Pop CultureJuly 28, 2025

New To Streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week

Thomas Giblin

Guest writer

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We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+.

Chief of War (Apple TV+, August 1)

This sweeping nine-part historical drama has been Jason Momoa’s passion project for the past few years, and is one of the most anticipated TV releases of 2025. Based on true events, Chief of War is told from the perspective of Ka’iana (Momoa), a fierce leader who wants to unite Hawaii’s four warring kingdoms before the existential threat of colonisation appears in the late 18th century. Shot in both Hawai’i and Aotearoa, the series was co-created, co-written and co-directed by Momoa and features an impressive cast that includes Cliff Curtis, Temuera Morrison, Luciane Buchanan and Te Kohe Tuhaka.

The Assassin (ThreeNow, August 3)

Created by brothers Harry and Jack Williams (The Missing), this action-packed crime thriller sees Keeley Hawes star as Julie, a retired assassin living on a sun-kissed Greek island. In the midst of an awkward reunion with her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore), Julie’s secret headhunter’s past resurfaces, and the dysfunctional mother-son duo are forced to flee. Can they outrun the assassins close on their tail, while also repairing their fraught relationship? Early reviews called The Assassin a “funny mum-as-a-hitwoman drama that’s like nothing else” and warn “we’ve never met a hitwoman like Keeley Hawes’ Julie“.

Love It or List It NZ (TVNZ+, August 3)

Paul Glover and Alex Walls in Love It or List It NZ (Photo: TVNZ)

In this locally-made spin on British property series Love It or List It, interior designer Alex Walls and real estate agent Paul Glover join forces as Aotearoa’s answer to Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer. Here to aid everyday homeowners who are ready for change, Walls will renovate their existing tired home into a modern, functional property, while Glover will tempt the owners to list their home by showcasing the best local properties on the market. Will these homeowners fall back in love with their house, or will they be tempted to list it – and will Love It or List It NZ hit the heights of its UK counterpart? Tune in to see.

Outrageous (Neon, July 30)

Even if you haven’t heard of the Mitford sisters, this big-budget BBC drama is one to seek out. Set in Britain during the turbulent 1930s, the TV adaptation of Mary S. Lovell’s best-selling biography tells the scandal-ridden story of six sisters born into British aristocracy. The Mitford family was never far from the headlines, particularly as each of their lives sprouted in markedly different directions – infamously, one became a committed communist, another a fervid fascist. Rich with historical detail, Outrageous captures the political and social tensions of the 1930s, making it an extremely timely watch.

My Life is Murder (TVNZ+, August 3)

Lighthearted crime series My Life is Murder returns for a fifth intriguing season. Set in Tāmaki Makaurau, My Life in Murder follows the determined Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless), a former detective-turned-private investigator who helps police solve perplexing murder cases. Aided by a motley crew of amateur sleuths, this season will feature a new batch of thrilling cases for Crowe to crack, and includes guest stars like Keisha Castle-Hughes and Rhys Darby. Back in 2022, Lawless told The Spinoff that My Life is Murder is a vibrant love letter to our biggest city. “You know, they’re watching this all across America and England, and Auckland looks beautiful,” she said. “Auckland is a beautiful, vibrant, modern city. I think we should all start celebrating it.”

Pick of the Flicks: Hijack 1971 (Prime Video, July 31)

Between 1968 and 1972, there were a staggering 326 attempted plane hijackings around the world. Inspired by one of these real-life attempts, the thrilling Hijack 1971 is set in the stormy skies above South Korea and features Ha Jung-woo as Tae-in, a disgraced fighter pilot-turned-first officer. Minutes after take off, Tae-in is confronted by a hijacker (Yeo Jin-goo) who demands that the plane reroute to North Korea, a fate that could doom the passengers to a lifetime of internment. Described as an utterly engrossing white-knuckle ride, Hijack 1971 is a tension-filled alternative to a traditional Hollywood blockbuster.