What to Stream: 'Hoppers,' 'Love Island,' Lizzo and Death Cab for Cutie
albums
[June 01, 2026]
New albums from Lizzo and Death Cab for Cutie and the streaming service
debut of animated hit “Hoppers” are some of the new television, films,
music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as
selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: the new
season of “Love Island," a new rom-com starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett
Goldstein, XXX and the quiet puzzle game “Swan Song.”
New movies to stream from June 1-7
— With strong reviews and good ticket sales, “Hoppers” was one of the
better received Pixar originals in recent years. The film, a zany
body-swapping comedy about environmental protection, arrives June 3 on
Disney+. In it, Mabel (Piper Curda) is trying to defend a pristine pond
from development by the local mayor (Jon Hamm) when she transforms, or
“hops,” into the body of a robotic beaver. In her review, AP Film Writer
Lindsey Bahr called it a “buoyant, freewheeling adventure.”
— “Office Romance” (Netflix June 5) pairs Jennifer Lopez and Brett
Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”) in a workplace rom com. Lopez stars as a chief
executive of an airline who falls for the company’s new lawyer
(Goldstein). Goldstein also wrote the movie with “Ted Lasso” co-creator
Joe Kelly.
– Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson continues his documentary tours through
music history with “Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the
Weight of the World).” Questlove’s tribute to the seminal Chicago group
debuts on HBO and HBO Max on June 7, days after its premiere at the
Tribeca Festival.
— Harry Lighton’s “Pillion” (HBO Max June 5) is one of the more
memorable love stories in recent years. Harry Melling and Alexander
Skarsgård star as an unlikely BDSM couple: one sings barbershop quartet,
the other is a gruff biker. In my review, I praised “Pillion” as the
portrait of a relationship “in the extreme, one that ultimately, like
any other, is guided by needs and wants.”
— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
New music to stream from June 1-7
— It has been four years since Lizzo last released a full-length
project. That was “Special,” lead by the ubiquitous funk-pop “About Damn
Time.” This time around, she’s promised “good, clean fun” on her new
one, the suggestively titled “B----.” Led by the ’80s ballad “Don’t Make
Me Love U,” it’s clear that she’s still in it for the big pop songs.
— Death Cab for Cutie’s forthcoming studio album, “I Built You A Tower,”
has two main inspirations, if they can be called that. It’s the beloved
indie rock band’s first full-length project since the end of the
anniversary tours for their career-defining albums, 2003’s
“Transatlanticism” and 2005’s “Plans,” which reinvigorated their
songwriting. It was also written while principal songwriter and frontman
Ben Gibbard was going through a separation and eventual divorce. “I was
doing a lot of context switching,” Gibbard told the AP. “I started to
write a lot about how we contextualize, compartmentalize, specifically
our grief.” Luckily, that kind of humanity is the stuff the band excels
in.
— Of the former members of One Direction, Niall Horan has stayed truest
to the boy band’s propulsive pop-rock, but don’t think that means his
matured work is derivative. He’s taken those classic tools and aged
them. “Dinner Party,” his fourth full-length album as a soloist, draws
inspiration from the place where he met his long-term partner. Damien
Rice is a main influence, and the songs are dreamy and romantic.
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This combination of photos show promotional art for the film "Office
Romance," left, the series "The Vampire Lestat," center, and the
film "Pillion." (Netflix/AMC/A24 via AP)
 — It began with “Blackberry
Marmalade,” Vince Staples' first solo song in two years. It was a
heavy introduction to his hyper-independent “Cry Baby” album, out
Friday – all noise-rock, critical messaging (“Empires build on
bloodstained ground,” he opens the first verse) and a music video
styled like a first-person shooter video game. Then came the even
darker “White Flag.” The musician, known for his inventiveness and
often surrealist approach to art making, is clearly taking a direct
approach here.
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman
New series to stream from June 1-7
— Some people look forward to the summer months because of the warm
weather and because school is out. Others get hyped because of a new
season of “Love Island USA,” which begins airing five nights a week
Tuesday on Peacock. The season is approximately six weeks of
scantily clad, single contestants sequestered in a villa in Fiji.
They must couple up or they’re sent home. The last couple remaining
wins a cash prize.
— AMC has given the third season of “Anne Rice’s Interview with a
Vampire” series a new name. The show is now called “The Vampire
Lestat” with Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) sharing his story.
Unhappy with the way he was written in Daniel Molloy’s book, Lestat
forms a rock band and goes on the road. Lestat craves attention and
admiration and he’s certain his rock star persona will attract
adoring fans. AMC is leaning into Lestat’s music, making it
available on music streaming apps. Fun fact: Reid performed his own
songs. “The Vampire Lestat” premieres Sunday, June 7, on AMC and
AMC+.
— Alicia Rancilio
New video games to play from June 1-7
— Amid all the noise and chaos of modern culture, sometimes you just
want to solve a nice, quiet puzzle. That’s what Belgium’s Business
Goose Games is aiming for with “Swan Song.” It’s essentially a music
box with two compartments: one contains sheet music, while the other
contains a maze. You need to choose the right notes in order to make
each maze solvable. The developer’s last mellow brainteaser,
“Sizeable,” found an enthusiastic audience, and its new puzzler has
a similar vibe. Open the box Thursday, June 4, on PC or Mac.
— Lou Kesten
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