We’re all familiar with the concept of a beach read, a compulsively entertaining book that’s best enjoyed by the pool or on vacation. Well, this week in film and TV is kind of the on-screen equivalent to a beach read — in the best way possible. Some of the buzziest new titles feel like summer.
New YA drama, Sterling Point, for example, follows teens on a journey of self discovery in a small lake community, while Ryan Murphy’s The Shards brings sunny luxury and endless mystery to the classic teen drama. There’s also the anticipated premiere of Tony, a thoughtful biopic/coming-of-age drama that depicts Anthony Bourdain during a life-changing summer in Provincetown. High-octane action-crime series Reacher, meanwhile, returns for its fourth season, and what is blockbuster-type storytelling if not a more explosive version of summer entertainment?
For the week of August 6 to August 12, here are the five movies, TV shows, and events that will have everyone talking.
Reacher (Season 4)
When to watch: August 12. New episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.
Where to watch: Prime Video
In a way, Reacher is like the TV version of a blockbuster. Inspired by Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, the series is action-packed, looks flashy, and features higher and higher life-or-death stakes with every plot twist. Perhaps that’s why Rotten Tomatoes readers voted Season 4 as their most anticipated show of the month.
In this season, our titular hero and former military officer (played by Alan Ritchson) finds himself in New York City, where he’s concerned he’s found a potential suicide bomber on the subway. When he approaches the woman, she shoots herself, putting Reacher smack-dab in the middle of a much larger conspiracy and prompting politicians and other powerplays attempting to stop him from unveiling the truth at all costs. Timely viewing of Reacher Season 4 will also be important here: You’ll want to stay ahead on episodes as a new spinoff of the series, called Neagley, is set to debut next month. Stick some popcorn in the microwave, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
Sterling Point
When to watch: Now streaming
Where to watch: Prime Video
You’re never too old for a teen drama. They’re nostalgic, breezy, and fun while walking the line between relatable (we all remember being a teenager) and outrageous (is that what it’s really like being a teenager now?!).
Enter Sterling Point. Created by Megan Park (the director of charming coming-of-age film My Old Ass), who also showruns alongside Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (the duo behind hits like The O.C. and the OG Gossip Girl), the series is all of those things — and more. It follows Annie (Ella Rubin), a 17-year-old Type A New Yorker who thinks she has her whole future planned out. But when she and her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo) discover that they’ve inherited a small island in Canada from their estranged grandfather, her life turns upside down. Annie decides to spend her summer on the island, where she’s confronted with life-long secrets about her family, her dead mother, and who she really is.
Sterling Point is funny and full of heart. There’s romance (even a bit of a love triangle), existential crises, life-changing friendship, and an idyllic summer backdrop. The young cast give what should be star-making performances, while the story itself is comfortingly familiar yet engaging enough that you’ll want to binge watch every episode in one sitting. It will fill the obsession-worthy gap in the teen drama genre that The Summer I Turned Pretty left behind, but make no mistake: This show stands entirely on its own.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
When to watch: August 7
Where to watch: In theaters
It’s a treat when you discover a filmmaker early in their career — like you’re sitting on this special, undiscovered thing that you can share with your friends. And as they find more success, their victories feel like something you can celebrate too. Jane Schoenbrun, a former critic and the director behind horror fan-favorites We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and I Saw the Glow, is now firmly in that “I knew them when!” territory. Their latest movie is called Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, and it’s their biggest, most mainstream project yet. Already lauded at Cannes (it has a 99% on the Tomatometer) it’s also made up of the classic elements of Schoenbrun’s previous works: wild body horror, truly provocative subject matter, thoughtful explorations of queer identity, and an overwhelming sense of intimacy.
Camp Miasma follows up-and-coming filmmaker Kris (Hannah Einbinder), who is tasked with making a new entry in the campy (and problematic) slasher franchise she loved growing up. As part of her prep, she visits the star of the first movie, Billy (Gillian Anderson), who has since become a reclusive, out-of-work actress. The two quickly fall into each other’s orbits, descending into a jumble of desire, sex, and blood. The resulting movie is a fantastical blend of pure entertainment, all-out gore, and eyebrow-raising plot turns that will last in your memory. Long-time Schoenbrun fans can take a well-deserved victory lap here, but this also serves as an ideal entry point for more casual horror audiences.
Tony
When to watch: August 7
Where to watch: In theaters
Anthony Bourdain is an icon. Foodies and non-foodies alike loved him for his witty and observational writing style, insightful shows and direct, candid approach to food. That affection has only grown since his passing in 2018. It’s hard to imagine a biopic that effectively captures the legend behind the beloved figure, but Tony tries.
In tackling Bourdain’s story, director/co-writer Matt Johnson (who was also behind recent Certified Fresh cult comedy hit Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie) makes the smart decision to focus on one small chapter of his adolescence: a summer he spent working in a kitchen in Provincetown when he was 19 that ended up sparking his love for food and changing his life. (Bourdain covered this era in a section of his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential.) Dominic Sessa stars as Bourdain and gives a transformative performance, while the movie itself blends biopic with the comforting beats of a coming-of-age story. Tony will remind people why they loved Bourdain, but offer a new, deeper perspective to consider him from at the same time, making it perfect for both newcomers and long-time fans.
Buy tickets on Fandango.
The Shards
When to watch: Now streaming. New episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.
Where to watch: FX / Hulu
You could argue that prolific writer/producer Ryan Murphy’s greatest skill is that he makes TV people talk about — they don’t always hit, but they do capture attention, at least for a bit. In the calendar last year alone, that has included true crime tale Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the Kim Kardashian legal drama All’s Fair, and biographical romantic-drama Love Story.
His latest outing is The Shards, which fits perfectly among the rest of these buzzed-about shows. The dramatic thriller is adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ semi-autobiographical novel, and takes viewers to 1980s LA. There, we find a fictional Bret (Igby Rigney) as a senior at a prestigious school, where he becomes entangled with a mysterious new student (Homer Gere). At the same time, against a backdrop of wealth, luxury, and partying, a serial killer nicknamed The Trawler starts wreaking havoc on the city. The show will, perhaps, lean a bit more Euphoria then it does Sterling Point when it comes to grounded portrayals of teenagers, but its ostentatiousness, lavish style, and juicy drama is more than enough to earn it a check in.