This week on On Our Streaming Radar, we’re shining a spotlight on four shows you can check out this week: a comedy legend heads to television, the real-life inspiration behind one of Martin Scorsese’s most acclaimed films gets a documentary, a gripping period mob drama, and a heist thriller from the world of Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club.
Let’s start with Lucky on Apple TV.
Lucky premieres July 16 and stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the title character, a former con artist forced back into the criminal underworld after a multimillion-dollar heist goes horribly wrong. Hunted by the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, she must confront her criminal past while trying to survive the most dangerous job of her life.
The series is based on the bestselling novel and adapted by Jonathan Tropper, the creator and showrunner behind Apple TV’s Your Friends & Neighbors starring Jon Hamm. It also features a stellar supporting cast, including Outer Banks star Drew Starkey, Annette Bening as the crime boss, and Timothy Olyphant as Lucky’s father.
Anya Taylor-Joy once again proves why she’s one of the most captivating actresses working today. Along with the outstanding supporting cast, the layered performances, impossible odds, and constant tension make this another strong entry for Apple TV, which has quietly put together one of the best years in streaming.
Lucky begins streaming July 16.
Next up is The Hawk on Netflix.
Will Ferrell returns to the sports world as former golf superstar Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, a once-great champion trying to reclaim his place at the top. Along the way, he leans on his longtime caddie, played by Keith David, and even finds guidance from a Walmart parking lot soothsayer played by Fortune Feimster.
His comeback puts him on a collision course with old rival Golden Fisk, played by Luke Wilson, and his own son, Lance Hawkins, played by Jimmy Tatro. Along the way, he also crosses paths with fellow Saturday Night Live alumni Chris Parnell and Molly Shannon.
The Hawk feels like a classic mid-2000s comedy in the best possible way—a style that finally seems to be making a comeback. More than two decades into his career, Will Ferrell still knows exactly how to make audiences laugh with the kind of outrageous character only he can play. I laughed throughout and would love to see more adventures with Lonnie Hawkins.
The Hawk streams July 16 on Netflix.
Next up is The Westies on MGM+.
Starring J.K. Simmons, this crime drama is set in early-1980s Hell’s Kitchen and follows the notorious Irish-American gang known as The Westies as they fight to maintain control of their neighborhood while battling the Italian Mafia and growing divisions within their own ranks.
Simmons is outstanding as the gang’s leader, balancing the external threat of the Gotti family with turmoil inside his own organization.
The series is anchored by exceptional writing and features one of the strongest pilot episodes I’ve seen all year. Within minutes, you understand the stakes, the characters, the motivations, and the relationships. It’s remarkably efficient storytelling, and it’s executed just as well as it’s written.
The Westies is absolutely worth going out of your way to watch and is streaming now on MGM+.
Finally, The Real Wolf of Wall Street on Paramount+.
This three-part documentary explores the life of Jordan Belfort, the notorious stockbroker whose memoir inspired Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, one of his most acclaimed films of the last two decades, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie.
Featuring never-before-seen footage, FBI files, and interviews with Belfort’s former associates—including his ex-wife—the documentary chronicles the rise of his financial empire, the fraud that fueled it, and the victims left behind.
It’s a fascinating look at one of the most infamous white-collar criminals in modern history and the true story behind one of cinema’s most unforgettable cautionary tales.
The Real Wolf of Wall Street begins streaming July 14 on Paramount+.
