Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photo Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Listen to the podcast version of this story, featuring audio clips from this weekend’s new releases.

This weekend, the God of Thunder battles an adorable one-inch-tall shell in theaters while three new entertainment properties premiere on streaming platforms.

“Thor: Love and Thunder” finds the God of Thunder — played by Chris Hemsworth — on a journey of self-discovery. When his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher — played by Christian Bale — who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg and his ex-girlfriend Jane — played by Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi and Natalie Portman, respectively. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of Gorr’s vengeance and stop him before it is too late. The latest installment in Marvel’s cinematic superhero universe is playing exclusively in theaters.

Meanwhile, “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is a part-live-action and part-stop-motion-animation film about an adorable one-inch-tall shell who, once part of a sprawling community, now lives with his grandmother as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings the little shell millions of passionate fans — as well as unprecedented dangers and new hope at finding his long-lost community. The family-friendly feature, which focuses on finding connections in the smallest corners, is playing exclusively in theaters.

In “Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between,” Talia Ryder and Jordan Fisher play high school seniors who make a pact to break up before college with no regrets and no broken hearts. However, one epic goodbye date may offer them a last chance at love. The romantic drama, which is based on the novel of the same title by Jennifer E. Smith, is streaming exclusively on Netflix.

Taron Edgerton plays a high school football hero and decorated policeman’s son who is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum-security prison on drug-related charges in “Black Bird.” When he is offered an opportunity to regain his freedom in exchange for entering a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane, befriending a suspected serial killer — played by Paul Walter Hauser — and eliciting a confession, he must walk a very fine line to survive. The six-episode crime drama is streaming exclusively on Apple TV.

Finally, Rebecca Rittenhouse plays the title character in “Maggie,” a romantic comedy series about a psychic who begins to see glimpses of her own destiny after meeting an unexpected stranger. The 13-episode series is streaming exclusively on Hulu.

Whether you embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure in “Thor: Love and Thunder,” have your heart tugged at by “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” experience the highs and lows of “Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between,” be drawn to the edge of your seat during “Black Bird” or fall in love with “Maggie,” this weekend’s new releases are guaranteed to enthrall.