The Vampire Lestat Just Hit Its Midseason Peak — And the Theaters Are Stealing All the Attention
Sam Reid is giving the performance of the summer and nobody's talking about it because Christopher Nolan just dropped a $250 million IMAX epic. Let's fix that — plus your streaming picks for a week when theaters are absolutely dominating.
I need to talk about Sam Reid.
I know, I know — The Odyssey just landed, Moana's holding strong, Spider-Man is around the corner. The theaters are winning right now and everyone's attention is on the big screen. I get it. But if you've been sleeping on The Vampire Lestat, we need to have a conversation.
The Vampire Lestat — Midseason Verdict
Where: AMC / AMC+ Status: Midseason (episode 5 of 8) Binge-worthiness: 9/10
When AMC rebranded Interview with the Vampire as The Vampire Lestat for this season, I was skeptical. Renaming your show is usually a sign of panic. Instead, it turned out to be the most honest creative decision on television this year.
Because this IS Sam Reid's show now. And he knows it.
The midseason turning point — which I won't spoil — is the kind of episode that makes you sit up on the couch and say "wait, they're really doing this." Reid's Lestat has gone full rock star. Not metaphorically. He is literally a vampire who becomes a rock star. It shouldn't work. It absolutely works.
The show has this fearlessness that the original film with Tom Cruise only hinted at. Anne Rice's novels always had this flamboyant, excessive, emotionally unhinged energy. The show finally found it.
If you haven't started this season, you've got 5 episodes to catch up on before the back half hits. Do it this weekend while everyone else is at the IMAX.
What Else to Stream This Week
Honestly? This is a thin week for new streaming premieres. July belongs to the theaters right now, and the streaming platforms seem to know it. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to watch.
Catch-Up Picks
Elle (Prime Video) — If you still haven't binged the Legally Blonde prequel, this is your sign. All episodes are out. Lexi Minetree carries the whole thing. It's lighter than anything else on this list and sometimes that's exactly what you need after a three-hour Nolan epic. 8/10
Dutton Ranch (Paramount+) — The Yellowstone successor is settling into its groove. It's not Yellowstone — nothing will be Yellowstone — but it's finding its own identity. Cole Hauser is doing the heavy lifting. If you're 4-5 episodes in and on the fence, I'd say stick with it. It gets better. 7/10
Rivals S2 (Hulu) — If you finished this already, respect. If you haven't, it's even soapier than season 1 and I mean that as a compliment. 8/10
The Rewatch Pick
I know this is going to sound weird, but: rewatch The Prestige. With all the Nolan hype this week, go back to the one that's his most rewatchable. Every time you watch it, you catch something new. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale at their absolute best. If you haven't seen it in a few years, it's on streaming and it holds up perfectly.
The Reality Check
Look, I'm a streaming person. That's my whole thing. But I have to be honest: the theaters are winning this week. The Odyssey is a once-in-a-decade event. Cut Off looks genuinely funny. Moana is still going strong.
Sometimes the best streaming week is the one where you catch up on what you've been meaning to watch. Binge The Vampire Lestat. Finish Elle. Rewatch The Prestige. And then go to the IMAX, because Nolan in IMAX is not something you skip.
The streamers will have their moment again. For now, let the theaters cook.
See you on the couch — after the IMAX. 🍿
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