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7.4Queen of Katwe (2016)Disney, I wish this was marketed better.
7.4Queen of Katwe (2016)An outstanding underdog sports drama, whose heart and authenticity overcomes its familiar beats
6.7Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete RoseFor our sake and Rose’s, this really didn’t have to be four hours long.
6.7Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete RoseA polarizing athlete’s plea to be recognized goes wrong in this uneven documentary about his life
7.8Police Story (1985)Iconic!
7.8Police Story (1985)Jackie Chan is at his finest in this modern action comedy masterpiece
6.9Time BanditsAs long as you’re not too precious about the original, then this series remake comes as a charmingly offbeat comedy that can be enjoyed by anyone of any age.
6.9Time BanditsDoctor Who meets Our Flag Means Death in this quirky and kid-friendly time-travel comedy
6.9Femme (2023)Yes, I know revenge is an unfulfilling path, and all, but I wish we got to feel some catharsis for Jules, especially with violence against queer POC on the rise.
6.9Femme (2023)A stylish and provocative, if a bit uneven, queer thriller
7.4The Maid (2009)Remember today to take a break, if you can.
7.4The Maid (2009)Empathy heals in this modest domestic comedy
7.0The Commandant’s Shadow (2024)You’d think we know better than to repeat the genocide of a people, but here we are.
7.0The Commandant’s Shadow (2024)The descendants of a Nazi officer and an Auschwitz survivor unite in this painful but intriguing documentary
6.6The DecameronIt’s loads of fun! But there’s not enough substance to ground it into something truly memorable.
6.6The DecameronThough it starts with a bang, this medieval pandemic comedy quickly fizzles out
STAFF LISTS10 Best Coming-of-Age Movies on Amazon Prime
STAFF LISTS10 Best Coming-of-Age Movies on Amazon Prime
7.6Dogfight (1991)Rest in peace, River Phoenix.
7.6Dogfight (1991)A bittersweet coming-of-age romance that subverts expectations of masculinity
5.0Dirty Pop: The Boy Band ScamThis could’ve been told in a single 30-minute episode.
5.0Dirty Pop: The Boy Band ScamA shallow and stretched-out documentary about a serious celebrity scandal
7.9So Long, My Son (2019)Incredible film.
7.9So Long, My Son (2019)Tragedy starts an emotional journey of two families in the face of modern China
7.4Wild Wild Space (2024)I didn’t know how thoroughly gripping “scientist versus capitalist versus underdog innovator” could be until watching this documentary.
7.4Wild Wild Space (2024)An exhilarating ride through humanity’s (and capitalism’s) final frontier
7.0Closet Monster (2016)Oh no, the hamster...
7.0Closet Monster (2016)A boy deals with trauma with his talking pet in this bizarre, though emotional coming-of-age queer drama
7.1A Still Small Voice (2023)Chaplaining has to be the most emotionally draining job in the world, rivaled only, perhaps, by teaching.
7.1A Still Small Voice (2023)A difficult but important watch that follows the brave souls tasked to accompany a person’s final hours on Earth
6.5My Spy the Eternal City (2024)If I were 10 I’d probably eat this up, but most of us watching this will be over that age (if you’re not, what are you doing reading this? Go outside and play!)
6.5My Spy the Eternal City (2024)Though occasionally cute and funny, this lackluster spy comedy wastes the potential of its talented cast
7.0May Fools (1990)Milou is the original cottagecore king.
7.0May Fools (1990)Grief is delayed by personal squabbles and countrywide protests in this funny and familiar family drama
7.2Go (1999)Add this to your watchlist of non-Christmas Christmas films.
7.2Go (1999)The wildly entertaining cult crime comedy that captured the chaos of going into the new millennium
8.4
The Very BestThelma (2024)Hell hath no fury like a grandma scorned.
8.4The Very BestThelma (2024)A lovely and bad-ass tribute to the fierceness of old age
6.0Those About to DieYeah, no, I'm just waiting for "The Gladiator" sequel.
6.0Those About to DieAn ambitious “Gladiator” knock-off that quickly fizzles out
7.6Beijing Watermelon (1989)Nobuhiko Obayashi, thank you for your life-affirming films.
7.6Beijing Watermelon (1989)Nobuhiko Obayashi carves out a slice of real life kindness in this sweet, layered family drama
6.8Lady in the LakeCan we just slow things down before shifting to the other plot line, please?
6.8Lady in the LakeNatalie Portman makes her TV debut in this intriuging, but uneven, noir thriller
7.6Young Woman and the Sea (2024)Make sure to include this in your list of pre-game movies to watch before the Olympics.
7.6Young Woman and the Sea (2024)An inspiring if treacly biopic about a swimming pioneer and feminist icon
7.0Skywalkers: A Love Story (2024)Couples who go on death-defying climbing trips together, stay together.
7.0Skywalkers: A Love Story (2024)This love story between two extreme climbers is genuinely thrilling in more ways than one
7.1Deep Crimson (1996)Interesting film to work with your spouse on…
7.1Deep Crimson (1996)Love drives murder in this anti-romantic, darkly comedic crime thriller
7.2Love Lies Bleeding (2024)Be gay, do crimes! (For legal reasons, this is a meme.)
7.2Love Lies Bleeding (2024)Two lesbians fall in love in this pulpy Americana neo-noir thriller
7.5Simone Biles RisingWhatever happened in Tokyo, and regardless of the outcome in Paris, Biles is still the GOAT.
7.5Simone Biles RisingMore than a biography, this rousing documentary sheds light on the pressures experienced by Black and female athletes
7.0Let the Canary Sing (2023)With nepo babies populating the industry, it’s sadly rare to hear stories like Lauper’s these days. They truly don’t make ‘em like they used to anymore.
7.0Let the Canary Sing (2023)A joyous blast from the past, this documentary takes us through the makings of an unforgettable star
7.212th Fail (2023)For those registered, good luck for your Civil Services Exam!
7.212th Fail (2023)Honesty shifts a man’s path in this earnest and well-made biopic
7.5The Dead Don’t Hurt (2024)One of the most beautiful Westerns in cinema is one that redirects its gaze from typical bloodbaths to everyday occurrences.
7.5The Dead Don’t Hurt (2024)Viggo Mortensen directs this stunning alternative Western
7.4MeThe target audience is tweens, but the actual audience is young adults in need of inner-child healing.
7.4MeAn emotionally attuned coming-of-age show that everyone in the family can enjoy
7.0Oranges and Sunshine (2010)I wish the film cut at the heart of the issue, but it’s admirable that Jim Loach primarily focused on the deported orphans and hearing their stories.
7.0Oranges and Sunshine (2010)A moving historical drama on the woman who dared to find the truth about Home Children
8.5The Very BestAu Revoir les Enfants (1987)Goosebumps.
8.5The Very BestAu Revoir les Enfants (1987)Louis Malle remembers his heartbreaking childhood in this poignant period drama
7.0The American (2023)I used to wish I was a ballerina, but maybe I was spared from lifelong trauma…
7.0The American (2023)Talia Ryder is kept on her toes in this harrowing drama based on the real life prima ballerina
7.6Diarra from DetroitSometimes, delulu truly is the solulu.
7.6Diarra from DetroitA wisecracking divorcée turns into an unwitting amateur detective in this riotous comedy-noir
7.0Faye (2024)For fans, this is the redemptive coverage they’ve been waiting for their idol.
7.0Faye (2024)An actress is redeemed in this illuminating documentary
7.5Memories (1995)When four animators come together to maximize their joint slay… We just have to watch.
7.5Memories (1995)Three stellar sci-fi shorts form a disturbing and deadly vision of the future
6.6The Convert (2024)I can appreciate a new perspective to Māori culture, but I wish we saw more of the Māori rather than the white guy just witnessing it all.
6.6The Convert (2024)Pre-colonial Māori culture is introduced in this much more sympathetic, though fairly uneven, historical drama
7.5Thesis (1996)I’m just so glad that doing my thesis was so much calmer than this.
7.5Thesis (1996)Alejandro Amenábar made his breakthrough in this terrific meta horror thriller debut
6.8The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993)So… Will someone ever make a direct adaptation of Legend of the Condor Heroes?
6.8The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993)The completely ridiculous other half of Wong Kar Wai’s Ashes of Time
6.9Teen Torture, Inc.Though it’s not the best one out there, it’s still a worthwhile documentary about a worthwhile topic.
6.9Teen Torture, Inc.An important albeit reductive take on the troubled youth industry
7.6In the Company of Men (1997)The production crew had $10, an excellent script, and a dream.
7.6In the Company of Men (1997)This cruel black comedy about toxic masculinity and corporate culture is ahead of its time
6.0Miss Night and Day“Never having a proper job before turning 30 is a disservice to my weary twenties!”
6.0Miss Night and DayA cheesy telenovela with a job-hunting motif and a wildly unnecessary 60-minute runtime
6.8I Used to Be Funny (2024)Of course, I’m seated for Rachel Sennott.
6.8I Used to Be Funny (2024)Rachel Sennott reveals her dramatic chops in this uneven but heartfelt character study on complex trauma
7.5Europa (1991)There is a reason Spielberg was inspired by this in making the Schindler’s List, the reason being this film is so dang cool.
7.5Europa (1991)An idealist is lured to destruction in this surreal, experimental noirish recreation
8.3The Very BestBlack Rain (1989)If you’ve been wanting the Japanese perspective to Oppenheimer (2023), this is one of many films to watch.
8.3The Very BestBlack Rain (1989)Hiroshima survivors try to return to their lives in this poignant black-and-white historical drama
3.0Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black (2024)“I can fix him,” girl, fix yourself first.
3.0Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black (2024)Preachy, one-dimensional, and unbearably talky, Divorce in the Black is another laughably bad film from Tyler Perry
7.8Mastermind: To Think Like a KillerMindhunter, Silence of the Lambs, and all those police procedurals have Dr. Burgess’s methods to thank for everything.
7.8Mastermind: To Think Like a KillerAn FBI profiler’s game-changing discoveries finally get their due in this gripping docuseries
7.0AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS: Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersIt’s a mythical world as long as the lights are on.
7.0AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS: Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersA fairly routine feature about the toxicity endured by showbiz athletes
7.0A Zed & Two Noughts (1985)This is a very, very weird film.
7.0A Zed & Two Noughts (1985)A strange examination of death and decay that marks Peter Greenaway and Sacha Vierny’s lifelong collaboration
6.9Sausage Party: FoodtopiaEndless puns and all-out grossness, what more would you want?
6.9Sausage Party: FoodtopiaIf you’re a fan of Seth Rogen and co.’s trademark raunch and ridiculousness, then this eight-course-meal of a series will go down like a charm
7.3An Impossible Love (2018)Wishing everyone but Philippe a good day today.
7.3An Impossible Love (2018)Mother and daughter reconcile through this emotional recounting of their tragic relationship
7.4House of Flying Daggers (2004)SO BEAUTIFUL OH MY GOD…
7.4House of Flying Daggers (2004)An extraordinarily beautiful wuxia romance, though a bit convoluted
7.5October Sky (1999)Young Jake Gyllenhaal doing October Sky and Donnie Darko back to back like the freak (complimentary) that he is!
7.5October Sky (1999)Jake Gyllenhaal is compelling in his breakthrough role as a child who dared to shoot for the stars in this cheesy but stirring film
6.0Rising ImpactA grandpa lets his grandkid venture alone to live with a woman they met once.
6.0Rising ImpactA basic and questionable anime about golf
8.0SunnyThere are plenty of robot-human movies out there, but only a few are as nuanced, engaging, and well-made as this.
8.0SunnyThis deft multi-genre robot comedy is another sci-fi win from Apple TV+
6.8Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023)Too relatable.
6.8Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023)Daisy Ridley shows her shy side in this sweet, though slow-paced, office romance dramedy
7.1The Bikeriders (2024)Goodfellas, but less violent and more buddy buddy.
7.1The Bikeriders (2024)A gritty yet somehow still conventional slice of motorcycle Americana
7.3The Settlers (2023)No wonder this was the Chilean entry for the Academy.
7.3The Settlers (2023)A surprising debut that evokes classic Westerns while expanding its perspective
5.0Inheritance (2024)“Don’t mind me, I’m just blabbering.”
5.0Inheritance (2024)An inheritance murder mystery with nothing else to offer
7.2The Tiger (2015)It’s so dramatic, even the tiger’s out there, looking at the distance, contemplating the hunter.
7.2The Tiger (2015)The Korean wilderness is not easily conquered in this epic, yet contemplative period creature thriller
6.9Riddle of Fire (2024)How adorable.
6.9Riddle of Fire (2024)A whimsical, if a bit uneven, neo-fairytale of rare childhood charm
7.3In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul SimonJust what I needed, another excuse to rewatch The Graduate for the nth time.
7.3In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul SimonIn this definitive documentary, Paul Simon’s poignant and poetic musicality swells to great heights
7.5Funny Games (1997)In hindsight, it was rather silly of me to expect not to feel bad after this film. This is Haneke, after all.
7.5Funny Games (1997)A deeply unpleasant, provocative horror film that pushed the boundaries of cinema
8.0The Stranger (1991)Oh, to be as cool as this guy...
8.0The Stranger (1991)A long-lost uncle arrives home with interesting insight in this charming domestic drama
7.0The Little Drummer GirlPark Chan-wook’s precision, Pugh’s all-in performance, and Le Carre’s political thrills make this series what it is.
7.0The Little Drummer GirlA steady, stylish period thriller that highlights the dangerous complications of war
7.5Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (2024)“I don’t care who you are, I want you to want me.”
7.5Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (2024)The history of queer standup, as written by the unapologetic comics
7.4Holding the Man (2015)If you can and if you have one, please hold your partner tightly today.
7.4Holding the Man (2015)Two boys fall in love in this poignant coming-of-age memoir of 1970s Australia
7.4Marshland (2014)It’s not True Detective or Memories of a Murder, but it’s a must watch for fans of detective murder mysteries.
7.4Marshland (2014)Two detectives hunt down a serial killer in one of Spain’s Deep South towns
7.0Remembering Gene Wilder (2024)It’s not the smoothest or the slickest, but by virtue of its subject, it’s a documentary with a whole lot of heart.
7.0Remembering Gene Wilder (2024)Less a biography than a career appraisal, this documentary is an important account both for Wilder’s fans and industry hopefuls
7.5A ConfessionIt can be too slow and straightforward for its own good, but it offers intriguing questions and thrilling performances to boot.
7.5A ConfessionBased on a true story, this miniseries tells the gripping tale of how a detective sacrificed a promising career to catch a killer
8.2The Very BestThe Missing Picture (2013)This is one-of-a-kind filmmaking here.
8.2The Very BestThe Missing Picture (2013)Rithy Panh redefines Cambodian cinema and history through this harrowing mixed media memory
8.0Limitless with Chris HemsworthChris Hemsworth is about as relatable as a mytholo— Mm, nevermind.
8.0Limitless with Chris HemsworthAn unconventional, luxurious portrayal of stress management starring Chris Hemsworth
7.1In the Soup (1992)Oh, to have rent only amounting to a hundred bucks…
7.1In the Soup (1992)A droll, playful comedy about the chaotic nature of indie filmmaking
7.6Leviathan (2014)Don’t watch this when depressed.
7.6Leviathan (2014)The Russian incarnation of Job and Naboth’s Vineyard
7.2The Imaginary (2023)If only this premiered in the US before If (2024)...
7.2The Imaginary (2023)Studio Ponoc celebrates creativity in this charming vision of where imagined friends go
7.0SPRINTCompetitiveness, confidence, and a whole lot of drama.
7.0SPRINTA heady rush of personalities elevate this documentary about the fastest people in the world
4.0Space Cadet (2024)People know there’s a limit to the Ratatouille adage, “Anyone can cook,” right?
4.0Space Cadet (2024)A lack of ambition fails to bring this film all the way to the stars
7.5Disney Sketchbook“This drawing is my soul. Do you like it? Yay, let’s be friends!”
7.5Disney SketchbookPart-friendly sketching guide, part-spotlight on Disney/Pixar’s unsung heroes
7.0Mansfield Park (1999)It's not a terrible adaptation, and it's intriguing to know that Austen sympathized with the abolitionists, but it does feel a bit disjointed relegating it only as a subplot.
7.0Mansfield Park (1999)A decent, contemporary spin to Jane Austen’s lesser known novel
7.4The Woman in the WallThe more I learn about Ireland’s history, the more the (rightful) rage of its people makes sense.
7.4The Woman in the WallThis Gothic thriller about abusive Catholic centers in Ireland is terrifying in more ways than one
6.9The Man with 1000 KidsNetflix is probably licking its lips over the countless documentaries it can make covering human depravity.
6.9The Man with 1000 KidsAnother shocking and frustrating Netflix documentary about a serial sperm donor who doesn’t know when to stop
7.4Chicken for Linda! (2023)Let Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach cook!
7.4Chicken for Linda! (2023)A mother makes it up to her daughter in this delightful, colorful comedy of errors
7.2Pushing Hands (1991)This film made me miss my grandparents.
7.2Pushing Hands (1991)A tai chi master moves to America in this gentle and sentimental culture clash family dramedy
6.5Ultraman: Rising (2024)Nothing about this movie is rising.
6.5Ultraman: Rising (2024)A dissonant superhero film lacking tension
7.4Monkey Man (2024)Dev Patel… The man that you are…
7.4Monkey Man (2024)Dev Patel is monkey god incarnate in this audacious action thriller
7.5Songs from the Second Floor (2000)I don’t even know what to say, guys. I just wanna stop contemplating today’s horrors.
7.5Songs from the Second Floor (2000)An unforgettable, if bleak and perplexing, black comedy anthology about modern day living
7.0The Emperor and the Assassin (1998)If we could just remove the sepia filter, it would be leagues better.
7.0The Emperor and the Assassin (1998)The stunning and slightly more accurate account of China’s unification, complete with battles and palace intrigue
7.0Snack Shack (2024)It feels like John Hughes could’ve made this film, and you can take from that what you will.
7.0Snack Shack (2024)This 90s-set summer flick unapologetically (and joyfully) embraces the conventions of its genre
STAFF LISTS10 Best Scandinavian Movies on Netflix Right Now
STAFF LISTS10 Best Scandinavian Movies on Netflix Right Now
7.4Cristóbal BalenciagaForget Balenciaga’s plasticky reputation in recent years; this series is a faithful match to the label’s early visionary designs.
7.4Cristóbal BalenciagaRich attention to detail makes this series as strong and elegant as any traditional Balenciaga dress
7.0The Hair TalesHair is a community.
7.0The Hair TalesA docuseries celebrating Black women through stories about their hair, with a positive and communal feel
7.6The Wings of the Dove (1997)Everything to love about love triangles… It’s actually criminal that we didn’t get to see these three on screen together again.
7.6The Wings of the Dove (1997)The exquisite second screen adaptation of James’ lesser known novels
7.2Pusher (1996)You know how organized crime seemed so glamorous with all those gangster thrillers? Pusher shows how the whole shebang really is– terribly exhausting.
7.2Pusher (1996)An unsettling, electrifying feature debut widely considered to be the first Danish gangster film
7.5Be with You (2018)Don't forget your tissues, y'all!
7.5Be with You (2018)Love comes back to life in this tearjerking family drama
8.0The InBESTigatorsCity of Ghosts meets Scooby Doo.
8.0The InBESTigatorsA cheeky investigative mockumentary for light viewing
7.2Proof (1991)If they remake this for some reason, can we not shy away from the queer elements?
7.2Proof (1991)A surprisingly poignant yet humorous black comedy about truth versus objectivity
7.8Bad Education (2004)It’s actually insane how layered this film is.
7.8Bad Education (2004)A brazen, stylish twist to the classic murder mystery
7.3Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019)The rare documentary that matches its subject matter’s wit and energy.
7.3Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019)A fittingly dynamic and thought-provoking film about the beloved American writer
7.5The Promised Land (2023)Never cross Mads Mikkelsen, especially when he’s trying to prove a point!
7.5The Promised Land (2023)Mads Mikkelsen overcomes the impossible in this sweeping historical Danish epic
7.2The Vertical Ray of the Sun (2000)I feel like I imagined some of the plot, but the calm way the film feels makes me think that the sexual elements are entirely imagined.
7.2The Vertical Ray of the Sun (2000)A nostalgic and languid summer afternoon in an Eden-like Hanoi that hides some underlying turbulent desires
STAFF LISTS50 Best Scandinavian Movies to Watch Now
STAFF LISTS50 Best Scandinavian Movies to Watch Now
7.0The 7 Lives of LeaBody swap means someone’s gonna masturbate.
7.0The 7 Lives of LeaAn ambitious body swap story albeit with bland elements
7.6Fancy Dance (2024)Lily Gladstone is great, but I hope more people remember and advocate for the missing and murdered Indigenous women after watching this film.
7.6Fancy Dance (2024)A thoughtful family drama that celebrates the Indigenous community, while still highlighting their missing loved ones
7.4Mario (2018)Mario and Leon deserve better!
7.4Mario (2018)A gay footballer gets torn between his life dream and his sexuality in this depressing, but sadly realistic sports drama
6.0A Family Affair (2024)Less thoughtful than The Idea of You, and somehow less sexy too.
6.0A Family Affair (2024)A lack of chemistry and character development fails this potentially smart but ultimately mediocre romcom
8.0Jab We Met (2007)Okay, so what was that hug scene all about, though? You know what scene I’m talking about.
8.0Jab We Met (2007)A girl teaches a boy the joys of life and vice versa in this standout romcom road film
7.8A Friend of the FamilyIt’s one of those un-bingeable shows, not because it’s bad but because each episode is more horrifying than the last, forcing you to take a breather before carrying on with the show.
7.8A Friend of the FamilyAn effectively terrifying true crime drama bolstered by terrific performances and flawless production design
8.0Agents of MysteryA 6-hour escape room sounds like death. But as a reality show…
8.0Agents of MysteryA feel-good escape room show with likable heroes
7.0Nicholas Nickleby (2002)It’s not terrible. It’s just really shortened, and to be fair, considering that the original novel was 65 chapters long and the stage play was 8 hours long, this wasn’t an easy task.
7.0Nicholas Nickleby (2002)A decent, if a bit truncated, adaptation of one of Dickens’ lesser known novels
7.0My Lady JaneI suddenly have a hankering to re-watch The Great and Dickinson.
7.0My Lady JaneA period drama that’s fun, raunchy, and enjoyable, even though it's less impressive than the many others that came before it
6.9Stranger by the Lake (2013)If you go to a nude beach, expect nude people. If you watch a film set on a nude beach… Viewer’s discretion is advised.
6.9Stranger by the Lake (2013)A stunning, if divisive, naturalistic erotic thriller centered on gay cruising
7.4Tokyo Fist (1995)They ain’t lovers, they’re all fighters.
7.4Tokyo Fist (1995)A salaryman returns to the ring in this avant-garde boxing horror
6.8Land of WomenIf you ignore the weak crime subplot, the series is a predictable but enjoyable family sitcom.
6.8Land of WomenThis pleasing female-led family sitcom’s shine is dulled by a mediocre crime subplot
1.0Buying LondonBring me my trash, damn it.
1.0Buying LondonA real estate reality show that makes trash TV look like gold
6.5Downwind (2023)It’s a bit text heavy for a documentary with a narrator, but it’s an important story.
6.5Downwind (2023)Americans share their experiences of living with nuclear fallout from testing in the Mountain states
7.6Tabu (2012)It’s always a pleasure to find a film that does something we haven’t seen before.
7.6Tabu (2012)Miguel Gomes recreates cinema’s selective memory for Europe’s colonial past in this unconventional black-and-white romance
7.9The Boy and the Heron (2023)Leave it to Miyazaki to craft the most heart-wrenching and adorable farewell.
7.9The Boy and the Heron (2023)This semi-autobiographical film from Ghibli master Hayao Miyazaki is an abstract but beautifully poignant farewell
6.7Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge (2024)Hillary Clinton and Oprah sing their praises to the designer here, in case you’re wondering what level of girlboss this film is on.
6.7Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge (2024)An entertaining but ultimately shallow puff piece about the revolutionary fashion icon
7.4The Road Home (1999)I can’t believe this was Zhang Ziyi’s first feature film debut, with the way she carries this film entirely.
7.4The Road Home (1999)A teacher’s move to the village blooms into charming countryside courtship
3.0Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf“Nine-hundred eighty-one… Nine-hundred eighty-two…”
3.0Garouden: The Way of the Lone WolfPainfully cringe tough-guy anime about martial arts
7.6I Am: Celine Dion (2024)She may be a mega-rich popstar with butlers and warehouse closets, but Dion is surprisingly relatable as a woman struggling to regain control and purpose after a painful diagnosis.
7.6I Am: Celine Dion (2024)An incredibly raw and inspiring portrait of the music icon
8.0In the Family (2011)It's striking how far we've come since 2011.
8.0In the Family (2011)A gay father fights for custody in this courageous, human drama
7.1The Last Suit (2017)It’s sweet and straightforward, but somehow it’s a new perspective on the Holocaust that’s rare to see on film.
7.1The Last Suit (2017)An aged tailor fulfills one last promise in this sweet and poignant road film
7.0Breakin’ on the One (2024)We dare you not to bust a move while watching.
7.0Breakin’ on the One (2024)From Bronx pastime to Olympic sport, breakdance’s fascinating history gets its due in this lively documentary
7.4Soulmate (2023)I literally reviewed the original Chinese version, so I already know how this will go… but why am I still crying?
7.4Soulmate (2023)Two childhood friends find their soulmate in this stunning, tearjerking drama
8.0City of GhostsI like that kids today have a bunch of shows that help them not cower at the mere thought of the supernatural.
8.0City of GhostsA serene, mockumentary-style animated series that aims to get to know ghosts
7.2Black Dynamite (2009)You diabolical, dick-shrinking motherf*****s!
7.2Black Dynamite (2009)Former CIA agent sticks it to The Man in this meticulous, hilarious homage
8.7The Very BestIo Capitano (2023)If news of the increasingly inhumane treatment of migrants doesn’t get to you, then this film will surely, and sweepingly, do the trick.
8.7The Very BestIo Capitano (2023)A devastating portrayal of the migrant crisis, infused with wonderful magical realism
7.8Mars Express (2023)As I type this, someone in Hollywood is probably crafting a live-action remake of this gem.
7.8Mars Express (2023)A taut and gripping thriller that imagines a world where AI has gone rogue
7.7Undertow (2009)It’s basically Ghost, without the clunky murder mystery subplot.
7.7Undertow (2009)Love finds rest in this unconventional heartfelt queer ghost story
7.4Lost and Found (1996)Admittedly, I watched this for Takeshi Kaneshiro, but I didn’t expect the emotional devastation…
7.4Lost and Found (1996)Three Hongkongers look for home in this hopeful handover drama
7.0Dead End: Paranormal ParkWhy would an opening sequence that looks like that ever ask me to skip it?
7.0Dead End: Paranormal ParkAn inclusive and friendly haunted house adventure
6.5Trigger Warning (2024)It’s okay, but not good enough to make it stand out from its overcrowded genre.
6.5Trigger Warning (2024)A mediocre action thriller that suffers from a holey script and middling lead performance
7.6On Becoming a God in Central FloridaThis show being set in Florida is all you need to know to understand how equally dark and bonkers it is.
7.6On Becoming a God in Central FloridaA dark comedy that effectively and entertainingly crushes the American Dream
7.0Bent (1997)I can't believe this happened a century ago. I hope it never happens again.
7.0Bent (1997)The groundbreaking historical queer play makes the jump to the screen in this decent adaptation
7.2Heidi (2015)Oh, to tend to goats in the Swiss mountainside.
7.2Heidi (2015)An orphan finds joy and family in the Alps in this modern rendition of the classic Swiss novel
7.0Bombay (1995)I wish they made this film with a bit more nuance, though.
7.0Bombay (1995)Two lovers from different religions fight for their marriage in this daring romantic drama
6.0Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money (2024)Life is just high school, they said.
6.0Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money (2024)A 90-minute Nelma Kodama iceberg for the super curious
7.0The Whole Wide World (1996)Was this how situationships were in the 1930s?
7.0The Whole Wide World (1996)The father of sword and sorcery remembered in this sweet, if a bit baffling, romantic melodrama
5.0Here to Climb (2024)It wouldn’t have killed the producers to explain some of the jargon, come on.
5.0Here to Climb (2024)Though climbing enthusiasts might relate to the subject, newcomers will find little to like or understand in this middling documentary
7.7The Larry Sanders ShowWhatever your thoughts are on cringe comedy, this is the show you should start pointing fingers at.
7.7The Larry Sanders ShowA seminal, must-watch comedy that served as a template for sitcom classics like Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, and many more
7.6Queen Margot (1994)It surely has been said before, but Isabelle Adjani truly is #queen.
7.6Queen Margot (1994)The lusty and lavish French historical drama that pushed the envelope before Game of Thrones
7.7Typhoon Club (1985)The Breakfast Club’s troubled cousin.
7.7Typhoon Club (1985)Stranded teenagers discover adulthood’s disappointments in this anti-coming-of-age drama
7.0Who killed him?Lot of upbeat music. Lot of guns.
7.0Who killed him?A streamlined but tedious chronicle of the murder of Mexican TV host Paco Stanley
6.7Six Schizophrenic BrothersSuddenly, Cheaper By the Dozen looks a lot more sinister in its joy.
6.7Six Schizophrenic BrothersA horrifying story deserves a better, less sensationalist treatment than what this documentary gives
6.6Black Barbie (2024)In our consumerist world, I suppose it’s impossible to make a film about a branded toy without promoting the branded toy, regardless of intent.
6.6Black Barbie (2024)This important and often inventive documentary lacks the focus to make it the stellar story it could be
7.1Ray (2004)Watch for Jamie Foxx, but just don’t expect any meaningful discussion about disability, race, drug addiction, and/or womanizing.
7.1Ray (2004)Jamie Foxx pays homage to the Genius in this lively and spirited biopic
7.4About Dry Grasses (2023)I wish we got to see this through Nuray’s perspective.
7.4About Dry Grasses (2023)A self-absorbed misanthrope makes his own misery in this desolate drama driven entirely by dialogue
7.0Goodbye Mother (2019)Simple, but sweet. Sometimes that’s all a film needs.
7.0Goodbye Mother (2019)A closeted immigrant returns home with his love in this feel-good family drama
7.5If I Hadn’t Met YouIt’s a world of hurt between “my house” and “our house.”
7.5If I Hadn’t Met YouA sincere alternate universe drama centered around regret and despair
7.8The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)Oh, I wish for more LGBT films as joyous as this.
7.8The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)Two drag queens and their trans friend find family in this iconic queer road trip drama
7.3Becoming Karl LagerfeldI, too, am confused about the onslaught of fashion biopics lately, but this is one of the rare good ones.
7.3Becoming Karl LagerfeldDaniel Brühl elevates this spectacular fashion feud drama
7.5Love, Gilda (2018)More like I love you, Gilda!
7.5Love, Gilda (2018)A touching look at the inner life of a comedienne extraordinaire
7.5Buena Vista Social Club (1999)Bangers really do transcend time and space, if not trading embargos.
7.5Buena Vista Social Club (1999)Wim Wenders documents Ry Cooder’s passion project in this nostalgic tribute to traditional Cuban music
7.0The Great Battle (2018)The second fight scene at the gate comes just close to Helm’s Deep, and it’s just *chef’s kiss*.
7.0The Great Battle (2018)Ancient Korean warriors take a stand in this action-packed, spectacular historical epic
8.0Alexa & KatieWhat do you mean this isn’t a Nickelodeon series?
8.0Alexa & KatieA heartfelt kids’ sitcom packaged in a familiar, mature way
7.4Stand and Deliver (1988)Shout out to all the teachers that are still in the business. You deserve so much better, with a government that prioritizes education, and an administration that supports your efforts.
7.4Stand and Deliver (1988)An inspirational, if a bit embellished, depiction of a maverick math teacher
7.3Presumed InnocentDid they need to make an eight-episode adaptation when the 1990 feature is just fine? No. Is it still enjoyable? Hell yeah.
7.3Presumed InnocentThough it can be predictable, this hard-boiled legal drama reliably delivers thrills
6.8Brats (2024)It’s not an educational, well-rounded film about the titular “brats” of the ‘80s but it is an admirably thoughtful rumination of fame.
6.8Brats (2024) A member of the Brat Pack confronts his troubled past in this confessional, borderline indulgent documentary
7.2Two of Us (2020)We’re still not sure why France chose this over Portrait of a Lady on Fire a year prior for their lesbian Oscar submission, though.
7.2Two of Us (2020)A refreshingly gripping romantic drama where a retiree does everything to stay by her lover’s side
8.1The Very BestRain (2019)I just really, really love when filmmakers take risks.
8.1The Very BestRain (2019)A girl finds true love in this unusual, marvelous, rain-soaked coming-of-age drama
4.0Bionic (2024)"Self-mutilation is the new doping.”
4.0Bionic (2024)An exciting Paralympics drama wasted on utterly predictable, bloated sci-fi
7.0Raising VoicesLet's go slut shaming!
7.0Raising VoicesMature themes encased in empty high school tropes
5.5Colors of Evil: Red (2024)If 30 minutes in, you still feel like you’re getting nothing, it’s not the "slow burn," it’s the movie.
5.5Colors of Evil: Red (2024)A gory and fluffy crime drama hiding behind nonlinear storytelling
7.4For the Love of Spock (2016)Rest in peace, Leonard Nimoy.
7.4For the Love of Spock (2016)The long and prosperous life Leonard Nimoy lived along with the legendary sci-fi icon he portrayed
7.0North Sea Texas (2011)It’s not actually set in Texas, though.
7.0North Sea Texas (2011)Boys fall in love in this simple seaside coming-of-age drama
7.0As Tears Go By (1988)Looking back at Wong’s earlier works makes it feel like looking back at old photos, remembering how things were. This isn’t the best work to introduce new viewers, but fans of the director would nevertheless appreciate watching his debut.
7.0As Tears Go By (1988)Wong Kar Wai elevates the formulaic crime romance drama with the beginnings of his singular style
6.0The Price of Nonna’s Inheritance (2024)Murder for the whole family, by the whole family.
6.0The Price of Nonna’s Inheritance (2024)An oddly exciting, comforting murder plot
7.0Sea of LoveIt's a familiar children's book style come to life.
7.0Sea of LoveA breezy show about sea animals learning about friendship
7.5A Part of You (2024)All the Bright Places meets Euphoria.
7.5A Part of You (2024)Ugly grief and seductive envy in a simple story
7.4Tipping the VelvetMy only complaint is that there are only three episodes. BBC, Britain, the United Kingdom, heck, maybe even Park Chan-wook… have you considered a new adaptation today?
7.4Tipping the VelvetA lovely and faithful adaptation of the trailblazing Victorian lesbian novel
7.4Mrs. FletcherIt’s great for parents and their teens to watch, just not together.
7.4Mrs. FletcherSexual exploration and coming-of-age for a multi-generational audience
8.0LandscapersNothing like a delusional cinephile to make you question what’s real and what’s not.
8.0LandscapersA true crime drama that dares to break the fourth wall with imaginative and romantic flair
7.6Law of Desire (1987)Happy Pride!
7.6Law of Desire (1987)Pedro Almodóvar solidified his vision of desire in this campy and chaotic LGBT melodrama
7.0The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)The Legend of Bhagat Singh walked, so that RRR can run.
7.0The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)A rare and thoughtful depiction of one of India’s freedom fighters
8.5The Very BestJulie and the PhantomsIt's like if Camp Rock and Lizzie McGuire made a baby that grew up.
8.5The Very BestJulie and the PhantomsA refined teen musical series about pursuing your dreams amid grief
7.0How to Ruin LoveIt’s all the benefits of trash reality TV, minus the self-loathing.
7.0How to Ruin LoveChaotic and addictive like a really long trash reality show, but better
7.0Chesapeake ShoresAbby forgets how to flirt and be a mom.
7.0Chesapeake ShoresA story of generational neglect and routine Hallmark romance
7.5Withnail & I (1987)This is one of the many reasons why George Harrison is my favorite Beatle.
7.5Withnail & I (1987)A downtrodden duo take a countryside getaway in this semi-autobiographical dark comedy
7.0Our Father, the Devil (2023)It stumbles in certain moments, and I’m not sure I’m super satisfied with the ending, but Babetida Sadjo… What a performer.
7.0Our Father, the Devil (2023)A haunting directorial debut that unfolds in a unique psychological drama
7.0FantasmasIt never fails to amaze me how Torres can capture the specific oddity of dreams in his work.
7.0FantasmasJulio Torres’ signature surreal style shines in this weird, fantastic, and star-studded show
6.7QueenieI love Queenie the character, but I’m not a big fan of Queenie the show.
6.7QueenieApart from being realistically messy, this quarter-life crisis dramedy doesn’t bring anything new or enjoyable to the plate
7.1Ong-Bak (2003)What do you mean the stunts are real?! They look so real!
7.1Ong-Bak (2003)Tony Jaa introduces the world to Muay Thai in this action-packed, insanely choreographed crime thriller
8.5The Very BestOld Enough!This is how to instill confidence in children and anxiety in adults.
8.5The Very BestOld Enough!A bite-sized show about toddlers going on errands and growing up before your eyes
6.0Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn (2024)Jo Koy is a natural, but.
6.0Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn (2024)Jo Koy with a lot of lubing up, not a lot of tissuing off
7.5Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok CultA pastor takes advantage of vulnerable children.
7.5Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok CultA 7M/Shekinah cult exposé that runs twice as long as it needs to
7.7In the Bedroom (2001)The title is genius.
7.7In the Bedroom (2001)A strong tragic family drama where grief and regret drive retribution
7.4Hit Man (2024)Retta says it best: okay, Daniel Day!
7.4Hit Man (2024)Strong performances pull off this steamy, thrilling romcom
7.0Boys (2014)So cute. So, so cute.
7.0Boys (2014)A sweet and easy coming-of-age LGBT sports drama
7.0The Outlaws (2017)ACAB, except maybe for Ma Seok-do.
7.0The Outlaws (2017)Don Lee takes down gangsters in this gritty and humorous crime thriller
7.9The Old Oak (2023)It’s not the British director’s best, but it’s a fittingly heartbreaking swan song.
7.9The Old Oak (2023)Ken Loach’s farewell film is a heart-wrenching celebration of community
7.5Outer BanksI can’t tell these supposed factions apart.
7.5Outer BanksA promising enough mystery amid the drama clichés and banter
8.0Godzilla Minus One (2023)Godzilla keeps growing like my anxiety.
8.0Godzilla Minus One (2023)A more story-driven Godzilla movie with a lot heart
7.0The Long Walk Home (1990)It’s not perfect, but it’s great to see an example of following a call to action, not just ineffective theatrics.
7.0The Long Walk Home (1990)Two strong-willed women find support in each other through this powerful, though a bit unbalanced, drama
7.0Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on TrialIt’s not an easy watch, especially since it doesn’t necessarily report anything new, but it is an urgent cautionary tale in our increasingly authoritarian times.
7.0Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on TrialThe rise and fall of the Third Reich is chronicled in this comprehensive, if weighty, documentary
7.2How to Rob a Bank (2024)Mark my words, someone’s gonna make a feature film out of this someday.
7.2How to Rob a Bank (2024)A thrilling and surprisingly cinematic account of how one man pulled off a string of heists in Seattle
7.3Beyond the Hills (2012)I can’t believe this was real.
7.3Beyond the Hills (2012)Faith and friendship are tested in this bleak, unsettling Romanian drama
7.5Trial by Media“This isn’t wrestling, it’s a talk show.” I hate to break it to you, lady…
7.5Trial by MediaA provocative docuseries presenting a spectrum of perspectives
8.5The Very BestKaiju No. 8It’s giving Yu-Gi-Oh! Battle City arc.
8.5The Very BestKaiju No. 8A high-octane, satisfyingly graphic kaiju series
8.5The Very BestSteven UniversePastel Dragon Ball Z.
8.5The Very BestSteven UniverseWonderful story arcs about self discovery and aliens
7.8Hanagatami (2017)It’s such an insane film to attempt to end one’s career with.
7.8Hanagatami (2017)Nobuhiko Obayashi fulfills his childhood dream in this strange and surreal coming-of-age drama that capped his anti-war trilogy
7.3The Proposition (2005)No wonder this is Guy Pearce's favorite film he's done.
7.3The Proposition (2005)The line between good and evil blurs in this dusty, gritty Outback Western
7.2EqualIt’s fittingly more educational than entertaining, though the latter could’ve been better utilized to improve the former.
7.2EqualThough it could’ve been smoother, this docuseries turns the spotlight on urgent, overlooked lessons on queer history
6.8ClippedAs long as you set your expectations right (i.e. come for the goss, not the game), then you should enjoy this series.
6.8ClippedAn uneven but enjoyable mess about the scandal surrounding former LA Clippers owner Don Sterling
7.0XXY (2007)It’s actually insane how this is Lucia Puenzo’s first directorial debut.
7.0XXY (2007)The landmark Argentine feature that explores the intersex experience
7.8Heart Attack (2015)The ending was too real.
7.8Heart Attack (2015)Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit questions the exploitation of the gig economy in this sweet romantic comedy
7.5Virgin RiverI’m genuinely surprised this isn’t made by Hallmark.
7.5Virgin RiverA conservative small town drama with a romance passing through
7.5Team Foxcatcher (2016)Psychotic old man befriends the police and is permitted to carry guns.
7.5Team Foxcatcher (2016)A home video heavy documentary that allots too much runtime on perpetrator John du Pont
8.0We Bare BearsI choose the bears.
8.0We Bare BearsAn adorable show about brotherhood, featuring a trio of equally memorable bears
7.5Lilies (1996)“We shall be free. We'll be loved. If you do truly love me, let your love be known unto me.” I need to cry right now.
7.5Lilies (1996)A passionate, underseen queer gem where a confession transforms into a memory play
7.5Jurassic World: Chaos TheoryThe dinosaur depiction is inexplicably calming and realistic.
7.5Jurassic World: Chaos TheoryDrama, danger, and mystery around dinosaur attacks that will keep you on your toes
8.5The Very BestAdventure TimeI feel like an entire generation watched this and realized being weird isn't for them.
8.5The Very BestAdventure TimeAn assault of colors and existential thoughts
7.6Here We GoWelcome back, Good Luck Charlie.
7.6Here We GoThis dryly funny British family sitcom finds mirth in the mundane
6.0My Oni Girl (2024)The best time to watch this is early in the morning when you’re 7 years old, not paying attention to the TV, just soaking it all in.
6.0My Oni Girl (2024)An ethereal fantasy adventure that quickly unravels into a confusing mess
5.0Out in the Dark (2012)It’s just really disappointing.
5.0Out in the Dark (2012)A depressing LGBT political drama that oversimplifies the Israel-Palestine conflict
7.2The Great Lillian Hall (2024)It’s almost like watching a modernized take on All About Eve, except more dramatic than funny.
7.2The Great Lillian Hall (2024)A powerful showcase for Jessica Lange, this drama is both an ode to theater and a heartbreaking depiction of dementia
7.7The Host (2006)Dispose. *clap* Your waste. *clap* PROPERLY.
7.7The Host (2006)Family saves each other in this emotionally satisfying, epic monster movie
STAFF LISTS10 Best Movies on Xumo Play (Available for Free)
STAFF LISTS10 Best Movies on Xumo Play (Available for Free)
7.5Ren FaireYou can tell the Safdie brothers had their hands on this.
7.5Ren FaireA fantastic, hyperreal succession drama about the country’s biggest Renaissance fair
7.5Too Funny to Fail: The Life & Death of The Dana Carvey Show (2017)This is a comedy nerd’s (my) dream.
7.5Too Funny to Fail: The Life & Death of The Dana Carvey Show (2017)Ironically but delightfully, the story of the short-lived Dana Carvey Show is one of inspiration, joy, and hope
5.5The Seeding (2024)Lesson learned: Do not go to the desert for the solar eclipse. Stay away.
5.5The Seeding (2024)An interesting, if a bit underdeveloped, desert debut that gets darker and darker
7.0The First Omen (2024)The First Omen being good is, ironically, a pretty good omen for filmmaking today, even if it is part of a franchise.
7.0The First Omen (2024)The Omen returns in this timely, terrifying throwback
5.5I Am Not Big Bird (2024)Small penis.
5.5I Am Not Big Bird (2024)A very very very long penis joke
7.5Gaea Girls (2000)Young girls scratch and claw through trauma to have 5-year careers.
7.5Gaea Girls (2000)A brutal eye-opening look at hazing culture in Joshi wrestling
7.8Jim Henson Idea Man (2024)It’s an explosion of creativity and color, sure to jumpstart any artist idle or doubtful of where they stand.
7.8Jim Henson Idea Man (2024)Bursting with color and heart, Jim Henson’s life story is sure to inspire hopeful creatives all around
7.2The Beales of Grey Gardens (2006)Devotees of Grey Gardens, this is for you.
7.2The Beales of Grey Gardens (2006)The titular witty old money outcasts are remembered in the unreleased footage of the classic American documentary
8.0Open Your Eyes (1997)If you're new to this and Vanilla Sky, watch Open Your Eyes first.
8.0Open Your Eyes (1997)The startlingly surreal Spanish psychothriller that inspired modern cult classic Vanilla Sky
6.5Geek GirlHarriet Manners would not survive one day in America’s Next Top Model.
6.5Geek GirlA highly unlikely premise fails this otherwise cute and wholesome teen romcom
7.5Swing Kids (2018)The tap dancing here… Seb in La La Land could never.
7.5Swing Kids (2018)An engaging and enjoyable musical that revels in dance, but struggles in depicting its history
7.0The Final: Attack on Wembley (2024)The lengths people will go to sing Sweet Caroline.
7.0The Final: Attack on Wembley (2024)Focused and descriptive accounts of the UEFA Euro 2020 anarchy at Wembley Stadium
7.3The Unbelievable Truth (1990)“You can't have faith in people, only the deals you make with them. People are only as good as the deals they make and keep.” – WHAT a line.
7.3The Unbelievable Truth (1990)An offbeat, unconventional romantic comedy that examines true love in a world that’s transactional
7.0EricOne publication called it “Sesame Street by way of The Jinx” and I honestly cannot think of a better description.
7.0EricSet in ‘80s New York, Eric soars as a lived-in period piece and satisfies as a mystery, even though the intensity of the performances weighs it down at times
7.2MoviePass, MovieCrash (2024)If your gut tells you it’s too good to be true, it most likely is.
7.2MoviePass, MovieCrash (2024)An enlightening study of how one of the fastest-growing subscription services came undone through racial bias and corporate greed
7.4The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (2016)Olli Mäki is a lover, not a fighter.
7.4The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (2016)An understated and unusually modest sports biopic that celebrates love rather than championships
8.0Turtles Can Fly (2005)As of writing (May 2024), it’s been roughly 20 years since its release. I wish I could say that the world has learned more since then.
8.0Turtles Can Fly (2005)A realistic and well-made Kurdish drama that’s absolutely devastating
8.5The Very BestGreen Day: Bullet in a Bible (2005)In some ways, it's a reminder of how good we had it in the mid-2000s.
8.5The Very BestGreen Day: Bullet in a Bible (2005)Unabashedly 2000s and peak Green Day energy
7.3The Red Violin (1998)It’s really an interesting film about life’s mysteries, which now happens to include the possibility of blood as violin varnish and playing violin during sex.
7.3The Red Violin (1998)A lost violin bears witness to the world’s search for the sublime in this ambitious anthology
7.3La Femme Nikita (1990)It’s a little bit funny how Besson made a movie so iconic, that twenty years later, he ends up actually copying himself.
7.3La Femme Nikita (1990)Luc Besson crafts one of film’s most iconic femme fatales in this stylish spy thriller
7.3In LimboJust Like Heaven fans, this show is for you.
7.3In LimboA careful balance of dark and light themes makes this Aussie comedy worth watching
7.1For Love & Life: No Ordinary Campaign (2023)It doesn’t reinvent the wheel of documentary storytelling, but it manages to balance science with sentiment to evoke genuine inspiration
7.1For Love & Life: No Ordinary Campaign (2023)An inspiring look at one couple’s quest to give ALS the attention and funding it deserves
7.7Yuni (2021)Someday, somehow, Yuni’s story wouldn’t be a possibility for girls around the world. But until that day, I hope more filmmakers would dare to be as honest and thoughtful as Kamila Andini in depicting this issue.
7.7Yuni (2021)A powerful drama depicting a coming-of-age journey strangled by societal oppression
6.0The VeilIt's a sad thing to watch, but not quite as sad as the close contact fight scenes.
6.0The VeilA very unstressful thriller involving secret agents and deception
6.9Print It Black (2024)It’s a moving account of an important event, but don’t expect to learn anything new from it.
6.9Print It Black (2024)It tells a worthy story, but this documentary about the Uvalde mass shooting buckles under the weight of its ambitions
7.6The Taste of Things (2023)Ratatouille for refined adults.
7.6The Taste of Things (2023)Consider this film, which is as comforting and delightful as the dishes served in it, chicken soup for the wearied soul
7.3Miracle WorkersWhoever decided to cast Radcliffe and Buscemi together… Thank you.
7.3Miracle WorkersDaniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi have fun in this eccentric comedy anthology that’s full of heart
8.0Young RockSome valuable b-roll for Dwayne Johnson’s presidential campaign.
8.0Young RockDwayne “The Rock” Johnson pays tribute to his pro wrestling upbringing in this light sitcom
7.5Shadows in Paradise (1986)True love! Though maybe it's best to have your first date somewhere other than the bingo hall.
7.5Shadows in Paradise (1986)Two broke introverts fall in love in this unconventionally deadpan romantic comedy
7.7Terrorizers (1986)Pure cinema.
7.7Terrorizers (1986)Three couples search for truth in this fascinating jigsaw puzzle of modern urban living
8.1The Very BestThe Sacrifice (1986)It's terrifying how the themes still resonate today.
8.1The Very BestThe Sacrifice (1986)In his final film, Andrei Tarkovsky contemplates the end of the world in this meditative modern twist to the Sacrifice of Isaac
7.4Civil War (2024)You know a film’s good when Jesse Plemmons is on the cast list.
7.4Civil War (2024)Set in a future splintered America, Civil War takes a chilling closer look at war journalism and fractured politics
7.5Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)What happened to men giving you a lamb for a proposal?
7.5Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)Thomas Vinterberg and David Nicholls team up for an enchanting, yet grounded modern interpretation of the classic countryside novel
9.0The Very BestFruits BasketOh, to be as kind and optimistic as Tohru Honda!
9.0The Very BestFruits BasketThe iconic shoujo manga, portrayed to perfection in its second anime adaptation
5.0Atlas (2024)This is the most unserious film I’ve seen in a while.
5.0Atlas (2024)A sci-fi film that’s so clunky and derivative, it’s almost hilariously good
7.5You Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020)Who are we kidding, no one’s too Hollywood for pro wrestling.
7.5You Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020)Actor David Arquette is too unhinged for Hollywood, too Hollywood for pro wrestling
7.1The Beach Boys (2024)They might as well put color-coded lyrics in this documentary the way it doubles as a sing-along ( as a huge Beach Boys fan, I mean that as a compliment).
7.1The Beach Boys (2024)Though it could benefit from a more complex treatment, the latest documentary about the iconic American band is just as enjoyable and endearing as their music
7.0Enchanted April (1991)LF: Three more women to vacation with in Italy.
7.0Enchanted April (1991)Four women take a relaxing break in this charming and delightful novel adaptation
7.2After Lucia (2012)Teenagers are sadly sometimes the cruelest people to ever exist.
7.2After Lucia (2012)A harrowing, difficult drama on the cruelty of teenage bullying
8.0The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert DurstIf Kendall Roy was ever tried for his crimes, I imagine it would go down something like this.
8.0The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert DurstThis deep dive into the baffling crimes of a wealthy heir doubles as a breakthrough in true crime and an excellent piece of investigative reportage
7.0Zegen (1987)I’m actually surprised Japan submitted this for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 60th Academy Awards.
7.0Zegen (1987)A bawdy and irreverent satire of delusional nationalism
8.5The Very BestBilly & Molly: An Otter Love Story (2024)I’m convinced someone wanted to make “a love story like no otter” a literal tagline.
8.5The Very BestBilly & Molly: An Otter Love Story (2024)A mesmerizing Pixar-like film about pure, utter friendship
STAFF LISTS10 Best Documentary TV Shows of 2024
STAFF LISTS10 Best Documentary TV Shows of 2024
6.0TiresThere’s a joke that got a laugh out of me but I can’t seem to recall what it was, so that should tell you something about its memorability factor (or lack thereof).
6.0TiresIt has its moments, but this sitcom starring Shane Gillis is too flat to be funny or interesting
7.9Gods and Monsters (1998)This is the kind of biopic filmmakers should be making about filmmakers.
7.9Gods and Monsters (1998)A speculative but compassionate depiction of the later days of one of the first ever Hollywood directors
7.6Amy (2015)It’s an unsettling but necessary watch, one that respects its once-in-a-generation singer enough to highlight her multifaceted self.
7.6Amy (2015)Though it sometimes borders on voyeurism, this incredibly intimate documentary uncovers new depths of the legendary singer’s misunderstood persona
7.0Black Book (2006)Melisandre can sing?!
7.0Black Book (2006)Paul Verhoeven returns to his native Netherlands through this familiar espionage romance thriller
7.1Dragon (2011)Okay, but maybe if you didn’t wade into your crime scene and slurp the river water and attack the town hero, people might take your detective work more seriously.
7.1Dragon (2011)Sherlock Holmes meets martial arts master in this exciting, genre-mixing action mystery
7.5Fighting with My Family (2019)There is no way young Saraya dreamed of one day holding that horrid butterfly belt.
7.5Fighting with My Family (2019)A refreshing look at pro wrestling through teen comedy drama tropes
7.5A Revolution on Canvas (2023)If there’s something I’ve learned from watching one too many docs about tortured male geniuses, it’s that there’s almost always a generous, supportive, and underappreciated woman behind his success.
7.5A Revolution on Canvas (2023)An Iranian artist looks back on a life of revolutionary and familial struggle in this heartbreaking but illuminating documentary
7.8Chasing Amy (1997)Is it really a pre-stardom Ben Affleck flick if Matt Damon and Casey Affleck don’t make a cameo?
7.8Chasing Amy (1997)Sweet and smart with a bit of a sting, this romantic comedy is When Harry Met Sally for the cooler Generation X crowd
7.8Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023)I wish every woman out there had a safe place like this.
7.8Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023)The smoke sauna serves as sacred sanctuary in this refreshing documentary
7.6Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life (1995)Do I know what the hell happened here? No. But is it a good movie to watch? Yes, if you’re open to the strange and creepy images the Brothers Quay has to offer.
7.6Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life (1995)The Brothers Quay fascinates and befuddles in their unsettling first live-action feature
6.5Vanderpump VillaHow down in the dumps would you have to be to agree to check in while the show is being filmed?
6.5Vanderpump VillaNothing beats the transparent trashiness of this hospitality-themed reality show
7.2The Quiet American (2002)AITA for getting in between my younger white friend and my Asian mistress, even though I can’t divorce my wife?
7.2The Quiet American (2002)An effortless adaptation of the challenging romantic political drama
7.5Stax: Soulsville USAFor the record, I’ll take any reason to listen to Soul Man and The Dock of the Bay.
7.5Stax: Soulsville USAAn electrifying account of how one music label pioneered Southern soul music
7.0The FlatshareIf you remove its romcom sheen, this is actually a chilling cautionary tale about the worsening housing crisis.
7.0The FlatshareIt can be predictable, but this romantic comedy is grounded by relatable troubles and charming performances
8.2The Very BestCasting Blossoms to the Sky (2012)Cleverness and courage to bring about peace– I wish the world remembers this today.
8.2The Very BestCasting Blossoms to the Sky (2012)A moving, haunting tribute to the ordinary lives lost to war and disaster, and the love that remains in spite of it
8.5The Very BestHitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows (1998)Bret Hart being a heel exclusively in the United States pretty much means he’s a good guy.
8.5The Very BestHitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows (1998)A documentary capturing one of the most important transition periods in WWF, through the eyes of Canadian wrestling hero Bret Hart
7.0Dogleg (2023)I’m not sure this film would work for all viewers, but it’s different and it would be interesting to see what Al Warren would do next.
7.0Dogleg (2023)An offbeat, unusual debut feature that’s as uncontrollable as its medium
7.6Colin from AccountsThese two match each other's freak, and we’re here for it.
7.6Colin from AccountsIt doesn’t reinvent the romcom wheel, but there’s lots to love and laugh about in this delightful Aussie sitcom
7.8Housekeeping for Beginners (2024)Modern Family 2.0 (Southeast Europe Edition).
7.8Housekeeping for Beginners (2024)At once understated and powerful, this Macedonian drama shines a necessary light on the complexity of found families
7.6Secret Sunshine (2007)What an interesting choice to make the setting a few years after that horrifying case.
7.6Secret Sunshine (2007)A grieving woman deals with the worst of fates in this challenging, disquieting riverside drama
8.0Beyond the Mat (1999)The carny business ain’t a shiny business. For many people, there is no beyond that mat.
8.0Beyond the Mat (1999)The quintessential ‘90s pro wrestling documentary that shows that the top of the mountain carries more insanity than glory
6.9Power (2024)I will happily watch this in a history class, but not necessarily in a movie theater.
6.9Power (2024)A highly informative but ultimately flat account of the history of policing in America
6.0The Big CigarIt tries so hard to steer clear from being another Hollywood-glorified white savior story, that it ends up being that exact same thing it avoids.
6.0The Big CigarThis miniseries about Black Panther co-founder Huey P. Newton succeeds as a heist, but fails as a meaningful biopic
7.0Infamous (2006)Daniel Craig was genuinely a surprise here. It’s a really different side compared to his later roles, but not in the way you’re thinking. (And I can’t really say due to spoilers, sorry.)
7.0Infamous (2006)A slightly embellished, often compared, retelling that depicts the classic novelist’s larger-than-life spirit
7.5Chinese Odyssey 2002 (2002)This was supposed to be fun and slapstick, but why did I tear up in the ring test… Tony Leung Chiu Wai is just too good!
7.5Chinese Odyssey 2002 (2002)An absurd, ridiculous parody of classic Chinese dramas that comes with a sweet twist
8.0Tales From the TerritoriesBar fights, hospital escapes, attempted murders, near-homicides — ah yes, the golden age of wrestling.
8.0Tales From the TerritoriesA gritty pro wrestling series that almost makes you miss the wild west of the territory days
7.9Uncropped (2024)Wes Anderson, who appears in the documentary and serves as its executive producer, describes James Hamilton best when he says “he’s basically James Stewart in Rear Window.”
7.9Uncropped (2024)A delightful documentary that doubles as a biography of a singular artist and a celebration of a bygone era
6.5Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & ScandalIt can be addictive, but don’t expect to learn anything new from this documentary.
6.5Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & ScandalMore of a reiteration than an exposé, this documentary fails to shed new light on a well-known albeit still intriguing scandal
7.4Trick (1999)Jim Fall, Jason Schafer… I know it’s been years since you’ve talked about the sequel but PLEASE we are begging for it.
7.4Trick (1999)A witty and refreshing comedy-of-errors depicting the gay community in the big city
7.0Italian for Beginners (2000)Movie overall = 7/10. Actual Italian language tutelage = 1/10.
7.0Italian for Beginners (2000)An understated, lighthearted romantic comedy made much more naturalistic through the Dogme ethos
6.0Secrets of the Neanderthals (2024)It’s a field trip that sounded better on paper and dares overstay its welcome.
6.0Secrets of the Neanderthals (2024)This plodding, unenergetic documentary sees neanderthals and humans as two branches on the same tree
6.8The Boxer (1997)To be honest, it’s actually disappointing to see a whole year of boxing training only given a few scenes.
6.8The Boxer (1997)Star-crossed lovers stand their ground in this disappointing Northern Irish drama
7.0Monarch: Legacy of MonstersCome for Godzilla, stay for the Russell father-and-son duo.
7.0Monarch: Legacy of MonstersWhat this Godzilla series lacks in kaiju action, it more than makes up for in movie star charm
7.2Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry (2023)Etero’s dinner monologue… Perfect.
7.2Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry (2023)A meditative character study of an independent middle-aged woman
6.9Spacey UnmaskedHow can anyone watch this and still think the guy’s innocent?
6.9Spacey UnmaskedAn important exposé that is unfortunately buried under weak editing choices
3.5Down the Rabbit Hole (2024)If a comedy is a 2-hour film with 1 absurd confrontation every hour, this is comedy.
3.5Down the Rabbit Hole (2024)A painfully uneventful coming-of-age story about a boy and his drug-lord father
7.7Mona Lisa (1986)Also, shout out to that Genesis drop– what a banger.
7.7Mona Lisa (1986)A neo-noir love story that dives deep into London’s underworld
7.2The Last Stop in Yuma County (2024)Tarantino and the Coen brothers, but make it indie.
7.2The Last Stop in Yuma County (2024)A tight Western thriller that makes good use of its limited budget
9.2The Very BestMonsterJohan Liebert is proof that you should never trust a guy whose name starts with J. (Just kidding. But dear lord, this boy is terrifying.)
9.2The Very BestMonsterThe classic psychological thriller anime that’s simply one-of-a-kind
7.1Wicked Little Letters (2024)Expect nothing less from Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, especially when they’re performing against each other.
7.1Wicked Little Letters (2024)It’s not the most original mystery out there, nor the most rousing feminist piece, but Wicked Little Letters’ robust performances make it well worth watching
7.5John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)John Mulaney putting the sketch in sketch comedy.
7.5John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)John Mulaney successfully creates an offbeat children's comedy special tackling death
7.2Belle (2013)Sam Reid was decent here– he does quite well with Davinier– But I cannot help but imagine what it would have been like if first choice Sam Claflin didn’t have scheduling conflicts with Catching Fire…
7.2Belle (2013)A stirring, though fictionalized, period drama intertwining race and romance
7.9Such Brave GirlsIt feels like the spiritual successor to Flebag, except somehow more gross and maybe, possibly, more dysfunctional.
7.9Such Brave GirlsAn unforgiving and bleakly funny look at the sorry state of mental health in low-income Britain
8.1The Very BestLa Belle Noiseuse (1991)THIS is the way we should encourage art– not through artificial images generated from stolen work, but through depicting the actual process.
8.1The Very BestLa Belle Noiseuse (1991)A sensual, spellbinding masterpiece depicting the creative process and its muse
4.0Mother of the Bride (2024)Someone please save Miranda Cosgrove before she gets permanently typecasted into “no personality beyond being a great influencer” roles.
4.0Mother of the Bride (2024)A forgettable if frustrating Mother’s Day bait film
8.0LoveLove is a cute sprint, but a painfully frustrating marathon.
8.0LoveThe perfectly awkward romcom series for when you crave a little cringe
7.2Lilting (2014)It’s acturally crazy how this is a debut feature…
7.2Lilting (2014)A thoughtful, heartbreaking debut feature where shared grief bridges two different people
7.3BodkinTed Lasso and now Bodkin…if I had a nickel every time an SNL regular played a sweet but naive American in Europe, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice right?
7.3BodkinGritty procedural meets giddy podcast in this Irish crime comedy
7.4Santa Sangre (1989)Kinda weird to cast your own children into this kind of film, though for young Fenix, I can’t say it would be easy to cast any child at all.
7.4Santa Sangre (1989)A terrifying circus act straight from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s nightmares
8.0La Chimera (2023)It’s one of those films that leaves you with more questions than answers, but makes sure the experience is worthwhile, if not unforgettable.
8.0La Chimera (2023)A dreamy, bewitching film that ponders on ideas of lostness and longing
5.0Katt Williams: Woke Foke (2024)Support woke culture by slapping it in the back of the head.
5.0Katt Williams: Woke Foke (2024)Comedian Katt Williams performs a messy, boisterous gospel wrapped in crass and gossip
7.9Drowning by Numbers (1988)I spy with my little eye…
7.9Drowning by Numbers (1988)Peter Greenaway plays with structure and numbers in this surreal, quirky crime comedy
7.6An Autumn’s Tale (1987)Okay, but can someone tell me what degree of cousinship Jennifer and Sam share? Because “my aunt’s niece” isn’t really clear enough.
7.6An Autumn’s Tale (1987)Two Hong Kong immigrants find a new life, and a new love, in this New York-shot romantic drama
8.4The Very BestThe Beatles: Get BackAs an objective reviewer I’m saying this doc is worthwhile, but as a years-long Beatlemaniac, I’m saying that watching this has been one of the most revelatory cinematic experience in my life.
8.4The Very BestThe Beatles: Get BackYou don’t have to like The Beatles, just music, to enjoy this sprawling documentary about the making of an iconic album
7.0Hollywood Con QueenOur generation could’ve gotten our own Ben Kingsley if this guy had channeled his talents into acting instead of sociopathic scamming.
7.0Hollywood Con QueenA compelling three-parter about a swindler who cruelly and successfully scammed hundreds of people by impersonating Hollywood’s executive elite
8.5The Very BestDark Side of the RingIt's either this or Nacho Libre with wrestling, huh?
8.5The Very BestDark Side of the RingA streamlined look into the tragic stories and fascinating urban legends in pro wrestling
7.6Hilary and Jackie (1998)Whoever decided to cast Rachel Griffiths and Emily Watson as sisters? Thank you.
7.6Hilary and Jackie (1998)Two sisters, bound by music, is torn by genius and fame in this tragic, heartwrenching biopic
7.0The Breaking Ice (2023)LF: New friends to frolic in the snow and alleviate my depression with.
7.0The Breaking Ice (2023)Three lost souls find a warm connection in this wintry, delicate drama
7.8Dark MatterMarvel wishes its infinite universes had this much intrigue and sexual appeal.
7.8Dark MatterForget superheroes, Apple TV+'s exciting new sci-fi series pits Joel Edgerton at the center of the multiverse
8.0SwaggerAll I’m saying is there are plenty of mediocre shows Apple TV+ could’ve scrapped instead of the promising, energizing Swagger.
8.0SwaggerCombining impressive athleticism, relevant social themes, and heartwarming performances, Swagger is a noteworthy entry in the sports drama genre
7.0Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut (2024)For a digestive system documentary, this wasn't gross at all.
7.0Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut (2024)An informative, artistic, and digestible tribute to the digestive system
6.9Testament of Youth (2014)I just can’t stop seeing Eggsy, Merlin, and Jon Snow being BFFs with Ava from Ex Machina…
6.9Testament of Youth (2014)A lovely, though fairly standard, memoir adaptation of the famous British pacifist
6.8Unfrosted (2024)Comedy nerds will have too much fun pinpointing who’s who’s in this star-studded cast, maybe more than watching the film itself.
6.8Unfrosted (2024)A fun but ultimately too-childish romp about the discovery of the Pop-Tart
7.9Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023)Bobiță…
7.9Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023)A cynical, but terribly honest portrait of the indignity of modern life
7.1Turtles All the Way Down (2024)Sometimes I wonder if the recent surge of manic pixie dream boys in Hollywood is payback for all the times their female counterparts vexed us in movies past.
7.1Turtles All the Way Down (2024)A sweet and relatable coming-of-age drama that brings mental health and economic realities to the fore
7.5Dead Boy DetectivesIt's splashes of Umbrella Academy meeting the ashes of The Sandman.
7.5Dead Boy DetectivesA colorful teen comedy, but a dragging supernatural mystery
7.3Lust, Caution (2007)Now, why haven’t we seen Tang Wei and Tony Leung in a film together again?
7.3Lust, Caution (2007)A wartime spy falls for a collaborator in this erotic espionage drama
6.7Prom Dates (2024)Julia Lester is hilarious, but everything and everyone else just made me want to rewatch Booksmart.
6.7Prom Dates (2024)A cute but ultimately cliched take at the “night before prom” teen film
7.0The Contestant (2023)Before The Truman Show, there was “A Life in Prizes”—both cruel and manipulative, but one was a dystopian look at what the future could be, and the other was just real.
7.0The Contestant (2023)A breakthrough in reality TV reveals the cruel lengths the media is willing to go to in exploiting a person’s misery for entertainment
7.0Idiots and Angels (2008)Now, how do I give angel wings on certain individuals…
7.0Idiots and Angels (2008)Miserable scoundrel transforms into unwilling good-doer in this strange and cynical animated comedy
3.5The Tearsmith (2024)I feel like we should have been kinder to Twilight.
3.5The Tearsmith (2024)A porn storyline with “adopted siblings” and “Wattpad” as its main tags
6.9The Idea of You (2024)No one needs convincing that Anne Hathaway still has it, but here we are.
6.9The Idea of You (2024)A smart albeit dry romantic comedy that unwittingly contradicts its empowering message
5.0A Man in FullForget his knee, Jeff Daniels must be really sore carrying this entire series on his back.
5.0A Man in FullA star-studded cast and a timely premise can’t save this stilted, badly directed business drama set in the South
8.1The Very BestBreaking the Waves (1996)If only Bess was born in this day and age. She would have loved the internet.
8.1The Very BestBreaking the Waves (1996)Lars von Trier breaks his rules in the tearjerking first film of the Golden Heart trilogy
7.2Mambar Pierrette (2024)It’s just such a lovely portrait, not just of the title character, but also of her community.
7.2Mambar Pierrette (2024)A moving portrait of a steadfast seamstress that subtly stitches everyday life in Douala
7.5Criminal: UKIt's Black Mirror with dialogue as the technology.
7.5Criminal: UKA dialogue-driven, single-setting interrogation drama that makes the most of its premise
8.4The Very BestCleaners (2019)God bless the copier machine that printed out every frame.
8.4The Very BestCleaners (2019)A weird and wonderful coming-of-age anthology featuring classic moments in 2000’s Philippine high schools
8.3The Very BestMinbo: the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion (1992)Gotta lower down the volume on this one, though, with all the yelling.
8.3The Very BestMinbo: the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion (1992)Alternatively, a hilarious, satiric guide to dealing with pesky organized crime
8.5The Very BestAngle (2023)Kurt Angle is a wholesome superhuman.
8.5The Very BestAngle (2023)Wrestling legend Kurt Angle is the embodiment of "never give up" in this candid sports documentary
7.0Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen (2024)Love is powerful, but not as powerful as Fern Brady.
7.0Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen (2024)Fern Brady's comedy is friendly and absurd in the best way
8.0The Resurrection of Jake The Snake (2015)It's arguably the best ad for DDP Yoga.
8.0The Resurrection of Jake The Snake (2015)The inspiring, gritty journey of how pro wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts turned his life around
6.7City Hunter (2024)You can tell it’s based on an anime created in the ‘80s by how outdated and sexist its humor is.
6.7City Hunter (2024)Cool graphics and choreography can’t save this live-action adaptation’s hackneyed story and misogynistic humor
8.2The Very BestComrades, Almost a Love Story (1996)Li Xiao Jun, what are you doing, being all confused over Maggie Cheung like that?
8.2The Very BestComrades, Almost a Love Story (1996)Almost Hong Kong natives become almost lovers in this heart stirring romance drama
8.6The Very BestProblemista (2024)This is for anyone who’s woken up sweating from a nightmare about freakin' paperwork.
8.6The Very BestProblemista (2024)Dark, weird, poignant, and funny, this debut feature by Los Espookys star Julio Torres is a modern parable of the American Dream
7.3White God (2014)If you have one, please hug your dog for me, thanks.
7.3White God (2014)An unpleasant, bizarre, yet brilliant drama about the dark side of man and his best friend
6.7The Glass Castle (2017)It’s Jeannette’s choice to forgive Rex, and it’s admirable of her, but the way the film makes this conclusion is the reason the film isn’t rated any higher.
6.7The Glass Castle (2017)A disjointed, but still touching, adaptation of the audacious family memoir
7.0The Hijacking of Flight 601It's what a hijacking might feel like if you damn near tranquilize yourself to death.
7.0The Hijacking of Flight 601A hijacking drama that creates anxiety by curing it
7.0ElsbethElsbeth is a ray of sunshine in a genre packed with grim, self-serious shows.
7.0ElsbethSet in New York with an irresistibly charming lead, this spin-off from The Good Wife makes for a simple but entertaining watch
7.3Spermworld (2024)It’s a unique choice, one that not many people make, but whether you agree or disagree over the morality of the choice, it’s really so fascinating to watch.
7.3Spermworld (2024)People take family planning into their own hands in this fascinating look into sperm donation online
7.7How to Have Sex (2023)One day, the concept of consent would be so ubiquitous that these teen parties would just be fun memories to treasure.
7.7How to Have Sex (2023)A drunken summer vacation turns melancholy in this sober observation of teenage rites of passage
7.5Unlocked: A Jail ExperimentThis takes separate the art from the artist to another level.
7.5Unlocked: A Jail ExperimentA fascinating prison experiment that believes most people change for the better
6.5Betty Blue (1986)Betty… You deserve better.
6.5Betty Blue (1986)Artistic frustration is only temporarily sated by love in this erotic, supposedly psychological, drama
7.3Parting Glances (1986)It’s heartbreaking how this was the only film Bill Sherwood ever made.
7.3Parting Glances (1986)An honest, domestic depiction of AIDS and the Manhattan gay community
6.0Deliver MeWe’re not expecting child murder to be fun to watch, but the show’s done no favor to its excellent cast since it’s made with the same Netflix true crime flair.
6.0Deliver MeA tragic novel contemplating teen delinquency is disappointingly adapted with the same Netflix approach
7.0Pathfinder (1987)It’s actually funny how the stunt doubles, not the cast, complained about the cold to the point they refused to work.
7.0Pathfinder (1987)The sole survivor of a family massacre saves his entire tribe in the first ever film depicting the Sámi people
6.5The Beautiful Game (2024)Of course this is the movie that made the best use of Seven Nation Army.
6.5The Beautiful Game (2024)A heartwarming lesson in belonging and humility following the sports movie formula
7.0The Beauty Inside (2015)While plenty of things in this film are impossible, it’s totally believable to stay up for days, procrastinate on work, and change your entire life for someone as beautiful as Yi-soo.
7.0The Beauty Inside (2015)A slightly impossible, but sweet, romance drama that believes in love despite changing faces
7.1Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young AgainMino is kinda weird for making her grandpa pose like a boy band member, though.
7.1Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young AgainA charming slice-of-life comedy where youth reveals the beauty of the simple life
6.3The Greatest Hits (2024)I wouldn’t say it has THE greatest hits, though.
6.3The Greatest Hits (2024)Music prolongs grief in this fairly standard indie romance
STAFF LISTSBest 2024 Movies on Hulu So Far
STAFF LISTSBest 2024 Movies on Hulu So Far
5.0THE MAGIC PRANK SHOW with Justin WillmanMagicians don't do reveals. Pranksters do reveals. Let's make a TV show and force it to work, it'll be great.
5.0THE MAGIC PRANK SHOW with Justin WillmanOutrageous prank premises that get old pretty quick
7.0LaRoy, Texas (2024)When will John Magano be treated right?
7.0LaRoy, Texas (2024)Blackmail and betrayal intersect in this small town Texan crime comedy
7.4Amar Singh Chamkila (2024)Indian films are no stranger to music, but it's just much more fitting here with the subject matter, with the perfect cast, and the excellent selection for each moment.
7.4Amar Singh Chamkila (2024)Imtiaz Ali remembers the Elvis of Punjab in this vibrant musical biopic
STAFF LISTS10 Best 2024 Thriller Movies So Far
STAFF LISTS10 Best 2024 Thriller Movies So Far
7.7The Official Story (1985)Norma Aleandro is excellent here.
7.7The Official Story (1985)A heartbreaking family drama that reveals the human cost of Argentina’s political unrest in the 20th century
5.5What Jennifer Did (2024)Just watch a good Youtube channel or read about it.
5.5What Jennifer Did (2024)A bare minimum coverage of the Jennifer Pan case
6.8FranklinYou’re better off watching other period dramas about the era, like HBO’s John Adams, instead.
6.8FranklinDespite impressive turns in the past, Michael Douglas is a letdown in this period drama about the great Benjamin Franklin
8.4The Very BestConan O’Brien Must GoIt truly is a blessing in disguise that Conan didn’t nab the late-night spot—while his contemporaries are wilting away behind desks, he’s having the time of his life meeting new people (and taking us with him) around the world.
8.4The Very BestConan O’Brien Must GoAs expected, talk show host Conan O’Brien is sidesplittingly funny in his latest travel show
7.5Late Night with the Devil (2024)Maybe the real demon is AI generated images…
7.5Late Night with the Devil (2024)Demons, and AI, are unleashed in this creepy pseudo-documentary of a strange late night incident
7.0The Bloody Hundredth (2024)Tom Hanks does not have one unpatriotic bone in his body, and it’s genuinely amazing how he hasn’t been dragged for it yet.
7.0The Bloody Hundredth (2024)A straightforward but still educational documentary about the brave Air Force unit that went head-to-head against Nazi Germany
7.3STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 piecesSteve Martin is a Hollywood gem and it's great to see a documentary understand that and preserve his legacy.
7.3STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 piecesA treat for fans and newcomers alike, this documentary is a lovely look at the creative mind of comedian Steve Martin
6.5Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife KillerThis felt like discussing true crime in a safe space.
6.5Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife KillerA true crime limited series with a straightforward, respectful approach
7.6The Peasants (2023)It still kills me how similar in movement Jagna’s two dances are compared to what happens, yet how remarkably different it feels by color, music, and the cast’s performances. And in all of this, Jagna never leads.
7.6The Peasants (2023)DK Welchman returns to her roots in this oil-painted adaptation of the haunting Young Poland folk saga
7.7The BelieversMonk Dol, you deserved better.
7.7The BelieversBelief is exploited for business in this audacious get-rich-quick scheme
7.0Files of the UnexplainedIt's like a social deduction game in documentary format.
7.0Files of the UnexplainedCampfire stories you binge when you get in one of those supernatural moods
7.4Under the BridgeLily Gladstone and Riley Keough are excellent here!
7.4Under the BridgeTeen bullying escalates into murder in this chilling true crime miniseries
8.4The Very BestFalling in Love Like in Movies (2023)It truly is a cinematic experience.
8.4The Very BestFalling in Love Like in Movies (2023)A contemplative Indonesian romance film that rewrites and re-examines the genre’s conventions
7.2Pelle the Conqueror (1987)I wish they continued this film with the rest of the volumes, but the images still hold up to nearly forty years later.
7.2Pelle the Conqueror (1987)A well-done, though lengthy, adaptation of the classic Danish immigrant novel
7.5Blind Date Book Club (2024)It's like Flipped with an adult cast.
7.5Blind Date Book Club (2024)A perfectly saccharine bookstore romance for light viewing
7.4Wind BreakerThis is what the phrase “Boys will be boys” should mean.
7.4Wind BreakerSchoolboy delinquents show their wholesome side in this funny and action-packed series
7.0A Gentleman in MoscowActually, this would have been much more appreciated at the height of quarantine.
7.0A Gentleman in MoscowA Russian aristocrat’s life sentence transforms into a slice of a genuinely charmed life in this Soviet Union-set period drama
8.0The SympathizerPark Chan-wook, you’ve done it again.
8.0The SympathizerPark Chan-wook and Robert Downey Jr. team up in this riveting satirical spy thriller set at the end of the Vietnam War
6.5Renegade NellIt's a very concerningly lighthearted show about murders.
6.5Renegade NellA mesmerizing live action fairytale for period film buffs and casuals alike
8.5The Very BestBaby ReindeerIt’s not an easy watch. But it’s definitely the type of show that raises the questions we need to discuss, and it’s brave for Richard Gadd to lay it all out here. Jessica Gunning and Nava Mau are forces to be reckoned with, too.
8.5The Very BestBaby ReindeerComedian Richard Gadd gets deeply personal in this deeply troubling, but incredibly honest miniseries
7.6BARTENDER Glass of God*points at Sasakura* I like the ba-ar-tender… (ooh, if you’re lookin’ for me), *points at Miwa* I’m at the ba-ar with her… (oh-oh-oh, okay)
7.6BARTENDER Glass of GodCocktails and life stories are mixed in this level headed, slice of life anime
7.0Camille Claudel (1988)Isabelle Adjani is everything.
7.0Camille Claudel (1988)Isabelle Adjani descends into madness in this stirring biopic of the titular genius sculptor that died in obscurity
6.0ParishIf you're cursed to watch Kaleidoscope every day for the rest of your life, put this on every once in a while; the genie won't notice.
6.0ParishA paint-by-numbers heist drama that you've seen before
7.8FalloutIf you’re one of the five people who saw the Twisted Metal adaptation, this is like that but better—with hints of Westworld, Lost, The Walking Dead, and most modern sitcoms.
7.8FalloutAction-packed and acerbic, Fallout is a worthy adaptation of the best-selling video game of the same name
7.4SugarIf you’re an Old Hollywood fan, you’ll have fun with this homage—otherwise, Sugar’s core mystery might leave you unsatisfied.
7.4SugarThough it lacks genuine thrills, this old-fashioned noir starring a debonair Colin Farrell delights through style and nostalgia
8.8The Very BestRiver (2023)A perfect cinematic representation of "every second counts" (affectionate) versus "every second counts" (threatening).
8.8The Very BestRiver (2023)A delightful and ultimately life-affirming Japanese time loop comedy clearly made with love
8.6The Very BestNathan for YouYou can trust him; he graduated from one of Canada's top business schools with really good grades.
8.6The Very BestNathan for YouA reality-comedy series that tests the limits of cringe and arrives somewhere profoundly human
7.0HomicideIt's an unfortunate tour around Manhattan by way of gruesome murder.
7.0HomicideA detective and (sadly) perpetrator-focused true crime docuseries
7.0Fast & Feel Love (2022)Reminder to check in with the people that supported you. And maybe do your laundry if you haven’t yet.
7.0Fast & Feel Love (2022)Speed stacking makes a comeback in this surprisingly funny film
7.4Yannick (2023)Please do not try this at your local theater.
7.4Yannick (2023)Quentin Dupieux interrogates his audience in this hour long hostage situation
7.3Mary & GeorgeWhat have we done to deserve Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine?
7.3Mary & GeorgeJulianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine scheme to win the king’s favor in this soapy and salacious depiction of the Jacobean court
7.0American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes (2023)They covered AEW.
7.0American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes (2023)A heartfelt documentary dissecting Cody Rhodes' impactful return to WWE
7.0The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem (2024)Inside jokes don't usually land when the whole world is listening.
7.0The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem (2024)A bleak but amusing look at how ironic memes became the headline news
9.0The Very BestRIPLEYThis show makes awkward look sexy.
9.0The Very BestRIPLEYA psychological thriller rich in tension and pristine camera work
7.3Música (2024)Look. The way Camila Mendes is introduced, with the camera going closer, and the sunlight glowing behind her hair, amidst the busyness of the fish store where Isabella works… This is what cinema is about, y’all.
7.3Música (2024)Rudy Mancuso recalls his origin story in this charming semi-autobiographical coming-of-age musical complete with Camila Mendes and puppets
7.2Parasyte: The GreyStep aside, Sweet Home, there’s a new mysterious, transformative illness in town, and it comes with a side of aliens!
7.2Parasyte: The GreyHumans become hosts for terrifying, tentacled aliens in this thrilling Korean spinoff
7.5Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF…does liking this show make me a furry…
7.5Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLFFolkloric wolf deity meets medieval merchant in the new reboot of the “Economics anime”
4.5How to Date Billy Walsh (2024)It's Sex Education, without the sex or the education.
4.5How to Date Billy Walsh (2024)An over-the-top teen romance with severely dry characters and ideas
7.4Scoop (2024)It’s no Spotlight, but it sure is a rousing reminder of the power and importance of The Fourth Estate.
7.4Scoop (2024)A gripping and illuminating dramatization of a landmark interview from the creator of The Crown
7.3ManhuntIt’s like a slightly more elevated version of the dramas released by networks like History and Nat Geo.
7.3ManhuntA powerfully performed historical drama about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the ensuing hunt for his killer
7.0Rewind (2023)Your marriage counselor’s favorite movie.
7.0Rewind (2023)A Filipino marriage drama evoking catharsis in the safest way
7.0Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal (2024)I wish more people in WWE were “difficult to work with.”
7.0Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal (2024)WWE’s best effort to pay tribute to Windham “Bray Wyatt” Rotunda
7.3Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TVHonestly, Nickelodeon should just slime itself.
7.3Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TVA deeply unsettling exposé on the abusive and unsafe work environment Nickelodeon child stars had to endure
6.9Palm RoyaleWhat a terrible waste of a star-studded cast!
6.9Palm RoyaleThe costumes and camp almost make it worth it, but this 1960s period piece is too cheesy for its own good
8.1The Very BestMister Organ (2022)A film so paranoia-inducing that I was actually a little scared to review it.
8.1The Very BestMister Organ (2022)A filmmaker chases — and then struggles to escape — a shady figure in this fascinating and disturbing documentary
8.0Kita Kita (2017)Whatever flaw you think this movie has, I don't see it.
8.0Kita Kita (2017)A dialogue-driven romance that satisfies and subverts Filipino romcom tropes
7.5Last Night in Soho (2021)This is more an Anya Taylor-Joy movie than an effective horror movie.
7.5Last Night in Soho (2021)A Studio Ghibli plot dressed like a vintage horror film
7.8Poison for the Fairies (1986)The duality of girlhood.
7.8Poison for the Fairies (1986)Two Mexican schoolgirls forge a frightening friendship in this morbid coming-of-age horror
7.7Brian Simpson: Live from the Mothership (2024)So there IS a way for male comics to talk about this stuff while still punching up, who would've thought?
7.7Brian Simpson: Live from the Mothership (2024)A hilariously written stand-up special that takes a smart, generous approach to typically edgy topics
5.3Wildcard KitchenReally useful in the extremely likely event that anyone ever forces you to make a sandwich on a stick.
5.3Wildcard KitchenA fast-paced, if overly simple, competition program that still teaches fun cooking hacks
8.7The Very BestX-Men ’97This is Disney's sign to just cut it out with the gradually worsening live-action stuff and go back to making great animation.
8.7The Very BestX-Men ’97A wonderfully old school superhero series with dynamic storytelling and powerful, emotional writing
8.1The Very BestThe Monk and the Gun (2024)Brilliant.
8.1The Very BestThe Monk and the Gun (2024)Pawo Choyning Dorji depicts Bhutan through this fascinatingly gentle comedy during its shift to democracy
7.8My Undead Yokai GirlfriendLet this be a reminder that when it comes to love, it’s better to relax than be desperate. And maybe not do any magical summoning rituals.
7.8My Undead Yokai GirlfriendJapanese yokai meets shy, geeky college kid in this hilarious horror romcom series
8.1The Very BestBlood of ZeusNetflix, please, please give us a season two.
8.1The Very BestBlood of ZeusGreek mythology is reforged in Japanese-inspired animation in this spectacular and gruesome dark fantasy series
6.7Murder Mubarak (2024)Pretty fun, but could've used a more ridiculous mustache.
6.7Murder Mubarak (2024)An entertaining satirical comedy inside a whodunnit that falls just short of the mark
7.0A Letter to Momo (2012)Please don’t endanger yourself in a typhoon, though.
7.0A Letter to Momo (2012)A quirky coming-of-age animated journey of grief, accompanied by cute, ugly yokai creatures
6.8Eye Love YouThe way the subtitles disappear for Yoon’s Korean internal monologue… Nice touch.
6.8Eye Love YouK-drama male lead meets Japanese telepath in this cute, though cliché, office romance
5.8Big Girls Don’t CryBGDC at least took the opportunity to introduce new names in more than half of its ensemble, and we’re glad to meet them.
5.8Big Girls Don’t CryA fun, though flimsy, depiction of life at an Indian all-girls boarding school
7.0Big Fish & Begonia (2016)This might be the only cute depiction of taking care of fish, and frankly, it’s only because the said fish looks like a dolphin. Sorry, fish.
7.0Big Fish & Begonia (2016)Love drives sacrifice in this breathtaking animated drama set in an underwater spirit world
5.7Road House (2024)Fights were great, though!
5.7Road House (2024)A cult classic adaptation that replicates the action, but not the nightlife
7.13 Body ProblemFor those burned by the Game of Thrones ending, hopefully the fact that the source material is finished would encourage you to give this show a chance.
7.13 Body ProblemBenioff and Weiss team up with Alexander Woo and Netflix for an ambitious adaptation of the ambitious Chinese science fiction novel
4.8Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch (2024)Fashion psychology is a real thing, but when it's mentioned in a Hallmark movie, why does it sound completely made up?
4.8Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch (2024)As generic a mystery as you might expect, that doesn't embrace its inherent campiness
7.0Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the LampThe fantasy isn’t the reincarnation, but the ridiculous success rate Elise has as a surgeon. But isn’t wanting to help people a fantasy we should encourage in teenagers?
7.0Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the LampRoyal brat turns regal medical genius in this double isekai anime
7.3Chico & Rita (2010)This was La La Land before La La Land, except it's with Cuban bolero instead of traditional jazz.
7.3Chico & Rita (2010)A sublime animated love letter to the pre-Castro Cuban nightlife and music
7.5Coppola, the AgentGuillermo’s got rizz.
7.5Coppola, the AgentA comedic, fast-paced miniseries about the fast-talking, charismatic sports agent
7.5Frida (2024)Frida Kahlo is an icon for a reason.
7.5Frida (2024)The iconic Mexican artist, in her own words
7.024 Hours with Gaspar (2023)Disclaimer: I’m not familiar with the 2017 novel it’s inspired by, so book fans should take this review with a grain of salt.
7.024 Hours with Gaspar (2023)A private detective with his heart in the right place but on the wrong side of his body sets out to fulfill a promise in this sleek dystopian revenge thriller
6.0Iron ReignStop. Moving. The. Camera.
6.0Iron ReignA straightforward portside cocaine crime drama that takes too long to get to the thrills
4.9Little Wing (2024)There's never been a wilder-sounding name for a European EDM group than the Russian Pigeon Mafia.
4.9Little Wing (2024)An odd blend of genres stuffed into a young-adult story, nevertheless led by great performances
7.7Ethel & Ernest (2016)The photos at the end were devastating, but that’s because of how well we got to know both of them.
7.7Ethel & Ernest (2016)A touching memoir of a marriage in 20th century London
5.4Irish Wish (2024)You know this is pure fantasy when the Cliffs of Moher are made to look like secluded and not swarming with thousands of tourists.
5.4Irish Wish (2024)Corny but perfectly serviceable romcom comfort food shot in beautiful locations
5.7Steve Treviño: Simple Man (2024)American married couples, are y'all okay?
5.7Steve Treviño: Simple Man (2024)Overly predictable Gen X humor that at least knows how to stick to its guns
6.1Red Ollero: Mabuhay is a Lie (2024)The title is 100% true, I don't know why we teach foreigners to say mabuhay.
6.1Red Ollero: Mabuhay is a Lie (2024)A confident, if not necessarily unique, stand-up routine touching on an interesting range of topics
5.7Art of Love (2024)Okay, but we need the exact outfits Esra Bilgiç is wearing, because the costume design is downright lovely.
5.7Art of Love (2024)An underwhelming heist romance with all of the style but none of the thrills
7.2Chicken NuggetThat being said, they didn’t need to bring Saudi Arabia into that one joke, though.
7.2Chicken NuggetA daughter turns into a chicken nugget in this absurd, bite-sized Korean drama
7.4The Novice (2021)If J.K. Simmons from Whiplash tried to coach Alex from The Novice, she would tear him limb from limb.
7.4The Novice (2021)An occasionally overwhelming sensory experience about obsession, led by a ferocious lead actress
8.6The Very BestMare of EasttownThank god somebody finally let Evan Peters out of Ryan Murphy's basement.
8.6The Very BestMare of EasttownA murder mystery that leads to far more compelling small-town drama, driven by impeccable acting
5.2BandidosIf you close your eyes and listen carefully, you can hear Vin Diesel grunt, "Family."
5.2BandidosStandard-issue heist hijinks with fun set pieces and an awkward sense of humor
7.3Last and First Men (2020)People wish for cinematic ASMR until it arrives in the form of the creepiest podcast you've ever heard.
7.3Last and First Men (2020)An eerie and totally original sci-fi prophecy that makes for challenging but unforgettable viewing
7.1Shin Ultraman (2022)Don't let anybody stop you from filming a normal conversation from 5,000 Dutch angles.
7.1Shin Ultraman (2022)A somewhat repetitive but gloriously campy slice of Japanese superhero sci-fi
8.8The Very BestThe Novelist’s Film (2022)You know times are changing when Korea's main, soju-drinking export to international film festivals starts going all sweet on us.
8.8The Very BestThe Novelist’s Film (2022)A deeply meaningful and uncommonly tender high point in director Hong Sang-soo's prolific career
6.6The Killing of Two Lovers (2021)Just like in Kramer vs. Kramer, I guess there's only one side to every story of divorce.
6.6The Killing of Two Lovers (2021)A stylishly desolate portrait of divorce whose characters can't quite create compelling drama
3.5The Thundermans Return (2024)A piece of your soul dies every time you hear canned laughter from a studio audience that isn't really there.
3.5The Thundermans Return (2024)Just about what you'd expect from a cheap, corny superhero sitcom movie aimed at kids
7.220,000 Species of Bees (2023)That this child actor found more empathy for this performance than many adults can muster is pretty damning.
7.220,000 Species of Bees (2023)A decent, queer coming-of-age drama elevated by an incredible lead performance
7.5DraculaThere's just no going back to CGI over-saturation after seeing the crazy stuff they pull off here practically.
7.5DraculaA thrilling take on the classic vampire story that's at turns horrific, mysterious, and subversive
4.7Hot Wheels Let’s RaceThey might as well throw up price tags on the screen.
4.7Hot Wheels Let’s RaceA shiny and colorful toy commercial attempting to be a children's TV show
7.5I Told Sunset About YouNow if we can just tone down that insistent score…
7.5I Told Sunset About YouQueer best friends learn to grow, together and apart, in this nostalgic love letter to Phuket
7.0Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda (2024)Surely people are going to be chill about this in the comments section.
7.0Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda (2024)A solid and frequently funny curation of queer comics with their own styles
8.0The Tragedy of Man (2011)How did Jankovics make this film without turning insane? These images are the stuff of nightmares.
8.0The Tragedy of Man (2011)An ambitious, illustrated adaptation of the classic Hungarian play, chronologizing the folly of the Western world
7.9The Apothecary DiariesCan I gush about how well-written the female characters are?
7.9The Apothecary DiariesAn eccentric woman detects poison in this impeccable imperial court medical mystery
7.8Lost Illusions (2021)As a publication ourselves, we at A Good Movie to Watch do not endorse these horrible people (in this great movie).
7.8Lost Illusions (2021)A highly entertaining period drama where newspaper gossip becomes a weapon
7.5The Illusionist (2010)I did not expect depression today.
7.5The Illusionist (2010)Jacques Tati's lost film enchants again, this time through a hand-painted father-daughter drama
8.3The Very BestTo Kill a Tiger (2022)Let this serve as a harsh but necessary reminder that real, intersectional feminism still has a ways to go.
8.3The Very BestTo Kill a Tiger (2022)An unflinching and necessary look at one family’s quest for justice in rural India
7.0Queen of TearsThings might not have worked out between the real-life Samsung princess and her bodyguard, but we're hoping things are different with this couple.
7.0Queen of TearsLove might not be enough in this funny yet melancholy depiction of a rich girl, poor boy marriage
9.1The Very BestFrieren: Beyond Journey’s EndTsukasa Abe, Madhouse… My eyes thank you.
9.1The Very BestFrieren: Beyond Journey’s EndAn elf grapples with near immortality in this moving, wonderfully animated meditation about life
5.5ARA San Juan: The Submarine that DisappearedYou’re better off reading articles about the case instead of sitting through hours of this scatter-focused series.
5.5ARA San Juan: The Submarine that DisappearedAn overlong docuseries about a missing Argentine submarine that often gets lost in its own murky waters
7.0Damsel (2024)It doesn’t slay as much as it could have, both literally and figuratively, but it’s still pretty fun.
7.0Damsel (2024)Millie Bobby Brown turns from titular lady to survivor in this fairly entertaining, though safe, fantasy flick
7.6The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)You can never go wrong with Studio Ghibli for a feel-good, family-friendly watch.
7.6The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)Produced by Studio Ghibli, this adorably animated world follows a tiny family living under the floorboards of a curious boy’s home
8.8The Very BestAll of Us Strangers (2023)Make sure you carve out enough time on your schedule for long crying spells and sitting on the many feelings the film resurfaces.
8.8The Very BestAll of Us Strangers (2023)A devastating queer drama that explores the nature of grief and love through a uniquely supernatural lens
6.7The One and Only Ivan (2020)Yes, this was somehow written by the man who made The White Lotus.
6.7The One and Only Ivan (2020)A surprisingly mature talking-animal movie with strong character work
5.0Megamind Rules!I know it’s silly to expect a lot from a show like this, but the original Megamind surprised me, and it’s sad that it was followed up with lackluster sequels.
5.0Megamind Rules!The unique and lovable big-headed blue alien gets generic in this sequel series released too late
7.4Sankofa (1993)It’s a tough watch. I wished we got to know Mona more as a character, and I wished we got to see her try to reconcile the modern freedoms (or lack thereof) with the past, but it doesn’t dilute the power of Gerima’s images.
7.4Sankofa (1993)Haile Gerima returns to source in his groundbreaking historical drama
7.7The GentlemenMild spoilers: Hitler’s testicle, really?
7.7The GentlemenBritish aristocracy deal in organized crime in Guy Ritchie’s fun though familiar small screen debut
7.1Catch Me A KillerIf the American procedurals are all starting to look the same to you, consider this a palate cleanser that resets your expectations.
7.1Catch Me A KillerA sturdy police procedural based on the first profiler in South Africa
4.0Ricky Stanicky (2024)I had more fun reading the Ricky Stanicky Wikipedia article than watching the actual film.
4.0Ricky Stanicky (2024)A ridiculous boring romp that wastes its (potentially) hilarious cast
6.9The SignalI hate when a promising premise and cast are wasted in indulgent storytelling.
6.9The SignalAn extraterrestrial mystery that overstays its welcome
7.4Ascension (2021)We should be programming AI for labor like this, not turning them into the worst artists of all-time.
7.4Ascension (2021)A hypnotic compilation of footage that compels us to make our own conclusions about capitalist labor
8.2The Very BestLeonor Will Never Die (2022)For the authentic Filipino experience, buy this film as a burned CD in a plastic bag.
8.2The Very BestLeonor Will Never Die (2022)A thrillingly original meta-comedy-drama with genuine heart underneath
7.9Broad CitySecretly an unscripted documentary about New York City.
7.9Broad CityA freewheeling, female-led stoner comedy series with a wonderful central friendship
7.2The Wrong Way to Use Healing MagicI mean, it’s not the wrong way to use it, but it’s certainly unconventional.
7.2The Wrong Way to Use Healing MagicHealing magic takes centerstage in this hilarious fantasy anime
7.3The Madness of King George (1994)Hopefully, no one is reminded of their own country’s ruler.
7.3The Madness of King George (1994)Nigel Hawthorne shines through this adaptation depicting the British Crown at its maddest
7.3Line of DutyThe coppiest cop show to ever cop.
7.3Line of DutyA densely written police procedural that revels in the intricacy of its plot
6.9QueensThey did, they’ve girlbossified nature and the animal kingdom.
6.9QueensTreacly writing bogs down this otherwise compelling nature documentary about female animal rulers
8.3The Very BestPerfect Days (2023)I dug my camera out of the dusty vault and ordered a fresh roll of film right after watching this—which is to say, this is one of those rare, powerful movies that inspires you to pick up that hobby you’ve abandoned out of fear, and just do it because life is too short to care what others think!
8.3The Very BestPerfect Days (2023)This Japanese film is a quaint reminder that joy can be found in the smallest and simplest of things
7.0SupersexWith the current way sex is widely discussed, it was a really hard tightwalk for Supersex to navigate, but it’s because of this that we have to figure out how to do so, and it’s great Supersex made a fairly decent attempt.
7.0SupersexA surprising exploration about sex and masculinity inspired by the Italian Stallion
7.3You Are Not Alone: Fighting the Wolf Pack (2024)There’s a horrifying realization that the title not only refers to the way all women have gone through some form of sexual harassment, but also the fact that the said wolf pack has done this again without repercussions.
7.3You Are Not Alone: Fighting the Wolf Pack (2024)A necessary and uncomfortable depiction of the rape case that changed Spain
8.2The Very BestThrough the Olive Trees (1994)It’s absolutely ridiculous yet brilliant to make a film, and then to make another film make the previous one fictional, and then to make a film centered on a pair of characters in the film that makes the first film fictional.
8.2The Very BestThrough the Olive Trees (1994)Abbas Kiarostami plays with reality and fiction in the bemusing final installment of the Koker trilogy
7.3The Program: Cons, Cults and KidnappingI didn’t know much about teen disciplinary facilities, nor did I feel like I should, until watching this essential account about the subject.
7.3The Program: Cons, Cults and KidnappingVictims of abuse reclaim their stories in this horrifying but illuminating documentary about the troubled teen industry
7.57th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!This woman is aiming for a lazy life, but wow, she’s more productive than I am right now.
7.57th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!A surprising twist to the royal reincarnation romance
7.6The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick TurpinIt’s one of those rare, winning, wholesome comedies in a sea of dark satires that’s pretty hard not to love.
7.6The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick TurpinThis historical British farce is partly sweet, partly surreal, and a whole lot of fun
7.5The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon (2023)Well, I suppose this is one way to approach your impending mortality…
7.5The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon (2023)A dying criminal kills to be the most wanted in this Taiwanese Western-esque gangster drama
6.7The RegimeIf you love transformative performances go for it; if you love smart satires about powerful people, put on HBO’s other black comedies instead.
6.7The RegimeKate Winslet is entertaining in this otherwise shallow parody of an authoritarian regime
STAFF LISTS10 Best 2024 Movies on Amazon Prime So Far
STAFF LISTS10 Best 2024 Movies on Amazon Prime So Far
7.0FuriesDon’t overthink it: just watch and enjoy the sleek flurry of action sequences set in one of the most gorgeous cities in the world.
7.0FuriesA stylish and action-packed French drama reminiscent of John Wick
7.2Career Girls (1997)A depressing but sweet reminder to reach out to your friends, honestly.
7.2Career Girls (1997)Two women rekindle their college friendship in this simple yet intimate slice of life comedy
5.4Code 8 Part II (2024)Made possible in part, I'm sure, by the Screen Actors Guild, which hopefully certain cast members remember.
5.4Code 8 Part II (2024)A generic action-thriller with good ideas stranded in a bland world
6.8Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi (2024)As the artist himself suggests early in the documentary, you’re better off listening to his music than watching this.
6.8Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi (2024)A standard musician biopic that might have been released too soon
5.4ManSuang (2023)Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat is so handsome, though…
5.4ManSuang (2023)A stunning, but disappointing historical espionage drama that has such a confusing story
7.8Maamla Legal HaiEach episode, I keep telling myself this can’t be a thing, but then the headlines at the end keep proving me wrong. Whoever the research team is… Kudos to you, pal.
7.8Maamla Legal HaiJustice comes with chaos in this breezy and hilarious courtside sitcom
7.8The Twentieth Century (2019)You will die if you watch this while you're not sober.
7.8The Twentieth Century (2019)An unhinged psychedelic fever dream filled with awe-inspiring visuals
7.5TINA (2021)This is a predictable thing to say, but she really was simply the best.
7.5TINA (2021)A stirring tribute to Tina Turner's music and inner strength in the face of trauma
7.0My Name Is Loh Kiwan (2024)Song Joong-ki is great here, but Choi Sung-eun is just so ethereal here, it’s crazy.
7.0My Name Is Loh Kiwan (2024)Love enables survival in this moving drama about the refugee experience
8.0Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021)Weide has to be one of the luckiest fanboys in the history of fandom ever.
8.0Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021)A loving tribute to an American great, as well as a chronicle of a beautiful friendship
7.8InvincibleInvincible deserves all the hype and views The Boys is getting.
7.8InvincibleA scarily good adult animation about the moral ramifications of superherodom
6.2Spaceman (2024)If only the lone astronaut in Gravity also had a kindly spider to spend her time with, too, then maybe she wouldn’t be so anxious to get home!
6.2Spaceman (2024)Adam Sandler stars in this beautiful but overlong therapy session set in space
5.6Aníkúlápó: Rise of the SpectreSaro, you have a chance to be resurrected, and you spend nearly three years just chilling? Why did you want to live again?
5.6Aníkúlápó: Rise of the SpectreAn underwhelming sequel series to the fantastical epic
7.5Residue (2020)Always fun when a film about filmmaking acknowledges how full of themselves artists are sometimes.
7.5Residue (2020)A profound and technically sharp experiment in depicting memory on screen
6.7Lisa Frankenstein (2024)The female actors who give their all make it watchable, the bumpy direction does not.
6.7Lisa Frankenstein (2024)A playful ode to ‘80s horror that never quite reaches its cult-classic potential
7.2The Parades (2024)Michihito Fujii, thank you for this comforting image of the afterlife.
7.2The Parades (2024)Michihito Fujii reimagines a peaceful, communal afterlife in this slice-of-life supernatural drama
6.8Hold Your Fire (2021)Wonder how this police psychologist feels about the past half-century of officers failing to de-escalate situations.
6.8Hold Your Fire (2021)A fascinating 360-degree view of a historic crisis, that doesn't have the best follow-through
7.2The MagiciansIf this won't make you like musical episodes, nothing will.
7.2The MagiciansA charmingly tongue-in-cheek fantasy drama that steadily builds endearing characters
6.9Sweet TrapNow if we could just lower the volume on the sound effects…
6.9Sweet TrapA charming, though cliché, comedy kitchen drama that celebrates traditional Chinese cuisine
7.4A Round of ApplauseIt’s just so, so weird.
7.4A Round of ApplauseA disgruntled fetus refuses to be born in this strange, existential comedy miniseries
6.8Red QueenThe buddy-cop humor saves it, but other than that, Red Queen is a tossable Sherlock replica.
6.8Red QueenA well-produced Spanish crime drama that is unfortunately too derivative of Sherlock-type mysteries
7.5From the Earth to the MoonTom Hanks’ obsession with space is a net positive for humanity.
7.5From the Earth to the MoonHBO’s miniseries about first moon landing is a seminal show about a seminal event
7.0The Impossible HeirTo be honest… With the tension already existing between In-ha and Tae-oh, I’m wondering why they bothered with a love triangle at all.
7.0The Impossible HeirAmbition forges partnerships and betrayal in this intriguing mystery drama
7.0IwájúDisney, please continue to make these collaborations instead of acquiring nearly every other studio under the sun.
7.0IwájúDisney explores a futuristic Lagos in this charming though predictable animated sci-fi flick
6.9Wedding ImpossibleIt’s basically cotton candy: sweet and light but has zero weight and nourishment.
6.9Wedding ImpossibleA confectionary K-drama that’s just as easy to like as it is to forget
7.3American Conspiracy: The Octopus MurdersI’m just glad Netflix has broken through its spell of homogeneous true crime dramas with this one.
7.3American Conspiracy: The Octopus MurdersAn in-depth dive into the conspiracies and scandals that rocked Americans during the latter half of the 20th century
7.5God Save TexasNever thought Richard Linklater would do something like this, but this is a story that has to be told, and I hope more filmmakers would be encouraged to do the same with their hometowns.
7.5God Save TexasThree directors take an unflinching look at the Lone Star State through the issues hitting their hometowns
9.4The Very BestMonster (2023)Vantage Point for people who keep a Letterboxd account.
9.4The Very BestMonster (2023)Remarkably sensitive and well-told, this twisty Japanese drama unveils layers upon layers of different truths
7.1Attica (2021)Oh, America, land of the free(?).
7.1Attica (2021)A detailed and hyper-focused oral history that knows exactly where it stands
4.5The Abyss (2023)Tuva Novotny, you deserved a better script than this.
4.5The Abyss (2023)A real life earthquake is fodder for boring family drama in this forgettable disaster flick
STAFF LISTS20 Best 2024 Documentaries So Far
STAFF LISTS20 Best 2024 Documentaries So Far
8.0Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)I didn’t realize I needed to see Antonio Banderas with fluffy, fluffy curls…
8.0Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)Pedro Almodóvar made his international breakthrough through this chaotic screwball melodrama
9.2The Very BestShōgunWe’ve been missing large-scale epic storytelling like this, and I’m so glad to see it come back.
9.2The Very BestShōgunFaith, sacrifice, and ambition battle in this epic reimagining of the classic samurai series
7.0The Greatest Love Story Never Told (2024)Get you a girl who dedicates an entire album, musical, and documentary to your relationship.
7.0The Greatest Love Story Never Told (2024)In love and inspired, Jennifer Lopez mounts her most personal and ambitious project yet in this revealing behind-the-scenes documentary
6.8TrackerGoing to report myself as missing so Justin Hartley can find me.
6.8TrackerA decently entertaining thriller series that boasts variety and a strong leading man
6.8Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story (2024)I see the vision, but this documentary needs to be more coherent and focused to capture the enormity of its subject.
6.8Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story (2024)Piney Woods’s rich and ongoing history proves too big for this documentary to capture
7.0Palm Trees and Power Lines (2023)An infuriating addition to Men Don't Deserve Rights cinema.
7.0Palm Trees and Power Lines (2023)A challenging, all-too-real portrait of a predatory relationship, led by a great young actress
9.0The Very BestTampopo (1985)This reminds me of that one weird, yet oddly relaxing dream where I was laying down on a mattress sized chashu pork slice, floating in a river of ramen broth, and my hair was made of soba noodles. Good times. Not for the squeamish.
9.0The Very BestTampopo (1985)A bemusing delicious food comedy dubbed as the first Ramen Western
6.5Mean Girls (2024)Reneé Rapp, I know you said that you’re focusing on your music career, but if ever you do read this somehow. Please. Come back to film someday.
6.5Mean Girls (2024)A surprising musical adaptation that pales against the original, but still is as fun
6.5RedLife (2023)It’s a really interesting approach for a debut feature, but it takes too long for the two storylines to intersect.
6.5RedLife (2023)Two lives collide in tragedy in this grim, though aimless, melodrama
5.0They Called Him Mostly Harmless (2024)You learn more about the internet sleuths who fancy themselves detectives than the subject of the case.
5.0They Called Him Mostly Harmless (2024)An unremarkable documentary following the amateur sleuths who tried to uncover the mysterious identity of a deceased hiker