of the fest’s decades of selecting and platforming great movies, allow me to shout out Paris Is Burning, a legendary 1990 documentary about New York City ballroom culture. This documentary, rich with memorable personalities, paved the way for series like RuPaul’s Drag Race and FX’s Pose. Today, it serves as a powerful portrait — and now time capsule — of a key era in LGBTQ+ history.

Not in the mood for drag, but want to enjoy a Sundance state of mind? Tubi has a pretty robust library of past Sundance premieres you can now stream for free (including past Stream On pick Party Girl, a personal fav).

A Special Guest Recommends!

Liz isn’t the only person in the world capable of suggesting stuff for people to watch… So each week, Stream On will now feature picks from a special guest! Said special guest could be literally anyone from the world of entertainment — actors, writers, directors, musicians, or anyone else Liz thinks might be watching something interesting.

This Week: Samm Levine!

Who Are They? Oh, Samm’s the best. After his breakout performance as Neal on Freaks and Geeks, Samm has been a constant favorite on screen, including a major role in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds and appearances on shows including Minx, The Neighborhood, Another Period, Drunk History, Childrens’ Hospital, and more. He’s also a very funny podcast guest, and both he and his lovely wife Rachel are absolute beasts at competitive movie trivia. Again, Samm rules!

What Do They Recommend? Samm’s got two great choices for you from two very different sides of the entertainment spectrum…

The glut of streaming and cable shows the last many years has only reinforced how much I appreciate brilliant writing. The Wire (HBO Max), across all its seasons, is pretty much the peak of that. Every character is a fully developed, three-dimensional person, with their own strengths and flaws. Every choice they make feels as authentic as the incredibly rich world around them. There just isn’t a false note across any of the 60 episodes. I’ve always been a crime drama junkie with my TV watching, and if you are too, The Wire is simply required viewing.

On the comedy side, Taskmaster (YouTube, Pluto TV) is my favorite show for genuine belly laughs. It’s a British production, which automatically makes it 50% smarter than anything this side of the Atlantic. Each season (or “series” if you will) pits a new group of comedians against each other, competing for points as they tackle seemingly ridiculous “tasks” set forth for them by Greg Davies, the “Taskmaster.” The tasks are sometimes as simple as “throw a potato into a golf hole,” to as complicated as “physically recreate a classic computer game.” The tasks are shot ahead of time, and then all the comedians watch the results together, before being judged on stage by the Taskmaster and his “assistant,” Alex Horne (the show’s creator). My explanation doesn’t do it justice. If you’ve never seen it, please do yourself a favor and check it out. I promise your face will hurt from laughter.

Thank you again to Samm! Keep up with him and his upcoming projects via Instagram.

One Last One Before Bed

Finally, let’s spotlight a movie or TV show that’s not only great, but won’t take up too much of your time: Think of this section as the answer to the question “What’s something I can watch before hitting the hay, that won’t keep me up too late?” The only rule is that it has to be less than 95 minutes if it’s a movie, or less than 30 minutes an episode if it’s a TV show. Otherwise, sky’s the limit!

Red Eye (Film)

Directed by: Wes Craven
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox
Streaming on: Paramount+

This weekend, Rachel McAdams stars in the new Sam Raimi thriller Send Help, which is a pretty solid B-movie adventure. Should you not wish to leave the house for whatever reason, though, here’s another Rachel McAdams thriller from another horror auteur! Red Eye is also memorable for its genuinely brilliant original trailer, which initially spins the movie as a romantic comedy before revealing that poor Lisa’s seatmate with incredible cheekbones (Cillian Murphy) is up to no good. A solid 85-minute nail-biter from maestro Wes Craven, one that brings out the best in both its stars.

We’ll be back next week with more picks — in the meantime, stay safe out there, or better yet stay inside, where it’s definitely safe, and there’s so much film and TV to watch. We’ll update this post every Friday morning with the best to consider, and also be sure to subscribe to the newsletter as well!