With so many movies available on Netflix, a few are really grabbing everyone’s attention right now. This week, four new films are quickly becoming some of the most popular choices – they’re perfect for your next movie night!
A recent report suggests Angelina Jolie won’t be returning as Thena in the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Secret Wars. Though she initially had a small part in Eternals, Jolie quickly became a popular figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, adding to her already successful Hollywood career. Since first appearing as Thena in 2021, fans have eagerly expressed their desire to see her character’s story continue.
Paul Rudd’s career had some truly strange beginnings, with early roles in movies like Wet Hot American Summer and Gen-Y Cops. But even before those cult hits, one role almost ruined both his career and a major horror franchise. Luckily, the movie was so bad overall that his performance went unnoticed, and he was later able to leave that role behind thanks to a different, more successful film.
At the end of the first episode, Colter and Russell received threatening messages from a mysterious group called the Process. This week, they’re determined to find out who’s behind these threats and stop them. The case becomes personal for Colter, and Russell and Reenie connect while working together to solve it.
When people think of classic killer thrillers, movies like Silence of the Lambs and Seven often come to mind. But it can be hard to distinguish between a smart, psychological thriller about murder and a simple slasher film. Defining a movie’s genre isn’t always easy, so it’s often more helpful to consider how a film works and what impact it has on viewers. At the start of the 21st century, in 2000, many genre films were released, but few were as shocking and intense as American Psycho. This twisted and surreal horror thriller quickly became a cult favorite, and its fanbase has continued to grow over the past twenty-five years. Despite some flaws, the film was remarkably impactful and continues to influence thrillers today.
It’s funny, because even with something totally bizarre happening – like a bug crawling into Ron’s phone and being brushed off with a single line – the show still manages to feel really unsettling. That’s what I’ve noticed – there’s this constant sense of dread bubbling under the surface, even when nothing overtly dangerous is happening. A lot of the tension comes from things being misconstrued or explained away, and I think that’s kind of the show’s whole thing: it hints at something creepy, then pulls the rug out from under you, sometimes just a scene later, sometimes not for episodes. It keeps you off balance, which I actually really appreciate.
This episode significantly tones down the show’s usual style. There’s none of the campiness or playful energy we’ve seen before, and it avoids fan service moments like the appearance of Daniel Molloy. The episode focuses entirely on a spy thriller format. While I didn’t particularly enjoy the spy thriller style from the earlier episodes that hinted at multiple formats for Talamasca, it’s a positive change that the episode is now much more focused and straightforward. You know exactly what kind of story you’re getting.
As a Stephen King devotee, I found IT: Welcome to Derry to be a really engaging watch. It’s not your typical prequel focusing on a character we already know. Instead, it smartly expands the established lore from IT: Chapter One and Chapter Two, essentially filling in the backstory and taking us further back in time. This approach isn’t just clever structurally, it allows for some fantastic nods to the existing story and really solidifies the overall canon. It’s a treat for fans!
The show Reasonable Doubt stands out as a compelling legal thriller grounded in reality, not fiction. Set in Los Angeles, it centers on Jax Stewart, a brilliant but troubled defense attorney who juggles demanding cases with her own difficult personal life. The series avoids simple portrayals of good versus evil, instead carefully examining complex issues of race, gender, and power within the legal system. By offering a smart, character-driven drama, Hulu is responding to a growing audience desire for shows that respect viewers’ intelligence. In a streaming landscape often focused on quick trends, Reasonable Doubt is refreshing for its willingness to portray justice as messy, emotional, and painfully authentic.
Early reviews for the show Welcome to Derry are generally positive, earning a 78% rating. This places it among the better Stephen King adaptations for both film and television, which have often been inconsistent in quality. The first episode focuses on the disappearance of Matty (played by Matthew Clements), but the show makes a change from the original book. While Matty disappears in 1958 in King’s novel, the series sets the events in 1962, utilizing the 27-year cycle established in the story.