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Yahoo
13 hours 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
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
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
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
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See ‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' in theaters, rent ‘Cheech & Chong's Last Movie,' stream ‘Fountain of Youth' and more movies to watch this weekend
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. There are so many great picks — a new Mission: Impossible, Friendship, The Legend of Ochi, Fountain of Youth, Mickey 17, and more — it's safe to say there's something here 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: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning spends much of its runtime reiterating that Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt is the only person on the planet with the abilities necessary to save the world. Essentially, in this eighth installment of the franchise, the superagent is utilizing old-school practical 'analog' stunt work to defeat the all-powerful AI-algorithm known as the Entity, which was introduced in the previous film, that can be read as 'Tom Cruise isn't going to let Netflix or Warner Bros. sending their theatrical movies to streaming during the pandemic kill 'the movies.'' This one even takes its real-life metaphor a step further, getting into misinformation and how the algorithm is making us all distrust each other with weaponized lies. Allegories aside, it's a Mission: Impossible movie and it absolutely delivers where it matters. The movie builds to two giant set pieces and both stunts are jaw-dropping, heart-skip-a-beat breathtaking, with the plane-wing-walking finale ending things on what's likely a series high. The highs are so satisfying to watch that they almost make you forget that the first hour of this movie is all montage and exposition and completely expendable. It also falls into the same trap of the previous entry in trying to add legacy sequel elements and clumsily tie all 29-years of movies together, which provides some laugh-out-loud moments that likely weren't intended to be funny. There is a payoff to a throwaway line of dialogue from the very first movie here that's such a great gag, it won me over. So while it may rank towards the bottom of the franchise overall, that speaks more to the quality of the series than how 'bad' this one is. A weak Mission: Impossible movie is still better than 99% of the blockbusters Hollywood churns out these days. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics lean positive but are pretty mixed, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 79%. Lindsay Bahr at the AP agrees 'that in attempting to tie everything together, Mission: Impossible lost the plot.' Rolling Stone's David Fear was kinder, saying the movie 'feels like a conclusion to 30 years worth of proving that yes, you still can conjure up a certain vintage strain of Hollywood magic.' 👀 How to watch: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: The comedy of Tim Robinson is definitely not for everyone, but those that do appreciate his comedy rabidly anticipate his work, and his beloved Netflix sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave has become something of an obsession for its devotees. If you've ever watched that show and wondered, 'could one of these deranged characters ever anchor a feature-length film?" we now have an answer, and it's, quite surprisingly, a yes! Everybody's comparing Friendship to I Love You, Man, which makes sense given the premise and the fact that Paul Rudd costars in both, but a better point of comparison might be The Cable Guy. 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, alienating him and his other pals along the way. It's laugh-out-loud hilarious 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, a wonderful subversion of the comedy trope. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics love it, with 90% on Rotten Tomatoes; Chase Hutchinson at the Wrap goes so far as calling it 'the year's best comedy.' Though Robinson's brand of humor is definitely divisive, with Time's Stephanie Zacharek aptly summarizing the average nonbeliever view: 'How much Tim Robinson is too much? Maybe the exact amount you get in Friendship.' 👀 How to watch: After a limited release in early May, Friendship is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets 🤔 If those aren't for you... :A perfectly OK Disney live-action remake of a modern-classic cartoon, with fun performances and affecting emotional beats that still land, but it never justifies why you shouldn't just watch the way-nicer-to-look-at, hand-drawn original — get tickets. : Neal McDonough stars in a movie he also cowrote about a retired rodeo star entering a high-stakes bull-riding competition to raise money to save his sick grandson. It's serviceable but a bit too contrived; Chloe Zhao's The Rider tells a similar story more effectively — get tickets. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: The Legend of Ochi tells a familiar tale with enough style and practical effects-based magic that it makes up for a relative lack of substance. In fact, it's basically just Lilo & Stitch, which itself was riffing on E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home. What makes it stand out is the incredible designs of the creatures and the use of puppetry and animatronics to bring them to life. It's such a beautiful and striking-looking film that even though its attempt at an emotional payoff didn't really land for me, I still felt like watching this was time well spent. It's also just nice to see a live-action movie for children! We don't really get those anymore and instead have to settle for CGI-animated everything. 🍿 What critics are saying: According to Rotten Tomatoes, 77% of critics dug it, with Jesse Hassenger at the Guardian calling the film 'an anomaly in a world where US children's films are so intent on prodding and goading their audiences into predetermined reactions. 👀 How to watch: The Legend of Ochi is now available to rent or purchase on digital and on-demand. Rent or buy 🤔 If that's not for you... :An unexpectedly honest, moving and informative documentary exploring the 5-decade career of the iconic comedy duo. Now available to rent or buy. : An adaptation of the video game of the same name that doesn't require any knowledge of its source material to enjoy. A fun, self-aware horror flick in the vein of Cabin of the Woods that cleverly subverts tropes. Now available to rent or buy. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Fountain of Youthproves that all you need to make your streaming movie stand out from the pack is to hire a competent director like Guy Ritchie to make it. Casting Natalie Portman doesn't hurt either! Like Ochi, the movie is a derivative of a derivative — it's literally just a more international take on National Treasure, which itself is a facsimile of an Indiana Jones adventure. It's about John Krasinski's character forcing his estranged sister (Portman) to reunite with him for a treasure-hunting adventure to find the fabled fountain of youth. Thanks to Ritchie, the action sequences pop and it's a relatively breezy watch, despite the lack of originality. It's good enough, and even if I'll never watch it again, it gets points for using several exotic on-location sites. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics were mixed-negative, with a scant 44% on RottenTomatoes. Jordan Hoffman at Entertainment Weekly isn't wrong when he writes that the movie "feels like a light snack instead of a full meal." Kate Erbland at Indiewire was more positive, agreeing that "you could do far worse with a streaming subscription price." 👀 How to watch: Fountain of Youth is now streaming on Apple TV+. Stream 'Fountain of Youth' 🤔 If that's not for you... : The fourth entry in the Fear Street franchise, and the first since the original trilogy rolled out one week after another in 2021, adapts the R.L. Stine book of the same name. Now streaming on Netflix. Stream 'Fear Street: Prom Queen' My sort-of recommendation: Mickey 17 Why you should watch it: Mickey 17 is South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho's follow-up to his Best Picture-winning Parasite. This, unfortunately, looks to be a classic case of a director cashing in his blank check from Hollywood after a big win at the Oscars. Based on the 2022 novel Mickey7, Mickey 17 is a science-fiction film set in the year 2054 that follows a man, played by Robert Pattinson, who joins a space colony as an "Expendable," a disposable worker who gets cloned every time he dies for research purposes. The film is at its best when it leans into the humor regarding these deaths, highlighting the Mickey character's buffoonery and the various ways scientists experiment on him. It's at its worst when Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette are chewing scenery as the villains. The movie pivots in the third act to something completely different, aligning itself more with Bong's environmental message-heavy effort Okja than the rip-roaring excitement of something like Snowpiercer, which balanced its class-conscious satire with thrills in a more compelling fashion. Mickey 17 is unwieldy, but the setup is fun enough, as is watching Pattinson play against himself when Mickey 18 rears his head. Watching it for free on streaming feels like the right move. 🍿 What critics are saying: Many are kinder to Mickey 17 than I am — it's got a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Atlantic's Shirley Yi praised Pattinson, saying 'the actor's delightfully offbeat performance anchors the story in an endearing humanity.' Variety's Peter DeBruge says the plot 'is easy enough to follow, though the film insists on making it more complicated.' 👀 How to watch: Mickey 17 is now streaming on HBO Max. Stream 'Mickey 17' ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: The Surrender is an indie horror movie that does a great job of setting up its basic plot before delivering the spooky goods. When the family patriarch dies, a grieving mother and daughter risk their lives to perform a brutal resurrection ritual and bring him back from the dead. Yes, this is yet another movie that could be described as familiar but its unique character dynamics and great performances make it feel alive. It's an incredibly strong debut from director Julia Max, boasting impressive visuals as well as deeper questions about family and the things we ignore. Not every demonic possession flick is created equal; this is a solid one! 🍿 What critics are saying: 84% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes enjoyed it, though Lena Wilson at IGN thought the familial drama in the first half worked, but that the horror element didn't. 👀 How to watch: The Surrender is now streaming on Shudder. Stream 'The Surrender' 🤔 If those aren't for you... Flight Risk: Mark Wahlberg stars as a bad guy hijacking a plane carrying a fugitive witness in this action flick directed by Mel Gibson. Starts streaming Saturday on Starz. The Last Showgirl: Pamela Anderson earned acclaim and nominations for her performance in Gia Coppola's film about a Las Vegas showgirl who must plan for her future. Now streaming on Hulu. That's all for this week — we'll see you next Friday at the movies!
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See ‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' in theaters, rent ‘Cheech & Chong's Last Movie,' stream ‘Fountain of Youth' and 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. There are so many great picks — a new Mission: Impossible, Friendship, The Legend of Ochi, Fountain of Youth, Mickey 17, and more — it's safe to say there's something here 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: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning spends much of its runtime reiterating that Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt is the only person on the planet with the abilities necessary to save the world. Essentially, in this eighth installment of the franchise, the superagent is utilizing old-school practical 'analog' stunt work to defeat the all-powerful AI-algorithm known as the Entity, which was introduced in the previous film, that can be read as 'Tom Cruise isn't going to let Netflix or Warner Bros. sending their theatrical movies to streaming during the pandemic kill 'the movies.'' This one even takes its real-life metaphor a step further, getting into misinformation and how the algorithm is making us all distrust each other with weaponized lies. Allegories aside, it's a Mission: Impossible movie and it absolutely delivers where it matters. The movie builds to two giant set pieces and both stunts are jaw-dropping, heart-skip-a-beat breathtaking, with the plane-wing-walking finale ending things on what's likely a series high. The highs are so satisfying to watch that they almost make you forget that the first hour of this movie is all montage and exposition and completely expendable. It also falls into the same trap of the previous entry in trying to add legacy sequel elements and clumsily tie all 29-years of movies together, which provides some laugh-out-loud moments that likely weren't intended to be funny. There is a payoff to a throwaway line of dialogue from the very first movie here that's such a great gag, it won me over. So while it may rank towards the bottom of the franchise overall, that speaks more to the quality of the series than how 'bad' this one is. A weak Mission: Impossible movie is still better than 99% of the blockbusters Hollywood churns out these days. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics lean positive but are pretty mixed, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 79%. Lindsay Bahr at the AP agrees 'that in attempting to tie everything together, Mission: Impossible lost the plot.' Rolling Stone's David Fear was kinder, saying the movie 'feels like a conclusion to 30 years worth of proving that yes, you still can conjure up a certain vintage strain of Hollywood magic.' 👀 How to watch: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: The comedy of Tim Robinson is definitely not for everyone, but those that do appreciate his comedy rabidly anticipate his work, and his beloved Netflix sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave has become something of an obsession for its devotees. If you've ever watched that show and wondered, 'could one of these deranged characters ever anchor a feature-length film?" we now have an answer, and it's, quite surprisingly, a yes! Everybody's comparing Friendship to I Love You, Man, which makes sense given the premise and the fact that Paul Rudd costars in both, but a better point of comparison might be The Cable Guy. 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, alienating him and his other pals along the way. It's laugh-out-loud hilarious 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, a wonderful subversion of the comedy trope. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics love it, with 90% on Rotten Tomatoes; Chase Hutchinson at the Wrap goes so far as calling it 'the year's best comedy.' Though Robinson's brand of humor is definitely divisive, with Time's Stephanie Zacharek aptly summarizing the average nonbeliever view: 'How much Tim Robinson is too much? Maybe the exact amount you get in Friendship.' 👀 How to watch: After a limited release in early May, Friendship is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets 🤔 If those aren't for you... :A perfectly OK Disney live-action remake of a modern-classic cartoon, with fun performances and affecting emotional beats that still land, but it never justifies why you shouldn't just watch the way-nicer-to-look-at, hand-drawn original — get tickets. : Neal McDonough stars in a movie he also cowrote about a retired rodeo star entering a high-stakes bull-riding competition to raise money to save his sick grandson. It's serviceable but a bit too contrived; Chloe Zhao's The Rider tells a similar story more effectively — get tickets. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: The Legend of Ochi tells a familiar tale with enough style and practical effects-based magic that it makes up for a relative lack of substance. In fact, it's basically just Lilo & Stitch, which itself was riffing on E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home. What makes it stand out is the incredible designs of the creatures and the use of puppetry and animatronics to bring them to life. It's such a beautiful and striking-looking film that even though its attempt at an emotional payoff didn't really land for me, I still felt like watching this was time well spent. It's also just nice to see a live-action movie for children! We don't really get those anymore and instead have to settle for CGI-animated everything. 🍿 What critics are saying: According to Rotten Tomatoes, 77% of critics dug it, with Jesse Hassenger at the Guardian calling the film 'an anomaly in a world where US children's films are so intent on prodding and goading their audiences into predetermined reactions. 👀 How to watch: The Legend of Ochi is now available to rent or purchase on digital and on-demand. Rent or buy 🤔 If that's not for you... :An unexpectedly honest, moving and informative documentary exploring the 5-decade career of the iconic comedy duo. Now available to rent or buy. : An adaptation of the video game of the same name that doesn't require any knowledge of its source material to enjoy. A fun, self-aware horror flick in the vein of Cabin of the Woods that cleverly subverts tropes. Now available to rent or buy. My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Fountain of Youthproves that all you need to make your streaming movie stand out from the pack is to hire a competent director like Guy Ritchie to make it. Casting Natalie Portman doesn't hurt either! Like Ochi, the movie is a derivative of a derivative — it's literally just a more international take on National Treasure, which itself is a facsimile of an Indiana Jones adventure. It's about John Krasinski's character forcing his estranged sister (Portman) to reunite with him for a treasure-hunting adventure to find the fabled fountain of youth. Thanks to Ritchie, the action sequences pop and it's a relatively breezy watch, despite the lack of originality. It's good enough, and even if I'll never watch it again, it gets points for using several exotic on-location sites. 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics were mixed-negative, with a scant 44% on RottenTomatoes. Jordan Hoffman at Entertainment Weekly isn't wrong when he writes that the movie "feels like a light snack instead of a full meal." Kate Erbland at Indiewire was more positive, agreeing that "you could do far worse with a streaming subscription price." 👀 How to watch: Fountain of Youth is now streaming on Apple TV+. Stream 'Fountain of Youth' 🤔 If that's not for you... : The fourth entry in the Fear Street franchise, and the first since the original trilogy rolled out one week after another in 2021, adapts the R.L. Stine book of the same name. Now streaming on Netflix. Stream 'Fear Street: Prom Queen' My sort-of recommendation: Mickey 17 Why you should watch it: Mickey 17 is South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho's follow-up to his Best Picture-winning Parasite. This, unfortunately, looks to be a classic case of a director cashing in his blank check from Hollywood after a big win at the Oscars. Based on the 2022 novel Mickey7, Mickey 17 is a science-fiction film set in the year 2054 that follows a man, played by Robert Pattinson, who joins a space colony as an "Expendable," a disposable worker who gets cloned every time he dies for research purposes. The film is at its best when it leans into the humor regarding these deaths, highlighting the Mickey character's buffoonery and the various ways scientists experiment on him. It's at its worst when Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette are chewing scenery as the villains. The movie pivots in the third act to something completely different, aligning itself more with Bong's environmental message-heavy effort Okja than the rip-roaring excitement of something like Snowpiercer, which balanced its class-conscious satire with thrills in a more compelling fashion. Mickey 17 is unwieldy, but the setup is fun enough, as is watching Pattinson play against himself when Mickey 18 rears his head. Watching it for free on streaming feels like the right move. 🍿 What critics are saying: Many are kinder to Mickey 17 than I am — it's got a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Atlantic's Shirley Yi praised Pattinson, saying 'the actor's delightfully offbeat performance anchors the story in an endearing humanity.' Variety's Peter DeBruge says the plot 'is easy enough to follow, though the film insists on making it more complicated.' 👀 How to watch: Mickey 17 is now streaming on HBO Max. Stream 'Mickey 17' ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: The Surrender is an indie horror movie that does a great job of setting up its basic plot before delivering the spooky goods. When the family patriarch dies, a grieving mother and daughter risk their lives to perform a brutal resurrection ritual and bring him back from the dead. Yes, this is yet another movie that could be described as familiar but its unique character dynamics and great performances make it feel alive. It's an incredibly strong debut from director Julia Max, boasting impressive visuals as well as deeper questions about family and the things we ignore. Not every demonic possession flick is created equal; this is a solid one! 🍿 What critics are saying: 84% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes enjoyed it, though Lena Wilson at IGN thought the familial drama in the first half worked, but that the horror element didn't. 👀 How to watch: The Surrender is now streaming on Shudder. Stream 'The Surrender' 🤔 If those aren't for you... Flight Risk: Mark Wahlberg stars as a bad guy hijacking a plane carrying a fugitive witness in this action flick directed by Mel Gibson. Starts streaming Saturday on Starz. The Last Showgirl: Pamela Anderson earned acclaim and nominations for her performance in Gia Coppola's film about a Las Vegas showgirl who must plan for her future. Now streaming on Hulu. That's all for this week — we'll see you next Friday at the movies!
