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Citizen Vigilante is the viral movie from director Uwe Boll, pairing the controversial filmmaker with Armie Hammer in his first leading role since returning to Hollywood. It's available now in the US, but viewers wanting to watch Citizen Vigilante in the UK, Germany and Australia and beyond needn't miss out.

Set in Croatia, the action thriller follows wealthy businessman Sanders (Hammer), who abandons faith in the justice system and launches a brutal Deathwish-style campaign against violent criminals and corrupt officials.

As videos of his exploits spread online, he becomes both a wanted fugitive and an unlikely folk hero, sparking fierce debate about vigilantism, justice and public opinion.

According to headlines, the film is 'banned in Germany'. This is because it has not been granted an age rating yet.

Curious to see what all the online fuss is about? We'll show you how to watch Citizen Vigilante online and from anywhere – including the UK..

How to watch Citizen Vigilante online in US

Citizen Vigilante was made available for free on X/Twitter for 24 hours, ending 3pm BST on Sat, 27 June.

Citizen Vigilante is currently available digitally in the US and Canada, where it can be rented or purchased via Amazon Prime Video (Rent – $6.99), Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

UK viewers are currently out of luck. The film has not been released on the UK Apple TV Store and isn't listed on Prime Video UK.

OUTSIDE THE US? You can use Nord VPN (Save 75%) to watch your usual US streaming services from the UK or anywhere else in the world. See deal below.

How to use a VPN to watch from anywhere

How to watch Citizen Vigilante with a VPN

• Sign up to NordVPN (try for 30-days + 75% off)
• Download Nord app (iOS/Android)
• Select location (e.g. USA)
• Go to Amazon Prime Video (USA) and stream the movie

Can I watch Citizen Vigilante in the UK or Australia?

UK: No. Citizen Vigilante is not currently available to stream, rent or buy on any major UK platform, including Apple TV, Prime Video, Sky Store or Rakuten TV. So if you can't find it on the UK Apple TV app, that's because it hasn't been released there yet.

Australia: No, for now. There are currently no Australian streaming or digital rental listings on the major services. The film's digital release has so far been limited primarily to the US and Canada, where it's available via Apple TV, Prime Video and Fandango at Home.

An American abroad? Use this VPN to connect to regionally-specific services like Peacock and stream your favorite shows, no matter where you're currently located.

Citizen Vigilante FAQ

What to know about Citizen Vigilante

What is Citizen Vigilante about?
Uwe Boll’s action thriller follows a wealthy American in Croatia who becomes a violent vigilante targeting criminals and corrupt officials.

Who stars in it?
Armie Hammer leads the cast, with Costas Mandylor also starring.

Why is Citizen Vigilante going viral on social media?
Elon Musk publicly backed the movie and shared a free, time-limited release on X (formerly Twitter). Boll claims the 48-hour online release is a response to what he views as censorship in Europe, benefitting from the 'Streisant Effect'.

Why is the film so controversial?
Beyond marking Armie Hammer's biggest leading role since his Hollywood comeback, Citizen Vigilante has divided opinion over its subject matter. Boll rejects those accusations, insisting the film is intended to provoke debate.

What has been the response?
The response has been sharply divided between professional critics and audiences. As of today, Citizen Vigilante has a 0% critics' score versus a 95% audience score on the Popcornmeter, making it one of the biggest critic/audience splits of the year. Variety called it "violent, incoherent and morally bankrupt," arguing the film undermines Armie Hammer's attempted comeback

Citizen Vigilante cast (2026)

• Armie Hammer as Sanders (the vigilante)
• Costas Mandylor as Interpol Regional Chief Henry
• Désirée Giorgetti as Elsa
• Steffen Mennekes as Owen
• Dora Dimić Rakar as Raped Girl
• Vjekoslav Katušin as Arab Mafia Boss
• Neb Chupin as SWAT Leader Pierre
• Elizabeth Zacero as News Anchor
• Benjamin Schnau as Jack
• Mukit Abdul Hamid as Yusuf
• Hila Harush as Dehlia
• Roni Lepej as Judge Reinhold

One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to recommend fantastic but lesser-seen indie movies to people who might enjoy them, but in my spotlight this time is a movie that's soon to change streaming hands.

The horror movie After Midnight is currently streaming on Hulu in the US, but only for a little while as it's being removed on Tuesday, September 30 (it's on Prime Video in the UK but isn't being removed).

Not to be confused with the more recent Taylor Tomlinson game show, or any of the seven previous movies with the same name, the After Midnight in question is from 2019.

It was directed by Jeremy Gardner who also plays the lead role, Hank. Hank is a man living in a rural town whose long-term girlfriend disappears, shortly before a creature starts to haunt him by attacking his house every night. As Hank tries to defend his property from the monster, he finds himself reminiscing on the relationship and what went wrong.

Fans of indie horror will recognize a few faces in the movie with Justin Benson (director of The Endless and Synchronic, and more recently Loki and Daredevil: Born Again) playing a role. He and Gardner are joined by Henry Zebrowski, Brea Grant and Ashley Song.

After Midnight is both a thriller, a horror and a relationship drama and all three parts fit together really well. But don't just take my word for it; the movie has a 90% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.

For some reason the audience score is only on 46%, but lots of the criticisms take offence at the smarter storytelling decisions of the movie; its decision not to show the monster too much, and to start with a slower pace. And at least one Rotten Tomatoes review I saw wasn't for this version of the film.

The highlight of the movie for me is one long scene near the end which sees Hank talking with someone else about his relationship; it's ostensibly a dramatic scene but the camerawork and direction keep the sense of dread from the horror elements of the film.

It's well worth a watch, especially if you like your horror tense and spooky instead of simply a procession of jump scares.

Luckily, while the movie is being pulled from Hulu, it'll still be available to watch online. It's streaming on Plex and Pluto TV, two free TV streaming services, although neither will let you see the movie ad-free.

Richard Osman has revealed that the next book in his "Thursday Murder Club" series has a cheeky nod to Netflix's recent adaptation of his first novel.

The hugely popular star has just penned the fifth in the series, "The Impossible Fortune", which will be released later this month.

And Richard told The Times there’s a saucy little reference to James Bond legend Pierce Brosnan, who plays Ron in the film version. Recurring character Connie, who's a drug dealer, is asked about her top Bond actor, and she replies: “Pierce Brosnan. I'd climb that man like a tree."

Richard revealed in the chat that it was his one nod to the movie. “They're different universes for me, but I had to at least acknowledge it."

Setting up the new book, publishers Penguin say: "Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?

"It's been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal.

"But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into their most explosive investigation yet, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?"

As for the movie, there’s been a mixed reaction from critics and fans. The film has a largely positive critical reaction on Rotten Tomatoes, but it only has a 53% rating from audiences.

Asked about the general response to the movie, which also stars Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie and Ben Kingsley, Richard replied: "Do you know what I make of it? Absolutely nothing because it isn’t anything. We’ll find out if it’s good because people will watch it and enjoy it, or people won’t watch it and enjoy it."

There’s no official news yet on a sequel, but it’s hard to imagine Netflix not making more Thursday Club Movies.

You can watch the movie on Netflix now.

Netflix has added The Wrong Paris, which, judging by the trailer and the pictures released, is likely to be the cheesiest rom-com of the year.

If you're into a frivolous rom-com, this could be for you, as it's set up in a sort of Emily in Paris way, although in this case, it's Dawn in the wrong Paris!

To explain, our leading lady, Dawn (Miranda Cosgrove), thinks she's joining a dating show in Paris, France, only to discover it’s Paris, Texas. D’oh!

Dawn had been hoping to study at an art school in the City of Light and presumably spend her time wandering around the Louvre and flirting with French waiters, but was struggling to afford the trip, and so she grabbed the chance to be on reality show The Honey Pot, apparently in Paris.

Instead she finds herself thousands of miles away from her dream in the middle of America.

However, things start to look up when she meets charming bachelor Trey (Pierson Fodé).

In the trailer (below), we see Dawn struggling to afford her flight to France before spying an advert for The Honey Pot, which, to be fair, from the ad does look like it's in actual Paris. Her friend points out that when she gets eliminated from the show, she’ll already be in Paris. “To a hot French man,” toast the competitors on the plane. But then it lands in Paris, Texas — they’ve been circling for nine hours!

Dawn is devastated, but dashing Trey tells her French men are overrated and insists he will prove it to her.

The Wrong Paris actually looks like it's going to be fun from the trailer, especially one of the competitors confronting Trey with a mocked-up photo of how their kids will look! Trey looks suitably terrified. Trey also seems to spend quite a lot of time with his top off and a hose for reasons not fully explained.

Dawn is conflicted by her feelings for Trey and the fact that she doesn’t want to give up her dream of studying art in Paris. Can she have both? Or will she have to give one up?

Star Miranda Cosgrove shot to fame as a child actor, first in Drake & Josh and then in iCarly, both on Nickelodeon. More recently, she has voiced Margo in the Despicable Me movies and appeared in another Netflix rom-com, Mother of the Bride. Meanwhile, Pierson Fodé has appeared in many shows, including Jessie and Bold and the Beautiful.

The Wrong Paris is available on Netflix now (check out our best movies on Netflix guide for more films to enjoy).

One of my favorite comedy actors is Charlie Day and I was really excited for his directorial debut Fool’s Paradise back in 2023. However because of its poor reviews and the fact it never released in the UK, I never saw it… until this weekend, when I discovered it had been added to Prime Video.

Day stars in Fool’s Paradise as a child-like mute man who’s kicked out of his mental hospital into the streets of Los Angeles, where he’s discovered due to bearing a resemblance to an unruly method actor and becomes a stand-in for the man. Quickly his career blossoms and then bottoms out in what’s clearly a whistle-stop satire of the Hollywood movie business, as he builds a friendship with a down-on-his-luck publicist.

Unfortunately, the movie was poorly reviewed, with 20% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. People criticized the apparent lack of humor in the movie, which just doesn’t make sense to me.

That’s because I really, really liked Fool’s Paradise; admittedly, my expectations were low because of the reviews, but I still found it a fun film that made me laugh more than most other ‘comedies’ I’ve seen on streaming.

Lots of this comes from the cast, with even bit-actors getting one or two funny or weird characterisations, but there were loads of smart details added to dramatic scenes to keep the tone consistent; I really enjoyed a scene on a movie set where assistants kept appearing to offer famous stars a chair to sit on.

You could also make a drinking game out of the movie for how prolific it is with cameos. Day’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast mates like Glenn Homerton, David Hornsby, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Artemis Pebdani and Jimmi Simpson appear briefly as do John Malkovich, Ray Liotta, Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Dean Norris, Jillian Bell and Comon. That’s not even counting the ‘proper’ cast: Ken Jeong as down-on-his-luck publicist Lenny, who’s basically the co-star of the movie, as well as Kate Beckinsale as an actress who marries the main character and Adrien Brody as a rival actor.

The movie’s just charming as well, with Day showing his love of the history of Hollywood by channeling silent-movie Buster Keaton style comedy and style as much as modern-day Big Lebowski-esque plotting.

I can understand some criticism of the movie; the main character doesn’t really have any agency or goal throughout and in some movies, that can be an issue. But in Fool’s Gold the world of the story is active enough to compensate (as is Jeong’s character, who’s the heart of the story), and otherwise it’s narratively solid as a rags-to-riches story.

With how much absolute dross is put onto streaming services on a daily basis, I just can’t understand how a movie made with so much passion and heart can get just 20% on Rotten Tomatoes (for context, I just gave up on an absolutely terrible Netflix crime series which has a head-scratching 83% on the site, ditching it because it felt so generic and mindless). It may not be the perfect movie but Fool’s Paradise deserves a much better score and 90 minutes of your time during your next movie night.

Though its Originals release slate is pretty bare through the first week of September, Netflix is offering a lauded drama to UK subscribers. You can now watch Hard Truths using the streaming service, after it was added on Friday, September 5.

Not in the UK? Hard Truths is streaming on Paramount Plus in the US but isn't available on any streaming service in Australia.

Hard Truths is the latest movie from accomplished British director Mike Leigh, and after premiering at Toronto International Film Festival it was released in December 2024 in the US and January 2025 in Europe (including the UK).

In the movie Marianne Jean-Baptiste stars as London mother Pansy, who's depressed and anxious and lashes out at everyone around her. We follow her in the build-up to Mother's Day as she clashes with her sister over their mother's legacy, and butts heads with her seemingly good-for-nothing son.

Upon its release, Hard Truths instantly became a critical hit, and it hit 95% on Rotten Tomatoes (a score it currently sits at still). It also won plenty of awards from the National Society of FIlm Critics, National Board of Review and various film festivals, and was nominated for plenty more from bodies like the British Independent Film Awards and British Academy of Film and Television Awards. Particular praise went to Jean-Baptiste for her performance as the vicious Pansy.

Despite being critically-acclaimed, Hard Truths wasn't widely seen in the UK, making an estimated $800,000 according to box office information. In part this could be due to it being quite a hard-hitting drama, but the January release date certainly couldn't have helped; that's when movie studios dump terrible horrors while riding the coat-tails of winter blockbusters and the release of awards-bait films. A release more in line with the US would have helped people see this film.

If Hard Truths doesn't sound up your street, it's not the only non-Netflix release on the same day, with The Royal Hotel from 2023 also being added. This Aussie psychological thriller, about two friends backpacking who get into trouble, sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Joyce Meadowcroft is a joy in Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club" mystery; sadly, that joy went in Netflix's movie adaptation.

To be fair, it was an almost impossible task. One of the delights of the novel is the many chapters written as diary entries by Joyce with wry little observations. Also, I can’t have been alone in at one point suspecting that Joyce might be the killer after all. She's just so sweet that she appears to be too good to be true. Osman dangles the Agatha Christie false narrator possibility before your eyes, before that's revealed as a bluff.

You get none of this in the movie. Indeed, after watching on Netflix, you might be left wondering how this novel sold millions of copies. The movie is fine, but it’s nothing better than a passable episode of Death in Paradise.

Former nurse Joyce is played nicely enough by Celia Imrie, but there's none of the depth the character has in the book. She's also rather posher than I imagined, as is Ron (Pierce Brosnan). I did, though, rather enjoy Joyce's little rant at her loaded daughter, Joanna. "You won't call me more than once a week. You won't visit me for more than 47 minutes at a time. And now you won't even eat my cake".

The closest character to the book is Helen Mirren's Elizabeth, who's forever teasing her secret service past.

As I feared before watching it, the movie largely wipes out the quirky Englishness of the book, except for references to Ron's son being on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity MasterChef.

Coopers Chase turns Downton Abbey!

And what was going on with Coopers Chase?! It looked like Downton Abbey! Never mind when I'm old, I want to go there now. It looks amazing!

I half expected to see Lord Grantham playing croquet on the perfect lawn.

The Thursday Murder Club movie has leapt to the top of Netflix’s worldwide streaming chart, and you suspect Netflix will be eager to adapt all of Osman's novels.

There's no arguing it has a great cast, also including Ben Kingsley, David Tennant, and Richard E Grant. But I think your time would be better spent reading the books while eating one of Joyce’s terrifically yummy-looking cakes.

The Thursday Murder Club movie is on Netflix now.

For indie movie fans or lovers of powerful thrillers – or both – the name Jeremy Saulnier on a film is always a cause for celebration. It means heart-pounding, riveting stories and a skewed world where nothing is ever quite what it seems. Yet, strangely, he’s nowhere near as big as he should be. So the chance to see Hold The Dark on Netflix is unmissable.

Made for the streamer back in 2018, it’s full of Saulnier’s trademarks but also took him into new territory. A slow-burn wilderness thriller set in Alaska, it boasts a strong cast, with Riley Keogh as the mother of a young boy who disappears and everybody assumes he’s the victim of marauding wolves. She calls in an expert to get her son back. Russell Core (Jeffrey Wright) is a man out of his comfort zone in the harsh landscape, quickly becoming aware of its inherent danger. When the boy’s father (Alexander Skarsgard) comes home after military service, he seems to resurrect something sinister in the town that translates into brutal violence.

This is an inhospitable place, where so much can kill – the brutal landscape, the cold and, of course, the people – so there’s a sense of threat right from the beginning and the characteristic Saulnier violence is ever-present, either lurking just below the surface or exploding into the open. The dark mystery, the intensity of the emotions and the bleak setting make for a film that grabs its audience and refuses to let go, and the performances from Wright and Skarsgard make that grip even stronger.

Saulnier’s sophomore feature, Blue Ruin (2013), caused ripples on the festival circuit so that fans of meaty thrillers already had their appetites whetted when it landed in cinemas. It didn’t disappoint, with its story of a mysterious stranger living out of his car whose quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home with vengeance on his mind. Plunged into being an assassin and finding himself lacking, he’s soon embroiled in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family. It was tough, it was bloody, it wasn’t as straightforward as it looked, and it went down a storm. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 96%.

Playing the ham-fisted stranger was Macon Blair, who went on to become a Saulnier regular. He was back in the director’s next film, the even bloodier Green Room (2015), but in a smaller role alongside the likes of Patrick Stewart and Imogen Poots. It all centred on a punk rock band finding themselves cornered in a neo-Nazi skinhead bar after they’ve witnessed a horrific murder. The killers weren’t about to let them go anywhere in what was more of a gory horror than Blue Ruin. But it also reinforced that Saulnier was a director to watch – and then some.

Last year saw him return to Netflix with one of the streamer’s biggest hits. The pulsating Rebel Ridge attracted over 31 million views over its first three days and a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This was a more commercial Saulnier using a familiar story, but viewing it from a different angle and turning our knuckles white in the process. It pitched former Marine Terry (the impressive Aaron Pierre) against local sheriff Don Johnson in a small, unwelcoming town. All Terry wants to do is post bail for his cousin and time is tight, but corruption, coupled with systemic racism, gets in his way and culminates in a showdown with the cop. The combination of the two actors promised fireworks and, boy, did we get them!

Compared to Rebel Ridge, Hold The Dark takes its time, allowing the strong cast to invest in developing their characters. For Alexander Skarsgard, who’s so memorable as the aggressive father, the role came just as he emerged as one of the most in-demand actors around. After the first series of Big Little Lies (2017) and then as a deeply racist husband in Rebecca Hall’s Passing (2021), he took on challenging roles, such as The Northman (2022), and was a recurring character in TV blockbuster, Succession (2021 – 2023). He’s now the star of another massive hit, Apple TV+s Murderbot, which was recently greenlit to return following a first season that attracted a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Set in a future where technology rules, the show and its appealing mix of comedy and sci-fi adventure puts the spotlight on a security robot who develops free will. He has to keep it hidden, so he joins a mission to protect scientists on another, much more dangerous planet. It goes against the grain. All he wants to do is binge-watch soaps, his favourite being Sanctuary Moon. By the time the season finale arrives, he’s embarking on his own personal mission to find out who he really is now that, at long last, has the freedom to do it.

It promises a thoughtful second season, one which gives Murderbot the chance to explore his own emotions and how he can reconcile them with killing people. Whether that’s the writers’ vision will no doubt emerge over the coming months, as well as a date for the show’s return. Late 2026 or early 2027 looks likely, but everything is very much under wraps. It’s not even been confirmed yet if Skarsgard will be back in that suit again, but he’s so crucial to the show and its popularity, it has to happen. And everybody’s hoping that Sanctuary Moon will be back as well.

Hold The Dark and Rebel Ridge are both on Netflix in the US and the UK.

For director Robert Eggers, it’s all in the detail. And that keen eye for accuracy and period has become his trademark over the course of just four films, along with a taste for violent horror and the darkest of atmospheres. His third film, The Northman (2022) has it all, plus the spectacle of an epic and a very familiar storyline. And it charges onto Netflix today, Thursday, August 28.

Based on the Norse legend of the Viking prince, Amleth, the film follows the young nobleman on his quest for bloody vengeance against the uncle who murdered his father and married his widowed mother. Sounds familiar? It should do. It’s the tale that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, although his version was inevitably more wordy than Eggers’. Alexander Skarsgard plays Amleth who, as a boy, witnessed the slaughter of his father, King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke), at the hands of his uncle Fjolnir’s (Claes Bang) henchmen. Unable to tolerate the marriage of his uncle and his mother (Nicole Kidman), the prince escapes and grows into manhood in exile, obsessed with the thought of avenging his father’s death but, when he returns home, his plans turn out to have broader ramifications, kick-starting a bigger, and more terrifying, retribution.

Although Eggers is more than happy to retain the Shakespearean echoes, the film is still very much his. The story has been honed down to be more direct and muscular so the hesitation that plagued the Danish prince simply isn’t there. Nor is the feigned mental illness. It’s all swept away to give us a single-minded prince, roaring in anger and clad simply but spectacularly in a loincloth and wolf’s head. The result is a film with all the violence and chaotic brutality that goes with its Viking setting, one that takes delight in going over the top in its action sequences and is utterly compulsive viewing. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes agreed, giving it a massive 90% score.

The release of The Northman cemented Eggers’ reputation as a director to watch, one with a distinctive style and the courage to give familiar stories a radical re-interpretation. His first feature, The Witch (2015), was set in New England in the 1630s and was based on the infamous Salem witch trials, which actually took place decades later. With its brooding menace and atmospheric photography, its story of the disintegration of a family facing an all-powerful evil made Eggers the darling of the indie circuit, earning him a Spirit Award and a directing award from Sundance, as well as many other nominations.

Fans had to wait four years for The Lighthouse (2019), a dark psychological two-hander with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson stranded on a remote island and trying to preserve their sanity. His fourth, and most recent, movie arrived last year, two years after The Northman, and took a startlingly fresh look at one of the greatest of all horror stories. Nosferatu (2024) was a gloriously gothic tale of obsession, with highly-praised performances and a deeply sinister Count Orlok (an almost unrecognisable Bill Skarsgard). It was also a box office success, grossing nearly $182 million worldwide.

Aside from his own individual approach to storytelling, one of the reasons behind Eggers’ success is his unofficial repertory company of frequent collaborators. The striking visuals and atmospheric photography are all down to cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, who has been behind the camera for all four of the director’s films. Whether it’s the grainy black and white of The Lighthouse, the mixture of tones in The Northman or the subtlety and shadows of natural light in The Witch, he never fails to capture Eggers’ vision and won Oscar nominations for both The Lighthouse and Nosferatu. It’s a collaboration set to continue with the director’s next film, Werwulf, which is scheduled for release towards the end of next year.

That film also looks likely to see Eggers reunited with a number of actors, especially Willem Dafoe, so memorably grizzled in The Lighthouse and manic in The Northman. He’s also in discussions to appear in what looks like being the director’s next film after Werwulf, a re-working of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It’s a lip-smacking prospect. Aaron Taylor-Johnson from Nosferatu is also confirmed for Werwulf and his co-star Lily-Rose Depp is in talks to join him.

Roger Eggers’ name on a film immediately points to a real experience, often with a fresh viewpoint on a classic story. And, if horror is added to the mix, so much the better. The Northman has the lot.

The Northman is now on Netflix in the UK and is on Prime Video in the US.

When the debut novel from a top TV presenter becomes a record-breaking best seller and no less than Stephen Spielberg snaps up the rights for the film, it’s a dead cert there’s a big hit on the way. Netflix clearly thinks so. And now The Thursday Murder Club has arrived on our screens, the one question on their minds will be “how big?”

Written by Richard Osman, the co-presenter and brains behind quiz show Pointless, The Thursday Murder Club was a publishing phenomenon in both the UK and the US. It sold over a million copies in each country when it was published in 2020 and topped both best seller lists, as well as attracting positive reviews for its humour, characters and the mystery at its core. With all those boxes ticked, a further three books followed and a fifth is due towards the end of September, in time for all those Christmas lists.

It's also been described as reviving “cosy crime” – think amateur sleuths like Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot or, further afield, Alexander McCall Smith’s Mma Ramotswe – which has captured audiences of all ages thanks to its warmth, humour and comforting escapism. In Osman’s world, we enter the luxurious setting of Coopers Chase, a retirement home that, with its many activities and lush grounds, looks more like a five-star country hotel.

The film version starts with a trio of residents who meet every week to exercise their minds by solving cold cases. Former high-ranking government agent Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), retired psychiatrist Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and one-time radical trade unionist Ron (Pierce Brosnan) are poring over some crime scene photographs when they’re interrupted by a new arrival, Joyce (Celia Imrie). When Elizabeth realises she used to be a nurse, she invites her to bring her medical knowledge to the club’s meetings. Now a gang of four, their skills are put to the test for real when the owner of Coopers Chase is murdered. The prime suspect is his business partner, who has always wanted to convert the property into luxury apartments, so, with the help of local police officer Donna DeFreitas (Naomi Ackie), they set about finding the killer – and saving their home.

It's a top drawer cast, one that also includes David Tennant, Richard E Grant, Jonathan Pryce and Daniel Mays and, in truth, they all look as if they’re having as much fun as the audience, without having to try too hard. The familiar tropes are all there, especially Mays’ portly police inspector who struggles to keep up with everybody in all senses of the phrase, and it’s coupled with an endearingly self-deprecating sense of humour. Elizabeth being told by her husband that she looks “just like The Queen” is a show-stopper.

And, while they’re protected from the outside world by the wrought iron gates at the end of the drive, they’re very much of the 21^st century with their mobile phones and Joyce’s bakery skills, which wouldn’t be out of place on a certain TV show that returns next week. Her mouthwateringly generous portions of sponge would bring a twinkling smile to Paul Hollywood’s face.

With a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 87% so far, Netflix must be looking forward to a similar response from audiences. Many of the reviews so far have pointed out the film’s shortcomings – that it feels like a throwback to the 70s, that Brosnan is miscast as a former trade unionist, that it’s undemanding and punctured with plot holes – but they all agree when it comes to its entertainment value. The production values are high – who wouldn’t want to live in Coopers Chase? - the story is an enjoyable head-scratcher and Home Alone director, Chris Columbus, has created a film which pays affectionate tribute to its many partners in cozy crime.

While the original novel has been credited with making the sub-genre popular again, in truth, it’s never really left our screens, regardless of size. Most recently, Kenneth Branagh spearheaded the return of an outrageously moustached Hercule Poirot to the big screen in three lavish, all-star productions. As throwbacks to the glamour of the 20s and 30s, they proved popular with audiences, but there’s no sign of another return for the Belgian sleuth in the near future.

Meanwhile, on TV, cozy crime has had an update with recent shows, including the Columbo-esque Elsbeth and High Potential, about a crime-solving cleaning lady. Both are heading for second seasons.

So will The Thursday Murder Club be the start of a new franchise, one that means cozy crime is back as one of the most popular film sub-genres? There’s no official word yet, but Helen Mirren has already indicated that she, and the rest of the cast, would “jump at the chance” of a sequel, at the very least.

Time will tell but, if it turns out to be the hit Netflix is hoping for, we may not have to wait too long to find out. In the meantime, cake anybody?

The Thursday Murder Club is now on Netflix in the US and UK.

Movies directed by Darren Aronofsky have won 3 Oscars and been nominated for 11 more, but his latest movie Caught Stealing is a dramatic change of pace and genre. For people who enjoy action or thriller movies over awards-bait dramas, that'll certainly be a well-received shift, but fans of Black Swan, The Whale or Mother! will have to temper their expectations.

Based on a 2004 novel by Charlie Huston, who also wrote the screenplay, Caught Stealing is a gritty crime drama set in New York City's underbelly. It's the kind of premise that many first-time directors turn to, but Aronofsky brings the expertise of a storied career (and the budget to match).

Elvis star Austin Butler leads the cast as Hank Thompson, a former high school baseball player, now a bartender, stuck in the past and unable to move on from one bad decision many years prior. When his neighbor skips town in a hurry, a motley crew of gangers and corrupt cops begin hunting for the figure, and as Hank is caught in the crossfire, he quickly gets in over his head.

Butler does great work as a tortured bartender and he's not alone; along his journey he's joined by Zoë Kravitz as his 'fling who could be more' Yvonne, Matt Smith as neighbor and British punk rocker Russ, Regina King as police detective Roman and Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio and Carol Kane as members of a crime family after Russ.

Sadly, the surprisingly large cast means that we don't get that much time with any of the supporting cast, perhaps save for Roman. Scant time is spent exploring the motivations of Hank's antagonists, or even his allies, and some characters are snuffed out surprisingly early (though I won't say who for fear of spoilers).

Perhaps the standout role of the movie is Russ' cat, which Hank has to look after throughout the movie; it veers between adorable, funny and nasty enough to easily promote it into the pantheon of best movie cats.

There's no getting away from the fact that Caught Stealing is a fairly formulaic crime drama; we've probably all seen stories of young everymen dragged into dangerous plots and attempting to get out with their lives. Elevating Caught Stealing is not only the great performances across the board but also the higher budget than these movies normally get, which facilitates some fun action sequences including a visceral foot chase through a food market and a car chase through Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

A humorous undercurrent also helps the movie along the way; it's not a laugh-out-loud action comedy by any means, but it's not taking itself as seriously as some of the dry crime thrillers that overload streaming services.

Darren Aronofsky's movies often deal with psychological themes, and although his exploration of Hank's past traumas works neatly, there's a hole in the movie where a more cohesive character drama or some meaningful depth should sit. Hank doesn't seem to learn much through his adventures, and he's not affected nearly as much as you'd expect from the plot he finds himself in (or a shocking death mid-way through the story). As previously mentioned, there isn't enough exploration of the motivation of other characters, or much of a commentary of any kind, to point to any real meaning or message in the movie.

So don't go into Caught Stealing expecting your standard Aronofsky drama, and it's no insult to the film to say it isn't angling for any Oscars. It's simply a fun action-thriller movie elevated by its performances.

Caught Stealing is coming to theaters on Friday, August 29.

One of the most familiar faces on big and, more recently, smaller screens, Kevin Costner’s acting career has been founded on powerful roles. From Elliot Ness in The Untouchables to regular returns to the western, his everyman quality, coupled with portraying unexpected heroes, has never let him down, even when his star seems to be on the wane. But voice acting? While many other actors have ventured into the booth, he’s only ever been in front of the mic once, and the result arrives on Netflix in the UK this weekend. In The Art Of Racing In The Rain (2019), he’s the voice of an adorable Golden Retriever.

Enzo (Costner) is adopted as a puppy by aspiring Formula One driver, Denny (Milo Ventimiglia) and, as he grows, the dog watches over the highs and lows of his master’s career. But this is no ordinary dog. He’s the narrator of his and Denny’s story, and feels so close to him that he wants to be reincarnated as a human. Denny also believes that some of his driving techniques from the track can be applied to his own journey through life. The relationship between man and dog seems to change when Denny meets and falls in love with Eve (Amanda Seyfried) and their family is complete when baby Zoe arrives. There’s more change ahead when Eve falls ill and Enzo provides the constancy that the family needs to stay together.

It's a three-hanky movie, one that mixes Marley And Me with motor racing, aiming single-mindedly for your tear ducts by telling the story through the eyes of the beloved dog. The combination of Enzo’s POV, Costner’s warm, gravelly tones and the emotional story means you might need more than a mere three. It’s hard to say “no” to a cute puppy, so that first lump in the throat comes early. And, despite a less-than-warm reception from critics, audiences took Enzo and his family to their hearts, welcoming them with 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. For anybody who feels the slightest affection for animals, it’s a must-see and, if they happen to buy into the whole idea of following your dreams, it’s irresistible.

Fans of the film were given a taste of what to expect earlier in the same year with the release of A Dog’s Way Home (2019), an adventure drama with strong echoes of the original Lassie movie. The main difference was that the dog at the centre of the story, a German Shepherd cross called Bella (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard), could speak directly to the audience while she’s separated from her owner and travelling the 400 miles to find her home again. A heartwarming tale from the get-go, it was also directed by Charles Martin Smith, best known for starring alongside Kevin Costner as Oscar the accountant in The Untouchables (1987).

Few storylines are as laden with emotions as those involving a dog and its owner. The set-ups may change – a much-loved pet, a military dog, a therapy companion – but what’s important is the strength of the bond between them and the lessons that come with it. But it’s not every talking dog movie that takes this approach. Strays (2023) most certainly didn’t. There was nothing cute about these four dogs trekking across America to take revenge on one especially cruel former owner.

Director Josh Greenbaum chose the voices to perfection for his cheerfully bad taste comedy, with Will Ferrell as sweet natured Border Terrier Reggie, who is abandoned by his unpleasant owner, and Jamie Foxx as the fast talking, streetwise Bug, the Boston Terrier who befriends him. Along with Australian Shepherd Maggie (voiced by Isla Fisher) and a gentle Great Dane called Hunter (the voice of Randall Park), he radicalises the naïve little mutt. An antidote to The Art Of Racing In The Rain if ever there was one, it’s still for dog lovers, hilariously up-ending the usual one man and his dog cliché.

If we needed any more proof that the film industry loves dogs, with or without voices, we only have to look as far as Cannes and its annual Palme Dog. Since 2001, it’s been awarded for the best performance by a single or group of dogs (live or animated) in the festival’s line-up. Terrier Uggie became a star in his own right after winning the coveted dog collar in 2011 for The Artist, as well as a regular on the red carpet during the film’s award campaign. It culminated in five Oscars the following year. English Bulldog, Nellie, won in 2015 for her uniquely expressive face in Paterson. She played a male, Marvin, who hated his adopted owner, the Paterson of the title, and the feeling was mutual. The antipathy between the dog and its reluctant master (Adam Driver) produced some of the film’s most deliciously funny moments – and were definitely worth a round of a-paws!

The Art Of Racing In The Rain is on Netflix in the UK now and on Prime Video in the US.

Strays is on Netflix in the UK and on Prime Video in the US.

While its name has become synonymous with binge-watch shows, Netflix has also been creating original films, taking on subjects that provoke debate and ask difficult questions.

Biopics, satire, and sci-fi have all hit the headlines by pushing boundaries, but in putting eating disorders at the centre of an emotional story, the streamer created one of its most controversial films. And To The Bone, released in 2017, remains a deeply thought-provoking movie.

As the film opens, young artist Ellen (Lily Collins) is being thrown out of her treatment programme. She simply won’t follow the rules, and her clothes are hanging off her skeletal frame.

She’s been ill for years but as her family now regards her as dead, she goes to stay with her step-family in the hope of finding some peace. Step-mom Susan (Carrie Preston) is the only adult woman in her life, and while she can sometimes be too forceful, her intentions are compassionate and she gets Ellen a place at a treatment unit. Run by a doctor (Keanu Reeves) with an unconventional approach to eating disorders, it uses a mixture of tough love and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Yet she’s more influenced by the other “rexies” (anorexics) around her, especially Luke (Alex Sharp), a ballet dancer, who takes her under his wing.

The movie received mixed reviews, but many highlighted its sense of authenticity, which came straight from the personal experience of the film’s writer and director, Marti Noxon. She uses the language and the dark humour of the young people at the treatment centre to give the film an unexpectedly light touch. Given the subject matter, which is one that’s rarely featured in mainstream movies, it’s refreshing, but it still treats it seriously.

First seen at Sundance at the start of 2017, it sparked a lot of interest, but questions about glamorising the condition rose to the surface and continued when the film arrived on Netflix.

Collins herself received substantial attention and praise for her performance.

She received the script for the film just after writing the chapter in her memoir, "Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me", about her own history with eating disorders and knew that she would have to lose weight for the role. But she accepted it, knowing that she would be supervised by a nutritionist and that it would be a safe environment.

In interviews at the time, she talked about the importance of bringing the condition and her own experiences to public attention.

Aside from the central roles played by Collins and Reeves, one of the most significant characters in the film is Carrie Preston’s Susan, the closest thing Ellen has to a mother figure. She doesn’t understand what’s going on, tries to do her best to help and, indeed, gets it wrong at times, but she’s smart enough to put her step-daughter in the care of a doctor with a different approach.

With more conventional routes having failed, she’ll try anything. That intelligence and intuition is key to Preston’s latest role, one that’s earned her tens of thousands of fans but, as TV’s Elsbeth, she lives in a very different world — that of cops, attorneys and the skyscrapers of New York City.

Audiences have warmed to the adventures of brilliant and unconventional attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, who was originally a recurring character in The Good Wife. After the second season of the show that bears her name averaged 11 million viewers, a third one is currently being filmed and Preston recently gave visitors to her Instagram account a peek behind the scenes.

With its quirky main character, lightly comic tone, and murder of the week format, what has been dubbed the 21st century Columbo will be back on CBS on October 12. A release date for the UK has yet to be confirmed, but autumn is looking more than likely.

The show follows her as she finds her way around the NYPD, standing out from the crowd with her brightly coloured couture and vast collection of tote bags, and using her unique skills to solve cases in the most unusual of ways. For the cops working alongside her, her unorthodox methods are simultaneously frustrating and awe-inspiring. Guest stars have been a regular feature of the show from day one, and it looks like season three will use them to place even more emphasis on comedy, with appearances from the likes of Amy Sedaris and The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert.

Elsbeth could be exactly what we need when the colder weather sets in. Bright colours, gentle comedy and a light-touch mystery every week. What's not to like?

To The Bone is currently on Netflix in the US and the UK.

Seasons one and two of Elsbeth are available on CBS in the US and on Sky Witness in the UK.

Earlier in the year, at a film festival, I watched what's probably going to end up being the best Netflix documentary of the year, and while it didn't have a release date at the time, the streamer has finally let us known when it'll release the movie.

The doc I'm talking about is called The Perfect Neighbor, and after playing at several film fests (including Sundance where it premiered and Sheffield DocFest where I saw it) it's set to release on Netflix on Friday, October 17. After those initial screenings it sits at a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes with over 30 positive reviews.

The Perfect Neighbor is about the growing tensions in a small Florida neighborhood, blossoming out from one resident who constantly complains to the police about the other. The dispute escalates until someone's dead and another is doing their best to get off from the crime scot-free.

While that could describe your generic Netflix true crime docuseries, what makes The Perfect Neighbor stand out is that almost all of the story is constructed from police bodycam footage taken during the various complaint call-outs and investigations. We can directly see how the players acted during the events, and judge them for ourselves without having to rely on any talking heads telling us how to feel.

The experience is also strangely gripping and visceral, putting us in on the action while also giving us the benefit of hindsight to know how it'll play out. This certainly isn't a doc you should watch while scrolling your phone; it's one to pay attention to.

I will say that one downside of this is that bodycam audio can be really hard to make out — I couldn't make out whole sentences during my screening, so I'd recommend you make the most of Netflix's subtitles feature to ensure you don't miss anything.

Like the true story it portrays, The Perfect Neighbor touches on the important topic of stand-your-ground laws, as beyond the events it looks at the consequences of the killing and court trial. I'd recommend avoiding looking into the story behind the case for fear of spoilers, which is why I haven't named the people involved despite it being public record.

The movie is a harder-hitting release than we usually see from Netflix but that's why you should watch it!

It may have one of cinema's most impressive female ensembles, but The 355, which has landed on Netflix today in the US, is no girlie flick.

Espionage action thrillers like this used to be dominated by men, and any in the cast played secondary — and often purely decorative — roles. Which, for the film's producer and star, Jessica Chastain, was the point of making her movie.

Released in 2022, this was just the second movie made under the Freckle Films banner, the production company launched by Chastain back in 2016. That same year, it also released The Eyes Of Tammy Faye, which saw her producing again, as well as playing the title role of TV evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker and winning a well-overdue Best Actress Oscar.

In The 355, she's abrasive CIA agent Mason Brown, forced to work under the radar when a new weapon of mass destruction is stolen, threatening to bring about World War III.

Despite signing up former associate and computer whizz Khadijah (Lupita Nyong’o), they can’t track it down, and decide to pull in some international agents to help. German Marie (Diane Kruger), psychologist Graciela (Penelope Cruz) and Chinese MSS agent Lin (Fan Bingbing) all bring their individual talents to the hunt, which takes them all over the world at breakneck speed. But, as well as finding themselves getting closer to the asset itself, they unexpectedly discover corruption in some high and powerful places.

See what we mean about an impressive line-up? And they’re all formidable yet fun in their different ways. Mason is fearsome and very savvy, but full of insecurities underneath her prickly surface. Marie describes herself simply as “a mess”, while Khadijah has been out of action for a while and is – sensibly – more than a little wary about returning to the field. Graciela takes it one step further: she’s scared to death of the mission and just wants to be at home to her children. Lin is late to the party, but makes a big physical impact in a very short space of time.

Male agents do get a look-in. Check further down the cast list and you’ll find Edgar Ramirez as a Colombian agent who briefly gets his hands on the device and a then- emergent Sebastian Stan as CIA agent Nick, Mason’s former partner, both professionally and privately. But, given the thinking behind the film, the tables have turned.

Their characters are the ones short on both subtlety and both actors are very much in supporting roles.

The film had a turbulent time reaching its audience. Chastain had the initial idea back in 2017 when she was a member of the jury at Cannes. For all its action, twisty plot and eventual starry cast, raising the money was tricky and, by the time it was ready to hit the screen, the pandemic had brought everything to a standstill and the release was delayed. It was a blow to its box office performance, yet audiences who turned out to see it gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, regarding it as a fun action thriller. Even the critics, who were less than kind, had to admit that the knock-out ensemble at the centre of the story was a real coup.

A subsequent release online proved even more popular but, despite a denouement that pointed very much towards a sequel, it didn’t happen. This wasn’t going to be Charlie’s Angels for the 2020s.

But audiences at the time weren’t wrong. This is an enjoyable espionage thriller with a cast that gives it real star quality. Packed with all the ingredients we expect from a glossy actioner – exotic locations, hair-raising car chases and twists in the tail – it perhaps lets itself down by never taking the genre into new territory. But this is one of those instances where familiarity breeds entertainment, not contempt.

Chastain is just one of a number of top name actresses who have become producers with the specific aim of opening up storytelling to the female experience and viewpoint. Since The 355, she’s also produced and starred in Mothers’ Instinct (2024) and TV miniseries George & Tammy (2023), winning a SAG Award for her performance. At much the same time as she launched her production company, Reese Witherspoon was opening the doors at Hello Sunshine to tell women-driven stories. The Golden Globe-winning Big Little Lies (2017 – 2019) followed on TV, together with a number of other shows, while she produced as well as starred alongside Will Ferrell earlier this year in the comedy You’re Cordially Invited.

Perhaps the most successful producer/actress at the moment is Margot Robbie, whose LuckyChap was founded in 2014. Its first feature, I, Tonya (2017), found immediate critical success with Robbie receiving an Oscar nomination and co-star

Allison Janney winning Best Supporting Actress. Robbie also fronted Birds Of Prey (2020), as well as producing, and Barbie, as we all know, turned into a global phenomenon, heading the box office charts in 2023 with global earnings of $1,447,038,421. Stats don’t get much more impressive.

The 355 is available now on Netflix in the US and is currently available to rent via Prime Video in the UK.

Has Netflix just added a new "so-bad-it's-good" watch? It certainly could be the case with the addition of a movie that sits at just 24% on Rotten Tomatoes.

This movie is In The Lost Lands, and it was released in theaters around the world in March; you'd be forgiven for not knowing that because it only made an estimated $6 million back on its $55 million budget.

And now, as of Monday, August 18, the movie is streaming on Netflix in the UK (it's on Hulu in the US).

In The Lost Lands comes from director Paul W.S. Anderson, known for the Resident Evil movies and more recently Monster Hunter (his highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, at 44%). It's also based on a short story by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who doesn't seem to have much to do with its actual production.

The movie is set in a fantasy post-apocalypse world and after having read the plot description, I'm still not quite sure what it's about. It seems to center on two people going on an adventure in a dangerous wasteland.

These two people are played by Anderson's wife and stalwart star Mila Jovovich, and wrestler turned respected actor Dave Bautista.

As of writing this, the movie is the fifth most-watched film on Netflix UK, two spaces below a 2007 action movie called The Kingdom which was released a week prior and further below two Netflix originals but above My Oxford Year, Bend it Like Beckham and Taxi, all also recently added.

Given the Rotten Tomatoes score, the box office results and the track record of the director, it's possible that In The Lost Lands could become a popular "so-bad-it's-good" watch, with other Anderson movies hitting that sweet spot in the past. However, I'm still burnt out from recent War of the Worlds so I'm not planning on finding out.

Despite his films often being found on Netflix (they're generally not made by big studios, which have their own streaming services), In Lost Lands is currently the only Anderson movie on the streamer. But Dave Bautista fans can find plenty of his movies including My Spy, Blade Runner 2049 and Glass Onion: A Knives out Mystery, so there's something for his fans to see.

Netflix was the first of the big streamers to become moviemakers. After releasing Beasts Of No Nation in 2015, Prime Video were right behind them in 2016 and others followed suit. Since then, they’ve all gathered some star power, with names such as Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Millie Bobby Brown, John Cena and Mark Wahlberg becoming regulars. Wahlberg’s first Netflix original was five years ago – and if you didn’t catch Spenser Confidential then, now is the time.

He plays the Spenser of the title, an ex-cop back on the streets of Boston after a jail sentence but who is pulled back into the crime that put him away. All he wants to do is earn his truck driving license and move to Arizona to put some distance between him and his ex. But he can’t walk away when a couple of former police colleagues are murdered, especially as he sniffs a cover-up. So, with some help from his old boxing trainer Henry (Alan Arkin) and his roommate Hawk (Winston Duke), he gets back to solving crimes, exposing the truth – and acquiring the bruises and scars to prove it.

We’re on buddy-cop crime mystery territory for what turned out to be Wahlberg’s fifth and last collaboration with director Peter Berg. While Wahlberg has since been mixing it up with a variety of films for both streamers and the big screen, Berg has concentrated on TV projects, most recently this year’s American Primeval, Netflix’s brutal western mini-series.

The majority of his films with Wahlberg were actioners based on real life, but Spenser Confidential is a long way from that, concentrating more on a humour which is beefed up by a handful of salty supporting characters. The action is still there, but this time it’s designed to entertain, with Spenser beaten up so often it almost becomes a running gag in its own right. His partnership with Hawk and their inevitable banter give Wahlberg and Duke the opportunity to forge a sparky on-screen partnership that helps drive the story along.

Spenser Confidential was also the last appearance in front of the camera from Oscar winner Alan Arkin, who plays trainer, Henry, in his customary curmudgeonly style, but with a twinkle never far from his eyes. He’s only in a few scenes but the part fits him like a glove, allowing him to bring an earthiness to the film.

Alongside him in the colourful supporting cast is Marc Maron, in a role that has his name written all over it. As Wayne Cosgrove, a reporter on The Boston Globe, he’s cynical and world weary but his principles remain intact and he’s trying to shine a light on wrongdoing. He gives Spenser the vital clue he needs to crack the case and, although we only see him in a couple of scenes, he leaves an indelible impression.

Having started out as a stand-up comedian, Maron is also a writer, an award winning podcaster and, more recently, a prolific actor both on TV and in movies. After the success of last year’s taut thriller, The Order, he’s due back on the big screen later this year as record producer Chuck Plotkin in the much-anticipated Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, alongside Jeremy Allen White, Paul Walter Hauser and Jeremy Strong. Currently he’s immersed in the world of golf in Apple TV+ Plus’s sports comedy Stick. And, after a first season that garnered an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s been greenlit for a second outing.

Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an ex-pro golfer whose career came to an abrupt halt 20 years ago. Emerging after the breakup of his marriage, he’s working in a sporting goods store and places his future in the 17 year old hands of golfing prodigy Santi (Peter Dager), who is seriously in need of a coach. The combination of sport and the show’s good hearted tone has prompted comparisons with Apple TV Plus’s big hitter, Ted Lasso.

And, just like Bill Lawrence’s affectionate look at football, it’s a show that depends very much on the chemistry between its cast. For Stick, the relationship at the centre of everything is the one between Pryce and Mitts, his long-term friend and former caddy, played by Maron. Essentially the comic relief, he always has a great gag for any occasion and the actor’s immaculate timing means his dry, sarcastic lines are delivered to perfection. The big laughs all come from him and, while Wilson is no stranger to comedy – and certainly has his moments in season one - he’s the straight man, with the dramatic side of the narrative falling in his shoulders. And he produces some really tearjerking moments.

There’s no word yet on when filming starts for the new season, nor when it’s likely to arrive, although next year looks a good bet. The script is under wraps as well, but there’s been hints of a backstory about Mitts’ late wife and it sounds like a natural. If the past year has been a busy one for Maron, 2026 could be a hole in one!

Spenser Confidential is on Netflix in the USA and the UK.

All episodes of season one of Stick are on Apple TV Plus in both the USA and the UK.

Martin Scorsese was apparently considering taking a page from Travis Bickle’s playbook in order to save Taxi Driver (one of WTW's 100 best movies of all time)from being scrapped by the studio. That’s the fascinating takeaway from the first look at Mr. Scorsese, a five-part documentary series about the legendary Oscar-winning director premiering on Apple TV Plus on October 17.

In the clip, we see Steven Spielberg and Scorsese talking about the frantic state that Scorsese was in when the studio demanded that Scorsese remove much of the violent climax of the movie when Bickle (played by Robert De Niro) shoots up a brothel. Spielberg said that Scorsese was “very upset” and called him in a panic over the situation, while another interviewee said there were stories Scorsese wanted to kill the head of the studio.

It’s important to remember at the time that Scorsese was still a young director. While he had made well regarded movies like Mean Streets and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Scorsese was not the revered figure that movie fans know him as today; one who gets Emmy-nominated cameos in The Studio. So these suggested cuts weren’t things that could just be ignored because he’s Martin Scorsese. But would Scorsese have resorted to violence or criminal acts to try and save Taxi Driver?

As he tells it, he was in such a state that he at least threatened it.

In the clip, Scorsese was asked if he had a gun during this situation? He says that “I was going to get one,” but he quickly admits that he was unlikely to actually ever get one. He says “I was angry, I said I’m going to threaten them, or maybe just shoot. I had no idea. I mean I was threatening.”

So the gun was an empty threat, but as Scorsese elaborates he did have a plan to steal the rough cut of Taxi Driver from the studio. “They’re going to destroy the film anyway,” he explained, “so let me destroy it. I’ll destroy it. But before destroying it I’m going to steal it.”

However, as we know Taxi Driver was not destroyed. Instead, a workaround was reached that allowed for Scorsese to keep the shootout scene mostly intact. While Spielberg doesn’t remember exactly who had the idea, but says it may have been Scorsese, the plan was to tone the color down of the entire sequence, from red to a brownish color, and “make it grainy,” This was enough to get the seal of approval from the MPAA and the studio, and, as Spielberg says “saved the movie.”

Watch the full clip right here:

That’s just one of many likely great stories from the career of Martin Scorsese that we’re going to get from Mr. Scorsese.

Per the description from Apple TV Plus, Mr. Scorsese offers exclusive, unrestricted access to Scorsese’s private archives and features extensive conversations with Scorsese and never-before-seen interviews with friends, family and creative collaborators, including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Jay Cocks and Rodrigo Prieto, along with his children, wife Helen Morris and close childhood friends. The five-episode docuseries is directed by Rebecca Miller.

Again, Mr. Scorsese premieres exclusively on Apple TV Plus on October 17. A subscription to the streaming service is required to watch.

It’s impossible to categorise Mark Wahlberg. From tough crime thrillers and true-life dramas, to comedies and action adventures, he’s done the lot — and a few more.

One that his many fans took to their heart and which, like the actor himself, doesn’t conveniently fit into any particular genre, arrives on Prime Video today [Monday, August 11] and shows us his softer side. Meet Father Stu.

He starts life as Stu Long, the son of a less-than-attentive father (Mel Gibson) and a kind but ineffectual mother (Jacki Weaver). Try as he might, Stu (Wahlberg) can never win his father’s approval and grows up to be a boxer. It's not an especially successful career move: regularly injured, he only wins a few trophies and even less money, despite a determination to make it in the ring.

Calling a halt to boxing, he turns his attention to another dream, this time to be a movie star, and heads for Hollywood. Enjoying the bars and company of beautiful girls in Tinseltown, he’s drawn to Carmen (Teresa Ruiz), who is very involved in the Catholic Church. To get close to her, he pretends to share her faith but, after a serious motorcycle accident and a moment of revelation, he realises he’s being called to the priesthood.

The journey from boxer to priest received a lukewarm response from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, they only gave it 42% but audiences saw it totally differently, buying into the movie’s inspirational tone and religious messages. Their verdict was 95% and it’s become a much-loved favourite among Wahlberg’s fans. Many of them praised a performance that brought authenticity to a moving experience. It was also very much a personal project for the actor, who both produced and spent “millions and millions of dollars” of his own money when no other financial backer could be found.

With a modest budget, it took a respectable £21.6 million at the global box office.

But neither the real story or the movie ends with the decision to become a priest. As he embarks on his new life, Stu is diagnosed with a rare muscle condition, changing his life all over again. Now he has to find a way of living with his disease while pursuing his vocation as a priest. The real Stuart Long/Father Stu died in 2014, just seven years after his ordination, and the film’s final moments show us the real man in footage from the later years in his life.

Wahlberg is no stranger to films based on true stories. One of his biggest critical successes, The Fighter (2010), also had a boxing setting and saw him playing light welterweight Micky Ward, whose road to a world title was overseen by his former-boxer brother, Dicky (Christian Bale) whose drug addiction threatened to sabotage his ambitions. While most of the acting honours, Oscars included, went to Bale and co-star Melissa Leo, Wahlberg received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

And just a few years later, he was named Best Actor in an Action Movie for Lone Survivor (2013), which also won Best Action Movie at the same ceremony. The powerful war drama saw Wahlberg play Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell, who led a team sent to capture or kill a notorious Taliban leader in 2005. When their mission doesn’t go according to plan, they have to fight for their lives in one of modern warfare’s most remarkable acts of survival.

The actor’s more emotional side was on show in Joe Bell (2020). He played the title role, a father who walked across America to raise awareness about bullying and suicide in memory of his teenage son, who was bullied for being gay and died by suicide as a result. Once again, audiences embraced the film, giving it 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, warming to its heartfelt message and positive outlook on life.

Father Stu isn’t a conventional faith-based movie, but it’s a reminder that there’s more to Wahlberg than action movies and adult comedies. Sure, he can play for laughs, but he can also take on powerfully emotional roles, often based on true stories, and go straight for the audience’s heartstrings. He rarely misses.

Father Stu is on Prime Video in the US and UK now.

Lindsay Lohan is currently back on the big screen reprising one of her most-loved characters, Anna Coleman in Freakier Friday, which premiered in theaters on Friday, August 8. But before you check out that body-swap sequel, you can revisit what is arguably the actress's role—well, roles, technically—in a special airing of her beloved '90s comedy The Parent Trap tonight on ABC.

Airing Sunday, August 10 at 8pm Eastern Time, the 1998 update of the 1961 film of the same name follows a similar premise as the original: Lohan plays both "Hallie Parker, a hip Californian, and Annie James, a proper London miss," identical twins who don't even know each other exists—they were separated at birth following the divorce of their parents Nick Parker and Elizabeth James (played by Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). When they accidentally meet at summer camp, however, the girls devise a plan to switch places, forcing their parents to reunite and fall in love again to bring the family back together at last.

Along with Lohan, Quaid and Richardson, The Parent Trap ensemble includes Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter as Hallie's loveable nanny Chessy, Simon Kunz as Annie's trusty butler Martin, and Elaine Hendrix—who reunites with Lohan in Freakier Friday—as Nick's much younger fiancée Meredith Blake, who threatens Annie and Hallie's plans to get their parents back together.

The sweet family flick was the feature directorial debut of Nancy Meyers, who would go on to direct such crowd-pleasers as Something's Gotta Give, The Holiday and It's Complicated.

Tonight's airing of The Parent Trap is part of ABC's ongoing partnership with The Wonderful World of Disney, with the alphabet network regularly airing Disney movies on Sundays for the past twenty years. Anyone with a traditional pay-TV setup, TV antenna or live TV streaming service that carries ABC (such as Fubo, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV) can watch the network's broadcast of The Parent Trap at 8pm ET on Sunday, August 10. If you're not able to tune in tonight on ABC, The Parent Trap is also available to stream right now on Disney Plus.

Check out the original trailer for The Parent Trap before tuning into the fun throwback comedy tonight on ABC.

Nobody does romcoms quite like JLo. She's the queen of the genre, giving us all those essentials — the laughter and tears, the glamour, the heart, and the happy ending — and she delivers with such charisma that they’re hard to resist.

Despite forays into more dramatic roles, she’s never far away from another heartwarming romance and one of her most popular has landed on Netflix today [Sunday, August 10] in the US. Marry Me (2022) has the ultimate meet cute.

Lopez is Kat, a global singing sensation and half of a super-glam power couple. She and Puerto Rican superstar Bastian (Maluma) are getting married, but this will be no ordinary ceremony.

They’ll perform their latest hit, “Marry Me”, at Kat’s concert and exchange vows in front of countless fans, both at the venue and on numerous platforms around the world. That’s the plan, but it all goes out of the window when, seconds before the ceremony, Kat discovers Bastian has cheated with her assistant.

With her life crumbling in front of her, she looks into the audience and locks eyes with Charlie (Owen Wilson), a divorced maths teacher who’s been dragged along to the concert by his daughter.

And Kat decides to marry him there and then. Her split-second decision turns into romance, but coming from such different worlds, their future soon begins to look rocky...

The ending is all-too-obvious, but the movie is smart enough to make their relationship burn appealingly slowly, so we’re given the chance to get to know the unlikely couple and get behind their efforts to make it work. The odds may be stacked against them, but we’re backing them all the way, so it’s tissues at the ready.

And audiences fell in love almost as heavily, giving it a heartwarming 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics weren’t quite as enthusiastic, but it’s since become a regular in their top five JLo romcoms.

It's a favorite all round. And it’s not hard to see why. The premise is sweet, the title track sticks in your memory, and the script gives Lopez an opportunity to flex her acting muscles with some heartfelt scenes about life in the public eye.

For somebody whose leading men have included Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes and Richard Gere, Owen Wilson’s ramshackle teacher is a change in style, but she has chemistry not just with him, but Maluma as well.

• Best movies on Netflix

Aside from starring in romcoms and producing many of her own movies, Lopez has been steadily building a reputation as a dramatic actress. Marry Me was her first film since Hustlers (2019), which saw her play the brains behind a group of streetwise former strippers who decide to turn the tables on their sharp-suited clients.

Described by many as a "career best performance", it attracted some Oscar buzz but, when the nominations were announced, the Academy looked the other way, even though she received Golden Globe, SAG and Critics’ Choice nods.

More recently, she was back in another strong dramatic role, this time in Unstoppable (2024), playing the tower-of-strength mother in the true-life story of wrestler Anthony Robles.

But her squillions of romcom fans won’t have to wait too long to see her back where she belongs in Office Romance, which is due on Netflix sometime next year. This time she’s teamed with Brett Goldstein, and there's a heavy-hitting cast including Jodie Whittaker, Tony Hale, Edward James Olmos, and Bradley Whitford all in support.

She plays a company CEO who finds herself in danger of breaking her own company’s anti-fraternization policy – and, judging from the on-set photographs, the reason is pretty obvious. The actress whose name spells romcom paired with Ted Lasso’s grumpy Roy Kent? We can’t wait for that meet cute!

Marry Me is on Netflix in the US from 10 August and on Prime Video in the UK.

Scrolling for something new to watch on Hulu this week, August 9-15? Let me give you a hand with my picks for the best movies, TV shows and more arriving on the streaming service.

The big arrival this week is a new series based on one of the most popular sci-fi franchises of all time. But there are some other great options to stream this week, including a special live event and a major action franchise.

Check out all of the picks for this week directly below.

The Lost City (2022)

• Enjoy this adventure comedy on Hulu starting August 10

Who doesn't love Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum? They both are at their charming best in The Lost City, an action/adventure comedy that is a solid, easy watch from the last few years.

In the movie, Bullock plays an author who is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (played by Daniel Radcliffe) who believes her most recent book reveals clues to a real ancient lost city. It falls to her cover model (Tatum) to try and rescue her.

Copshop (2021)

• Under-the-radar crime thriller with a fun Gerard Butler performance is streaming as of August 11

There's a large fan base for Gerard Butler's crime movies Den of Thieves and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, but in my opinion, Copshop is just as fun and is a far superior movie than the Den of Thieves franchise, and we still get Butler showing his rougher side.

In Copshop, a con artist (Frank Grillo) attempts to hide from a lethal assassin (Butler) by getting himself arrested. However, the assassin follows him into the station, with only a rookie cop (Alexis Louder) on duty to handle the situation.

Copshop is "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes.

Alien: Earth

• The first two episodes of the sci-fi TV series premiere on Hulu on August 12

The Xenomorphs have been terrorizing space for almost 50 years, but they are about to terrorize Earth in the FX/Hulu original series Alien: Earth from Fargo creator Noah Hawley.

With a cast of relatively lesser-known actors, save for Timothy Olyphant, Alien: Earth is one of the more interesting summer TV shows we're getting this year and is worth giving a try.

John Wick movies

• The entire John Wick franchise starts streaming on Hulu on August 15

Not one, not two, not three, but all four John Wick movies arrive on Hulu this week.

The mega-action franchise, starring Keanu Reeves as the world's most dangerous assassin out for revenge against those who have wronged him, has spawned beyond the confines of these four movies (most recently with the spinoff movie Ballerina), and we're even getting a John Wick 5 it seems. But these four movies (John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, John Wick: Chapter 4) remain the gold standard.

Stand Up to Cancer

• A special live stream of the Stand Up to Cancer fundraising event takes place on August 15

Stand Up to Cancer raises money for cancer research, and one of their biggest events is the Stand Up to Cancer event, taking place for the ninth time on August 15.

Hulu will have a special live stream of the event that begins at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, with host Sheryl Crow and appearances and performances from celebrities, including Dolly Parton.

Providence Falls is the newest trilogy of movies coming to Hallmark Channel during the annual Summer Nights celebration. Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise is the second movie in the trilogy, following in the footsteps of Providence Falls Part 1.

The Providence Falls trilogy follows a police detective, Cora, whose new partner is actually her long lost love who has been reincarnated. Over the course of three weeks, their love story will span space and time as Cora is faced with her past colliding with her present. Will she end up finding true love in the end?

Here's everything we know about Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise.

Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise release date

Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise premieres Saturday, August 9, at 8 pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. It will be available to stream the following day on Hallmark Plus. The trilogy will come to its conclusion on Saturday, August 16.

We don't have a release date for UK viewers, but once one is available, we'll have it for you right here.

Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery are included in many cable TV packages, but if you've cut the cord, there are a few other options to help you watch.

You can also access Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery via Philo, Sling TV, Frndly TV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV and Fubo. Hallmark Plus is a standalone streaming service that requires its own subscription; new movies and episodes of the network's series are available the day after they air.

Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise premise

Here's the premise of the Providence Falls trilogy from Hallmark Channel: "Newbie police detective, Cora, is partnered with visiting detective, Liam, on her first case. Little does she know, Liam is her reincarnated love here to change her fate."

Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise cast

Providence Falls features Katie Stevens (A Christmas Open House) as Cora, Lachlan Quarmby (He's Not Worth Dying For) as Liam and Evan Roderick (Spinning Out) as Finn.

Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise trailer

Take a look at the preview and sneak peek of Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise below.

After a summer season of blockbusters, the fall ushers in several thought-provoking and inspirational stories, case in point, the 2025 new movie, Sarah’s Oil.

Sarah’s Oil is based on the true story of Sarah Rector, a young girl who remarkably beat the odds and became one of the very few African-American millionaires in the US during the 1900s. Intrigued to learn more?

Here’s everything we know about Sarah’s Oil.

Sarah’s Oil release date

Sarah’s Oil premieres in movie theaters in the US on November 7. Its release date means it will go up against Glen Powell’s The Running Man and Russell Crowe’s Nuremberg.

We don’t have a confirmed release date for Sarah’s Oil in the UK at this time, but as we get more information, we’ll pass along the update.

Sarah’s Oil cast

Starring as the titular character Sarah is young actress, Naya Desir-Johnson. In her blooming career, she’s appeared in an episode of Pose and The Equalizer, among other things.

Desir-Johnson stars opposite Zachary Levi. The Shazam! actor is well-known to TV and movie audiences, because in addition to portraying a superhero, he’s starred in other things like Chuck, Tangled, Thor: The Dark World and Spy Kids: Armageddon.

Helping to round out the Sarah’s Oil cast are Sonequa Martin-Green (Star Trek: Discovery), Garret Dillahunt (High Potential), Mel Rodriguez (The Residence), Kenric Green (The Walking Dead) and Bridget Regan (The Rookie).

Sarah’s Oil plot

Sarah’s Oil was inspired by Tonya Bolden’s Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America. Here is a synopsis of the script penned by Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh & Cyrus Nowrasteh:

“Sarah’s Oil is the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, an African-American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends, and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming among the nation’s first female African-American millionaires — at eleven years old.”

Sarah’s Oil trailer

Check out the trailer for the inspirational film below.

Sarah’s Oil director

Cyrus Nowrasteh pulled double duty for Sarah’s Oil, both writing and directing. Here’s a list of his full-feature directing credits.

• Veiled Threat (1989)
• The Island (1998)
• The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008)
• The Young Messiah (2016)
• Infidel (2019)

Sarah’s Oil behind the scenes

In an interesting footnote, Sarah’s Oil is executive produced by superstar couple Russell Wilson and his wife, Ciara. Wilson is a Super-Bowl-winning quarterback while Ciara is a Grammy-winning musician. Tony Young, Katelyn Botsch, Robert Scott Fort and Sherry Kang also join Wilson and Ciara as executive producers.

Two of the most notable rising Hollywood stars are set to star in a period romance that’s earning some awards buzz, as Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor star in the 2025 new movie The History of Sound.

That buzz was generated at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where The History of Sound had its world premiere. Plus, the movie is being backed by Mubi, the distributor that has found some recent success with movies like The Substance, Aftersun and Drive My Car.

For all the info on The History of Sound, read on below.

The History of Sound release date

The History of Sound premieres exclusively in movie theaters on September 12 in the US. At this time, we’re not able to confirm a UK release date.

The History of Sound cast

Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor headline The History of Sound. Both actors have been on the rise in recent years; Mescal with performances in Gladiator 2, All of Us Strangers, Aftersun and Normal People, and O’Connor in Challengers, The Crown and Emma.

Also starring in The History of Sound are Oscar winner Chris Cooper (Adaptation, Everything’s Going to Be Great), Molly Price (Elsbeth, Babygirl), Alison Bartlett (Materialists, Sesame Street), Michael Schantz (Power Book III: Raising Kanan, City on a Hill), Samuel H. Levine (Turning, She Came to Me), Peter Mark Kendall (Watson, Kaleidoscope), Raphael Sbarge (Friendship, Once Upon a Time), Hadley Robinson (Mountainhead, Anyone But You), Emma Canning (Say Nothing, Masters of the Air) and Alessandro Bedetti (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Those About to Die).

The History of Sound plot

From a screenplay by Ben Shattuck, here is the official synopsis for The History of Sound:

“Two young music students, Lionel and David, attending the Boston Conservatory in 1917, bond over their shared love of folk music. They reconnect a few years later, embarking on a song collecting trip in the backwaters of Maine.”

The History of Sound trailer

Watch The History of Sound trailer right here:

The History of Sound reviews

After premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, The History of Sound has thus far (as of August 8) received a “Fresh” rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

The History of Sound director

Oliver Hermanus is the director of The History of Sound. Though he may not be a household name, Hermanus has directed a number of well-received movies in his career thus far, including earning a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film of the Year for 2022’s Living. He also directed three episodes of the TV series Mary & George.

Here is a look at his complete feature directing credits:

• Shirley Adams (2009)
• Beauty (2011)
• The Endless River (2015)
• Moffie (2019)
• Living (2022)

The History of Sound behind the scenes

The producers of The History of Sound are Lisa Ciuffetti, Hermanus, Andrew Kortschak, Sara Murphy, Thérèsa Ryan and Zhang Xin. Mescal is an executive producer on the movie.

In the same summer that she played Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Vanessa Kirby takes on another kind of hero’s journey in Night Always Comes. Though how they go about it is quite different, Kirby’s Sue and her character Lynette in the Netflix original movie both have the same drive — doing what has to be done to save their family.

Kirby and Netflix have been in a good partnership in recent years. She starred in the first couple of seasons of the Netflix original series The Crown as Princess Margaret, earning an Emmy nomination, and the Netflix movie Pieces of a Woman, for which she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination. Will this new pairing between Netflix and Vanessa Kirby lead to another hit on the streaming service?

Before we figure that out, here’s everything you need to know about Night Always Comes.

Night Always Comes release date

Night Always Comes premieres exclusively on Netflix on Friday, August 15. A Netflix subscription is required to watch the movie.

Night Always Comes cast

Vanessa Kirby stars as Lynette in Night Always Comes, a woman who goes on a harrowing journey over the course of one night to secure her family’s future. We’ve already mentioned some of Kirby’s biggest roles in Fantastic Four, Pieces of a Woman and The Crown, but she’s also starred in the Mission: Impossible franchise, Napoleon and, also premiering in August, Eden.

The strong supporting cast of Night Always Comes includes Jennifer Jason Leigh (Fargo season 5, The Hateful Eight), Zach Gottsagen (The Peanut Butter Falcon), Stephan James (The Piano Lesson, If Beale Street Could Talk), Julia Fox (Presence, Uncut Gems), Eli Roth (The Idol, Inglourious Basterds), Randall Park (The Residence, WandaVision) and Michael Kelly (Lioness, Jack Ryan).

Night Always Comes plot

Based on Willy Vlautin’s 2021 book The Night Always Comes, with the adapted screenplay written by Sarah Conradt, here is the official synopsis from Netflix:

“Night Always Comes follows Lynette, a woman who risks everything to secure the house that represents a future for her family. On a dangerous odyssey through a single night, Lynette is forced to confront her dark past in order to finally break free.”

Night Always Comes trailer

Watch the trailer for Night Always Comes right here:

Night Always Comes director

Benjamin Caron is the director of Night Always Comes. This is the second feature movie directed by Caron. His previous movie directing credit was for the Apple TV Plus original movie Sharper. However, he has plenty of experience on big projects, including directing multiple episodes of Andor, The Crown (where he previously worked with Kirby) and Sherlock.

Night Always Comes behind the scenes

In addition to being backed by Netflix, Night Always Come is a production by Aluna Entertainment, Co Created Media, H2L Media Group and Squared Eye Pictures. Producers on Night Always Come are Ryan Bartecki, Benjamin Caron, Jodie Caron, Lauren Dark, Billy Hines, Vanessa Kirby and Gary Levinsohn.

The movie was shot in Portland, Ore.

My main fear about Netflix's upcoming The Thursday Murder Club movie is that it will lose the quintessential British charm that made Richard Osman's book so enjoyable, and after seeing the new trailer, I’m even more worried.

The trailer is slick, beautiful, full of shiny actors — all things that strike me as being a million miles away from the novel. Let’s start with the crazy casting of Pierce Brosnan as Ron, who, along with Joyce (Celia Imrie), Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), solves murders from their retirement village. Brosnan looks magnificently handsome and smooth in the trailer and very much like a man who's played James Bond, because, well, he has.

In the book, he’s painted as a tattooed, grizzled ex-trade union man, so basically the complete opposite of Brosnan. You can imagine Ray Winstone as Ron, but not Brosnan.

But it’s not just Brosnan's casting that gets you worried. The charm of the book is the sense that they're all seeing out their days in peace, but boredom at Coopers Chase until they get involved in murder solving. I got the impression from the book that it's at the upmarket end of retirement homes, but in the movie, it looks like Downton Abbey!

It’s also hard to imagine that the makers, wanting to appeal to a global Netflix audience, will be able to keep in Osman's quirky references to British life for fear that people from other countries won't understand them.

Do Americans get the sort of weird British supermarket class system where Waitrose, which Osman references, is considered at the upmarket end? And how the British secretly judge people based on where they shop?

"Waitrose delivery vans clink with wine and prescriptions,” Osman writes in the book, indicating immediately to British readers that the residents of Coopers Chase are doing well for themselves as they can afford wine from Waitrose. There are also references in the books to things like recording episodes of Inspector Morse, which you can’t imagine staying in.

I’d be far less concerned if the BBC were making it. OK, we wouldn’t get the Hollywood cast, but that wasn’t the point of the book. One of the delights was imagining your grandparents/parents cracking crimes at their retirement village. They're meant to be the type of pensioners people easily ignore because they’re not glamorous.

If you take out all the quirky British humor of the book, I’m not quite sure what you’re left with. This is far from saying it won’t be an entertaining movie; it might be brilliant.

It’s meant to be a faithful adaptation, but I can’t imagine how they will pull that trick off and make it appeal to a global audience. If they do, it will be a masterstroke by American director Chris Columbus. To be fair, he did a great job with the two Harry Potter movies he helmed.

Will The Thursday Murder Club movie get lost in translation? We will have to wait until the end of the month. The Thursday Movie Club movie hits Netflix globally on August 28. In the UK, it will have a limited cinema release on August 22.

The modern Disney classic Freaky Friday is getting a sequel at long last, as Freakier Friday is now available to watch, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan back for more laughs. If the 2025 new movie is high on your watch list, we’ve got all the info you need to watch Freakier Friday right now.

So, to find out when and where Freakier Friday is available, including if it is streaming, read on below.

How to watch Freakier Friday in movie theaters

Freakier Friday is now playing exclusively in movie theaters in the US, UK and most of the world. Early access screenings take place on August 7 before the movie’s official release on August 8.

To find out when and where Freakier Friday is playing, you can check out Fandango. This platform (available as a website and app) allows users to see all of the movie theaters in their area where Freakier Friday is playing, as well as what showtimes are available. When you find the time and place that work best for you, you can also purchase your ticket directly through the site.

Another option, especially for those who have a particular movie theater that they like to frequent, is movie theater subscriptions and membership programs. Offered by many US and UK movie theater chains, in addition to providing all the info you need on when and where a movie is playing, these programs allow moviegoers to occasionally get free, discounted or monthly allotment of movie tickets, as well as deals on concessions.

Is Freakier Friday streaming?

Freakier Friday is not available to stream right now. The movie isn’t available to watch at home in any capacity.

There are no details as of yet for Freakier Friday’s at-home viewing plans, but we can make the educated guess that it will first pop up to buy or rent via digital on-demand platforms, before it ultimately makes its streaming debut on Disney Plus.

We’ll update this post as any information about Freakier Friday’s streaming status becomes available. In the meantime, the original Freaky Friday movie starring Curtis and Lohan is streaming on Disney Plus right now.

What else to know about Freakier Friday

In addition to Curtis and Lohan reprising their roles as Tess and Anna, the Freakier Friday cast includes Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Mark Harmon, Manny Jacinto, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky, Rosalind Chao and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.

Directed by Nisha Ganatra from a script by Jordan Weiss, the synopsis of the movie reads: "Years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice."

Freakier Friday is officially “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.

Get a peek at what’s in store with the movie by watching the Freakier Friday trailer right here:

After creating the fan favorite horror movie Barbarian back in 2022, director Zach Cregger has another horror movie now playing that people are loving, Weapons. To make sure you don’t miss out on the twists and surprises that everyone will be talking about, we’ve put together everything you need to know about how to watch Weapons right now.

Can you only watch Weapons in movie theaters right now, or is the movie available to stream? Read on for all of those answers.

How to watch Weapons in movie theaters

Weapons is now playing in movie theaters in the US, UK and just about everywhere around the world (early screenings taking place on August 7 ahead of the movie’s official release on August 8). Weapons is exclusively available in movie theaters right now, so a trip to the cinema is required if you want to check out the horror movie.

To find out exactly where and when Weapons is playing in a movie theater near you, check out the movie’s official website (which also features some unique content to get you prepped for the movie) or Fandango. Each option allows you to see all of the movie theater locations in your area where Weapons is playing and what available showtimes there are. When you find the screening that works best for you, you can purchase your Weapons ticket directly through the sites.

Frequent moviegoers who may have a favorite movie theater may want to look into movie theater subscriptions and membership programs. In addition to providing you with showtime info, these programs typically offer either free, discounted or monthly allotment of movie tickets, as well as deals on concessions and other moviegoing perks.

Is Weapons streaming?

No, you cannot stream Weapons at this time.

As we said, Weapons is only going to be playing in movie theaters for the foreseeable future, as no info on its streaming plans have been announced.

We presume that Weapons will first be made available to buy or rent on-demand at home before it eventually makes its streaming debut on HBO Max, seeing as it is a Warner Bros. movie. But as far as a timeline for when that all may happen, it’s TBD.

We’ll update this post as any information about Weapons at-home viewing plans is announced.

What else to know about Weapons

As mentioned, a Zach Cregger horror movie is generating a lot of buzz once again. Barbarian earned a “Certified Fresh” 92% score when it was released in 2022, but as of publication, Weapons is exceeding that with a 95% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. As you can read in the official WTW Weapons review, we agree that Cregger has crafted another entertaining horror entry.

So, what is Weapons about? The movie is set in a small town where one night an entire third-grade class wakes up at 2:17 in the morning and runs out of their homes, vanishing into the night; well, all but one. As the search for the kids drags out, the town grows restless and angry, with much of the ire directed at the class’ teacher.

Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher and Amy Madigan star in Weapons.

Get a preview of what’s in store in the movie by watching the Weapons trailer right here:

James L. Brooks has written and directed some all-time classics — including the Best Picture winner Terms of Endearment and the favorite As Good As It Gets — but it’s been 15 years since his last movie. That gap officially comes to an end with the 2025 new movie Ella McCay.

The dramedy feels very much in Brooks' wheelhouse, which should be good news for his long-time fans and a nice reintroduction for younger movie fans who may not have seen his past work.

Read on below to find out everything that you need to know about Ella McCay.

Ella McCay release date

Ella McCay premieres on December 12 in US and UK movie theaters.

Again, that will be just shy of 15 years since Brooks’ last movie, How Do You Know, which premiered in movie theaters on December 17, 2010.

Ella McCay cast

Emma Mackey has nabbed her biggest role to date, playing the titular Ella McCay. Mackey broke out in the Netflix series Sex Education, but has starred in notable movies including Death on the Nile, Barbie and Emily.

A strong supporting cast is also on board, featuring Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Freakier Friday), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk), Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building, The Big Sick), Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, After the Hunt), Spike Fearn (Alien: Romulus, Back to Black), Rebecca Hall (Godzilla vs Kong, The Town), Julie Kavner (The Simpsons, Click), Becky Ann Baker (Jackpot, Ted Lasso), Joey Brooks (Winning Time, Succession), Oscar nominee Albert Brooks (Broadcast News, Finding Nemo) and Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Last Breath).

Ella McCay plot

Written by James L. Brooks, Ella McCay’s synopsis reads:

“An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.”

Ella McCay trailer

Watch the trailer for Ella McCay right here:

James L. Brooks movies

Before he started to make movies, Brooks was a prolific TV writer, writing for the likes of The Andy Griffith Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Lou Grant and others. He has also been a key creative force on the longest-running animated series of all time, The Simpsons.

But in terms of his movies, here is Brooks' filmography, all of which he wrote and directed:

• Terms of Endearment (1983)
• Broadcast News (1987)
• I’ll Do Anything (1994)
• As Good As It Gets (1997)
• Spanglish (2004)
• How Do You Know (2010)

Ella McCay behind the scenes

A production of 20th Century Studios, Gracie Films and Hurwitz Creative, Ella McCay is produced by Brooks, Richard Sakai, Julie Ansell, and Jennifer Brooks.

Ella McCay was filmed primarily in Rhode Island.

The horror genre has truly become a director’s showcase. Robert Eggers (The Witch, Nosferatu), Osgood Perkins (Longlegs, The Monkey), Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) and Zach Cregger, whose 2022 horror movie Barbarian put him on the map. Cregger has returned with his follow-up to Barbarian, Weapons, an eerie and entertaining addition to the horror canon.

In addition to directing, Cregger wrote the script for Weapons, which tells the story of a town where all but one student in an elementary school class mysteriously disappear one night. Suspicions are immediately raised around their teacher, Justine (Julia Garner), as parents, including Archer (Josh Brolin), desperately search for answers. Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher and Amy Madigan also star.

Weapons is completely defined by Cregger’s storytelling and direction, as it overshadows just about everything else, including the performances of his notable cast (with one exception).

Let’s start with the story. Cregger plays around with structure, telling the story in chapters that focus primarily on specific characters, with some overlap or bleeding into one another. This slowly reveals the secrets of the movie, doling out answers and key info bit by bit until the third act and the whole picture comes into view. It’s similar to his jump cuts in Barbarian, but here it is more about slowly stringing the audience along. While it definitely is a slow burn, this strategy works to keep the audience actively engaged.

Supporting that is Cregger’s directing style, particularly his mastery of creating tone. For all two hours of the movie there is an undeniable sense of dread hovering over everything. But Cregger doesn’t achieve that with overt stylistic choices (outside of a couple of dream sequences), it’s his tracking of characters, lingering on certain things, letting his scariest moments play out slowly rather than with jump scares and the blending darker elements with touches of humor that give the movie its unique sensibility.

Having said that, I do have a couple of small gripes. One that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense is that characters are affected by something at different parts of the movie but we never get an effective answer as to how or why that happens; the movie’s big reveals don’t give a satisfying answer to this.

Also, the movie’s message isn’t particularly clear, at least on first viewing. When I watched Barbarian I could quickly get what Cregger was going for with his story, as well as simply being entertained by what’s unfolding on screen. With Weapons, the story itself is interesting, but what exactly I should be taking away from it is muddled at best. Sometimes you don’t need an obvious message, but it can make the difference between a good and great movie; in this case it has me liking Barbarian a little bit better than Weapons.

With Weapons being the Cregger show, it relegates most of his ensemble as mostly forgettable. That’s not to say that Julia Garner or Josh Brolin are bad; their characters are perfectly fine subjects for us to follow as the mystery is unraveled. But we’re not as interested in what’s going on specifically with them as we are with the overall mystery of the story.

The one exception in the cast is Amy Madigan. Best known for her work in the 1980s, particularly in the classic Field of Dreams and her Oscar-nominated role in Twice in a Lifetime, Madigan has her best role in years in Weapons and she makes the most of it, stealing every scene she’s in. The role she has definitely is designed to draw our attention, but what she does with her performance is exceptional.

Weapons is a very good horror movie, but it’s not one just for the horror diehards (I definitely don’t consider myself as such). Because the movie relies more on tone than things like jump scares (though there are a couple snuck in there) it should be more accessible to a broader audience. Basically, if you’re interested in good filmmaking and a story that will keep you fully invested, then Cregger’s Weapons is worth watching.

Weapons releases exclusively in movie theaters in the US, UK and around the world on August 8.

It's been a shocking week for movies on streaming services. Prime Video added a new version of War of the Worlds starring Ice Cube, which managed to receive precisely zero on Rotten Tomatoes. And Netflix's new rom-com My Oxford Year, added over the weekend, has been awarded just 27%.

Yep, 27% in a normal week would secure it the worst movie of the week title, but thanks to War of the Worlds, at least it's avoided that.

My Oxford Year appeared to have everything going for it. Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Julia Whelan, it stars Sofia Carson as ambitious American Anna, who follows her childhood dream of studying at Oxford for a year-long graduate programme.

But when sparks fly between Anna and charming poetry professor Jamie (Corey Mylchreest), their relationship threatens the meticulous postgraduate life and career she planned for herself. It’s directed by Iain Morris, who wrote and created the hit British sitcom The Inbetweeners, so you'd think it would be really funny.

However, the critics have widely panned it, and audiences only gave it 44%. Leading the charge against My Oxford Year, Variety branded it a "disheartening weepie". Adding: "What should be a tender, feminist-minded story centered on a young woman rediscovering her dormant childhood dreamer turns into a middling melodrama about being with a cute guy in desperate need of her rescue.”

The New York Times called it "limp", while the Wall Street Journal complained that the attractive cast isn't given much to do.

There is the odd positive review, and maybe if you’re a big rom-com fan, you might want to dive in anyway. As The Guardian put it, "It's a frothy, throwaway fantasy about another American hoping to find herself in another country, think of Emily in Paris but Anna in Oxford". And so if you fancy something frothy, then actually My Oxford Year might be for you.

It certainly seems a better bet than War of the Worlds, although my colleague seemed to think that movie is moving into the it’s so bad it's good territory.

Or perhaps this might be the week to head to the cinema, with both The Naked Gun and Freakier Friday gaining largely positive reviews.

If you do want to stay at home, check out our best movies on Netflix guide for something decent to watch.

My Oxford Year is on Netflix now. And, if you’re feeling really brave, War of the Worlds is on Prime Video.

Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson star in the new action-comedy movie The Pickup but it won't be releasing in cinemas; instead, it comes straight to streaming and we'll help you find out how to watch it.

The Pickup is about two armored truck drivers, played by Murphy and Davidson, who find their task complicated when they're ambushed by a load of criminals. But these bandits don't just want money, and the drivers are pulled into a scheme that puts them in danger at every corner.

Keke Palmer and Eva Longoria also star in the movie, which was directed by Fantastic Four and Ride Along's Tim Story.

If this sounds like a fun movie night watch, here's how to watch The Pickup when it comes out.

How to watch The Pickup

If you want to watch The Pickup, you'll need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber, because the movie is set to land exclusively on Prime Video around the world.

Prime Video is one of the many facets of an Amazon Prime subscription, though in some countries there's a way to sign up just for the video streaming service instead of the whole package.

Generally, though, you need Amazon Prime. This costs $14.99 / £8.99 / AU$9.99 per month or $139 / £95 / AU$79 per year but by default, Prime Video has ads, and you can pay $2.99 / £2.99 per month extra for ad-free streaming. Here's how to remove commercials from Prime Video.

The movie clocks in at an hour and 34 minutes, so it's not too long.

How to watch The Pickup for free

If you've never been an Amazon Prime customer before, then you'll be happy to know that there's a one-month free trial for brand-new subscribers. That means if your email address hasn't been linked to an Amazon accont.

This lasts for one month and it rolls into a standard monthly subscription once it ends. It'll let you watch all of Prime Video's content and also enjoy all of the other Amazon Prime perks. Here's how to get a Prime Video free trial.

How to watch The Pickup everywhere else

If you're going to be away from your normal TV setup but still want to watch The Pickup or other things via your home streaming service, you might run into some problems. Thankfully, you can solve this exact issue with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN lets you change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to your favorite show, movie or other content even if you're not there. Our favorite is NordVPN, which is the No. 1-rated VPN in the world right now according to our rankings.

How to use a VPN to watch any stream

• Download the app at NordVPN
• Choose the location of the streaming service you want to watch (UK, US, etc)
• Navigate to the streaming service and start watching!

George Clooney is Jay Kelly. Or more accurately, Clooney stars in Jay Kelly, the Noah Baumbach 2025 new movie about a movie star evaluating his life and career.

The Oscar-winning actor gave an interview with Variety where he addressed an idea that some fans have about him only playing characters like himself; in a fun bit of meta, that is a question his Jay Kelly character is asked in the movie. While parallels are likely easily drawn, with Baumbach and an ensemble of well-known stars alongside Clooney, we’d wager there’s a bit more to this than Clooney playing a fictional version of himself.

To get an idea of what that may be, let’s dive into everything you need to know about Netflix’s Jay Kelly, including when the movie premieres, what it’s about and who else is in it.

Jay Kelly release date

Jay Kelly is one of the Netflix movies this year that is going to get a theatrical release prior to it becoming available on the streaming service. Specifically, Jay Kelly will premiere in select theaters on November 14 (TBD how many theaters that entails).

After a three-week exclusive run in theaters, Jay Kelly premieres on Netflix on December 5, at which point anyone with a Netflix subscription can watch it.

Jay Kelly cast

Once again, George Clooney leads the cast of Jay Kelly as the titular character. Clooney is most recently coming off a run on Broadway playing famous newsman Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck, but on the big screen his recent credits have included Wolfs, Ticket to Paradise and The Midnight Sky.

Second billing for Jay Kelly belongs to Adam Sandler, who plays Jay Kelly’s longtime and devoted manager, Ron. Sandler starred in one of the biggest Netflix movies of all time this year in Happy Gilmore 2, and has worked closely with Netflix on all of his recent projects, including Spaceman, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzah and Hustle. Sandler also has past experience working with Baumbach, having starred in his The Meyerowitz Stories.

A plethora of other well-known stars are set to appear as part of the Jay Kelly cast. They include:

• Laura Dern (Marriage Story, Little Women)
• Billy Crudup (Almost Famous, 20th Century Women)
• Riley Keough (Zola, Daisy Jones & the Six)
• Grace Edwards (Asteroid City, Call Jane)
• Stacy Keach (Nebraska, The Bourne Legacy)
• Jim Broadbent (Gangs of New York, Another Year)
• Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring: Last Rites, Angels in America)
• Eve Hewson (The Perfect Couple, Flora and Son)
• Greta Gerwig (White Noise, Frances Ha)
• Alba Rohrwacher (Maria, La Chimera)
• Josh Hamilton (Maestro, Kicking and Screaming)
• Lenny Henry (Missing You, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl)
• Emily Mortimer (Lars and the Real Girl, Match Point)
• Nicôle Lecky (Mood, Sense8)
• Thaddea Graham (Bad Sisters, Sex Education)
• Isla Fisher (Now You See Me: Now You Don't)
• Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes, Enola Holmes 2)
• Charlie Rowe (Never Let Me Go)

Jay Kelly plot

Noah Baumbach co-wrote the Jay Kelly script with Emily Mortimer. Here is the movie’s synopsis from Netflix:

“The new film from Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly and his devoted manager Ron as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind.”

Jay Kelly trailer

Watch the Jay Kelly trailer directly below:

Noah Baumbach movies

Noah Baumbach has long been a staple of the indie movie scene, but has become a more widely recognized filmmaker thanks to his ongoing partnership with Netflix, which includes his Oscar-nominated movie Marriage Story, and him co-writing the script for Barbie with his wife Greta Gerwig.

But for a complete picture of Baumbach’s career, here is his full list of feature directing credits:

• Kicking and Screaming (1995)
• Mr. Jealousy (1997)
• Highball (1997)
• The Squid and the Whale (2005)
• Margot at the Wedding (2007)
• Greenberg (2010)
• Frances Ha (2012)
• While We’re Young (2014)
• Mistress America (2015)
• De Palma (2015)
• The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
• Marriage Story (2019)
• White Noise (2022)

Jay Kelly behind the scenes

Jay Kelly was made by Heyday Films, NBGG Pictures and Pascal Pictures, with Netflix backing it all. Producers on the movie are Baumbach, David Heyman and Amy Pascal.

Colleen Hoover has dominated the New York Times bestseller’s list, now she is proving that she can be a consistent box office draw with the romantic drama Regretting You, the second of her novels to get a big screen adaptation.

Of course the first of Hoover’s novels to be made into a movie was It Ends With Us. Though critics didn’t fall in love with the movie and the behind the scenes controversies between star Blake Lively and director/star Justin Baldoni continue to make headlines, the movie itself was a box office hit. Can Regretting You have similar success (though hopefully without any of the off screen drama)?

While we wait to find out, here’s everything you need to know about the movie.

Regretting You release date

Regretting You debuts exclusively in movie theaters worldwide on October 24.

See what other movies are coming out around the same time with our 2025 new movies schedule.

Regretting You cast

Helping to bring this story to life is a strong ensemble. Here’s a complete breakdown of who’s playing who in Regretting You:

• Allison Williams (M3GAN 2.0, Get Out) as Morgan Grant
• McKenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Young Sheldon) as Clara Grant
• Dave Franco (Together, The Studio) as Jonah Sullivan
• Mason Thames (How to Train Your Dragon, Black Phone 2) as Miller Adams
• Sam Morelos (Summer of 69, That 90s Show) as Lexie
• Scott Eastwood (Fast X, I Want You Back) as Chris Grant
• Willa Fitzgerald (Pulse, The Fall of the House of Usher) as Jenny Davidson
• Clancy Brown (The Penguin, The Shawshank Redemption) as Hank Adams

Regretting You plot

Susan McMartin wrote the adaptation of Hoover’s 2019 novel. Here is the official synopsis for the movie from Paramount Pictures:

“Based on the bestselling book, Regretting You introduces audiences to Morgan Grant and her daughter Clara as they explore what’s left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love and rediscover each other. Regretting You is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy.”

Regretting You trailer

Watch the trailer for Regretting You right here:

Regretting You director

Josh Boone is the director of Regretting You. He is definitely familiar with adapting a popular book, as his most notable credit to date is directing The Fault in Our Stars. Here’s a look at Boone’s other feature directing credits to date:

• Stuck in Love (2012)
• The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
• The New Mutants (2020)

Boone also directed multiple episodes of the TV series The Strand.

Regretting You behind the scenes

Regretting You is a Paramount Pictures productions, in association with Constantin Film and Domain Entertainment, north.five.six., Harbinger Pictures and Frayed Pages Production. The movie’s producers are Brunson Green, Anna Todd, Flavia Viotti and Robert Kulzer.

Zach Cregger's Weapons has arrived in movie theaters to great acclaim — refer to WTW's Weapons review and the movie's 95% "Certified Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes as proof. If you're planning to watch Weapons this weekend, we definitely recommend you turn it into a double feature with Cregger's previous movie, Barbarian, which is streaming on Netflix. But you may want to hurry on that.

Barbarian is set to leave Netflix in the US at the end of the month, with the last day it'll be available to watch being Sunday, August 31. That means you only have a couple of weeks left before the movie heads to who knows where.

Showcasing a fun, unique new voice in the horror genre, here's why it's well worth your time to watch both of these movies as soon as possible.

Barbarian stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgåd and Justin Long, and centers on the guests at an Airbnb house in a rundown Detroit neighborhood that hides some dark secrets. I won’t go any further into the movie’s plot because half the fun of it is the surprising places that Cregger takes the story.

I actually just caught up with Barbarian for the first time in anticipation of seeing Weapons, and the praise for Cregger's voice in horror from this movie was deserved. It's quite creepy to be sure, but it also has a dark sense of humor and a thoughtful idea over who the barbarian in the title truly refers to.

Check out the Barbarian trailer right here for a quick preview of that:

Cregger's follow-up, Weapons, lives up to the potential the director showed in Barbarian.

Starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and a solid ensemble, Weapons takes place in a small town in the aftermath of an entire elementary school class going missing and no one being able to figure out what happened, but suspicions fall on their teacher.

Cregger once again shows he's a master of creating an unsettling atmosphere, as from the first moment you're put on edge and it doesn't relieve itself one bit for the movie's two-hour runtime. That's because the secrets of this story are expertly revealed bit by bit to keep us engaged, with the movie's horror elements becoming more prominent the further we get along.

I personally would rank Barbarian ahead of Weapons right now, but they are both quite entertaining. They're must-watch for any horror fan, but even if it's not your favorite genre (it's not mine), they're still worth seeing if you appreciate good filmmaking.

Again, for the rest of August, Barbarian is only streaming on Netflix (subscription required), and we don’t yet know if it is immediately going to be heading to another streaming service in September after it leaves Netflix (though the movie is and will remain available via digital on-demand platforms).

So if you want to watch Barbarian on Netflix before or after watching Weapons, then you need to make the time before the month is out.

In what is certainly going to be one of the odder stories you hear about today, The Wall Street Journal has reported that the United States Department of Agriculture has recently started using audio from the Netflix original movie Marriage Story (as well as other notable audio clips) to scare off wolves and protect cattle. Specifically, they are using one of the movie’s most memorable scenes — an intense argument between a husband and wife in the middle of a divorce played by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.

The Marriage Story scene sees Driver’s Charlie and Johansson’s Nicole scream at each other and features lines like “You’ll never be happy!” and “Every day I wake up and hope you’re dead!” The reasoning behind the USDA’s choosing this clip, per the WSJ, “humans are bad” (it appears to be working too).

This is undoubtedly a clever and funny solution by those at the USDA, but it does warrant mentioning that this scene, while undoubtedly the most famous from Marriage Story (it had previously been made into plenty of memes shortly after the movie’s release), is just one snippet of a pretty great movie, and we shouldn’t forget that.

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story was released in 2019 and chronicled the rough divorce proceedings of a theater director and his actress wife. In addition to Driver and Johansson, the movie stars Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, Alan Alda, Julia Hagerty and Azhy Robertson. The movie was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Driver), Best Actress (Johansson), Best Supporting Actress (Dern), Best Original Screenplay and Best Score, winning for Best Supporting Actress.

Critics loved it too, with Marriage Story being “Certified Fresh” with an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a permanent fixture on WTW’s list of best Netflix movies.

Marriage Story is some of the best work by all involved, as it shows the complex emotions of why a marriage may end and the aftermath as they try to figure out how to navigate their new reality, made all the more difficult with them sharing a kid. Scenes like the fight will put you through the emotional ringer, but there are also moments of sincerity and levity that remind you of the love that was once there and is at times still there.

Because Marriage Story has never left Netflix, it can often get buried under the slew of new Netflix original movies and TV shows (recent examples include Happy Gilmore 2, My Oxford Year and, this week, Wednesday season 2). Marriage Story isn’t typically popping up in the Top 10 because there hasn’t been anything new about it to grab subscribers attention.

Maybe this USDA story will change that and give Marriage Story some new life on Netflix. Wolves may not like it, but Marriage Story is a wonderfully performed, powerful human story that deserves to be recalled as the great movie that it is.

Stream Marriage Story exclusively on Netflix (subscription required). Get a preview of the movie by watching the trailer right here:

It guarantees more than a new movie. Martin Scorsese's name on the credits means a cinematic event, a genuine experience. And, while the reasons may vary from movie to movie, he always attracts huge interest and audiences to match.

One of his biggest titles in recent years is ready and waiting to be relished all over again on Netflix — and it’s one that proves that gangster sagas never grow old.

The Irishman hit the headlines before its release towards the end of 2019. The anticipation of the latest from one of modern cinema’s finest directors soared when the news broke that lead actor Robert De Niro would be “de-aged” during the film.

And the debate gathered even more momentum once it was released. The running time was 3 hours and 29 minutes. Cue a conversation about over-long movies. And there was the cast itself. De Niro and Pacino reunited for the first time since Michael Mann’s Heat (1995) and Scorsese bringing back the formidable Pacino/Pesci double act from the legendary Goodfellas (1990). It promised much.

Based on Charles Brandt’s 2004 book "I Heard You Paint Houses", the film was the story of “fixer” Frank Sheeran (De Niro), the Irishman of the title, and his reputed involvement in the murder of union boss, Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). Told by Frank in his 80s, it takes us through his life, starting with his wilder years during World War Two, a chance meeting with crime boss Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and a telephone introduction to Hoffa, which gave the original book its title. It’s mob-speak for killing people.

Throughout decades filled with volatile characters, including the deeply sinister Tony Pro (Stephen Graham), Frank is the ultimate survivor, one who takes pride in his work but also feels the weight of regret.

After a brief cinema release, the movie moved to Netflix and seven days later had been viewed by 26.4 million accounts around the world, giving the streamer one of its most successful opening weeks ever. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a glowing 95%, while reviews were equally favourable, highlighting Pacino’s exuberant performance and the overall reflective tone. Made by an aging filmmaker, this was a movie about growing old and had the same haunting quality as the memories that its main character couldn’t shake off. And the runtime turned out to be an advantage, taking its time with a complex, sprawling story which built up to a harrowing final hour.

Award nominations flowed in but despite 12 Oscar nods, it came away empty-handed on the night.

Alongside the star names was a powerful supporting cast, boasting Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Anna Paquin, Bobby Canavale and Stephen Graham. This was the British actor’s second film for Scorsese after Gangs Of New York in 2002, but he’s no stranger to mobster roles. Al Capone in TV’s Boardwalk Empire, Hayden Stagg in Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders and Babyface Nelson in 2009’s Public Enemies are all on his resume, but this is an actor who is impossible to typecast. Low budget movies like 2021’s blistering Boiling Point (he was in the original short and went on to appear in the TV series) and ventures into Marvel territory with the two Venomsequels give just a hint of his extraordinary range. He’s gone from “that guy” to being in just about anything worth watching.

Most recently, he’s reunited with Steven Knight for A Thousand Blows, the action- packed boxing drama set in Victorian London’s East End. Based on the rise to fame of real-life Jamaican boxer Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby), it traces his involvement with the notorious all-women Forty Elephants Gang and sinister bare-knuckle boxer Sugar Goodson, played by Graham. It’s a tailor-made role for this powerhouse actor who never gives less than his all.

• Best movies on Netflix

The show arrived at the start of this year, receiving 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, and was unusually filmed back-to-back with season two, so fans of the gritty drama knew from the outset that it would be back – and soon. Word is that autumn of this year is looking increasingly likely.

All of which means that audiences won’t have too long to wait to immerse themselves in the fall-out from Hezekiah’s big fight, one where he didn’t get the prize money. And, after the savage beating Sugar handed out to his brother Treacle (James Nelson-Joyce), their feud will inevitably run deeper. And, while Knight is staying tight-lipped about the storyline, he’s hinted that “the stakes will be higher”.

There’s no confirmation of more episodes post-season two, but everything points to the idea of more from this particular universe getting the thumbs up from the writers and actors. It’s a good omen.

The Irishman is on Netflix in the US and the UK.

All episodes from season one of A Thousand Blows are on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK.

I've long been a fan of H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi novel "The War of the Worlds", having gone so far as to visit Horsell Common where it begins, but it's fair to say that its adaptations almost all fall far short (excluding Jeff Wayne's fantastic musical). But still, as a fan, I felt compelled to watch the new version, which was secretly dropped on Prime Video on Wednesday, July 30 (though it wasn't made by them, as Universal was behind it).

This movie, called just War of the Worlds, stars Ice Cube as a guy sitting in front of his computer; the movie was produced by the same person who made Searching and like that movie, almost all the story is told through a guy's computer screen as he goes on video calls, watches social media footage and does his job. The movie's 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes tells you just how well that works.

Ice Cube plays a Department of Homeland Security officer who's hunting for a mysterious hacker and watches as aliens begin to land across the globe and murder everyone while humanity responds. Near the end of the film he suddenly has to do something beyond using his powers to stalk his children.

So it's an alien invasion movie in which we only see the aliens through blurry vertical phone clips (which is for the best, given the poor CGI when we do see them) and spend most of the time watching Ice Cube mope on his PC. Not exactly what H.G. Wells was expecting, but he was probably expecting it to be a 90-minute commercial even less.

I've never seen a movie with more product placement, or with more egregious product placement. The movie has copious and heinous products shoved down your throat incessantly: at once point Ice Cube commands his daughter to get into a Tesla which he's hacked, and remotely pilots, constantly we're seeing various Microsoft, Google or Apple apps, and a particularly galling example (that's been torn apart on social media) sees the character's Amazon delivery driver son-in-law uses a drone to fly a USB drive past loads of aliens and into a secret base to deliver Cube some information.

It feels like a 90-minute advert (except longer than that, because by default Prime Video viewers have to watch extra commercials for several minutes before the movie even begins).

At some points, War of the Worlds tries to make a point; something about how mass surveillance is bad. But Ice Cube eventually uses the mass surveillance to save the day, and at the end the government decides to make a different mass surveillance system that they pledge won't be used for evil. So... mass surveillance is good!?

Having fun

I don't think Rotten Tomatoes is a good way to quantify the quality of a movie but in this case it's totally right; War of the Worlds is an absolute mess. Yet I still had a great time watching it.

That's because I didn't go into the movie alone, but with some friends, some wine and party later on that I needed to pre-game for. And that helped me see it for what it truly is: a new "so bad it's good" classic.

Drinking games are easy to make up for a movie like this, and that's how we got through it (not that we're recommending drinking games, but a glass of wine might help on this movie!).

One I quickly regretted suggesting is: "drink every time there's a product placement". I said this early in the movie before it became clear how many there would be, and when you start looking out for them, there are countless. I've mentioned Amazon and Tesla but there are also mentions of so many other brands, and basically every computer app under the sun. Double drink if the reference is so egregious and unexpected that it gives you whiplash, like the aforementioned Prime Air one.

Another rule: "drink every time it's clear Ice Cube didn't have a script". This isn't an insult to the musician and actor, and he's been great in quite a few things he's been in. But lots of the time we see him in the movie, it's just brief cuts when we see his reactions to various events, and there are plenty of examples where his expressions don't match up to the events. Instead, it feels like the filmmakers shot a load of random reactions and then plastered them into the film; most of the time when we see him observing some mass act of destruction, he just looks confused about whether the camera is rolling or not.

Some of the most embarrassing moments are when he does react: "take your intergalactic asses back home", he muses like he's half-watching a sports game played on a TV on the other side of a bar. Many of his expositional lines sound pretty dispassionate too.

Here's a third: "drink every time a known actor randomly turns up". Though Ice Cube is our main protagonist and we see quite a bit of his children too, there are brief segments with Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg, Andrea Savage, and a few other "hey, is that X from Y?" faces. It looks like these were all filmed in the actors' homes (or on a golf course, in one example, presumably shot while he was waiting for someone else to tee up) and lots of the time it sounds like they're reading the script as they deliver their lines.

There's a lot more about the movie that is pretty hilarious, from the baffling timeline of it (somehow, Earth assembles all its military forces, fights the aliens and wins lots of battles in the time it takes Ice Cube's daughter to drive to a nearby medical facility), the mind-boggling reliance on stock footage, the fact that there are about eight title-drops in five minutes, the total lack of commitment to the 'screenlife' format through vast swathes of the movie, or the headache-inducing editing style that forced even my non-drinking friend to reflect that they felt nauseous. There are plenty of other drinking rules if you've got the tolerance, though for your liver I'd recommend sticking to just three.

And I'm not saying you have to drink to watch War of the Worlds — people always say that you don't need to drink to have fun — but I've no idea if I would've enjoyed the movie at all if I wasn't drinking. My teetotal mate liked it least of all of us. But I was enjoying a bottle of wine and I had great fun laughing at the movie.

Missing the point

As a fan of the original book, War of the Worlds makes me sad at just how far we've come from the core text.

The original novel The War of the Worlds, published in 1898, was thematically of its time: you can easily read into it themes of pre-war tension (the Great War was brewing at the time), of colonization and imperialism during the tumultuous end to the British Empire, and a conflict between rural and urban Britain. That first theme in particular would be particularly prescient today, when social media is convinced that the world is about to erupt into a new war. So the theme of mass surveillance is bonkers as a choice.

That's not all that's bizarre; a core part of many adaptations of The War of the Worlds is the idea of a journey; in the book the narrator travels from the town of Woking to Primrose Hill in North London; a journey you can drive in an hour or make via rail in 75 minutes nowadays but wouldn't have been so easy in the Victorian times.

Through this journey the narrator meets various people and witnesses events in the Martians' war on Earth, the voyage reflecting changes in the world around him (that's those themes again!). And that's an idea that some of the better adaptations have, even Spielberg's War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise.

There's not so much of a journey you can do when your main character is getting back problems behind a desk. Even the scampering about of Cube's children can barely count when the geography to it is impossible to follow.

Let's not even mention the famous ending of the novel, when the aliens succumb to Earth diseases and die without our intervention. That is a fascinating reflection of our powerlessness in the face of war and destruction when only random chance and luck can save us, but not here. Instead, Ice Cube needs to upload a virus into a specific USB port to save the day and kill the aliens. Boring.

Wells' book, like many classics from the country, has something ineffably British about it; from the place names and themes to the narrators' being an observer instead of an active participant (we don't need to be heroes). Like many other American adaptations of classic British works, War of the Worlds strips out all the charm and cultural identity.

This isn't anything new; Amazon's own The Rings of Power did what Peter Jackson avoided in botching The Lord of the Rings while Hollywood-made classic period dramas are filled with bonkers fantasies about pre-Industrial Britain and it seems that every new week there's another US cable version of Sherlock which gets two steps further from the original. Don't get me started on upcoming versions of Frankenstein, The Chronicles of Narnia or Amazon's upcoming Bond plans.

I'm not saying that Americans can't adapt British source materials, and there are probably good examples (I have to say this even though I can't think of one off the top of my head; maybe the undetectability of good examples is a great compliment). But War of the Worlds is proof that the track record is poor, and the butchering of the book is an indication that the movie is fair game to criticize (if the fact it was made by a huge studio instead of a bunch of determined indie filmmakers wasn't enough).

Terri Blackstock fans already know about the New York Times best-selling author's If I Run books, a suspense novel series centered on a strong female protagonist wrongly framed for murder and the troubled investigator who's trying to track her down. And now crime-loving Lifetime viewers can get acquainted with Blackstock's story when the 2016 book gets the Lifetime treatment tonight in a new thriller flick.

Premiering Saturday, August 2 at 8pm Eastern Time on Lifetime, Terri Blackstock’s If I Run "follows Casey Cox (Kat Graham), a woman on the run after discovering her best friend Brent has been murdered—and she is being framed for it," reads the official movie synopsis, per Lifetime. "Not knowing who to trust, Casey flees, using her intelligence and resourcefulness to stay hidden and the signs of divine guidance to help her in her journey. Meanwhile, Dylan Roberts (Evan Roderick), a war-weary veteran and private investigator with PTSD, is hired to track her down. As Dylan digs deeper into the case, he begins to suspect that Casey might actually be innocent and that the real story is far more complex—and dangerous—than it first appeared."

Along with Kat Graham and Evan Roderick, the If I Run cast also includes James Tupper, Zak Santiago, Ecstasia Sanders, Benjamin Wilkinson, Frances Flanagan, and Kayla Deorksen. Michael M. Scott directed the TV movie.

To tune into the premiere of Terri Blackstock’s If I Run tonight at 8pm, you're going to need access to the Lifetime network. Those with cable packages can watch on their local Lifetime channel, but even if you don't have traditional cable, cord-cutters can also tune in online with a live TV streaming service that carries Lifetime, such as Frndly TV, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and Philo TV. And if you miss the television broadcast tonight, don't fret: Terri Blackstock’s If I Run will also be available to stream on MyLifetime.com beginning tomorrow, Sunday, August 3.

Check out a sneak peek of Terri Blackstock’s If I Run before tuning into the TV adaptation tonight on Lifetime at 8pm ET.

Scrolling for something new to watch on Hulu this week, August 2-8? Let me give you a hand with my picks for the best movies, TV shows and more arriving on the streaming service.

Hulu is adding a couple of new, high-profile TV series to its lineup this week, including the return of a fan-favorite animated series and a spinoff of a popular sports docuseries. Plus, some 2025 new movies make their arrival on streaming.

Check out all of the picks for this week directly below.

King of the Hill season 14

• Hank Hill returns with brand new episodes on August 4

It's been 15 years since King of the Hill, the classic Fox animated comedy, aired a new episode, but a brand new season of the show premieres exclusively on Hulu this week. Hank Hill returns, and while the times may have changed, he's looking to reconnect with old friends as he and Peggy return to Texas. This is the first of two already announced seasons of the animated show on Hulu.

Bob Trevino Likes It (2025)

• "Certified Fresh" indie movie starring Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo premieres on August 5

Though Bob Trevino Likes It may have slid under the radar of many, those that have seen the indie dramedy have loved it, as evidenced by the movie's 95% "Certified Fresh" score from critics and 98% positive score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Ferreira stars as a young woman who befriends a man online who shares the name of her father, forming a surprising but heartwarming connection.

The Monkey (2025)

• Horror comedy begins streaming on Hulu August 7

2025 has been a big year for Stephen King, as The Life of Chuck, The Institute and soon The Long Walk have all been adapted for the screen. But my personal favorite from these King offerings so far this year is the absurdly fun The Monkey. Theo James stars as twins whose lives have been tormented for years by a toy monkey that has been a part of a number of surprising deaths over the years. When the monkey resurfaces, they have to figure out how to stop it before someone else they love dies. If you're a fan of outrageous, gory deaths, then this will be a must-watch.

Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil

• True crime docuseries centered around notorious serial killer lands on August 7

The crimes of Ted Bundy have been well documented, but did you know that after he was arrested he assisted in an investigation into another murderer? That is the focus on Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil, as it recounts Bundy's work with Detective Robert Keppel looking for the Green River Killer. The docuseries features never-before-heard-tapes that give a rare insight into the mind of Ted Bundy.

FX's Necaxa

• The Welcome to Wrexham sibling show premieres on August 8

Welcome to Wrexham has documented one of the most incredible stories in sports the last few years, as actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac (nee McElhenney) have buoyed the Wrexham team and town. But can lightning strike twice?

That's the question in FX's Necaxa, where Reynolds and Mac offer their support to Eva Longoria as she helps a recently relocated Mexican soccer club and tries to lift if to success.

Shanghai Noon (2000)

• Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson comedy rides to Hulu on August 8

As Shanghai Noon, the classic western comedy starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, you'll be able to stream in on Hulu starting this week. Shanghai Noon is a great blend of the martial arts, western and comedy genres, with Chan and Wilson having great chemistry. The sequel, Shanghai Knights, also lands on Hulu this week, though if you're picking between the two, go with the original.

Providence Falls is the newest trilogy of movies coming to Hallmark Channel during the annual Summer Nights celebration.

The Providence Falls trilogy follows a police detective, Cora, whose new partner is actually her long lost love who has been reincarnated. Over the course of three weeks, their love story will span space and time as Cora is faced with her past colliding with her present. Will she end up finding true love in the end?

Here's everything we know about Providence Falls Part 1.

Providence Falls Part 1 release date

Providence Falls Part 1 premieres Saturday, August 2, at 8 pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. It will be available to stream the following day on Hallmark Plus. The second installment of the Providence Falls trilogy will air on Saturday, August 9, and then the trilogy will come to its conclusion on Saturday, August 16.

We don't have a release date for UK viewers, but once one is available, we'll have it for you right here.

Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery are included in many cable TV packages, but if you've cut the cord, there are a few other options to help you watch.

You can also access Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery via Philo, Sling TV, Frndly TV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV and Fubo. Hallmark Plus is a standalone streaming service that requires its own subscription; new movies and episodes of the network's series are available the day after they air.

Providence Falls Part 1 premise

Here's the premise of Providence Falls Part 1 from Hallmark Channel: "Newbie police detective, Cora, is partnered with visiting detective, Liam, on her first case. Little does she know, Liam is her reincarnated love here to change her fate."

Providence Falls Part 1 cast

Providence Falls features Katie Stevens (A Christmas Open House) as Cora, Lachlan Quarmby (He's Not Worth Dying For) as Liam and Evan Roderick (Spinning Out) as Finn.

Providence Falls Part 1 trailer

Take a look at the preview and sneak peek of Providence Falls below.

If you enjoy watching cat videos online or on your phone, get ready for a whole new type of experience as CatVideoFest 2025 brings those viral, adorable clips to you packaged and on the big screen. Move over The Naked Gun and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, because cats are ready for their star moment.

CatVideoFest has been around since 2012, but has grown over the years to where it is now taking place in hundreds of movie theaters in the US and Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The first batch of showings are taking place as of August 1, but screenings will continue to pop up in different movie theaters throughout the fall, even as late as November.

A compilation of “the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos and classic internet powerhours,” CatVideoFest 2025 is a 75-minute show of cat videos that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

You can find what movie theaters are showing CatVideoFest 2025 on the festival’s website, or you can search on sites like Fandango. How long CatVideoFest 2025 will be playing at any given location varies, so do your research to make sure you don’t miss your chance to see this year’s selections.

Get a preview of CatVideoFest 2025 by watching the trailer right here:

In addition to the pure entertainment value of watching cat videos on a movie screen, buying a ticket to CatVideoFest also helps cats and other animals in need. A percentage of proceeds from ticket sales go to local animal shelters and/or animal welfare organizations. There’s also CatVideoFest merch available through their website that also contributes to helping cats in need.

This is a fun opportunity to watch something at your local movie theater that is totally different. If you want to make sure you have the chance to participate, then check out the official CatVideoFest website.

If you're interested in what else is playing in movie theaters right now or is coming up, then see our rundown of 2025 new movies.

Among the highlights of new movies on Netflix in August is Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. Arriving August 1, Scorsese’s Oscar-winning crime drama (the one that finally won him an Oscar for Best Director and won Best Picture) remains as entertaining as ever, making it a must watch for Scorsese fans.

Based on the Hong Kong movie Internal Affairs, The Departed follows Leonardo DiCaprio’s Billy, an undercover cop placed in the gang of dangerous mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), and Matt Damon’s Colin, a mole in the police department loyal to Costello. Each is tasked with trying to identify the other. The movie also stars Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, Alec Baldwin and James Badge Dale.

I’ll always have a special place in my heart for The Departed because it was the movie that truly introduced me to the filmography of Martin Scorsese.

Released in 2006, I was 16 when The Departed came out. I was just getting serious about movies and while I knew of Martin Scorsese I had yet to watch any of his classics like Goodfellas, Casino or Taxi Driver. In those dark times before streaming you had to either find a movie on TV or rent the VHS/DVD, and being under 17 Scorsese movies weren’t easy to access.

But when I saw The Departed I was instantly hooked. William Monahan’s Oscar-winning script was so engaging with all its twists and turns, while Nicholson and Wahlberg’s big performances were a joy to watch. Every time I watch The Departed there is usually something new I gain a greater appreciation for, with a big one being DiCaprio’s performance, one of his most underrated.

Seeing The Departed now made it a priority to watch Scorsese’s entire feature filmography, which outside of some of his shorts and documentaries, I’ve accomplished, from Who’s That Knocking at My Door to Killers of the Flower Moon. No hot takes from watching all those movies, Scorsese has rightly earned his reputation as one of the greatest directors of all time.

I haven’t actively thought about which Martin Scorsese movie is my favorite in a while, but because of how The Departed opened up that world it will always be right around the top.

The Departed is now streaming on Netflix in the US (it is streaming on Prime Video in the UK). Netflix also has a few other Martin Scorsese movies if you need to check any off, specifically his 1993 period drama The Age of Innocence and his 2019 Netflix original movie The Irishman.

Also check out what other movies are returning or are new to streaming in August.

Netflix has added My Oxford Year, the perfect summer romantic movie.

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Julia Whelan, it stars Sofia Carson as ambitious American Anna, who follows her childhood dream of studying at Oxford for a year-long graduate programme.

But when sparks fly between Anna and charming poetry professor Jamie (Corey Mylchreest), their relationship threatens the meticulous postgraduate life and career she planned for herself.

It's directed by Iain Morris, who wrote and created the hit British sitcom The Inbetweeners.

Sofia Carson, who is best known for the Disney musical-fantasy movie Descendants and its sequels, says: "Iain wrote and created one of the most iconic shows in British Television.

"Comedy is his language, so his vision of this film beautifully created a timeless, heartbreaking, sweeping romance, but grounded in laughter. Within one scene, you may fall in love, you may cry, but he will always make sure the joy of laughter is present.

"Our story reaffirms the belief that life's too short to not live it in love, to not live in joy. And I hope that truth rings true in the hearts of anyone who watches it."

The all-star cast includes Dougray Scott and Catherine McCormack, alongside Harry Trevaldwyn, Poppy Gilbert and Hugh Coles.

Sofia, who also acted as executive producer on the movie, knew she wanted Corey Mylchreest to play Jamie as soon as he came in for a chemistry read.

"He's an extraordinary force of an actor," she says. "When it came time to cast Jamie, I knew it would be Corey. As soon as he walked into the room for our read in London, Anna and Jamie came to life instantly.

"Together, we were dedicated to diving into Anna and Jamie's love story, to bring it to life with every bit of our hearts."

The book it’s based on

"My Oxford Year" was first published in 2018. It was the debut novel by Julia Whelan, who's also known for her acting, having appeared in the TV series Once and Again from 1999 to 2002. Whelan also wrote "Thank You For Listening: A Novel", which, according to Amazon, "tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator — who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident — and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel".

My Oxford Year is on Netflix now. See our best movies on Netflix feature for more recommendations.

There have been few horror franchises this century as popular and successful as The Conjuring. But all good things come to an end, which is the case with The Conjuring: Last Rites, the 2025 new movie are set to mark the final chapter in this horror series.

Beginning with 2013’s The Conjuring, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson have starred as real-life paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, portraying them in three Conjuring movies and a couple of spin offs (the Annabelle and The Nun horror movies). But The Conjuring: Last Rites is based on one of the final investigations by the Warrens.

Read on for everything that you need to know about The Conjuring: Last Rites.

The Conjuring: Last Rites release date

Playing first exclusively in movie theaters, The Conjuring: Last Rites premieres in the US, UK and elsewhere around the world on September 5.

The Conjuring: Last Rites cast

As mentioned, Farmiga and Wilson return as the Warrens. Farmiga is an Oscar-nominated actress for Up in the Air, who is also known for The Departed. Wilson is also the star of another horror franchise, Insidious, as well as appearing in the Aquaman movies.

Also set to star in The Conjuring: Last Rites are Mia Tomlinson (The Beast Must Die) as Ed and Lorraine’s daughter Judy; Ben Hardy (Love at First Sight) as Judy’s boyfriend, Tony Spera; and Steve Coulter (Oppenheimer), who returns as Father Gordon.

Others in the cast include Rebecca Calder (House of the Dragon), Elliot Cowan (Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes), Kíla Lord Cassidy (The Wonder), Beau Gadsdon (A Gentleman in Moscow), John Brotherton (Fuller House) and Shannon Kook (Reacher).

The Conjuring: Last Rites plot

Warner Bros. has not shared many details on the plot aside from this description:

“The Conjuring: Last Rites delivers another thrilling chapter of the iconic Conjuring cinematic universe, based on real events. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reunite for one last case as renowned, real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise.”

However, from what we see in the trailer we can infer that this movie is based on the Smurl family case, which took place in 1986 and followed a family that believed their house was possessed by demons. In the movie it looks like Ed and Lorraine discover that they have a past connection to the demon.

The script was written by Ian Goldberg & Richard Naing and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick.

The Conjuring: Last Rites trailer

Watch the trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites directly below:

The Conjuring: Last Rites director

The director for The Conjuring: Last Rites is someone well versed in the franchise, as Michael Chaves helms the picture. He’s previously directed two movies in the Conjuring franchise, 2021’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and 2023’s The Nun II.

The Conjuring: Last Rites behind the scenes

Warner Bros. Pictures subsidiary New Line Cinema is behind The Conjuring: Last Rites, along with The Safran Company and Atomic Monster Production. James Wan and Peter Safra are producers.

Other creatives behind the scenes include director of photography Eli Born, production designer John Frankish, editors Elliot Greenberg and Gregory Plotkin, visual effects supervisor Scott Edelstein, visual effects producer Eric Bruneau, costume designer Graham Churchyard and composer Benjamin Wallfisch.

The Naked Gun movies are filled with an endless stream of hilarious jokes. But how well do you remember the punchlines? That's what we're putting to the test in this quiz, were you need to fill in the blank on the classic The Naked Gun quotes

Though Liam Neeson stars in a new version of The Naked Gun (now playing), for this quiz we're only focusing on the original movies starring Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin. We've got quotes from all of Nielsen's Naked Gun movies — The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.

In the quiz we've provided you with 10 quotes from the movies, with a word or phrase removed, and four options to select from to fill in the blank. Hints are available to boost your odds by removing one of the incorrect answers, Though we do ask you leave it at that; it's not as impressive if you use the internet to find the answers.

Be sure to also share the quiz with friends and other fans of The Naked Gun series to see who gets the better results (bragging rights are always important).

That about covers it, so go ahead and start the quiz directly below.

The new The Naked Gun movie starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson is now playing. Read our The Naked Gun review to see what we thought about it.

If you want to watch the original The Naked Gun movies starring Leslie Nielsen, they all are currently streaming on Paramount Plus.

For more than two decades, Turner Classic Movies has dedicated the month of August its Summer Under the Stars program, which spotlights some of the biggest movie stars in film history. That continues with the 2025 TCM Summer Under the Stars slate.

Starting August 1 and going throughout the month, each day will feature movies starring a specific iconic movie star all day long. This year the roster includes Audrey Hepburn, Christopher Plummer, Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Ruby Dee, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Kirk Douglas, Shirley MacLaine and more. Plummer is one of eight stars being featured as part of the month-long program for the first time.

Turner Classic Movies is the cable TV home of some of the greatest movies of all time and presents them uncut and commercial free. The network features one of the largest libraries in the world, so not only is it going to be showing some of the most popular movies from its roster of 31 stars this month, but there are going to be a number of deep cuts from their resumes highlighted as part of the programming.

Watch a preview of the months offering with the official Summer Under the Stars trailer:

In order to watch TCM's Summer Under the Stars live on TV you need to have a traditional cable subscription or live TV streaming service that carries the network (DirecTV Stream, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV do in the case of the latter). If you've cut the cord or aren't able to watch TCM live on TV, the streaming service HBO Max has a dedicated hub for Turner Classic Movies and likely has many of the movies that are being shown this month available to stream.

That's the basics, so now see what movies are coming across the month with a look at the complete 2025 TCM Summer Under the Stars schedule:

August 4 — Howard Keel

• 6 am: Ride, Vaquero! (1953)
• 8 am: Callaway Went Thataway (1951)
• 9:30 am: Texas Carnival (1951)
• 11 am: Pagan Love Song (1950)
• 12:30 pm: Fast Company (1953)
• 2 pm: Lovely to Look At (1952)
• 4 pm: Kiss Me Kate (1953)
• 6 pm: Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
• 8 pm: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
• 10 pm: Show Boat (1951)
• Midnight: Calamity Jane (1953)
• 2 am: Rose Marie (1954)
• 4 am: Jupiter’s Darling (1955)

August 5 — Claude Raines

• 6 am: Stolen Holiday (1937)
• 7:30 am: Four Daughters (1938)
• 9:15 am: Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
• 11:30 am: The Unsuspected (1947)
• 1:30 pm: Passage to Marseille (1944)
• 3:30 pm: Mr. Skeffington (1944)
• 6 pm: Now, Voyager (1942)
• 8 pm: Notorious (1946)
• 10 pm: Casablanca (1942)
• Midnight: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
• 2:15 am: They Won’t Forget (1937)
• 4 am: The Passionate Friends (1949)

August 6 — Judy Garland

• 6 am: Little Nellie Kelly (1940)
• 8 am: Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)
• 10 am: For Me and My Gal (1942)
• Noon: Presenting Lily Mars (1943)
• 2 pm: Girl Crazy (1943)
• 4 pm: In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
• 6 pm: Summer Stock (1950)
• 8 pm: A Star is Born (1954)
• 11:15 pm: I Could Go On Singing (1963)
• 1:15 am: The Clock (1945)
• 3:00 am: The Harvey Girls (1946)
• 4:45 am: Listen, Darling (1938)

August 7 — Ruby Dee

(First time featured in Summer Under the Stars)

• 6 am: The Tall Target (1951)
• 7:30 am: Edge of the City (1957)
• 9:30 am: Take a Giant Step (1959)
• 11:30 am: Black Girl (1972)
• 1:30 pm: The Sheriff (1971)
• 3:15 pm: Buck and the Preacher (1972)
• 5:15 pm: Long Day’s Journey Into Night (1982)
• 8:00 pm: A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
• 10:15 pm: Uptight (1968)
• 12:15 am: The Incident (1967)
• 2:15 am: The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (1990)
• 4:15 am: The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

August 8 — James Garner

• 6 am: Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend (1957)
• 7:30 am: Mister Buddwing (1966)
• 9:15 am: Cash McCall (1960)
• 11 am: Boys’ Night Out (1962)
• 1 pm: The Wheeler Dealers (1963)
• 3 pm: The Americanization of Emily (1964)
• 5 pm: Grand Prix (1966)
• 8 pm: Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)
• 10 pm: Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971)
• Midnight: 36 Hours (1964)
• 2:15 am: They Only Kill Their Masters (1972)
• 4:15 am: Skin Game (1971)

August 9 — Elizabeth Taylor

• 6 am: National Velvet (1944)
• 8:15 am: A Date with Judy (1948)
• 10:15 am: The Girl Who Had Everything (1953)
• 11:30 am: Father’s Little Dividend (1951)
• 1 pm: Ivanhoe (1952)
• 3 pm: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
• 5 pm: Raintree County (1957)
• 8 pm: The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
• 10:15 pm: The V.I.P.s (1963)
• 12:30 am: The Sandpiper (1939)
• 2:45 am: The Comedians (1967)

August 10 — Clark Gable

• 6 am: Forsaking All Others (1934)
• 7:45 am: China Seas (1935)
• 9:30 am: Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
• Noon: It Happened One Night (1934)
• 2 pm: Wife vs. Secretary (1936)
• 4 pm: They Met in Bombay (1941)
• 5:45 pm: Mogambo (1953)
• 8 pm: Teacher’s Pet (1958)
• 10:15 pm: The Misfits (1961)
• 12:30 am: Lone Star (1952)
• 2:15 am: Betrayed (1954)
• 4:15 am: Never Let Me Go (1953)

August 11 — Glenda Farrell

• 6 am: Little Caesar (1931)
• 7:30 am: We’re in the Money (1935)
• 8:45 am: Here Comes Carter (1936)
• 10 am: Dance Charlie Dance (1937)
• 11:15 am: Smart Blonde (1936)
• 12:30 pm: Fly Away Baby (1937)
• 1:45 pm: The Adventurous Blonde (1937)
• 3 pm: Blondes at Work (1938)
• 4:15 pm: Torchy Gets Her Man (1938)
• 5:30 pm: Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939)
• 6:45 pm: Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939)
• 8 pm: Girl Missing (1933)
• 9:15 pm: Hi, Nellie (1934)
• 10:45 pm: I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932)
• 12:30 am: Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936)
• 2:30 am: Go Into Your Dance (1935)
• 4:15 am: The Match King (1932)

August 12 — Pedro Armendáriz

(First time feature in Summer Under the Stars)

• 6 am: The Big Boodle (1957)
• 8 am: Fort Apache (1948)
• 10:30 am: The Conqueror (1956)
• 12:30 pm: The Wonderful Country (1959)
• 2:30 pm: Diane (1956)
• 4:30 pm: Captain Sinbad (1963)
• 6:15 pm: La rebelión de los colgados a.k.a. The Rebellion of the Hanged (1954)
• 8 pm: Soledad’s Shawl (1952)
• 10 pm: 3 Godfathers (1949)
• Midnight: My Son, the Hero (1962)
• 2:15 am: The Fugitive (1947)
• 4:00 am: Tulsa (1949)

August 13 — Shirley MacLaine

• 6 am: The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964)
• 8:15 am: Two Loves (1961)
• 10 am: The Sheepman (1958)
• 11:30 am: Being There (1979)
• 1:45 pm: Irma la Douce (1963)
• 4:15 pm: Gambit (1966)
• 6:15 pm: The Trouble with Harry (1955)
• 8 pm: Terms of Endearment (1983)
• 10:30 pm: Sweet Charity (1969)
• 1:15 am: Two for the Seesaw (1962)
• 3:30 am: Some Came Running (1958)

August 14 — Sterling Hayden

• 6 am: The Star (1952)
• 8 am: Kansas Pacific (1953)
• 9:30 am: Arrow in the Dust (1954)
• 11 am: Suddenly (1954)
• 12:30 pm: The Golden Hawk (1952)
• 2:15 pm: Valerie (1957)
• 4 pm: Zero Hour! (1957)
• 6 pm: The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
• 8 pm: The Killing (1956)
• 9:45 pm: Crime Wave (1953)
• 11:15 pm: Five Steps to Danger (1957)
• 12:45 am: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
• 2:30 am: Winter Kills (1979)
• 4:15 am: Carol For Another Christmas (1964)

August 15 — Janet Leigh

• 6 am: Holiday Affair (1949)
• 7:45 am: Little Women (1949)
• 10 am: Angels in the Outfield (1951)
• Noon: Two Tickets to Broadway (1951)
• 2 pm: Just This Once (1952)
• 4 pm: The Naked Spur (1953)
• 6 pm: Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
• 8 pm: Psycho (1960)
• 10 pm: Touch of Evil (1958)
• Midnight: Act of Violence (1949)
• 1:30 am: Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955)
• 3:15 am: Confidentially Connie (1953)
• 4:30 am: Night of the Lepus (1972)

August 16 — Charles Bronson

(First time featured in Summer Under the Stars)

• 6 am: Riding Shotgun (1954)
• 7:30 am: Target Zero (1955)
• 9:15 am: Run of the Arrow (1957)
• 10:45 am: Guns for San Sebastian (1968)
• 12:45 pm: The Magnificent Seven (1960)
• 3 pm: The Great Escape (1963)
• 6 pm: Red Sun (1971)
• 8 pm: Hard Times (1975)
• 10 pm: Chato’s Land (1972)
• Midnight: Death Wish (1974)
• 1:45 am: The Dirty Dozen (1967)
• 4:30 am: Guns of Diablo (1964)

August 17 — Jennifer Jones

• 6 am: The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957)
• 8 am: Madame Bovary (1949)
• 10 am: We Were Strangers (1949)
• Noon: Portrait of Jennie (1948)
• 1:45 pm: Carrie (1952)
• 4 pm: Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955)
• 6 pm: Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1955)
• 8 pm: Cluny Brown (1946)
• 10 pm: The Song of Bernadette (1943)
• 1 am: Love Letters (1945)
• 3 am: A Farewell to Arms (1957)

August 18 — James Gleason

(First time featured in Summer Under the Stars)

• 6 am: The Penguin Pool Murder (1932)
• 7:15 am: Murder on the Blackboard (1934)
• 8:30 am: The Plot Thickens (1936)
• 9:45 am: We’re Only Human (1935)
• 11 am: The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)
• 12:30 pm: A Date with the Falcon (1942)
• 1:45 pm: Tanks a Million (1941)
• 3 pm: This Man’s Navy (1945)
• 4:45 pm: The Hoodlum Saint (1946)
• 6:30 pm: The Dude Goes West (1948)
• 8 pm: Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
• 10 pm: The Night of the Hunter (1955)
• 11:45 pm: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
• 2 am: Murder on a Honeymoon (1935)
• 3:15 am: Forty Naughty Girls (1937)
• 4:30 am: Hot Tip (1935)

August 19 — Hedy Lamarr

• 6 am: Lady of the Tropics (1939)
• 7:45 am: Boom Town (1940)
• 10 am: Comrade X (1940)
• Noon: I Take This Woman (1940)
• 2 pm: The Heavenly Body (1944)
• 4 pm: The Conspirators (1944)
• 6 pm: The Strange Woman (1946)
• 8 pm: Samson and Delilah (1949)
• 10 pm: Algiers (1938)
• Midnight: The Female Animal (1958)
• 1:30 am: Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945)
• 3:15 am: H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941)

August 20 — James Cagney

• 6 am: The Doorway to Hell (1930)
• 7:30 am: Lady Killer (1933)
• 9 am: He Was Her Man (1934)
• 10:15 am: The Strawberry Blonde (1941)
• 12:15 pm: The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941)
• 2:15 pm: Captains of the Clouds (1942)
• 4:15 pm: A Lion Is in the Streets (1953)
• 6 pm: Tribute to a Bad Man (1956)
• 8 pm: Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
• 10:15 pm: The Mayor of Hell (1933)
• Midnight: City for Conquest (1940)
• 2 am: ‘G’ Men (1935)
• 3:30 am: Blonde Crazy (1931)
• 5 am: James Cagney: Top of the World (1992)

August 21 — Patricia Neal

• 6 am: John Loves Mary (1949)
• 8 am: The Hasty Heart (1949)
• 10 am: Bright Leaf (1950)
• Noon: The Breaking Point (1950)
• 2 pm: Raton Pass (1951)
• 4 pm: Psyche 59 (1964)
• 6 pm: The Night Digger (1971)
• 8 pm: The Fountainhead (1949)
• 10 pm: Hud (1963)
• Midnight: A Face in the Crowd (1957)
• 2:15 am: The Subject Was Roses (1968)
• 4:15 am: Washington Story (1952)

August 22 — Frank Sinatra

• 6 am: Higher and Higher (1943)
• 7:45 am: The Kissing Bandit (1948)
• 9:30 am: Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949)
• 11:30 am: 4 for Texas (1963)
• 1:30 pm: Ocean’s 11 (1960)
• 4 pm: High Society (1956)
• 6 pm: The Tender Trap (1955)
• 8 pm: Guys and Dolls (1955)
• 10:45 pm: The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
• 1 am: Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
• 3:15 am: Anchors Aweigh (1945)

August 23 — Gina Lollobrigida

(First time featured in Summer Under the Stars)

• 6 am: Hotel Paradiso (1966)
• 7:45 am: Go Naked in the World (1961)
• 9:30 am: Never So Few (1959)
• 11:45 am: Beat the Devil (1953)
• 1:30 pm: Solomon and Sheba (1959)
• 4 pm: Trapeze (1956)
• 6 pm: Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968)
• 8 pm: Come September (1961)
• 10 pm: Strange Bedfellows (1965)
• Midnight: Woman of Straw (1964)
• 2:15 am: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956)
• 4:15 am: Fanfan la Tulipe (1952)

August 24 — Henry Fonda

• 6 am: The Male Animal (1942)
• 7:30 am: The Big Street (1942)
• 9:15 am: Jezebel (1938)
• 10:45 am: The Lady Eve (1941)
• 12:45 pm: A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)
• 3 pm: Spencer’s Mountain (1963)
• 6 pm: The Wrong Man (1956)
• 8 pm: Fail-Safe (1964)
• 10 pm: The Best Man (1964)
• Midnight: Mister Roberts (1955)
• 1:45 am: Firecreek (1968)
• 4:30 am: The Rounders (1965)

August 25 — Shirley Jones

• 6 am: The Secret of My Success (1965)
• 8 am: A Ticklish Affair (1963)
• 9:30 am: The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)
• 11:15 am: The Happy Ending (1969)
• 1:15 pm: The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963)
• 3:30 pm: April Love (1957)
• 5:30 pm: Oklahoma! (1955)
• 8 pm: Carousel (1956)
• 10:15 pm: The Music Man (1962)
• 1 am: Elmer Gantry (1960)
• 3:45 am: Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)

August 26 — Tom Courtenay

(First time featured in Summer Under the Stars)

• 6 am: Operation Crossbow (1965)
• 8 am: A Dandy in Aspic (1968)
• 10 am: Otley (1969)
• 11:45 am: The Night of the Generals (1967)
• 2:15 pm: King Rat (1965)
• 4:30 pm: Doctor Zhivago (1965)
• 8 pm: Billy Liar (1963)
• 10 pm: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1955)
• Midnight: The Dresser (1983)
• 2:15 am: King & Country (1964)
• 4 am: Private Potter (1963)

August 27 — Joan Crawford

• 6 am: Rain (1932)
• 8 am: Sadie McKee (1934)
• 10 am: Susan and God (1940)
• Noon: A Woman’s Face (1941)
• 2 pm: Above Suspicion (1943)
• 4 pm: The Damned Don’t Cry (1950)
• 6 pm: Goodbye, My Fancy (1951)
• 8 pm: Torch Song (1953)
• 9:45 pm: The Story of Esther Costello (1957)
• 11:45 pm: Harriet Craig (1950)
• 1:30 am: Humoresque (1946)
• 3:45 am: Possessed (1947)

August 28 — Donald O’Connor

(First time featured in Summer Under the Stars)

• 6 am: That’s Entertainment! (1974)
• 8:30 am: Sing You Sinners (1938)
• 10:15 am: On Your Toes (1939)
• Noon: Beau Geste (1939)
• 2 pm: Private Buckaroo (1942)
• 3:30 pm: The Milkman (1950)
• 5 pm: Double Crossbones (1951)
• 6:30 pm: I Love Melvin (1953)
• 8 pm: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
• 10 pm: Francis (1950)
• 11:45 pm: There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954)
• 2:00 am: That Funny Feeling (1965)
• 4:00 am: Cry for Happy (1961)

August 29 — Alexis Smith

• 6 am: Steel Against the Sky (1941)
• 7:30 am: The Smiling Ghost (1941)
• 9 am: One Last Fling (1949)
• 10:30 am: The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945)
• Noon: The Doughgirls (1944)
• 2 pm: The Woman in White (1948)
• 4 pm: Stallion Road (1947)
• 6 pm: Whiplash (1948)
• 8 pm: Any Number Can Play (1949)
• 10 pm: Conflict (1945)
• 11:45 pm: Night and Day (1946)
• 2 am: San Antonio (1945)
• 4 am: Gentleman Jim (1942)

August 30 — Kirk Douglas

• 6 am: Out of the Past (1947)
• 7:45 am: The Story of Three Loves (1953)
• 10 am: Top Secret Affair (1957)
• 11:45 am: Seven Days in May (1964)
• 2 pm: Paths of Glory (1957)
• 3:45 pm: Lust for Life (1956)
• 6 pm: Champion (1949)
• 8 pm: Detective Story (1951)
• 10 pm: Ace in the Hole (1951)
• Midnight: The Heroes of Telemark (1965)
• 2:30 am: Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
• 4:30 am: The Big Trees (1952)

August 31 — Irene Dunne

• 6 am: Stingaree (1934)
• 7:30 am: The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)
• 9:45 am: Penny Serenade (1941)
• Noon: The Awful Truth (1937)
• 2 pm: Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
• 3:45 pm: A Guy Named Joe (1943)
• 6 pm: Show Boat (1936)
• 8 pm: My Favorite Wife (1940)
• 9:45 pm: I Remember Mama (1948)
• 12:15 am: Magnificent Obsession (1935)
• 2:15 am: Love Affair (1939)
• 4 am: Roberta (1935)

Already aired

August 1: Lana Turner

August 2: Christopher Plummer

August 3: Audrey Hepburn

Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back on the case in Zootopia 2, the long-awaited sequel to the popular Disney animated movie. And we’ve got everything you need to know about the 2025 new movie right here.

Zootopia came out back in 2016, earning a 98% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes and an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. While fans did get a TV series to fill the gap, Zootopia Plus, the nine year wait for Zootopia 2 is nearing its end.

Read on for details on when Zootopia 2 is coming out, who is joining the voice cast and more.

Zootopia 2 release date

Zootopia 2 premieres exclusively in US movie theaters on November 26. The animated movie comes out a couple days later in the UK on November 28.

The animated movie is just one of the movies that is making November possibly the best movie month of the year.

Zootopia 2 cast

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman return for Zootopia 2 to lend their voices for Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, respectively. But they’re not the only characters returning for the sequel, so are Idris Elba as Chief Bogo and Shakira as Gazelle.

Headlining the new additions to the cast are Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once), voicing Gary De’Snake, Fortune Feimster (FUBAR) as Nibbles and Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) as Dr. Fuzzby.

Zootopia 2 plot

From a script by Jared Bush, here is the synopsis for Zootopia 2:

“After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia’s history, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find their partnership isn’t as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo orders them to join the Partners in Crisis counseling program. But it doesn’t take long for their partnership to be put to the ultimate test when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mystery tied to the arrival of a venomous snake in the animal metropolis.”

Zootopia 2 trailer

Watch the official trailer for Zootopia 2 right here:

Zootopia 2 director

Jared Bush is also the director of Zootopia 2. He was a co-director on the original Zootopia along with Byron Howard and Rich Moore and also previously directed Encanto.

One of the earliest and most influential pieces of science fiction, and easily the most sensational after a 23-year-old Orson Welles got his hands on it, "The War Of The Worlds" has been with us since H G Wells’ original novel was published in 1898.

Since then, it's been an album musical, a stage show, a terrifying piece of radio and, of course, several movies. And its latest incarnation has just arrived today [Wednesday, July 30] without any fanfare in the shape of Prime Video's War Of The Worlds, bringing the story slap bang into the 21st century.

The novel told its story through the eyes of an unnamed narrator, an educated man who is one of the first to notice strange flashes from Mars and escapes to the country when London and the south of England are invaded by Martians. But this is a narrative that can easily move to just about any other time and/or place.

Notoriously, for his 1938 radio version, Orson Welles shifted it to New Jersey and presented listeners with news bulletins so convincing they caused panic in the streets. It wasn’t until 1953 that the first major film appeared, this time setting the invasion in small town California, where excited residents watched as a flaming meteor lands in the hills and fled in fear when they realised the visitors were less than friendly.

It's 25 years since Steven Spielberg took a more blockbuster approach to the classic novel. While no stranger to science fiction, his War Of The Worlds was a long way from his earlier, optimistic forays into the genre such as E.T.(1982), following instead in the darker footsteps of A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) and Minority Report (2002) and turning it into more of a disaster movie, this time set in New York.

The brand new version from debut director Rich Lee doesn't just move location — this time it's Washington DC — but the premise and style come in for an overhaul as well.

It's a screenlife movie — think Searching (2018) and Host (2020) among others — so the majority of the action takes place on a computer screen, with the audience’s attention alternating between the pc itself and the face of the operator.

In this case, it's Ice Cube as Will Radford, a high-level government surveillance operative who is first alerted to strangely violent weather conditions around the world, only to find they’ve landed at his doorstep in DC. Long-legged invaders modelled on the film’s predecessors and Wells’ book rampage across the city, but this time with specific targets in their sights. They feed on data and are aiming for the main repositories. It could mean world destruction and, in trying to prevent it, Radford also uncovers a massive government conspiracy.

A cyber-thriller, then. A low budget one — it was filmed in 2020 under COVID restrictions and it shows — but one that allows us to focus very much on the impending catastrophe, whether we’re looking at it through our own eyes or that of Radford as he stares at the screen in disbelief. And he’s juggling personal issues at the same time, none of which he can control as he’d like: his daughter is heavily pregnant and his teenage son is turning into something of a rebel.

The introduction of a family takes its cue from Spielberg, as do the fractured relationships, but the difference is that we’re not allowed to get really involved with any of them. In the 2005 movie, Tom Cruise is an essentially unsympathetic father figure: his children have grown up knowing they can’t count on him and he uses them as weapons in his battles with his ex-wife. Radford, by contrast, is a widower, struggling to bring up his son and daughter all on his own.

Director Lee and his writers Kenny Golde and Marc Hyman haven't just taken War Of The Worlds into cyber territory, but used it to major on concerns about data safety and high-level conspiracies.

Controversy seems to stalk Wells’ original story, from the headline-hitting chaos following the 1930s radio broadcast to criticism of Spielberg’s post-9/11 setting and scenes, such as the crashed airliner and crowds fleeing the city, that could have resurrected painful memories. By venturing into more political territory, the makers may find themselves courting unwelcome controversy, but, once again, it shows how a late Victorian novel can be as relevant as ever some 30 years later.

War Of The Worlds is on Prime Video in the US and UK now.