Weekend Watch: This thrilling new series is based on a Stephen King novel.

Right, let's be honest — your weekend plans probably involve pyjamas, questionable snack choices, and zero human interaction.

And you know what? That's exactly how it should be.

This week's been a proper marathon, and the only thing standing between you and complete relaxation is figuring out what the hell to actually watch. Because scrolling through Netflix for 45 minutes only to rewatch Friends again is not the vibe we're going for.

Lucky for you, there's some genuinely brilliant stuff dropping this weekend that'll make your decision-making process a whole lot easier. From a chaotic dramedy series to a classic superhero film… trust me, there's plenty to keep you busy.

Here are the most exciting TV shows and movies coming out this week.

What to watch this weekend, according to Mamamia's entertainment experts.

For even more new TV show and movie recommendations, listen to The Spill.

Superman.

Recommended by Tina Burke, Pop Culture & Social Editor.

Image: Warner Bros.

Last week, I went to see Jurassic World: Rebirth and unfortunately (devastatingly) it wasn't for me. As a lifelong fan of the franchise, I was crushed. Cinema was over! I was done with Hollywood! And yes, that is dramatic, but I am nothing if not a menace to society.

Then I went to see James Gunn's Superman, the latest film in the DC Universe, and another hopeful offering to the Superman catalogue. Much like Jurassic World, the press tour for Superman has held some truly stunning and sensational moments, with meme-worthy gags and A-list talent going viral online. Could all this fun and whimsy be too good to be true? Would I be let down by another blockbuster? The stakes were high. And I'm thrilled to say I loved every moment of the movie. I literally skipped out of the cinema in a flurry of giggles and a tornado of word vomit about all my favourite parts.

Hollywood is so back, baby!

James Gunn has plucked a beloved character from an iconic universe and has been unflinchingly bold and unafraid in his adaptation. He's leant into every whimsical notion, unexpected twist, and beautiful cliche that makes Superman the film it deserves to be.

It's cringe (in the best way), it's a visual treat (we love our primary colours and special effects), it's dark and twisted and cruel (when it needs to be), it's comical (as it has to be).

The film is steadfast in its messaging, which comes at a poignant time in our lives.

As Vulture put it in their review, the Superman story has always been political and 'woke' (whatever that means to the conservatives), but we have real-life supervillains to contend with now in 'the real world'.

At times, the backlash, trials and tribulations our hero faces from the media and the subsequently conned civilians felt almost comical - but only because of how frustratingly accurate the portrayal was of the way our world would really treat this situation. How everyone could turn on someone who was just trying to do some good in the face of pure evil. Yikes! But don't you worry, Gunn handles the topic expertly.

David Corenswet's Superman/Clark Kent is endearingly earnest and sweet. The boy has heart! It doesn't hurt that the actor is a supreme talent who stretches from horror movies to musical theatre, with an undeniable charm that lends itself well to the most classically handsome superhero in the world. He was born to play this role.

As Lois Lane, Rachel Brosnahan is a quippy, clever, and sensational treat. She's not his sidekick, but his partner. And oh my word, is there some stunning chemistry between the pair.

Nicholas Hoult auditioned to play Superman, but I'm so glad he chose to stick around and deliver the best Lex Luthor performance I've ever seen. His subtle (and then very overt) sinister tones bring a necessary evil to the screen.

And then there's the crew behind the Daily Planet (with Skyler Gisondo being particularly entertaining as Jimmy Olsen), and the other 'metahumans' in this world who bring a whole heap of laughs: Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Isabela Merced as Hawk Girl, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.

Much like the recent Thunderbolts offering from Marvel (which I also loved), I can't help but point out that this is what happens when you have real mega-talents at the heart of a superhero project. Whimsy! Wonder! Edge of your seat fun!

Not to mention, when you reset to focus on the origin story that most heroes start with in the first place: helping people.

Don't get me wrong, I love the expansion of the superhero universes, the complex world building, and the huge fight scenes between villains and heroes in outer space and so on and so forth. But this felt like a return to form of sorts, with our heroes just wanting to help innocent folks survive — making this film feel like good old-fashioned Hollywood blockbuster fun.

Superman is now in cinemas.

Ballard.

Recommended by Chelsea Hui, Entertainment Writer.

Image: Prime Video

Ballard has arrived on Prime Video as a compelling spinoff from the beloved Bosch series, and it's proving to be a worthy successor that stands confidently on its own.

Ballard isn't just another cop show cluttering up your Prime Video queue — it's a masterclass in how to do procedural television without insulting your intelligence.

Maggie Q stars as Detective Renée Ballard, a woman who's been professionally exiled to the LAPD's cold case basement after having the audacity to call out misconduct. But here's the thing: being banished to solve forgotten murders with a ragtag team of volunteers and retirees might just be the best thing that ever happened to her career.

The series crackles with the kind of authentic tension that comes from real stakes — these aren't just puzzles to solve, they're lives that matter, families that deserve answers, and a system that's designed to let certain cases gather dust.

Ballard is now streaming on Prime Video.

Too Much.

Recommended by Laura Brodnik, Head of Entertainment and co-host of The Spill.

Image: Netflix

Lena Dunham's new Netflix series Too Much is a 10-part series brimming with laugh-out-loud humour, emotional turmoil, love, lust, family drama, jealousy, and an exploration of why hooking up with the grungy-looking musician you met in a pub bathroom is really the best course of action to take.

Too Much centres on a 30-something New Yorker named Jessica (Megan Stalter), who is feeling lost and alone following the end of her seven-year relationship with the highly strung Zev (Michael Zegen). Jessica now finds herself stuck in a depressing 'Grey Gardens' situation, living with her grandmother (played by Rhea Perlman), her mother (played by Rita Wilson), and her newly separated single-mother sister (played by Lena Dunham) in Long Island.

A former workaholic, Jessica finds herself faltering in her production job, prompting her soon-to-be former brother-in-law (played by Andrew Rannels) to send her to London on a work secondment, thrilling the rom-com-loving Jessica, who has been raised on a diet of Jane Austen adaptations and sweet British love stories.

However, the reality of London life is not the idyllic experience that pop culture and classic literature alike promised. Quickly, Jessica is shocked to find that her 'estate' accommodation is more prison-style than Pemberley.

With Too Much, creator Lena Dunham perfectly walks the line between the sweet and serious sides of this story, creating a TV show that appeals to viewers just like her. Those of us who crave the magic and comfort of classic romantic comedies, but need them to be microdosed alongside more realistic tales of love and life.

You can read Laura Brodnik's full review of Too Much here.

Too Much is now streaming on Netflix.

The Institute

Recommended by Laura Brodnik, Head of Entertainment and co-host of The Spill.

Image: Stan.

If you're looking for some heart-pounding television that will draw you into a mysterious new world, then you need to be watching The Institute on Stan.

This new series is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Stephen King and from the director of Lost & From (From is another heart-pounding and excellent series you should also be watching on Stan) and tells the story of a teen prodigy named Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman), who is abducted and then wakes up at a mysterious facility which is filled with children who arrived under similarly sinister circumstances. To make things extra creepy, they also all possess strange supernatural abilities.

At the same time, in a nearby town, a police officer named Tim Jamieson (Ben Barnes) is haunted by his past, and as his story intertwines with Luke's world, this series builds to an epic conclusion.

The Institute premieres July 13, on Stan. New episodes every Sunday.

Trainwreck: The Real Project X.

Recommended by Tara Watson, Senior Entertainment Writer.

Image: Netflix

Another day, another Netflix documentary is pumped out.

Trainwreck: The Real Project X dives into the chaos that erupted in Haren, Netherlands, in 2012. The documentary follows the true story of 16-year-old Merthe Weusthuis, whose public Facebook birthday invite accidentally went viral. Inspired by the film Project X about a teen party that went awry, over 3,000 teens descended on the quiet town, leading to riots, property destruction, international headline and Dutch community left to pick up the pieces. For Australians, it will be a little baffling to watch a documentary about a party inspired by a movie that does not acknowledge the film's real-life inspiration: our own Corey Worthington's viral party.Yep, Corey does not get a single mention in this Netflix doco and for a very short feature that definitely could have been fleshed out into something much deeper, the erasure of Worthington's party is quite bizarre.

Trainwreck: The Real Project X is now streaming on Netflix.

Feature Image: Warner Bros.