What to Watch This Week
The 5 movies, TV shows, and events everyone will be talking about, for the week of August 27 to September 2.
The adage “expect the unexpected” may be a cliché, but there’s also truth behind it — especially when it comes to pop culture. How often have you hit play on something expecting one thing only to have those expectations completely subverted? That’s what you’ll find on screens this week. There’s Coyote vs. Acme, a Looney Tunes movie that looks like nostalgia bait but is actually a clever satire. There’s also The Dog Stars, a Ridley Scott post-apocalyptic epic with a hidden human heart. And then there’s the Love Island USA reunion, which promises to reveal dramatic twists as a final wrap-up to Season 8 of the hit reality series.
For the week of August 27 to September 2, here are the five movies, TV shows, and events that will have everyone talking.
Coyote vs. Acme
When to watch: August 28
Where to watch: In theaters
Under normal circumstances, most of us would probably view Coyote vs. Acme as an amusing-looking animated comedy that leans heavily on nostalgia and nothing more. After all, it takes beloved Looney Tunes characters (voiced mainly by Eric Bauza), places them in a live-action world (populated with actors like Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor) and in an absurd scenario: the infamously TNT-happy/catastrophe-prone Wile E. Coyote has decided to sue the Acme conglomerate for continuously selling him faulty products.
But these are not normal circumstances. As you may remember, Coyote vs. Acme was supposed to come out years ago, but Warner Bros. Discovery canceled its release in 2023 to claim it as a tax write-off; the backlash among the film community and movie lovers was so strong, the company decided it would be willing to sell the movie to a different distributor for the right price — a process that took a long time. People have been talking about this movie for years, creating way more buzz around it than might have existed had it come out as originally planned.
Then there’s the fact that, by many accounts, this movie is good — it’s already Certified Fresh with a 95% on the Tomatometer. The concept is funny and creative, while also resulting in a clever satire on corporate greed that resonates in real life. It does tug on the nostalgic heartstrings while pulling off so much more. Controversy or not, this is worth watching, and you’ll have a great time doing so.
Buy tickets on Fandango.
Love Island USA Season 8 Reunion
When to watch: August 31 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Where to watch: Peacock
It’s been just over a month since Love Island USA wrapped Season 8, so now it’s time to bring the gang back together for the reunion special. Hosted by Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen, the one-off episode reunites the final four couples: winners Trinity Tatum and Bryce Alakai, Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt, Melanie Moreno and Sincere Rhea, and Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou, as well as other islanders (including from Casa Amor). Fans will get clarity on which couples are still together, unseen footage, surprises, and, of course, drama. Plus, we’ll get answers about the flurry of rumors that came out after the reunion’s filming session — though Madix has already denied speculation that Trinity was kicked out of the taping. Think of the Love Island reunion as a fitting farewell to summer (sorry): a sun-soaked display of sexy romance and messy interpersonal relationships that take you back to the care-free simplicity of the show being the one thing dominating all of your group chats. It’s fleeting, sure, but you’ll want to hang on to every last gasp — just like summer itself.
The Dog Stars
When to watch: August 28
Where to watch: In theaters
Not every Ridley Scott project turns into a smashing success (for every Gladiator there’s a, well, Gladiator II), but the legendary filmmaker always makes movies that feel like an event best viewed on a big screen. That remains true with his latest film, The Dog Stars. Adapted from the Peter Heller novel of the same name, the post-apocalyptic thriller is set in a world in which a pandemic has wiped out most of humanity and follows young pilot Hig (Jacob Elordi) his aging dog Jasper, and former Marine Bangley (Josh Brolin), who have learned to survive together. But when the intercept a mysterious radio transmission, Hig decides to set out into the barren land in hopes of finding more people — and, hopefully, a better, less lonely life.
The Dog Stars may not have the same hype around it as Scott’s previous films (Alien, Blade Runner, The Martian), but there’s still enough that it landed on our list of the most anticipated films of August. True to its event-movie feel, early reviews are praising its visuals (it’s worth noting that it’s playing on IMAX screens), making it ideal end-of-summer popcorn fare.
See what the critics are saying in First Reviews and buy tickets on Fandango.
Adults Season 2
When to watch: August 27
Where to watch: Hulu & FX
We’re living in a new age of Gen Z friendship comedies, and we’d argue that, in its first season, hidden gem Adults was the best of the bunch. The ensemble sitcom follows a group of 20-somethings — Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Issa (Amita Rao), Anton (Owen Thiele), and Paul Baker (Jack Innanen) — in New York, who aren’t really full-formed “grown-ups” yet and live together in Samir’s childhood home. In Season 2, the chaotic bunch will tackle a new set of hilarious problems — think a 20-year-old inheriting your old fake ID (and they’re also way cooler than you are), realizing that you love your boring office job, and turning into your worst, most immature self when you’re among family. Plus, there’s an all-important thread from last season to dig into: the budding love triangle between Anton, Issa, and her Canadian boyfriend Paul Baker. (As a refresher: Paul Baker finds out he’s about to get deported, so Issa volunteers to marry him. But when she gets cold feet, her bestie Anton steps up, leading to a lingering kiss between the newlyweds.)
What makes Adults work is the lived-in chemistry between the cast. These characters are often in heightened, outrageous situations, but their real-deal friendships balance out the goofiness. They screw up often, but they always show up for each other, so you want to follow them along on whatever crazy ride they end up on. Plus, even when they’re in a not-at-all-relatable mess, there’s a deep, resonate truth that underlies it all: no matter how old we are, none of us really know what we’re doing (at least not always), but our friends help us feel like that doesn’t matter. Watch this one, then get your friends in on it too — they’ll thank you later.
Bundesliga
When to watch: August 28
Where to watch: Fandango
The year of soccer mania continues when the new Bundesliga season kicks off this week, and now Americans will be able to watch all the action of Germany’s top professional league for free on Fandango. This season, the service will stream 270 matches (starting on August 28 with Bayern Munich vs. Vfb Stuttgart at 2:30 p.m. ET). That also means it will be easier than ever to follow top players, like English superstar Harry Kane, and American pros Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, and Joe Scally.
Here’s why this is really cool though: in North America, Bundesliga is in the sweet spot between mega-popularity and under the radar. Here, soccer fans obsess over the English Premier League or Spain’s La Liga, but Bundesliga can be overlooked. But that doesn’t mean the level of play isn’t top notch. It’s one of the top national leagues in Europe, it just doesn’t get the same level of fan fare as splashier leagues. Building off of the summer soccer frenzy, now is the perfect time to get into Bundesliga: it’s easier than ever, and we can maximize on the interest and community we built around the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
