The best TV series and films to stream this autumn
Get cosy as the temperature cools with this season's best new TV
Well, autumn is officially just around the corner. Within days the leaves will be on the floor and there will be a chill in the air. Suddenly we’re consumed with thoughts of woolly jumpers, pumpkin spice lattes, crisp walks, Halloween, and – yes – curling up on the sofa of a chilly evening and getting stuck into a good film or series. There are loads coming to our screens this autumn – here’s a rundown of the must-sees.
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this dramatic saga takes place in the Second Age of Middle Earth and follows a host of both new and familiar characters as they contend with the return of great evil to their world. Travelling across the farthest reaches of J.R.R Tolkein’s mystical, fabled world, from the Misty Mountains to the elven kingdom of Lindon and the island nation of Númenor, this is one epic drama you won’t want to miss.
Release date: 2 September
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
This England
Recounting the events of the Covid-19 pandemic’s first wave, This England stars Kenneth Branagh as Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he comes to power and must almost immediately face the country’s biggest healthcare crisis in living memory. Based on the testimonies of government officials, members of SAGE, and those from care homes and hospitals, this five-part series follows Johnson through the early stages of his tenure including his hospitalisation with coronavirus and the birth of his son.
Release date: 21 September
Where to watch: Sky Atlantic
Sidney
This documentary, produced by Oprah Winfrey, traces the boundary-breaking career of Bahamian-American actor and Civil Rights activist Sidney Poitier. Featuring interviews with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Morgan Freeman, Barbara Streisand and Lenny Kravitz, Sidney celebrates Poitier’s legacy as a powerful, uncompromising actor, filmmaker and figurehead for the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the first Black actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor.
Release date: 23 September
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Reasonable Doubt
From Scandal to Little Fires Everywhere, Kerry Washington knows good drama, which is why we’re sure her most recent project, Reasonable Doubt, will be a hit. Produced by Washington, this steamy legal drama follows high-powered criminal defence lawyer Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) as she tackles past trauma, a troubled marriage, motherhood and a murder case. Often judged for her questionable ethics and unconventional interpretations of the law, Stewart is known as one of LA’s most fearless and brilliant defence attorneys and is not afraid to buck the system at any chance.
Release date: 27 September
Where to watch: Disney+
Catherine, Called Birdy
Written and directed by Lena Dunham, this adventure comedy, based on the novel by Karen Cushman, is rounded out by a stellar British cast including Billie Piper, Andrew Scott and Joe Alwyn. Set in the 13th Century village of Stonebridge, Catherine, Called Birdy centres on the youngest child of a financially destitute family, whose father plans to marry her off to a wealthy suitor for land and money. Starring Game of Thrones’ Bella Ramsey as the ever-defiant teen heroine Birdy, this Medieval comedy follows her attempts to put off any would-be suitors in increasingly ingenious ways.
Release date: 7 October
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Funny Woman
15 years after their turn in St Trinian’s, Gemma Arterton and Rupert Everett reunite in this six-part comedy following the life and journey of fictional actress Barbara Parker (Arterton). Set in the 1960s, Funny Woman sees Parker evolve from Blackpool beauty queen to sitcom star and, eventually, national treasure, along the way redefining male attitudes towards funny women and discovering her own voice.
Release date: October 2022
Where to watch: Sky
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5
Strap in for the latest installment of June Osborne’s (Elisabeth Moss) epic fight back against the ills of Gilead. Following the dramatic yet cathartic conclusion of the previous series, season 5 of The Handmaid’s Tale promises to address the fallout of Commander Fred Waterford’s (Joseph Fiennes) death as June, out for blood, rallies against the fundamentalism of Gilead and fights to get her daughter back. Expect twists, turns and epic stand-offs with anti-heroine Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski).
Release date: TBC
Where to watch: Channel 4
White Noise
Fans of dark comedies are in for a thrill with this adaptation of Don DeLillo’s widely acclaimed 1985 novel. Starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, White Noise traces the attempts of an American family to tackle the mundanities and conflicts of everyday life, until a catastrophic event forces them to confront their mortality. Satirical and absurdist, this off-beat reflection of contemporary family life tackles the universal uncertainties of love, death and finding happiness in an unpredictable world.
Release date: TBC
Where to watch: Netflix
