Hi, friend!

Welcome back to Worth the Watch, a part of Pix Plus—Pix’s new subscription bundle that goes deeper into the entertainment picks that are actually worth your time.

Somehow, we're already over a third of the way through 2026, which feels like a fair time to assess the best movie and show of the year so far. New stuff is premiering literally every day, so trying to keep up with all of it is a losing battle.

I could easily use this edition to highlight the obvious picks of 2026 so far, like the highly praised new series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and DTF St. Louis. Or tell you why I think the new season of Hacks is the best one yet. But if you're reading this, you've probably already watched those.

So instead, I’m highlighting the best under-the-radar movie and show of the year so far.

Before we get into all that, quick housekeeping on something I teased last week: the monthly movie club.

Here's how it works. Each month, the first edition of Worth the Watch will be a review of a movie picked by you, the readers. Then, we’ll announce next month’s pick. I want this to feel social and community-driven, or as close to that as an email newsletter can be.

The first official movie club edition lands Friday, June 5. And the first pick, based on what you all sent in, is… drumroll please…

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

A love story about heartbreak, regret, and the memories we can’t (or don’t want to) let go of, set inside a memory that's being erased in real time.

You have four weeks! Watch it any time before June 5, and then we'll get into it together.

Best Movie of 2026 (So Far): Sirāt

Streaming on Hulu

When I heard that a movie about ravers was premiering in early 2026, I immediately added it to my “movies I really, really, really wanna watch” list, a shorter and more prioritized version of my general watchlist, which currently sits at 2,508 films. Yes, that’s absurd, I know. The rave community and EDM (Electronic Dance Music) are a big part of my life, so I was eager to see how it would be portrayed in the film. Here’s the most basic, spoiler-free logline: A father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa.

Now on to the review. Don’t worry, I won’t be spoiling any plot points.

Holy shit. Sirāt was a shocker. Undoubtedly one of the most gripping and dreadful films I’ve seen in years. On every technical merit, it’s phenomenal. The desert cinematography is gorgeous. Editing is crisp. But the thing everyone is talking about is the sound design. Sonically, I was blown away. From the very first dance sequence, you’re put in a trance, making the two hour runtime feel like 90 minutes. A blend of industrial techno, hypnotic downtempo, and ambient tracks pulse throughout the film, creating an immersive experience.

In terms of how it made me feel emotionally, I’m conflicted. On one hand, I love an examination of the human condition, no matter how depressing—my favorite novel is A Little Life, if that gives you any idea of the type of content I resonate with. The film explores a lot of uncomfortable truths about the kinds of people drawn to these festivals and what they are often seeking: a loss of self, found family, freedom from responsibility, and sometimes the flip side of that freedom. It also touches on ideas like hubris and layers the story with Islamic symbolism.

The entire film seems to frame itself as an allegory, and from what I’ve researched, much of that symbolism is rooted in Sufi mysticism. If you do not have this context and view the film on a superficial level, a lot of the deeper meaning can be easy to miss. At least that was my experience. It was thought-provoking and has stuck with me, even two months after viewing.

On the other hand, I keep thinking: did it have to be so damn bleak? The tragedies are relentless and heartbreaking. What theme or underlying message was the director trying to explore? Again, maybe this is because of my lack of familiarity with Islam as a religion. But it doesn’t change the fact that it made me feel deflated afterwards.

I don’t believe that movies have to have a deeper, underlying subtext. I also don’t believe that directors owe the viewer a silver lining or sense of catharsis. But given everything going on in our chaotic and stressful world right now, I can understand why some people feel this movie is more upsetting than interesting. If you want a “happily ever after” ending, it might be best to skip this one.

There are some bold, polarizing creative decisions made throughout the film. For me, they worked, but for many others, they did not. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a wide range of 5-star and 1-star reviews. It has sparked some fascinating debates online, and led to a deep conversation between my friend and me on the car ride home. If you, too, appreciate polarizing work that is going to make you think long after the credits roll, it could be one of your favorites of the year.

Watch the trailer

Best Show of 2026 (So Far): Bait

Streaming on Prime Video

This one is a hidden gem in the truest sense of the phrase. The trailer doesn’t even have 5k likes on YouTube! Even my most passionate cinephile friends haven’t heard of it, which is a shame. So let me put you on to Bait.

Riz Ahmed plays Shah Latif, a British Pakistani actor on a career cold streak, still living at home with his parents. Then he lands an audition for the next James Bond, and his life starts unraveling into a full-blown existential crisis and conspiracy at the same time.

Meta shows about actors and Hollywood are usually a hard sell. They either get too pretentious or too inside-baseball. Bait dodges that trap. It uses Shah's career as a way into something bigger: a satire about identity, and the tension between personal ambition and family.

Shah starts to believe that success requires him to become a more “neutral” or traditionally British version of himself. He's auditioning to play James Bond—about as British and as white-coded a franchise that exists—for an industry that has historically shut out actors who look like him. The more obsessed he gets about the role, the more the people in his life start asking the same question: Is he breaking through for his community, or selling out and forgetting where he came from?

Tonally, the show is all over the map in the best way. One minute it's an industry drama, the next it feels like a psychological thriller, then suddenly a surreal comedy where Shah is having full conversations with a talking pig head—the manifestation of his internalized self-hatred, anxiety, and spiraling identity crisis.

It's also legitimately funny—there's a recurring bit where strangers keep mistaking him for Dev Patel. The show keeps finding new ways to land it, and it gets better every time.

Still not sold? Think Atlanta meets Barry. If you enjoyed either of those shows, you’ll appreciate Bait.

Watch the trailer

What to watch if you’re caught up

10 New Hidden Gems
to Watch ASAP

John Farrar, the guy who watches everything @ Pix Media

Currently watching: Hacks

John Farrar went to film school, spent a few years as an editor, then accidentally built an audience online by sharing his passion for cinema. He covers film and TV for Pix Media, interviews the people behind some of your favorite shows and movies, and has never once successfully talked himself out of buying a movie ticket.