Every month, all the major streaming services add a host of newly acquired (or just plain new) shows, movies, and documentaries into their ever-rotating libraries. So what’s a dedicated reader to watch? Well, whatever you want, of course, but the name of this website is Literary Hub, so we sort of have an angle. To that end, here’s a selection of the best (and most enjoyably bad) literary film and TV coming to streaming services this month. Have fun.

NEW:

Cape Fear
Apple TV, June 5

Literary bona fides: based on John D. MacDonald’s The Executioners (1957)

Horror buffs are likely familiar with the two existing Cape Fear movies, both based on John D. MacDonald’s 1957 novel The Executioners (or at least Scorsese’s 1991 remake with Robert De Niro), in which a recently released criminal takes revenge on the lawyer who helped put him in prison. In this latest take, a miniseries, Javier Bardem steps into De Niro’s shoes as Max Cady and Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson star as his (married) onetime attorneys. And for extra literary juice, look for the episode written by Brian Evenson!

Pillion (streaming debut)
HBO Max, June 5

Literary bona fides: based on Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones (2020)

From our 2026 Literary Film & TV Preview. Harry Melling stars as a young introvert who meets an older biker (Alexander Skarsgård) and becomes his submissive. The movie has been out in the UK for a few months, where it’s been met with critical acclaim: in The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw wrote that “it’s basically what Fifty Shades of Grey should have been” and called it “a BDSM Wallace and Gromit,” which is something I really have to see.

The Vampire Lestat
AMC, June 7

Literary bona fides: based on Ann Rice’s The Vampire Lestat (1985)

AMC’s latest addition to its expanding Anne Rice-based Immortal Universe sees Lestat (here played by Sam Reid) starts a band—and quibbles with the events of Interview with the Vampire. This trailer may be tonally incomprehensible but it also looks like fun?

I Will Find You
Netflix, June 18

Literary bona fides: based on Harlan Coben’s I Will Find You (2023)

Harlan Coben adds another adaptation to his Netflix slate: in I Will Find You, Sam Worthington stars as David Burroughs, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his son—a murder he didn’t commit. But when he hears that his son may be alive after all, he must uncover the truth. Also starring Britt Lower and Milo Ventimiglia.

In the Hand of Dante
Netflix, June 24

Literary bona fides: based on Nick Tosches’ In the Hand of Dante (2002)

In which a writer (Oscar Isaac) helps a mob boss steal the original handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy. Also in which Dante Alighieri (Oscar Isaac) struggles to write his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy. Honestly can’t believe they made a movie out of this novel, but very curious to see how it turns out. Julian Schnabel directs, and Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, Jason Momoa, John Malkovich, and Al Pacino co-star, along with Martin Scorsese himself.

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THROWBACK:

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
HBO Max, June 1

Literary bona fides: based on James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice (1943)

The “original” adaptation (it was actually the third, but the first in English) is still the greatest. Lana Turner alone is worth the price of admission.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Netflix, June 1

Literary bona fides: Fannie Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (1987)

Serving up some piping hot Millennial nostalgia, complete with Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Hulu, June 1

Literary bona fides: based on Annie Proulx’s “Brokeback Mountain” (1997)

One of our Best Literary Film Adaptations of the Last 50 Years for good reason.

Poor Things (2023)
Netflix, June 7

Literary bona fides: based on Alasdair Gray’s Poor Things: Episodes from the Early Life of Archibald McCandless M.D., Scottish Public Health Officer (1992)

Whatever your opinions on Yorgos Lanthimos, this film—his best, according to our critic—is worth having another one about.