5 new shows to watch this weekend across Netflix, Prime Video, and more (July 17-19)
We’ve reached the point in the summer when all anyone can talk about is The Odyssey or Christopher Nolan’s best movies. However, the streaming services have been releasing new shows to serve as counterprogramming for Nolan’s epic movie. For me, the top show this week is a new Apple TV crime thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy.
Many comedy fans will be happy to see that Will Ferrell has a Netflix show set in the world of golf. Other shows to watch this weekend include a Prime Video buddy comedy, an NFL docuseries, and a wild documentary about the man who inspired a Martin Scorsese movie. All five shows are available to stream in the U.S.
5
The Real Wolf of Wall Street
The story behind the real wolf in Martin Scorsese’s movie
In 2013, Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, the cunning stockbroker who illegally built a Wall Street empire before watching it crumble. DiCaprio based his performance on the real-life Belfort, who was known for his debauchery, excessive spending, and rambunctious attitude.
Quiz
Summer 2026’s hottest new documentaries
Trivia challenge
From Wall Street scandals to pop legends — how much do you know about this
summer’s must-watch docs?
True CrimeMusicSportsHollywoodFinance
Paramount+’s The Real Wolf of Wall Street focuses on which convicted fraudster at
the center of the Stratton Oakmont scandal?
Correct! Jordan Belfort, the self-styled ‘Wolf of Wall Street,’ ran
Stratton Oakmont and was convicted of fraud and money laundering. The Paramount+ documentary revisits
his story beyond what was depicted in Martin Scorsese’s famous 2013 film.
Not quite. The documentary centers on Jordan Belfort, the notorious
stockbroker whose Stratton Oakmont firm bilked investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars. Bernie
Madoff and Ivan Boesky were separate high-profile Wall Street criminals.
In The Real Wolf of Wall Street, Stratton Oakmont was notorious for using which
illegal sales practice to inflate stock prices?
Correct! Stratton Oakmont used a classic pump-and-dump scheme,
artificially inflating the price of penny stocks through aggressive sales tactics before selling their
own shares at the peak, leaving investors with near-worthless holdings.
Not quite. The firm’s signature crime was the pump-and-dump scheme, in
which brokers hyped up cheap penny stocks to unsuspecting investors, drove the price up, then sold their
own shares for enormous profit. Ponzi schemes and insider trading are distinct types of securities
fraud.
The Real Wolf of Wall Street documentary on Paramount+ includes testimony from which
type of key sources to help reexamine the Stratton Oakmont story?
Correct! The documentary draws on accounts from surviving victims of the
fraud, former Stratton Oakmont brokers, and law enforcement investigators, giving a fuller and more
grounded picture of the scheme than Belfort’s own self-promotional memoir.
Not quite. The film incorporates perspectives from victims who lost
money, former brokers who worked at the firm, and the investigators who brought it down — offering a
counterpoint to the glamorized version of events that Belfort himself has often promoted.
HBO Max’s Marc by Sofia is a documentary about fashion designer Marc Jacobs directed
by which filmmaker?
Correct! Sofia Coppola, the acclaimed director behind films like Lost in
Translation and The Virgin Suicides, directed Marc by Sofia, offering an intimate portrait of her
longtime friend and fashion icon Marc Jacobs.
Not quite. The documentary is directed by Sofia Coppola, the
Oscar-winning filmmaker known for her visually lyrical style. Her personal friendship with Marc Jacobs
gave the film an unusually candid, behind-the-scenes quality.
Marc by Sofia on HBO Max primarily explores Marc Jacobs through which lens?
Correct! The documentary offers an intimate look at Marc Jacobs’
creative process and personal journey, including his struggles with addiction and recovery, his
identity, and what drives his singular artistic vision in fashion.
Not quite. Rather than focusing on business or legal matters, Marc by
Sofia takes a deeply personal approach, exploring Jacobs’ inner world, his sobriety journey, and the
emotional fuel behind his influential career in fashion.
Netflix’s Chris & Martina: The Final Set documents the legendary rivalry between
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. How many times did the two face each other in their careers?
Correct! Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova faced each other an
extraordinary 80 times over their careers, making it one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history.
The Netflix documentary revisits their competitive and personal relationship as both faced serious
health challenges.
Not quite. The two icons met a remarkable 80 times in their careers,
with Navratilova holding the edge in their head-to-head record. The Netflix doc frames their rivalry
through the lens of friendship and mutual support as both women confronted cancer diagnoses.
Netflix’s Michael Jackson: The Verdict examines public and legal reactions to the
allegations against Jackson. What major legal moment does the documentary reference as a turning
point in his legacy?
Correct! Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial, in which he was acquitted on all
counts of child molestation, is a central legal moment the documentary examines. The film explores how
that verdict shaped public perception and the ongoing debate about his legacy.
Not quite. The documentary focuses heavily on the 2005 criminal trial
acquittal as a defining legal moment, while also weighing it against the renewed allegations brought by
the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland and the court of public opinion.
Peacock’s documentary Lorne is a profile of which legendary television producer?
Correct! Lorne Michaels, the Canadian producer who created Saturday
Night Live in 1975 and has shepherded it for nearly five decades, is the subject of Peacock’s
documentary simply titled Lorne. The film digs into the enigmatic figure behind one of TV’s most
enduring institutions.
Not quite. The Peacock documentary profiles Lorne Michaels, the famously
private and influential creator of Saturday Night Live. Despite shaping American comedy for generations,
Michaels has rarely spoken openly about himself — making this documentary a rare glimpse behind the
curtain.
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Now, Belfort shares his side of the story at Stratton Oakmont in The Real Wolf of Wall Street, a new three-part documentary on Paramount+. The series chronicles how Belfort and his team executed the “pump and dump” scheme, which led to exorbitant profits. Like the movie, Belfort’s firm loved to indulge in affairs, parties, and illegal activities. Watch the documentary to fill in the missing pieces the movie left out.
All three episodes of The Real Wolf of Wall Street are now streaming on Paramount+.
The Real Wolf of Wall Street
- Release Date
-
2026 – 2026-00-00
- Network
-
Paramount+
4
Quarterback season 3
Step under center with some NFL QBs
Is the quarterback the most important position in professional sports? I would argue yes, especially in the United States. The quarterback’s significant value to an NFL team makes them the perfect subject for a Netflix documentary. Quarterback is a behind-the-scenes look at some of the league’s top signal-callers.
In season 3, the titular quarterbacks are Cam Ward, Jayden Daniels, Baker Mayfield, and Joe Flacco. Each quarterback is at a different stage in his career: rookie, emerging star, veteran, and journeyman. I appreciate the access these quarterbacks grant the camera crews. It’s captivating to relive the previous season and see which quarterbacks overcome the many challenges thrown their way. Plus, it’s the perfect NFL appetizer to hold you over before the regular season in September.
All seven episodes of Quarterback season 3 are streaming on Netflix.
3
Ride or Die
How well do you really know your friend?
What do you get when you combine an Oscar-winning dramatic actress with an Emmy-winning comedic actress? An adventure show with action and laughs. Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer and Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham headline Ride or Die, a new buddy comedy show on Prime Video.
Debbie Claybourne (Spencer) and Judith Burton (Waddingham) have been best friends for over 20 years. You would assume they have no secrets, but in the end, everyone is hiding something. In Judith’s case, she’s a professional assassin who kills bad people. Now, the mob is after Debbie, springing Judith into action to protect her best friend. Ride or Die feels like a light-hearted take on True Lies crossed with Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Ride or Die is the type of lighthearted and easy-to-watch show to finish in one weekend.
All eight episodes of Ride or Die are now streaming on Prime Video.
Ride or Die
- Release Date
-
July 15, 2026
- Network
-
Prime Video
- Showrunner
-
Matt Miller
2
The Hawk
The game of golf gets a comedic injection
We’re far removed from the days when Will Ferrell could headline an original R-rated comedy in theaters. If going to Netflix and creating a new show is what it takes for Ferrell to make raunchy comedies, then I’ll take it. Ferrell brings a Talladega Nights-style storyline to golf in The Hawk.
Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins used to dominate pro golf in 2004 before it all went downhill. Now, Lonnie wants another shot at capturing the career Grand Slam. However, his professional golfer son, Lance (Jimmy Tatro), and former rival, Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson), stand in the way of his plans. I’m most excited to witness the reunion between Ferrell and Molly Shannon, who became one of Saturday Night Live’s best duos in the 1990s.
All 10 episodes of The Hawk are now streaming on Netflix.
The Hawk
- Release Date
-
July 16, 2026
- Network
-
Netflix
- Directors
-
Jonathan Watson
1
Lucky
Another star-driven crime thriller at Apple TV
Apple TV continues to be the streaming service that leans heavily on star power to persuade audiences to watch its shows. The latest addition is Lucky, an Apple TV crime thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Timothy Olyphant, Drew Starkey, and Annette Bening. Based on Marissa Stapley’s novel of the same name, Lucky follows Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong (Taylor-Joy), the titular character who finds herself in a world of trouble after a botched heist.
After Lucky’s husband (Drew Starkey) disappears, his mother and mob boss Priscilla (Annette Bening) wants her son and money back. The FBI also has some questions about the heist. The trailer promises chaos as Lucky attempts to complete one seemingly impossible task: finding a way out of this madness.
The first two episodes of Lucky are now streaming on Apple TV.
Lucky
- Release Date
-
July 15, 2026
- Network
-
Apple TV
- Showrunner
-
Jonathan Tropper, Cassie Pappas, Jonathan van Tulleken
What else is on tap for streaming this weekend?
If you’re looking for more streaming recommendations, then you’ve come to the right place. For the cinephiles, the list of new movies on streaming includes Heartstopper Forever on Netflix and Obsession on Peacock. If you want something from the past, you can always stream classic shows like The Wire and Arrested Development. Use a streaming device like a Roku to access your shows and movies.
