July 4th Binge List: Best TV and Movie Marathons This Year
Grilled hot dogs, plastic lawn chairs, and distant fireworks are classic. But sometimes the most patriotic move is staying inside with the AC blasting and the TV remote firmly in hand. The July 4th weekend is peak marathon season. Networks and streaming platforms know this, and they’ve lined up a full slate of nostalgic reruns, fan-favorite franchises, and finales. But try not to get overwhelmed. We’ve helped you filter a couple of them that stand out and are actually worth your screen time over the holiday weekend.
Despicable Me 4 + Minion Madness
Image via Unsplash/ Justin Lim
In theaters now, earlier films on Peacock and Netflix
Universal’s rolling out Despicable Me 4 just in time for the long weekend, and if you haven’t had your fill of banana-loving sidekicks, you can find the earlier entries on major streaming platforms. The new film introduces Gru Jr. because even villains eventually settle down. If you have kids visiting or need a break from true crime marathons, this is two hours of yellow chaos and pop-song needle drops that won’t leave you feeling drained.
The Twilight Zone
Streaming on Heroes & Icons, July 3–7
Is it really the Fourth of July if Rod Serling isn’t monologuing about human frailty? Heroes & Icons kicks off its annual The Twilight Zone marathon on July 3 at 6 a.m. ET and keeps it rolling until July 7. That’s over 100 episodes, including the classics like To Serve Man and Nightmare at 20,000 Feet. It’s become a staple of Independence Day programming, and it’s the only marathon that still makes you question your reflection after midnight.
Yellowstone
Streaming free on Pluto More TV Drama Channel, July 4
Paramount Network starts reruns on July 3, but Pluto TV’s free channel makes catching up on the Dutton family drama easier. They are offering free streaming of Yellowstone through Season 4. Watch Kevin Costner play America’s most intense rancher while navigating scenes that somehow make cattle seem dangerous. Episodes air all day on July 4. It will be the perfect background noise while someone flips the burgers.
Law & Order: SVU + Harry Potter Combo
Image via Unsplash/Rithika Gopal
Airing on USA Network, July 3–4
This is a bold double feature by USA Network that combines two massive franchises for a two-day marathon event. Get ready for Mariska Hargitay chasing bad guys in New York, followed by Daniel Radcliffe yelling “Expelliarmus” with increasing concern. The channel will be switching between both on July 3 and 4. It’s a little chaotic, but honestly, if your weekend includes Olivia Benson and Professor McGonagall, you’re doing fine.
Star Trek Movie Marathon
Streaming on MGM+, July 6
On Sunday, MGM+ is airing a lineup of Star Trek films starting at 8:30 a.m. ET and running into the next morning. It’s an ambitious watch, but there are worse ways to spend a Sunday than listening to Leonard Nimoy drop wisdom in that perfectly calm Vulcan voice. If you’ve never seen William Shatner wrestle with cosmic dread or Patrick Stewart quote Shakespeare in space, this is your chance. Sheldon Cooper might think he’s in heaven.
MaXXXine
In theaters now
Ti West’s horror trilogy wraps up with MaXXXine, and Mia Goth is back in full scream-queen form. Set in 1980s Los Angeles, the film is part slasher, part commentary on fame, and all neon as Mia Goth’s character Maxine navigates the dark side of Hollywood. It’s for viewers who like their fireworks with blood splatter and VHS grain.
The Office + Parks and Recreation
Airing on Comedy Central, July 4 from 7:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. ET
This Comedy Central lineup brings all the banter. And yes, “Freedom Fries” gets a mention somewhere. It’s a back-to-back sitcom marathon that feels like a warm hug from mid-2010s Netflix. These workplace comedies are rewatchable for a reason—the characters are familiar, the humor still holds up, and the episodes are short enough to keep things moving.
Cobra Kai (Final Season, Part 1)
Streaming on Netflix, July 18 — catch up now
Technically, the new season lands later in July, but this weekend is the perfect time to revisit the saga. The Karate Kid sequel series has five seasons of teen drama, dojo rivalries, and surprising character arcs. Watching Johnny Lawrence stumble through life never gets old, and Daniel LaRusso is still waxing on like it’s 1984. The characters have grown, the rivalries have deepened, and with a new Karate Kid movie in the works, now’s a good time to see where things stand.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Image via Unsplash/Ramon Buçard
Streaming on Max
There’s a scene in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire where one of the monsters actually uses a famous landmark as a mattress. That’s the kind of movie this is. It just landed on Max, and it’s pure, colorful chaos from start to finish. The bright pink and blue colors have even inspired internet memes, and people can’t stop talking about it. If you want something loud, wild, and totally over-the-top for the Fourth of July weekend, this is it.
Lost
Streaming on Netflix (newly added)
Yes, Lost has been around since 2004, but it’s still worth revisiting to get confused by time travel again. Netflix added the full six seasons in July 2024, and the rewatch value is surprisingly high. Without the week-to-week cliffhangers, the narrative holds together in new ways. The characters still land, and the mysteries still provoke debate. If nothing else, it’s good conversation fodder for anyone who still has opinions about the finale and what The Constant was actually about.
Three’s Company + Two and a Half Men
IFC, July 3
IFC’s back-to-back marathon of Three’s Company and Two and a Half Men might be the most unexpected pairing of the weekend. One gives us slapstick misunderstandings and shag carpeting, whereas the other leans into cynical one-liners and jingles about jingle-writing. Both shows knew their audiences and committed to the bit. It’s great for the kind of nostalgia you’d expect in Independence Day.
Futurama
Streaming on Hulu
Futurama is a show that has died and returned more often than your average soap opera character. It’s currently mid-season again, with fresh episodes and all 11 earlier seasons available on Hulu. Watching Fry navigate the future feels even more relevant now, and the mix of offbeat science fiction and emotional gut-punches still makes it one of animation’s smartest, strangest shows.
Bones Marathon
BBC America, July 4 starting at 6 a.m. ET
There’s comfort in procedural repetition, and Bones delivers exactly that with science, murder, and interpersonal tension at a steady clip. BBC America is airing episodes all day on July 4 and running well into the night. That’s hours of Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) cracking cases, trading banter, and diving deep into forensic science.
Nick at Nite Throwback Block
VH1, July 2–6
If you grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s, VH1’s lineup this weekend is like opening a time capsule. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, My Wife and Kids, and Wild ‘N Out all return for multi-day runs, airing from July 2 through July 6. It’s easy, feel-good TV that you can watch with family.
Barbecue Showdown (Season 3)
Image via Unsplash/ Evan Wise
Streaming on Netflix
Season 3 of Barbecue Showdown just dropped on Netflix, right in time for the holiday weekend. This season has the same chill cooking contest energy and features nine new contestants, all competing for a $50,000 grand prize in eight episodes of meat-smoking challenges. The show is hosted by comedian Michelle Buteau, with judges Kevin Bludso and Melissa Cookston bringing serious barbecue expertise.