It’s the first week of November, and that means several must-see movies and TV shows are streaming this weekend. At the start of each month, multiple streaming services add dozens of popular titles to their digital libraries. So far, plenty of bona fide classics are now streaming for free on platforms like Pluto TV, giving audiences plenty to enjoy this weekend.
At the same time, audiences will see new TV shows premiere this week on subscription-based platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. While you will still have to pay for monthly memberships in order to watch some of these new releases, these original titles have proven themselves worth the money. And so, for those figuring out what to stream this week, here are the top films and TV shows that are new to streaming.
- number of users
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80 million
- notable shows
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The Andy Griffith Show (1960), Sanford and Son, The Twilight Zone, Charmed
- notable movies
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Top Gun, Trading Places, Mission Impossible, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Premium Subscription
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No
- Originals
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No
- Live TV
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250+ channels
Pluto TV is a free but ad-supported streaming platform.
The Greatest
Witness the story of Muhammad Ali
Who doesn’t love a good boxing story, especially when it’s about one of the sport’s greatest fighters? This drama series from Cross creator Ben Watkins chronicles the life of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, from his gold medal win at the 1960 Olympics to his heavyweight championship win against Sonny Liston. The series will have eight episodes streaming on Prime Video on November 4, with up-and-coming actor Jaalen Best starring in the lead role as Ali.
Black Doves
The hit spy series returns for season 2
The Netflix original series stars Keira Knightley as Helen Webb, the wife of a high-ranking politician whose cover as a Black Dove spy gets blown after her lover is murdered. She investigates this death and explores London’s criminal underworld with the help of Sam, a hitman sent by the Doves to protect her. Black Doves won critics over in its first season, with Knightley receiving a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the series. The second season, which premieres on November 5, will show Helen facing even greater danger as a secret agent as her husband becomes Prime Minister.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning
The beginning of Ethan Hunt’s last mission
In Ethan Hunt’s second-to-last film, our hero embarks on a mission to find and destroy a rogue AI before it can destroy the world. During his quest, he teams up with old and new allies while facing a man who put him in prison and drove him to become the secret agent he is today.
As is tradition with the Mission: Impossible franchise, this movie features many thrilling, death-defying stunts, from Ethan riding a motorbike off a cliff to him trying to climb out of a train hanging on the edge of a bridge. At the same time, this story pushes Ethan to his limit as he confronts his past, as well as his desire to save everyone and anyone. You can experience Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning now on Pluto TV and Paramount+.
Saving Private Ryan
One of the greatest war movies of all time
Directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, the movie follows a group of soldiers who try to find a young private and bring him home shortly after arriving in France during World War II. Saving Private Ryan is worth watching for its first 20 minutes alone. The unrelenting opening battle at Omaha Beach made it one of the most immersive, heart-pounding war movies ever made.
Beyond that, this heartfelt story raises profound questions about the value of a person’s life, as eight men risk their lives just to save one soldier. As these characters bond and endure several horrifying challenges, it’s hard not to shed a tear for them when death rears its head. While this movie is available to Paramount+ subscribers, it also streams for free on Pluto TV.
The Exorcist
One of the most terrifying films in cinema history
This classic from director William Friedkin has been the quintessential possession movie for the past 50 years. The Exorcist pushed the boundaries of filmmaking with its extreme depiction of a young girl’s transformation into a demonic puppet, delivering an unsettling cinematic experience that left audiences reeling.
Though people have seen countless horror movies since then, Friedkin’s film continues to shock people to this day. Even as a hardened horror movie fan, I still struggle to get through it because it’s so scary. This nightmarish movie is now available for free on both YouTube and Pluto TV.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
A classic case of cop comedy
From the comedic minds behind Airplane!, this film follows the bumbling Lt. Frank Drebin as he tries to foil a plan to assassinate the Queen of England. Deconstructing classic police and hard-boiled detective dramas, The Naked Gun fires nonstop jokes at the audience with its clever writing, comedic timing, and hilarious performances from its cast. Leslie Nielsen, in particular, carries the film with his incredible deadpan portrayal of Drebin. The Naked Gun is now available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Enter a whole new world ruled by apes
The movie takes place centuries after the death of the legendary ape Caesar. Following a new set of heroes and villains, this movie sees both apes and humans wage war once more for control of a post-apocalyptic Earth. At the heart of the story is young ape Noa’s coming of age as he ventures out to rescue his village from raiders.
Like previous Planet of the Apes movies, this one is a jaw-dropping achievement of CGI, featuring such realistic motion-capture apes and sprawling landscapes. Also, through the evil Proximus Caesar, the movie shows how wicked people can twist religious teachings so they can attain power and push violent agendas. It is a deep philosophical narrative that questions whether humans and apes can peacefully coexist, making it the start of a bold new generation for the iconic sci-fi franchise. You can enter the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on HBO Max.
