What to watch and stream on Presidents’ Day 2024

Presidents’ Day 2024 is here. 

Whether you plan to spend the long weekend on vacation or relax at home, there’s always time to kick back in front of the TV. 

From patriotic-themed offerings to Oscar-nominated films to miniseries you may have missed, here’s an essential guide to what to watch, with something for everyone. 

“Oppenheimer” 

This year’s leading Oscars contender is newly available to stream on Peacock, along with several “behind the scenes” featurettes. If you missed it in theaters — or, if you want to re-watch it at home — now you can catch up to all the buzz before the Oscars on March 10. Nominated for 13 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (for Christopher Nolan), and Best Actor (for star Cillian Murphy), the movie tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Murphy), also known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” 

Where to watch: Peacock. 

“President’s Day” 

This 2016 horror comedy follows “zombified” former presidents as they rise from the dead to terrorize a group of teens, who must counter them by summoning  the demonic spirit of John Wilkes Booth. Starring Rob Bebeneck and Matthew Broussard. 

Where to watch: It’s available to rent on Prime Video. 

“True Detective: Night Country” 

Season 4 of the anthology series just ended, and at only 6 episodes, it’s possible to binge it in one day. If you missed it, it’s the perfect time to catch up. Co-starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, the season sees two cops investigating a spooky mystery involving scientists who vanish from a remote research facility. 

Where to watch: Max. 

“The Wedding Singer”

This early-career Adam Sandler movie is quietly one of his best. The 1998 romcom follows Robbie Hart (Sandler), a wedding singer who falls in love with a waitress (Drew Barrymore), and finally wins her over with help from a Billy Idol cameo. 

Where to watch: 11:45 am on TBS on Monday, Feb 19th. 

“Barbie”

If you didn’t get into the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon this summer, taking in the two different films as a double-feature at the movies, you can still recreate it at home. Starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, this Greta Gerwig-directed comedy is also an Oscar contender. (Though it stirred controversy for nominating Gosling for an Oscar while snubbing Robbie). 

Where to watch: Max

“The American Buffalo”

If you want to watch a program that ties to the holiday, it doesn’t get more American than a Ken Burns documentary. This four-hour series traces the animal’s near extinction in the 19th century, impacting Native Americans who depended on Buffalo – and how the species was saved from extinction. 

Where to watch: stream it through the PBS video app. 

“Lessons in Chemistry”

If you missed this miniseries when it came out in October, it’s the perfect time to catch up. Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Bonnie Garmus, this 1960s period piece follows Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson), a brilliant, eccentric and misunderstood chemist who begins hosting a feminist cooking show after she gets fired from her lab job. Fans of “The Queen’s Gambit” will likely enjoy it. 

Where to watch: AppleTV+ 

“Air Force One Down”

If you want a bombastic action movie that’s themed to President’s Day, this new movie just came out on Feb. 9. It follows Allison Miles (Katherine McNamara), a secret service agent who must save the US President (Ian Bohen) after terrorists try to hijack Air Force One. 

Where to watch: available to rent on Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, or YouTube.