The 93 Best Movies on Hulu Right Now (October 2021)

In Cristian Petzolds’ cinematic adaptation of the ancient myth of Undine, Paula Beer stars as the titular water dweller — a mermaid-type being given a chance at humanity. Working as a Berlin historian, Undine’s romantic partner unexpectedly leaves her, setting a chain of events into motion that may strip her of her womanly guise. In accordance with folklore, Undine must kill her betraying lover and return to the water to live out the rest of her days as a nymph once more. From the writer-director of Phoenix and Transit, Undine is a lush blend of romance and drama, set against the architectural evolution (and decay) of a city rich with emotions of its own.

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: Paula Beer, Franz Rogowski, Maryam Zaree
Director: Cristian Petzold
Rating: NR
Runtime: 90 minutes

When David (Clayne Crawford) and Nikki (Sepideh Moafi) decide to separate, David does everything in his power to keep his family of six treading water — until Nikki begins a new relationship. While they both agreed they would see other people, David begins to have a very difficult time with his ex-to-be’s new romance, leading him down a dark path of no return. Writer-director Robert Machoian is a significant talent to watch in the coming years, delivering a resonant film without an ounce of fat. The performances are top-notch, the story is heart-wrenching, and even though things can get unrelenting, there’s no way you’ll turn away once you start the film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Clayne Crawford, Sepideh Moafi, Chris Coy
Director: Robert Machoian
Rating: R
Runtime: 85 minutes

In La La Land, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star as Sebastian and Mia, the former an aspiring jazz pianist, the latter an actress in the making. Set in the sun-soaked, Technicolor dreamscape of Los Angeles, two serendipitous encounters at a jazz club — and then months later at a pool party — propel both artists into a whirlwind romance. But when fate comes calling and their careers begin shaping up, Sebastian and Mia are forced to re-examine their romance as their true dreams start unfolding before their eyes. An absolutely dazzling musical in the tradition of Hollywood’s show-stopping spectacles, La La Land is an unforgettable foray into a once-classic genre that doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves these days.

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Genre: Comedy, Musical
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend
Director: Damian Chazelle
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 128 minutes

Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) is a down-and-out country music artist that has bid ado to his glory days. Performing in bowling alleys and dive bars throughout the southwestern U.S., Blake finds new meaning in his life when he begins a relationship with reporter Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a romance that challenges the songwriter’s reliance on alcohol for his livelihood. As the two grow closer, Blake must learn to dismiss his ego and boozing, but can the musician truly escape his vices? Based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb, Jeff Bridges is the heart and soul of Crazy Heart, delivering a grounded but emotional performance that earned Bridges a Best Actor Oscar-win.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall
Director: Scott Cooper
Rating: R
Runtime: 112 minutes

Director Danny Boyle’s electrifying (and Oscar-winning) Slumdog Millionaire stars Dev Patel (Lion, The Green Knight) as Jamal Malik, a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Suspecting him of cheating, authorities descend on Jamal, torturing him backstage and demanding to know how he knows the answers to the questions. But there’s no rule-breaking whatsoever, as, through a series of cinematic flashbacks, we follow Jamal from his adolescent years in Mumbai into his young adulthood, where a backdrop of petty crime and towering misadventures provide answers to the game show’s questions. A masterful and kaleidoscopic film, Slumdog Millionaire is a timeless journey into a world like no other.

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal
Director: Danny Boyle
Rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes

An ensemble heist-comedy for the ages, A Fish Called Wanda stars Tom Georgeson as British mobster George Thomason. Hoping to carry out a major diamond robbery, George and his associates recruit Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Otto (Kevin Kline) — the former an American con artist, the latter a weapons expert — to carry out their mischievous act. But when the heist goes haywire and the Americans hand their British employer over to the authorities, double-crossing Wanda and Otto carry out their own mission to recover Thomason’s diamond haul. An intelligent, trans-continental laugh-fest that blends the powers of multiple ensemble talents, A Fish Called Wanda brings plenty of sophistication to a normally down-and-dirty sub-genre — the heist thriller.

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline
Director: Charles Crichton, John Cleese
Rating: R
Runtime: 107 minutes

Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is long past his glory days of pro-wrestling. Fighting in a series of independent matches throughout New Jersey while living in a ramshackle trailer, Randy gets the opportunity to take on a glory-days opponent for a 20th-anniversary rematch. But, when The Ram’s failing health and substance abuse issues catch up with him, the ’80s titan must choose between a better-balanced 9-to-5 lifestyle or a risky wrestling-ring comeback. An emotional character study that sees Mickey Rourke in uncharted dramatic territory, Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is a powerful film about love, regret, and the pursuit of relevance.

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Rating: R
Runtime: 110 minutes

Orphaned adolescent Jesse (Jason James Richter) and his teenage pals spend their days scavenging for food and shelter while getting into mischief. After deciding to vandalize a theme park, the authorities arrive to catch Jesse and his companions in the act — but not before Jesse has a pivotal encounter with an orca named Willy. As part of his sentencing, Jesse is handed over to a foster family and must report to the theme park to clean up his graffiti. There, he meets Willy once more, and the two begin to develop a special bond, an interspecies connection that the park owner (Michael Ironsides) aims to profit from. A classic heartfelt story about finding family in the most unlikely of places, Free Willy more than stands the test of time.

Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
Stars: Jason James Richter, Lori Petty, Michael Madsen
Director: Simon Wincer
Rating: PG
Runtime: 111 minutes

Joining the ranks of this much-adapted William Shakespeare masterpiece, Joss Whedon’s take on the play brings black-and-white cinematography to the fold, along with a mafia backbone. When Don Pedro (Reed Diamond) arrives at Messina to visit the governor with Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Claudio (Fran Kranz), the Don’s tag-alongs quickly become embroiled in relationship troubles as Claudio begins to fall for the governor’s daughter and Benedick falls for his niece, Beatrice (Amy Acker). A highly stylized take on a proscenium classic, Much Ado About Nothing trades a few plot points and characters for a more consolidated approach to the source material.

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Genre: Romance
Stars: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion
Director: Joss Whedon
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 109 minutes

Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) is disenchanted with his software job at Initech. After a hypnotherapy session goes wrong (or right), Peter becomes a new man, fresh with relaxation and a new outlook on life — even though the hypnotherapist dies of a heart attack during their session. Returning to work, Peter’s fresh attitude and direct approach earn him a promotion from a group of company higher-ups, but his co-workers Samir and Michael lose their jobs. Teaming up with the ex-employees, Peter and his companions come up with a plan to incrementally rob Initech by way of an accounting computer virus. A brilliant satire from the king of uncanny comedy, Mike Judge, Office Space has more than stood the test of time, often hailed as a must-see film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman
Director: Mike Judge
Rating: R
Runtime: 89 minutes

When Avon saleswoman Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) attempts to sell her lineup to the inhabitants of an old Gothic manor, the only denizen she discovers is the lonely Edward (Johnny Depp). An unfinished humanoid experiment, Edward accompanies peg back to her home, where he soon develops a crush on Peg’s teenage daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder). As Edward and his uncanny razor- sharp claw/hands begin to acclimate to the Boggs’ suburbia, a handful of community members start to see Edward as dangerous and decide to take matters into their own hands. Edward Scissorhands is built on a fairy-tale foundation and sprinkled with a touch of macabre that only Tim Burton can provide.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Fantasy, Other, Romance, Comedy, Drama
Stars: Winona Ryder, Johnny Depp, Dianne Wiest
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 105 minutes

In Alexander Payne’s Election, Matthew Broderick stars as Jim McAllister, a beloved high school teacher who can’t help but notice that Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) may not make such a great student body president. Fearing her less-than-moralistic tactics will make for a poor influence on the school, Jim convinces Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), a celebrated jock, to run against Tracy, a subterfuge move that the latter discovers and becomes infuriated over. A dark comedy led by a brilliant leading-man performance from Matthew Broderick, Election is one of Alexander Payne’s best.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
Director: Alexander Payne
Rating: R
Runtime: 103 minutes

When Frances (Diane Lane) learns that her husband has been cheating on her, the San Francisco writer falls into a heavy bout of depression. In an attempt to lift her spirits, Patti (Sandra Oh), a close friend, urges Frances to take a vacation to Tuscany using a ticket Patti purchased before she was pregnant. Agreeing to the offer, Frances journeys to Italy where she decides to buy a dilapidated villa and begin an entirely new life, forming relationships with the pleasantly eccentric townsfolk that live in and around her property. A feel-good movie for the ages, Lane leads the charge in Under the Tuscan Sun, delivering a heartfelt performance that plays nicely with the remarkable landscapes of her newfound Italian residence.

Rotten Tomatoes: 62%
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Stars: Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan
Director: Audrey Wells
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 103 minutes

Life in the deep river-country of Arkansas is business as usual for best friends Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland). Spending their summer days earning a buck with an odd job here or there, what the pair truly relish is adventure. Taking to the river, the teens row to an island where they discover a boat lodged in a tree, the home of a sage-like squatter called Mud (Matthew McConaughey). On the run, Mud shares words of wisdom and makes a pact with the young duo — repair and re-anchor the boat and the kids keep Mud’s handgun. A story captured from Ellis’ point of view, in Mud, writer-director Jeff Nichols expertly weaves shades of coming-of-age drama through a fine mesh of Southern Gothic-meets-romance. Oh, and throw in a shoot-out for good measure.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland
Director: Jeff Nichols
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 130 minutes

When up-and-coming ballerina Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is given the lead role in her company’s rendition of Swan Lake, her bubble of success is savagely burst by the arrival of a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis). When Thomas (Vincent Cassel), the ballet’s director, re-casts Lily as Nina’s Black Swan alternate, Nina’s neuroses and inner demons throw the star into a horrific downward spiral, one filled with hallucinations, disturbing visions, and other deeply psychological terrors. Writer-director Darren Aronofsky is at the top of his game with Black Swan, delivering a tormented but satiating thriller about the many inner horrors of the arts.

Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Rating: R
Runtime: 108 minutes

When Neal Page (Steve Martin) wraps up a meeting in New York, he has every intention of making it home to Chicago for Thanksgiving — only it turns out Mother Nature has other plans. A freak snowstorm descends upon the Windy City, forcing Neal’s flight to reroute to Kansas. Along his jet-set path, the weary Neal meets Del Griffith, a traveling salesman who knows just how to get under Neal’s skin. The worlds of both businessmen collide when they agree to rent a motel room together and find an alternative form of transit to get back to Chicago in time for the festivities. Writer-director John Hughes’ iconic film has lived at the top of countless comedy roundups, featuring an unbeatable laugh-out-loud pairing of the great Steve Martin and the late-great John Candy.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: John Candy, Steve Martin, Laila Robins
Director: John Hughes
Rating: R
Runtime: 92 minutes

In co-writer/director Brett Haley’s Hearts Beat Louder, Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons star as Frank and Sam, a musically inclined father-daughter pairing. With Sam heading off to college and the widowed Frank forced to shutter his record store, Frank begins to insist that he and his daughter take their routine jam sessions to the stage before they transition to bi-coastal living. One night, without Sam’s consent, Frank uploads one of their recordings to Spotify, launching the family into unexpected viral stardom. An emotionally rich film about the inner workings of father-daughter dynamics, musical aspirations, and what it takes to break free, Hearts Beat Loud is one you don’t want to miss.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Comedy, Music, Drama
Stars: Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson
Director: Brett Haley
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 97 minutes

A bleak high school comedy that was written on spec by scribe Daniel Waters, the film was intended for the auteurist touch of Stanley Kubrick. With directing duties eventually manned by Michael Lehmann, the resulting film still stands as an edgy cult flick more than 30 years later. Winona Ryder stars as Veronica Sawyer, one of four girls in a revered public school clique, and the other three members of her posse are teen girls with the first name “Heather.” After Veronica becomes obsessed with the new kid at school, J.D. (Christian Slater), the young couple begins a murderous spree that they cover up with forged suicide prose. While the subject matter may not land for some, Heathers is an exemplary piece of ’80s satire that turns the typical high school dramedy on its oft-duplicated head.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty
Director: Michael Lehmann
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes

In the Coen Brothers remake of the John Wayne classic, True Grit sees Jeff Bridges handling the gruff and intoxicated role of Rooster Cogburn. When the marshall’s services are commandeered by the no-nonsense 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Stanford), seeking vengeance for her father’s murder, the unlikely duo takes to the harsh landscapes of the Old West to track down the man that shot down Mattie’s elder. Along the way, they’re joined by a Texas Ranger named LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) who has his own reasons for seeing Mattie’s father’s killer behind bars. Of note is the impressive acting duo that is Bridges and Stanford, combining wit, tough attitudes, and the perseverance of justice in a partnership like no other.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Western, Drama
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Stanford
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 110 minutes

John and Molly Chester took on a brand new life of toil, sweat, and the longest hours when, in 2010, the couple decided to abandoned their traditional jobs and purchased an arid 200-acre parcel of land on the fringes of Los Angeles. The Biggest Little Farm charts the seven years after their benchmark transaction as we watch the barren acreage transform into a diverse paradise of crops and fauna. A film that does wonders for the soul, spending a meditative hour-plus with the Chester clan will shed you of any wretched toxins you may be carrying with you from the day.

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: John Chester, Molly Chester
Director: John Chester
Rating: PG
Runtime: 91 minutes

Based on writer Rita Kalnejais’ play of the same name, Babyteeth stars Eliza Scanlon as Milla Finlay, a 16-year-old teen diagnosed with cancer. When the girl meets a man named Moses (Toby Wallace), the two quickly fall for each other, much to the dismay of Milla’s parents (played by Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn). While they fear that Moses may be taking advantage of the family, her parents realize that he brings Milla joy and happiness, so they do what they can to keep him around. A subversive cancer-dramedy that plays by its own set of rules, Babyteeth is a surprisingly fresh watch for those expecting your run-of-the-mill disease drama.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Essie Davis
Director: Shannon Murphy
Rating: N/A
Runtime: 117 minutes

Frankie (Harris Dickinson) is struggling to stay adrift in life. With his father close to death and his mother on his back, practically begging him to enter a relationship with someone, Frankie retreats to the world of chatrooms and webcams, where he connects with older men. As these fleeting conversations begin taking on more gravity, the youth ditches his adolescent tendencies to start officially pursuing male companionship, all while entering into a romance with a girl named Simone (Madeline Weinstein). A coming-of-age film like no other, Beach Rats features earnest performances, gorgeous cinematography, and a compact narrative that plays much bigger than its premise.

Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Genre: Drama, Gay & Lesbian
Stars: Harris Dickinson, Madeline Weinstein, Kate Hodge
Director: Eliza Hittman
Rating: R
Runtime: 97 minutes

An excellent biopic and homage to its titular late-great talent, Judy stars Renée Zellweger as the world-famous actress turned lounge performer, Judy Garland. Tracing her career back to her teenage years, we get a front-row vantage to the excess and excitement of celebrity life, but also a cautionary look at the many perils and pitfalls that a limelight existence can have in store. Zellweger is simply electrifying in the title role, delivering an emotionally captivating performance that stands as the centerpiece of the film. Without her chops and commitment, Judy would be a much lesser picture.

Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Genre: Drama, History, Biography, Music
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock
Director: Rupert Goold
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 118 minutes

Ben Wheatley is no stranger to perverse English eco-terrors, particularly with the director’s latest release, In the Earth. However, the auteur’s botanical nightmares seemingly began with A Field in England, this 2013 period thriller. Set during the English Civil War, the film follows a batch of rogue soldiers and an alchemist’s assistant who attempt to desert the battlefront. After being captured by a rival alchemist and fed hallucinatory mushrooms, the deserters become subservient to the cause of their captor, a man intending to unearth something mystical and almighty in the field they’re settled on. An adventure of kaleidoscopic proportions, combining notes of drama, horror, and black comedy, A Field in England is an exceptional entry in the bizarre canon of Ben Wheatley.

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Genre: Drama, History, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Michael Smiley, Reece Shearsmith, Peter Ferdinando
Director: Ben Wheatley
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes

Liam Neeson’s mid-life cinematic presence is undeniable. While the actor’s proliferation of action epics may tread some overly formulaic waters, Taken was one of the first in the man’s lineup of grizzled hero flicks, and it’s a good one. Neeson plays Bryan Mills, a former Green Beret who must put all of his former tactical powers into action when his teenage daughter (Maggie Grace) and her friend are abducted in Paris by a group of sex traffickers. Taken doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel by any means, but it wears its action label proudly. Close-ups on Neeson as he delivers threatening dialogue, top-notch set pieces, and a constant propulsive pace are the reasons to watch and the reason you’ll stay through the runtime.

Rotten Tomatoes: 59%
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen
Director: Pierre Morel
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 91 minutes

Writer-director Debra Granik is renowned for her grim, gut-punching dramas. Continuing her tradition of devastating familial hardships brought to light in her previous films Down to the Bone and Winter’s Bone, Leave No Trace stars Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie as Will and Tom, a father-daughter duo living on the fringes of society in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. As the two are sleeping in tents and preparing whatever they can find in nature for meals, Portland park authorities discover their hideout and force the family to reintegrate with the civilized world. As Tom sees shades of a hopeful, less challenging future before her, Will personally finds the acclimation to be difficult, particularly in the wake of his military past that has riddled him with PTSD symptoms. A heartfelt examination of Will and Tom’s relationship is the centerpiece of this less-vicious entry in Granik’s portfolio, and it’s a dynamic perfectly buttressed by Foster and McKenzie’s rich performances.

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Foster, Jeff Kober
Director: Debra Granik
Rating: PG
Runtime: 108 minutes

In Bryan Singer’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek breaks free of his indie roots to deliver a towering performance as one of rock music’s most celebrated figures — Freddie Mercury. Told through a series of past and present vignettes, the film explores Queen’s prolific rise into music stardom, culminating in the band’s world-famous Live Aid concert performance in 1985. Those seeking a detailed biopic of all things Freddie Mercury may be a hair disappointed at what’s left out of the epic film, but it’s hard to deny the extreme talents on show here. As Mercury, Malek doesn’t hold back in the slightest, delivering a nuanced and energized depiction of one of music’s most recognizable bandleaders. There’s also no denying that getting any kind of behind-the-scenes exposure to Queen’s woodshedding makes for viewing that’s hard to steer away from.

Rotten Tomatoes: 60%
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Gay & Lesbian, Music
Stars: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Director: Bryan Singer
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 135 minutes

Writer-director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace, Black Mass) brings his iconic gritty realism to the period Western landscape. Hostiles finds Christian Bale returning to Cooper’s acting fold as Captain Joseph Blocker, an Army captain tasked with transporting a Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi) and his family from New Mexico to their home in Montana. Along the way, the band of travelers comes across Rosalee Quaid (Rosamund Pike), a widow whose family was wiped out by Comanche warriors. Banding together, Blocker, Quaid, and Chief Yellow Hawk must contend with the grueling geography and the outlying Comanches that want them dead. Brutal and surprising, Hostiles doesn’t relent at any point in its two-hours-plus runtime.

Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Genre: Drama, Western, History
Stars: Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi
Director: Scott Cooper
Rating: R
Runtime: 133 minutes

In the long-awaited follow-up to The Croods (2013), A New Age finds the titular barbarian clan searching for a safer place to call home. After stumbling upon a great walled-in structure, the Croods are captured by Phil and Hope Betterman (Peter Dinklage and Leslie Mann), fellow Neanderthals with a bit more wit and technology. Initially peeved by each other’s clans, both the Croods and Bettermans must unite to contend with the evildoing Punch Monkeys before the creatures wipe out both prehistoric dynasties. A delightful and humorous animated adventure, The Croods: A New Age was delayed several times in its production, with the coronavirus hindering the final leg of animation.

Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Nicholas Cage
Director: Joel Crawford
Rating: PG
Runtime: 95 minutes

Upon her release from a mental hospital, Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza) discovers a social media influencer on Instagram named Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). After receiving feedback from Sloane, Ingrid packs her belongings and uses her mother’s inheritance to secretly move to LA to get as close to her newfound idol as possible. A powerhouse pairing of Plaza and Olsen is the mighty fire that burns throughout Ingrid Goes West, along with a timely narrative that acts as a humorous warning label stamped on the face of influencer culture.

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Director: Matt Spicer
Rating: R
Runtime: 98 minutes

Written and directed by The Sopranos creator David Chase, Not Fade Away follows Douglas Damiano (John Magaro), a New Jersey college dropout who has mile-high aspirations of finding fame through a homegrown rock band. In keeping with British Invasion influences like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Gene (Jack Huston), the founder of the band, asks Doug to join, with hopes that the act will grow melodically. But when a series of tumultuous events transpire, Doug finds himself as the new frontman, carrying the weight of his musical dreams, familial hardships, and blossoming love life. An homage to the heyday of rock music, Not Fade Away revisits a zeitgeist fueled by transitory sounds and dreamers hoping to land a radio hit.

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
Genre: Drama
Stars: John Magaro, James Gandolfini, Jack Huston
Director: David Chase
Rating: R
Runtime: 112 minutes

Gone Girl opens with Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) celebrating his fifth anniversary to his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) alone in a bar. When the downtrodden man returns home to find his spouse missing and signs of a bloody struggle, a full-scale investigation is launched, with Nick as a central suspect. Adding fuel to the fire is the amount of coverage Amy’s disappearance receives, a media blitz that Nick struggles to trudge his way through. Narratively driven by present-day occurrences and flashback moments, Gone Girl (based on the Gillian Flynn novel of the same name) paints a dark portrait of once-marital bliss unfolding and disintegrating in the most surprising and horrific ways possible. Led by a stellar ensemble of performers and director David Fincher’s spot-on execution, Gone Girl will leave you speechless in more ways than one.

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
Director: David Fincher
Rating: R
Runtime: 149 minutes

Blending cultural awareness with a sci-fi-laced narrative bedrock, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson follows the titular character (portrayed by Steven Silver), a gay Nigerian-American man. Out driving, Tunde is pulled over by a disgruntled police officer who pulls his weapon and ends Tunde’s life. Immediately after the trigger is pulled, Tunde awakens, finding himself trapped in a time loop with his inevitable death facing him repeatedly. Leaning on the big trope of such memorable hits as Groundhog Day, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson pushes the typical light footing of the time loop sub-genre aside in favor of a more character-driven approach, a feat more than accomplished by director Ali LeRoi and Steven Silver’s grounded approach to the lead role.

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Genre: Drama, Gay & Lesbian, Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Steven Silver, Spencer Neville, Nicola Peltz
Director: Ali LeRoi
Rating: R
Runtime: 104 minutes

When Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy secured work as a janitor and gas station clerk in Tustin, California, the man would never know that he was on the cusp of an immense legacy. Taking note of a local doughnut shop and inquiring about the business, Ngoy ended up receiving training through an affirmative action initiative, eventually finding his way into doughnut shop management. An ambitious documentary from Alice Gu, The Donut King tells the story of Ngoy’s rise into the California doughnut empire, told through the inspiringly upbeat personas of Ted Ngoy and his family.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Ted Ngoy
Director: Alice Gu
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes

In writer-director Keith Thomas’s The Vigil, Dave Davis stars as Yakov Ronen, a displaced Orthodox Jew residing in the Hasidic Borough Park area of New York. After accepting an offer from his former rabbi to be the overnight guardian of a deceased community member, a horrific entity begins haunting Yakov. Combining traditional Jewish folk influences and the glories of shoestring filmmaking, Thomas succeeds in building a dread-laden atmosphere with earnest performances, close-quarters cinematography, and clever storytelling.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Dave Davis, Fred Melamed, Lynn Cohen
Director: Keith Thomas
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes

In Robot & Frank, Frank Langella stars as Frank, an age-addled dementia patient. When Frank’s son Hunter employs the services of an android to help care for his father, an initially resistant Frank soon warms up to the robot’s presence — specifically because the cyborg can’t differentiate between what’s moral and what’s not. Thus, Frank, an ex-thief, begins using the robot to carry out local burglaries. A smart story about technological advancements, family ties, elderly care, and past lives, Robot & Frank is a whipsmart sci-fi/comedy amalgam and fitting addition to Hulu’s library.

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Stars: Frank Langella, Peter Sarsgaard, Susan Sarandon
Director: Jake Schreier
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes

Set in a coastal community in England, Saint Maud stars Morfydd Clark as the titular Maud, a born-again Roman Catholic and on-call nurse. When Maud’s agency assigns her to care for an ailing dancer and cancer patient named Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), Maud uses the opportunity to bestow her newfound faith-healing practices on the sick woman. Initially receptive to Maud’s benevolence, Amanda’s attitude turns, leaving Maud embittered. With no one to share her religious dogma with, Maud gradually sinks into an inner world of disorienting madness while disturbing events from her past begin to resurface through visions and visits from an old friend. A magnificent debut from writer-director Rose Glass, Saint Maud is a mesmerizing slow-burn piece of body horror and a stellar vehicle for the talents of Morfydd Clark.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Horror
Stars: Morfydd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Frazer
Director: Rose Glass
Rating: R
Runtime: 84 minutes

After a traumatic incident, Adrienna and Matteo (Sienna Miller and Diego Luna), a struggling young couple, are sent to the hospital. Confined to rehabilitative quarters, the once-happy pair are transported to an otherworldly realm of surreal memories. While each of them is forced to confront the hazy beginnings of their fizzling romance, their out-of-body paths will cross in bizarre and unexpected ways. Visually, Wander Darkly lives in an elevated plane of awareness, but the emotionally laden performances of both Miller and Luna help to anchor the film in a grounded and often relatable reality.

Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Sienna Miller, Diego Luna, Vanessa Bayer
Director: Tara Miele
Rating: R
Runtime: 97 minutes

In director Sam Mendes’ Skyfall, Daniel Craig returns for his third go with the James Bond character. A sequel to 2008’s Quantum of Solace, Skyfall begins with a tumultuous action set piece that kicks the film off with pure energy. When Patrice, a mercenary in possession of MI6 secrets, is cornered by Bond and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) in Istanbul … aboard a moving train. When the altercation goes haywire, the fate of every MI6 agent is jeopardized as a former operative-turned-terrorist named Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) closes in. Skyfall sets the bar for high-octane action thrills, featuring mesmerizing cinematography, editing, sound design, along with commanding performances from the main ensemble. It’s one of the best Bond flicks ever made and a grand success of a major Hollywood blockbuster, earning over $1 billion in worldwide receipts against a $200 million budget.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Action, Mystery and Thriller, Adventure
Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench
Director: Sam Mendes
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 143 minutes

Based on the J.C. Lee play of the same name, Luce stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as the titular Luce, an American teen adopted from Eritrea by Peter and Amy Edgar (Tim Roth and Naomi Watts). When Luce’s history teacher, Harriet Carter (Octavia Spencer), calls a meeting with Luce’s parents after the youth turns in an essay with violent implications, the idyllic family of three are forced to question their parenting, family dynamic, and overall marriage. A riveting examination of racial bias, powered by intense performances from the main ensemble, Luce plays like a character-driven theater experience, paying fine homage to the story’s roots in live theater.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Naomi Watts, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Octavia Spencer,
Director: Julius Onah
Rating: R
Runtime: 109 minutes

Airline pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) can’t seem to shake his vices, booze-addled habits that are given surprise center-staging when his aircraft malfunctions midflight. Successfully pulling off a desperate emergency landing, Whip falls unconscious, awakening later in a hospital. Commended for his heroism, investigative authorities begin to unearth Whip’s drinking habits, forcing the addict to reckon with his professional and personal life choices. Featuring a mighty lead performance from Washington and a pulse-pounding first act, much of what works about Flight is its insistence on spending time with its subjects. Zemeckis’ camera tends to linger on difficult conversations; thus, so do we.

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Genre: Music, Drama, Comedy
Stars: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Rating: R
Runtime: 138 minutes

With an original Danish title of Druk (“binge drinking”), co-writer and director Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round follows a group of four high school teachers with a wild plan. Facing unenthused students, trouble at home, and other midlife hardships, the foursome agrees to test the theories of psychiatrist Finn Skårderud in the workplace. More specifically, the colleagues want to see if maintaining a constant blood-alcohol level of 0.5 will improve their creativity and overall mood. Truly more than another midlife boozer flick, Another Round sees Mads Mikkelsen in top form as Martin, the de facto onscreen leader who attempts to gain more out of his day-to-day through mild intoxication. It’s funny, at times dark, and tactfully hard-hitting.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Rating: NR
Runtime: 115 minutes

Zach (Owen Campbell) and Josh (Charlie Tahan) are lifelong pals who spend their days riding bikes, rating girls in their yearbook, and sneaking a little pot-smoking in now and then. Little do they know that their lives are about to change forever, all on one fateful afternoon. When a horrific tragedy shatters their innocence, Zach and Josh are forced to make profound adult decisions that will affect the trajectory of their lives and test the foundations of their friendship. An exciting indie debut from director Kevin Phillips, Super Dark Times leads with strong performances, captivating camera work, snappy editing, and a mood-setting score by Australian/Icelandic composer Ben Foster.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, Elizabeth Cappuccino
Director: Kevin Phillips
Rating: NR
Runtime: 102 minutes

Brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan (Channing Tatum and Adam Driver) are down-on-their-luck siblings — one a laid-off construction worker, the other an amputee war vet tending bar. Hoping to break a supposed family curse and reap the reward of millions of dollars, the brothers recruit a hodge-podge ensemble of two-bit criminals to break into the underground tunnels of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. But when things don’t go as planned, the brothers and their team must contend with an FBI agent on their tail, while attempting to pull off a heist during a major race. Coming out of retirement to direct, Steven Soderbergh delivers big with Logan Lucky, a mighty amalgamation of comedy, drama, and high-stakes thrills.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama, Crime, Comedy
Stars: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Riley Keough
Director: Kevin Phillips
Rating: NR
Runtime: 102 minutes

In Girl, Bella Thorne stars as the unnamed titular character. Hellbent on revenge, Girl is taking a bus to her small hometown in Ontario, Canada. Her goal? To murder her abusive father. Her weapon? An ax that he gave her years ago. When Girl arrives, though, her simple revenge plot quickly unwinds into something far more sinister when she realizes that a group of like-minded locals may have beat her to the punch, stripping Girl of her much-desired vengeance. A gritty and contemporary noir meets B-movie suspense, Girl is a raw and ruthless film that gives Bella Thorne center stage.

Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Bella Thorne, Mickey Rourke, Chad Faust
Director: Chad Faust
Rating: N/A
Runtime: 92 minutes

In Ammonite, writer-director Francis Lee brings us a searing romantic drama that gains new heights from the intimately human performances from its two leads — Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. Set in 1840s England, Winslet plays Mary Anning, a struggling fossil hunter who sells off her local finds to traveling tourists to support herself and her ill mother. When a wealthy but amateur fossil scout (James McArdle) enters the picture, the man asks Mary to care for his recovering wife, Charlotte (Saoirse Ronan), while he’s away on an expedition. Agreeing to the offer, Mary and Charlotte begin spending time together, forming a passionate relationship that begins two social classes apart and quickly becomes more than just routine caretaking. An exquisite arthouse offering, Francis Lee delivers a brilliantly subdued period drama with Ammonite, a fitting follow-up to her last film, In God’s Country.

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
Genre: Drama, Romance, Gay & Lesbian
Stars: Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan, Fiona Shaw
Director: Francis Lee
Rating: R
Runtime: 120 minutes

A modern Mark Twain adventure for the ages, The Peanut Butter Falcon stars Zack Gottsagen as Zak, a 22-year-old man with Down syndrome. After escaping from his assisted living facility, Zak plans to run away to the wrestling school of the Saltwater Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). Along the way, Zak runs into Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a recently fired fisherman. Forming a friendship, the two men build a raft and hit the water, rowing their way to the Saltwater Redneck’s training facility. An endearing buddy film that delights and surprises at every turn, The Peanut Butter Falcon is the feature film debut of the writer-director duo, Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, and a sleeper hit — grossing over $23 million against a modest $6 million budget.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Adventure
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen
Director: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 96 minutes

Started in 2010 by Adam Neumann, Miguel McKelvey, and Adam’s spouse, Rebekah Neumann, WeWork was established as a commercial real estate company with a focus on shared workspaces. In director Jed Rothstein’s documentary, the creative team dissects the rise and fall of the Neumann empire, with an emphasis placed on Adam Neumann’s exploits as a corporate leader. Talking heads include industry experts, journalists, and former WeWork higher-ups. Offering an entrancing look at the hypnotic pull of Neumann’s startup, the doc succeeds the most at providing a humanistic vantage to Adam’s vision of a greater workplace, an ideology that many investors and WeWork staffers bought into and believed in.

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Adam Neumann, Jed Rothstein
Director: Jed Rothstein
Rating: NA
Runtime: 104 minutes

Fur trappers Joseph Mersault (Devon Sawa), his wife Anne (Camille Sullivan), and daughter Renée are facing dwindling returns on their livelihood. What’s worse is that the family begins to think their traps are being picked apart by a wolf. When Joseph leaves his wife and daughter to investigate, an injured man (Nick Stahl) arrives at the family’s outpost. Close to death, Anne and Renée grow increasingly wary of their visitor’s intentions, along with the well-being of their husband and father. Tense, tight, and minimalist in its slow-burn thrills, Hunter Hunter marks writer-director Shawn Linden as a raw talent to keep your sights on.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Stars: Camille Sullivan, Devon Sawa, Nick Stahl
Director: Shawn Linden
Rating: NR
Runtime: 93 minutes

Unemployed and struggling with a booze addiction, Gloria (Anne Hathaway) can’t imagine her life getting any lower. After a breakup and eviction, Gloria is forced to relocate back to New England, where she takes a job as a bartender, a position offered to her by longtime friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis). But there’s trouble afoot in Seoul, South Korea: A towering reptilian monster wreaks havoc on the city. Soon after the creature’s appearance, Gloria realizes that the monster is somehow connected to her, as evidenced by mirror-image physical behaviors. As her life continues to unravel, Gloria must learn how to grapple with her own vices and deep-seated issues before the monster devastates the entire world. Wholly original and powered by Hathaway’s mesmerizing lead performance, Colossal is worthy weekend watching for sure.

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Stars: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Rating: R
Runtime: 110 minutes

Missing Link stars Zach Galifianakis as one Mr. Link, a towering mythic beast looking quite a bit like Bigfoot. Forlorn that he can’t connect with the other members of his species, the creature reaches out to famed explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) to guide him to Shangri-La, where he hopes to reconnect with the lost members of his clan. A dizzying and heartfelt stop-motion production, Missing Link explores themes of friendship, connection, and identity through animated valor. It’s a loving and comical film with plenty of entertainment for both kids and parents.

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Kids and Family
Stars: Zach Galifianakis, Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana
Director: Chris Butler
Rating: PG
Runtime: 94 minutes

Former special forces agent Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) is trapped in a seamless loop of experiencing his own death over and over again. Call it a personal Groundhog Day from hell. As Roy moves through his various demises, the agent starts unearthing a secret government plot, spearheaded by Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson), that could be the reason for his endless cycle of carnage. To break the chain, Roy will have to fight his way through an onslaught of vicious assassins who are all trying to keep him from escaping the death loop. Boss Level is an action flick that operates at breakneck speed. While loop films like Source Code and Looper approach their narratives with finesse and relative subtlety, Boss Level cares more about the thrill. In a nutshell: It’s great, loud fun.

Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Action, Sci-fi
Stars: Frank Grillo, Naomi Watts, Mel Gibson
Director: Joe Carnahan
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 100 minutes

When a rogue stork named Jasper (Danny Trejo) does the unthinkable and keeps a baby for himself instead of delivering it, the mythical industry of the stork gets out of the child-delivery business and goes all conglomerate, switching to shipping boring old packages. The baby, Tulip (Katie Crown), with the details of her parents unknown, is raised by the storks and grows up to work as a janitor with the package-delivery birds. When the boss stork, Hunter (Kelsey Grammer), tasks his top delivery stork, Junior (Andy Samberg), to fire Tulip, Junior takes a liking to her and instead relegates her to the mailroom. But when a boy named Nate Gardner (Anton Starkman) sends a letter to the storks asking for a sibling, Tulip fires up the old Baby Factory and creates an infant for the boy. Now it’s up to Junior and Tulip to sneak the newborn off of Stork Mountain before Hunter catches on. A cheeky animated feature from Warner Animation Group and Sony Pictures Imageworks, Storks is cute and comical in more ways than one, providing entertainment for both kids and parents.

Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Genre: Adventure, Kids and Family, Animation, Comedy
Stars: Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer
Director: Nicolas Stoller, Doug Sweetland
Rating: PG
Runtime: 87 minutes

Director David Fincher’s The Social Network, with a brilliant script by leading Hollywood scribe Aaron Sorkin, chronicles the prolific rise and fall of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) on the heels of the social media platform’s creation. Bitter from his breakup with college love Erica Albright (Rooney Mara), Zuckerberg takes to the internet, inventing Facemash — a website where visitors can rate the attractiveness of female students. When the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer as both brothers) learn of Mark’s site, they try and recruit him to help create Harvard Connection, a site aimed at college kids. But Mark goes to his friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) instead, and the duo concocts Thefacebook. The social mecca takes off, the money starts coming in, and lawsuits start flying in this richly-worded biopic that took home awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing at the 83rd Academy Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer
Director: David Fincher
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 105 minutes

This 2020 adaptation of the famous Grimm fairy tale stars Sophia Lillis and Sammy Leakey as the renowned brother-sister duo. On the run from their troubled home life, the siblings discover an enchanting home deep in the dark woods. The enchantress, Holda (Alice Krige), is an inviting presence, but as both children spend more time with her, the woman’s sinister intentions rise to the surface. Giving a fresh coat of paint to the morbid tale that has seen more than its share of adaptations, Gretel and Hansel is a visual feast, relying more on mood and atmosphere than jump-scare set pieces.

Rotten Tomatoes: 64%
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Stars: Sophia Lillis, Alice Krige, Sammy Leakey, Charles Babalola, Jessica De Gouw
Director: Osgood Perkins
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 87 minutes

From the writer-director of 2015 Sundance favorite Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Chloé Zhao wrote, directed, edited, and produced Nomadland, her third feature that nabbed big laurels from both the Venice Film Festival (winning the Golden Lion) and the Toronto International Film Festival (winning the People’s Choice Award). An adaptation of Jessica Bruder’s 2017 non-fiction novel Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century, the film stars Frances McDormand as Fern, an ex-U.S. Gypsum employee that takes to the road when the company’s Nevada plant shuts down. Selling off major possessions, Fern purchases a van as mobile living quarters and eventually joins the ranks of a nomadic group that teaches her how to survive in the harsh climate with minimal resources. Featuring a stirring but subtle lead performance from McDormand, Nomadland delivers a mighty story without the glitz of typical mainstream fare.

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May
Director: Chloé Zhao
Rating: R
Runtime: 108 minutes

Based on the popular 2000 AD comic strip franchise Judge Dredd, this 2012 film adaptation stars Karl Urban as the eponymous Dredd, a law enforcer granted the power of judge, jury, and executioner in a dystopic city called Mega-City One. When Dredd and his apprentice sentencer Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) are assigned to a 200-story block of high-rise buildings to deal with the aftermath of an inhumane crime carried out by the block’s resident drug lord, Ma-Ma (Game of Thrones‘ Lena Headey), the duo must use every trick in the book to avoid sudden death in Ma-Ma’s hellscape. With a script penned by Ex Machina writer-director Alex Garland, Dredd is a mesmerizing sci-fi action splatter-fest, complete with awe-inspiring special effects and explosive set pieces you’ll be hard-pressed to forget.

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey
Director: Pete Travis
Rating: R
Runtime: 95 minutes

In Antebellum, Janelle Monáe is Dr. Veronica Henley, a renowned sociologist on a book tour that keeps her from her family. After a series of strange events and conversations with a close friend, the author is seemingly transported back in time to the Civil War era, where she’s forced into slavery on a Confederate-run plantation. Forcefully renamed Eden, Veronica’s portal to the past devolves into a horrid fight for survival. While co-directors Christopher Renz and Gerard Bush created a polarizing debut feature with Antebellum, it’s a film with major ideas, great performances, and amazing set pieces that we feel warrant a watch.

Rotten Tomatoes: 28%
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Janelle Monáe, Jena Malone, Jack Huston
Director: Christopher Renz, Gerard Bush
Rating: R
Runtime: 106 minutes

In this off-the-walls slasher from director Adam Wingard, You’re Next stars Sharni Vinson and AJ Bowen as Erin and Crispian, a couple on their way to Crispian’s family estate. Invitees to his parents’ anniversary, along with his three other siblings, the festivities are awkward to begin with. As Erin and Crispian attempt to get through the celebration, a band of crossbow-wielding killers descend on the rural home and begin picking off the family members one-by-one. A weekend retreat turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse for Erin and Crispian. A film both big and bold, You’re Next has great fun with the home-invasion sub-genre, making for a memorable and more-than-entertaining horror flick.

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Mystery and Thriller
Stars: Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, AJ Bowen, Ti West
Director: Adam Wingard
Rating: R
Runtime: 94 minutes

This sci-fi horror film follows Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an elite, corporate assassin for hire who uses a particularly sadistic and gruesome method to execute her high-profile targets: She takes control of their bodies using brain-implant technology.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery and Thriller
Stars: Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Tuppence Middleton
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes

One of the best modern westerns of recent years, Hell or High Water earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and a Best Supporting Actor nom for Jeff Bridges. The story centers on two brothers, Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster). Toby is a divorced father trying to make a better life for his son, while Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper. Together, they begin a series of heists against the bank that’s about to foreclose on their family ranch, but Sheriff Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) is on to them. Although he’s only a few weeks away from retirement, Hamilton is determined to foil the siblings’ final robbery and not end his career on a failure.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Mystery and Thriller, Drama, Action, Western, Crime
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster
Director: David Mackenzie
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes

If you grew up in the late ’80s or ’90s, you knew David Arquette. A TV star launched to superstardom by the teen scream queen classic Scream, Arquette was a jack of many trades, including wrestling. In 2000, he won a highly controversial WCW World Heavyweight Championship and was quickly branded the most hated man in wrestling. And then, almost as soon as he arrived, Arquette faded into obscurity. This unusual, extremely watchable documentary explores a nearly 50-year-old Arquette’s attempts to return to the sport that derailed his Hollywood career. Arquette is dangerously determined to reclaim his reputation and self-respect, pushing increasingly insane limits to regain his place in professional wrestling.

Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: David Arquette
Director: David Darg, Price James
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes

A drama for drama buffs, God’s Own Country is a quiet, profound ponderance on loneliness. Josh O’Connor (The Crown) plays a young farmer who buries his feelings of loneliness and frustrations with his life through drinking and casual sex until he crosses paths with a Romanian migrant worker who forces him to reevaluate everything he knows about himself and the world.

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: Josh O’Connor, Alec Secareanu, Gemma Jones
Director: Francis Lee
Rating: R
Runtime: 104 minutes

Roger Ailes turned Fox News into the ratings champion of news media through ruthlessness, sensationalism, and absolute control over his staff. But as the corporate giant aligns itself with controversial presidential nominee Donald Trump, it assumes a “boys will be boys” attitude toward the candidate’s misogynistic tendencies and a litany of sexual assault allegations. That doesn’t sit well with three women at the network — each at different moments of their careers — as they step into the line of fire and do what no Fox News employee is ever supposed to: Become the headline. Bombshell is based on the true stories of Ailes, Megyn Kelly, and Gretchen Carlson.

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Director: Jay Roach
Rating: R
Runtime: 108 minutes

Teenager Chloe (Kiera Allen) has spent her entire life under the thumb of her mother, Diane (Sarah Paulson). She doesn’t know that, however. Chloe is afflicted with a variety of maladies that restrict her to a wheelchair and make every day a painful routine of pills and treatments, much of which her mother facilities. But when she stumbles across a strange secret, her world begins to unravel and Chloe is forced to wonder if her mother is really helping or hurting.

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Kiera Allen, Sarah Paulson
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes

Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe star in this off-beat buddy comedy about a couple of unlikely detectives in 1977 Los Angeles. Holland March (Gosling) is a down-on-his-luck private eye who stumbles into a potentially huge case. Jackson Healy (Crowe) is a hired enforcer who brings pain for a living. After a young woman disappears, the two are brought together by fate, only to discover there’s far more going on than meets the eye. As their investigation takes them to some extremely dark places, the bodies start piling up as their odd friendship blossoms.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Comedy, Action, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Margaret Qualley
Director: Shane Black
Rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes

Who knew giant alligators swarming during a flood could be so much fun? Alexandre Aja did! This quick-hitting creature horror flick may look silly but it’s endlessly entertaining and pulse-pounding. Collegiate swimmer Haley (Kaya Scodelario) checks up on her estranged father (Barry Pepper) during a Category 5 hurricane in Florida, only to find him unconscious. In her attempt to rescue him, Haley becomes trapped in the house’s crawlspace. Unfortunately, some hungry prehistoric swimmers have found themselves trapped in there as well. If you love a good thriller, Crawl is a must-watch.

Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper
Director: Alexandre Aja
Rating: R
Runtime: 87 minutes

Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti find themselves stuck in a time loop while attending a wedding in Palm Springs, only to have the novelty of their never-ending day together turn sour when they discover they can’t seem to escape the day or each other. The Hulu Original comedy earned praise for its clever spin on the well-worn plot device that keeps the characters living through the same day over and over again.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti
Director: Max Barbakow
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes

Across 12 years, director Bing Liu searches for correlations between his skateboarder friends’ rocky upbringings and modern-day masculinity in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois. Bing follows 23-year-old Zack’s tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend as it deteriorates after the birth of their son, as well as with 17-year-old Keire struggling with his racial identity after the death of his father. Navigating an uncomfortable relationship between his camera, his friends, and his own past, Bing explores the gap between childhood and adulthood with alacrity.

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: N/A
Director: Bing Liu
Rating: NR
Runtime: 93 minutes

Acclaimed horror author Shirley Jackson was famously reclusive and odd. In Shirley, we see just how much so. After moving to a small Vermont college town where her husband, Stanley, will be a professor, Stanley and Shirley offer room and board to Fred and Rose, so long as they help look after Shirley. Jackson soon finds her creative process disrupted by the new tenants and her husband’s philandering, although Rose may serve as some curious inspiration.

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Logan Lerman, Odessa Young
Director: Josephine Decker
Rating: R
Runtime: 107 minutes

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed an enormous legal legacy and has become a pop culture icon. In this documentary, the filmmakers explore the unique personal journey of the 84-year-old quiet warrior’s rise to the nation’s court. RBG takes a deep dive into Ginsburg’s exceptional life through personal interviews and extensive backstory.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Director: Betsy West, Julie Cohen
Rating: PG
Runtime: 96 minutes

A film about a Korean family in abject poverty and their overwhelming compassion and urge to do what’s right, Shoplifters is a gut-wrenching watch. Osamu’s family must shoplift to make ends meet. After one of their typical sprees, they come across a little girl abandoned in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter her, Osamu’s wife agrees to care for her after learning her hardships are even greater than their own. She becomes one of the family, living happily together until a surprise incident reveals secrets that will test their bonds.

Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Maya Matsuoka
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes

Diane (Mary Kay Place) puts everyone else first. She’s extremely generous, spending her days checking in on sick friends, volunteering at her local soup kitchen, and working effortlessly to save her drug-addicted adult son (Jake Lacy) from himself. But despite her relentless self-sacrifice, Diane is haunted by a past she can’t forget, which threatens to tear her world apart. Mary Kay Place is extraordinary as a woman rifling through the wreckage of her life in search of redemption.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Mary Kay Place, Jake Lacy, Andrea Martin
Director: Kent Jones
Rating: NR
Runtime: 96 minutes

Experience Aretha Franklin in all her considerable glory in Amazing Grace. This concert film compiles footage from a 1972 performance at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Performing songs from the bestselling gospel album Amazing Grace, Franklin tears down the house in this rip-roaring film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Documentary, Musical
Stars: Aretha Franklin
Director: Sydney Pollack
Rating: G
Runtime: 87 minutes

James Baldwin was one of the most influential writers of the late 20th century, penning numerous essays and acclaimed novels addressing issues of race at a time when racial friction seemed to be boiling over in America. Working from an unfinished Baldwin manuscript, director Raoul Peck has created I Am Not Your Negro, a documentary examining Baldwin’s views and how they apply not only to the tumults of the ’60s but to modern America as well. Samuel L. Jackson narrates, infusing the material with a husky weariness. I Am Not Your Negro leaves one with the impression that Baldwin’s work has never been finished, and never been more important.

Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Raoul Peck
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 93 minutes

Before he directed Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, filmmaker Taika Waititi wrote and directed this 2016 film about a teenage troublemaker and his reluctant father figure who become the subject of a massive manhunt when they disappear into the forests of New Zealand. Julian Dennison and Sam Neill co-star in the film, which received widespread praise for its clever story and lead actors’ chemistry.

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Julian Dennison, Sam Neill
Director: Taika Waititi
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 101 minutes

Filmmaker Bong Joon Ho’s Best Picture winner at the 92nd Academy Awards is a brutal, thought-provoking, masterfully shot thriller that explores the class divide through the experiences of a South Korean family who cons their way into working for a wealthy family whose lives couldn’t be more unlike their own. While the first act of the film is peppered with humor, the overall tone of the film is anything but — particularly after a shocking discovery turns the family’s grift into something far more sinister.

Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Song Kang-ho, Choi Woo-Shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Rating: R
Runtime: 132 minutes

So, you worked really hard in school, avoided drugs and alcohol, didn’t go to any parties, and were rewarded by getting into the Ivy League college of your choice. Nice! You’ve got a lot in common with Booksmart‘s protagonists, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein). If you’re anything like them, however, you may be unhappy to learn that everyone else in your school also got into the Ivy League college of their choice but they partied constantly and had a great time in high school. That realization leads Amy and Molly to go out for one wild night of partying before graduation day. It may sound like a tired concept for a high-school comedy but Booksmart is anything but a run-of-the-mill teen movie. By investing in the friendship of its brilliant female leads and focusing more on questions of growing up and discovering yourself rather than sex and dating, Booksmart is a refreshing take on the teen comedy. Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is funny, refreshingly creative, and heartwarming.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams
Director: Olivia Wilde
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes

Since the failure of big-budget westerns like 2013’s The Lone Ranger and 2011’s Cowboys & Aliens, Hollywood’s seemed apprehensive about putting much money into westerns. As a result, the westerns we do get are usually outside the proverbial box. The Sisters Brothers is a great example, starring Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly as two unlikely guns for hire during the gold rush era. Everything you expect in a western happens in The Sisters Brothers, just not quite the way you expect them. Director Jacques Audiard, for example, sometimes chooses to stage gunfights in almost complete darkness, with only the sounds and flashes letting us know they’re happening. This unpredictable and sullen comedy plays with western tropes and delivers an experience unique to the genre.

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Genre: Drama, Western
Stars: John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal
Director: Jacques Audiard
Rating: R
Runtime: 122 minutes

Winner of the Palme d’Or, the Cannes Film Festival’s highest honor, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is considered a modern masterpiece of period cinema. In 1760 France, young Marianne is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent and become reluctantly betrothed. A methodical portraitist, Marianne arrives under the guise of companionship, observing Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by night. But as the two women spend more time together, an attraction grows as they revel in Héloïse’s first — and last — moments of freedom as she transfers from the convent to an unwilling marriage. As Marianne works, the portrait takes on greater meaning, symbolizing the two women’s collaboration and forbidden love for one another.

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luana Bajrami
Director: Céline Sciamma
Rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes

Music documentaries, especially ones discussing The Beatles, are a dime a dozen. Yet few documentaries ever have the acclaimed Ron Howard at the helm, especially one that does away with the conventional through-the-years filmography. Instead, Howard decided to focus more on the early days of the infamous rock band, gazing more so at their rise into fame and the ingredients to their immediate success. The Beatles: Eight Days a Week is a music lover’s go-to, offering the best sound and live performance experiences while also delivering interesting tidbits on the nature of The Beatles’ rise to stardom.

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Genre: Documentary, Music
Stars: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ed Sullivan
Director: Ron Howard
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 306 minutes

If Beale Street Could Talk takes you to early-1970s Harlem and introduces you to 19-year-old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). Tish is a daughter and soon-to-be wife to her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, their unbreakable bond has flourished together, and they dream of a bright, beautiful future. But when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit, their love is tested by an unforgiving and racially biased world.

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King
Director: Barry Jenkins
Rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes

This Hulu original follows a bright, mostly innocent 16-year old named Mo (Griffin Gluck) as he attempts to navigate high school. Fortunately, he has the guidance of his best friend, charismatic college dropout Zeke (Pete Davidson). Zeke genuinely cares about Mo, but as he shares the untraditional life lessons he’s learned in drug dealing, partying, and dating, things go a little off the rails in Mo’s life. Meanwhile, Mo’s dad (Jon Cryer) tries to take back the reins.

Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Pete Davidson, Griffin Gluck
Director: Jason Orley
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes

The directorial debut of Boots Riley (perhaps better known as the frontman of the hip-hop band The Coup), Sorry to Bother You is a madcap satire of 21st-century capitalism, a film that tosses realism out the window within the first 10 minutes or so. The movie follows Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a sad-sack guy who, desperate for money, gets a job as a telemarketer at a grimy office (he lies about his previous work experience, which his interviewer considers a positive). Cassius struggles to make sales, so an older coworker (Danny Glover) gives him some advice, telling him to use a “white voice.” After using a white voice (David Cross), Cassius suddenly starts racking up sales and soon gets a promotion to the esteemed position of Power Caller. As he climbs the corporate ladder, however, Cassius risks losing his soul to the relentless machine of marketing. Sorry to Bother You makes use of some bonkers visuals to accompany its eccentric premise, such as an early sequence in which Cassius, as he calls customers, literally drops into their houses, snapping back to the office when they hang up.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Stars: LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler
Director: Boots Riley
Rating: R
Runtime: 112 minutes

Take one giant leap into the past, wherein humankind barreled through the nighttime sky and raced to walk on surfaces not our own. Apollo 11 tracks the star-bound adventure of Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin in a moment now frozen in time. Provided via never-before-seen footage and audio recordings, Apollo 11 is the next-best equivalent of time traveling back to that very life-altering event. Experience the groundbreaking NASA exploration like never before, all within the comfort of the living room.

Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Documentary, History
Stars: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins
Director: Todd Douglas Miller
Rating: G
Runtime: 93 minutes

The seminal anime film Akira has had a huge impact on sci-fi since its release, but despite how many films and video games have drawn on Akira for inspiration, the movie itself still feels fresh. The film begins in Neo-Tokyo circa 2019, decades after the start of World War III. Far below the towering skyscrapers, gangs of motorcycle-riding youths fight in the streets. A leather-clad hotshot named Kaneda leads a gang called the Capsules. While evading the police, Kaneda’s comrade Tetsuo runs across a mysterious being with psychic powers, and after crashing his bike, ends up in the government’s custody. After enduring strange experiments, Tetsuo develops psychic powers, and a mighty ego to match. As Tetsuo’s powers grow, Kaneda must try to stop him before he destroys Tokyo. Akira is a slick action film full of striking imagery and stylish violence.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Stars: Mitsuo Itawa, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Rating: R
Runtime: 124 minutes

Jane (Julia Garner) is a recent college graduate and an aspiring film producer who, to her delight, lands her dream job as a junior assistant to a powerful entertainment mogul. But spending one day in her life is enough to understand the abuse that comes with the job. The Assistant follows one ordinary day as Jane makes coffee, makes copies, orders lunch, takes phone messages, and more, but the insidious accumulation of degradations and abuse she encounters become more and more prevalent as the film continues, illuminating the depth of mistreatment inherent in the system she’s just entered.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Stars: Julia Garner, Matthew MacFayden, McKenzie Leigh
Director: Kitty Green
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 87 minutes

Superhero movies aren’t particularly rare these days, but what you can’t find in every multiplex is a superhero story that is more about the person than the spectacle their powers make possible. Fast Color is a brilliant exception. The film’s hero is Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) — a young woman whose emerging powers have her on the run in a not-too-distant future of climate change and resource scarcity. Ruth is desperately trying to figure out how to control her new abilities as well as escape the government agents pursuing her, while at the same time trying to reconnect with her estranged family. Rather than fighting off alien invasions or saving the world from cackling terrorists, Fast Color gives us a superhero who is ultimately fighting the same difficult battle we’re all locked in — being a person in the world.

Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Stars: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Strathairn, Lorraine Toussaint
Director: Julia Hart
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 100 minutes

Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners asks: How far would you go to protect your child? For Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), it’s pretty darn far. When his six-year-old daughter, Anna, and her friend vanish without a trace, Keller is wracked with fear of the worst. The only lead the police have is an old RV that was parked on the street near where the girls were playing. The head of the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), arrests the driver (Paul Dano) but lacks the evidence needed to hold him at the station. Although Loki strongly suspects the driver, he has no choice but to let his only suspect go. With the clock ticking, Keller realizes that the system may not be able to save his daughter, so he takes matters into his own hands.

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Viola Davis
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Rating: R
Runtime: 153 minutes