For some, high school is the peak of their life: You’ve got prom and pep rallies, and homecoming and hormones. For others, it’s the pits because you’ve got…well, prom and pep rallies, and homecoming and hormones. And there to capture every awesome/awful moment are these high school movies which earned high grades from film critics.
Some of these beloved movies (like The Last Picture Show or American Graffiti) take a look back on high school with the clarity of time gone by. Others (like Superbad or Booksmart) make you feel like the high school experience is unfolding in real-time right before your eyes.
The best high school movies reflect discovering one’s self (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), questioning authority (Dead Poets Society), taking wild risks (Better Luck Tomorrow), and working for a better future (Hoop Dreams). And some ask the big questions. Like, what if I was in high school and I was also, you know, a superhero? What if one day I’m driving to school and then I time-travel back to 1955? And what if I had a better idea of what to do with that pie than just eating it?
As the jump-gate into adulthood and beyond, high school can be wild and wondrous and heart-breaking and hilarious. (And usually all at once.) The same can be said for these Fresh and Certified Fresh films (each with at least 20 critics reviews), representing the best high school movies ever, all ranked by Tomatometer! —Alex Vo
Critics Consensus: Despite the formulaic, fluffy storyline, this movie is surprisingly fun to watch, mostly due to its high energy and how it humorously spoofs cheerleading instead of taking itself too seriously.
Synopsis: The Toro cheerleading squad from Rancho Carne High School in San Diego has got spirit, spunk, sass and a killer [More]
Critics Consensus: Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger add strong performances to an unexpectedly clever script, elevating 10 Things (slightly) above typical teen fare.
Synopsis: Kat Stratford is beautiful, smart and quite abrasive to most of her fellow teens, meaning that she doesn't attract many [More]
Critics Consensus: A promising debut for director Gia Coppola, Palo Alto compensates for its drifting plot with solid performances and beautiful cinematography.
Synopsis: A lack of parental guidance encourages teens in an affluent California town to rebel with substance abuse and casual sex. [More]
Critics Consensus:Freedom Writers is a frank, formulaic entry in the inspirational inner-city teacher genre, with an energetic Hilary Swank leading the appealing cast of unknowns.
Synopsis: A dedicated teacher (Hilary Swank) in a racially divided Los Angeles school has a class of at-risk teenagers deemed incapable [More]
Critics Consensus:The DUFF doesn't achieve teen-movie greatness, but offers enough of a postmodern twist on the genre to recommend -- and boasts typically great work from star Mae Whitman.
Synopsis: Frumpy high-school senior Bianca (Mae Whitman) has a rude awakening when she learns that her classmates secretly know her as [More]
Critics Consensus: Molly Ringwald gives an outstanding performance in this sweet, intelligent teen comedy that takes an ancient premise and injects it with insight and wit.
Synopsis: Andie (Molly Ringwald) is an outcast at her Chicago high school, hanging out either with her older boss (Annie Potts), [More]
Critics Consensus: A feel-good story brought to life by a terrific ensemble cast, Mr. Holland's Opus plucks the heartstrings without shame -- and with undeniable skill.
Synopsis: Composer Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) believes that he'll eventually write a transcendent piece of music, but in the meantime he's [More]
Critics Consensus: Word is, Grease stars an electrifying John Travolta while serving up some '50s kitsch in a frenetic adaptation that isn't always the one that we want.
Synopsis: Experience the friendships, romances and adventures of a group of high school kids in the 1950s. Welcome to the singing [More]
Critics Consensus:The Virgin Suicides drifts with a dreamlike melancholy that may strike some audiences as tedious, but Sofia Coppola's feature debut is a mature meditation on disaffected youth.
Synopsis: In an ordinary suburban house, on a lovely tree-lined street, in the middle of 1970s America, lived the five beautiful, [More]
Critics Consensus: While Fast Times at Ridgemont High features Sean Penn's legendary performance, the film endures because it accurately captured the small details of school, work, and teenage life.
Synopsis: Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a pretty, but inexperienced, teen interested in dating. Given advice by her uninhibited friend, [More]
Critics Consensus: Horror icon Wes Craven's subversive deconstruction of the genre is sly, witty, and surprisingly effective as a slasher film itself, even if it's a little too cheeky for some.
Synopsis: The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There's a killer in their midst who's seen a few [More]
Critics Consensus: This entertaining homage to noirs past has been slickly and compellingly updated to a contemporary high school setting.
Synopsis: After receiving a frantic phone call from his ex-girlfriend, teenage loner Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) learns that her dead body [More]
Critics Consensus: A funny and clever reshaping of Emma, Clueless offers a soft satire that pokes as much fun at teen films as it does at the Beverly Hills glitterati.
Synopsis: Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. [More]
Critics Consensus: Though Rocket Science appears to be a typically quirky indie, the well-rounded performances and director Jeffrey Blitz's clear affection for his characters gives the film its proper human spark.
Synopsis: High-school student Hal Hefner's (Reece Daniel Thompson) life is falling down around him. His parents have split, his brother picks [More]
Critics Consensus: Significantly more mature than the teen raunch comedies that defined the era, Sixteen Candles is shot with compassion and clear respect for its characters and their hang-ups.
Synopsis: With the occasion all but overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding, angst-ridden Samantha (Molly Ringwald) faces her 16th birthday with [More]
Critics Consensus: Elevated by a brilliant screenplay and outstanding ensemble cast, Mean Girls finds fresh, female-fronted humor in the high school experience.
Synopsis: Teenage Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) was educated in Africa by her scientist parents. When her family moves to the suburbs [More]
Critics Consensus: Affecting performances from the young cast and a genuinely inspirational turn from Robin Williams grant Peter Weir's prep school drama top honors.
Synopsis: A new English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), is introduced to an all-boys preparatory school that is known for its [More]
Critics Consensus:Blockers puts a gender-swapped spin on the teen sex comedy -- one elevated by strong performances, a smartly funny script, and a surprisingly enlightened perspective.
Synopsis: Julie, Kayla and Sam are three high school seniors who make a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. [More]
Critics Consensus:My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea's attention-getting visual style matches debuting writer-director Dash Shaw's distinctive narrative approach -- and signals a bright future for a promising talent.
Synopsis: High school sophomores Dash and Assaf are best friends and the only writers for the school newspaper. When the editor [More]
Critics Consensus: It owes a huge debt to older (and better) teen comedies, but Easy A proves a smart, witty showcase for its irresistibly charming star, Emma Stone.
Synopsis: Prompted by her popular best friend to spill details of her boring weekend, Olive, a clean-cut teen, decides to spice [More]
Critics Consensus:Chronicle transcends its found-footage gimmick with a smart script, fast-paced direction, and engaging performances from the young cast.
Synopsis: Andrew (Dane DeHaan) is a socially awkward, introverted teen whose main form of escape and expression is a video camera. [More]
Critics Consensus: A smart, affectionate satire of '80s nostalgia and teen movie tropes, 21 Jump Street offers rowdy mainstream comedy with a surprisingly satisfying bite.
Synopsis: When cops Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) join the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances [More]
Critics Consensus:Peggy Sue Got Married may seem just another in a line of '80s boomer nostalgia films, but none of the others have Kathleen Turner keen lead performance.
Synopsis: Peggy Sue Bodell (Kathleen Turner) attends her 25-year high school reunion after separating from her cheating husband, Charlie (Nicolas Cage). [More]
Critics Consensus: Richard Kelly's debut feature Donnie Darko is a daring, original vision, packed with jarring ideas and intelligence and featuring a remarkable performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as the troubled title character.
Synopsis: In a funny, moving and distinctly mind-bending journey through suburban America, one extraordinary but disenchanted teenager is about to take [More]
Critics Consensus: A harrowing tale of aimless youth, River's Edge generates considerable tension and urgency thanks to strong performances from a stellar cast that includes Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves, and Ione Skye.
Synopsis: Teenage burnout Samson (Daniel Roebuck) has murdered his girlfriend and left her naked body lying on the bank of a [More]
Critics Consensus: Featuring a starmaking performance from Shameik Moore and a refreshingly original point of view from writer-director Rick Famuyiwa, Dope is smart, insightful entertainment.
Synopsis: High-school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) bond over '90s hip-hop culture, [More]
Critics Consensus: Deftly balancing vulgarity and sincerity while placing its protagonists in excessive situations, Superbad is an authentic take on friendship and the overarching awkwardness of the high school experience.
Synopsis: High school seniors Seth and Evan have high hopes for a graduation party. The co-dependent teens plan to score booze [More]
Critics Consensus: If The Breakfast Club's gestures towards authenticity are occasionally undercut by trendy flourishes, its blistering emotional honesty and talented troupe of young actors catapult it to the top of the teen comedy class.
Synopsis: Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group [More]
Critics Consensus: It may adhere to the sports underdog formula, but Hoosiers has been made with such loving craft, and features such excellent performances, that it's hard to resist.
Synopsis: Failed college coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to direct the basketball [More]
Critics Consensus:Hairspray is an energetic, wholly entertaining musical romp; a fun Summer movie with plenty of heart. Its contagious songs will make you want to get up and start dancing.
Synopsis: In 1960s Baltimore, dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) auditions for a spot on "The Corny Collins Show" and wins. [More]
Critics Consensus:The Spectacular Now is an adroit, sensitive film that avoids typical coming-of-age story trappings.
Synopsis: An innocent, bookish teenager (Shailene Woodley) begins dating the charming, freewheeling high-school senior (Miles Teller) who awoke on her lawn [More]
Critics Consensus: Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.
Synopsis: Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), a well-liked high school government teacher, can't help but notice that successful student Tracy Flick (Reese [More]
Critics Consensus: Featuring an excellent ensemble cast, a precise feel for the 1970s, and a killer soundtrack, Dazed and Confused is a funny, affectionate, and clear-eyed look at high school life.
Synopsis: This coming-of-age film follows the mayhem of group of rowdy teenagers in Austin, Texas, celebrating the last day of high [More]
Critics Consensus: Featuring one of Tom Cruise's best early performances, Risky Business is a sharp, funny examination of teen angst that doesn't stop short of exploring dark themes.
Synopsis: Ecstatic when his parents leave on vacation for a few days, high school senior Joel Goodsen (Tom Cruise) cuts loose [More]
Critics Consensus:Rebel Without a Cause is a searing melodrama featuring keen insight into '50s juvenile attitude and James Dean's cool, iconic performance.
Synopsis: After moving to a new town, troublemaking teen Jim Stark (James Dean) is supposed to have a clean slate, although [More]
Critics Consensus:Spider-Man: Homecoming does whatever a second reboot can, delivering a colorful, fun adventure that fits snugly in the sprawling MCU without getting bogged down in franchise-building.
Synopsis: Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the [More]
Critics Consensus: Dark, cynical, and subversive, Heathers gently applies a chainsaw to the conventions of the high school movie -- changing the game for teen comedies to follow.
Synopsis: Veronica (Winona Ryder) is part of the most popular clique at her high school, but she disapproves of the other [More]
Critics Consensus:Carrie is a horrifying look at supernatural powers, high school cruelty, and teen angst -- and it brings us one of the most memorable and disturbing prom scenes in history.
Synopsis: In this chilling adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel, withdrawn and sensitive teen Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) faces taunting from [More]
Critics Consensus: One of the brightest, funniest comedies of the year, Juno's smart script and direction are matched by assured performances in a coming-of-age story with a 21st century twist.
Synopsis: When precocious teen Juno MacGuff becomes pregnant, she chooses a failed rock star and his wife to adopt her unborn [More]
Critics Consensus:The Edge of Seventeen's sharp script -- and Hailee Steinfeld's outstanding lead performance -- make this more than just another coming-of-age dramedy.
Synopsis: Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), who [More]
Critics Consensus: One of the most influential of all teen films, American Graffiti is a funny, nostalgic, and bittersweet look at a group of recent high school grads' last days of innocence.
Synopsis: From director George Lucas (Star Wars) and producer Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), American Graffiti is a classic coming-of-age story [More]
Critics Consensus: One of the definitive Generation X movies, Say Anything... is equally funny and heartfelt -- and it established John Cusack as an icon for left-of-center types everywhere.
Synopsis: In a charming, critically acclaimed tale of first love, Lloyd (John Cusack), an eternal optimist, seeks to capture the heart [More]
Critics Consensus: One of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of all time, Hoop Dreams is a rich, complex, heartbreaking, and ultimately deeply rewarding film that uses high school hoops as a jumping-off point to explore issues of race, class, and education in modern America.
Synopsis: Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. [More]
Critics Consensus:Lady Bird delivers fresh insights about the turmoil of adolescence -- and reveals writer-director Greta Gerwig as a fully formed filmmaking talent.
Synopsis: A teenager (Saoirse Ronan) navigates a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother (Laurie Metcalf) over the course of [More]
Critics Consensus: Making excellent use of its period and setting, Peter Bogdanovich's small town coming-of-age story is a sad but moving classic filled with impressive performances.
Synopsis: High school seniors and best friends, Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Jeff Bridges), live in a dying Texas town. The [More]
(Photo by Warner Bros/ courtesy Everett Collection. SINNERS.)
The latest: For 2025’s Black History Month celebration, we’ve added Certified Fresh films from over the past year, Ryan Coogler’s genre-spanning phenomenon Sinners, including A24’s crowd-rousing Sing Sing, sports drama The Fire Inside and Unstoppable, Best Picture Oscar-nominee Nickel Boys, and the Chiwetel Ejiofor-directedRob Peace.
Rotten Tomatoes is celebrating the work of Black filmmakers and performers and the stories they have brought to our theaters over the past 20-plus years. In this guide to the best-reviewed African American movies of the 21st Century – that’s from 2000 all the way to now – you’ll find some of the most incredible voices working in movies today, and some of the most game-changing, industry-shaking films to hit theaters in decades. Think titles like Ryan Coogler’sBlack Panther, the fourth highest-grossing movie of all time at the U.S. box office. Or Gina Prince-Bythewood’s seminal star-making romance, Love and Basketball. Or Moonlight, which made history as the first film with an all-black cast to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2017. Or Ava DuVernay’sSelma, one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time.
To compile our list, we chose the top Certified Fresh Black films, according to the Tomatometer, released in theaters since 2000. We defined Black films as those that centered on African American stories and African American characters, or – as in the case of Black Panther – were made by Black filmmakers and were embraced by African American audiences; there are instances of films here made by non-Black filmmakers (Django Unchained, Detroit, and Get On Up for example), but the top half of the list is dominated by Black writers and directors.
Critics Consensus: A rip-roaring fusion of masterful visual storytelling and toe-tapping music, writer-director Ryan Coogler's first original blockbuster reveals the full scope of his singular imagination.
Synopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only [More]
Critics Consensus: Director RaMell Ross' stylistically radical approach to adapting Colson Whitehead's searing novel will be jarring for some, but Nickel Boys' sense of immersion achieves the jaw-dropping effect of walking in another's shoes.
Synopsis: Elwood Curtis's college dream shatters alongside a two-lane Florida highway. Bearing the brunt of an innocent misstep, he's sentenced to [More]
Critics Consensus: With the magnetic Jharrel Jerome as its champion, Unstoppable is an inspirational sports story that honestly earns audiences' cheers.
Synopsis: Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who was born with one leg but whose indomitable [More]
Critics Consensus: Chiwetel Ejiofor acquits himself well as a writer-director with Rob Peace, a solid and steady drama that enlivens standard clichés with compelling performances.
Synopsis: Directed, adapted by, and starring Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE), ROB PEACE follows the true story [More]
Critics Consensus: A Southern Gothic played at a ferocious key, The Piano Lesson brings August Wilson's words to vivid life with an outstanding ensemble.
Synopsis: Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles [More]
Critics Consensus: Equal measures inspiring, and enraging, this typical sports drama knows how to take a hit and dole them out with enough emotion and vigor to stoke The Fire Inside.
Synopsis: THE FIRE INSIDE is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Claressa, [More]
Critics Consensus: André Holland lays himself bare in a characteristically wonderful performance in this vivid portrait of a family coming to terms with the past.
Synopsis: Tarrell (André Holland) is an admired American painter who lives with his wife, singer Aisha (Andra Day), and their young [More]
Critics Consensus: Just as visually dazzling and action-packed as its predecessor, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse thrills from start to cliffhanger conclusion.
Synopsis: Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn's full-time, [More]
Critics Consensus: Building on the legacy of the previous film adaptation while incorporating elements of the stage musical, The Color Purple is a crowd-pleasing testament to resilience in the face of trauma.
Synopsis: A story of love and resilience based on the novel and the Broadway musical, THE COLOR PURPLE is a decades-spanning [More]
Critics Consensus: Stepping out from Rocky Balboa's iconic shadow at last, the Creed franchise reasserts its champion status thanks to star Michael B. Jordan's punchy direction and a nuanced heel turn by Jonathan Majors.
Synopsis: After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. [More]
Critics Consensus: Jeffrey Wright and American Fiction will forever be inextricable thanks to the actor's committed approach to the pointedly humorous and insightful material.
Synopsis: AMERICAN FICTION is Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey [More]
Critics Consensus: A tribute to parental devotion and a testament to Teyana Taylor's talent, A Thousand and One presents a heart-wrenching portrait of perseverance in the face of systemic inequity.
Synopsis: A THOUSAND AND ONE follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. [More]
Critics Consensus: Heavy yet hopeful, Earth Mama is a moving look at single motherhood on the margins that features outstanding work from writer-director Savanah Leaf and star Tia Nomore.
Synopsis: With two children in foster care, Gia, a pregnant single mother pitted against the system, fights to reclaim her family. [More]
Critics Consensus: For viewers willing and able to adjust to its leisurely, recursive rhythm, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is a beautifully elegant exploration of grief and longing.
Synopsis: A lyrical, decades-spanning exploration across a woman's life in Mississippi, the feature debut from award-winning poet, photographer and filmmaker Raven [More]
Critics Consensus: Injecting a classic story with fresh innovation and social relevance, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is a thrillingly assured feature debut for writer-director Bomani J. Story.
Synopsis: Vicaria is a brilliant teenager who believes death is a disease that can be cured. After the brutal and sudden [More]
Critics Consensus: A moving celebration of art's redemptive power, Sing Sing draws its estimable emotional resonance from a never better Colman Domingo and equally impressive ensemble players.
Synopsis: Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a [More]
Critics Consensus: While it could stand to be a little funnier and quite a bit scarier, The Blackening is a thoughtful satire that skewers horror tropes and racial stereotypes.
Synopsis: The Blackening centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves [More]
Critics Consensus: A poignant tribute that satisfyingly moves the franchise forward, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marks an ambitious and emotionally rewarding triumph for the MCU.
Critics Consensus: Taking the form of a classic college comedy while adding some socially relevant function, Emergency is as smart and disturbing as it is hilarious.
Synopsis: Kunle (Donald Elise Watkins) and his best friend, Sean (RJ Cyler), are both seniors in college about to embark on [More]
Critics Consensus:Till reframes an historically horrific murder within a mother's grief, brought heartwrenchingly to life by Danielle Deadwyler's tremendous performance.
Synopsis: Till is a profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley's relentless pursuit of justice [More]
Critics Consensus: Although it's frustratingly clumsy in certain respects, The Inspection is an affecting actors' showcase in service of some truly worthy themes.
Synopsis: In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother [More]
Critics Consensus:Descendant serves as a fantastically compelling example of how history can be reclaimed -- and a stirring tribute to a resilient community.
Synopsis: Documentary filmmaker Margaret Brown ("The Order of Myths", "The Great Invisible") returns to her hometown of Mobile, Alabama to document [More]
Critics Consensus:Attica revisits the titular riot with intelligence, compassion, and anger, presenting a version of events that honors history as much as it exemplifies the art of documentary filmmaking.
Synopsis: During the summer of 1971, tensions between inmates and guards at the Attica Correctional Facility are at an all-time high. [More]
Critics Consensus: Deftly interweaving incredible live footage with a series of revealing interviews, Summer of Soul captures the spirit and context of a watershed moment while tying it firmly to the present.
Synopsis: In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary-part music film, part historical [More]
Critics Consensus: An electrifying dramatization of historical events, Judas and the Black Messiah is a forceful condemnation of racial injustice -- and a major triumph for its director and stars.
Synopsis: FBI informant William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, [More]
Critics Consensus:King Richard transcends sport biopic formulas with refreshingly nuanced storytelling -- and a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role.
Synopsis: Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and [More]
Critics Consensus: While Passing's delicate approach has a dampening effect on its story, debuting director Rebecca Hall makes the most of an impressive cast -- and handles thorny themes with impressive dexterity.
Synopsis: In 1920s New York City, a Black woman finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former [More]
Critics Consensus: It isn't as bold and fearless as its characters, but The Harder They Fall fills its well-worn template with style, energy, and a fantastic cast.
Synopsis: When outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison he [More]
Critics Consensus:Candyman takes an incisive, visually thrilling approach to deepening the franchise's mythology -- and terrifying audiences along the way.
Synopsis: For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago's Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost [More]
Critics Consensus: It doesn't add many new ingredients to the genre, but action fans in the mood for an old-school thriller will be happy to buy what Copshop is selling.
Synopsis: On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town [More]
Critics Consensus: With ingeniously gross hidden-camera bits that often find their unsuspecting marks at their best, Bad Trip turns out to be a surprisingly uplifting ride.
Synopsis: Hidden cameras capture two best friends pulling hilarious and inventive pranks on an unsuspecting public. [More]
Critics Consensus:All In: The Fight for Democracy lives up to its title as a galvanizing rallying cry for voters to exercise -- and preserve -- their right to be heard.
Synopsis: Filmmakers Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes examine the history of voter suppression and the activists who fight for the rights [More]
Critics Consensus:The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist's life -- and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut.
Synopsis: Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her [More]
Critics Consensus: A hauntingly powerful reflection on larger-than-life figures, One Night in Miami finds Regina King in command of her craft in her feature directorial debut.
Synopsis: On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest [More]
Critics Consensus:Time delivers a powerful broadside against the flaws of the American justice system -- and chronicles one family's refusal to give up against all odds.
Synopsis: Entrepreneur Fox Rich spends the last two decades campaigning for the release of her husband, Rob G. Rich, who is [More]
Critics Consensus:MLK/FBI presents a sobering overview of the American intelligence community's efforts to discredit and destroy a leader of the civil rights movement.
Synopsis: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a [More]
Critics Consensus: Framed by a pair of powerhouse performances, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom pays affectionate tribute to a blues legend -- and Black culture at large.
Synopsis: Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her [More]
Critics Consensus: A striking debut feature for writer-director Ekwa Msangi, Farewell Amor movingly captures the fallout from a long-separated family's reunion.
Synopsis: After 17 years apart, Angolan immigrant Walter is joined in the U.S. by his wife and teen daughter. Now absolute [More]
Critics Consensus: A tense, terrifying, and all-around outstanding feature debut for its co-directing duo, The Boy Behind the Door should thrill discerning horror fans.
Synopsis: In The Boy Behind the Door, a night of unimaginable terror awaits twelve-year-old Bobby (Lonnie Chavis) and his best friend, [More]
Critics Consensus: A film as beautiful to contemplate as it is to behold, Soul proves Pixar's power to deliver outstanding all-ages entertainment remains undimmed.
Synopsis: Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz [More]
Critics Consensus: It's far more conventional than the life it honors, but John Lewis: Good Trouble remains a worthy tribute to an inspiring activist and public servant.
Synopsis: Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) fights for civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform and immigration. [More]
Critics Consensus: A romance for the ages, Sylvie's Love wraps audiences in the sweet embrace of its old-fashioned romance and celebration of Black love.
Synopsis: In Sylvie’s Love, the jazz is smooth and the air sultry in the hot New York summer of 1957. Robert [More]
Critics Consensus:Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey celebrates the yuletide season with a holiday adventure whose exuberant spirit is matched by its uplifting message.
Synopsis: Decades after his apprentice betrays him, a once joyful toymaker finds new hope when his bright young granddaughter appears on [More]
Critics Consensus: A refreshingly optimistic look at urban community life, The Outside Story is further distinguished by a layered leading performance from Brian Tyree Henry.
Synopsis: Brian Tyree Henry takes on his first big screen lead role as Charles Young, a broken-hearted video editor. Perceiving a [More]
Critics Consensus: Loaded up with action and a double helping of leading-man charisma, Bad Boys for Life reinvigorates this long-dormant franchise by playing squarely to its strengths.
Synopsis: The wife and son of a Mexican drug lord embark on a vengeful quest to kill all those involved in [More]
Critics Consensus: In dramatizing Rudy Ray Moore's stranger-than-fiction story, Eddie Murphy makes Dolemite Is My Name just as bold, brash, and ultimately hard to resist as its subject.
Synopsis: Performer Rudy Ray Moore develops an outrageous character named Dolemite, who becomes an underground sensation and star of a kung-fu, [More]
Critics Consensus:Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am honors its acclaimed subject with a comprehensive, illuminating, and fittingly profound overview of her life and work.
Synopsis: Author Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, history, America and [More]
Critics Consensus:Test Pattern surveys the aftermath of a woman's assault -- and uncovers the many ways in which personal trauma can be compounded by systemic injustice.
Synopsis: Young couple Renesha (Brittany S. Hall) and Evan (Will Brill) negotiate a variety of questions, judgments, and other comments on [More]
Critics Consensus:Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker.
Synopsis: On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna begins a [More]
Critics Consensus: An affecting story powerfully told, The Last Black Man in San Francisco immediately establishes director Joe Talbot as a filmmaker to watch.
Synopsis: Jimmie and his best friend Mont try to reclaim the house built by Jimmie's grandfather, launching them on a poignant [More]
Critics Consensus: Entertaining for longtime fans as well as casually interested viewers, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool burnishes the legacy of a brilliant artist.
Synopsis: An exploration of the musician's archival photos and home movies. [More]
Critics Consensus:Luce brings a stellar ensemble to bear on a satisfyingly complex story that addresses its timely themes in thought-provoking fashion.
Synopsis: A liberal-minded couple are forced to reconsider their image of their adopted son after he writes a disturbing essay for [More]
Critics Consensus: A smart, well-acted, and refreshingly messy coming-of-age story, Selah and the Spades suggests a bright future for debuting writer-director Tayarisha Poe.
Synopsis: Five factions run the underground life of a prestigious east coast boarding school. The head of The Spades walks a [More]
Critics Consensus:Just Mercy dramatizes a real-life injustice with solid performances, a steady directorial hand, and enough urgency to overcome a certain degree of earnest advocacy.
Synopsis: After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation. [More]
Critics Consensus: Brilliantly capturing a remarkable performer near the peak of her prodigious power, Amazing Grace is a thrilling must-watch documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.
Synopsis: Singer Aretha Franklin performs gospel songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972. [More]
Critics Consensus: Steadily drawing viewers into its harrowing tale with equal parts grim intensity and startling compassion, Night Comes On heralds the arrivals of debuting director Jordan Spiro and her magnetic young stars.
Synopsis: Released from juvenile detention, a teen and her 10-year-old sister embark on a quest to avenge the death of their [More]
Critics Consensus:Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse matches bold storytelling with striking animation for a purely enjoyable adventure with heart, humor, and plenty of superhero action.
Synopsis: Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into [More]
Critics Consensus: Led by a breakout turn from Amandla Stenberg, the hard-hitting The Hate U Give emphatically proves the YA genre has room for much more than magic and romance.
Synopsis: Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds -- the poor, mostly black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, [More]
Critics Consensus: Intimate in scope yet thematically expansive, Hale County This Morning, This Evening draws extraordinary insights out of seemingly ordinary moments.
Synopsis: Filmmaker RaMell Ross captures small, but nevertheless precious, moments in black lives. [More]
Critics Consensus:Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU's most absorbing stories -- and introducing some of its most fully realized characters.
Synopsis: After the death of his father, T'Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place [More]
Critics Consensus:BlacKkKlansman uses history to offer bitingly trenchant commentary on current events -- and brings out some of Spike Lee's hardest-hitting work in decades along the way.
Synopsis: Ron Stallworth is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name [More]
Critics Consensus:If Beale Street Could Talk honors its source material with a beautifully filmed adaptation that finds director Barry Jenkins further strengthening his visual and narrative craft.
Synopsis: In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and [More]
Critics Consensus: As timely as it is overall impactful, Blindspotting blends buddy comedy with seething social commentary, and rises on the strength of Daveed Diggs' powerful performance.
Synopsis: Collin must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning in his [More]
Critics Consensus: Fearlessly ambitious, scathingly funny, and thoroughly original, Sorry to Bother You loudly heralds the arrival of a fresh filmmaking talent in writer-director Boots Riley.
Synopsis: In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, Calif., telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers [More]
Critics Consensus:Widows rounds up a stellar ensemble for a heist thriller that mixes popcorn entertainment with a message - and marks another artistic leap for director Steve McQueen.
Synopsis: A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows -- Veronica, Linda, [More]
Critics Consensus:Support the Girls handles serious themes with wit and humor, and provides a strong showcase for Regina Hall and a talented ensemble cast.
Synopsis: Lisa is the general manager of Double Whammies, a sports bar that features skimpily dressed waitresses. Always nurturing and protective [More]
Critics Consensus:Whitney shifts from soaring highs to heartbreaking lows with palpable emotion and grace befitting its singular subject.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Kevin Macdonald examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. Features never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive recordings, rare performances [More]
Critics Consensus:Madeline's Madeline proves experimental cinema is alive and well -- and serves as a powerful calling card for Helena Howard in her big-screen debut.
Synopsis: Madeline has become an integral part of a prestigious physical theater troupe. When the workshop's ambitious director pushes the teenager [More]
Critics Consensus:Creed II's adherence to franchise formula adds up to a sequel with few true surprises, but its time-tested generational themes still pack a solid punch.
Synopsis: In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. [More]
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and visually stylish, Monsters and Men tells its timely story with enough compassion and complexity to make up for occasionally uneven execution.
Synopsis: Tensions rise when a young man records a police officer shooting a black motorist in a Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood. [More]
Critics Consensus: A grounded superhero story with more on its mind than punching bad guys, Fast Color leaps over uneven execution with a singular Gugu Mbatha-Raw performance.
Synopsis: Hunted by mysterious forces, a young woman who has supernatural abilities must go on the run when her powers are [More]
Critics Consensus: Funny, scary, and thought-provoking, Get Out seamlessly weaves its trenchant social critiques into a brilliantly effective and entertaining horror/comedy thrill ride.
Synopsis: Now that Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend [More]
Critics Consensus:Whose Streets? takes a close-up look at the civil unrest that erupted after a shocking act of violence in Ferguson, Missouri - and the decades of simmering tension leading up to it.
Synopsis: An account of the Ferguson uprising as told by the people who lived it. The filmmakers look at how the [More]
Critics Consensus:Mudbound offers a well-acted, finely detailed snapshot of American history whose scenes of rural class struggle resonate far beyond their period setting.
Synopsis: Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees' Mudbound is an epic story of two families [More]
Critics Consensus:Step tells an irresistibly crowd-pleasing story in a thoroughly absorbing way -- and while smartly incorporating a variety of timely themes.
Synopsis: The senior year of a girls' high school step team in inner-city Baltimore is documented, as they try to become [More]
Critics Consensus:Girls Trip is the rare R-rated comedy that pushes boundaries to truly comedic effect -- and anchors its laughs in compelling characters brought to life by a brilliantly assembled cast.
Synopsis: Best friends Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina are in for the adventure of a lifetime when they travel to New [More]
Critics Consensus:It Comes at Night makes lethally effective use of its bare-bones trappings while proving once again that what's left unseen can be just as horrifying as anything on the screen.
Synopsis: After a mysterious apocalypse leaves the world with few survivors, two families are forced to share a home in an [More]
Critics Consensus:The Gospel According to André offers an engaging overview of its fascinating subject, even if his accomplishments -- and outsize personality -- prove too expansive for a single film.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Kate Novack explores the life and career of fashion journalist André Leon Talley -- from his childhood in the [More]
Critics Consensus:Detroit delivers a gut-wrenching -- and essential -- dramatization of a tragic chapter from America's past that draws distressing parallels to the present.
Synopsis: In the summer of 1967, rioting and civil unrest starts to tear apart the city of Detroit. Two days later, [More]
Critics Consensus:Marshall takes an illuminating, well-acted look at its real-life subject's early career that also delivers as an entertainingly old-fashioned courtroom drama.
Synopsis: Young Thurgood Marshall faces one of his greatest challenges while working as a lawyer for the NAACP. Marshall travels to [More]
Critics Consensus:O.J.: Made in America paints a balanced and thorough portrait of the American dream juxtaposed with tragedy and executed with power and skill.
Synopsis: Director Ezra Edelman examines race and celebrity through the life of O.J. Simpson. Beginning at the emergence of his football [More]
Critics Consensus:I Am Not Your Negro offers an incendiary snapshot of James Baldwin's crucial observations on American race relations -- and a sobering reminder of how far we've yet to go.
Synopsis: In 1979, James Baldwin wrote a letter to his literary agent describing his next project, "Remember This House." The book [More]
Critics Consensus: In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlooked -- and crucial -- contributions from a pivotal moment in American history.
Synopsis: Three brilliant African American women at NASA, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, serve as the brains behind one [More]
Critics Consensus: From its reunited Broadway stars to its screenplay, the solidly crafted Fences finds its Pulitzer-winning source material fundamentally unchanged -- and still just as powerful.
Synopsis: Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a [More]
Critics Consensus:Southside With You looks back on a fateful real-life date with strong performances and engaging dialogue, adding up to a romance that makes for a pretty good date movie in its own right.
Synopsis: Future U.S. President Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) and lawyer Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter) go on a fateful first date in [More]
Critics Consensus: Heartfelt, thought-provoking, and above all funny, Barbershop: The Next Cut is the rare belated sequel that more than lives up to the standard set by its predecessors.
Synopsis: To survive harsh economic times, Calvin and Angie have merged the barbershop and beauty salon into one business. The days [More]
Critics Consensus:Loving takes an understated approach to telling a painful -- and still relevant -- real-life tale, with sensitive performances breathing additional life into a superlative historical drama.
Synopsis: Interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving fell in love and were married in 1958. They grew up in Central Point, [More]
Critics Consensus:Keanu's absurd premise and compulsively watchable starring duo add up to an agreeably fast-paced comedy that hits more than enough targets to make up for the misses.
Synopsis: Recently dumped by his girlfriend, slacker Rell (Jordan Peele) finds some happiness when a cute kitten winds up on his [More]
Critics Consensus:Tangerine shatters casting conventions and its filmmaking techniques are up-to-the-minute, but it's an old-fashioned comedy at heart -- and a pretty wonderful one at that.
Synopsis: After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best [More]
Critics Consensus:Creed brings the Rocky franchise off the mat for a surprisingly effective seventh round that extends the boxer's saga in interesting new directions while staying true to its classic predecessors' roots.
Synopsis: Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died before Adonis was born. [More]
Critics Consensus:The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution offers a fascinating -- if somewhat rudimentary -- introduction to a movement, and an era, that remains soberingly relevant today.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Stanley Nelson examines the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and its impact on civil rights [More]
Critics Consensus:Miss Sharon Jones! only captures a portion of its subject's power -- or her inspiring story -- but that's more than enough to offer absorbing, entertaining viewing for fans and newcomers alike.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Barbara Kopple follows rhythm and blues singer Sharon Jones as she tries to hold her band together while battling [More]
Critics Consensus:Presenting Princess Shaw works as a uniquely uplifting look at internet stardom -- and a compelling glimpse of an artist whose gifts transcend the medium.
Synopsis: The extraordinary story of New Orleans singing sensation Princess Shaw and her collaborator Kutiman, a musician in Israel who uses [More]
Critics Consensus:What Happened, Miss Simone? is a compelling -- albeit necessarily incomplete -- overview of its complex subject's singular artistic legacy and fascinating life.
Synopsis: Classically trained pianist, dive-bar chanteuse, black power icon and legendary recording artist Nina Simone lived a life of brutal honesty, [More]
Critics Consensus:Straight Outta Compton is a biopic that's built to last, thanks to F. Gary Gray's confident direction and engaging performances from a solid cast.
Synopsis: In 1988, a groundbreaking new group revolutionizes music and pop culture, changing and influencing hip-hop forever. N.W.A's first studio album, [More]
Critics Consensus: Featuring a starmaking performance from Shameik Moore and a refreshingly original point of view from writer-director Rick Famuyiwa, Dope is smart, insightful entertainment.
Synopsis: High-school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) bond over '90s hip-hop culture, [More]
Critics Consensus:Chi-Raq is as urgently topical and satisfyingly ambitious as it is wildly uneven -- and it contains some of Spike Lee's smartest, sharpest, and all-around entertaining late-period work.
Synopsis: The girlfriend (Teyonah Parris) of a Chicago gang leader (Nick Cannon) persuades other frustrated women to abstain from sex until [More]
Critics Consensus: Fueled by a gripping performance from David Oyelowo, Selma draws inspiration and dramatic power from the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals his work embodied.
Synopsis: Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it [More]
Critics Consensus:Dear White People adds a welcome new voice to cinema's oft-neglected discussion of race, tackling its timely themes with intelligence, honesty, and gratifyingly sharp wit.
Synopsis: A campus culture war between blacks and whites at a predominantly white school comes to a head when the staff [More]
Critics Consensus: As smart, funny, and trenchant as writer-director-star Chris Rock's best standup work, Top Five is a career highlight for its creator -- and one of the comedy standouts of 2014.
Synopsis: Though he began in stand-up comedy, Andre Allen (Chris Rock) hit the big-time as the star of a trilogy of [More]
Critics Consensus: Thanks to smart direction and a powerhouse performance from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Beyond the Lights transcends its formulaic storyline to deliver thoroughly entertaining drama.
Synopsis: Though she's been groomed for stardom all her life by an overbearing mother (Minnie Driver), singer Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is [More]
Critics Consensus: Rich, insightful, and occasionally heartbreaking, 20 Feet From Stardom is an energetic tribute to the passion, talent, and hard work of backup singers.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Morgan Neville shines a long-overdue spotlight on the hit-making contributions of longtime backup singers like Darlene Love and Merry [More]
Critics Consensus: It's far from comfortable viewing, but 12 Years a Slave's unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery is also brilliant -- and quite possibly essential -- cinema.
Synopsis: In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is [More]
Critics Consensus: Passionate and powerfully acted, Fruitvale Station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star Michael B. Jordan.
Synopsis: Though he once spent time in San Quentin, 22-year-old black man Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) is now trying hard [More]
Critics Consensus:42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.
Synopsis: In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), legendary manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies major league baseball's notorious color barrier by [More]
Critics Consensus: Wise, compassionate, and beautifully acted, Middle of Nowhere offers an early testament to writer-director Ava DuVernay's startling talent.
Synopsis: A med student (Emayatzy Corinealdi) considers leaving her long-imprisoned husband (Omari Hardwick) for a charming bus driver (David Oyelowo). [More]
Critics Consensus:Beasts of the Southern Wild is a fantastical, emotionally powerful journey and a strong case of filmmaking that values imagination over money.
Synopsis: Six-year-old Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) lives with her father, Wink (Dwight Henry), in a remote Delta community. Wink is a stern [More]
Critics Consensus: Pulsing with authenticity and led by a stirring lead performance from Adepero Oduye, Pariah is a powerful coming out/coming-of-age film that signals the arrival of a fresh new talent in writer/director Dee Rees.
Synopsis: Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister [More]
Critics Consensus: Funny, informative, and occasionally sad, Good Hair is a provocative look at the complex relationship between African Americans and their hair.
Synopsis: Prompted by a question from his young daughter, comic Chris Rock sets out to explore the importance of hair in [More]
Critics Consensus:Precious is a grim yet ultimately triumphant film about abuse and inner-city life, largely bolstered by exceptional performances from its cast.
Synopsis: Pregnant by her own father for the second time, 16-year-old Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) can neither read nor write [More]
Critics Consensus: The warmth of traditional Disney animation makes this occasionally lightweight fairy-tale update a lively and captivating confection for the holidays.
Synopsis: Hardworking and ambitious, Tiana dreams of one day opening the finest restaurant in New Orleans. Her dream takes a slight [More]
Critics Consensus: A loving and meticulous send-up of 1970s blaxsploitation movies, Black Dynamite is funny enough for the frat house and clever enough for film buffs.
Synopsis: After The Man kills his brother and poisons the neighborhood with tainted liquor, a kung fu fighter (Michael Jai White) [More]
Critics Consensus:American Gangster is a gritty and entertaining throwback to classic gangster films, with its lead performers firing on all cylinders.
Synopsis: Frank Lucas earns his living as a chauffeur to one of Harlem's leading mobsters. After his boss dies, Frank uses [More]
Critics Consensus: Not just a powerful telling of the journey of exiled Sudanese boys, God Grew Tired of Us is also a poignant account of the determination of the human spirit.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Christopher Quinn observes the ordeal of three Sudanese refugees -- Jon Bul Dau, Daniel Abul Pach and Panther Bior [More]
Critics Consensus: Spike Lee's energetic and clever bank-heist thriller is a smart genre film that is not only rewarding on its own terms, but manages to subvert its pulpy trappings with wit and skill.
Synopsis: A tough detective matches wits with a bank robber, while an enigmatic woman has her own agenda. [More]
Critics Consensus:Dreamgirls' simple characters and plot hardly detract from the movie's real feats: the electrifying performances and the dazzling musical numbers.
Synopsis: Deena (Beyoncé Knowles),Effie (Jennifer Hudson) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) form a music trio called the Dreamettes. When ambitious manager [More]
Critics Consensus:Dave Chappelle's Block Party is a raucous return to the spotlight for the comic, buoyed by witty, infectious humor and outstanding musical performances.
Synopsis: Actor, writer and comic Dave Chappelle loads up a bus with residents of his Ohio hometown and takes them to [More]
Critics Consensus: This group of high school girls and their eccentric basketball coach easily win your heart with their unusual humanity and dynamism.
Synopsis: Filmed over a period of seven years, director Ward Serrill profiles Bill Resler, a university professor who coaches a basketball [More]
Critics Consensus: The dances in Rize are electric even if the documentary doesn't go that deeply into the performers' lives.
Synopsis: Celebrated fashion photographer David LaChapelle makes his documentary filmmaking debut with a visually arresting film shot on the streets of [More]
Critics Consensus: An engrossing and energetic portrait of a great musician's achievements and foibles, Ray is anchored by Jamie Foxx's stunning performance as Ray Charles.
Synopsis: Legendary soul musician Ray Charles is portrayed by Jamie Foxx in this Oscar-winning biopic. Young Ray watches his 7-year-old brother [More]
Critics Consensus: An entertaining and intriguing tribute to a father from his son.
Synopsis: Director Mario Van Peebles chronicles the complicated production of his father Melvin's classic 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Playing [More]
Critics Consensus: A toe-tapping tribute to the band that gave Motown its sound.
Synopsis: This documentary mixes performances, interviews and reenactments to celebrate the Funk Brothers, the 1960s soul hitmakers. As the musicians behind [More]
Critics Consensus: Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh.
Synopsis: Set against the high-energy, high-stakes world of show-style marching bands, "Drumline" is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer [More]
Critics Consensus: Somber and thought provoking, Monster's Ball has great performances all around.
Synopsis: Hank, an embittered racist prison guard working on death row, begins an unlikely, emotionally charged sexual relationship with Leticia, a [More]
Critics Consensus: Graced with such a realistic feel that it resembles a documentary, Our Song is a sensitive portrayal of three teenage girls.
Synopsis: Follows three friends, Lanisha (Kerry Washington), Maria (Melissa Martinez) and Joycelyn (Anna Simpson), best friends and members of their school's [More]
This year for Black History Month, Rotten Tomatoes is celebrating “Black Joy” in cinema.
Though there are thousands of exceptional films from Black filmmakers and storytellers, those on the receiving end of critical and awards attention are frequently rooted in pain, violence, or oppression. (It is not a coincidence that the vast majority of Black actresses who have been nominated for an Oscar were lauded for performances where they played a slave, maid, or a woman in abject poverty.) In an effort to turn the page and highlight cinema that focuses on the celebration of the Black experience, Rotten Tomatoes’ editor Jacqueline Coley has curated a varied list of films that explore the vast diaspora of Black culture – and will make you feel good.
As our list plainly illustrates, those who have borne the yoke of oppression are often the same people who can smile, laugh, and celebrate most wholly, and the films that live in the intersection of that phenomenon are oftentimes the best of what Black Cinema has to offer. These are the movies that celebrate and chronicle that giddy and infectious emotion: Black Joy.
Titles like Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning, billion-dollar blockbuster Black Panther and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s seminal star-making romance, Love and Basketball, made our list – as you would expect. But we have also included lesser-known titles like Rick Famuyiwa’s Dope, the moving family drama, Queen of Katwe, and the hip-hop cult-classic Krush Groove. Recent films like Malcolm D. Lee’s Girls Trip, which made a star out of comedian Tiffany Haddish – and introduced the world to “grapefruiting” – are also on our list. As are seminal classics we revisited, like Richard Pryor’s beloved stand-up comedy feature Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip and Sidney Poitier’s Lilies of the Field.
In curating this list, we included films that may touch on sensitive or serious topics, as is the case for dramas like Soul Food and Crooklyn, but as those films primarily focus on the joyful side of life, love, and family, we have included them here. Our list also has a few choices from off the beaten path, too – entries like Beyonce’s history-making live concert feature Homecoming and her visual album for Disney+, Black Is King. – Jacqueline Coley
Critics Consensus: Dishing out enough laughter and chemistry to spare through Keke Palmer and SZA, One of Them Days makes the buddy-comedy genre feel like magic once again.
Synopsis: Best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) are about to have One of Them Days. When they [More]
Critics Consensus:The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat delivers undeniable cast chemistry that creates moments of genuine charm and poignancy, but it's often undercut by clichéd storytelling and an overreliance on nostalgia over genuine depth.
Synopsis: THE SUPREMES AT EARL'S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT follows a trio of best friends (Uzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis, Sanaa Lathan) known as "The [More]
Critics Consensus: Equal measures inspiring, and enraging, this typical sports drama knows how to take a hit and dole them out with enough emotion and vigor to stoke The Fire Inside.
Synopsis: THE FIRE INSIDE is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Claressa, [More]
Critics Consensus: Kingsley Ben-Adir does an admirable job in the central role, but Bob Marley: One Love is ultimately a standard biopic that doesn't do justice to its brilliant subject.
Synopsis: BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love [More]
Critics Consensus: Will Smith and Martin Lawrence remain good company even when Bad Boys strains to up the ante, proving there's still life left in this high-octane franchise.
Synopsis: This Summer, the world's favorite Bad Boys are back with their iconic mix of edge-of-your seat action and outrageous comedy [More]
Critics Consensus: With Halle Bailey making a major splash in the title role, Disney's live-action Little Mermaid ranks among the studio's most enjoyable reimaginings.
Synopsis: The youngest of King Triton's daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond [More]
Critics Consensus: Good news, rom-com fans: Anyone looking for a smart, funny, and heartwarming new addition to the canon can find it waiting on Rye Lane.
Synopsis: Yas (Vivian Oparah) and Dom (David Jonsson), two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an [More]
Critics Consensus: Just as visually dazzling and action-packed as its predecessor, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse thrills from start to cliffhanger conclusion.
Synopsis: Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn's full-time, [More]
Critics Consensus: Jeffrey Wright and American Fiction will forever be inextricable thanks to the actor's committed approach to the pointedly humorous and insightful material.
Synopsis: AMERICAN FICTION is Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey [More]
Critics Consensus: Admirable for its originality and ambition even when its reach exceeds its grasp, Nope adds Spielbergian spectacle to Jordan Peele's growing arsenal.
Synopsis: A man and his sister discover something sinister in the skies above their California horse ranch, while the owner of [More]
Critics Consensus:Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. has some broad targets but refuses to take cheap shots at them, instead offering a pointed, well-acted satire of organized religion.
Synopsis: Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. is a satirical comedy starring Regina Hall as Trinitie Childs -- the proud first [More]
Critics Consensus: Taking the form of a classic college comedy while adding some socially relevant function, Emergency is as smart and disturbing as it is hilarious.
Synopsis: Kunle (Donald Elise Watkins) and his best friend, Sean (RJ Cyler), are both seniors in college about to embark on [More]
Critics Consensus: Deftly interweaving incredible live footage with a series of revealing interviews, Summer of Soul captures the spirit and context of a watershed moment while tying it firmly to the present.
Synopsis: In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary-part music film, part historical [More]
Critics Consensus: It isn't as bold and fearless as its characters, but The Harder They Fall fills its well-worn template with style, energy, and a fantastic cast.
Synopsis: When outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison he [More]
Critics Consensus:The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist's life -- and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut.
Synopsis: Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her [More]
Critics Consensus: A film as beautiful to contemplate as it is to behold, Soul proves Pixar's power to deliver outstanding all-ages entertainment remains undimmed.
Synopsis: Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz [More]
Critics Consensus:The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind earns its predictably uplifting arc through strong performances and impressive work from debuting director Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Synopsis: A 13-year-old boy is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. [More]
Synopsis: This intimate, in-depth look at Beyoncé's celebrated 2018 Coachella performance reveals the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement. [More]
Critics Consensus:See You Yesterday marries a novel sci-fi premise with urgent social relevance and forges something excitedly new from the union -- providing an impressive showcase for star Eden Duncan-Smith and debut writer-director Stefon Bristol.
Synopsis: Two teenage science prodigies spend every spare minute working on their latest homemade invention: backpacks that enable time travel. When [More]
Critics Consensus:Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse matches bold storytelling with striking animation for a purely enjoyable adventure with heart, humor, and plenty of superhero action.
Synopsis: Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into [More]
Critics Consensus:Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU's most absorbing stories -- and introducing some of its most fully realized characters.
Synopsis: After the death of his father, T'Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place [More]
Critics Consensus:Girls Trip is the rare R-rated comedy that pushes boundaries to truly comedic effect -- and anchors its laughs in compelling characters brought to life by a brilliantly assembled cast.
Synopsis: Best friends Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina are in for the adventure of a lifetime when they travel to New [More]
Critics Consensus:The Incredible Jessica James makes its standard storyline feel new, almost purely on the strength of a captivating, potentially star-making performance from Jessica Williams.
Synopsis: Jessica, an aspiring playwright in New York City, is trying to get over a recent break-up when she meets Boone, [More]
Critics Consensus:Keanu's absurd premise and compulsively watchable starring duo add up to an agreeably fast-paced comedy that hits more than enough targets to make up for the misses.
Synopsis: Recently dumped by his girlfriend, slacker Rell (Jordan Peele) finds some happiness when a cute kitten winds up on his [More]
Critics Consensus: Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson make for well-matched comic foils, helping Central Intelligence overcome a script that coasts on their considerable chemistry.
Synopsis: Bullied as a teen for being overweight, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson) shows up to his high school reunion looking fit [More]
Critics Consensus:Queen of Katwe is a feel-good movie of uncommon smarts and passion, and outstanding performances by Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo help to elevate the film past its cliches.
Synopsis: Living in the slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle for 10-year-old Phiona (Madina Nalwanga) and her [More]
Critics Consensus: In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlooked -- and crucial -- contributions from a pivotal moment in American history.
Synopsis: Three brilliant African American women at NASA, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, serve as the brains behind one [More]
Critics Consensus:Southside With You looks back on a fateful real-life date with strong performances and engaging dialogue, adding up to a romance that makes for a pretty good date movie in its own right.
Synopsis: Future U.S. President Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) and lawyer Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter) go on a fateful first date in [More]
Critics Consensus: Featuring a starmaking performance from Shameik Moore and a refreshingly original point of view from writer-director Rick Famuyiwa, Dope is smart, insightful entertainment.
Synopsis: High-school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) bond over '90s hip-hop culture, [More]
Critics Consensus: As smart, funny, and trenchant as writer-director-star Chris Rock's best standup work, Top Five is a career highlight for its creator -- and one of the comedy standouts of 2014.
Synopsis: Though he began in stand-up comedy, Andre Allen (Chris Rock) hit the big-time as the star of a trilogy of [More]
Critics Consensus: Thanks to smart direction and a powerhouse performance from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Beyond the Lights transcends its formulaic storyline to deliver thoroughly entertaining drama.
Synopsis: Though she's been groomed for stardom all her life by an overbearing mother (Minnie Driver), singer Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is [More]
Critics Consensus:About Last Night wanders even further from the David Mamet play that inspired the original, but it benefits from an engaging cast and a screenplay that smartly balances romance and comedy.
Synopsis: While out with loudmouthed pal Bernie (Kevin Hart), Danny (Michael Ealy) meets successful businesswoman Debbie (Joy Bryant), who's as leery [More]
Critics Consensus: Its heart is in the right place -- and so is its appealing cast -- but Jumping the Broom is ultimately too cliched and thinly written to recommend.
Synopsis: Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) is a successful corporate lawyer who comes from an old-money family. When she meets Jason Taylor [More]
Critics Consensus: Well-intentioned but formulaic, Just Wright has winning leads but can't overcome its preponderance of cliches.
Synopsis: Physical therapist Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) lands the dream job of working with basketball superstar Scott McKnight (Common). All goes [More]
Critics Consensus: Blessed with clever dialogue and poignant observations of class and race, Medicine For Melancholy is a promising debut for director Barry Jenkins.
Synopsis: Micah (Wyatt Cenac), a passionate social activist, meets affluent professional Joanne (Tracey Heggins) at a party. After getting drunk together, [More]
Critics Consensus:Dreamgirls' simple characters and plot hardly detract from the movie's real feats: the electrifying performances and the dazzling musical numbers.
Synopsis: Deena (Beyoncé Knowles),Effie (Jennifer Hudson) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) form a music trio called the Dreamettes. When ambitious manager [More]
Critics Consensus: Although Queen Latifah's bountiful life-affirming spirit permeates the film, director Wayne Wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair.
Synopsis: The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) to reflect on what she [More]
Critics Consensus: Roll Bounce dazzles us with a classic late 1970's feel, but this coming of age film could have been more than just a spin around the roller rink.
Synopsis: Xavier (Bow Wow), a teenage boy in Chicago, struggles with the loss of his mother and turns to roller skating [More]
Critics Consensus: Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh.
Synopsis: Set against the high-energy, high-stakes world of show-style marching bands, "Drumline" is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer [More]
Critics Consensus: Entertaining if not over-the-top humor from a solid comic duo provides plenty of laughs.
Synopsis: During Prohibition, loudmouth Harlem grifter Ray (Eddie Murphy) and the no-nonsense Claude (Martin Lawrence) team up on a bootlegging mission [More]
Critics Consensus: Angela Bassett gracefully breezes through a hot summer fling without much conflict or ado, leaving us wondering when -- or if -- she's ever getting that groove back.
Synopsis: Unlucky-in-love stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) jets to Jamaica with her gal pal Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) for some fun in the [More]
Critics Consensus: Much like the titular cuisine, Soul Food blends a series of savory ingredients to offer warm, generous helpings of nourishment and comfort.
Synopsis: When Ahmad Simmons' (Brandon Hammond) diabetic grandmother, Josephine Big Mama Joseph (Irma P. Hall), falls into a coma during an [More]
Critics Consensus: An endearing romance that puts a fairly fresh perspective on familiar framework, Love Jones is worth falling for.
Synopsis: Two urban African-Americans, Darius (Larenz Tate), an aspiring writer, and Nina (Nia Long), an aspiring photographer, share an instant connection [More]
Critics Consensus: Solid performances and a steady directorial hand help The Preacher's Wife offer some reliably heartwarming - albeit fairly predictable - holiday cheer.
Synopsis: A cleric begins to doubt himself and is visited by an angel. The heavenly emissary is supposed to help the [More]
Critics Consensus: What Friday might lack in taut construction or directorial flair, it more than makes up with its vibrant (albeit consistently crass) humor and the charming, energetic performances of its leads.
Synopsis: It's Friday and Craig Jones (Ice Cube) has just gotten fired for stealing cardboard boxes. To make matters worse, rent [More]
Critics Consensus:Waiting to Exhale looks at life's ups and downs from an underseen perspective -- albeit one that's poorly served by uneven acting and a sporadically interesting story.
Synopsis: Navigating through careers, family and romance, four friends bond over the shortcomings in their love lives -- namely, the scarcity [More]
Critics Consensus: A personal project that warmly reflects on director Spike Lee's childhood, Crooklyn is an episodic celebration of family and the indelible facets of one's hometown.
Synopsis: As her teacher mother, Carolyn (Alfre Woodard), and her jazz musician father, Woody (Delroy Lindo), worry over monthly bills, grade-schooler [More]
Critics Consensus:Sister Act is off-key in this reprise, fatally shifting the spotlight from Whoopi Goldberg to a less compelling ensemble of pupils and trading its predecessor's sharp comedy for unconvincing sentiment.
Synopsis: In this sequel, Las Vegas performer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) is surprised by a visit from her nun friends, [More]
Critics Consensus:The Last Dragon is a flamboyant genre mashup brimming with style, romance, and an infectious fondness for kung fu, but audiences may find the tonal whiplash more goofy than endearing.
Synopsis: Leroy Green (Taimak), a young martial artist living in New York City, trains tirelessly to attain the same level of [More]
Critics Consensus:The Wiz is a workmanlike movie musical that lacks the electricity of the stage version and its cinematic inspiration, despite some committed performances from its all-star cast.
Synopsis: When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she's miraculously whisked away to an [More]
Critics Consensus:Cooley High crackles with vibrant energy and authenticity, elevated by an impressively natural cast and Michael Schultz's effortless direction.
Synopsis: Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career [More]
Critics Consensus:Stormy Weather's depiction of the Black community is disappointingly facile, but its delightful musical numbers drown out any missed narrative notes.
Synopsis: Bill Williamson (Bill Robinson), a struggling performer, meets a beautiful vocalist named Selina Rogers (Lena Horne). Bill promises her that [More]
Of Gaiman’s extensive roster of work, his Sandman comic series is probably his most famous. Now, his iconic tale of Dream (Tom Sturridge) — also known as Lord Morpheus or the King of Dreams — is coming to the streamer. When Dream is captured and held prisoner for a century, the land of the Dreaming is thrown into chaos. He inevitably escapes, though, and finds the realms thrown into chaos. To set things right, Dream embarks on a mission to reclaim his power and meets some interesting characters along the way. Also appearing in the series is Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar, Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, Charles Dance as Sir. Roderick Burgess, Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian, David Thewlis as Dr. John Dee, Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven, and Mark Hamill as the voice of Mervyn Pumpkinhead.
Jamie Foxx stars in Day Shift, a modern-day horror-themed action flick about an international guild of vampire-hunters and the hard-working father struggling to provide a better life for his daughter — by killing the undead for profit. One part From Dusk Till Dawn and one part Blade, the movie co-stars Dave Franco, Snoop Dogg, Karla Souza, and Meagan Good.
Fans of YA fantasy rejoice: the story of the Locke family is finally back with the third and final installment of the hit fantasy series Locke & Key, based on the comic book run by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. With more magic being uncovered in Keyhouse, and the most dangerous threat the family has ever encountered let loose, Nina (Darby Stanchfield), Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) will definitely have their hands full.
Description: After years of imprisonment, Morpheus — the King of Dreams — embarks on a journey across worlds to find what was stolen from him and restore his power.
Description: In the thrilling final chapter of the series, the Locke family uncovers more magic as they face a demonic new foe who’s dead-set on possessing the keys.
Description: Jamie Foxx stars as a hard working blue-collar dad who just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted daughter, but his mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income, hunting and killing vampires as part of an international Union of vampire hunters.
Description: Devi and her friends may finally be single no more. But they’re about to learn that relationships come with a lot of self-discovery — and all the drama.
Description: When a stay-at-home dad finds himself with some “me time” for the first time in years while his wife and kids are away, he reconnects with his former best friend for a wild weekend that nearly upends his life. Stars Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg, and Regina Hall.
Premiere Date: August 26
FULL LIST OF SHOWS AND MOVIES COMING TO NETFLIX THIS MONTH
I learned the truth at 17, that movie critics can be mean… but not to Hailee Steinfeld and her new movie The Edge of Seventeen, a high school dramedy starring Steinfeld as a neurotic hellcat on the cusp of adulthood. And if the reviews maintain their pace, then Edge will be a future alumni of this week’s 24 Frames gallery of Certified Fresh high school movies since 2000!
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015, 82%)
Critics Consensus: “Beautifully scripted and perfectly cast, Me & Earl & the Dying Girl is a coming-of-age movie with uncommon charm and insight.”
Dope (2015, 89%)
Critics Consensus: “Featuring a starmaking performance from Shameik Moore and a refreshingly original point of view from writer-director Rick Famuyiwa, Dope is smart, insightful entertainment.”
Palo Alto (2014, 72%)
Critics Consensus: “A promising debut for director Gia Coppola, Palo Alto compensates for its drifting plot with solid performances and beautiful cinematography.”
The Spectacular Now (2013, 93%)
Critics Consensus: “An adroit, sensitive film that avoids typical coming-of-age story trappings.”
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012, 86%)
Critics Consensus: “A heartfelt and sincere adaptation that’s bolstered by strong lead performances.”
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012, 72%)
Critics Consensus: “A well-chosen cast and sure-handed direction allow The Amazing Spider-Man to thrill, despite revisiting many of the same plot points from 2002’s Spider-Man.”
Chronicle (2012, 85%)
Critics Consensus: “Chronicle transcends its found-footage gimmick with a smart script, fast-paced direction, and engaging performances from the young cast.”
21 Jump Street (2012, 85%)
Critics Consensus: “A smart, affectionate satire of ’80s nostalgia and teen movie tropes, offers rowdy mainstream comedy with a surprisingly satisfying bite.”
Submarine (2011, 86%)
Critics Consensus: “Funny, stylish, and ringing with adolescent truth, Submarine marks Richard Ayoade as a talent to watch.”
Kick-Ass (2010, 76%)
Critics Consensus: “Not for the faint of heart, Kick-Ass takes the comic adaptation genre to new levels of visual style, bloody violence, and gleeful profanity.”
Easy A (2010, 85%)
Critics Consensus: “It owes a huge debt to older (and better) teen comedies, but Easy A proves a smart, witty showcase for its irresistibly charming star, Emma Stone.”
An Education (2009, 94%)
Critics Consensus: “Though the latter part of the film may not appeal to all, An Education is a charming coming-of-age tale powered by the strength of relative newcomer Carey Mulligan’s standout performance.”
Hairspray (2007, 91%)
Critics Consensus: “An energetic, wholly entertaining musical romp; a fun summer movie with plenty of heart. Its contagious songs will make you want to get up and start dancing.”
Juno (2007, 94%)
Critics Consensus: One of the brightest, funniest comedies of the year, Juno‘s smart script and direction are matched by assured performances in a coming of age story with a 21st century twist.
Superbad (2007, 88%)
Critics Consensus: “An authentic take on friendship and the overarching awkwardness of the high school experience.”
Brick (2006, 80%)
Critics Consensus: “This entertaining homage to noirs past has been slickly and compellingly updated to a contemporary high school setting.”
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire (2005, 88%)
Critics Consensus: “The main characters are maturing, and the filmmakers are likewise improving on their craft with vibrant special effects and assured performances.”
Friday Night Lights (2004, 81%)
Critics Consensus: “An acute survey of the football-obsessed heartland that succeeds as both a stirring drama and a rousing sports movie.”
Mean Girls (2004, 84%)
Critics Consensus: “Funnier and more smartly written than the average teen comedy.”
Spider-Man (2002, 89%)
Critics Consensus: “Not only does Spider-Man provide a good dose of web-swinging fun, it also has a heart, thanks to the combined charms of director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire.”
Better Luck Tomorrow (2002, 81%)
Critics Consensus: “A promising work by Justin Lin, the energetic Better Luck Tomorrow is disturbing and thought-provoking.”
Ghost World (2001, 92%)
Critics Consensus: ” With acerbic wit, Terry Zwigoff fashions Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel into an intelligent, comedic trip through deadpan teen angst.”
Donnie Darko (2001, 85%)
Critics Consensus: “A daring, original vision, packed with jarring ideas and intelligence and featuring a remarkable performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as the troubled title character.”
The Virgin Suicides (2000, 76%)
Critics Consensus: “Sofia Coppola’s successful directorial debut lies in the movie’s compelling story and the actors’ genuine emotions.”
This week’s Ketchup brings you another ten headlines from the world of film development news (those stories about what movies Hollywood is working on for you next). Included in the mix this time around are stories about such titles as Chappaquiddick, Flatliners, The Flash, and… are we reading this right, Marvel’s Squirrel Girl?
This Week’s Top Story
NO MORE PIXAR SEQUELS PLANNED AFTER THE INCREDIBLES II IN 2019
In the beginning, two of Pixar’s feature films started with the words Toy Story. After Toy Story 2 in 1999, however, Pixar’s next seven films were all original concepts, until Toy Story 3 was released in 2010. Since then, sequels have made up 50 percent of Pixar’s output (Cars 2, Monsters University, Finding Dory vs. Brave, Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur). And until this week, the trend certainly appeared to be that the studio would be revisiting their popular films frequently, with only one original film — Coco (11/22/17), about the Mexican “Dia de los Muertos” holiday — among their next four films. The remaining three films scheduled are sequel: next summer’s Cars 3 (6/6/17), Toy Story 4 (6/15/18), and The Incredibles II (6/21/19). This week, Pixar President Jim Morris revealed to Entertainment Weekly that on the animation studio’s schedule, there are no sequels currently planned past The Incredibles II in 2019. Morris also revealed that the studio has two movies scheduled for 2020, and two other movies past that, and none of the four will be sequels. If the year 2021 is another year with two Pixar releases, that means we could get a sequel in either 2022 or 2023, but it’s just as possible that Pixar could continue committing to original ideas. So, if you’re hungry for further big screen adventures for WALL-E, Merida (Brave), Remy (Ratatouille), Riley (Inside Out), or Carl and Russell (UP), you have at least a six year wait in front of you (and more likely, much longer). What concepts do you think Pixar should consider adapting next?
Fresh Developments This Week
1. WOULD ANNA KENDRICK WORK FOR ACORNS TO BE MARVEL’S SQUIRREL GIRL?
There have been many, many more Marvel Comics characters adapted for the big screen than DC Comics, partly because Fox and Sony have taken on some of that burden, but also because there now 11 released MCU movies (with 9 more planned before 2020). Even so, Marvel’s roster of superheroes remains far more vast. Without even counting the various spinoff teams (of which there are at least 12), there are over 125 “main” Avengers members, of which only a little more than a dozen have been represented in the MCU. In other words, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is only just beginning, and there is a plethora of characters waiting in the comic books for their chances at feature film glory. One example is Squirrel Girl, who this year is celebrating her 25th anniversary after first appearing in an Iron Man story in 1991. Aided by her squirrel sidekick Tippy Toe, Squirrel Girl uses her rodent-endowed abilities to be one of the most powerful superheroes Marvel has, having defeated (by herself — well, herself and her squirrels) such villains as Doctor Doom, MODOK, Terrax, and Thanos, as well as Deadpool and Wolverine. So, since Squirrel Girl is such a formidable force, is her MCU introduction inevitable? That seems to be what actress Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air) thinks, because while out promoting Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Kendrick is pitching the idea that she would be the perfect choice to play Doreen Green, AKA Squirrel Girl. As Kendrick put it, “I don’t know what Squirrel Girl does other than be half squirrel, but I could be half squirrel!” Although Squirrel Girl was previously described as being a mutant (which is frequently a rights issue between Marvel and Fox), Marvel recently seemed to “retcon” the character to make her viable for MCU inclusion: her doctor in the comics stated that, “Doreen is medically and legally distinct from being a mutant, and I can never take this back.” As for when Squirrel Girl could join the MCU, the Russo Brothers recently said that the next Avengers: InfinityWars movies (5/4/18 and 5/3/19) will fill feature 68 characters, with the implication being that at least a few of those 68 will be introduced in those movies. There’s also the possibility Squirrel Girl could get her own solo movie; after all, there was a time when people questioned the concept of Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy getting their own movies.
2. IDRIS ELBA TO MAKE HIS DIRECTORIAL DEBUT WITH CRIME DRAMA YARDIE
There are lots of Hollywood careers that you rarely see share space on the same person’s filmography (cinematographer and actor, composer and makeup artist, etc). And then, there are actor-directors. There are tons of those, including people like Ben Affleck, Warren Beatty, Jodie Foster, George Clooney, Clint Eastwood, Angelina Jolie-Pitt… You get the idea. Well, we’ll soon be able to add another acclaimed director to that list, as Idris Elba (Pacific Rim, Prometheus, HBO’s The Wire) is now confirmed to make his directorial debut with the adaptation of the Victor Headley novel Yardie, about a Jamaican drug courier who decides to take his latest shipment of cocaine (to London) and set up his own drug dealing business (which obviously is not a great idea). It’s not yet known if Elba will also be starring in Yardie as either the drug mule or one of his business associates. “Yardie” is a British slang for a person from Jamaica.
3. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE TO COSTAR IN WOODY ALLEN’S 2017 MOVIE
Director/screenwriter Woody Allen has long maintained an annual work schedule that has allowed him to effectively be one of the most prolific directors on his level. For a while, Allen’s movies have been both filmed and released in the summer (or early fall) months. For example, his next film, Cafe Society, will be released next week (7/15/16), and in the early fall, he’ll start filming the movie which will be released in the summer of 2017. As is usually the case, we don’t know the premise (except that it’s set in New York City in the 1950s) or title of that 2017 release, but we’re starting to get an idea of the cast. The first announced star was Kate Winslet, and this week, she was joined by frequent “family film” star Jim Belushi (K-9, Curly Sue, Underdog). That was on Wednesday, and then on Thursday, Justin Timberlake and Juno Temple were also cast in what will be Woody Allen’s 48th film as director. This will be Allen’s first film working with all four actors/actresses.
4. DOPE STAR KIERSEY CLEMONS MIGHT PLAY IRIS WEST ON THE FLASH
If you are like many TV and comic book fans and you regularly watch the CW’s surprisingly great The Flash, you are also likely familiar with the character Iris West, played on the show by Candice Patton. In the comics, Iris West is sort of a big deal for the Flash, because (not-really-a-spoiler-alert) she ends up marrying Barry Allen. We’ve known for well over a year that the live action movie version of The Flash would be played by Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin). What we haven’t known until this week is what other characters might appear in the film, or who might play them. Although there is no deal in play yet, it is looking like Dope director Rick Famuyiwa hopes to cast one of his Dope costars, Kiersey Clemons, in The Flash. Similarly, it is not confirmed that Kiersey Clemons would be playing Iris West, but out of all the characters central to The Flash, Clemons most resembles the portrayal of Iris West on the CW series (which is as a young African American blogger/reporter). Kiersey Clemons may seem young for the role (she played a teenager in Dope), but when Warner Bros releases The Flash on March 16, 2018, she’ll be 24 (and Ezra Miller will be 25). Kiersey Clemons recently appeared in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, and will also costar in the remake of Flatliners.
5. KATE MARA AND ED HELMS TO COSTAR IN TED KENNEDY DRAMA CHAPPAQUIDDICK
If you’re under a certain age, you may not know what Chappaquiddick refers to, but this Massachusetts island in 1969 became associated with an incident that quickly became a national political scandal. On July 18, 1969, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and his assistant Mary Jo Kopechne were in a car accident in which Kopechne died, and Kennedy later pled guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident. It was speculated that the resulting scandal and controversy was the reason that Kennedy chose not to run for president in 1972 and 1976 (and possibly why he lost when he did run in 1980). It was perhaps inevitable that Hollywood would eventually turn to Chappaquiddick as a source for a political drama, and that’s exactly what’s happening this year. Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, Terminator: Genisys) was recently cast as Ted Kennedy in Chappaquiddick, and this week, Clarke was joined by Kate Mara (Fantastic Four) and Ed Helms (The Hangover, Vacation). Mara will play Mary Jo Kopechne, while Helms will play Kennedy cousin Joe Gargan, who was one of the two men who helped Kennedy immediately after the car accident. Chappaquiddickwill be directed by John Curran (The Painted Veil, Tracks).
6. CLARA BOW, THE ORIGINAL “IT GIRL” TO GET HER OWN BIOPIC
This is (almost certainly) coincidental, but one of the movies that is currently filming, and has therefore been making the news quite a bit recently, is the first half of a new adaptation of Stephen King’s IT. Now, follow our logic here: “It” (including the quotes) was the title of a 1927 silent film about a shop worker who sets her romantic sights on her wealthy boss, and it was also the movie that made a star out of Clara Bow. Clara Bow became one of the biggest movie stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and she also became known as the “It Girl,” which is pretty much where that term, as we now use it, came from. Now that we’ve set all that up, you can probably guess the rest, which is that the movie rights to David Stenn biopgraphy Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wildhave been acquired by producers David Silver and Mike Witherill, whose credits as producer include John Wick and Drinking Buddies. Filming is expected to start in the first few months of 2017. It’s anyone’s guess right now who might be cast as Clara Bow in her biopic, so readers, who do you think would be a great choice?
Rotten IdeaS of The Week
3. ORIGINAL FLATLINERS STAR KIEFER SUTHERLAND JOINS REMAKE
There really isn’t much of a rabid fanbase for the 1990 psychological thriller Flatliners, but the cast was fairly impressive. Julia Roberts was not yet a movie star, but Kevin Bacon and Kiefer Sutherland both were, and both Oliver Platt and Hope Davis went on to have successful careers. The question of whether the world is yearning for a remake of this 48 percent Rotten movie is part of why we’re calling the following one of this week’s “Rotten Ideas.” Kiefer Sutherland has signed to also costar in the remake of Flatliners, although it is unclear what role he will play (such as whether this is actually a “sequel/reboot,” and Sutherland is playing the same character again). Sutherland is joining a young cast which includes Ellen Page (Juno), Diego Luna (Y Tu Mama Tambien), Kiersey Clemons (Dope), and Nina Dobrev (TV’s The Vampire Diaries). Swedish director Niels Arden Oplev, who directed the original adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the Noomi Rapace version), will start filming the Flatliners remake in Toronto in September, 2016.
2. SCOTT EASTWOOD MAY JOIN THE PACIFIC RIM SEQUEL
John Boyega (Finn from Star Wars: The Force Awakens) recently signed on to play the son of Idris Elba’s character, Stacker Pentecost, in the sequel to the giant-robots-vs-giant-monsters movie Pacific Rim. This week brought news of the movie’s next cast member, and it’s another “famous son,” this time literally. Scott Eastwood, AKA the-son-of-Clint, is now in talks for a role in Pacific Rim 2, which Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures have scheduled for release on February 23, 2018. Pacific Rim 2 will mark the feature film directorial debut of Steven S. DeKnight, who has previously directed episodes of Smallville, Dollhouse, Angel, and Marvel’s Daredevil. Following the box office disappointments of several sequels this year, Pacific Rim 2 has become one project that some pundits are questioning.
1. ALICIA VIKANDER’S TULIP FEVER PUSHED BACK TO 2017 ONE WEEK BEFORE RELEASE
There are obviously exceptions to any perceived “rule,” but generally, when a distributor pulls the plug on a movie one week before its release date, that’s not really great news (ie, “something” is going on). So, if you were all excited about being able to see Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Dame Judy Dench, and Christoph Waltz in the historical romantic drama Tulip Fever next week (7/15/16), yeah, that’s not happening. The Weinstein Company has pushed the drama about the true “Tulip Mania” financial scandal back several months to February 24, 2017 (where it will go up against God Particle and Sleepless). This leaves The Weinstein Company with just three movies left on their schedule for 2016: The Founder (8/5/16), Hands of Stone (8/26/16), and Lion (November) (but TWC is also active on the festival circuit, so the Weinsteins may yet acquire some movies at Toronto/Venice in September). In related news, Alicia Vikander’s Tomb Raider reboot was also scheduled this week for March 16, 2018, and another movie which got shuffled back from 2016 to early 2017 was Underworld: Blood Wars, which will now be released on January 6, 2017 (right at the start of one of Hollywood’s “dump months“).
This week on streaming video, we’ve got a few noteworthy television shows, a couple of worthy indies and at least one American classic. Then, there are also a bunch of Oscar-nominated films available for purchase. Read on for the full list:
Emily VanCamp and Michael Nyqvist star in this drama about a book editor and aspiring author who must face her past when a man she once knew submits a book containing details of her life.
James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, and Saoirse Ronan star in Joe Wright’s Certified Fresh period drama about a young girl who sabotages the relationship between her older sister and the man she loves.
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys star in FX’s period drama about a pair of Soviet spies posing as a married American couple who must juggle family issues with their clandestine mission.
Timothy Olyphant stars in another Certified Fresh FX drama, about a maverick lawman serving up justice in Kentucky. The final season is now available to stream.
Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, and a young Harrison Ford headline George Lucas’s affectionate snapshot of 1960s Americana, which was nominated for Best Picture.
This Certified Fresh documentary — shortlisted for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar this year — follows a team of mountain climbers who attempt to scale one of India’s most treacherous peaks and get more than they bargained for.
Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer star in this HBO drama about a maverick news anchor and his dedicated staff at a fictional cable news network. The final season can now be streamed.
Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay star in this Certified Fresh Best Picture nominee about a young woman and her son who live in a shed as prisoners of the man who impregnated her.
This Certified Fresh nominee for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar centers on a young Bedouin who guides a British soldier across inhospitable terrain to find a water hole in the desert.
Sylvester Stallone reprised his iconic role as Rocky Balboa (and earned a Best Supporting Actor nod) for this Certified Fresh spinoff, about the estranged son of Apollo Creed (Michael B. Jodan), who aspires to a boxing career of his own.
Bryan Cranston also earned a Best Actor nomination of his own for his portrayal of Dalton Trumbo in this drama about the prolific Hollywood writer who, along with several others, was jailed for his political beliefs and fought against the notion of the “blacklist.”
And lastly, Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander both also earned acting nominations for this period drama about a celebrated painter who underwent pioneering gender confirmation surgery.
The 47th NAACP Image Award winners were announced last night on a ceremony broadcast live on TV One. The show took place at the Pasadena Conference Center. See the full list of film and television winners below, and check out the recording and literature categories on the official website.
Though we predict with bottled anticipation that Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip‘s next two-hundred reviews will be positives, for now there exists 144 Certified Fresh movies from this year (compared to 133 in 2014, and 114 in 2013). How many have you seen?
Fun genre fare with uncommon intelligence, Predestination serves as a better-than-average sci-fi adventure — and offers a starmaking turn from Sarah Snook.
Human Capital Tomatometer: 80%
Release: Jan. 14
Part character study, part socioeconomic fable, Human Capital offers trenchant commentary as well as absorbing drama.
Paddington Tomatometer: 98%
Release: Jan. 16
Paddington brings a beloved children’s character into the 21st century without sacrificing his essential charm, delivering a family-friendly adventure as irresistibly cuddly as its star.
Appropriate Behavior Tomatometer: 98%
Release: Jan. 16
Warm, funny, and quietly profound, Appropriate Behavior serves as a thoroughly compelling calling card for writer, director, and star Desiree Akhavan.
Black Sea Tomatometer: 81%
Release: Jan. 23
Black Sea may not be particularly deep, but thanks to Kevin Macdonald’s judicious direction and a magnetic performance from Jude Law, it remains an efficiently well-crafted thriller.
The Duke of Burgundy Tomatometer: 92%
Release: Jan. 23
Stylish, sensual, and smart, The Duke of Burgundy proves that erotic cinema can have genuine substance.
Red Army Tomatometer: 97%
Release: Jan. 23
Fun and fascinating, Red Army delivers absorbing documentary drama for hockey fans and sports novices alike.
Timbuktu Tomatometer: 99%
Release: Jan. 28
Gracefully assembled and ultimately disquieting, Timbuktu is a timely film with a powerful message.
Girlhood Tomatometer: 95%
Release: Jan. 30
Powerfully acted and smartly scripted, Girlhood offers a fresh perspective on familiar cinematic territory.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Tomatometer: 79%
Release: Feb. 6
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water won’t win over many viewers who aren’t fans of the show, but for the converted, it’s another colorful burst of manic fun.
GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem Tomatometer: 100%
Release: Feb. 13
On paper, GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem might seem less than thrilling, but on the screen, it delivers two hours of nonstop, tightly wound, brilliantly acted drama.
What We Do in the Shadows Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Feb. 13
Smarter, fresher, and funnier than a modern vampire movie has any right to be, What We Do in the Shadows is bloody good fun.
Queen and Country Tomatometer: 78%
Release: Feb. 18
Graceful and bittersweet, Queen and Country finds writer-director John Boorman revisiting past glories with warmth and wisdom.
Wild Tales Tomatometer: 95%
Release: Feb. 20
Wickedly hilarious and delightfully deranged, Wild Tales is a subversive satire that doubles as a uniformly entertaining anthology film.
McFarland, USA Tomatometer: 79%
Release: Feb. 20
Disney’s inspirational sports drama formula might be old hat, but McFarland, USA proves it still works — especially with a talented director and eminently likable star in the mix.
’71 Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Feb. 27
Powerfully directed and acted, ’71 stays true to its fact-based origins while remaining as gripping as any solidly crafted action thriller.
The Hunting Ground Tomatometer: 92%
Release: Feb. 27
The Hunting Ground isn’t director Kirby Dick’s strongest work as a filmmaker, but the movie’s powerful message more than trumps any technical weaknesses.
Merchants of Doubt Tomatometer: 85%
Release: Mar. 6
Merchants of Doubt is a thought-provoking documentary assembled with energy and style, even if it doesn’t dig as deep as it could.
It Follows Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Mar. 13
Smart, original, and above all terrifying, It Follows is the rare modern horror film that works on multiple levels — and leaves a lingering sting.
Seymour: An Introduction Tomatometer: 100%
Release: Mar. 13
Seymour Bernstein’s genuineness shines so brightly in Seymour: An Introduction that viewers will forgive debuting director Ethan Hawke’s reverent treatment.
The Wrecking Crew Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Mar. 13
The Wrecking Crew may not achieve the greatness of the many classic songs its subjects helped bring to life, but it remains a heartfelt, overdue tribute to overshadowed brilliance.
Cinderella Tomatometer: 84%
Release: Mar. 13
Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella proves Disney hasn’t lost any of its old-fashioned magic.
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter Tomatometer: 87%
Release: Mar. 18
Powerfully acted and lovely to look at, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter offers a treat for cinephiles with a taste for the pleasantly peculiar.
Danny Collins Tomatometer: 78%
Release: Mar. 20
Thanks to Al Pacino’s stirring central performance – and excellent work from an esteemed supporting cast — Danny Collins manages to overcome its more predictable and heavy-handed moments to deliver a heartfelt tale of redemption.
Jauja Tomatometer: 89%
Release: Mar. 20
Jauja will prove haunting for those lured in by its deliberate pace and lovely visuals, though it may test some viewers’ patience.
The Salt of the Earth Tomatometer: 95%
Release: Mar. 27
While the work it honors may pose thorny ethical questions that Salt of the Earth neglects to answer, it remains a shattering, thought-provoking testament to Sebastião Salgado’s career.
While We’re Young Tomatometer: 83%
Release: Mar. 27
Poignant and piercingly honest, While We’re Young finds writer-director Noah Baumbach delivering some of his funniest lines through some of his most relatable characters.
White God Tomatometer: 90%
Release: Mar. 27
White God isn’t an easy watch, but its soaring ambition and powerful acting — human and canine alike — make it well worth the effort.
Furious 7 Tomatometer: 81%
Release: Apr. 3
Serving up a fresh round of over-the-top thrills while adding unexpected dramatic heft, Furious 7 keeps the franchise moving in more ways than one.
Lambert & Stamp Tomatometer: 87%
Release: Apr. 3
A sharp accounting of an era framed through the early adventures of the Who and the managers who helped make them famous, Lambert & Stamp should prove fascinating for fans and novices alike.
About Elly Tomatometer: 97%
Release: Apr. 8
About Elly offers viewers performances as powerful as its thought-provoking ideas, and adds another strong entry to Asghar Farhadi’s impressive filmography.
Black Souls Tomatometer: 97%
Release: Apr. 10
Black Souls works within familiar themes to explore intelligent — and thrillingly entertaining — dramatic arcs that plunge into the deliciously dark depths of Mafia crime.
Clouds of Sils Maria Tomatometer: 89%
Release: Apr. 10
Bolstered by a trio of powerful performances from its talented leads, Clouds of Sils Maria is an absorbing, richly detailed drama with impressive depth and intelligence.
Dior and I Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Apr. 10
Dior and I will obviously appeal to fashion fans, but this beautifully tailored documentary may draw in even the least sartorially inclined.
Ex Machina Tomatometer: 92%
Release: Apr. 10
Ex Machina leans heavier on ideas than effects, but it’s still a visually polished piece of work — and an uncommonly engaging sci-fi feature.
Monkey Kingdom Tomatometer: 94%
Release: Apr. 17
Monkey Kingdom‘s breathtaking footage of primates in the wild is likely to please animal lovers of all ages.
Tangerines Tomatometer: 85%
Release: Apr. 17
Tangerines‘ impassioned message and the strong work of a solid cast more than make up for the movie’s flawed narrative and uneven structure.
Avengers: Age of Ultron Tomatometer: 84%
Release: May 1
Exuberant and eye-popping, Avengers: Age of Ultron serves as an overstuffed but mostly satisfying sequel, reuniting its predecessor’s unwieldy cast with a few new additions and a worthy foe.
Far From the Madding Crowd Tomatometer: 86%
Release: May 1
Far from the Madding Crowd invites tough comparisons to Thomas Hardy’s classic novel — and its previous adaptation — but stands on its own thanks to strong direction and a talented cast.
Iris Tomatometer: 97%
Release: May 1
A small, insightful feature with a deceptively thoughtful thesis, Iris adds a bittersweet postscript to director Albert Maysles’ filmography.
I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story Tomatometer: 84%
Release: May 6
Every bit as good-natured as longtime fans might hope, I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story offers heartwarming behind-the-scenes perspective on a cultural icon.
Mad Max: Fury Road Tomatometer: 97%
Release: May 15
With exhilarating action and a surprising amount of narrative heft, Mad Max: Fury Road brings George Miller’s post-apocalyptic franchise roaring vigorously back to life.
Good Kill Tomatometer: 76%
Release: May 15
Thought-provoking, timely, and anchored by a strong performance from Ethan Hawke, Good Kill is a modern war movie with a troubled conscience.
I’ll See You In My Dreams Tomatometer: 93%
Release: May 15
I’ll See You in My Dreams would be worth watching even if Blythe Danner’s central performance was all it had going for it, but this thoughtful drama satisfies on multiple levels.
Güeros Tomatometer: 93%
Release: May 20
A striking effort that synthesizes disparate influences with inventive flair, Güeros marks a bold step forward for modern Mexican cinema.
Slow West Tomatometer: 92%
Release: May 20
Slow West serves as an impressive calling card for first-time writer-director John M. Maclean — and offers an inventive treat for fans of the Western.
Sunshine Superman Tomatometer: 90%
Release: May 22
Sunshine Superman shines a light on a fascinating life with copious amounts of incredible, thrilling footage.
When Marnie Was There Tomatometer: 90%
Release: May 22
When Marnie Was There is still blessed with enough visual and narrative beauty to recommend, even if it isn’t quite as magical as Studio Ghibli’s greatest works.
Results Tomatometer: 82%
Release: May 29
Results moves stubbornly at its own deliberate pace, but the well-chosen cast — and writer-director Andrew Bujalski’s insightful observations — offer rich rewards for patient viewers.
Heaven Knows What Tomatometer: 84%
Release: May 29
Grueling and rewarding in equal measure, Heaven Knows What hits hard — and serves as a powerful calling card for its captivating star, Arielle Holmes.
A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence Tomatometer: 89%
Release: Jun. 3
Expertly assembled and indelibly original, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch concludes writer-director Roy Andersson’s Living trilogy in style.
Love & Mercy Tomatometer: 90%
Release: Jun. 5
As unconventional and unwieldy as the life and legacy it honors, Love & Mercy should prove moving for Brian Wilson fans while still satisfying neophytes.
Testament of Youth Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Jun. 5
Testament of Youth is well-acted and beautifully filmed, adding up to an enriching if not adventurous experience for fans of British period dramas.
Spy Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Jun. 5
Simultaneously broad and progressive, Spy offers further proof that Melissa McCarthy and writer-director Paul Feig bring out the best in one another — and delivers scores of belly laughs along the way.
Batkid Begins Tomatometer: 81%
Release: Jun. 12
Sweet and unabashedly sentimental, Batkid Begins is an uplifting look at a selfless act that brought a city together.
Big Game Tomatometer: 75%
Release: Jun. 12
Big Game‘s enthusiastic throwback vibe will appeal to fans of low-budget ’80s action movies, but co-writer/director Jalmari Helander adds a level of smarts and skill that make it more than just an homage.
The Wolfpack Tomatometer: 84%
Release: Jun. 12
Offering a unique look at modern fears and our fascination with film, The Wolfpack is a fascinating — and ultimately haunting — urban fable.
The Tribe Tomatometer: 87%
Release: Jun. 17
A bleak, haunting drama whose wordless dialogue speaks volumes, The Tribe is a bold, innovative take on silent films for a contemporary audience.
Inside Out Tomatometer: 98%
Release: Jun. 19
Inventive, gorgeously animated, and powerfully moving, Inside Out is another outstanding addition to the Pixar library of modern animated classics.
Me & Earl & the Dying Girl Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Jun. 12
Beautifully scripted and perfectly cast, Me & Earl & the Dying Girl is a coming-of-age movie with uncommon charm and insight.
Dope Tomatometer: 88%
Release: Jun. 19
Featuring a starmaking performance from Shameik Moore and a refreshingly original point of view from writer-director Rick Famuyiwa, Dope is smart, insightful entertainment.
Eden Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Jun. 19
Eden uses 1990s club culture as the appropriately intoxicating backdrop for a sensitive, low-key look at aging and the price of pursuing one’s dreams.
Infinitely Polar Bear Tomatometer: 80%
Release: Jun. 19
Infinitely Polar Bear handles its thorny themes with a somewhat troublesomely light touch, but Mark Ruffalo’s complex performance keeps the drama solidly grounded.
The Overnight Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Jun. 19
Witty and unpredictable, The Overnight benefits from writer-director Patrick Brice’s sure-handed touch and strong performances from a talented cast.
Amy Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Jul. 3
As riveting as it is sad, Amy is a powerfully honest look at the twisted relationship between art and celebrity — and the lethal spiral of addiction.
Cartel Land Tomatometer: 92%
Release: Jul. 3
Raw, brutal, and bitter, Cartel Land offers a ground-level look at vigilante efforts to thwart organized crime at the Mexican-American border.
Jimmy’s Hall Tomatometer: 77%
Release: Jul. 3
Benefiting from a talented cast and sensitive work from director Ken Loach, Jimmy’s Hall offers period drama rich with relevant sociopolitical themes.
Do I Sound Gay? Tomatometer: 84%
Release: Jul. 10
Do I Sound Gay? proves to be a light, affable, entertaining look at a largely unexplored issue.
Tangerine Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Jul. 10
Tangerine shatters casting conventions and its filmmaking techniques are up-to-the-minute, but it’s an old-fashioned comedy at heart — and a pretty wonderful one at that.
Ant-Man Tomatometer: 80%
Release: Jul. 17
Led by a charming performance from Paul Rudd, Ant-Man offers Marvel thrills on an appropriately smaller scale — albeit not as smoothly as its most successful predecessors.
Trainwreck Tomatometer: 85%
Release: Jul. 17
Trainwreck drags commitment out of all but the most rom-com-phobic filmgoers with sharp humor, relatable characters, and hilarious work from Amy Schumer.
The Look of Silence Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Jul. 17
The Look of Silence delivers a less shocking — yet just as terribly compelling — companion piece to Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing.
Mr. Holmes Tomatometer: 87%
Release: Jul. 17
Mr. Holmes focuses on the man behind the mysteries, and while it may lack Baker Street thrills, it more than compensates with tenderly wrought, well-acted drama.
The Stanford Prison Experiment Tomatometer: 85%
Release: Jul. 17
As chillingly thought-provoking as it is absorbing and well-acted, The Stanford Prison Experiment offers historical drama that packs a timelessly relevant punch.
Phoenix Tomatometer: 90%
Release: Jul. 24
Tense, complex, and drenched in atmosphere, Phoenix is a well-acted, smartly crafted war drama that finds writer-director Christian Petzold working at peak power.
Listen to Me Marlon Tomatometer: 97%
Release: Jul. 29
Listen to Me Marlon offers a fascinating look at the inner life of a Hollywood icon, told in his own words.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Tomatometer: 92%
Release: Jul. 31
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation continues the franchise’s thrilling resurgence — and proves that Tom Cruise remains an action star without equal.
Best of Enemies Tomatometer: 94%
Release: Jul. 31
Smart, fascinating, and funny, Best of Enemies takes a penetrating — and wildly entertaining — look back at the dawn of pundit politics.
The End of the Tour Tomatometer: 91%
Release: Jul. 31
Brilliantly performed and smartly unconventional, The End of the Tour pays fitting tribute to a singular talent while offering profoundly poignant observations on the human condition.
Shaun the Sheep Tomatometer: 99%
Release: Aug. 5
Warm, funny, and brilliantly animated, Shaun the Sheep is yet another stop-motion jewel in Aardman’s family-friendly crown.
The Gift Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Aug. 7
The Gift is wickedly smart and playfully subversive, challenging the audience’s expectations while leaving them leaning on the edges of their seats.
Cop Car Tomatometer: 79%
Release: Aug. 7
Cop Car boasts a terrific premise and a grimly gripping opening act — and for some viewers, that will be enough to compensate for the movie’s uneven denouement.
Diary of a Teenage Girl Tomatometer: 94%
Release: Aug. 7
Boldly unconventional and refreshingly honest, Diary of a Teenage Girl is a frank coming-of-age story that addresses its themes — and its protagonist — without judgment.
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck Tomatometer: 97%
Release: Aug. 7
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck makes a persuasive case for its subject without resorting to hagiography — and includes plenty of rare and unreleased footage for fans.
Straight Outta Compton Tomatometer: 89%
Release: Aug. 11
Straight Outta Compton is a biopic that’s built to last, thanks to F. Gary Gray’s confident direction and engaging performances from a solid cast.
Meru Tomatometer: 90%
Release: Aug. 14
Gripping visually as well as narratively, Meru is the rare documentary that proves thought-provoking while offering thrilling wide-screen vistas.
Mistress America Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Aug. 14
Mistress America brings out the best in collaborators Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, distilling its star’s charm and director’s dark wit into a ferociously funny co-written story.
People Places Things Tomatometer: 76%
Release: Aug. 14
People Places Things finds writer-director Jim Strouse in peak form — and makes the most of talented stars who help breathe fresh life into familiar narrative territory.
Grandma Tomatometer: 92%
Release: Aug. 21
Boasting a stellar performance from Lily Tomlin and some powerfully empathetic work from writer-director Paul Weitz, Grandma is a dramedy that shouldn’t have to ask you to visit.
Queen of Earth Tomatometer: 91%
Release: Aug. 28
Led by a searing performance from Elisabeth Moss, Queen of Earth is a demanding — and ultimately rewarding — addition to writer-director Alex Ross Perry’s impressive filmography.
The Second Mother Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Aug. 28
The Second Mother‘s compelling characters serve an artfully drawn, thought-provoking story that’s beautifully brought to life by a talented cast.
Turbo Kid Tomatometer: 88%
Release: Aug. 28
A nostalgic ode to kids’ movies of yesteryear, Turbo Kid eyes the past through an entertaining — albeit surprisingly gory — postmodern lens.
Z For Zachariah Tomatometer: 78%
Release: Aug. 28
Z for Zachariah wrings compelling drama out of its simplistic premise — albeit at a pace that may test the patience of less contemplative viewers.
Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine Tomatometer: 76%
Release: Sep. 4
Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine offers absorbing viewing, even if it doesn’t delve deeply into its complex subject.
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution Tomatometer: 92%
Release: Sep. 4
The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution offers a fascinating — if somewhat rudimentary — introduction to a movement, and an era, that remains soberingly relevant today.
Coming Home Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Sep. 9
The rare tearjerking melodrama with sociopolitical subtext, Coming Home plucks the heartstrings with thought-provoking power.
Breathe Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Sep. 11
Breathe finds writer-director Mélanie Laurent opening a sensitive, well-acted window into the bittersweet upheaval of adolescence.
A Brilliant Young Mind Tomatometer: 85%
Release: Sep. 11
A Brilliant Young Mind is tender and perceptive — and intelligent enough to find a wealth of dramatic riches buried under well-trod narrative ground.
Goodnight Mommy Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Sep. 11
Dark, violent, and drenched in dread, Goodnight Mommy is perfect for extreme horror enthusiasts — or filmgoers who prefer to watch between splayed fingers.
Meet the Patels Tomatometer: 84%
Release: Sep. 11
Meet the Patels works on multiple levels, offering an affably entertaining documentary about one man looking for love while posing thoughtful questions about cultural assimilation and modern romance.
Time Out of Mind Tomatometer: 73%
Release: Sep. 11
Time Out of Mind demands patience, yet its noble intentions — and Richard Gere’s committed performance — are difficult to deny.
Black Mass Tomatometer: 75%
Release: Sep. 18
Black Mass spins a gripping yarn out of its fact-based story — and leaves audiences with one of Johnny Depp’s most compelling performances in years.
The New Girlfriend Tomatometer: 80%
Release: Sep. 18
While flirting with camp, François Ozon’s The New Girlfriend offers thoughtful — and humorous — commentary on sexual and gender identity.
Sicario Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Sep. 18
Led by outstanding work from Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro, Sicario is a taut, tightly wound thriller with much more on its mind than attention-getting set pieces.
99 Homes Tomatometer: 91%
Release: Sep. 25
Fueled by powerful acting and a taut, patiently constructed narrative, 99 Homes is a modern economic parable whose righteous fury is matched by its intelligence and compassion.
Drunk Stone Brilliant Dead: The Story of The National Lampoon Tomatometer: 87%
Release: Sep. 25
Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead might not be the definitive doc National Lampoon fans are waiting for, but it’s still almost as transgressively funny as the magazine in its heyday.
Mississippi Grind Tomatometer: 89%
Release: Sep. 25
Well-acted and steeped in Southern atmosphere, Mississippi Grind is a road movie and addiction drama that transcends each of its well-worn genres.
The Martian Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Oct. 2
Smart, thrilling, and surprisingly funny, The Martian offers a faithful adaptation of the bestselling book that brings out the best in leading man Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott.
Jafar Panahi’s Taxi Tomatometer: 95%
Release: Oct. 2
Jafar Panahi’s Taxi offers another round of trenchant societal commentary from a director whose entire filmography stands as a daring act of dissent.
Labyrinth of Lies Tomatometer: 75%
Release: Oct. 2
Labyrinth of Lies artfully blends fact with well-intentioned fiction to offer a thought-provoking look at how the lessons of history can be easily lost or forgotten.
The Walk Tomatometer: 85%
Release: Oct. 2
The Walk attempts a tricky balancing act between thrilling visuals and fact-based drama — and like its wire-walking protagonist, pulls it off with impressive élan.
The Forbidden Room Tomatometer: 94%
Release: Oct. 9
The Forbidden Room may frustrate viewers looking for a linear experience, but those seeking a challenge — or already familiar with director Guy Maddin’s work — will be rewarded.
Steve Jobs Tomatometer: 84%
Release: Oct. 9
Like the tech giant co-founded by its subject, Steve Jobs gathers brilliant people to deliver a product whose elegance belies the intricate complexities at its core.
Victoria Tomatometer: 82%
Release: Oct. 9
Victoria‘s single-take production is undeniably impressive, but it’s also an effective drama in its own right — and one that juggles its tonal shifts as deftly as its technical complexities.
Bridge of Spies Tomatometer: 91%
Release: Oct. 16
Bridge of Spies finds new life in Hollywood’s classic Cold War espionage thriller formula, thanks to reliably outstanding work from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
The Assassin Tomatometer: 83%
Release: Oct. 16
The Assassin‘s thrilling visuals mark a fresh highlight for director Hsiao-hsien Hou, even if its glacial pace may keep some viewers at arm’s length.
Beasts of No Nation Tomatometer: 90%
Release: Oct. 16
Beasts of No Nation finds writer-director Cary Fukunaga working with a talented cast to offer a sobering, uncompromising, yet still somehow hopeful picture of war’s human cost.
Experimenter Tomatometer: 88%
Release: Oct. 16
Led by a gripping performance from Peter Sarsgaard, Experimenter uses a fact-based story to pose thought-provoking questions about human nature.
Room Tomatometer: 97%
Release: Oct. 16
Led by incredible work from Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, Room makes for an unforgettably harrowing — and undeniably rewarding — experience.
Tales of Halloween Tomatometer: 79%
Release: Oct. 16
Tales of Halloween boasts a number of fun scares and is overall more consistent than many horror anthology films, even if it isn’t quite as dark or nasty as the classics of the genre.
Bone Tomahawk Tomatometer: 87%
Release: Oct. 23
Bone Tomahawk‘s peculiar genre blend won’t be for everyone, but its gripping performances and a slow-burning story should satisfy those in search of something different.
Heart of a Dog Tomatometer: 98%
Release: Oct. 23
Of a piece with much of director Laurie Anderson’s idiosyncratic output, Heart of a Dog delves into weighty themes with lyrical, haunting grace.
The Wonders Tomatometer: 94%
Release: Oct. 23
The Wonders offers a charming coming-of-age tale that doubles as a quietly effective tribute to a vanishing way of life.
Brooklyn Tomatometer: 98%
Release: Nov. 4
Brooklyn buttresses outstanding performances from Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen with a rich period drama that tugs at the heartstrings as deftly as it satisfies the mind.
The Hallow Tomatometer: 73%
Release: Nov. 4
Drenched in dark atmosphere and bolstered with some real emotion underneath all the chills, The Hallow suggests a wonderfully horrifying future for director Corin Hardy.
Spotlight Tomatometer: 97%
Release: Nov. 6
Spotlight gracefully handles the lurid details of its fact-based story while resisting the temptation to lionize its heroes, resulting in a drama that honors the audience as well as its real-life subjects.
The Peanuts Movie Tomatometer: 86%
Release: Nov. 6
The Peanuts Movie offers a colorful gateway into the world of its classic characters and a sweetly nostalgic — if relatively unambitious — treat for the adults who grew up with them.
Theeb Tomatometer: 95%
Release: Nov. 6
Led by an outstanding performance from Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat in the title role, Theeb is a startlingly assured first effort from director/co-writer Naji Abu Nowar.
Entertainment Tomatometer: 85%
Release: Nov. 13
As brilliantly and uncomfortably confrontational as its protagonist, Entertainment is a boundary-blurring exercise in cinematic misanthropy that more than lives up to its title.
James White Tomatometer: 91%
Release: Nov. 13
Led by powerfully complementary performances from Christopher Abbott and Cynthia Nixon, James White offers an affecting calling card for debuting writer-director Josh Mond.
Carol Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Nov. 20
Shaped by Todd Haynes’ deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material.
Mustang Tomatometer: 98%
Release: Nov. 20
Mustang delivers a bracing — and thoroughly timely — message whose power is further bolstered by the efforts of a stellar ensemble cast.
Creed Tomatometer: 93%
Release: Nov. 25
Creed brings the Rocky franchise off the mat for a surprisingly effective seventh round that extends the boxer’s saga in interesting new directions while staying true to its classic predecessors’ roots.
The Good Dinosaur Tomatometer: 77%
Release: Nov. 25
The Good Dinosaur delivers thrillingly beautiful animation in service of a worthy story that, even if it doesn’t quite live up to the lofty standards set by Pixar, still adds up to charming, family-friendly entertainment.
Chi-Raq
Release: Dec. 4
Tomatometer: 80%
Chi-Raq is as urgently topical and satisfyingly ambitious as it is wildly uneven — and it contains some of Spike Lee’s smartest, sharpest, and all-around entertaining late-period work.
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Release: Dec. 4
Tomatometer: 96%
Essential viewing for cineastes while still offering rich rewards for neophytes, Hitchcock/Truffaut offers an affectionate — and well-crafted — tribute to a legend.
The Lady in the Van
Release: Dec. 4
Tomatometer: 92%
Led by a marvelous performance from Maggie Smith, Lady in the Van wrings poignant, often hilarious insight from its fact-based source material.
Macbeth
Release: Dec. 4
Tomatometer: 96%
Faithful to the source material without sacrificing its own cinematic flair, Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth rises on the strength of a mesmerizing Michael Fassbender performance to join the upper echelon of big-screen Shakespeare adaptations.
The Big Short
Release: Dec. 11
Tomatometer: 85%
The Big Short approaches a serious, complicated subject with an impressive attention to detail — and manages to deliver a well-acted, scathingly funny indictment of its real-life villains in the bargain.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
Release: Dec. 18
Tomatometer: 94%
Packed with action and populated by both familiar faces and fresh blood, The Force Awakens successfully recalls the series’ former glory while injecting it with renewed energy.
Son of Saul
Release: Dec. 18
Tomatometer: 92%
Grimly intense yet thoroughly rewarding, Son of Saul offers an unforgettable viewing experience — and establishes director László Nemes as a talent to watch.
45 Years
Release: Dec. 23
Tomatometer: 98%
45 Years offers richly thought-provoking rewards for fans of adult cinema — and a mesmerizing acting showcase for leads Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay.
The Revenant Tomatometer: 80%
Release: Dec. 25
As starkly beautiful as it is harshly uncompromising, The Revenant uses Leonardo DiCaprio’s committed performance as fuel for an absorbing drama that offers punishing challenges — and rich rewards.
The Hateful Eight Tomatometer: 75%
Release: Dec. 25
The Hateful Eight offers another well-aimed round from Quentin Tarantino’s signature blend of action, humor, and over-the-top violence — all while demonstrating an even stronger grip on his filmmaking craft.
Anomalisa Tomatometer: 96%
Release: Dec. 30
Anomalisa marks another brilliant and utterly distinctive highlight in Charlie Kaufman’s filmography, and a thought-provoking treat for fans of introspective cinema.
The 47th NAACP Image Award nominees were announced today on a press conference in Beverly Hills, CA. The Image Awards celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film. Read through for the TV and movie nominees, and check out their official site for the music and literature honorees.
2015 has been a crazy year to say the least, with some epic crash-and-burns (Pan, Tomorrowland), tentpoles bustin’ more blocks than usual (Jurassic World, Straight Outta Compton…just all of Universal in general), and television continuing to change the media landscape. Emerging from the digital dust and box office receipts, here are the 10 biggest breakout stars of 2015 and what they got planned for 2016.
In a year of the spy movie (Spectre, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Spy among them), Taron Egerton kept it fresh and hip with the raucous Kingsman: The Secret Service. He also supported in Tom Hardy’s double headliner Legend. You’ll see more of Egerton in starring roles starting next year with Eddie the Eagle (about Great Britain’s first Olympic ski jumper) and Robin Hood: Origins, opposite 2014 breakout star Eve Hewson.
Ex Machina was the sleeper hit of 2015, with many thanks due to Alicia Vikander‘s physical, scary performance. Vikander was in a ton of movies this year (The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Testament of Youth, Burnt), with Oscar-hopeful The Danish Girl still on the slate. And you’ll have a hard time avoiding her at the 2016 cinemas with roles in Tulip Fever (written by Sir Tom Stoppard), The Light Between Oceans (from The Place Beyond the Pines‘ Derek Cianfrance), and opposite Matt Damon in the fifth Bourne movie.
There’s no shortage of visual inventiveness in crime comedy caper Dope, but it’s Shameik Moore‘s cool, charismatic performance that’s making him a star. His next project is massive: a 13-hour musical period piece by Baz Luhrmann called The Get Down about the explosive rise of punk, hip-hop, and disco at the end of the 1970s. Netflix releases Get Down in 2016.
The 20-year old Mission: Impossible film franchise got its strongest female character and performance by Rebecca Ferguson, who played undercover MI6 agent Ilsa Faust in Rogue Nation. That alone got her the plum gig of directly co-starring with Emily Blunt in The Girl on the Train, adaptation of the massively popular novel of the same name.
Everyone who’s seen Attack the Block is ending 2015 with the confirmation that, yes, John Boyega is going to be a big star. He’s the lead in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (and returning for Episode VIII). In 2016, he’ll be seen opposite Emma Watson in another sci-fi movie, The Circle, adapted by James Ponsoldt (The End of the Tour, The Spectacular Now) based on the Dave Eggers book.
Amy Schumer‘s sketch show Inside Amy Schumer has been around on Comedy Central since 2013, but she became a household name over the summer after leading Judd Apatow’s comeback movie Trainwreck and recently releasing her stand-up special Live at the Apollo. Her next project is starring with one of the world’s leading actors, Jennifer Lawrence, on a yet untitled movie.
As one of two emotional cruxes of Room, the indescribable drama about a mother and son who escape an enclosure the two had been confined in for years, Jacob Tremblay had a lot riding on his young shoulders and pulled it off, to the point of major Oscar buzz this coming February. Tremblay’s 2016 looks even more explosive, with roles in The Book of Henry (from Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow), Burn Your Maps (with Vera Farmiga), and Shut In, co-starring Naomi Watts.
Lily James co-starred with Bradley Cooper in the recent Burnt, but it was James’ role in keeping the Disney reimagination machine alive as the titular Cinderella (which grossed over $500 million worldwide) that made her 2015 a breakout year. She’s keeping the “literary” tradition going in 2016 as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. In addition, she’s been cast in Edgar Wright’s next movie, Baby Driver, due 2017.
Amazon Studios has been crushing it after the success of Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle and the recently released Red Oaks, a 1980s-styled sex comedy with an ensemble cast led by Craig Roberts, adds fuel to that fire. Roberts also wrote/directed/starred in Just Jim (featuring Emile Hirsch) this year, while next year brings The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Rob Burnett (Late Show with David Letterman, Everybody Loves Raymond).
The actor in this gallery most befitting the “breakout star” label is by far Priyanka Chopra. A cultural icon in her native India with over 50 Bollywood movies to her name, Chopra broke through the Western media with her starring role in ABC’s Quantico, becoming the first South Asian woman to headline an American drama on network television. She’s part of ABC’s diversifying lineup (including Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat) but, in a recent L.A. Timesinterview, downplays that distinction: “I believe we’ve created borders with too many colors.”
This week on home video, we’ve got a a sci-fi spectacle from Disney, a big disaster film starring Dwayne Johnson, and the complete set of one of the most talked about dramas of the last decade. Then we’ve got an acclaimed indie coming-of-age comedy, a couple more complete series sets, and a couple of choices from the Criterion Collection. Read on for the full list:
Britt Robertson stars as Casey, a smart, idealistic teenager who experiences a vision of a magical, futuristic realm and teams up with Frank (George Clooney), a fallen scientific wunderkind, who can help to transport her to the place of her dreams. Extras include a making-of doc hosted by director Brad Bird, videos on the cast and score, an animated short, production diaries, deleted scenes, and more.
Dwayne Johnson plays Ray Gaines, a soon-to-be-divorced LAFD helicopter pilot who finds himself racing up the California coast to save his wife (Carla Gugino) and daughter (Alexandra Daddario) when the titular fault line erupts in a massively destructive earthquake. Bonus features include a profile of the real San Andreas Fault, deleted scenes, a gag reel, a stunt reel, and more.
Relative newcomer Shameik Moore impressed a lot of folks with his star turn in this Certified Fresh indie comedy about a smart, 1990s hip-hop-obsessed inner-city high schooler who winds up in possession of a bag full of drugs and hatches a scheme with his two best friends to get rid of it. Just two extras to be found here: a profile of the film’s themes and characters, and a look at the iconic music that makes up much of the soundtrack.
The final chapter in the story of “Don Draper” and his exciting life has finally aired, and those of you looking to own the whole shebang are now free to buy it in one large package (which comes with a pair of tumblers and a ton of special features). The rest of you who have been collecting individual seasons over the years can still pick up part 2 of the final season, which is being sold separately.
If Mad Men wasn’t your thing, and you’d prefer to have a commemorative flask instead of a couple of tumblers, then you can always pick up the complete set of this Certified Fresh FX drama about a maverick lawman (Timothy Olyphant) serving up justice in Kentucky. In addition to the flask, you’ll get all six seasons of the show, all the previous bonuses, an extra disc full of brand new special features, and a book.
The third season of A&E’s dramatic prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho catches up with Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) as he enters high school. Mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) chooses to homeschool him, and things get a little creepy to say the least. Bonus features include deleted scenes and a look a the relationship between mother and son.
The Following was unfortunately cancelled this year, but if you want to own all three seasons of the serial killer/detective show starring Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy, it’s available in a box set. The third season is also available individually.
In this found-footage thriller, a group of high school students decide to revive a play that killed its lead actor onstage twenty years earlier, and spookiness ensues. The film wasn’t received well, but if you’d like to own it, special features include a full, feature-lengh “original version,” behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.
The first of two Criterion Collection releases this week, this supernatural thriller from David Cronenberg tells the parallel stories of a disturbed woman undergoing radical psychotherapy and her daughter, who is tormented by childlike demons. The new package includes a doc on the making of the film, cast interviews, and more.
The second offering from Criterion stars Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in a drama about a housewife and a radio journalist who bond with each other on the day that Italy welcomed Adolf Hitler to Rome in 1938. Bonuses include a short film from 2014 starring Loren, an interview with Loren and director Ettore Scola, and more.
Now that the fall TV season has officially begun, there’s a wealth of new and returning programming to catch up on, and the streaming services know this. With that in mind, Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime are offering opportunities for you to blaze through previous seasons of popular shows and to check out some new premieres. Of course, we’ve still got a couple of options for you if you’re looking to own a digital copy of some new releases (including one huge summer blockbuster) or hankering for a classic film. Read on for the full list.
Hot off of Viola Davis’ groundbreaking Emmy win, HTGAWM launched into its second season last week, following law professor Annalise Keating (Davis) and a handful of her most promising students as they deal with the consequences of last season’s events. New episodes will become available every week.
One of last year’s most talked-about new comedies returned for its second season last week, and so far, it looks as sure-footed as ever. Catch up on new episodes as they air with Hulu Plus.
Bob and Linda Belcher run a restaurant with the help of children Tina, Gene, and Louise. Between the funeral home next door, a relentless health inspector, the children’s misadventures, and Bob‘s unreliable business strategies, the restaurant is always struggling to stay open.
FOX’s hit drama about hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) also premiered this week, picking up where it left off in season one, with Lucious in jail and his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) plotting against him. If you miss it when it airs on Wednesdays, you can stream it for free a week later (or sooner, if you have Hulu Plus).
Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, and Terry Crews star in this hit “workplace” sitcom from Fox about a Brooklyn police department full of eccentric characters. Subscribe to watch the season three premiere and new episodes as they air.
ABC’s brand new Certified Fresh espionage drama revolves around a group of new FBI trainees, one of whom is a double agent planning a massive attack on New York City. Check out the series premiere now.
Another Shonda Rhimes production (like HTGAWM), this popular drama about a crisis management expert (Kerry Washington) also premiered last week, picking up just a few days after the season four finale. You can stream the new season premiere now and subsequent episodes after they air.
Will Forte’s post-apocalyptic sitcom returned for its second season on Sunday, and Hulu subscribers can catch up with Phil Miller (Forte) and his “wife” Carol (Kristen Schaal) as they embark on their new adventure together.
Another new drama from ABC, Blood & Oil is an ensemble drama about a young couple who move to North Dakota after the recent oil boom and clash with a local tycoon and his family. The season premiere is available to stream.
Heroes fans rejoice! The new series is here for a 13-episode arc, which follows a new group of individuals with latent superpowers after a terrorist attack in Texas. The season premiere is available to stream.
Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his handpicked team of the agency’s “best and brightest” are back to investigate a rogue faction of Inhumans in their continuous war with Hydra. Season three premieres on October 7, and new episodes will be available weekly. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s average Tomatometer score is currently at 90 percent.
In this Hulu original dramedy, a newly divorced mother and her bachelor brother move in together, then coach each other through the world of dating while raising her teenage daughter. The first two episodes will be available on October 7, then roll out weekly on Wednesdays.
In 1989, The Simpsons revived the primetime animated show and has been chugging (like so much Duff Beer) along since — its 27th (27th!) season kicked off Sept. 27.
Thoughtful and gory in equal measure, AMC’s wildly popular action drama follows the lives of a handful of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies.
Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in a drama about a woman who enlists an investigative reporter to find the long-lost son she was forced to give up for adoption.
Richard Curtis’ yuletide romantic comedy has become something of a cult favorite in recent years, thanks in no small part to its luminous cast, which includes Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Keira Knightley, Billy Bob Thornton, Rowan Atkinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Andrew Lincoln.
Fantastical fairy tale creatures are alive in Portland in this series, which puts a supernatural spin on the police procedural. All of the four seasons are now available for free for Amazon Prime subscribers.
A fine example of British “kitchen sink” cinema — and a pretty daring film for its time — A Taste of Honey is the story of a love affair between two working class teenagers that results in an unplanned pregnancy.
After a few years of operation, the dino refuge/theme park Jurassic World is losing attendance, so executives have demanded the on-site scientists to develop a bigger, badder creature from the genetic material of a T-rex and a bunch of other prehistoric animals. Will the newly christened Indominus rex drum up more business for the park? Will it eventually escape captivity and wreak havoc?
A festival favorite, this New Zealand-based tongue-in-cheek gorefest is the tale of teenage metalheads whose garage band unleashes a plague of carnage upon their sleepy suburban community.
It’s rare — though not unprecedented — for a movie franchise to successfully reboot without its signature star — take Mad Max, for example. Unfortunately, critics say The Transporter Refueled could really benefit from the presence of Jason Statham; without him, the caper plotline and occasionally decent stuntwork feel thoroughly generic. This time out, Frank Martin (Ed Skrein) is hired as a wheelman for a daring, mysterious heist; as insurance, his employers kidnap Martin’s father. Vehicular and bodily mayhem ensue. The pundits say The Transporter Refueled has all the trappings of a sleek action film and little of the spark, which doesn’t bode well for potential future entries in the series.
A Walk in the Woods sounds almost foolproof: take two great actors, and send them on a hike in a scenic locale. Critics say the film works best when it sticks to those basic elements, but it’s also padded with sitcommy gags and a bit too much schmaltz. Based on Bill Bryson’s bestseller, the film stars Redford as a man in the midst of an emotional malaise, so he enlists an old friend to join him for a hike of the Appalachian Mountain Trail, where they meet all sorts of interesting characters. The pundits say A Walk In The Woods is pleasant but predictable, ambling about without ever arriving at a truly memorable destination.
Narcos lacks sympathetic characters, but pulls in the viewer with solid acting and a story that’s fast-paced enough to distract from its familiar outline.
Also Opening This Week In Limited Release
Number One Fan (2014)79%
, a black comedy about a woman whose obsession with a rock star gets her into serious trouble, is at 100 percent.
Blind (2014)92%
, a drama about a recently-blinded novelist whose imaginative flights of fantasy quickly devolve into paranoia and fear, is at 97 percent.
Creep (2014)91%
, starring Mark Duplass in a thriller about a filmmaker who is hired to film a day in the life of a very eccentric man, is at 95 percent.
The Golden Dream (2013)89%
, a drama about four Guatemalan teenagers making a dangerous trek through Mexico in order to emigrate to America, is at 89 percent.
Before We Go (2014)28%
, starring Chris Evans and Alice Eve in a romantic dramedy about two strangers who trek around New York in an attempt to get their lives in order, is at 13 percent.
Dope, directed by Rick Famuyiwa, stars Shameik Moore, Blake Anderson, Kiersey Clemons, and Tony Revolori as nerds growing up in The Bottoms. Grae Drake talks to them about the message of the film, what people assume about them based on their looks, and finally…they exchange the rap session for an actual rap session.
Visually daring, narratively complex, technically groundbreaking: Pixar’s best work has been all this and more, redefining the term “family entertainment” in the process. Critics say Inside Out is another triumph for the studio, an audacious, funny, complex film that pulls off a seemingly impossible conceit. Riley is an 11-year-old girl whose family has relocated from Minnesota to San Francisco, and she’s struggling with her emotions, which are personified by a group of colorful avatars that live and work in her brain. But when Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) find themselves stuck in the recesses of her memory banks, Riley’s mental state becomes increasingly precarious. The pundits say the Certified Fresh Inside Out, with its energetic voice performances and breathtaking animation, can stand alongside Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up as a superior example of Pixar’s advancement of the medium. (Check out our video interviews with the stars, along with our countdown of every Pixar movie by Tomatometer.)
Dope flies in the face of summer movie conventions: it’s a Sundance-approved teen comedy with a cast of up-and-comers that confounds expectations at nearly every turn. Critics say the film is a breath of fresh air — it’s energetic and thoughtful, and it could prove to be a star-making vehicle for talented newcomer Shameik Moore. A bookworm whose taste for 1990s fashion and music makes him an outcast at school and in his neighborhood, Malcolm (Moore) dreams of getting accepted to Harvard. However, when he winds up in possession of a bag full of drugs, our hero must come up with a plan to unload the product without ending up in serious trouble. The pundits say Dope has occasional bumpy patches, but mostly, it’s an insightful, warm-hearted film that’s bursting with personality.
“Mother’s Mercy” wraps up a particularly dark Game of Thrones season with a finale that delivers strong character work and and a handful of appropriately bleak cliffhangers.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell sets engaging performances against an enchanting canvas, even if some of the magic from the source material gets lost along the way.
True Detective‘s second season stands on its own as a solid police drama, with memorable moments and resonant relationships outweighing predictable plot twists.
Also Opening This Week In Limited Release
Hippocrates (2014)74%
, a black comedy about an idealistic young intern learning the ropes at a dysfunctional hospital, is at 100 percent.
3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets (2015)100%
, a documentary about the murder trial of a man who shot a teenager after a confrontation over loud music, is at 100 percent.
Eden (2014)84%
, a drama about the rise and fall of a French DJ whose popularity coincides with a series of romantic escapades, is at 100 percent
The Tribe (2014)87%
, a drama about a group of students at a Ukrainian school for the deaf involved in all matter of criminal activity, is Certified Fresh at 88 percent.
The Overnight (2015)83%
, starring Taylor Schilling and Adam Scott as a young couple who get more than they bargain for when they accept a dinner invitation from married swingers, is at 85 percent
Gabriel (2014)88%
, starring Rory Culkin in a pyschological thriller about a troubled young man looking for his childhood sweetheart, is at 82 percent.
Infinitely Polar Bear (2014)83%
, starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana in a drama about a man suffering from bipolar disorder who attempts to rebuild his relationship with his family, is at 82 percent.
Balls Out (2014)87%
, starring Jake Lacy and Nikki Reed in a comedy about a fifth-year college senior who gets his beloved intramural flag football team back together for one more shot at glory, is at 80 percent.
Rubble Kings (2015)73%
, a documentary about the rise of gang activity in the Bronx during a tumultuous period in the 1960s and 1970s, is at 63 percent.
The Face of an Angel (2014)38%
, starring Kate Beckinsale and Cara Delevingne in a drama loosely based upon the Amanda Knox case, is at 44 percent.
Manglehorn (2014)50%
, starring Al Pacino and Holly Hunter in David Gordon Green’s drmaedy about a lonely locksmith who still pines for his lost love, is at 31 percent.
62%
74%
43%
- -
Pawn Stars: Season 13
(2016)
