HOLLYWOOD.

‎Legacy sequels often struggle to find their footing between nostalgia and reinvention, and The Naked Gun reboot is no exception. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, this revival attempts to graft a convoluted crime plot onto the franchise’s classic barrage of slapstick and deadpan parody. The result is uneven, but there’s enough inspired silliness — and just enough plot to hang it on — to keep the audience engaged. ‎ ‎ The Naked Gun reboot fumbles its plot but scores laughs, as Liam Neeson plays it straight and Pamela Anderson steals scenes in this messy but funny revival. ‎Paramount ‎ ‎The film opens with a bank robbery sequence that tries to blend physical comedy with high-stakes action. It’s an effective table-setter, though many of the best gags already appeared in the trailer. The incident eventually ties into the suspicious death of a tech engineer whose electric vehicle crashes under mysterious circumstances. His sister, Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), believes foul play ...

‎Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back delivers a deeply unsettling experience that trades the frenetic energy of their breakout debut Talk To Me for a more insidious, brooding exploration of possession, grief, and fractured familial bonds. Set in a quiet suburb saturated with creeping dread, the film stars Sally Hawkins in a disarmingly unnerving performance that flips her familiar on-screen warmth into something far more sinister. ‎ Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back blends possession horror, childhood trauma, and occult dread into a slow-burning, emotionally raw thriller. ‎Bring Her Back ‎ ‎Laura, played by Hawkins, is a well-meaning but increasingly unstable foster mother grappling with the recent death of her daughter. When she takes in teenage Andy (Billy Barratt) and his younger, visually impaired sister Piper (Sora Wong), the line between nurturing care and obsessive attachment begins to erode. Her affection quickly gravitates toward Piper, while An...

‎Adam Sandler storms back onto the green in Happy Gilmore 2, a full-throttle sequel that embraces absurdity, celebrates nostalgia, and revives the very style of comedy that launched Sandler into superstardom in the 1990s. This isn’t a soft reboot or sanitized update — it’s a chaotic continuation that brings back Sandler’s signature blend of rage, heart, and offbeat humor, with all the unpolished charm that made the original a cult classic. ‎ Adam Sandler returns to the green with Happy Gilmore 2, a fearless blast of '90s comedy chaos, nostalgia overload, and unfiltered rage-fueled laughs. ‎Netflix ‎ ‎The screenplay, penned by Sandler and longtime writing partner Tim Herlihy, picks up decades after the original film left off. Happy Gilmore, once a golf legend with six championship titles and a seemingly perfect life, is now a broken man. Following a tragic and absurdly Sandler-esque accident — a deadly tee shot that kills his wife Virginia — Happy has abandoned golf and ...

‎Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps reintroduces the original superhero family through a bold, emotionally grounded origin tale set in a stylized 1960s New York. The film follows four ordinary individuals—Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—whose lives are forever changed after a cosmic accident grants them extraordinary powers. Rather than leaning on multiverse entanglements or franchise cameos, the narrative centers on their transformation into both heroes and a family, balancing high-stakes cosmic drama with intimate, character-driven portrayal. ‎ ‎ Vanessa Kirby in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' ‎20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. ‎ ‎The plot begins with Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), a visionary scientist, who launches a space expedition to study a cosmic anomaly. His wife, biophysicist Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), joins the mission along with her brother Johnny (Joseph Quinn), an impulsive young pilot, and their loyal friend Ben Grim...

‎James Gunn’s latest directorial venture, Superman, featuring David Corenswet as the iconic superhero, is set to premiere in theaters on July 11. The film marks a significant reboot of the DC Universe, with Gunn at the helm as co-CEO of DC Studios. Corenswet takes on the dual role of Clark Kent and Superman, succeeding notable predecessors such as Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill. ‎ James Gunn’s Superman redefines the Man of Steel with fresh energy and heartfelt performances, launching a promising new chapter for the DC Universe this summer. ‎Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection ‎ ‎Joining Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan portrays the intrepid journalist Lois Lane, while Nicholas Hoult steps into the shoes of the infamous villain Lex Luthor. The cast’s performances have drawn particular praise from critics who highlight the fresh dynamics brought to these classic characters. ‎ ‎During the Los Angeles premiere, James Gunn shared his vision for the new Superman. He aimed to ...

Superman (2025) arrives burdened by expectations few films would want to carry. More than just another iteration of a classic comic book character, this marks the foundational step for a newly minted cinematic universe from DC Studios. At the center of this endeavor stands James Gunn, who not only directs but also pens the screenplay. Following his success with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy series and DC's The Suicide Squad, Gunn was tapped to set the tone for Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest superhero venture. Under CEO David Zaslav, who has aggressively reshaped the studio’s strategy by shelving and selling off completed content, Superman’s commercial success may prove pivotal for the entire DC Universe slate titled “Gods and Monsters.” ‎ ‎ James Gunn’s Superman (2025) delivers strong performances and vibrant visuals but stumbles with overcrowded plotting and rushed franchise setup. ‎Warner Bros. ‎ ‎DC’s previous shared universe collapsed under the weight of inc...

‎Laura Piani’s directorial debut, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, is a refreshing entry in the world of romantic comedies that speaks to the emotional chaos of both love and literary ambition. With a keen sense of wit and a modern appreciation for Austenian tradition, the film follows aspiring writer Agathe, portrayed with irresistible charm by Camille Rutherford, as she navigates the unpredictable territory of romance, creativity, and self-doubt. ‎ ‎' Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. ' ‎Pierre Mazoyer ‎ ‎Agathe, a quiet yet passionate bookseller living in Paris, dreams of becoming a novelist but hides her writing from the world. Her only confidant, Felix (Pablo Pauly), discovers her talent and secretly applies to a prestigious Jane Austen-themed writing residency in England. When she is unexpectedly accepted, Agathe's journey begins—not just to the English coast, but toward self-reinvention. ‎ ‎Laura Piani constructs a world where the power of literature and the fear ...

‎Tom Hardy returns to the screen with ferocious intensity in Havoc, Netflix’s explosive new action thriller from acclaimed director Gareth Evans, best known for The Raid and The Raid 2. This film marks a visceral return to the director’s brand of ultra-violent, stylistically choreographed chaos, anchored by Hardy’s brooding presence and an unrelenting momentum of destruction. ‎ Tom Hardy in 'Havoc.' ‎Netflix ‎ ‎Evans wastes no time immersing viewers into the grim underworld of a nameless, crime-infested American metropolis. The cityscape is dark, suffocating, and perpetually drenched in night—a visual signature executed with dynamic flair by cinematographer Matt Flannery. Gritty urban textures are slashed with neon and blood as fists fly, bullets rain down, and the body count climbs with every passing scene. ‎ ‎Hardy plays Walker, a hardened homicide detective whose moral compass has long since shattered. Haunted by a past mistake and severed from personal ties, he ...

‎Over 50 years ago, 2001: A Space Odyssey introduced HAL 9000, the eerily calm computer that hinted at a future dominated by artificial intelligence with murderous tendencies. That theme—AI turning on its creators—has since become a sci-fi staple, and M3GAN 2.0 is the latest to run with it. ‎ ‎' M3GAN 2.0. ' ‎Universal Pictures ‎ ‎Unlike its predecessor, which blended horror and satire with campy flair, M3GAN 2.0 aims for a more serious tone. It sheds much of the original’s playful absurdity, evolving into a straight-faced sci-fi action thriller with cautionary overtones. The android M3GAN returns, but this time as the film’s unlikely heroine—chattier, sassier, and strangely sincere. ‎ ‎She’s not alone. Enter AMELIA (short for Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android), a government-designed war machine gone rogue. Created from M3GAN’s original code, AMELIA is her cold, militarized counterpart—less wisecracking, more tactical menace. ‎ ‎The f...

‎Modern action-comedies rarely balance chaos and charm as skillfully as Heads of State. Directed by Ilya Naishuller, this high-energy political adventure throws back to the 1980s with unapologetic flair. From mismatched heroes to implausible set pieces, it delivers the kind of popcorn-fueled fun that mainstream cinema has recently forgotten how to do well. ‎ ‎ Cena and Elba team up in Heads of State, a wildly fun 1980s-style buddy action-comedy that nails the balance between chaos and charm. ‎Prime Video ‎ ‎A few tweaks to the tech—swap smartphones for pagers, remove GPS—and the film could convincingly pass as a Reagan-era classic. That time-capsule quality is no accident. Naishuller leans into the absurdity with clear affection, drawing from the DNA of Lethal Weapon, Midnight Run, and other action-comedy staples. The result is a film that doesn’t take itself seriously, and benefits enormously from that choice. ‎ ‎Opening with an undercover sting operation gone horribly wro...

‎British director Michael Pearce returns with Echo Valley, a tense and emotionally layered thriller that confirms his knack for extracting sharp, unsettling performances from talented actors. After the brooding menace of Beast and the sci-fi intrigue of Encounter, Pearce shifts to rural Pennsylvania to explore themes of maternal loss, addiction, and criminal entanglement in a quiet, scenic setting that masks deeper unease. Collaborating once again with strong performers, he casts Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney in a drama that gradually spirals into something far more sinister. ‎ ‎' Echo Valley. ' ‎Apple TV ‎ ‎Moore plays Kate, a grief-stricken horse trainer left financially and emotionally paralyzed six months after losing her wife, Patty. Once immersed in teaching riding lessons, Kate now struggles to maintain the family farm, unable to summon the will to work. The costs of repairs, especially a failing barn roof, weigh heavily on her. Into this fragile reality ...

‎Netflix struck gold with The Old Guard in 2020, offering an electrifying fusion of action, myth, and emotional complexity. At the center was Charlize Theron’s Andy, a battle-hardened immortal warrior burdened by centuries of solitude. Under the direction of Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film became more than just a stylish superhero story—it resonated as an introspective meditation on pain, loyalty, and purpose. ‎ ‎ Charlize Theron in 'The Old Guard 2.' ‎Courtesy of Netflix ‎ ‎Five years later, The Old Guard 2 returns with much of its original cast intact. Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, and Luca Marinelli all reprise their roles, joined by new characters who expand the immortal mythology. The sequel brings fresh environments, elevated action sequences, and new threats. Yet the absence of Prince-Bythewood’s visionary direction creates a subtle shift—one that makes this installment feel technically sound but less emotionally grounded. ‎ ‎Victoria Mahoney, ...

‎Tyler Perry’s Straw throws its audience headfirst into one harrowing day in the life of Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), a single Black mother balancing survival and sacrifice. The film marks Perry’s return to the morally charged melodramas that defined his early career, while attempting a grittier, more socially urgent tone. ‎ Taraji P. Henson in 'Straw.' ‎Chip Bergmann/Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix ‎ ‎Janiyah’s day begins with a quiet catastrophe: her daughter Aria (Gabrielle Jackson) needs $40 to clear a school lunch debt or face public humiliation. From there, the pressures compound — a landlord threatens immediate eviction, her boss (Glynn Turman) refuses a paycheck advance, and an altercation with a customer over WIC card restrictions leads to escalating tension at work. ‎ ‎When masked gunmen invade the store, Janiyah fights to protect her daughter’s seizure medication hidden in her backpack. In the chaos, she kills one of the robbers and then, in...

‎Ana de Armas steps boldly into the assassin-laden universe of John Wick in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, a propulsive, high-stakes spin-off that trades quiet grief for explosive revenge. Directed by Len Wiseman and penned by franchise regular Shay Hatten, Ballerina doesn’t attempt to subvert the beloved “gun-fu” formula—it embraces it, offering a kinetic thrill ride led by a commanding performance from de Armas as Eve Macarro. ‎ ‎ Ana de Armas in 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina.' ‎Murray Close/Lionsgate ‎ ‎Set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, the film follows Eve, a ballet-trained killer raised by the formidable Director (Anjelica Huston, in scene-stealing form), as she sets out to avenge the murder of her father, Javier (David Castañeda). Armed with a dancer’s precision and a deadly arsenal of makeshift weapons—flamethrower, mallet, katana, even ice skates—Eve brings a new kind of heat to the snow-covered ass...

‎Netflix’s Sirens, a five-part limited series created by Molly Smith Metzler (Maid), explores mythology through the lens of 21st-century wealth and gendered power. Blending classical allegory with dark satire, the series features a stellar ensemble led by Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, and Milly Alcock—but uneven tone and scattered narrative threads leave its potential unfulfilled. ‎ ‎Milly Alcock and Julianne Moore in 'Sirens.' ‎Courtesy of Netflix ‎ ‎Opening with Michaela Kell (Moore) releasing a falcon on a cliff’s edge, the series conjures immediate parallels to the mythological Sirens—half-bird, half-woman creatures who lured sailors to their deaths. The metaphor is rich, but the delivery is often muddled. Michaela becomes a modern-day goddess presiding over Cliff House, an elite seaside estate where servants orbit the whims of billionaires. ‎ ‎Two sisters, Devon (Fahy) and Simone (Alcock), anchor the narrative. Their code word “Sirens” signals emergencies—an ap...

‎A haunting plunge into fractured minds and broken intimacy, Die My Love marks director Lynne Ramsay’s most unflinching work to date. This Cannes 2025 contender, adapted from Ariana Harwicz’s searing debut novel, stars Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson as a couple unraveling under the weight of rural isolation, postpartum trauma, and decaying passion. ‎ ‎ Jennifer Lawrence in 'Die My Love.' ‎Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival ‎ ‎Ramsay’s filmmaking remains fearless. She steers clear of neat conclusions, instead immersing viewers in the unsettling emotional terrain of Grace (Lawrence), a woman torn apart by motherhood and madness. Jackson (Pattinson), her increasingly estranged husband, navigates the wreckage of their relationship with quiet sorrow and stoic tenderness. ‎ ‎Shot in a suffocating 4:3 aspect ratio by cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, the film amplifies its psychological intensity with restrained visual claustrophobia. Grace prowls the property like a ...