The summer season is upon us, but if you’d like to stay out of the heat, we’ve got some very cool streaming suggestions for you. Yes, it’s time for the Nerd’s Watch, the place to find out all the best genre titles coming to Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and more. Plus, we do the work for you. These are just the titles we think you’d care about.
What follows is a list of the best stuff on all the big streaming services. We look at all those long, annoying lists and whittle them down to a few dozen titles that we think are noteworthy this month. Some are new, some are old, but either way, we’ll tell you why you should care. Or at least joke about it.
The Riddick Trilogy (June 1 on Netflix)
When we think of Vin Diesel, we usually think of The Fast and the Furious franchise. But we often forget he has multiple others too, including this three-film sci-fi series that went from him being a kind of breakout side character (in Pitch Black) to the lead in The Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick. They’re pretty great.
The Karate Kid Trilogy (June 1 on Netflix)
Netflix is the home of Cobra Kai, so it’s nice that the original Karate Kid trilogy is back on the streamer. It’s also adding the Jaden Smith 2010 remake, which is better than most fans give it credit for. Perfect appetizers before a Cobra Kai rewatch.
Rookie of the Year (June 1 on Netflix)
What happened to movies like this? Sports movie starring kids, for kids, but that adults can enjoy too? We don’t know, but we might rewatch this hilariously cheesy baseball film to rekindle that nostalgia.
Poor Things (June 7 on Netflix)
Emma Stone rightfully won a second Oscar for this wild, erotic take on the Frankenstein myth. She’s incredible in what is truly a bonkers, unforgettable movie.
Piece by Piece (June 14 on Netflix)
It’s been a while since we’ve had a full-fledged Lego movie, but don’t sleep on this documentary about musician Pharrell Williams. It’s told entirely in Lego and is just a joy to watch.
The Captain America Trilogy (June 1 on Hulu)
The First Avenger, The Winter Soldier, and Civil War are all coming to Hulu this month, though we guess you can probably still watch them on Disney+. Also, while they’re technically a trilogy, you couldn’t really watch them back to back to back and understand what’s happening. They’re all still great, though.
Hancock (June 1 on Hulu)
The same year that Christopher Nolan turned a Batman film into an Oscar-winner and Robert Downey Jr. kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Will Smith was already ahead of the curve with Hancock. It’s a much more cynical look at the superhero genre that isn’t as great as it wants to be, but is definitely worth a revisit.
Independence Day (June 1 on Hulu)
One month removed from its 30th anniversary, the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day is returning to streaming. It’s another big Will Smith sci-fi action movie, except this one isn’t cynical. It’s just down-the-middle awesome. It’s also coming to Tubi on June 15.
The Raid: Redemption (June 1 on Hulu)
The action genre always has a film or two that changes everything. Something that makes people go “Woah.” And, yes, often it’s Keanu Reeves himself in a Matrix or John Wick. But John Wick, at least, wouldn’t exist without the incredible action set pieces in The Raid and, if you’ve never seen it, change that.
Transformers (June 1 on Hulu)
With the original 1986 animated Transformers movie celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, it’s not a bad time to look at its live-action reboot again. This 2007 film, from director Michael Bay, is the best of the bunch. Until Bumblebee. And Transformers One. But it just had that heart and soul that makes the franchise so beloved.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Director’s Cut (June 11 on Disney+)
It’s not exactly clear what Disney means when they say they have a director’s cut of the first X-Files movie, but we won’t have to wait long to find out.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (June 24 on Disney+)
Almost seven months after its release in theaters, James Cameron’s third Avatar film is finally making its streaming debut. That’s really something in this day and age.
Contagion (June 1 on HBO Max)
Remember when we thought a movie about a global pandemic that could wipe out the world was fiction? No, I don’t either. But this movie came out at that time and is very good.
Ready Player One (June 3 on HBO Max)
With his latest movie, Disclosure Day, set to open in theaters, a bunch of Steven Spielberg movies are returning to various streamers this month. The first example is this 2018 film about a massive contest in a pop culture-infused virtual reality. It’s polarizing for sure, but I enjoy it.
Undertone (June 26 on HBO Max)
With movies like Obsession and Backrooms killing the box office, here’s yet another original horror film with an internet spin that came out this year. Undertone is about a woman who has a paranormal podcast and finds mysterious new audio she’s uncovered blending into her world. Turn the lights down and the volume up.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 1 and 2 (June 1 on Paramount+)
Filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are having quite the year, releasing Project Hail Mary, which they directed, as well as The Sheep Detectives and Spider-Noir, both of which they produced. And all of that kind of started way back when they came together to make this hilarious, smart animated film, which then got a sequel.
Virtuosity (June 1 on Paramount+)
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe face off in this cool, fun sci-fi film that has rightfully developed a cult following. It’s also coming to Tubi.
Being John Malkovich (June 1 on Peacock)
Few would argue that 1999 was one of the best years for movies ever. Seriously, it’s incredible. Just iconic film after iconic film. And yet, the best of the bunch may be this masterpiece by Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze that has become even more incredible and relevant in the almost 30 years since its release.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (June 1 on Peacock)
Speaking of “even more incredible and relevant,” here’s another one of those Steven Spielberg masterpieces coming to streaming this month. This one in particular is worth a watch before Disclosure Day because it deals with many of the same themes.
The Jurassic Park Trilogy (June 1 on Peacock)
What’s that you say? More Spielberg? Sure. Peacock is bringing back the first three Jurassic Park movies, two of which are directed by the man himself. And that third one isn’t half bad either.
Resident Evil (June 1 on Peacock)
All eyes are on September and Zach Cregger’s new vision of Resident Evil. But if you’d like to see another vision of it, now is the time. Paul W.S. Anderson’s 2002 original is coming to the streamer.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (June 1 on Pluto TV)
If the world was a better place, we’d already have another Dungeons & Dragons film set in the world of this awesome 2023 film. But the world isn’t that place, and so we just have to watch and rewatch this hilarious fantasy action film again and again.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (June 1 on Pluto TV)
Thankfully, while we don’t have a D&D sequel, we are getting this TMNT sequel. Work is well underway on a sequel to Mutant Mayhem, which is, almost without question, the best Ninja Turtles movie ever made.
After Yang (June 1 on Tubi)
Sick of all the IP and sequels? Well, you should give After Yang a try. It’s a 2021 film from Kogonada about a family dealing with the issues caused by their android son. Colin Farrell stars.
Zathura: A Space Adventure (June 1 on Tubi)
Jon Favreau has another space adventure in theaters now, but long before he was making Star Wars movies, he made this Jumanji-adjacent space movie with Josh Hutcherson, Dax Shepard, and Kristen Stewart. It’s fantastic.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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