3 Movies Like Successor (2024)

Staff & contributors
The premise of Mars Express may not be novel, especially when films like Blade Runner have already gracefully explored the philosophical ramifications of the human-tech conflict. But the French animated movie’s richly built world, (digitally) hand-drawn characters, genuinely gripping action, and far-reaching ideas about space make it a refreshing watch. The plot is taut and tight, too, peppered with twists and grounded by character depth. It may look simple at first glance, predictable even, but by the end, you’ll be over the moon by the film’s imagination and ambition.

Genre: Action, Animation, Mystery, Science Fiction

Actor: Daniel Njo Lobé, Emmanuel Bonami, Geneviève Doang, Léa Drucker, Marie Bouvet, Marie Chevalot, Marthe Keller, Martial Le Minoux, Mathieu Amalric, Sébastien Chassagne

Director: Jérémie Périn

Rating: NR

Young Woman and the Sea is a neatly told, inspiring story about a woman who went against the tide to cement her legacy as one of the most fearless athletes to exist. The movie is polished and nicely detailed, anchored by winning performances and a triumphantly dramatic script—basically everything you’d expect from a Disney movie. And like many Disney movies, Young Woman and the Sea can sometimes be too on-the-nose about its advocacies, but it's hard to deny its charm. The movie is a treat to watch, and an especially nice segue into the upcoming Olympics.

Genre: Drama, History

Actor: Alex Hassell, Alexander Karim, Bashar Rahal, Brian Caspe, Christopher Eccleston, Daisy Ridley, Derek Morse, Dimo Alexiev, Ethan Rouse, Euan Macnaughton, Glenn Fleshler, Hyoie O'Grady, Ivan Panev, J.R. Esposito, Jeanette Hain, John Carew, JR Esposito, Kim Bodnia, Lilly Aspell, Meglena Karalambova, Nicholas Colicos, Olive Elise Abercrombie, Sebastian Griegel, Sian Clifford, Stephen Graham, Tessa Bonham Jones, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Trevor Van Uden, Velizar Binev

Director: Joachim Rønning

Rating: PG

, 2024

George Clooney and Brad Pitt are two of the coolest actors to come out of Hollywood, and this film is a testament to this fact. Watching them, you’ll be reminded of how leading men should be effortlessly funny and charming, but there is such a thing as too cool. Clooney and Pitt are so relaxed and unbothered, you rarely feel the danger of some scenes. When they’re chased by a mob of hitmen or enter a mafia house, you can tell from their expressions alone that they’ll survive, which strips all the fun and mystery out of a thriller such as this. Not that the plot is anything to speak of; its bones are formulaic, helped only by the witty dialogue and charming delivery. They can be hilarious, but mostly watching them feels like hearing a joke that’s gone on for way too long. The movie quickly loses its novelty and drags on, picking up only during the Kid’s (Austin Abrams) whose earnestness and liveliness make him a scene-stealer, yes even and especially with Clooney and Pitt there.

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller

Actor: Amanda Aday, Amy Ryan, Anthony N., Austin Abrams, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Frank Trigg, George Clooney, Irina Dubova, Poorna Jagannathan, Richard Kind, Robert Timothy Smith, Vladimir Sizov, Zlatko Burić

Director: Jon Watts

Rating: R