Make today The Day of the Jackal
Liam Mathews,
Tim SuretteNot a lot of people realize this, but Peacock is actually a really good streaming service. It has a ton of live sports, including select NFL games and every Premier League match, a vast library of classic movies and shows from NBCUniversal going back decades, and a stealthily strong lineup of originals. Those originals are our focus today. Recent additions to the list include slick assassin thriller The Day of the Jackal, tight little horror seriesTeacup,and star-studded historical crime limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.
An important note about how this list was made: In order to keep the list as relevant as possible, we're emphasizing recent releases, Peacock originals, and critics' favorites. But we're also putting our own personal spin on the list, with underrated gems we're recommending to our friends, classic favorites, and important selections that highlight diverse voices. We'll be updating the list regularly.
ALSO READ: The best movies on Peacock
Last updated Nov. 22, 2024; newer additions are at the top
The Day of the Jackal
For fans of:Assassins, cool guns, beautiful scenery
Eddie Redmayne stars as the titular canid, an extremely high-performing and well-paid European solo professional. He's basically Roger Federer, if Federer killed people for a living. He's trying to keep from getting caught by Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), an MI6 firearms expert, and also by his wife Nuria (Úrsula Corberó), who is starting to ask questions about what he really does for a living. It's a polished thriller that's a contemporary update on the popular 1973 novel of the same name. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Teacup
For fans of:Signs, creepy kids speaking in tongues
Horror often doesn't translate well to TV because it's hard to sustain the tense plot and atmosphere over the course of a season, let alone multiple seasons. Teacup manages to be an exception because it moves like a movie, telling its simple but effective story about invading body-snatchers over the course of eight fast-paced half-hour episodes. And to keep things from getting too cinematic, it embraces things that only TV can do with a standout midseason standalone episode that fills in a mysterious supporting character's backstory. It's the best of both worlds, featuring some of TV's most reliable actors, including Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, Rob Morgan, and Kathy Baker. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
For fans of:The 1970s, crime thrillers, Kevin Hart as a serious actor
This limited series is based on a podcast that tells the true story of an incident where thieves robbed a party attended by powerful gangsters the night of Muhammad Ali's comeback fight in 1970 Atlanta. And while it is an exciting, twisty tale populated by larger-than-life characters in funky Nixon-era outfits, it's really a perceptive history lesson about how Atlanta became a "Black Mecca" that's not only the most important city in the South, but one of the most important cities in America. Fight Night's all-star cast includes Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard, and Samuel L. Jackson, but it's led by Kevin Hart, who gives the best dramatic performance of his career to date. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Mr. Throwback
For fans of:Celebs making fun of themselves, mockumentaries, Happy Endings' Max
NBA living legend Steph Curry in a sitcom? Curry, whose TV producing empire is now moving past talk shows and extravagant miniature golf competitions, is not only splashing down in scripted television but starring as a lead in this series, playing an exaggerated version of himself while Adam Pally co-stars as Danny, a high school teammate of Curry's who was so good back in the day that Curry had to watch him from the bench. That was then, but now Danny is washed up while Curry is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. The whole story is based on one of those compounding sitcom lies — which can get frustrating — and though the series is mostly about Danny, Curry steals scenes in his moments. The reason Mr. Throwbackis better than it has any right to be is that David Caspe, who was the creator and showrunner of Pally's cult favorite seriesHappy Endings, is behind it, and Curry is game to get silly with him and Pally. How about a round of placentaritas for everyone? (That will make more sense when you watch it.) -Tim Surette [Trailer]
The Thick of It
For fans of:Veep, creative cursing
Before he cracked open the inner workings of the White House in Veep, Armando Iannucci satirized the British government in this highly acclaimed comedy that ran for four seasons. If you loved Veep, there is literally no way you won't love this, too, unless you have an unreasonable hatred of British accents. Shot in faux-documentary style, it features the same penchant for destructive insults as the HBO comedy, but perhaps with even more sting. Leading the cast is Peter Capaldi, who plays the director of communications for the British government who will go to any lengths to make sure the party line is followed. The series was followed by a feature film, In the Loop, in 2009. -Tim Surette[Clip]
The Traitors
For fans of:Bravo shows, family game night, double-crosses
Look, I'll be first to scream about how much I do not need a show featuring reality stars I don't know competing in elaborate games, forming alliances and then stabbing each other in the back, and eliminating each other one by one. But Peacock's The Traitors takes that formula and molds it for one person and one person only: the viewer. The game is essentially Mafia, with 20 players vying for a cash prize. A few of them are secretly working in cahoots to eliminate the others while also being targets themselves. Though Season 1 featured a roster of reality stars — includingThe Bachelor'sArie Luyendyk Jr., Real HousewifeBrandi Glanville, andBelow Deck'sKate Chastain— and normies, Season 2 did away with common folk and went with all reality stars. But the producers keep things spicy with twists meant to psychologically torture the participants, and the most fun part is seeing souls crushed through broken trust and knowing that you'd be a better player than anyone else. Plus, it takes place in a Scottish castle, and host Alan Cumming struts around in fabulous Highland costumes. And if you burn through the American version of The Traitors, Peacock also has the U.K. and Australian versions, which are arguably even better. -Tim Surette[Trailer]
Mrs. Davis
For fans of:Nuns, Betty Gilpin,The Leftovers, Lost, Looney Tunes, magicians, Grail quests, Schrödinger's cat
Watching Mrs. Davis felt like running my brain through a car wash. The series, which stars the great Betty Gilpin as a nun fighting an AI algorithm, is a bonkers, intoxicating joyride through tech and religion, marrying the comedic and dramatic sensibilities of its creators, Tara Hernandez (The Big Bang Theory) and Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers), into one audacious and totally singular package. Everything about this show — its colorful filmmaking, cleverly batty writing, and totally committed cast, Gilpin in particular — works together to sell the exact blend of silliness and sincerity required of a series that involves both mid-tier Reno magicians and a quest for the Holy Grail. Mrs. Davis is one riotous surprise after the next, and it all builds up to one of the best jokes on TV in years, a finale gag so good it could make a devotee out of anyone. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
More streaming recommendations:
- The best shows on Netflix
- The best shows on Prime Video
- The best shows on Max
- The best shows on Hulu
Paul T. Goldman
For fans of:The Rehearsal, Jury Duty, megalomania, show business
The meta reality of Nathan Fielder'sThe Rehearsalwas a high point of 2022, butJason Woliner'sPaul T. Goldmantechnically beat Fielder to the punch despite coming out months later. Woliner, the director of 2020'sBoratsequel (and showrunner of the amazingEagleheart), worked onPaul T. Goldmanstarting in 2012 after an online encounter with the title character (real name Paul Finkelman), who was looking for a director to tell his story of love, deception, and revenge, based on events that "actually" happened in his life. Goldman wrote a book, then wrote a screenplay, and agreed to play himself in the film, the making of which became this surreal meta-comedy six-episode series that blends truth and fiction before settling and becoming a personal portrait of a man with a vivid imagination. If you enjoyed the creeping madness ofThe Rehearsal, you'll lovePaul T. Goldman. –Tim Surette[Trailer]
Poker Face
For fans of:Columbo, cases of the week, great guest stars
Knives Outwriter-directorRian Johnsonloves a good mystery, but do you know what he loves even more? A new mystery every week. Johnson went old school withPoker Face, a case-of-the-week series starringNatasha Lyonneas Charlie Cale, a woman whose ability to perceive when someone is lying makes her a pretty nifty detective. Each episode, Charlie cruises to a new town in her classic car, trouble finds her, and she tackles the case like a modern-day Columbo.Poker Faceis also noteworthy for its impressive cast of guest actors, which includesAdrien Brody,Hong Chau,Lil Rel Howery,Chloe Sevigny,Nick Nolte,Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and more. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Leopard Skin
For fans of:The little-watched crime thriller Jett, sexy times
We wouldn't be at all surprised if this is the first time you're hearing about Leopard Skin — the 2022 crime drama had such a quiet run that it doesn't even have a Wikipedia page, despite featuring Carla Gugino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Philip Winchester. Leopard Skin was created by Sebastian Gutierrez, whose sexy, sultry style, which he exhibited in the similarly underwatched but enjoyable Starz series Jett, is on full display here when jewel thieves take a pair of women hostage in a beautiful mansion while they wait for the heat to die down. What follows is devious double crossing, flirtatious fun, and crooked comedy. It's great to look at, enjoyable to be around, and dangerous to be close to, just like every character in it. -Tim Surette[Trailer]
Yellowstone
For fans of:Kevin Costner, Westerns, soap operas
One of TV's biggest shows,Yellowstoneis a neo-Western by way of Dynasty (we swear that's a compliment). The series follows the ins and outs of the wealthy Dutton family, the owners of the largest contiguous ranch in the country and one of the few families who could possibly give the Roys of Succession a run for their money in terms of infighting and complicated family dynamics. The series, co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, features a major power struggle as outside forces — land developers, rival ranchers, and more — attempt to encroach on the Dutton family's land. It's a thrilling, dramatic watch and a wonderful showcase for both the wide-open vistas of the American West and starKevin Costner's ability to growl through each and every one of his lines. Though Yellowstone is a Paramount Network series, NBCUniversal lucked out by buying the streaming rights before it became a massive hit, which is why it streams on Peacock and nowhere else. -Tim Surette[Trailer]
Bust Down
For fans of: Comedy that's simultaneously dark and absurd
There are a billion new shows coming out every day, and the only real way one can separate itself from the pack is with a unique setting and tone. Bust Downis as fresh as can be, following a quartet of employees at an Indiana casino who find themselves in all sorts of dark absurdity. It's like ifIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphiawere put through the filter ofAtlanta, hitting on topics like sexual assault, lesbian in vitro fertilization, and babies eating uncut steak in the sun. Yep, that all happens in its first and only season! The cast is excellent, led by stars and co-creatorsSam Jay, Chris Redd, Langston Kerman, and Jak Knight. Sadly, this was some of Knight's final work before he died in 2022. -Tim Surette[Trailer]
Vigil
For fans of: British thrillers, military police mysteries, claustrophobia
Two things I love — a submarine murder mystery and Scottish accents — collide in this well-reviewed six-episode U.K. thriller from the producers of Bodyguard. Suranne Jones plays a detective asked to investigate a fatal drug overdose on a nuclear submarine — literally on the submarine; she does her work on the sub while it's on its patrols — who believes foul play is involved. It's loaded with familiar faces, including Rose Leslie, Daniel Portman, and Stephen Dillane (Ygritte, Pod, and Stannis from Game of Thrones, respectively), as well as Martin Compston (Line of Duty), Paterson Joseph (Timeless), and Connor Swindells (Sex Education). It's tense right from the start, and it maintains that tension thanks to the claustrophobic conflict of jurisdiction between Jones' detective and the military that runs the sub. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
MacGruber
For fans of: Real American heroes, ripping throats out, SNL alums
There seems to be a little misunderstanding with the MacGruber franchise, because reviews of the film, and the Peacock original series, aren't glowing with praise. Some of you out there — probably those of you who are stoned — do get it, though, and realize that Will Forte's Saturday Night Live sketch-turned-movie-turned-TV series is ridiculously funny in that "let's make a stupid movie" way and not in that "Saturday Night Live sketch goes on too long" way. A lot of that has to do with the show's relentless commitment to being silly and saying "penis," a lot of it has to do with the cast (led by Forte and Kristen Wiig), and a lot of that has to do with being in on the joke. Just watch it, already. -Tim Surette[Trailer]
Rutherford Falls
For fans of: Quirky comedies, Indigenous representation, white people being stupid
Co-created by Michael Schur, Ed Helms, and showrunner Sierra Teller Ornelas, Rutherford Falls separates itself from the crowded TV landscape by putting the complex issues facing Indigenous peoples at the forefront of a sweet and charming narrative. With one of the largest Indigenous writing rooms in the industry and a cast that features several Native actors, the Peacock Original follows two best friends, Nathan Rutherford (Helms), the last descendent of the town's founder to still live within the city limits, and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding), a member of the Minishonka Nation, a fictional local tribal community. When the town mayor decides to remove a statue of Nathan's ancestor in the name of safety, the decision sets off a chain of events that test Nathan and Reagan's lifelong friendship while also putting Native American culture and history in the spotlight. –Elizabeth Morgan[Trailer]
Girls5eva
For fans of:'90s music, 2gether, musical comedies
Musical comedies don't always connect with viewers, but Meredith Scardino's Girls5eva— about a '90s girl group that reunites after 20 years for another shot at success — has something those other shows did not: executive producers Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, and Jeff Richmond (who also composed the music for the series). A brilliant series with shades of MTV's iconic boy band-themed movie-turned-series 2gether, Girls5eva stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, and Paula Pell. It's the type of show that is so good it gets stuck in your head, and you can't get it out no matter how hard you try. Despite being canceled by Peacock, the series was revived by Netflix, where the first two seasons — and a new third season — are now streaming, but you can still catch Seasons 1 and 2 on Peacock. –Elizabeth Morgan [Trailer]
Saved by the Bell
For fans of:The original show, satirical comedies, Mario Lopez
No one needs another revival or reboot. But sometimes they're actually good, and then you have to suck it up and admit they're good. That is the case with Peacock'sSaved by the Bell.What could have been a cringe-fest turned out to be a pleasant surprise. A well-crafted satire from Tracey Wigfield, the show follows a new generation of teens at Bayside High while poking fun at the original series by (affectionately) underscoring its many flaws. With supporting turns from original series starsMario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley and some pop-up appearances from Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen, the show manages to appeal to audiences new and old. –Elizabeth Morgan[Trailer]
We Are Lady Parts
For fans of:Muslim representation, punk music, jokes about vomiting
It's probably safe to say you've never seen the likes of We Are Lady Parts before. The acclaimed British comedy (streaming as a Peacock Original in the States) navigates cultural differences and new friendships when an all-female Muslim punk band — the titular Lady Parts — recruits a new lead guitarist (Anjana Vasan) into its ranks. In between the band's catchy originals and cover songs is a sharply funny show that excels by poking fun at and subverting stereotypes, building a more complete picture of what it means to be a modern Muslim woman. –Elizabeth Morgan[Trailer]
Parks and Recreation
For fans of:Wacky small towns, small horses, jokes about the Midwest
When it comes to heartwarming comedies about small towns and the people who call those towns home, Michael Schur simply does not miss. He co-created Parks and Recreation with Greg Daniels (The Office), and although the Amy Poehler-led series about the employees of the Pawnee Parks Department had some growing pains in its first season, it smartly reinvented itself in Season 2, becoming a shining example of how hard work, competence, and human kindness can lead to a better and happier existence. There's no place quite like Pawnee (and maybe that's a good thing, given the out-of-control raccoon population), but there's also no place we'd rather visit more. –Elizabeth Morgan[Trailer]
Line of Duty
For fans of:Southland, cop shows that refuse to be glossy
Intense. That's the best way to describe this heat-seeking missile of a crime drama from England. Created by Jed Mercurio, who gave us the equally ventricle-bursting Bodyguard, Line of Dutyfollows officers in the anti-corruption unit as they sniff out bad cops inside the police force. Using handheld cams and a pulsing score, Line of Duty never lets its audience rest easy and frequently pulls the rug out from under them with big twists and cliffhangers. -Tim Surette[Trailer]
Murder, She Wrote
For fans of: Amateur detectives, Dame Angela Lansbury, murder
Look, anyone can solve a murder these days, but only Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) can solve murders as an amateur detective and have a thriving career as a mystery writer. (OK, some other television characters might have done this too, but we know who the best one is.)Murder, She Wroteis a TV classic; the series ran for 12 seasons, from 1984 to 1996, and earned its leading lady 12 consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama. While she might not be as popular these days, Jessica Fletcher never goes out of style, much like how Cabot Cove, Maine, the small town in which she lives, never runs out of dead bodies. –Elizabeth Morgan [Trailer]
Psych
For fans of:Shenanigans, murder mysteries, buddy comedies
When Psych premiered on USA Network in 2006, no one could have predicted the staying power of a buddy comedy about a fake psychic detective (James Roday Rodriguez) solving murders with his best friend and reluctant business partner (Dulé Hill). But the show continues to delight all these years later because creator Steve Franks long ago perfected a formula that mixed laughter and murder. Now he keeps the fire burning with a series of made-for-TV movies that prove the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." While Shawn (Rodriguez) and Gus (Hill) mature just enough to keep the narrative from growing stale, everything fans love about the show and these characters — wacky adventures, weird murders, well-placed digs at The Mentalist— is still present in each new chapter of the Psych Extended Universe. It's really no surprise, then, that the gang continues to reunite every few years. Multiple movies have already been released and are also available on Peacock. –Elizabeth Morgan [Trailer]
Community
For fans of:Paintball, Eartha Kitt, jokes that take three seasons
Dan Harmon's community college comedy was more than your typical sitcom, going that extra step to turn a simple 22-minute format into a treasure trove of running gags, thematic parodies, Easter eggs, and more. (A bit about Beetlejuice took three seasons to pull off.) The story of too-cool-for-school lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) who needed to return to college to make up school credits became more of a workplace comedy surrounding a Spanish class study group of misfits, and went onto to become a cult legend thanks to its pop culture-soaked experimentation. Though the series was riddled with off-camera drama and some seasons were very forgettable (let's all agree that Season 4 never existed), many episodes remain some of the best half-hours of broadcast TV ever, and after six seasons, the show's rabid cult following is still waiting for that long-promised movie. –Tim Surette[Trailer]
Resident Alien
For fans of: Fish-out-of-water comedies,Alan Tudyk's range
Time to whip up a t-shirt that says "Alan Tudyk was one of TV Guide's favorite performers of 2021 — find out why!" on the back. Tudyk stars in Syfy's underrated Resident Alien as the titular alien himself, an extraterrestrial in disguise as small-town doctor Harry Vanderspeigle, whose disgust with all things human makes for some of the best physical comedy on TV. But his quest to destroy the world hits a roadblock as he starts to warm up to (some of) the people around him. Horrifying! Watch this show already. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
Chucky
For fans of: The killer doll from the movies
You may not expect Chucky, a series continuation of the Child's Play horror film franchise, to be a sterling example of how to turn a movie into a streaming-era TV show, but it works extraordinarily well. The Syfy/USA Network series hails from franchise creator Don Manciniand brings back the great Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky, the doll possessed by the evil spirit of serial killer Charles Lee Ray. In the series, fate brings Chucky into the life of Jake Wheeler (Zackary Arthur), a bullied gay teen whom he tries to persuade to give in to his rage and become a killer like him. It's topically relevant without being heavy-handed or didactic, it's gory enough to satisfy slasher movie fans, it has a surprising amount of heart, and it's wickedly funny. It was canceled in 2024 after three seasons.-Liam Mathews[Trailer]
The Office
For fans of:Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica
The workplace comedy that raised the bar so high it basically broke the ceiling, NBC's The Office needs no blurb that extolls its many virtues. But we'll do it anyway. Set in the bustling metropolis of Scranton, Pennsylvania, the mockumentary series from Greg Daniels is an adaptation of the U.K. comedy of the same name and digs into the mundanity of corporate America by following the everyday lives of the employees of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, under the tutelage of World's Best Boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell). While the earlier seasons are better than the later ones, the show features one of the best comedic ensembles in recent memory, remains one of the funniest shows to come out of the 2000s, and has left a legacy that will live on after we've all crumbled to dust. –Elizabeth Morgan[Trailer]
