Winter Storm Creates Perfect Time to Binge These 7 Shows and Movies on Netflix, HBO Max, and more

Consider yourself quite fortunate if you live out on the West Coast, as much of the United States is bracing for Winter Storm Fern, expected to impact roughly 230 million Americans. Given the prospect that they could be facing multiple inches of snow, ice, freezing rain, and just all-around cold weather, countless people are preparing themselves. Whether that be whipping out the snow boots and shovel, or going to the grocery store to find whatever bread they can, the keyword for many in the US right now is preparation. 

With that being said, streamers will likely be looking for something to occupy their time “stuck” inside. That’s why I’ve managed to put together a list of recent releases across streaming services, such as Netflix and HBO Max, that are worth binging if you haven’t already. 

What 7 TV Shows and Movies Should You Binge During Winter Storm Fern?

Catch Up with ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 (HBO Max)

The Pitt Season 2 has officially premiered with the first few episodes available to stream. The second season is just as captivating as the first, with the complex characters and all too real storylines. Heads up, in Season 2 Episode 2, “8:00 A.M.,” there is quite the provocative scene that tops even the baby delivery moment of Season 1. 

‘The Smashing Machine’ (HBO Max on January 23)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson delivered arguably some of his best work in The Smashing Machine. He stars as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, alongside Emily Blunt, in a riveting tale about Kerr’s complex quest for greatness. Johnson earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role. 

Catch up with ‘The Traitors’ Season 4 ( Peacock)

Alan Cumming is back with another installment of The Traitors, and Season 4 is very entertaining. Michael Rapaport, Porsha Williams, and Donna Kelce are TV gold. Jason and Travis Kelce should be proud of their mother, Donna, as she so far is holding her own against those used to reality TV antics and is still in the competition.

‘Ponies’ Season 1 (Peacock)

Emilia Clarke once again breaks from her role as The Mother of Dragons in Game of Thrones, this time portraying the wife of a CIA agent in the spy thriller Ponies. When her husband ultimately dies, she finds herself becoming a CIA operative. The new series is a hit among critics and has a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes (as of publication). 

‘The Rip’ (Netflix)

The Rip has everything you want in a good action flick. It has great acting spearheaded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, several good fight sequences, and the plot twist at the end may cause your mouth to drop. While the beginning of the movie takes off a little slow, things pick up and get wildly interesting. 

‘His & Hers’ Season 1 (Netflix)

When the next round of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations are announced, I would be completely shocked if His & Hers isn’t in the mix. The six-episode murder mystery is good from beginning to end, and Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal certainly did their characters justice. As the mystery unravels as to who is behind the murders, you’re almost guaranteed to be shocked by the big reveals in the final episode. 

‘Steal’ Season 1 (Prime Video)

Another Game of Thrones alum has a new show, and this time I’m referring to Sophie Turner. She stars as an office worker caught in the middle of a multi-billion-dollar heist. Of course, this isn’t an ordinary robbery, so there are a few twists sure to surprise viewers. 

Don’t Forget College Basketball, The Austrailian Open, and the NFL Conference Championship Games

It should go without saying that there are plenty of sporting events this weekend to watch. On the college basketball front, the University of Michigan takes on Ohio State, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill clashes with the University of Virginia, and the University of Illinois goes head-to-head against Purdue University. 

In The Land Down Under, The Australian Open is still in full effect. So you have time to catch up with Djokovic, Tiafoe, Osaka, and more, who are still in the hunt for the championship title. (I’m secretly pulling for Tiafoe's breakthrough win.)

And last, but certainly not least, the NFL is down to its final four teams on the road to the Super Bowl. Will the Patriots finally step out of Bill Belichick’s shadow and deliver the performance necessary to get past the top-seeded Broncos? Additionally, can the Rams upset the number one seed, the Seahawks?

Related: 'Sinners' Delroy Lindo Gets First Oscar Nomination, but Does It Make Up for 2021 Snub?