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June ushers in the start of summer, the season when lots of people go outside to do things in the sun. It might sound like the enemy of your friendly neighborhood streaming services, but they're all riding high. After all, summer means something else to plenty of us: namely, a time for enjoying air conditioning and doing anything you can to stay out of the heat.
Perhaps that's why the streaming services seem to have taken a cue from the way American pop culture becomes utterly obsessed with the big screen between May and August. Yes, there are plenty of new TV series on offer in June (especially on Hulu), but many of the most interesting picks are movies.
So turn the temp on the AC all the way down to "creating problems your grandchildren will curse you for" and get comfy in the recliner. It's way too hot outside, and there are movies and TV shows to watch.
New in June on Netflix
Jurassic Park (available June 1)
So there's this amusement park, see? And a crazy billionaire has resurrected dinosaurs to live in it, see? And then things go wrong, would you believe? Steven Spielberg's revved-up monster mash has become a classic blockbuster and marked a turning point in visual effects. If you like it, you can also watch its two sequels ... which offer diminishing returns, as you'd expect.
Hibana: Spark (available June 2)
What's this TV series about? It's impossible to tell from Netflix's press releases (which talk about how it's adapted from a popular novel) or from the trailer above (well, unless you speak Japanese, which I don't). But a little digging reveals it's the story of a comedian practicing a very specific, traditional style of Japanese comedy. It could be fascinating!
Orange Is the New Black, season four (available June 17)
After four years, Orange Is the New Black is still one of the best series Netflix has ever aired. The women's prison dramedy completed its most sobering season yet in 2015, which means the forthcoming fourth season will almost certainly shoot wildly in the other direction and become extremely comic, because veering between the two tones is what this show does. We can't wait.
Spotlight (available June 22)
Netflix has eased up on its movie acquisitions in recent years, preferring to invest in original programming instead. But at least when it makes major buys, it has pretty good taste, as you can see with the streaming debut of the most recent Best Picture winner. A thrilling journalism drama, Spotlight tells the tale of the Boston Globe reporters who exposed the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal.
The Fundamentals of Caring (available June 26)
Based on Jonathan Evison's enjoyable novel about a first-time caregiver to those with disabilities, this Netflix original with a cast headed up by Paul Rudd could prove to be hugely charming, or it could be unbearably schmaltzy. Hopefully it splits the difference. It's directed by longtime David Letterman producer Rob Burnett.
New in June on Hulu
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (available June 1)
This classic stripped-down Western about the showdown among the three titular characters boasts Clint Eastwood at his tough-guy best, along with some truly iconic images and moments. And you're probably already whistling its famous theme.
Southland (available June 1)
This Los Angeles–set cop show took a little while to find its footing, especially when NBC canceled it before airing the second season it had already ordered. But the series found a home on TNT, where it became a terrific police drama; its final two seasons (there are five total) are especially good, with tremendous performances from Regina King and Michael Cudlitz at the center.
Casual, season two (available June 7)
The first season of this gentle family dramedy scored an unexpected Golden Globe nomination. And while the Golden Globes aren't exactly known for their superlative taste, the show is sensitively made and features beautiful performances, especially from Michaela Watkins and Tara Lynne Barr as a mother-daughter duo who can't untangle their lives from each other.
O.J.: Made in America (available June 12)
This documentary miniseries takes a big-picture look at the trial of O.J. Simpson, pulling all the way back to examine racial tensions between white and black Americans in Los Angeles, the importance of USC football to the city, and the dark underbelly of the LAPD. And that's all before Nicole Brown is found murdered. It's a staggering piece of work, and you should definitely check it out.
Rick and Morty, season two (available June 26)
The incredibly ambitious animated sci-fi comedy went even bigger in its second season, sending the titular grandfather-grandson duo rocketing into the furthest reaches of the universe in search of stories unlike any others being told on TV. The highlight? A midseason entry that turns Family Guy–style cutaway gags into a literal evil.
New in June on Amazon Prime
The Black Stallion (available June 1)
This 1979 classic about a shipwreck, a mysterious horse, and the boy who would tame said horse is one of the great animal movies ever made. And it features Mickey Rooney at his Mickey Rooney-est!
Sleepover (available June 1)
Have you ever wondered what the early career of reigning Best Actress Oscar winner Brie Larson was like? Well, you can watch this movie to see her play a mean girl. Don't say we didn't warn you. (That said, the film also features a truly absurd number of cameos, from the likes of Jane Lynch, Steve Carell, Jeff Garlin, and more.)
Love & Mercy (available June 4)
Beach Boy Brian Wilson is the subject of this unusual biopic, which follows the musician in the 1960s (as played by Paul Dano) and in the 1980s (as played by John Cusack), tracing the rise and fall of a psychologically troubled genius. It's a surprisingly beautiful little movie, well worth your time.
Downton Abbey, the final season (available June 6)
Haven't watched the final set of episodes featuring the Granthams and all they hold dear? Now you can see how things wrap up as the times continue to a-change all around them — there will be happy tears, sad tears, and all the tears in between.
Mr. Robot, season one (available June 13)
This hyper-stylized hacker drama became a bit of a sensation in the summer of 2015, with surprising twists hidden in plain sight and a mesmerizing lead performance from Rami Malek. Will it be able to replicate the feat in season two (launching in July)? Only time will tell. But you should probably get caught up in time to check it out.
New on HBO in June
High Fidelity (available June 1)
More John Cusack, this time as a record store entrepreneur smarting from a bad breakup, with the (not so helpful) help of his employees, who include a young Jack Black. This romantic comedy, based on the Nick Hornby novel, has a lot to say about the ways pop culture geeks wall themselves off from the world.
Independence Day (available June 1)
Just in time for the sequel, which arrives later in the month, HBO brings you the 20-year-old original, complete with the famous shot of the White House blowing up. Happy Fourth of July (more than a month early)!
Maps to the Stars (available June 1)
This dark Hollywood satire about a fractured family is kind of a mess, but it's worth a watch just for the way the great director David Cronenberg unspools his tale about celebrity, those who want to be close to it, and those who just want to sink their teeth in and suck its blood.
The Martian (available June 4)
Matt Damon gets stranded on Mars. He can't build a rocket to fly himself back, so he's going to have to survive until somebody can come get him. Go, Matt Damon, go!
Any Given Wednesday With Bill Simmons (available June 22)
In the aftermath of Simmons's contentious split with ESPN, nobody's been quite sure what he would get up to next. The centerpiece of his new efforts (which will eventually include a website and currently include a fleet of podcasts) is this new TV show, about which we know very little. But Simmons seems excited!
