If you’ve been looking for a great place to catch up with some of the best new movies and cinematic classics, look no further than Hulu. Packed with incredible films from nearly every genre and era, there’s something for everyone to love, and the platform’s library is constantly in flux, with new titles arriving and others departing on a regular basis. It’s our job to keep up with all of Hulu’s latest and greatest, so without further ado, here’s our roundup of the best movies on Hulu right now.
The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (November 2022)
The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (November 2022)
And if you want even more out of your Hulu subscription, check out the Disney Bundle, which gets you Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+ for just $14 a month. That’s a ton of Hulu, plus the best of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, sports, and more, all for the price of just two of the services.
Subscribe to a different platform? Not only do we have a guide to the best shows on Hulu, but we’ve rounded up the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Netflix, and the best movies on Disney+.
Recently added to Hulu
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The Valet2022 -
The French Dispatch2021
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Better Days2019
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The Patriot2000
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Oblivion2013
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124m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Eugenio Derbez, Samara Weaving, Max Greenfield
Directed by
Richard Wong
In The Valet, Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving star as Antonio and Olivia, a dedicated valet driver and a Hollywood starlet that “hires” Antonio to act as her new boyfriend when the actress is accidentally photographed with the man she’s actually seeing (Max Greenfield), who just so happens to be married. As the mass media aims the spotlight more and more at the fake couple, it’s only a matter of time before the news breaks that the romance is fabricated. It’s a heartfelt comedy with attention paid to character development and earnest performances, something that is often lacking in many of today’s bigger-budget comedies.
108m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Stars
Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton
Directed by
Wes Anderson
Following the sudden death of editor Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray), his will demands that publication of his magazine, The French Dispatch, be terminated immediately, with the exception of one last issue. Using this setup as a means for anthological storytelling, writer-director Wes Anderson delivers four cinematic vignettes that are actually filmed renditions of The French Dispatch’s swan song. Everything everyone loves about Wes Anderson arrives and performs as expected, but there’s something a little bit more mature, even melancholy, about the world of The French Dispatch.
135m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Yin Fang
Directed by
Derek Tsang
Based on the Chinese young adult novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty, Better Days stars Zhou Dongyu as Chen Nian, a bullied high school student who crosses paths with Xiao Bei (Jackson Lee), a street thug. As the two youths start to form an alliance, one of Chen’s bullies turns up dead, and the investigating authorities believe that Chen and Xiao could be the killers. Better Days is a gripping bit of melodrama that leans heavily on the humanity of its core characters, delivering an elevated tale of what it’s like to be entering adulthood both on and off your own terms.
165m
Genre
Drama, History, War, Action
Stars
Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson
Directed by
Roland Emmerich
Directed by Roland Emmerich from a script by Robert Rodat, The Patriot stars Mel Gibson as American colonist Benjamin Martin. Hesitant to leap into battle with approaching British forces, both Benjamin and his son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), are thrust into the chaos of the Revolutionary War when the enemy murders one of Benjamin’s other sons and attempts to burn down their homestead. Packed with remarkable performances from the main ensemble but often criticized for its lack of historical authenticity, The Patriot is a perfect autumnal war epic that will satisfy most fans of the sub-genre.
124m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery
Stars
Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko
Directed by
Joseph Kosinski
Oblivion is the kind of post-apocalyptic sci-fi film that we’ve treaded the waters of before. But aside from some of its cookie-cutter narrative elements, the film is able to rise above the rest, thanks in part to its strong casting, arresting absence of dialogue, and mind-blowing action sequences. It stars Tom Cruise as Jack Harper, a technician on the front lines of extraterrestrial warfare. After rescuing a mysterious woman (Olga Kurylenko) from a downed spacecraft, Harper learns that the stranger hails from a colony of survivors who once waged their own battle against the otherworldly enemy. With his new companion in tow, it’s up to Jack to save the world as we know it before the aliens completely take over.
94m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Madeline Carroll
Directed by
Mark Waters
A loose adaptation of the 1938 children’s book, Mr. Popper’s Penguins stars Jim Carrey as Thomas Popper Jr., a disenchanted real estate salesman who comes into the possession of a gentoo penguin named Captain, a gift from Thomas’ late father. But after attempting to return the Antarctic bird, a miscommunication results in Popper receiving several more penguins, forcing him to reshape his life and his parental responsibilities around the unshakeable presence of his new feathered friends. A fun-loving showcase for the always-on talents of Carrey, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a family-friendly flick with a lot of heart and plenty of laughs.
93m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr.
Directed by
Raoul Peck
I Am Not Your Negro is the kind of documentary film that reminds us of just how effective the genre can be at both telling, and in the case of director Raoul Peck’s singular craftsmanship, finishing stories. The film is based on the unfinished James Baldwin manuscript Remember This House, a personal account of Baldwin’s friendships with Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr., but upon passing away in 1987, the author had only completed 30 pages. That’s where Peck came in to finish the job, delivering a brilliant and bold homage to Baldwin and the many blistering battles fought within the Civil Rights movement.
108m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan
Directed by
Phyllida Lloyd
A jukebox musical with ABBA songs as the melodic backbone — what’s not to like? Mamma Mia! stars Meryl Streep as hotelier Donna, a woman feverishly preparing for her daughter’s (Amanda Seyfried) upcoming wedding. But little does Donna know that the bride-to-be has a little secret up her sleeve: She has invited three mystery men to the wedding, one of whom, she believes, is her birth father. Adapted from Catherine Johnson’s 1999 book and subsequent stage musical, Mamma Mia! isn’t groundbreaking cinema by any means. But if you’re in need of a solid pick-me-up flick after a long week, it’s hard not to relish the pastiche of beautiful Greece-centric vistas and the movie’s heartwarming soundtrack.
114m
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Stars
Miles Teller, Jonah Hill, Ana de Armas
Directed by
Todd Phillips
Co-written and directed by Todd Philips, and based on a 2011 Rolling Stone article and Efraim Diveroli’s 2016 memoir Once a Gun Runner, War Dogs stars Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as a pair of longtime pals who have the opportunity to rake in gigantic piles of cash by becoming multinational arms dealers. Enjoying their lives of newfound riches, reality comes crashing down on the boys after they land a $300 million contract to supply Afghan troops with weaponry. A fun thrill ride concerned less with authenticity and more with narrative bravado, War Dogs is the kind of movie that excites at every turn, even if what we see on-screen is only a fragment of the true story the film is based upon.
123m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
Directed by
Nora Ephron
Based on acclaimed chef Julia Child’s own biography My Life in France and Julie Powell’s memoir Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously, Julie & Julia stars Amy Adams and Meryl Streep as the titular duo: one a celebrated French-cuisine chef, and the other a New Yorker who decides to cook every recipe in Child’s famous 1961 book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Shifting back and forth in time and narrative, writer-director Nora Ephron splits the viewer’s attention between Child’s formative years in France and a modern-day Powell’s persistence in tackling each entry from the cookbook. Julie & Julia is the kind of film that doesn’t hide the fact that it really wants to make you smile.
113m
Genre
Comedy, Action
Stars
Adam Sandler, Emmanuelle Chriqui, John Turturro
Directed by
Dennis Dugan
Although Adam Sandler’s recent dramatic leanings in films like Uncut Gems and Hustle have allowed the SNL-alum to command a new kind of hard-boiled fandom, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is a reminder of his off-the-walls comedic origins. In this bizarre tale, Sander plays Zohan, an Israeli ex-pat who defects to the U.S. to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a hairdresser.Swapping firearms for scissors, Zohan becomes one of Manhattan’s most sought-after stylists, a dream come true that plummets into a nightmare when old enemies resurface. Layering a bit of political satire over the traditional “Sandler as man-child” narrative, Zohan doesn’t achieve its laughs with much class, but fights the good fight to proclaim that you can indeed teach an old dog some new tricks.
103m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Crime
Stars
Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover
Directed by
James Wan
Back in 2004, Saw stepped into the ring as a new kind of genre fighter altogether — one that wasn’t afraid to outrage you with gore, while delivering a nightmarish twists-and-turns story that pays off pretty big in the end. Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannel star as Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight, respectively. When the physician and photographer-for-hire wake up in a dark, dismal bathroom — both chained to large, metal pipes — the men soon realize that they’re the latest victims of a headline-grabbing serial killer known as “Jigsaw.” With time running out, Dr. Gordon and Adam are forced to make a series of harrowing decisions if there’s any chance for survival whatsoever. Released months apart, Saw and Hostel arrived to the horror house uninvited and blew the doors clean off their hinges.
90m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman
Directed by
Mike Judge
If the traditional 9-to-5 workspace has got you down, you can always turn to Office Space for a bit of spiritual camaraderie. Mike Judge’s big-brained comedy stars Ron Livingston as cubicle grunt Peter Gibbons, and he is just another number at the corporate software firm known as Initech. In the middle of a hypnotherapy session, Peter’s therapist suffers a heart attack, trapping his patient in a state of carefree euphoria that Peter carries to work with him every day. When his nonchalance scores him a surprising promotion, Peter learns that Initech plans to downsize, inspiring him and two of his pals to sabotage the company. Featuring plenty of meme-worthy scenes and a brilliant blast of storytelling from the king of elevated laughs, Mike Judge himself, Office Space remains a classic over 20 years after it first hit screens.
103m
Genre
Science Fiction
Stars
Vincent Kartheiser, Chelsea Lopez, Breeda Wool
Directed by
Rob Schroeder
In director Rob Schroeder’s Ultrasound, Mad Men alum Vincent Kartheiser stars as Glen, an unassuming everyman who just so happens to encounter some car trouble on a dark and stormy night. Seeking some help, he knocks on the door of a perfectly kind stranger named Arthur (Bob Stephenson), leading the former down an uncanny rabbit hole of deceit and mind control. Presenting a nail-biter of a story without diving into carnage and other typical screen grabs, Ultrasound does its best work as a quietly curious foray into a world that’s hard to pin down.
128m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum
Directed by
Joachim Trier
In The Worst Person in the World, Renate Reinsve stars as Julie, an Oslo-based medical student, and it follows the course of four years throughout her personal life and career. It’s the kind of meditative and hard-talking dark comedy that only comes around once in a while, but The Worst Person in the World is one of those rare cinematic home runs that doesn’t need to act big and tall to stand out from the crowd. And thanks to Reinsve’s down-to-earth performance, it’s a film that’s easy to get on board with.
102m
Genre
Drama, History, Thriller
Stars
Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Webber, Ian Hart
Directed by
Francis Annan
Post-Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe’s acting career has spiraled off into a few unexpected directions, frequently playing against the boyish coming-of-age innocence that his wizarding years imbued in the public image of the British A-lister. And when he’s not growing horns or being Weird Al, Radcliffe can also be found breaking out of South African prisons, which is exactly what we get in Francis Annan’s Escape from Pretoria. Based on true events, the film follows the story of Tim Jenkin (Radcliffe) and Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber), two political activists who are imprisoned for their radical views and behaviors. But soon after getting locked up, the duo conspire with another prisoner, Leonard Fontaine (Mark Leonard Winter), and they hatch a plan to escape the near-impenetrable fortress.
86m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish
Directed by
Jerrod Carmichael
If you’ve been in the mood for something a little edgy, Jerrod Carmichael’s On the Count of Three may scratch the itch. Carmichael and Christopher Abbott play best friends Val and Kevin, two men who have had it with their respective lives. So the duo agrees to a suicide pact, which grants them a final day of tying up loose ends and burning whatever bridges they deem necessary. It’s hard to approach any suicide material with open arms, but the strengths of On the Count of Three, particularly the emotionally rich and humor-filled relationship between the two leads, help to elevate the picture into something more than an all-encompassing deep dive into bleak waters.
84m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Elizabeth Becker, Sangduen Lek Chailert, Costas Christ
Directed by
Tyson Sadler
When traveling somewhere tropical and off-grid, we typically view these vacations as nothing more than personal getaways for us and those we love. But there’s a whole other side of the tourism coin that doesn’t get talked about — until director Tyson Sadler came along, that is. Through his eye-opening documentary The Last Tourist, Sadler paints a much different picture of tourism’s impacts on the parts of the world that need extra care and protection from humanity’s grip, while also discussing the positive aspects of worldly excursions. In the end, the audience is left with an important message that may have you thinking twice about your next venture to somewhere distant and remote.
131m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Thriller, War, Mystery
Stars
Ralph Fiennes, Harris Dickinson, Gemma Arterton
Directed by
Matthew Vaughn
Serving as a prequel to both Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The King’s Man stars Ralph Fiennes as Orlando Oxford, the leader of an elite underground espionage operation known by its members as the Kingsman. On the heels of World War I, this hidden task force has one mission: To protect Britain and stave off approaching warfare. It’s not exactly high-brow cinema, but the Kingsman franchise has always leaned on a more bombastic tone for the series, a tradition that feels most at home in this action-filled origin story.
121m
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Stars
Odessa A'zion, Jamie Clayton, Adam Faison
Directed by
David Bruckner
It’s about time the world of Hellraiser received some much-needed reimagining. For years now, the franchise has seen sequel after sequel, and while Cenobite fans are always pleased to see Doug Bradley donning his Pinhead garb, the series has certainly run into its fair share of cinematic duds. But director David Bruckner has come along to get the saga on track once more. The 2022 remake stars Odessa A’zion as Riley, an on-the-mend drug addict who comes into the possession of a runic puzzle box — a mysterious device that summons an armada of hellish entities. Led by the Hell Priest (Jamie Clayton), Odessa is plunged into a fight for survival when the demonic visitors begin wreaking havoc in the real world. Bruckner’s Hellraiser reboot may not satisfy all of the saga’s diehards, but when you consider it as a gruesome yet polished homage to Clive Barker’s source novella and first batch of films, the 2022 version more than gets the job done.
96m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, History
Stars
Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Kyle Allen
Directed by
Karen Maine
An adaptation of Rebecca Serle’s 2012 When You Were Mine director Karen Maine hinges this whimsical bit of rom-com cinema on the mischievous yet heartfelt performance of her film’s star, Kaitlyn Dever. Portraying the titular character, Rosaline is crushed when her cousin Juliet (Isabela Merced) finds the man of her dreams in the dashing Romeo (Kyle Allen), who just so happens to be Rosaline’s ex. Fueled by jealousy, Rosaline decides to let her fiery emotions burn bridges and more as she sets out on a dizzying and humorous quest to win back her lost love. Both the film and source text are inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew, and Dever does a fantastic job at driving home this kinetic tale about wearing your emotions on your sleeve and following your heart, no matter the cost.
111m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Martha Plimpton, Jason Isaacs, Ann Dowd
Directed by
Fran Kranz
If you’re looking for something a bit more heavy-hearted, writer-director Fran Kranz’ Mass is a dense drama that doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter. With a core cast made up of Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, and Martha Plimpton, the players portray two married couples who agree to meet together to discuss a tragedy that befell their sons years before. As emotions run wild and devastation leads the mutual dialogue, it becomes clear that old wounds have yet to mend and heal — and perhaps never will. Mass assumes a methodical and thoughtful approach to the tribulations suffered by each set of grieving parents, delivering a narrative that demands we trudge forward through the thick of the human experience, wading alongside the onscreen talents.
100m
Genre
Science Fiction, Drama, Mystery
Stars
Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning, Paul Giamatti
Directed by
Reed Morano
Have you ever heard of the classic Twilight Zone episode “Time Enough at Last” about a book-loving bank teller who finds solace in a post-apocalypse rid of humanity, but filled with plenty of excellent reading material? While the “last man on Earth” narrative has received plenty of cinematic attention over the years, each stab at the formula may be traced back to Burgess Meredith’s Twilight Zone episode, with 2018’s I Think We’re Alone Now serving as yet another homage to it. Peter Dinklage stars as Del, a man who embraces a life of solitude in the wake of a global pandemic that has seemingly eradicated the rest of mankind. That is until one fateful day, when a woman named Grace (Elle Fanning) arrives, disrupting Del’s idyllically quiet day-to-day. In I Think We’re Alone Now, director Reed Morano creates a world where isolation is less a curse and more a blessing, where companionship begins as an adversarial force and slowly unravels into something potentially more meaningful.
117m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction
Stars
Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm
Directed by
Ridley Scott
British director Ridley Scott is responsible for some of the most epic box-office sensations of the last few decades, and if it wasn’t for the smashing success of his 1979 film Alien, it’s quite possible we wouldn’t have movies like Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down. Sigourney Weavers stars as Ripley, one of the crew of the commercial space vessel known as the Nostromo. When the space-bound ship receives a distress signal from an in-proximity moon, the Nostromo team is tasked with investigating the beacon, only to discover a dilapidated alien ship on the surface of the lunar body. Investigating the vessel, the Nostromo crew discovers a large cavity filled with extraterrestrial eggs, one of which infamously hatches, revealing a horrific creature that impregnates a crew member, leading to one of the biggest cinema shocks of all time and a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a terrifying otherworldly adversary.
90m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Derek DelGaudio, Hal Schulman, Marina Abramović
Directed by
Frank Oz
We all ponder over the great existential questions of life from time to time. Who are we? Why are we here? Where are we going next? And while cinema is often used as a philosophical medium through which we can explore such inquiries through fiction and nonfiction lenses, such introspection has never been captured like it has in Derek Delgaudio’s mesmerizing documentary/stage spectacle In & Of Itself. Directed by Frank Oz, Delgaudio’s work combines elements of traditional stage performance and unconventional narrative structure to deliver a filmic spectacle that is hard to describe but impossible to forget.
153m
Genre
Action, Drama, History
Stars
Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer
Directed by
Ridley Scott
When it’s a multi-million-dollar historical blockbuster you need, Ridley Scott is the man that you call for the job. And in 2021, 20th Century Studios beckoned for the British savant to deliver his auteur magic for a major motion picture called The Last Duel. The ensemble cast includes Adam Driver, Matt Damon, Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck, and the time and place is France during the Hundred Years’ War. When respected noble Jacques Le Gris (Driver) makes unwanted advances on the wife (Comer) of a cherished knight (Damon), the warrior’s spouse doesn’t remain silent, rallying the kingdom and setting off a chain of events that all lead up to the last-recorded duel in French history. Defiantly acted and beautifully shot, The Last Duel treads narrative waters we’ve all seen before. But with Scott at the helm, a certain kind of sincerity and narrative intelligence rise to the surface.
77m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Simon Beck, Martina Halik, Tania Halik
Directed by
Grant Baldwin
This Mountain Life is the kind of documentary film that exposes viewers to treacherous, isolated environments where geographically remote livelihoods are par for the course and tundra survival is as second-nature as putting milk in your cereal. Released in 2018, director Grant Baldwin’s thought-provoking film explores the lives of British Columbia residents living in and around the region’s mountainous landscapes. The subjects include a mother and daughter pairing who are looking to undertake a significant traversing of the local Coast Mountains area. A philosophical deep-dive into what it takes to be one with your land and hills, This Mountain Life is up there with the best deeply-pondered Herzog nature docs and National Geographic specials.
106m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Stars
Kyle Gallner, Emily Skeggs, Pat Healy
Directed by
Adam Rehmeier
It’s not often that you see the punk rock music genre getting any kind of cinematic limelight (sans films like Her Smell and Green Room), but even less so when the film genre of choice is an indie rom-com. Such is the case, though, with writer-director Adam Carter Rehmeir’s 2020 film Dinner in America, and the results are pretty great. Starring Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs as a singer and his band’s devoted fan, our story follows the star-crossed lovers as they travel around the lesser-seen suburbs and pervading urban sprawl of the American Midwest. If you’ve seen Garden State or Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, picture these two films being tossed into a blender with a healthy bit of rated-R this and that for extra punch, and you’re probably at least halfway to the look, feel, and budgetary, off-the-cuff sensibilities of Dinner in America.
98m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
Stars
Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens
Directed by
John Badham
When a military-commissioned android (voiced by Tim Blaney) becomes sentient from a bolt of lightning, the robot flees the laboratory and takes up residence with Stephanie (Ally Sheedy), an animal caregiver living in Oregon. With Stephanie’s assistance, the bot continues to adapt and learn, coming to grips with life, death, love, laughing, dancing, and a myriad of other human experiences. But as the now-named “Number Five” begins to comfortably acclimate to the idea of existence, officials from his robotics birthplace start encroaching with plans to decommission and reboot the electrical wonder. Riding on the coattails of films like ET, Short Circuit borrows heavily from familiar sci-fi mash-ups but presents a number of its own explorative concepts and a pretty solid look for Number Five.
121m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Directed by
David Fincher
Aaron Sorkin is a master of screenwriting, particularly when it comes to non-fictional extrapolations of some of a zeitgeist’s most significant moments. Thus, there couldn’t have been a better man for the job when it came time to adapt Ben Mezrich’s 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires about the formative years of a little social media platform called Facebook and the personal and professional fallout that occurred amongst the site’s founders. Jesse Eisenberg stars as Mark Zuckerberg, with Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Napster’s Sean Parker, and a host of other incredible talents portraying the many movers and shakers of the web-powered phenomena that shook the nation. The Social Network was directed by David Fincher, a fitting auteur figure for the towering subject matter and a perfect pairing for the buttressing of Sorkin’s amazing script.
124m
Genre
Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, William H. Macy
Directed by
Gary Ross
Teenaged siblings David (Tobey Maguire) and Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) couldn’t be more different. While Jennifer is an extroverted and judgmental marauder of teenage life, David is content to spend his days dedicated to the family television — specifically, a ’50s prime-time program called Pleasantville. It’s a show much in the same vein as Leave it to Beaver that explores the life and times of the picture-perfect Parker family. One night, the siblings enter into an argument that results in them accidentally breaking the TV remote. But when a mystical TV repairman shows up unannounced, he provides David and Jennifer with a new remote that magically transports them into the world of Pleasantville. As the siblings begin acclimating to the idyllic world of the show, a series of events, inspired by Jennifer’s penchant for shaking things up, begins to change the black-and-white setting into color-filled set pieces, a visual metaphor for the emotional unwinding of the townsfolk. Pleasantville presents a funny and heartfelt narrative, one that subtly takes a satirical stab at the rose-colored world of family values and a number of coming-of-age motifs.
109m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Theo Anthony, Keaver Brenai
Directed by
Theo Anthony
Do you ever feel like you’re being watched? Well, with the increase in seeing-eye technology the world-over, it’s no wonder you’re feeling like there are always eyes on you. This very subject is on full display in director Theo Anthony’s riveting documentary All Light, Everywhere. Tracing the history of surveillance through a mosaic of off-the-wall visuals and more traditional formalism, Anthony delivers a mesmerizing film that unpacks the underlying power structures that rule the world behind the lens. It’s insightful, unusual, and certainly unforgettable.
102m
Genre
Drama, Thriller, Comedy
Stars
Jon Bernthal, Shea Whigham, Jordana Spiro
Directed by
John Pollono
Adapted from the award-winning play of the same name, Small Engine Repair stars John Bollono (also the director, writer, and original playwright), Jon Bernthal, and Shea Whigham as Frankie, Swaino, and Packie, longtime New England buddies who meet up one night at an off-the-grid repair shop. Brought together by Frankie and his teenage daughter, Crystal (Ciara Bravo), what the lads thought would be an evening of catching up and good fun quickly unravels into a devilish plot, with Crystal at the helm. Funny, bold, and powered by an entourage of must-watch performances, Small Engine Repair is everything we love about indie filmmaking packed into a solid 90-minute-plus feature.
120m
Genre
Drama, Music, History
Stars
Paul Dano, John Cusack, Elizabeth Banks
Directed by
Bill Pohlad
As an onscreen talent, Paul Dano never ceases to bring something amazing to every single performance. And in director Bill Pohlad’s stirring Love & Mercy, both Dano and John Cusack get to spread their wings, with the former playing The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson in the ’60s and the latter portraying the songwriter in the ’80s. The film follows two different timeless — chronicling Wilson’s period of musical experimentation, leading to the release of Pet Sounds, with flashes to his mental health care in the ’80s under the watch of Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti), a radical figure in the psychotherapy field. Delivering raw honesty in a way that’s hard to come by in cinema, Love & Mercy goes to great lengths to unearth and respect the earnest struggles of Brian Wilson, a magician of sound who has inspired countless artists over the decades.
95m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher
Directed by
Harmony Korine
Harmony Korine is quite the polarizing auteur, and we’re pretty sure the off-the-wall writer/director would be peeved with such a prestigious label (re: auteur). Have you ever heard of Gummo? What about Spring Breakers? Korine isn’t exactly highbrow when it comes to moviemaking, but there’s an acerbic and almost otherworldly wit behind his pictures. And his most recent effort, 2019’s The Beach Bum, finds the long-hailed king of weird doing what he does best, albeit on softer terms. Starring Matthew McConaughey as the titular bum, going by the handle of “Moondog,” the roving author spends his days dreaming up ideas for the book he hasn’t quite written, and maybe never will, while interacting, drugging, and departing from a series of idiosyncratic characters that perfectly round out the bizarre ensemble pic. Watching a Korine flick is a lot like taking in a peculiar art exhibition — we’re not sure why we’re looking, but we definitely don’t want to look away.
159m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin
Directed by
Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn
When it comes to documentary filmmaking, The Act of Killing stands as one of the deepest-cutting uses of the genre’s conventions, unpacking a subject that may not be easy to talk, look, or think about. But director Joshua Oppenheimer and his creative team did the hard work of getting the topic on-screen. The subject: the mass execution of accused Indonesian communists from 1965 to 1966. And perhaps most disturbingly, the film explores the prolific rise of the executors, observing the various layers of corruption and extortion that these individuals are responsible for. It’s not an easy watch, but if you’re looking for something that’s insightful and emotionally complex, The Act of Killing more than fits the bill.
91m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin
Directed by
Michael Sarnoski
In Pig, Nicholas Cage stars as Robin Feld, a truffle forager living off the grid in the backcountry of the Pacific Northwest. With a day to day composed of seeking out and selling rare fungi to a local restaurant supplier named Amir (Alex Wolff), Feld is content to go about a simple life of living off the land, that is until a posse of malcontents steal his truffle-foraging swine. Teaming up with Amir to track down the thieves, Robin must go to great lengths to infiltrate the locales and social circles he left behind to regain the animal he loves. A stirring blend of arresting performances and a unique narrative, Pig is the kind of independent film that makes a quiet but powerful impact before fading into the greater ephemera of bigger-budget pictures. That being said, catch it while you can — you won’t be disappointed.
143m
Genre
Adventure, Drama
Stars
Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Chris Noth
Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
If Liam Neeson is the grizzled uncle of modern cinema, then Tom Hanks is the seasoned and well-spoken grandfather. Honing several roles per year, Hanks’ charisma goes a long way toward the watchability of the films he chooses, from recent fare like Finch all the way back to Cast Away, a Robert Zemeckis epic about one man’s trials and tribulations on a desert island. Hanks stars as Chuck Noland, a FedEx employee who is the sole survivor of an international parcel flight for the company. With no civilization in sight, Noland must channel his inner Darwinism to contend with the strange terrain of the unexpected tropical prison, possibly for the rest of his life. Watching Hanks’ tour-de-force performance is the biggest reason to arrive for Cast Away. Even two decades after its premiere, the film still delivers an emotionally gut-wrenching tale that makes us, and Grandpa Hanks, weep over something as simple as a volleyball.
102m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, John Roberts
Directed by
Loren Bouchard, Bernard Derriman
The Bob’s Burgers Movie is like the distantly-related cousin of the similarly titled 2007 film The Simpsons Movie. Both flicks are the feature-length descendants of two widely popular and long-running TV series, each backed by a bountiful collection of awards, endless amounts of merchandise, and fueled-up fanbases always looking for more. And just as The Simpsons Movie was an excellent (but somewhat unnecessary) addition to The Simpsons canon, so too is The Bob’s Burgers Movie to its own namesake series. The story follows the Belcher family, idiosyncratic restauranteurs faced with an interesting challenge — how to get patrons into the burger shop with a massive sinkhole in front of the entrance. The narrative begins here, and like the show, branches out into all sorts of misadventures. The Bob’s Burgers Movie is a dish tailor-made for the show’s legion of supporters, but it’s an awesome watch for new viewers, too.
100m
Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Thriller, Horror
Stars
Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro
Directed by
Dan Trachtenberg
Serving as a centuries-ago prequel to the 1987 film Predator, Prey gives us the story of a Comanche warrior named Naru (Amber Midthunder) who aspires to be the mighty protector of her Great Plains tribe. One day, a powerful new foe descends on her clan, forcing Naru and her fellow Comanche to summon up all their wits and strength to thwart the combatant extraterrestrial. Prey is a propulsive and blood-soaked nail-biter of an action film, and one that could effectively stand alone as a singular entity. But in this case, it’s a new entry in a much-loved franchise, and it’s one we’re betting will make plenty of fans happy.
121m
Genre
Fantasy, Action
Stars
Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst
Directed by
Sam Raimi
Before Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield, Marvel’s cinematic web-slinger was portrayed by Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi’s trilogy of Spider-Man films, with 2002’s Spider-Man being the first of the bunch. On a field trip to Columbia University, high school student Peter Parker (Maguire) is bitten by a genetically engineered spider, imbuing him with an impressive collection of superhuman-arachnid abilities. And just in time, because across town, Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) of Oscorp has injected himself with a performance-enhancing serum that transforms him into the dastardly Green Goblin. It’s up to Spider-Man to put an end to the Goblin’s reign of terror before the madman wreaks total havoc on New York. An action-packed thrill ride with cutting-edge effects that still hold up today (for the most part), Spider-Man may not be everyone’s favorite version of the friendly neighborhood hero, but it sure is a kinetic start to his parade of silver-screen appearances.
97m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Jim Sturgess, Ryan Kwanten, Hugo Weaving
Directed by
Zack Snyder
When Zack Synder isn’t busy delivering multi-million dollar blockbusters and zombie epics to cinema and at-home screens, the maestro can be found dipping his auteur toes into some rather unfamiliar terrain, with results that are mostly rewarding. Such is the case with the director’s 2010 animated film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. The story centers on Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess), a young barn owl captivated by the many fantastical stories of his father, Noctus (Hugo Weaving). One recurring fable is of the titular Guardians, an armada of protectors who once saved the world of owls from a takeover by the wretched Pure Ones. Coincidentally, Soren and his mischievous older brother, Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), are captured by two scouts from the Pure Ones after evading a Tasmanian devil attack. When the siblings learn that the evil sect plans on turning them into owl soldiers and material scrappers, Soren and a host of new companions must make a daring escape from enemy clutches to track down the Guardians once more. While Legend of the Guardians gets a bit held up by its twisting narrative, the sheer brilliance of the onscreen vistas, caves, and other “bird’s eye” makes for a visual experience that is hard to beat.
97m
Genre
Thriller, Action
Stars
Zac Efron, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter
Directed by
Anthony Hayes
Director, star, and co-writer Anthony Hayes’ Gold stars Zac Efron and Hayes as Virgil and Keith, the lone inhabitants of a desolate desert wasteland. When the duo discovers a monolithic gold nugget stranded in the sands, the pair attempt to excavate the treasure. However, they are unable to do so with their basic tools. Keith agrees to leave the dig site to search for an excavator, leaving Virgil to guard the treasure site. But as the hours wear on, and the sun unrelentingly beats down, Virgil’s lucidity starts to wan, threatening both his own safety and that of the golden trophy, a talisman that must be protected from other scavengers. With the weight of the narrative resting on Zac Efron’s shoulders, the actor truly gives his all to the role and its many physical and psychological requirements and limitations, making for an engaging lead performance that proves he is capable of so much more than we could fathom.
115m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges
Directed by
Alexander Payne
In The Descendants, George Clooney stars as Matt King, a Hawaiian lawyer whose life is turned upside down when a boating accident sends his wife into a coma. With stipulations in place to discontinue life support, Matt must deliver the tragic news to his two hellbent daughters (Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller) while contending with other family members, his wife’s secrets, and a major land deal that places Matt as the sole trustee. An excellent blend of comedy and drama that sees Clooney at the top of his game, The Descendants is another quietly rich Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt) film that will have you laughing, crying, and basking in the natural beauty of the many wide shots of Hawaii.
99m
Genre
Horror, Comedy
Stars
Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Doug Jones
Directed by
Don Coscarelli
Based on the David Wong novel of the same name, John Dies at the End is a kaleidoscopic horror-comedy of epic proportions. Chase Williamson stars as David, your typical everyman protagonist, and the story follows his mind-altering adventures alongside his gang of friends. At the center of these otherworldly jaunts is a mysterious new drug called “Soy Sauce,” a nightmarish substance accidentally injected by David that allows him to jump through time and space, into and out of alternate dimensions. The end result for us viewers? A wild trek of a film that will leave your brain hovering somewhere over a triple rainbow in a distant universe.
135m
Genre
Music, Drama, History
Stars
Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy
Directed by
Bryan Singer
Rami Malek took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of charismatic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. It was a laurel the performer certainly deserved. Playing as a stylized biopic, director Bryan Singer explores the rise of Mercury’s talent through his years with Queen, then as a solo artist, and then back with the band once more for the famous Live Aid benefit concert. While the movie negates some of the darker elements of Mercury’s real-life arc, Bohemian Rhapsody is designed to dazzle and entertain, a feat it accomplishes over and over. Sure, the script may steer away from sadness and tragedy, but you’ll come for the music and performance, and this is why you’ll stay.
89m
Genre
Documentary, Animation
Stars
Amin Nawabi, Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh
Directed by
Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Flee is one of those movies that fully commands the power of documentary filmmaking to tell an unbelievable true story. With jaw-dropping animation as our visual medium of choice, director Jonas Poher Rasmussen unpacks the emotionally arresting past of one Amir Nawabi, a refugee from Afghanistan (operating under an alias) who recounts his experience of fleeing his native country close to two decades ago. Heartfelt, beautifully constructed, and filled with frame after frame of immersive imagery, Flee is an important bit of storytelling you don’t want to miss.
93m
Genre
Documentary, History
Stars
Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins
Directed by
Todd Douglas Miller
The idea behind Apollo 11 is engaging archival footage and audio recordings in a way that weaves and threads an inspiring narrative. Chronicling the 1969 Apollo mission, the documentary negates the traditional talking-head format in favor of cinéma vérité-style 70mm behind-the-scenes footage of the historical space mission and its primary crew — specifically Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and a host of mission engineers providing Earth support to the trio of astronauts. “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” is a phrase that is deeply engrained in the fabric of humanity, and this powerful documentary is a monolithic reminder of the many grand triumphs that man is capable of discovering.
136m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr
Directed by
Jennifer Kent
Written and directed by Jennifer Kent, The Nightingale stars Aisling Franciosi as Clare, a convict with a thirst for vengeance. Set in 1825 Tasmania, the film follows Clare’s quest to find the British officer who destroyed her family to carry out her own act of vigilante justice. Joining forces with Billy (Baykali Ganambarr), an Aboriginal tracker with his own dark past, the duo combine their respective bloodlust to effectively navigate the harsh terrain in search of their shared target. A brutal tale with powerful performances at its core, The Nightingale is a revenge drama done right.
82m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Tim Roth, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Iazua Larios
Directed by
Michel Franco
In Sundown, Tim Roth is Neil Bennet, the emotionally and financially domineering patriarch of a high-class family. Vacationing in Mexico with his sister Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her two children (Samuel Bottomley and Albertine Kotting McMillan), Alice receives distressing news about a death in the family. Planning to travel home, Neil makes up an excuse at the last second to stay in Acapulco, where he indulges in a series of cheap thrills in an effort to distance himself from his sister, the death, and anything else that could pester the quiet and miserly gentleman. A bleak drama, Sundown is propelled by the chameleon-like performance of Tim Roth at its center, portraying a man who has it all but would seemingly give it all up if it meant disappearing was a possibility.
97m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
David Kellman, Robert Shafran, Lawrence Wright
Directed by
Tim Wardle
Joining the ranks of Hulu’s jaw-dropping documentaries, Three Identical Strangers traces the story of Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran, identical triplets who were separated at birth and reunited years later after a chance meeting in New York. After spending time together and learning about each other’s lives, the three brothers unravel a deep-seated mystery that changes everything they knew about each other, themselves, and the clinical details of their adoptive upbringings. This is a documentary that screeches into huge hairpin turns, forcing its viewers to question the nature of reality and what it means to have your life altered without your knowledge or consent.
131m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roi-ha
Directed by
Bong Joon-ho
Before mesmerizing cinema-goers with his Oscar-winning Parasite, South Korean director Bong Joon Ho led a career made up of movies as diverse as 2017’s humanitarian-flavored Okja and 2013’s taut and terrifying Snowpiercer. Memories of Murder, released in 2003, is one of Joon Ho’s earliest films, and it is based on a series of true and disturbing events. The story follows Park (Song Kang-ho) and Cho (Kim Roi-ha), two South Korean detectives who are tasked with investigating a double homicide. As the lawmen begin piecing evidence together, the body count continues to grow, with the double murder evolving into South Korea’s first official serial killings. Bong Joon Ho’s filmmaking abilities are on full display here, with excellent directing of his core cast and a thrilling plot that dips into multiple sub-genres, from dark comedy to drama.
92m
Genre
Music, Drama
Stars
Elle Fanning, Zlatko Burić, Rebecca Hall
Directed by
Max Minghella
Sometimes all the world needs is a syrupy-sweet blast of kaleidoscopic imagery and irresistible melodies. Such is the case with actor-turned-director Max Minghella’s coming-of-age drama Teen Spirit. Starring Elle Fanning as Violet, a teen with huge dreams of a singing career, Violet receives the opportunity of a lifetime when Vlad (Zlatko Buric), an ex-opera singer, encourages her singing aspirations and agrees to coach her to stardom. In terms of narrative structure, Teen Spirit hits all the major beats of the traditional rags-to-riches tale, but does so in such a joyous and enchanting manner that we don’t mind watching all the familiar tropes unfold.
127m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer
Directed by
Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Branagh’s star-studded Death on the Nile is a sequel to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express, and sees Branagh returning to the director’s chair and performing once again as one Hercule Poirot, a Belgian detective that stumbles upon another grand murder-mystery. After boarding a river steamer in celebration of a couple’s nuptials, the glamorous trek becomes a nightmare when foul play is unearthed. Once more, Poirot must go to work to discover who amongst the aristocratic movers and shakers is the suspect of this new, horrific crime. A dazzling, powerhouse ensemble piece, Death on the Nile is propelled by the unbeatable talents of its sprawling cast, with Branagh being particularly excellent as the hard-nosed Poirot.
90m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy
Directed by
Craig Zobel
Based on a true incident, Compliance is a slow-burning psychological thriller that stars Ann Dowd as Sandra, a fast-food restaurant manager that receives a phone call accusing one of her employees (played by Dreama Walker) of stealing. As the investigating officer on the other end of the call (Pat Healy) begins asking questions, a series of simple inquiries begins devolving into a disturbing game of harassment and other horrors. An uncomfortable watch propelled by its arresting core cast, Compliance is a powerful nail-biter for fans of all things chilling.
114m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jonica T. Gibbs
Directed by
Mimi Cave
Noa (Daisy-Edgar Jones) is sick of swiping through dating apps to find a true companion. Lucky for her, she seems to have run into the man of her dreams, Steve (Sebastian Stan) at the local grocery store. After quickly warming up to each other, Noa’s new suitor invites her on a weekend retreat. But it’s not long before the idyllic, romantic outing devolves into a horrific fight for survival. A brilliantly brutal riff on the horror-comedy, Fresh is a bombastic amalgamation of familiar genre tropes that we can’t get enough of.
117m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Kristen Stewart, Jack Farthing, Sally Hawkins
Directed by
Pablo Larraín
Spencer offers a fresh take on the introspective turmoils of Princess Diana, portrayed by the grounded and arresting Kristen Stewart. With her marriage to Prince Charles in a tumultuous place, the two nobles have agreed to keep the peace through the Christmas season. But as the holiday festivities ensue, Diana’s inner demons begin to boil over, as she considers what life could be as an ex-communicate of the royal family. A moving character study with powerful performances and thoughtful storytelling at its core, Spencer does its due diligence in paying homage to the tragic Princess through a lens of harmonious self-discovery.
96m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Havana Rose Liu, Danny Ramirez, Dennis Haysbert
Directed by
Damien Power
When Darby (Havana Rose Liu) discovers her mother is in critical condition, she escapes from her rehabilitation center, hoping to return home to tend to her ailing parent. But when a powerful blizzard puts a monkey-wrench into Darby’s homecoming, she’s forced to take shelter at a highway rest-stop. There she meets a group of fellow travelers, all stranded by the storm. After wandering outside, Darby discovers something in a parked van that initiates a deadly game of cat-and-mouse between her and the rest stop’s other inhabitants. A taut thriller that treads familiar waters, No Exit moves forward, full-steam ahead, dropping one thrill after the other.
116m
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Stars
Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas, Grace Jenkins
Directed by
Adrian Lyne
A Hulu original, Deep Water stars Ben Affleck and Mary Ana de Armas as Vic and Melinda Van Allen, a married couple that has entered an unsettling part of their relationship. As their love wanes, the troubled husband and wife engage in a tantalizing set of mind games with each other, a psychological battle that ropes in more casualties than just the wedded pair. Based on the 1957 Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name, Deep Water is a slow-burning thriller with blistering performances from both Affleck and de Armas. They’re cinematic waters that have certainly been trodden before, but director Adrian Lyne delivers a rich, if at times troubled, adaptation of Highsmith’s source material.
88m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Julia Garner, Matthew Macfadyen, Makenzie Leigh
Directed by
Kitty Green
The Assistant stars Julia Garner as Jane, the new hire at a laurel-touting production company. Serving as the assistant to a powerful executive, Jane’s day-to-day errands and responsibilities become increasingly strenuous as the young woman learns about the sinister underbelly of the production house. But will Jane end up taking action? A grim and realistic take on the significant #MeToo events of recent years, The Assistant is a searing drama led by an understated performance from Garner.
150m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Stars
Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette
Directed by
Guillermo del Toro
A reimagining of the 1947 noir film of the same name, Nightmare Alley is director Guillermo del Toro’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning film The Shape of Water. Bradley Cooper stars as Stanton Carlisle, a traveling carnival go-getter that happens upon the talents of Zeena (Toni Collette) and Pete (David Straithairn), a husband and wife clairvoyance act. Learning their secrets, Stanton employs their mesmerizing parlor tricks to gain enormous wealth and recognition. But the mighty can only rise so high before they fall. A muted and morbid story of corruption, ego, and madness, Nightmare Alley is a shocker you won’t soon forget.
98m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir, Tintrinai Thikhasuk
Directed by
Joe Penna
Normally, Liam Neeson is the go-to guy when it comes to stranding a middle-aged man in the middle of desperate and terrifying situations, but in writer-director Joe Penna’s Arctic, the Taken star is swapped out for Mads Mikkelsen, our modern-day Hannibal. After a plane crash, Overgård (Mikkelsen) is left stranded in the harsh terrains of the titular frozen tundra. As the elements ensnare and the walls start closing in, our stranded survivor must choose between remaining at the wreckage site or embarking on a potentially devastating journey into a very non-wonderland. A brilliant feature debut shot across Iceland, Arctic is a tactful survival thriller that will leave you breathless more than once.
89m
Genre
Family, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Teo Halm, Astro, Resse Hartwig
Directed by
Dave Green
Earth to Echo is an animated adventure you and yours won’t want to miss. Set in Nevada, the story follows three teen pals — Alex, Tuck, and Munch — who are all absorbing the news that their childhood town is getting demolished for a major highway. After receiving strange messages on their phones, the youths attempt to explain the glitches to the adults in their lives, but no one will pay them any mind. Taking matters into their own hands, the boys trace the odd broadcasts straight to an alien-powered automaton. Riffing on familiar family-friendly tropes, Earth to Echo doesn’t set out to reinvent the wheel, but the delightful feature is arresting enough for most to enjoy.
97m
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Stars
Sierra McCormick, Vinessa Shaw, Pat Healy
Directed by
Sean King O'Grady
When a horrific storm blows through their town, teenaged Melissa (Sierra McCormick) and her family are trapped in the bathroom of their home. With a tree wedged against the door and signs that the world outside has descended into unfathomable madness, the nuclear family does everything in their power to stay alive with what little resources they have. But could this cruel fate be a result of something Melissa did that she hasn’t exactly come clean about? Making great use of its claustrophobic set and main ensemble, We Need to Do Something serves up notes of the post-apocalyptic genre, with a greater focus on the crumbling of the family dynamic as opposed to the otherworldly terrors that could be waiting outside.
86m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Bill Farmer
Directed by
Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino
The film adaptation of the beloved Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears a Who! features the voice talents of Jim Carrey as the titular Horton, an elephant that discovers a microcosmic civilization made up of the Whos. Chief amongst them is Ned McDodd (Steve Carrell), the mayor of the Whos. Becoming friends with Ned, Horton attempts to convince his fellow jungle inhabitants to recognize the existence of the unseeable Whos — a mission that may take more convincing than Horton ever planned for. A loving and deeply considered take on the Seuss classic, Horton Hears a Who! is an excellent animated adventure for the whole family to embark on.
96m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann
Directed by
Carlos Saldanha
Rio follows the mighty journey of the titular macaw (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg), a tropical bird that spends his days living comfortably in Minnesota alongside his human companion, Linda (Leslie Mann). When news travels to the human-animal duo that a rare female macaw named Jewel (Anne Hathaway) lives in Rio de Janeiro, Rio and Linda travel to the country so the birds can mate. But when a band of smugglers attempts to capture the birds, it’s up to Rio and Jewel to evade their captors and return to safety. Rio doesn’t bring many reinventions to the world of animation, but what we get is a wonderfully layered, kid-friendly exercise in big colors, imaginative environments, and humorous set-pieces.
136m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Elisabeth Moss, Cara Delevingne, Dan Stevens
Directed by
Alex Ross Perry
Told through five distinct vignettes, Her Smell stars Mad Men alum Elisabeth Moss as Becky Something, the loose-cannon frontman of punk rock outfit Something She. The film chronicles various stages of the band’s career and Becky’s downward spiral into drug and alcohol addiction. An indie exhalation on the hardships of a musical career and the battle to achieve sobriety, Her Smell is the story of a rocker bent on relevance and identity in a forever-changing artistic scene.
103m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
John Cena, Lil Rel Howery, Meredith Hagner
Directed by
Clay Tarver
We all need to let loose once in a while. The same goes for Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and Emily (Yvonne Orji), the main characters of Vacation Friends. At a resort in Mexico, the straight-lacers party it up with newfound friends, Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner). But when the week of thrills concludes, Marcus and Emily return to their normal lives. On the day of their wedding, John and Cena show up uninvited, descending a rowdy whirlwind onto the day of nuptials.
120m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson
Directed by
Craig Gillespie
In director Craig Gillespie’s riveting biopic I, Tonya, Margot Robbie stars as the titular figure skater. On her way to Olympic stardom, Tonya’s reputation is steamrolled when her ex-husband carries out a malicious attack on Tonya’s skating rival, Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver). Not for one second does Gillespie’s sports-drama pretend to be like the rest, opting for a fourth-wall-breaking, larger-than-life approach to Tonya’s rise and fall. Where the storytelling goes through waves of experimentation in the two-hour runtime, Margot Robbie’s performance as the lime-lit Tonya is what most viewers are arriving for, and it’s certainly one of the major reasons you’ll want to stay.
104m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Thriller
Stars
Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots
Directed by
Riley Stearns
When Casey Davies (Jesse Eisenberg) is attacked on the streets by a rogue motorcycle gang, the timid accountant decides to buy a firearm for protection. That is until he discovers a karate dojo led by a charismatic sensei (Alessandro Nivola). Initially, Casey really takes to the defense lessons, but when the sensei begins challenging him to up his masculinity and aggression, things take a sinister turn. A bleak but humorous riff on the feel-good sportsman story, The Art of Self-Defense is a sharp commentary on the state of toxic masculinity.
107m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Joel Fry, Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires
Directed by
Ben Wheatley
After a deadly virus has ravaged much of the world, Martin Lowery (Joel Fry), a scientist, and Alma (Ellora Torchia), a park ranger, are tasked with transporting equipment through the woodlands to a research center. En route, Martin sustains a serious injury after he and Alma are attacked at their campsite. Taken in by a man named Zach (Reece Shearsmith), Martin and Alma are thankful for the rescue — until they realize the mysterious man may have an ulterior motive for rescuing them. A hallucinatory indie sci-fi from the talented mind of writer-director Ben Wheatley, In the Earth landed in cinemas mid-pandemic, making for a perfect cinematic allegory on the state of the world and how we contend with disease and the madness of humanity.
Digital Trends Streaming Roundup
86m
Genre
Fantasy, Drama, Romance
Stars
Paula Beer, Franz Rogowski, Maryam Zaree
Directed by
Christian Petzold
In Cristian Petzolds’ cinematic adaptation of the ancient myth of Undine, Paula Beer stars as the titular water dweller — a mermaid-type being given a chance at humanity. Working as a Berlin historian, Undine’s romantic partner unexpectedly leaves her, setting a chain of events into motion that may strip her of her womanly guise. In accordance with folklore, Undine must kill her betraying lover and return to the water to live out the rest of her days as a nymph once more. From the writer-director of Phoenix and Transit, Undine is a lush blend of romance and drama, set against the architectural evolution (and decay) of a city rich with emotions of its own.
84m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Clayne Crawford, Sepideh Moafi, Chris Coy
Directed by
Robert Machoian
When David (Clayne Crawford) and Nikki (Sepideh Moafi) decide to separate, David does everything in his power to keep his family of six treading water — until Nikki begins a new relationship. While they both agreed they would see other people, David begins to have a very difficult time with his ex-to-be’s new romance, leading him down a dark path of no return. Writer-director Robert Machoian is a significant talent to watch in the coming years, delivering a resonant film without an ounce of fat. The performances are top-notch, the story is heart-wrenching, and even though things can get unrelenting, there’s no way you’ll turn away once you start the film.
89m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
John Chester, Molly Chester
Directed by
John Chester
John and Molly Chester took on a brand new life of toil, sweat, and the longest hours when, in 2010, the couple decided to abandoned their traditional jobs and purchased an arid 200-acre parcel of land on the fringes of Los Angeles. The Biggest Little Farm charts the seven years after their benchmark transaction as we watch the barren acreage transform into a diverse paradise of crops and fauna. A film that does wonders for the soul, spending a meditative hour-plus with the Chester clan will shed you of any wretched toxins you may be carrying with you from the day.
118m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Eliza Scanlen, Tobey Wallace, Ben Mendelsohn, Essie Davis
Directed by
Shannon Murphy
Based on writer Rita Kalnejais’ play of the same name, Babyteeth stars Eliza Scanlon as Milla Finlay, a 16-year-old teen diagnosed with cancer. When the girl meets a man named Moses (Toby Wallace), the two quickly fall for each other, much to the dismay of Milla’s parents (played by Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn). While they fear that Moses may be taking advantage of the family, her parents realize that he brings Milla joy and happiness, so they do what they can to keep him around. A subversive cancer-dramedy that plays by its own set of rules, Babyteeth is a surprisingly fresh watch for those expecting your run-of-the-mill disease drama.
134m
Genre
Western, Drama, History
Stars
Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi
Directed by
Scott Cooper
Writer-director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace, Black Mass) brings his iconic gritty realism to the period Western landscape. Hostiles finds Christian Bale returning to Cooper’s acting fold as Captain Joseph Blocker, an Army captain tasked with transporting a Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi) and his family from New Mexico to their home in Montana. Along the way, the band of travelers comes across Rosalee Quaid (Rosamund Pike), a widow whose family was wiped out by Comanche warriors. Banding together, Blocker, Quaid, and Chief Yellow Hawk must contend with the grueling geography and the outlying Comanches that want them dead. Brutal and surprising, Hostiles doesn’t relent at any point in its two-hours-plus runtime.
95m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds
Directed by
Joel Crawford
In the long-awaited follow-up to The Croods (2013), A New Age finds the titular barbarian clan searching for a safer place to call home. After stumbling upon a great walled-in structure, the Croods are captured by Phil and Hope Betterman (Peter Dinklage and Leslie Mann), fellow Neanderthals with a bit more wit and technology. Initially peeved by each other’s clans, both the Croods and Bettermans must unite to contend with the evildoing Punch Monkeys before the creatures wipe out both prehistoric dynasties. A delightful and humorous animated adventure, The Croods: A New Age was delayed several times in its production, with the coronavirus hindering the final leg of animation.
104m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Steven Silver, Spencer Neville, Nicola Peltz
Directed by
Ali LeRoi
Blending cultural awareness with a sci-fi-laced narrative bedrock, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson follows the titular character (portrayed by Steven Silver), a gay Nigerian-American man. Out driving, Tunde is pulled over by a disgruntled police officer who pulls his weapon and ends Tunde’s life. Immediately after the trigger is pulled, Tunde awakens, finding himself trapped in a time loop with his inevitable death facing him repeatedly. Leaning on the big trope of such memorable hits as Groundhog Day, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson pushes the typical light footing of the time loop sub-genre aside in favor of a more character-driven approach, a feat more than accomplished by director Ali LeRoi and Steven Silver’s grounded approach to the lead role.
88m
Genre
Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Stars
Dave Davis, Lynn Cohen, Menashe Lustig
Directed by
Keith Thomas
In writer-director Keith Thomas’s The Vigil, Dave Davis stars as Yakov Ronen, a displaced Orthodox Jew residing in the Hasidic Borough Park area of New York. After accepting an offer from his former rabbi to be the overnight guardian of a deceased community member, a horrific entity begins haunting Yakov. Combining traditional Jewish folk influences and the glories of shoestring filmmaking, Thomas succeeds in building a dread-laden atmosphere with earnest performances, close-quarters cinematography, and clever storytelling.
97m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Sienna Miller, Diego Luna, Beth Grant
Directed by
Tara Miele
After a traumatic incident, Adrienna and Matteo (Sienna Miller and Diego Luna), a struggling young couple, are sent to the hospital. Confined to rehabilitative quarters, the once-happy pair are transported to an otherworldly realm of surreal memories. While each of them is forced to confront the hazy beginnings of their fizzling romance, their out-of-body paths will cross in bizarre and unexpected ways. Visually, Wander Darkly lives in an elevated plane of awareness, but the emotionally laden performances of both Miller and Luna help to anchor the film in a grounded and often relatable reality.
109m
Genre
Thriller
Stars
Kelvin Harrison Jr., Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer
Directed by
Julius Onah
Based on the J.C. Lee play of the same name, Luce stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as the titular Luce, an American teen adopted from Eritrea by Peter and Amy Edgar (Tim Roth and Naomi Watts). When Luce’s history teacher, Harriet Carter (Octavia Spencer), calls a meeting with Luce’s parents after the youth turns in an essay with violent implications, the idyllic family of three are forced to question their parenting, family dynamic, and overall marriage. A riveting examination of racial bias, powered by intense performances from the main ensemble, Luce plays like a character-driven theater experience, paying fine homage to the story’s roots in live theater.
117m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe
Directed by
Thomas Vinterberg
With an original Danish title of Druk (“binge drinking”), co-writer and director Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round follows a group of four high school teachers with a wild plan. Facing unenthused students, trouble at home, and other midlife hardships, the foursome agrees to test the theories of psychiatrist Finn Skårderud in the workplace. More specifically, the colleagues want to see if maintaining a constant blood-alcohol level of 0.5 will improve their creativity and overall mood. Truly more than another midlife boozer flick, Another Round sees Mads Mikkelsen in top form as Martin, the de facto onscreen leader who attempts to gain more out of his day-to-day through mild intoxication. It’s funny, at times dark, and tactfully hard-hitting.
103m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, Elizabeth Cappuccino
Directed by
Kevin Phillips
Zach (Owen Campbell) and Josh (Charlie Tahan) are lifelong pals who spend their days riding bikes, rating girls in their yearbook, and sneaking a little pot-smoking in now and then. Little do they know that their lives are about to change forever, all on one fateful afternoon. When a horrific tragedy shatters their innocence, Zach and Josh are forced to make profound adult decisions that will affect the trajectory of their lives and test the foundations of their friendship. An exciting indie debut from director Kevin Phillips, Super Dark Times leads with strong performances, captivating camera work, snappy editing, and a mood-setting score by Australian/Icelandic composer Ben Foster.
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