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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See '28 Years Later' in theaters, rent 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' and 'Friendship,' stream 'A Minecraft Movie' on Max, plus more movies to watch this weekend
Hello, Yahoo Entertainment readers! Brett Arnold here, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. As a film critic who hosts a podcast called Roger (Ebert) & Me, I watch it all so I can bring you recommendations you can trust, and this week there are tons of movies to put on your radar. 28 Years Later, the highly anticipated sequel to 2003's 28 Days Later (which, hot tip, is available to stream on Pluto TV) arrives in theaters alongside Elio, the latest from Disney-Pixar in the kiddie sci-fi adventure genre. At home, recent hits like Final Destination: Bloodlines and A24's Friendship are now available to rent. On streaming, A Minecraft Movie comes to HBO Max, and a couple of indie flicks worth your time land on Shudder and Paramount+ with Showtime. Read on because there's something for everyone. What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies debuting on streaming services you may already have Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: First things first: 28 Years Later is the start of a planned trilogy, a fact you'd never know unless you're extremely plugged into reading about movies online. The sequel is already shot and has a January 2026 release date. The third film has not yet been produced. The movie, disappointingly, is very much part one of three, feeling like an act one more than a cohesive and fully satisfying whole. An out-of-the-blue tonal shift button at the end is the only real indicator that there's more on the way, as the story of this movie pretty much ends, and there's an extra scene that teases something entirely different to come. There's plenty to praise here, though, despite that inherent disappointment in expecting a finished product and getting merely the start of one. The creative team behind the original film returns, with Danny Boyle in the director's chair, Alex Garland penning the script and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle doing incredible work and keeping up with the digital aesthetic that became synonymous with 28 Days Later by shooting the movie on modified iPhone 15s. The film takes place, well, 28 years after the rage virus began, and in that time the infected have evolved, but I won't spoil the sheer fun and horror of discovering these new variants. Like all good zombie flicks, it reflects on the era in which it was made, and there are obvious parallels here to real-world events like Brexit. It's hard to not think of the film as a response to the mass death we all experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's a more thoughtful and somber film than some may be expecting, lighter on zombie action than its predecessors and more focused on domestic drama and acceptance of circumstances. It's surprisingly emotionally affecting by the third act, once Ralph Fiennes, the film's MVP, enters. Protagonist Alfie Williams, a child actor making his debut, is terrific too. Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson both feel more like plot conveniences than characters. It's a shame that the movie is undercut by the 'this is the start of a trilogy' of it all, because when it works, it's damned good, and Boyle is really back in top form. It's a terrific showcase for his heightened, damn-near experimental style. In short, it's still good but may not be the movie audiences are expecting. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics are big fans of it. AP's Jake Coyle writes, "Buried in here are some tender reflections on mortality and misguided exceptionalism, and even the hint of those ideas make 28 Years Later a more thoughtful movie than you're likely to find at the multiplex this time of year." William Bibbiani at TheWrap agrees, writing that "the filmmakers haven't redefined the zombie genre, but they've refocused their own culturally significant riff into a lush, fascinating epic that has way more to say about being human than it does about (re-)killing the dead." 👀 How to watch: 28 Years Later is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets 🤔 If that's not for you... : The latest from Disney-Pixar arrives after a yearlong delay and a new creative team taking over the project, and the movie does show signs of tinkering. It's a story about a boy with dead parents who doesn't feel like he belongs on Earth, so he hopes to be abducted by aliens, which then happens. They mistake him for the leader of Earth, which he runs with. Despite the messiness that rears its head, mostly in the form of too many characters and subplots, it's imaginative and sweet in the way we've come to expect from Pixar, and it's fun to see the storied animation studio trafficking in sci-fi tropes that adults will recognize as references to classic films and kids will find new and exciting. It's a solid effort, but definitely not up there with the best of them. — Get tickets. :Another week, another Die Hard variant, this time it's a comedy-focused spin on the material starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky and recent Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph. The premise here is 'Die Hard meets Bridesmaids,' with the action scenario unfolding at a wedding and the maid of honor being a secret agent, much to the surprise of the rest of the wedding party. It's not without a few laughs, but it's largely uninspired, and your mileage will vary depending on how funny you find Wilson. — Get tickets. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Final Destination: Bloodlines was a box office success, making more than $273 million worldwide. Now that it's available to rent or buy at home, I hope even more people tune in. This movie is an absolute blast and finds a clever and fun way to retool the concept of the series. As I previously wrote, the bread and butter of the franchise, cruelly funny Rube Goldberg-style death sequences that have a lot of fun teasing the audience with misdirects before landing on the ultimate mode of demise, is in top form here, one-upping itself as it goes with some truly jaw-dropping set pieces. Formula can really be such a comfort, even if it's disgustingly gruesome! It also features an unexpectedly emotional send-off to the late Tony Todd, as it becomes clear that the scene was written with the knowledge that he didn't have much time left. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's the highest-rated entry in the series with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Radheyan Simonpillai at the Guardian raved that it 'breathes new life' into the franchise, and Jacob Oller at the AV Club says it 'honors a legacy of unrepentant silliness and gleeful gore with a knowing wink.' 👀 How to watch: Final Destination: Bloodlines is now available to rent or purchase on digital and on-demand. Rent or buy 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' 🤔 If those aren't for you... I first recommended this movie when it hit theaters and now that it's available to watch at home, I stand by what I previously wrote: It's a silly movie that knows it, and it has a lot of fun getting as bloody as possible. — Rent or buy. A good old-fashioned horror flick — no irony to be found here, just pure commitment to its own spooky aesthetic — that mashes up A Nightmare on Elm Street with a more generic supernatural 'urban legend' flick. It's a cheap indie, but it has a great creature design, the backstory they've come up with is compelling, and there are several unsettling images throughout. It's solid!— Rent or buy. The comedy of Tim Robinson is definitely not for everyone, but those who do appreciate his sense of humor rabidly anticipate his work. It's about a suburban dad (Robinson) with an unsatisfied wife (Kata Mara) and a kid who thinks he's a loser befriending his super cool neighbor (Rudd) and becoming a little too into him. It's funny throughout — if you find Robinson's antics amusing — and likely aggravating if you don't. It also features probably the funniest drug trip sequence of all time. — Rent or buy. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: This documentary about astronaut Sally Ride delves into an aspect of her life that was once hidden from public view. It's about her life with Tam O'Shaughnessy, her life partner of 27 years whose existence was only made known after Ride's death from cancer in 2012. The dramatizations of their relationship that occur in the film feel a bit off, but once you realize they're doing it because there's no documented evidence of their relationship, the tactic hits home. It's an enlightening doc about a fascinating subject. 🍿 What critics are saying: Lisa Kennedy at Variety notes that O'Shaughnessy's "candor here marries a spectacular professional saga with the personal love story convincingly." Caryn James at the Hollywood Reporter sums it up well: "Sally stands perfectly well without any fussy touches, as an important addition to the record of what we know about a pioneering cultural figure — in all her complexity, ambition and guardedness." .👀 How to watch: Sally is now streaming on Hulu. Stream 'Sally' My recommendation: Why you should maybe watch it: I previously recommended A Minecraft Movie and what I thought then still stands: I am not the target demographic so I did not enjoy it but the movie is a huge hit and kids are going absolutely feral for it. Helmed by director Jared Hess, the man behind Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, it feels like a movie made by the guy who made those, and that's fun, but there's just something ironic about the idea of making a movie about the power of creativity and imagination that's indistinguishable from similar formulaic fare about characters chasing a glowing orb. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics gave it a 48%, according to Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is 85%. The Atlantic's David Sims wrote that it's "the first genuine smash hit of the floundering 2025 movie season, and I exult in anything that's bringing young people to cineplexes, even if the film occasionally made me want to pop an Advil." Mark Kennedy at the Associated Press, however, liked it and praised Jason Momoa's performance in particular. .👀 How to watch: A Minecraft Movie is now streaming on HBO Max. Stream 'A Minecraft Movie' 🤔 If that's not for you... Musician turned filmmaker Flying Lotus directed this derivative sci-fi horror flick that's all style over substance. If you've seen genre classics like The Thing, Alien or Solaris, or even something like Event Horizon, you've seen this movie, which plays like a mash-up of all of those films and more. It never transcends the fact that it's a love letter to other films to become its own movie, even if it has some striking visuals. Starring Eiza Gonzáles and Aaron Paul. — Now streaming on Shudder. Love Me couldn't be stranger: It's a love story set in a post-apocalyptic, human-free future, between a buoy and a satellite. The story spans billions of years as they learn what life was like on Earth, and the two sentient beings discover themselves and what it means to be alive and in love. It's easier to watch than it is to explain, and it stars Kirsten Stewart and Steven Yuen. — Now streaming on Paramount+ w/ Showtime. That's all for this week — see you next Friday at the movies!
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See Stephen King's 'The Life of Chuck' in theaters, rent 'The Amateur,' stream 'Cleaner' on HBO Max, plus more movies to watch this weekend
Hello, Yahoo Entertainment readers! Brett Arnold here, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. This week I was on vacation and still managed to see a bunch of movies — that's real dedication to this service I provide. I liked a lot of what I watched and think you will too, including The Life of Chuck, a new Stephen King flick with Oscar ambitions hitting theaters nationwide and the action flick Diablo, which is available to rent or buy at home. There's also not just one but two new movies worth watching that are debuting on streaming services you may already have: Echo Valley on Apple TV+ and Deep Cover on Amazon Prime Video. But that's not all — keep reading for more recommendations because there's something for everyone. What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies debuting on streaming services you may already have Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: The Life of Chuck isn't your average Stephen King adaptation. Based on a short story in the 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the film is a perfect match of filmmaker and material. and Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, who previously adapted King's Gerald's Game and Shining sequel Doctor Sleep, his work — notably Netflix's popular The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor — often gets dinged for his saccharine approach and flowery dialogue. However, they feel like an asset here, honed to great effect. The gimmick of the story is that it follows an ordinary man's life but in reverse order, from act three to act one. In the process, we learn about his life, as well as the life he didn't live but might have enjoyed more. It may sound corny, but by the time act two hits, I was fully in the palm of the movie's hand and openly weeping, both in a sad way and in a revelatory, beautiful, life-affirming way. Saying any more would be a disservice to this very special and quietly powerful film, which is equally inspiring as it is deeply sad and depressing. It features Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan and Jacob Tremblay. 🍿 What critics are saying: They (mostly) love it! Shirley Li at The Atlantic wrote, "I fell for the film's earnest insistence that each of us has access to an inner world no one else can ever fully know; that message, as trite as it may be, is particularly touching because of its pointed delivery." Even a detractor like Time's Stephanie Zacharek said of the film's best scene that when in motion, The Life of Chuck "really is transcendent." 👀 How to watch: The Life of Chuck is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets 🤔 If that's not for you... Celine Song, in her sophomore effort following the critically acclaimed Past Lives, ups the star power with Dakota Johnson in a love triangle, of sorts, with Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. The movie doesn't live up to the emotional highs of her debut film and the message sticks to standard rom-com platitudes. After a wild tonal shift in the second act, the movie never recovers. Also, I expected a subversive element or a twist, but it never came. However, the cast makes the cost of a movie ticket worth it. I enjoyed seeing Evans act in a real movie again after years of Marvel and streaming fare and Johnson turned in one of her best performances. Pascal, as per usual, is effortlessly good. Ultimately, the script lets the actors down. — Get tickets. The trend of live-action remakes of animated classics continues, this time with Dreamworks's 15-year-old computer-animated How to Train Your Dragon, a franchise that is so successful it's spawned multiple sequels, a TV series and a section at Universal's new theme park. The main issue with this movie is that there's no real reason to do this particular story in live-action, save for the fact that it will make a boatload of money. It lacks the color and visual imagination on display in the animated version and looks way darker and murkier than it should. It's otherwise totally serviceable redux that's identical to the original storywise, yet somehow a full 30 minutes longer. Kids will love it. — Get tickets. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: If the names Scott Adkins or Marko Zaror mean anything to you, you're well-versed in direct-to-video action and martial arts movies, in which case I don't need to sell you on this. If you're not: keep reading. Diablo has brutal hand-to-hand combat in which you feel every blow, exciting camerawork, kick-ass fight choreography and just enough of an engaging (but generic) story upon which the action can hang its hat. This doesn't seem like it's going to be the kind of movie that features a guy with a giant metal fist that's also a knife, and yet, there he is, killing a ton of people. It's insanely violent and over-the-top in the best way, a throwback to '80s action flicks, though it may go too far for some. 🍿 What critics are saying: Reviews are pretty split. Travis Hopson agrees that "it does what it promises to do and that's deliver intense martial arts action from two of the best in the game." Robert Brian Taylor over at Collider pointed out that "it's surprisingly dark undertones stop it from rising much above" the baseline of fun you get from the fight scenes. 👀 How to watch: Diablo is now available to rent or purchase on digital and on-demand. Rent or buy 🤔 If that's not for you... : French filmmaker François Ozon, the man behind several notable films including 2003's Swimming Pool, directed this engrossing and darkly comedic thriller. It's quiet until it's not, packing quite a few surprises and sneaking up on you in the best way. — Rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video. Bonjour Tristesse: This new adaptation of playwright and novelist Françoise Sagan's iconic 1954 novel, which was previously adapted in 1958, stars Lily McInerny and Chloë Sevigny. What else do you need to know?! — Rent or buy on Apple TV+. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney elevate a script that, shockingly enough, isn't based on a mass-market paperback. The actresses play mother and daughter, with Moore's character exploring how far she'll go to protect her drug-addicted child. Their acting is quite emotionally affecting and tragic and the relationship dynamics on display are potent. The movie prioritizes lurid thrills over the stellar performances, including Domhnall Gleeson playing against type, yet it's still entertaining enough to recommend, even though it really fizzles out in the third act when it becomes a much dumber and different movie than what preceded it. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's an even split. Variety's Peter Debruge wrote, "In the well-cast if frequently illogical offering from Apple TV+, Moore slyly elevates what could have been a routine protective-mama drama." William Bibbiani at The Wrap said that "it adds up to a potpourri of general genre genericness, never making enough noise to rattle, or even produce an echo." 👀 How to watch: Echo Valley is now streaming on Apple TV+. Stream on Apple TV+ ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: The premise of Deep Cover is "what if the CIA recruited comedians who specialize in improv instead of actual secret agents due to their unique set of skills?" It's a great set-up that provides plenty of fodder for comedy and the movie takes advantage of it, even if it lacks the energy and actual improvisational comedy you might expect from a movie about improv comedy. Orlando Bloom is hilarious here and absolutely steals the show playing a method actor whose overzealousness gets him into deeper and deeper trouble. Bryce Dallas Howard and Ted Lasso's Nick Mohammed score their fair share of laughs, too. The action is less interesting than the comedy, which is often true of these types of flicks, but thankfully, it's funny enough not to be a problem at all. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's a rare unanimous 100% on Rotten Tomatoes as of publication time. Guy Lodge of Variety correctly noted that it's "shakiest, however, when it dips into straight-up action territory, often with a degree of violence that sits uneasily with the cheery comedy elsewhere." Peter Bradshaw at the Guardian said that "there are some laughs and it's always likable." 👀 How to watch: Deep Cover is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Stream on Prime Video My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Cleaner is another great example of the Die Hard but on a ... phenomenon, which I pontificated in a past entry. It's, hilariously, just "Die Hard in a high-rise building, but from the perspective of somebody cleaning the windows outside." As dumb as it sounds, the movie justifies these very silly circumstances well enough. Daisy Ridley in the lead really helps, as does Clive Owen in the Hans Gruber role. The stakes feel particularly high due to the bad guys' motivations, a group of environmental extremists taking matters into their own hands and there are some clever tricks deployed to maintain tension. Veteran action filmmaker Martin Campbell, whose credits include Pierce Brosnan's Goldeneye and Daniel Craig's first foray as James Bond in Casino Royale, directs with workmanlike efficiency. It's a sturdy and entertaining action that uses the familiarity of its story to its advantage. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's a mixed bag. Tomris Laffly at Variety said that "the main attraction is Ridley, whose vigor and charisma are unmissable on a screen of any size. The force is strong with her." William Bibbiani at The Wrap gives it to us straight: "The long and short of it is, Cleaner is just OK. It's a three-star trip down 'Been There, Done That' lane, and it's reasonably entertaining." 👀 How to watch: Cleaner is now streaming on HBO Max. Stream on HBO Max 🤔 If that's not for you... There's some infectious energy and charm here, almost entirely thanks to star Rachel Zegler, who appears alongside many very ugly CGI creatures, hideous backgrounds and all the usual stuff you see in modern blockbusters. She does a ton to elevate the material and it's cute in its best moments. The CGI dwarves sounded like a bad idea on paper but work well in context and their lengthier rendition of 'Heigh-Ho' is a highlight. —Now streaming on Disney+. Liam Neeson has been on autopilot as of late, churning out old-guy action flicks at the same frequent pace that he has since Taken changed his career trajectory, but on a smaller scale, with lower budgets. They're easy to formulate: Liam Neeson is an aging [insert CRIMINAL or COP here] dealing with [debilitating and terminal memory-based illness]. That descriptor absolutely describes Neeson's 2022 flick Memory and it also fits perfectly here. It's pretty forgettable stuff. —Now streaming on Hulu. That's all for this week — see you next Friday at the movies!
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See Stephen King's 'The Life of Chuck' in theaters, rent 'The Amateur,' stream 'Cleaner' on HBO Max, plus more movies to watch this weekend
Hello, Yahoo Entertainment readers! Brett Arnold here, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. This week I was on vacation and still managed to see a bunch of movies — that's real dedication to this service I provide. I liked a lot of what I watched and think you will too, including The Life of Chuck, a new Stephen King flick with Oscar ambitions hitting theaters nationwide and the action flick Diablo, which is available to rent or buy at home. There's also not just one but two new movies worth watching that are debuting on streaming services you may already have: Echo Valley on Apple TV+ and Deep Cover on Amazon Prime Video. But that's not all — keep reading for more recommendations because there's something for everyone. What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies debuting on streaming services you may already have Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: The Life of Chuck isn't your average Stephen King adaptation. Based on a short story in the 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the film is a perfect match of filmmaker and material. and Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, who previously adapted King's Gerald's Game and Shining sequel Doctor Sleep, his work — notably Netflix's popular The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor — often gets dinged for his saccharine approach and flowery dialogue. However, they feel like an asset here, honed to great effect. The gimmick of the story is that it follows an ordinary man's life but in reverse order, from act three to act one. In the process, we learn about his life, as well as the life he didn't live but might have enjoyed more. It may sound corny, but by the time act two hits, I was fully in the palm of the movie's hand and openly weeping, both in a sad way and in a revelatory, beautiful, life-affirming way. Saying any more would be a disservice to this very special and quietly powerful film, which is equally inspiring as it is deeply sad and depressing. It features Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan and Jacob Tremblay. 🍿 What critics are saying: They (mostly) love it! Shirley Li at The Atlantic wrote, "I fell for the film's earnest insistence that each of us has access to an inner world no one else can ever fully know; that message, as trite as it may be, is particularly touching because of its pointed delivery." Even a detractor like Time's Stephanie Zacharek said of the film's best scene that when in motion, The Life of Chuck "really is transcendent." 👀 How to watch: The Life of Chuck is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets 🤔 If that's not for you... Celine Song, in her sophomore effort following the critically acclaimed Past Lives, ups the star power with Dakota Johnson in a love triangle, of sorts, with Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. The movie doesn't live up to the emotional highs of her debut film and the message sticks to standard rom-com platitudes. After a wild tonal shift in the second act, the movie never recovers. Also, I expected a subversive element or a twist, but it never came. However, the cast makes the cost of a movie ticket worth it. I enjoyed seeing Evans act in a real movie again after years of Marvel and streaming fare and Johnson turned in one of her best performances. Pascal, as per usual, is effortlessly good. Ultimately, the script lets the actors down. — Get tickets. The trend of live-action remakes of animated classics continues, this time with Dreamworks's 15-year-old computer-animated How to Train Your Dragon, a franchise that is so successful it's spawned multiple sequels, a TV series and a section at Universal's new theme park. The main issue with this movie is that there's no real reason to do this particular story in live-action, save for the fact that it will make a boatload of money. It lacks the color and visual imagination on display in the animated version and looks way darker and murkier than it should. It's otherwise totally serviceable redux that's identical to the original storywise, yet somehow a full 30 minutes longer. Kids will love it. — Get tickets. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: If the names Scott Adkins or Marko Zaror mean anything to you, you're well-versed in direct-to-video action and martial arts movies, in which case I don't need to sell you on this. If you're not: keep reading. Diablo has brutal hand-to-hand combat in which you feel every blow, exciting camerawork, kick-ass fight choreography and just enough of an engaging (but generic) story upon which the action can hang its hat. This doesn't seem like it's going to be the kind of movie that features a guy with a giant metal fist that's also a knife, and yet, there he is, killing a ton of people. It's insanely violent and over-the-top in the best way, a throwback to '80s action flicks, though it may go too far for some. 🍿 What critics are saying: Reviews are pretty split. Travis Hopson agrees that "it does what it promises to do and that's deliver intense martial arts action from two of the best in the game." Robert Brian Taylor over at Collider pointed out that "it's surprisingly dark undertones stop it from rising much above" the baseline of fun you get from the fight scenes. 👀 How to watch: Diablo is now available to rent or purchase on digital and on-demand. Rent or buy 🤔 If that's not for you... : French filmmaker François Ozon, the man behind several notable films including 2003's Swimming Pool, directed this engrossing and darkly comedic thriller. It's quiet until it's not, packing quite a few surprises and sneaking up on you in the best way. — Rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video. Bonjour Tristesse: This new adaptation of playwright and novelist Françoise Sagan's iconic 1954 novel, which was previously adapted in 1958, stars Lily McInerny and Chloë Sevigny. What else do you need to know?! — Rent or buy on Apple TV+. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney elevate a script that, shockingly enough, isn't based on a mass-market paperback. The actresses play mother and daughter, with Moore's character exploring how far she'll go to protect her drug-addicted child. Their acting is quite emotionally affecting and tragic and the relationship dynamics on display are potent. The movie prioritizes lurid thrills over the stellar performances, including Domhnall Gleeson playing against type, yet it's still entertaining enough to recommend, even though it really fizzles out in the third act when it becomes a much dumber and different movie than what preceded it. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's an even split. Variety's Peter Debruge wrote, "In the well-cast if frequently illogical offering from Apple TV+, Moore slyly elevates what could have been a routine protective-mama drama." William Bibbiani at The Wrap said that "it adds up to a potpourri of general genre genericness, never making enough noise to rattle, or even produce an echo." 👀 How to watch: Echo Valley is now streaming on Apple TV+. Stream on Apple TV+ ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: The premise of Deep Cover is "what if the CIA recruited comedians who specialize in improv instead of actual secret agents due to their unique set of skills?" It's a great set-up that provides plenty of fodder for comedy and the movie takes advantage of it, even if it lacks the energy and actual improvisational comedy you might expect from a movie about improv comedy. Orlando Bloom is hilarious here and absolutely steals the show playing a method actor whose overzealousness gets him into deeper and deeper trouble. Bryce Dallas Howard and Ted Lasso's Nick Mohammed score their fair share of laughs, too. The action is less interesting than the comedy, which is often true of these types of flicks, but thankfully, it's funny enough not to be a problem at all. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's a rare unanimous 100% on Rotten Tomatoes as of publication time. Guy Lodge of Variety correctly noted that it's "shakiest, however, when it dips into straight-up action territory, often with a degree of violence that sits uneasily with the cheery comedy elsewhere." Peter Bradshaw at the Guardian said that "there are some laughs and it's always likable." 👀 How to watch: Deep Cover is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Stream on Prime Video My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Cleaner is another great example of the Die Hard but on a ... phenomenon, which I pontificated in a past entry. It's, hilariously, just "Die Hard in a high-rise building, but from the perspective of somebody cleaning the windows outside." As dumb as it sounds, the movie justifies these very silly circumstances well enough. Daisy Ridley in the lead really helps, as does Clive Owen in the Hans Gruber role. The stakes feel particularly high due to the bad guys' motivations, a group of environmental extremists taking matters into their own hands and there are some clever tricks deployed to maintain tension. Veteran action filmmaker Martin Campbell, whose credits include Pierce Brosnan's Goldeneye and Daniel Craig's first foray as James Bond in Casino Royale, directs with workmanlike efficiency. It's a sturdy and entertaining action that uses the familiarity of its story to its advantage. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's a mixed bag. Tomris Laffly at Variety said that "the main attraction is Ridley, whose vigor and charisma are unmissable on a screen of any size. The force is strong with her." William Bibbiani at The Wrap gives it to us straight: "The long and short of it is, Cleaner is just OK. It's a three-star trip down 'Been There, Done That' lane, and it's reasonably entertaining." 👀 How to watch: Cleaner is now streaming on HBO Max. Stream on HBO Max 🤔 If that's not for you... There's some infectious energy and charm here, almost entirely thanks to star Rachel Zegler, who appears alongside many very ugly CGI creatures, hideous backgrounds and all the usual stuff you see in modern blockbusters. She does a ton to elevate the material and it's cute in its best moments. The CGI dwarves sounded like a bad idea on paper but work well in context and their lengthier rendition of 'Heigh-Ho' is a highlight. —Now streaming on Disney+. Liam Neeson has been on autopilot as of late, churning out old-guy action flicks at the same frequent pace that he has since Taken changed his career trajectory, but on a smaller scale, with lower budgets. They're easy to formulate: Liam Neeson is an aging [insert CRIMINAL or COP here] dealing with [debilitating and terminal memory-based illness]. That descriptor absolutely describes Neeson's 2022 flick Memory and it also fits perfectly here. It's pretty forgettable stuff. —Now streaming on Hulu. That's all for this week — see you next Friday at the movies!
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See John Wick spinoff 'Ballerina' in theaters, rent 'Sinners,' stream 'Presence' on Hulu, plus more movies to watch this weekend
We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals. Hello, Yahoo Entertainment readers! I'm Brett Arnold, a longtime writer and editor at Yahoo and film critic for my podcast, Roger (Ebert) & Me, and welcome to Trust Me, I Watch Everything. I'm here to recommend what you should see in movie theaters, rent from the comfort of your couch or queue up from a streaming service you may already subscribe to. I watch it all so you don't have to. This week, Ballerina, the long-awaited John Wick spin-off starring Ana De Armas, hits theaters. If you're looking for a movie to keep you up at night, horror-thriller Dangerous Animals is a strong candidate, but don't miss out on the smash hit Sinners either. Also available is an animated take on the Predator franchise and a nostalgic documentary in Becoming Led Zeppelin. What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies debuting on streaming services you may already have Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have My "it's just good enough" recommendation: Why you should watch it: After a lengthy delay and reports of extensive reshoots, stuntman-turned-filmmaker Chad Stahelski, the brainchild of the franchise and director of all four John Wick films, was brought in to replace director Len Wiseman. One of its stars, Ian McShane, confirmed in an interview that Stahelski came onboard to "protect the franchise." He did what he could. Whenever the movie is in hyper-violent action mode, it's a lot of fun. The problem is, that awesome action is almost entirely relegated to the final 45 minutes, which leaves about an hour and 15 minutes of laborious setup. Anytime the movie slows down to get into the minutiae of the world-building or the backstory of the lead character, it's a bore, missing the mark of what makes Wick satisfying. The dark humor that punctuates the violence, a staple of the series, is firmly in tact here though, and the more inventive kills involve grenades, flamethrowers and an ice skate. Keeping with franchise tradition, it does appear that Ana de Armas does a lot of her own fighting and stunt work, and it looks great. While the reshoots clearly added the fluid action that works, they also added in John Wick himself in a way that felt unneeded, taking away from the lead character's story. I guess the writing was on the wall when the title changed from Ballerina to From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. 🍿 What critics are saying: Don't come for the storyline! Variety's Owen Gleiberman called the plot of Ballerina "pure trash," with the Los Angeles Times's Amy Nicholson calling it "a snooze." That said, the fight scenes get high marks. "These movies lie or die by their action sequences, and to its credit, this franchise expansion pack has a few good ones up its sleeve," Rolling Stone's David Fear wrote. 👀 How to watch: From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets ➕ Bonus recommendation: Dangerous Animals Why you should watch it: Dangerous Animals is one of those movies in which the very premise feels like a spoiler. The opening scene is such a terrific reveal, it's hard not to imagine how much better it'd play with zero knowledge going in. So stop reading now and watch it if you're into horror or survival thrillers or shark movies. If you need more convincing, read on, because boy does it have a killer premise. It's a serial killer movie with a shark-related twist, or a shark movie with a serial killer added for good measure. Let me explain: Jai Courtney plays a serial killer, and his method of killing people is to feed them to sharks. He films these killings because to him, the 'greatest show on Earth' is watching sharks, one of the ocean's most majestic creatures, do what comes naturally to them when a warm, bloodied human body is lowered into the waters. The movie mostly focuses on the final girl trapped on his boat as she tries to free herself before the next feeding. What more do you need to know? 🍿 What critics are saying: The reception has been largely positive; Kristy Puchko at Mashable says Jai Courtney is a "rip-roaring force of nature" and praises the film as "a satisfying, sick, and devilishly smart thriller." Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian, however, isn't a fan, calling it "derivative" and declaring it "has a bargain-basement straight-to-streaming feel to it." 👀 How to watch: Dangerous Animals is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets 🤔 If those aren't for you... :The most generic exorcism/possession movie possible, you've seen every single thing this movie throws at you. Even though stars Dan Stevens and Al Pacino, it's very low-rent. — Get tickets. :Comedian Nick Kroll and Broadway star Andrew Rannells play a gay couple in this dark comedy that starts off strong and goes off the rails about halfway through, becoming a different movie with a completely different tone. A shame, because it was cute before it went nuts. — Get tickets. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Sinners is one of the biggest hits of the year, which is no easy feat for an original movie not based on anything that already exists, and it's easy to see why: It's as audacious as it is purely entertaining. Yes, it's a vampire movie, but it takes half the film to get there — extreme From Dusk Till Dawn vibes — and before that, it's a period piece gangster movie that patiently sets up the stakes of its story. In the end, what's revealed is that the movie works entirely on its own terms as a spectacle — about a bunch of people holing up in a single location and warding off invaders — but it also works on an entirely different level: as a metaphor about its director's feelings on making art as a Black man in an industry that's eager to exploit his perspective. Calling it a musical is a stretch, but it has a blues element that pays off well. Sinners is a hell of a swing, and even if things occasionally get messy or certain elements feel pushed to the side, its vision comes through so strong that it's an incredibly impressive feat. 🍿 What critics are saying: Sinners is also one of the best-reviewed films of the year and has a great shot at Oscar gold. David Sims at the Atlantic said it "had [him] cheering for every thrill and spill, all while mulling the deeper concerns threaded through it" and AP's Jocelyn Novek wrote, "by far the most creatively ambitious, culturally layered, artistically bold twin-led cinematic outing yet — if this sentence feels like a lot, get ready for the movie!" 👀 How to watch: Sinners is now available to rent or purchase on digital and on-demand. Rent or buy 'Sinners' 🤔 If that's not for you... : A Nicolas Cage-led, laugh-out-loud funny but also quite stressful descent into madness that recalls the Ozploitation classic Wake in Fright. "Don't live here, don't surf here!" — Rent or buy. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Prey, the Predator prequel that brought new life to the beloved sci-fi/action franchise, shocked everyone when it debuted on Hulu a few years ago with its unique spin on the series, centering Amber Midthunder's Naru. The filmmaker behind Prey returns with the animated Predator: Killer of Killers, his first of two new Predator movies releasing this year. It's an anthology film that feels inspired by any number of viral tweets suggesting, 'We need a Predator movie set in feudal Japan,' because that's exactly what we get here. We get three separate stories — one set in Viking times, one in feudal Japan and another set during World War II that's essentially one long dogfight between U.S. soldiers and a huge terrifying Predator ship. The premise is quite simple. In each short, we learn about some badass who is the most badass fighter of their time, and then a Predator shows up to fight them. The action is incredible, unencumbered by the limits of live-action and fully embracing the fact that it's a cartoon, delivering everything you'd want to see in a Predator movie. There's one sequence that legitimately may be the best scene in any one of these movies, period. The stories do also come together in a very satisfying way. I hope they immediately announce the sequel that's set up at the end here, because even if I didn't fully jibe with the animation style, this absolutely rocks. 🍿 What critics are saying: The Guardian's Catherine Bray felt the animation was "lacking a little something," adding, "you can't help picturing how much more spectacular it would look in live action." 👀 How to watch: Predator: Killer of Killers is now streaming on Hulu. Stream on Hulu 🤔 If that's not for you... : Taraji P. Henson stars as a single mother facing a series of painful events in Tyler Perry's new movie, out now on Netflix. Netflix did not provide a review copy for critics. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: This one's an easy sell: it's a documentary about Led Zeppelin, featuring interviews with the surviving members of the band about their origins and their meteoric rise. It also features fantastic concert footage, much of which has never been seen before. It's a treat for Led Heads, even if the movie doesn't get into any of the dirty details about the animosity between them that necessitates all members being interviewed separately over the course of the film and, of course, the fact that they haven't played a show together since 2007. It's a fun, rocking trip down memory lane; if you missed it in IMAX theaters, it's now streaming on Netflix. 🍿 What critics are saying: The reception has been largely positive; Steve Pond at the Wrap correctly notes that it "offers glimpses of the band we've never seen before, but it also withholds a lot." Joshua Rothkopf at the Los Angeles Times asks, "Why are these guys so boring?" and also laments that "no other voices have been allowed," knocking the lack of historical context. 👀 How to watch: Becoming Led Zeppelin is now streaming on Netflix. Stream on Netflix ➕ Bonus recommendation: Presence Why you should watch it: Presence isn't the horror movie it's being marketed as, but it's absolutely haunting and chilling in a different way. Here, the camera is the ghost that's haunting a house, and the entire movie takes place from that perspective. The viewers are along for the ride, limited to what the ghost knows and doesn't know, as the lost soul tries to solve the case of its own death and figure out why it's haunting this What unfolds is a compelling family drama with moments of pure terror. It hits you on a deeper level and stays there rather than leave you screaming over a loud noise or a jump scare. It's certainly a horror movie, just not the register we've come to expect from the premise of 'family moves into a haunted house.' It cleverly ends up being a movie about parenting, among other themes. Director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp are more interested in the dynamics between the family inhabiting the house than delivering cheap thrills, and it pays off with a gut-punch of an ending. The entire cast is great, but it's particularly nice to see Lucy Liu again. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics love Soderbergh, and this time is no different. Stephanie Zacharek at Time writes, "it's so compact, smart, and elegant that it feels quietly momentous. Without handing everything over, it gives you all you need," though the Telegraph's Tim Robey was more mixed, writing that it's "certainly not a bad time" while taking issue with certain elements. 👀 How to watch: Presence is now streaming on Hulu. Stream on Hulu 🤔 If those aren't for you... : If you thought The Accountant was silly, hold on to your briefcase and pocket protector! Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal both return in the much, much goofier sequel, which leans into not only the humor but also becomes more of a hangout movie than you'd expect. Any grounding in reality is gone here, so your mileage may vary, even if you dug the first one. Now streaming on Amazon Prime. :Jack Quaid continues his streak of being in yet another movie where he's out to save a kidnapped woman, This time, he plays a mentally ill man who teams up with his neighbor Jeffrey Dean Morgan to solve an abduction he witnesses. It's pretty fun! Now streaming on AMC+ : This is a sweet and nice movie about a a lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island who dreams of getting his favorite musicians back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation. Carey Mulligan is in it! Now streaming on Peacock. :The selling point of this movie is not only that Robert De Niro is returning to the mob movie genre, but that he's playing two distinct leading roles in it. The problem is, the characters are not related, so it's just a strange gimmick that never really makes sense outside of "wouldn't it be fun to see De Niro play against himself?" The movie is a familiar bore, but it's now on HBO Max, so if you're curious, it won't cost you anything extra. Now streaming on HBO Max. What an exhaustive week! We'll see you again next Friday at the movies.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme' in theaters, rent 'The Prosecutor,' stream 'Captain America: Brave New World,' plus more movies to watch this weekend
Hello, Yahoo Entertainment readers! I'm Brett Arnold, a longtime writer and editor at Yahoo and film critic at my 'Siskel & Ebert' tribute podcast, Roger & Me, and welcome to Trust Me, I Watch Everything. I'm here to recommend what you should see in movie theaters, rent from the comfort of your couch or queue up from a streaming service you may already subscribe to. I watch it all so you don't have to. This week, there are two great options in limited release theatrically, The Phoenician Scheme and Tornado. There's also a super-fun rental in The Prosecutor, a moving one-man show on Apple TV+ Bono: Stories of Surrender and the box-office smash Captain America: Brave New World makes its way to Disney+. That's not all — there's something for everyone so keep reading for the full weekly what to watch guide. What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies debuting on streaming services you may already have Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Wes Anderson and his trademark aesthetic are back just two years after the profoundly moving and deeply personal Asteroid City. This time, the writer/director is delivering perhaps the silliest movie he has ever made, or at least the goofiest one in a long while, and I mean that as a compliment. In fact, the movie is as sincere and emotional as anything he's ever made! Benicio Del Toro is sublime as 'Zsa-Zsa' Korda, an industrialist and arms dealer who, after surviving his sixth assassination attempt, finally realizes he needs to appoint an heir to his fortune. He has nine sons he doesn't pay attention to, but he also has an estranged child (played by Kate Winslet's daughter Mia Threapleton in a wonderfully deadpan performance) and decides that she's the one to take on his business dealings, which amount to the very specific and titular scheme. This has to be the first Anderson movie to feature a fighter jet sequence and it's every bit as delightful as that sounds. The joys here, and some of the film's biggest laughs, come from not only the eccentric characters and beautiful compositions we've come to expect from Anderson, but also from the surprising things you don't expect to see in a movie like this. I didn't know I needed to see a man violently (and bloodily!) explode in Wes Anderson's signature style, but I absolutely did, and I likely haven't laughed harder at anything this year. The cast features a ton of A-listers and Anderson regulars like Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Riz Ahmed, Scarlett Johansson and Benedict Cumberbatch, with the standout supporting player Michael Cera, who fits perfectly into Anderson's overall aesthetic. Fans are in for a hilarious treat! 🍿 What critics are saying: They're mostly on board here, with Rolling Stone's David Fear calling it one of his best films and William Bibbiani at the Wrap praising its leading man, saying "Del Toro hasn't had a role this juicy in ages, and he's captivating at all times." The BBC's Nicholas Barber, however, says "it feels as if Anderson and his team were enjoying it more than audiences ever will." 👀 How to watch: The Phoenician Scheme is currently playing in limited release and expands wide next week. Get tickets ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: Tornado is just your average Scottish samurai-western ... wait, what?! Clearly inspired by Japanese cinema (with a side of Quentin Tarantino), Scottish filmmaker John Maclean returns with Tornado, a decade after his 2015 indie debut, Slow West, with Michael Fassbender. Actress Kōki stars as Tornado, a Japanese puppeteer's daughter who gets caught up with criminals when their traveling circus show crosses paths with an infamous gang of criminals, led by Sugarman (Tim Roth) and his son Little Sugar (Jack Lowden). It's as riveting as it is efficient, running a brisk 85-minutes and wastes no time setting up the stakes. The story is familiar but imbued with enough specific quirks and eye-catching style that it feels entirely unique. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics largely agree that it's worth a look. IndieWire's Josh Slater-Williams dug it and praised the performance of Takehiro Hira, who was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on Shōgun while Peter Bradshaw at the Guardian praised the distinctive "film-making language." On the other side of things, David Jenkins at Little White Lies says that ultimately "we're left with a film which leaves only a superficial impression and little sense of purpose." 👀 How to watch: Tornado is now playing in limited release theatrically. Get tickets 🤔 If those aren't for you... : A legacy sequel that's basically just another remake as the plot is the exact same one we've seen twice now, in the original 1984 and the 2010 flick, not to mention the other sequels and the massively popular Netflix spinoff series Cobra Kai. It attempts to unite the two main entries in a very perfunctory way and the movie is so briskly-paced that there's no real time spent setting up stakes, yet somehow it still finds time for strange subplots. It's a shame the movie is such a mess because the new karate kid Ben Wang is great and the fights themselves are entertaining, but the inclusion of both Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio feels forced. Kids, however, will likely be entertained, but nothing here touches the original, which is a classic for a reason. — Get tickets. :The filmmakers behind A24's hit horror film Talk to Me are back with another unsettling genre flick about a foster mother with a terrifying secret. The Philippou brothers again prove their ability to craft genuinely shocking moments, but this is pretty familiar stuff. — Get tickets. : A gripping ripped-from-the-headlines spy drama about a Syrian refugee pursuing the regime's fugitive leaders. It's quite good! — Get tickets. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Hong Kong action star and martial arts legend Donnie Yen stars in this super-fun hybrid of an action movie and a courtroom thriller. Yes, Donnie Yen is a lawyer and yes, he kicks people's butts as well. He also directed the movie — a triple threat! The inspired silliness here is pitched in exactly the right key, the fight scenes are impressively choreographed and shot innovatively and the wrongly-accused man plot goes down smooth. Imagine watching a serious, earnest courtroom drama like A Few Good Men, and then imagine if that movie stopped every other scene to feature an insane action sequence that was relevant to the plot. It's a riot and has plenty to say about what justice actually means. 🍿 What critics are saying: They dig it! Indiewire's David Ehrlich says its "perhaps best enjoyed as the meta story of an action star who refuses to be aged out of his metier" and Richard Kuipers at Variety similarly praised the "top notch" action prowess of its 61-year-old star. 👀 How to watch: The Prosecutor is now available to rent or buy on digital and on-demand. Rent or buy 🤔 If that's not for you... :Kerry Washington and Omar Sy star in this action flick from veteran of the genre Joe Carnahan. An estranged couple with a bounty on their heads must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them. — Rent or buy. : Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi and Will Poulter star in this adaptation of the book of the same name. Muriel and her husband, Lee, begin a new life together after he returns home from the Korean War. Their newfound stability gets upended by the arrival of Lee's charismatic brother, a gambler with a secret past. It features great performances but is a little too restrained to have much impact. Rent or buy. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: As someone who knows very little about U2, I wasn't looking forward to this self-indulgent-sounding one-man show from Bono, the band's frontman, but I walked away from it impressed by the filmmaking, the music and by Bono's skills as an orator and his vulnerability. Andrew Dominik's film is a movie version of Bono's Stories of Surrender, a filmed version of shows that took place at the Beacon Theater in New York City. It's a very striking-looking production, making a meal out of what could have easily been a lazy "point the camera at the stage and shoot" job,and I found myself moved by Bono's stories about his lack of a meaningful relationship with his father as well as tales of the band and their years of activism. And the songs sound great! As a firm non-U2 fan I enjoyed this, but I feel safer saying that fans of the man and the band will love this, and more casual observers will likely get something out of it. 🍿 What critics are saying: Reviews skew positive with the Wrap's Steve Pond calling it it "bombastic" and "extravagant" in a good way and the Hollywood Reporter praising its "arresting cinematic quality." 👀 How to watch: Bono: Stories of Surrender is now streaming on Apple TV+. Stream 'Bono: Stories of Surrender' 🤔 If that's not for you... : What if the hit HBO show Succession was a feature-length broad comedy that allowed no time for any real character development and instead stuck with archetypes about billionaires ruining the world via AI? It would be pretty annoying it turns out! I found this to be insufferable, but you may not; it's a new original movie from Jesse Armstrong, creator of Succession. Starts streaming Saturday night on HBO Max. : A Korean animated movie set in the year 2050 in Seoul, following an astronaut with dreams of exploring Mars who must leave the love of his life when chosen for an expedition. Now streaming on Netflix. My not-quite-a-recommendation: Why you should maybe still watch it: Marvel's latest Captain America was the highest-grossing movie of 2025 until A Minecraft Movie dethroned it faster than you can say 'chicken jockey' and then Sinners' success pushed it to number three. In the film, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie, sporting the superhero's suit and shield) finds himself in the middle of an international incident after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford). He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Ford turning into Red Hulk was the centerpiece of the film's marketing campaign, which is a real shame considering the movie treats it as a late reveal and most of the audience is likely already aware that's what's happening. That means that for most of the movie, it's just Ford taking pills to stop from Hulking out, which isn't very exciting to watch. It's also a bizarre artifact in terms of how it fits into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe — not only is it a stealth sequel to 2008's The Incredible Hulk, but it also requires you to have watched the Disney+ series The Falcon & Winter Soldier to fully grasp who some of the key characters are. The final product is poorly assembled and visually muddled, but fans of the MCU who missed it in theaters and want to stay up-to-date ahead of Thunderbolts* now have their chance to see it "for free." 🍿 What critics are saying: Reviews were not kind, with Mashable's Kristy Puchko labeling it a "wasted opportunity" and Wendy Ide at the Guardian dubbing it "a humorless drag of a picture." Even a somewhat positive review from USA Today's Brian Truitt includes this reprimand: "Captain America deserves better." 👀 How to watch: Captain America: Brave New World is now streaming on Disney+. Stream 'Brave New World' 🤔 If that's not for you... :Based on the beloved series of kids books from the author of Captain Underpants, it's about a police officer and his dog becoming a hybrid dog man after an accident, which sounds like R-rated body horror flick but is actually cute and made for children. Now streaming on Peacock. That's all for this week — we'll see you next Friday at the movies!
