We’d never recommend you spend a glorious summer day inside watching endless hours of Netflix. Especially not this summer, with its tantalising promise of weddings, holidays and parties. But this is summer in the UK – there will inevitably be days when it’s grey, miserable and that extra glass of champagne you had last night means you can’t possibly face leaving the sofa. Needless to say, however much TV you watched during lockdown, the reopening of society doesn’t mean you’re going to suddenly shun your favourite streaming service.

And a good thing too as there’s plenty to keep you entertained this season. From the latest blockbuster films from Marvel to gripping Netflix dramas and escapist capers from Amazon Prime, these are the new films and series to stream in summer 2022.

The Staircase, Sky Atlantic

With stars of screens both big and small, Colin Firth and Toni Colette, taking centre stage, The Staircase is a nail-biting thriller inspired by a true story. The eight-part series delves into the life of crime writer Michael Peterson (played by Hollywood heavyweight Firth) following the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Collette), whose body is found at the bottom of the stairs in their home. The medical examiner determined she had been beaten with a weapon, which leads to Peterson becoming a suspect in what turned into a 16-year judicial battle. It will have you gripped from the get-go.

Release date: 5 May

The Flight Attendant Season 2, Now TV

If you haven’t already checked in with Cassie Bowden and her whirlwind, crime-solving journey in series one – she wakes to find her lover murdered next to her and embarks on a journey to find his killers – then make sure you do so before the second season hits. Cassie (Kaley Cuoco) is living it up in sunny LA (having finally quit knocking back the miniatures) while working as a CIA asset in her spare time, when an international mission leads her to witness a murder. And so she becomes embroiled in another homicide case, taking it upon herself to connect the dots – and dodge a lot of bullets.

Release date: 26 May

Stranger Things Season 4, Netflix

It has been three years since we last heard from Eleven and the gang (before the real world took an almost paranormal nose-dive into the Upside Down itself), and loyal fans of this American sci-fi cult hit can’t quite contain themselves. Season 4’s initial installment, the first eight chapters, starts before the first season was even set, delving into Eleven’s past along with introducing a few potential heroes and villains to the small town of Hawkins. The second volume, which will only feature two final (yes, final final) feature-length chapters, is likely to see the group join forces to combat the terrible being that is Vecna – the first super-powered child to be taken by the lab.

Release date: Volume 1 from 27 May with Volume 2 available from 1 July

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Disney+

It’s always a treat watching Ewan McGregor reprise his old role, and Ben Kenobi has always been one of the most fascinating characters from the Star Wars world. The show is set between the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: A New Hope, so audiences can expect Obi-Wan to be recovering from the betrayal of his old friend Anakin Skywalker and determined to safeguard the remaining Jedi, including the young Luke Skywalker.

Release date: 27 May

Pistol, Disney+

This new six-part series, directed by Danny Boyle, charts the rise of the Sex Pistols. Following the iconic band’s journey to the top, viewers will get a glimpse of the punk stars’ tumultuous lives, all based on guitarist Steve Jones’s harrowing 2017 memoir Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol. The series has come under fire from singer and frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) who tried and failed to stop the band’s music being used in the production. Anarchy in the UK indeed…

Release date: 31 May

Real Housewives of Dubai, Hayu

Intellectuals may snub the catfighting and one up-womanship of this international reality TV phenomenon but once you get sucked in, it’s impossible to tear yourself away. And it was only a matter of time before the addictive show – which has seen its housewives across America soar from riches to well, even more riches – set its sights on Dubai for the eleventh city in the franchise. Cast members include TV personality Caroline Stanbury, and as always, the plot follows the careers, relationships, and outfits of these supremely wealthy and successful women: the good, the bad, and the botoxed.

Release date: 1 June

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Disney+

Long gone are the days of waiting months for a blockbuster flick to make the leap from silver screen to small screen. After a successful cinema run in May, Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is already available to stream on Disney+. Widely regarded as the film that will set the course for a new MCU era of parallel timelines and multiple dimensions, if you want any hope of following future Marvel films don’t miss Benedict Cumberbatch’s latest outing.

Release date: 22 June

House of the Dragon, Sky Atlantic

This visually seductive account of the Targaryen civil war, which OG Game of Thrones fans will tell you is said to have taken place about 300 years before the events of GoT season one, has all the suspense, guts and glory of its predecessor, with a whole lot more creepy blondes thrown in for good measure. Expect high-octane cinematography that transports you to another world, with Doctor Who’s Matt Smith as the leading Daemon, alongside Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra. Summer is coming…

Release date: 22 August

Mammals, Amazon Prime

With an all-star cast featuring the very best British talent, including the award-winning James Corden in the lead, alongside Sally Hawkins, details about this hotly anticipated show have remained under lock and key, as supposedly anything that happens after the first six minutes would be an absolute spoiler. We do however know that it’s a romantic comedy meets whodunnit, with the institutions of marriage and domestic drudgery providing fertile ground for laughs, and lows. Written by two-time Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem, Spectre) this six-part series is set to be an instant hit. Now all we need to know is what’s occurring… Release date: TBC

Read more: The top festivals taking place in the UK this summer