James Gray describes his new film Paper Tiger as a love letter to his mother and father. The teaser trailer introduces the key players, led by two-time Oscar nominee Adam Driver (Ferrari) and Miles Teller (Eternity) as brothers whose bond is tested when they get involved with the Russian mafiya. Two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson (Jurassic World Rebirth) stars as Miles Teller’s wife.
“In James Gray’s deeply felt and intense drama, two brothers become entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true,” reads Neon’s synopsis. “As they try to navigate their way through the dangerous world of the Russian mafiya, family bonds begin to fray with life-altering consequences.”
Paper Tiger currently sits at 84% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Neon’s set a November 13, 2026 theatrical release date.
James Gray’s filmography includes Armageddon Time, Ad Astra, The Lost City of Z, Two Lovers, We Own the Night, and Little Odessa.
Miles Teller, Adam Driver, Roman Engel, Gavi Goudey, and Scarlett Johansson in ‘PAPER TIGER’ (Photo Courtesy of Neon)
Netflix’s hockey project has an official title and additional cast members. The streamer’s confirmed the series is now titled The Sticks, and Scott Bakula, Logan Marshall-Green, and Alex MacIsaac have joined in series regular roles.
Nick Naveda created the series and serves as executive producer of the hockey drama. “The Sticks is about a lot of things. Hockey, family, love, loss, class, and coming of all ages. But above all, it’s a story about community and the importance of taking care of one another,” said Naveda, describing the series to Tudum. “Seeing this terrific cast of actors bring their characters to life with such curiosity, empathy, and tenderness has been incredibly moving to watch, and I can’t wait for the world to meet the people of South Dorothy.”
Netflix is targeting a 2027 premiere. Bridget Bedard is the showrunner and executive produces along with Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, and Robert Atwood. Trey Edward Shults will direct the first two episodes and executive produce.
Netflix offers this synopsis: “After tragedy shatters a small Minnesota hockey town, a grieving wife steps behind the bench of the team her husband built, guiding a found family of wounded young athletes through a season of loss, love, and rivalry that will decide whether South Dorothy has anything left to believe in and who will lead it into its next chapter.”
Emma D’Arcy in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 finale (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) rushes to the queen’s bedchamber and informs Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) that Aegon and Sunfyre have risen from the dead as HBO’s House of the Dragon season three’s finale begins. Rhaenyra hurries to Daemon’s chamber, angry that Aegon’s alive and the people will believe it’s a sign from their gods that he is the rightful king. They will turn against her and support Aegon.
Daemon (Matt Smith) believes this is her test and the moment she must rise. She needs to use their dragons to win the war.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode eight – the finale – and there are spoilers.)
Rhaenyra orders a watch set for Aegon’s dragon and wants Hugh to fly to Tumbleton. She orders Daemon to go to Tumbleton and root out every Hightower and Hightower supporter but begs him not to make a monster out of her. Once Ormund and Daeron are dead, she will kill Aegon herself.
Baela (Bethany Antonia) asks to be sent to Tumbleton to search for Lord Corlys, but Rhaenyra refuses. She believes it was his fault he was taken. Baela believes that Rhaenyra always treats her people like pawns, abandoning them when something doesn’t go her way. Rhaenyra calls her insolent and says it runs in her blood.
Alyn (Abubakar Salim) speaks to the Velaryon men and orders them to go to King’s Landing and serve Rhaenyra, but they insist they need to help Lord Corlys. Alyn reveals he’s the named successor and they will do as he says.
Lord Ormund Hightower’s army musters in Tumbleton as they prepare for a battle. Before the fight begins, Ormund (James Norton) knights Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), dubbing him Ser Daeron the Daring. Outside, the people of Tumbleton hide as the army sets up its defenses inside the city’s walls.
Ulf (Tom Bennett) drinks with his friends and slanders Daemon Targaryen. Ulf insists Rhaenyra won’t let Daemon use his dragon in Tumbleton and that he’ll quake before the mighty and terrible Lord Ulf the White.
Rhaenyra’s told that Helaena isn’t eating and the maesters are worried. She orders her maid, Elinda, to summon Ser Alyn to accompany her to the Grand Sept to be blessed by the High Septon. She wants to make sure everyone knows she’s the queen.
Rhaenyra also has Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) packed up and sent to Pentos before dusk. Mysaria’s told she’ll receive enough gold so that she’ll be financially set, and Elinda admits she doesn’t understand why Rhaenyra’s doing this either.
Helaena (Phia Saban) is instructed to head back inside her quarters after her short time outside, and she sees the horse from her vision. Mysaria passes Helaena and tells her everything that’s going on and that Rhaenyra will never release her. Aegon’s returned and Helaena’s unborn baby will be kept hostage.
Alys (Gayle Rankin) saves Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) after Alicent poisoned him, but Aemond insists that he’s damned because he slayed his brother and she should leave him. Alys delivers a bombshell, revealing she was a noblewoman married to King Harren the Black. When Aegon the Conqueror and his dragon Balerion burned down Harrenhal, one of Harren’s sons was badly burned but survived. Alys was desperate to help her son and turned to ancient blood magic to try and save him. It didn’t work and the pact she made resulted in her being cursed to live as an immortal woods witch trapped in Harrenhal forever.
Rhaenyra asks Helaena to eat and assures her she won’t harm her. Helaena reminds her Viserys would not have wanted the dragons to fight. “All the things you care about are ugly,” says Helaena. Rhaenyra admits that if Helaena doesn’t eat, it will force her hand. Helaena continues to refuse and food is forced down her throat.
Alyn informs his brother, Addam (Clinton Liberty), that he’s staying in King’s Landing to guard the queen. Addam thinks that’s because the queen is raising him up in Lord Corlys’ place. Alyn doesn’t care that Rhaenyra has grounded Baela.
Daemon’s assembled a massive army outside of Tumbleton, and Ormund orders the town’s children to line the walls as human shields. Daeron tells Ser Gwayne (Freddie Fox) that Ormund has a secret plot, but neither knows what it is. Daeron wants to use his dragon to fight so the young boys don’t die.
Caraxes soars overhead and above Ormund as people scurry for cover inside the town.
Daeron and Gwayne approach Corlys with an offer to switch sides. He refuses.
Mysaria escapes her guards and flees into Flea Bottom, where the smallfolk seem confused.
Rhaenyra rides with Joffrey and tells him the story Viserys passed on to her.
Tommy Flanagan, Freddie Fox, Steve Toussaint, and Matt Smith in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 episode 8 (Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO)
Daemon leaves Caraxes and rides with his men, finding joy in learning of Criston Cole’s death. Ser Gwayne asks to treat with Daemon and admits Ormund is crazy. He offers them Corlys and pleads with Daemon at the behest of Daeron Targaryen to make a deal. Daemon doesn’t want to listen, as Gwayne offers to divide the kingdom and have Daeron serve from Oldtown. Ser Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan) is practically foaming at the mouth with his desire to kill Gwayne during the negotiations, but Corlys points out this division isn’t unheard of.
If Daeron gets Oldtown, he’ll never be king but can be warden of the south. Everyone’s surprised when Daemon reveals Aegon and Sunfyre are alive, and Daemon accuses Corlys of being a traitor. Corlys is firm in his belief that dividing the kingdom is the only reasonable solution. Daemon grabs Gwayne by the throat and says the deal will never be struck. He takes Corlys as his prisoner.
Aemond wakes as Sunfyre and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) fly into Harrenhal. He drops to his knees before his brother, stunned that Aegon’s alive. Aegon slaps him and calls him an imbecile. Aemond begs for forgiveness, and Aegon laughs in his face. He taunts Aemond with the possibility of Sunfyre slowly burning him alive. But Aegon’s surprised when Aemond doesn’t argue; it takes the enjoyment out of this moment.
Aemond confesses he is everything Aegon thinks he is and killing him would be justified. Aegon wants Aemond to come with him to Tumbleton, and Aemond admits he doesn’t have a clue what’s happening outside Harrenhal. Aegon says they’ll find Vhagar, go to Tumbleton, and then ultimately fly to King’s Landing under his banner. Once he’s back on the throne, he might forgive Aemond.
Lord Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) gives Daemon and his men a rundown of entry points into Tumbleton. Daemon says he’ll clear the way with Caraxes, and Ulf will watch from above as they go through the town killing Hightowers and their supporters. “Rhaenyra’s banners will fly above the holdfast by nightfall,” says Daemon. He asks his men to take care not to kill the townspeople.
Daemon and the leaders learn about the boys lining the walls, which changes his plan. Daemon asks if Roderick’s still willing to die for their queen, instructing him to take the Winter Wolves over the walls and open the gate from inside. Daemon can’t use Caraxes because of the children.
Oscar Eskinazi and Emma D’Arcy in the ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 finale (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
Meanwhile, Rhaenyra barges into the High Sept with Alyn and his men, ordering the High Septon to anoint her. He continues to refuse since Aegon is alive. Rhaenyra won’t back down and the High Septon declares the seven-faced god is on his side. Alyn is ordered to kill him, and he does.
Queen Rhaenyra and Joffrey step outside and she speaks to the smallfolk, reminding them that her father named her as his heir in a public ceremony. She explains her reign was prophesied before Viserys was born, describing the Song of Ice and Fire and the darkness that looms in the far north beyond the wall. “Only the might of dragons can stand against it,” says Rhaenyra. The Hightowers can’t fulfill the prophecy; only she can.
Ormund screams for Ulf, who’s still missing, as Daemon delivers a rousing speech to his army. He tells them to grant no mercy and give no quarter. He wants the worst of them, and they cheer.
Roderick also gets his men hyped up for battle, sounding the drums that everyone inside the walls can hear. He yells at the Hightower army to let their arrows loose and the war begins in earnest. Winter Wolves fall as the Hightower army showers the ground with arrows.
Ormund’s surprised to learn that Daeron and Gwayne attempted to make a deal with Daemon.
Oil is poured on the Winter Wolves who make it to the walls, and Daemon orders more of his army to advance to the south wall. Roderick and his men make it over the wall, but the Hightowers light the trenches outside on fire as Daemon’s informed that Ulf is missing.
Roderick and his Wolves engage the Hightowers as they make their way to the gate from inside. Hugh and his dragon fly over Daemon’s army and Daemon wants to learn why he’s there instead of guarding King’s Landing.
Roderick can’t get the gates open and Daemon calls for Caraxes. He orders Caraxes to light the wall and gate on fire just as the children are moved in front of it. Most get out of the way at the last minute and Caraxes busts through the gate. Daemon remounts his dragon and leads the army inside. He doesn’t make it far before his horse is slain and he’s forced to fight on foot.
Now that the gate’s open, Roderick sends his men to locate Daeron while he searches for Ormund. Ormund’s just found Ulf and slaps him around before demanding that he get on his dragon and do as he was told.
Daemon and the army make their way through the city, attacking the Hightowers. Hugh runs in with the army and screams his wife’s name. Daemon calls out for Ormund but is stopped in his pursuit by Ormund’s second in command, Ser Jon Roxton (Joplin Sibtain).
Daemon’s man is slain by the Hightowers as Ulf approaches his dragon.
Gwayne informs Daeron that the parlay is off, and Daeron wants to fly out on his dragon to help. Gwayne is adamant that he stays out of the battle, not wanting him to die for Ormund’s vanity. He refuses to allow Daeron past him.
Ulf circles above the Targaryen army and begins burning the men.
Gwayne and Daeron race to the top of the wall and watch as Ulf destroys the Targaryen army. It’s their only hope for surviving the day, and they realize this is the secret Ormund was keeping.
Daemon’s engaged in a vicious hand-to-hand fight with Roxton, and he’s on the losing end for a while.
Roderick pursues Ormund and takes him on, but Ormund manages to stab Roderik in the gut. Ormund slices off Roderick’s arm, but Roderick manages to stab Ormund in the rear and gain the upper hand. Ulf has his dragon aim its fire at Ormund, burning both Ormund and Roderick.
Ulf continues to turn his dragon on everyone, lighting up the city streets and killing whoever’s outside. Daemon’s buried under the rumble but emerges as the townsfolk carry their dead through the streets. Innocent men, women, and children were murdered by Ulf and the clashing armies during the battle for Tumbleton.
Daemon continues to fight until Corlys grabs him and says the town is lost. The battle is over and they need to leave.
Tumbleton’s streets are full of dead and dying soldiers. Gwayne survived the fight and crawls around, searching for Daeron.
Hugh finds Kat inside her home, but she’s been killed.
Rhaenyra’s maid Elinda calls out as Rhaenyra reenters the Red Keep. Helaena has leaped to her death.
Alicent (Olivia Cooke) walks through the woods and butterflies surround her.
Rhaenyra picks up Helaena’s tapestry, which includes a scene of her falling to her death. There’s also a scene of Rhaenyra on the throne surrounded by flames. There appears to be blood running down her face and body. Fire and dragons surround the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra realizes Helaena lied and did have a vision of her on the throne.
Season three ends with Rhaenyra closing the window.
Brad Pitt says his four-legged co-star, Uber, who stars as Odin, is the most important part of Heart of the Beast and number one on the call sheet. And the new behind-the-scenes featurette showcases that bond between the canine and human stars.
Paramount Pictures is celebrating that connection with the Heart of the Beast Generator that lets you put your dog into the film’s poster.
“After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces officer James Belmont (Pitt) and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Together, they are forced into a brutal fight for survival against the elements,” reads Paramount Pictures’ synopsis. “From acclaimed filmmaker David Ayer, Heart of the Beast is an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet.
J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe also star, and Cameron Alexander wrote the screenplay. Pitt, Ayer, Olivia Hamilton, and Marty Bowen serve as producers, with Damien Chazelle, Scott Lumpkin, Cameron Alexander, Chris Long, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary, Sophie Cassidy, and Zack Conroy executive producing.
Heart of the Beast is opening in theaters on September 25, 2026.
Poster for ‘Heart of the Beast’ (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)
EVA SMEDLEY, HARRY JONES, DIOR GOODJOHN, JACOB RODRIGUEZ, and MOMONA TAMADA at the ‘Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story’ table read (Disney/Eric Milner)
Disney’s building on the Descendants world with a film all about the sidekicks. Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story centers on sidekicks from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, and The Emperor’s New Groove.
“One of the things that has always made Descendants so special is the way it invites audiences to experience familiar Disney stories through an entirely new perspective,” stated Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “With Hidden Heroes, we’re finally putting the sidekicks center stage, because they’ve always been an essential part of Disney’s greatest adventures. It’s a fun, surprising new chapter that expands the Descendants universe with all the music, dance, and heart fans love and expect from the franchise.”
Filming is expected to begin next week with Jude Weng (Only Murders in the Building) directing from a script by Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye, and Emma Fletcher.
Disney Channel and Disney+ offered this description of the just-announced movie:
“Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes. When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together—without heroes, without parents—using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.”
Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club) as Zara, the daughter of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove
Jacob Rodriguez (Tell Me Lies) as Kronk Jr., the son of Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove
Eva Fossaceca Smedley (Welcome to Flatch) as Meri, the daughter of Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty
Harry Jones (Bury Your Nephew) as Lou, the son of Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast
Rhys Dawkins, Connor Wong, and Kyra Wong as the Potts siblings from Beauty and the Beast
Mark Ordesky, Jane Fleming, Gary Marsh, and Chestna serve as executive producers. Louise Hradsky and Jeffrey Mortensen are the choreographers. The movie is produced by Disney Kids & Family.
Colin Farrell in the ‘Sugar’ season 2 finale (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Apple TV’s Sugar season two finale (episode eight) opens in the Atacama Desert, Chile, a barren, sunbaked landscape. A professor’s informed that something’s happening at Site 22, and she hurries there to discover strawberries have grown in this inhospitable area. A small patch of green is the only color other than brown that can be seen.
Her associate wants her to publish this discovery, but she insists they need to test other environments first. Four discs hover over the corners of the strawberry patch, just like John Sugar’s drawing.
(The following is a recap of season two’s finale – “Like Sugar” – and there are spoilers.)
Two cars are seen speeding toward this location, and the professor makes a call. She learns that “she” is talking about sex. The professor responds, “See, I told you. Even the best of us can wander and get lost down here.”
And it turns out this call is part of the flashback we saw of John (Colin Farrell) stepping out of the diner after picking up Peg and telling her it was time to return home. The professor is John’s sister, Djen (Mireille Enos), and they exchange I love yous before hanging up.
A man from the car kills Djen’s associate, and Henry (John Butler Harner) congratulates Djen for a successful experiment.
John attends a funeral in honor of the nameless 2,719 people who died due to drug overdoses and were cremated when their bodies went unclaimed. John speaks with Assemblywoman Spiro following the ceremony and she thanks him for exposing the corruption within the sheriff’s department and the coroner’s office. His work led to dozens of arrests, although he claims not to know Vega’s location.
John informs the assemblywoman that there had to be someone higher up in politics to pull off securing the government housing grants. He reveals he knows Jonathan Siegel was an early supporter of hers and hints that she’s the person behind the scenes helping to pull the strings. Her excuse for what she’s done is interrupted when she’s arrested by the FBI.
Colin Farrell and Shea Whigham in the ‘Sugar’ season 2 finale (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Later, John sits with Tom (Shea Whigham) in a hospital waiting room. Tom wonders how John’s handling the Vega situation, and John claims he’s okay. However, he’s much quieter than normal. He confesses that neither Stallings nor Vega was killed in self-defense, and now he’s having a problem reconciling who he is with who he thought he was.
Tom suggests that all we can be is a little better than the alternative. Tom’s called into the radiology department and John offers to go in with him.
John heads back to the hotel and Charlotte (Laura Donnelly) can tell that he’s restless. They kiss, and she suggests he take in a black & white film to make himself feel better. She can’t go because she’s too busy with a presentation for work.
But John’s mind isn’t on films, and he goes to an underground boxing match instead. He enters the ring and takes on a more muscular fighter yet still manages to win the match.
The next day he goes through old journals and boxes, trying to keep himself busy. He finds discs with photos from his home planet and pauses before looking at them. It’s obvious that looking at them rips him apart inside, knowing what he’s missing. But it also brings him closer to home than he’s felt in a while. He takes a break to spy on ex-Senator Pavich from his newly purchased home in the hills above the senator’s house.
He and Charlotte spend the day at the beach, neither really dressed for the outing. They spread out a blanket and John admits he forgets the beach is so close by. John confesses he feels like he’s losing parts of himself and is having a rough time. Charlotte understands.
Time passes on the beach, and Charlotte breaks the news that her job is taking her to Milan. They agree that what they have has been nice, and she asks him to go with her. John’s been there before and recalls his friend Penelope’s café there, where you can spend hours watching people go by.
Charlotte mentions that she knows his friends are gone, and he replies, “All my friends are gone?”
Night’s fallen when they drive back to the hotel. Charlotte doesn’t want to pressure him and suggests he think it over. John promises he will. They kiss and part in the lobby.
Colin Farrell and Laura Donnelly in ‘Sugar’ season 2 episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
Charlotte makes it to her room alone and sobs. She calls someone and confesses she slipped up and her cover is blown. (We saw her go through John’s pockets and find the drawing in episode seven.)
She leaves that night and John tails her. Charlotte enters a mansion and John follows, with Charlotte clearing his way through security. She apologizes, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed, and motions him inside.
A sign inside welcomes everyone to the Acalica Gala Launch Event. Hundreds of people are already inside, and John looks around at his opulent surroundings. Former senator Pavich shakes his hand and welcomes John to his home. But Pavich isn’t who Charlotte is taking John to see. Instead, she assures him it’s going to be hard but she’s happy for him.
John looks down the hallway and is stunned to see his sister, looking gorgeous in a white suit. They fall into each other’s arms and now it’s John’s turn to sob. She apologizes for staying away from him and reveals that it caused her pain to know he was hurting. John assures Djen that he never stopped looking for her.
Djen claims Henry only said she was gone because she asked him to. She didn’t want to see John until her work was finished and she was ready to show him what she’s been doing. Djen describes earth as beautiful, but that’s only part of it. There’s cruelty and horror, and humans disregard nature. She couldn’t tell him about her project because he had only arrived when she made a breakthrough. It was too soon for him to understand what she was up to.
Djen took action, unwilling to let Earth die. Henry supported her while the rest of their fellow travelers disagreed with her work. She deliberately exposed them to make them return home. John’s shocked and angry, knowing his sister had some of their friends killed – and that they were all hunted because of her.
Djen’s pulled away for the presentation but before going, she asks John to keep an open mind. She confirms Charlotte knows they are aliens. John admits he’s scared.
Djen delivers her speech, proud of what she’s accomplished to help the earth fight back against people who are destroying it. She steps out of the way and allows those assembled to watch as four silver alien discs hover over the property. When she says, “Everyone ready?” they pull out umbrellas as discs affect the atmosphere and cause it to pour rain. After it stops, the discs cause snow to drift down. And finally, they light up the sky like the sun.
John watches all of this, stunned, and Djen signals to Charlotte that it’s time. Charlotte gets his attention and blows something into his face. He sinks to his knees, barely conscious though aware and unable to move. A short time passes and Djen kneels before him, saying it’s time for her to leave. She asks him to come find her again when he’s ready.
She laughs as she quietly whispers, “They think this is for them.” Her alien eyes flash as she continues, “They have no idea this is for us.”
Charlotte tells John, who’s still incapacitated, that only meeting him and finding out how he’s doing was her job. Falling for him was all her decision.
By the time John’s fully back to himself, everyone is gone. He thinks about the final act of The Third Man and how it mirrors his life. John recalls his time with Charlotte and admits that maybe he suspected something was off. But he wanted to believe in something.
Jin Ha in the ‘Sugar’ season 2 finale (Photo Credit: Apple TV)
John heads to Las Vegas and watches Ji (Raymond Lee) workout with Danny (Jin Ha) before his big fight. He advises Val (Sasha Calle) to take Danny straight back to rehab after the fight. John reminds her that Ji and Danny wouldn’t be together if it weren’t for her, and Val admits that feels good.
John leaves the dressing room and Ji races after him, making sure he’s going to watch the fight. John confesses he didn’t want to get in the way but will be watching in the audience. Ji hugs him and says thanks, and John reminds him to tuck his chin during the fight.
John’s next stop is to see Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell) at Siegel Studios. They reminisce about Hollywood and Jonathan confesses that Melanie told him where John’s from. Jonathan doesn’t care about that.
John wonders if he seems different and admits he’s assimilated too much and changed in ways he never thought he would. Jonathan says assimilating isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are good things about this planet, too – like some movies, the beach, the Lakers, and even some people. Oh, and also the dog that’s about to arrive in a limousine any minute.
Jonathan believes John isn’t like any of his fellow travelers, and he’s not like Californians either. (He means that as a compliment.) Ultimately, Jonathan thinks John seems like Sugar.
John’s thrilled when his dog, Wiley, arrives and runs to him and it’s hard to tell who missed who the most! They take off, Wiley back in the co-pilot seat where he belongs. John’s not sure when or if he’ll see his sister again, but all’s right with the world now that he has his dog back.
John’s future includes more movies, new people, and lots of trips to the dog park. He’s not sure if he even wants a new case. He’s going to play it by ear.
“All I know is this place … these people … it’s good to be home,” he muses as he and Wiley step out. Just as the door closes on season two, his communication device lights up. John’s already gone and doesn’t see it.
Love is in the air … well, more like lust … during the one night singles are allowed to have sex in the romantic comedy One Night Only. The 2026 rom-com is set in an alternate reality in which a law was passed in the U.S. forbidding singles from having sex. However, for one blissful night each year, the law is lifted so singles can indulge their desires.
The film begins with Owen (Callum Turner, Eternity), owner of a NYC pizza restaurant, letting his crew off early so they can go and enjoy the night. He believes he’s set since his plans involve meeting up with his girlfriend, Malika (Maya Hawke, Stranger Things). However, Malika tosses a monkey wrench into Owen’s plans for the annual night of legal sex. Malika wants to sleep with someone else tonight, just to explore what it’s like and be adventurous. She needs Owen to spend the night elsewhere so she can have the apartment.
Stunned and heartbroken, Owen leaves his restaurant and wanders aimlessly until he accidentally bumps into Allie (Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown). Allie’s dressed to impress and hopes not only to get lucky tonight but also to meet someone she can have a real connection with. The two apologize for literally running into each other and, almost immediately, they sense a connection. Owen and Allie introduce themselves, but when Owen almost throws up on Allie – the Chinese food he had at dinner didn’t agree with him – she walks away disgusted.
So begins Allie and Owen’s quest to find someone to be with. Allie hopes to meet someone special and Owen feels the need to prove himself and get back out there after Malika dropped her bombshell. But fate or destiny seems determined that Allie and Owen should be together. No matter how hard each one tries to find someone, a series of crazy and goofy events ensues, causing Allie and Owen to keep finding each other.
Unfortunately, it’s all too silly and the plot doesn’t lead to laughs, something obviously necessary for a romantic “comedy.” In short, One Night Only is a rom-com misfire.
Monica Barbaro’s performance is the best thing about the film. Barbaro portrays Allie, a singer who suffers from stage fright – which is not as funny as it sounds – as a hopeless romantic who keeps yearning to find her prince on the only approved night of sex, and not just a fling or one-night stand. Barbaro’s subtle glances at Turner’s Owen as she wonders throughout the night if he could be “the one” are sweet and mostly convincing.
Callum Turner is solid as Owen, a nice guy who powers through the first shock of his relationship ending. He becomes determined to get back out there but finds himself drawn to Allie. Turner and Barbaro don’t have the chemistry necessary to pull off the setup, but when their characters are teasing or competing with each other, it somehow works.
The audience at this critic’s screening barely chuckled, which isn’t a good sign. The script just doesn’t land. The dialogue comes across as weak while the setups are absurd. Instead of laugh-out-loud funny, they’re cringe-inducing. A perfect example of this problem is when Allie sets her sights on a singing motorcycle artist whose big reveal yields zero comedic payoff.
Saddled with limp dialogue and a lack of onscreen chemistry between Turner and Barbaro, One Night Only is a forgettable romantic comedy best left off your watchlist.
GRADE: D
Rating: R for brief nudity, sexual material, and language
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Release Date: August 7, 2026
Directed By: Will Gluck (Anyone But You)
Robert Pattinson’s having an incredible year. Pattinson’s earned high praise for his performances in The Drama opposite Zendaya and as the creepy Antinous in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. And the official trailer for A24’s Primetime seems to confirm his streak of 2026 award-worthy performances will continue.
Merritt Wever (The Bombing of Pan Am 103), Skyler Gisondo (Superman), Phoebe Bridgers (I Saw the TV Glow), Matthew Maher (The Bride!), and Bokeem Woodbine (Government Cheese) also star. Documentarian Lance Oppenheim (Ren Faire, Some Kind of Heaven) makes his narrative feature film directorial debut with Primetime, which will have its world premiere in competition at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival.
A24 offers this super brief description: “In 2006, To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.”
A24’s releasing Primetime in theaters on September 25, 2026.
Ajon Singh wrote the screenplay, based on an article by Luke Dittrich. Producers include Robert Pattinson, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, William Iannaccone, Brighton McCloskey, Lars Knudsen, and Ari Aster. Oppenheim’s behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography David Bolen, production designer Alex Digerlando, editor Daniel Garber, costume designer Alex Bovaird, and composer Ari Balouzian.
Dominic Sessa and Emilia Jones in ‘Tony’ (Photo Credit: A24)
If you ask any chef to name the person who inspired them to become a chef, more often than not they’ll say Anthony Bourdain. So, it’s about time for a movie about what inspired the influential foodie and writer to become a chef himself. And that’s what we get with Tony.
Set in 1975, Tony stars Dominic Sessa (The Holdovers) as the 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain, aka Tony, a creative writing student at Vassar who, after losing out on a writing fellowship, follows a girl he likes named Nancy (Emilia Jones from CODA) up to Provincetown, Massachusetts for the summer. He stumbles into a job in a kitchen owned by a prestigious chef (Babygirl’s Antonio Banderas), a job that will change the course of his life. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Writer/director Matt Johnson (who is already having a banner year with Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie) wrings every ounce of drama out of the script that he wrote for Tony with cowriters Todd Bartels, Lou Howe, and Matthew Miller (the latter of whom is one of Johnson’s Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie collaborators). And it’s still not enough. Despite having one of the most exciting single kitchen sequences ever committed to film, Tony lacks conflict and drive. The action all seems manufactured and exaggerated, like the movie wants the stakes to be higher than they actually are, when in reality, it’s just about a guy trying to impress a girl. Sure, it winds up introducing him to what would be his lifelong passion, but he doesn’t know that yet. He’s just trying to get laid.
Bland story aside, the performances in Tony are top-notch. Dominic Sessa plays Tony exactly how the character needs to be played, with an annoying combination of bravado and cockiness and just enough likability to let the audience know that it’s his story. Emilia Jones’ Nancy is precisely the kind of girl that would make a guy run off from New Jersey to Massachusetts for the summer on the one-in-a-million chance that he might hook up with her.
Together, Sessa and Jones have a chemistry not unlike two kids on a schoolyard who like each other but are so cool that they pretend they don’t. And while Tony isn’t exactly a Hero’s Journey, Antonio Banderas’ Chef is a perfect Joseph Campbell Mentor to Our Hero. Throw in some good supporting roles from Leo Woodall (Tuner) and Stavros Halkias (Bugonia) as fellow kitchen workers, and the performances in the film are one of the best aspects of Tony.
The other notable aspect of the film is the music. The soundtrack is note-perfect, both the score and the incidental music. The score, composed by Jay McCarrol (another one of Johnson’s Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie guys), is a creaky, lo-fi masterpiece that captures both the Massachusetts vibe and the seafood restaurant theme. The incidental songs all evoke the seventies time period without leaning heavily on the stereotypical staples of the era. Together, the music in Tony is a sonic spectacle.
The first image onscreen in Tony is a quote from Bourdain himself that reads, “I was, to be frank, a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive, and thoughtless young lout, and badly in need of a good ass-kicking.” This actually describes the young character in the film perfectly. Tony is a jerk, but he’s a forgivable jerk. And that’s what both the other characters in the film and the audience do with him – they forgive him. Tony is an antihero. The audience wants him to succeed because of his flaws and not in spite of them. And yes, by the halfway point, they also want to give him a good ass-kicking.
So, what Tony boils down to is a handful of interesting characters trapped in a mundane story. It’s interesting because of who the characters are and not because of what they do. There’s a bit of hero worship involved in the production, sort of like how things were earlier this year with Michael, so Anthony Bourdain fans will not only like this movie, they’ll fiercely defend it. And that’s fine, because Anthony Bourdain fans are exactly who this movie was made for.
GRADE: B-
Rating: R for pervasive language, drug use, and sexual content/nudity.
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
Release Date: August 7, 2026 (limited), expands on August 21
Studio: A24
Superman and The Boys topped the list of nominees for the 2026 Critics Choice Super Awards, and both tied for the most wins. Superman, The Furious, Obsession, and Project Hail Mary led the winners in the film categories, snagging two wins each. On the television side, The Boys and Widow’s Bay each earned three wins.
The annual Critics Choice Super Awards recognize the best in horror, action, superhero, and sci-fi/fantasy films and television. Winners were announced on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Films and series were eligible if they were released between July 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026.
This year, the Critics Choice Super Awards announced a special honor recognizing an outstanding performance in a horror film. Indy, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and four-legged star of Good Boy, received the Best Good Boy in a Horror Movie award in recognition of his incredible performance.
6TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE SUPER AWARDS FILM NOMINEES & WINNERS
BEST ACTION MOVIE WINNER: The Furious
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
Motor City
The Naked Gun
Normal
The Rip
Sisu: Road to Revenge
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Matt Damon – The Rip
Taron Egerton – Apex WINNER: Xie Miao – The Furious
Bob Odenkirk – Normal
Alan Ritchson – Motor City
Joe Taslim – The Furious
Jorma Tommila – Sisu: Road to Revenge
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Pamela Anderson – The Naked Gun
Priyanka Chopra Jonas – The Bluff
Eiza González – Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
Akari Takaishi – Ghost Killer WINNER: Charlize Theron – Apex
Samara Weaving – Over Your Dead Body
Maddie Ziegler – Pretty Lethal
BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE*
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Exit 8
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Masters of the Universe
Mortal Kombat II
Supergirl WINNER: Superman
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE* WINNER: David Corenswet – Superman
Nicholas Galitzine – Masters of the Universe
Edi Gathegi – Superman
Nicholas Hoult – Superman
Kazunari Ninomiya – Exit 8
Pedro Pascal – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE* WINNER: Milly Alcock – Supergirl
Rachel Brosnahan – Superman
Julia Garner – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Vanessa Kirby – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Camila Mendes – Masters of the Universe
Adeline Rudolph – Mortal Kombat II
BEST HORROR MOVIE
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Backrooms
The Long Walk WINNER: Obsession
Send Help
Weapons
BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR MOVIE
Josh Brolin – Weapons
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Backrooms WINNER: Ralph Fiennes – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Michael Johnston – Obsession
David Jonsson – The Long Walk
Jack O’Connell – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Adam Scott – Hokum
BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR MOVIE
Alison Brie – Together
Jessie Buckley – The Bride!
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Rachel McAdams – Send Help WINNER: Inde Navarrette – Obsession
Renate Reinsve – Backrooms
BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE
Bugonia
Disclosure Day
Frankenstein
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
I Love Boosters
Predator: Badlands WINNER: Project Hail Mary
BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein WINNER: Ryan Gosling – Project Hail Mary
Matt Johnson – Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
James Ortiz – Project Hail Mary
Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
Sam Rockwell – Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE WINNER: Emily Blunt – Disclosure Day
Oona Chaplin – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Elle Fanning – Predator: Badlands
Sandra Hüller – Project Hail Mary
Keke Palmer – I Love Boosters
Emma Stone – Bugonia
BEST VILLAIN IN A MOVIE
Oona Chaplin – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Nicholas Hoult – Superman
Michael Johnston – Obsession
Jared Leto – Masters of the Universe WINNER: Amy Madigan – Weapons
6TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE SUPER AWARDS TELEVISION NOMINEES & WINNERS
BEST ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
9-1-1: Nashville
Boston Blue
Dark Winds
High Potential
Hijack
The Lowdown WINNER: Task
Tracker
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE WINNER: Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
Idris Elba – Hijack
Ethan Hawke – The Lowdown
Zahn McClarnon – Dark Winds
Mark Ruffalo – Task
Scott Speedman – R.J. Decker
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1
Julianne Nicholson – Paradise WINNER: Kaitlin Olson – High Potential
Gloria Reuben – Boston Blue
Octavia Spencer – Ride or Die
Hannah Waddingham – Ride or Die
BEST SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE* WINNER: The Boys (tie)
Daredevil: Born Again
Fallout
Gen V
Invincible
Peacemaker WINNER: Spider-Noir (tie)
Wonder Man
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE*
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Wonder Man
Nicolas Cage – Spider-Noir
John Cena – Peacemaker
Walton Goggins – Fallout
Hamish Linklater – Gen V WINNER: Antony Starr – The Boys
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE* WINNER: Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker
Valorie Curry – The Boys
Colby Minifie – The Boys
Annabel O’Hagan – Fallout
Jaz Sinclair – Gen V
Deborah Ann Woll – Daredevil: Born Again
BEST HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
The Beauty
The Boroughs
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Dexter: Resurrection
Ghosts
IT: Welcome to Derry
Wednesday WINNER: Widow’s Bay
BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Michael Chernus –Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Michael C. Hall – Dexter: Resurrection
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Alfred Molina – The Boroughs
Harold Perrineau – From WINNER: Matthew Rhys – Widow’s Bay
BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Toni Collette – Wayward
Laurie Metcalf – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Camila Morrone – Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen WINNER: Kate O’Flynn – Widow’s Bay
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Taylour Paige – IT: Welcome to Derry
BEST SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Alien: Earth
For All Mankind
House of the Dragon
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Paradise WINNER: Pluribus
Silo
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Dexter Sol Ansell – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms WINNER: Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
Peter Claffey – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Colin Farrell – Sugar
Timothy Olyphant – Alien: Earth
Matt Smith – House of the Dragon
BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Elizabeth Banks – The Miniature Wife
Sydney Chandler – Alien: Earth
Emma D’Arcy – House of the Dragon
Rebecca Ferguson – Silo
Holly Hunter – Star Trek: Starfleet Academy WINNER: Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
BEST VILLAIN IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES, OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Macaulay Culkin – Fallout
Peter Dinklage – Dexter: Resurrection
Paul Giamatti – Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Brendan Gleeson – Spider-Noir
Ewan Mitchell – House of the Dragon WINNER: Antony Starr – The Boys
* Superhero categories also include comic book and video game-inspired series and movies.
