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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Eddington,' 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' 'M3GAN 2.0' and more: Your guide to this weekend's top movies to watch in theaters and at home
I haven't been able to get 'Eddington,' starring Pedro Pascal Joaquin Phoenix, out of my head. Hello, Yahoo readers! My name is Brett Arnold, film critic and longtime Yahoo editor, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. This weekend, two wildly different wide releases are debuting in theaters: Eddington, a pandemic-set Western that's hard to categorize but falls somewhere between satire and thriller, and I Know What You Did Last Summer, a legacy sequel/reboot of the iconic franchise. Are they both worth the cost of a movie ticket (plus popcorn and a soda)? Eddington is one of those movies that sticks with you, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. As for the other, well, keep reading. A few recent releases come home, too. There's the smash-hit How to Train Your Dragon remake and the absolute bomb that was M3GAN 2.0. Over on streaming services you may already be paying for, there's I Love You Forever, an indie comedy starring Cazzie David, daughter of comedy legend Larry David, on HBO Max, and The Assessment, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander, on Hulu. Read on because there's something here for everyone! What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have 🎥 What to watch in theaters My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Most people go to the movies for escapism, to get away from the problems of the real world and the stresses of your personal life for just a couple of hours and watch some beautiful people on a huge screen. Eddington definitely delivers on the beautiful people part — it boasts an A-list cast featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler that makes it feel higher profile than Ari Aster's previous films (Hereditary, Midsommar) — but it's about as far from escapism as movies get. It's a politically-charged modern Western that takes the form of a violent confrontation for both its characters and the audience, forcing us to reckon with the collective mindf*** that was the summer of 2020, when COVID-19 entered our lexicon and lockdowns changed everything about our lives. Eddington depicts a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) that sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in the small town of Eddington, New Mexico. Phoenix's character doesn't want to wear a mask — he has asthma, and he says he can't breathe while wearing one — and decides to run for mayor to fight against local pandemic-era regulations that he finds overly burdensome. The plot is a cavalcade of culture war talking points from the era: mask mandates, ineffectual and hypocritical political leadership, shifting goalposts, opportunist conspiracy theorist grifters, "fake news," social justice warriors that are well-meaning but whose actions may be performative and influenced by ulterior motives and so much more. It's a satire that clocks the pandemic as the moment that we as a society lost all sense of community in the internet age as we're all siloed off in our own personalized little bubble worlds, stuck in echo chambers of our own choosing, thanks to social media algorithms and conspiracies pushed by people in the highest levels of power. It demonstrates how people now live in alternate realities within the same town, or even the same house, and how that can be corrosive, and how it's all getting worse and exacerbated by A.I., as data centers proliferate across the country, including the fictional Eddington, gobbling up human resources and further closing the gap between our real world and the digital one we inhabit. Despite the satirical bent — it's laugh-out-loud funny throughout, even when hitting easy targets — Eddington is quite earnest in its depiction of that time period and how it broke all of our brains, and how we're still very much living in the aftermath of it. Aster isn't offering any solutions here, and, more than anything else, it winds up being a deeply disturbing and upsetting character study about the type of person who might become radicalized by the state of the world and the insidiousness of the modern internet. He's an anxious person who has now repeatedly used his tableaus to explore those specific anxieties. As such, Eddington is ultimately a very paranoid and depressing movie, one that posits there may not be a way back, and that 2020 was the beginning of the end of an era, a point of no return, and that screens and technology will forever infiltrate and sow chaos in our lives. It all builds to a pulse-pounding and thrilling third act that sees the filmmaker trying out yet another genre. It's sure to be the most polarizing film of the year and should inspire intense reactions on both sides. Personally, I haven't stopped thinking about it, and despite my utter disinterest in films about the pandemic, it makes a great case that maybe we should all set aside some time to process what the hell happened. It's the feel-bad movie of the summer, but a must-see all the same! What other critics are saying: Polarizing is right! For every instance of praise, there's also a pan. Lindsay Bahr at the Associated Press wrote that the film "somehow seems both too late and too soon" and that it "feels like the last thing any of us need." Esther Zuckerman in the Daily Beast praised Phoenix's performance, adding, "While Eddington has a very starry cast, Phoenix is his anchor." How to watch: Eddington is now playing in theaters nationwide. Get tickets ➕ Bonus not-quite-a-recommendation: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Why you should skip it: It's fitting that the legacy sequel for I Know What You Did Last Summer, a movie that is and always was a Scream knockoff that should always be mentioned in the same breath as that film, plays like a parody of the recent spate of horror legacy sequels, or remakequels, that we've endured in recent years. You likely already know the drill: a fresh-faced cast of young people are now facing off against a fisherman murdered in a rain slicker, and the circumstances basically mirror the original film with minor changes. To help stop the murders, the teens must team up with … you guessed it: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. from the original movies. Madelyn Cline of Outer Banks fame is a rising star worth watching, but the returning older cast members all prove that maybe there's a reason they don't top-line movies anymore. I Know What You Did Last Summer is full of references to modern memes and pop culture staples — is this the first movie to reference Nicole Kidman's AMC ads? — in such a way that it feels even more like a Scream clone than it ever did. It also somehow already feels dated; Halloween (2018) did the true-crime podcaster thing, and it's not the only example. Worst of all, though, is it's poorly directed and awkwardly assembled, edited in such a jumpy way that the killer often seems to appear out of nowhere, with no coherence or any build-up whatsoever. It's truly amateur hour, so much so that a major climactic moment is absolutely botched and comes off incomprehensible. If you do see it, though, do stick around for the mid-credits scene, which features a Marvel-style character introduction and table setting for any future films that is definitely meant to be laughed at, but also reveals how utterly ridiculous and unserious this whole affair is, which would be fine if the movie were any fun or were competently made. What other critics are saying: It's no surprise that it's getting slaughtered. Mark Kennedy at the Associated Press wrote that "a relaunch makes sense but it's pretty vapid stuff until the OGs arrive." Though Jordan Hoffman, writing for Entertainment Weekly, argued that "clever moments" and "a sensational performance from Madelyn Cline" keep it afloat. How to watch: I Know What You Did Last Summer is now playing in theaters nationwide. Get tickets 💸 Movies newly available to rent or buy My recommendation: Why you should watch it: The live-action remake of the 2010 computer-animated film doesn't change a thing, to its benefit and its detriment. The original film's story is heartfelt and a crowd-pleaser, so it makes sense that the remake would also be heartfelt and a crowd-pleaser. Its problems are inherent to the animated-to-live-action-adaptation pipeline, in that it never really justifies its existence beyond "a new generation of children will want to see this and their parents will pay to do so." Place any sequence from the original side-by-side next to its live-action counterpart, and the animated sequence is more appealing every time. There's an expressive energy to the proceedings that's lost in translation, no matter how good the performances. The dragon-based action is so specifically ill-suited for live-action that they opt to make all the CGI-heavy action dark and indistinguishable! This likely won't bother your kids, though I do recommend starting with the animated versions if they're new to the franchise. It's a completely safe endeavor with no real creative risks taken, but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is a colloquialism for a reason. Though I do think it's time we get a congressional committee to investigate how all these "real" redos of animated movies are always somehow both exactly the same movie, yet also a half hour longer. What other critics are saying: I'm a curmudgeon, it turns out, as many critics were impressed with it. David Sims of The Atlantic wrote that he liked the new version about as much as its ancestor. "Both, to me, are above-average bits of children's entertainment that struggle with the same problems," he said/ The Hollywood Reporter's Lovia Gyarkye said it "honors the charm of the original. It's not an essential remake, but at least it's not an offensive one." How to watch: How to Train Your Dragon is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms. Rent or buy ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: M3GAN 2.0 bombed so badly at the box office, Jason Blum, the CEO of Blumhouse, the company that made the movie, spent his Monday morning following its first weekend flop doing interviews and taking ownership for the movie's failure. The original grossed a surprisingly healthy $30 million opening weekend; the sequel barely cracked $10 million! 'We all thought M3gan was like Superman — we could do anything to her. We could change genres, we could put her in the summer, we could make her look different, we could turn her from a bad guy into a good guy. And we kind of classically overthought how powerful people's engagement was, really, with her,' he admitted. However, if you're aware that the movie is more of a comedic sci-fi spy adventure that's riffing on everything from Terminator 2 to Mission: Impossible and not a horror film at all like the original, you may have fun with it. It's certainly dumb, but it knows it. Had the movie not been an unreasonably lengthy two hours long, all the silliness would be easier to forgive What other critics are saying: It's a mixed bag! Mashable's Kristy Puchko declares that appealing to a broader audience killed the fun, calling it "a horrendous mishmash of ideas and influences" that's mostly "derivative, bewildering and bland." The Telegraph's Robbie Collins, however, had a great time with it, calling it "uproarious, if not especially scary" and that it leans into silliness "with infectious glee." How to watch: M3GAN 2.0 is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms. Rent or buy 📺 Movies newly available on streaming services you may have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: I Love You Forever is a subversive romantic comedy gone wrong that follows a young woman into and out of an emotionally abusive relationship. It's an impressive debut from Cazzie David, daughter of Larry David, that feels honest, and the characters feel like real people, which is no easy feat when writing comedy. Given how funny the banter here is, it may feel like a wasted opportunity that it doesn't always lean into the comedy, but it's noble to depict a type of abusive relationship you don't often see in movies, and do so in a way that makes you understand and empathize with the lead's point-of-view. It's an indie gem, and Cazzie, who co-directed, co-wrote and co-stars in the film, stands out as particularly funny here. It also features fellow nepo baby Ray Nicholson, Jack Nicholson's son. What other critics are saying: They love it forever! Indiewire's Samantha Bergeson praised lead actress Sofia Black-D'Elia, writing that she's "ushering in a next generation of sarcastic, relatable, lovable stars. Black-D'Elia has an Emma Stone in Easy A vibe." Stephen Saito at Variety said that it's a "nifty" millennial rewrite of a rom-com, "finding a fresh take on a toxic relationship." How to watch: I Love You Forever is now streaming on HBO Max. Stream "I Love You Forever" ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: In a climate change-ravaged world, a utopian society optimizes life, including parenthood assessments. A successful couple, played by Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel faces scrutiny by an evaluator (Alicia Vikander) over seven days to determine their fitness for childbearing. It's bizarre, delightfully stupid and goes off the rails in ways I didn't see coming, frankly. The reasons why are best left unspoiled, but I'll say that Vikander's character takes a ... turn that is rather exciting and shocking, coming from an esteemed actress of her caliber. It's ultimately a bleakly funny satire about parenting. What other critics are saying: There are far more positive reviews out there than negative ones. Variety's Stephen Saito wrote that "the film may depict a society losing touch with humanity, but is unusually affecting when it shows no lack of it of its own." Robert Abele at the Los Angeles Times liked it, but said "it falters in bringing everything to the reverberating conclusion its discomfiting first two-thirds merits." How to watch: The Assessment is now streaming on Hulu. Stream "The Assessment" on Hulu 🤔 But that's not all! : Rami Malek stars in this film based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell, which was already adapted into a film in 1981. It's a simple revenge story you've seen a million times before, in which a boring and nebbish CIA analyst takes justice into his own hands to get revenge on those who killed his loved ones. There are moments here you'd confuse for a Saw movie, but it's not as exciting as that sounds, and is never as compelling as it should be. Now streaming on Hulu. That's all for this week — we'll see you next Friday at the movies!
Wales Online
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The achingly poignant thing Dr Michael Mosley said on last TV show before his death
The achingly poignant thing Dr Michael Mosley said on last TV show before his death The TV presenter died in Greece in June 2024 after filming Channel 4's Secrets of the Superagers His last series aired on Channel 4, filmed before his death (Image: Getty Images ) Tonight the last series that was filmed by the late Dr Michael Mosley was broadcast on Channel 4, giving the TV presenter's fans the chance to see him before his tragic death in June 2024. The first episode of Secrets of the Superagers, broadcast on Monday, July 14 was opened with a chilling poignant statement as the science journalist presents the programme based on the science behind aging and how to live longer. In June 2024, Dr Mosley died suddenly whilst on a walk in Greece, however the cause of the much loved doctor's death remains unknown. Before his body was found, there was a four-day search for the presenter best known for TV show Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, appearances on The One Show and podcast, Just One Thing. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Read more on Michael Mosley's cause of death and when Secrets of the Superagers was filmed here. Dr Mosley began his last series by telling the audience that throughout the programme he will "find out how to live a long and healthy life," which touched a nerve with fans tonight. One watcher wrote on X: "It's very poignant watching this Michael Mosley prog on C4. Article continues below "Such a loss. Grateful for his programmes though." Another wrote: "Watching this new Michael Mosley show on Channel 4 Still can't believe he is no longer with us, such a tragic end and a sad loss." A third said: "What a truly brilliant man Dr Michael Mosley was How sad one of last shows about ageing." Michael's widow, Dr Clare Mosely encouraged people to watch the programme and "celebrate the work and spirit that Michael brought to everything he did". Dr Michael Mosley and his wife Dr Clare Bailey (Image: bennett pr ) She wrote: "Secrets of the Superagers will run as 8 episodes over 8 weeks, and it's Michael at his very best - curious, compassionate, and determined to understand how we can all live longer, healthier lives. It's full of the warmth, science and storytelling he was so loved for. Article continues below "It's incredibly special (and emotional) to see this series go out into the world. I know he would have been so proud to share it with you all. "If you're able, please do watch tonight and celebrate the work and spirit that Michael brought to everything he did." The Channel 4 programme was filmed in 2023 and originally broadcast on Australian TV.
Wales Online
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Michael Mosley's cause of death and when Secrets of the Superagers was filmed
Michael Mosley's cause of death and when Secrets of the Superagers was filmed Channel 4's Secret of the Superagers is Michael Mosley's final series, which was filmed before his death in June 2024 Last year, Dr Mosley passed away suddenly whilst on a walk in Greece. (Image: BBC ) Fans of the late Dr Michael Mosley will have the opportunity to watch the TV presenter's last series that was filmed ahead his untimely death in June 2024. Secrets of the Superagers will be broadcast tonight, Monday July 14 on Channel 4 and will show Michael travelling the world "to meet remarkable people who seem to defy ageing." The aim of the programme is to reveal the secrets and the science behind ageing well, as the doctor often focused ageing, dieting and was even credited for popularising the form of intermittent fasting called the 5:2 diet on his BBC documentary. Last year, 67-year-old Dr Mosley - who rose to fame with his TV shows Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, appearances on The One Show and podcast, Just One Thing - passed away suddenly whilst on a walk in Greece, however the cause of his death will remain unknown, according to a ruling by a coroner. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . His disappearance triggered an extensive four-day search, culminating in the discovery of his body. At the time, Greek authorities attributed his death to natural causes. Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire, Crispin Butler, had determined that it is impossible to ascertain the precise cause of Dr Mosley's demise, declaring the medical cause of death as "unascertainable". Coroner Butler referred to various documents during the inquest, including the Greek death certificate. This confirmed that Dr Mosley's death occurred on 5th June 2024, in a rocky area near Agia Marina Beach, Symi, Dodecanese, Greece. Article continues below It further noted: "The medical cause of death was undetermined but with injuries excluded." The report continued: "There was no particular medical history described by Michael's GP which would account for his collapse or death." Additional testimony from the family corroborated the circumstances of their holiday, including their accommodation with friends. The document stated: "On the morning of 5th of June they travelled to Pedi Beach, arriving late morning. Michael had intentionally left his mobile phone back at the house to prevent it getting wet on the ferry. "Later in the afternoon Michael decided he was going to walk back home rather than take the ferry. He had his rucksack, 1 litre of water and a biscuit, and had a hat and umbrella. Michael was described as looking energetic and cheerful as he set off." The coroner also reviewed a post-mortem examination report translated from Greek which acknowledged "the unfortunate deterioration in Michael's body between his passing and his being recovered". The document noted: "There had been high temperatures during this time. His death was not found to be due to homicide suicide or an accident related to injuries." The findings stated: "Michael's death was most likely attributable either to heatstroke (accidental) or non-identified pathological cause. There was nothing of note in toxicology. Ultimately Michael's death was classified as indeterminate, which we would describe as 'unascertainable'." Content cannot be displayed without consent Michael's widow, health columnist Dr Clare Bailey Mosley posted on Instagram about the late Dr's final series, asking fans to celebrate his work and spirit. She said: "I wanted to let you know that Michael's final television series, filmed before he died, begins tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm. "Secrets of the Superagers will run as 8 episodes over 8 weeks, and it's Michael at his very best - curious, compassionate, and determined to understand how we can all live longer, healthier lives. It's full of the warmth, science and storytelling he was so loved for. "It's incredibly special (and emotional) to see this series go out into the world. I know he would have been so proud to share it with you all. "If you're able, please do watch tonight and celebrate the work and spirit that Michael brought to everything he did" Secrets of the Superagers was made in 2023 and originally appeared on Australian TV. You can watch Secrets of the Superagers here on demand or on Channel 4 from 8pm tonight, Monday, July 14. Article continues below
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 new movies to watch this week: See 'Jurassic World Rebirth' in theaters, rent 'Thunderbolts*,' stream 'Sinners' on HBO Max and more
Hello, Yahoo readers! Film critic Brett Arnold here, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. With the holiday weekend approaching, it's a big week for movies, and I watched them all so you can plan your screen time wisely because the sun is calling! If you're looking to escape the summer heat by heading to the local cineplex where the air-conditioning is always on blast, consider catching Jurassic World Rebirth (F1, which I previously recommended and is dominating the global box office, is a great option too). For the homebodies, or those needing a flick to help drown out the sound of fireworks, there's plenty to choose from, including streaming debuts like Heads of State with John Cena and Idris Elba on Prime Video and The Old Guard 2 with Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman. Exciting recent releases like Marvel's Thunderbolts* and From the World of John Wick: Ballerina become available to rent or buy and vampire drama Sinners premieres on HBO Max. Phew, that's a lot — and I'm just getting started. Read on because there's something here for everyone. What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: Jurassic World Rebirth is a fresh start for the franchise, ditching the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard characters and swapping in Scarlett Johansson and a slew of other fresh faces, including Wicked's Jonathan Bailey, Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali and Rupert Friend. Johansson plays a mercenary hired by a pharmaceutical company to infiltrate an island full of prehistoric creatures and obtain DNA that could lead to medical breakthroughs. Sound familiar? David Koepp, the screenwriter of the original Jurassic Park film and its best and first sequel, The Lost World, returns to scripting duties here, and the movie harkens back to the adventure movie energy of the original trilogy. It also sneaks in some meta-commentary about how audiences may be tiring of these movies: there's a whole thread here about society moving on from dinosaurs, once a special thing that became less and less exciting the more prevalent they became in the world. As the characters traverse the island, the movie cycles through set pieces as fast as it does its obvious influences: a little Jaws here, some King Kong Skull Island antics there, sprinkle in some Temple of Doom for good measure. Director Gareth Edwards (2014's Godzilla, Rogue One) is known for his visual effects, and they look great here, even if you do ultimately feel the lack of the practical element that even the lame last movie, Jurassic World: Dominion, made sure to include. It's good fun, though, even if it never really makes a case for returning to this world other than "these movies all make a billion dollars each, easy." There's something nice about the fact that it has no grander ambitions than delivering a summer blockbuster that features exciting and tense sequences where humans must outrun and outsmart huge, monstrous dinosaurs, some of which are genetically modified to be even scarier! In short, Jurassic World Rebirth provides what you came for. 🍿 What critics are saying: It's an even split! Mark Kennedy from the Associated Press praises it as "superb," writing that the filmmakers, like the film's mercenaries, have the same mission: "Going back to the source code to recapture the magic of Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster original. They've thrillingly succeeded." Amy Nicholson at the Los Angeles Times, however, was not a fan, writing "the series itself has gotten so bored with the beasties that it continues to invent new ugly mutants." 👀 How to watch: Jurassic World Rebirth is now in theaters nationwide. Get tickets Why you should watch it: If you've managed to avoid the meaning of the asterisk until now, congratulations, I won't ruin it for you here. I previously recommended Thunderbolts* when it hit theaters, writing at the time that "I couldn't believe the level of ambition I was seeing in a Marvel movie in 2025." 🍿 What critics are saying: With a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences love it, calling it a return to form for Marvel and the best film from the studio in a while. 👀 How to watch: Thunderbolts* is now available to rent or buy and will likely hit Disney+ in late August or early September. Rent or buy 🤔 But that's not all! I previously wrote of Ballerina, "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." It's still worth a watch for fans of John Wick, and the man himself does appear in the film, courtesy of pretty obvious reshoots. Rent or buy. This sequel to a straight-to-Netflix Liam Neeson vehicle from 2021 is not on Netflix but is available to rent or buy at home after a brief theatrical run. It's better than the average late-period Liam Neeson action flick yet very strange as a sequel to The Ice Road; it may as well be any old Neeson flick, the connection is so tenuous. Rent or buy. 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 or buy. This Scottish samurai-western, which I recommended when it was in theaters, is riveting and efficient. 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. Rent or buy. Why you should watch it: With Sinners, Ryan Coogler took a huge swing — and knocked it out of the park, with a $364.5 million worldwide box office haul so far, making it one of the top-performing films of the year. Based on an original idea and starring Michael B. Jordan as twins, which he believably portrays as two distinct people, the movie is a period-piece gangster movie that patiently sets up the stakes of its story. The stakes, as I previously pointed out, just so happen to be that this is really a vampire movie, but disguised as a metaphor about the director's feelings on making art as a Black man in an industry that's eager to exploit his perspective. 🍿 What critics are saying: Sinners is one of the most popular films of the year, according to Rotten Tomatoes, scoring high with critics and audiences alike. As Michael Phillips at the Chicago Tribune said, this isn't your average vampire movie. 👀 How to watch: Sinners starts streaming on HBO Max on July 4th. Stream 'Sinners' Why you should watch it: Thank you, Amazon Prime, for keeping the big-budget comedy alive. Last month we had Deep Cover, which was unexpectedly funny and entertaining, and now we have Heads of State, another action-comedy with a super fun premise and A-list talent attached. Idris Elba plays the U.K. prime minister and John Cena plays the action-star-turned-U.S.-president, and the two men have a public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries' "special relationship." But when they become targets of a ruthless foreign adversary, they must set aside their differences and begrudgingly rely on each other. It's typical mismatched buddy action-comedy fare elevated by the high-concept nature of its premise and the commitment to the bit by its leads, as well as co-star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and a cavalcade of others including Paddy Considine, Jack Quaid and Carla Gugino. Director Ilya Naishuller (Nobody) does a great job with the action, usually a low point of movies like this, and the set-pieces are all exciting and inventive and laced with comedy in that Jackie Chan-esque way we all love, for lack of a better term. It's a shame we have to settle for watching this at home, as it would surely be a riot in a theater with a packed house, but it'll have to do! 🍿 What critics are saying: Critics are more split than I am. Deadline's Pete Hammond laments that the movie lets "the explosions and gunplay take center stage in a movie where action-to-the-max is our filmmaker's mantra." The Hollywood Reporter's Caryn James calls it "sporadically diverting." 👀 How to watch: Heads of State starts streaming on Amazon Prime Video on July 4th. Stream 'Heads of State' 🤔 But that's not all! Charlize Theron returns in this sequel to Netflix's 2020 movie The Old Guard, and Uma Thurman joins the fun this time, though you may be surprised by how little she's actually in the movie despite being the main villain. Now streaming on Netflix. "Wannabe Coen Brothers" is its own thriving subgenre, and this is a perfectly OK one! A retired hitman's life is turned upside down when his ex-wife and son arrive unannounced during the holidays because they are on the run from his former mob associates. It's impressive that newcomer Miles J. Harvey stands out most among the A-list cast, which is absolutely stacked: Bill Murray, Pete Davidson, Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union and Lewis Pullman. Starts streaming on Hulu on July 4th. A dramatization of the real-life 1984 Press Your Luck game show scandal, in which a man went on a hot streak on the show but may not have been playing fairly. The movie is at its best before it reveals how he did it, frankly, and it runs out of steam from there. Paul Walter Hauser is great in the streaming on AMC+ on July 4th. That's all for now — we'll see you next week at the movies.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- 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!
