Austinites and the rest of the world have been staying at home for the past couple of weeks, which means our eyes have turned to our TV screens for entertainment and distraction. Good thing there are so many movies and TV shows to choose from online streaming services! Check out our list of Family-friendly/teen-friendly and dramatic movies and TV shows and start binging with your family or on your own!

Movies and Shows Categorized

• Joyful
• Modern Syfy/Fantasy
• Comedy
• Reality TV
• Teen/Young Adult
• Crime/Investigation
• Trending/Popular
• Drama

Joyful

Aladdin

Disney +

When street rat Aladdin frees a genie from a lamp, he finds his wishes granted. However, he soon finds that the evil sorcerer has other plans for the lamp and for Princess Jasmine. But can Aladdin save Princess Jasmine and his love for her after she sees that he isn't quite what he appears to be?

Annie

Amazon

An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett), Annie (Aileen Quinn), believes that her parents left her there by mistake. When a rich man named Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks (Albert Finney) decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected. While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks' mansion, she still longs to meet her parents. So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds.

Bedtime Stories

Disney + and Netflix

Hotel handyman Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) gets an unexpected surprise when he discovers that the tall tales he has been telling his niece and nephew are somehow coming true. Hoping to make the most of the mysterious phenomenon, Skeeter spins one outlandish tale after another, but the children's unexpected contributions to the stories turn Skeeter's life upside down.

The Carol Burnett Show

Amazon

For over a decade, this extravaganza of comedy, song, and dance defined entertainment for TV viewers. The Carol Burnett Show brought both the actors and audience close together. Beloved for her signature audience Questions and Answers famous Tarzan yell, Burnett's brilliant troupe stars Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner.

Coco

Disney + and Netflix

Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

Finding Nemo

Disney +

Marlin (Albert Brooks), a clownfish, is overly cautious with his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould), who has a foreshortened fin. When Nemo swims too close to the surface to prove himself, he is caught by a diver and horrified Marlin must set out to find him. A blue reef fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who suffers from short term memory loss, joins Marlin and complicates the encounters with sharks, jellyfish, and a host of ocean dangers. Meanwhile, Nemo plots his escape from a dentist's fish tank.

Gilmore Girls

Netflix

Gilmore Girls is an American comedy-drama television Series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. The show's main focus is on the relationship between single mother, Lorelai Gilmore, and her daughter Rory, who live in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, a small fictional town filled with colorful characters. The series explores issues of family, romance, education, friendship, disappointment, and ambition, along with generational divides and social class. The latter themes manifest through Lorelai's difficult relationship with her high society parents, Emily and Richard, and Rory's experiences at the elite, private high school Chilton and later on at Yale University.

The Greatest Showman

Amazon

Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion, selling lottery tickets by age 12. After trying his hands at various jobs, P.T. turns to show business to indulge his limitless imagination, rising from nothing to create the Barnum & Bailey circus. Featuring catchy musical numbers, exotic performers and daring acrobatic feats, Barnum's mesmerizing spectacle soon takes the world by storm to become the greatest show on Earth.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

Disney +

Set at a fictionalized version of East High School, the school at which the original movie was filmed, the series follows a group of teenage theater enthusiasts who participate in a staging of High School Musical: The Musical as their school production. The series stars Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Mark St. Cyr, and Kate Reinders.

Home Alone

Disney +

When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O'Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence and that he alone must protect the family home.

The Incredibles

Disney +

In this lauded Pixar animated film, married superheroes Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) are forced to assume mundane lives as Bob and Helen Parr after all super-powered activities have been banned by the government. While Mr. Incredible loves his wife and kids, he longs to return to a life of adventure. He finally gets a chance he is summoned to an island to battle an out-of-control robot. Soon, Mr. Incredible is in trouble, and it's up to his family to save him.

Inside Out

Disney + and Amazon

Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl, but her world turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco. Riley's emotions (led by Joy; Amy Poehler) try to guide her through this difficult, life-changing event. However, the stress of the move brings Sadness (Phyllis Smith) to the forefront. When Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley's mind, the only emotions left in Headquarters are Anger, Fear, and Disgust.

The Lego Movie

Amazon

Emmet (Chris Pratt), an ordinary LEGO figurine who always follows the rules, is mistakenly identified as the Special, an extraordinary being and the key to saving the world. He finds himself drafted into a fellowship of strangers who are on a mission to stop an evil tyrant's (Will Ferrell) plans to conquer the world. Unfortunately for Emmet, he is hopelessly (and hilariously) unprepared for such a task, but he'll give it his all nonetheless.

The Little Prince

Netflix

When an overscheduled girl befriends an eccentric aviator, he introduces her to an extraordinary world where anything is possible with tales about the adventures of a usual boy who lives on an asteroid. She rediscovers her childhood and learns that it's human connections that matter most and that it is only with the heart that one can see rightly.

Moana

Disney + and Amazon

An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.

Mrs. Doubtfire

Amazon

Troubled that he has little access to his children, divorced Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) hatches an elaborate plan. With help from his creative brother Frank (Harvey Fierstein), he dresses as an older British woman and convinces his ex-wife, Miranda (Sally Field), to hire him as a nanny. "Mrs. Doubtfire" wins over the children and helps Daniel become a better parent, but when both Daniel and his nanny persona must meet different parties at the same restaurant, his secrets may be exposed.

Paddington

Amazon

After a deadly earthquake destroys his home in the Peruvian rainforest, a young bear (Ben Whishaw) makes his way to England in search of a new home. The bear, dubbed "Paddington" for the London train station, finds shelter with the family of Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins). Although Paddington's amazement at urban living soon endears him to the Browns, someone else has her eye on him: Taxidermist Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman) has designs on the rare bear and his hide.

The Parent Trap

Disney + and Amazon

In this update of a 1961 film, twins Annie and Hallie (Lindsay Lohan) are strangers until fate unites them. The preteen girls' divorced parents, Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson) are living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, each with one child. After meeting at camp, American Hallie and British-raised Annie engineer an identity swap, giving both the chance to spend time with the parent they've missed. If the scheme works, it might just make the family whole again.

Princess Diaries

Disney + and Amazon

Shy San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she's a real-life princess! As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a comical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews), shows up to give her "princess lessons."

Puppy Prep

Hulu and Amazon

Each year, thousands of dogs are trained to be Assistance Dogs. Puppy Prep follows a class of special young pups as they learn the unique skills needed to assist millions of American men and women every day.

The Sandlot

Amazon

When Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood, he manages to make friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the sandlot. Together they go on a series of funny and touching adventures. The boys run into trouble when Smalls borrows a ball from his stepdad that gets hit over a fence.

The Secret Life of Pets

Amazon

Max (Louis C.K.) is a spoiled terrier who enjoys a comfortable life in a New York building until his owner adopts Duke, a giant and unruly canine. During their walk outside, they encounter a group of ferocious alley cats and wind up in a truck that's bound for the pound. Luckily, a rebellious bunny named Snowball swoops in to save the doggy duo from captivity. In exchange, Snowball demands that Max and Duke join his gang of abandoned pets on a mission against the humans who've done them wrong.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Amazon and Netflix

Bridget (Blake Lively), Carmen (America Ferrera), Lena (Alexis Bledel), and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) are best friends living in Maryland. After many summers together, the four are finally going their separate ways for a few months: while Bridget heads to Mexico, and Lena visits family in Greece, Carmen and Tibby stay closer to home. No matter where they are, they are connected by a pair of jeans that they take turns sharing, pants that fit all four girls, and exemplify their tight bond.

Toy Story

Disney + and Netflix

Woody (Tom Hanks), a good-hearted cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy (John Morris), sees his position as Andy's favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure. Even worse, the arrogant Buzz thinks he's a real spaceman on a mission to return to his home planet. When Andy's family moves to a new house, Woody and Buzz must escape the clutches of maladjusted neighbor Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten) and reunite with their boy.

Up

Disney + and Netflix

Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old balloon salesman, is about to fulfill a lifelong dream. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, he flies away to the South American wilderness. Unfortunately, Carl's worst nightmare comes true when he discovers a little boy named Russell is a stowaway aboard the balloon-powered house.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Amazon

A sweet boy from a poor family dreams of finding one of five golden tickets hidden inside chocolate bar wrappers, which will admit him to the eccentric and reclusive Willy Wonka's magical factory. One after another, tickets are discovered by ghastly children, but will the lad find the last remaining one and have all his dreams come true?

Wreck-It Ralph

Disney +

Arcade-game character Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) is tired of always being the "bad guy" and losing to his "good guy" opponent, Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Finally, after decades of seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides to take matters into his own hands. He sets off on a game-hopping trip to prove that he has what it takes to be a hero. However, while on his quest, Ralph accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade.

Modern Syfy/Fantasy

Battlestar Galactica

Syfy

This update of the late-1970s program takes a decidedly darker tone as what's left of humankind struggles for survival against the robot Cylons, who have killed millions. The Galactica, led by William Adama, protects a patched-together fleet of civilians - led by de facto president Laura Roslin, in search of a mythical planet called Earth.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Hulu

Sarah Michelle Gellar takes on the role of Buffy Summers in this TV version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, based on the film of the same title, which starred Kristy Swanson. Buffy is a Slayer, one in a long line of young women chosen for a specific mission: to seek out and destroy vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy establishes a group of supportive friends who aids her in her battles with evil, including Willow, Xander, and Cordelia. Her battles with evil are frequent, since Sunnydale, where Buffy and friends live, sits atop a gateway to the realm of the demons.

Charmed

Netflix

A group of sisters discover they are witches. Luckily for the world, they're of the good variety. Banding together in their ancestral home in San Francisco, they work together to fight evil, with each having a specific special power. Although outwardly, they are average women, with jobs, relationships, and friends, they are also powerful witches, but when they work together, their powers are enhanced. As The Charmed Ones, their destiny is to protect innocents from evil.

A Discovery of Witches

Sundance Now

A Discovery of Witches is a fantasy series based on the similarly-named novel of the All Souls trilogy, written by Deborah Harkness. Reluctant witch/historian Diana Bishop discovers a bewitched manuscript in the Bodleian Library. As she attempts to unravel the secrets this book holds about magical creatures, she is forced back into the world of magic, full of vampires, demons, witches, and forbidden love. Forming an unlikely alliance, geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont helps Diana to attempt to protect the book and solve the riddles within, while at the same time dodging threats from the magical creature world.

Doctor Who

BBC America and BritBox

An eccentric yet compassionate extraterrestrial Time Lord zips through time and space to solve problems and battle injustice across the universe. He travels via the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimensions in Space), which is his old and occasionally unreliable spaceship that resembles a blue police phone box (but changes its appearance depending on its surroundings) and is much, much larger inside than outside.

E.T.

Amazon

After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.

The Expanse

Amazon

Hundreds of years in the future, things are different than what we are used to after humans have colonized the solar system, and Mars has become an independent military power. Rising tensions between Earth and Mars have put them on the brink of war. Against this backdrop, a hardened detective and a rogue ship's captain come together to investigate the case of a missing young woman. The investigation leads them on a race across the solar system that could expose the greatest conspiracy in human history.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Amazon

Adaptation of the first of J.K. Rowling's popular children's novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an unwanted child to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents' mysterious deaths.

Hugo

Amazon

Orphaned and alone except for an uncle, Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) lives in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. Hugo's job is to oil and maintain the station's clocks, but to him, his more important task is to protect a broken automaton and notebook left to him by his late father (Jude Law). Accompanied by the goddaughter (Chloë Grace Moretz) of an embittered toy merchant (Ben Kingsley), Hugo embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of the automaton and find a place he can call home.

The Hunger Games

Amazon

In what was once North America, the Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl, called Tributes, to compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the youths fight to the death until only one remains. District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has little to rely on, other than her hunting skills and sharp instincts, in an arena where she must weigh survival against love.

Jumanji

Amazon

A magical board game unleashes a world of adventure on siblings Peter (Bradley Pierce) and Judy Shepherd (Kirsten Dunst). While exploring an old mansion, the youngsters find a curious, jungle-themed game called Jumanji in the attic. When they start playing, they free Alan Parrish (Robin Williams), who's been stuck in the game's inner world for decades. If they win Jumanji, the kids can free Alan for good, but that means braving giant bugs, ill-mannered monkeys, and even stampeding rhinos!

Jurassic Park

Amazon

In Steven Spielberg's massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park's mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt.

The Magicians

Syfy and Netflix

Quentin Coldwater, a grad student at Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, has been fascinated by the magical fantasy world since he was young. But as he has gotten older, Quentin and his 20-something friends have discovered that the magical world they read about as children is not only real, but it poses dangers to humanity. While studying at the secret upstate New York school, the friends struggle to cope with the aftermath of a catastrophe that befalls the institution. The fantasy series is based on a series of novels by Lev Grossman.

The Mandalorian

Disney +

The Mandalorian, also known as Star Wars: The Mandalorian, is an American space Western web television series created by Jon Favreau and released on Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise. Set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi and 25 years prior to the events of The Force Awakens, it follows the title character, the Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin, and his exploits beyond the reaches of the New Republic.

Matilda

Amazon

This film adaptation of a Roald Dahl work tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father (Danny DeVito) and mother (Rhea Perlman). Worse, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), the evil principal at Matilda's school, is a terrifyingly strict bully. However, when Matilda realizes she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull's wrath and fight back against her unkind parents.

Outlander

Starz and Netflix

After serving as a British Army nurse in World War II, Claire Randall is enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland with husband Frank, an MI6 officer looking forward to a new career as an Oxford historian. Suddenly, Claire is transported to 1743 and into a mysterious world where her freedom and life are threatened. To survive, she marries Jamie Fraser, a strapping Scots warrior with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humor. A passionate relationship ensues, and Claire is caught between two vastly different men in two inharmonious lives. Outlander is adapted from the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon.

The Princess Bride

Amazon

A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her. In order to be reunited with each other, they have to battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin. Based on the William Goldman novel The Princess Bride, which earned its own loyal audience.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

CBS All Access, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon

Featuring a bigger and better USS Enterprise, this series is set 78 years after the original series (in the 24th century). Instead of Capt. James Kirk, a less volatile and more mature Capt. Jean-Luc Picard heads the crew of various humans and alien creatures in their adventures in space; the final frontier.

Where the Wild Things Are

Amazon

Feeling misunderstood at home and at school, mischievous Max (Max Records) escapes to the land of the Wild Things, majestic (and sometimes fierce) creatures. They allow Max to become their leader, and he promises to create a kingdom where everyone will be happy. However, Max soon finds that being king is not easy and that, even being with the Wild Things, there is something missing.

The Wizard of Oz

Amazon

When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and en route, they meet a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) that needs a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who wants courage. The wizard asks the group to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) to earn his help.

Wynonna Earp

Netflix and Syfy

Wynonna Earp has been away from her hometown, Purgatory, for years but returns to reluctantly take on the role that Wyatt Earp's heir is destined for, demon protector. Her task is to take out Revenants, the resurrected souls of the criminals who were taken down at one time by her great-grandfather. Wynonna teams up with sister Waverly, agent Xavier Dolls and Doc Holliday, the cursed-with-immortality best friend of Wyatt Earp, as they work to stop the Revenants from taking over Purgatory and escaping into the world. The show is based on the graphic novel series of the same name.

Comedy

Black-ish

Hulu

Dre Johnson (Anthony Anderson) has it all; a great job, beautiful wife Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross), four kids, and a big home in a classy neighborhood. But as a black man, he begins to question whether all his success has brought too much cultural assimilation for his family. With the help of his father (special guest star Laurence Fishburne), Dre begins to try to create a sense of ethnic identity for the members of his family that will allow them to honor their background while preparing them to embrace the future.

The Big Bang Theory

TBS

Mensa-fied best friends and roommates, Leonard and Sheldon, are physicists who work at the California Institute of Technology. They may be able to tell everybody more than they want to know about quantum physics, but getting through most basic social situations, especially ones involving women, totally baffles them. How lucky, then, that babe-alicious waitress/aspiring actress Penny moves in next door. Frequently seen hanging out with Leonard and Sheldon are friends and fellow Caltech scientists Wolowitz and Koothrappali. Will worlds collide? Does Einstein theorize in the woods?

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Hulu

Detective Jake Peralta, a talented and carefree cop with the best arrest record, has never had to follow the rules too closely or work very hard. That changes when Ray Holt, a man with a lot to prove, becomes the new commanding officer of Brooklyn's 99th precinct. As Holt reminds Peralta to respect the badge, an extremely competitive colleague, Detective Amy Santiago, starts to close in on the hotshot cop's arrest record. Other members of the precinct include Sgt Terry Jeffords, a devoted family man, Detective Charles Boyle, a hard worker who idolizes Jake, and Rosa Diaz, a sexy-yet-intimidating detective. Civilian office manager Gina Linetti is tasked with cleaning up everyone's mess, while somehow getting involved in everyone's business.

Community

Hulu and Netflix

When fast-talking lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) finds his degree has been revoked, he is forced to go back to school at Greendale Community College. Hoping to score points with a pretty classmate, he invents a study group and invites her to join it. Imagine his surprise when she's not the only one who shows up for help with Spanish from the "board-certified tutor," he proclaims himself to be. Though his command of the language is anything but good, the members continue to meet and end up learning a lot about themselves.

Friends

TBS

Three young men and three young women, of the BFF kind, live in the same apartment complex and face life and love in New York. They're not above sticking their noses into one another's business and swapping romantic partners, which always leads to the kind of hilarity average people will never experience, especially during breakups.

Golden Girls

Hulu

Four mature women live together in Miami and experience the joys and angst of their golden years. Strong-willed Dorothy, spacey Rose, lusty Southern belle Blanche and matriarch Sophia, Dorothy's mom, occasionally clash but are there for one another in the end. After all, when the show's theme song is titled `Thank You for Being a Friend,' the ladies have to remain friendly with one another.

The Goonies

Amazon

A band of adventurous kids take on the might of a property developing company that plans to destroy their home to build a country club. When the children discover an old pirate map in the attic, they follow it into an underground cavern in search of lost treasure, but come up against plenty of dangerous obstacles along the way.

Jane the Virgin

Netflix

The daughter of a teen mother, Jane Villanueva, grew up determined not to repeat her mom's mistakes. At 23, her life is on track; Jane is studying to be a teacher and engaged to a handsome detective who supports her decision to remain a virgin until marriage. Then a routine clinic visit flips her life upside down. Inseminated by a specimen meant for a patient in the next room, now-pregnant Jane is in a situation made only more insane when she learns that the sperm donor is her boss, Rafael. As her meticulously planned life gets more like the telenovelas she loves, she faces a lot of complicated decisions about where to go from here.

The Middle

IMDb TV

In the Heck family, middle-aged, middle-class, middle-America mom Frankie Heck (two-time Emmy winner Patricia Heaton) uses a sense of humor to try to steer her family through life's ups and downs as she tackles her career goals. Her unflappable husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), is a manager at the local quarry. Oldest son Axl is an obstinate young man; awkward daughter Sue cannot seem to find her niche (despite much enthusiasm in her attempts), and youngest son Brick is an unusual child whose best friend is his backpack.

Modern Family

Hulu, ABC, and USA

Told from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, the series offers an honest, often-hilarious perspective of family life. Parents Phil and Claire yearn for an honest, open relationship with their three kids. But dealing with a daughter who is trying to grow up too fast, another who is too smart for her own good, and a rambunctious young son makes it challenging. Claire's dad, Jay, and his Latina wife, Gloria, are raising two sons together, but people sometimes believe Jay to be Gloria's father. Jay's gay son, Mitchell, and his partner, Cameron, have adopted a little Asian girl, completing one big straight, gay, multicultural, traditional happy family.

Napoleon Dynamite

Amazon

In small-town Preston, Idaho, awkward teen Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder), has trouble fitting in. After his grandmother is injured in an accident, his life is made even worse when his strangely nostalgic uncle, Rico (Jon Gries), shows up to keep an eye on him. With no safe haven at home or at school, Napoleon befriends the new kid, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), a morose Hispanic boy who speaks little English. Together the two launch a campaign to run for class president.

The Office

Netflix

This American mockumentary sitcom television series features the staff of Dunder-Mifflin, a paper company located in Scranton, PA. The staff includes characters that quite possibly, might remind you of people you work with in your office. There's Jim, the likable employee who's a bit of an everyman. Jim has a thing for receptionist-turned-sales rep Pam (because office romances are always a good idea). There's also Dwight, a successful co-worker who lacks social skills and common sense. Then there's Ryan, who has held many jobs at the company.

One Day At A Time

Netflix

This Netflix-original comedy-drama is inspired by Norman Lear's 1975 series of the same name. This time around, the series follows the life of Penelope, a newly single Army veteran, and her Cuban-American family, as they navigate the ups and downs of life. Now a nurse, Penelope, is raising two strong-willed children. When faced with challenges, Penelope turns to her "old-school" mother, and her building manager, who has become an invaluable confidant. The series offers a contemporary take on what life looks like in both good and bad times, and how loved ones can help make it all worthwhile.

Parks and Recreation

Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon

Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, hopes to beautify her town (and boost her own career) by helping local nurse Ann Perkins turn an abandoned construction site into a community park, but what should be a fairly simple project is stymied at every turn by oafish bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, governmental red tape and a myriad of other challenges. Leslie's colleague Tom Haverford, who delights in exploiting his position for personal gain, is as likely to undermine her efforts as to help her, while her boss, Ron Swanson, is adamantly opposed to government in any form, even though he's a bureaucrat himself.

Schitt’s Creek

Netflix

In the sitcom, Schitt's Creek, a wealthy couple (video store magnate Johnny and his soap opera star wife Moira) suddenly find themselves completely broke. With only one remaining asset, a small town called Schitt's Creek, which Johnny and Moira bought years earlier as a joke, this once-wealthy couple must give up life as they know it. With their two spoiled children in tow and their pampered lives behind them, the Rose family is forced to face their newfound poverty head-on and come together as a family to survive.

Speechless

Hulu

Speechless is an American sitcom television series that follows the DiMeo family, each with a unique personality: Maya, a take-charge British mother with a no-holds-barred attitude; her husband Jimmy, who does not seem to care what others think; Dylan, their no-nonsense athletic daughter; Ray, their scholarly middle child who acts as the "voice of reason" in the family; and their oldest son, JJ, a high schooler with cerebral palsy who has a biting wit and sense of humor.

Superstore

Hulu

An oddball family of employees at supersized megastore Cloud 9 tackles the day-to-day grind of rabid bargain hunters, riot-causing sales, and nap-worthy training sessions. Hardworking employee, Amy, is just trying to hold it all together despite the best efforts of her clueless manager Glen and his iron-fisted assistant Dina. Rounding out the crew is new hire Jonah, a dreamy dreamer, sardonic Garrett, ambitious Mateo, and sweet young mother-to-be Cheyenne. From bright-eyed newbies to seen-it-all veterans, bumbling seasonal hires, and in-it-for-life managers, they're all going to get through another day together.

Reality TV

The Bachelor/Bachelorette

Netflix and Hulu

The Bachelor/Bachelorette is an American dating and relationship reality television series. The series revolves around a single bachelor/bachelorette who begins with a pool of romantic interests from whom he/she is expected to select a wife/husband. During the course of the season, the bachelor/bachelorette eliminates candidates, culminating in a marriage proposal to his/her final selection. The participants travel to romantic and exotic locations for their adventures, and the conflicts in the series, both internal and external, stem from the elimination-style format of the show.

Blown Away

Netflix

Blown Away is a Canadian reality glassblowing competition television series on Netflix. The contestants on the show comprise ten glassblowers. Nick Uhas, a former Big Brother U.S contestant and science YouTuber, hosts the show, while Katherine Gray, an artist, and professor at California State University, San Bernardino is the chief judge. The winner receives a $60,000 prize and an artist residency at the Corning Museum of Glass.

Chopped

Hulu

Four chefs call on their culinary skills as they face off against one another to prepare a spectacular three-course meal consisting of an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The catch? In each round, they have to use all the ingredients the show provides them, despite how unlikely they might be. At the end of each course, a panel of three guest judges "chops" one chef who fails to measure up in terms of taste, presentation, and creativity. The last chef standing takes home bragging rights and $10,000.

The Big Family Cooking Showdown

Netflix

Hosted by Nadiya Hussain and Zoe Ball, The Big Family Cooking Showdown features 16 families who compete for the top spot. The competition takes place over eight heats, three semifinals, and one final, with each of the heats split into three categories: the £10 challenge, the home visits challenge, and the impress-the-neighbors challenge. As the rounds go on, the families have to impress judges Giorgio Locatelli and Rosemary Shrager in order to progress in the competition before one family claims the crown in the final.

Fixer Upper

Hulu

Fixer Upper is an American reality television series about home design and renovation aired on HGTV. The series stars Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines, a married couple who own a home renovation and redecoration business in Waco, Texas.

The Great British Baking Show

Netflix

The Great British Baking Show is the ultimate baking battle where passionate amateur baking fans compete to be crowned the UK’s Best Amateur Baker. The series follows the trials and tribulations of the competitors, young and old, from every background and every corner of Britain, as they attempt to prove their baking expertise. Each week the bakers tackle a different baking skill, which becomes progressively more difficult as the competition unfolds.

House Hunters

Hulu

House Hunters takes viewers behind the scenes as homebuyers learn what to look for and decide whether or not a home is meant for them. Each episode follows a prospective buyer and an agent from start to finish.

Making It

Hulu

Making It is an American reality competition series co-hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. The show features craftspeople skilled in different media competing to be named the "Master Maker" and win $100,000. Each week, competitors make two handmade projects—a "Faster Craft" and a "Master Craft." The winner of each challenge earns a patch. For the Faster Craft, makers have three hours to create an item. For the Master Craft, they have a longer time to create a more elaborate themed collection. At the end of every episode, one person is sent home based on their performance in the Master Craft.

MasterChef Junior

Hulu

MasterChef Junior gives talented kids between the ages of 8 and 13 the chance to showcase their culinary abilities and passion for food through a series of delicious challenges. The hit culinary competition series features world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez, and nutrition expert, author, and new judge Daphne Oz.

Project Runway

Hulu

The look and feel stay the same as 16 new designers from the United States and around the world compete for the coveted title. The designers get to work with an all-new runway and in a workroom furnished with sewing and embroidery machines and a new glam room for the models. The designers partake in challenges such as flash sales, fast fashion, Instagram, a special Elton John-inspired challenge, and so many more. The designers gain unparalleled and valuable experience as judges and special guests guide them.

Queer Eye

Netflix

More than a decade after the original series went off the air, Netflix reboots the Queer Eye franchise with a new Fab Five and a new setting, trading in the concrete jungle of New York City for communities in and around Atlanta. The style experts forge relationships with men and women who often have different beliefs from them, leading to moments of social commentary interspersed with style advice. Advising people in need of lifestyle makeovers are food and wine specialist Antoni Porowski, interior designer Bobby Berk, grooming consultant Jonathan Van Ness, fashion designer Tan France, and culture expert Karamo Brown, who reality TV fans may recognize as one of the housemates on The Real World: Philadelphia.

Survivor

CBS All Access

The veteran reality series hosted by Jeff Probst brings 20 returning castaways to the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji for its 40th installment. In celebration of the show's 20th anniversary, the castaways are all previous winners of the competition. This season brings back the island known as "Edge of Extinction," where players who have been voted out are pushed further than ever for a chance to get back in the game. The castaways compete against each other with the same ultimate goal, to outwit, outplay and outlast each other in an attempt to become the Sole Survivor again.

Top Chef

Hulu

Top Chef embarks on an adventure through Kentucky. The 15 diverse chefs battle it out in locations such as Louisville, Lexington, and Lake Cumberland. "Top Chef" has two rounds per episode (a quickfire challenge and an elimination challenge) where they are given an allotted time to complete each challenge, and the times could range from 2 minutes to 30 minutes or longer. The show is hosted by Padma Lakshmi, who is joined by head judge Tom Colicchio and judges Nilou Motamed, Graham Elliot, and Gail Simmons. Join the contestants as they compete weekly for the cash prize at the end of the season and the title of Top Chef.

Teen/Young Adult

A Wrinkle in Time

Disney + and Netflix

Meg Murry and her little brother, Charles Wallace, have been without their scientist father, Mr. Murry, for five years, ever since he discovered a new planet and used the concept known as a tesseract to travel there. Joined by Meg's classmate Calvin O'Keefe and guided by the three mysterious astral travelers known as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, the children brave a dangerous journey to a planet that possesses all of the evil in the universe.

American Vandal

Netflix

True-crime series is gaining popularity on TV, so, of course, there was bound to be a satire of the genre. American Vandal takes a look at the aftermath of various high school pranks. Aspiring student documentarian Peter Maldonado takes it upon himself, with help from friend Sam Ecklund, to investigate the cases and find out exactly who is responsible for the crimes. After looking into vandalism at a public high school, Peter and Sam head to a Catholic school after the cafeteria's lemonade is contaminated with laxatives. In the style of the genre it mocks, the series leaves viewers wondering who the real perpetrator is until the very end.

Beverly Hills, 90201

Hulu

One of the definitive shows of the 1990s, 90210 originally follows the lives of Brandon and Brenda Walsh, who both eventually leave the show and their friends through high school and college into adulthood. In addition to making sideburns momentarily cool again during its run, the show deals with a steady stream of love triangles and other romantic entanglements and occasionally touches on more serious issues as well.

Derry Girls

Netflix

Derry Girls follow Erin and her friends as they grow up in a world of armed police in armored Land Rovers and British Army checkpoints in 1990s Northern Ireland and attempt to navigate the highs and lows of being teenagers.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Netflix

Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) has an uncanny skill at cutting classes and getting away with it. Intending to make one last duck-out before graduation, Ferris calls in sick, "borrows" a Ferrari, and embarks on a one-day journey through the streets of Chicago. On Ferris' trail is high school principal Rooney (Jeffrey Jones), determined to catch him in the act.

The Fosters

Netflix

Stef, a dedicated police officer, is in a relationship with Lena. The two have built a close-knit family with Stef's biological son, Brandon, and adopted twins, Mariana and Jesus. When Lena meets Callie (hardened from being in and out of foster homes), the couple welcomes her into their home, thinking it is temporary. Callie's blunt commentary about the atypical family hits a nerve with the twins, who struggle with their own identities. Then the girl discovers a secret that could land Mariana in trouble. Brandon helps Callie navigate the social scene at high school, but she skips school to meet up with an old friend. Her behavior makes Stef and Lena second-guess their decision to help her.

Friday Night Lights

Hulu

Friday Night Lights is an award-winning drama series about the trials and triumphs of life in the small town of Dillon, Texas, where football is everything. After being ousted as Dillon High's football coach, Coach Eric Taylor must build a team from the ground up at East Dillon. Eric's wife, Tami, also is challenged in her role as principal at West Dillon, as the parents of students who were zoned out of the district blame her for their kids being thrust into a less-than-desirable situation at East Dillon. While dealing with issues at their respective jobs, Eric and Tami also face challenges in their family life with teenage daughter Julie.

The Kissing Booth

Netflix

A high school student finds herself face-to-face with her long-term crush when she signs up to run a kissing booth at the spring carnival.

My So-Called Life

ABC and IMBd TV

My So-Called Life is a bastion of teen angst. Angela is a high schooler in constant turmoil over her exposure to boys, friends, drugs, sex, basically the normal 1990s teen trappings.

The O.C.

Netflix

This modern soap opera mines the dramatic and intertwined lives of the Cohen, Cooper, and Nichol families. Ryan, a teenager from the wrong side of the Chino tracks, finds himself in well-to-do Newport Beach, an enclave of Southern California's Orange County. Taken in by a lawyer and his family, Ryan winds up in the midst of snarky, wealthy high schoolers and their sun-drenched angst.

Pretty Little Liars

Netflix

It has been one year since Alison, then the queen bee of the bunch, went missing. Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily have gone on with their lives, though they've grown apart. Now in high school, each girl finds herself facing a new set of challenges when anonymous text messages from 'A' threaten to expose all of their secrets (both old secrets the girls were sure only Alison knew), and newer secrets developed after Alison's disappearance. Who is 'A', and how does he or she know the things he or she knows?

Riverdale

Netflix and CW

Archie Andrews starts the school year with the world weighing on his shoulders. He's decided he wants to pursue a future in the music business, but his recently ended clandestine relationship with the music teacher has left him without a mentor, and his friendship with Jughead Jones is in a bad place. Things look like they might be turning around when Veronica Lodge, a new girl, arrives. Despite the instant chemistry, Veronica is hesitant to risk a friendship with Betty (who has a crush on Archie) to pursue anything. Amidst all the small-town banality lurks a mystery: the recent tragic death of Jason Blossom, the twin brother of a beautiful and popular troublemaker, Cheryl.

Sierra Burgess is a Loser

Netflix

A case of mistaken identity leads to an unexpected romance when a teen joins forces with a popular student to win the heart of her high school crush.

The Spectacular Now

Netflix

Sutter, a popular party animal, unexpectedly meets the introverted Aimee after waking up on a stranger's lawn. As Sutter deals with the problems in his life and Aimee plans for her future beyond school, an unexpected romance blossoms between them.

Super Dark Times

Netflix

Teenagers Zach and Josh have been best friends their whole lives, but when a gruesome accident leads to a cover-up, the secret drives a wedge between them and propels them down a rabbit hole of escalating paranoia and violence.

To All the Boys I’ve Ever Loved Before

Netflix

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once? Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters locked away in her closet. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

Crime/Investigation

Alias Grace

Netflix

Based on the 1996 Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, Alias Grace tells the story of young Grace Marks, a poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who is accused and convicted of the 1843 murder of her employer and his housekeeper. Stablehand James McDermott is also convicted of the crime. McDermott is hanged, but Grace is sentenced to life in prison, leading her to become one of the most notorious women of the period in Canada. The story is based on actual 19th-century events.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Netflix

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is the second season of the FX true crime anthology television series "American Crime Story". In 9 episodes, the series explores the murder of designer Gianni Versace by spree killer Andrew Cunanan, based on Maureen Orth's book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History.

Catch Me If You Can

Amazon

Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) worked as a doctor, a lawyer, and as a co-pilot for a major airline, all before his 18th birthday. A master of deception, he was also a brilliant forger, whose skill gave him his first real claim to fame: At the age of 17, Frank Abagnale, Jr. became the most successful bank robber in the history of the U.S. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) makes it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice, but Frank is always one step ahead of him.

Damages

Hulu

While still pursuing big litigation cases, high-powered attorney Patty Hewes has been caring for her granddaughter and experiencing a second chance at raising a child. However, that may end when Patty's son, Michael, sues for custody of the little girl. When Patty's protege, Ellen Parsons, agrees to testify as a character witness for Michael at the custody trial, Patty scrambles to prevent her from taking the stand, fearing that Ellen will reveal Patty's secrets. To prevent the testimony, Patty refers Channing McClaren, a famous computer hacker, to Ellen, knowing that she will not be able to resist taking on such a high-profile client having just launched her own firm. When Patty files a lawsuit against McClaren (whom Ellen has agreed to represent), the judge in the custody case rules that Ellen cannot take the stand until the McClaren case is resolved.

The Good Wife

Amazon and NBC

When a very public sex and political corruption scandal lands her husband, Peter, in prison, Alicia Florrick (Emmy-winner Julianna Margulies ) must get past the humiliation and betrayal and assume responsibility for her family. She resumes her career as a defense attorney, shedding her persona as the embarrassed wife of a politician, and takes charge of her destiny. Years later, after Peter wins the gubernatorial election, Alicia must balance her evolving career and family responsibilities with her new position as the first lady of Illinois.

Law & Order: SVU

Amazon and NBC

The detectives that are part of the NYPD's Special Victims Unit investigate crimes of sexual nature. While the focus of the other shows in the Law & Order franchise largely deal with murder cases, the SVU detectives frequently deal with crimes, such as rapes, in which the victim survives and assists authorities in the investigation. The series features a cast of veteran actors, including Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, and, after the first season, rapper Ice-T. Occasional crossover episodes feature detectives from other series in the Law & Order franchise.

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries

Amazon and Acorn TV

Fledgling detective Phryne Fisher is known for her sharp wit and pearl-handled pistol, which she uses to fight injustice in Melbourne during the 1920s. The glamorous sleuth makes her way through the city's alleyways and jazz clubs while she fights crime as part of a larger mission, making sure that Murdoch Foyle, who she believes is responsible for the disappearance of her younger sister, stays behind bars. She fights for justice for people who can't help themselves, including exploited workers and missing girls.

NYPD Blue

Amazon and Hulu

This Steven Bochco-produced series pulls few punches in portraying the day-to-day lives of cops in New York's 15th Precinct. Characters' personal lives intertwine with the cases they work, which often deals with the worst elements the city has to offer. Many characters came and went during the show's 12-season run, but one constant throughout the series was Det. Andy Sipowicz, portrayed by Dennis Franz.

Trending/Popular

The Americans

Amazon

Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are two KGB spies in an arranged marriage who are posing as Americans in suburban Washington, D.C., shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected president. The couple has two children, teenager Paige and preteen Henry, who are unaware of their parents' true identities. The complex marriage becomes more passionate and genuine each day but is continually tested as the Cold War escalates. As Philip begins to warm up to America's values and way of life, his relationship with Elizabeth becomes more complicated. Further complicating things is the arrival of the Jennings' new neighbor, FBI agent Stan Beeman, who is part of a new division of the agency tasked with fighting foreign age