Check out the brand new trailer for THE NAKED GUN.
Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father’s footsteps in THE NAKED GUN, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy).
Joining the case are cast Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, with Danny Huston.
The “Naked Gun” film series is the hilarious slapstick comedy franchise starring Leslie Nielsen (a comedy god) as the bumbling police lieutenant Frank Drebin. The films are known for their rapid-fire jokes, visual gags, and parody of police procedural tropes.
For those who have never seen the 3 previous films, you can stream them on Paramount +. Prepare yourselves for COMEDY GOLD!
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988): This was the first film in the series, directly spun off from the short-lived but critically acclaimed TV series “Police Squad!” It follows Drebin as he tries to thwart an assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth II.
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991): The sequel sees Drebin entangled in a plot involving a scientist specializing in solar energy.
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994): The third installment has Drebin going undercover to stop a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb during the Academy Awards.
All three films combined have a worldwide box office total of $477,091,186.
THE NAKED GUN opens in theatres August 1, 2025
Paul Walter Hauser plays Ed and Liam Neeson plays Frank in The Naked Gun from Paramount Pictures.
With schools going on break and summer holidays in full swing, it’s also the summer movie season and so far, it’s been stellar. Box office numbers have been up, and people are going back to the cinemas in droves. We’ve seen in 2025 such juggernauts as A MINECRAFT MOVIE, LILO & STITCH, SINNERS … but one of our absolute favorites has been MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING. Tom Cruise proves once again his movie star charisma brings audiences out to witness the spectacle. No one can entertain like he does. In her review, Cate Marquis says, “The stunt sequences are the major appeal of the series, and this one delivers. Thrilling, physics-defying sequences are abundant in this nearly three-hour long action thriller extravaganza.” Thus far, the film has grossed worldwide $506,816,000. (Box Office Mojo)
If you’re in New York City for your summer vacation, a visit to the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) is a must.
They have launched a major initiative celebrating the phenomenon of Paramount Pictures’ thrilling MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise, and the release of the eighth film in the series, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—The Final Reckoning. The exhibition will spotlight star and producer Tom Cruise’s exceptional commitment to practical stunt work, and explore how the series combines technical ingenuity, personal discipline, and artistic commitment, all in service of storytelling, character development, and performance.
The MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE experience at MoMI will be anchored by MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – Story and Spectacle, an exhibition that immerses visitors in the breathtaking stunts and key dramatic moments of the series, pulling back the curtain to allow insight into story and character development and the planning and execution of action sequences. The exhibition and related programs will provide a focal point for fans of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise, both those in New York and worldwide through virtual and/or livestreamed events.
Sections of the exhibition will be devoted to each film in the series, with a focus on that film’s key stunt or action sequence, along with unique behind-the-scenes content that offers insight on how the remarkable stunts were prepared for and filmed, complemented by related production artifacts.
“For almost 30 years, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE films have thrilled audiences with suspenseful stories and unparalleled practical stunts,” said Barbara Miller, Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs. “MoMI is excited to partner with Paramount Pictures on this major exhibition to explore the series’ unique achievements and create a fun, illuminating experience for fans and visitors.”
Access to MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – Story and Spectacle will be included with general Museum admission tickets during its run.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – Story and Spectacle and related programs are supported by a Market New York grant from Empire State Development and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism.
Today, at Annecy’s International Animation Film Festival, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios offered a series of surprises that thrilled festival goers.
In the morning, Jared Bush, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ chief creative officer and director/writer of the upcoming “Zootopia 2,” made his first appearance in Annecy to debut new footage and images from the anticipated sequel of the beloved Oscar®-winning global hit film, which will be theatrically released this November.
Thunderous applause and bursts of laughter punctuated his presentation as footage screened featured returning characters Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin), Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), and Mr. Big (voice of Maurice LaMarche), and new characters Gary De’Snake (voice of Ke Huy Quan), Nibbles (Fortune Feimster) and Dr. Fuzzby (voice of Quinta Brunson). The audience was particularly delighted when learning that French actor Jean Reno will lend his voice to a cameo role as an officer of the Zootopia Police Department. To celebrate the original film, “Zootopia” will be screened tonight under the stars on Le Pâquier.
Also within the presentation, Disney legendary director Ron Clements (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Moana”) was honored on stage with an induction into Annecy’s Walk of Fame. The celebration continued with a surprise announcement from Jared Bush revealing that Clements will return to Walt Disney Studios Animation in an advisory role.
In the afternoon, Pixar kicked off their panel with the arrival of Pete Docter, Pixar Animation Studios’ chief creative officer, alongside “Elio” directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, and producer Mary Alice Drumm. The “Elio” filmmakers offered a brief preview of their summer movie full of heart, laughs and fantasy. The screening of 27 minutes of the movie enchanted festival goers, leaving them eager to discover the full scope of this brand-new adventure which will hit theatres next week.
The audience was then treated to an exclusive look at Pixar’s upcoming slate by Docter, who was honored today with an induction into Annecy’s Walk of Fame. Highlights of the presentation included never-before-seen footage from Pixar’s March, 2026 release, “Hoppers,” screened exclusively for the Annecy audience along with a sneak peek at the first two minutes of the studio’s summer 2026 release, “Toy Story 5.” Docter confirmed the return of Joan Cusack as Jessie in this next “Toy Story” chapter and announced exciting new characters as well. As the supervising animator on the original “Toy Story,” Docter then showcased rarely seen legacy footage from “Toy Story,” the first feature length computer animated film ever released, in celebration of its 30th anniversary.
Additionally, Docter announced a brand-new original project called “Gatto,” slated for summer 2027. From the filmmaking team behind “Luca,” director Enrico Casarosa and producer Andrea Warren, the new film returns to Italy, this time to Venice, where after years of maneuvering the canal-ridden, superstitious city, a black cat named Nero begins to question whether he’s lived the right lives. Indebted to a local feline mob boss, Nero finds himself in a quandary and is forced to forge a truly unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose—unless Venice gets the better of him first.
With these Disney and Pixar presentations, the studios reaffirmed their commitment to the Annecy International Animation Festival as a venue to deliver exclusive news and screenings to a global audience of animation fans.
Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal in Celine Song’s MATERIALISTS. Photo credit: Atsushi Nishijima. Courtesy of A24
Does money matter in matters of love? Well, historically it has but if that is all that matters, then there is a problem. Dakota Johnson plays a modern matchmaker in New York City, working for a company that caters to affluent clients, in director/writer Celine Song’s in the romantic comedy MATERIALISTS. But MATERIALISTS is no typical rom-com but a smart, thought-provoking social commentary on love and materialism. Celine Song’s previous film, PAST LIVES, was a drama that thoughtfully and realistically explored how cultural differences and time impact romance, and the director turns that same insightful, honest style to a look at love and money through a more humorous but still thinking lens.
MATERIALISTS actually opens with a Stone Age man bringing flowers and useful tools to woo the cave woman of his dreams, an early materialist, but quickly flashes forward to present-day New York City, where matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is strolling down the street when she spots a nice-looking, prosperous looking young man. She asks if he is single, and then gives him her business card, just in case he’s looking for the services of a high-end matchmaker.
He takes the card. This direct approach tactic works in part because Lucy is herself young and beautiful, but Lucy in not looking for love herself. In fact, she tells a co-worker that she is planning to stay single and “die alone” (a phrase we hear frequently throughout this film, and only an extremely rich man might tempt her to change her mind, revealing a hard-eyed materialist bent.
There is a lot of this materialist bent among her clients, who turn to this service to find candidates who match their criteria before taking a chance on falling in love. Lucy is successful at her job in part because she understands this and gently guides them to potential matches. Her job involves recruiting new clients like in that first scene, matching client’s backgrounds and interests, but also serving as a kind of therapist guiding them towards marriage. When a matchmaker at her firm, Adore, makes a match that results in marriage, the whole office celebrates the win.
Lucy has just made such as match, and of course she’s invited to the wedding. While she is pleased with the success and takes care of all her clients, some clients touch her more than others. Her current favorite client is Sophie (Zoe Winters), a sweet woman in her late 30s who has not yet found her perfect match. One thing Lucy likes about Sophie that she is realistic about potential matches, something not true for all her clients, some of whom have extensive wish-lists like they are ordering a custom-designed car instead of hoping to meet a romantic match.
Sophie has just come off a date the night before, and all sounds good from her end, but when Lucy calls the man she went out with declines a second date based on superficial things. Lucy has to both gently break this disappointing news to Sophie and find another date for her, which Lucy does with both skill and compassion, letting us see her warm heart and why she is so good at this job.
At the wedding of her successfully matched client, Lucy meets a man, Harry (Pedro Pascal), the brother of the groom, who is impressed with her success. Lucy offers her card and matchmaking services, but the brother already has a date already in mind – the matchmaker herself. Lucy tells her she ‘s not in the market, but agrees to see him, hoping to gain him as a client by convincing him she is not the match her needs.
While Lucy and Harry chat at the wedding, a server with the catering company walks up – her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans). She warmly embraces him and they agree to meet after the wedding to catch-up, before John goes back to work. Harry is taken aback a bit by the exchange but he doesn’t leave, and sets up a meeting with Lucy at a restaurant. A meeting to her, a date to Harry.
A flashback scene gives us the story of Lucy and John’s break-up, in which we learn he is a struggling actor, taking catering jobs between acting ones, and that his perpetually broke-ness is a big reason for their break-up.
Having set up this uneven romantic triangle, MATERIALISTS follows that romantic tale, as well as Lucy’s work with her clients and particularly that favorite client Sophie, and plot line that illustrates some of the downside and risks in this kind of arranged dating.
One of the strengths of MATERIALISTS is excellent dialog, which is remarkably insightful and realistic, as it was in Song’s previous film PAST LIVES. The well-written dialog helps lifts this film far above the usual romantic comedy, making it intelligent, honest and thought-provoking in a way you don’t expect in this genre. Not that MATERIALIST isn’t funny – it definitely is – but the humor is more sly, more satiric, and filled with social commentary on a society obsessed with the surface of things and people more that what is underneath.
A lot of the humor comes out how transactional everyone, or nearly everyone, is in their pursuit of the perfect love match. Some of this is both laugh-out-loud funny, and a bit chilling underneath, or even sad. Some clients try to game the system, with plastic surgery and other interventions, fudging facts, or comically ridiculous assessments of one’s own value in the dating “marketplace.” These things range from the silly to the sad, as the clients compete, as if love is a game where keeping score matters.
Dakota Johnson turns in what may be her best performance so far, as a woman who seems coolly in control of her own romantic life – mostly – yet is warm, human and soothing with her clients. She maintains this smooth, comforting surface most of the time, but dies eventually becoming exasperated with a few of clients with unrealistic expectations, reminding them they are looking for a human being, not ordering a custom car. Likewise, Pedro Pascal does well as the wealthy man who strews material temptations in the matchmaker’s path, while we remain unsure of the depth of his feelings, even if marriage is his stated goal. As John, Chris Evans continues to prove his skill as an actor, following up his amazing performance in A DIFFERENT MAN, with this thoughtful one, a man whose feelings aren’t in doubt but whose life seems a mess that he may not be able to fix.
The film does not directly mention traditional matchmaking, which many cultures have followed for generation, versus falling in love with someone unaided, and hopefully sharing values and dreams with them. But MATERIALISTS does explore some pitfalls of this modern form of matchmaking, where only a certain amount of information can be known about the character and background of potential matches, unlike the traditional form where, ideally, both parties are part of a community of which the matchmaker is also a part, and the depth of knowledge of each individual is much greater.
MATERIALISTS is a smart, pointedly-funny romantic comedy, with terrific dialog and a non-traditional plot, that offers a frank yet fascinating look at the ways of love, from a perspective where the practical and the magical need to be a certain balance to find true love and then true happiness.
MATERIALISTS opens in theaters on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Mason Thames (right) as Hiccup with his Night Fury dragon, Toothless, in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon, written and directed by Dean DeBlois.
Some may find it hard to believe, but most critics try to go into a film with no “pre-conceived” notions and expectations. Well, that noble goal is often tested. That was my feeling as I prepared to see yet another “live-action” adaptation of a beloved classic animated feature film. Yes, “another” as this is the third such project to be released this year. Ah, but this does set itself apart from the other 2025 films. The previous two, from March and May, were both from the “Mouse House”, as Disney returned to their “OG” animated icon SNOW WHITE and followed it with a more recent, but adored, property, LILO & STITCH. The latter is still packing the multiplex, while the other…just started streaming on Disney+. Now, this weekend’s release isn’t from them, it’s from a big rival of nearly thirty years, Dreamworks Animation, their very first “re-imagining”. Additionally, it’s helmed by one of the co-directors of the original film, who has brought back one of the voice actors. So do these “upstarts” concoct a “magic movie formula” when they take us back to the world of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON? Let’s saddle up those scaly “beasties” once more…
In the opening moments. we’re taken back to that land of “long ago”, the island of Berk. Explaining their current “infestation” is the teenage son of the Viking warrior ruler, weapons apprentice Hiccup (Mason Thames). It’s nighttime and they’re under siege by a fierce flying squad of fire-breathing dragons who carry off the livestock. The adults, led by Hiccup’s burly papa Stoick (Gerard Butler), try to stop the swarm with little success. Hiccup is eager to join, but is held back by Stoick’s best pal, the “single-limbed”, having lost an arm and a leg, Gobber (Nick Frost). But Hiccup sneaks out with a device he has invented, a spring-loaded “bolas-launcher”, which he fires at what he thinks is the most savage and deadly dragon, the rarely-seen “Night Fury”. He’s not sure, but it appears something went down in the forest just over the hill. But Stoick will hear none of it as he whisks him back to their home. The next day, Hiccup ventures into the woods and finds the dragon, tied up in the bolas. Unable to strike a fatal blow with his knife, Hiccup frees him, dubbing him “Toothless”. However, he can’t fly away as part of his tail has broken off. Meanwhile, Gobber convinces Stoick to allow Hiccup to be part of his “dragon-fighting” classes. After much pleading, Hiccup agrees and joins a group of trainees., comprised of cocky, brash Snotlout (Gabrielle Howeell), excited “dragon expert/savant” Fishlegs (Julian Dennisen), bickering twins Ruffnut (Bronwyn James) and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn) and Hiccup’s “secert crush” the gifted fighter Astrid (Nico Parker), who wants to rule Berk someday. Hiccup flounders at class as he continues to visit Toothless, somehow forming a bond, and eventually fashioning a new “tail-piece” that allows the dragon to fly once more…with Hiccup as his rider/pilot. But can he keep his forbidden “friendship” a secret from his class and especially his father? Could this be the start of a new “era” or ignite a bigger war as Hiccup discovers the real agenda of the dragons?
I don’t wish to disparage the original voice cast, but these young, fairly unknown actors really help bring new energy to the familiar property, allowing it to soar to new heights. First, there are the two young, eventually, romantic leads. Thames, so good in BLACK PHONE, gives Hiccup an extra layer of vulnerability while still being a sweet klutz. With his superb body language and facial expressions, he conveys the hero’s journey of the lad, who somehow finds his humanity by helping his sworn enemy. Parker, who was in the disastrous DUMBO remake, strikes the right balance between tough and tender, as the determined and ambitious “no-nonsense” warrior princess (sans crown). She puts up a hard barrier to Hiccup, but Parker, through her gradually relaxed manner, slowly dissolves away. Perhaps the biggest surprise here is the spirited, bombastic work by the story’s “OG”, Butler, who has really grown into the role of bellowing and often clueless papa Stoick. He brings an electric charge to every scene, reminding us that his considerable gifts have been squandered on far too many mediocre action scripts. He’s great with Thames and hilarious with the very funny Frost as the mentor/coach, whose big heart almost makes up for the missing limbs. Also achingly amusing are the terrific young actors who are his “pupils”. Howell is a swaggering, obnoxious hoot, while Dennison is an endearing charmer as the sweet, zaftig motor-mouth vault of dragon trivia. And anyone with siblings can relate to the constant rivalry and insults (tinged with a tiny bit of affection) of the twins, played with furious zest by James and Trevaldwyn.
Guiding this exceptional cast is the co-director of the original film, Dean Delbois, in his live-action narrative feature debut (he made the doc feature TEN in 2022), and he does a superb job of revisiting his earlier triumph. As many lovers of that will attest, he doesn’t veer far from the script adaptation of Cressida Cowell’s beloved book that he co-wrote with co-director Chris Sanders and Will Davies, which some may find fault with, although fans of the other two live-action redos from 2025 have thrown fits over omitted and added characters and subplots. However this coming of age tale is so strong, that it’s not needed since enough time has passed (15 years) to make this fresh for the children who saw the orignal in theatres (some of you may recall that in those prehistoric “pre-home video” days, Disney would send his animated classics out of the vault and back on to big screens at seven-year-intervals). Well, Deblois did add an excellent subplot about Snotlout’s strained relationship with his blasé pop Spitelout, played with a disinterested scowl by Peter Serafinowicz. And yes, the dragons are still CGI creations, though they have more detailed textures, especially Toothless, and have a more realistic tone resembling the recent Godzilla reboots rather than the bulging eyes and rubbery limbs similar to Mad Magazine’s series of “Horrifying Cliches” drawn by the great Paul Coker, Jr. Another big plus is the use of several practical sets (with some CGI “tweaks”, no doubt) in the village along with the imaginative costuming (imagine the fur and horn budget). Happily, John Powell also returns with thrilling variations on his familiar themes. Yes, it’s like picking up a treasured childhood tome off of the bookshelf that’s given a fresh spin by the talented cast of young actors paired with an invigorated vet. Oh, if all the remakes and “re-workings” were as entrancing and endearing as HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON…
3.5 Out of 4
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025) is now playing in theatres everywhere
Less than a month away and the amazing promotional campaign for James Gunn’s SUPERMAN is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… SUPERMAN!
Check out the Big Blue all over the world in the latest marketing of the film, hitting cinemas on July 11. Looking forward to the logo showing up stateside – the shield would look perfect on The St. Louis Arch, The Empire State Building, The Golden Gate Bridge and the ultimate – The Statue of Liberty!
“Superman,” DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.
DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn are producing the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
The film stars David Corenswet (“Twisters,” “Hollywood”) in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (the “X-Men” movies, “Juror #2”) as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi (“For All Mankind”), Anthony Carrigan (“Barry,” “Gotham”), Nathan Fillion (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “The Suicide Squad”), Isabela Merced (“Alien Romulus”), Skyler Gisondo (“Licorice Pizza,” “Booksmart”), Sara Sampaio (“At Midnight”), María Gabriela de Faría (“The Moodys”), Wendell Pierce (“Selma,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), Alan Tudyk (“Andor”), Pruitt Taylor Vince (“Bird Box”) and Neva Howell (“Greedy People”).
“Superman” is executive produced by Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars Winther. Behind the camera, Gunn is joined by frequent collaborators, including director of photography Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Judianna Makovsky and composer John Murphy, along with composer David Fleming (“The Last of Us”) and editors William Hoy (“The Batman”) and Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “Blue Beetle”).
DC Studios Presents a Troll Court Entertainment/The Safran Company Production, A James Gunn Film, “Superman,” which will be in theaters and IMAX® nationwide on July 11, 2025, and internationally beginning 9 July 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
National Geographic’s gill-ty pleasure of the summer, SHARKFEST, returns for its wildest season yet! With over 25 hours of jaw-dropping programming, this year’s lineup dives deeper than ever into the science, power and beauty of the ocean’s most misunderstood predator. Making a splash at the top of this year’s lineup is the brand-new special SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY, which follows the Emmy- and BAFTA-winning cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory (@BertieGregory) on a high-stakes, cage-free mission to film great white sharks off the coast of South Africa.
SHARKS UP CLOSE kicks off SHARKFEST beginning July 5 at 8/7c on National Geographic. Select series and specials will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Additionally, shark-infested content will air on Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney Jr., and DisneyXD throughout the month. A 24/7 live stream of 2024 content will also air on YouTube.
The SHARKFEST slate continues with the thrilling original JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY—the only authorized documentary celebrating the blockbuster that redefined Hollywood and launched a cultural fascination with sharks. Featuring exclusive interviews with Steven Spielberg, rare archival footage, and reflections from Hollywood’s top filmmakers, Peter Benchley’s family, shark scientists, and conservationists, the documentary revisits the film’s legacy and explores how it shifted public perception from fear to awe.
This year’s SHARKFEST features leading marine scientists and experts, offering critical insights into shark behavior and how we can coexist with these extraordinary creatures. From myth-busting science to cinematic underwater adventure, SHARKFEST is a global deep dive into the awe-inspiring world of sharks.
From California shores to the seas down under in Australia, SHARKFEST will take viewers on an epic ocean adventure across the globe with the following:
SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY Premieres July 5 at 8/7c on National Geographic Streams July 6 on Disney+ and Hulu
Bertie heads to South Africa for his most audacious mission yet. The wild waters here are a hotspot for one of the ocean’s most famous and feared predators, the great white shark. Diving in the shallows without a cage, Bertie will attempt to film these huge sharks. By entering their domain, he discovers the challenges they face on our rapidly changing planet.
INVESTIGATION SHARK ATTACK Premieres nightly beginning July 5 at 9/8c on National Geographic Streams July 6 on Disney+ and Hulu
Delivering an in-depth look inside the mind of these apex predators, the six-part series explores shark behavior from their unique perspective. An intense forensic investigation at the innovative Shark Headquarters by a panel of scientists analyzes key theories and ultimately dissects each encounter to determine what leads sharks to strike.
SUPER SHARK HIGHWAY Premieres nightly beginning July 5 at 10/9c on National Geographic Streams July 6 on Disney+ and Hulu
Sharks have ruled our oceans for over 400 million years. In comparison, humans are relatively new visitors. So, how do we keep both parties safe when our worlds collide? In the six-part series, two elite shark research teams infiltrate two of Australia’s busiest shark migration routes to unlock the mysteries of these apex predators. One will follow white sharks along Australia’s southern shark highway, while the other team tracks the big and elusive sharks along the tropical north. Dive in with elite scientific teams as they study their mysterious movements, witness new behaviors, and determine how humans can coexist with these incredible creatures.
JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY Premieres July 10 at 9/8c on National Geographic Streams July 11 on Disney+ and Hulu
JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY is the authorized documentary celebrating the film that redefined Hollywood, 50 years after its premiere. Alongside Steven Spielberg, JAWS @ 50 charts the extraordinary journey from Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel to one of the most iconic films ever made. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with acclaimed Hollywood directors, top shark scientists, and conservationists, the documentary uncovers the behind-the-scenes chaos and how the film launched the summer blockbuster, inspired a new wave of filmmakers, and paved the way for shark conservation that continues today.
SHARKS OF THE NORTH Premieres July 12 at 10/9c on National Geographic Streams July 6 on Disney+ and Hulu
Sightings of great white sharks have been on the rise on Canada’s Atlantic coast. Alanna Canaran, a passionate science educator and dive instructor, embarks on a mission to unravel the enigmas surrounding these magnificent creatures and is determined to dispel fear of sharks in Nova Scotians. As the journey unfolds, Canaran and her team dive into the history of human-shark relationships along the coast. Facing numerous challenges, including elusive sharks and treacherous weather conditions, the team perseveres. With sheer determination and a stroke of luck, they gather invaluable knowledge of these magnificent creatures, contributing to a better understanding of white sharks in Canada.
SHARK QUEST: HUNT FOR THE APEX PREDATOR Premieres July 13 at 9/8c on National Geographic Streams July 6 on Disney+ and Hulu
As shark populations are declining, finding ways to share the seas is more critical than ever. In a series of jaw-dropping stories, survivors recount their harrowing encounters with massive sharks … where some emerged miraculously unscathed and others were less fortunate. By studying the key hot spots that make up the most shark-infested waters in the world, we can learn what attracts these massive predators to frequent these areas. Video evidence can show us how these incredible hunters lean on their highly evolved skills and reveal how we can minimize our risks when entering their domain. Sharks have adapted over 400 million years to become the perfect sea predators, and our survival on land is interlinked with theirs in the sea.
Prime Video has released the trailer for action-comedy THE PICKUP.
A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.
In addition to Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer, the film features a diverse cast including Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Directed by Tim Story, who’s known for his work on The Blackening, Barbershop and Ride Along, the film blends high-octane action with sharp humor.
Everyone’s in for a hilarious and wild ride when THE PICKUP debuts on Prime Video on August 6.
Written and directed by Ari Aster and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, with Austin Butler and Emma Stone, here’s a first look at the trailer for EDDINGTON.
In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.
“A lot of these characters are dueling political ideas converging into different, isolated people,” Aster says. “I wanted to make a sort of American genre epic with updated archetypes. But it felt important that the movie be sympathetic to all of these characters and to their fears. These are normal people who are flawed, but who believe they’re standing up for what’s right, and what they’re feeling is not wrong, it’s just that it all comes out in really weird, distorted and frightening ways. There are deep structural inequalities that have always been here and they’re obviously still here. There is a terrible problem out there, and a lot of these right-wing conspiracies borrow from left-wing conspiracies of the 1960s and 70s, and the people who are gripped by them are not wrong and they’re not crazy. They’ve just been driven crazy by this system and the way that they’re haunted by it.”
A scene from 11 REBELS. Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment
If you’re in the mood for Japanese period action drama, 11 REBELS delivers plenty of swordplay and bloodshed in a dark, complicated story. It’s 1868. The Emperor is trying to unite the country under his rule. But a bunch of warlords in one region choose to resist and keep their autonomy. They need one of their peers, the head of the strategically-vital Shibata territory, to join them.
He thinks theirs is a losing cause and wants to side with the Throne. They threaten to invade him before the Emperor’s army arrives if he doesn’t don their team jerseys. His samurai honchos devise a plan to have criminals defend a key fort and bridge to stall the Emperor’s forces, while disguised as members of the coalition. That appeases the warlords without pissing off the Emperor, buying time until the royal forces can trounce the locals.
Ten condemned criminals are selected, including one who’d killed the samurai that raped his wife. They’re promised clemency for serving, and managed by a handful of samurai. You now have the elements in place for a combo of Sparta’s stalwart 300, and The Dirty Dozen playing defense, as they are severely outnumbered and outgunned. Soldiers and rifles and cannons, oh my!
The result is 2 ½ hours of combat and squabbles among the defenders with varying degrees of loyalty, skill and motivation. Several characters are fleshed out among the bedraggled protagonists to arouse viewer empathy. A few have story arcs in how the dire circumstances of the several-day siege affect them.
Director Kazuya Shiraishi, cinematographer Naoya Ikeda, and whoever choreographed the fights are the real stars. The rundown fort sits atop a stark mountain with a narrow rope-and-plank bridge spanning the deep gorge separating it from the larger part of mainland. One would think that simply destroying the bridge, as per THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY, THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI and a slew of WW II movies would have been a quick and easy delaying tactic. But their orders included preserving the thing for its vital economic value after the war. The priority was yen over men.
Fight scenes play out with savage intensity, including generous servings of splatter, spray and severed limbs or heads… in graphic detail. There’s little special-effects enhancement of the mayhem, giving the clashes a gritty, relatively realistic feel. Similarities of costumes and dim lighting for nighttime battles make it hard to tell who’s on which side in some parts. But those sequences are hard-core enough to satisfy most genre fans. Even if the plot holds few surprises, viewers won’t be bored with how events play out. That’s about as good as it gets among such fare.
11 REBELS, in Japanese with English subtitles, is available on digital format, 4K and Blu-ray from WellGo USA starting Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
