War for the Planet of the Apes Is Certified Fresh

By the time most franchises reach their third installments, the laws of diminishing returns have definitely started setting in — and while there isn’t exactly a large sample size to work from, it seems safe to say that rule is probably even more applicable to film series about talking simians. All of which is to say that this weekend’s War for the Planet of the Apes is a delightful surprise: with the third chapter in the rebooted Apes franchise, director/co-writer Matt Reeves delivers a film that not only lives up to the lofty standard set by its two immediate predecessors, it manages to round out the trilogy with a suitably epic installment that’s narratively hard-hitting and visually thrilling. With Andy Serkis’ Caesar heading up his band of mo-capped apes against a human army led by the ruthless Colonel (Woody Harrelson) — and the future of the planet in the balance — the stakes for this era of the franchise have never been higher, and critics say the end results definitely don’t disappoint. Whatever happens with subsequent installments, one thing is clear: Reeves has set the bar incredibly high, and in this War, the audience wins.

Careful what you wish for: it’s a maxim old as time, but it’s still a fairly sturdy premise for a horror movie about a sad teen (Joey King) given a music box that bestows upon her the ability to make her deepest desires reality. With relatable characters, a few twists, and a generous helping of jump scares, this weekend’s Wish Upon could have been a perfectly trashy summer horror diversion; alas, critics say its lack of originality is compounded by a near-total absence of truly frightening moments. On the bright side, a number of reviews suggest Wish Upon is destined to become an ironic late-night favorite for fans of so-bad-it’s-good cinema — but even if you fit that description, you’ll probably want to wait until it shows up on home video.

When was the last time you watched a romantic comedy that felt like it took place in the real world? The much-maligned genre is full of movies that prize formula over common sense, but The Big Sick proves there’s still room for delightful exceptions. Written by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani (and based on the couple’s real-life courtship), Sick stars Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan as Kumail and Emily, a couple of crazy kids whose budding love affair is threatened by cultural complications — which take a sudden back seat to Emily’s health when she falls victim to a mysterious illness and is placed in a medically induced coma. Rounded out by a series of supporting turns from a talented ensemble cast that includes Holly Hunter and Ray Romano as Emily’s parents, it’s the rare rom-com that’s earned almost universal critical praise; whether you’re in the mood for a good love story or just want to watch a movie that’ll make you laugh, cry, and think, the pundits say The Big Sick ranks among 2017’s best movies.

The Defiant Ones is a compelling, comprehensive portrait of two visionaries that illuminates both their colorful pasts and their historic influence on the music industry.